little white truths: January 2015

I received this product in Memebox Superbox #70 Thumbs Up! Bloggers' Picks. I've been using it now for six weeks and reckon it's high time I reviewed it.

Unfortunately, there's not a hell of a lot to say! It's one of those products that sounds wonderful in theory but ends up doing not much - at least on my skin.

Purebess claims/product details:

Works to lock in moisture
Also rids your skin of residues piled up in your pores
Removes fine lines along your contours
Leaves your skin glowing
Use in place of toner, after cleansing and before moisturising
RRP $15 for 50ml

Note that galactomyces is an enzyme that's used in the fermentation process when making alcohol. It was discovered by scientists visiting a Sake brewery in Japan, who noticed the youthfulness of the workers' hands. Galactomyces is the main active ingredient in the SK-II range.

Verdict

I'm not getting any love from this product, and from what I've seen online, no other bloggers are either.

It's the second one of these waters I've tried and I haven't seen results from either of them. Indeed, they seem to be drying more than anything else and don't add anything to my skincare routine.

You apply it without a cotton pad (unlike most toners) and let it absorb. It doesn't seem to absorb too well, mind you - it feels exactly like putting water on your face, except that water can make you look fresher and more plumped, and this doesn't even achieve that.

I'll finish the bottle off and let you know if my thoughts change, but I don't think they will.

A useless product, for me anyway.

I received this in Memebox Special #73 F/W Natural Makeup, and I've decided to review various primers over the next week or so and compare them so I can let you know my favourites.

My first thought about this primer was that it was a highly suspect product, considering the box's theme. It does indeed have noticeable glitter bits in it - so why would I want that if I'd ordered a 'natural makeup' box? I mean really.

But I've given it a fair trial and here's what I think.

* Unblended hand swatch taken outside in direct sunlight.

You can see the glitter bits in there, but they're finely milled and not too noticeable.

LadyKin claims/product details:

Suitable for all skintones
Aims to prep and smooth uneven skin texture before applying base makeup
Leaves skin feeling supple, soft and non-oily, with a sheer hint of shimmering pearls
Shelf-life: 12 months after opening
RRP $12US for 30ml
Available here for $10.90AUD, but do shop around

* Blended hand swatch taken outside in direct sunlight.

Again, this isn't bad at all in terms of my dislike of noticeable glitter on my skin - and I'll definitely use it prior to my BB/CC cream for that whole 'lit from within' look.

Verdict

I trialled this for a couple of weeks and can now comment on it properly - I tried it with different foundations and in different weather conditions etc.

Fortunately, the shimmer isn't too noticeable and so it's a product I'll definitely use, since I do mix illuminator in with my primer anyway.

Not sure I'd wear it on its own (as I would eg MAC's Strobe Cream - which doesn't have glitter but provides a sheen - review coming soon), but let's see.

It has a pleasant smell and is quite rich/moisturising, and I'm enjoying using it. I'm not sure it's the best primer in terms of making your makeup last longer and performing skin-perfecting functions (eg like reducing the appearance of pores and fine lines), but I'd say that about most primers I've tried anyway.

I'm glad to have received this product and I'll use it, although I still don't think it belonged in the box.

I received this in Memebox Superbox #70 Thumbs Up! Bloggers' Picks.

I have dry hair that loves to go frizzy, given half a chance, so I was happy to receive it: my hair definitely needs all the nutrients it can get.

Hair+ claims/product details:

For dry and damaged hair
Experience the results of a hair clinic program
Contains wheat protein, castor oil and algae extract
To use: after washing, apply throughout your towel-dried hair, especially at the ends
RRP $5 for 12ml

Verdict

Just a short comment because there's not much to say.

This product is fine, it's just not the best hair treatment of this nature that I've used. It has a chemical smell and doesn't do much to tame fly-aways, which is one of the things I'm after with a product like this one.

