September 2019 Empties & Giveaway!...

At the risk of boring you, yep - two Empties posts in the same month! Thank goodness I was able to fit this second one in well before the end of October. I'm in a life phase where I just can't seem to manage more than one upload per week, but the wonderful feedback I receive from you folks on these mini product reviews is so encouraging, I no longer have any guilt about the frequency of my writing. Mind you, in this particular article there are so many regulars, it hasn't taken all that long to put it all together, which means I'm already working on the next one lol ♥...

Body

Glow Lab Coconut & Sandalwood Body Wash (400ml, RRP $9)

I'm crushing on this brand big time - these body washes are beautifully scented, and they give my bod a good dose of Betaine, Pro-Vitamin B5, Vitamin E & Argan Oil. Nicely hydrating, this and the Blackberry & Bay one make my shower experience even more pleasurable. The sandalwood fragrance is more pronounced than the coconut, but that suits me just fine. Not tested on animals, no sulphates, no parabens and available from Woolworths ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Absolutely ♥♥♥...

Regulars

Grahams Herbal Mineral Deodorant Roll-on (65ml, RRP $8.95)

Oral-B 3D White Luxe Glamorous White Toothpaste (96g, RRP $9.49)

Reach Dentotape (20m, RRP $2.99)

SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Hydrating Body Wash (384ml, RRP $24.95)

Thankyou Botanical Lemon Myrtle & Goat's Milk Body Wash - (500ml, $7.99)

White Glo Charcoal Deep Stain Remover Whitening Mouthwash (500ml, RRP $6.99)

Face

Ecopure Bath Bamboo Fibre Face Cloths (pack of 2, RRP $12.99)

This pack finally appeared on the Priceline website, which is rapidly becoming the only way I shop with them - the local store so rarely has what I want in stock so I don't even bother going in any more, and they even admitted they don't sell any face washer other than the Halo. But I digress - these are my numero uno face cloths, so soft and gentle on my skin, yet they take all the gooped-up cleanser off, and with it all my trowelled-on makeup. They rinse out in seconds, the size is just right and they dry in a few hours ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Always ♥♥♥...

L'Oreal Micellar Water - Normal/Combination Skin (400ml, RRP $14.95)

I enjoyed using this and it worked brilliantly as my second cleanser - plenty of slip so the cotton pad didn't drag or break up, and removed whatever skerricks of gunk I'd missed with my cleanser, mainly around the hairline. It's been on my shelf for over a year, along with a few others remaining from my Micellar investigations. A wee bit more expensive, but they do claim that the water they use is 95% purified, so I guess that adds a premium ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Maybe - my fave is still the Biore Charcoal one, I just adore the scent of it ♥♥♥...

MAC Prep + Prime Skin (30ml, RRP $50)

What a treat to find a sample tube of this in last year's Myer Little Box of Beauty (fingers crossed they have another one this year). I've never been into MAC products - have tried and loved a few, but not this one, which gets raved about to this very day. And yes, it's a lovely primer, but is it any better than my DB Pore Minimising Primer that costs $15? Not for me - doesn't extend the life of my makeup any further, and the finish wasn't anywhere near as spectacular as I'd hoped. It's a beaut product, but I honestly can't see what all the gushing is about ♥...

Repurchase?

Naaah, I'll stick with my usual ♥...

Nutrimetics Ultra Care+ Platinum Tight Firm & Fill Eye Serum (10ml, RRP $66)

I'm a bit on the fence with this one. The matching face serum is UNBELIEVABLY effective however at $100+, it's a little out of my league. But I picked up this eye serum on special and was hoping for the same level of improvement to my old eyes, but it didn't quite happen. Being of advanced years, perhaps I need to use several tubes to see more obvious results. Sure it hydrates and firms, and has an interesting triple rollerball applicator that massages the serum into the skin, but I reckon the Olay Eyes delivers more noticeable improvements ♥...

Repurchase?

I think not ♥...

Trilogy Rosapene Radiance Serum (30ml, RRP $42.95)

I scored two bottles of this divine smelling serum back in the good old days when the Priceline Pink Diamond Quarterly Rewards included full-sized products, and you could choose which ones you wanted. I've not tried much from the Trilogy range but I'm quite impressed with this serum. Exceptionally hydrating, it absorbs well and really does give my skin a healthy-looking glow from within (pardon the advertising lingo), plus it had quite an obvious refining effect on the texture of my complexion - a truly lovely serum ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

I would say yes, except that I've fallen love with the L'Occitane Immortelle Reset Serum that I treated myself to with my tax refund, I doubt I can keep buying it though as it's quite pricey, so the Rosapene will be a great alternative ♥♥♥...

