[BEAUTY]: Empties February 2016

Empties Post

This is the first empties post I've written and I know they are usually quite a favourite among readers as bloggers can give their opinions on whether or not the product is worth repurchasing. These are the products that have just finished in my beauty stash and I wanted to share what I thought of all of them. 

The Body Shop - Camomile Gentle Eye Make Up Remover

I bought this travel sized make up remover from The Body Shop when I was at the airport last year as I wanted to try out a new eye make up remover and I loved the size of the bottle. It's gentle on your eyes and works well to remove eye make up. It's suitable for sensitive skin and for those of you that also wear contact lenses like myself.

Would I repurchase this product? Yes, I would but I first want to try the Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Make Up Remover next.

Catrice Prime and Fine Translucent Loose Powder

I've had this powder in my make up collection for quite a while now as I'm always testing out different powders but I'm really a fan of this one, it never lets me down!

ps: you can see my review of this product here.

Would I repurchase this product? Yes, definitely! Its a bargain!

LA Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer

This is my favourite concealer! It gives great coverage and is so affordable! Applies easily and great to pop into your handbag.

I chat more about this concealer in this post.

Would I repurchase this product? Yep, already have!

Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

I've actually repurchased this mascara twice already! I'm such a fan! It gives my lashes volume and length!

Here is some more information on this mascara - read the post here.

Would I repurchase this product? I've just purchased my third tube of this mascara!

Have you tried any of these products?

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[BEAUTY]: Face Prep

Face Prep & Prime

When it comes to applying make up, every girl has their own routines. Now as a beauty blogger and as someone who loves make up, I have to admit that I was never into using a primer. I didn't see the need for it. 

I used to think it was only for 'erasing' or 'blurring' your pores until I read this post by Lipgloss Kisses where Chicara speaks about how primers help to not only apply your make up with a more 'flawless' effect but also helps keep it on!

I've now added two steps to my make up routine. I first apply the LA Girl Pro Prep HD smoothing face primer and then the Catrice Prime and Fine Anti-Redness Base under my eyes. 

First up, the LA Girl Pro Smoothing Face Primer.
This primer is cruelty free; paraben free and fragrance free. Since it's from LA Girl, it's very affordable. It's lightweight and applies easily to my skin. It doesn't feel greasy and I was really impressed with it as the first primer I've tried. I can say I will definitely be repurchasing this primer again. I do however, also want to try The Body Shop's All In One - Instablur Primer as I've heard great things about it!

After I've applied my primer, I then use the Catrice Prime and Fine Anti-Redness Base under my eyes and sometimes along my rose. This is for those dreaded bags and skin imperfections under my eyes. This primer is has a green tint to it which neutralizes redness. 

I used both products during my skin prep for this YouTube video.

Do you use a primer? If so, which one do you use?

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[REVIEW]: SAMPAR Crazy Cream

Crazy Cream by SAMPAR

A crazy cream? You must be wondering what on earth I'm talking about right? Well the French beauty brand SAMPAR (I've chatted about them before here) has combined a BB cream and CC cream to create this lightweight hydrating cream. 

 It's a tinted moisturiser that offers sheer coverage and a natural result. It helps hydrate your skin for 24 hours and evens out skin tone.

When you first pump out the product, it looks like a normal cream but once you start applying it to your skin it turns to a nude shade. 

I usually wear this in the week when it's more of a "chilled vibe" - you guys will notice that's been happening a lot on my snapchat lately! (username: glamgreengirl) 

Cruelty free and paraben free, this crazy cream is perfect to add to your summer makeup stash!

Available at selected Edgars and Woolworths Stores - R565 for 30ml.

Love Always, The Glam Green Girl xXx

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[REVIEW]: Babor Advent Calendar 2015

Get Healthy, Glowing Skin from Babor this Festive Season

The beginning of Christmas as a kid, always meant we got to open up our advent calendars every day. It's something my brother and I still love to do together even to this day. Being in the beauty world you can imagine my delight when I saw these Advent Calendars from Babor!  

This luxurious advent calendar contains 24 intensive ampoule treatments to help nourish your skin. One of Babor skin treatments that it's best known for, are their ampoules! You can read my review on their new skin fluids here. 

Day 1 of the advent calendar contained the Hydra Plus Active Fluids which helps boost your skins hydration levels. You can read how I apply my ampoules here Needless to say, it was very exciting opening up my first ampoule - hello healthy skin for the festive season! I cannot wait to open up the rest - there are even some with gold particles which suits my inner princess and ones with agents from the deep sea (we all know I'm a mermaid, so this is like it was made for me).

