Empties : Skincare {May 2020 - March 2021}

My title is a mess but I hope you get the point.

So, what I'm about to do is basically review the skincare products that I'd been using up until March 2021. I'm talking about the absolute necessary and nothing more. I purchased these products nearly a year ago and had been using them every day, until I ran out.

It's down to the basics. Cleanser. Moisturizer. Sunscreen. Okay, and a little something-something extra.

CLEANSER

La Roche-Posay - Effaclar Gel Moussant Purifiant

400 ml

This was my cleanser for both day and night. When I double-cleansed because of wearing makeup, this was my second-step cleanser, as it isn't oil based. It's in clear gel form. You just put it on your palm, mix it with some water and work it in your hands for a few seconds before putting it on your face. It left my skin feeling clean, but not that squeaky-clean-and-kinda-pulling-my-face feeling. Overall it was a great gentle cleanser for me and my oily, acne prone skin. Did it do any wonders? No, but it was certainly nice.

TREATMENT

La Roche-Posay - Effaclar Duo (+)

40 ml

This was actually what I was searching for and then I got around to adding anything else to my cart. Basically, I was looking for a miracle and after hours of browsing, I thought that I found it. This is supposed to help fade scars and discolouration, which I very much needed. On La Roche-Posay's site it was recommended that I use this little cream along with the gel cleanser, so I was sold on that duo.

I've read multiple reviews describing this as a little miracle, but I unfortunately didn't get to experience it. It was back before my acne treatment, when I was at my worst, so I don't really think anything could have saved me at this point. I had so much going on my face, that I wasn't expecting it just to be gone in an instant. So, no, I'm not mad at this product. Quite the opposite, actually.

Since I put this all over my face, that was so distressed, I couldn't actually tell if there was any improvement or not. I remember having a new pimple scar on my forehead and I thought "This is it". I decided to keep track of only what it would do to that particular part of my face. And I did witness it fading out gradually in the next few days, so I guess it did exactly what it claimed. I would be interested to give it another chance, perhaps when my skin won't be so inflamed. (As you can see I desperately want it to work for me, still)

MOISTURIZER

CeraVe - Moisturizing Cream

177 ml

After all the fuss about CeraVe, I decided to kick off with this. Even though it's meant for dry to very dry skin, I purchased it under the influence of Hyram (if you don't know him and you're into skincare, you should check him out). I used it after I cleansed in the morning, perhaps 1-2 during the day when I felt extremely dry in some areas and at night. Sometimes, I used something else to moisturize during the night, which I felt was stronger (Bio Oil Gel, but we'll talk about it another time). I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least. I felt a change from the very first times I used it. It is a pretty viscous cream, it feels rich and hydrating for the skin. You can definitely feel it doing something to it and it's also a plus that it gets absorbed pretty quickly as well. Would definitely buy again.

SUN SCREEN

FrezyDerm - Sun Screen Velvet Face SPF50+

50 ml

Paraben Free 

If this was sold as a primer, I'd thoroughly believe that claim. This is an amazing sunscreen, one you can barely feel on your skin. It's a clear, gel-like formula, which makes your skin feel texture-less,  resembling a light, matte veil on the skin, as it gets absorbed immediately, indeed feeling like velvet. I should mention that it is also available with colour in it, but I chose the clear one. I strongly believe it's a great primer underneath makeup, as you can barely feel any skin texture, adding to the fact that your skin is very much protected. It neither gets oily, runny not does it leave a whitecast on. Would recommend for all skin types and ages.

