Hello lovelies,
it seems that being persistent pays off. When the month started, I didn’t think I’d have so many empties, but I’ve determinately stuck with using up the products and the result is here – the biggest empties post so far. Even though there is a lot of small samples, there’s still quite a generous amount of full sized products. Surprisingly, several make-up items are gone, too (among which the unspendable Dior blush). In the light of my pre no-buy haul, I’m glad to have more space.
L’Oreal Preference Shampoo 40ml This shampoo came with a hair dye. It is ok, but it can’t be purchased separately.
Dead Sea Body Minerals Bath & Shower Gel 30ml (x2) I found more of these minis. The pine and mint scent really transports me back to the beach, so this is the reason why I’m using it again. It is an ok shower gel and I might purchase it if I knew where to get it.
Oriflame Tender Care Balm Vanilla 15ml This is my go to product for super dry skin on my elbows. With just a couple of applications, my skin is fixe and doesn’t burn or itch. I prefer this scented variety to the non-scented one, although neither smells great. I’m now onto Coconut version and I’ll continue to repurchase it.
Sephora Nourishing Nail Balm 9gr I bought this back when I didn’t want to spend the money on Dior Crème Abricot. A little went a long way, but it took hours to absorb. It works ok, but I found out that I prefer oils to nourish my nails.
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L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream 10ml A nice but not very rich foot cream. For the price I’d expect something more moisturizing. If you do not have problems with cracked skin, this cream will be ok for maintaining, but it won’t help to repair your skin. I won’t repurchase.
L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream 10ml This is a pretty nice, but very expensive cream. It is pretty moisturizing and helps even with seriously cracked and dry skin on your hands. At the same time it absorbs quickly. I had a full size, but I don’t think I’d repurchase it at the moment.
L’Occitane Roses et Reines Hand & Nail Cream 10ml This cream is considerably lighter than the Shea Butter one. I won’t repurchase.
Sisley Crème Reparatrice Corps 15 ml A lovely cream – it is super moisturizing and restoring. It sinks quickly and it is great to use on sunburnt skin. Of course, it is super expensive so I won’t purchase it as I have found several more affordable alternatives (namely Clarins).
Sisley Soir de Lune Moisturizing Perfumed Body Cream 8ml I’ve finally gotten rid of these – as a body cream it is great – very moisturizing, but I can’t handle the scent. If you like strong chypre scents, this might be for you.
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Clarins Moisture Rich Body Lotion 400ml Oh, how I regret not buying another duo pack of these instead of that stupid sunscreen which I didn’t even like. I got two bottles of this in duty free for a bargain of approximately 35 euros and this month I finished the second one. It is an excellent body lotion and it was my savior in winter. Right now I have other body lotions, but I might repurchase it one day.
Primavera Jojoba Oil 100ml This oil has ruined the skin on my face – it clogged pores and caused nasty breakouts. After that I put it away and found it again after five years as I was cleaning out my collection. Since it was almost full and didn’t change smell I decided not to be wasteful and use it on my legs and feet. The oil itself is pretty runny and not as fast absorbing. On a plus side, it didn’t cause breakouts on the body. However, it is not especially moisturizing, so I won’t repurchase it. There are other oils that work much better for me.
L’Occitane Roses et Reines Shower Scrub 70ml As a scrub it doesn’t work since there are not enough of exfoliating particles, but it is an ok shower gel. I won’t repurchase.
Caudalie Divine Oil 15ml This was featured in my favourites for a reason. It is a nice all-purpose oil which I prefer to use on my body or hair (I have yet to get courage to use it on my face). The scent is divine, too. It is by no means essential, but I might repurchase a mini as a luxury treat.
L’Occitane Roses et Reines Beautifying Body Milk 75ml It is a nice, lightweight, fast absorbing body milk with slightly strong scent. I won’t repurchase.
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Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet 10ml I’m still on the fence with this moisturizer. It is nice, but I feel as it isn’t moisturizing enough for my skin. I have a couple of deluxe samples to go. Hopefully, it will help me decide to make up my mind.
Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask 10ml This is a nice cream mask, although I seem to see better results with Floral mask than this one. At the moment I don’t plan to repurchase it as I’m more interested in Caudalie skincare range (which works great for me), but who knows.