The advent calendar contains the following:

2 x Hydra Plus Active Fluids: a rejuvenating thirst quencher for every skin type that needs moisture.

3 x Algae Active Fluids: a pure wave of fresh moisture with the power of the sea.

2 x Revitalizing Oxygen Fluids: the oxygen shower for dry, tired skin. Activates cellular respiration and protects the skin against environmental stressors.

3 x Triple Booster Fluids: the personal trainer to “reboot” skin functions. With its triple action, it boosts the skin’s barrier functions, activates skin renewal and creates a moisture reservoir for “drought periods”.

2 x Collagen Booster Fluids: stimulates the skin’s natural collagen production function and reorganises the collagen fibres in a regular, stable matrix.

2 x 3D Lifting Fluid: combats the skin’s natural aging process in three dimensions. Wrinkles are reduced, the tissue is tightened and the contours are strengthened.

3 x Lift Express Fluids: The depth of gravity and facial expression wrinkles is reduced. Smoothens wrinkles immediately and prevents the skin from losing moisture.

3 x HSR Glamour Fluids: special tightening version for the Advent calendar! Gold particles give the skin a fine sheen, while liquid gold stimulates cell activity.

2 x Ultimate Glow Booster Bi-Phase: two phases and a revolutionary breakthrough in lipid research: The instant effects of an ampoule and that perfect feeling after applying cream to your skin.

2 x SeaCreation The Serum: luxury care with highly effective agents from the deep sea which pamper the skin and highlight its beauty.

If you're looking for the ultimate Christmas gift or just to spoil yourself, you can get the advent calendar here.

Love Always, The Glam Green Girl xXx

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[REVIEW]: Mio Skincare The A Cream

The A Cream - Firming Active Body Cream from Mio Skincare

Now that we're into the swing of summer, this means more time by the pool and having braai's with friends, it also means wanting your skin to look it's best in that cute little jumpsuit you just bought. 

This firming cream contains organic shea butter; organic avocardo oil; organic sweet almond oil; hyaluronic acid as well organic coconut oil and blueberry seed oil.What does this mean? Well for starters, it's super moisturising! Secondly, by including these ingredients, you're layering in some serious vitamins and anti-oxidants into your skin! 

This cream not only contains amazing properties but it's also free from parabens, petrolatum, synthetic fragrance, colorants, xenoestrogens, PEGs, glycols and phthalates.

Another bonus about this A Cream? It can even be used as an after-sun as it leaves your skin with natural cooling effect! Also, the best when it's a scorcher of a summers evening.

Even though most of us suffer from dry-skin in the winter; I've had some dry patches on my arms lately so I've been applying this cream straight after I've showered as it locks in extra moisture!

This A Cream retails for R570 - you can phone Poise Brands (011 033 0500) for more contacts on stockists.

While I've been using my A Cream daily, I've just started using the Mio Skin Tight Tightening Body Serum, so I'll let you know about that soon!

ps: I'm giving away a Mio product next week so make sure to keep checking back on the blog ;)


Love Always, The Glam Green Girl xXx

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[REVIEW]: REN Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial

Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial from REN Skincare

A sleep mask that helps transform your skin overnight, that's what this night-time facial from REN Skincare is all about. 

With ingredients such as a complex of Glycolic and Lactic Acids from Yeast, Pineapple and Passion Fruit that refine and brighten skin tone; Tocotrienols from Cranberry Seed Oil that help reduce UV damage; Omega 3 from Arctic Blackcurrant Seed Oil which repairs and soothes as well as Sodium Lactate from Yeast which moisturises and plumps skin. This treatment leaves your skin brighter, more luminous, refined and even toned in the morning. All of this happens through the 3 phases that happen while you sleep.

Apply 2-3 pumps about twice or three times a week. It might tingle (this hasn't happened to me yet) but that's only because of the different bio extracts. This treatment can be used in all skin types except sensitive skin. I use it about twice a week and love how my skin feels the next day. 

This treatment retails for R650.00 and can be bought here.

Love Always, The Glam Green Girl xXx

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[REVIEW]: GLÜKi Organics

Organic Products for Mothers & Babies from GLÜKi

Meet part of the GLÜKi family, which is perfect for the whole family! Made from high quality, plant based ingredients, and certified by ECOCERT Greenlife France, the GLÜKi product range is specifically made for mothers and babies, but as mentioned, can be used by the whole family. 

The GLÜKi Organic Hand Wash helps keep germs at bay with ingredients such as orange peel oil, a proven antimicrobial, and aloe vera, known for its antiseptic qualities. It also contains Marula Oil which helps keep hands nourished. Great to have in the kitchen for the whole family to use.

