1000 HOUR Hair Mascara, Dark Brown, 26 g

I've been using this product for years. It is meant to be used to mask showy greys on the part line or temples area, but I mostly use it as eyebrow groomer and tint. As such is one of my fav beauty staples. The colour I use is dark brown, however, the last dark brown container I got before this one differs both in container colour and tint colour. This container looks more black than brown, but 'dark brown' is clearly written on it. I thought it would be just the container. However, the tint inside is as dark, and looks more  black than brown. You can see  my photos showing the difference in tint and colour between the last one I bought and this one, both supposedly the same tint from the same brand. As my hair is really very dark, this tint does blend well, but my eyebrows aren't as dark and this tint makes them look too dark so I have to apply it and wipe it off a bit. Overall a good product, but I think this is not really dark brown and it really annoys me that the colour is so different from my previous dark brown bottles.

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Vaseline Petroleum Jelly Original, 100g

I use Vaseline quite often for different purposes, and none of them is  to care for my lips, which is what most people associate this with. I find Vaseline really great to minimise or treat skin chafing and itchiness due to irritation or skin medical conditions that dry off my skin. My elderly mom used to use it on her legs in winter, as her skin would be super-dry due to heating and a medical condition and really soothed her itchiness. I use it more like a treatment not like a day-to-day cream. I don't use it as hand cream because I've found that it's too 'greasy', but I use it on the top of my hands or around my finger nails if there is  any sort of irritation.
 
Petroleum jelly is the main ingredient of Vaseline. Similar creams by other brands are labelled in fancier ways, focus on the 'dermatologically tested', charge me double. I prefer Vaseline because they're honest about what's in the jar, they're dermatologically tested (tested by my skin too) and the price is always affordable.

Good value for money, as a tiny bit of product goes a long way.
 
I love the new packaging, which looks nicer and more modern than the old jar.

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OPI Rapidry Spray, 55ml

I love O.P.I products so I had great expectations rethis product as I paint my nails myself at home, sometimes in a hurry before an outing or going to work.

The instructions of use on the bottle back are in a minuscule font size. It says to mist over the nails 45 seconds after applying the last coat. But last coat of what, of enamel or the top coat? Or is this product to replace the top coat? No indication of how much this speeds up the process or how long it takes to dry after application. Ain't sure if it works just with O.P.I nail polishes because the one I had on my nails was good quality polish but not this brand.

The bottle has a good spray system and the mist comes out easily.
 
I've tried the product twice. The first time, I didn't mind the watch, but it was perhaps a minute over the last coat application. I didn't see any speeding up in the drying time after application.  I didn't apply the mist on my other hand, but used my hair drier on a cold setting. The results were indistinguishable. Besides, one of my nails with the applied O.P.I.spray smudged; to me, that's not working.  
 
The second time I tried it, I also did a double testing. I sprayed some of the nails without top coat and they responded well, as they dried a little bit quicker than usual. I also sprayed other nails that had a top coat on, and these ones  took longer to dry, and there was barely any difference with those nails where I had applied top coat but not this product on top.  In short, it worked way better when I applied it directly on the enamel not on the top coat. Perhaps the product is to be used as top coat, but that's not clear anywhere.
 
In all honesty, I won't be buying this product again as the speeding up of the drying is so little that it's not worth my money.  Besides, the bottle came 3/4 full. I thought that it might be an used bottle, but I've noticed that everyone had the same issue with their bottles, so that's the company's fault and a rip-off because the product isn't cheap by any means, even when discounted.  

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Clairol Nice 'N Easy Permanent Hair Colour 4G Natural Dark Golden Brown

This hair colour is really great. Easy to apply, good quantity to fully cover my roots and part of my hair, and the results always get me compliments on how healthy and shiny my hair looks. The package includes a treatment that really rounds up the process of colouring and gives me the shine that I love so much. The golden bit is great because, although it doesn't show when I first apply the colour, and what you see is a nice dark brown, it shows when the colour fades away. This is good because it holds on to my greys and they look light brown not white. The colour lasts me on about 3 weeks due to the fact that I have very white grey hair and I don't wash it every day. Although my hair looks super healthy and shiny after application, the truth is that this colouring makes my hair quite dry due to the fact that it has hydrogen peroxide as one of the ingredients. For the rest, this is my dyi colouring between salon colouring.

