Showing posts with label Dior. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dior. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Empties 2024

So how did I do in 2024 on using up stuff? Let's take a look..

Skincare, cleansers, spf and facial sprays

Skin care, concealer, gloss and more

Items used up on holiday

Facial soap, powder and lip balm

Sheet masks and skincare samples


Items I used up:

Kiehl's - Creamy eye treatment with avocado (14 ml): I did like this eye cream, the only annoying thing about it, is the fact that the formula always separates from time to time, oil away from cream, so you have to shake it back together. 
Lancome - Hydra zen anti-stress moisturising cream (30 ml): This facial cream is super light, and worked well over the summer. It was not moisturizing enough for me in the winter. 
Clinique - Take the day off cleansing balm (125 ml): This was a part of my project pan for 2024 and I do really like it, even though I promised myself not to repurchase I already fell to temptation at TJ Maxx. 
Lumene - Pure arctic miracle micellar cleansing water (500 ml): This item I purchased years ago whilst in Finland visiting a friend, it had started to get a bit yellow in the bottle, and I could see like floating oil on top of the liquid inside the bottle, so it was about time for it to be used up. 
The body shop - Aloe calming toner (250 ml): This toner has remained my tried and true toner for a few years. 
Nivea - Care & orange shower cream (250 ml): This I purchased while on holiday in Greece years ago. It was an average shower cream.
Supergoop - Zinc screen 100% mineral lotion SPF 40 (50 ml): This bottle is labelled at the bottom to expire in April 2021 - finally it is finished. I now already have two sunscreens going. 
Evian - Brumisateur facial spray, moisturizes, refreshes, tones (50 ml): This was gifted to me from one of my airlines passenger, and as it comes in a small bottle, I kind of swapped the toner I intended to pan in 2024 out for this one, and moved it into my work purse and aimed to spray it once per flight. There is a tiny bit left in the bottle, but I can not spray it out. So it is pretty much done, seriously doubt I would buy it though. 
Rudolph care - Acai facial mist toner (30 ml): If I remember correctly I purchased this one in the duty free at CPH airport a while back. I ended up putting it in my travel bag, and that way it was used up quickly and I am sure I will use the bottle for something else in the near future. 
Dr. Organic - Organic snail gel (50 ml):
Biossance - Squalane + omega repair cream (15 ml):
Five vits - Daily shampoo (40 ml): This and the conditioner is in one of our hotels we stay at in the US for work. It is the perfect size for travel and was used up either on a trip or when I go to the gym. It is a decent shampoo.
Five vits - Daily conditioner (40 ml): Decent conditioner, I have dark colored hair, and am not in particular fuzzy about shampoos or conditioners. And usually find them to be of an ok quality, the same goes for this one - the scent I love in particular, it does not smell like any conditioner I have smelled before.
Vichy - Aqualia thermal rehydrating cream light (50 ml): This I purchased in Canada summer of 2019 - so it was way past it expiration date (8/21). And the fact that the serum remains in my stash seriously has made me rethink about buying so many items that they keep on expiring in my closets before I get around to using them.
Abercrombie & Fitch - First instinct eau de parfum (2 ml): I really like the scent of this perfume. I do not smell after I apply it, so I guess it suits me well. I might even consider purchasing it as I seem to have developed a sensitivity to fragrances in the last few years, and many of the scents I try spraying on in store, and wear throughout the day tend to give me a headache or I can smell them through the remainder of the day (and I mean not in a good way).
Clarins - Mascara supra volume in 01 intense black (3.5 ml): I really loved this mascara, and that even for a natural bristle brush wand (I used to love plastic wands). This I believe came in a gift set I purchased for myself. Would consider repurchasing if I did not have a backup stash of 4 or 5 mascaras or more. 
Rimmel - Wonder'full brow 24hr waterproof brow mascara with fibres (4.5 ml): This I won in some online game, and got it for free. It is actually amazing! I am not sure what the color is, I assume it is 002 and I love it in my brows! Will repurchase for sure when I get through the clear gels in my stash. 
Crabtree & Evelyn - Pear and pink magnolia hand therapy (25 ml): A nice hand cream, not amazing though. 
Drunk Elephant - Beste no. 9 jelly cleanser (30 ml): This I got as a part of a Sephora birthday gift a few years back. Since it has lived in my gym bag, and now just got finished.
Ecooking - Night cream (50 ml): I loved this night cream, and as a matter of a fact, I think it is the first night cream I ever purchased or tried. It smells a bit herbal, but I believe it is a clean brand and has good ingredients. 
Bio effect - EGF day serum (2 x 5 ml): I have no recollection on where I got these from, gift with purchase or what, but they were nice, but happy I got to use up a few samples/testers this year.
The body shop - Aloe soothing toner (250 ml): Another empties of my favorite toner, it has since last empties bottle been reformulated and now is in a different packaging. Thank god the formula has not changed too much and is gentle enough on my sensitive skin. 
