Summer Vichy Finds: Idéal Soleil Sun Care Reviews

We are half way through summer and while I am looking forward to fall (AKA my favourite season), I am quite enjoying the warmer weather. It hasn't been overly hot so I have been spending a lot of time outside. Summer is my least favourite season so I would've be so much more hesitant if I didn't have some new skincare products to help protect my skin during and after sun exposure. Thankfully, I was able to try out some sun-care products that I probably wouldn't have picked up myself, but thanks to Chickadvisor* I got the opportunity to try them. Spoiler alert: I love them. Continue reading for my full reviews on the VIchy Idéal Soleil Ultra Light Lotion SPF 30 and Vichy Idéal Soleil After Sun Hydrating Milk Care.

Vichy Idéal Soleil Ultra Light Lotion SPF 30 (‎30ml, $25.95 CAD)
I really enjoyed this sunscreen. For me, it lives up to it’s “ultra light lotion” claim and I don’t notice too much of a white cast. Though it is quite fast drying, it is still an easy product to apply. It hasn’t broken me out or given me any skin irritations which I am not surprised by because it doesn’t leave my skin looking greasy throughout the day. This lotion is quite pricey for the size that you get (30ml - and it's the same price as the ), but if you are looking for a new fairly matte sunscreen to try, this might be a good choice.

Vichy Idéal Soleil After Sun Hydrating Milk Care (300ml, $29.95 CAD)
This Vichy Idéal Soleil After Sun Hydrating Milk Care is pretty amazing. I never give much thought into after sun-care so I typically go for the cheaper drugstore brands, but I don’t know if I can go back to those having tried this product. The after sun hydrating milk care has ingredients that not only helps nourish and repair the skin after sun exposure, it also makes it more resistant against subsequent sun exposure - a huge bonus. This product has a lovely clean scent and a light milky consistency so it is super easy to apply. It leaves my skin feeling and looking so soft and supple that I have been using as a regular moisturizer, regardless of whether or not I have been spending time out in the sun! That being said, it is a bit pricey to buy solely for the purpose of a moisturizer but in the summer it is totally worth it. I feel like it really adds an extra level of care and overall nourishment which allows you to spend even more time outdoors.

These two products are easily my favourite new discoveries this summer. I always have them ready if I know that I would be lounging out in the sun! I will probably continue to use and repurchase the ultra light lotion throughout the year, and will finish up the After Sun Hydrating Milk Care until next summer rolls around! If you are still making the most of this gorgeous summer weather and sunshine like I am, I definitely recommend you check these products out!

XO Jenn

*received products free for testing purposes but as always, reviews are honest and opinions are of my own.

A Few of My Favourite Things: October

Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara - I got to try this mascara thanks to Chickadvisor and I genuinely love it. It has a big brush so it is able to grab all your lashes in one swipe. I definitely recommend this if you love having volumionus lashes.

MAC Lipstick in Candy Yum Yum - I agree, this shade is slightly too bright and more suitable for spring and summer! But I like to break this out now and then because it's bright and it makes me happy. I think it goes well with a dark scarf and outfit. Who says you can't wear bright lipstick during the fall and winter?

Anastasia Beverly Hill Brow Wiz - This is a cult favourite and I can see why. I've tried a handful of drugstore brow pencil and keep going back to this one even though it's 3x the price. The pencil is pigmented and goes on so smoothly and easily, and it stays on all day. Definitely worth the splurge! 

Kylie Cosmetics in Koko K - I am obsessed with this shade. Its opaque (I can easily get away with one or two layers) and it is long lasting without being overly drying. It's not too bright so its appropriate for the fall and winter!

MAKE UP FOR EVER Full Cover Concealer - This has been my go to concealer. I use it in the summer when I can't be bothered with heavy foundation, and I use it in the fall and winter when my skin is drier and I don't feel like putting foundation on my dry skin. A little bit of this stuff goes a long way!

