SPOTLIGHT: December Empties+ Giveaway!...

Most products I finished last month were terrific - a couple of meh ones, but overall I'm very happy with these choices, and the majority of them have earned a place in my regular stash. As usual, there's a giveaway at the end, so off we go...

Body

Dermaveen Soap-Free Wash (500ml, RRP $16.99)

Reviewed HERE, this is SO good for solving winter dry skin woes ♥...

Repurchase?

Yes indeedy ♥...

Dermaveen Shower & Bath Oil (500ml, RRP $16.99)

Reviewed HERE, this is a can't-live-without! Two squirts of this will transform any body wash on your shelf into a hydrating wonder. LOVE it! ♥...

Repurchase?

You betcha ♥...

Essano Rosehip Repairing Body Wash - Jasmine & Fig (445ml, RRP $9.99)

Unlike the Frangipani & Paw Paw variety I covered in the November Empties article, I had no issues with this pump - I reckon the other one was just a bad egg on the production line so I won't hold it against Essano lol. My favourite scent of the two ♥...

Repurchase?

Absolutely ♥...

Thankyou Milk Body Wash - Botanical Lemon Myrtle & Goat's Milk (500ml, RRP $8)

If you enjoy lemon myrtle fragrance, then hot tail it to your local supermarket and grab this beauty - absolutely adore it! SO refreshing and SO hydrating, I haven't been this excited about a shower milk in a while. I really enjoyed their Geranium & Rosewood Body Wash (review HERE), but this one is totally my kind of thing all year round, but especially in the hot weather when I go for tangy crisp scents ♥...

Repurchase?

Forever ♥...

Face

Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub (140g, RRP $13.99)

Full review HERE ♥...

Repurchase?

I have quite a few new ones on the shelf to try, and if none of them ring my bells, I'll be buying this one again ♥...

Beauty by Nicholas Eye Alchemy (15ml, RRP $49.99)

This was in the beautyheaven 10th Birthday swag bag - I won't give away too much here as I'll be doing a dedicated post on this product very soon, but let's just say it's my new HG eye cream ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

I've already bought two more bottles, sigh ♥♥♥...

botanicES Face Creme (50ml, RRP $45)

Numerous raves about this cream (and the range in general) on my blog (main one HERE), it's the only face cream I buy over and over again. Perfection for the warmer months when my skin doesn't need an over-enriched moisturiser, but still needs to be hydrated and cared for ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Always ♥♥♥...

Harvest Garden Pink Grapefruit & Passionflower Lip Balm (5gm, RRP $6)

I'm crazy in love with their soaps, and this lip balm is just as wonderful. All natural ingredients - Sweet Almond Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Beeswax, Vitamin E and Essential Oils. It's softer and squishier than other brands, but that's what I love about it. Gonna try the Orange, Ginger & Turmeric one next ♥...

Repurchase?

Undoubtedly - promised myself I'd finish at least one more lip balm before I bought another, but this is top of my list ♥...

Innoxa Hydrating Micellar Cleansing Water (300ml, RRP $16.95)

Excellent performer, this cleanses thoroughly and has plenty of slip so the cotton pad never drags over the skin. Not so keen on the florally fragrance - it's pleasant enough, but I'd rather no fragrance at all, or something a wee bit more on the herbal side. Love that it's not tested on animals, safe for sensitive complexions, and the skinny tall bottle takes up little space on my bench ♥...

Repurchase?

Already have, but I probably shouldn't have as there's at least 5 more in the cupboard that I haven't even road tested yet - might be time to resurrect my Micellar Magic series! ♥...

L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Cream (50ml, RRP $87)

Magnificent cream that smells divine, and makes my skin feel so soft, supple and nourished. Some high priced skin care can be disappointing, but not this. I used to lust after La Mer and La Prairie, but after trying both of them, I found the formulations were too intense for my skin and I ended up with massively clogged pores, whereas the L'Occitane ranges are perfectly balanced for my combo face ♥...

