Product Empties #2

 

When the new year starts, there is always this one thing I have to do: spring cleaning. I love organising and cleaning the flat and my own stuff when the new year starts because it feels incredibly liberating to get rid of the clutter I’ve not even been aware of before actually inspecting more closely!  I’m always surprised at all the clothes, products and other things I’ve been hoarding the whole year without even realizing and it feels great to start the year knowing all the unnecessary things in your life are gone! 🙂 But apart from just cleaning the flat and re-organising the wardrobe,  I am also trying to use up some of the products that have been in my bathroom shelve for a while. I have to say I’m quite happy with all the bottles and lotions I’ve managed to use up so I can make some space (…for new stuff, yes).

Let’s have a look, shall we?

Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Body Lotion

For some reason, I start craving sweet and heavy scents whenever it gets cold. Though I don’t really eat that many sweets, I just love the warming, comforting scent. Enter Bath & Body works sweet and indulgent warm vanilla sugar line. The scent reminds me of caramel and sweet popcorn, and while it’s pretty sweet, it’s not the kind of heavy scent that I would get sick of after a while or even give me headache. This body lotion is creamy but absorbs quickly and the scent does linger for quite a while. I love using it during the night, after work, as the scent helps me relax and is just a pleasure to use. The only downside I can think of is that it might not be moisturising enough for very cold climates, but since we’re having a very mild winter in the UK it’s been ok so far!

Would I repurchase? Probably, but only in winter as the scent is too heavy for summer.

SUM:37 Waterful Balancer

This has been my go-to toner (or refresher, as it’s known in Korea) in 2015! Different from most western toners that are astringent to clean skin but often contain moisture-stripping ingredients that result in tight feeling skin, this toner is meant to hydrate and replenish skin after cleansing. Although I’ve been using it religiously twice a day, every day, the 170ml lasted me nearly a whole year. What drew me to this toner initially was the amazingly long list of natural fermented ingredients such as bamboo sap, ginseng, hibiscus flower and many other that help moisturise, soothe and even out skin tone. But the best thing is, there are no artificial fragrances, colours or preservatives in this toner but it still smells amazing and absorbs almost instantly! I can feel my skin is hydrated and refreshed after using this and it also helps calming down and cool irritated skin. I’d recommend this to people who have dry skin and need a little bit more ‘oomph’ in their skin care game.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Missha Time Revolution The First Essence

My first essence ever and definitely a skincare staple! I fell in love with this essence pretty quickly as it does an amazing job in hydrating, repairing, reducing pore size, evening out and even lighten skin over time. Although it’s not the kind of product that will show a visible difference after 1 or 2 weeks, consistent use will definitely make a difference and improve skin condition. Containing 80% fermented yeast concentrate, this essence is meant to improve elasticity, has anti-aging and brightening properties. It’s also said to be a dupe of the famous yet expensive SK II Facial Treatment Essence. I’ve used the old version and loved it but actually repurchased the new improved version which is labelled ‘Intensive’.

Would I repurchase? Already did!

Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator Ampoule

An incredibly long, promising name for this little guy, but does it really work? The answer is…it does! I got this ampoule in early 2015 and it lasted me until December as it’s only meant to be used at night time. A small amount of it can cover the whole face since it’s quite runny, yet somehow feels very rich on the skin. It can leave a bit of a tacky feeling at first but patting it in rigorously and sealing it in with a cream usually does the trick. Despite the sticky feeling, I look forward to using this every night. It provides moisture and helps repair my skin overnight, leaving it plump and even in the morning. It does help with fine lines too but it’s probably not strong enough for serious wrinkles. However, I believe it’s great to prevent new lines.

Ah, this ampoule has also been reformulated to the ‘Borabit’ version. I actually got this new version and will be comparing the two soon! 😉

Would I repurchase? Yes

KenzoKi Creme Qui Fait Belle (Cream With A Sheen)

I bought this during my last trip to Switzerland last year and have been using it as the last step of my daytime skincare routine ever since. This cream has a velvety, light texture and absorbs almost instantly. The smell is soft, delicate, sweet and soothing and not at all too strong. I like this cream because it forms a protective ‘film’ on the skin which protects it from external damage such as pollution. At the same time, the light reflectors in it give skin a subtle glow without looking tacky. I’d recommend this cream for light moisture in warmer months or climates, since in my experience it’s not moisturising enough for cold winter climates. All in all I enjoyed using this cream but somehow it didn’t ‘wow’ me that much, since overall I didn’t see a huge improvement after using this cream. It does an ok job in moisturising and protecting the skin though.

Would I repurchase? Probably not, since it didn’t prove to be an essential product for me.

Have you tried any of these products? Did they work for you? Let me know in the comments below.