Her Beauty Days

June can be best described as a blur.
I finished my exams in the earlier half of the month and concluded it with friendly encounters and random episodes of work.

Unfortunately, due to the stress of my exams I did break out and additionally, my skin became irritated. I made a few purchases here and there and used quite some products in an attempt to control the crazy state my skin was in.

Behold, June 2014 empties!


1. Palmolive Body Butter Heavenly Vanilla Moisturising Body Wash (400 mL)
I love basically anything that is vanilla scented or infused! This was a lovely treat to use and I would probably repurchase later on in future, as I like to experiment with various body washes. Great for those winter nights!

2. Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Daily Wash Cleanser (150 mL)
I had my first encounter with Clearasil back in the teenage years to control my combination skin. This cleanser is gentle albeit it does contain salicylic acid. It's a great every day cleanser to use but I wouldn't rely on this to help clear my problematic skin. I would probably repurchase it for general everyday use.


3. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (15 mL sample)
I finished this up in last month's empties (here) and overall it was a great moisturiser for dry skin types. However, I wouldn't purchase it as there are cheaper alternatives that do a similar job.

4. Clinique All About Eyes Eye Serum (7 mL sample)
This product aims to reduce dark circles & puffy under eye areas, which sounds like the perfect eye cream for me! I really liked how refreshing and cooling this product was. I do believe that this serum works well and I would probably purchase this in future.

5. La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP Body Balm (15 mL sample)
I received this in one of the beauty subscription boxes. It's a "lipid-replenishing body balm" designed for dry or irritated (itchy) skin. Aforementioned earlier, I did suffer from irritated skin due to the immense anxiety I had from exams. This product was a lifesaver and helped nourish my skin whilst I was recovering. I definitely recommend this product!

6. Pure Fuji Hydrating Body Lotion (coconut infusion) (15 mL sample)
This smelt really delicious but it wasn't as hydrating as I wanted it to be.

7. Rimmel Glam' Eyes Professional Liquid Liner in #001 Black Glamour (3.5 mL)
One of my HG liquid liners. I love how I can create a really thin yet pigmented line and it really lasts quite a while! I will definitely repurchase this in future. I actually use a couple of liquid liners on rotation.

8. No Brand Nail File
Wow, I've had this for quite a long time! This initially smelt of oranges and was really enjoyable to use. Over time, the nail file has worn out so it's time to bid farewell!

And that concludes June 2014 empties!

Apologies for my prolonged absence.
I've recently endured the most stressful fortnight of my life.
Assessments after assessments, accompanied with other commitments, I admit it was quite a struggle.

I know this post is long overdue, but regardless, I'd like to share it with you. I can't believe I had this in storage for quite sometime!

Hello to three months' worth of empties!


1. Avène Eau Thermale Spring Water (300 mL)
Spraying this on after a hot shower or workout - it's so refreshing! I already have backups of this mist. It's so soothing and not irritating like other facial mists. See my review here.

2. Dettol Healthy Touch Instant Hand Santitizer (200 mL)
I wouldn't consider this as a product related to beauty, but I do keep it on my vanity for those spontaneous moments. I think it's important to have clean hands when dealing with makeup products.  My friend got me this and I'm really grateful for it! Will definitely repurchase.

3. WOTNOT Facial Wipes (5 wipes sample)
Hands down the best facial wipes I've used. Love these so much. They're everything I'm looking for in a facial wipe - superior quality cloth wipes, natural and organic... I just wish they were available in the stores I regularly visit such as Priceline.

4. Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser (30 mL sample)
I thought this was a pretty mediocre cleanser. Adding on, I wasn't a fan of the herbal scent.

5. muk Spa Argan Oil Shampoo (300 mL)
I received this at my very first media launch. I really love how gentle yet effective the product was - free from sulfates, parabens and some other "nasties". However, I didn't enjoy the scent that much.

6. Barry M Intense Black Eyeliner Pen
This eyeliner was also featured in my first empties post on this blog - June 2013 Empties!
I will forever repurchase this unless I find a more superior product for lining my upper waterline.

7. Biorè Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser (200 mL)
Biorè and I go way back! I love how this is targeted towards combination skin (that's me!). It's a great everyday cleanser that doesn't disrupt my skin's natural moisture. I will probably repurchase.

8. Schwarzkopf Ultimate Oil Elixir Serum (80 mL)
I was first drawn to this product because it contained golden particles! Overall it was an alright finishing product but the fragrance was a bit overpowering. I wouldn't recommend this product for those with "overstressed, straw-like hair" (the target market) because of the product's high alcohol content.

9. Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream (3 g sample)
Designed to fade dark circles and brighten up the area, the product didn't yield major improvements in my under eye area. However, I did enjoy applying this on every night. The thin consistency was just right and I liked how it tingled just a bit (am I weird?). I wouldn't repurchase this.

10. Hiruscar Skincare Gel (20 g)
I have already repurchased this a while back for my scar and finished the second one last month. It did prove to be effective against my scars. However, because it was quite a bit expensive for my taste, I wouldn't be repurchasing in future.

11. Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder (0.05 g sample)
I already have the full-sized boxed powder and it has become one of my favourite bronzers!

12. Re-Gen Re-Gen Oil (125 mL)
This is supposedly a cheaper dupe/alternative to Bio-Oil from ALDI. I do think this oil is on par with Bio-Oil; it was effective in reducing the appearance of my scars. I will repurchase once I finish up on using the other oil treatments.

13. e.l.f Shimmer Lip Gloss in Red
I'm throwing this out because it smelt funky when I first opened it.

14. Face of Australia Gentle Makeup Remover (125 mL)
This is my second bottle. It's a bi-phase type of makeup remover. I really enjoyed using this - it's cheap and works well. I won't be repurchasing because I've discovered micellar water and have been loving it!

15. Matrix Biolage Advanced Keratindose Shampoo and Conditioner (7 mL samples)
Loved the smell of this. It was nice for my hair but I won't be repurchasing it because there are cheaper alternatives.

16. Goldwell DualSenses Rich Repair Shampoo and Conditioner  (10 mL samples)
Wow this smelt so heavenly - a bit vanilla-like. I really enjoyed using it and would probably purchase the full sized products if there was a special going on.

And there we have it. Three months' worth of empties - February, March and April.
I hope you enjoyed this post.

For myself, Christmas involves celebrating Jesus Christ's birthday.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I welcome August, with another empties post from the previous month, July.
Originally planned to be posted on the first, I've engaged in a tumultuous relationship with work and illy constructed uni schedules, which retarded the release of posts.
Aside from that, I must admit, I enjoy constructing these empties posts, as the process enables me to evaluate on the finished products. Consequently, I enter a phase of rumination; involving the circulating queries, should I repurchase this? Did it work for me? Can I find a more suitable alternative?

I also find this process to be on the hilarious side. Never, did I consider putting so much effort in critiquing products, questioning it's performance.

Well here it is.
Let me present to you, those who've finally made it to the finish line, the empties of July 2013!

Palmolive Naturals Revitalising - Peach Kernel Oil with Vitamin-E & Rose Water Shower Gel (500 mL)
This is a one of my favourite shower gels, being possibly the third bottle I've finished. Despite the large illustration of a peach on the bottle, it doesn't smell anything like peaches. Expect a heavenly scent, quite hard to describe. It lathers well and makes me feel refreshed and relaxed. In addition to the positive points, it's inexpensive and is of great value for money. And if you're wondering, the gel of a colour that matched the lid of the bottle (pale orange). When the time comes, which involves myself languishing for that lovely scent, I'll be repurchasing this product until then.


Biorè Skin Preservation - Clean Things Up Nourishing Gel Cleanser (200 mL)
I received this cleanser amongst other skin products from Biorè's Skin Preservation line, after winning a competition on Facebook. This cleanser "purifies and conditions without disturbing skin's natural moisture balance". This pretty much sums up the product's performance. A great everyday cleanser that will remove your makeup and environmental impurities. The pump dispenses just the right amount of product for each use, so you can use the product more efficiently, without any product going to waste. This bottle lasted me for quite a long time; I had this product since last year! The only thing I disliked was the scent; it's a fresh and clean scent (for some reason, it's just not up my alley). Unfortunately, I will not repurchase because of the scent.


L'Oréal Elvive Smooth-Intense Anti-Frizz Shampoo (250 mL)
This is one of my favourite shampoos.
It helps my hair stay smooth and soft, consequently, helping me achieve "straighter" looking hair (albeit, I have naturally straight hair). Another reason to love this shampoo, is of course, the scent! I'm quite inept when it comes to describing scents but you can expect the same scent in other products in the Elvive Smooth-Intense Anti-Frizz range.


Ophelia Cotton Tips (200 pack)
Purchased this from good old ALDI. These 100% cotton tips are great for fixing up your eye makeup and are inexpensive. A cheap beauty essential!


Swisspers Spa Facial Cleansing Wipes with Pomegranate Extract (25 wipes)
These pink facial wipes (yes, they are indeed pink!) does a decent job at removing makeup without drying the skin. I was first attracted to the pink packaging and how these are "coloured" wipes. The actual wipe is durable and quite soft. Additionally, the pomegranate fragrance is quite pleasant and overall I had an "okay" experience with these wipes.
I will not be repurchasing these because I do feel that these wipes "stung" my face, on the rare occasion of course.

