{Empties} June 2012!

Hey there! So there are no posts I find more rewarding to write than empties posts. I love doing these because it gets me to look at my stash and really see what I use consistently, and what I don't use much of at all. Any of you makeup junkies out there know how difficult finishing even one product can be, let alone enough to put together a post. I can proudly say that over the past few months I've been purging a lot of products from my collection by strictly sticking to my "one of a kind" rule. Meaning, I only use one of a certain type of product until I finish it (like only one mascara or one gloss). It's difficult, but honestly so rewarding when you finally finish that one thing that's been in your stash forever.

Now, there are fourteen (14!!!) products in this post!!! I didn't finish these in one month, but over probably two an a half months, which is a reasonable time frame given that these products have been lying around forever. I hope you enjoy my little ramblings about each product and if I've reviewed any of them before, there will be a link to the review listed. I don't know if I will be doing these kinds of posts every months





















Lancome Artliner in Plum: I love these liners from Lancome. They are very good for people who find liquid liners difficult to use. The tip is a pointed felt tip (pic of it here), but it's thinner than most of the felt tips I've seen, and more flexible too. It makes getting a straight line very easy, especially if you like doing a wing. The formula of these liners isn't waterproof though, but that's not an issue for me as I rarely have problems with migrating mascaras or liners. I did mention in my one of my favorites posts here that I would be interested in trying the L'Oreal version of this liner, but I actually purchased one of the newer Physicians Formula liners instead.
     Repurchase: Maybe. I've got other liners to finish first.

ELF Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Black: This was an ok liner. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. It dried out really fast on me and the color is a little on the lighter side, more gray than black. I can't really comment on the waterproof claim as it's never been an issue for me. All I can say is that I've never had it smudge or flake. I'm not a big fan of the applicator. When I used it, the tip felt to short and stiff making application more difficult.
     Repurchase: No. The Jordana version is only $1 more and works much better.

Sephora Atomic Volume Mascara in Black: I liked this mascara. It gave me a lot of volume and was generally fuss free when it came to application. It has one row of bristles that is a little longer that is supposed to act as a lash comb, but I found that it would actually do the opposite and clump my lashes. I would just avoid using that one section of bristles. I was surprised I liked this mascara because the bristles are plastic and I usually avoid those types of wands like the plague. The only real complaint I have is that it doesn't hold a curl too well. But I've yet to find a non waterproof mascara that holds a decent curl.
     Repurchase: Yes, but only if on sale. I got it for $5 with a liner on clearance.

Molton Brown Soft Eye Creme in 05 Sultry: As far as I know Molton Brown isn't a very big brand in the US. I know a few stores now carry their body products (which are ridiculously over priced--I'll be reviewing a couple soon) but except for TJMaxx, I've never come across their cosmetic line in store. This eyeshadow is like one of those Laura Mercier ones that comes in a tube, only this one isn't as nice. The color is a really pretty eggplant shade, like Macroviolet from MAC, but the application, if used as an eyeshadow, can be patchy and it does tend to flake. I used it smudged around the lash line, but I couldn't really use it as a liner because it wasn't dark enough on it's own. Maybe if the shade was a lighter shade I wouldn't notice these things, but in a dark shade they really become an issue. I tried this shadow for a clubbing look once and all I can say is big mistake.
     Repurchase: No. Much better alternatives on the market.


  

















Aquaphor Healing Ointment: This stuff is pretty much the same as Vaseline (petroleum jelly) only better. I find that Aquaphor tends to absorb better because it's got some oil in it while Vaseline just sits on my skin. I much prefer the Aquaphor, especially when I'm using it on my lips or knuckles (which crack a lot in the winter). I bought this in a set of two travel sized tubes and the little 0.35 fl oz tube lasted me months because you barely need any at all. If you suffer from dry patches in the winter I highly recommend this stuff. My knuckles love it!
     Repurchase: Yes!