Taramar - Night treatment (10 ml): Me and my crew were gifted this from one of our passengers who worked for the brand and was going abroad for a meeting. It has a BBF date: June 2022 - so glad I got to use it up, even a bit after it's BBF date. 
Lily Lolo - BB cream in light (40 ml): This is a nice and clean formula, and did not irritate my skin at all. It also is a light weight formula, which is perfect to apply with my fingers, and blends out nice - which I usually prefer vs. a fussy formula. 
Bio effect - EGF body serum (7 ml): I have a full size of this product, it is really nice. But a tester of 7 ml - I can not remember how much skin that covers...
Dior - Diorshow Maximizer 3D triple action lash primer-serum (10 ml): This I stopped using after I got an eye infection, but omg it's AMAZING - I love it. Have already repurchased an updated new formula.
Guinot - Nouvelle Vie cream first signs of aging (15 ml): Another Guinot item from the Guinot calendar I got for Christmas 2022 - I ended up putting it in my work bag for when I stay in the US or Canada for work - perfect size for travel.  
Yves Saint Laurent - Gloss volupte probably in shade 30 (6 ml?): This gloss I have had for years, and as you probably can see on the picture, it is completely empty, removed stopper and all! The sticker underneath it has lost all it's writing, so I am guessing it is the shade 30.
Collection - Lasting perfection concealer in Fair 1 (4 ml?): Almost all the writing on the packaging has rubbed off, so I am not sure how much product was in this concealer, but the packaging sold now from the brand contains 4 ml, so I am guessing it is the same amount. This has lived in the last years in my travel makeup bag I used for work abroad. I did remove the stopper and used it up - or at least to the point I am not getting any usable product on the wand. 
The body shop - Cool cucumber softening body butter (200 ml): This was a part of my project pan 2024, and was used up whilst on holiday in Greece, where I made it my mission to finish a few items up to be able to keep my checked in luggage under 14 kg on my flight leg from Rhodes to Athens. This body butter I had not used a lot before starting my project pan, and to my surprise it was in fact cooling, and gave a cool sensation after using it - which made it perfect for holiday in Greece. As I did not prefer to use it just before bed at home in Iceland. 
Five vits - Body lotion (40 ml): This had lived in my travel cosmetics bag for work, and ended up with me on holiday to Greece, where it was used up. 
Peter Thomas Roth - Mega rich body wash (27 ml): This I got in a hotel years back, and took with me on holiday to Greece. And used it up
Proganix - Cherry blossom + (Vitamin B5) Anti-fade weightless argan oil + uv protection (100 ml): This I am sure I bought about 9 or 10 years ago whilst on holiday in the US. A hair sunscreen, I only tend to use this on holiday, so of course it was thrown into my suitcase for a holiday in Greece, where it was finished. Ideal to use for a day at the beach or for sight-seeing. 
Hawaiian Tropic - Sunscreen lotion sheer touch spf 30 (236 ml): This is an excellent sunscreen, this I bought in the US and I am sure it differs a bit from the Hawaiian tropic sunscreen they sell in Europe in regards to ingredients. I tend to use zink based sunscreens for my face, and chemical sunscreens for my body - and this one did not irritate my skin. 
Shea Moisture - African black soap with shea butter (99 g): This still remains my go to facial cleanser or facial soap. I discovered it a few years back as it was recommended for perioral dermatitis. It does not aggravate my skin, does not strip it too much. As it is a piece of soap bar it is difficult to keep track of when I finish it, plus I keep one bar at home and one in my travel bag. But I know for a fact that I did finish the bar I had in my travel kit for work. So I am sure this is under-represented in the last few years empties.  
Milani - Prep + set + glow illuminating transparent powder in shade 02 (8.5 g): This item was a part of my project pan 2022, I did not finish it that year, and ended up using it at the end of 2024. I used it as a setting powder and it worked very well as such, did not dry my skin out, and not too glowing. 
Villimey - Varagaldur (15 ml): This remains my favorite lip balm, and will be repurchased for sure some time in the future. 
The Face shop - Real nature Olive face mask with olive extract (20 g): This I purchased in Toronto a few years back, in my stash it as a matter of fact expired in 2021 - I still decided to use it, once as a sheet mask, and then a lot remained in the packaging and I was able to slather it all over my face probably three times after I used the sheet mask. It is a nice face mask, but I did not notice any miracles. but sure it boosted moisture in the skin. 
Nature republic - Real nature mask sheet olive (23 ml): This is the same face mask as the previous one, just in a new and seemingly rebranded packaging. This my friend gifted it to me who went to Korea. And happy to report that this one had not expired yet. 
Caudalie - Vinoperfect radiance serum complexion correcting (10 ml): This bottle I did use up on my project pan 2024 - but it is missing in the photos, as I seem to have misplaced the bottle. I really loved this serum and would consider repurchasing. 
Caudalie - Vinoperfect radiance serum complexion correcting (3 x 1.5 ml): These are small samples I got at Sephora, of the same product as mentioned above.  
Tatcha - The indigo cleansing balm (1.5 ml): Another sample I got from Sephora. It was nice, would I consider buying it after trying it in a single use packaging? In one word; no.