What have you been loving lately? (Makeup bag is from Shiseido)

XO Jenn

Mini Review: Revlon Mega Multiplier Mascara

To be honest, I haven't had the most luck with Revlon mascaras but I am always intrigued by new mascara formulas. Revlon Mega Multiplier mascara promises “mega volume and extreme length” but I didn’t get that at all. I’ve tried other fiber/tubing mascaras before and this Revlon one fell flat compared to the others. It didn’t do much for my lashes: I didn’t get enough volume or length! In general, I find that most tubing mascaras don’t allow me layer on the mascara without getting clumpy anyway, and this one was no exception. With that being said, it is a good mascara if you are into a more natural look and are looking for a just a little something for your lashes. It is also more affordable than the other tubing mascara out there in the drugstore, which is a plus if you 're interested in trying the tubing technology.

Note that while this mascara doesn’t tend to flake or smudge underneath your eye, it is not waterproof - the tubes will break off and run down your face if you get your lashes wet.

XO Jenn

I received this as a gift from Influenster for testing purposes.

Feauturing: Shiseido WetForce BB VoxBox (Ultimate Cleansing Oil, Sports BB, & Urban Environment SPF Review)

This Shiseido WetForce BB VoxBox came just in time for the summer. Continue reading to find out what I thought about the products!

Shiseido Ultimate Cleansing Oil I love using coconut oil to remove my makeup at night so I was very excited to try this Shiseido Ultimate Cleansing Oil. Unfortunately, I found this cleansing oil to be fairly mediocre. It was a decent makeup remover for my face but it did not thoroughly remove my eye makeup - and I don’t even use waterproof mascara or a ton of eyeshadow. Another downside was that I found this oil to be a bit drying at times. I did love the light consistency though, and it gave quite a nice lather when I was rinsing it off so I didn’t have to worry about it leaving a residue on my face. Of course, it smelled wonderful as well. However, I don’t think I would purchase this cleansing oil as I prefer one that is more heavy duty than the Shiseido Ultimate Cleansing Oil can provide. 3.5/5

Shiseido Sports BB Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ WetForce I am a fan of the Shiseido Wet Force sunscreen so I was excited to try this. I know Shiseido sunscreens work well with my skin and this BB cream was no exception. The consistency wasn't too heavy or light, and the smooth texture made it easy to blend into the skin. Like most BB creams, Shiseido Sports BB also gave me light-medium/natural coverage. It is everything I look for in a BB cream plus the awesome bonus feature of it being waterproof; however I am not the biggest fan of their limited shade range (it only comes in fair, medium, and dark). I recommend this if you are active and are looking for a tinted water-resistant sunscreen. 4/5

Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 42 For Face I absolutely love this sunscreen. I usually don’t like shelling out money for high end sunscreens but this one is worth it. I love that it has a high enough SPF for me, is a broad spectrum sunscreen, and is oil-free. The consistency is light but creamy and feels luxurious, but is not hard to work into the skin nor does it leave too much of a white cast. Makeup application on top of this sunscreen is a breeze as well. It does not however make my skin look matte (as advertised) but it also does not make my skin look greasy which is fine by me. Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 42 For Face is all that I look for in a high quality sunscreen, I definitely recommend it. 4.5/5

XO Jenn

I received these products free from Influenster for testing purposes, but all opinions are honest and my own.

What's in My Bag? Summer Edition

imPress Press-On Manicure Canada VoxBox Review

In the imPress Press-On Manicure Influenster VoxBox, I received two designs; one with black lace detail on pink nails, and one that was a plain hot pink. In the pictures, you can see that each container/box contains a handful - 24 nails, 12 sizes, to be exact - of nail press-ons of different sizes, ensuring that you find one for each nail for both hands. I have rather wide thumbnails and the fact that I could find a pair that works was amazing to me. The shape of the press-on nails are of a square shape so it looks like you actually went to the nail salon and got them filed down like that, but minus the cost, time, and chemicals.

