Monthly Empties: February, March & April 2015 & A Personal Update

Somehow I managed to turn it into quarterly empties again, but work and personal life has definitely taken a toll on my time! I just got engaged! ^_^  Even though it's only been a month, so much has already happened. We've taken the plunge and already made an offer for our new home! Hopefully everything will work out so we can move forward and onto home decor. So exciting!

With a new home in the horizon, I really need to start downsizing on everything I own, not only on makeup/skincare but also on clothing and bags and shoes. I'll be posting a lot of items on my Poshmark (@mellie_closet) and on Ebay. Check it out if you're interested, mention my blog and I'll offer 10% discount!

Now I'm really on a mission to empty out more products, there should be more products going into these posts.

February 2015 Monthly Empties 

February we have mostly skincare and samples used up!

Monthly Empties: January 2015

We're off to a very good start for 2015! January called for an end to a lot of products including very rarely seen makeup items! Brace yourself, this is going to be a long ride (on in our case - post =D ).

January 2015 Empties - this Glossybox was definitely overflowing this month

Let's go through the makeup/color items first since I barely ever show any.

Monthly Empties: November & December 2014

Alright, trying not to be too tardy with my monthly empties post this month. November and December wasn't too exciting in terms of products. But I see how much I'm piling for January already, so need to get these 2 months up fast!

November was spent with a week at Turks & Caicos so I ended up using many samples instead.

November 2014 Empties- qiora Face wrap spa mask, Silk Whitia Collagen Moisturizing & Nourishing Eye Mask (review), Korres Body Butter in Guava, Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion, DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew, fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy

My 2014 Beauty Favorites

2014 is coming to a close and a new year is already knocking at the door. Not much to brag about this year in terms of accomplishments but I definitely traveled quite a bit. From Alaska to Turks & Caicos, all new places for me to explore. I guess traveling to all these new places should be considered an accomplishment.

This blog have been much neglected over the years, but I finally gave it's own home! If you haven't noticed, going to melliescloset.com will bring you directly to this blog. No more .blogspot.com. Mellie's Closet is now getting branded! This is now my permanent home to all things girly. I'm getting a little tired of the whole pinky purple theme, maybe I'll work on cleaning up the theme a little bit.

Enough chit chat. time to share my ultimate 2014 Beauty Favorites!  These products aren't necessarily new in 2014 but they are things that I've discovered in 2014 and easily became my everyday staple.

My 2014 Beauty Favorites - SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion $70, Sally Hansen Dries Instantly Top Coat $6, beautyblender Pure $20, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Sticks (discontinued), Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette $58

Looking at this bundle, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette was the only one that launched in 2014. It's a limited edition that contains 2 blushes from their permanent collection and one exclusive color Incandescent Electra. I love love this exclusive shade because it gives the most natural looking pop of color.

Review: My Current Morning Skincare Routine

I recently shared this picture on my Instagram account with my current morning skincare routine. Thought I'll quickly review it here as well and share the correct way of applying SK-II's Facial Treatment Essence.

Current Morning Skincare Routine featuring SK-II, Clinique, Estee Lauder and Equitance

These are all the products I use every morning now - I don't normally use a cleanser in the morning so it's not included. After washing my face with water and towel dried, I use a cotton pad, soak about a quarter size of the SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion and lightly wipe my whole face with it. Then I follow up with the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence by pouring a few drops onto the palm of my hand and then patting/pressing it all over my face. Depending on the consistency of the serum of the day, I'll debate on whether to apply the eye cream or serum next. Lately I've been testing out the Equitance Brightening Serum + Spot Corrector, which is a thicker formula so I apply my Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector first. This eye cream provides some light coverage to conceal my dark circles and will help de-puff and swelling around the eye. After the serum, I would spot treat any blemish and active breakout that I have with the Clinique Acne Solution Clinical Clearing Gel. Everything is finished off with a light moisturizer preferably something with broad spectrum SPF - the Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Face & Neck Cream gives off a pearlescent glow without being too shimmery.


I'm thinking doing a more detailed review on SK-II products since I've been spending so much money on them lately.  And will definitely share my daily night routine as well.

How does your morning routine look like? Does it contain any of these goodies?


P.S. The Equitance Brightening Serum + Spot Corrector was sent for me to review by Influenster.

Monthly Empties: 1st Qtr 2014

Time to share what has been showing up in my Glossybox at the end of the month. Sadly it really has turned into quarterly empties post, but I'm working on it!

January 2014 Monthly Empty

January of 2014 was a pretty boring month. Only 3 items emptied out, but I finally finished my Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing Emulsion (and yes this is the old packaging so you know how long it's been sticking around!)

Monthly Empties: 4Q 2013

Sad to say that my monthly empties turned into a quarterly empties post! I just haven't been able to finish enough products I suppose, which is not good as I've accumulated so much more products this quarter. ::raises fist to Sephora VIB sales::

First up is the Oct 2013 empties. I can probably even nickname this the toner empties month.

Oct 2013 Monthly Empties

Monthly Empties - April & May 2013

Hello everybody! It's been a while since I did my regular postings. Scroll all the way down if you want to read a quick update from me and see what I've been up to. =) Now since I skipped a month, I present you Monthly Empties for April & May!

I had meant to write a April Empties post, but never got a chance to writing it, so there are individual monthly pictures. As promised in my March empties, this month was emptying bottles of skincare!

