Recent empties: episode 2

Hi guys! Back with another edition of recent empties... I have a lot that I've used up since I did the last one of these. I'm focusing on using up what I have, rather than buying more stuff. Very novel right?


The Body Shop Satsuma body butter (jumbo size)
This has taken me FOREVER to use. I'm not a super moisturiser, and just use them when I remember (which is rare, but I'm getting better!). This is my favourite Body Shop scent and I like that it's thick and I feel moisturised for a long time after using the body butters. I also learnt that I definitely prefer smaller packaged things so I feel like I can get through them, rather than something so massive like this, especially when I don't use a product often enough (my staples, however, could benefit from being bath sized in packaging haha).
Would I re-purchase: Yes, but not this size.
Available: The Body Shop stores and online
RRP: $8.95 (mini/ 50ml), $24.95 (regular/ 200ml) and $39.95 (400ml/ jumbo)

Kate Somerville Cytocell eye cream (full size)
I love this and even though it's more directed at dark circles, I love it for keeping my fine lines at bay. It's moisturising but not too heavy. This is a must have in my skincare regime.
Would I re-purchase: Yes, I already have
Available: Mecca Cosmetica and mecca.com.au
RRP: $112

Mario Badescu Vitamin C serum (full size)
Ahhh the skin elixir that is Vitamin C. I swear this is "my secret" to youthful skin. It's just so good! Vitamin C is chock full of good things that do good things for your face. This serum absorbs quickly and makes my skin feel smooth and preped for other skincare and makeup. If I only could use one thing for my skincare routine, this is it. The thing to look for Ascorbic acid if you want a Vitamin C fix.
Would I re-purchase: Yes, I already have
Available: beautybay.com
RRP: $58

Mario Badescu Seaweed night cream (full size)
I love Seaweed (see my post below), and this is another staple in my skincare regime. It moisturises and plumps up my skin and makes it feel uber soft. The only thing that I've found is that I can't use it in conjunction with The Body Shops' Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask, it gives me these weird hives/ break out all over my face.
Would I re-purchase: Yes, I already have
Available: Mecca Cosmerica and mecca.com.au
RRP: $33

Neutrogena Hydro Boost gel (full size)
I loved the smell of this but I didn't feel uber hydrated. It was nice and felt good on my skin, but I've definitely used much better moisturisers. I felt like it absorbed too quickly and I thought it would really sit on the skin more given its gel nature.
Would I re-purchase: Only if I was out of and every where was sold out of my faves
Available: Priceline stores and online
RRP: $24.99

Sukin Purifying Facial Masque (full size)
I've had this for a while but I feel like it didn't do much for me. My partner liked it enough but he's not a regular mask user and likes other things better. I didn't end up finishing it and just tossing it as it's quite old.
Would I re-purchase: No
Available: Priceline stores and online
RRP: $15.99

Excuse the dried out clay. as you can see, it was well tested (!?)

Socialeyes lashes in Tease 2.0 and Polished
These are 2 of my fave lashes ever. They've got a thin, very flexible clear band and are super comfy to wear. I personally prefer half lashes for myself and the Tease 2.0 are perfect.
Would I re-purchase: Yes, I already have
Available: socialeyes.com.au
RRP: Tease 2.0 $4.95, Polished $5.95

MAC False Lashes mascara (sample)
This is my second sample. Same thoughts as last time. It's ok and I prefer it layered with something else.
Would I re-purchase: No
Available: MAC stores, counters and online
RRP: $42 (full size)

By Terry Baume De Rose (sample)
I found this sample and thought I'd give it a go. It's rose scented and normally I dislike anything rose scented and although the scent is initially really strong, it dissipated pretty quickly. The lip balm is thick but not uncomfortable. It did make my lips soft and they felt slightly plumper after using it. If it weren't for the rose scent, I would like this.
Would I re-purchase: No
Available: Mecca.com.au
RRP: $84

Batiste XXL dry shampoo (mini/ sample)
I love Batiste dry shampoos, but I didn't like this  like some of the other "flavours". It didn't make my hair massive and give it much volume, I would recommend a Volumising product for that. It did soak up the oils from my hair and revive it.
Would I re-purchase: Not this particular one, but a Batiste dry shampoo, yes
Available: Priceline and most supermarkets
RRP: $12.99 (200ml), $19.99 (400ml)

