2017 Quarterly Empties - Quarter One and Two

I'm forging ahead with my quarterly empties efforts but have two lumped in together for this post, covering the first half of the year. Being pregnant threw off my brain a little bit but I kept all of my empties for this late post! I'm definitely buying a lot less than I used to and finishing/giving away products more often so I think a pared down stash is becoming more possible for me than ever before.

 HAIR

Still very boring in the hair stakes over here, I'm loving the Cedel shampoo as it really does soothe my scalp and I'm planning on stockpiling it for later on. I also really liked the L'Oreal conditioner as it left my hair really soft and the packaging is gorgeous.

 

Would repurchase: Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo, Cedel Anti-Dandruff Medicated Shampoo, L'Oreal Elvive Volume Collagen Conditioner

Probably wouldn't repurchase: Garnier Fructis Instant Melt-In Mask, Awapuhi Mango Moisturising Conditioner

  

MAKEUP 

I'm really pleased to have finished the MAC MSFN and enjoyed using it, but I'm interested in trying out other powders once I've rotated through all the ones I've hoarded in my makeup drawers over the years. Right now I'm back onto an old Maybelline Dream Matte powder (remember those?!) that needs to be finished and is showing some major pan. The gel eyeliner dried up and the lip crayon sadly fell apart soon after purchase, and I'm not going to bother trying to depot it or anything like that so out it goes. 

Would repurchase: MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural, essence Gel Eyeliner, Skindinavia makeup Finishing Spray, Max Factor Masterpiece Glamour Extensions Mascara*

Probably wouldn't repurchase: Face of Australia Sundae Sheer Gloss Lip Crayon

SHOWER

Those Palmolive body butter body washes are decadent and smell amazing, despite the confusing name. Peppermint Crush is just stunning and I want to get a bottle to use in the festive season this year! I made an effort to pull out some travel sized shower gels to show them some love rather than hoarding them away - I used the Sweet Magnolia and Clementine while in Queensland and it was lovely. The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea collection was nice to use, and while the Grown Alchemist Pearl, Peppermint & Ylang Ylang body exfoliant comes in a stunning metal tube but I just found it a bit too tricky to squeeze out each time I showered.

Would repurchase: Palmolive body washes, Original Source shower gels, Bath & Body Works shower gels, The Body Shop shower gels, Priceline Body Scrub (sadly discontinued)  

Probably wouldn't repurchase: The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Body Scrub (not scrubby enough for me) Grown Alchemist Pearl Peppermint & Ylang Ylang Body Exfoliant

 FRAGRANCE 

Loved everything Mr and I used up in this category - both of the male products were nice and didn't annoy my sensitive pregnant nose, and I thoroughly enjoyed using the body spray as well as the beautiful Vivienne Westwood perfume (that packaging though, swoon!)

Would repurchase: Old Spice Denali Body Spray, Ralph Lauren Polo Blue*, Bath & Body Works Wild Madagascan Vanilla Fragrance Mist, Vivienne Westwood Flirty Alice perfume*

 SKINCARE

I was impressed by so many of these products - the L'Oreal moisturiser was so luxe and reminiscent of Lancome products in so many ways, and I unexpectedly fell for the La Clinica Anti-Aging Cleansing Oil which my skin just adored. It smelt quite strongly of a florist which put me off at first, but the effect on the skin was unbeatable and I will definitely be looking into buying this product down the line. I used up the small tub of The Body Shop body butter as my first foray into tummy moisturisation after purchasing a gift set at a thrift store (hence all of the Fuji products in this post!)

Would repurchase: L'Oreal Skin Perfection Moisturiser, La Clinica Anti-Aging Cleansing Oil*, The Body Shop Body Butter (probably in a different scent next time though) Origins Modern Friction, Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil

Probably wouldn't repurchase: Dove Go Fresh Face Cleanser*, Burt's Bees Radiance Facial Cleanser with Royal Jelly*, Neutrogena Makeup Removing Wipes*, Josie Maran Pure Argan Milk

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Glad to have finally posted these empties, now to continue making my way through some more products to whittle down my stash and try new things! 

Emma x

*Products provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

Mister Bovary's Current Favourites

When it comes to my husband, low-key is the perfect way to describe him! Since I've slowly been working beauty products into his routine he has enough of a product pool to pick some favourites for me, so here is his inaugural current favourites post! 

Scent is a driving factor for so many of his favourites, so it makes sense that two of his favourites are aftershaves! His very favourite is Polo Red by Ralph Lauren, but he recently hijacked my bottle of Calvin Klein CK2* that is marketed as a unisex fragrance. It doesn't mesh all that well with me but he loves the oceanic scent on himself so I was happy to let him take over use of the bottle.

Another seemingly random favourite of his? Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist, which smells divine and is another item we 'share' but that he uses more of by far. He loves that it relaxes him and his skin drinks it up, plus I love the cool mist and luxurious scent right before bed every evening.

He hardly ever does anything to his hair (beanies are his newfound love!) but when he does it's all about the MUK Hard Muk Styling Mud, which is a firm paste that tousles his short hair perfectly. I buy him the 2 pack when it goes on special at Hairhouse Warehouse so we always have it on the go for special occasions. Staples in his routine are his beloved Rexona (we share as I prefer the male selection to the floral and sweet female deodorants!) and the Biore Pore Strips - grossly satisfying, am I right?