Decluttered items of 2024


Decluttered items:

Sunday Riley - A+ high dose retinoid serum, 6.5% retinoid blend, CoQ10 + honey (5 ml): I have had this sample since 2019 and was about to give this a whirl early this year, but when the product came out, it was all separated and runny - so down the drain it went. Not sure my skin would tolerate a high dose retinoid anyway. 
Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24 hr gel cream eyeshaddow in 35 On and on bronze (3.9 gr): This I have owned for years, and it was a part of my project pan for 2019. I have made some small progress on this since 2019, but it is very thick, stiff and difficult to use. As I have plenty of newer creamy eyeshadows in my stash, it makes more sense to use them rather than this one. 
W7 - Brow grip (13.5 gr): My friend was decluttering a few items from her stash, and gifted this to me, it turned out to work out the same for me as for my friend - it leaving whitish clumps in my eyebrows so it was only used about 2 times, and now ends where it belongs in the trash. 
Unknown brand - Double liner (? gr): My mom gave this to me a few years back, it was a gift with some magazine she bought. Light champagne pink on one side and vine red on the other. I have perhaps used it 4 times, and now it needs to move out. 

So this in all amounts to the fact I used up 25 full items, 11 small sized items and 8 samples (44 in total). Compared to last year I used up 49 items in total, but fewer fuller items and more samples. So for sure using more samples, takes a toll of your full sized items. Of the decluttered items in 2024 I decluttered 3 full size products and one sample. Compared to 2023 I decluttered 3 full size items and no samples.

Sunday, July 23, 2023

April - July haul 2023

So here is the update on my continued shopping spree of 2023 - this one is spray and brush heavy!! 


