Empties from May to June

I am so behind posting my empties, heh. But I still try to do it, I like looking back what I have thought about things. 

Face

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6

Have repurchased the 20. So good, yet so expensive. I don't understand why the price creeps up the higher you get on retinal ladder. It can't be that much more expensive to manufacture.

Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm

Sooo old... got in LF Advent Calendar. Very effective for lips, nails etc. Lanolin is great ingredient. Could repurchase.

Biore UV Watery Essence SPF50+ PA++++

I think this was ok sunscreen. It has cult following but it is not all that amazing. It did not break me out and worked nicely with makeup so I wouldn't mind using again, but I will not go out of my way to repurchase. I have become lazy!

Avene Cicalfate Repairing Protecting Cream

Great night time moisturizer! Calms my skin, good after using retinoids, acids etc. Doesn't break me out despite being protecting. I have repurchased.

Body 

Rexona Maximum Protection Antiperspirant Sport Strength

Great stuff. Only antiperspirant I can use. 

Chloe Eau de Parfum Tester

I actually did buy a full size of this perfume as well. The tester grew on me. But now I am unsure, maybe the scent is too overpowering after all. It is so difficult with fragrances, it all depends on seasons etc!

Hair

L'Oreal Elvital Oil Erasing Scalp Serum

Have repurchased. Not a miracle, but does freshen up the scalp. Must admit I have used the serum also for my feet...

Shopping from May to August

I thought I would come here to write something along the lines of "I bought nothing during last four months!" but it seems I actually did... memory is a weird thing. Also forgot to check in at two months that I usually do.

Altogether I spent about 178€ and a few things were gifts. I think I'm getting good at repurchasing trusted favorites and ignoring impulses.

I also did go to hair stylist, 200€, and got my nails done at a salon, 80€. I got the nail strengthener gel base. After two weeks I'm pretty pleased, polish still looks acceptable even though I do some physical work and I have banged my nails a bit. Can't get this result with my home kit. It's just that I can't afford to go get my nails done every month and I still don't know if my own nail bed is destroyed after these gels are removed!

I bought lots of gym clothes as well. Gymshark is actually quite good if you buy on sale. The same goes for IcanIwill. 

Currently I am looking more into salon treatments. For lashes, dermaplaning or sugaring face, also liposuction/skin removal and botox. But first I want to lose a few kg more to see if I could manage with non invasive treatments. 

MEDIK8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 20

MEDIK8 CLARIFYING FOAM

ACO INTIMATE CARE CLEANSING WASH

VICHY DERCOS ANTI-DANDRUFF SHAMPOO

Repurchases! Crystal Retinal is so good, calming but effective. I can tell that 20 is stronger than 6. Still, the jump is doable and not irritating at all. Clarifying Foam is just magic, works great for my skin. 

Vichy shampoo and Aco cleansing wash are both great and will repurchase them as long as they are available.

L'Oreal Glycolic Gloss Conditioner

L'Oreal Oil Erasing Scalp Serum

Dove Shower Mousse with Rose Oil

These were gifts (shopping with mom...). The hair products are repurchases, both are good for price. Shower mousse just looked cute!

Bioderma Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel

Nivea Shower Gel Rose&Jasmin

K18 Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo

My hair stylist recommended K18 shampoo and because I had asked for something deep cleansing, I took it. Haven't tried it yet. 

I've used other Nivea Shower Gels, so basically a repurchase. This is just different scent. They are okay, good for price. 

Bioderma was impulse purchase but it was cheap at about 6€ (idk maybe some soon expiring batch or it's discontinued?). It is nice cleanser, mild fresh scent, doesn't irritate, seems to cleanse well. I think it cleanses better than Medik8 Clarifing Foam but Medik8 keeps my skin more clear.

Empties from March to April

I did okay, I used things that I already had. Got some oldies out. Incredible I finished so many powders! 

Face

Garnier Micellar Gel Wash

Good affordable basic! Have repurchased.

Basiron Benzoyl Peroxide 5% Wash

Not sure if this was strong enough for me. But, it was drying when used on my face. I don't think I used this regularly enough to say anything about the true effectiveness for me, acne or armpit smell. But I do have a new 10% BP wash and 5% leave in gel.

Etude House Sunprise Mild Watery Light SPF50+

No white cast, like a moisturizer. Not for oily skin, I think. Let all my oils through during the day. But didn't pill under makeup. Good sunscreen all in all, didn't break me out!

Skin Aqua UV Super Moisture Essence Gold SPF50+

Finally finished this old sunscreen. Definitely better compared to Etude House Mild Watery Light. I could repurchase. Nice under makeup, both cream and powder foundations. I think this is good for both oily and drier skins. Didn't seem to travel to my eyes. No white cast.

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster

Hylamide C25 Vitamin C Booster

I included both these half used vit c serums as a warning. I should've used them more when they were fresh! Obviously there's zero effectiveness left after years. Such a waste of money and product. So that's why I have no opinions on them either. Hylamide sure is blast from the past! Deciem discontinued it 3 years ago.