While it does add some moisture, it also has a tendency to weigh your hair down and I've got much better products on hand to deal with dryness (eg hair oil) - so there's not really a place for this product in my routine because it doesn't perform any function particularly well.

Still, it's a good purse-sized item that's not entirely useless and I'll get through it.

We received this eyeshadow palette in our October Lust Have It women's boxes.

At the time I hadn't been lucky enough to trial eyeshadows from higher end brands, so I was measuring it against lesser shadows. Now, however, having picked up a Stila 12-shadow palette for $68, I'm wondering why anyone would spend $35 on a palette like this one. Yes it's a bit cheaper and you do get four shadows, but for that amount I'd expect a lot more from the palette overall. Even the packaging is cheap and the compact doesn't come with a mirror.

Anyhoo. Let's have a look.

So Susan claims/product details:

The ultimate in smokey, intense eye colour
Formulated with coated pigments to give you stretchable, long-lasting colour
100% cruelty free
RRP $35 for 8g
Shelf-life after opening: 12 months

Not another batch of shimmer eyeshadows, my golly. I can confirm that I have never, ever received a matte eyeshadow in all my years of being a sub box addict.

At least I didn't have a lavender eyeshadow when I got this. I certainly have a bundle of purples though.

I like the colours well enough, but my first thought when I opened this was how cool the palette is. I think it would have been a nicer combination if the silver was a warm gold. When I wear these shadows I do switch the silver for a gold from another palette (using it on the inner corners and inner lid) and the result is much better - at least on my colouring (medium skin, brown hair and eyes).

Above I've swatched each colour outdoors, in direct sunlight. The below shot is taken indoors, with flash.

There we are on my eyes below. You can tell that application is a little patchy - and I do find these shadows need some work when it comes to blending.

Verdict

This is not a $35 palette. I'd pay a max of $15 for it, and even then I think you can do much better. Eg the $10 Models Prefer 12-shadow palette I've recently reviewed has much better packaging than this one, comes with a double-ended brush that's surprisingly useful, and the shadows themselves look and feel of similar quality to this, even if they don't last quite as well without a primer.

I've had a hit-and-miss experience with So Susan products, and this is one of the misses unfortunately. While I'll use the palette at least for the lavender colour, I can see it growing pretty dusty, pretty quickly.

On the overall quality of the palette: the shadows look cheap/powdery (and feel a little that way when used) but they apply reasonably well. I like the colours more than I thought I would, but as mentioned, I do think that gold works much better with the other colours than silver does (that's of course just personal preference).

This is obviously meant to be a pigmented palette and it's really not - the colour aren't bad, they're just not 'intense' as claimed. I personally don't mind that because it's easier to make mistakes when you're dealing with super-pigmented products, but if you're after pigment, I'd look elsewhere.

In sum, don't buy this: you can find better pharmacy products for half the price. It's an ok inclusion in a subscription box but it's certainly not something I'd go out and buy. For an extra few dollars you can go to Mecca or Sephora and get something that's much, much better quality and feels a thousand times more special.

Avoid.

Yay for reaching (nearly) the end of the month and my first update for Project Pan 2015. If you missed my initial post on what PP is and why/how I plan to do it, please see that post here.

I'm aiming to do an update around once a month, depending on whether I've managed to knock any products off the list by finishing them, and if I haven't then I might just see where each product on the list is at. If you're following this and would like more frequent updates, do let me know.

So! You may remember my PP list:

2 x Erborian BB creams
Drww Mix & Match Set Vol 2
Benefit's Coralista Blush (3g travel size)
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Loose Colour Concentrate in Twirl
Tonymoly Circle Lens Mascara
ModelCo Colourbox Eyeshadow in Tahiti
Sweetpea & Fay Liquid Lipstick in Papercut
~~'Tini Beauty Eyetini Swizzle Stick Eyeliner in Cognac~~
~~Be a Bombshell Eyeshadow in Halo~~
~~Bodyography Oxyplex Pressed Complexion Powder in Amber~~

So the Be a Bombshell, Bodyography and 'Tini Beauty products are out! It's definitely been a good month in terms of getting through a few products.

