little white truths

This past week, I've been so sick of my Project Pan products that I've dusted off a few old favourites to give myself a break from them. This is one of those products.

I received it when I nipped into Mecca one day to spend the last of my Christmas gift cards, and the staff member took pity on me (I was well into my third trimester then) and gave me a few samples to take home. This was one of them, and it's a decent little travel size that will last me a month of consistent use. Huzzah!


Nars claims/product details:

• An oil-free primer that refines the look of pores and smooths the skin to give the skin a velvety matte finish
• Aims to create a smooth, refined base and the perfect canvas for makeup application
• Mineral powders help regulate shine while blurring the look of pores, fine lines and wrinkles 
• Contains pure lentil seed extract to help diminish the appearance of dilated pores over time, natural bisabolol and butterbur root extract calm and soothe the skin, while vitamins A, C and E provide antioxidant protection from free radicals
• An ultra-light gel that leaves the skin feeling fresh and hydrated throughout the day
• RRP $46 for 30ml

It was a good day for this box to turn up (last day of April - just made it!): we're not having a good day here. My 12-week-old daughter is very upset and has been crying lots. I hope she's not getting sick, the poor little thing : (

It took me a while to even open the box after it arrived - let alone take photos and even think about writing this post - but I'm glad that something exciting arrived today to break things up a bit.


I'd already seen the contents of the box on Facebook (couldn't help myself as usual) but it was still nice to open it and get a bit of a surprise because I didn't know what colour the eyeshadow was (I really like it!).

The only bad thing about this box was that two of my items - the Lipsi powder and the Evelyn Iona concealer - arrived with their lids almost off (as in, they were barely screwed on). This doesn't matter with the powder because it's sealed, but the concealer isn't so I'll have to see what others have to say about it and work out whether mine has gone off from either being opened or being in contact with air.


Above is the product card that came with the box, and below is a code for a discount off Doucce products in the Violet Box shop.

Do note that all the prices quoted on the card above are for the full size version of each product, and most of the products we received are trial sizes.


I quite liked the Doucce lipstick we received in last month's box, although I don't think I'll use the discount because I'm still on a low buy and can only buy one item a month, and I'd rather grab something from the new Shanghai Suzy range if I'm going to get another lipstick (which of course I don't need - not that this will stop me ; ) ).


Transformulas Eye Lifting Gel (RRP $49) and FaceContour & Tightening Créme (RRP $59)

I'm not a massive fan of sachets (who is) but at least I haven't heard of this brand. I've no idea how much is in each sachet because it's not marked on the pack, but they look even more tiny than your usual sachet so I doubt the size of either will be enough to decide how I feel about them. Which kind of defeats the purpose of sachets, at least from the company's perspective.

Anyhoo. The eye gel is apparently a revolutionary biotechnological eye care innovation (say that five times blotto) that's formulated with peptides and plant extracts. The face cream is meant to help lift and re-sculpt tired (not 'tried': watch your spelling VB ; ) ) skin so that bone structure is more defined. 

We'll see.

UPDATE: Despite the small samples, I can tell that I don't like these products. The eye gel is ok and feels quite rich/velvety for a gel, but it doesn't seem to hydrate or nourish and the skin around my eyes didn't like it. I had to add another eye product on top so that my eyes felt ok.

As for the face lotion, my skin really didn't like this one: it's quite greasy and doesn't absorb well (I had to rub at it to get it to soak in), plus it has a weird chemical smell and a slight cooling/stinging effect. I wouldn't be surprised if it had alcohol in it. On top of that, it doesn't moisturise well and it's drying and uncomfortable on my skin. Indeed I hated the feel of it so much that I had to wash it off after half an hour. Not a fan.


Evelyn Iona Natural and Organic Concealer (Flawless) (RRP $24.99)

This is the product that might have been exposed to air because the lid was almost off. It smells ok (if a little odd - like lip balm). It kind of feels and looks like lip balm too, to be honest - I've swatched it below so you can see what I mean.