Regulars

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Make-up Remover (112ml, RRP $10.89) 

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Anti-Ageing Moisturiser with Accelerated Retinol SA & SPF 15 (29ml, RRP $39.99)

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream (14ml, RRP $34.99)
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream with Accelerated Retinol SA (48g, RRP $48.99) 

Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence (40ml, RRP $39.99) 

Swisspers Make-up Pads (Pack of 80, RRP $3.79)

Face Masks

Skin Republic Wild Purifying Charcoal + Green Tea Panda Face Mask Sheet (RRP $7.99)

Darn it, I've not been making the time every week for my regular Selfcare Sunday sheet mask treat for months now, but I did manage a couple in September. This one was strictly for fun - it's quite impractical as the ears are soaked in serum and they stuck to my hair so it was a bit on the messy side. Nicely hydrated skin afterwards, but it didn't fit my face properly, and it's all a bit too gimmicky for me ♥...

Repurchase?

No - the Garnier one below is more effective, and a lot less trouble ♥...

Regulars

Garnier SkinActive Pure Charcoal Tissue Mask with Black Algae (RRP $4.99)

Skin Physics Instant Lift V-Shape Vitality Mask (RRP $14.99)

Skin Republic Retinol Hydrogel Under Eye Patch (3 pairs, RRP $9.99)

Fragrance

Ecoya Apricot & Tonka Bean Reed Diffuser LE (200ml, RRP $37.46)

Oh oh oh. You know that feeling when you find THE product that is precisely what you're looking for and meets, even exceeds your performance expectations? Well, this Ecoya Reed Diffuser is THE ONE for moi. Mind you it is a Limited Edition, so I've just bought three of them from DJ's so I can continue to experience the bliss that is this room fragrancer for many months to come. It's the most beautiful fruity fresh but also soft and cosy apricot, papaya and mango scent with an undercurrent of tonka bean. It calms me every time I walk into the room and take a long slow breath. I've tried SO MANY reed diffusers over the years, but nothing beats the way this particular one permeates the entire room without overwhelming it. Absolute perfection! ♥♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Ridiculous question! ♥♥♥♥...

Hair

Provoke Touch of Silver Toning Treatment Mask (200ml, RRP $12.95)
This works well to neutralise brassiness, and it does add ashy tones when left on for 10 minutes or so. It also conditions nicely, but like a lot of these drugstore products for blondes, the smell is pretty bad. I used it up to not throw it away, but the Goldwell Color Revive is far superior, and the one I will be using going forward ♥...
Repurchase?
Negative ♥...

Salon Professional Supplies Pro-Colour - Violet Toner (100ml, RRP $14.95)
Ok so I mentioned in my last Empties post that I'd changed my home hair colouring process, and this product is a key element in the strategy. I decided to go grey and stop using permanent colourants the last time I had my Kerasilk treatment in September - a side effect of the treatment is that a whole lot of (home) dye is removed during the process without damaging the hair follicle. So there I was, a very pale slightly strawberry blonde and I thought the hell with trying to cover up white roots every two weeks, plus my brain must be so loaded with chemicals that have seeped in through my scalp over the years ha ha. AND, you can't buy permanent grey hair colour in stores - you can only have it done at a salon. So I decided to get rid of as much of the leftover gold as possible (ultimately getting back to my natural white), and then only use semi-permanents, like the Live Colour ones below.  This Violet Toner is simply the best - I had to apply it a few times mixed with 30 Vol peroxide, but my hair has been pretty much neutralised now, so I should only have to use it sparingly going forward, if at all, and paired with the weakest peroxide solution ♥♥♥...
Repurchase?
Yes, I have a tube squirrelled away for when the yellow returns ♥♥♥...

Schwarzkopf Live Colour Pastels - Cool Grey & Metallic - Lilac Chrome (RRP $5.49)
My new hair colourants! The Cool Grey has a slightly greenish tinge when applied over hair with even a tinge of gold, so I've been balancing it out with the Lilac Chrome. I mix the two together in a bowl and leave it on for 45 minutes - the result is a gorgeously intense gunmetal grey that fades to an equally gorgeous steel grey after a few weeks. The beauty of this new system is that even though my roots are white, they blend in far more naturally with the grey. I'm as happy as a clam ♥♥♥...
Repurchase?
I have about 10 packs of each under the bathroom sink, all purchased on special ♥♥♥...

Regulars

Goldwell Kerasilk Control Conditioner (250ml, RRP $34.95)
Schwarzkopf OSIS+ Sparkler Shine Spray (300ml, RRP $27.95)

Makeup

Regulars

Australis HD Translucent Loose Setting Powder (RRP $15.95)
Eye of Horus Serpentine Sultry Goddess Pencil (1.2g, RRP $30)

Giveaway

Up for grabs are some of my beloveds...

• Ecopure Bath Bamboo Fibre Face Cloths
• Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream
• Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum with Accelerated Retinol SA
• Schwarzkopf OSIS+ Sparkler Shine Spray

All items were purchased by me and the approximate value is $115.  The 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 on this page, you won't be included in the draw!) If you're unable to leave a comment for technical reasons, please email your answer to katshepsutt(at)gmail.com and I'll post it for you. But you will still have to enter the comp via the Rafflecopter.
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 find out who won!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Woo hoo! - random.org has chosen the beautiful Lauren A. as the winner.  

Congratulations gorgeous! 

Lauren, please respond to the email I've sent you by midnight

Wednesday 30th October to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Lauren has claimed her prize ♥

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Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you,

kats xxx