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer: I will admit, I'm not into concealer. I much prefer to layer a little more foundation for a more believable look than to cake on concealer, which can look too much sometimes. This concealer was ok. It wasn't too dry, it wasn't too wet, more of a cream texture. I know there's a little bit left in there, but I'm 90% sure it's expired (been discontinued since I bought it) and I just can't make myself use it anymore haha. I don't have much to say about this stuff. Not horrible, but not great by any means.
     Repurchase: No.

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Cream Shadow in What a Blush: I loved the color of this stuff, but it was very difficult to work with. It is a shimery pale pink cream eyeshadow and while it's pretty, that's about all with this product. It creases like crazy. I would end up using this as an inner corner color because that's the only way I could wear it without it creasing. Also, the container comes with this little pointy dispenser that has the tiniest hole ever, meaning squeezing the product out was really difficult. All in all, it has confirmed my opinion about most of the Beauty Rush line from VS. I've tried several items and honestly, except for their lip glosses, I doubt I'll be purchasing anything else.
     Repurchase: No!

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil: Like the Vaseline lotion, a product I started out loving, and then it kinda stopped working for me. When I first got it it would zap the pimples right away. I'd put it on and bam, within a day my pimple is half the size it started out as. After about a month, it stopped working as well. I think my skin got used to this product. It has a tendency to do that with spot treatments. That being said, other spot treatments, even when my skin got used to them, did not stop working like this one did. What I did enjoy about this product is that it is a clear liquid. You can't layer it under makeup because it is an oil, but I found that I had to only use one drop each time I did my face, so this teeny 0.33 fl oz bottle lasted me forever.
     Repurchase: No. I like my Clean and Clear stuff better.

Bliss Tried+Blue Body Lotion: I LOVE this stuff! The smell, the texture, the way it leaves my skin feeling, just everything about this product. So what does Bliss do? Discontinues it before I can buy the full size. I got this sample in a Bliss kit from TJMaxx about a year ago, and I know that Bliss had already discontinued it then because I tried this stuff once, went to buy it, and couldn't find it anywhere. I ended up using this as a hand cream, leaving it in my purse, because I didn't want to finish it. It reminds me so much of the beach, summer, and the ocean. I probably look so weird smelling my hands after I use this lol
     Repurchase: Yes!!! If I can ever find it anywhere :(

Biore Enliven Cooling Eye Gel: I LOVE THIS STUFF! It was a life saver for me during the semester when I barely slept. I paired it with the Biore Skin Boosting Night Serum (full review here) and it is the perfect morning combo for me. It depuffs and really lightly moisturizes the eye area. i love using this stuff right before makeup because any under eye concealer/foundation I apply goes on very smoothly. Sadly, like many of their other products, Biore has discontinued this one as well :( I know I've finished this product, but I still have pics from when I first bought it, so I will try to post a full review because I feel this product really deserves one.
     Repurchase: Yes, if I can find it.

Kirkland Baby Wipes: I love these! I've go through about one of these every two months and they are the best wipes I've ever used. I stopped wasting my money on teeny little packs of makeup removing wipes a long time ago because why bother when 99% of the time I will use a cleanser immediately after I remove my makeup. These wipes (specifically this type from Costco) are dirt cheep, come in huge packs of 100, are super soft, not too wet/dry, are unscented, and most importantly DO NOT STING MY EYES!!! I use these for everything, from removing any eye makeup remover residue, to removing face makeup, to cleaning my hands, to spot cleaning my brushes. They are perfect! I think when you buy the box from Costco you get either six or eight of these 100 wipe packs, so they are dirt cheap.
     Repurchase: YES! YES! YES!

Vaseline Aloe Fresh Lotion: This was one of those products I started out liking, but as I kept using it my opinion changed. I loved the scent and fresh feel of it initially. It smells like aloe and cucumber, very soothing. However, because it's so scented it's not suited to sensitive skins, especially not if you get any irritation after shaving. My legs would itch like crazy after using this lotion. I finally stopped using it on any area that I shaved and would use it only after sun. If you don't have sensitive skin, go for it. If you do, stay away and try something unscented.
     Repurchase: Not this scent. May purchase original or the cocoa butter one in the future.