April 2013 Empties

Skincare Haul - Spring 2012

Also somewhat of a back log of haul pictures, I want to share some of the skincare products I bought last season. Reviews should be going up very soon as I've tested these products for months now! Stay tuned!

Splurge a little at imomoko.com after learning about their 20% off SK-II sale. I've been reading so much about the brand. Many Asian celebrities refer to their Facial Treatment Essence as "Heavenly Water". So I tried a value pack!

imomoko Haul

SK-II Pitera Essence Set

SK-II Pitera Essence Set which includes the famous Facial Treatment Essence 75ml, the Facial Treatment Clear Lotion 40 ml and a Facial Treatment Mask. This set alone has over $100 worth of products but with the 20% off coupon, I paid $68! I'm not sure how much I like it so far. I'll let you know soon!

Skin79 Super Plus BB Cream Gold

To qualify for the free shipping, I also picked Jen's (FrmHeadToToe) favorite Skin79 BB Cream Gold 40g. This was $16.80 after discount, I see them selling for less on Amazon right now. I gotta admit though, this is working wonders! I think I like this even more than my Missha Perfect Cover.

Beauty.com's Friends & Family sale runs several times a year so I decided not to wait for the Urban Decay F&F and snatched up their new eyeshadow.

Urban Decay Build Your Own Palette

With Suspect & YDK

The Build Your Own palette itself is $18 and comes with a brush and shadow in Walk of Shame. I never tried the original Urban Decay single eyeshadows, but these go on super smooth. I do notice that they crease after a long day, so you definitely need to use primer with it. So this palette cost me $18+$18+$18= $54 - 20% off = $43.20. Not too bad.

Last but not least (when do I ever stop), Lord & Taylor is probably the only department store that runs a Friends & Family Sale off on cosmetics as well. 10% off all cosmetics during their F&F sale in July. I took advantage to get some new skincare after hearing Holly at HollyAnnaeree's channel regarding Dior's DiorSnow line.

Lord & Taylor's DiorSnow Haul

I bought the Dior DiorSnow D-NA White Reveal Essence at $117 (originally $130)!!!! Targeted at Asian women, this serum is supposed to have brightening and scar lightening properties. We'll see how that goes. I also got coaxed into purchasing the line's UV Shield BB Creme at $45 (originally $50). This is definitely a big step up of my regular BB creams. But there was some payoff, with these purchases I got a really nice gift set.

The gift comes in a pretty white leather zipped pouch with deluxe sizes of the White Reveal Fresh Creme & Essence, as well as the Capture Totale Super Serum. These are great keeping in mind that this whole purchase qualifies for the Dior Diva rewards ( I reviewed the 2 that I've received here and here).

Enough of my hauling, I should be posting some reviews soon. Until next time!

Sasa Beauty Shopping Haul Mar 2010

 

Sasa.com Beauty Shopping Haul Mar 2010

My sasa.com haul finally delivered today! >.< UGH....  Waited for it for almost 1 FULL month! I ordered on March 14! Funny thing was, it was supposed to be on US grounds on March 21! So what was it doing just sitting there at the airport?! THIS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>!!!!!

 

Beauty Formulas FACE & BODY Cooling Mist (75 ml Aerosol Spray) - $1.90

I forgot that the package was shipping from Hong Kong, aerosol cans would have a problem on the plane. =(  I would never have bought this if I realized it'll make my order arrive almost 3 weeks later! Notice the top of the Cooling Mist has a messed up sticker, the spray can LEAKED! And more than half the bottle was GONE! Thank goodness it was nicely bubbled wrapped, so nothing else was destroyed. =(

I bought this Beauty Formulas FACE & BODY Cooling Mist as a cheaper alternative to Evian's Mineral Water Spray Duo To Go (1.7oz for each spray for $12.00). Here's a quick review of me testing what's left of the spray. One pump of the mist actually sprays out too much. The water is lightly scented though the can only lists distilled water as the ingredient. But it does feel really nice after spraying on my face. My makeup/BB cream was already wearing off and started looking cakey when I came home after work, but after patting in the mist water, my face instantly looked nice and dewy and fresh! =) Now I'm seriously considering getting the Evian Duo, even if it means paying $6.00 for 1.7 oz of water in a can. =P

 

SK-II WHITENING SOURCE Derm-Renewal Essence (2.8 g) compared to my index finger!! - $3.70

Another very disappointing purchase from this order: SK-II WHITENING SOURCE Derm-Renewal Essence (2.8 g) $3.70. My goodness I never knew that 2.8 g can be THAT small. There's not that much product in this teeny bottle. Probably only enough for me to sample for a handful of times.

Anyway, the only reason I shopped at sasa.com in the first place was for the Silk Whitia masks that fuzkittie swears on. =)  And with their Buy 1 Get 1 Free sale on these masks, its definitely a bargain.

Overall, the site was very easy to use. Haha, at least it was real English. And they have translations for their reviews too! The packaging was perfect, EVERYTHING was bubble-wrapped. Just make sure you don't buy any aerosol cans! Unless you're willing to wait and want to risk losing half the product.
Coupons/Sales for Sasa.com

• Free Shipping on all orders over $75
• Buy One Get One Free on Silk Whitia Masks!
• Free Samples with orders (I got 20 pcs of comestic cotton pads from the Sasa brand)
• Loyalty program that gets you cute free stuff!