I was always under the impression that imPress - or any press-on nails  for that matter - had only intricate designs that you could not do free hand, but the plain hot pink set showed that imPress offers a wide range of designs and colours. I for one do not always gravitate towards nail art or nails with fancy designs so I really appreciate that imPress offers plain coloured ones as well. For days where you don't want crazy nail art on your nails, but still want perfect nails, you can still opt for plain press-ons.

I find these press-ons to be so fun and easy to use. Unlike the nail stickers where you actually have to shape the sticker yourself, this press-on nails automatically gives you a perfectly shaped nail. Sometimes my nails get stained from not using a base and using too much polish, so they look pretty rough, so this is the perfect option to cover that up. Also, this "mini kit" comes with something to prep your nails for the press-ons to ensure easy application and lasting results.

XO Nicole

Featuring: shu uemura Eyelash Curlers

I was cleaning out my beauty stash and found that I had a little shu uemura eyelash curler collection going on! This is the only high end eyelash curler that I have tried, and from what I have read, I think this is the best one for my eyelashes and my eye shape. I obviously don't plan to stray away from this anytime soon since I have two new ones waiting for me. You can never have enough eyelash curlers - leave one here, leave one there! The current one is a limited edition 24kt gold one. I've had it for probably 4 years now and it's going strong; however, the gold is starting to wear off the handles. I've clearly used this curler like crazy but I could never get myself to discard to quickly even though it is probably best to replace the whole curler after a few months or so.

P.S. the Karl Lagerfled limited edition eyelash curler is essentially shu's usual silver curler except it came with a cute little charm, Mon Shu, and a red pad instead of a white one.

XO Nicole

Summer 2013 Favourites (Updated with links)

L-R Clockwise
Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil - Honey Kissed - I broke this out again for the summer. This was also a summer favourite on mine for last summer (read about it here), however, I did use it more this summer than last and I realized that I really dislike the smell. The smell is not awful but it just lingers around for the whole day and can overpower my perfume. I will not be re-purchasing this because the smell does bother me a bit!

Jane Iredale Dream Tint Tinted Moisturizer - Again, this was in my summer favourites last year. Because this does not give me any coverage for me at all, I don't think I will be repurchasing this again, especially considering it is quite pricey for what it is.

MISSHA M Signature Real Complete B.B. Cream SPF 25 PA++ in No. 23- I have this in the shade No.23, which is described as a natural yellow beige on the Missha website, however, I still get a redish tinge to my skin. To lessen the effect of that and the coverage, I mix this with my Jane Iredale TM in a 1:1 ratio. I will not be re-purchasing this because the shade is not a perfect match!

Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum - read my full review here.

Maybelline The Rocket Volum’ Express Waterproof - read my full review here.

Physician Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trio in Black - I love this eyeliner so much because it does not budge and it goes on quite easy. I love this for days when I don't want to wear a dramatic wing, but because it is so easy to use, I find myself reaching for this even when I want to do a heavy wing.

Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow - To avoid using too much powder for the warmer months, I have been using this for my contour. It is very blendable and the shade is a cool, matte brown. I like using this with my Real Techniques Contour brush.

These were some of my favourites for this past summer. What were your guys' summer favourites?

XO Nicole

Spring Empties Part 5 - Face Makeup

Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm - I had a pleasant experience with Dr. Jart BB cream but I ready to move on. Even though it was good, I wanted to try something else. I really liked this BB cream but it did not last on my face and it felt kind of “filmy” and it does have a strong pink undertone to it. Look out for a comparison post between this BB cream and the new one I have been using. Read my full review here. Also look out for a post where I compare this BB cream with Missha BB cream.