P.S. I have to point out that these products lasted me about 10 monts, apart from the Effaclar Duo (+). Unfortunately, I didn't keep track of when I ran out. In addition to that, I wasn't only using this particular sunscreen, so that's why it lasted so much. 

xox,

Eva

March 2021 Empties

HAIR

ORZENE Beer Everyday Care Shampoo (for normal hair) 750ml

Oh, to say I'm in love with this would be an understatement. Having fine and oily hair, this saved me. After using a certain shampoo each time for a long period of time, my strands tend to "get used to" the product and so it doesn't work all that well for me and I have to switch it up every now and then. But not with this shampoo. Admittedly, the formula is dry, sometimes even for me. I cannot get away without using a conditioner with this one, since I can feel the lack of moisture in my hair. You may want to opt for another version of this, more fitted to your needs, as it isn't a one-fits-all. Don't even get me started on the scent. It is right up my street and I have noticed that it is durable as well. I can even smell it the next day. I'm already almost halfway through my second bottle.

L'Oréal Elvive Total Repair 5 Repairing Conditioner 200ml

Tried this conditioner whilst using the Orzene Beer Shampoo and I have to say I like the combo. It doesn't grease my hair, I feel them nourished and I'd also like to say that it has a faint scent to it. Might be wrong, I just feel like it does. It's notable that the bottle is 100% made from recycled ingredients and is also 100% recyclable. The formule doesn't contain any animal derived ingredients, but the brand can't be considered cruelty free, because it's in mainland China's market.

BODY

Cera di Cupra Ricetta di Bellezza Plus Hand Cream 75ml

You know that watery/moist/sweaty feeling you get in your hands when you use a hand cream? The "I can't touch anything for the next 3 hours" feeling? Well, I don't, since I started using this one. It gets absorbed momentarily, leaving your hands moisturized but not moist, if that makes any sense. It contains beeswax and that's supposed to help with antiaging. It has a fresh, vanilla scent, which I love. Definitely a must-have, especially with all that hand sanitizer on our hands daily.

Byly Marine Brise Deodorant Cream 30ml

If you're like me, roll-on deodorants are just not your cup of tea and I respect that. Since I tried cream deodorants, I simply haven't looked back -except for rare occasions-. Don't be fooled by the looks of it, it lasts a long time. You need the tiniest amount. Seriously, don't overdo it. This specific deodorant creamm is odorless. It claims to be antiperspirant and I do feel like it's pretty good at it. It doesn't feel sticky, it doesn't slip and slide or generally do anything bad. You just put a bit on, spread it and it is immediately absorbed. This isn't the first time I've tried it, since I've been using it for years. I only recently found out that there are diffent versions of it, though. So I can only speak about the marine one. Definitely worth a shot.

Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Lotion 200ml

If you're looking for a body lotion with a gliding scent, this is for you. It's not one of those that just goes away in an instant. It's rich, moisturizing and strong but not to the point that's bothering the person wearing it. I was under the impression that it smelt like coconut, even though it's supposed to be cocoa butter. Whatever it is, I like it on me. It's only oily for a minute and then you can't feel it on your skin. I love how you can smell it the next day. I find that not many body lotions are that durable. Would purchase again.

Johnson's Body Wash Vita-Rich Smoothies with Yogurt, Peach & Coconut 750ml

The name might be a mouthful and the scent will fill your nostrils up, that's for sure. This fells rich, the texture is nice and smooth and the scent fills up the whole bathroom. It feels luxurious and moisturizing. It's intense and relaxing at the same time. I really do sniff my arms. Is that weird? Probably. But you can smell it the next day and as you have guessed, I'm a fan of that.

Once again, everything mentioned is on the affordable side, which makes the products all the more worthy. And I do mean on the really affordable side. It's basically a steal and you are basically forced to try them. No pressure.

xox, 

Eva

20 things I learned in 2020

 or should I say "I was reminded of"? Either way, here it is

1. Everything can change in a single heartbeat

This year, if anything, has been a proof of that. All it took was a hot second for the whole world to be condemned to an international crisis, as if it wasn't in one already.

My skin journey: the background & the intro

Clarification : This is all about my point of view, how I deal with the process and my decisions. I am in no way, shape or form telling you how to act, feel or deal with any skin problem you may be having. 