Tresemme Heat Tamer Protective spray (full size)
This has been a staple product in our house since I first discovered it. It works well and smells great. My partner dislikes all other protective sprays but loves this. I'll be honest, he's a little "protective" about his hair... I guess that's a Leo for you haha.
Would. I re-purchase: Yes, already have
Available: Priceline
RRP: $7.99

Moroccan Oil treatment (full size)
This is my holy grail hair product! If I could bath in this I would. My hair is in better condition thanks to this baby. And the smell? OOOHHH I DIE! If they could make this into a fragrance, or candle or something, I would be one very happy camper. Even though it's an oil, it doesn't make your hair greasy at all. I also find it makes my hair dry quicker too. 
Would I re-purchase: Yes, I already have 
Available: Most hairdressers, adorebeauty.com.au, catwalk.com.au 
RRP: $59.95 

Redken Refining Sea Polish (full size)
This is basically a "liquid pumice" that you use to exfoliate the hair. I loved the feeling of rubbing this through my hair and the results afterwards were amazing. My hair always looked so shiny and healthy. I'm so sad they discontinued it. Exfoliating shampoos, in my opinion, just aren't the same. 
Would I re-purchase: Yes, if it were not discontinued
Available: Discontinued 

What have you guys been loving this month? Beauty staples that you purchase again and again? I wanna know! :) 

Adelaide Hair and Makeup Trade Show haul

Today was the first day of the 2 day Adelaide Hair and Makeup trade show. It runs until 6pm tomorrow, Sunday 27th September. It's the first trade show for the beauty industry that Adelaide has had.

It is designed, not just for the professionals, but also those who just love makeup, so anyone was welcome. 

My experience:

I was underwhelmed by the whole thing. I arrived at 7:30am (doors opened at 8am), as I expected a line up. No one else rocked up until 5 minutes to 8am. The convention centre was pretty dead until roughly 10:30-11am. There were a handful of stalls, the only ones seeming impressive being Crown Brushes and Inglot, as they were the largest and had loads of product (also being the main sponsors). 

Bosa Beauty were late (due to flights etc), and when they did unpack (which was uber slow), they had very little product (within less than 10 minutes the 5 Too Faced Melted lipsticks they had were sold out. They stocked no TheBalm or Nars products but had a massive suitcase of those Full Lips thingys). My friend and I were told to buy online if we wanted anything. 

It took maybe 2 hours going back and forth to really look at everything. My friend and I ended up leaving, going to Mecca Cosmetica instead, spent our cash there and then went back for the Brittney Lee Saunders Q and A at 2:30pm. Straight after that we went home. 

Maybe my expectations were higher as I thought people would flock to this thing. It's the first time Adelaide has had anything like this, so anyone who wasn't able to get to IMATS and the like would go for this, hence why I thought it would be busy, packed and the reason I turned up so early. I definitely won't be attending tomorrow. 

What I bought: 

5 Crown Brushes (2 blending brushes, a powder brush, an eyebrow spoolie and a concealer buffing brush)

An Inlgot AMC lipgloss

An Inglot Sculpting powder for contouring in shade 504

Mecca haul:

Bumble and Bumble Seaweed shampoo and conditioner

Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder in Luminous Light

(Btw the girls at Mecca are so lovely!)

Overall, it was very underwhelming, although I did see Chloe Morello walk past, totally fangirled and couldn't even say hello. Who even does that? Haha. I fully had sweaty and shaky hands, heart pumping out of my chest and literally speechless. Ahhhh! 

First Impressions/ empties: V2

Another round up of some first impressions/ mini reviews of products I've recently bought, tried or been given samples of!

Stila Coming Clean Revitalising cleanser: (sample)
I loved this from the first go at this. It's freshly scented and feels like a good clean without feeling like you're stripping the skin. It's not tightening and feels quite light. You also only need a small amount to lather. The only thing i dislike is the fact I don't believe you can get this in Australia. 
Re-purchase: Yes, if I can get my hands on it. 

Bondi Sands Self Tanning Mist: (full size)
I really tried to love this. I'm always looking for a good, deep, fast developing tan. Well, this is definitely deep, fast... well, that's where my problem lies. When you apply it (I use the Bondi Sands mitt to go with the tan), it dries faster than I have time to rub it in, leaving lines on my skin. Now, my skin is exfoliated and moisturised. I only do one limb at a time (well lower half leg, upper half leg, you get my point...), it dries TOO FAST. I'm pretty experienced with tanning myself but I just don't get this one. I definitely still love Vani-T tans as my fave. After using this, I really don't get the hype. This is definitely not for novices!
Re-purchase: Nope. I wanna try Loving Tan next. If that is sub-par, I'm back to Vani-T haha.

