Beauty: Top 4 Products from Empties 2023 Part 2

 

Hello, I finally give the Empties 2023 an end with this post. You can watch the full products that I have emptied in 2023 here. The following post is the top 4 products that I liked from this second batch of empties in 2023.

Du’it Dry Foot & Heel Roll-on Heel Balm

As I get older, my heels get dry easily and cracked. I hate my ugly feet, so I searched a “heavy-duty” heel cream. And then I came across this product, which is the best finding I ever had in 2023. I came across this product in a drugstore and saw that this is an Australian brand. So, when my brother went to Melbourne, I asked him to buy one. The packaging is nothing flashy and it somehow looks like a stick-glue. But, this product truly shows to not judge a book by its’ cover. This convenient roll-on heel balm costs around 15 AUD for a 50ml.

I really love the product. It smells good and is pretty effective (if constantly used). The key ingredients are vitamin E, natural AHAs, and dimethicone. It is free from parabens. But, a heads up, this product contains alcohol. I use this product before sleep and I put on some sleeping socks. The next morning, my feet is softer than before.

Hera Sun Mate Leports SPF 50+ PA+++

I have zero expectations for this product when I get this as a gift from my aunt. She was a Hera avid customer and she got lots of freebies and gave this sunscreen to me. The sunscreen is very similar to the La Roche Posay Anthelios sunscreen that I used to use. From the color, scent, and application. The difference is that the Hera sunscreen is a cream type while the La Roche Posay one is a fluid type (based on the one that I bought). Since the sunscreen is a cream type, it might feel thick on the skin compared to the La Roche Posay one. But, actually, it is very easy to blend, so I don’t really mind about it. I really loved the product until I scooped out all of the products from the tube.

Etude House Dr. Mascara Fixer Eyelash Serum

This is my first eyelash serum. I was watching a makeup tutorial by Red Velvet’s makeup artist and she used this product. I bought one and I was very satisfied with the result. I’ve never had an eyelash extension in my whole life, so I rely mostly on mascara or sometimes a fake eyelash. So, I was surprised with the result after applying some layers of this product. This product is definitely a cheat key. The price is cheaper than a mascara, so I can leave out the mascara step. Also, since the color is clear, goodbye to messy eye makeup. Applying mascara is also much neater since the lashes have been coated. This product has a high rating on the Naver store, which is a 4.8/5. It is quite popular in the Korean market and many of the reviews sound the same like mine. A very awesome product!

Tony Moly Luminous Perfumed Face Powder

When I was a teenager, I had to attend lots of birthday parties and that’s when I got into the makeup world. I started to watch beauty gurus on YouTube and I learned that a face powder is key to flawless makeup. At that time the beauty gurus were mostly Western and the products they used were mostly Western brands like NARS, MAC, Laura Mercier, and many more. At that time, I thought that having a high-end face powder was not suitable for a teenager, so I bought this face powder from Tony Moly, which is much more affordable.

But, apparently, the product was pretty good, at least for me. The downside of this product is the puff. I don’t really like the puff, so I use a brush to apply. The face powder costs $18.00 (based on Yesstyle) and now the packaging and formula have been renewed. The current formula includes some pearls that could create 3-D effects. The product really lasts for a long time. It’s been in my vanity for 10 years or more, so I had to throw it away despite there being still lots of products left.

Geez, I should have thrown it away 5 years ago. This is not a good example, so please don’t follow it!

Is there any product that you have tried among the products mentioned above? If so, what is that and what is your verdict?

I’m slowly getting rid of the old and expired products and getting closer to a minimalist beauty life. I only buy a new product when it’s finished. It’s easy for face & body care, but I’m still struggling for the makeup one since I don’t use makeup every day. But, I found an organization that receives old makeup products for makeup corpses, so I’m going to send off the remaining old makeup products to them.

I hope that you can do the same as well in this fierce consumerism era. And don’t forget to recycle and reuse the bottles if you can.

Thank you so much for reading until here, peeps!

See you in my next post!

Beauty: Facial Cleanser A-Z - Part 3

The skincare routine has developed vastly over the past few years. But still, the most important thing is the cleansing step. I had a great time trying out different brands and types of cleansers for this section even though, it took 5 years this time, longer than the previous one. Maybe, because most of the product is more than 150ml, it took longer than before. I liked almost all of the products listed below. 

So, let’s get started!

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser

This product is the first product from Kiehl’s that I ever bought. I’ve been eyeing Kiehl’s products since 2015 and finally got to try them in 2019. I chose this cleanser because this product is the most general cleanser out of all the other product lines. Kiehl’s has a lot of product ranges for different skin types.

