November - December 2023 Haul

 So here is my last shopping confession of the year

Skincare and lip balms

Brush, concealers, eyeshadow and hand cream

Nuxe - Honey lip care (10 ml): This I grabbed in Paris after searching for it in January 2023 without success, I found this in the first pharmacy I visited in Paris this December.

Lumene - Pure arctic miracle 3 in 1 micellar cleansing water (250ml): I already have a big bottle of this micellar water, but as I got stranded in Copenhagen for one night without any makeup or cleansers, so I grabbed the most needed items for a one night sleep in Copenhagen.

Cosrx - Advanced snail 96 mucin power essence (100 ml): This was on a major sale in Ulta Beauty on black Friday, and as I had the chance to grab one I did decide to snatch one up as I am running low on my snail gel I already have, and do believe this does miracles for my skin. 

Manufactura - Dead sea soft day face cream (50 ml): I purchased this on a holiday in Prague, as this brand came highly recommended and you always do need a face cream.

Lumene - Nordic hydra moisture balm (50 ml): This for sure was not a planned purchase, and as the micellar water was purchased as I needed a face cream for an unexpected overnight stay in Copenhagen. I do like the brand so I opted for a cream from this brand vs. something else.

By Terry - mini to go baume de rose lip care (2.3 gr): This I spotted at Prague airport and as this was a mini, and it is an item that is very hyped among beauty gurus I decided to give it a try.

Dermacol Prague - Master brush powder and blusher D56: I spotted a few of the Dermacol stores around the city of Prague, the makeup looked to be a bit of lower quality, but the brushes seemed to be of a decent quality, so I decided to grab one, and as a matter of a fact, I was having the hardest time to choose between two of them. 

Nilens Jord - Second skin concealer no.2 Shell (3 ml): This I also picked up in Copenhagen, in Magasin du Nord, I did need a concealer, as the bare minimum, and I did not have this type of concealer in my stash, this kind of a click pen with a brush.

Mac - Eyeshadow - All that glitters (1.3 gr): This is another item I snatched up on a black Friday offer in Mac, as they were having a discount of everything in their stores. 

Dermacol Prague - Magnolia flower care delicious hand cream (30 ml): This was gifted to me from the sales associate at the Dermacol store in Prage. Such a nice gesture, and will for sure come in handy as my hands tend to be dry.

Bare minerals - Multi tasking concealer broad spectrum spf 20 in bisque (2 g): I had been intrigued about this product for some time, and as I kept on getting red splotches on my face the current concealers I have at hand at the moment did not seem to stick I decided to give this a try. And it does work like a charm!! 

So that concludes my purchases for the year 2023 - and soon there will be time to outline my goals for 2024, both for project pan and as what to buy and what not to buy.

Do you have any plans regarding your cosmetics in the coming year?

April-June haul

A part of my beauty goals for 2019 was no-buy January and no-buy March, which was very successful. And in February I managed only to buy 3 items.

Well from there things have been quite down hill... and here comes my haul for April, May and June:

An accumulated haul - replacements, backups etc.

I purchased two palettes

Two brushes and Inglot duraline

Vichy - Aqualia thermal hydrating serum (30 ml): As I am over half way done with my previous botle, I decided to pick up a backup, as I have really fallen in love with this product. Even though I was planning to go "stock free", but I guess I have to accept the fact that is really not my style at all.

Vichy - Aqualia thermal rehydrating cream light (50 ml): As I am getting so well along with the serum from this range I decided to grab the moisturizing cream also to use in the nearest future.

The body shop - Aloe calming toner (250 ml): as the Lumene toner did not work for me I decided to buy something tried and true, that does not irritate my perioral dermatitis so I went with this toner from The body shop.

Cutex care - Non acetone nail polish remover with coconut oil (200 ml): After I started working as cabin crew, my nails have become very soft, and tend to peeling. I have tried a few types of nail-strengthening nail-polishes, nothing showing any remarkable results. So now I decided to try a non-acetone nail polish remover, and I bumped into this one in Canada with coconut oil, so I decided to give it a try.

TanOrganic - self tan oil (100 ml): I have not tried any self-tanners for the body before, but I had gotten a tester for this oil last year, and as a matter of a fact I did like it. So I decided to jump on the o so popular self-tan train, and give this a try. Have I used it so far? No not really.

Drunk Elephant - Protini polypeptide cream (15 ml): This I got as a part of the Sephora birthday gift for 2019. I have tried it a few times and it works great for sunburned, dry and flaky skin.