The Body Shop Jolly Orange Body Scrub: Another product I didn't like. It's a very thin scrub that has a very jelly feel to it. It doesn't'  have nearly enough abrasives in it to really do a through job. What I ended up doing was adding about half a cup of sugar to it to make it more scrubby. I didn't like this scent either. I got it on Black Friday in a kit at The Body Shop, so I wasn't too upset because I didn't pay a lot of money for it. I expected Jolly Orange to be more like Satsuma, very fresh, but instead it was very spicy smelling and cloying. The body wash wasn't too bad, but this stuff I couldn't wait to be done with.
     Repurchase: No.

Up & Up Acne Wash Grapefruit Scent: I love this stuff. It makes me happy on early early mornings :) I've used the brand name Neutrogena one, and it is exactly the same stuff. No difference what so ever. It's a very gentle exfoliate that is scented like grapefruit. It really cleans the skin well, bubbles up nicely, and wakes me up in the morning. I know some people hate the scent and find it to be too much, but I like it and I haven't gotten tired of it yet. If you like the Neutragena version, try this version out and save a couple of bucks.
     Repurchase: Maybe. Still have a couple face washes to finish first.

{Empties} June 2011 (+ Bonus Hit Pans!)

Hi guys! Sorry it took so long to get this post out. I underestimated how many mini reviews I would have to write lol! I've decided to do empties on a monthly basis from now on. Enjoy! Click on any links for more information and more in depth reviews!



Sally Hansen Teflon Tough Top Coat
A good top coat, very shiny, and makes my nails not chip for I would say almost a week. Not as great as Seche Vite, but for the price, a good option. What I really like about it is that it dries very very quickly, within two minutes.

Aquafina Intensive Under Eye Cream
This is a very good eye cream if you're looking for a very thick, rich under eye cream. It moisturizes very very well. That being said, this is the stupidest packaging I've ever had to deal with. The cream is very thick, so it does not sink to the bottom of the container, which means the pump can't pump it up. I would use a little spatula to scoop out as much as I could into a sample container and use it that way. Good cream, but packaging makes use very annoying.

Almay Clear Complexion Concealer
I like this concealer for its coverage, but as far as treating acne, I didn't notice any difference in my skin after continued use, and I really did only use this on pimples. The formula is a bit thicker than other concealers, so if you're used to think, liquid concealers this one may not be for you. It does blend out very well though.

Essie Mini Nail Polishes in Turning Heads Reds (Bottom) and Fearless (Top)
I loved these colors so much, especially for my toes. Fearless was the color that really got me interested in bright shades for nails. I;m not keen on the mini bottles though. I got through about 2/3 of these and then the rest kinda dried out, including the applicator. I've got the same problem with the OPI minis. They're nice if you wanna try out some nice shades, but if you buy them in 4's I would say save your money and buy two full size shades instead.

Maybelline Cool Effect Shadow Liner in On The Rocks
I loved this color. It's a deep, warm brown with a bit of shimmer to it. I also loved how long it lasted. Without a primer all over the lid it lasted until I took it off with absolutely no creasing at all. I was very surprised at this level of long wear from a drugstore brand. My issue with it is that the product dries out very very quickly. I bought it and used it for two weeks daily, went to sharpen and had the entire stick fall out of the tube.


See? Nothing in there. I've never even sharpened it once! I was so disappointed because I bought this brand new at full price from Walgreens. It's not like I picked it up from Big Lots or something, this was a brand new one. I think I may try out the NYX Jumbo pencils and see how they match up.

Petites Nail Polish in Sapphire
I wore this so much in spring! I love the shade, it's a super super shimmery blue jean kinda color. Very pretty and super affordable at only $2. I think one of the Dior Fall 2011 shades looks very similar to this one too!



Jordana Clear Mascara
I like how affordable this brow gel is for me. It keeps my brows in place all day without flaking or looking white. What I hate about it is after just three weeks it starts getting really really dirty.


Gross, right? I use go through about one a month because even though there is enough left for almost 2 weeks of use, i just feel gross using it. At a dollar a month though, it doesn't really hurt much.

