Beauty Empties 43.0 | September

I've got to admit that it's been more than 4 years since I last posted an Empties post but here I am, 20 quarters later with some of the products that I've personally finished for the past 3 months; you'd notice some other products that I've shared on my Instagram Stories but those are the products that I've been using together with my mum so those don't count here.

First, let's start with skincare and finally I'm back on track with my all-time favourite brand which is LANEIGE. I've started getting my mum to use their Perfect Renew skincare line for the past 5 years while I was enjoying their basic and Water Bank skincare line but it's time for me to also get on their anti-ageing line too - at 36 years old!

I've finished my first tub of that Perfect Renew Youth Regenerating Cream quite recently and instantly fell in love as it really helps in maintaining the hydration however little I have as I've been experiencing dehydration for quite some time with more and more hours spent in air-conditioned offices and cafes. I can't wait to repurchase the upgraded version of this moisturiser soonest!

That Clear C Advance Effector EX is the fourth generation of the original Clear C; a super berry infused booster and the last bottle that I've had in my stash. I've been having this product in my daily skincare routine for the past 10 years and I doubt I'm going to replace it with other products with similar claims. Again, I can't wait to repurchase the fifth version that's recently integrated into the brand's current brightening care line hence it has been renamed Radian-C Advance Effector. 

For hair care, I've been really selective towards the products I use especially after I've bleached and dyed my hair but the above Ginger Shampoo and Conditioner from The Body Shop have been working wonderfully at keeping my scalp healthy and less dandruff. Absolutely will be repurchasing this combo.

As for hair treatments, I did loved both of these Cleansing Scalp Scrub and Hydrating Mask from Sephora Collection especially now that my scalp gets dry and flaky quite easily. I'll repurchase these for sure but at this point, I still have a lot to go through so maybe sometime next year? I'll keep you guys posted in a Haul post.

With my skin feels drier; not just my facial area, I've been reaching out to more and more moisturising body wash like that Almond Milk & Honey Soothing and Caring Shower Cream from The Body Shop with Guardian's own Antibacterial Shower Cream Ultra Moisture which contains almond and chamomile that give similar effects. Already repurchased both of these in newer packaging.

So that's all of my take for some of my emptied products from this Quarter. I'd sure hope I can finish more of my opened products in time for the last roundup next month; before the recycling programme at L'Occitane being paused for the holiday season. 

Do you recycle your emptied skincare products? Or do you prefer refillable products? Let me know in the comment section.

Log | Recycling at L'Occitane Suria Sabah Shopping Mall

I went to L'Occitane again last week to bring more emptied skincare products and this time I brought facial cleansers, toners, some serums and hair care products. I don't personally finished these products by myself as I gave them away to my relatives as most of these products no longer suits my skin needs. I simply request for them to return the empty bottles for this recycling program.

I brought 30 emptied bottles this time so I'm at 58 out of 100 this time around. 2 more months before this program going to be on pause again so hopefully I can bring more to complete the 100 empties sheet!

Log | Recycling at L'Occitane Suria Sabah Shopping Mall

It's been months since my last purchase at L'Occitane and even much longer since I last brought emptied skincare product bottles for their recycling program; Big Little Things .

As members, you're entitled to redeem either mini sizes of the brand best selling items or collect 10 points of every 10 bottles you've recycled at the shop. I'll try my best to gather as much empties as I can as I'm also trying to update my skincare and makeup routines so do expect Empties posts real soon.

Beauty Empties 24.0 | March

Two weeks into MCO, how are you guys doing? I've been going at my emptied products; cleaning them, organising them and running around my apartment looking for more. Obviously running out of things to do so here's my beauty empties for the past quarter of 2020!

Using more and more quite intense anti-bacterial soaps so I'm upping my body lotion game to avoid dehydration.

I guess that's all from me and I'll be seeing you guys on my next Empties post! Take care and stay at home!

Beauty Empties 23.0 | December

Finally we have arrived to the last Empties post of this year of 2019! As for this time around, I have finished many products that I find simply above average and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to repurchase most of them.

As per usual, let us start with skincare products!

For makeup removers, I've used up the whole tub of that FORENCOS V-Right New Tone Cleansing Balm which is really pretty in texture but I don't think I will be repurchasing it simply because it is quite hard to rinse it off once it melted off the makeup.

With so many lazy nights the past couple of weeks, I can't help but relying on that Bifesta Enrich Cleansing Sheet to remove the layers of sunscreen at the end of the day. This makeup wipe is real nice and while I didn't actually repurchase it, I do have other variants as backups.

Throughout the past 3 months, I've finished a total of 8 cleansers. I do know it is a lot for merely a 3-month period but it is because I use most of them as body cleansers as well. I find most of these cleansers causing dryness onto my facial area so instead of tossing the out, I simply repurposed them.