The body shop - Vitamin E overnight serum-in-oil (28 ml): As the Inika rosehip oil turned out to be quite irritating for skin, again I decided to purchase something tried and true, and was this serum in oil the one I chose. I had already finished up a bottle of this product with good results for my perioral dermatitis, so I went with that again. 

Nuxe - Honey lip balm (15 g): As I decluttered the Laneige overnight lip balm, I decided to go for something more organic and sensitive skin friendly, and as a friend of mine has raved about this product I decided to give it a try.

Drunk Elephant - Beste No. 9 jelly cleanser (30 ml): This I also got as a part of the Sephora birthday gift for 2019 and am I quite excited to give it a try.

Inglot - Eyeshadow in 164 (3,3 g): As Inglot in Iceland was closing and hosting a 40% discount on everything I decided to go on a lookout for a dupe for my favorite pink eyeshadow. My favorite is from Boots, this is not a 100% dupe, but comes quite close, the one from Boots is a bit brighter and was I choosing between color 164 and J301 the pink satin color from the JLo line. But that was a bit too peachy compared to the one from Boots. It didn't take me long after I got the color home, I got a big buyers remorse. In retrospect I fell into the pit of discount offers, which was one of my goals not to fall into. Well you live and you learn.

Clinique - Chubby stick, shadow tint for eyes in 04 ample amber (3 g): This shadow I had been eyeing for over a year, or ever since Meg says raved about it in her duty free haul. It is a beautiful golden/copper color, and can be sheered out to a beautiful sheen of a color. Still I am a bit overwhelmed of the cream eye shadow products I have in my collection, which now adds up to three pencils and two pots, one of which is a part of my beauty goals for 2019. 

Becca - Becca X Khloé Kardashian & Malika Haqq Bronze, blush and glow palette - Made with love by Khloé (12 g): It for sure was not a planned purchase to buy this Becca palette, but when I saw it was on a 40% discount in Sephore, I just could not resist, and even managed to tempt my friend into buying one. But hey when a Becca face palette with 4 shades retails for 26.40 USD it is just too good of a deal to pass up, especially when you do not own any Becca products. It contains a highlighter, two blushes and a bronzer and so far it performs beautifully, not too pigmented at all.

Tarte - Maneater eye shadow palette vol 2 (9 g): This had been on my wish list for a few months. But I had not tired any Tarte eyeshadows, or any Tarte product before I purchased this palette. But with the manageable size and everyday colors, it can be the perfect everyday palette. It has a faint sweet chocolate scent to it, and have I used this as my main eye shadow palette for the month of June. It might be a bit drying on my eyelids, as after a few day wear I started to get flaky skin in my crease, but I am now trying to use an eye shadow primer first and then the shadows, so I will see if that is not working better, than applying it straight to my eyelids. 

Zoeva - 100 Luxe face finish: I had heard so many good reviews about this brush online, and as it is a mix of natural and synthetic bristles I decided to buy it. As I tend to prefer natural bristle brushes for powder products. And I intend to use it for my hourglass powder trio.

Zoeva - 230 Luxe pencil (rose golden): I opted to grab this brush also, at the same time from Beauty Bay with the other Zoeva brush, as the 100 brush didn't fulfill the minimum for a free shipping, so I actually broke one of the rules for my Beauty goals for 2019 - which included only buying two brushes this year.

Inglot - Duraline (9 ml): This I also bought as Inglot is closing in Iceland, and had all of their products on 40% off, but I have heard so many good things about this product, as it can revive dried up liquid eyeliners and creams. So I snatched one up to have on hand.

So am I planning a no-buy month coming July? No but am for sure going to keep my purchases in check, maybe, max buy 1 item. Will keep you posted.

UK + GR haul

So it's time for the last haul of 2018, which is fairly small, as I only bought two items on my holiday in London and Thessaloniki. 

Last haul of 2018

Nuxe - Huile Prodigieuse, multi-purpose dry oil, face, body hair (100 ml): This I grabbed on my Easy Jet flight from London to Thessaloniki, my friend had highly recommended this to me, and it was on 20% off on the flight so it was a yes yes yes.

Collection - Lasting perfection ultimate wear concelaer- Fair 1 (6,5 ml): This I grabbed in Superdrug in London, but on my stops in London I have always been keeping my eyes open for this item, as the UK bloggers/vloggers speak so highly of this concealer. Originally I was not planning to get it, but color match me and pick it up at a later time, but as they had almost every color in stock I decided to grab it and keep it as a backup when one of my 2 current concealers run empty.