Texture

It is really a gentle cleanser. It has a clear gel-type texture. I like this kind of texture for skincare. Even though it’s like a gel, it foams quite okay. This product is suitable for any kind of skin type, especially sensitive skin.

Scent

This product has almost no scent, which is quite a down-turner for me because personally, I like nice scented (not fragrance) cleanser. The product itself didn’t include any fragrance, so it is really suitable for sensitive skin.

Result

At times when I had an oily face due to the hormonal cycle, this cleanser isn’t really effective. But, on regular days, the product really did well enough to clean my face. The product doesn’t strip too much oil, so it doesn’t make tingly skin. I had quite an alright experience while using this product.

Repurchase?

Yes! I would definitely spend another 20 dollars (if I got to buy it outside Indonesia) for this cleanser sometime in the future. I really recommend this cleanser.

Lagom Morning Gel to Water Cleanser

I got to know this brand after I watched ‘Get it Beauty’ back in 2018. And I finally bought the product in 2019, right before I went back to Indonesia for good. I really liked the philosophy and design of this brand. I actually liked the product, but to be honest it was quite a hassle to use two different cleansers for morning and evening time.

Texture

The product has a watery gel texture, just like what’s written on the tube. This product is a gel-to-water cleanser. I enjoy this kind of cleanser, even though it is not foamy.

Scent

This cleanser didn’t have any particular scent. I’ve smelled a similar scent in some baby products, so I guess it’s really suitable for sensitive skin types. After all, this product doesn’t include any fragrance at all.

Result

I think it is not really suitable for Indonesia’s weather. Most of us use air conditioning all night long, so we develop dirt even in our sleep. So, I’m not sure whether the product really cleans the face in the morning. But, it surely moist up the skin and prep the skin to absorb the skincare afterwards.

Repurchase?

Maybe. If I’m going to repurchase this product line, I shall buy the evening cleanser as well.

Muji Face Soap

At first, I had no idea of any brand beginning with M, so when I went into Muji store in Tokyo and saw they sold skincare products, I bought them straight away regardless of not knowing the ingredients at all. Price-wise it was pretty much the same with some drug stores’ products, so I don’t have any concern when buying it back then.

Texture

This product has a regular facial foam texture with some scrubs inside. I have no complaints about the texture, but over time it gets too watery. Maybe because I tend to spray some water while in the shower and the water gets into the tube.

Scent

The facial foam doesn’t have any particular scent, even though they included some grapeseed extract.

Result

To be honest, I don’t really have much to say about this product. I don’t really like it or dislike the product. It just cleans my face without having anything special.

Repurchase?

Nope. I don’t feel any special while using the product, so I won’t repurchase.

Neogen Green Tea Real Fresh Foam Cleanser

Personally, I think Neogen is one of the best skincare brands in Korea that produce unique products. They are the first player to release peeling pads with wine extract. I have a great experience with their peeling pads, so I am not hesitant to try this facial foam. There are a few variants of the facial foam and I chose the green tea one. They include real fermented green tea leaves in the facial foam and it blew my mind. It gives the consumer a sense of truth. I just found out that the product has been released since 2015 and I just know about it almost 10 years later. Gosh, where I’ve been this long!

Texture

I really love the foam texture! I love to play with it before massaging it to my face. The liquid cleanser turns into a foam with the pump, so I don’t need to lather the product beforehand and it cleanses my face faster. Facial cleanser with this kind of texture is really suitable for every skin type.

Scent

The green tea scent is really refreshing and I loved it. It’s really subtle but refreshing. It might be refreshing because it also includes sugar cane, lemon, grapefruit, and other tropical fruits. While cleansing my face, I tend to take some moments to take a breath and smell the foam. This scent is really my type.

Result

The two previous criteria have passed, so I also love the result. It’s really gentle on my skin, but it also cleans the oil and dirt without making it squeaky clean. It's even removed a pencil eyeliner in one usage. I could feel my skin moisturized after using this cleanser, though at some time when that time of the month comes and my hormonal oil production increases, the facial foam is not effective enough to hold the oil production for a long time. But, I still love the product so much. Plus, the product has included niacinamide, which is really good for your skin health.

Repurchase?

100% will repurchase! I just love the feeling of using this cleansing foam. The product is packed with so many great ingredients. I love every single thing about this product. Very recommended!

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash

Ever since I was in the beauty world, I’ve always wanted to try the product from the Origins. I landed my hand on this facial wash as the first Origins product that I got to try. This product looks very ordinary, but turns out this is one of the top lists out of this group. Though this product is the most expensive one in this group, I love it dearly.