It contains vitamin E, cocoa seed butter, organic coconut, jojoba and castor seed oil (no wonder it feels like lip balm!). You never know, it might surprise me, but I don't think this is going to perform well: it's too sheer and looks like it's going to slip off.

UPDATE: Happily I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Full review here. It's a good colour match for me and if you set it with a powder, it loses the shine factor and looks natural while still delivering reasonable coverage and lasting well. It's quite sheer but you can build it for more coverage if you wish. I'm still not sure how I feel about putting something that looks and smells like lip balm under my eyes, but I've gotten over that because it's a good product.


Lipsi Cosmetics Aphrodite Powder (RRP $38)

This looks like a finishing powder. Apparently it's designed to absorb the excess oil on your skin, allowing it to glow. I have dry skin and very few powders work on me - they tend to accentuate lines - so I'll be interested to see how this one goes. If it's drying I'll pass it on to a better home. I do like that it's a travel size though so I hope that it's ok.

UPDATE: This is a sensational little powder and I'm loving it. Full review here. Face powders don't normally pair well with my dry skin but this one totally does and I can see why it's Lipsi's best-selling product. It has a blurring effect on fine lines and doesn't dry my skin out, which most powders do. Awesome!


Urban Skincare Co Daily Hand & Body Cleanser

This brand has shown up in LHI a couple of times, but at least we haven't received this product before. I need a little excitement in my life today so I might open this straight away. Apparently it's a gentle yet effective way of removing dirt without stripping your skin of its protective lipid barrier.

UPDATE: I didn't like this unfortunately. Full review here. It doesn't smell much and I prefer body products that smell amazing. Also, it doesn't foam well and also doesn't feel like it cleans well. It may be that this is just too gentle for me, because I do prefer harsher cleansers that leave my skin feeling refreshed, and this doesn't do that.


Lonvitalite C2 Collagen Protein Wrinkle Removing Mask (RRP $39.95)

I swear, if I see one more sheet mask from these guys turn up in a subscription box I'll tear my hair out. My golly. Like Wotnot wipes, these have done the rounds and then some, and I'm sick of them. If you love sheet masks (and this brand) that's fine, but I'm not a fan of either. Anyhoo. You can't win 'em all.

UPDATE: As predicted I didn't think much of this. I put it on, left it for 20 minutes, then took it off. Sure my skin looked like it had had a wet rag on it for a while (so a little plumped, at least temporarily) but that was about it. As usual there was an amazing amount of leftover fluid in the packet, and I used this (plus the leftover fluid from the mask) on my body, so at least I saved myself an application of body cream.


'Tini Beauty Eyeshadow (Pearl Fizz) by Rob Scheppy (RRP $16)

Now this one I'm excited about. What a great colour - it's a muted, wheat-like gold and I love it. As you can see below, it's very sheer and fortunately gives more of a sheen than a shimmer (you know how I feel about noticeable glitter!), and I think that most people would be able to find some use for this - whether as a highlighter or a stand-alone shadow. Straight away I can see myself loving this as an inner-corner highlight.

Apparently it's crease-resistant, and it's designed by one of Hollywood's premier makeup artists, Rob Sheppy. Can't wait to give this a good run!


UPDATE: This is my new favourite inner corner highlight and eye brightener. Full review here. I definitely need to grab a back-up at some point because I never want to run out of it! Amazingly, it performs better than many high-end shadows I own in terms of lasting power and its ability to stay put. Plus it's sheer and gives a sheen (rather than sparkles) so it offers a natural look if you want one, and you can also build it if you want more punch. Can't rave about this one enough!

Verdict

This is a decent box and I'm glad to see a couple of brands I hadn't heard of before. I'll ignore the addition of yet another sheet mask and a couple of tiny sachets because, overall, it's a good box with a great mix of products. I think there's something in here for everyone to like.

It must be hard to produce quality and interesting boxes each month, but Violet Box almost always hits the mark and I still think it's the best beauty box available in Australia.