Fig1 Retinol Night Cream No 1

Quite nice, gentle retinol cream. Came in a set, wouldn't have purchased it otherwise. Would recommend for dry skin folks. Not strong enough for me but the formula was pleasant, smooth, non drying. For some reason my forehead looked nice when I used this cream but it maybe broke me out ever so slightly elsewhere. Weird! But my skin looked immediately better when I switched back to Medik8 Retinal.

Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense Mini

Really nice calming and hydrating serum! Actually works for me. For redness as well. Ugh, I might have to repurchase despite the price. It's so rare that I like hydrating serums.

Rosacure Fast Synchroline Gel Emulsion

Nice, light moisturizer. Good under makeup. Didn't break me out, maybe calmed my skin, but didn't notice too much difference with redness - maybe slightly. Could repurchase.

Thisworks In Transit Camera Close Up

I had suspicions when I tried this moisturizer because it promises so many things and has a weird name, more like primer than moisturizer. It has quite strong fragrance as well. But in the end this one didn't seem to break me out and was good under makeup. I do think it gave a nice smooth hydrated look for my skin.

SVR Sebiaclear Serum Discontinued? Sample

Found this old sample serum and tried it. It's actually very good! Light, ok under makeup, seemed to work. Includes 14% Gluconolactone and 4% Niacinamide. Could use more but I think it's been discontinued.

Lumene CC Powder Light

Hean High Definition Matte Rice Powder

Cezanne UV Clear Face Powder SPF 28 PA+++ 01. Light

All three were good powders! Lumene probably had best oil control. But all of them looked natural on me. I could repurchase any of them. Probably will go with Lumene because it is easiest to get for me.

But wow, all these powders are many years old. Considering I use powder almost every day, how can they last so long???

Maybelline Sky High Cosmic Black Mascara

Good mascara! Doesn't flake, easy to wash off. Have repurchased.

Body

Rexona Maximum Protection Sport Strength Antiperspirant

Good basic.

Just out of interest I added up how many Rexonas I used last year (2024): 16!

Nivea Waterlily & Oil Shower Gel

Good basic as well, I still have some bottles left.

Hair

None!

Shopping from March to April

I'm actually proud of myself! During these two months I spent "only" about 103 €. 

Medik8 Mighty Minis Collection (Medik8 Micellar Mousse, Medik8 C-Tetra Luxe, Medik8 Advanced Night Restore)

Basiron AC Benzoyl Peroxide 5% Gel

Differin Adapalene Gel

About 73 €, some pharmacy shopping. Differin is a basic and I've used Benzoyl Peroxide washes before but not leave-in treatment. So now I'll give it a go (for both my face and armpits).

The Medik8 sets was on a sale so... I wanted to try C-Tetra Luxe serum. I already know Micellar Mousse is nice and it's interesting to test Night Restore as well. Ingredients sound good. Probably best as a winter time moisturizer for me... but I think I want to try it already.

Garnier Micellar Gel Wash

Nivea 2in1 Primer Daily UV Serum SPF50+

Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV Vitamin C Anti-Dark Spots Fluid SPF50+

About 30 €. Some basics. I run out of my last Micellar Gel Wash. 

Also wanted new sunscreens. Been using my old expired ones (whatever, it's my skin, maybe they still have something like SPF5 left). 

Heard positive things about how matte Nivea Primer SPF is so chose that one and also Garnier Vitamin C Fluid as I've liked Garnier Fluids before as well. Don't have much to say about them yet, Nivea is unscented and Garnier has fruity scent that doesn't bother me. Both feel light.

Empties from January to February

 I am so late with empties, again. Which is not a bad thing. I'm not obsessing over my skin stuff right now. But I am happy to see I am using up products.

Face

Elizabeth Arden Cleansing Oil

Great cleansing oil, rinses clean! I am going to repurchase. Currently I am using Medik8 Cleansing Oil and it is great as well. Not sure which one I like more - I think I like both equally. Medik8 is not quite as slippy as Elizabeth Arden, maybe it doesn't rinse quite as clean, but it doesn't have the fragrance (smells like oil, grassy oil?).

Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum Mini

I have to say, this lotion serum is so good. My skin looked great, brightened and felt soft the whole time I was using it, the mini 8 ml lasted probably 3-4 weeks when used in the morning. It was great under makeup as well, never pilling.

I would like to repurchase but it's expensive. And who knows if it'll have the same effect again? 

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10%+Zinc 1% Serum

So old bottle, I just used the rest on my body.

The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5% Serum

I like pycnogenol. I think it helps with acne. I want to repurchase, but I also want to clean up my stash first.

Differin Adapalene Gel

Good stuff, even when old and probably expired (going by the date printed on the tube). I just asked for a prescription for Differin as well from doctor so I wouldn't have to keep ordering from iherb - it's cheaper when I buy locally. 

