Completed Items in April 2012 + Mini Reviews
Whaaa? April's gone? This is crazy! I feel like every month I say that the month has gone by so quickly. I'm currently on my last part-time study module, and final exams are coming, so between full time work and studying, life is insane. But I'm glad that I'm at my final module - hopefully I will pass and not have to repeat it so that life can go back to normal. :)
Anyway, I did manage to complete an abnormally large number of items this month! I didn't use them all in one month - I like to try different things and switch things up when I feel like I need some specific treatment or just because I want to, so a lot of items were actually used over a very long time.
1. John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Liquid Shine Illuminating Shampoo
I've loved John Frieda's other shampoos - such as Frizz-Ease and the moisturizing version of Brilliant Brunette. I lived in a very cold country for a few years and Frizz-Ease was a heaven-sent for my already dry hair. Now that I'm no longer living in a cold climate, I can't use Frizz-Ease often as it will be too heavy so I tried to branch out into other types of shampoo by John Frieda. Sadly, I'm not as impressed with the Brilliant Brunette Illuminating Shampoo; I feel like it's rather drying. Granted, it never claimed to be moisturising as it's meant to be "illuminating". I cannot tell if my hair is illuminated, but I it feels pretty dry after a wash. I think I will stick with my old favourites from this brand.
2. Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair with Liquid Keratin
Shea Cashmere conditioner for dry, drained hair
I was disappointed in this because the ingredients sound so promising - liquid keratin with shea cashmere? Sadly, it didn't perform as well as the ingredients indicated. I don't feel like my dry hair got any less dry, and they actually just stayed as tangled as they were; I don't think it dried my hair out more, but it just didn't do anything to make it better. Plus it has a slightly funny smell.
3. Himalaya Herbals Protein Shampoo
Softness & Shine for Normal Hair
I never knew Himalaya Herbals had shampoo until I won a few bottles in a Cosmopolitan magazine contest! I'm pretty glad that I won this. For something that's marketed for normal hair, it's surprisingly nourishing even for my dry hair. Seriously, my hair has never been so soft before. My facial therapist oohed and aahed at how soft and nice my hair was the other day - this has never ever happened in my life! Definitely repurchasing!
4. Himalaya Herbals Protein Conditioner
Softness & Shine for Normal Hair
I really like this. This was incredibly moisturizing despite being marketed as a conditioner for normal hair. I really think the shampoo and conditioner did wonders for my dry hair! It doesn't feel too heavy for daily use too - just have to make sure that it is just applied to the ends of the hair. I have long hair, so I apply it on about 1/2 the lengths of my hair. Will repurchase!
5. Biore Cleansing Oil-in-cotton
One of my favourite cleansing cloths - this removes makeup in a jiffy, even for waterproof mascara. It doesn't sting my eyes, the cloth is really soft and is not drying at all. I also love that it comes in 2 different sizes, because I don't want to carry 40 pieces of cleansing cloths to the gym while sometimes it's good to have a bigger pack when you're on holiday! Definitely will repurchase - and actually I already have.
6. Fairprice Anti-Bacterial Wipes
This is just normal anti-bacterial wipes. I added this in because I must have it on my makeup table. I like to clean my hands with anti-bacterial wipes before I use my hands for applying makeup. Even though I wash my hands, sometimes I feel like it's not clean enough because I am afterall touching my face! I also like to use this to wipe down my table after putting on my makeup. Cannot live without anti-bacterial wipes. Best invention ever.
7. Swisspers Cleansing Eye Make-up Remover Pads
Most awful makeup remover ever. The cloth is really hard and rough. For eye-makeup, we're supposed to press the makeup remover over the eye, let it soak for a while before doing just 1 wipe. But seriously, even that hurts - I can feel my skin being scoured away. Next, it doesn't remove makeup very well. It doesn't stink my eye, but I doubt it can because I just don't think the solution is strong enough! Utter rubbish. Will not repurchase.
8. Vichy Purete Thermale Purfiying Cream Cleanser
Love this. This is rather creamy and lathers up pretty well. It feels really soft and nice on the skin, and while it does a great job of cleansing, it doesn't make my dry skin feel dry and taut at all like a lot of cleansers do. Will recommend for people with dry skin.
9. Sebamed Clear Face Anti-Pimple Gel
This... does not work for me. It doesn't dry out pimples, and does not prevent tiny bumps from erupting into full blown pimples. The good thing is it didn't dry out my skin like most pimple treatments that I've tried does. I'm throwing this out before completing it because I have found something that actually works, which I've reviewed here.
10. Bourjois 1 Seconde Nail Polish in No 5
I love Bourjois' nail polishes and the 1 Seconde Nail is one of my favourite from their range because of their brush heads. I am not an expert at putting on nail polish, so the brush is fantastic in helping me apply every nail in 1 stroke. I have rather large nail beds, so the big brush is not an issue because it applies beautifully even on my small pinky. Sadly, this bottle dried out before I completed it. But I have had it for about 3 years so I am not surprised and it is still a good value.
11. Sephora Nourishing Hand Cream Hand Candy
This absorbs into the skin easily without a greasy feeling, which can be expected from its texture - it's not watery, but it's rather thin without the rich creamy texture of higher end creams. It's an affordable, no-frills hand moisturizer that I buy when I run out of my other more indulgent ones and don't have the budget to splurge. I do like it, but I don't feel pampered by it.
12. Dior Diorsnow D-NA Reverse Night
Got this sample recently. I don't really like the texture - it's a slightly gooey and sticky serum. It's not very sticky, but definitely takes longer to absorb. I got a week's use out of this tiny bottle - a teeny bit is enough for the whole face. I don't see a difference in my face - but I never expect to because 5 days is just too short to test a serum. Will I buy the full size? Probably not. The full size is quite expensive, and I am actually quite pale already, so I don't really need anymore whitening products which is what this range is for.
13. Dior Diorsnow D-NA Reverse White Reveal Strengthening Night Creme
I like this product - it's very thick and creamy, and feels very pampering on the skin. Do note that my skin is very dry, so creams like this will most likely be too heavy for oily skins. I use it at night before I sleep, and wake up to very smooth skin. I don't think I will buy it though, because as mentioned above, I don't need any more whitening from my current ghostly pale skin.
14. Kose Moisture Essence
I'm a bit sitting on the fence for this one - I like that it feels like water on my face, because it comes in clear liquid form. I managed to get about 1 months use out of this sample, given how fluid it is, but didn't see any difference in my skin tone or texture. If I forgot to put another layer of moisturizer over this and just went to sleep with this, I will wake up with equally dry skin - not drier though - so I don't think the "moisture essence" part really worked.
15. Fasio Mascaliner in GR 700
Reviewed earlier, I really don't like this. Have not completed it, but I seem to have lost bunches of my eyelashes because of it - I tried to use it a little more, and every night when I try to remove it, a few of my lashes come off and that's when I decided enough was enough. It's a horrible product. Will never ever repurchase.
16. Chanel Le Blanc Mastering Whitening Compact Foundation SPF25 in B20 Beige
This small sample lasted me a few weeks so I am very impressed by Chanel's sample sizes. The foundation felt really smooth and nice against my face, it lasted nearly all day for me and it didn't clog my pores. I really like how it feels on my skin, the only issue is that I have dry skin, so it does make my skin look slightly powdery. As for its whitening effects, I really don't know if it works because I am already pretty pale. For my skin type, I won't repurchase because I like the effect of liquid/cream foundations as most powder foundation can look powdery on me.
Sidenote:
Whew. That's all for this month! 16 products in total! Very proud of myself. :)