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MOR Boutique Little Luxuries Lychee Flower Hand Cream 50ml

This is a wonderful lychee-flower scented hand cream with a long-lasting scent that can be used as everyday perfume. It has a semi-liquid texture, so it absorbs well and quickly. It's very moisturising. and it doesn't leave a greasy residue; after using it, my skin feels velvety. The packaging is lovely and luxurious, as well.

The main problem with the cream, to me, is that the scent is overwhelming; it masks my perfume, and it gets to my nose and throat lingering there for too long. The cream is moisturising but not enough to fix my very dry hands issues; said differently, moisturising level is medium. Besides, the back of the tube has the description and ingredients list in a very small gold lettering, so there is barely any contrast against the pink background and it cannot be read without a magnifying glass. I won't buy it again.

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Burt's Bees Lip Balm Chai Tea Tube 4.25g

This is a simple, no-fuss lip balm that makes wonders for my cracked lips. It is very emollient and pleasurable to have on. I always check the list of ingredients in the cosmetics I use as this really matters to me. This lip balm has a huge array of natural wax, oils and plants extracts, something that, to me, explains, why it took me two days to get the cracks disappear from my lips after using this balm. I own other lip balms and lip treatments and this is my fav so far.

I love chai tea, so I chose this variety thinking that it might have a slight similarity with the flavour, but, to my delight, it really tastes of chai tea.

Good value for money.

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1000HOUR Eyelash & Brow Dye Kit Dark Brown 72 g

I have been using this product for several years now, and it does wonders for my eyebrows. The tinting lasts for several weeks, and it looks like the tint I used to have done at a salon before I started using this kit. This is so because the results look natural and polished and it doesn't tint my skin at all. The kit comes with everything you need, so you don't need any extra tool or container to develop and use the product. I sometimes use the product to tint the grey hairs around my temples.

I have sensitive skin but I have never had any problem with this product.

I have never used this for tinting my eyelashes, so I cannot comment on that.

SO-SO
1/ They seem to have changed the formula recently and the colouring doesn't last as much on my eyebrows and it is not as saturated as it used to be.
2/ The quantity of accelerator and tinting cream is not balanced, so I usually finish the tube with the colouring and the developing liquid bottle is still half full.

MIND
Allow extra time if you have some grey hairs.

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MOR Boutique Marshmallow Sugar Crystal Body Scrub, 600g

This is a good quality body scrub, luxurious and feminine.

THE GOOD
> The texture is wonderful: not abrasive, it leaves my skin feeling moisturized, supple, fresh and feeling extra clean and soft.
> Lovely feminine scent, a variation of the traditional marshmallow fragrance minus the lemon and orange top notes.
> Packaging is beautiful, elegant and regal, if you want.
> Good amount of product in the jar.
> Value for money.

SO-SO
The scrub it has a bit of sandy dry, despite the oils it is mixed with, the result is that when you pick up a dollop, bits and pieces fall as lumps on the floor. This is also the reason why it doesn't spread as well and evenly as other good-quality scrubs.
> The scent is certainly lovely, but also classic, not contemporary if you know what I mean, and a big pervasive, so it can clash with my perfume. It gets better when the scent settles, though.

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Aphrosmile 100% Pure Rosehip Oil for Massage, 30ml

This is a wonderful oil that spreads well, absorbs quickly and leaves my skin hydrated and nourished without any greasy residue. In a way, it is a dry oil not an oily oil.

I use this oil instead of my regular hand/arm cream when I notice signs of irritation or redness in my skin, I had some cuts or wounds that I want healed, to rub my cuticles when doing my DIY manicure, and also to remove hair-color stains after DIY tinting my hair.

