My oh my! Where has October gone? Can you believe it is the end of the month of October already? For many of you in the US, you will be getting ready for Halloween which is so exciting! I would love to one day experience a US Halloween. Its not a huge celebration in Australia, although I do think it is gaining more popularity here as I see more Halloween parties and more decorations and costumes being more readily available. It seems like such a fun and exciting holiday.
On a skincare note, October has been a busy one! I am really, really pleased to say that I have a few empties to share with you this month (YAY!). Many are deluxe samples and others are favourites which I most definitely will repurchase. Some of these products I have spoken about in the past either briefly or in great detail. By the way, I am loving the whole idea of a deluxe sample as it really does give you a great opportunity to fall in love and test an item fairly well. Would you agree also? I really do hope more and more companies do offer this size (as opposed to sachets) to either gift to customers or allow customers to purchase, as it is a wonderful way to get to know an item.
Anyway, before I go off any more tangents, here are my October 2016 Empties!
***Please note that any item marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, but in no way did any of these brands or companies request any reviews of any kind. Everything in this post is my own and honest opinion and really…I am writing about them because well….they are empty after all?!
Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask
In a nutshell, I am sure many of you know just how much I LOVE this face mask by Omorovicza. I love it so much in fact I would say it is one of my holy grail masks and I wrote a detailed review of this mask in this blog post. I am so sad to have finished this up and I am just awaiting to for another to arrive. I won’t go into detail too much detail, (if you are interested you can read more of my thoughts about it here) but the reason why I love the Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask is that it really does deeply cleanse and sucks out all the impurities in the skin. It leaves my skin clearer, brighter and radiant. I will admit that sometimes it does work a bit too well at bringing impurities to the surface and I am left with a spot or two but these heal after a few days. It is also a fantastic spot treatment as it does pull out all of the ‘gunk’ from any existing spots, healing blemishes at a much faster rate. This is hands down one of my staples in my skincare stash due to how effective it works. I have never owned a better clay mask than this one.
The Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask comes in a 50ml size and can be purchased from Mecca Cosmetica for AUD$110 , Cultbeauty for GBP£60 or from Omorovicza for USD$120
Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm
The Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm is a cleanser I feel you will either love or hate due to its heavy balm like consistency. I will be honest, it is not the world’s easiest cleanser to wash off and you really do need to use warm water and a flannel or muslin cloth to fully emulsify and wash it off. However, despite this, I really do enjoy using this for several reasons.
I personally find this balm fantastic for dry skin days. I quite like using this on days where I feel like my skin needs a little bit more TLC due to flaky skin. For me, when I use this cleansing balm on dry and flaky days, it really helps add some moisture into my skin which then leads on to much happier and less irritated skin later on. It doesn’t strip my skin, instead it fuels my skin with moisture in much needed areas. My skin overall feels softer, plump and also flakiness is reduced dramatically. I also find that due to its thicker consistency on the skin, it is great for a pamper session, as this balm is an absolute dream to massage into the face. It has the right slip and feel and it really does feel incredibly luxurious on the face as it glides over the skin with ease. This balm is made from Hungarian Moor Mud (this its black colour), which is rich in minerals such as copper, zinc and magnesium as well as oils such as jojoba oil and almond oil to help nourish and hydrate the skin.
Ingredients:
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Sweet Almond Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Heptanoate, Silt (Hungarian Mud), Jojoba Oil, Squalane, Beeswax, Polysorbate 20, Plum Seed Extract, Apricot Kernel Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum (Natural Fragrance), Limonene, Linalool, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acerola Fruit Extract, Vitamin E, Aqua, Zinc Gluconate, Magnesium aspartate, Copper Gluconate.
The Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm can be used as a first or second cleanser but due to the price tag, I would suggest second cleanse only. For me, I think this is a great cleanser for winter where most complexions do get a little bit dry due to the elements as it adds some moisture into the skin and is a great foundation for the next hydrating steps in a skincare routine. I will most likely purchase this balm again come winter time.
The Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm comes in a 50ml size and can be purchased from Mecca Cosmetica for AUD$88 , Cultbeauty for GBP£48 or from Omorovicza for USD$110
OSKIA Skincare Perfect Cleanser (Deluxe Sample)
I am a huge fan of the OSKIA Renaissance Cleansing Gel and had high hopes for the Perfect Cleanser as well – this did not disappoint. I took this with me on my recent trip to Seoul and my skin absolutely loved this cleanser. This has the same feel and consistency of a cleansing balm but just that little bit more lightweight. I used this both as a second and as a first cleanser (I was packing light…I had much skincare buy hahaha) and my skin would feel super soft and plump after using this. The scent of this is a soft floral scent which I found quite pleasant as well. The balm itself is made with some nourishing skin oils such as sweet almond oil, sunflower oil and kukui nut oil which helps protect and maintain the skin’s moisture barrier as well as OSKIA Skincare’s signature MSM which helps to stimulate collagen production in the skin. Its full ingredients is as follows:
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Glycerin, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Decyl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Glyceryl Cocoate, Tribehenin, Glyceryl Behenate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Coco Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Aqua (Water), Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Parfum (Fragrance), Benzyl Alcohol, Methyl Sulphonyl Methane, Zinc Glycine, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citronellol, Geraniol.
The consistency of this does look a bit grainy but as soon as the balm warms up into the palm of your hands, it feels incredibly smooth and easy to work with on the face. I find that like the Renaissance Cleansing Gel, the Perfect Cleanser does emulsify quite easily, however I did use a cloth to clean off the excess anyway. This deluxe sample came in a jar but the actual cleanser it self comes in a handy and very travel friendly tube.
The OSKIA Skincare Perfect Cleanser can be purchased from Cultbeauty or OSKIA Skincare for GBP£32.50 for 125ml.
5YINA Grace Autumn Facial Oil (Deluxe Sample)
This facial oil was the first of the 5YINA range that I was able to try and it really did (along with their mask) ignite a love affair with the brand. This oil is gorgeous on the skin and sinks in so effortlessly on the face, even though it is supposed to be a slightly heavier oil than their Lucent Summer Oil. Despite it’s lightweight consistency on the skin, this oil does pack a punch in terms of skin hydration and nourishment. I found myself using this quite a bit when I moved back home to Australia – my skin was struggling with the climate change and this oil helped a lot in helping to nourish the skin and keep it balanced. This therefore allows the oil to hold true to its name, being an Autumn oil – its main purpose is to transition the skin between summer and winter. In saying that, this oil can be used whenever you like and I would say be suitable for most skin types. This facial oil (and all 5YINA facial oils) is packed full of unique ingredients that have been inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, the heart and soul of the 5YINA formulation (to find out more about the brand, read my interview with the founders Ervina and Angela here). Its ingredients are the following:
Camellia Oleifera (Camellia) Seed Oil*, 5YINA Proprietary Complex -{Camellia Oleifera (Camellia) Seed Oil*, Tremella Fruciformis, Centella Asiatica (Gota Kola), Morus Alba (Mulberry) Leaf, Polygonatum Officinale (Solomon’s Seal), Osmanthus Fragrans Flowers+, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice), Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flowers, Calendula Officinalis Flower, Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi), Lycium Barbarum (Goji Berries)}, Vitis Vinifera (Grapeseed) Oil*, Rosa Rubiginosa (Rosehip) Seed Oil*, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil*, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil*, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sea Buckthorn Oil*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil and Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract*, Cinnamomum Camphora (Ho Wood) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Var. Amara (Petitgrain sur Fleurs) Oil*, Osmanthus Fragrans Absolute, Santalum Spicatum (Sandalwood) Oil+.
*Organic Ingredient
+Wildcrafted
The Grace face oil uses a base of camellia oleifera seed oil which is a lightweight oil that has been used by Asian countries such as China and Japan for cooking and beauty purposes for centuries. It is highly regarded for its antioxidant and anti-aging qualities in these countries. Other key ingredients for this oil is the use of reishi mushrooms which is also rich in antioxidants and helps to promote immunity, vitality and regeneration of the skin as well as botanicals such as osmanthus, a flower that is rich in niancinamide (Vitamin B) and chrysanthemum another flower that helps to brighten the complexion.
I loved this oil for it’s calming, repairing, calming and protecting qualities. I felt that it really did help my skin to transition from different climates as it did not irritate the skin, instead it helped to nourish and allowed my skin to adjust to a completely different climate with ease.
This Grace Face Oil can be purchased from 5YINA at USD$145 for 30ml or USD$22 for 3ml (it lasts ages!). International orders currently can receive free standard shipping and a gift using the code GETDIVINE
W.ANT Skincare The Face Oil*
I spoke about this facial oil by W.ANT Skincare a while ago in a first impressions post and this oil has now been used up! I overall didn’t love this oil on my face (it had a heavier consistency to what I am used to) but I absolutely loved using this around my neck and jaw line, the areas in which my eczema flares up the most. This oil soothes and calms these areas right down and it heals the skin so incredibly well, nourishing it and keeping it smooth. Whilst I personally didn’t love the texture of this oil for my face, I think this oil is fantastic for those who have dry or mature skin as it really does hydrate, moisturise and keep the skin plump. It is also wonderful for sensitive skins as the ingredients listing for this oil is beautiful in its simplicity:
Kukui (aleurites moluccanus) oil**, rosehip (rosa mosqueta) oil**, baobab (adansonia digitata) oil**, tamanu (calophyllum inophyllum) oil** and vitamin E* (tocopherol).