CLEAN & CLEAR Soothing Eye Makeup Remover - I am so happy that I finally finished this makeup remover! I purchased this on a whim because I needed some kind of makeup remover so I didn't have time to read the reviews on this. This is probably the worst makeup remover that I have ever tried. No matter how much I use and how long I leave it the cotton round on my eye, nothing comes off – even with a little bit of rubbing. Keep in mind that I do wear a bajillion layers of waterproof mascara but the fact that this barely removed even one layer is a bit ridiculous. This did do the job of removing makeup on the skin (ie. Mascara on my eyelids) but again, I have tried better. Read my review on a new makeup remover that actually works on me!

Skindinavia No More Shine Makeup Setting Spray - This makeup setting spray does nothing for me. I still get oily half way through the day (I don't have overly oily skin either) and my makeup does not last all day. My days can start from 6am – 12am and even though I am not expecting my makeup to look exactly the way that it did at 7am, this spray does not keep my makeup looking great halfway through the day. That being said, I have 2 more bottles of this to go. One of them is the bridal version so hopefully that one will deliver.

Maybelline Dream Matte Pressed Powder - Another Dream Matte powder done! Although this does a great job in mattifying the face, I am ready for something new. I do recommend this for very oily skin. It's a great powder - I just hate the packaging.

XO Nicole

Spring Empties Part 4: Eye Makeup

COVERGIRL LashBlast Volume Mascara - Thank goodness it's time to throw this mascara away. My feelings for this mascara have not changed even though my lashes are a bit longer than when I first tried this a few years ago. The brush is way too big and fat for my eyes so the mascara just ends up everywhere. I am partial to lengething mascaras and the fibre bristles over the plastic ones.

L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes - On the other hand, I love L'Oreal's Voluminous False Fiber Lashes mascara. I had a Maybelline (Illegal Length Fiber Extensions) backup waiting for me so I couldn't go repurchase this one for the time being but I will definitely be going back to this. The brush on this mascara grabs all of my lashes and extends them nicely. The fibres aren't crazy and they don't clump as bad as the Maybelline one when I layer them.


Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (Original) - I don't wear a lot of eyeshadow so this mini sample of UDPP took me a while to get through. I even took out the stopper to get every inch of product I could. I haven't tried any other primers so I cannot really compare it with anything else. It does a great job of what it is advertised to do; it keeps my eyeshadow on and helps with the vibrancy.

Zino Eyelash Enhancing Serum - I showed this in my Asia Beauty products haul (read here). Although this lengthened my lashes, I really noticed its potency once I switched to Talika's Lipocils. Compared to Lipocils, this only lengthened my lashes just a little bit. There are definitely better and more potent lash enhancers out there so I would not recommend this if you are looking for something to give you really long lashes.

Spring Empties Part 3: Facial Care

Sophyto Balancing Daily Moisturizer - This moisturizer cost me ~$32CAD but I really don't know what is so great about it. It's moisturizing and it has good ingredients but it is way overpriced for what it is. I am sure that there are cheaper alternatives out there that offer the same benefits.

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum - Wow, did this serum go fast or what? This is my first full sized serum so I wasn't sure what to expect. I guess this is probably the time span of 30ml of products when you use one pea-sized amount each night. Overall, this serum helped my face through the winter months. I have oily skin so I was able to get away with using this but if you have really dry skin or live somewhere colder than Montreal, I would suggest going for something more moisturizing. It smells really nice and absorbs in your skin really quickly so I was able to use this in the mornings too prior to putting on my makeup. I would repurchase this again sometime in the future for the spring or summer. It smells amazing and I love the packaging; the bottle is made out of glass and it has a plastic pump which dispenses the perfect right amount.

Caudalie Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Crème - Unlike the serum, the moisturizer did not smell at all.  I felt that even though this moisturizer did absorb into my skin relatively fast, it left my skin a bit shiny until I put powder over my BB cream. The consistency is more of a lotion rather than a "creme" so this was a bit too light to wear as a night time moisturizer. I wore this in the morning underneath my makeup. I probably would not repurchase this on its own again.

