I mentioned yesterday in my February Pan that Palette update (see here) that I planned to introduce a new product to replace the Hourglass one I've just finished. 

While I'd intended to introduce my new entry to the challenge in yesterday's post, I decided to do it separately because my February update was long enough already. So here it is!

The palette I've chosen to include in Pan that Palette 2017 is my Stila Shape & Shade Custom Contour Duo in Medium (reviewed here). Is a duo a 'palette'? Let's call it one because I have enough split hairs on my actual head and don't need to start splitting them here too ; )

Here's how the palette looks as of today, 1 March 2017:


Note that I did include this product in my Project Dent series last year (see here), which is why you can already see some good dents in the pans.

Project Dent also encouraged me to earmark this product for Pan that Palette because I realised it was something I could use on the daily if I set my mind to it - plus it's a cream product and those tend not to last as long as powders before going rancid so I'd like to get through it while it's still 'safe' to use.

Here it is again so you can better-see my current progress:


Now I'm not someone who contours much because I prefer 'less is more' makeup and I'm lucky enough to have been blessed with cheekbones: it's my rubbish hooded eyes that need the contouring work but I use matte shadows for that and this product isn't designed for the eyes anyway.

But I have discovered that I don't mind a bit of nose-contouring and my jawline can always use a bit of help - particularly because I'm 36 and have a baby and a toddler, so my skin isn't as 'clenched' (ha) as it used to be and my face tends to puff something chronic when I'm sleep-deprived (something about water-retention perhaps, who knows).

Some swatches of the product if you're interested (see more in my review):


Fortunately the contour shade works a treat on my light-medium (winter) and medium (summer) colouring so I can use it all year, but the highlight shade isn't pale enough to function as a highlight on me so I'll be using that to cover any redness on my chin and around my nose that appears when my tinted moisturiser starts to fade throughout the day. 

The highlight shade does also work as a touch-up product on the rest of my face, but it can settle into pores and emphasise dry patches so I need to be careful where I place it.

In sum

I'm excited to start using this product more frequently, and I'm also excited that it has a 24 month shelf-life because I reckon it'll take at least a year of daily use to finish and it's now been open for just over a year.

Wish me luck!

Hope all's well with you guys, and speak soon x

Hello all and welcome to my February Pan that Palette update! In some ways it hasn't been the greatest month for me because I've not yet kicked out any shadows from my Z-palette, but in others it has because...

...drum roll please...


Huzzah! Yes, I've finally finished my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit - every last drop.

The other two empty pans you can see are from Stila's Eyes Are The Window Palette in Mind: I've mentioned earlier that I'm trying to pan every shade from that palette and also from Stila's In The Light because they're the oldest palettes I own and I've depotted every shadow in them. 

The two empty pans are the pink and black shades from Mind, which didn't fit in my Z-palette so I've been panning them 'on the side'.

Here they are again:


Since I don't use black shadow, I used that one as a dry shampoo, and the pale pink cracked to bits when depotted so rather than re-press it, I decided to crush it up and add a little each day to my translucent setting powder, just to make the latter last longer. 

As you may know, I'm also doing the mixing thing with a too-pale blush via Project Pan - so it was bloody annoying to mix THREE different powders to set my makeup each day and I'm thanking the universe that I'm now only mixing two!

Here's where the Hourglass palette was at the end of January:


And here's where it is now:


I panned the whole thing, including the little bits stuck in the grids. That's how much I loved this product - not a speck went to waste.

Not only this, once the palette looked finished I decided that some of the product may have slipped down the edges of the pans so I upended it and banged it on my makeup desk. 

Again, again and again. 

Indeed, I did that for FIVE DAYS until finally, finally, no more powder spilled out from the gaps. Obsessive? Maybe. But I do love Hourglass and their powders don't come cheap so my banging behaviour was perhaps understandable. Well, maybe a little bit ; )

As for my Z-palette, here's how it looked at the end of January:


And here's how it looks now: 


So you'll no doubt notice that I've changed things a touch in the bottom right-hand corner. What I've done is removed Nars Sin because I just wasn't using it and I decided to bring in other products that I had more chance of actually finishing. 

I'm sorry if that's annoying for anyone who likes to see palettes look exactly the same from month-to-month, but I've done it because the main aim of this challenge for me is of course to get through old powders and Nars Sin was taking up too much space and not giving enough love to warrant its ongoing inclusion in this project.