The 'Tini eyeliner (which I was using as a brow pencil) broke yet again yesterday, so that's why I decided to write this post today - only a little was left and I was waiting for it to be finished before doing an update.

The Be a Bombshell eyeshadow crumbled to pieces last week - as I mentioned in my review of that product, it wasn't in great shape when I opened it. I certainly hadn't expected it to crumble to pieces however - without my even dropping it etc. So what I did with the dregs (which got too annoying to use) was add them to some body cream, which I used on my legs and arms, just for fun.

Ach, my Bodyography powder. I'm sad to see the back of it, but I do have back-ups so it's nice to move on to a different product. In the end I got through this one quickly by using it not only as a face powder (mixed with a lighter Bodyography powder to get the right colour), but also as a bronzer and crease shadow.

As for the other products, you can see where I'm at with three of them above. There's no point photographing the others because you won't be able to see how much is left, but I've made some in-roads into all but the Erborian creams because I stopped using those so I could finish off another foundation, knowing that I could get through it reasonably quickly (it'll be in my next January empties post). I've promised myself to start using them again now!

Now, since I've knocked three products off, here are three new ones to take their places:

Mememe Cosmetics Seventh Heaven Enriched Moisturising Facebase

I love this product. Full review here. Problem is, I seem to have accrued a number of primers and I'm getting a little lazy when it comes to finishing one off before opening another (I keep switching between them). So as part of Project Pan this year, I'd like to get through at least three full primers.

I reckon I can have this one done in about a month - there's around a third of it left.

Lancome L'Absolu Nu in 201, Beige de Soie (1g mini)

This mini lipstick was hanging around at Mum's place and no one was going to use it, so I poached it - when you're posting on beauty products and you're on a spending ban, you gratefully take any free products that come your way so you have content!

I did question whether or not to include another lip product, since I've got so much of the Sweetpea & Fay lipstick to get through, but decided to include this because it's small and I'll use it up quickly, and also because the Sweetpea & Fay product is on its last legs (this was the product with damaged packaging that I wanted to use for a month or two before throwing the rest out).

I reckon I can finish this Lancome lipstick in a month or so, and I'll write a full review of it in that time.

Colour Theory Nail Polish in Tangerine Dream

Full review here. I love this nail polish and I'm about halfway through the bottle. I so rarely finish polishes before they go gluggy, that I thought I'd better use one for PP.

I reckon I can get through this product in about a month too - although I'm 39 weeks pregnant so we'll see how much time I have for painting my nails shortly haha.

In sum

Not a bad start to Project Pan I'd say. I'm glad to have finished three products and I'd be super glad if I managed to finish off three each month! I guess that's the benefit of including items you know you can get through quickly - it helps keep the motivation going when it comes to those items you think you'll never see the back of.

I'll be back with an update by the end of February. If you're doing PP yourself, I'd love to hear how you're going : )

I decided to split my empties post into two this month because I have quite a few products to include, and I'm also into my 39th week of pregnancy and could pop any day - so I wanted to knock this post over while I still can!

Plus I have a Project Pan 2015 update post to write, so there'll be a few empties in that one too. A good month for finishing things off : )

Garnier Body Tonic Instant Firming Hydrating Lotion

This was actually my husband's body cream, but I always poach his stuff so I can review it - just as he's one of the reasons I manage to get through quite a few products each month because he steals mine. It's nice to share ; )

I quite liked this cream. I feel that it did have a (temporary) toning action, and it was nicely hydrating and rich enough for me without being heavy. Mex obviously liked it too because he went through it much more quickly than he normally would a body cream. Repurchase? Probably.

