little white truths

Well, the tube WAS gold but the colour scrubbed off long before I got to the end of the tube! I've reviewed this product here; I received it in LHI's Chloe Morello box a while back. I really liked this one, but since it's a limited edition I can't buy it (presumably the brand's other lip glosses would fare just as well, though). It's thick and rich and feels creamy, not sticky. Repurchase? Maybe, if I needed another gloss - which I won't for about two centuries haha.

Goldwell Style Sign Sleek Perfection Thermal Spray Serum

See my full review of this product here. In short, it's amazeballs and I'm sad that I've finished it. We received it from Violet Box and it's one of the best hair-straighening and de-frizzing products I've ever used - and that's saying a lot for someone who has frizzy hair and spends half her life dealing with that! Not much else to say, other than that it's definitely worth a trial if you haven't used it already and need a straightening product that works and lasts between washes. Purchase? Absolutely.

Macadamia Natural Oil, Healing Oil Treatment

I received this in Glossybox Deutsch when we lived in Berlin (see my review here). Another product that I'm sad to see the back of. This little 30ml sample lasted something like 18 months, and I used it frequently - particularly on the ends of my hair to combat dryness. I've said before that, when it comes to hair, oils are oils and you're better off just buying whatever's on special; and while I do think that's right, this product was lovely and nice to use, plus it moisturised well. So I'll definitely be looking out for it in future, and I can't say that of other hair oils I've used. Purchase? Yes.

Sunsilk Easy Straightening Cream

You know I haven't loved a product when I don't bother cutting open the tube to get the last bits out, and I haven't with this one. It was given to me by Santa, from memory. I didn't end up using it as a straightening cream because I don't think it's a good one - what I did was apply it in the shower, after I'd left my conditioner on for a few minutes, and slathered this on to help me comb out the hoards of knots with my fingers. It worked pretty well for that purpose. Purchase? No.

Eslor Soothing Cleanser & Refiner

Well, we all know that I'm an Eslor fan - just not a fan of this product (see my review here). It's a super gentle cleanser, and I came by it in a couple of Eslor's good-value travel kits. While I'm loving the other products in the kits, this one never grabbed me - I think it's just too gentle for me and doesn't feel like it cleans well. Those with sensitive skin may well love it, though. Repurchase? No.

Glamourflage Mia Sublime Face Mask

I didn't like this as a face mask: it was too drying and didn't seem to do much. I received it in April's LHI FAB box. It's supposed to smooth and hydrate, but I found it had the opposite effect - meaning I kept having to apply moisturiser after use. I didn't like the smell either: it's kind of like cheap flowers mixed with bubble gum. Purchase? No, but man am I keeping the tin!

Sukin Foaming Facial Cleanser

This came from LHI and I liked it enough that I picked up some other Sukin products when on special so I could use them together (see reviews here). Sukin products are generally great, and not expensive. I quite liked this product, especially the smell (many of Sukin's products seem to smell the same, and happily it's a smell I'm down with!). It foamed and cleansed well - a bargain for the $9.95 price tag. While it isn't the best cleanser I've ever used, it's certainly the best I've used in that price bracket. Big ticks. Repurchase? Maybe, but I have better cleansers in stock to get through first!

Eslor Firming Collagen Day Cream

I've reviewed this product here. In short, I love it. It's my favourite day moisturiser of Eslor's. It's thick and rich, and you feel like you're doing your skin a favour when you use it. I like the smell and it has a plumping effect - I can't see the fine lines on my forehead after use and this effect lasts for a while. It smooths your skin and makeup goes on like a dream after use. Repurchase? Yes.

Eslor Active Night Cream

See my full review here. This one's sensational- it's in my top three Eslor products. Something about it reminds me of Lancome's skincare, which I used many years ago when I had more disposable income ; ). It's lovely and thick and plumping. It's quite greasy and your skin does look shiny after use, but it's a night cream and my skin tends towards dryness, so this doesn't bother me (I actually like it that way). Repurchase? Yes.

Happy Skincare Cloud 9 Deep Cleansing Balm

You might've heard me rave about this before (see review here). It's one of my HG products. Love. Love love love. What else is there to say? It became a staple in my skincare armoury from the first time I used it. If you're considering purchasing this, it's worth having a look at the many reviews/testimonials on the Happy website that rave about it. Honestly can't recommend this one enough, and it's unlike any other cleansing product I've tried. Repurchase? Yes.

Happy Skincare TLC Intensive Repair Oil

This one's been a nice, gentle and effective oil to use during pregnancy. I've been putting it on the expanding bits once or twice a day and it's settled the itches on my skin. See my full review of the product here. While it's not my favourite Happy oil (that title goes to the below Tamanu Oil, with the Black Seed Oil coming in a close - and cheaper - second), it's still a lovely product. Repurchase? Maybe. I'd likely go for the other two oils I've mentioned first.

