Operation Use It Up

I managed to finish up several products since the last empties post back in May. It seems like the months keep slipping by more quickly as the year goes on.

1. Paul & Joe Pressed Powder 03 is a finishing powder that gives a lovely glowy effect. The glimmer is a touch more obvious than Guerlain Meteorites but not too over-the-top. This has since been discontinued and replaced with the Pressed Powder Duo which combines matte and pearl face powders.

2. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rose is one of my favourite lip balms as it protects with SPF15 and never feels sticky on the lips. I just purchased the new Coral version which looks very promising.

3. Jurlique Citrus Purifying Mist is quite refreshing but I preferred the scent of the Rosewater version. It's also way too pricey for a face mist (this was a gift with purchase). I've switched to L'Occitane Angelica Mist which gives much better value for money (€12.50 for 100ml) and produces a finer mist.

4. Stila Lip Glaze in 08 Apricot has a glossy finish but does not feel particularly moisturising on the lips. It is also slightly tacky with an artificial fruity scent. The amount of product is so puny at a mere 1.5ml that it can be easily finished within 2-3 weeks with daily usage. Also, they are much cheaper than they used to be but the flip side is that these are now made in China.

5. K-Palette Lasting 2Way Eyebrow 01 is a daily staple, as it lasts much better than eyebrow powders and is a breeze to use. I go through one every two months and have re-purchased it too many times to count.

6. Sunsilk Hair Recovery Treatment turned out to be pretty average. It didn't weigh my hair down but I did not notice any significant improvement in my hair. Ingredients list is below.

7. Organix Moroccan Argan Oil also did not make my hair feel more hydrated or softer than usual, so it was a disappointment. The amount of argan oil in it is probably miniscule, given that it is tenth on the list of ingredients after silicones and perfume.

8. Percy & Reed Splendidly Silky Moisturising Shampoo had a lovely light floral scent. This did not leave my hair in tangles or feeling stripped, but it did not feel extra silky or glossy as promised. This contains sulfates.

9. L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Gentle Shampoo has a nice scent and cleanses well without stripping my hair. However, I find this too expensive to re-purchase.

10. Philosophy Tinsel Town has a delicious crisp berry scent. It lathers up very easily but my skin still needs moisturiser after using this, especially in the winter months.

11. Soap & Glory Flake Away is a body polish containing shea butter, sugar and peach seed. The scent is very strong and sweet, possibly too cloying for some people. It does provide excellent exfoliating action though.

12. The Body Shop Spa Wisdom Morocco Argan Oil & Orange Blossom Body Souffle has a wonderfully light texture that sinks into the skin without feeling greasy. However, it's just too pricey at S$39.90 for 200ml.

13. Paul & Joe Fragrance Body Cream 002 was part of a holiday set a couple of years ago. This felt slightly greasy on the skin and I didn't quite like the scent.

14. Lush Buche de Noel was a limited edition oats-based exfoliating face cleanser released for last Christmas. It reminded me very much of Angels on Bare Skin, except that this has a stronger cherry scent. This is gentle enough to use every day and rinses off cleanly without any residue.

15. L'Oreal Elseve Liss-Intense Serum Anti-Frizz used to work well for taming my hair but recently, it doesn't seem to provide the same sleekness as before so I won't be re-purchasing this.

16. L'Oreal Gentle Eye Makeup Remover is a daily staple that I've re-purchased many times as it does not irritate my eyes. The biphase remover takes off eyeshadows in a jiffy while mascara and eyeliner take a bit more effort to wipe off.

17. Pure Fiji Nourishing Exotic Oil in Coconut worked wonders with my hair, keeping it glossy and frizz-free throughout the day. The warm coconut scent takes a bit of getting used to though.