Jergens Ultra Healing Body Moisturiser

Full review here. In short, I absolutely loved this cream and I'm sad it's gone! It came in the Summer Edit of Marie Claire's The Parcel and it's one of those products that makes you glad you're signed up to subscription boxes - I'm not sure I would have noticed it in Priceline and bought it otherwise. It's super hydrating and my skin drank it up; plus the hydration factor lasts all day. Purchase? Definitely.

Original Raw Deluxe Kit ver 3.0

Full review here. This was one of those situations where a bit of experimentation made a difference in terms of my experience of a product. I didn't think too much of this kit when I first used it, but I tried applying double the amount of each product per application and found this made them work much better. In the end I quite liked this little kit and my skin did too. Of course, you don't want to have to apply lashings of a product to make it work for you, so I won't be sourcing this one. But it was a Memebox inclusion and I wanted to get something from the kit, so I'm happy I did. Purchase? No.

ddung Family Peeling Gel

Well, this is the first product I can ever remember throwing out before it finished (or expired). You may know how much I hate waste, so I must have REALLY hated this product to turf it and not even use it as a body item. Full review here. I don't want to waste any more words on saying just how bad it was. Trust me, it was AWFUL. Purchase? NO.

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Bath and Shower Gel

I bought the 100ml fragrance of this last year and really liked it, so I was happy when Mum gave me the gel to use (she's a Clarins fanatic and didn't want it). It's not a bad one at all - it cleans and foams well and smells lovely. You can usually pick this up from Priceline or Chemist Warehouse in a kit along with the fragrance, if you're planning on buying the fragrance anyway (which is really lovely - so fresh and light). I wouldn't buy the gel, but I'd buy the kit for the fragrance - since the kit often costs the same as the fragrance alone - and I'd be happy to have the gel as a 'free' inclusion. Purchase? Maybe.

Calvin Klein Eternity EDP

This was one of the last products I bought before commencing my year-long spending ban. I needed a new everyday fragrance but didn't want to buy an expensive one, so I picked this up for $19.95 in Chemist Warehouse. It's an ok fragrance and definitely not my favourite, but it's light and inoffensive enough for day and I got through the bottle reasonably quickly. It smells too peppery for me, however - something that began to bother me about halfway through the bottle, and at that point it got sent to the bathroom for use as an air freshener. Repurchase? No.

23 Years Old Air-laynic Pore Mask

I received this from Memebox and absolutely hated it. It's a mask that's shaped and packaged as a syringe (gross) and it's meant to tighten enlarged pores and fight against blemishes on the nose and cheeks.

Yep, I hated everything about it. It's weird and thick like some kind of wobbly slime, plus it bubbles (worryingly: I wasn't keen on putting it on my skin), smells disgusting and chemical and just off, and the feel of it on my skin was so yuck (thick and oozy and bubbly and globby) that I only lasted 15 min with it on, rather than the suggested 20-30 min. Yuck gross yuck. Won't be going near this again. Did it do anything? Who knows. I was too concerned with scrubbing every last ounce of it off me that my skin looked a bit raw afterwards anyway. Purchase? No.

Boscians Cycle Repair Whitening Spot

Full review here. Another Memebox inclusion that ended up being a let down (I had great luck with my first few Memeboxes, but they really went downhill after that so I'm glad I'm on a spending ban!).

It's meant to reduce uneven skintone and dark spots and brighten the complexion, and hydrate dull and dry skin, leaving it soft and supple. It's also designed to speed up the repair cycle of your skin to target wrinkles.

I found it didn't do much. It was nicely hydrating if you apply a lot of it, but otherwise it didn't add anything to my usual skincare routine (I applied it first after toning, as you would a serum) and I haven't noticed any change in my skin over the six weeks that I used it. Purchase? No.

Erborian CC Créme HD

So far this is my HG of CC creams and I'm sad that it's gone, but also glad because I really need to get through more than a few creams in the CC/BB department!

