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Thursday 6 March 2014

February Empties!

Hi, everyone! It's time- better late than never, as always- for my monthly Empties post! Over the course of February, I polished off a variety of goodies, from makeup, to skin care, to a treatment for my tresses. Not a dud among them, but some rose to the top as utter standouts and some are longtime favourites. 

Here's the spread:


And now for my quick take on each. Which did I love, which could I leave, and which have I already repurchased!?

Maybelline Define-A-Brow Pencil in Dark Blonde- This one was a very pleasant surprise for me! I purchased it on a whim when I realized that I was out of brow product (emergency!) at my boyfriend's place. I needed to grab something quick, cheap, and pronto! This pencil does a very good job at filling in my sparse brows whilst looking natural and wearing well all day long. The colour match is nearly perfect for my dark blonde hair and the packaging is sleek and handy. No complaints!
Repurchase? Already have!

Revlon ColourStay Whipped Creme Makeup in Buff- Regular readers of the blog will know that Revlon ColourStay is one of my most eternal loves and an ever-present staple in my makeup bag. I typically buy the liquid version in the summer months, and the whipped incarnation during the winter, as it's a touch more hydrating. This provides flawless matte coverage without looking flat or cakey and truly wears all day! A makeup miracle, in my books.
Repurchase? This will definitely be back in my kit come next autumn.

Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Taupe- If there's any makeup I depend on as lovingly as Revlon ColourStay, it's this brow powder. I have been using it for ages and have literally not been without it for the last seven years. Taupe (formerly known as Ash Blonde) is the perfect shade match for me and the formula is incredibly natural, yet impressively long-wearing. I will never, ever be without this!
Repurchase? Already have, obviously ;)


Zelens Triple-Action Advanced Eye Cream (sample)- I snagged this little sample sachet during my recent stop at Space.NK in NYC. The facialist touted this as the best eye treatment in the shop, so I was eager to give it a go! I was super impressed with how silky and lightweight this was, but I actually found this to be slightly drying around my eye area. Maybe an ingredient didn't agree with  me? A seemingly great pick if you want a light, luxurious eye gel. Just not for me.
Repurchase? No.

Zelens Transformer Instant Renewal Mask (sample)- I was so excited to test out this mask, as Ruth at A Model Recommends had raved about its wonders. And I have to say, it lived up to the hype! Unfortunately, the sample only contained enough product for a single use, but boy did I love it! The mask left my skin feeling instantly smooth, even and hydrated, and- most impressively- so soft to the touch! It still felt incredibly soft two days later. The longest-lasting effects of any face mask I've ever tried!
Repurchase? If this weren't almost $200, I'd be on in right away. Maybe Space.NK will have a 75% off sale sometime soon? ;)

NARS Smudge Proof Eye Shadow Base (mini)- I got this little goody as a freebie at Sephora in early January. I'd heard lots of raves about it, so was eager to give it a go. It did a great job at keeping my shadow bold and in-place and had a comfortable, lightweight texture. Did I like it?  Yes. Did it outdo my trusty Urban Decay Primer Potion? No.
Repurchase? No.


Ojon Damage Reverse Instant Restorative Hair Serum (mini)- This was another score from Sephora, using my Beauty Insider points. I'd been wanting to try Ojon products for a while and have been an enthusiastic supporter of the skin/body/hair oil trend of late. I used this product like a leave-in conditioner and it did a great job at keeping my hair smooth and hydrated. I had to be wary of using too much, as this could leave things looking greasy, but in small doses, this was lovely!
Repurchase? No, but only due to the price.

Antipodes Divine Face Oil- I bought this back in September in my first-ever Feel Unique haul. I touted it as an instant favourite and it's been a staple in my morning routine ever since. This smells heavenly, hydrates my oily, yet dehydrated winter skin perfectly, and wears well under makeup. It doesn't break me out and the bottle lasted for 6 months with daily use. Holy grail status for sure.
Repurchase? Already have!

BeneFit Fake-Up in Light- I was cautious about this at first, as I thought the layer of moisturizer in this concealer would result in greasy undereyes and ultra-sheer coverage. After swatching this in Sephora, I realized my pre-conceptions were wrong! This concealer gives excellent coverage, keeps my eye area smooth without oiliness, matches my skin tone quite well, and creases very  minimally. The packaging is cute and handy and it's easy to apply with a brush or straight from the tube.
Repurchase? Already have!

Here's one final jumbo-sized shot of my February Empties:





So there you go, another month of spent products and mini reviews. So happy to have found some new favourites over the past months and to have tested out some new goodies!

Have you used any of the products I featured here? What did you finish up last month?

Thanks for reading! And don't forget, you can Vote for my next Oscars Makeup Tutorial, here!

36 comments:

  1. I really want to try out the Zelens stuff, sounds freaknig amazing!!! :)

    xx
    http://gita-oddsandends.blogspot.com/

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    1. You should! Super pricey, but worth an occasional splurge :)

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  2. Great post, will be having a look at benefit next time Im out shopping!

    H, xo
    adiamondinthenorth.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Thanks, Helen! Glad you found it helpful :)

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  3. Another great review, we totally blown away by the "Zelens Transformer Instant Renewal Mask", would definitely save up for that. Thanks for sharing.

    Enjoy the rest of your day!
    xx
    5th&6th

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    1. Thanks, ladies! It really is a fab mask- wish it weren't so expensive!

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  4. Great review. I've been meaning to try out an eyebrow pencil so might as well try the Maybelline!

    SDMxx
    www.daringcoco.com

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    1. Thanks, Sonia! The Maybelline pencil really is a great, affordable option :)

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  5. I was on the verge of getting the NARS primer too!
    So thank you for saving me the money.
    Like always thank you for the thoughtful honest reviews!
    TarteTanya

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    1. Glad you found these helpful, Tanya! Thanks, as always, for stopping by :)

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  6. I need the Anastasia brow powder. I have the brow wiz and love it but powder just gives such a natural look.

    xo Ashley

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    Replies
    1. You do! It's the best brow powder I've tried. Thanks for stopping by, Ashley :)

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  7. Such a shame that the NARS primer wasn't super fantastic. I love their products and have been slowly trying to accumulate more. I guess I'll keep an eye out for something else! I’d love for us to keep in touch via bloglovin’ or GFC! Let me know on my blog, I’ll be sure to follow back!

    s a r t o r i a l d i n e r

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, it wasn't a bad primer at all, just not as good as my UD primer, IMHO. Thanks for stopping by! xo

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  8. Sounds likes I really need to invest in some Anastasia brow stuff!

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  9. Amazing post!!!! Great products!

    http://www.comercialmoyano.com

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  10. thank u for visit if u wanna follow each other let me know i ll be happy ,maybe u can make some cliks in my choies wishlist and dressale baner it help me a lot :* kiss from italy
    http://zielonoma.blogspot.it/

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  11. i've been liking my Nars actually in comparison to the primer potion. the UD thing got kind of gunky near the end of its life but the NARS one hasnt' done that. granted...its more expensive :(
    Jenn
    A Beautiful Zen

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    Replies
    1. Glad you're liking it, though! The texture was nice and lightweight, but I'm still a sucker for UD :)

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  12. Amazing post. So interesting and I'm always looking for new products to try.

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    1. Thanks, Imogen! Glad you found it helpful :)

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  13. awesome post dear ! xx
    www.ambifashion.com

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  14. Thanks for sharing the love of Antipodes Scientific Organic Beauty Jen #lovethearoha

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All of your lovely comments make my day! Thanks for taking the time to share your musings, ideas, and opinions. Feel free to leave a link to your blog- I'd be happy to check it out :)