The powders I've replaced it with are more Stila pans (they're all the same shape so they're easy to identify), and I'm happy to say that I've now managed to fit all my remaining Stila pans into this palette. Woot!

Here's a close-up of the left side, end of January:


And here's where it is now:


Now let's talk progress!

That damn yellow shade (top left) is about a week away from being finished because I've re-pressed it and what's left is very thin, plus I'm using it as a base shadow, as a matte highlight on the face and also to dull any redness on my chin and around my nose once my tinted moisturiser has faded throughout the day.

You'll also notice that I've re-pressed the Coastal Scents shade (bottom right, the round pan) and I reckon I can knock that out during March too because there's about one sixth of the full product left.

The Lancome shadows beside it and the Stila shimmers in this section haven't been used much because I've been focusing on the mattes. 

The mattes I've been using most since January are the four Stila pans in the bottom left and you'll see progress on Stila's Wit (the caramel shade showing pan) in particular. As for the other three, they've all been developing hard-pan and flaking so they've been difficult to work with and I've had to keep scratching off the hard-pan bits when I use them. Annoying! But I guess it means I'll be getting through them more quickly ; )

Stila's Sandstone (the brown showing pan) is progressing but it will take an eternity to finish it because I only use that on my brows and lower waterline, plus I mix it with Bahama Mama (below) to lighten Sandstone and cool it down for a better colour-match.

As for the other half of my palette, here's where it was in January:


There's the rest of it (January):


And here's where it is now:


Let's do the Nars pans first. I've had to re-press the brown below Bahama Mama because I've been mixing those two as a bronzer and it was getting too hard to get a larger brush in there. What's left is quite thin and I reckon it'll last two months tops.

The peach and plummy rose Nars shades have expanded pans and I've started using the peach as a highlight on the collarbones and shoulders because the pigmentation is rubbish (it looks frosty and nondescript on the eyes - definitely not peach) so I'm hoping I can get through it while the weather's still warm enough that I'm exposing more body-skin. The plummy rose is another nondescript shade but in a good way because it works as a transition and a base shadow.

Nars Portobello is the only Nars duo I own that I really enjoy because it's not as dry and hard as the others and it's a super useful little duo - so I'm not planning to pan this completely in 2017. My aim is to kick-out the pans in this palette that I don't love or are too old to perform as well as they used to, which will leave me with a palette full of shades that just work.

Bahama Mama from theBalm: we're getting there. I'd love to keep it in my collection but it's getting to the old, crumbly stage so I'm looking forward to getting through it. Three months? We'll see.

So Susan (the lavender shade): I've expanded the pan a bit. I love this colour but it's not a good formula and it vanishes from the eyes within an hour or two so I only use it when I know I'll have time to keep re-applying it.

The Croquis highlighter: not much progress but who cares because I love it and plan to keep it in this palette as long as I can!

No progress on Stila's Night Sky (the blue/grey) because I haven't tried using it much yet and I reckon it'll be better for the cooler months.

The new pans are Stila's Kitten (always a crowd pleaser ; )), two other pans from Stila Mind, plus a blush I mixed myself from a few random powders - and although it sadly doesn't work well as a blush because it falls off my face something chronic, it does work beautifully as an eyeshadow and I'm looking forward to using it for that purpose.

In sum

Phew! These posts are always long, even though I try to be as succinct as I can.

Do note that I'm planning to introduce another product to replace my Hourglass empty, but I'll do that in a separate post (hopefully today) because I'd rather introduce it properly and this post is long enough as it is.

Some housekeeping:

  • If you'd like to see January's update, it's here.
  • I'm currently using the matte purple shade from Stila's Mind as a dry shampoo now that I've finished the black because it's not a good powder and it doesn't look purple on me anyway (more of a muddy black/grey), so expect to see another 'floating' empty pan in a later update.
  • Please don't rely on the photos in these updates for the colours of my products: I have to enhance them and up the clarity so you can better-see progress, so if you're interested in any colours, I've done separate reviews on all of them and you can easily find those in the search panel of this blog.

That's all from me! It's been a pretty good month for Pan that Palette and I'm looking forward to delivering more panporn for you in March.

