Beauty Products Emptied in February 2016

Beauty Products Emptied in February 2016

Toner Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, March 02, 2016

Last month, I used only three facial products, of which two were toners and one was a sheet mask. Everything else is either bath and body or hair care. No makeup either. I indulged in several bubble baths. Hair mask treatments. Something has to give when you have to lay off your face. 

Scroll down to check out the beauty products I emptied in February 2016 and my thoughts on each. 

LookFantastic October 2014 beauty box unboxing

LookFantastic October 2014 beauty box unboxing

This Works Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, October 10, 2014

After the runaway success of the inaugural September 2014 LookFantastic beauty box, which I had reviewed here, expectations were sky-high where the second edition was concerned. I could hardly wait. I love that they start shipping on the very first of every month and that you get your box - shipped worldwide tracked - in four business days! And no, I have not had to pay customs duties till date. A number of boxes, where shipping begins on the 20th and you get your box well into the following month, could learn from LookFantastic. And, rather than being hastily put together, the contents of these boxes are well-curated and chosen thoughtfully.

Read on for my review and unboxing of the October 2014 LookFantastic Beauty Box.

Beauty products used up in January 2014 and quick thoughts on each

Beauty products used up in January 2014 and quick thoughts on each

The Body Shop Cosmetopia Digest   Sunday, February 02, 2014

I haven't skived off full-on moisturising even one day in January 2014, though I have been super-busy that I didn't even wear a face mask all month until the last day. I also used hand cream more or less regularly, though I must confess to wiping it off on my PJs soon afterwards. Not too bad for my resolutions. I didn't make any major beauty discoveries, nor was I too disappointed with anything.

Anyway, here are the beauty products I used up in January 2014.

Debate: The world's top five cosmetics companies

Debate: The world's top five cosmetics companies

Shiseido Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, March 18, 2013

Wikipedia has a list of the world's top five cosmetics companies. The order, by revenue, as of 2012, is:

1. Procter & Gamble (owns Olay, SK-II, Max Factor and CoverGirl)
2. L'Oreal (Blimey. Owns everything from Lancome to YSL, Urban Decay, Essie, Maybelline....)
3. Unilever (TRESemme, Noxzema, Dove and so on)
4. Shiseido (Owns NARS, BareMinerals and so on)
5. Avon

End of shopping ban: L'Oreal haul

End of shopping ban: L'Oreal haul

Nail art Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, March 15, 2013

My month-long shopping ban is over (for now). And I've ordered a replacement Konad stamper. But before I reward myself at Lush over the weekend, I wanted to buy something, anything, today. Broccoli, even. So I hit the L'Oreal counter and picked up a couple of things.
The first is the Infallible compact. It is supposed to last 16 hours. I haven't worn it that long, just a couple of hours. This isn't my Holy Grail compact foundation, but it isn't bad. I used it with a damp sponge and my skin looked smooth. It doesn't feel heavy or look chalky. The product doesn't go on the sponge too smoothly though - you have to give it a firm swipe or two.

Second is the Color Riche Nail art sticker set in Disco Ball and Python. I love both these designs and, trust me, the sampler stickers the SA applied looked absolutely fab on my nails. All you do is stick it on the nail and file away the excess.

I received a manicure set as a gift with purchase. The tweezers are good, the scissors are sharp and the nail-cutter is precise. I love the case!

War-time supplies: A make-up hoarder confesses

War-time supplies: A make-up hoarder confesses

YSL Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, March 12, 2013

War is coming. 
If you look at my make-up hoard, you may be forgiven for getting that impression.
I decided to go through the top-most shelf in my dressing-table cupboard and was shocked to find quite a few items I've repurchased time and again, despite already having enough of the product. So this is another rather shameful yet honest post about my weirdness and how I've hoarded stuff.
Here is Benefit Porefessional. My all-time favourite primer. I'm using one tube for special occasions (more on my daily primer later), and I had a vague idea that I had another full tube somewhere inside. Turns out I have two more.
I like Benefit Dr Feelgood, though it's not an everyday item for me. I haven't even scraped the top layer off the first tin, and I seem to have bought another.
Chanel Rouge Double Intensite in Rose Garnet turned up six times. I love this colour and it is my all-time favourite lippy. I keep a tube in my bag and one for travel, but what are the other four doing???

