Used Up Beauty Products / Empties #6

It's only been a month since my last empties post... dang, I'm going through products like mad!
Definitely continuing to plow through my samples.

Used Up Beauty Products / Empties #4

Sorry, I've been quite lazy with blogging... work has been keeping me busy, and during the weekends, I just want to enjoy the beautiful Summer weather.

During the months, I've finished a ton of products... so, I figured I would return with an Empties post.  My last empties post was in June!

Acne HG Products

My skin's been hating me lately... with my lack of sleep and off-balanced hormones.  Since I understand the frustrations of acne or hyperpigmentation, I wanted to share my HG products - maybe, it'll be of use for you.

BURT'S BEES Targeted Spot Treatment
It directs you to use it in the morning and night after cleansing--DONT.  Only use this at night when you're definitely not going out until the day after, because it smells like shit.  Even washing your hands with soap won't get rid of the smell.  The smell is so revolting, but the product works amazing.  It's a spot treatment acne product.  I basically use my finger to dap it onto the pimple and just around it.  The skin soaks up the product immediately with 0.75% of Salicyclic Acid.  If I use this, a fresh pimple will disappear within 2 days with no dark marks or scarring (unlike a lot of other acne spot solutions that end up drying the shit out of the pimple and leave you with a dark mark).  The all 100% natural is a plus.  It's a HG, until I find one that does the same stuff without the odour.  (I bought the Body Shop Tea Tree Oil as a possible dupe.  I'm currently trying it out, and will do a full comparison soon).  I get mine for $9.99 USD at Walmart.

A brand that I really depend on is LA ROCHE-POSAY.  In particular, I use their Effaclar line:

It's great for my super sensitive and acne-prone skin.

Thank you to Sandra for introducing the brand for me!


LA ROCHE-POSAY Effaclar A.I. Targeted Breakout Cream Corrector
An awesome spot treatment for individual outbreaks.  Maybe it does an awesome job cleansing or something, without seeming to, but I find that I don't get reoccurring pimples in the same spots anymore.  I like using this on pimples that have already broken out.  The formula like a lotion, white in colour.  It has a super light floral scent.  I usually hate scented products, but I don't mind this one.  The scent resembles the smell of Chanel moisturizers.  I get mine from London Drugs for $20 CAD.

LA ROCHE-POSAY Effaclar Duo

To me, this is a less intensive spot treatment than the A.I.  According to the website, this Duo actually replaces the A.I., but both products are constantly restocked in my local London Drugs.  I find that this is a much lighter formula than the A.I.  I like using it when I can feel a pimple coming soon, and not necessarily when it's already broken out.  It's also great for redness and hyperpigmentation spots.  It is a semi-translucent white gel-type of lotion.  It has the same super light floral scent as the A.I.  I get this for $25 CAD at London Drugs.

To my Canadians:  Tons of LA ROCHE-POSAY packages are currently on sale at London Drugs!

The full sized Duo comes with a free 50 mL tube of the Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel.  The regular price of $25 CAD is marked down to $17.50 CAD, and when it ran through the register, it was only $12.50 CAD!  On the website, the kit is $35.95 USD.

Remember to be extra diligent with your skin cleansing and moisturizing routine when you're experiencing troubled skin!
What do you do or use when you're struggling with your skin?

- M

UPDATE:  July 18, 2012

I've written an updated post on my HG acne products - Read it here.

M's "Teeny" Weekend Haul

I did a little haul today, so I just wanted to show off my stash, teeheehee!

After weeks of research (through blogs, youtube videos, and the general internet), I've finally decided to buy one of the L'OREAL La Couleur Infaillible (27 Goldmine).

I bought it from London Drugs for $8.99 CAD

When you open it up, there's a black disc with a small peg/handle to keep the product compacted.

Gorgeous colour!

Flash and Without Flash swatches.

In both photos, I did a heavier swatch on the left side, and sort of dragged the shadow towards the right side to show a lighter swatch.  The pigmentation is spectacular!

I got oils, and need shit to soak it up.

TARTE Smooth Operator Micronized Clay Finishing Powder (Translucent White)

I bought it from Sephora for $36 CAD.  Looking at the price on the website, it's only $28 USD - WTF.

Here's me spilling some powder out.

Its packaging:

I bought a new ECO TOOLS Bamboo Powder Brush for the powder.

I got this one from London Drugs for $12.99 CAD.

Sandra raves about this acne/breakouts lifesaver brand, so I figured I'll give it a try:

LA ROCHE-POSAY Effaclar Duo.

I bought this from London Drugs for $25 CAD.

The ingredients:

A dab of the product:

and finally,

ESSIE Luxeffects Top Coat (As Gold As It Gets)

I bought this from London Drugs for $9.99 CAD.

It's absolutely gorg!

***

On a side note...
I was at London Drugs' cosmetics area for the longest time ever, so,
I got to test out the entire REVLON ColorBurst Lip Butter collection.

My verdict:  It's good quality (with respect to drug store lip products) and good value (under $10), but it is nowhere close to either Chanel's Coco Shine or YSL's Volupte Sheer Candy collections.  The Lip Butters are exponentially drier and less creamy than the latter.  I'm not trying to be snobby, but if I'm going to be paying a bit more than 1/3 of the price of a Coco Shine, I would rather just save up the other 2/3 for an actual Chanel lip product - especially, if it's nowhere close to a dupe.  Also, why call them such yummy names if you're not going to even make them scented?!  If I had to choose one of the Lip Butters (oh, poor me), Peach Parfait would be my pick - that scent would've been super noms!
Pffft, hype.



Anyway,
I hope you enjoyed the haul pornography!

xoxo, M.

***

Haul Update:  January 29

Over the weekend, I was gawking at the LUSH Valentine's products online, and I had to have the Magic Mushroom Bubble Bar.  They're scented as strawberries and cream - Yum!  Last night, I was polite as non-confrontational as possible to the sales associate, and was rewarded two mushrooms.  I got them for $5.95 CAD each.  Cannot wait to soak in them!!

The only valuable information I got from the sales associate was that they'll keep producing them until Valentine's Day (February 14); after which, they'll just be selling whatever they have left in stock.
Go get them now!

 (I put the bags in the background so you have an idea of the size)

Booourns, Monday tomorrow.