Operation Use It Up

Another month has passed by, which means another clutch of product empties on their way out of here.

1. Ettusais Foamy Rich Mousse: True to its name, this produces a firm foam that does not dissipate quickly. It is supposed to be a 5-in-1 product that removes makeup, acts as a cleanser, foam massage, foam pack and moisturises the skin. This can lasted four months with once daily usage in the mornings. It rinses off cleanly but can leave the skin feeling a tad dry. You need less than a ping-pong ball size for each use. Ettusais has just released an extra large version with 25% more product for the same price (S$35/1365yen). I would repurchase this except it is not available here.

2. Za Total Hydration Fresh Foamy Cleanser: This is a typical white foaming cleanser with some small blue particles mixed in. I usually use this after using a cleansing oil or micellar water to remove my makeup, just to make sure my skin is thoroughly cleansed. It does leave the skin feeling stripped, so I would not repurchase this.

3. Ren Rose Centifolia Cleansing Gel: This watery clear gel cleanser is extremely gentle on the skin, perfect for use in the mornings when you only need a light cleanse. The rose scent is also subtle enough not to be irritating. This would work well for all skintypes. Ren has just revamped and expanded its Rosa Centifolia range, to include a cleansing balm, foaming cleanser, cleansing water and makeup remover. Check it out here.

4. Malin + Goetz Grapefruit Face Cleanser: This is a clear gel cleanser that thoroughly cleanses my skin without leaving it feeling dry. It contains 0.5% grapefruit extract and amino-acid based cleansing agents which is supposed to help purify and hydrate without irritation. It is also supposed to help prevent blemishes but I did not find it to have much effect in that area.

5. Lush Cosmetic Warrior: This is supposed to be targeted at acne-prone skin but I did not find it to be that effective. It was also thick and hard to spread, unlike Ayesha, perhaps due to the egg content. Ingredient list below.


6. Lush Breath of Fresh Air: This lightweight toner helps refresh the skin but does not really hydrate or soften it despite containing aloe vera, so even in the hot summer months, it can leave my skin feeling in need of extra moisture. I would not repurchase it. Ingredient list below.

7. Origins Brighter By Nature: This contained cotton pads soaked with a fruit-acid based solution that is supposed to help brighten the skin tone. Sadly, the pads dried out before I had used even half of them, despite the fact that I kept the pot tightly shut. The few that I did use did not do much for my skin and felt a tad rough actually. Definitely will not repurchase this.

8. K-Palette Lasting 2Way Eyebrow: A daily staple which I just stocked up on again.

9. Paul & Joe Fragranced Body Cream: This light body cream was from a Christmas set a few years ago yet it has kept its scent surprisingly well without any visible change in the texture. I liked the scent and moisturising effect but it did leave a slightly oily residue on the skin.

10. H20+ Moisturizing Body Balm: This has a nice clean scent and lightweight texture that absorbs easily without making the skin feel greasy.

11. Steam Cream: As this is very emollient, I use it mainly on my legs which are prone to dryness instead of my face. It hydrates effectively, getting rid of dry patches but it can feel a tad greasy especially in the summer.

12. Philosophy Limoncello Italian Soda: I love Philosophy shower gels for their extensive variety of scents and that they do not dry out my skin. This had a light sweet fizzy scent that was a pleasure to use and it lathers up easily.

13. Korres Vanilla Cinnamon Showergel: Not a fan of this due to the heavy cinnamon note, which I do not like in fragrances. It does lather up easily and did not strip the skin. This was part of a set of three Korres showergels.

14. Peter Thomas Roth Mega-rich Body Wash: This gel cleanser contained microbeads that burst on contact with the skin. It had a lovely refreshing citrus scent but otherwise, it was pretty average overall so I would not re-purchase it.

15. Anna Sui Rose Hair Shampoo: I adore the rose scent but it does not linger strongly on my hair. This worked quite well with my dry hair, rinsing out cleanly without leaving it tangled but it's probably too pricey for me to use on a regular basis.

16. Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Conditioner: This helped to detangle my hair but there was no extra glossiness or brilliance.

17. Pantene Repair & Protect Shampoo: This was a freebie with a magazine. While this lathered up easily, it left my hair slightly tangled and in need of conditioner so I would not repurchase this.

18. Philip B. Lovin' Leave-in Conditioner: This helped to tame the frizz and make my hair more manageable. I usually apply it in the mornings to the ends of my hair and then follow up with a styling spray.

19. L'Oreal Studio Indestructible Gel Spray: This helped to control flyaways around my fringe and provided moderate hold without making my hair hard or sticky.

20. Muji Sweet Orange & Clove Essential Oil: I purchased this in London to use with the Muji Aroma Diffuser. I adore the uplifting scent which has just enough sweetness to soothe the senses. I would definitely repurchase this except I have several other Muji essential oils to use up first.

21. Clarins Body Treatment Oil: This is supposed to help firm and tone the skin. I liked the clean, green scent but found that the oil was surprisingly not hydrating enough for my skin which ended up flaking.