Swisspers Green Tea Calming Facial Cleansing Wipes (25 wipes)
I did a little review on this product in this post.
In summary, I think these wipes are the opposite of "calming" because they stung my face quite a bit. I did not experience any redness or rashes but I feel these wipes can be a bit harsh on sensitive skin. I've read a lot of positive reviews but do steer clear if you have the mentioned skin criteria (or "young" skin may I add).


Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30+
I received this generous sunscreen sample among four other different product samples from Neutrogena a few months back. I am quite in awe how this 14 mL sample lasted me for months, considering I apply this on under my makeup everyday. This sunscreen lotion breaks away from the stereotype that sunscreens are greasy, cakey, and are hard to blend. Application is smooth and a dewy finish is achieved. The consistency of the product is just right; it definitely gives a "lightweight, clean feel". What more could you possibly want from a sunscreen? Besides increasing the amount of SPF. But hey, Neutrogena has released a sunscreen from this range with an SPF 50+ so you can't complain here!


Essence Stay With Me Long Lasting Lip Gloss in 07 Kiss Kiss Kiss
This product was from one of my random purchases. Hello to the (pleasingly pigmented) bright red lip gloss that can be found at Target and Priceline for merely $3.50. Forget the stickiness commonly associated with lip glosses and expect a smooth and moisturising application. If you have a sweet tooth, you might have to restrain yourself...This lip gloss is indeed "candylicious".



Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara
Unfortunately, this product did not fare well with me. An average mascara that yielded no volume for my straight Asian lashes, but hey, you can expect a clump free finish to your lashes. Ladies of other ethnicities may encounter a much more positive experience. I must give credit to Maybelline for their unique mascara wands that differentiate them from your typical wand; this wand resembled a caterpillar! A word of caution though, if in a rush, you could easily damage this fragile, wiggly yet flexible wand. One must insert it back into the tube, oh-so-meticulously to avoid breaking off the tip.




Softlips Lip Protectant Fruit Fusion in Orange Sunrise (2g)
After finishing up the vanilla flavoured lip balm from this brand, I picked this orange flavoured one, thinking I'd have the same enjoyment in using it as the former. It must've been on the spur of the moment, when I carelessly purchased this without considering if I actually like citrus based scents/flavours. Well, forshadowed earlier, you can deduce that I did not enjoy this product at all. Nevertheless, I still used it until I've reached the finish line (much to my relief) so I can finally dispose of it without those pangs of guilt. Expect your average lip balm but with much less product, infused with the scents of citrus fruits.


Gaia Skincare Pink Grapefruit & Jasmine Foaming Cleanser
(With certified organic green tea, gotu kola, chamomile)
This is a sample sachet of a cleanser that claims to be suitable for normal/combination skin, formulated with sensitive skin in consideration. After just a single use, I found that this is a great cleanser and is perfect for my skin type (combination/sensitive). I highly endorse "natural" skincare products because of the claims they are associated with e.g. pure, natural, organic, free from soap, sulfates, petrochemicals, artificial fragrance, paraben preservatives and the list goes on!
The only downside is you can forget expecting those lush artificial scents. This cleanser emits a herbal scent that is quite received with other natural skincare products.


Pantene Pro-V Clinicare Single Dose Intensive Treatment Programme Rinse Off Treatment
I like the scent and that's pretty much it. I did not notice any difference to my hair; my hair is already semi-smooth and conditioned prior to using this product. Maybe, those lacking a bit of a conditioning boost will benefit from this. This product serves to be a mediocre conditioner for me.


Colgate Plax Fresh Tea Mouthwash
Finished a bunch of these samples.
I've posted up a detailed review here. To sum it up, this is a great tasting mouthwash minus the sting factor associated with alcohol mouthwashes (because it's alcohol free!). I've already repurchased a 500 mL bottle of this.

And that's it!
I'm impressed with the number of products I've used up this month.
Quite frankly, it was fun and I can't wait to finish up more products so I can construct this month's empties post!

After thoughtful consideration, I'm eager to construct a monthly favourites post as well - so I can reflect on the products I've been loving this month!
But I'll see what I can do!

I hope you enjoyed this post.
Have a beautiful day everyone!

Today marks the first day of July and what better way to kick-start a new month than with a previous month "empties" blog post?!

I'll be showcasing to you today, the products I have used and finished off in June!

This is my first empties post, and let me tell you, it does feel a bit odd collecting all the empty bottles and packets, when my natural instinct is to dispose of them.