Texture

The texture of this product is creamy with some subtle scrub. When it lathers, it is super foamy, just like its’ name. I just need a little squeeze and it could cleanse my face perfectly. I also liked to play with the product while cleansing my face because I liked the texture.

Scent

The second top scent out of the 5 products. It has spearmint leaves and bergamot extract, which I really love this combination. I can really smell that “expensive skincare” scent. The spearmint leaf oil acts as an invigorating aromatic, and I feel quite relaxed while using the product. The facial wash is suitable to be used day and night as it can freshen up the mood thanks to the aromatic scent.

Result

Super satisfied with the result. It cleans your face immediately and gives moisture right after usage.

Repurchase?

The repurchase rate is 80% for now because I haven’t finished using this product and since I had to buy this product from outside Indonesia, it wasn’t easy to reach out immediately. But, for everyone that is accessible to this product, I would recommend this product as a little self-reward in your daily life.

Geez! I thought I had taken the before and after results for all of the products, but I don't where they've gone. I'm sorry that the pictures are not uniform. Some of the products were finished, so I couldn't take additional photos.

Have you ever tried any of the products above? If yes, which one and what is your verdict? I am so excited to try out the next five. I have some products that I’ve been eyeing, but I am open to any recommendations! Send me your recommendation for the brands beginning with R, S, and T.

See you on the next A-Z Facial Cleansing Review!

BEAUTY: Top 5 Favourites of 2022 Empties

I summed up the top 5 products out of my 2022 empties below. Full products that I have emptied can be seen in my YouTube videos, watch them here and the second part here.

This product is the best body scrub I ever had! I would like to give this product 20 out of 10. I love the texture, the scent, and the amount of the product. It was just perfect. And what’s more is that when you take the empty tube back to the store, they will give you a voucher to purchase other products. This brand is actually under the H&M company, so it is not a Korean brand.

They have various types and scents. From hand wash to body lotion. I really love the scent that I bought, Arabesque Wood. It has an earthy note and a twist of citrus (they said). Super love. I mentioned the texture before and the reason why I love it is that they have a just right texture. It is not harsh and not too fine. Unlike the regular body scrub that I had tried before, this product has the best texture. I don’t regularly scrub my body, so this 250ml worth of product took quite some time to be finished.

This product is the best loose powder that I’ve tried so far. I love that this powder is lightweight and mattify the skin, especially when those red pops appear. After the application, your skin will feel super soft and I really love it. Even though the powder is white, it is free of talc, synthetic colors, and 4 other ingredients. It is very convenient to use, even though the applicator is quite small. Regardless of the applicator, I still love this product very much. I’m on my second tube and will repurchase it soon!

I got this product as a gift from I don’t know where. But surprisingly, this product is quite good. I didn’t expect it. Though it is thicker than the La Roche Posay sunscreen, this one is lighter than the Nivea sunscreen. After application, it doesn’t feel sticky or tacky at all and it has a quite matte finish, which I think and suitable for oily or acne-prone skin. The sunscreen has quite good and water resistant. I will reach out to this product after I finished all the sunscreens I have now.

The best multifunctional skincare product on my vanity. I couldn’t remember how I got to know this product, but this product works like a magic. Well, sometimes it took some time to really get the result to be seen, but it really does work. This product was known for making stretch marks invisible. But, this product also works for scars as well. The main function of this product is to improve the skin. I am very grateful that I came across this product because I didn’t know that I could have severe aftermath when bitten by some insects. The oil has improved my skin tone back to normal several times. I also use this for my stretchmarks, even though I don’t have a baby yet, but since I gained weight a lot, I got some of it around my thighs.

I have great relief that I finally found a shampoo without detergent surfactants. The regular shampoo I usually see in drugstores and supermarkets mostly has an SLS or known as Sodium Laureth Sulfate. The thing that makes your shampoo foamy. This shampoo has a little foam compared to regular shampoo. This thing might clean the hair, but in the long run, it can ruin your scalp which results in hair loss. This shampoo has a good scent even though it doesn’t have additional perfume. It consists of a few essential oils. This shampoo is very awesome! Though the price is a bit higher compared to the general shampoo and it’s an imported product. My hair is my biggest asset, so I had to take care of my hair carefully.

So, that is the top 5 products from my empties of 2022. I have used many products this year, but most of the products are my all-time favorites, so I don’t want to repeat the review. Also, I mentioned some of the travel products that I’ve used in my YouTube video. You can watch the video here.

Have you ever tried any of the products above? If yes, which one and what is your opinion of that product? Let me know in the comment section down below.

I will see you soon on my next post, soon!