Do let me know if you're doing Pan that Palette 2017 and share in the comments any links you may have to photos/posts/videos etc because I love seeing how others are going with their projects.

Hope all's well with you guys, and speak soon x
I was having a bit of a 'what am I going to write' moment this morning and it suddenly occurred to me that I've never posted on my favourite fragrances, which is somewhat odd because I've been a perfume junkie since my teens and it wasn't until I hit my thirties that I broadened my beauty addiction to makeup and skincare. So it's time to talk scents. Not to be confused with 'sense' because, you know, baby brain: the struggle is real.

I guess the other reason I don't review fragrances on this blog is because, perhaps more than any other beauty item, perfume is just so personal that I don't feel 'right' in recommending any to others - particularly because what smells great on one person mightn't smell so good on others. Armani's Aqua di Gio is always my example here: I love the scent something chronic when I spray it on a card or sniff its instantly recognisable goodness on others, but I've never bought it because it smells rubbish on me.

One last thing to note: all the photos and (paraphrased) fragrance descriptions below are courtesy of fragrantica.com because I don't own all these perfumes at the moment so I can't do my own shots. On that, if you haven't visited fragrantica.com yet, you must: it's the best fragrance-related site on the web in my humble opinion and it's definitely worth a look-in if you need a perfume resource.

But enough preamble. Here are my favourite fragrances. I have plenty I enjoy but these are the ones I've repurchased and haven't tired of yet.

Christian Dior La Dolce Vita EDP

This is described as a sweet oriental fragrance with a spicy woody base. Top notes include lily, magnolia and rose followed by peach, apricot and cinnamon in its heart, while the dry-down notes are sandalwood, heliotrope and vanilla. 

This was released in 1994 and I bought my first bottle in 1996. I finished my last bottle a few months back and this is the first time in twenty years that I've not had the fragrance in my collection (that's because I've been waiting for sales, not because I don't want it). Oh how I'm missing it! It's a sweet-ish, complex fragrance that may be too much for many but for some reason it just works on me and if I could only ever own one fragrance, this would be it.

It smells yellow like sunshine and it just makes me happy. 'Nuff said.


Lancome La Vie Est Belle

This one launched in 2012 and it was love at first sniff for me. Fragrantica notes that iris is the key ingredient, followed by orange blossoms and jasmine in the heart. The top notes include blackcurrant and pear, while the base includes tonka bean, praline, patchouli and vanilla.

If you've smelled Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb, to me they smell basically the same - it's just that this one's richer, less saccharine (on me at least) and lasts longer on the skin. Plus it's generally cheaper so it's a better choice overall because I use less per application and don't need to keep reapplying it. 

La Vie Est Belle is quite a sweet fragrance and I generally prefer lighter, citrus-y scents, but it doesn't pull too sweet on me and I suspect I'll be using it for years to come.

Chanel Chance EDP/EDT

Now I can't remember for the life of me whether I've been through two bottles of this in the EDP or EDT version. But let's assume it's the EDT because I have a feeling that the EDP was too musky for me.

The EDT top notes are pink pepper, lemon and pineapple; the heart comprises hyacinth, jasmine and iris; and the base includes amber, patchouli, vetiver and white musk. 

I'm not a fan of musky perfumes and I've seen many reviewers say that this reeks of musk on them, but it doesn't on me and it's my perfect 'anytime' scent. It's neither a summer nor a winter fragrance and it's light while still being interesting and different: it's not a fragrance I've smelled a thousand times before and I can't wait to get my hands on another bottle.


Christian Dior Miss Dior

I did hesitate to include this one because my husband is the one who makes sure I always have this in my collection (I think he likes to pretend it makes me look like Natalie Portman), but I do enjoy it and it does make me feel special - it's just not one I reach for without thinking as I do the others on this list. That's because it's a touch too sweet and I have to use just a tiny bit or I find it too much, but it is a really beautiful, complex scent.

The top note is Italian mandarin, the heart is Egyptian jasmine absolute and rose, and the base is patchouli and musk. 

