Stuff I Used Up! Skincare, Makeup and Nail Empties

I think I've been pretty good this time round! I've actually used up a whole lot of stuff with this round of empties! There are 6 products in here, so perhaps numbers-wise this isn't the most, but 3 of them are tubs of moisturizers, so I get some credit, right?

As an aside, though, I've always felt like the "empties" post is perhaps something only the beauty junkie can appreciate. I mean, normal people with like, 3 eyeshadows and 1 blush and 1 powder foundation and 2 lipglosses don't go around telling people, "O Hai I finished up my eyeshadow! So happy! Squeeee!" because they pretty routinely use up their stuff - and go back to get the same (or similar stuff). So to them, it isn't particularly spectacular when they use up something. But the beauty junkie is slightly different. When you have literally have a few tens of blushes, eyeshadows, lipglosses, and so on, even as you keep lemming the new collections and makeup that gets put out, then every empty that you use up, every pan you hit, becomes a cause for celebration. To me, it's sort of a way of saying any one of the three messages: "Look, I actually use up my stuff - see, I don't have that much stuff, you're kidding, stuff, who me?", or "Look, I actually use up stuff! I get to buy more!", or "Look, I used up this stuff, because it's awesome/although it sucked, and I want to tell you about it!" And hence, the empties post.

Look at all those empties! This is some serious using up of products, guys!

But don't let my existentialist comments on empties bother you, let's get down to the good stuff - what did I use up this time, and what do I think of it?

L'Oreal Mat Magique Matte Transforming Powder Review and Swatches

L'Oreal's Mat Magique Matte Transforming Powder is an upcoming addition to L'Oreal's Magique line (you might have seen the Nude Magique and Lumi Magique products), and as the name suggests, it is a matte powder foundation that is touted to keep you shine-free for up to 12 hours! It also has SPF34 PA+++, so it has some UV protection too. One of the marquee ingredients in the product is Perlite, which L'Oreal advertises as a volcanic rock-based ingredient that contributes greatly to the oil control properties.

L'Oreal Mat Magique Matte Transforming Powder claims to provide up to 12hrs of oil control.

The product is shine resistant, and a matte finish, and it is touted as being good for girls who engage in a lot of outdoor activity or spend time outdoors, since it has both mattifying properties as well as UV protection. This is also a Southeast-Asia only release, geared towards ladies in the region who have to deal with the heat and humidity. And although it's not going to be launched elsewhere yet, I think that it's probably also great for summers worldwide.


L'Oreal Mat Magique Matte Transforming Powder: Great for those who spend time outdoors.

L'Oreal Revitalift Review: Anti-Wrinkle Essence, Eye Cream, Night Cream

L'Oreal has reformulated its Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle line, which is one of the most recognizable and reknown brands of anti-aging products on the market. Now, with new packaging and a new formula, I thought it was worth paying this range a visit again! According to L'Oreal, the newer formulation of the Revitalift range includes Centella Asiatica extract, which is renowned for its repairing properties.

L'Oreal Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle range: Essence, Eye Cream, and Night Cream

There is indeed some evidence that Centella Asiatica extract, when used topically, has the potential to heal wounds by stimulating collagen synthesis and angiogenesis. So, I was intrigued and definitely keen to know more. For this review, I'm looking at three products - the Revitalift Intensive Repair Essence, Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream, and Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Night Cream. Let's go through these products, take a look at their ingredients, and see how I fared with them!

L'Oreal HydraFresh Review: Mask-in Lotion, Spa Water, Supreme Emulsion, Creamy Foam (With My Ingredients Geekery)

L'Oreal has launched its HydraFresh line, which is meant to restore moisture to the skin. The range contains French Grape Seed Extract, for 50X anti-oxidant power, French Vosges Spa Water, which has 16 minerals to strengthen skin’s moisture barrier, and Double Hyaluronic Acid.

The L'Oreal HydraFresh line: with French Vosges Spa Water and Grape Seed Extract.

I've been trying out the products in this line, and I have to say that the entire range is pleasant to use - most of the products in this line feel light on the skin, absorb fast, and do make my skin feel hydrated. The HydraFresh line also seems to be fragranced with a fruity-floral smell, that while a little on the stronger side, isn't unpleasant. I imagine some consumers would like the smell.

So now that we've done some of my initial thoughts on the L'Oreal HydraFresh range as a whole, let's do a blow-by-blow review of every product in the range! And because I'm a huge skincare nerd, you'll also get to see me talk about the ingredients in each of the products. So, here we go!

L'Oreal Men's Expert Volcano Red Foam: A Face Wash That Removes Camo Cream!

L'Oreal Men's Expert is the top men's brand in the market, and they have launched a new product to clean the gunk of all the manly faces out there! The new product, Volcano Red Foam, is a cleanser targeting oily and acne-prone skin, and is meant to purge your pores as well as fight and prevent pimples.

L'Oreal Men's Expert Volcano Red Foam

The featured ingredients in the product are salicylic acid, which is a good pore un-blocker and anti-acne ingredient, as well as volcanic mineral extract. There is also peppermint extract, to give a cool menthol feeling when you use the product. I personally could do without the menthol (I dislike the tingle), but I imagine that guys with thicker skins would probably like using it. I also really like the inclusion of salicylic acid, which has good scientific literature behind it. I do use a 2% salicylic face wash a couple of times a week myself to help unclog my pores. I let it sit on my skin for a minute or so in order to get maximum effect.