Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review July, August, and September 2017 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k17)

... Okay, this is a bit insane but I kept three months worth of empties. I was lazy okay (￣□￣) I couldn't fit everything into one photo so I don't have a photo of everything.

I got a helix piercing at the beginning of September because I had wanted one for the longest time. Since I have long hair and the jewellery is tiny, very few people have noticed it.

In this time period, I also went to Kcon and saw EXO perform live! I'm still a bit in denial, it was a dream come trueeeee. I was a bit bummed that my current bias D.O (Do Kyungsoo) didn't end up coming but I saw all the other members! Lay wasn't going to come anyway so I wasn't too disappointed at not seeing him.

I also won a Peripera Airy Ink Velvet lip tint in #4 Beautiful Coral Velvet from the beauty panel at Kcon (*adds more lip products to my collection*). 

BTS keeps on rising. I was slightly disappointed with DNA but it grew on me quickly. I love every song on the album and I have a deep appreciation of the hidden track 'Sea'. 'Mic Drop' and 'Dimple (Illegal)' are my favourite tracks. Of course, being Jimin biased, I love 'Serendipity' as well. Will stop fangirling now and move onto my unbelieveable three months worth of empties.

My friends and I also booked a holiday for next year. I'll be gone for most of February 2018! Super excited.

Samples

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review May and June 2017 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k17)

I'm so behind on blogging my empties. Whoops^^;; I've just been plodding along with life, wanting a bit more from work and my relationship(s). 

There's a lot here because I combined two months worth of empties. Let's go!

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review April 2017 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k17)

Lots of full empties this month! I think I'm getting better at using up my stash at the moment-- I think it's mostly just finding the beauty subreddits I like to hang out in 'boring'. I'm mostly on a discussion sub now, and scrolling through the front page.

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been putting more money into clothes... to the extent where I've spent the same amount on clothes this year as what I've spent on all makeup/skincare/hair care all of last year. Whoops. I am so bad and actually need to invest my money properly as a grown up.

The last thing I spent 'big' on in April was tickets to see BTS in Sydney! I knew exactly what I wanted and finished checking out and got my email confirmation at 2.02pm when the Ticketek website started crashing lol. Tickets were released at 2pm so *shrug*

Using my phone to take photos again. It's convenient but the quality isn't as good as my camera. I'm just so put off with using my camera after all those lens issues T^T

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review February and March 2017 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k17)

It's been awhile since my last empties post. I didn't think that I had accumulated quite enough empties (...rubbish) for the month of February which is why I decided to combine February and March together. Throughout the two months, I've mainly been enjoying my regular staple items rather than working through samples.

The thing that is worrying me this month is that I am using all the money I could have saved by not purchasing any makeup and skincare (I've been sooooo good about this) into buying clothes. So many clothes. Which I don't really have much of a chance to wear. WHY??? T^T

 

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review January 2017 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k17)

Since my year of using up samples and documenting product usage went well throughout 2016, I have decided to continue this 'project' throughout 2017. I am really going to try and cut down my spending on makeup and skincare... but unfortunately, I think my spending has now migrated over to clothes (which is even more expensive orz). Better get that pay rise haha >_>

I got a new phone so I tried to take photos with it rather than taking out my camera (urghhh it breaks my heart that the lens isn't working properly). Honestly, I have no idea why my photos come out blurry and I didn't notice it until I looked that these pictures on the computer. Oh well. And I didn't colour correct the photos soz.

Not a strong start to the year in terms of empties, but it might because I spent a lot of time at home by myself over Christmas/New Year (that or I'm starting to run out of samples)!

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review December 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

The year 2016 is officially over! I calculated I spent $662 on makeup, skincare, and hair care. This is compared to $550 I spent on makeup (including circle lens), skincare, and hair care in 2015. In 2017, I'd like to save money and spend less on 'fun' purchases in makeup and skincare.

Although the majority of my money is spent on transport and food (~$2000), my main goals this year is to just repurchase skincare necessities and spend less frivolously on makeup. I have enough in my back up box for all of 2017 and probably 2018.