Full review here - and it's probably best to read that if you're interested in this product. In short, it's a great CC containing high sun protection and it leaves you with a dewy glow. It's one of those rare 'my skin but better' products and you can't tell I'm wearing anything when I use it. Plus it works well as a base for powder foundation if you want to dust over a little more coverage. Repurchase? Yes, if I ever get through the unopened tinted moisturisers, BBs and CCs I have waiting to be opened.

Leporem Perfect Whitening Blemish Balm (BB)

This was yet another Memebox BB cream inclusion that was far too pale for my skin. Plus it has a weird purply hue and wasn't one I could eg mix with a product that was too dark for me, so I could get some use from it. Since it had high sun protection, I mixed it with my regular face and body sunscreens (to dilute the pale colour, making it sheer and wearable), so at least I was able to use it for its SPF over summer. Purchase? Of course not ; )

Chella 'Light Brown' Luscious Eyebrow Colour Pencil

Full review here. This was a Violet Box inclusion and it's the best eyebrow pencil I've used so far. Mind you, I've only used three because I only started using them when I got them in subscription boxes and wanted to try them out, and I'm not sure I'd use them otherwise because my eyebrows are dark and thick enough as it is.

What I liked about this one is that it's very thin, doesn't break (while others have) and doesn't require sharpening. Being thin was good when it comes to my eyebrows: if there were any white patches from where I'd needed to pluck them to keep them even but also needed to smooth out the overall look of their lines, this pencil was great for that. Purchase? No. I wouldn't pay $21.50 for an eyebrow pencil.

Alpha-H Liquid Gold with Glycolic Acid

This is one of my HG products: full review here. If you're interested in this product, it's probably best to read that review. In short, it's the only product of this nature I've used so far that doesn't leave me with dry, red, flaky and irritated skin when used as directed, and it does live up to its claims in terms of resurfacing and brightening your skin. Repurchase? Of course, I have two back ups ; ) I'll use those once I've finished the Paula's Choice product I'm currently trialling. See review of that product here.

ddung Liptick in DL10 Pure Peach

Full review here. I liked the colour of this product, received from Memebox. I didn't however like the product itself or the packaging, and since it was such a bad lipstick in terms of quality, I added it to a tub of lipstick/gloss ends in the bathroom that I use to combine colours and make a more decent product. After 12-18 months I start using the ends of the tub as a foot treatment (otherwise I'd have a neverending/randcid tub) and make another one. Lip products can make good foot treatments because they often contain similar ingredients (eg lanolin and particular oils). Repurchase? No.

In sum

That's the first empties post done for the month. I'll likely do the send one around Feb 1 (unless I'm in labour before then!).

The stand-outs of course are the Alpha-H product, the Chella eyebrow pencil, the Erborian CC and the Jergens body cream.

I'm looking forward to seeing what other bloggers have finished this month : )

Yesterday I posted on the not-very-good Sally Hansen acetone-free remover; today I thought I'd post on this excellent product.

If I were into nail polish (which I'm not, purely because it's a lot of effort for something that chips after two seconds on me), then these would be my HG of nail products without question.

I would likely never have known about them if I hadn't managed to score one of those Priceline baggies last year that you can sometimes get when you spend a certain amount on particular brands. These little gems were inside the baggie, and they're definitely the stand-out item from the bunch and one I'll likely buy again and again.

Manicare claims/product details:

Gives nails a moisturising and scented alternative to nail polish remover
Formulated to remove all traces of nail polish without the strong smell of regular nail polish removers
Nail brightening formula moisturises and nourishes nails using vitamin e
Acetone free
Just one pad removes the polish from all ten nails
Enriched with aloe vera and berry oil that conditions the nail while removing polish, even the dark, hard-to-remove colours
Ideal for purse or travelling
Available in coconut and floral scents
RRP $4.95 for 32 pads, but do shop around

Verdict

Nail polish remover that travels well, doesn't smell horrendous and does the job brilliantly? GENIUS.

OMG these are so good. I find that I only need one to remove the polish from all ten nails (so that claim is true), and I've even managed to use one pad for twenty nails before when I'd used a paler, thinner colour on both my hands and feet.