 So, while everyone is inside and we're experiencing a second lockdown and it's mandatory to be wearing a mask everywhere (in Greece, at least), why not use this time to treat my skin? That'd make a difference when the mask's finally off, now, wouldn't it?

the background

 All jokes aside, after lots of thought and mental preparation for the most part, I decided to finally treat my acne with medication (meaning pills) since nothing else seemed to be working effectively before that. I've beel dealing with acne for years, from small bumps here and there when I was younger, to severe cystic acne now that I'm older.

 For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, cystic acne is a type of localized inflamation formed when oil ducts become clogged and subsequently ruptured. These "bumps" (cysts) are formed underneath the epidermis (so you cannot pop them even if you'd want to... which you shouldn't. Keep your hands off your face!) and at least in my experience can be painful. I got cysts that I could do nothing about and several times they would swell so much, that my skin covering them would get really "thin", so it would pop when I'd wash my face and it got messy, to put it lightly. So yes, that was painful.

 During my finals in high school, it had come to a point where it'd hurt a lot because I was so inflamed. Stress is a funny thing and it can mess up your whole body. But since that was close to summertime, I couldn't be prescribed the treatment (these pills make your skin really sensitive to light, among other things, so it shouldn't be done during the summer time).

 Instead, my dermatologist prescribed me some antibiotics, along with a gel called Epiduo (with benzoyl peroxide) for my skin. At the same time, I used a liquid medicated soap called Ampitasol (with triclosan) to cleanse my face. I stopped using that shortly after summer began, as I noticed that my skin would burn after I had used that and then I'd dipped into the sea.

 During the hottest months of the year and with the help of the sea as well, my skin improved. The antibiotics did everything they could, along with the gel as well. The gel had a really nice finish on my skin, leaving it feeling smoother, as if there was a light veil on it and texture was minimized. Everything wasn't ideal, but it was for sure better than it was before.

 And then Uni rolled by. Don't get me wrong, University wasn't so stressful after all, but the exams at the end of the first semester sure were. I wasn't sleeping properly, I was under pressure because I wanted to ace my exams and everything was a little too much for me. So here I was again, just as inflamed as I was half a year ago.

 I did nothing during my first year in Uni to fix that. I didn't expect for my face to break out so much because of the exams. Then corona came in at the start of the second semester, then summer again and... here we are.

 To say that I was nervous would be an understatement as the day of my dermatologist appointment approached. I was nervous that he'd find a way around giving my the medication I was so convinced would be the only solution. I'd spent so much time worrying about the pills and the side effects and now I was so ready to get them and get this over with, it's ironic, really.

the intro

 So I needed to get some blood tests done and since those turned out good, I was ready to begin with my treatment. I need to get tested every month. I'm aware of several possible side effects, some more sure to appear than others.

 The way this goes is that because of the treatment you start to break out. A lot. Your skin is letting out everything that's basically been hiding underneath. Then, your skin gets really dry. Every drop of oil leaves your skin -that's why hydrating and moisturizing is key-. The lack of oil/moisture affects your lips (chapped lips), hair (it won't get oily/greasy as easily), eyes perhaps (dry eyes) etc. The point is that your pimples get dried out and they are gone. There could be more intense side effects like nausea, heaches, rise of cholesterole, recrudescence or appearance of signs of depression and more, which would lead to an abrupt end to the treatment. That's why it is so important to always keep in touch with your doctors and letting them in on the situation. Tests are frequent and so are doctor's appointments. 

P.S. #1 : This kind of treatment is only prescribed by a dermatologist after having tried all the other methods (gels, creams, soaps ointments, even antibiotics) and having them fail. It is not "the easy way" to "just stop breaking out". It is also likely that this treatment won't end your suffering, as it may not work for you the first time. Don't mess around with medication.