Operation Use It Up

Here's the bucketload of products that I managed to finish in November. With only one more month to go until the end of 2012, it seems like my beauty stash is still nothing short of overflowing. Need to be more disciplined in 2013 for sure!

1. DiorSkin Forever Compact worked pretty well for me, especially for days when I don't have the time to apply liquid foundation. However, I still prefer the more natural and seamless finish of liquid foundation. I probably won't re-purchase this since Dior comes up with new foundations virtually every year. Full review here.

2. Paul & Joe Protective Foundation Primer UV is a favourite of mine for its natural finish and ability to smoothen out the skin surface. It also does not make my skin more oily than usual. The tube contains only 26.9ml but it took me over two years to finish as I didn't use it regularly until recently. Good grief! Full review here.

3. Lancome Bifacil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover works well for whisking off eye makeup in a jiffy although with stubborn Japanese mascaras, it takes more elbow grease. It's not something I would purchase though as L'Oreal makes a much more affordable version. However, I keep getting samples of it as gifts with purchase.

4. Shu Uemura puRENovate Clarifying Balancing Moisturizer felt too heavy on my skin during the summer, but as the weather turned dryer with autumn, I was able to use this sample tube up quickly. It's not bad as a basic moisturizer but it didn't wow me.

5. L'Oreal Gentle Eye Makeup Remover is a daily staple. I go through one bottle virtually every month. It never stings the eyes.

6. Coast To Coast Rainforest Clarifying Facial Toner helps to refresh the skin without stinging or leaving it feeling dry. It has a fairly strong tea tree scent. I didn't find this to be particularly effective in combating acne. Ingredients list below.

7. Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil sounds pretty good until you examine the ingredients list and realise that argan oil is pretty far down the list. It's full of silicones, which I don't mind. It helps to tame the frizziness and doesn't make my hair feel greasy. Nevertheless, I doubt I will re-purchase this.



8. Vidal Sassoon Premium Conditioner works very well with my dyed hair, leaving it tangle-free. I actually never comb my hair, which I wash and condition once daily. In the mornings, I just use a hair serum to keep it tangle-free. This is made in Thailand.

9. L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Gentle Conditioner isn't as hydrating as the VS Premium although it does have a nicer sweet floral scent. Not something I would re-purchase as it's just too pricey.

10. Percy & Reed Finishing Polish quickly became a daily staple for taming the flyaway strands of my fringe. The scent is also delightfully fresh without being generic. I'll definitely re-purchase this. It's available on ASOS for £10. Ingredients list below.

11. Jill Stuart Body Milk has a sweet white floral scent that is just too cloying and syrupy for me. This light milk also leaves a greasy feeling on my skin.

12. L'Occitane Delice des Fleurs Rose & Violette Body Milk has a much more pleasing and elegant scent. It hydrates well without feeling greasy. This was from last year's limited edition holiday collection.

13. Clarins Extra-Firming Body Lotion also has a lovely scent and absorbs readily into the skin. However, I did not notice any firming effect.

14. La Mer The Cleansing Gel is a good basic cleanser that rinsed off easily without leaving the skin stripped or flakey. However, it doesn't seem special enough to justify the exorbitant US$65 price tag.

15. Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser is designed for oily, blemish-prone skin. While it does feel gentle on the skin, I did not notice any reduction in blemishes. It also takes several splashes to rinse off completely so I would not re-purchase this. Ingredients list below.

16. Murad Vitalic Energising Pomegranate Cleanser is also extremely gentle on the skin. It dispenses as an ultra light foam that rinses off very quickly, taking all oiliness with it. The 50ml bottle lasted barely two weeks.

17. Body Shop Rich Plum shower gel is another limited edition product from holiday 2009. Despite its age, it showed no change in consistency or scent. The rich plum aroma is intoxicating and luxurious. Wish the Body Shop would bring this back!


18. Lush Rub Rub Rub is a sea salt-based scrub that provides good exfoliating action without melting away too quickly. I like the refreshingly clean scent as well. The consistency always reminds me of 7/11 Slurpee drinks.

Operation Use It Up

During my trips this month, I was able to use up a boatload of samples and travel-sized products. I usually try to bring just enough for the trip in order to free up space for my purchases!

Cle de Peau Gentle Balancing Lotion: This works nicely to refresh and moisturise skin, without making it feel sticky. Perfect for the humid summer weather.

L'Occitane Angelica Face Toner: This helps to refresh and hydrate skin, but it seems to make my skin get oily quite soon thereafter. This was a freebie with a magazine. I won't re-purchase it as I'll be switching back to Paula's Choice which is better able to address acne-prone skin. The ingredients list is below.

Paul & Joe Moisture Lotion N: This is the more deeply hydrating lotion by the brand. It has the usual orange scent and a light milky texture that takes awhile to absorb. This would be better for the harsh winter months or dry skin types.

RMK UV Face Protector SPF43: This is the revamped version with a higher SPF (the previous version offered SPF35). The light, non-greasy texture and subtle citrus scent is virtually identical to the original version. While it absorbs quite nicely and works well under makeup, it is not sweat proof. My husband used this and had whitish rivulets on his temples.