They're strongly scented but the smell certainly beats your regular polish remover, and the pads are very thin. You'll be surprised by how much mileage you can get from such a tiny bit of cloth (I certainly was).

They do leave behind an oily residue, which I don't mind because it feels moisturising (so there's another claim met as well). I do prefer washing that residue off before re-painting my nails, however - just in case it interferes with the polish.

Such a good product to chuck in your purse or travel bag! I can't recommend these enough - particularly if you're lazy like me and want to keep fuss to an absolute minimum. I'm also loving that you don't need to go through a bundle of makeup remover pads (which I go through all too quickly as it is) when you use these too: all you need is one tiny pad and you're done!

Yay. I'll definitely be buying these in future.

It's been ages since I reviewed a nail product so I thought I'd sneak in a quick post today. Nail polish remover is one of those items I buy because I have to (not because I want to) and I'd say that most lasses are the same.

I reckon that what most of us want from a remover is one that does the job fast and well. Unfortunately this one doesn't hit the mark - maybe it's just too gentle for the purpose it was designed for.

Sally Hansen claims/product details:

An enriched formula that quickly and gently removes nail polish with essential nutrients to help promote strong, healthy-looking nails and cuticles every time you use it
A special blend of pro-vitamin B5, vitamin E and an acetone-free base quickly and gently removes polish from your nails
Helps keep nails strong and healthy-looking
RRP $5.45 for 150ml

Verdict

I'll be brief because there's not a lot to say about this product.

In short it doesn't remove polish well at all: I find myself having to use a shiteload of it each time and even then I need to scrub and scrub to remove the polish. I find removing nail polish annoying enough as it is - this simply makes the process even worse!

On top of that, I'm really not sure how gentle it is. I think having to use heaps of remover each time and then having to rub at your nails to get the job done really doesn't help. I definitely wouldn't recommend it if your nails tend towards dryness and cracking.

In all, a disappointing product and one I won't be buying again.

I received this product in an old Lust Have It box (I actually received two of them) so I've had quite a bit of time to give it a good go.

Glycolic acid products seem to be all the rage at the moment - I've tried three in the past year and none before that - and they can be a bit hit and miss, depending on how sensitive your skin is.

Unfortunately I have dry/sensitive skin so I have to be super careful with these kinds of products: they can dry me out and cause red skin and flaking, even after only a couple of uses.

Paula's Choice claims/product details:

Has a sheer, weightless texture that works to exfoliate the skin's surface and fade signs of sun damage
The ultra-light formula corrects uneven skintone for a brighter, smoother, more radiant complexion
Substantiated research shows that AHAs improve collagen production for firmer skin and increase skin's moisture-binding ability
8% AHA Gel works to sustain the results of professional peels and wears beautifully under a moisturiser or serum
This product is 100% fragrance-free and colourant-free, with a pH range of 3.5-3.9
Great for all skin types but those with normal to dry, sun-damaged skin will find it especially beneficial

Verdict

First, this product does work in terms of exfoliating the skin's surface, reducing signs of damage and giving you a brighter, fresher-looking complexion. For me, this happened after only a few uses.

Unfortunately it's too potent for me and I can only use it once a week, which isn't enough to see decent results. If I use it any more than that, I end up with the dry, flaking, red skin mentioned above. This happens no matter how good my moisturiser is, and no matter how dry (or not) my skin is at the time.

So far the only glycolic acid product I've used that works and that I can use regularly is my HG Alpha-H Liquid Gold. I've seen that Paula's Choice has a product with less than 8% AHA, so I might be better off trying that, should I happen to come across it.

In sum, this is a decent product that apparently works for many - and I can see how it would - it's just too strong for my skin. So don't discount it if your skin isn't particularly dry or sensitive, but I'd definitely sample this prior to buying the full size if your skin is like mine.

What I've been doing with this is using it on my neck and dec instead (for some reason I can get away with it there) and this has helped the overall look and feel of my skin in those areas.