Body

Aco Intimate Cleansing Wash

Good, gentle, I've repurchased.

Rexona Maximum Protection Sport Strength Antiperspirant x3

Only antiperspirant that works for me. I just went to doctor because of sweating/acne, and got prescribed topical glycopyrronium. Hmm, been using it only for a week but it does have quite strong side effects. Dry mouth, dry eyes. 

CCS Cracked Heel Repair 

I like this, good for feet and whole body, especially legs and arms (for bumps and rough skin). 

Pure&Care Exfoliating Foot Mask

Very good foot mask! I will repurchase. Gentle and effective. Especially when paired with SVR Xerial 50.

Dermosil Panthenol Cream 5%

I used this as a hand cream, it was good and light. I could repurchase.

Hair

Vichy Dercos Anti-dandruff shampoo

Absolutely great shampoo. Definitely recommend for oily scalp. I've repurchased.

Shopping From January to February

I spent about 101 € on products during January and February. I think everything I bought is useful and very reasonable. 

BUT, I did go to hairdresser and spent about 180 €... Also I bought new gym clothes, maybe 200 €. And tried new yoga lesson, which is almost 20 €. So if I want to keep doing these lessons regularly, it is 40-80 € a month, and I already pay 30 € a month for gym (that is cheap though).

I certainly don't think it is cheap to take care of yourself and your health. Now that I've consistently tried to go for healthy life style, eating, exercising, going to doctor when I actually need it, medications and supplements... I feel like my bills have skyrocketed. Of course I don't have to pay for yoga lessons for example, but when you're trying something new, you need some guidance and encouragement in the beginning at least.

Elizavecca Cer-100 Collagen Ceramide Coating Protein Treatment

PanOxyl, Acne Foaming Wash, For Face & Body, Maximum Strength

Differin, Adapalene Gel 0.1 % Acne Treatment

Iherb order, about 40 €. Finally I've finished all my old Differin tubes so a new one! This time I shall not hoard them. I'm finished with my old benzoyl peroxide wash as well so a small new one this time (my old one was 5%, this is 10%).

I also heard great things about the Elizavecca hair treatment and it is really popular. 

Nivea Waterlily Shower Gel x3

About 6 € for 3. On sale, good shower gel, no complaints. Cute bottle, feminine soapy flower scent, not too overpowering. Quite gentle. Not enough for my armpits but nothing is (using currently a mix of Vichy sulphur shampoo, benzoyl peroxide wash and Medik8 Pore Cleanse Gel Intense). 

Decided to skip the expensive 10+ € shower gels for now.

Avene Cleanance Comedomed Peeling

Aco Intimate Cleansing Wash

SVR Xerial 50 Extreme Foot Cream

CCS Cracked Heel Repair

Some pharmacy shopping, about 45 €. Aco& CCS are repurchases, good products both.

Someone recommended SVR Xerial 50, it probably has one of the highest urea content available, 50%. As foot/callus cream. So far I've used it a couple of times and it seems to be really good! I've also applied it to calluses on my hands (from weight lifting) and my shins (my legs can be rough...).

People keep talking about Avene Cleanance Comedomed Peeling, so I wanted to try that as well. It has glycolic acid paired with retinal. I always expect glycolic acid to burn my skin, but this one did not. Granted, I've only used it a couple of days in a row.

Pure&Care Exfoliating Foot Mask

Masque Me Up Foot Mask Socks

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream

Maybe 10 €? Some basics. Finally bought the recommended hand cream, and it really is good. It has very high glycerin content. But it is not overly sticky. I feel the effect lasts for a long time and it really helps my dry winter hands. It is very thick, like balm, so it is a bit of work to squeeze it out of the tube.

Current Favorites

Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Skies

For some reason, I've been feeling the sweeter, stronger fragrance right now. I have to use quite a light hand, this is a long lasting perfume! I really do like the slightly tacky, heavy bottle as well. :)

Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Serum

Can't believe I'm saying this but this serum seems to work! After a few days my skin was noticeably more glowy and soft. It doesn't disrupt makeup, no pilling. Light white cream, absorbs nicely, smells slightly citrusy. 

Very nice product but I went to see that it costs 80€ for 30 ml! Will have to think about that. Also Medik8 has a similar product called C Tetra Luxe so I might want to test that as well, it is the same price point but easier to acquire. They both use Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, a vitamin C derivate. C.E.O. has 15% and C Tetra Luxe 14%. Apparently it is a highly stable and powerful form of vitamin C.

Medik8 Pore Cleanse Gel Intense

Very powerful cleanser. Not sure if my face liked it at all. But, I tried Pore Cleanse Gel Intense on my armpits and it is perfect! Leaves my pits squeaky clean, purified. I think my pits smell less after using it. It has a slightly herbal fresh scent.

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream

Very nice, thick hand cream. Balmy. No scent. A bit difficult to squeeze out of the bottle. Long lasting and leaves hands smooth and not slimy or tacky. I like it for both day and night time and I am quite picky with hand creams!