Haul in April - July

Testers + samples

Carroten face mask


Dior - Diorshow maximizer 3D triple action lash-primer serum (10 ml): I had been curious about this white mascara primer trend. I am not completely sold on it, I just find it a bit of a kefaffle of an extra step while putting on my makeup.
Nars - Afterglow lip shine gloss in Turkish delight (5.5 ml): This gloss Kim Kardashian made famous years ago. It has been on my radar for years, and in spite of one of my main goals for 2023 was not to buy a colored lip product during the year (as I have more than enough of them). But this product is BEAUTIFUL with a medium dark mauve pink lip liner! 
Moroccanoil - Brumes du Maroc fragrance mist (30 ml): This I had been eying for a few months, all since I bought the Moroccanoil body oil, as I loved the smell of it - this has a very similar scent, but still it smells less jucy than the body oil. 
Bioeffect - Osa water mist (60 ml): This I got tempted to buy in the duty free store in Iceland on my way to my summer holiday. Have not tried it yet as I have way too many facial spreys.
Mac - Prep+Prime Fix+ Goldlite (100 ml): I ran into this product at Nordstrom Rack, and got seriously tempted, did I need it? No! Did I buy it? Yes.
Nailberry - Strengthen & breathe base coat (15 ml): I had no intention to buy any more nail-polish products in this year, but I had a remaining credit in Elira from a birthday gift, and they were promoting 20% off everything, so I decided to finish it before it would expire or worse yet, I would forget about it.
Sol de Janero - Rio radiance cream - Cheriosa 87 fragrance - Illuminating mica (75 ml): I love the smell of this body lotion, and the shimmer radiance it gives off, it is perfect for summer. I was seriously tempted to buy the bigger size, but decided to opt for the smaller one, as I have more than enough body lotions stashed away. 
Rose Inc - Blush brush no.2: I was scouting for a blush brush to blend out cream blushes, and I was debating between this one and Sephora no. 47, but that one was sold out in 3 Sephora stores I visited during the Sephora sale this spring. Rose Inc were promoting a discount at the same time so I grabbed this one - to my surprise though, I still prefer to blend 2 out of my 3 cream blushes with my fingers.
It Cosmetics - Heavenly luxe complexion perfection brush no. 7:
Sephora - Pro crease 26 + pro crease 24: During the Sephora sale this spring, I was able to grab these brushes. And wow, did these blow my mind, I previously had some prejudice against the Sephora line - and gosh was I wrong! Now I want every brush they make!
Hourglass - Ambient powder brush: This I grabbed at Toronto airport as our flight was delayed, and we had some extra time to wonder around the airport. Oh my gosh, who knew you could even find Pat McGrath at an airport. But this brush was considerably cheaper at the airport - and it even came with a travel pouch, that snaps close with a magnetic snap. 
Rose Inc - Reusable cosmetics rounds: With my purchase from Rose Inc I could choose two testers, so I chose this one and the next one.
Rose Inc - Skin enhance luminous tinted serum in color 040 (6 ml): I had been super curious about this product, so to be able to get a sample with purchase was perfect. 
Marc Inbane - Perle de soleil tanning drops (1 ml): They were giving these away at Kringlan shopping mall in Iceland during some midnight opening early this summer. I had been curious about this brand, but with 1 ml I am not even sure I can get an idea about the brand.
Kalliston - Sun protect cream spf 30 (2 ml): This I got as a gift with purchase while on holiday in Crete. I will throw this in my suitcase for work and it will for sure be used - not sure I will put it on my face though, as I tend to be sensitive to ingredients in sun lotions.
Pharm aid - Aloe treasures - Intimate care mild antiseptic cleansing liquid (5 ml): At first I just assumed this was an aloe vera gel as there were big pictures of aloe vera plants on the tester - it was jus now I realized it is an "intimate mild cleanser" - which I find hilarious. 
Carroten - Be cool after sun face mask (20 ml): I bought this while on holiday in Crete - as it would be the perfect facial pamper in the sun. 

Now I really need to reel it in and stop purchasing brushes and facial sprays and focus on using some of these items up. As a matter of fact, I am over these shopping sprees - or so I keep telling myself, that might also have something to do with the fact I have a closet full of clothes I am planning to sell in one of these second hand store this autumn, and I have also uploaded some of them in one of the online stores in Iceland. 

So now it is more out with the old - and let's not drag too much in!!

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Empties February - April 2018

So here are the empties for the monts of February, March and April. Also there is included a one declutter.

Shampoo, body cream and face creams

Mascara, concealer and lip products

So for the three months from February and until the end of April I have finished up seven products, and decluttered one.