This handwash retails for R139.00 (200ml) and can be bought here. 

This Lip Balm has less of a balmy consistency and is more like a lip cream in my opinion. It's easy to pop in your handbag but I prefer to use it at night. Containing organic shea oil, mafura seed butter, aloe vera extract and rooibos leaf extract, it nourishes lips leaves them feeling soft and hydrated. 

This organic Lip Balm retails for R139.00 and can be bought here. 

Perfect for those with scars and stretch marks, this Organic Tissue Oil contains Organic Jojoba oil which helps maintain and restore your skins elasticity, moisture and tone. It also contains Marula seed oil which is easily absorbed and contains high proportions of oleic acid and linoleic fatty acid which is high in natural antioxidants and has been shown to improve skin hydration and smoothness, and reduce redness.

This Tissue Oil retails for R149.00 (50ml) and can be bought here .

A personal favourite of mine from this range, the Hand & Body Moisturising Lotion contains Orange Peel Oil which hydrates your skin but isn't too rich. It also contains Organic Kalahari Melon seed oil which moisturises, regenerates and restructures skin. 

This lotion retails for R149.00 (100ml) and can be bought here. 

You can view more of the range on the Faithful To Nature website. 

Now you're all sorted the next time you need to buy a baby shower gift!

Love Always, The Glam Green Girl xXx

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[ECO]: Reuse Coffee Grounds

Reusing Your Coffee Grounds

Image: Unsplash / Drew Coffman 

I love a good cup of Joe as much as the next person, but have you ever thought about what you can do with the leftover coffee grounds after your demolished your morning wake-up pot?

Here is what you can do with with your coffee grounds:

♥ Add them to your compost pile (also helps get rid of the smell of the compost)

♥ Scatter the coffee grounds around plants that are being attacked by snails and slugs

♥ Deodorize your bins by adding some to an old pantyhose and tying it around the lid.

♥ Get rid of odors in our fridge by adding some to a bowl and leaving it in your fridge for a few weeks

♥ Fertilize your soil or put some in a spray bottle with water when gardening

♥ Add a small amount to chocolate baked goods to add extra flavour

♥ Scrub your pots and pans gently with some coffee grounds and a sponge

♥ Create a scrub for your body (Great for treating those cellulite areas)

Love Always, The Glam Green Girl xXx

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[REVIEW]: Beaucience Night Time Routine

Night Nourishing Cream & Eye Lifting Gel from Beaucience

In August, I reviewed two Beaucience products and mentioned to you guys that I wasn't the biggest fan of their cleansing gel and that the eye make up remover wasn't going to exactly be on the top of my 'must buy' list but I've added two new Beaucience products to my night time routine and must admit that I'm impressed!

Beaucience, is a proudly South African professional skin care brand that focuses on natural and organic ingredients and uses South African ingredients where possible, environmentally friendly packaging, recyclable glass and bio-degradable plastic. Yay for that!

I'm usually a bit hesitant when it comes to night creams as they are sometimes to rich for my skin, but this one seems to be agreeing with my skin. Made from Avocado oil, Marula oil, Hibiscus oil, Sunflower oil, Evening Primrose oil and Green Tea oil, this luxurious cream helps to rejuvenate your skin and keeps it nourished. I apply a small amount each evening and like I mentioned, it's working well for my skin.

This Night Nourishing Cream retails for R355.

This Eye Lifting Gel is amazing! It was the first thing I packed for the wedding I attended on the weekend. It's a hydrating gel that can be applied both mornings and evenings and helps repair and protect the delicate skin around your eyes. If you are like me and get those bags under your eyes from not sleeping well or allergies, this gel is what you need!

This Eye Lifting Gel retails for R480.

You can find out more information about the brand and their other products on their website. 

Love Always, The Glam Green Girl xXx

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[REVIEW]: Comfort Zone Scrub

Body Strategist Scrub from Comfort Zone

I was first introduced to Comfort Zone through Davines, this is because it falls part of the Davines brand. Through my reviews of Davines, you will have read how I respect the company for their sustainability efforts and their amazing hair care products. Naturally I was enticed to try some of their skin care products. 

Comfort Zone products are developed and produced in Parma, Italy and the wonderful thing is that the facility uses 100% of it's energy from renewable sources! They also off set their carbon footprints through reforestation projects - such a fan of companies like this!

The Body Strategist Scrub is a renewing body scrub that leaves your skin feeling soft and and silky. Made from a mixture of alpha hydroxy acids and fruit extracts, these granules create an exfoliating effect which eliminates dead skin cells. 

This scrub can be used on either dry or wet skin and can then be rinsed off in the shower. I've tried both ways and I both work effectively to give you smooth and soft skin. 