Avène Ystheal + Eye Contour 3ml I didn’t use it consistently enough to notice benefits of retinol, but it is a nice yet not too moisturizing cream. I need to combine it with something more moisturizing. I have another sample which I’ll try during winter to see whether it works.
Sisley All Day All Year 10ml Sisley, why are you doing this to me? Like a majority of Sisley products, this cream is really good. However, it doesn’t have any added benefits other than being a great moisturizer, which is not acceptable for the price of $300+. I certainly wouldn’t say no to another sample or if I got it as a gift, but I’m not willing to spend so much money for a basic moisturizer.
Vichy Idealia Life Serum 3ml (x2) This serum reminds me of Estee Lauder’s Spotlight in that it has shimmery pigments in it. It is moisturizing, but I haven’t noticed other effects. I have several more samples left, so I’ll hold my judgment until then.
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Guerlain L’Instant Magic edp 1ml While I’m still undecided about L’Instant, L’Instant Magic is on my wishlist since the day it launched. It is very pleasant, elegant scent. I definitely need to buy a full size.
Random fragrance sample decanted into Douglas atomizer I think it something by Moschino, but I’m not sure. Anyway, I didn’t like it.
Lancôme Magnifique edp 1.5ml An ok scent, but nothing to write home about.
Versace Versense edt 1.5 ml I don’t like this one – too green and citrusy.
Versace Vanitas edp 1.5ml I like it, but not enough to purchase a full size.
D&G La Lune edt 1.5ml Nothing special.
Oriflame Eclat edt 1ml Unremarkable scent. I’m not the fan of it.
Oriflame Enigma edt 1ml Unremarkable scent. I’m not the fan of it.
Cartier Delices de Cartier edt 1.5ml The bottle of this fragrance is the cutest thing ever, but the fragrance isn’t my cup of team. I’ve had a full-size and it was torture to use it as this fragrance is way too fruity for my liking.
Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Bergamoto di Calabria 1,2ml It smells nicer in the bottle than on the skin. Again, way too citrusy for me.
Ferre Eau de Parfum 1.5ml This is a nice scent, but not something I’d repurchase.
Nuxe Prodigieux Le Parfum 1ml I adore the scent of Nuxe Prodigieuse line so this fragrance was a disappointment. It smells nice, but not as rich and intoxicating as Huile Prodigieuse. I don’t think they have managed to trasfter L’Huile Prodigieuse scent into a fragrance.
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Nuxe Aroma Perfection Anti Imperfection Care 2ml This was surprisingly thick for a cream that is intended for oily skin. It is a nice cream, but I won’t repurchase it as I have other moisturizers I prefer more.
Nuxe Crème Prodigieuse Anti-Fatigue Moisturizing Cream 2ml This cream is also pretty thick and has a divine scent. I like it so far, but this sample was too small to tell more, so I’ll save my opinion until I’ve had a chance to try a bigger sample.
La Roche Possay Effaclar H 2ml (x3) I seriously hate this. After using Caudalie Polyphenol C15 my skin was finally behaving itself and then I had to use this. This gave me some pretty nasty breakouts, plus, it wasn’t especially moisturizing. I definitely won’t repurchase.
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Eucerin AQUAporin Active Eye Contour Cream 1ml (x2) This is another light, beginner eye contour cream. I can see myself purchasing it as a daytime eye contour cream since it is pretty lightweight and sinks in quickly, but I need more hydration during night.
Bioderma Sebium Pore Refiner 1ml (x2) OMG, where have you been during my teenage years when I was battling with super oily skin? Had I discovered this earlier, I would have saved myself a lot of money by not purchasing Sisley Tropical Resins complex which, up until now, was the best thing to mattify the skin. The samples were too small and I didn’t use them consistently to notice the effects in minimizing pores, but it works prefect as a mattifying primer. Seriously, it is the best product there. I’d advise to be careful if you are prone to dryness or dehydration, as Bioderma Pore Refiner is slightly more drying than Sisley. I will probably get it just to have it in case I need a mattifying product.
Lancôme Visionnaire Advanced Multi Correcting Cream 2ml The sample was sufficient for only a couple of uses. The cream is on a thicker side and pretty moisturizing, but I’m not intrigued enough to purchase it.