The three cleansers from THE FACE SHOP Bubble Bubble cleansing line are actually different and I like the Mild Foaming Cleanser the most as it works well with my currently dehydrated skin. The other two, Moisturising Foaming Cleanser and Deep Foaming Cleanser were quite drying in general. I've also finished another tube of my favourite cleanser from the brand; Rice Water bright Cleansing Foam and I'm glad to report that that is the last tube I have in my cleanser stash. I've gone through many tubes of it at this point but I guess I'm not going to repurchase because I'm just really into gel cleansers these days.

That big tube of cleansing foam from Pyunkangyul is actually quite mild to my skin while it does cleanse well and the same goes to that one from Elle Beauty. 

I find both of those SNP LAB+ Triple Water Deep Clean Facial Foam and FORENCOS V-right New Tone Cleansing Foam drying out my skin so much I've decided to simply use them as body cleansers.

I've used up my first bottle of that SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Asiatica Toning Toner and still have another bottle as backup. At first, I thought this exfoliating toner is quite harsh but then as it turned out, I was just reacting badly to a BHA toner that I also was testing at the time. My bad, really. So yes, I actually do glad I have a backup for it although I do want one in newer packaging.

As I've finished my first bottle of Cream Skin Refiner last quarter, I was focusing on both of those Leegeehaam Grow Hyal B5 Toner, the Ampoule and Cream sister for hydration. The toner was quite heavy to begin with so I didn't need to layer its application and as for the ampoule, I usually just use it on its own without layering another treatment product on top because it is quite heavy and takes some time to absorbed well into the skin. The cream too was quite heavy so I actually applied some of it on my dry elbows most of the times.

I have finally finished the Primer Water from Althea and I admit I did went over 12 months to finish it but it didn't changed in scent or colour so I guess it was all good. It's indeed quite nice to be used in the morning but I still have other opened hydrating toners so I won't be repurchasing this anytime soon. Speaking of which, I've finished another bottle of that Pyunkangyul Essence Toner which I love for its hydrating power and also, the fact that it has less than 10 ingredients. I'd be sure to at least repurchase this next year.

I have also finished up a tone-cream and this time around is that FORENCOS Wonderwerk Marula Tone-Up Cream which was nice as it's hydrating while giving me a toned up finish. As I always love trying new products, I won't be repurchasing this one for now.

That Huxley Secret of Sahara Sleep Mask: Good Night was given to me through a giveaway last year and I only had the chance to open it early this year. It's actually went really nice on skin and even more so when I wake up in the morning.

For sunscreens, I have managed to finish 5 of my opened stash. It did took me almost a year to finish most of them but when it comes to that Krave Beet the Sun, I've used it up within merely 3 months. I really do like it and already got myself a backup.

Both of those THE FACE SHOP Natural Sun Eco Liquid Fluid Sunscreen and Daily Sun Essence worked really nice with my skin as they both were nicely hydrating and felt lightweight on skin although I won't be repurchasing them anytime soon.

As for that LANEIGE All Day Anti-Pollution Defensor SPF30 PA++, I really like it as it worked greatly on top tone-up creams although it's not possible for me to repurchase this product as the whole anti-pollution line has been discontinued here in Malaysian market.

That Etude House Face Liquid Blur worked greatly too but I really hate the fact that it's heavily scented. I have been using AmorePacific products for years now and I'm quite used to how each of their products are scented but this one was just too much for me. While it does give me that nice and even toned up finish, I just can't deal with the scent. With that, I probably won't be buying anything from the brand anymore.

You guys know that I love using facial mists and that Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist is just one of it. I still do have several backups for it as I love carrying it in my bag. As for that Clinelle Pure Swiss Thermal Spring Water however, it's simply average so thank you. Next!

For body care products, I have finally finished the Dove Go Fresh Sakura Blossom Body Wash after about 9 months as I was alternating it with my other body cleansers. The fragrance suits my taste well for a body cleanser but I find it a bit too drying for my skin so I'm sticking to shower oil for now. As for that Shokubutsu Clean Fresh Shower Foam, it's actually a refill for my brother because he kept on using my floral-scented body cleansers so I got him a clear 500ml bottle from Daiso and filled it with that fresh-scented body cleanser instead. 

For hair care, I've finished my first bottle of that Rejoice Hijab Perfection 3-in-1 Perfect Cool Shampoo and gladly bought the bigger size for it recently. The cooling sensation is really nice after a long day at work.

If you noticed on the featured photo above, I've been using that Nivea Extra Whitening Antiperspirant for years now and I've lost count to how many that I actually finished so all I can say that it works well therefore it's unlikely for me to purchase a different product for that.