Last month, I did use quite a fair amount of products, but I haven't managed to finished them. It actually takes me quite a while to finish products; I use my products sparingly... Just enough to do its job!

Well, let me present to you the final contestants of June Empties 2013 (before they meet their fate...nestled nicely in my bin!).


TRESemmé Moisture Rich Conditioner (900 mL)
A great affordable Australian made conditioner that leaves my hair soft and nourished. Considering the size, it lasts quite a long time. I love the fragrance in it too! Will definitely repurchase.

Redwin Vitamin E with Evening Primrose Oil Hand Cream
Your average hand cream which works fine for me. Moisturises and softens my hands but after a while, I find myself reapplying this on (may be due to a variety of factors). It's fast absorbing and non greasy on the hands. The formula is just right - not too thick or watery. Great price tag and Australian made - I might repurchase if I'm in need of new hand cream.

Derma Intensive+ 3 in 1 Fragrance Free Facial Wipes
I got this at Coles for under $2. Doesn't irritate/sting my face unlike those Swisspers Green Tea Wipes I just bought but the wipes aren't as soft. Made in Turkey and gets the job done. I use these when I'm really lazy to wash my face or when I want to freshen up. Will repurchase due to its affordability.


Rimmel (London) Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses Lip Tint (700 Nothing But Nude)
This is one of those "texta" pens that you use to colour your lips with. It also comes with a colourless balm on the end but it broke off after a few applications. On being those lip products with a marker/texta, it is very drying on the lips. The balm wasn't of assistance; it was hard and didn't moisturise the lips.
The colour doesn't last long and after a few applications the colour stops coming out and you have to rub the pen's tip on a surface to induce colour to come through. Unfortunately, I find this product to be on par with those crappy "made in China" whiteboard markers.
On a positive note, I really love the shade - it compliments my skin tone quite well! It is definitely not a nude colour, albeit the shade name states so. I won't be repurchasing this but I would love to find a lip product with a similar shade to this!

NB: Product made in Germany.



Barry M Intense Black Eyeliner Pen
It claims to be a "waterproof, smudgeproof, super long wear eyeliner in a retractable pen". Sometimes I do feel this product is waterproof and smudgeproof, but I did participate in some intense swimming once and re-emerged out of the water with panda eyes! Nevertheless, I do use this product on a daily basis and will forever repurchase (from ASOS). This glides on smoothly plus, pigmentation is great and I love how it's a twist up!

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
I have never encountered a hand cream like this one before. I received this sample tube amongst other samples through Neutrogena's promotion on Facebook. The texture is thick and  balm-like - reminds me of Vaseline. Upon application, my hands feel a bit greasy - it doesn't sink into the skin as well as more watery hand creams. But, you only need a small amount to moisturise the hands - it will last you quite a while! Great for extremely dry hands - in Winter, after washing your hands etc. I also think this is great for the undersides of your foot! Who says hand creams are restricted only for hands?! I will probably purchase this only for usage in Winter.

Colgate Plax Fresh Tea Mouthwash
I received a lot of these cute bottles at the Good Food and Wine Show a few days ago. Each sample was 20 mL (one usage per bottle) which is a great size if you want to pop one into your handbag for a mouthwash quickie during the day (I doubt anyone does that?).
I'm a fan of the bright green coloured solution and the taste of what seems like sweetened jasmine tea. Having been raised in a traditional Asian family has made me appreciate a multitude of teas, so you can deduce that I really adore this mouthwash! This mouthwash is alcohol free so it's perfect for those who are interested/love using mouthwashes but want to avoid that nasty sting! I will definitely go out and purchase a large bottle of this!

Botáni Boost Balancing Moisturiser
I received this 3 mL sample from Priceline last year and I absolutely love it!
It's an Australian made and owned product, which is eco and vegan friendly. Packed with natural goodness (plant extracts) this has got to be one of the best facial moisturisers I've used. It sinks into my skin quite easily and does not clog my pores. Do expect that BOOST of hydration upon application! I highly recommend if you have combination or blemish prone skin, check this out!

Clearasil Daily Clear Vitamins & Extracts Daily Wash
Growing up using Clearasil for my pimple infested face, I was reminded of the oh-so-familiar scent when I first used this sample. This beautiful pastel green coloured cleanser cleansed my skin well and didn't leave it feeling "tight" or dry. I like how there are avocado and pomegranate extracts within this - appealing to me as I love using products with natural components. This cleanser can double up as a mask or cleanser. Overall, a great everyday wash for your face! I will definitely keep this in mind when I plan to buy my next cleanser in future.

And there you have it. This month's (this year's) empties!

I hope you enjoyed the post and feel free to link your empties for June 2013. I'd love to have a read of what you currently used up!