GHD Heat Protectant spray: (full size)
I LOVE this, but it's definitely a splurge buy. It's no better or worse than the Tresemme spray, which my partner likes. They're the only 2 that I have tried, but I got the Lee Stafford one today as part of the Priceline hair goodie bag they came out with. The smell is inoffensive and subtle, no strong overtones of anything, just like a hair product scent. I also like the sleek stylish bottle because yup, I'm a sucker for packaging (and may or may not have been the reason I bought it *shifty eyes*).
Re-purchase: Yes, once I'm out of Lee Stafford Heat Protectant spray.

Batiste "Cherry" Dry Shampoo: (full size)
This is delish! I love that fake cherry smell, so this was right up my alley. I've tried a few different dry shampoos, and this is my favourite and I keep coming back to it (the brand and the scent). The scent is definitely fake but not overpowering or super sickly. The product itself is fantastic, works very well and slightly volumises as well as take that greasy look away. I feel like you can't spray "too much" and it doesn't "clump" up in your hair like some can. It also doesn't leave a residue on your fingers, again, like some can. I highly recommend you try one of the Batiste dry shampoos. They have loads of different ones to try, like this cherry scented one, tropical (coconut and pineapple I believe), wild, ones with colour (like for brunettes so you don't get that white cast). There is literally no reason you shouldn't at least give this product a try (they also have minis if you feel like you can't commit to a full sized can).
Re-purchase: Yes. Yes. Yes.

Glam Glow Power Mud Dual Cleanse treatment: (sample)
Eh, I used this a few times, and I'm not wowed by it. I didn't see much of a difference at all. I did like the fact it was a mud mask that when you add water, it turns into a cleanser, but I'm a sucker for novelty things like that. I don't see the hype, or maybe the hype is on the black one maybe? I'm not sure. It didn't make my skin any drier, oilier, tight, red etc etc. No change on my skin. For as expensive as this is, I would definitely obtain a sample of this before purchasing full price to see what it does for your skin. I do have really good skin so maybe that's also why. I guess the jury's still out on this one for me!
Re-purchase: No.

Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara: (sample)
I got this as a sample with my dearly beloved "Everything Nice" xmas palette. I think this is a pretty nice mascara. Not the best I've had (we'll leave that spot for Lancome's Hypnose), and certainly not the worst. It doesn't bode well for lower lashes as the brush is quite thick and dispenses a lot of product on the brush from the tube, which is probably the only thing I dislike about it. It doesn't curl my lashes, but does give them volume and coats them nicely without looking too spidery, again, due to how thick the mascara is, so it's a good balance. My lashes are difficult to work this, so something with curl probably would be better but eh, this does the job for now. The formula is perfect too. Not watery, not dry, so if either of those things do concern you, this is worth a check, as it's nicely balanced in the middle.
Re-purchase: Probably not, only because I have other loves that are around the same price. 


If you have any requests, then please let me know and I'll give it a go!

What I'm Currently Using: haircare

Soooo, I'm definitely not the best when it comes to hair. I'm definitely a pony girl and the most elaborate style I can achieve is a French braid (messily, of course). I wish I was one of those girls who ALWAYS has cute hair, even the ability to do a nice frontal side braid thing would be nice.

However, I definitely try to take care of my hair as much as I can. Of course, I still do the wrong thing occasionally. I still over-straighten my hair, which is one hard task to try and un-do after years of straightening over the same piece of hair to make it as straight as possible! It seems to be the reason I always have 2 spots near my temple that are always broken and wispy. I'm only learning to not tie my hair up when it's wet, but I have finally stopped brushing my hair whilst wet. I also dye my hair... A lot... Since I was 12... All kind of colours.... So you can imagine the mess going on. I'm also trying to grow it long, so refuse to cut it, coz we all know that's how we get long luscious hair without extensions, right? Right? Please tell me I'm right? I honestly think it would be so much easier, and god have I been tempted, to just shave my head a-la Britney 2007. So, if you're like me, and also about as brave as what I am, aka not brave at all, here's a heads up on my fave products I use to prevent more damage from occurring...