Origins Super Spot Remover Acne Treatment Gel – I went through this mini full sized bottle quite fast. The thing with this is that it did not work for me. It did not dry up my pimples as fast as I hoped for. In fact, it works the same as my drugstore spot treatments. Needless to say, I will not be spending another $16 on this mini product. Next up is the Mario Badescu drying lotion!

Clarisonic Replacement Brush Head (Delicate) - This is the first acne Clarisonic brush head I tried and it so much softer than the original. After having to go back to the original, I think I much prefer this brush head better because it is more gentle.

XO Nicole

Spring Empties Part 2: Facial Cleansers

Clearasil StayClear 3-in-1 Deep Cleanser, Ultra Cleansing Gel Wash && Ultra Overnight Wash - I believe Clearasil keeps my acne at bay so that is my acne cleanser of choice. I prefer their gel cleansers over their cream ones (which also have gentle exfoliating beads in them) even though the cream/3-in-1 line smells less offensive. The night version and original gel cleansers both work the same for me – same ingredients, just different look to the gel. I will be repurchasing Clearasil Ultra.

Boscia Clear Complexion Tonic with Botanical Blast – This did not helped me achieve a “clear complexion” but I didn't think it was really suitable for me anyways. I think this is more targetted toward those with minor imperfections. I will say though that the smell of this is really straight up chemicals – it actually reminded me of the smell of some cleaning products.

Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Gel - I finished another sample bottle of the Simple cleanser. I wouldn't repurchase this because it only does a OK job of removing all my makeup, and it doesn't have additional benefits. It also has parabens in it.

XO Nicole

Spring Empties Part 1: Body Care

Here is part one of my spring empties series! Let's start with the "boring" stuff first.

Softsoap Milk Protein & Honey Body Wash & Vaseline Total Moisture Cocoa Radiant - Nothing special about these products. They both smell great but the scents don't last. The funny thing about the Softsoap body wash is that the soap itself is a gooey/slimey consistency that you can actually throw it up in the air and catch it in your hand and it would still be one long blob. It's pretty fun but weird at the same time.

Dr. Bronner's Organic Peppermint Lip Balm - I enjoyed this lip balm. It is moisturizing and is made up of all organic ingredients. The scent however, I am not too crazy about. The peppermint is a bit too strong for me. I would repurchase this in a differnt scent. Also, because this is very moisturizing, it leaves my lips looking more glossy than I usually perfer it to be, so I wouldn't mind trying something that is just as moisturizing but absorbs more quickly into the lips! It does a great job though.

Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve - I really enjoyed this hand lotion. It has eucalyptus in it so it's soothing as well as very moisturizing. This was a real saviour for me during the winter. It does absorb into your skin better than the average hand cream and even though it has a thicker consistency, you do not need a whole lot. The only thing that is keeping me from buying a full sized tube this is that it does contains parabens.

La Senza Hello Sugar! - I do not believe that they sell this at La Senza anymore but I bought this when  and I was just getting into perfumes and this was on a 40% off sale. This reminds me of a much cheaper version of Aquolina's Pink Sugar. I am so glad to be done this because it just smells cheap – nice but cheap.

XO Nicole

Featuring Bath & Body Works Cafe Au Lait Candle

I decided to feature this lovely candle from my B&BW haul (read the post here). I was comtemplating of whether to burn this candle or not because the packaging just looks so pretty. I currently have this sitting on my nightstand by my bed. I really love this scent because it is not overly sweet but it smells really delicious!

XO Nicole

Standout Skincare and Beauty Products of 2012

The year of 2012 has been a quiet year for me in terms of buying new "unnecessary" makeup as I initially set out a 12 limit beauty product buy last year - which I failed miserably, but nonetheless, I did find some great products that I could argue were more on the "necessary" side. Most of these products were either "needed" for the face or cleanser or remover.