I guess that's all for now and here's to more emptied products in the upcoming quarter. I'll see you guys on my next post!

Beauty Empties | Sheet Masks 9.0

I guess the caption space for a single post on Instagram isn't much to begin with so that's why I'm going to keep updating my empties for sheet masks here. Anyway, for this quarter; July till this month of September, I've used a total of 66 sheet masks! Yay!

First thing first, let's go to sheet masks that I've used for morning skincare routine where I would prefer to use simple hydrating sheet masks and black charcoal sheet masks to help with moisture and sebum-control.

These are some basic My Real Squeeze Masks from Innisfree. There are 3 types; water-type, serum-type and cream type and I love the water-type the most as the thin sheet complements the essences in the so well. 

I bought the whole box for all 3 Oozoo Bear Masks from the brand The Oozoo. The essence is actually in the transparent bubble and needed to be popped into the masks and spread even before putting onto facial area. Unfortunately, i don't find these as hydrating as I'd expect them to be so after finishing them all hopefully next month, I won't be repurchasing them again.

I'm so impressed with these Annie's Way Secret Garden Masks. The sheet is charcoal black and helps with sebum controlling and purifying but these moisturise my skin so well afterwards. I do love them and definitely will be repurchasing some more.

Another charcoal black masks are those 3 from My Beauty Diary. I do love their black sheets as they adhere so well onto facial area. I love the Moisturising the most! I bought all those in whole box of 5 each and there are still some that left to be used. I've tried the cooling mask also from the brand but I think I got it from a friend and it's actually not available in Malaysia.

Next are these 2-step masks from common labs. I really like these as they moisturise so well  with ample of ampoules and essences especially Vitamin E that soothe my skin as well. I'll repurchase these from Althea soon.

Senka Malaysia sent these 3 sheet masks for review on Beauty Memo by Hermo and I'm so glad for discovering the supposedly new Soothing White! Although the brightened up effect lasts temporarily, the hydrating and soothing effect is very nice on skin so I recently bought a whole box of 7 from Sasa. 

Some random Taiwanese masks that were given to me; the HerbaLine mask that I got from local spa here in Kota Kinabalu. It's nice but just average to me. As for that Hey! Pinko Girl Triple HA Seaweed Collagen Moisturising Mask however is actually feels really good on skin but the ingredients are bit low in quality with different kinds of preservatives in it. That was the first Neogence mask that I've tried and the moisturising effect is actually quite good! Still got some more before repurchasing.

Now, let's go to sheet masks that I've used for my evening skincare routine!

Thanks to a fellow K-beauty skincare enthusiast, I've discovered these sheet masks from Wonjin Effect. These are probably the best ones I've tried in years since Mediheal and Leaders. the sheet adherence is amazing and the ampoules are great for my my currently dehydrated skin. Love them and I've already repurchased their whole boxes from local sheet mask reseller, Mask.Have.

I bought these Illiyoon; hanbang (oriental) brand from South Korea through an Instagram reseller and there are several variants that I've got but so far I like the Lotus and Cameliia ones the most but I don't think I'll be repurchasing again as it's quite expensive to be sourced from Seoul directly.

Of course, you would be seeing this coming! I really do like these Mediheal sheet masks and only have few left in my sheet mask stash. These work so well with my skin as they moisturise, brighten and soothe my skin so well! I'll repurchase when there's a sale in Sasa or Watsons.

 I've received a box of the moisturising anti-wrinkle sheet masks from HelloSkin and actually quite like it! The sheet adheres greatly on skin and the essence is very moisturising although the scent for these is quite overpowering. The brand is now available on Wynora.com so definitely do check them out!

You guys know this, my most prized sheet masks from B.Liv, bio-cellulose sheet masks that comes in 3 variants. These days I'm loving the Soothe Me Now the most but I'm down with the last couple of box of it and I'm sad that the brand is discontinuing this mask line. As for the regular sheet mask on the left, I'm still trying several other variants before reviewing them so do stay tuned.

Now as for these masks from SexyLook that I've got from fellow sheet mask addicts on Instagram are great in terms of result as they hydrate well but the one in black packaging however irritated my skin so bad I thought maybe the first one I've used a faulty one then decided to put on another that's when the irritation got worst and that's when both masks got thrown into the bin.

I've always been curious about the brand Acwell but after trying the sheet masks, I found these unimpressive at all so I no longer curious. I know the toner is raved a lot even on Instagram but I guess I'm gonna pass their masks.

 It's really hard but these sheet masks from Forencos are expiring next month so I've used up both masks and finally say goodbye to Song Joongki oppa but I guess, it's hard for Song Hyekyo unnie too. >.< The masks are great but it's goodbye now. haha so dramatic!