If you're interested in joining VB, click on the banner in the top right corner of this blog and use the code 'VIOLETBOX10' for $10 off your first box.

Now for my second empties post for the month! As mentioned in my first empties post, I got through more products this month than I thought I had. Many are travel sized so that's part of the reason why I've knocked quite a few off, but there are some full-sized items there too.

Mostly I'm excited about getting through my Bodyography tinted moisturiser: while it's a good product, I have far too many bases on hand and I'm always glad to move one out of circulation!


Happy Skincare Raindrops on Roses Hydrating Tonic

Full review here. As you may know I love Happy Skincare products and this one is no exception. I reckon it does smell exactly like raindrops on roses - so fresh and light - and feels wonderful on the skin. It's definitely hydrating and I like using it throughout the day to freshen my face, particularly in summer because it's cooling and refreshing too. Repurchase? Yes.

Happy Skincare Black Cumin Seed Oil

Full review here. This is my second favourite Happy oil and it's less expensive than the Tamanu oil that comes in at number one. It's everything an oil should be - hydrating, nourishing and soothing - and my skin always feels and looks better after using it. Do note that it smells quite strongly of cumin, so if you're not a fan of the scent (I am), you mightn't like it. Repurchase? Yes.


Essenzza Fuss Free Naturals Natural Facial Cleansing Wipes, Cleanse + Exfoliate

Full review here. As you may know, these are my HG facial wipes. They're textured on one side and smooth on the other (great for exfoliating and removing grime) and they contain plenty of moisture. I loved the pineapple scent of these green versions (they also come in pink and blue) and the green ones may well end up being my favourites of the three colours, due to the scent. Repurchase? Yes.


Biology Equilibrium Body Lotion No. 304

This was a Violet Box sample. Full review here. It was a decent, 30ml sized sample and I loved this as soon as I opened it and smelled its lemonade icy-pole goodness. It's moisturising and a little goes a long way, so the sample lasted longer than I'd thought it would. It doesn't feel like a heavy cream but it operates like one (it's super nourishing) and my dry skin loves it. Purchase? Yes.

Urban Skincare Co Infuse Body Balm

This was an LHI sample and I loved it too. Full review here. It smells rich and gingery, and like the Biology sample, it's super nourishing without being heavy or leaving a greasy residue. Also, both Urban Skincare and Biology are Australian brands and I do love supporting local companies. Purchase? Yes.


Migabee Hot Pore Peeling System and Cooling Mask Clean

I received a Migabee set from Memebox and these are two out of the three products included. Full review here. The scrub was ok (that's the red one) although I was a bit perplexed by it because it was meant to heat up and it didn't. But it did have some exfoliating action and I didn't mind it. The cleaning mask (the blue one) was the best product of the three and I quite liked it. It had a nice tightening effect on my skin and made it look brighter and smoother after use, although I have products I prefer that achieve the same thing. Purchase? No, on both counts.


Bodyography Flawless Finish Tinted Moisturiser in Medium

Full review here. In short, I really like this tinted moisturiser but I HATE the built-in brush applicator it comes with. Unfortunately you can't remove it, so I ended up pouring the product into a jar so I didn't have to use it. Also, I think $60 is too expensive for this (I paid half price, but still) so I won't be buying it again. Repurchase? No.

Simple Kind to Eyes Eye Makeup Remover

Full review here. This is definitely gentle and removes facial makeup well enough, but it doesn't remove mascara (or gel eyeliner) and considering it's a dedicated eye makeup remover, it should do both. It doesn't have great reviews online and I can see why. Purchase? No.


Mise En Scene 2x Curling Essence

This was a Memebox product and I didn't think much of it at all unfortunately. Full review here. It weighs my hair down and makes it look dull, and doesn't do anything in terms of adding moisture or shine (and it's meant to, according to the claims). It's probably one of the worst leave-in products I've come across. I used it as a hair mask after shampooing/conditioning just to get through it, but it wasn't amazing for that purpose either. Purchase? No.

Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate 

Full review here. I normally love Lancome skincare (and it used to be 'my' brand before I became a beauty junkie), but I didn't think much of this product at all. It seems too watery and thin to me and I just don't feel any goodness in it. My skin looks no different after application, nor have I seen any cumulative effect over time. Purchase? No.

Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash

Full review here. I expected to love this because the original Beauty Flash Balm (reviewed here) is one of my HG products, but this was pretty rubbish to be honest. For me it does nothing: it's not hydrating, has no effect on dark circles or wrinkles, and doesn't particularly revive my eye area either. I also don't think it moisturises properly. What a let-down! Purchase? No.


In sum

An interesting mix of products in this bunch: some I really loved and some I really didn't. The best from the lot would have to be the two Happy Skincare products, the Essenzza wipes and the two sample body lotions from Biology and Urban Skincare Co.

Looking forward to seeing what winds up in May's empties post : )

I received this product in Memebox Special #63 Skincare Elixir.

It's one of those products that's taken me a while to review because my feelings about it changed almost daily - at least to start with - but I've been using it long enough now that I've gained a more concrete view.


To start with, it's quite clearly (literally ; ) ) more of a gel than a 'cream' - you can see that just by looking at it - and it also feels like one.

It was the most expensive item in the box and I'd hoped it would perform better based on its price, but it's definitely not the best product in that box. My favourite item from the bundle remains the ProYou Magic Silky Shiny Skin Essence (reviewed here).


Neogen claims/product details:

• Enriched with Canadian glacial water, baobab tree extracts, hyaluronic acid, natural ferments and pore control EX complex
• Aims to soothe and tighten back enlarged pores
• Leaving skin feeling firm and supple
• To use: apply over your clean face, massaging and patting it in with both hands
• RRP $44USD for 120ml

Verdict

As mentioned above, it took me a while to work out how I felt about this one. To start with I thought it was quite rich and decent, but I think that's only because I was using it in conjunction with a facial oil that my skin loves, and once I finished the oil, this product didn't perform as well so I think the oil itself was masking its actual performance.

Also as mentioned, I'm not sure why it's called a cream because it looks and feels like a gel. It's clear, cooling and slightly sticky, leaving behind a film that I'm not a fan of. I can't use this product alone because it's not moisturising enough, so it's really not adding anything to my skincare routine and I'm only using it because I have it, not because it's performing any particular function.

I've noticed that it contains alcohol, which might be why it doesn't feel hydrating, and while it feels and smells refreshing/cooling when I first put it on, it doesn't plump or freshen the look of my skin. If anything it enhances lines because it looks sticky and makes my skin appear shiny (which of course isn't what I want from a cream at all!).

For this reason I can't even use it as a 'refresher' product to chuck over makeup throughout the day (which is something I often do with creams that aren't super hydrating but have decent plumping action), so it's a product I can't see myself getting any enjoyment from.

As for product claims, anything that claims to 'tighten' pores makes me suspicious because your pores are your pores and there ain't much you can do about them. In any event, if it is possible to reduce the size of your pores with a cream, this product doesn't do that.

What I'll likely do is move it to the body cream section pretty soon, since I can get away with 'lesser' products on my body but not my face.

All in all, pretty disappointing. Hoh well! Maybe the next product from this box will fare better.

I bought four Allegra Rhodes products after trying a sample handcream in Bellabox last year, and this is the last one that I opened. I had so many body washes on the go (often cleansers from Memebox that I hadn't liked enough to use on my face) that it took me a while to get to this one.


It's been nice to switch over to a dedicated body wash this month, and one I'm enjoying using. While it's not my favourite body wash - I tend to prefer scrubs, and nothing compares to the self-foaming goodness of my HG shower gel from Rituals (reviewed here) - it's certainly better than most. This has a lot to do with the scent, and it's the gorgeous scent of all the Allegra Rhodes products I've tried that defines them.