1. SEPHORA COLLECTION Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover - I am a mascara/big lashes fiend - if you know me, you will know that I am absolutely obsessed with layering my mascaras. By the end of the night, I probably have 10+ coats of waterproof mascara on and this is the only eye makeup remover that I have found to be even close to effective in removing any mascara.
2. Cover Fx Pressed Mineral Foundation - Since I have been using a BB cream this year, I needed a bit of help for that extra coverage and this product has been amazing. Not only are there a huge variety of shades that I found one that matches me perfectly, but this product is so finely milled and pigmented that it does not make me look cakey at all. 
3. Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm - I love this product - it matches me great, has decent coverage and has a lot of great benefits! Read my full review here.
4. Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel - This has to be my favorite cleanser that I have tried this year. It smells great, a little goes a long way and it removes makeup amazingly! This is perfect to use in conjuction with a Clarisonic too, however, the one downside to this product is that it contains parabens! If this cleanser did not have parabens, I would definitely be repurchasing this. If parabens do not bother you, I highly recommend this cleanser - it is a bit pricey for a cleanser but it is really lovely.
5. Skindinavia Original Make Up Setting Spray - I purchased this on a whim but this product proved to come in handy when I was in a rush and layered my makeup quickly (and sometimes, very messy) but with a few spitz of this spray, I did not have to worry. My makeup looks nicely blended afterwards (I don't really know how?) and it makes my makeup lasts longer than when I go without this product. It does not control oiliness though.
6. Jurlique Calendula Cream - This is a pricey moisturizer but it has proved to worth it. At first, it is quite a thick consistency but when you warm it between your fingertips (as directed on the tube), it becomes very easily to apply to the skin. It contains Calendula which is an anti-inflammatory agent to soothe the skin and reduce any redness. I have been using this at night even though it says it is most ideal for daytime and in particular, after sun-exposure, but nonetheless, when I wake up in the morning, my skin is not as red.
7. NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna - I finally broke this out because I did not want it to go to waste and I love this stuff. I have super pale skin and this adds such a nice warm glow to my complexion. I never go without this product when I am wearing makeup - I would even choose this over blush any time when I was in a rush.
8. L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes - Fibre mascaras are definitely the way to go if you are looking for length. I have tried the Maybelline Illegal Lengths and loved it but I find this mascara to be more lengthening and volumizing. This is probably most lenghthening mascara I have used thus far.

Hope you all had an amazing 2012 and on a more materialistic level (in relation to this post), have found some standout/HG products like I did. Check out my wishlist of products that I am looking forward to try for the upcoming year.

Related posts:

Sephora Haul (Cover Fx, Origins, Lancôme, Dior) 
Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm Photos, Swatches and Review
Skindinavia Haul
Nordstrom (Mario Badescu, Bobbi Brown), Coach, Las Vegas Souvenirs Haul

XO Jenny

Empties Part 4: Misc (Body Wash, Hair, Perfume)

L'Oreal Re-Nutrition Intense Mask - Although this is marketed as an intense moisturizing deep conditioner, I did not find it to do much to my hair. I used it very infrequently because I just could not stand the smell! Maybe that’s why I did not see much results because I was not consistent with it. I do not know how to describe the smell but make sure you give it a sniff before you buy it.

Dove VisibleCare Toning Crème Body Wash - Here is another one of the gimmicky products. Seriously, who is to believe that a body wash would help “tone” your body? Let’s not be so optimistic. The reason I purchased this was for the smell. I love Dove body washes as they are super creamy and they last for quite a long time so I thought I’d give this line a try so I obviously opted for this one. The smell is very fresh and clean. I love it regardless of whether it helps with elasticity or not (which, I do not think it did but perhaps with more continued use?)

Even though I am nearing the end of Lola and Princess, and growing tired of Fancy (gee, these are such girly perfumes I have eh? Fancy Princess Lola!), I am restraining myself from opening my Lancome La Vie est Belle perfume and/or purchasing a new one (ie. Miss Dior) because I have so many perfume samples to use up. I am not going to go over all the perfume but I will mention those that stood out. 