Repurchase?

I'd love to but I doubt it - I reckon I can get similar results from something less expensive, but if I wanted to give myself a luxe treat, either this or the Immortelle Divine one would be it! ♥...

Nutrimetics Restore Anti-Ageing Extreme Serum with Grape Stem Cell Technology (30ml, RRP $75)

Bought this on special - I would have been a tad disappointed if I'd paid full price. It's a lovely serum, but no better than products with half the price tag. I'm a long-time Nutrimetics fan - all their stuff looks and smells divine, but the performance of this serum was a little average. It hydrated my skin beautifully, but I was hoping for a visible improvement either in firmness or wrinkle reduction. Mind you I've since used another of their serums that was fabulous, and that mini-review will be in my January empties post ♥...

Repurchase?

No...

Yes to Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub (113g, RRP $14.99)

Reviewed HERE ♥...
Repurchase?

Yes, but not for a while as I have a stash to clear ♥...

Face Masks

Skin Republic Gold Hydrogel Mask (25g, RRP $12.99)

I've waxed lyrical about this mask many many times ♥...
Repurchase?

Silly question ♥...

Facial Fresh GreenTea Cloth Facial Treatment Mask (RRP $8.95)

Not the most perfect fit, but a relaxing experience all the same. Calming & refreshing, these masks are only available in Australia from Bellabox. Couldn't smell any green tea, but who cares hey...

Repurchase?

Perhaps - the cloth mask market is expanding at a great rate of knots, already way too many choices lol...

Skin Physics Advance Superlift 3D Deep Hydration Lifting Mask (box of 3, RRP $59)

This is a wonderful formula, but the fit is very poor across forehead and nose, and while the neck flaps are a BRILLIANT innovation, they just flop around and don't stay stuck to the skin, so the design needs refinement. I do love how this makes my skin look and feel, but the annoyance at getting the darn thing to sit properly on my face counteracts the relaxation factor - boo!...

Repurchase?

These work out to be $20 each - for that price they need to be perfect, so no...

Purederm Botanical Choice Ginkgo Eye Puffiness Minimizing Patches (2 pairs, RRP $3)

Raved about these last month and I'm still raving - definitely one of my greatest finds last year, these are the go for reducing under-eye puffiness. I wear them to bed and they're still on the next morning! ♥...

Repurchase?

I have no less than 10 packs stashed away - YES! ♥...

Hair

Goldwell Kerasilk Color Shampoo (250ml, RRP $34.95)

Picked this up for free from beautyheaven's beautorium ♥ - it's just as brilliant at taming frizzies as the control one, just especially formulated for coloured hair ♥...

Repurchase?

Now that I'm not into bold bright hair colours, I'll stick with the Control version to maintain my Kerasilk treatment, but if I ever go red again, this would be a sure bet ♥...

Giveaway!

I've picked three faves from this month to giveaway to one of you lovelies ♥...

• 3 packs of Purederm Botanical Choice Ginkgo Eye Puffiness Minimizing Patches (6 pairs)
• 1 x Innoxa Hydrating Micellar Cleansing Water
• 1 x 50ml botanicES Face Creme

All products were purchased by me, the total value is approximately $70, and because of the liquid content, this giveaway is open to...

Australian Residents Only

Here's how to enter...

1. Leave a blog post comment on this page that answers the question inside the Rafflecopter (please note: if you don't leave a comment, you won't be included in the draw!)
2. Leave your email address inside the Rafflecopter so I can contact you if you win
3. Follow my blog one way or another from the many choices listed
4. Only one entry per person, please read the T's & C's inside the Rafflecopter

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This giveaway is now closed - check back later tonight to see who won!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Woo hoo! - random.org has chosen the beautiful Anna M. as the winner.  

Congratulations gorgeous! 

Anna please respond to the email I've sent you by

Wednesday 31st January to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Anna has claimed her prize ♥

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Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you,
kats xxx