Unfortunately, as I was taking photos of my empties today, I realised my Olympus 14-42mm lens is broken and it wouldn't zoom past 25mm. In my worry, I forgot to take a group photo of everything for the month even though I set it up that way ;( As something extra, I have posted a picture of some items that are not yet finished, but will be thrown away.

Etude House My Little Nut Dear My Enamel Lips-Talk (Christmas 2016) PK004 Review

I'm so excited for Christmas! I received this lipstick from my Black Friday Testerkorea 'mini' haul the day before my birthday. Perfect timing tbh. I'm so glad nothing melted because it was 36 degrees that day.

Lip products are my weakness. I have to admit I was drawn by the packaging of this lipstick. The shade I purchased (PK004 Puzzling Pink) is not a new shade. In fact, it came out in 2015 when the Dear My Enamel Lips range first came out and Joy from Red Velvet was promoting it. This year, the lipstick got repackaged and then repackaged again for Christmas. There are of course, other shades in the Christmas collection that are My Little Nut exclusive but I thought I'd be practical and get a shade I can wear everyday.

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review November 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

Can't believe this month is nearly over! I had an exciting and eventful November... I went out a lot. This month, I met Wengie in person. She was a lot skinnier in person than I thought she would be. Although I'm not a religious viewer of her Youtube channel and I don't read her blog, I thought she was very cool in person. She was very nice and offered me hugs:)

I also watched Chihayafuru part 1 and 2 of the live action. In the Christmas holidays, I plan to watch the anime to catch me up to speed now that I am interested in the storyline. I want to see if Chihaya eventually gets the Queen title.

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review October 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

This month has flown by! I'm not sure how but I think part of it was just constantly being so busy at work, and trying to keep on top of everything and not dropping the ball. I don't think I'm burning out, but I'm starting to lose that bright spark of organisational commitment I felt when I first started. Maybe I'm browning out?

I had a lot of fun with watching the Melbourne Cup with my colleagues. We went out for lunch, and after that, we all got an early mark to go home. Yay.

I'm glad that the festive season is approaching! I love Christmas decorations and the Christmas spirit. I'm not excited about the weather heating up again... I don't miss the 45 degree days. I have to be a bit more protective about changing up the storage for my lipsticks on hot days as I don't want them to melt or go bad in the heat. My MAC Lady Danger lipstick had a rough day yesterday and experienced a little bit of wax bloom.

I think I used up plenty of full products this month:D

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review August 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

Happy Father's Day! I wrote my dad a nice card, but we didn't end up doing that much today. He was going to paint the window sill in my room. That didn't happen as he realised that he needed two coats of paint, and each coat needed 10+ hours to dry. The paint project will be for next week.

I ended up accumulating *cough shopping* a lot during August. I have no idea how that happened. I received a package from beautynetkorea (ordered from beginning of July), ibuybeauti (ordered from beginning of July), package from Etude House (end of July/beginning of August), a 'package' from a reddit user, my first handbag, two Liz Lisa dresses (from Cathy), new pair of rocking horse shoes (from Cathy) and Liz Lisa shoes from ebay. I'll probably do separate posts for those...

Lip Product Collection April 2016 (Whoops)

It has been eight months since I last took inventory of my makeup collection. My last one was in October 2015. Since lip products are my weakness and actually difficult to use up, I thought I would do a post dedicated to them and then check back again in October to see how things have changed.

I aim to par down my current collection and make the most of the older products I have before treating myself to new purchases, possibly at the end of this year. I have my eye on a few Aritaum Colour Lasting Tints, Aritaum Mirror Gloss Tint, Peripera Peri's Ink, and the TonyMoly Get It Liptone. By then, new products would have come out and maybe I won't even want any of these items by then.

(I wrote 98% of this in April but didn't post this until July *sigh*)

ibuybeauti Etude House Juice Bar review

What no buy? Seriously though, I thought I did a good job because I actively tried NOT to purchase makeup. And I didn't. Much. Everything else was skincare or haircare *hangs head in shame* I did just start a new full time job and received a promotion in the space of 6 weeks so I thought it was okay to treat myself.