From left to right (in the photo):

Giorgio Armani Armani Code Pour Femme - I actually grew to like this after my second use of this sample. At first, I found it to be a bit too fresh for my liking (I like musky sexy scents) but this becomes almost sweet while keeping that freshness.

Twirl By Kate Spade

Givenchy Play For Her - I was surprised by this one because I thought I would not like it (the packaging is ugly so I never paid attention to it - uh, superficial? but seriously, look up the full size product if you’ve never seen it and let me know if you would like to keep this out on your vanity), but it’s a very sweet and young/flirty scent that I think would be perfect for the day time when I’m feeling adventurous. When I came home, I almost bought myself the smallest bottle of this for spring!

Hanae Mori Butterfly - This perfume was just awful. It’s very sweet but it also has this very distant note to it that makes it smell obnoxious. I had to make myself use this up because I did not want to waste a sample… yes. It seems like a lot of people like it but I absolutely do not.

Lancôme La Vie est Belle - I enjoyed this but its sweetness reminded me so much of Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb, which I am not crazy about in the first place. The one major thing about this scent was that it did not last long at all. It was also very faint.

Bvlgari Mon Jasmin Noir

FlowerbyKenzo - Oh my goodness, I hated this scent so much that I had much rather go without perfume than spraying this one. This scent straight up reminds me of public washrooms ... clean public washrooms, as in the smell of the generic soap or washing agents the cleaners use to clean the washrooms. So yeah, this perfume reminds me of washrooms.

Other relevant post:

My Current Perfume Collection

Empties Part 3 - Skincare

As you can probably see this pile of different moisturizers for different needs, however, I am not going to review all of these products as most of these are mini samples that were not sufficient enough for me really get a feel for the product and its longterm effects. I will only touch on some of these products! 

1. Clinique Youth Surge Age Decelerating Moisturizer
2. DHC Concentrated Eye Cream - This eye cream was a bit too light and thin for my liking. It did do a good job of hydration but I feel that for the price of $41.50, I would have preferred an eye cream that was more heavy duty, especially for night time. With that said, even though this product was light, it did not absorb quickly into the skin, making daytime-use with this not the best either.
3. DHC Acerola Gel - This thing was seriously pricey for this small tube of stuff. I used this in the morning prior to putting my makeup on. The only pro about this is that it is very lightweight and that it absorbed fast (duh, it's a gel). Other than that, I didn't see a lot of different in my skin.
4. Curel Targeted Therapy Foot Therapy
5. Vichy Normaderm Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care - This did not help with my acne. I think this product is geared more towards skin types that have minor imperfections.
6. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock, SPF 60 - I highly recommend this product if you hate the feel of thick and heavy suncreens. This absorbs really quickly into your skin and does not feel heavy at all.
7. the balm White Tea Juniper Face 
8. DHC Acerola Cream
9. Sephora Collection Instant Moisturizer
10. Mario Badescu's Hyaluronic Eye Cream Sample
11. Mario Badescu Collagen Moisturizer SPF 15

Most of these facial moisturizers I have found are nice - in that they are lightweight, does not leave a greasy feeling and absorbs quite quickly, however, I didn't find anything special about them that would make me want to repurchase. For me, I am very picking with moisturizers; in addition to do all that I have mentioned, I would also like to have some benefits for the skin!