I seem to have posted on a lot of Memebox products recently, and most of them I haven't liked that much. So I thought it was high time to post on something I do like!

This cleanser was from Memebox Global #17, and I've been using it for over a month now. It's one of those products that doesn't look like much, but winds up surprising you in a good way.

Climax claims/product details:

A highly elastic, sticky textured cleanser that's enriched with soda water and over 22 naturally derived components
Unique patented ingredients (keratin removal promoting components) provide smooth skin
Ingredients include soap grass extract, muhwanja extract, yam root extract and wheat germ extract
Aims to dissolve dirt, oil and makeup residues piled up on the surface
Double cleansing is recommended: take appropriate amount with dry hand, apply to dry face and massage; rinse with lukewarm water
RRP $34 for 150ml

Verdict

Happily, this product has ended up being a nice surprise and I really quite like it.

It cleans well, feels nice on my skin and I'm enjoying using it. It has a pleasant, grassy smell and does feel like it's dissolving dirt and grime. Plus it's gentle but still gets the job done: rarely can I say that about cleansers - the more gentle ones usually aren't my favourites because I like my skin to feel really clean after use and gentle cleansers often don't achieve that (at least for me). This one strikes a nice balance.

So yes, it generally lives up to its claims.

I have to say, however, that according to the description it's meant to get thicker as you're massaging it in, and this hasn't happened for me (the consistency stays the same). So I'm not sure about this whole 'highly elastic, sticky textured' thing. I'd be interested to hear whether others have experienced this issue?

In any event, I don't care about that particular claim - it's a good cleanser and that's enough for me!

I received this product in Memebox #70 Thumbs Up! Bloggers' Picks.

I have to say, I'm starting to wonder about this whole 'bloggers' picks' claim because I haven't had the best experience with the products so far and, from what I can tell, others haven't either. (And I'm talking about when these products were released in earlier boxes - so I don't know who 'picked' them to be in this box, based on the online reviews.)

This is one of those products. It was included in (among other boxes) #51 My Cute Wishlist 2 and it doesn't seem to have been particularly well-received. Indeed, the only thing people seem to like about it is the little box it comes in - which, to be honest, I can take or leave.

Evas claims/product details:

Completely removes makeup and impurities to give you the best down-to-the-pore clean feeling
Micro bubbles penetrate deep into the pores to extract blackheads, whiteheads and acne-causing bacteria, giving you flawless skin
While some cleansers with larger foam particles, excess vibration or friction can irritate the skin, this cream soap works gently yet thoroughly, leaving your face refreshing clean and smooth
RRP $18 for 130g

Note that I had to look up how to use this one, because the product card says only to massage onto your wet face - and I wasn't getting any foaming action from doing that.

What you're meant to do is wash your hands clean first, then lather the soap on your hands. Massage the resulting foam onto your face, then use your fingers to gently roll the foam. Rinse off with water and pat dry.

OMG that blo*dy 'roll' action again! Man am I sick of that from Memebox products haha.

Verdict

I received 01 Berry Mix of the four available options. The scent is ok but it's all a bit sweet for me and I might have preferred the lemon. Anyhoo, that's neither here nor there.

This is a strange product, and it's not a very good one. First, the design of the container. You can see from the above photo that the mouth of the lid comes in a little. While it's easy enough to reach the (super thick) product for now, it's not going to be when I get to the bottom of the (rather deep) container. So yes, not a great design.

On the product's consistency - I really don't want to be digging my fingers in each time to use it (and a few people have said this), so what I've been doing is using a spatula that I got from another product. Maybe Evas could have included one here.

Despite using a spatula - and again, others have commented on this - it's hard to get the right amount of product each time and I always seem to end up with far too much of it. Maybe this is a formula issue: the product really is super thick.

The foaming. If used as per the instructions on the product card that came with this particular box, the product doesn't foam. If you lather it first with your hands and water, you can get a bit of foaming action happening but it's really not that impressive and I'm not believing the penetrating micro bubbles claims.