Allegra Rhodes claims/product details:

• Indulge your senses and treat yourself daily with this sensual body wash
• An awakening blend of fresh bergamot and zesty lemon, rounded with a divine oceanic scent and layered with jasmine, rose and sandalwood, plus heart notes of violet and thyme
• Invigorating and reviving
• Contains only Australian ingredients
• 100% sulphate and paraben free
• Scented with eau de parfum
• RRP $29.95 for 450ml

Verdict

While the range of Allegra Rhodes hand and nail creams remains my favourite, I'm enjoying this body wash too. The fragrance is lovely - fresh, light and clean - and a few guests have commented on the smell of our Ocean Mist hand wash when they've visited (which of course smells the same as this product).

Available fragrances include this one, Sweet Apple & Grapefruit (which smells exactly like the original DKNY Be Delicious fragrance), Red Lychee and Cherry Blossom. I haven't tried the Cherry Blossom, but the other three are lovely. Ocean Mist and Sweet Apple & Grapefruit are my favourites. What I love about the fragrance of these products is that it's strong enough to linger on your skin without being overpowering.

Also, Allegra Rhodes is an Australian brand and I do like buying local products. For more information on the company, see its website here.

Aside from my love of the fragrances of these products, I also love the packaging and I've kept the boxes as display items because the design looks nice against the bathroom tiles. Packaging is hardly a reason to buy a product, but many of us are swayed by how things look - and these look good.

I first discovered these Essenzza wipes via Lust Have It. We received the blue ones (above) and, as soon as I used the little blue travel wipes included with the big pack, I knew I'd struck gold.

I've decided belatedly to break my monthly empties post into two again, so I'll write this one today and do another in the next day or two.

As you may know I love writing empties posts because it shows me that I am managing to get through the bundles of products I wound up with via subscription boxes, although it's taking me quite a while and I needed to go on a spending ban to stop the flow of products coming in - otherwise I'd have been swimming in the stuff by now.

This month I've managed to get through more products than I thought I had, so that's a plus. I really hate having too many things, which doesn't sit well for someone who's become something of a collector when it comes to beauty products...


Project Pan products

I'll kick off with these and I won't give you another run down of them because I've already talked about them quite a bit via my Project Pan posts (where you'll also find links to reviews of each of the products).

It's enough to say here that I would buy the Bodyography primer and I might buy the Mememe illuminator if I were after a decent, cheaper option.

The Benefit Push Up Liner I wouldn't touch with a barge pole and while I loved the colour of the Bourjois lipstick, it didn't last well at all so I probably wouldn't repurchase it.


Ariul Spa Water 24hrs Detox Mask

A Memebox product. Full review here. The packaging of this product was broken (product kept spewing into the lid - and it's a big lid) so unfortunately I had to hurry through it and I think this affected my enjoyment of the product.

While this cleanser was ok, it got sent to the body wash department about halfway through the container. It felt nice enough on the skin - at least to start with - and foamed as it says it would. Problem is, I don't think it's a particularly great cleanser. It doesn't seem to remove much dirt or feel refreshing, and it leaves behind a sticky residue that I then have to remove with another product when I double-cleanse (and with this product, I definitely recommend double-cleansing because it doesn't do too much in one hit). Purchase? No.

Eleven claims/product details:

• Suited to all hair types, this lightweight leave-in treatment delivers eleven benefits your hair will love
• This unique all-in-one miracle hair treatment works to:
• 1. Add shine, smoothness and softness 
• 2. Control frizz and flyaways 
• 3. Moisturise 
• 4. Strengthen fragile hair 
• 5. Prevent split ends 
• 6. Detangle and create manageability 
• 7. Protect against heat styling 
• 8. Enhance natural body 
• 9. Repair dry damaged hair 
• 10 Protect hair colour with UVA and UVB filters 
• 11. Prevent chlorine and sun damage
• To use: pump and apply to damp hair
• RRP $24.95 for 125ml

I picked this up in the Violet Box shop a while back because I needed to add a bit to my cart total in order to get free shipping, and since this only cost $12 (and it's ORANGE), I threw it in and paid very little for it because it removed the shipping cost and I also had some points to spend.