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel: This anti-ageing peel mask did not tingle or sting at all, so it seems to be very gentle. My skin felt softer but not significantly smoother or more radiant.

Philosophy Summer Grace Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel: This has a soothing but rather forgettable floral scent and does not strip the skin. I won't re-purchase this.

Rituals Yogi Flow Foaming Shower Gel Sensation: I love the Rituals shower gels for their beautifully scented dense foam. Yogi Flow is a sweet mix of Indian rose and sweet almond oil. It is pleasant enough but not as amazing as the mandarin-scented Fujiyama. This does leave my skin feeling slightly dry though. It contains sodium laureth sulfate. The ingredients list is below.

Pecksniff's Mood Therapy Happy Nourishing Conditioner, Happy Revitalising Shampoo and Alive Bath & Shower Gel: This set was provided in a hotel that I stayed in some time ago. None of these were particularly impressive.

Pantene Repair & Protect Conditioner: It's been awhile since I used Pantene haircare. This worked quite well for keeping my hair soft and tangle-free without any build-up.

Clarins Eau Dynamisante Shower Gel: This has an unusual bracing scent but I don't like it enough to want to re-purchase it. The ingredients list is below.

Clarins Satin-Smooth Body Lotion: True to the name, the light texture absorbs easily into the skin without making it feel greasy. There is a very light floral scent.

Some other sample sachets that I used up: L'Oreal EverPure Shampoo, Nuxe Fondant Body Scrub, Fekkai All Day Hair Plump and Beaute de Kose Ultimation Cleansing Cream. The Kose cleansing cream did not rinse off cleanly while the Fekkai plumping cream didn't do much for my hair at all. The Nuxe body scrub provided good exfoliating action. EverPure Shampoo is not hydrating enough for my hair.

Clarins Fall 2012

Clarins will release its fall makeup collection on 3 August in Japan. It includes:

1. Color Accent Face & Blush Powder (5775yen, LE)

2. Ombre Mineral Eye Quartet #03 Rosewood (6300yen, LE)


3. Crayon Kohl Eye: black eyeliner pencil (2100yen)

4. Mascara Instant Definition #4 Intense Plum (3990yen, LE)

5. Ombre Mineral Eye in 12 shades: #1 White Sparkle, #2 Nude, #3 Petal, #4 Golden Rose, #6 Tea Rose, #8 Greyish Brown, #10 Straight Blue, #11 Silver Green, #12 Deep Purple, #13, #14 Platinum, #16 Violet (2625yen)

6. Rouge Prodige #132 Spice Orange, #133 Fig and #135 Dark Cherry (3675yen)

FOTDs with L'Oreal Color Infallibles, Stila Sparkle Luxe Gloss Dazzling and Clarins Gloss Prodige Grenadine

Here are a couple of looks that I did this week with the new L'Oreal Color Infallibles from the Cannes collection.

For the first look, I paired #37 Metallic Lilac with #31 Innocent Turquoise, applying the latter in the crease, and a light mint shade from Jill Stuart Jewel Crystal Eyes 104 Fragile Opal on the browbone area. Innocent Turquoise looked more greyish here as I blended it with Metallic Lilac using a small brush. With the Color Infallibles, I usually do not use any primer as they last quite well on their own without significant creasing. I usually apply it first with my fingertip and then use a brush to blend.

The other products used are: Bobbi Brown Wild Rose Shimmer Brick, Stila Sparkle Waterproof Eyeliner in Sequins over Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Zero, Lancome Teint Miracle Liquid Foundation O-03 under Maybelline Clear Smooth Shine Free Face Powder Nude Beige, K-Palette Lasting 2Way Eyebrow 01, RMK Super Basic Liquid Concealer EX01 and Clarins Gloss Prodige 05 Grenadine.


For the second look, I applied Innocent Turqoise from the upper lashline to the crease, #32 Sassy Marshmallow in the middle of the lid (blended upwards) and along the lower lashline, and Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Liner in Electric over MAC Undercurrent Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner.

After having tried the Color Infallibles, Armani Eyes To Kill and Chanel Illusion D'Ombre, I still prefer using powder eyeshadows like those by Urban Decay which I find easier to work with and a more refined finish.

The base makeup was Lancome Blanc Miracle powder foundation O-01 over Paul & Joe Protective Foundation Primer UV and Za Concealer Perfection #2, while on the lips was Stila Sparkle Luxe Gloss in Dazzling.

The Stila lipgloss (£15) is a recent acquisition from ASOS.com. Dazzling is a rich blue-based fuschia with micro-shimmer. This applies very smoothly without any grittiness and lasts up to four hours on my lips. Although it feels a bit sticky, it fades quite evenly without feathering or settling into the fine lines.

The Clarins Gloss Prodige is another recent favourite. This feels slightly less sticky than the Stila lipgloss but it has a greater tendency to feather. I like its juicy shine and glossy finish. It also has a sweet berry scent whereas Dazzling is unscented. Both have sponge applicators, with the Stila version being a slanted design like MAC lipglasseses. Makeupstash has swatches of another three shades of Gloss Prodige.


The pic above shows Dazzling while the pic below is Grenadine.