As you can see the ingredients listing carries no essential oils making it suitable for the most sensitive skins. The kukui oil, rosehip seed oil, baobab and tamanu oil are full of essential fatty acids which help to strengthen the skin’s barrier function and also are rich in powerful antioxidants which help to protect the skin from ageing and free radical damage. Overall, I have found this oil to work wonders for when my skin gets really, really irritated and whilst I didn’t quite work for my actual face, I can see this benefitting many ladies with drier complexions, especially coming in to a cooler climate in the Northern hemisphere.
The W.ANT Skincare The Face Oil can be purchased from W.ANT for AUD$60, currently there is a promotion for free shipping with any The Face Oil purchase (this is not affiliated with me in anyway, I just noticed this on the website now!)
Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Seed Oil
I purchased this nearly 2 months ago to test to see how pure rosehip seed oil works with my skin but in light of having so many other wonderful face oils to try, I have been again using this in conjunction with the W.ANT Skincare Face Oil to keep my eczema at bay as this oil gives it that extra kick. I briefly outlined the benefits of rosehip seed oil and how I have been finding this oil in this post here so I will not go into too much detail.
I have overall found this a great, solid and extremely simple oil to use both on the face and the general body as it really does moisturise and nourish the skin. I recently purchased another (and cheaper) rosehip seed oil to just use on the body and there is a noticeable difference in quality of the Trilogy brand in comparison to the current one that I am using. The smell, texture and consistency of the Trilogy rosehip seed oil is far more superior. It keeps my skin hydrated all day and even by the evening my skin still does feel smooth and soft. If I were to repurchase just pure rosehip seed oil again, Trilogy would be my first choice.
Luxe Botanics Marula Pre-Cleanser*
The gorgeous Jene from Luxe Botanics contacted me a while ago to see if I would like to try her new range in the form of the Luxe Botanics Discovery Kit. This discovery kit contains all products from the Luxe Botanics line and is a sampler of what it to come (the full size range is not yet available). I have been playing around with all the products from the line and have finished both the Marula Pre-Cleanser and the Camu Brightening Cleanser. The Marula Pre-Cleanser works as a fantastic first cleanse to gently remove makeup from the skin. It removes most makeup off with ease and doesn’t sting the eye area, whilst still keeping the skin soft and hydrated as it helps to maintain the skin’s natural barrier function. The Marula Pre-Cleanser comes in oil form and feels quite light on the skin, it is very easy to work with and I don’t need to work too hard to remove my eye makeup (I wear liquid eyeliner). I really enjoyed using this cleanser and I do think I will purchase this when it is officially released as I do find it much gentler than my L’Occitane Cleansing Oil, as it doesn’t irritate my eyes in any way.
Ingredients:
Caprylic Triglycerides, Marula Kernal Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Blackcurrant Seed Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil, CO2 Extract, Red Grapefruit Essential Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, Tangerine Essential Oil, Lime Essential Oil.
Whilst none of the range can be purchased at this point in time, the Discovery Kits are still available at Luxe Botanics for AUD$39.99 and this kit feature the full Luxe Botanics line and is a great way to sample everything before it is all released!
Luxe Botanics Camu Brightening Cleanser*
The Luxe Botanics Camu Brightening Cleanser has a creamy like consistency that reminds me very much of the Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser. It works perfectly as a morning cleanser or a second cleanser in the evening due its lightweight creamy consistency that is easy to emulsify and wash off. It is also loaded with ingredients that are full of antioxidants such green tea extract as well as ingredients to help soothe the skin such as chamomile and rose. However, its namesake is brightening and this comes from the Camu Camu fruit extract that is formulated in this cleanser which not only provides the skin with a good dose of Vitamin C which in turn is supposed to brighten and make the skin glow. The ingredients are the following:
Purified Water, Camu Camu Fruit Extract, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Decly Glucoside, Sucrose Cocoate, Glyceryl Monostrearate, Camomile Extract, Cucucumber Fruit Extract, Japanese Green Tea Extract, Cocomide MPA, Cedar Wood Essential Oil, Myrrh Resin Extract, Palmarosa Essential Oil, German Chamomile Essential Oil, Rose Absolute, Patchouli Essential Oil, Neroli Essential Oil
I quite liked the feel and consistency of this cleanser as it was really refreshing and lovely to use in both the evening and in the morning. I loved the fact it was so quick and easy to use but also the fact my skin was left clean and hydrated after cleansing. This did not strip my skin of its oils in anyway and it did not irritate my skin. In terms of brightening, I didn’t quite notice a glow after using this but do keep in mind I only received a small sample of this which did not last me very long! I really did enjoy using this cleanser and would not mind purchasing this again when it becomes available.
