Current Empties #9

The Perfect Neutral Eyeshadow

Makeup most beautiful in the world

It's empties time... I have a good mixture of skincare, body, hair and makeup (I know... shocking) to share with you today so let's jump right in.

I'll start with makeup since I haven't had much makeup empties for the past few months. YSL Youth Liberator Serum Foundation. You guys know how much I love this baby. It is hands down the best high-end foundation I've ever used and let's just leave it like that. 

Laura Geller Baked Impressions Eye Palette in Espresso Yourself. This comes in the coffee collection where all products have coffee imprint on them that are actually very cute but I believe the set is limited edition. This eyeshadow trio is completely matte and all 3 shadows are different toned warm neutral browns which are so useable and great for everyday makeup look. I used most of it but then my daughter decided to drop it on the floor. Sigh... Just so you know, these shadows started as creams then baked under terracotta pan for 24 hours in Italy and that's why they are so buttery soft, pigmented and blend like a dream. I highly recommend Laura Geller shadows. 

Klorane Dry Shampoo with oat milk for brown to dark hair. I purchased the travel size because I don't  know if I would like it. It does absorb the greasiness of my hair but it doesn't give much volume. It is an ok product, definitely not something I would repurchase because of the price and the fact that it contains parabens. 

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel. If you are a fan of oil based cleansers you need this in your life. It cleanses really well although I wouldn't use it as a makeup remover, definitely a second cleanse type of product. It has some sort of exfoliating ingredients which are very gentle yet effective for everyday use. Love Oskia as a brand and will repurchase it at some point, the only down side I would say is that it doesn't last as long, 3 months use and that's it unlike my Emma Hardie one which normally lasts around 6 months. 

Bioderma Gentle Shower Gel. If you have been following me for a while now you know that I don't talk about shower gels or shampoos in my empties very often unless they are out-of-this-world amazing, and this one definitely qualifies for that. My body is sensitive, it gets itchy very easily and sometimes I would even get little red spots on my legs which are very annoying and this shower gel is great for toning down the itchiness I have and very gentle for everyday use. It's not the cheapest out there but I will be stocking up when it is on sale at my local pharmacy. 

The last 2 empties are from my memebox. Dermahouse Collagen Firming Cream which is surprisingly good considering the poor packaging. It's very thick and moisturising without being sticky, good for winter months. Lightly scented which I appreciate. I've finished it all up and that says it all. 

This Collagen Ampoule 200 is an intensive collagen serum that you use before moisturiser. I featured this in my January Favourites but basically it is very watery in consistency, and once on the face it becomes sticky as all collagen products do, but the tackiness goes away after a minute. It is definitely an extra step in my daily skincare routine but a good collagen booster is by all means appreciated if you are in your 30s like I am. Won't repurchase as it does take a long time to get to me but it is a pretty darn good product if you can get your hands on. 

There you have it, hope you have enjoyed my empties. A massive thank you to those of you who consistently support Elaine's beauty reviews, and I am proud to say that my blog is one year old today!!! Hooray!!!! I hope you like the new layout and if you have any questions please feel free to contact me either on the comments below or via twitter/instagram @eflicciardello. Thank you again for all the support and I'll see you on Friday as usual. Muahh!

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Current Empties #8

It's been a skincare kinda month if you ask me, sorry guys, no makeup empties, I just don't go through makeup that quickly as I do have loads of them and I tend to rotate my makeup depends on what I feel. Anyway I have finished up 5 skincare products in the month of January so if skincare is your cup of tea then keep on reading! 

First up it's the Midnight Recovery Concentrate by Kiehl's and it will definitely be a re-purchase if you ask me because it is that awesome. It smells lovely, it hydrates, it just makes my skin look good and it lasts absolutely ages. This little bottle lasted me a year, can't recommend enough! 

I started using eye cream since I was 18 and I have tried literally all kinda of different eye creams on the market, and there are few that I actually like and this Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream is one of them. It is light yet hydrating, I would say it's more of a summer eye cream because of the light texture. It works for me in the winter though because the winter here in Sicily is not even that cold but if you live in cold cold climates then I wouldn't recommend this one, a thicker eye cream is probably what you need! I don't know about the anti-wrinkle part but I do like how it feels and I think if you keep on using it you'll see the difference as far as fine lines and wrinkles. This little tube lasted me over 6 months I should say so it's definitely worth the money. 

I finally used up my Calendula Hydrating & Toning Mask by John Masters Organics. This is a little 50ml bottle and it lasted me almost a year. A little goes a long way and it is like the name suggested, very hydrating plus I really like the fact that it is super duper soothing and calming for my skin, and it is 100% organic. I have no complains. 