I also chose it because it's supposed to be matte and I don't like wearing glitter/shimmer on my upper eye area because it's puffy and I don't want to highlight it, so I tend to choose matte colours (which retract the area) and save the shimmer for the lid and lash-line (to bring that area forward).

Unfortunately I could only find one (tiny and unclear) swatch for this product online, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it because, as you'll see, it does contain sparkles even though it's called 'matte' and it's definitely not what I was expecting. FOO.


Adorn claims/product details:

• Every day glamour is no longer bland with these shadows 
• Create a mood with our range of toxic free, natural and versatile matte colours
• Change your look with a light or heavier, wet or dry coverage
• To use: best applied while using a tissue under the eye to catch any fall-out (I do like that Adorn admits here that these shadows might have some fall-out, which loose powders almost invariably do)
• Can also be used as eyeliner 
• Available in four shades
• For ingredients and further details see Adorn's website
• RRP $12 for 2g
• Shelf-life after opening: 24 months

We received one of these lip tints in Memebox Superbox #70 Thumbs Up! Bloggers' Picks.

You could have received either the CC Sorbet Melting Tint, the Exciting Snow Cooling Tint or the Sorbet Tint, and I'm glad I got the CC Sorbet Melting Tint because it's orange: I'm a total orange junkie and the pink or red versions wouldn't have suited me.


N.S.M claims/product details:

• Creates a bio-film over lips to protect and maintain moisture and nutrition within
• The texture distinguishes these products: the moment you apply them, they will instantly melt into your lips with a soothing and cooling feeling without being too glossy or sticky
• Glides smoothly and vividly onto your lips
• Holds the colourful radiance in place with a cooled, refreshing feeling that lasts for up to 30 minutes after tint application
• Colour won't fade even under water and will last all day long 
• To use: apply the tint along your lip contours and pat it on with your fingers for a natural gradation effect
• RRP $18 for 5g

My oh my, I think we can definitely call that orange.

There's one swipe of product below:


Below I've done a double coat:


And below I've added a sheer, shimmery gloss over the top to add some moisture:


Verdict

I do like this product and I'll wear it, albeit not very often because it's super bright and isn't something I'd use for an everyday look.

On the brightness, the colour mightn't be for everyone but I'm sure you could dumb it down with a pale gloss/lipstick over the top, so it's worth playing around before discarding it based on the bright colour alone. It also works as a stain if you apply the tiniest amount, so you can manage the bold colour issue if you want to.

Note the product has a bit of a weird, plastic-y scent that I'm not a fan of at all, but fortunately the smell doesn't linger so I can get over it.

In terms of formula, I personally need to apply a gloss over the top because it's a very drying product. You can see that from the above photos: it gives my lips lines I never knew I had. For this reason, I definitely recommend buffing your lips well beforehand because it sticks to flaky bits and highlights dry patches.

As for texture, it's very thin/runny before it dries down, so it spreads well before drying and you can apply a very fine layer if you want (bonus) and also build it to your preferred intensity (another bonus). Once dried, it kind of feels/looks like you've coloured in your lips with texta (not that I've ever done that but hopefully you know what I mean (!)), but the benefit of that is: it stays put. So the long-lasting claim is true.

On the glossy/sticky claim: it's not glossy at all but very matte and it is a little sticky but not terribly so. And I'm not even sure what a 'bio-film' is, but this product certainly doesn't feel like it protects and retains moisture in your lips: as I said, it's pretty drying.

As for the other claims, I really wish that brands would stop coming out with random 'features' to 'distinguish' their products. I wouldn't choose a lip product because it 'melts' and 'cools' and, quite frankly, it doesn't do either of those things in my experience so I'm not sure what that's all about. The product applies and feels like any other comparable tint, and all I really care about is that I like the colour and that it lasts reasonably well: both of which it does.

'Nuff said.