Whilst none of the range can be purchased at this point in time, the Discovery Kits are still available at Luxe Botanics for AUD$39.99 and this kit feature the full Luxe Botanics line and is a great way to sample everything before it is all released!
Papa Recipe Bombee Honey Sheet Mask*
This mask was part of the latest Maslow & Co Beauty Box which takes its clients to South Korea and is one of the many sheet masks included in the box. I had heard about this brand through the lovely @aspens_skincare_adventures on Instagram as she really enjoyed using the Black Honey version and I was so excited to see this available in the current Maslow & Co Beauty Box. The first thing I noticed about this mask was the material the mask was made out of it is a more fibrous material which did catch me by surprise (like I have said before I am quite new to this sheet masking business). I normally use the bio-cellulose sheet masks which my favourite Leaders Insolution and 5YINA masks are made from, so the fibrous nature of this was quite new and different for me. This mask is however loaded with serum and felt extremely cooling and calming on the face once applied. The mask boasts the fact that it is made from honey and looking at the ingredients list, honey and propolis are indeed one of the first few ingredients of this mask.
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Honey Extract, Propolis Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, PVM/MA Copolymer, Trehalose, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Panthenol, Carbomer, Arginine, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Schizandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Acorus Gramineus Root/Stem Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Fragrance
Honey, as many of you know, is a fantastic humectant, antibacterial overall superstar when it comes to nourishing and calming the skin. I found that the fit of this mask was fantastic for my face and the calming and soothing sensation from the mask was extremely comforting to my skin. I didn’t mind the fibrous nature of the mask and I found that it did sit on the face quite well due to the fact it was so loaded with serum. The mask was quite hydrating and it most definitely nourished my skin as it felt so soft and smooth afterwards and this lasted for a few days. However, unlike the other masks I use, it doesn’t quite give me the same glow and radiance that I am used to. In saying that though, this mask is great for instant hydration and I would purchase it again, purely due to the affordable price point and availability in Australia. The fact that it is also quite calming would make it a fantastic option for the upcoming Australian summer heat as well. It is priced extremely well at AUD$3 per mask at Maslow & Co.
Bon Vivant Botanical Clarifying and Hydrating Rose Sheet Mask
The lovely Beauty Bemused was kind enough to go out of her way recently and purchase more of the Leader Insolution Coconut Gel Masks that I love and with my purchases she sent me this gorgeous rose sheet mask from Bon Vivant. I sort of wish she didn’t because I used this the other night and really enjoyed it. The Bon Vivant Botanical Clarifying and Hydrating Rose Sheet Mask is quite unique as the actual sheet of the mask is made from rose fibres which are extracted from 400 rose petals. It does have a slightly rough texture when comparing to a bio cellulose sheet mask, however this does feel incredibly comfortable on and the fit was excellent on my face. The mask is loaded with serum which is apparently also made from natural ingredients, however upon closer inspection this may just be a Korean marketing term:
Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Allantoin, Panthenol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer , Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tromethamine , Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Fragrance
I am impressed that the first ingredient of this sheet mask is rose water. It does also include other great active ingredients for the skin such as hyaluronic acid (retains moisture in the skin), allantoin (calms the skin) and panthenol (helps with the skin’s moisture barrier) and also contain birch sap which is another up and coming Korean skincare ingredient. What I do love about this mask is the fact that it not only leaves my skin hydrated, plump and soft but it also reduced any redness and gives me a subtle glow. It also feels so comfortable on – almost like a second skin and I can’t get over how well this just sat and fits my face. It hands down is one of the best fits I have ever had with a sheet mask. I love the fact that this mask is a little different in terms of how it is made (the rose petals is quite interesting) and its this point of difference and the great fit that has got me looking for an international supplier so I can get my hands on more. Currently this is available on Memebox for USD$3.
Have you tried any of the above items before? What did you think of them? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below! Happy Halloween Weekend everyone!
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