Now you may have seen this DRAN Wonder Serum if you have seen my last Memebox unboxing post. I used all of it and really enjoyed it. It is so light and as you rub it in it almost turns into a water consistency and it does feel hydrating on my skin, no stickiness and smells rather pleasant. It apparently has 7 different plant extracts plus snail mucin which is very interesting. I have never tried anything with snail in it but this is a good little surprise and I don't mind trying more products with snail mucin from now on. 

Last but certainly not least is the Repair Hand Cream by Bioderma, and it is lovely. It has a gel-cream texture but when you rub it in, it turns into an oil if you will which I have never seen anything like it before. I mean it's not an actual oil, oil, it feels like an oil I guess that's what I'm trying to say. It is so moisturising, smells pleasant, a must-have in the winter for sure. Will definitely re-purchase! 

There you have it guys. Those are my empties for the past month, and I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please follow my blog for more exciting posts I planned in the future and if you have any questions or any products you want me to review feel free to tweet or instagram me @eflicciardello. Thank you and until next time... XOXO

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Current Empties #7

Happy new year beauties!!! I hope you are having the best time with your loved ones wherever you are and whatever you might be doing! Anyhoo it's that time of the month again when I show you my beauty empties and you know how I roll: I don't talk about the "boring" stuff like shampoos or shower gels etc. unless they are out-of-this-world amazing! But that being said, I wanna give you a little heads up on this Batist Dry Shampoo, now I don't know if this is the Italian version of the famous Batiste Dry Shampoo or it's just a coincidence that both names are spelled similar, but either way this is not a good dry shampoo as it dispenses too much powder on the hair and makes my hair looks white which is not a good look as we all know so will not repurchase that's for sure. So if you live in Italy and see this in stores don't buy it just FYI unless you like extremely powdery dry shampoos then be my guest. 

Moving on is the best nail polish remover in my opinion and it's by Dior because it removes polishes with no effort even with glittery ones, so highly recommend if you are looking for an high-end nail polish remover. I will definitely be repurchasing this one when my local Sephora has 20% off as it is pretty pricy considering you only get a small bottle (50ml). 

I have finished a couple of face masks, and one is the Signature Mineral Mask by MV Organic Skincare. This stuff really lasts. I think I've had this for more than a year. It is definitely a good natural mud mask because the only ingredient is sun dried French Clay which is very beneficial to the skin. I like the fact that it is very soothing unlike other mud masks which can be quite stripping-the-skin. I probably won't repurchase because I have other mud masks still and you know me I like to try out different products but trust me this is a good one especially for someone who has dry or sensitive skin because it is gentle and non-drying. 

The Korres Wild Rose Instant Brightening Mask is another favourite of mine but sadly it is finished but you know what guys, this one is very affordable and I can see myself repurchasing over and over again so it's all good. It does what it says on the tin which is brightening, and I do notice my face is brighter afterwards plus it smells like roses. Ahhh.... Well it's not the most subtle scent I have to admit but it is pretty delightful. A must have for dull skin I would say!

Next up is my beloved Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Facial... Ohh boy where do I begin. I love this stuff. I love everything about it except the price and the fact that it only comes in a small bottle of 15ml. Well it did last me roughly 4 months so I guess it's not too bad. I've already got a back-up so it's all good. But please guys click the link above for full deets because this stuff is ahh-mazing. It will make your skin glow, look healthy and youthful. Love love love!

Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm. Do I need go on?! This is my HG cleanser, I've talked about in so many of my blogposts, so I don't wanna bore you again, let's just say this will forever be in my skincare routine. Hands down one of the best balm cleansers in the beauty market today, and it's for all skin types. 

Last empty is this Caudalie Polyphenol C15 moisturiser with SPF 20. If you are looking for a face cream that is light but hydrating and can be used as a face primer as well then I say give this a try. This works so well under foundations because of the velvety texture plus you get a SPF 20 so this is definitely a moisturiser, primer and sunscreen all in one. Good stuff!

There you have it guys. Those are my empties, and I hope you have enjoyed my very first blogpost in the year of 2015. Again happy new year and please follow my blog so that you don't miss out on anything because I have some awesome blogposts planned ahead. Thank you so much beauties and see you soon! Muahh!!