Empties 2020 - 2021 Top 8 Products

Finally, I’m back with my talking video after a long time. Revealing my 2 years' worth of emptied products here! All of the products are revealed in the video and on this blog, I’ll just feature the top 8 only.

One of my best findings on the internet. I was introduced to this brand thanks to Morgan from My Beauty Breakdown. I bought this product to substitute the Dr. Jart Acne Spot Treatment that I used to use to fight my skin troubles or acnes. I loved the Dr. Jart one, but it has reached the point that it can’t fight my skin troubles. This product still works awesomely even though I’ve used three tubes of it.

The product consists of a series of natural ingredients such as tea tree oil, aloe vera, phellinus linteus (a kind of mushroom), and witch-hazel (a kind of flower). Since the product is gel-type and transparent, it can be used day and night. And that’s what I like the most about this product. Compared to the other spot treatments that I’ve tried, transparency is what I needed the most in the spot treatment product. Depending on how severe is my trouble, the treatment might take some time, but most of the time, it works pretty fast. And it doesn’t really leave scars at most of the time. This product is my must-haves skincare product in my cabinet.

Holy grail products that lived up to its’ name. I really had a pleasant experience with this product. I rarely have redness on my skin and it brightens my skin. After I finished, this product, I used other niacinamide serums and I couldn’t really say I am satisfied enough with the result as I do with The Ordinary one.

The next morning after I use this product, I feel my face brighter and most of all I don’t have serious skin trouble while using the product. After I finished this product, I started to have very severe skin trouble and up until now, the marks are still visible. I understand why people love this product and I still couldn’t find a better version of this serum yet.

Remember my Bath and Body Works haul back in 2015? I finally finished the last bottle of it. Lol. I think the product has expired, but it still smells fine and I don’t have any skin problems, so I guess it’s still valid.

I really love this Cherry Blossom shower gel. It is refreshing yet enough sweet. I don’t really like sweet scents, but this one has a subtle sweetness so I liked it. Definitely my must-have scent in Bath and Body Works. I’m currently finishing the body lotion one, so see it on my next empties later on.

One of the best deodorants that I’ve tried so far. It is unscented, which I really love compared to other deodorant sprays. The other products have good smells, but sometimes it can be burdensome. And after all, perfume is made from alcohol, so it’s not really the best option out there.

I am trying my best to avoid beauty products that contain alcohol and perfume. Even for my hands, I prefer washing my hands with soap rather than using hand sanitizer whenever possible.

Simple’s cleansing tissue was great! The tissue was soft and a bit textured, which wiped-off all the makeup and semi-peel off the skin. It was satisfying while use the product. Compared to my previous fave, the YesTo cleansing wipes, this product is like the upgraded version. I love how they choose to texturize the tissue. As for the formula, I just love that it is simple, like its’ name!

I bought this product back in 2017 when I was visiting my brother in Australia. After a few years, Simple is on sale at drugstores in Indonesia. So, getting my hands on this product is just a reach of hand.

I’ve been using Nair products since I was in senior high school. Out of all the products I’ve used, this one is the most comfortable one to use, except the turner was kinda a bummer. Regarding the formula, I didn’t find any much difference with the Nair products that are sold in the Indonesian drugstores. It’s just I really liked the idea of the glide-on.

I really love Innisfree’s makeup products. One of them is this stick concealer. Finally finishing a makeup product is very satisfying and rewarding. Especially, with thousands of new products every day, it was quite hard to finish off the product. The urge to try a new product was quite big, but I nailed to finish it.

The formula of this stick concealer is more on the creamier side. The coverage is satisfying enough for small acnes and semi-red skin. Since it’s a stick concealer, it is travel friendly and I brought this concealer whenever I travel. The product is also blend-well even with hands, but I didn’t recommend it that way. Well, I really loved this product.

Finally, I finished up one out of three of my 3CE Lip Lacquer set. The first color that I finished is called Bon Bon. I really loved this shade. Ever since I bought this product, I practically use this shade most of the time. Finding the perfect shade for your lip is like finding a soulmate. I really feel confident and joyful whenever I use my favorite shade. One out, two more to go.

I know there are lots of new products launched every day, but keep in mind to finish what you’ve started unless it doesn’t suitable for your skin. The reason I make this post is not to make you buy it too, but just to share a piece of information and review regarding the products. Let’s become a smarter and wiser consumers.

Thank you for reading up on this part. I’ll share more useful information in the future. Please keep your support towards me. Have a wonderful day!

BEAUTY: Scarlett Brightening Review

Hi semua~ Ini pertama kalinya aku pakai Bahasa Indonesia di blog ini. Mohon maaf jika sedikit aneh dan canggung.