I'm sad that my favourite masks from THE FACE SHOP are being discontinued - those from Mask.Lab line as only the lifting ones that are available in the store right now. I still have a lot more of their basic Real Nature masks and am loving most of them especially that Calendula mask. 

The above is actually bunch of masks that I've got to try once and after only first try, i decided to purchase the whole box of that Shangpree mask. It's so soothing and the sheet is amazing, I'm telling you guys. I'd be repurchasing them again for sure!

What about you guys? have you tried sheet masking? Let me now in the comment box down below. I guess that's all of it and I'll be seeing you guys on my next post!

Beauty Empties 22.0 | September

Another quarter of this year then we're entering the second decade of this century, I've been thinking a lot on so many variable things like where my life is going to be on the next one? Okay, too heavy so here we are at another empties post; featuring products that I've finished between July till this month of September! I'm going to talk about the sheet masks that I've used throughout this quarter on my next post so do stay tuned for that. 

Let's go to the cleansers, first!

Finally, I've finished that Bifesta Eye & Lip Makeup Remover after more than 12 months! I do know it's over the supposed PAO but I don't see any change; scent nor its consistency and my easily sensitised eyelids aren't reacting to it so I just kept on using it. Because I actually really like the product, I have repurchased another bottle for it!

I'm going to admit here that I didn't finished the makeup wipes above to remove my makeup as I've been using it a lot to remove swatches as I've did lots of makeup swatches the past few months. It's good and quite affordable but I already have others that I would prefer more.

For second water-based cleansers, I've finished that Heimish All Clean White Clay Foam but I didn't use the whole lot of it on my face because it's so drying so I've used it as body cleanser instead. Even so, I needed to moisturise my body afterwards as it turned out so no, I'm not going to repurchase the cleanser again.

I've finished my second tube of that THE FACE SHOP White Seed Exfoliating Foam around last month but this too, I've used up as body cleanser as it's too foamy and dried out my face afterwards. Won't be repurchasing again.

The third cleanser that I've finished is that pretty Fresh Soy Face Cleanser in its jumbo 200ml-sized tube and I love it very much indeed; used the the whole tube within 6 months and that's actually something! In fact, I'm into gel cleansers now because they don't dry out my skin unlike those high-pH cleansers at the very least. I'm already on my second jumbo tube - 20th anniversary version of the cleanser.

For special care category, I've used up both of Althea Real Fresh Skin Detoxer in Green Tea and Rose around last month and already opened my backups. They can a bit drying so I only take small amount of it usually in my morning skincare routine.

Now, let's go to first treatments and toners!

Finished the very first bottle of that LANEIGE Clear C Advanced Effector EX (3rd generation) and quite frankly, I don't really noticed the difference between this and the 2nd generation of the product. I always use this product as the first step after cleansing by pumping out at least 3 times and wipe my facial area outwards. I absolutely love this product as it helps maintaining my skin from being dull and it provides vitamins that help boosting the rest of my skincare. I still have another 2 bottles to finish before opening the new 4th generation bottle!

Technically, I didn't finished the whole bottle of that Heimish Refresh Water; my brother used half of it and I took the other half and poured into a tub to pre-soak some rounded Sephora pads. This exfoliating toner is kind of mild to me but I think it's good for beginners and as it's similar to Son&Park Beauty Water, I don't use this product everyday.

For hydrating toners, I've finished the first bottle of that LANEIGE Cream Skin Refiner that I've got for review on Beauty Memo by Hermo back in April and I have to say, I do love it, bought one bottle from LANEIGE Official Flagship store on Lazada and 5 more bottles from Althea as they were having sales at the time. I'm currently halfway through my second bottle as I'm so into layering it!

For essence-like toners, I've finished the Pyunkangyul Essence Toner which hydrates so well and I'm already on my second bottle in 200ml size. I love this especially for toner masks during midday. As for that Kayman Beauty Rosa Glow Treatment Essence, I really like it as it helps fading my acne scars so I've got another 2 bottles as they're having sale and I've already reviewed it on my Instagram so just scrolled down further or you can use #myrabeautyreviews for it.

Finished the first bottle of that Rejoice Hijab Perfection Perfume and its 3-in-1 Perfect Conditioning sister that I've got during their launching event back in April. Here to report that I've already bought another bottle of the shampoo along with its Cool sister but not the conditioner as I still have others to go through before getting a new one. Both shampoos are great and give long-lasting scents to my hair.

As for after-washing care, I've used up my first bottle of that Innisfree Camellia Essential Hair Oil Serum and gladly opened another bottle with new packaging as the brand changed their logo. No change made to the formula so all is good!

I guess that's all from me and I'll be seeing you guys on my next post that I've scheduled tomorrow! Annyeong~