Her Beauty Days

Unexpectedly, May has been a pretty exciting month.

The blossoming of new relationships has really allowed me to view life in a new perspective. April marked the death of a relationship and the consequent month has brought a glimmer of happiness in my life.
During this month I found myself using a lot more moisturiser than I anticipated; "Winter is coming". Being deeply engrossed in the Game of Thrones show and fearing that I would develop the expected dry patches, I took extra measures to ensure my skin isn't depleted of hydration.

Looking back, May was all about taking care of myself, after April's tragic events.
You can evidently view this through the empties I've acquired.


1. L'Oréal Elvive Extraordinary oil Treatment Oil (100 mL)
My friend got me this just last year. I really loved how luxurious the glass packaging is and the product was a pleasure to work with. There is an accompanying fragrance with the oil and I absolutely adore it. I would definitely repurchase this after I use up all of my other treatment oils.

2. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (15 mL samples)
This is targeted towards very dry to dry combination skin types. Overall, a great moisturiser to use - kept my skin hydrated but other than that, nothing outstanding.

3. Frank Body Coconut & Grapeseed Coffee Scrub (200 g)
Thoroughly enjoyed using this. It did provide some minor improvements to my skin. I would consider repurchasing it in future but currently I'm quite interested in whipping up my own batch of coffee scrub. See my review here.

4. Australis Ready Set Go Finishing Powder in True Translucent (7.5 g)
A great cheap finishing powder that sets and mattifies my makeup. It doesn't leave a white cast despite being white in colour. I would repurchase this after trying out other powders.

5. Sukin Facial Moisturiser (50 mL sample)
This is a nice moisturiser that is light enough to be worn during the day and hydrating enough to be used at night for my combination skin. The inclusion of natural ingredients and oils are a bonus but I'm not a fan of the fragrance. I already have a full size bottle of this waiting to be used.

6. Hiruscar Skincare Gel (20 g)
I used this up in my earlier empties post. I won't be repurchasing it because it was quite expensive even though it did prove itself to be effective.

7. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Correcter (40 mL)
I really don't see any amazing results from using this. However I do repurchase from time to time because I feel like I need it in my skincare regime. It works to reduce the appearance of imperfections and unclogs sebum-blocked pores.

8. Essence Lipstick in 52 In the Nude (4 g)
I purchased this back when I was in the nude lips phase. Unfortunately, this shade washed me out and I barely use it. Verdict: I'm throwing it out.

9. Smartskin Facial Cleansing Wipes (25 wipes)
I usually pick these up for $1 at woolies. I don't always use them to remove my makeup; mostly for wiping my hands and dirty surfaces.

10. John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo and Conditioner (44 mL and 8.3mL samples)
I thought these worked well for my hair. No complaints coming from me! I would possibly repurchase these but I'm in no rush to grab these any sooner.

And there you have it! Last month's empties done and binned!

Wow, what a busy month.
I actually celebrated my 21st birthday just last week, even though it was nothing big because of the bombardment of assignments and exams.

A few days ago, when I headed out the door (hello uni!)  I actually bumped into the postman.
As usual, he handed me my post and I was so surprised to find it was my Lust Have It! box!
What a refreshing change to the box, I'm a fan!


October 2013's box is a 'Spring Race Carnival Edition'. I'm not heading to the carnival any soon but I'm very curious to see how these products can help one hitting the races.


1. Le Tan Wash Off Instant Looking Tan in Bronze (40 g)
Unfortunately, I don't use any tanning products but I'll be sure to pass this on to someone who might enjoy it more than I will. Aside from that, I think this is great if you're experimenting with tanning products or just want a temporary fix!



2. INIKA Mineral Eyeshadow in Platinum 12 (Full sized 1.2 g, RRP $25)
Initially, I was quite intimidated by the nature of the eyeshadow - it's one of those loose powder ones. I've actually never used these before but I'm quite excited - it's a lovely sparkly pale silver shade that can easily be an all over body shimmer! I'm loving the fact these can be used on the most sensitive of eyes (perfect for me!); it looks absolutely stunning on the eyelids. I pulled off the seal to get a closer look at the product (that's why it's a bit messy).

3. Paula's Choice Oil Blotting Papers
There's quite a lot of sheets here. Blotting papers are always handy for me especially midday or after a stressful situation! I'm eager to use these to compare them to other brands I've used.

4. evo Ritual Salvation Care Shampoo and Conditioner (50 mL each)
How cute are these bottles! Definitely caught my eye there. I don't have coloured hair but I do have weak, brittle hair which makes these useful.


5. Smitten Whipped Tinted Mousse Moisturiser in Cappuccino
I've never heard of this brand and I'm not sure what the size of this is. It's actually labelled as a foundation and moisturiser, instead of being a 'tinted' moisturiser. The shade is a bit too dark for me so I'll be passing this on to someone else. I love the whipped mousse texture and the matte finish but unfortunately, not the fragrance - not pleasant.

6. Princess Skincare Hyaluronic Acid Mask (Full sized, RRP $25)
This is one expensive mask! Skeptical of the price, I checked this out online and it actually retails more!
Perfect mask for my mum; I'll be sure to pass this onto her as she can really benefit from the reduction of fine lines and boost of firmness and elasticity.

Overall, this box did not disappoint. I liked the contents even though I don't plan on using all of them.
You've got a bit of value, diversity and nothing was deemed 'useless'! My favourite item would have to be the INIKA eyeshadow; so gorgeous and versatile! There's also the inclusion of vouchers to use including one for the tanning spray and for a purchase on The Iconic.

So, what did you think of this month's box? Have you received yours yet?
If you haven't, you can sign up here for their monthly beauty box that retails for $19.95.
You can use the code Herdays to get $5 off your first box!

Have a beautiful day everyone!
And for those tackling assignments, exams and stress (or any hardships), wishing you the best of luck!

(This box was provided for my consideration.)

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!