First up, let me just say, I'm pretty *lazy* and wash my hair max twice a week. I hate washing my hair. Even if I do use awesome stuff. Ugh! Worst beauty job for me.

Shampoo/ Conditioner:
I rotate a lot so I'm currently using Tresemme Platinum Strength shampoo (the black with purple writing new one) and Tresemme Thermal Recovery conditioner (the white with red writing one). I like them both so far (been using for about a month) and would recommend them.

Treatments:
Moroccan Oil treatment oil:
UGH! THE SMELL! Why hasn't someone made this scent into a perfume, or candle, or something! I LOVE the smell SO MUCH! I use this every time I wash my hair, on my mid lengths-ends of my hair and around my temples on those wispy bits. This is my holy grail hair product and will buy religiously. Definitely makes my hair more smoother and in better condition.

Redken Anti-Snap treatment:
I mix this with my Moroccan Oil treatment. I would definitely recommend this for those with extreme damage like I do. I focus this product on the ends of my hair and those front wispy, damaged bits.

Redken Natures Rescue Refining Sea Polish:
This is a pumice like hair exfoliator that I use when I remember. More so, because it has been discontinued vs, when I remember to use it. This is something you use all over to really clean and smooth the hair, and I really work it into my scalp to remove all the dead skin/ hair cells for a "deep clean". Even though it's an actual scrub, it doesn't harm the hair follicles at all. My hair always feels so clean and fresh when I use this. 

Moroccan Oil Repair hair mask:
I use this when I remember or when I can be bothered, so usually once every 2 weeks, which you really shouldn't be using it more than that due to the product being protein based, and more protein in the hair can actually cause major hair breakage. Definitely makes my hair SO much smoother after using this. Again, the smell is lush!












Heat protection:




GHD heat protectant spray:
I buy this when I have cash because well, I have a GHD, so I should use products that go with my device right? Haha. I just like nice things.

Tresemme heat protectant spray:
A fraction of the cost of the GHD stuff, I can't really tell the difference but the boyfie likes this, so I buy this one too.









Styling Products:
Moroccan Oil strong hold hairspray:
Bought this purely for the smell. If you have plenty of cash laying around and wanna blow it on pointless stuff, then this is your item. It honestly doesn't work any better or worse than any other hairspray I've used (usually Tresemme hairspray), so definitely not a "must have". It doesn't leave your hair crunchy though, which is good, staying power is good too. It definitely is a quality product, but there are same quality products for cheaper.

Paul Mitchell smoothing Gloss Drops:
I use this after straightening to make my hair nice and shiny and to smooth any fly always. This is my fave smoothing product I've ever used. It's not greasy and doesn't leave your hair feeling heavy or looking oil slicked and greasy. I'm pretty sure this too has been discontinued, and that makes me really sad.

Batiste Cherry dry shampoo:
I rave about this all the time and is my fave dry shampoo. Highly recommend trying this range. I wanna try the Wild one next!

Schwartzkopf Instant Volume powder:
To be honest I'm not really a fan of this. I'm not sure if it's because I'm not using this properly or the product isn't 100%. When this runs out (or I've had enough), I'll be purchasing the Kevin Murphy Powder Puff Next, as I've heard nothing but good things.




Tools:
Straightener:
GHD: Pure edition
I use my good old trusty GHD! I love it, and highly recommend it. I got the white one from the Pure/Evil collection about 6 years ago. My original one did break after just past 2 years of use, but GHD head office are beyond amazing and replaced it for me, even though I was just out of warranty. The customer service is top notch. If you have a GHD and haven't registered it on their site, seriously go do it in case something like that happens to you. Also, does anyone else feel the need to buy more than one as they're always coming out with awesome new coloured ones? No? Just me, ok then (for the record I only have this one but am very tempted to buy one of the blue/green birds of paradise one ... It's just SO pretty!).

Hair Dryer:
I still use the one my mum bought me for my birthday when I was like 14. I lost the diffuser for it though haha. Still works like a charm too. It's a Remington metallic purple one.

Hair brush:
I've actually been really lazy and haven't bought a new one since I did that post about washing your hair brush. I do have a Lady Jayne shower comb though for when I get out of the shower (obviously...).

Hair Decoration:
I'm starting to use more hair decorations like headbands and those currently fashionable hair pieces that sit around your forehead (think gatsby, Shannon Harris or Karissa Pukas). I also am loving the hair bun for an elegant style bun, and they are SO easy to use. I get all my hair accessories from eQuip.