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Current Empties

New Makeup New Look 

Hello beauties, time for another Empties... I have finished a lot of skincare items for the month of November, only one thing for hair and one thing for body. Unfortunately there are no makeup items because I just don't go through makeup that much as I have a bad habit of opening new things before I even go through the old ones. That's actually gonna be one of my New Year's resolutions: finish up current makeup before opening new ones. Yea right... Good luck with that Elaine! 

1. Bioderma Cleansing Water

We all know what this is and we all love it so I'm not gonna go into details. It just takes off all my makeup (apart from waterproof mascaras) plus it is ultra gentle. I honestly lost count on how many bottles of this I have gone through. This is hands down the best makeup remover I have ever tried, and it is always gonna be in my skincare routine. 

2. GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment

This mask is a miracle worker. It makes my skin looking so healthy and radiant. It just wipes away all of my little red spots and really gets into my pores and deep cleanses all the gunk out. Hands down, the best mud mask I've ever tried. The Youthmud is also a great one juts FYI.

3. Clinique Take the day off Cleansing Balm

This is actually in one of my disappointing products blogposts and the reason why I wasn't so keen on  it is because it doesn't feel as lush as my other balm cleansers like Emma Hardie for example. That might sound a little strange to some but I like my balm cleansers to smell good so that I can really feel relaxed and be lost in the divine smell. It does get the job done don't get me wrong. It really takes off all makeup including waterproof ones but it just lacks of that spa like scent that I love. Will not repurchase!

4. Lush Bubble Gum Lip Scrub

I have never tried any other lip scrubs from other brands. Well there is no need really because all the lip scrubs from Lush are simply amazing. I have tried the Popcorn one, the Chocolate one and obviously this Bubble gum one. They are all amazing and get the job done nicely plus they smell and taste incredible. Will always repurchase! 

5. L'Oreal Revita Lift Laser 3 Serum

I have done a blogpost for Student Fashion a while back about this serum and honestly it is a pretty good one if you are looking for a drug store anti-aging serum. It has a nice thin texture which absorbs instantly, and it has some gorgeous golden shimmers that just really brighten up the whole complexion. It is a good morning serum because of the glow it gives. It also makes a great face primer because of the velvet texture. So if you are on the hunt for an affordable glowey anti-aging serum then give this a go. 

6. Boscians 5th Edition Cycle Repair Whitening Spot 

This is actually from one of my Memeboxes. I think the word "whitening" means brightening because I can't imagine someone would actually wanna look "white". I mean we spend loads money on tanning products, so who would wanna look pale and white right?! It is what I call a "complete-waste-of-money" product because it does nothing of what it claims. It smells nice and has a lovely thin, non sticky texture and that's about it. It does not brighten nor has "anti-aging" benefit to the skin. Never again, thank you very much! 

7. abelle Hair Professional So Hot-Burning Concentrated Ampoule

Again I got this from one of my Memeboxes and it is an very interesting hair serum. It claims to "heat up" by itself once it's on the hair, and apparently the warmness is good for treating damaged hair. Well It doesn't heat up on my hair I can assure you that but it does burn my face, so be careful not to get any on the face. I actually really like it despite of that face-burning sensation because it makes my hair feel so soft and smooth and it doesn't leave any, I repeat any residue when I rinse, and that is the main reason why I like it so much. I feel most hair conditioners or masks leave the slippery residue no matter how long I rinse. The down side is that the bottle is too small (20ml) which I can only get 3 uses out of it and I have medium length hair. I don't know if I would repurchase but I do like it. 

8. L'ebolario Méharées Cream Deodorant 

I've never talked about this on my blog because it would be unfair to those of you who don't live in Italy. It is a cream deodorant and is simply the best I've ever tried. It is natural and smells agh-amzing! This deodorant has a lovely velvet texture and really does stop me from sweating. I mean I still sweat in the summer because here in sicily is just wayyy too hot, but it does make my sweaty armpits smell nicer (too much info? Sorry). Try some guys, not necessarily this one, I just think cream deodorants work better than those stick ones. 

That's it, those are my empties for the month of November. I hope this is somewhat helpful and don't forget to follow my blog so that you don't miss out on anything in the future. Thank you for supporting and see you on Friday! xoxo

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Current Empties empties makeup

Hello beauties, time for another empties...

 If you are fancy seeing my previous empties blogposts just type to search "empties" on the searching engine on this page. 

Now I have a good combo of makeup and skincare empties to show you this month. If you have seen my previous empties you'll know that I don't talk about the "boring" stuff like shampoos, shower gels, body butters etc. unless they are out-of-this-world amazing. So Let's just crack on...

