little white truths

I'd meant to get this post up over a week ago now, but the festive season has thrown me off track so it's only today that I'm finally getting to do it.

Indeed, I have a fourth empties post that was also meant to go up by the end of 2018, but I think we'll have to leave that one and just introduce it as a January 2019 empties post - otherwise things start getting confusing.

Anyhoo! Let's have a look.

Palmolive Body Butter Coffee Scrub Exfoliating Body Wash

Full review here. I absolutely love this product: the smell is just incredible. It smells like coffee ice cream or something equally delicious, and I would buy it for the scent alone.

As for what it does, it's a rubbish exfoliant but it works well as a body wash and I love that it cleans without stripping my skin. Indeed, it's quite hydrating so it suits my dry skin beautifully, and I can imagine reaching for this when it's winter and my skin is even drier. Gosh that smell, though. You have to try it. Love. Repurchase? Already have.

Jurlique Nourishing Cleansing Oil

This product was sent to me for review and I absolutely loved it, so much so that I may well buy it once I've finished the cleansing oil I'm using. I've reviewed it here.

I loved that it spread well and turned silky on my skin once I added water, and I also loved how well it dissolved my makeup. Better still, it was easy to remove so it wasn't one of those cleansing oils that needs another cleanser in order to remove it properly. Honestly, it's one of the nicest cleansing oils I've tried and I absolutely recommend it. Purchase? Yes. 

Nivea 4 in 1 Firming Body Oil with Q10

Full review here. I was expecting to like this product because I normally love the Nivea bath & body section, but it didn't grab me and I wouldn't buy it again.

I found that it wasn't very hydrating for an oil so it didn't suit my dry skin, plus it left a greasy residue behind that won't be for everyone. My other issue was that I needed to use a lot per application so I got through it too quickly, plus it had a huge amount of product claims that it just didn't meet in my case (eg it didn't reduce the look of stretchmarks or nourish intensively). Not for me. Repurchase? No.

Banana Boat Soothing Aloe Mist After Sun Spray

If you haven't seen me rave about this product yet in my yearly favourites etc, check out my full review here. It's not designed as a 'makeup' product but it's one of the best setting sprays I've ever used and it only costs a few dollars if you can grab it on special. 

It hydrates, plumps and soothes the skin, plus it leaves a dewy finish that isn't too much and takes the 'edge' off your powders so your makeup looks merged and flawless. It reminds me in so many ways of MAC Fix+, only it's significantly cheaper and the bottle is huge. One of these lasts me around six months and I always repurchase it whenever I see it heavily discounted, which is often enough. Repurchase? Yes.

Aspect Extreme B 17

This came as a GWP and it wasn't a large sample so I haven't reviewed it, although I do need to update my 'fun new things' posts so I'll be doing a mini review in there.

It's described as a powerful night and day facial serum to rejuvenate and replenish your skin, but all I noticed about this product was that it smelled unbelievably strongly of something akin to crushed multivitamins, and the smell was so pungent that I recoiled and felt like vomiting if I put it on my face. Hence I only used it on my upper chest, so I can't tell you what it was like for my face - all I know is that I couldn't even use it because of the smell. Purchase? No.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Essence 

Full review here. This was an ok product, but it did grab me as much as other essences I've tried so I wouldn't buy it. 

I think it did hydrate, tone and brighten a little bit, but it didn't do so effectively. And while I do think it added something small to my skincare routine (any added moisture is going to be good for my dry skin), it didn't add enough to entice me to buy it. In my view, an essence needs to be pretty incredible for me to want to add another step to my already detailed skincare routine, and this one didn't quite hit the mark. Purchase? No.