Happy Skincare Organic Tamanu Oil

This is such a rich and wonderful oil (full review here). It just smells and feels good for you, and has a beautiful soothing effect. My skin definitely looked better and less red after getting through this little gem. Repurchase. Yes.

Teeez Eve's Ready to Wear Lipstick in Tempting Pink

This arrived in our May 2014 Violet Boxes, and it took me four months of pretty frequent use to get through the tube. It's a nice, moisturising lipstick but it doesn't last well (see full review here). Easy to apply and didn't sit in my lip lines, and a good, every day colour. While it didn't suit me brilliantly, it did suit me much more than I thought it would. It was also great to put on top of other, more vibrant lipsticks that needed to be toned down a bit, and/or needed a coat of gloss to keep my lips from drying out. Repurchase? No. It's too expensive (over $30) and much better products exist for that price.

Olay Wet Cleansing Cloths

These were terrible, the worst cleansing cloths I've ever used (see review here). They were too dry and seemed to irritate my skin and make my eyes water. They also didn't do the job well. 'Nuff said. Repurchase? No!

Wish Formula Premium Ampoule Mask 

This one came from Memebox: it seems a box isn't a box without a 'serial killer' mask these days ; ). Serial killer masks actually annoy me a bit because you can't do anything while they're on - unlike a normal cream mask where you can still drink water/move your face/talk without shifting it. In any event, it got used and it was fine. Not great, not bad but fine. I'm probably a bad person to ask about these masks because I really can't tell much - if any - difference between them. Plus I reckon you'd get the same effect from putting a wet cloth over your face for half and hour. Purchase? No.

imface Vio-Xellose Neck Patch 

Another one from Memebox, but for the neck. My comments for the above face mask apply here - these masks just aren't my thing. Maybe I can be converted one day by a brilliant product, but not yet. Purchase? No.

Banana Boat Mineral Protect Sensitive

My issue with this product was that it was so thick, it was really difficult to rub in and in some spots just didn't want to absorb. I received it in a subscription box last year, can't remember which one. It does the job but it's too much hard work. Repurchase? No.

Sunsense Anti-ageing Face

I like the idea of a sunscreen that's an anti-ageing product as well. I received this from LHI and it expires in December so I had to get through it (meaning it got used on the body as well). It's good as a sunscreen; I don't think it has stripes as an anti-ageing cream. Having said this, it absorbs well and is easy to use. Repurchase? Maybe.

Dermatologica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Overnight Treatment

This was a sample from Bellabox. It's 15ml so it should have been enough to notice whether it cleared break outs. It didn't. Repurchase? No.

St Tropez Everyday Body Gradual Tan in Medium/Dark

St Tropez products are my HG tanning products - I absolutely love them. Not only do they do the tanning job well, they're decent creams too. See my full review of this product here. Repurchase? Yes.

Allegra Rhodes Ocean Mist Body Lotion

I really love Allergra Rhodes products, particularly how they smell - plus I like the dispenser bottles (so does Mex: he's already taken back this bottle and refilled it with another product). I've reviewed this product here. In short, I like it but I prefer the handcream. It's too light for me - I generally prefer heavier body lotions. Mex loves it though! Repurchase? Maybe.

MOR Sugar Rose Tiger Lily Handcream

Oh how I love MOR products. This one is no exception (see full review here). Next time I'll probably choose a different fragrance because this one ended up smelling a little sweet for me (I bought it online without smelling it first because I loved the little gold chair on the packaging). Repurchase? Absolutely, in a different smell.

Chanel Chance EDT

Ach, I'm sad to see this one go - particularly because I'm on a spending ban so can't buy it again! I only discovered this fragrance last year; surely it must have been the only Chanel fragrance I hadn't tried. I was introduced to it by a lady from Douglas in Dusseldorf because I'd asked for a light fragrance. I ended up buying it duty free (of course) and went through the bottle in about a year. Considering I have anywhere between seven to nine fragrances open at any one time, that's a good effort! This has gone straight to my 'must always own' list, along with Dior's La Dolce Vita and Lancome's La Vie est Belle. I've heard this fragrance can pull too powdery on some; fortunately it doesn't on me : ). Repurchase? Yes!

In sum

Phew, thought I'd never get through this post! Some great products here, and I'm feeling good that we're getting through some of the (far too many) products we opened earlier in the year, before I started this blog. Definitely a few products I'll be repurchasing, in particular Chanel Chance.

Looking forward to seeing what's in the empties post next month!