Four items answered to the name of Estee Lauder's Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Duo in Mega Mauve. I can't even remember buying this lippy more than two times.
I also have three YSL Touche Eclats. It is my all-time favourite concealer, and I'm only using the first one. And why do I have so many refills of Shiseido's Sheer Mattifying Compact and Sun Protection Compact? These are in addition to the ones in two compact cases - one in my daily make-up bag and one for travel.

So you think I only hoard high-end products? Here are four Revlon Colorstay Ultimate lippies - all in shade 75. And I don't even like the shade or the formula!
I cannot, for the life of me, tell you why I've gone and bought three of these L'Oreal Smoothing Serums. They're okay for pre-styling use, though I prefer John Frieda. Still, three full-size bottles?

I also found three anti-dandruff shampoos which I no longer use, thanks to Lush Snake Oil. By the way, these are all from the top-most shelf. I haven't dared to look at the other shelves, bags or drawers.
I have just taken a solemn oath, by all make-up ever known to humans, not to buy any more of these products until I'm on the last tube or case of each. Does anyone else hoard like this?

February empties and March wishlist

February empties and March wishlist

Wishlist Cosmetopia Digest   Sunday, March 03, 2013

I'm on a spending ban for now, but once it ends, here's what I want this month (giveaway will take place post-ban, before my birthday in mid-April):

1. L'Oreal nail art sticker in python: Love this pattern.
2. The Body Shop sleep mist: I'm a restless and tense sleeper, so let's try this out.
3. YSL Vernis Pur glossy stain: I love the packaging and badly want it, in a shade that suits me. Let's see - I plan to visit YSL later this month (my mum wants one, too).
4. Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner: I really hope they still produce this. It's on my list when I go Lush-hauling to mark the completion of my spending ban.
5. Caviar microbeads: From MUA or wherever. Doesn't matter. I've wanted to try this effect out, but I'll have to go easy, because the  beads don't last for days and you can't reuse them. Maybe a birthday mani?
6. Burt's Bees lip balm: A regular favourite.
7. L'Oreal primer: I tried a tester and found it quite silicone-y. If it is a good enough alternative to Porefessional, why not?
8. Shiseido Lacquer Rouge
9. Maybelline Rocket mascara: Blame Hannah for the presence of this on this list!
10. The Body Shop Peppermint pumice foot scrub
11. Lush Buffy Bar: Or any body butter bar, and a couple of massage bars, really.
12.  China Glaze Scattered and Tattered: I don't see myself buying this anytime soon, but if divine forces, if any, are reading this....
13. O.P.I. Polka.com: As above.
14. Shiseido Camellia Compact: This is more of a wish to swatch it and see if it's fab. If not, Benefit Fine One One?
15. Shiseido Shimmering Rouge: It'll be either this or the lacquer rouge mentioned above, depending on which one has greater staying power.
16. Rimmel Waterproof Liquid Liner: A couple of my liquid liners are nearing the end of the bottle, especially deep blue and brown, so....
17. China Glaze Transitions, in any shade, really.
18. L'Occitane hand cream
19. Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose Eau de Parfum: I've finished a sample and I know I'm buying this soon :)

Now for my empties this month:

Lush Blousey Banana shampoo: Loved this - the smell, the feel, everything! Contains ALS, though.
Olay Body Wash: Whew, took forever for that to get over.
Lush Whoosh Shower Jelly: Bought this only in January, but I was rushing through it to get five empties!
The Body Shop Satsuma Body Lotion: A February favourite. Loved the smell and the soft feel it gave my skin.
Lush Curly Wurly shampoo: While it is a non-drying yet cleansing shampoo, the coconut bits kept clogging my drain.
Shiseido Sun Protection Compact Foundation: I've had this for a while - very little is enough, and no white residue/shine. Besides, this is great for those days you're too lazy to wear SPF.
Max Factor Lipfinity 180: They changed the formula so that Lipfinity is now quite flaky and sticky. This is pre-change. I saved it for a long time because I love the shade and finally decided to finish it off.