I've never purchased an eyeshadow palette before. I wanted my first to be a limited edition as there were so many beautiful collections I didn't buy when I started going on an Etude House binge in 2012. The Etude House Juice Bar was released as a summer Play Color Eyes palette and was sold out everywhere at some point. By the time I realised I wanted it, I had to find it on ebay. I paid 20.55USD (27.83AUD) for it through ibuybeauti's ebay store;u; 

Of course, it is now available everywhere for a bit cheaper than that. The palette itself retails for around 18,000won in Korea.

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review June 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

I got a bit itchy for new products this month (what is this no buy I put myself on:/) and purchased the Melano CC toner and essence, a Lucky Box, an eyebrow product, and a new cream. In terms of Priceline purchases, I got a face oil and a hydrating toner mist from Swisse.

Makeup and Skincare Empties + Review June 2016 (Project Use Up All the Samples 2k16)

I got a bit itchy for new products this month (what is this no buy I put myself on:/) and purchased the Melano CC toner and essence, a Lucky Box, an eyebrow product, and a new cream. In terms of Priceline purchases, I got a face oil and a hydrating toner mist from Swisse.

The Backup Box (Small Items)

I spoke about the items I recently opened up from my backup box yesterday. I have divided my backup box into two sections: small items and large items.

 

Small items are products which actually fit inside my backup box. Large items are items which are heavy or too large and I have them sitting next to the backup box inside my wardrobe.

 

In this post I will give a short overview of the types of small items I have in my backup box. As you can see, have enough mascara and eyeliner to last me at least another year and a half.

 

 

Using My Back Up Cosmetics and Skincare

What do you do when you finish a product? Open up another one of course! Here are the items I opened up from my 'backup stash' this month. I still get that rush of getting something new everytime I open up a product, even if I have had it in a box in the back of my closet for the past year.

Below, I will talk about why I decided to open the item and how long I have actually had it for.

The Cost of My Everyday Makeup Routine

I have seen this topic floating around and I was interested to see for myself what my everyday makeup routine translates to in terms of dollars. Please keep in mind I am only counting makeup, not including skincare such as sunscreen and mist (which is not a setting spray, so I include it in skincare).

Most of these will be approximate prices because many of these items were purchased overseas and I want to calculate this using the Australian Dollar.

Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer Review

I purchased my first eyeshadow quad in 2013. Although the Dolly Wink shadows are already vibrant and vivid, the shadow would always be gone from my eyes by the end of the day. I came across lots of recommendations for the Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer and decided to purchase it in early 2014. Many bloggers have said that the quality of this eye primer is on par or even better than Urban Decay's Primer Potion (which back in 2013, Urban Decay was not available in Australia).

I believe the box, but not the product packaging, has now been updated.

Contents: 10ml

Price: 5,500won

Directions: Use fingers to gently apply primer to upper and lower eyelids prior to eyeshadow application. Also applicable prior to eyeliner application.

Proof 10 Eye Primer supplies coverage to eyelids and around the eyes to enhance eyeshadow color and integrity for a longer lasting, perfect 10 look.

Etude House Eau De Perfume Bite Me Review

'Bite Me' is part of Etude House's 2014 Valentine's Day 'Seven Special Moments' collection. The entire series has names which depict different key stages of a relationship: from the honeymoon phase to the breakup phase, and unrequited love. My favourite name of the series is 'Love Me Forever'-- it just sounds so romantic and captures that princess-prince fairytale element of Etude House's brand.

There are seven perfumes in the series:
1. No More (green floral)
2. Bite Me (citrus)
3. Take Me (powdery floral musk)
4. Why Not Me (floral musk)
5. Fresh Me Up (floral musk)
6. Love Me Forever (fresh floral)
7. Before You Go (fruity floral)

Etude House Dust Cut Mist Review

I have not had much experience with mists before, but I know that they are a popular item in Korea. Whilst I was at Priceline, a group of Korean girls came in to ask the sales assistant about mists and he had no idea what they were talking about. To be fair, they are not that prominent in Western skincare. From memory, I have only seen a Sukin Toner in a mist bottle at Priceline. The Priceline website tells me they also stock a Natio and Model Co toner mist.

Drawn in by the advertisements by former f(x) member Sulli, I picked up a bottle of the Dust Cut Mist on my trip to Singapore in February 2015.

This is a mist that protects skin from harmful environment by forming a protective outer barrier and providing care with its plant extracts that clarify dull and exhausted skin.