Mega Empties Post Part 2: Masks, Serums, Essences, Sunscreens, Eye Cream and Makeup

This is my epic empties post part 2 (part 1 was written a few weeks back), and yes, we're going to do a quick-hits rundown of what I liked, what I didn't like, and why! And yes, there are some products I didn't like in part 2, unlike in part 1 where everything I did actually like. Which ones? You'll find out!

Yes, I am indeed capable of using up my massive stash of skincare products!

Today's post will focus on sunscreens, serums and essences, masks, sleeping masks, and exfoliating products, as well as the lone eye cream. Basically we continue from part 1 and cover all the product categories part 1 did not.

Instagram post of all my empties!

Well, we've got a lot of products to cover today, so if you're ready, let's get started!

Top 10 Most Popular Blog Posts of 2014, and 3 Honourable Mentions

2014 is ending, and I thought it would be appropriate to do a recap of some of this year's popular blogposts! After making 2013's list of most popular blogposts, there were some unexpected results, so, just for fun, I thought it would be great to do one for 2014, too!

Some of my Top 10 most popular blogposts, as well as the 3 honourable mentions!

Just like in 2013, this year, I have also picked the top 10 by raw number of blogpost views, because it's the simplest way to go about doing things. I've written last year that I feel this method isn't totally ideal because it disadvantages posts that are popular but were written at the end of the year, or "evergreen" posts (like posts on classic topics like skincare, foundation, etc., such as my post on parabens in skincare, as opposed to a more trend-based post, like the latest MAC makeup collection) that may not garner as many initial views, but tend to do very well over a longer period of time. I always feel like counting the raw number of views tends to overlook the evergreen posts and the posts written towards the end of the year. Nevertheless, this seems to be the simplest way of doing things. Of course, if you wanted to be really particular about it you could pro-rate the number of views to the length of time the post was up, but this seems to present its own problems, because not every post follows the same viewcount trajectory - some (like the trends-based posts) do really well for a short time, and then quickly taper off, while others tend to follow a steadier growth trajectory.

But in any case, since we are using raw views, let's get to it, and here's the top 10 posts of 2014! I've also included 3 honourable mentions, which are posts that did well views-wise, but didn't get into the top 10 because they were written in the later part of the year. So let's check out the top 10 posts!

Elizabeth Arden Untold Absolu Perfume: A Vanillia Fragrance Perfect for Fall/Winter

Elizabeth Arden's Untold Absolu is the latest fragrance flanker added to the brand's Untold line, which is supposed to represent sophistication. Previously, Elizabeth Arden had released Untold (the original perfume that started it all) last year, and then followed up earlier this summer with Untold Legere, a lighter, more citrusy version tht was supposed to be more of a hot weather scent. Now, with Fall and Winter around the corner, it makes sense that Elizabeth Arden should then follow up with a scent befitting the season - and here comes Untold Absolu to fill that gap.

Elizabeth Arden Untold Absolu: The new addition to the Untold range of perfumes

Untold Absolu, a you might expect of such an offering, is a "deeper, more sensual interpretation of Untold", with "luxurious floral absolutes, red plum and black raspberry accents" and a "magnetic amber base". Sounds like a fruity-floral on an amber base to me - let's check out the actual perfume itself and see how it goes!


Elizabeth Arden Untold Absolu: A warm fragrance in time for Fall/Winter seasno

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Boosting 5-Minute Facial Review and Ingredients Analysis

Elizabeth Arden's Ceramide Boosting 5-Minute Facial is a two-step skincare product, that is supposed to give you glowing skin (like a facial) in just five minutes! This is a really interesting product, and one that is pretty interesting, too, owing to its two-step process. I was pretty excited to try it when it was first introduced in the first half of this year, but I just never got around to writing about this until now - well, good thing skincare is evergreen so better late than never, right?

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Boosting 5-Minute Facial: A two-step product to give you glowing skin

The first step is a Ceramide Self-Foaming Mask, which you apply on your face and let it sit for five minutes while it foams and exfoliates your skin. I'm told that it also works as cleanser, so you don't even have to take your makeup off before use if you're lazy! You just apply it, leave it on for five minutes, and then rinse it off. The second step is a Ceramide Replenishing Serum, which you apply to your skin after you have rinsed off the Mask. The instructions tell you to leave the Mask on for 2-3 minutes, so including rinse-off time and serum-application time, the whole time you need for this facial is really just five minutes!


Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Boosting 5-Minute Facial: It really does only take 5 minutes from start to finish!
Now I know what you're thinking - will this work? How does it work? And how effective are these ingredients, anyway? In order to do that, let's start off with my favourite place in skincare products - the ingredients list!

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Review: Caplet Serum and Eye Gel

Elizabeth Arden has launched its new Flawless Future Powered by Ceramide skincare line, and this line is actually geared towards younger women in their 20s and 30s looking to treat the first few signs of aging, as well as to keep the skin in top condition for future years (hence the "Flawless Future" tagline, I suppose!). This certainly is something a little different from what Elizabeth Arden is known for, since the brand is probably best known for its anti-aging products geared towards more mature ladies.

But don't let that deter you from checking out this range, because this range is actually quite pleasant to use. Elizabeth Arden has taken care to keep the range lightweight and easy to use (which people our age will probably want in their skincare), but at the same time, they've managed to keep in the Flawless Future range some of the ingredients from iconic products that made Elizabeth Arden's brand so famous, such as the the Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules (which I've reviewed before). In fact, Elizabeth Arden explicitly makes this link to their mature-market Ceramide range, labelling the Flawless Future range "Powered by Ceramide".



Let's take a closer look at the two products I have - the Flawless Future Caplet Serum, and the Flawless Future Eye Gel, and see if their ingredients really live up to the brand's much-vaunted reputation for skincare!

Elizabeth Arden Untold Eau Legere EdT: A Summery, Lighter Take on the Original Untold

Elizabeth Arden released Untold Eau Legere, a flanker to the original Untold, a couple of months back. And I'm a little late, but I thought it was still an appropriate time to review this, given our perpetually hot weather, and the continued heat we seem to be experiencing! Given how the weather in Singapore is, I have a feeling this fragrance might be a crowd pleaser in this climate.

Elizabeth Arden Untold Eau Legere EdT: The latest flanker in the Untold range

You might be wondering, why did I say it was still an appropriate fragrance choice for our perpetually hot weather? Isn't the original Elizabeth Arden Untold, which I reviewed previously, as a modern, white-floral perfume with an amber base. The bottles for Untold Eau Legere and Untold may be almost exactly the same, with the only difference being the perfume name engraved along the side of the bottle, but the scents inside are coloured differently. And just like the scent colour, Untold Eau Legere, as the name suggests, has some similarities, being a flanker, but is different enough such that the two are distinct.


Elizabeth Arden Untold Eau Legere, left, and the original Untold, right.

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Perfectly Nude Makeup Foundation Review and FOTD

Elizabeth Arden's Flawless Finish Perfectly Nude Makeup is one of the brand's new foundations, with SPF 15 to boot. It touts high coverage, a luminous finish, and a formula that moisturizes skin for 24 hours. With that, I was pretty excited to get my hands on this and give it a good whirl!

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Perfectly Nude Makeup Foundation: Good coverage with a luminous finish.

In Singapore we have 8 shades. You have #1 Linen (pale yellow beige), #2 Alabaster (pale neutral beige, less yellow than Linen), #3 Vanilla Shell (light beige with some pink, a shade darker than Linen/Alabaster), #4 Cream Nude (medium beige with neutral undertones, a shade darker than Vanilla Shell), #5 Natural (medium beige with cool undertones) #6 Warm Sunbeige (medium beige with yellow undertone), #9 Buff (medium-deep beige with neutral undertone), and #14 Cameo (medium-deep beige with cool undertone). Roughly speaking, shades #1, #2, and #3 are the lighter shades, with shades #4, #5, and #6 being the medium shades, and #9 and #14 being deep shades. There is also a mix of undertone between the shades, so everyone's covered!


Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Perfectly Nude Makeup Foundation in shade #2 Alabaster

Elizabeth Arden Summer 2014 Swatches: Summer Escape Bronzers, Gloss Stick, Highlighters, Cream Eyeshadows

I have lots of swatches from Elizabeth Arden's Summer 2014 Summer Escape Collection for you guys! This includes the Pure Finish Summer Escape Bronzing Powders, Pure Finish Cool Radiance Highlighter, Pure Finish Cream Eye Shadows, and Beautiful Color Gloss Sticks! I was at a bloggers' event, and we were supposed to give ourselves a makeover using the Summer 2014 products. And I did that, but I was also busy swatching, because that's what bloggers do, right?