In many ways I prefer Miss Dior Eau Fraiche (that's the green one from this line) because it's lighter, heavier on the citrus and it's more of a unisex fragrance in my opinion because there's something masculine about the scent. But I didn't include that on this list because I've only been through one (admittedly large) bottle so it's not a repurchase. Yet ; )


Elizabeth Arden Green Tea

Last but not least, my favourite budget fragrance. This is one of those perfumes that I always grab from Priceline when it's on special for the grand total of about fifteen bucks because it's such a beautifully fresh scent and I've not tired of it yet.

The top notes are rhubarb, mint, orange peel, bergamot and lemon; the middle notes are carnation, musk, jasmine, oakmoss, white amber and fennel; and the base notes are caraway, amber, musk, green tea, jasmine, cloves, oakmoss and celery seeds.

The biggest issue with this product is that it lasts an hour or two before I need to spritz it again, but I can get over that because the bottle is huge and it doesn't break the bank. It's been a favourite for years and I can't remember the last time I didn't have a bottle on-hand.

A final note

I do have other fragrances I enjoy and have repurchased (eg Davidoff's Cool Water Woman, Dior Addict Eau Fraiche and a few of the DKNY apple fragrances), but I tend to get sick of those halfway through the bottle and don't repurchase them for a while until I'm 'ready' to use them again.

I'm also currently using Giorgio Armani's Si because I was able to grab it for a song during one of Chemist Warehouse's big sales, but it's probably not one I'd repurchase since it sometimes smells too sweet on me (perhaps it 'mixes' better with my body chemistry or what have you depending on the season - who knows).

Anyhoo! Them's my favourite fragrances. Do let me know if you have any favourites and whether there's any perfume you can't live without - I'd love to hear.

Speak soon x

I received this mascara from Marie Claire's The Parcel ages ago and it's taken me a while to open it because I usually only have one mascara open at a time and I had a few in backlog when I received it.

I was super suspicious when I opened it because the brush is too damn big - and big brushes and hooded eyes ain't a great mix. While I do have problems wielding the brush and not winding up with gunk where I don't want it, I'm happy to say that I have found a way to work with it and I do like the formula. It's not Maybelline's best, but it's still good.


Maybelline claims/product details:
  • Maybelline’s biggest brush and double collagen formula deliver amplified lashes with 12x the volume
  • Features a double shot brush that creates bigger and bolder eyelashes, filling them out for a pumped-up look
  • Double collagen formula wraps each lash from root to tip for colossal impact
  • Ophthalmologist tested
  • Suitable for contact lens wearers
  • To use: brush from root to tip of lashes; do not let mascara dry in between coats
  • RRP $19.95 AUD for 9.7ml, but do shop around


There's the brush in natural light above and direct sunlight below.


A close-up of the brush:


My bare lashes for reference:


Wearing one coat of mascara (I only ever wear one coat because I prefer a more natural look):


And again (oops, should've combed my eyebrow ; )):


One more for completeness:


Verdict

This is one of those products that's grown on me the longer I've used it. 

To start with I got pretty grumpy with the fat brush, but then I always do with large brushes because I have hooded eyes and fat brushes are a recipe for disaster - as indeed this one was. Nine times out of ten, I wound up with mascara goo all over my upper eye area so it stuffed up my eyeshadow and I was very close to turfing the product because life's too short for all that.

The other problem I had was that the formula clumped like nobody's business and I needed an eyelash comb whenever I used it. Again, life's too short - but the stubborn side of me decided to persist because I spend most of my life home with a baby and a toddler, so it doesn't really matter if my mascara's clumped and all over my eye-puff since only the postman will see me anyway and I can live with that.

But then something happened. After around three weeks of suffering with brush and clump factor, the mascara suddenly began to perform a damn sight better. Obviously this is one of those mascaras that's too wet to start with and gets better with age - but I normally find that, the older and drier a mascara becomes, the more likely it is that clumping will be an issue. Not with this.

What I find now is that it gives me clump-free lashes and delivers a good dose of length. Yes it's thickening too but I feel this is more of a lengthening mascara on me and not a fattening one (so perhaps the name is misleading and 'Stretch'd Express Lengthed Up!' or some such would be more appropriate). That's good news for me because my lashes are stumpy and length is what I need more than anything else, but it's worth mentioning because if you're after volume, this mightn't be the right mascara for you.

The brush of course is still an issue and you should be able to see in the above photos that I haven't been able to get the product as close to the lashline as I would like - but even said postman wouldn't be able to see that and I'm probably the only one who knows my lashes ain't quite right.

