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

I always take my photos right at the end of the month or the first weekend of the month. However, I've been finding that I haven't been able to post on time due to computer problems or just general laziness. No wonder why it feels like I only posted very recently... because I did.

NARUKO Raw Job's Tears Supercritical CO2 Pore Minimizing & Brightening Night Gelly

NARUKO is a highly regarded Taiwanese brand produced by Niuer, a beauty and skincare expert. I knew I had to pick up something by NARUKO when I went to Taiwan in early 2015 (wow, that was a year ago!). I decided to pick up a Night Gelly.

The Raw Job's Tears line is supposed to minimise pores and brighten the complexion. The night gelly is essentially a sleeping pack.

What they say: Hydrates, softens, minimizes pores and brightens skin tone.

Directions: With the included spatula, retrieve two pea-sized amount and apply evenly over the face each evening. No rinsing necessary.

Skin types: For all skin types, especially for the skin with uneven complexion and visible pores.

Contents: 60g

Cost: approximately 15-20AUD

Massive haul from Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong (Etude House, Skinfood, Hada Labo, Nature Republic, 3CE, CLIO, My Scheming, My Beauty Diary, FaceQ, Naruko)

The Australian dollar is terrible at the moment, but I still managed to shop happily on an overseas trip. I truly think I would have been less restrained if the dollar had been better. Here are the things I purchased!

Skincare and haircare part of my haul! Most of this came from Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Sasa, Bonjour, Mannings Hong Kong sunscreen and skincare haul

So this was a from end of July/ early August. My dad went to Hong Kong for business and he asked me what I wanted him to get me. I replied with 'Socks and lollies.' Then I wrote down a list of stuff I wanted which he passed onto his high school friend's daughter (who is also my friend who is a few years older than me) to get! I was really excited because this stuff is expensive in Sydney T_T

My friend got most of these from Sasa, Bonjour, and Mannings. She gave me the receipt but I just chucked it in a box somewhere after adding up the prices. Be sure to shop around in HK. Even different branches of the same store (I'm looking at you Sasa) have different prices. You can easily get ripped off.

Asian Sheet Mask Haul (Etude House, The Face Shop, My Scheming, My Beauty Diary, Missha, Innisfree) and Quick Review

(31/8/14: Work in progress, I've picked up ten billion other boxes of masks since I've drafted this post in February. My favourites are Leaders Insolution and My Beauty Diary)

I love sheet masks. Unfortunately, it's an expensive habit I've developed for something a one time use item. They're fantastic for nourishment and for giving your skin a bit of pampering throughout the week. I used to think that $3 a sheet is a pretty good deal and the most I've paid for one mask is $4.50 (The Face Face Vita C Gel Mask).

Personally, I would not pay for more than $1.50 a sheet mask anymore, and you can easily find good deals around Sydney. Here are the masks I used last year (and some quick thoughts):

Missha:

My very first sheet masks of 2013! I decided to venture out and try them in around February. Missha has since closed down in the QVB. 

My (Korean and Taiwanese) beauty/ mo lieu haul for 2013

So... Cathy is a bad influence on meXD She told me about some of the products she tried from Korea/ Hong Kong that were nice so I ended up buying a lot of stuff she recommended to me. It was cheap from Bonjour HK:(

My dad got me a whole lot of stuff from his China and Hong Kong business trip. Let's take a look~

Presents from my dad piled in front of my room

 My dad purchased me practical items. Just like a dad.

He got me some socks for work, a drink bottle, two Rollei UV filters (37mm & 58mm), a 16GB micro SD card for my camera, and a screen protector.

Everything else is stuff I ordered online. The prices were really cheap so I purchased enough to last me for the next six months. Simply because I can:D

This is what I ordered online:

1.) My Beauty Diary 2013 New Year pack; Birds Nest/ Collagen/ Natto/ Aloe masks in a pack of 26 (135 HKD)
2.) My Beauty Diary Black Pearl (54HKD)
3.) My Beauty Diary Strawberry Yoghurt (58HKD)
4.) Daria hair velcro (26HKD)

Before unwrapping.... 

5.) Skin Food Black Sugar Mask Wash off (58HKD; this was on sale! I wanted two, put they only let me order one:/)

6.) Skin Food Rice Mask Wash off (68HKD; ... so I ended up buying two of these because I heard this was also a best seller)

7.) Skin Food Fresh Juice C Serum (105HKD; I actually wanted the Tomato moisturiser, but they were out of stock and the line was discontinued)

8.) Etude House Happy Essential Foam Vitamin C (49HKD; I had initially wanted the Happy Tea Time Cleansing Foam in Green Tea, but that was also discontinued)

After unwrapping...

All in all, this only cost 78AUD. A box of 10 My Beauty Diary sheet masks is $20 in and around the city. The cheapest I've seen it go for is $17, and I was considering buying a box.

I have to say, I like the facial foam the best. It works especially well with the cleansing net I bought from Daiso. I've used the serum quite a bit. I was hoping to get rid off this dark spot on my cheek. However, I did not have high hopes for this product as I have read disappointing reviews but I still wanted to try this whitening serum.

So far, I've seen my face brighten a bit after a week of use with using the rice mask, black sugar mask, and the sheet masks. Missha and The Face Shop masks tingle and make my face itchy though I really enjoyed the Green Tea and the Pomegranate masks.

The My Beauty Diary ones fit well and are comfortable-- unfortunately, I had already placed my order when I purchased a packet of the Earl Grey Tea and Macaroon mask. Otherwise, I may have picked up a box of that one because it smells soooooo good. The Bird's Nest one is also very good^^ The Natto, Black Pearl, and Japanese Cherry Blossom ones are meh to me because they smell the same... but nonetheless, they are all great!

I'm going to focus on pampering myself this year, and work towards my goal for next year! Here's to a late 2013 resolution!