Is your man into primping or preening? What is his favourite product? Is there anything cool you think I should buy for Mister to try out and review for you?
-Emma x


*Product provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

Week In Perfume - March 2015

It wasn’t until I switched my beauty room from one spare room to the other that I realised how many perfume bottles I actually own (hint: a ridiculous amount!) What makes this fact even worse is that more often than not I forget to apply a spritz from a bottle before I head out the door, relying on my Travalo purse atomizer to keep me smelling sweet throughout the day. At the moment it’s filled with Vivienne Westwood’s ‘Flirty Alice’ so that is getting a good workout, but I thought it was time to rotate and show some love to other scents in my fragrance wardrobe. Here are the scents I wore last week!

Saturday 21^st March - Vivienne Westwood 'Flirty Alice'*

“Embodying the flirtatious charm of the Westwood heroine, this composition begins with fresh and sparkling citrus notes of bergamot accented by aquatic shades of green tea. Its feminine heart captures the scent of rose buds that are ready to bloom. Vanilla and blonde woods blend in the carefree base of the perfume.” (Fragrantica notes)

This is definitely my fallback perfume at the moment, it’s light and easy to wear but still has a bit of spunk about that I think comes from the citrus tones in the fragrance. I feel as though my nose can tell this isn’t an affordable fragrance and that it’s been made by a designer brand, which I also tend to really like. Despise the name but adore the perfume!

Sunday 22nd March - Elizabeth and James 'Nirvana White'

“Both [Nirvana] perfumes are described as sensual, edgy and mysterious. Nirvana White is a musky - floral fragrance composed of peony, lily of the valley and musk…” (Fragrantica notes)

This is a strong, sexy floral scent that reminds me of many of the Stella McCartney scents that Mumma Bovary wears. It’s a punch of fragrance and I love it for that, just wish I had’ve bought the full bottle on our honeymoon! If you follow me on Pinterest you might have noticed my undeniable obsessed with the Olsen family – they can do no wrong in my eyes!

Monday 23^rd March - Benefit ‘So Hooked on Carmella’

“So Hooked on Carmella by Benefit is a Oriental Floral fragrance for women... launched in 2010. Top notes are grapefruit, amalfi lemon and rhubarb; middle notes are tiare flower, peony and cyclamen; base notes are sandalwood, amber and vanilla.” (Fragrantica notes)

This is all about the vanilla and amber for me – my two favourite notes in any fragrance! This induces headaches almost immediately in Mumma Bovary so I can’t wear it around her, but Mister and I love a good strong sweet vanilla scent so I adore this cute perfume.

Tuesday 24^th March – 'Lolavie' by Jennifer Aniston

“Lolavie by Jennifer Aniston is a Floral fragrance for women. Lolavie was launched in 2010. Top notes are citruses and rose; middle notes are jasmine, violet and lily; base notes are musk, sandalwood and amber.” (Fragrantica notes)

Back again with a white floral amber, I just can’t seem to help myself when it comes to scents like this. I originally had this on my wishlist after seeing Allison Andersen (Amarixe on YouTube) talk about it in some videos and I ended up buying this little travel bottle in Vegas and wearing it through our whole holiday. I love how scents can bring back such strong memories with ease!

Wednesday 25th March - Ralph Lauren 'Midnight Romance'*

“Passions are awoken by raspberry, Italian bergamot and juicy litchi in top of the composition; the heart encompasses seductive peony, sambac jasmine and freesia warmed with a sexy blend of black vanilla, ambroxan and iris absolute.” (Fragrantica notes)

I’m not sure that this sweet and fruity scent awakens passions in me, but I can see where they were going with it. This reminds me of Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose which also has peony and vanilla, but in this Ralph Lauren scent I feel like a bit of blackcurrant comes through alongside the litchi/lychee aspect of the fruit notes.

Thursday 26^th March -Demeter ‘Daffodil’*

“Daffodils come in many types and variations. We chose the Poeticus Daffodil for the heart of Demeter's Daffodil, creating a light, almost playful floral scent with hints of greenery. Very feminine and slightly sweet, Daffodil is in the tradition of other Demeter florals that are inspired by the living flower, not a concentrated, perfumed version of Daffodil.” (Demeter Fragrance Library notes)

Mumma Bovary’s favourite flowers are daffodils and mine are jonquils, so it made sense to choose this fragrance to test from MU Australia when they reached out to me. I definitely sense the ‘greener’ aspect of this and it doesn’t really smell as strongly as a jonquil flower (which is probably better for most people as they find it too strong, but the scent happens to be my all-time favourite natural scent!!) I love how original and inventive Demeter fragrances are!

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I found changing up my perfume everyday a really positive experience, it was great to use unloved bottles and it has made me notice trends in my scent wardrobe which I think will be helpful when I decide to buy another bottle of the pricy juice. My favourite picks from the week would have to be ‘Nirvana White’ and ‘So Hooked on Carmella’ – the sweet and strong prevail, it seems!

What perfumes have you been wearing this week?

-Emma

*Provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

May Empties

I'm not finished up as many make-up items as I'd like to, and I think it is because the only things close to being finished are things I don't want to be without=( I despise limited edt/discontinued favourites, always breaking my heart. Anyway, on goes the empties!

*Treacle Moon 'That Vanilla Moment' body scrub 225ml- Am reviewing this shortly, love it!
*Priceline Round Cotton Pads- a make-up bag necessity, have repurchased.
*Dove Silk Dry Deodorant with moisture cream '24hr'- didn't find this to work all that well, won't repurchase
*Scarlett, Cacharel EDT sample,1.5ml-Nice, but nothing amazing for me
*Romance by Ralph Lauren- liked this, but Mum wears it so I'll leave it to her to rock
*Maybelline Falsies mascara- Dried up quite a bit and got 'crunchy', byebye. Loved it,though. Review here
*Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash sample,29ml- fragrance free and a little too bleh for me

Have my fingers crossed I get thru more in June. Have you tried any of this months empties?
emmabovary  x