It's also worth mentioning that I've seen some reviewers say this product flakes on them but it doesn't do that for me so it may be one of those formulas that flakes on some but not others.

As a final random note, the packaging. I get (perhaps ridiculously) annoyed when tubes of mascara are too 'enthusiastic' in the girth department, as this one is. I mean, I don't have that much room in my makeup bag so mascaras this wide mean I need to take other stuff out so they'll fit. Ergh. Yeah ok, first world problems.

Oh! I should also say that this lifts my lashes up and keeps them nicely high throughout the day. I don't curl my lashes because I prefer mascaras to do that for me - yep, I'm lazy - and this one does. Woot.

So in sum, this isn't Maybelline's best mascara in my books (the Lash Sensational is my HG mascara, reviewed here), but I am enjoying this one now and I'll happily use it while I have it.

Decent.

This is one of those products that I've owned and loved for ages now but I'm only just coming to review it - in part because I kept forgetting to photograph it and in part because I've been so busy panning primers that this one has been a 'treat' product for occasional use and I've only started using it more consistently in the last few months.

If you read this blog, you'll know that I'm a big fan of Becca products in general and this one is no exception. There's plenty of hype surrounding this particular primer and I'm pleased to say that it completely meets my expectations and then some. Woot woot!


I do love the frosted glass bottle and it also comes complete with a pump (yay) that dispenses a small amount of product that's exactly the right amount for the whole face. It's one of those products that just makes me feel special when I use it, which for me is one of the best things about high-end makeup.

The only thing I don't love about it is that, at $65 AUD a pop, it's more expensive than any other primer I own and I don't want to pay that much for something like this. Having said that, Becca is one of those brands that's available in Australia from plenty of online retailers and you certainly don't need to pay that much for it if you shop around.


Becca claims/product details:
  • This unique makeup primer helps blur imperfections and enhances your radiant glow
  • Creates the perfect canvas for makeup, extending its performance to carry you from day to night
  • Three luminescent pearls add a different drop of diffused light; blended together, they impart a one-of-a-kind, lightweight and whipped fluid that creates a smooth canvas and acts as an instant filter
  • Vitamin e-enriched formula minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
  • Creates a diffused, soft-focused radiance that allows your complexion to catch light for a glowing look
  • Infused with Becca’s proprietary blend of crushed pearls, this primer achieves a lit-from-within, healthy-looking effect
  • RRP $65 AUD for 30ml, but do shop around (I found mine for around $50 and had a discount code so I paid about $40: try eg Adore Beauty or Activeskin)


There's a heavy and blended swatch, natural light (indoors):


Natural light again, outdoors:


And in indirect sunlight (I've left this slightly out of focus so you can see that it doesn't contain noticeable glitter, just adds a nice sheen):


Verdict

This is a beautiful product and I'm so glad I own it. I was very close to giving it an HG tag but I've decided not to for two reasons: first, it's not an essential because I find Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfectors (Liquid) more versatile overall; and second, it can present 'too shiny' issues in certain situations. More on that in a sec.

It's a beautiful, lightweight product that feels hydrating/nourishing on the skin and it absorbs instantly and has a smoothing effect. It does have a slight coconut scent but it's so faint that I'm only aware of it if I sniff my hands before applying the product and it doesn't linger on the skin - so don't discount this if you don't like scented products because you might be ok with this.

The texture is just gorgeous and it offers a sheen that's not glittery or overly metallic. I wouldn't necessarily say that it blurs imperfections as claimed, but it does reduce the look of fine lines because it's hydrating and plumps the skin a touch so wrinkles etc are less noticeable.

Now if you have visible pores like I do (they just keep getting bigger as I age ; )), this will make them even more visible due to the sheen this product offers so I personally wouldn't wear the product alone - but I guess you could do that for a bit of radiance if pores aren't a problem for you.

While I don't think this extends the wear of my makeup, I have dry skin so makeup tends to cling to my face anyway and it may increase longevity for those with a different skin type. Having said this, the product lasts for ages on my skin and it's still there when I wash my face at night - meaning it wears for a good twelve hours on me without budging.

