The Body Shop - Elderflower Unperfumed Eye Gel

I actually used this as an all over face cream when I went to hospital and it worked really well.
Even though it has alcohol in it, it didn't bother my skin.
I like that it has witch hazel and is lightweight (particularly nice as my room was quite warm).
When put under my eye, it did make that area look happier.

Price: 3/5 ($15 for 15mL)
Scent: 2/5 (nice witch hazel smell, but also an alcohol smell which sucks)
Effectiveness: 4/5

NYX - Colour Mascara - Purple

A fun twist on normal mascara, this is meant to make your lashes purple.

However the colour doesn't really show. 
Bummer.

Price: 4/5 ($12.95 for 9mL)
Scent: 1/5 (kinda stinky)
Effectiveness: 1/5

ASPAR - Aurora Spa Rituals - Ultra Hydrating Face Moisturiser

This is surprisingly thick!

It leaves a heavy residue on the skin (almost like a barrier cream).

Unfortunately it smells like flour and play-do, I don't want that on my face, near my nose.

Price: 4/5 (~$60 for 500mL)
Scent: 0.5/5
Effectiveness: 2/5

8 x 4 - Pure - Perfume Deodorant

An item from the May Glossybox!

First thing, this is just a deodorant and not an antiperspirant.
So you will keep sweating (which I think is the most annoying thing).

It says that it contains no aluminium, but has a bunch of alcohols and hydrocarbons in it.
Don't let the green packaging fool you, this is not "all natural hippy stuff".

So lets pretend that his is just a perfume!

The scent is listed as calla flower, watermelon, and seaweed.
It's like a water-noted, faint watermelon scent which smells ok when you sniff the top of the container.
When you spray it, it goes everywhere, smells worse, and will bother your lungs.
Just use a nice perfume.

Really, this is an all-round waste of resources.

It is also named after a measurement of wood.

*I'll use the rest as an air freshener.
Price: 5/5($2.03 for 150mL)
Scent: 1/5
Effectiveness: 0/5 

Rodial - Glamolash - Mascara - XXL - Black

From the May Glossybox!

I LOVE the brush! This longer brush comb really works for me.

It is a little dry formula-wise (had to re-dip the wand a few times), but otherwise gives an acceptable result.

In mine, there are clearly fibres in the formula, but this is not listed as a feature on the website.

However these fibres do not transfer to the lash, so I don't care that much.

However, there are definitely better mascaras for a better price.

Price: 1/5 ($44.86 for 13mL, also all my prices are AUD)
Scent: 1/5 (smells like old house paint)
Effectiveness: 4/5

Clarins Paris - Fluide Super Hydratant Multi-Confort

The instructions say to apply it in the morning... you aren't the boss of me, bottle!

The thin fluid smells like vinegar and flour... WHY!?!

A basic face lotion with a weird stink!

Price: 3/5 ($44.12 for 50mL)
Scent: 2.5/5
Effectiveness: 1/5

Same Product, Different Scent - Crabtree & Evelyn - Hand Therapy - English Honey & Peach Blossom

I don't know about this scent combo. The honey 'caramel notes' don't really blend well with the peach blossom.
It smells a bit like something nearby is over-ripe/ rotting.
Unfortunately, the scent is also really strong and long lasting, so you can't just ignore it.

The Body Shop - Spa Wisdom Polynesia - Monoi Body Balm

I got this on a whim a while back.

A nice rich formula that absorbs well.

I just don't like the smell :( 
It's a buttery white floral scent (frangipani and Monoi de Tahiti), which I personally hate.
But perhaps you will like it.

Price: 2.5/5 (can't find the price)
Scent: 1/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Angelic Lily - Nourishing Face Moisturiser

I got this ages ago in a Bellabox and I tried it at the time... it just didn't get reviewed quickly because it was a little container that kept getting to the bottom of my reviewing box.

I HATED THIS!

IT SMELLS LIKE MOULD. I know that mould smell and this is it!
I think they were aiming for 'evergreen' but it stinks like mouldy old rooms in abandoned buildings.

Gosh darn it i don't want to touch it again... It's thick (to thick for a face cream) and forms a film on top of the skin... it isn't absorbing guys... it's waxy?!

Organic and vegan!

You tried, Angelic Lily... now stop.

100% natural!

I need to wash my hands... ew, slimy.

Price: 1/5 ($79 for 125 mL?! heck no!)
Scent: -100/5
Effectiveness: 0/5

Essentials bu Faulding - Vitamin E Cream

Vitamin E is, among other things, is an antioxidant and is associated with tissue repair. 
How effective it is in topical treatment I cannot say. 
It is however popular and this cream is one example.

The cream itself smells wheat-like and clinical, not a nice thing to walk around smelling of.
The texture is thick, oily, and does not absorb well.

Overall, I don't really like this as it feels like it is trying to be a medicinal treatment and has ignored being pleasant.