Revlon Creme Gloss in Strike A Rose
I loved this gloss. It's the first gloss I've finished in ages. It's a bit thicker than a traditional gloss, but it's marketed as more of a liquid lip color. I did a full review, so if this seems like your type of product, check it out!

Almay Intense i Color Volumizing Mascara
I forget which eye color this was for, but it's the purply maroon color. It is a very nice day mascara. i hated it when I first got it because it was a bit too wet and would clump, but like with many other mascaras, when it dries out a little it worked perfectly, giving very nice and feathery lashes. I kinda wish I had bought the black though. The maroon was just a little lighter than I like my lashes.

Smashbox High Definition Concealer
This is an awesome all purpose type of concealer. I swear, there is nothing it can't do. It's thin but very pigmented texture makes it ideal for covering anything from pimples to dark circles and I've even mixed it with a bit of moisturizer to create a tinted moisturizer on the go. It blends effortlessly and never looks obvious. A bit pricey, but a very good buy.

Essie Mini Top Coat
I love Essie polishes, and when it comes to finish, they beat OPI in the shine department, which makes this top coat a solid buy. It's not as great at keeping nails from chipping as Seche Vite, but it is easily just as shiny. Again, however, the mini polishes dry out way way way too quickly.



H20+ Body Oasis Intensive Hydrating Gel
I've already done a full review of this product, and unlike many other H2O+ products, this one was a disappointment. It just left this sticky film on the skin that made me feel very uncomfortable on top of the fact that it wasn't very hydrating to begin with. If you're interested, read the full review for my complete thoughts.

The Body Shop Jolly Orange Shower Gel
As a shower gel this product performed, but the scent for me was kinda just meh. After using their Satsuma Body Butter for a few months, the scent of this spicy orange just isn't that good. I love how fresh Satsuma smells and compared to it Jolly Orange is a bit cloying. It did get me feeling very clean, though, and it's great for shaving too!



Noxema The Original Deep Cleansing Cream
I love this! Enough said. Read here and here for why lol!


Totally gone! I've already picked up another one, too!

Nivea Natural Beauty Daily Peeling
I really liked this cleanser. It's a nice lathering cleanser, but it's also a very gentle but effective exfoliate. This cleanser succeeded in joining cleansing and exfoliating where others have completely failed (see next review lol). The abrasives in this cleanser are very very fine, but densely packed in the cleanser where as other cleansers of this type have small particles that are more spread apart and therefore less effective. The only criticism I can give this product is that there is little that is natural about it. Don't be fooled by the "Natural Beauty" title. If you look at the ingredients list it is packed to the brim with very unnatural ingredients. Just because it contains one or two natural ingredients doesn't make this a better choice than other cleansers. It is very effective and that's why I do recommend this product highly. It got my skin feeling very smooth and very clean in one go.

Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash Redness Soothing Gentle Scrub
As a face wash this is a good cleanser, but to me it's not really a true scrub. The particles are these little round beads that are just too sparse to do much good as a scrub. They are suspended in a cream cleanser, which is an ideal choice for many sensitive skins. If you are looking for something that lathers really well, this isn't it. It is lightly scented and really relaxing to use. I didn't really notice any difference in redness, though.

And for some pan porn:

Hopefully some of these will show up on next months empties!

{Empties} Collective!!!

1. NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder-I was very surprised how fast I went through this powder. I used it just about every morning for less than 6 months, but I've had loose powders last me for eons and eons because I didn't use them very often. I love this powder. It is a good cheap, no-frills, just-does-the-job powder.

2. Shiseido White Serum-This I actually got as a gift from a friend. I don't think I saw much lightening or evening, but it felt really moisturizing. I used it underneath my night moisturizer. I do have to say that at a pump a night I went through it in less than a month and a half. Given by how much this serum must have cost, that's a bit unacceptable to me.

3. Mary Kay Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover-This makeup remover did the job. It removed the eye makeup, but honestly I can't say I will repurchase any time soon. Or ever. Because of the method of dispensing I wasted a lot of product. It lasted me less than two full months while the Almay one I usually use lasts me almost a full year and costs less than half. And I hated having to rub a lot when removing my eye makeup. If you are still interested click here for the full review!