And therein lies my one issue with this primer. I opt for lighter bases like tinted moisturisers and BB/CC creams, and these tend not to last as well on the skin as many foundations - even when set with a powder. What this means is that, as these fade throughout the day, my face looks super shiny because the primer holds fast and my base does not.

I can of course throw on a powder foundation to manage this issue, but having dry skin, powders usually dry me out and I can only apply a little if I don't want to look like a shrivelled prune - but with this primer, you need a good layer of powder foundation to manage the shine-factor so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The other thing to note is that, if like me you prefer lighter bases, you'll need one that offers a light-to-medium coverage or this primer will show through too much and you may look too shiny (and the pores sing again). And this is coming from a dry-skinned lass who's all about the dew, so if I find the sheen too much, I suspect others will too. 

As an example, I can't wear my Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Gel with this because the coverage is too sheer and the combo doesn't work, but I can wear something like the Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser because that has enough coverage to 'dull' the effect of this primer while still allowing a nice sheen to show through.

Oh! I also wanted to mention that I prefer this to MAC's Strobe Cream because it's not quite as heavy on the skin. So if you like the effect of the MAC product but don't like how rich it is, this Becca one would be a good alternative.

So in sum, this is a beautiful product that generally meets its claims and I recommend it. As to whether or not I would buy it again, I might but as mentioned I prefer Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfectors and I'm also quite keen to try the new Becca First Light Priming Filter (that's the purple one), so I may just enjoy this while I have it and then move on to something else.

A beautiful product.

Welcome to my second empties post for the month! 

I do love a good empties post because when people have completely finished a product, they usually have a good idea of what they think of it. I like declutter posts too: if you've had something long enough to know that you prefer other products and want to get rid of it, that's telling us something useful.

Anyhoo. Let's have a look.


Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturiser (Fair to Medium)

Full review here. I've used Jergens products before and really enjoyed them but this one didn't hit the mark. I didn't like the chemical scent but I could have lived with it if the product worked well. It didn't for me unfortunately: it was really difficult to spread and it didn't want to absorb (meaning I used far too much per application so it's not good value), and it also gave me a patchy tan that wasn't a good colour on me because it was too yellow/golden. So purchase? No.

Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF 30+

I love both this and the SPF 50+ version of this facial sunscreen and it's an HG product of mine that I can't recommend enough. I've reviewed it here. Given the choice I'll always go for the SPF 50+ because I might as well get the highest SPF possible, but this is just as good: it spreads and absorbs well; it doesn't leave a white cast and it's not greasy. Love. Repurchase? Yes.

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel

Full review here. This is a fantastic budget cleanser that's well-loved in the beauty community for good reason. It feels beautifully soothing on the skin and it smells like papaya in a natural way that I enjoy. Plus it cleans effectively and the bottle is huge so this one lasted for ages, despite frequent use. Definitely one to test if you're after a good, gentle cleanser that's not expensive. Repurchase? Yes.


Rituals Hammam Hot Scrub

This came in a gift set and I'm still reviewing the other items from the kit, but this was the first one I opened and it didn't take too long to finish because this is a travel-sized tub. I didn't mind the product but it wasn't love for me and I don't think it's Rituals' best product. I've reviewed it here

It smells wonderfully refreshing but its grains are too scratchy and harsh for my tastes, plus it's an oily product so my skin didn't feel polished after use but somehow greasy and raw at the same time. It's had some rave reviews, however, so it may just be that it didn't agree with me. Repurchase? No.

Sunday Riley Blue Moon Tranquillity Cleansing Balm

Full review here. My husband bought this for me for my birthday because I'd been dying to try it and it's not Sunday Riley's most expensive product, although of course it ain't cheap so it wasn't something I'd have bought for myself. While I did like it, it definitely wasn't the best cleanser of its kind that I've used and I think you can do much better in a lower price bracket (eg there's an Oskia one I'm using at the moment and I love that - review coming soon).

It did clean reasonably well but I preferred it as a hydrating mask, so I'd whack it on when I woke up and leave it for half an hour before washing it off. It was nice but not worth the price-tag in my opinion. Repurchase? No.


Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Anti-ageing Eye Cream

This was sent to me for review along with the matching day and night creams from the range. Unfortunately this was the product I liked least of the trio because it just didn't work for my dry skin. I've reviewed it here.