Nip+Fab - Tummy fix (100 ml): this gel cream is an anti cellulite cream, which I used on my thighs by a recomendation by an icelandic beauty guru, I never used it consistently enough though to see any difference, but glad it is finished. Will not repurchase.
Maria Nila - Pure volume shampoo (350 ml):  a sulphate and paraben free shampoo from the super popular Swedish brand Maria Nila, It was good, but maybe not as good as the hype about it suggest, and the price tag? Super expensive in Iceland.
The Body Shop - Vitamin C skin boost (30 ml): a kind of a serum cream, which had a bit of a slippy feeling - for sure not a favorite.
Lumene - Lahde (spring water) Intense hydration 24h moisturizer (50 ml): my absolutely favorite moisturizer - already have a backup, but I also want to try the Lumene vitamin c cream.
Lumene - Blueberry wild volume mascara (7 ml): this used to be my absolutely favorite mascara, that was before they changed the wand on it -
Nip+Fab - Eye fix (2 ml): this is the item I decluttered, and oh my gosh, it was never good. It is a super pinky concealer for under eyes, but when I pulled it out of my stash it had separated, and the forumula was all lumpy, so to the bin it goes.
Dior - Dior addict gloss in 643 Diablotine (6,5 ml): a warm coral shimmery gloss, which was bought years ago. Really liked the dior formula, would like to buy this formula again in a different tone, when I have managed to finish some of my glosses and lipsticks I already own.
Labello - olive and lemon lip balm (4,8 g/5,5 ml): a great lip balm that does not aggravate my perioral dermatitis rash to burst out.

What have you used up lately?

Friday, April 8, 2016

Beauty goals for 2016 - update 1

So here is an update on all the items I included in my beauty goals for 2016, after about three months use:

the first five products


I finished the Aerie roll on eau de toilette in Sheer - it took over two months to finhish 1/3 of a 7,5 ml bottle. Glad that got used up before it turned bad.
The elf blush in mellow mauve I have owned for almost 3 years now, and used it on a daily basis probably for over a year and a half. Which is a crazy long time for a blush to last it was in total 4,75 grams. The rest of it fell into the sink today, and I was so tired of it I made no attempt to save it from being washed into the ocean. What was left was probably 2-3 months worth of every day use of this blush, which would have made it last for almost 2 years of everyday ware. So when I buy blush in the future now I know how long it will last according to the weight, but then it also depends on the pigmentation on how much you want to use each time.
I made a small progress on the Lancome le crayon kohl noir even though I have used it almost every day since the end of January. I do not understand how girls go so fast through these pencils - but I do not sharpen it every day.
I use the depotted Clinique chubby stick in whole lotta honey every day in the morning as it needs to be applied with a pencil, which makes it very unhandy to put in your purse. So a slow progress is being made on this one.
The Boots no 7 eyeshadow (depotted from a trio - a pinky purple shade) I use every day in my crease, on my lid I use a light pink shimmery shade. I can see quite the process on this one, but the shadow was a bit thinner in the area where the pan is showing compared to what is left of it in the pan.
The elf mineral eyeshadow primer in sheer is on it's last leg, the formula has become quite dry and will only be used a few more times. The Garnier roll-on anti-dark circles in 02 is still going strong and seems to be bottom-less. I have to leave the product upside-down though to be able to get any product out, but it does never seem to be close to empty.


Victorias secret very sexy sheer sexy mist

On the Victoria's secret very sexy sheer sexy mist I have made some progress on this 75 ml bottle, last time the product reached between the X and Y letters in SEXY - now it is about one letter below that - which I will mark with a pen right now!
One product I have used the least is the Revlon moisture stay lip tint in sheer spice 07, I used about 4 times, or untill I could not apply it straight from the bullet. Will finish the chubby stick before depotting this one into the same box the chubby stick is in right now.


I threw the Guerlain Terracotta lip gloss in Terre d'or out of the project as it had started to seperate and smell like plastic. I replaced it wit two lip glosses one of them is the Burt's bees lipgloss in 203 Autumn haze, since I started using it in the end of January, brand new, I have already finished about 1/3 of the product as you can see on the colour line. This is a very thick gloss, so I actually had to let the bottle sit in the sun to try to warm the product up to see the progress I made. The other gloss is almost brand new: Dior Addict gloss in 643 Diablotine - so the one I finish first the half of - I will consider done with the Guerlain gloss, as it was only half left of it.

What this goal has taught me so far it that it takes forever to finish a blush, and it is such a pain to try to finish one, so I will try not to have more in my collection than 2-3, and will not put one in a "project pan" ever again.
Lipglosses are easier to finish than I thought, you just have to keep it in your purse and apply at least 3 times a day to see some progress.

Monday, December 1, 2014

My take on Christian Dior Holiday collection 2014

My biggest weakness when it comes to cosmetics is eye shadow palettes, so when the big high-end companies bring out their new Holiday collections I am always tempted to purchase one of them.
On the other hand I really don't need any more eye shadows, so I decided to try to shop my stash and come up with a similar idea I can use over the season, instead of buying more stuff that is not used.