Elizabeth Arden Summer 2014's Summer Escape has a wide range of products to offer.

As you can tell, I pretty much swatched everything I could get my hands on! So yes, there is a lot for us to get started on, so without further ado, let's start! The swatches are in indoors warm lighting, and I've tried to correct them as much as I could, but if they aren't perfect (and they aren't), please forgive the lighting!

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipsticks Swatches and Review

Elizabeth Arden's Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipsticks have been out for awhile now, but I've been kind of slow to review them since they were introduced at the end of last year. Yes it has been that long, but better late than never! There are over 40 shades in three finishes, Cream, Shimmer, and Pearl, to cater to every preference and skintone. Most of these shades have medium-to-full coverage, so yes, you can expect to get a good amount of pigmentation from these.

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick

One of the things I love about the Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick is the gorgeous Elizabeth Arden-style packaging. The shiny gold square tube is very luxe, and feels nice and substantial when held. I have three colours from one finish each (so you get to see the differences between all the finishes) - Desert Rose (Pearl), Breathless (Cream), and Rose Berry (Shimmer). But packaging aside, the colours are lovely too.


Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick: Gorgeously luxe packaging.

Elizabeth Arden Untold Perfume Review: A Modern, Well-Rounded Fragrance

Elizabeth Arden's new fragrance, Untold, is no-doubt going to be a crowd-pleaser. After all, this is the same brand that is also known for its other perfume classics, Red Door and Green Tea. Unlike Red Door and Green Tea though, which trade heavily on the brand's well-known heritage and legacy, Untold aims for a scent and feel that is a little more contemporary, while still retaining the company's brand name.

Untold: A modern, soft, and feminine fragrance that isn't too sweet or cloying.

In that way, the drive towards modernity for this particular perfume launch means that it will be its own fragrance, and nothing quite like Red Door or Green Tea. Red Door was powdery and heavier, perhaps a reflection of how perfumes were in the 80's, while Green Tea was a lighter, citrus-y wisp of a fragrance. Untold, while different, is by no means a bad fragrance at all. In fact, I have to say, after a few weeks of sniffing, I quite like it - it is indeed modern, soft and feminine without being cloying, or annoying.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum Review

One of the more famous products from Elizabeth Arden's roster are the Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum. I've heard of Elizabeth Arden, and I've seen the glossy ads with the capsules, and I've definitely seen the rave reviews (no kidding, if you google the product name, pretty much every review agglomeration site - Ulta, Makeupalley, Skinstore, and so on, all give it rave reviews overall). And now, I got to examine the product for myself to see what is so special about these capsules.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum: Nothing but love from reviewers

Inside the super-luxe looking box, you get 60 capsules a box, which if you use at the rate of 1 a day, will translate to a 2 months supply. The product is both fragrance and preservative-free, which is pretty unique, because most skincare definitely needs preservatives to ensure it doesn't go bad once you open the jar! I attribute this to the unique individually-packaged capsules. I guess they could have just done what other companies would do and put the serum in a jar or pump, but then that would necessitate adding some preservatives since the packaging makes the product more likely to be contaminated. So if you're reactive towards either fragrances or (much less likely) towards preservatives, this is a good try.

Packaging and fancy capsules aside, I have to say, I was impressed with the product. When I first received it for review, I was thinking, "Oh great, another mediocre but overpriced moisturizer with no substance except the brand name and packaging". Turns out, as I started looking into the scientific literature available, it seems that the Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum is actually pretty well-formulated, and there is actually quite a lot of science behind the product!


A luxurious serum that is also backed up by the science.
Yes, this means I did indeed start being a skincare nerd and was trawling PubMed, ScienceDirect and the like to look up the key advertised ingredients.In the Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum, this is ceramide. To be precise, it's a combination of Ceramide 1 and Ceramide 6 (phytosphingosine and fatty acid are added too, but we'll get to that soon). It looks like the science is actually in support of ceramides!