It's lightweight and absorbs well but it's not moisturising enough for me and I think it would be better-suited to normal or even oily skin, but if like me you're over thirty and need something heavier, this mightn't be enough for you either. Purchase? No.

Earth Science Azulene Eye Cream

Full review here. I picked this up for a song from iHerb and I really liked it for about the first four months' use: it was beautifully hydrating but not too heavy and a little went a long way so the tub lasted absolutely ages.

Unfortunately I don't think this has a long shelf-life because after four or so months of nightly use, the product starting irritating my skin and turning my eye area bright red. I was really annoyed about this because I still had half the tub left (that's how long it lasts) and I'd wanted to keep using it. I had to finish the rest on my face, avoiding my eye area. Repurchase? No, but only due to the longevity problem.


Beenigma Face Cream 

I received this in a recent Maslow & Co box and I was super excited to try it because I'd heard Tati (beauty youtuber) rave about it to no end. Unfortunately, the product just didn't grab me but looks like that puts me in the minority because a lot of people seem to like it.

The cream was quite thick and while it did plump up fine lines, it didn't hydrate that well and I just felt that it wasn't nourishing enough so I needed to use an oil underneath it to keep my skin feeling comfortable. I'll be interested to hear what other subscribers thought of this - maybe it just doesn't mesh with my skin. Purchase? No.

The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Sleeping Cream 

This apparently contains a unique blend of precious oils and powerful essential oils that should moisturise and rejuvenate your complexion while you rest. 

I do love me a good overnight cream, but this was one of those products that really did nothing for me. Yes it was a little soothing/cooling when applied and it hydrated my skin temporarily like any stock-standard moisturiser, but that's about it. If you want a good overnight cream that costs less than this does, I recommend Pixi's offering (reviewed here). Purchase? No.


L'Oreal Revitalift Laser x3 Dual Action Moisturiser

Ooops I forgot to photograph these last two products separately so I've had to use a cut from the opening shot - apologies!

I've reviewed this product here. It was sent to me for review and I was looking forward to using it because a lot of people have spoken highly of it, but unfortunately it just didn't work for me. Problem is, it didn't want to absorb so I couldn't use it under makeup or overnight creams since it made those 'ball up' on my face, plus it left my dry skin feeling parched because it didn't deliver nourishment where I needed it but instead sat on top of the skin. Purchase? No.

Bio Oil

No doubt you've seen this show up in my empties posts before because it's an old favourite and I always have one in the bathroom. Full review here.

This one was sent to me because a PR rep for Bio Oil said she noticed that I'd just finished my Bio Oil in another empties post so she wanted to send me more. How nice is that?! I was so excited, I can't tell you!

Anyhoo. This is a staple because it hydrates and a little goes a long way so I don't get through the product too quickly, and I do think it has an impact on reducing scarring etc. Love. Repurchase? Yes.

In sum

Hooray for more empties! This wasn't a bad lot and my favourites in this bunch are the Bio Oil, the Mario Badescu cleanser and the Mecca sunscreen. Everything else I can take or leave.

Hope all's well with you guys, and speak soon x

I did my first declutter for the year back in early January (see here) and I wouldn't have thought I'd be ready for another declutter post as early as February, but turns out I am so here it is!

Do note that I declutter often so I've called this series 'the big declutter' even though each individual post is quite small - so while you won't see huge chunks of beauty products being removed in one hit, you will see a significant amount being passed on as the year progresses.

The reason why I declutter so often is not only because I don't like having stuff lying around unused, but also because I either donate it or pass it on to friends and family so I would much rather find better homes for things while they're well within expiry.

Anyhoo. Let's have a look.


Maybelline Master Strobing Stick Illuminating Highlighter

Full review here. I was sent this product for review recently and while I do like it, I also have so many highlighters that I just don't need another one. While it's the only cream highlighter I own, I learned long ago that I don't reach for creams unless I'm making myself do so via Project Pan, so rather than popping this into the 'next to pan' basket, I would prefer to send it to someone who'll use it more than I would.

It's a decent budget option if you're after a natural-looking highlight that's easy to apply and blend (it's a great product for beginners). While it doesn't last as long as I would like (even when set with a powder), it looks good on the skin and I'm sure someone will love it.

Maybelline Master Contour V-Face Duo Stick in Medium

This was sent to me along with the above product and they have similar formulas so this one also applies and blends well and is a good product for beginners. I've reviewed it here.