Post kali ini aku mau review produk dari Scarlett Brightening yang lagi hype di internet. Pertama kali aku nemu produk ini adalah waktu aku lagi cari body scrub di Instagram. Aku cari pakai #bodyscrub, terus banyak post Scarlett Brightening ini. Nah, terus akhirnya aku coba deh body scrub dan produk lainnya dari Scarlett Brightening. Hampir seluruh produk dari Scarlett Brightening ini mengandung Vitamin E & glutathione yang berfungsi untuk mencerahkan, melembabkan, dan menutrisi kulit. Lalu, Scarlett Brighening ini sangat ramah sama kantong karena rata-rata harganya adalah 75 ribu rupiah. Jadi sangat affordable kan? Di post kali ini aku akan review 3 produk best seller mereka yaitu, body scrub, body lotion, dan shower scrub.

Body Scrub – Romansa

Produk pertama yang aku coba dari brand ini adalah body scrub-nya yang Romansa. Seperti namanya, wangi body scrub-nya itu kayak wangi bunga mawar yang bisa bikin mood jadi romantis gitu. Secara formula, body scrubini agak creamy dan scrubnya tidak terlalu besar, jadi tidak terlalu kasar. Tapi surprisingly, scrub-nya berfungsi dengan baik untuk menghaluskan kulit. Karena produk ini ada efek brighteningnya, jadi habis menggunakan scrub ini kulitnya terlihat lebih cerah. My verdict is body scrub-nya oke banget untuk ukuran brand lokal dan harga yang sangat affordable.

Body Lotion – Freshy

Hadap Depan

Hadap Belakang

Ini produk favorit dari ketiga produk yang aku punya. Ini wanginya mirip banget sama parfum J* M*****e. Pas terima paketnya lagi buka plastiknya, udah kecium dong wanginya. Wow banget! Aku terkesan banget sih sama wanginya. Karena saking penasarannya sama lotion ini, abis buka aku langsung cobain. Pas aku pencet pump-nya, lotionnya agak terlalu creamy sih buat aku. Terus aku skeptis bakal lengket, eh tapi ternyata engga! Terus lumayan mudah untuk blend-in produknya ke kulit. Body lotion ini punya instant brightening effect yang cukup baik. Rekomen banget lotion ini dan saran aku pake lotion ini sehabis mandi atau sebelum tidur malam. Langsung nyenyak tidur karena wangi. Dan juga, packagingnya sangat aman karena ada safety pinnya. Jadi ga akan tumpah kalau kalian mau bawa-bawa.

Kiri - After; Kanan - Before

Di foto di atas, keliatan banget kan bedanya habis pemakaian? Jadi kalau butuh instant brightening bisa banget pakai lotion ini. Pakai lotion ini bisa bikin happy gitu. Aku percaya bahwa wangi-wangian bisa membuat mood yang baik, apalagi kalau kamu suka sama wanginya. Well, karena aku suka banget wangi parfum J* M*****e, jadi lotion ini bisa bikin mood happy apalagi dengan harga yang sangat ramah di kantong.

Shower Scrub – Pomegranate

Hadap Depan

Hadap Belakang

Sabun ini agak beda dari sabun pada umumnya karena sabun ini mengandung scrub. Karena produk ini 2-in-1, yaitu sabun dan scrub, shower scrub ini bisa digunakan setiap hari karena scrubnya tidak terlalu kasar, sehingga tidak akan melukai kulit. Shower scrub ini juga terdapat Vitamin E dan glutathione yang memberikan efek pencerahan pada kulit, serta melembabkan dan menutrisi kulit. Selain itu, produk ini wanginya seger deh! Karena mereka menggunakan buah pomegranate atau delima, jadi wanginya itu fresh tapi juga masih ada rasa manisnya.

Nah, kira-kira gitu lah review aku tentang produk dari Scarlett Brightening. Oh ya, aku juga dapet stiker lucu yang sesuai sama produk yang aku punya. Overall, aku suka sih sama produk-produknya. Tapi, mungkin kedepannya stiker lulus BPOM-nya jangan nutupin bagian ingredients-nya kali ya? Karena penting buat pembeli mengetahui apa isi dari produk yang mereka beli. Bukan sekedar berdasarkan dari review-review orang lain.

Not so good labeling position

Aku terkesan banget sama produk kecantikan lokal yang makin hari makin meningkat kualitasnya. Terus, yang paling penting, harganya masih ramah sama kantong. Semoga anak-anak bangsa bisa terus maju dan kreatif.

So, now it’s your time to try!

Stay beautiful all!

XOXO,