April 2015 Empties!

Hi, everyone! Whoa, it's May! The month of my birthday, of my PhD defense, and of much-needed consistently warm(ish) weather. Count me in! Not to look back (April was rather stressful, indeed), but I did polish off a ton of products last month. So here I am to share my two cents on each. There really are some gems among them! 

Wash With Joe CoffeeMint Invigorating BodyWash

One of the best body washes I've tried! Smelled like fresh brewed coffee with an intense minty tingle. The perfect morning wake-me-up! Not cheap, but the bottle is huge. Plus, it's cruelty-free!

Repurchase? Definitely!

Sisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil (sample)

After falling in love with the scent of this in-store, I finally snagged a sample. This was quite beautiful- a rosy scent, a non-heavy texture, and a perfect oil for a facial massage and imparting a glow. But is this worth the $200+ price tag? Not in my books. My skin looks just as nice the next morning after a dose of my $40 Pai rosehip oil.

Repurchase? No. 

By Terry Cover Expert Perfecting Fluid Foundation Shade #1 Fair Beige

One of my all-time favourite foundations! Amazing medium-to-full coverage while still looking natural and mildly luminous. The wear time and oil-control are impressive without any drying or heavy sort of feeling. It's seriously great stuff. 

Repurchase? Yes!

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter

I've raved about this one many times. Removes every (every!) trace of makeup without feeling greasy or breaking me out. The price is right and the scent is light and relaxing. Perfect for evening! It has fully replaced my beloved Shu cleansing oil, which says a lot!

Repurchase? Already have! 

Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask

The best clay mask I've ever used! It gives a serious deep clean without stripping the skin. It feels fresh and cooling on the skin, without any hint of irritation, and leaves skin looking clean and bright. A true treat to use! 

Repurchase? Yes, but will wait for a good sale. The price is intense! 

MAC Select Cover-Up NC20

This is probably the seventh or eighth tube of this I've finished- and they last forever! It's an amazing muilt-tasking concealer that works well for blemishes and dark circles. It's not ultra hydrating or bullet-proof, but the staying power is still pretty impressive and the price is right. My oilier skin really likes the more liquid texture.

Repurchase? Yes. I'll probably go through another 8 tubes.

Bobbi  Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil (sample)

A very nice cleansing oil that removed makeup easily and did not seem to irritate or break out my skin. Plus the scent is light and luxurious. But is it any better than my fave Body Shop Camomile range? Not that I could notice, especially given the price.

Repurchase? No. 

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant

Fabulous stuff. I bought this due to Lisa Eldridge's raves (what better reason?) and it really lived up to her hype. It cleansed and exfoliated the skin thanks to clays and lactic acid, but never left my face red or irritated. My complexion was always super soft the next day! Would definitely make my favourite masks list.

Repurchase? Yes!

Zelens 3t Complex Essential Anti-Ageing Cream (sample)

Oh boy, I really love this stuff! It hydrates deeply without feeling greasy and I always, always wake up the next morning looking fresh and luminous. It has never broken me out and the ingredients are top-notch. The problem? This stuff is like $200. Even on sale, I'm not sure I could justify this price anytime soon. This does remind me of Oskia's Bedtime Beauty Boost, which is slightly more affordable (slightly) and equally as lovely. So when I do want to invest, I will probably go with the Oskia.

Repurchase? No. 

Vichy Normaderm Anti-Age Anti-Imperfection Anti-Wrinkle Resurfacing Care

This treatment moisturizer ticks all of the boxes for my cranky skin. It treats breakouts with salicylic acid, gently exfoliates thanks to a gentle does of glycolic, brightens via Vitamin C, and is designed for sensitive skin. So basically, this treats my mild acne, helps prevent first signs of aging, and evens skin tone without irritation. Plus, it's affordable!

Repurchase? Yes!

Verso Super Eye Serum (sample)

Yes, yet another pricey sample this month. I am generally skeptical about eye creams, particularly expensive ones that promise the world. Though this sample only lasted for about a week, I actually did notice a difference in my eye area when the packet ran out. My fine lines definitely looked less prominent! I also enjoyed the formula- it stung subtly for the first few seconds (the retinol working, I'm sure), but then felt comfortable. Plus, it was light and non-greasy. 

Repurchase? When I do feel ready to invest in an eye cream, this might be it! 

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes Intense in Intense Chocolate

Once I bought this, I used it pretty much every day. It's ultra creamy, so easy to apply and smudge, but then sets to a (nearly) budge-proof finish. The pigmentation is great and Intense Chocolate was an ultra flattering deep brown. I think Clinique's eye makeup is totally underrated, and these liners are gems among them!

Repurchase? Yes.

Bioderma Cicabio (sample)

My skin had a total freak-out about a month ago and I had sampled this and been impressed with it in the past. This sample confirmed that this is a true gem. It is rich and ultra soothing, calming redness on contact and eradicating rashes and irritation fully within a couple days. Despite it being rich, it wears quite well under makeup, even with my oily skin. It can clog my pores *slightly* if I wear it regularly a few days in a row, but a small price to pay given the benefits.

Repurchase? Already have!

BeneFit They're Real Mascara (mini)

My all-time favourite waterproof mascara! Gives amazing length and volume, to the point where I actually have to deny I'm wearing falsies (as the name promises). Removal is annoying, but I don't mind given that this allows me to keep my lashes ultra lush even on the hottest, rainiest, most humid days. 

Repurchase? Yes!

Ok, that was a long one! I'll keep the ending simple, then. What did you finish in April? Did I tempt you with anything?

Have a super fantastic weekend! xo