4. Stila Pressed Powder-Although it is expensive, this is probably my favorite pressed powder ever. It is soooo soft and gives my skin a very air brushed look. I really like how you can just repurchase the pan of powder and not the full case. I probably will repurchase later, but only when I finish the powders I've got now.

5. Caswell-Massey Revitalizing Cool Cucumber Eye Pads-These I'm a bit mixed on. I liked putting them on my eye and relaxing at the end of a long day, but to be honest I didn't see any effect. They felt nice and moisturizing, but nothing that my regular eye cream wouldn't have done. For less than a dollar though, I'm ok with the disappointment.

6. Stella McCartney 5 benefits Moisturizing Cream (sample)-This was a sample I got at Marshall's for a couple of dollars in a set. I actually really liked it. It is a day cream (I think), but I used it at night because even in the winter it was a bit too rich for my very oily skin. It is wonderful on any dry patches though. My only complaint (well other than the price of the full size bottle) is the smell. I don't mind an herbal scent, but the smell of this stuff is overwhelming.

7. Boots No. 7 Radiant Glow Concealer-While this isn't an exact dupe of the YSL Touch Eclat, for $12.99 it is a very good illuminating concealer. It really isn't a high lighter like the YLS version, but more of a true concealer. My only complaint about this item is the lack of shades. It comes in two very similar very light shades. If you are deeper than say NW 25 or 30, then this product will not work for you. And it is very warm undertone. If you have a cooler, bluer undertone this will look too yellow on you.

8. Pixi Lash Boosting Mascara-I love this mascara for thickening. I was a bit hesitant about spending so much on a mascara at Target, but this mascara is really good for everyday volume. It is very very black too. My only complaint with this product is that although it isn't marketed as a waterproof mascara but is an absolute pain to get off. I mean, it is impossible to remove. On the one thing it's good because it doesn't budge during the day, but my eyes feel raw sometimes after I remove it.

9. Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara-I really like this mascara. It makes my eyelashes look longer and thicker. I didn't really see any drastic improvement in my lashes without this mascara, but it's still a good day mascara. The wand, I think however, is a bit unnecessarily large and the formula just a little too dry, but other than that it is a really solid mascara. If you're interested click here for the full review!

10. Lancome Waterproof Eyeliner-I am on the fence with this liner. On the one hand, it does a good job of subtly defining lashes, but on the other hand I could just as easily get the same effect with a drugstore liner. I know that Boots No 7 has liners that look almost exactly the same, from the colors to the design of the pencil, complete with a smudger. It's a good waterproof liner that lasts all day, but I just don't think it's worth the price.

11. Lancome Definicils Mascara-And finally, the mascara I've bought more of than any other mascara. I keep coming back to this mascara time and time again because it really is a good all around mascara. It gives decent volume, length, and definition, and has never once failed me. I don't usually use this as my daily mascara which is why a tube of this lasts me forever and I will definitely repurchase in the future.

That's it for now! More to come soon!

{Empties} Almay, Chanel, Revlon, Prescriptives & Psssst

L to R: Psssst Dry Shampoo, Revlon Blush in Naturally Nude, Chanel Glossimer in Imaginaire, Prescriptives Camouflage Concealer in Light B/R.

I finished so many products in the past few months! Really super excited! I've really been trying to use more of the same products consistently.

1. Psssst Dry Shampoo- I liked this product, it was actually in my January favorites post, but I don't know if I got a defective bottle or something, but I literally got only five or six uses out of it. Keep in mind that I don't use it all over my head, I just do my bangs and the back of my head for a bit of volume. I picked it up the other day and was shocked to discover it was completely empty.

Top to bottom: Revlon Blush in Naturally Nude, Chanel Glossimer in Imaginaire, Prescriptives Camouflage Concealer in Light B/R.