My main issue with this product is that the dark side is too warm for contouring (at least on me) and the highlight shade is too pale and frosty for my medium skin so I don't think the colours have been chosen well. Still, the dark shade makes a nice cream bronzer and the highlight is definitely usable so I've no doubt someone will be pleased to receive it.


Sleek Eye Dust in Inferno

This isn't a bad little product, it's just that I never use it because I don't go for strong eye looks (this is super metallic) and it's also a pigment so there's fall-out unless you've got a good glitter glue, which I don't. I've reviewed it here.

I would have decluttered it ages ago but I haven't done so because I completely forgot that I had it. Ooops! It's not too old so I'm sure someone will like it.

Gorgeous Cosmetics Lipstick in Quinn

Full review here. I didn't mind this product although it had a tendency to emphasise lip lines so it wasn't my favourite, plus I have a similar bright orange shade that I prefer so I always opted for that over this one.

I did however start using it more frequently with the intention of panning it, but unfortunately the whole lipstick has disintegrated into a melted mess so I'm going to have to turf it. Annoying! It came as a GWP and I suspect it was quite old before I even opened it because I had issues with the bronzer from the GWP set too.

Lancome Juicy Shaker in Walk the Lime

There's been a lot of hoo-hah about these and it seems you either love them or you really don't. I really don't: this completely dries my lips out and it's not something I can use much or I'll wind up with flaky, uncomfortable lips. Problem is, you need to keep re-applying these because they don't last, so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place due to the drying issue. I've reviewed it here.

I did consider panning it but instead I've passed it on to my mum, who was super happy to receive it and I'm sure she'll enjoy it - so better that I've given it to someone who's glad to use it, as opposed to forcing myself to do it. Win win.


Schwarzkopf Live Colour in Rich Burgundy x2

I bought these just before I got pregnant with my first child because I'd dyed my hair with them previously and liked the look, so I wanted to do it again.

Unfortunately two pregnancies and two children got in the way of my plans, mostly because I barely have time or energy to wash my hair - let alone dye it. You'll also hear that you shouldn't dye your hair when pregnant, although I've been told that it's worth asking your doctor that question because it's not necessarily the case.

In any event, it's time these were either donated or tossed (I'll need to look into whether they're still ok to use before passing them on) and I'm finally doing it now. I should have done it ages ago but I kept hoping I'd find the time and energy to use them. I never did!

In sum

That's all for my little declutter post. Above are seven items in total that I'm decluttering in February (two being the same product), and only the hair dye is something I bought for myself - everything else was sent to me for review or received as a GWP etc.

Do let me know if you've done any decluttering of late and how you like to go about it if so. I'm always up for more tips on when and how to declutter, so do share them in the comments if you have any.

Speak soon x
 

Would you believe, it's taken me most of February to finally finish one item from my Project Pan 2017 list for this month. My golly! And to think that I deliberately included a few 'easy' items so I could keep things moving and not get bogged down.

Hoh well. At least I've finished a 'good' item: my Josie Maran blush in Honeymoon Honey (see above). This thing has been on my list since last year so I'm thrilled that I can finally call it done.

I do plan to bring in my only other non-powder blush to Project Pan 2017 (it's from Stila), but for now I'd rather give myself a break from panning blushes so I've decided to include another mask on my list since I have too many of those and need to get through some.


Peter Thomas Roth 24k Gold Mask

Full review here. Now I really like this mask but it's been open the longest of all my masks so it's time to start using it more often. Fortunately all the PTR masks I've used to date have come with a 24 month shelf-life (after opening) marked on the tub, so even though it's been open for a year now, it's still well within expiry.

This is one of those masks that I really enjoy but I've since found a Chantecaille one that I prefer so I'll be opening that once this is finished because they do similar things (hydrate and soothe) - it's just that the Chantecaille one works better for me so I won't buy this one again.


There's another look at the tub above. I have about two-thirds left and it will likely last for a while because a little goes a long way and I haven't made a huge dent in this, despite how often I use it.

With the addition of this mask I now have two PTR masks on my Project Pan list and I'm looking forward to finishing them so I can get stuck into other products.

Hope all's well with you, and I'll check back in soon with my full PP update for the month. 
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