Indeed, I'm not believing any of the claims - this doesn't feel like it cleans well at all. It's just a thick, gluggy, ice creamy, saccharine-smelling mess. Plus it doesn't feel like a product that's aimed at adults.

Straight to the body wash section for this one! I haven't had a lot of luck with Memebox products lately, have I?!

I received this product in Memebox #70 Thumbs Up! Bloggers' Picks.

While I was glad to receive it because I don't have anything like it, I don't think it's a particularly useful product and it's certainly not one I'd bother with again.

LadyKin claims/product details:

Aqua exfoliator that leaves skin soft and clear
Collagen, hyaluronic acid and grapefruit extract ingredients supply moisture and nourishment to the skin while effectively removing impurities
For skin that looks and feels satiny smooth
Enriched with cellulose components from papaya and pineapple extracts
Removes all bodily dead skin cells without you having to scrub down hard enough to stimulate sensitive skin
To use: after showering, spray all over and then softly roll away the dead skin cells
RRP $14 for 150ml

Verdict

Look, just so someone has said it: I'm really REALLY sick of receiving products from Memebox that claim to remove dead skin cells (saying you simply have to 'roll them away'), when all the products are actually doing is chucking a layer of gunk on you - and that's the stuff you're 'rolling away'.

Is anyone dumb enough to believe that they're rolling away dead skin, and not simply winding up with bits of product stuck to them like pilling - product that's often ridiculously hard to remove?

At least then you get the experience of having what feels like dead skin cells all over you.

?!?!

I mean really.

Obviously, this product annoys me. Ha. The good thing about it is that it feels refreshing on your skin when you spray it, and I like the pineapple scent. That's the end of the good stuff, however.

After first use I decided it was certainly a before-shower product, rather than one you apply afterwards. That's because I don't want to spend ages trying to rub off the film the product leaves behind. I suppose hacking at yourself with a towel in an attempt to remove this product is a way of removing dead skin cells (and leaving yourself red raw in the process)?!

My golly.

I'm not even going to bother commenting on the various product claims. If you want to get something out of this, spray it on, enjoy the feel and scent of it, then wash it off in the shower and use a proper exfoliant.

Ach.

I received this 5ml sample of Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye in the Summer Edit of Marie Claire's The Parcel.

While I wouldn't normally do a full review of a 5ml sample, that's a lot for an eye cream and it will last me at least two months (particularly considering it's only for night application) and that's more than enough time to get a good idea of a product.

I have to say, I was thrilled to receive this product - especially since I've used Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Serum and had a good experience with that one.

Mind you, I was hoping I wouldn't love this too much because I certainly can't afford it and don't see that changing any time soon ; )

Anyhoo, I've been using it now for almost six weeks, so I felt it was a good time to review it.

Estée Lauder claims/product details:

Aims to target fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, dryness and uneven skintone around the eyes
Also works to visibly repair, hydrate, brighten and protect the eye area
RRP $95 for 15ml

Verdict

This is a really lovely eye serum and my eyes are thanking me for it.

I have to say, I didn't notice a hell of a lot of difference (in terms of effect) between this and the 'regular' repair serum, which maybe isn't surprising because Paula's Choice notes that the ingredients are largely the same - so if you have the serum you may as well just use that for the eye area.

I do notice a difference after using this product: my eye area looks more refreshed, less wrinkled and just happier in general. Having said this, I'm not seeing a compounding or lasting effect over time - and I'd expect to with a product that costs this much and carries claims like this one.

It's a great serum and I do recommend it, I just don't think it's a stand-out and I've used other eye creams that cost half as much and do the job just as well.

Ticks from me, but don't buy it unless you can afford it and have your heart set on it! I'd recommend trialling it first if you can, before committing to the purchase.

Has anyone else used this? If so, I'd love to hear what you think of it.

little white truths

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