P.S. #2 : I will be dedicating a lot of articles on the subject here, on my blog and on my Instagram account as well, so make sure you follow me there.

xox, 

Eva

The easiest way to clean your makeup brushes and sponges

 ... and the most affordable as well

It's no secret that the process of cleaning your makeup equipment isn't the most fun thing in the world. What also shouldn't be a secret is that you have to do it approximately once a week. If not, bacteria gets built up between the bristles of the brushes (or on the surface/inside of the sponge) and eventually ends up on your face, resulting to irritation and break outs.

For brushes

What you need

• a makeup cleaning pad or mat

I highly recommend getting one in case you haven't. The silicone surface of these tools is made for getting between the bristles the way your hand never could and removes any type of makeup left in there. Rubbing the brush on your hand could remove some makeup but unfortunately not all of it. These tools can be found at an affordable price, so don't stress about having to splurge.

• brush cleanser

Well, technically, you could use one. Is it necessary? No. Could it be good? Yes. Why don't you try with a gentle hand soap first? Chances are that it will be equally as effective and you won't need to purchase something you don't really need.

What to do

1. Wet the brush
2. Cover it with a bit of gentle hand soap
3. Rub that on the special equipment
4. Rinse with plenty of water

he ideal way for a brush to dry is upside down (the bristles facing downwards), so the water leaves it with its natural shape. I personally have found that laying them on a kitchen paper doesn't affect their shape but it's up to you.

 

For sponges

What you need

• a mug / a bowl
• some water
• some olive oil
• a microwave

What to do

1. Fill the mug/bowl with water about half way through
2. Put the makeup sponge inside the mug
3. Put it in the microwave for 30 sec
4. Wait a minute or two before you take it out so you don't burn yourself
5. Mix a bit of olive oil with the gentle hand soap you have and cover the sponge
6. Rinse with plenty of water

Putting your sponge in the microwave really helps to sterilize it and to get rid off all the excess bacteria that isn't visible. The olive oil along with the soap dissolve the makeup left on the sponge. It works wonders! You may need to cover it up with that mixture 1-3 times before it's truly clean. Do it until nothing comes off the sponge and you're good to go!

Additionally, I want to point out that, since I'm not an expert and I don't do my makeup on a regular basis (e.g. every day), I believe in finding pretty good brushes on a bargain. I wouldn't splurge on high-end equipment, as I wouldn't get my money's worth. Maybe sometime in the future, when I decide to invest more in my kit, I will consider it, but now it's not for me. So, I would advise you to look out for good quality and a reasonable price to your liking.

 

xox,

Eva 

Nail Art : Ombre Mani

Huge trend that has blown up for quite some time that I just recently decided to try for myself? Well that has to be the ombre mani one. I think it is the rightful successor of the "each nail a different colour" scheme, right after the all-pastel-nails, all-neon-nails and all that preceded it.

So the idea behind this is that you paint each nail with a different colour (duh). You're supposed to stick to a colour of choice and then play with different hues. That creates the gradient effect of an ombre, each nail being darker (or lighter, depends on how you see it) than the one next to it.

I posted some stories about my take on it (make sure you follow me on Instagram) which was more one the mauve/berry side. These are the exact nail lacquers I used in case you're interested.

• sixteen cosmetics Long Lasting Nail Polish 60" Fast Dry {couldn't find the code, but it's the same as the 50" version #708 (11 ml) }
• AVON Gel Shine Nail Enamel - "Mauvelous" / P808 (10 ml)
• AVON Gel Shine Nail Enamel - "Very Berry" / P814 (10 ml)
• sixteen cosmetics Long Lasting Nail Polish 50" Fast Dry - #637 (11 ml)
• sixteen cosmetics Long Lasting Nail Polish 50" Fast Dry - #600 (11 ml)
• DUST&CREAM Top Coat - #001 (12 ml)

Here's some inspiration for you before you give it a go yourself, if it seems like your thing and in case you haven't already tried it out

Totally personal preference, but I think I like this trend more on short nails. But go ahead and prove me wrong, rock it with every possible length and shape combo.