Price: 5/5 (RRP $4.45 for 75g)
Scent: 0/5
Effectiveness: 2/5 (as a moisturiser)

Lux - White Impress

Not all beauty products come from boutique stores or pharmacies, some come from $2 stores.
That is the origin story of this bar of soap.

It is a 'whitening' soap which is not usually sold in the Australian market. It smells like soap and some fragrance I can't identify but know I don't like. Lily, it may be stinky lily.

I wanted to like this, it was a bargain at $6 for four bars, but it left me itchy. It did clean well, perhaps too well, as my skin felt stripped of moisture. But to be fair, I can't use most bar soaps, they are too harsh for my skin.

I tried to soften its blow by putting it in a sponge. The theory was only the lather could then reach my skin. In practice it took a lot of effort to produce lather and I threw it all in the bin.

Sometimes, you get what you pay for.

Price: 5/5
Scent: 0/5
Effectiveness: 1/5

Urban Colour - One Coat Nail Polish

I tried to find the name of this shade but couldn't, so lets call it a blue-grey-pnk ... asphyxiated pink!

I got this one night when I was inebriated on a train and a fellow inebriated gave me the bottle of polish after I complemented her nail colour.

I wasn't sure I liked the colour when sober, but it looked good on.

However, the brush sucked, the formula was too thick, and it smells like hexane.

It is a really cheap polish. Don't even bother buying this brand as a stocking stuffer, it is a waste of money!

Price: 5/5 ($10 for 12)
Scent: 0/5
Effectiveness: 1/5

Garnier - Fructis Fortifying Shampoo - Full & Luscious

This was a free sample I got from the train station (Success!).

It says it contains pomegranate but smells like FAKE APPLES! Why?! Why you do these things?!

It was a 10mL sample, but even with my now short hair, that wasn't enough to get a good lather :(

Did I feel it left my hair strands filled with fibra-cylane? Nope
It felt like a cheap marketing trick without enough dedication to even use real smoke and mirrors

Give 'em the ol' Razzle Dazzle!

As a basic shampoo, there is cheaper things that work better. So not worth it.

Price: 2/5 (rrp $5.95 for 250mL)
Scent: 0/5 
Effectiveness: 1/5

Dermisa - Brightening Cream

Now please don't judge me too harshly for using what is essentially a skin whitening product. I was recently in a wedding party and (I didn't use sunscreen so the dress stayed nice) got sun-burnt on my shoulders.
Now, when I am exposed to sun, I tan. So this burn was going to be some very obvious tan lines for at least a year.
I didn't want to live with this bizarre tan (or expose my skin to any more sun) so I decided to lighten the tan.
You can quit judging me now...

I picked this cream because it didn't contain hydroquinone or peroxide, which can be quite harsh and nasty for the skin. It uses kojic acid (inhibits pigmentation), licorice (used for treating inflammation-induced skin hyperpigmentation), arbutin (prevents melanin formation) and amla (no idea). 

It smells a little, but it appeared to work and quite well, reducing the tan by a number of shades :) It just takes a few applications. If you are going to lighten part of your skin; do it slowly, gently and carefully. Look after your skin, it is so important.

Price: 2.5/5 ($19.99 for 42g)
Scent: 0.5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Chi Chi - Creamy Matte Liquid Lipsticks - Va Va Va Voom

Matte lipsticks are very popular at the moment and at first glance, this liquid lipstick may seem like a good introduction... do not be fooled!

This lipstick is difficult to apply, gives patchy colour, pills and flakes as it dries and does not fully set.
DO NOT BUY!

The only good things I can say about it is it didn't cost me too much and the colour is nice (if it worked).

Price: 3/5 (rrp $11.86 for one, but don't bother!)
Scent: 0/5 (Chemically! and not in the fun way!)
Effectiveness: 0/5

Quick Fix Facials Exfoliating Scrub Mask - Blackheads and Blocked Pores

This ten minute mask contains pink rose clay, glycolic acid and pomegranate extract and is quite gritty, which makes sense as you massage it in at the start (exfoliation!). 

I didn't like how it felt quite heavy, was messy to use, didn't really clean out my pores and sometimes left my face red. Over all, not my cup of tea.

Also, it smelled like dirt and oats.

Price: 4/5 ($8.95 for 10 uses)
Scent: 0/5
Effectiveness: 1/5

Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo

This was a sample I got my hands on. I specify this because Pantene is normally:
- too expensive
- too heavy in residues that stay on the hair
- smells of apple

While it did leave my hair looking nice, but it needed rewashing sooner. Also, I don't believe it's claim that it gives hair '4x the damage prevention'...

That's what bothers me about Pantene, they make claims and I just can't believe them nor do I care that much about the physical properties of my hair.

Odour: 1/5
Price: 2/5
Efficiency: 2/5