May Empties

I'm baaaaaack. Actually, I would have been back about a week ago but stoopid Blogger wouldn't let me in.

It's surprising how much you can use up when you make you make a concerted effort to finish all those half-used products around the house (don't look innocent, I know you've got those). As soon as I took the photo of these I turfed them, so I don't remember the exact names of some of them.



L'Oreal EverStrong Bodifying Shampoo and Conditioner: I was sent these to trial by Beauty Heaven a while ago and at first I liked them, but they have silicones and it created a lot of build up in my hair after a while. I have very fine, limp hair that tends to get greasy on the second day, so I don't like heavy products or anything that coats the shaft (snerk). I would not buy these again for that reason. And besides, they're $15 each for supermarket hair products. I would just throw in a few extra dollars and get something from the salon.

Palmolive Shea Butter Shower Milk Wotsit: I finished one of those last month as well. Ye Olde Staple Producte; I buy it regularly.

Nivea Face Wipes: Three words - crap-o-la. I bought these mistakenly thinking they were ones I liked, but then I realised the ones I like are Neutrogena.

Dr Lewinn's Synergise Toner for Not Getting Old or Something: Another product sent to me by Beauty Heaven. I like toners, but a toner is a toner is a toner - they're all the same. I would repurchase this just because it's not too pricy ($20) and it's convenient (this line is exclusive to Coles Supermarkets), but I wouldn't go out of my way to get this particular one.

Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturiser: Love this - I use it as a night cream and I wake up with lovely soft skin. A lot of the reviews on Makeup Alley complain about it being too strong (it contains retinol), but I never had an issue with it. My only complaint is that you can't see how much you've used. See through packaging please, Paula! I would definitely repurchase this.

Johnson's Baby Shampoo: I use it to clean my brushes. Another Ye Olde Staple.

Nivea CQ10 Anti-Ageing Moisturiser (the white jar): HAAAATED IT.

Estee Lauder Double Wear sample: I don't know... there's a lot of hype around this product and I know it's a HG foundation for many people, but I wasn't overly jazzed with it. It wouldn't sway me from Chanel Mat Lumiere.

Maybelline The Colossal Mascara: This has the weirdest scent - roses dipped in honey. Once you become aware of it, it's very distracting. Why does a mascara need a scent? This was okay, but nothing great. I'd pay US prices for it again, but I'd never buy it here.

Vintage Jovan Musk Oil sample: Ah, nostalgia. Jovan Musk and Night Musk were popular 80s perfumes and the smell of them takes me back to the days of the Blue Light Disco at the Italian Social Club (referred to by everyone rather un-PCishly as 'The Wogs', as in "You goin' to The Wogs Saturday?" "No, I'm grounded for spitting out the bus window with Mark Cromer."). I wouldn't buy the oil again - it's ridonkulously expensive ($7 for 1/2ml). It was nice to briefly go back, though. And I do have a bottle of the EDT that cost me $15 in Chemist Warehouse.

i Promufi di Firenze Magnolia Purpurea 1.5ml sample: Gorgeously pretty Magnolia scent, but as magnolia is a favourite of mine, I have a lot of other similar sort of perfumes, so I'm not sure if I'd buy a full bottle of this. Maybe one day when I'm looking for something to splash money on.

Hilde Soliani Vecchi Rossetti 1.5ml sample: I can't describe this - you can read a rundown of its notes here. If I had the cash to spare I'd definitely buy a full bottle of this. It's just beautiful, and it doesn't smell like anything else I own.

Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille 2.5ml sample: Smells too much like Flourish Woodsmoke & Vanilla, which I already have and love. I wouldn't bother with a full bottle.

The Morbid The Merrier Caramel Apple Lip Balm: I had to rip the label off this to see how much was left, that's why it's just white. As lip balms go (not a fan, necessary evil, yada yada) I really like TMTM ones, (though the last one I bought was slightly gritty). I would repurchase, but not for a while as I have a dozen or so lip balms on hand at the moment and it takes me forever and a day to use them up.