90% of the ingredients are of natural origin plus this scrub is free of parabens; mineral oils and silicon. 

I use a body scrub weekly, sometime twice a week, I just love how my skin feels afterwards. Becareful not to over exfoliate your skin as you don't want to cause damage to your beautiful skin. 

R580 for 200ml - see the Comfort Zone SA Facebook Page for more details 

Do you love body scrubs as much as I do?

Love Always, The Glam Green Girl xXx

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[REVIEW]: Babor New Skin Fluids

New Skin Fluids Ampoule Concentrates from Babor

I've mentioned it a few times before, but Babor has quickly become one of my favourite luxury cruelty-free skincare brands. They are quite well known for the ampoule concentrates and I got to experience the New Skin Fluid ones. 

These ampoules are more targeted towards dry skin so since I have normal skin, I decided to use these as my 'skin treat' for a Sunday night pamper session to prep my skin for the week ahead. 

Containing active ingredients that help smooth and regenerate skin, these ampoules are great for dry skin that is lacking in lipids as they help restore oil and moisture balance.

Like I mentioned, I used these once a week but they can be used morning and/or evening. You break the top of the ampoule and apply to your face; neck and decolletage. There is quite a bit in each ampoule so I first use half of it and let it soak into my skin and then apply the second half. You can follow up with a moisturising cream.

These fluids retail for R732 for 14ml (there are 7 in a pack) and can be bought here.

Love Always, The Glam Green Girl xXx

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[REVIEW]: Human + Kind Skincare

BB Cream and Day & Night Cream from Human + Kind Skincare

Before I tell you about the two Human + Kind skincare products I reviewed, let me tell you about the brand first. Human + Kind is a natural skincare brand from Ireland. They are all for multi-tasking products that contain no nasty ingredients as they are chemically free and a very environmentally conscious brand. They are also cruelty free which I just love! 

Can we all take a minute to appreciate the amazing packaging that this brand offers? It's so eye-catching and fun!

The product that I had my eye on the most from Human + Kind was the BB Cream in Light to Medium. This BB Cream does everything it states it will - it helps to firm, hydrate, conceal, illuminate and even out skin tone. I found that it gives great coverage and keeps your skin hydrated through out the day (I think this is due to the aloe vera it contains). It has a creamy consistency and feels so light on your skin. Use your fingers; a sponge or a brush to apply and you're set for the day! This product retails for R254,99 at Wellness Warehouse.

I was actually pleasantly surprised when it came to this Day & Night Cream. In my mind I was thinking "If it can be used in the day, won't it be too light for my night time routine and if it can be used at night, won't it be too heavy for the day?". Like I mentioned, I was pleasantly surprised by how well this cream works both day and night. Thanks to the active ingredient of Avocado Oil, which is packed with vitamins, you skin is nourished and locks in nutrients. It works for both your morning and evening skincare routine as it's light and not greasy yet still very hydrating. This cream retails for R249,99 from Wellness Warehouse .

A brand that looks after the planet while looking after your skin, is definitely high in my books! What do you think?

Love Always, The Glam Green Girl xXx 

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[REVIEW]: SAMPAR Gel & Hand Cream

3 Day Weekend Facial Gel & First Hands Cream from SAMPAR Paris

SAMPAR is a Parisian brand that is focused on appealing to the everyday busy Parisian woman. Their products carter for all skincare needs and carry an essence of luxury with them. Whenever I use one of my SAMPAR products I even say it in a french accent *Paris I will be coming for you one day*. Even their packing is so chic with the silver; pale pink and Eiffel tower print (a constant reminder for me of my goal to visit Paris). 

The first SAMPAR product I tried was the 3 Day Weekend which is a moisturising gel that gives you a hint of a tan. I can't really say if I've noticed a more tanned appearance because I've just come back from Zambia but what I did enjoy about this product is that fact that it is so hydrating. I apply it in the morning before my makeup and it keeps my skin moisturised for the rest of the day. This gel retails for *TBC*

The next product is the First Hands Cream which helps to plump up the skin on your hands and reduce the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles. This cream is more suitable for ladies over the age of 35 but I believe that you can use it from any age because every lady wants youthful looking hands. This hand cream retails for R435.00

Both the 3 Day Weekend Facial Gel & First Hands Cream have a delicate floral scent which makes you feel like you walking past a flower shop in France and they both have a gel like consistency which is absorbed quickly by your skin. The brand is cruelty free and paraben free! 

SAMPAR is available in selected Woolworths; Foschini and Edgars stores and you can visit their facebook page to get more information. 

Love Always, The Glam Green Girl xXx

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