Now I have a good combo of makeup and skincare empties to show you this month. If you have seen my previous empties you'll know that I don't talk about the "boring" stuff like shampoos, shower gels, body butters etc. unless they are out-of-this-world amazing. So Let's just crack on...

First up is my beloved Mineral Veil Primer by Hourglass. I love this so much. It is natural and doesn't feel as silicony as some other primers I've tried in the past. It mattes down the skin but not flat looking, very neat. Definitely will repurchase when I finish other primers. Highly highly recommend. 

Next up is this Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil. I got the miniature one and it lasted me about 4 months. Absolutely amazing in terms of great value for money. It hydrates well and feels very nourishing on my skin. Will not purchase again just because I feel there are a lot more nourishing face oils out there and this one is nothing special plus I prefer my facial oils smell good and this one is scentless, but don't get me wrong this is a great face oil if you have dry skin.             

I'ved used up my Lancome Hypnose Mascara and I feel pretty amazed because I never use up mascaras because I don't use them on a daily basis. This is a pretty good mascara like all Lancome mascaras. Lancome definitely knows what they are doing when it comes to mascaras. I have tried a lot of their mascaras and they never disappoint me. It has a pretty normal brush but I like the fact that it is slim so that I can get every single lash of mine. It lengthens, separates and it does give me a little volume as well. The only issue I have is that it doesn't hold the curl at all and I do need to apply at least 2 coats to get my lashes thicker looking. I will not repurchase because I have found other mascaras that are better in terms of holding my curls. If you wanna know what mascara has been rocking my world lately click . 

 

Moving on to a skincare item... It is the Gentle Peeling Cream by Clarins. This stuff lasted me ages and I finally used it up. It is a greenish grey coloured cream that you apply on cleansed face and wait till it dries and then gently massage in circular motions to remove dead skin cells. It is basically an exfoliator that you supposed to use once or twice a week. I like this a lot because it is very effective and great for someone who has sensitive skin that cannot tolerant harsh beads based exfoliators. I will probably not purchase it again just because I started using chemical exfoliators but if you are someone who wants to see fast result but without using the harsh beads exfoliators then this is the one to go for.  

I used up another MAC's Brush Cleanser and this is something that I will always repurchase and it is definitely a staple in my beauty stash. I cannot see myself live without this bottle. It is very, I repeat, very effective as far as spot-cleaning makeup brushes. A little bit on a kitchen towel and swirl your brushes a few times then done... Great for makeup artist also someone, and by someone I meant me, who are lazy to wash brushes with soap based cleaners. 

Last but not least is this Thermal Water by Avene. I, to be complete honest with you, are not a fan of these thermal waters, doesn't matter which brand it is, I just don't think they are live up to the hype. They are very refreshing to use in the summer but that's about it. I don't find it hydrating, in fact my skin feels tighter every time I use this. I don't think it actually sets my makeup nor taking down any redness that I have. I will not repurchase this one or any other thermal waters out there. Not for me! If you are someone who really digs the refreshes this gives then go ahead but isn't it much cheaper just to use water or you can actually DIY rose water and keep it in the fridge to refresh your skin in the summer, but that's just me! By the way if you are interested in knowing how to make fresh Rose Water then Let me know in the comment below. 

That's it guys! I hope you have enjoyed this month's empties and don't forget to follow my blog as well as Twitter/Instagram @eflicciardello for daily updates. Have a good one and see you in 2 days! Muahh!

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Current Empties #4

Weekend! Yes! Hi guys! Sorry I got a little excited there because I just feel like this week has been the longest week ever and I couldn't be happier that weekend is here. Anyways enough about that let's talk about some products that I have used up for the past month and how I think of them. Let's do this! 

1. Lancôme Lip Pencil in Rose Thè. As you can see here I don't have much left. I can't even hold it in my hand anymore so this has got to go. 

If you have been following me on Instagram or my  then you'll know that I'm not a lip liner kinda gal but this one is just so lovely. I wear this all the time which says a lot. There's just something about it. It makes my lips look fuller. It's creamy and very long lasting. It's a dusty rose colour, one of those your-lips-but-better kinda shade really goes with a lot of neutral lipsticks. Highly highly recommend! 

2. Pixi Glow Tonic. I think I can save my breath on this one because everybody and their dog use this product, and I have featured this toner in a lot of my previous posts as well so go check them out if you fancy. It's the best selling product from Pixi and it's always out of stock. If you have never tried any exfoliating toner before then I suggest to give this a try because it is very gentle and you'll wake up with a glowing, eventoned and plumped skin like you wouldn't believe. GET YOUR HANDS ON IT!