August 2020 Empties

So, after-summer-decluttering is surely a thing I tend to do and once again took place as soon as I came back from my summer vacation. I found a few things I'd like to share my view on.

FACE

bioten Skin Moisture 24hour Moisturizing Gel Cream Normal/Combination Skin 50ml

Vegan & Cruelty free

I actually purchased this moisturizing cream as I have combination skin (oily with some dry areas and acne prone as well). I loved the fact that it was a gel cream and it doesn't sit on the skin, but instead it absorbs really easily. It leaves the face feeling refreshed and has a cooling effect. The only con is that I think it may be too light for me. The dryness I have on my nose is at an extent that after my skin kind of "got used to" this cream (it happens with basically every product, so I don't blame the product itself), it stopped being "effective" on that area. Also, the quantity is okay, but it is a really affordable product so I shouldn't complain. I moisturize my face religiously, so it didn't take that long for me to run out of it. Nevertheless, I would recommend it to everyone not as dry (since it is meant for normal/combination skin).

AVON TRUE nutra effects Gentle Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Remover 200ml

I'm going to be honest and say that I used it all over the face and I absolutely loved it. It has an oily texture that removes pretty much anything without leaving the skin feeling oily. It breaks down every mascara and liquid lipstick I've ever put on without much of an effort. Once you rinse, the only thing there's left behind is your skin feeling soft. I actually avoided using cotton pads altogether with this. Instead, I poured it in my hands and gently removed my makeup with circular motions. 

*As of 2020 Avon is cruelty free and some of their products are vegan. Seeing as I bought this a while ago and just recently ran out of it (a little bit goes a long way!), I cannot find if this is a vegan and/or cruelty free formula.

BODY

Victoria's Secret Amber Romance Fragrance Mist 250ml

I got this one along with the corresponding lotion and I definitely saw a difference between the two. The mist had a great smell, really fruity, lightweight one that I loved. In my experience, I think the smell was stronger and more longwearing in the beginning than it was as I approached the bottom of the bottle. I noticed that, during higher temperatures, it wouldn't last half as much on the skin, especially without the lotion underneath. Although, I do have to state that I generally use more lotions than mists during the summer because I find that they last more on my skin and thus I prefer them. I'd definitely keep that for the winter months to give you that summery feeling.

Victoria's Secret Amber Romance Fragrance Lotion 236ml

Truth is I'm almost out of it, there's a bit left, but I decided to review it along with the mist. As I already mentioned, I prefer this one -love it, actually-, because there's absolutely nothing bad to say about it. The smell is exquisite, it lasts a long time without being too much, but is rather subtle and lovely. I find that it made the mist pop, truly moisturized and softened the skin and was honestly my go-to for such a long time. You don't need a lot but be prepared to be using it every day. It's definitely a must try, if you're browsing through the VS lotions and mists. 

Both of them have a special, sweet smell. Apart from amber, I can distinguish sandalwood (which I love), along with vanilla and sugar. 

b.u. Heartbeat Eau de Toilette 50ml

I'm not one to have a signature perfume, so I love trying out different scents here and there, especially light ones for every day use. This one is exactly it. It's ideal for everyday, it's not an overpowering scent that will fill your nostrils or be disturbing in any way. It has a powdery vanilla scent and I found that to be my go-to every morning.

ZARA Nuit Eau de Parfum 100ml

I believe the packaging has changed in this one, but don't mind me saying that I really liked the dark vibes it had that fit the scent idealy. I rarely found myself wearing it in the morning, since it has a strong smell that drives me to using during night-outs. In my opinion it's a wintery scent, for sure, since I was never drawn to wearing this in the summer. If anything, I believe it smells like amber along with vanilla and baby powder. It has a really dark, strong, sophisticated, feminine vibe that I adored.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that it went on for hours, since it was "just a ZARA perfume". Definitely going to be looking for more surprises like this one from now on!

I should also mention that every single product in this Empties article is on the affordable side. It's a pleasant surprise finding every day products at such low prices.