2. Chanel Glossimer in Imaginaire-I'm actually kind of sad I finished this one. It is probably my all time favorite gloss ever. I've come across similar shades like the Sally Hansen gloss I showed you a while ago, but nothing else gives me the effect this one does.

I can kinda get some if I really work at it, but I can't really get the huge glob of it at the bottom or the top :( Any tips for that?

The formula is unlike any other that I've tried. It's like a gel, not the thin liquid formula of other glosses, but at the same time it's not really sticky.

A swatch:

Look at this shade!!! It's a warm plum but can you see those silvery flecks? The glitter is fine, but the gloss itself doesn't have a frosty shimmer. If you can recommend other glosses like this one, feel free in the comments!

3. Revlon Blush in Naturally Nude-This was one of those products that I really liked when I bought it, but kinda stopped using for no particular reason. It is very light, but since I'm very fair that worked fine for me. It gave me just a bit of color. It's very very slightly frosty which would give my cheeks a glow. I think it's a much lighter version of Nars Decour.

A swatch:

I don't know how well you can see, but the finish is a bit glowy. It shows up better on my face because my face is a bit lighter than the back of my hand.

4. Prescriptives Camouflage Concealer in Light B/R-I liked this concealer a lot because the coverage is very opaque. Just a teeny tiny bit goes a very long way and it's not a drying formula either. There's still a bit in the tube but it's starting to get these little weird hard spots in it, so it's done.

5. Almay Moisturizing Makeup Remover-I just finally finished this stuff. I've had it for almost a year, which is a loooooong time for a makeup remover. I did a full review on this product and put it to the test on several eyeliners if you wanna check out that review. I really recommend this one to anyone trying to find a good makeup remover. I don't think I'll repurchase just because I like to try different products.

{Empties} Bodycology Pick Me Perfume

I finished another thing! No surprise with this one though if you saw how little was left when I showed this in my Jan favorites post. It is the Bodycology Pick Me perfume.

All gone :( I really liked this one, actually. It smells very fruity but not overwhelmingly sweet. Some fruity perfumes smell sickly sweet, which I don't really like. The fact that I got it for $2 at Kmart is awesome too!

Have you guys finished anything lately? Is there anything you're trying to finish but just can't get through?

{Empties+Review} Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Splash Away Foaming Cleanser

I finished another product! YAY!!! Wow, I've really just been going through everything super quickly this month. This time, it's a skin care product, a cleanser. I actually got this as a gift from my mom, along with a couple of other things. It is Estee Lauder's Perfectly Clean Splash Away Foaming Cleanser for normal or combo skin. I told my mom how I really love thick, foamy cleansers like the Shiseido one, and she was nice enough to get me something similar to try out! And let me tell you, this cleanser is heavy duty. It will make your skin squeaky clean! And it feels as thick as shaving cream, lol!

Again, this one is for normal or combo skin. I know they also make one for oily skin (in the greenish tube) and one for dry or sensitive, I don't remember which, in the pink tube. I'm planning on trying out the one for oily skin soon!

If you've never tried a high end foaming cleanser before, you must get a sample! YOU MUST!!! I don't know how they do it, but the foam is so thick, and rich. It works up into the most luxurious feeling lather, almost like foaming cream. And it gets every bit of dirt, oil, or left behind makeup off of your face.

The dispenser is a simple squeeze tube.

Can you see how thick it is!?

Spread out:

Look at that texture!!!

And with water:

This is on the back of my hand so it's not as thick, but if you really use both your hands to work it you can get a really nice and thick lather going!!!

I've been using this for the past month to cleanse morning and night. It is a great basic cleanser. It cleans your face, and that's about it. Estee Lauder claims that this product rebalances your skin, but I personally don't think so. I do love how when I use this, my face feels very very clean. There is no film or tightness left behind like with some other cleansers. And the texture of this cleanser is like nothing else (except maybe the Shiseido cleansers, haha!). No gel or cream cleanser can compare to the luxurious feeling this cleanser has.

And because it foams a lot you need the tiniest amount each time you cleanse. I used a pea size amount morning and night and that was more than enough to get my entire face! 4.2 oz doesn't seem like much, but it's lasted me months.