Have you bought some x-mas treats recently?

Empties October 2014 - March 2015

So these are my empties over the last few months:

October '14 - March ' 15 trash

Purity basics moisturizer from hampton - an average hotel body lotion- came in handy on travels.
Lady speed stick in shower fresh - love the scent, but will not repurchase as it contains aluminum.
Lumene sensitive touch gentle toner - love it will repurchase if I like this better than the other Lumene toner I am using currently.
Garnier micellar water - love this makeup remover will repurchase.
Garnier miracle skin cream - like it a lot, the colour matches me perfectly and it is easy to use when you are in a hurry (I am always in a hurry). Would like to try the Garnier BB cream next time (when I finish some foundations).
Nuxe paris micellar foam cleanser - would repurchase if it was available in Iceland. But it ran out faster than my Body shop nutriganics foaming clenser. Am now working on a one from Lumene.
The body shop Aloe protective serum for sensitive skin. Love this - a light and a creamy formula. Do I like it more than my Sothys serum? No, but I like the price better of the body shop one. Might repurchase.
Avon Moroccan argan oil shampoo - average shampoo. Will not repurchase.
Estée Lauder Emerald dream eau de parfum - my favorite summer scent, would repurchase if it was still on the market - do you know of a dupe?
The body shop Moringa body scrub - a decent one. Will probably not buy this scent again.
Physicians formula Organic wear in black. It became dry too fast - but maybe it was an old tube? But when it was good it was GREAT.
Lumene sensitive touch mascara. Ordered this one when I was having eye alergy problems. It was gentle on my eyes - a natural basic mascara.
Clinique chubby stick in 02 whole lotta honey- like the colour but hate how much product is left inside the bottom of the bullet - scooped it out - it will last for months.
YSL mascara in shocking, black - a deluxe sample. Love this mascara, too bad I had to throw it out before it went bad on me, as I got an eye-infection while using it. And didn't want to risk getting it again if the germs got into the tube. Would love to buy this, but not sure if I can justify buying such an expensive mascara. Maybe when I finish all the other mascaras I have, and have managed to finish some other products.
Clinique solour surge gloss in 21 azalea - too sticky - hated it. Will not buy EVER.

So some hits and misses,
will gladly throw all of this away

untill next time,
Ella

Airport and Iceland haul

So since I came back home to Iceland these products I have accumulated, so from mid September untill the end of November:

Iceland and airport haul

So these are the products I have bought since mid September:

Garnier miracle skin cream
Maybelline the rocket volum' express waterproof
Nuxe micellar foam cleanser face with rose petals

The body shop Aloe protective serum for sensitive skin
Maybelline eye shadow 610 silken taupe
Elizabeth Arden green tea honey drop body cream
Beauty by Zazie nail polish remover
The body shop lip scrub

Bourjois happy light luminous serum primer

Lumene bright now vitamin c eye cream

Loves:

Lumene bright now vitamin c eye cream - I don't know why but I really belive in Lumene products and this I like very much. Not too heavy around my eye area, love this one.

The body shop aloe protective serum for sensitive skin - I don't have super sensitive skin, but then products for sensitive skin are very unlikely going to irritate normal skin. It's more of a very light cream texture, does the job and my skin feels very hydrated.

Nuxe micellar foam cleanser face with rose petals - a really long name, and it really smells rosy. I was going to repurchase the body shop nutriganics foaming face wash (see here) - but as I was searching for it in the duty free at Copenhagen airport (they had several body shop products around) I saw this Nuxe foaming face cleanser, and thought I could buy something new for a change, plus it is French, not available in Iceland and the cheapest foaming facial wash at the airport. I like it, it is not better or worse than the body shop one, the price I guess would decide which I would buy - if it would become available in Iceland.

Disappointing:

Maybelline eye shadow in 610 silken taupe - I could not resist buying this on a 50% off sale in the supermarket. Still I think it is way too expensive for what it is. I had heard this was a dupe for satin taupe from Mac, it's not I tell you. Still I use it, but it's more of a blah colour for me, as my crease eats up all my lid (I have hooded eyes), so if I put this all over the lid - it becomes invisible, but still you can work with it and if I use a creamy base it becomes more vivid and stands out more. Workable I would say.

Garnier miracle skin cream - a white cream with colour particles which burst when you rub it with your fingers. First of all it is only available in one colour, and you can really go overboard with it if you use too much product. So only use a little amount, and put on top of another cream, otherwise it is too hard to work with and becomes uneven.

untill next time,
Ella