3. Yes!Nurse Hand Cream. There's nothing much to say apart from it is a natural, hydrating, non greasy, affordable hand cream that I think everybody should have it. What else do you want from a hand cream right?! Click  for the full deets. 

4. Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Lotion SPF 30 for face and body. If you are looking for a water resistant and high protection sunscreen that can be used for both face and body then this is the one for you. It really protects because I never burn with this. The only down side is that nasty looking white cast it gives. I won't repurchase just because the unattractive white cast but if it's not an issue for you then go for it. 

5. Testanera Palette Dry Shampoo. If you have seen my last 3 empties blogposts then you'll know this is a HG hair product for me. It gives enough powder to absorb the greasiness from my hair making it look fresh and clean. It smells lovely and it's affordable. I will always repurchase this product ALTHOUGH I think I just found a BETTER one which I will let you know very soon, but that being said this is truly a lovely dry shampoo that I think everyone would love it. 

That's it guys. Those are my current empties. I hope you have enjoyed it and please let me know how you think of it. As always follow me on twitter and Instagram @eflicciardello for daily updates and follow my blog for blogpost reminders. Until next time! Muahh! 

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My Empties #3

Hey guy, time for my current empties. Now when it comes to empties blogposts I don't like to show things like shampoos and body washes etc. cuz that's just boring. Today I'm going to show you a mixture of skincare and makeup empty items so hope you like it. 

First up it's my beloved Oskia Perfect Cleanser. Now I'm not gonna bore you with this again because I have talked about this cleanser so many times. I think you can tell how much I love it, that's right, I cut this into 3 pieces to scoop out the last bit! Let's just say that I would be repurchasing this. If you are new to my blog then click the link above for detailed info on this lovely cleanser. 

Moving on... This product I never really talked about which I have no idea why because it is a fabulous face cream. It is the Elemis SOS Emergency Cream. It's very thick and has a strong herbal scent to it. It works really well when your face is irritated, red or spotty. I use this in the evening when my face is red or when I feel some blemishes or spots are going to come out. It works wonders. 

Say you have an important event coming up, things like wedding or birthday party etc. you are stressed out because of all the party planning, and some random spots just came out the day before the big day. (It always happens to me! Always always) You can put a thick layer of this cream on the night before and I promise you will wake up with a nice, even toned skin with less or no blemishes. This stuff is amazing.   

Next up it's one of my favorite concealers--Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Concealer. I have featured this in so many of my blogposts. It is absolutely amazing. Have a read on my latest post  if you are interested in this little tube of amaze balls.

Next product is a facial toner from an Italian pharmacy brand called L'ebolario. This toner is all natural and it's designed for dry/sensitive skin. It's gentle, calming and hydrating. I've already used up 2 bottles. It's the toner I always go back to. If you live in Italy or here on holiday then do pick up a bottle, you won't regret it! 

Now the Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil is lush. It's high in vitamin C so it brightens our complexions. It's also very hydrating. It just feels lovely on the skin. It took me about 3 months to use up this miniature one. A little goes a long way, 3 drops will cover your entire face plus neck! This is something that everyone should include in their skincare regimens. 

Next is Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Supplement Serum. Now I had a big bottle of this and this little one is a gift with purchase from Bobbi's website. I threw away the big bottle so I can't show you but it is exactly like this miniature one only bigger. Dahhh!

This is a rather thick serum. It feels very sticky when first applied. It goes away after a few minutes but still remain a little tackiness. I hate sticky serums but this one is an exception. I feel like this is really anti aging. Feels like I was putting on pure collagen or something. I don't know I just think it works. I have used up the entire big bottle of this (30ml) plus this little sample. This stuff made my skin feel youthful. I really like it. It's pretty expensive ( $72) but I think I will repurchase eventually once I finish up other serums. If you hate thick sticky serums then feel free to ignore it but it might change your mind like what it did to me. 

Lastly it's this BB Cream by Planter's. Again it's an Italian brand so I'm not gonna talk too much as it is only available here in Italy. It's a bb cream and primer in one and it's one of those creams that come out white but once spread on the face and it adapts to your skintone. It's light in texture as well as in coverage. It's lovely for this time of the year! 

There we have it. Sorry about the long post but I hope you have enjoyed my current empties and as always please follow me on twitter and instagram @eflicciardello. If you enjoy this blogpost or my blog in general then please hit the "following" button on the top right corner below my headshot. Thank you so much for reading and see you all in a couple of days! Muahh! 

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