As far as negatives go, if you have dry skin this may be a bit drying on you. Even if you just have normal skin with a bit of dryness here and there, it may be a bit too drying. I have oily skin so I don't have a problem with this cleanser taking all the oil off of my face. And the prices, $20, may be a bit high for some. It is $15 cheaper than the Shiseido one I like. It all depends on how much you can spend. but I really think this one is worth the price!

Pros:

-Really thick and foamy.

-Cleans the face very well.

-Doesn't leave behind a film/tight feeling.

-A little goes a really long way because it foams.

Cons:

-Price.

-Doesn't "rebalance" anything.

-May be too drying for dry to normal skins.

Info:

Price: $20

Ingredients: Water (Aqua Purificata), Purified Potassium Myristate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Behenate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Potassium Palmate, Potassium Laurate, Potassium Stearate, Polygala Senega Root Extract, Nymphaea Alba Root Extract, Berberis Vulgaris Extract, Dipotassium Gylcyrrhizate, Caffeine, Sodium PCA, Sodium Myalluronate, Trehalose, Sucrose, Urea, Cetearyl Alcohol, Peg-3 Distearate, PolyQuaternium-51, Fragrance (Parfum), Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben (iln24031)

Disclosure: The product featured in this post was given to me as a gift for the purpose of my personal use. if you have any further questions about disclosure, don't hesitate to ask in comments.

{Empties+Review} Hourglass Extreem Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Reflect

I've finished another product! Yay!!! I do feel a bit of regret for finishing this one. It's one of Hourglasse's Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Glosses. The one I own is in Reflect, which is just a clear gloss with a ton of shimmer in it. It looks pink in the tube, but applies pretty much clear. I'm not a huge fan of completely clear glosses, but this one gives so much shine that I can't help but rave about it.



The brush:

I normally hate brush applicators for glosses because they tent to dispense too much product, but this one isn't half bad. It took a little bit of getting used to because it's longer than normal brush applicators and the gloss itself is thin, but I love the effect it gives. You'll see what I mean in the pics below!

A swatch:

So as I said, pretty much clear. There's the teeniest bit of pink, but it looks clear on the lips.

A better swatch:

Look how shiny and shimmery!!!

A lip swatch:

The glitter isn't really very chunky or anything. It's very understated, but just contributes to the amazing glossiness of this gloss.

Another lip swatch:

Sorry for the blur, but I wanted to make sure that you could see how incredibly glossy this gloss is!

If you're willing to splurge, this gloss is great, so much more than just a clear gloss. It is very very glossy. More than just being super glossy, it's one of the most moisturizing lip glosses I've EVER used. It feels like I'm wearing a balm and a gloss, it's that good. And I never get those crumbs on my lips from my lips being dry when wearing this gloss. It smells like vanilla, but the scent goes away pretty fast so if you hate scented glosses, you may be ok with this one. My only complaint about this gloss is that it is a pretty thin gloss, so the lasting power isn't as great as other more tacky glosses, about 2 hrs. But I can overlook that because the shine is amazing and my lips feel really well cared for after wearing this gloss. I think I can say that these glosses are coming to be my new favorite after Chanel Glossimers! Now, they have changed the packaging, but I don't really like the new packaging. I'll definitely repurchase it from ebay or Amazon in the older packaging which I think looks more sophisticated!

Pros:

-VERY SHINY!

-Moisturizing.

-Nice scent.

-Non sticky.

-Really nice packaging.

Cons:

-Expensive.

-Not very long lasting.

Info:

Price: $28 (Eek!)

Ingredients: Octyldodecanol, Diisostearyl Malate, Ethylcellulose, Isostearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Dilinoleyl Alcohol, Hydroxystearic Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Silica Silylate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Glycerin, Water, Lysolecithin, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Oil, Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Vanillin, Flavor, Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850:1), Red 6 (CI 15850), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090:2), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410:2), Red 30 Lake (CI 45410:2).

Disclosure: The product featured in this post was purchased by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any further questions about disclosure don't hesitate to ask in comments!