I love the vintage-look bottle and the branding. The drop dispenser is great to prevent using too much product and using the right amount.

The smell is nothing I would use in aromatherapy as it is the oil natural scent and it isn't especially aromatic, not bad but nothing that I would put my nose to it, if you know what I mean.

Mind, the oil can stain your clothes if falls on them, as it has the oil natural yellow-orange color.

Good product but a bit pricey.

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Jergens Ultra Healing Hand & Body Cream, 100 ml

This is a good cream overall. It spreads evenly, it's absorbed quickly and leaves my hands moisturized without any residue or greasy feeling. The mouth dispenser is well designed to prevent wasting product, something that it's really important as this cream is not such, but more a body milk. I have sensitive skin and I haven't noticed any reaction to this cream, which is great. The tube has a considerable size and it's good value for money.

On the downside, although I like this cream, I don't find it especially healing or really not better on my hands than other creams or oils. I have mixed feelings about the scent, too. On the one hand, it's subtle, but on the other, it's also odd. I would say that it has a wax/honey-ish sort of scent, but the scent is quite peculiar and it's one of those that polarize people. In my case, I find it odd but not unpleasant and it doesn't clash with my perfume, yet I don't find it appealing either.

Overall a good cream, but not intensive or really healing and it is not especially natural. No indication on whether the cream is cruelty free or not, or tested on animals or not.

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Burts Bees Overnight Intensive Lip Treatment, 7.08 g

This is a good quality lip treatment, that spreads evenly and leaves my lip moisturized if I use it overnight, giving it time to do its job. A tiny amount of product is enough to cover my lips, and the tiny container can fit even in a wallet. I love the brand and the fact that the product is cruelty free, too.

However, t I find this treatment as good as any other lip treatment out there if you leave it overnight, but it's more expensive. Flavor is minimal. As the product has peppermint oil in it, there is a slightly hint/after-taste of it, something I dislike.

To be fair, this is a good product, does the job and is not glamorous, but does the same job as cheaper products I've used in the past.

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Revlon PhotoRead Concealer, Light

I have been using this inexpensive concealer for over a year now and it has become my fav on-the-go concealer as well as my preferred eye primer. I use this to neutralize and cover reddish spots on my face (pimple-ish or hair plucking red spots for example) , as an under-eye foundation to cover signs of tiredness and irritation, and as an eyelid primer. Although not an eye primer per se, I use it as such. The results are fabulous as it doesn't irritate my eyelids, it settles/dries quickly, covers the area perfectly and my eye-shadow colorful palette colors are noticeably enhanced. The product spreads easily and evenly and perfectly matches my skin tone. It's thick enough to cover any area perfectly but without being greasy or too thick. I have sensitive skin and I haven't had any problem with it so far. Despite the item being quite small, the quantity of product is considerable for me to use it, on a daily basis, for months.

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Segolike Vaveren Nail Polish Storage bag caseTravel Organizer, Grey

GOOD POINTS
> Elegant and good looking case so it doesn't clash with my bathroom decor.
> Compact.
> The double decking allows me to put plenty of stuff inside.
> Easy and safe to carry.
> Sturdy material.
> The polish bottles are safely stored within the foam inner structure.

BAD POINTS
> Bad quality stitching. Some threads were already out upon opening the parcel. See photo.
> The inner foam last row is stitched too tightly so it cannot be opened and I cannot put any polish bottle inside, which defeats the purpose.
> The number of nail polish bottles I can comfortably put in is NOT 30 unless you use polishes from a brand with tiny bottles. I use different brands of nail polish and you can see in my photos that the bigger bottles, which are standard size by the way, somewhat protrude out.
> Smaller than expected. See photo beside a small packet of tissues.

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HASK Argan Oil Vial Repairing Hair Oil for All Hair Types, 18mL

I have been using the argan oil vial for several months, applied to my long colored dry hair after shampooing and conditioning and the results are great.

