Empties: November 2012

Okay, so the slow down has finally started! For whatever reason, I didn't use up nearly as much product during November as I typically do. I think the fact that I've been buying so many new products may have something to do with it. This post is, of course, dedicated to the original Beauty Reductionista, Liz. Without further ado, here is my empties tally, collected from November 1 to November 30:

• Bliss Lemon + Sage Body Butter Maximum Moisture Cream (200 ml)
• Lush Calacas Shower Jelly (60 g)
• Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral Enriched Oil-Free Renewal Cream (50 ml)
• MAC Mineralize Charged Water Cleanser (100 ml)
• Philosophy Purity Made Simple Foaming 3-in-1 Cleansing Gel for Face and Eyes (30 ml)
• MAC Liquid Eye Liner — Boot Black (2.5 ml)
• MAC Eyebrows — Brunette (0.09 g)
• MAC Eyebrows — Lingering (0.09 g)
• Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum (100 ml)
• White Barn 3-Wick Candle — Lavender Vanilla (411 g)
• Shiseido Facial Cotton (80 g)
• Julep One-Step Polish Remover Pad (1 pad)

Total: 12 products (11 full size, 1 travel size)

Bodycare/Haircare:

Bliss Lemon + Sage Body Butter Maximum Moisture Cream (200 ml) — I bought this as part of a set when I was in New York in September. There is nothing I don't like about this product. It's thick like a body butter should be, but it also has a slightly whipped consistency to it so that it spreads easily and absorbs well into the skin. It moisturizes really, really well and keeps my ultra-dry skin soft, smooth, and flake-free. Lemon + Sage is the signature scent of Bliss Spa, and is still my favourite out of all the scents they now carry. It's fresh, light, and slightly sweet but not cloying at all.

Re-purchase? Yes, but only at a value price. Otherwise, it's too expensive ($32!). 

Lush Calacas Shower Jelly (60 g) — Love! And it smells like lime Gummi Bears. You can read my review of it here. 

Re-purchase? Yes! But, sadly, it was a limited edition product and is no longer available.

Skincare:

Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral Enriched Oil-Free Renewal Cream (50 ml) — I bought this at the Origins store when I was in New York in September. I have combination-to-oily skin, so my T-zone is insanely oily and my cheeks are dehydrated (not to be mistaken for dry; my skin has enough oil, but not enough water). I had been looking for a new night cream, and the beauty advisor there suggested this one, which is the oil-free version of their Night-A-Mins cream. The texture is in between a cream and a gel, which is what I look for in night moisturizers because it's lightweight but still feels substantial enough. It's fast-absorbing but leaves my skin feeling soft, supple, and hydrated, and my skin looking smooth and radiant. It doesn't do anything for oil because it's not mattifying or oil-absorbing, but my cheeks were pleasantly flake-free (I tend to get dry patches as the temperature drops). And the scent smells like fresh oranges.

Re-purchase? Yes.

MAC Mineralize Charged Water Cleanser (100 ml) — Okay, it has to be said that I use cleansing waters as toners. This product on its own doesn't take off heavy duty make-up, so it's more ideal for taking off products like tinted moisturizer or BB cream. This is a product that is better off being used as a skin refresher, like maybe after a workout at the gym or a game of tennis or something. As I said, I was using this as a toner, to get rid of any residue that my cleanser left or any leftover make-up that my cleanser didn't manage to get off. But Bioderma's version takes off make-up much better.

Re-purchase? No, not at full price.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Foaming 3-in-1 Cleansing Gel for Face and Eyes (30 ml) — I got this from redeeming my Sephora VIB points (I actually redeemed enough for five tubes). I didn't really like this at first and then it grew on me, and now I love it. I hate the original version of this cleanser purely because of the consistency, but when I heard they made a foaming gel version, I was excited to try it. It still doesn't foam up as much as I want it to, but it takes off make-up like nobody's business (including all of my mascara!). I do like a second cleanser to deep cleanse afterwards, but this is my new holy grail make-up remover.

Re-purchase? Yes!

Make-up:

MAC Liquid Eye Liner — Boot Black (2.5 ml) — I do classic, winged out eyeliner everyday; I generally use Lancôme Artliner Precision Point Eyeliner to draw out the line first, and then top it off with Boot Black to make it matte and more intense black. When I run out of the Lancôme one, this one works well — I just prefer the softer felt tip of Lancôme's.

Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.

MAC Eyebrows — Brunette (0.09 g) — I have been using this eyebrow pencil for years. I love that it's self-sharpening and that it has the finest point I have ever seen on an eyebrow pencil. I have thin, patchy, asymmetrical eyebrows, and this really helps fill them and shape them with precision. MAC came out with a new shade called Brunette for their Carine Roitfeld collection, so I picked one up, and it is now my new favourite eyebrow shade. It's slightly more taupe than Lingering (my previous go-to shade), which looks more reddened next to Brunette, so this looks slightly more natural for my thin Asian brows.

Re-purchase? Yes, I have two back-ups!

MAC Eyebrows — Lingering (0.09 g) — Read above. I kept switching between the two shades because I wanted to finish this one up, but I think I'll continue getting Brunette from now on.

Re-purchase? Not for now, I prefer Brunette more.

Fragrance:

Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum (100 ml) — This is my all-time favourite perfume. I've been using this since it was launched in 2007. I have gone through at least four full-sized bottles a year since then. It's a really clean, fresh citrus perfume (grapefruit, lemon, lime blossom) with a fruity sweetness (lychee, mango flower) that isn't cloying at all and a floral note (freesia) that adds more depth and doesn't give me headaches. There is a soft warmth (tonka bean, amber, sandalwood) underlying the citrusy sweetness that gives it a more complex base and lingers beautifully on skin. I don't bother with the little travel-size bottles anymore; I just keep the full-size one in my purse now.

Re-purchase? Yep, just bought a new one!

Miscellaneous:

White Barn 3-Wick Candle — Lavender Vanilla (411 g) — This is my favourite fall candle from Bath & Body Works this year. Never thought I was a fan of lavender or vanilla, but I love, love, love this scent. There's a hint of cedarwood and jasmine in there that keeps it from being too sweet. It's warm and calming, and it's just amazing on a cold night. I ended up buying four of these because I love it so much.

Re-purchase? Yes, I need to buy more before it's gone!

Shiseido Facial Cotton (80 g) — Best cotton pads, ever. Ridiculously soft and fluff-free, and holds product better than any other cotton pad out there, so you end up needing less product. And before you think $9 is too steep for a package of cotton pads, think again. In terms of cost per pad, it's about the same as your typical drugstore brand. Also amazing to use to remove nail polish, because it holds remover like no other so it's always soaked.

Re-purchase? Yes, I always buy two packs at a time.

Julep One-Step Polish Remover Pad (1 pad) — I received a few of these in my Julep Maven Box a couple months ago as sort of bonus items. I decided to use one to see how effective they are. And what do you know? A single pad takes off (non-glitter) nail polish from all ten fingers! It's a great product, but ultimately not worth the retail price (10 pads for $10!) if you're just using it at home. I won't spend my own money on them, but I definitely like using them.

Re-purchase? No, cost per use is way too expensive.

See, Mary, I don't bathe in my products!