Empties #6

Yes, exams are killing me right now. No, let's not talk about it. This quick blogpost is the sixth in its series, it's EMPTIES TIME! So to any new readers, I basically explain to you what products I've been using up and what my thoughts were on them. Let's get started. 

Empties #5

My empties basket has been overflowing for a while, so that means it's time for an empties post! Can't wait to finally throw out all these items!

First of all, I used up two green tea sheet masks, one from Etude House and one from Missha. Both these brands are big Asian beauty brands. These were quite nice and felt refreshing on the skin, especially the Etude House one.

I actually haven't tried anything else from these brands, but definitely want to try more, especially the Asian BB creams are supposed to be amazing! It's not very easy to find these brands in Belgium or other European countries. I purchased these sheet masks via this webshop Koreacute. I actually met the owner of the webshop on Made In Asia 2014, a big annual convention in Brussels.

I've finished these two skincare items: the Lancôme soft cleansing milk and the La Roche Posay Mat moisturizer. I liked the Lancôme milk, it was very soft on the skin and got rid of makeup beautifully. I wouldn't repurchase because I like a cleansing miccelaire water so much more. 

The La Roche Posay moisturizer is perfect for combination/oily skin, and I will repurchase, but for now I'm still using an acne clearing moisturizer since my dermatologist made me... and she's scary!

Yes, another one of these... The Batiste dry shampoo in Tropical! I promise, I do actually wash my hair... That's the only downside for me: I finish these dry shampoo so fast, they don't seem to last me very long. The coconut smell of this Tropical one had me trippin' though, I didn't like it very much.

I really like these Simple cleansing wipes for any days that I wear loads of makeup and I want to get rid of most of it before deep cleansing or - don't kill me - when I've gone out and I'm so damn tired. But this happens rarely since I have the party life of a goldfish. Simple, if you're reading this, COME TO BELGIUM!! I always stock up on my wipes when I go to the UK.

I also finished these two sample sizes of the Chanel Perfection Lumière velvet foundation. I really liked it and would definitely purchase the full size when I finish my other foundations.

Another empty product is the Collection concealer (the writing's rubbed off). It was nice, and I finished most of it, but it was getting pretty old and was starting to look caky underneath my eyes so I decided to chuck it.

The Hema brow gel is gonna get thrown away as well, since it's gotten quite grosse and I wasn't really using it anymore. It did it job perfectly though and it's very affordable.

I finished the Smashbox Photofinish foundation primer in Light. No words for this item. It has changed the foundation game for me. My makeup lasts up to 10-12 hours, which is about 6-7 hours longer (!) than without a primer. Amazing.

Also, I emptied the NARS Smudgeproof eyeshadow base, which is quite as magical as the last item. I have very oily lids and this doesn't only make my eyeshadow last all day (and night) but also makes the colors so much intenser. A must-have for me.

Lastly I finished the Labello Fruity Smile chapstick. This lip balm is quite nice, it moisturizes your lips and gives a hint of color. One downside? I've noticed, after using it for years since I was teenager, that it kinda makes your lips addicted to it. It doesn't moisturize, it feels moisturizing and then makes your lips crave more Labello. It the end they're just as dry as before, so I'm not repurchasing anymore.

Have you tried any of these products?

Xx Anine

SKINCARE: La Roche Posay love?

Since my skin freakout in January, I've been hella careful with my skincare. Since La Roche-Posay is famous for being an excellent skincare brand for sensitive skin, I've stocked up back in March. Today I'm finally here with a review on these La Roche-Posay products.

1. La Roche-Posay physiological microfine peeling
The first item I picked up back in March was the "microfine peeling" for sensitive skin. When the saleswoman advised me to pick it up, I was all like "I don't need no peeling! I need a scrub!" but she said it wasn't actually a peeling at all (you confused yet?).

+ No paraben
+ It doesn't sting my skin (suited for sensitive skin)
+ Reasonable price tag (around €14)

- Doesn't really remove all my dead skin (TMI?) and that's really what a scrub is for,  no?

Score: 5/10 - Doesn't sting but doesn't seem to do much

2. La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense mask
Back in the winter, when my skin was dry as a desert, this hydrating mask was very nice and soothing on the skin.

+ Soothing and comfortable on the skin
+ Doesn't make the skin greasy
+ Reasonable price tag (around €15)
+ No paraben
+ Takes only 10 minutes

Score: 8.5/10 - very nice when skin is drier or irritated/sensitive

3. La Roche-Posay Serozinc zinc sulfate cleansing soothing solution

I also happened to be in need of a new toner back then, and this one had been catching my eye for some time. 

+ Really soothes my skin when it is red or irritated

+ Helps with impurities

+ Also good for razor burn or nappy rash (for your potential baby, obvs.) 

+ Reasonable price tag (around €11)

- Doesn't feel as refreshing as the Lush tea tree water

TO BE NOTED: Only for combination/oily skin

Score: 8/10 - Nice

4. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat sebo-regulating moisturizer

This should work anti-shine and should minimize pores.

+ REALLY keeps me shine-free
+ No paraben
+ Feels fresh on the skin while applying
+ Reasonable price tag (around €17)

- I don't notice anything porewise, but I'm not a pore freak anyway so...

Score: 9/10 - Love!

Have you tried any of these products?

Xx Anine

New skincare routine

I've never been the greatest skincare geek/lover/goddess, but since I've started my new job, I decided my teen years were officially over and it was time for me to embrace the fact that I needed to take more care of my skin (before it's too late?). 

A friend of mine has always been so much into skincare, that I took some of her advice and along with that, some of her skincare products. She uses them religiously and has flawless skin. We also have the exact same skin type so I set as a goal to never have pimples again and try to achieve a similar beautiful skin as my friend. 

This Vichy face wash is from the same Vichy Normaderm line as all my previous skincare items, and I really have been loving it. It cleans better than my Biotherm cleansing sample and leaves my skin feeling very fresh. 

I used to use La Roche-Posay products back in high school, so it was a trip down memory lane to pick up this Effaclar Mat moisturizer. So far so good. I've noticed that my skin is producing less oil.

I'm pretty scared to try this night cream from Vichy. Right now I'm still using up the night cream from the Vichy Normaderm line, even though I don't like it anymore. But this one has the word Aqua in it, which worries me... I hope I won't wake up shiny-faced every morning when I start using this *fingers crossed*.

I've been using this Lancôme Cleansing milk for a while now as well. It takes off my makeup very nicely, but does leave a greasy-looking residue on my face which I dislike. This means I'm still in the market for a cleansing milk. Anyone got any recommendations?

Of course, Bioderma Micellaire cleansing water. I've used up a tiny bottle of this before and really like that it takes off any residue of my Lancôme cleansing milk and any makeup that is left on my face.

I still have to try out this scrub as well, since I'm still using up my previous one - that I very much dislike, I'll fill you in later. Excited to use this!

I've been using my Tea Tree Toner water from Lush for almost a year now and still love it. It leaves my skin feeling fresh and hydrated without feeling oily!

This is my new skincare routine, which skincare products have you been trying out?

Xoxo,

Anine