Dior Christmas 2014
Nail polish in Gold shock - Eye shadow palette in 756 Golden shock


So this is what I came up with:

With flash

The body shop eyeshadows in 13 and 39 - both matte, one off white and the other black (I trew in a black to deepen the purple coulour.
Mac blackberry
Nicole by OPI - Selena Gomez in kissed at midnight
EGO eye shimmer (no colour indicated)
Maybelline eye shadow in 610 silken taupe
Bourjois eye shadow loose pigment in 01 regard praline rosé

And swatched:

Swatches without flash

Compared with swatches from the Dior golden shock eye shadow palette (you can see swatches on the blog Mostly Sunny) the purple and sparkling gold are not as pigmented, but I am quite sure you can get a similar result with these products.

The nail polishes are both clear top coats with gold glitter particles, the difference being that the Nicole by OPI has regular cut glitter particles and a bit of silver particles while the Dior more of a irregular particles only in gold colour.

Thank you for reading,
Ella

Saturday, October 12, 2013

October beauty budget

This month I actually did my purchase last month, as every September there is a fund-raising sale in Iceland. Each year a new project worth sponsoring is selected, and this year it's mental-emergency ward at the University hospital of Iceland. The project is called: "Á allra vörum" (On everyone's lips) which is a pretty cool name as every year there are two colors of Dior Addict gloss on sale especially for this campaign - this year there was a light pink and a darker pink (as always) - I chose the darker one which is slightly orange-pink - the color is 643 Diablotine.

Here is a picture of the gloss along with the fund-raising project of October; breas cancer awareness. Each year they pick a designer (often a jewlery designer) and a new pink ribbon-pin is sold each year. This year they teamed up with Orr jewlery designers and they designed this beautiful pink ribbon.

Dior Addict gloss in 643 Diablotine and the pink ribbon 2013

Swatch:

643 Diablotine

And two older ribbons:

2008 or 2009 Ribbon by Sif Jakobs and 2010 by Ragnheiður I. Margeirsdóttir

This entry should have gone up yesterday, as 10.10. each year is the pink day dedicated to the awareness of breast-cancer. Still after all this talk about awareness, it kind of pisses me of that they spend so little time or effort in talking about how you can prevent breast-cancer - and what are the possible causes of it. Then I'm talking about parabens and auluminum-content of various products, which I will talk about soon in more detail.

Thank you for reading,
Ella

Monday, October 7, 2013

Yet another nude eye-shadow palette

I'm such a sucker for palettes, even though I never buy them, but I'm always very tempted to cave in and buy a the hottest new palette at the time. This palette is yet another one I'm seriously tempted to buy, beautiful neutral browns by Bobby Brown, a brand that I have yet to try out.

Bobbi Brown eye palette in Rich choccolate


You can see swatches here, complimentary of reallyree.com

For a few minutes I really thought about getting this palette, it would be so versatile and good for everyday use. All beautiful brown and neutral shades, then when I really thought about it - I really have all these shades in one form or another from different brands.

So here is what I have:

My neutral collection

Swatched:


 Swatched in sunlight

1. Make up store - microshadow ghetto -  beautiful brown in the crease, outer v or lightly all over lid
2. Clinique stay matte sheer pressed powder for combination oily skin, this is a bit too dark for me - but now works as eyeshadow on me - come to think of it, was this the one that broke me out? I'd better throw this one out.
3. Kiko - 122 - a beutiful light taupe that works great all over the lid
4 - 6. Maybelline - Eyestudio natural impact - 05 glamour browns - a beautiful trio with light shimmer (used to be 4 shadows - but it shattered on me and this is left - the darkest brown is missing)
7. The body shop - 13 - a lightly yellow white - a good highligher on the brow or on inner corner
8. The body shop - 39 - not a very pigmented black - appears grey
9-10. Christian dior - juste duo symbole 741 - lightly shimmering highlighter and a beautiful brown

So as you can see I really don't need this palette, and I really do hate to have too much stuff, and as eye shadows go, it almost pisses me off to have more than one shadow in the same colour, or in a very close colour to each other - so you can hardly see the difference between the two.

Thank you for reading,
Ella