Despite being an oil, it is not greasy and it spreads easily. A tiny amount of product is enough to make my hair shine and look super healthy. The vial looks small (see my photo beside one of my mascaras), but it actually lasts me for 5+ uses, more or less depending on whether I use it just on the upper layers of my hair to add shine and smooth out or all through all the hair.

It smells wonderful, like a sweet orange sort of scent.

The vial cap is really tight, so you can safely put the vial horizontal and the oil won't spill out. Great size for traveling, too.

I am a devotee of this product because it makes wonders for my hair.

MONOI COCONUT VIAL
The Monoi coconut oil vial, which I also use, is equally good and long lasting. It smells beautifully but not as nice as the argan vial. I apply this after shampoo + conditioner, while my hair is still wet but I have removed excess water with a towel.

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Aullex Kakadu Plum Care Hand Cream-50ml

I have mixed feelings about this product. I love that is an Australian brand, the minimalist elegant packaging, the lightness of the product, how fast it absorbs, and the true herbal smell. However, despite this cream being lovely, it is more a milk than a cream, quite liquid-ish, the scent is pervasive so it can clash with my perfume, and it it is OK n my dry hands. The bottle runs out of product quite quickly due to the fact that I need to use more quantity of this product than with other hand creams.

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Platinum tinting bowl

This is a cheap convenient bowl for DIY hair coloring. It looks like the one my hairdresser has. It is made of sturdy good-quality plastic, and it is easy to handle even if you don't hold the handle, easy to clean, great if you need to measure product, and very affordable. The only downside is the large size and the fact that is not collapsible or flatable. so it takes a bit of room in my bathroom drawers. For the rest, you get what you see and what you paid for.

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Peripera Ink Velvet #16 Heart Fuchsia Pink

This is the first product I buy from the brand and I'm very pleased with it, but also a bit disappointed.

THINGS I LOVE
> Original and fun container.
> The bottle color is very close to the lipstick color, so you'll know which color you're getting by looking at the bottle.
> It smells divine, in this case of strawberries.
> The texture of this lipstick is creamy, velvety and semi-mate.
> It dries off quickly.
> It fully covers your lips with just a stroke.
> Very moisturizing, so my lips look supple and yummy.
> Beautiful rich color.
> Good priced.

NOT SO GOOD
> The name of the color, fuchsia pink, made me think that this would be a fuchsia pink. It is more a wine color with a hint of strawberry.
> It is not semi-permanent, so it stains glasses and cups even when dry. Also, it doesn't last all day. If you eat anything, it will disappear. It is true that the stain, a pinkish color, will stay on your lips for longer, but it's not the original color you put on the lips.
> Unclear whether this is cruelty free, tested on animals or not, something that's important to me.

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Skin Republic Collagen Hydrogel Under-Eye Patch Collection

This is my top product in the Skin Republic range of masks, and my favorite eye treatment of the last year. It is not only inexpensive, not tested on animals, but also a great product that works beautifully on my under-eye skin. It visibly irons out fine wrinkles and leaves the area glowing and moisturized. These eye masks are solid silicone-ish patches that stick to the skin and you don't need to lie down to have them on.

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DU'IT Tough Hands intensive hand cream 75g

I have very dry hands due to the frequent use of sanitizer and because I do my dishes by hand most times. I've used most hand cream brands out of there. I bought this as my usual cream wasn't available. The tub design looks like designed for traddies but I thought that, if this can help a man's hands why not mine?". I've used this cream for a couple of weeks and it's fantastic. It absorbs quickly leaving no greasy feeling, and it has really made a difference to my hands. I don't like the smell. It is not bad, just odd, not a  nice fragrance, so that's why it's not 5 stars.

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Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sea-Salt Body Scrub

This is a great natural scrub that does a wonderful job at leaving your skin clean, super-soft and supple, smelling of lemon granita. The combination of thick salt and lemony oils make wonders for my dry skin. It is all natural and ethically sourced, so that's a double thumbs up from me. Price is fantastic. Update: the product is no longer sold by Amazon Au but it's imported from the US, and pricing has doubled up since I first posted this review.

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