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Sisley Floral Toning Lotion 30ml I’ve gone through a countless deluxe samples of this and I still love it (if it weren’t for the price).
Caudalie Cleansing Water 30ml I’m not too satisfied with this cleansing water. It smells nice, but there are better micellar waters when it comes to removing make-up. It is a nice luxury treat and I would not refuse it as a gift, but right now I’m more interested in efficiency, so I’ll stick to Garnier Micellar Water.
Sisley Lyslait 30ml I like Lyslait a little less than Floral Toning Lotion, but it is still a nice cleanser (I have to mention that my favorite is cleansing milk with sage). This one, I would not repurchase.
Caudalie Polyphenol C15 SPF20 Anti Wrinkle Protect Fluid 15ml It is again an item I’ve reviewed and this is something that I will definitely repurchase in winter.
Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Anti Wrinkle Defense Serum 10ml I think I’ve said all that needs to be said in my review. It is a very nice serum which I’ll probably repurchase.
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Dior Diorblush #943 Strawberry Sorbet 7.5gr Finally. After six years, it is finally gone. I loved it, but I’m glad now I have a chance to use something else.
La Roche Possay Hydreane BB Crème Light 1ml Once I’m done with Oriflame, I think this will be my next BB cream. The coverage is light, but the cream itself is very nice and I really liked how it made my skin look. Surprisingly, the shade matched me too.
Guerlain Blush 4 Eclats 01 Tendre Aurore 9gr Before contouring became a big thing, this was my go to contour/higlight set. When I look back, the brown part was too warm for contouring, but back then this was the best I had.
Clinique Almost Powder #03 Light 0.04gr This sample was pretty small, but it is an ok powder. It did mattify a bit and wasn’t too cakey, but I wouldn’t repurchase it as there are other powders I like more.
Artdeco Eyeshadow #92 0,8gr This was a dark eggplant purple which was much nicer in the pan than on my eyelids. It went sheer, uneven and didn’t blend well.
Artdeco Eyeshadow #284 0.8gr This is my replacement product for Oriflame eyeshadow which broke in my 14 for 2014 project. It was a nice pale lavender eyeshadow which I didn’t like back then when I bought it, but which I grew to like. Artdeco eyeshadows are top quality, but I have more than enough eyeshadows and I won’t repurchase it.
Artdeco Eyeshadow #22 0,8gr This one was a beautiful shimmery gold with strong orange undertones. I liked the formula – it went on like a dream and was super pigmented, but the color was a bit too orange for my liking.
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Eveline 3 in 1 Dry, Hard and Shine Nail Polish 12ml While I adore their base coat, I do not like this top coat at all. It is neither drying not does it add shine, especially when compared to Seche Vite. I certainly won’t repurchase it.
Rimmel Apocalips in Nude Eclipse 5.5ml I generally like these lipglosses, but I didn’t care for this shade because it gave me a corpse-like look. I won’t repurchase this shade, but I might get some of the brighter ones.
Sundance Lip Balm SPF30 10ml This was hiding in my collection for a year and this summer I decided that enough is enough and started to use it. It has a light, sweet minty taste and it spreads easily, but you need a lot of product. So much that I’ve spent the whole tube in 10 days. I’m not a fan of the scent and I do not find it very moisturizing – the only plus is the SPF, so I wouldn’t repurchase it.
Apivita Lip Care with Pink Rose 4.4gr This is a great tinted lip balm which I didn’t review because the first time I used it, the bullet broke. I guess it was too warm. It has strong rose scent which weakens after you apply it and it gives a light tint (in my case it slightly lightens the natural color of my lips). It is pretty moisturizing and I plan to repurchase this (and maybe Cherry) in winter. Hopefully, they won’t break.
Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara I don’t like it as much. It is very clumpy and it takes a lot of work to make it look decent on my lashes. I won’t repurchase.
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JULY TOTAL
FULL SIZE: 14
MINI: 18
SAMPLE: 28
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2014 TOTAL (july update)
FULL SIZE: 46
MINI: 59
SAMPLE: 83
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Well, these are my July empties. Part of me is elated that I’ve used up so much and the other part of me intensely disliked just how much time it takes to write up such a post. I have to say, though, that these numbers are starting to look nice. I wonder if I’ll be able to reach 100 in every category until the end of the year.
xoxo Tamara