XO Jenny

Empties Part 2 - Cleansers

1. Freeman Facial Enzyme Mask Pineapple - I have only used this once as a mask because I do not like the feel of this as it does not harden and dry like typical masks. It just sits on your face. I use it more like a cleanser. What I do is crush up so aspirin (salicylic acid) and massage that on my skin as an exfoliator for a ~20seconds and then massage some of the pineapple mask over the aspirin for another 20seconds. I learned this based on nuberxo’s suggestion in one of her videos on youtube. The aspirin helps exfoliate while targeting any problem areas and the enzymes from the pineapple mask is also able to penetrate into the skin, leaving your face to be super smooth, bright, and supple afterwards. The mask has pineapple extract and AHA exfoliant (we all know how much I love my AHA)!
2. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - This stuff smells amazing - let’s just get that out of the way. This product is different than anything I have tried: it is a powder that you mix with water to exfoliate. I have received two of these from previous beauty subscription boxes so I have had to opportunity to really see the results of continued use. If I did not own a Clarisonic, I would definitely repurchase the full sized product of this. It leaves my skin super smooth and it really helps reduce the appearance of my pores. It’s not rough like the St. Ives apricot scrub but it is sufficient to get the dead stuff off your skin while combating your acne with the salicylic acid.
3. Clarisonic Nourishing Care Cleanser - This cleanser is orange scented and it smells lovely. I do not have dry skin so I cannot say this that this really helped in that area. This product is nothing special. I used it with my Clarisonic to remove makeup and it does the job. This product may be discontinued now though.
4. Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel - LOVED this, but for some reason, I've only ever did mini reviews on this. I think it's because I only purchased the travel size and I don't have enough pictures of it for a full review?
5. Clarisonic Gentle Hydro Cleanser - This has to be the worst smelling cleanser I have used in a while. Okay, it's not nasty nasty, but the smell reminds me kind of like vomit (sorry if that totally grossed you out). I thought this cleanser was great (aside from the scent); it did a good job removing my makeup in conjuction with my Clarisonic and with its white milky creamy consistancy, it allowed my Clarisonic to really glide easily all over the face to remove all the makeup. I would not repurchase only because it is pricey for a cleanser whose main purpose is to remove makeup with the Clarisonic.
6. Neutrogena SkinID Toner #40 - I feel like this toner is just like any other toner that I've used and purchased from the drugstore. This did not do anything with my acne. 

Stay tuned for part 3 of this Empties series!

XO Jenny

Empties Part 1 - Makeup

This is part one of my Empties series (I have broken my trash categorically). I wanted to get rid of these products that I've used up during this year to officially clear the makeup path for new products for the new year. This is part 1 of 4 Empties post that I will be posting leading up to the new year! Stay tuned to see what new products I am anticipating for 2013, some of which will be repurchases and some will be replacements for some of the products seen in this series!

NYX Powder blushes in Natural and Taupe - I am surprised that I have already finished my Taupe "blush" because I only use it for contouring purpose but at the same time, I guess it's not that surprising because it is a product that I consistently use if I am wearing makeup, as this is the only matte bronzer that I own besides NYC Sunny. Both these blushes are matte and are super pigmented and goes on the skin very smoothly. Natural was one of my very first NYX blushes and it is always my go-to blush. I recommend Natural because it is such a simple and natural shade.

Jessica Simpson 'Fancy' EDP Rollerball -  I love this perfume. It's smells so fresh but elegant at the same time. Although rollerballs are not my favorite because for some reason, the scent does not tend to stay on me as long, but this scent lingers for a long time.

Buxom Lashliner - I've had this lashliner since forever so I was super happy that I finally finished this. This gel liner was not the best for me because it tend to smudge and it was not long lasting at all. The last power did improve when I used the Urban Decay Primer Potion underneath but I definitely prefer the Bobbi Brown gel liner instead.

Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer - I've had this concealer for the longest time that it even became discontinued during the time I had this. I really like the consistency of this because it is very lightweight and easily blendable but it does not cover blemishes well. I tend to use this for under the eye.

Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover - This waterproof eye makeup remover is the only remover that works on my layers and layers of waterproof mascara. I definitely recommend this if you use waterproof mascara!

I also had a few perfume samples scattered in this photo above but I think I will do a separate blog post on those!

XO Jenny