Empties Since January 2021

Empties from January to February so two months' worth.

Face

The Ordinary Rose Hip Seed Oil

I don't remember when I opened this bottle. Should pay more attention to oils, as they can expire fast... Very nourishing yet light weight for an oil. I noticed I do not care much for rose hip seed oil during summer but when the winter comes it feels so nice! Smells nice to me too, like hay.

Tosowoong Soft Touch Sun Cream SPF32 PA++

My second tube of this sunscreen. I had used (surprise) about 3/4 of this and forgot I had it. I actually still like this one! I'm surprised Tosowoong hasn't discontinued it... YET. It doesn't irritate my skin, white cast is bearable (but annoying regardless), leaves satin like finish (not shiny or matte), works well under makeup... Don't know if I would repurchase. I dislike the white cast, but this sunscreen doesn't irritate my skin at all and it's quite moisturizing for a mineral one.

Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate Mini

Nice hydrating gel serum, but I feel it was breaking me out when I wasn't using retinoids. A bit pricy too, I don't think I'll repurchase.

Sheet masks: Etude House Collagen and Calendula, Innisfree Ginseng

Damn, I should have written some notes when I used these in January. Can't remember anymore which was which. None of them were remarkable. One of them was with gloopy essence I disliked. Perhaps it was Calendula? I think I excpected the creamy essence in Ginseng to be more moisturizing or nourishing but it wasn't. If I remember right, Collagen one was the best. One of them or two were dripping essence while wearing them. I don't remember the fit of the masks being particularly good or bad.

Lumene Wild Rose Creme Lip Gloss 1 Autumn/Syksy (Clear)

Ahaha. What an oldie again. :) My second one of Lumene's clear lip glosses, actually! The first one I bought when I was a teenager! I can't remember when I bought this one, in 2018? But for whatever reason used it only a couple of times. I found it later in my stash, and used it as a lip mask for a few months, then it started to look like there was something in the bottom. I don't know if something is growing there or not, or pieces of lipstick stuck inside after applying the gloss on top of lipstick... But I am not taking any chances and off this goes.

Body

Rexona Maximum Protection Antiperspirant Sport Strength

Nice antiperspirant. Have several backups.

Bepanthen Balm

Amazing for small wounds, dry skin, lips, itchy skin, everything that needs healing... I use it for face, body, everything, this is a staple that probably every single household has! P.S. This tube says the expiration date was in 2018. Never thought of checking out that as there was nothing weird.

Hair

Budgie The Apple Cider Scrub 

Alright scalp scrub, smells really nice and fruity, easy to wash off. Not really too effective. But nice to use! Might purchase sometime on sale again. 

Shopping from January to February

My beauty shopping from January to February so two months' worth! Cost me about 33 €. Wasn't even difficult to buy less stuff. But that's what I said earlier, I have basics covered for this year and also a lot of fun stuff to explore so I don't feel like I have holes in my routine. 

But now I just heard that Becca is going to close this year, nooo! I have just one blush (Tigerlily) from Becca and I love it! I might have to scoop up something else before it is too late. :( I think Becca's problem is maybe not just covid19 and boring releases in some people's opinion, Becca's main problem imo is that they never were properly available for purchase!!! In my country they are not sold ANYWHERE. Not too many European online stores available to me carry them either. So they have just poor distribution channels and they have ignored the smaller European countries with surprising purchasing power compared to their population size. Anyway, Becca's aesthetic is right up my alley so I am sad.

The Different Company Sublime Balkiss Eau de Parfum Sample 2 ml

Molinard Muguet Eau de Parfum Sample 2 ml

Lanvin Jeanne Lanvin Eau de Parfum Sample 5 ml

Lanvin Éclat d'Arpège Eau de Parfum Sample 5 ml

Byredo Gypsy Water Eau de Parfum Sample 2 ml

About 23 €. A little something from Notino because they offer perfume samples! Obviously the selection is limited but I chose a few to play with to broaden my horizons. I have a long list of perfumes I'd like to have but can't find samples of them. So for now these will suffice my curiosity. But I must admit I am boring when it comes to fragrance. 

My favorite so far is Lanvin Jeanne Lanvin - I liked it at the very first whiff. It is a crowd pleaser. It is sweet, light, very balanced fruity-floraly but for me the raspberry stands out the most. I could easily get a full size bottle and use this daily. Not very memorable scent but there is absolutely nothing unpleasant about it!

This was the only beauty related purchase I made in January! I think I started the... hmm... no no-buy, no replace-only-buy, maybe I could call my new philosophy just control-buy(???) really well!

The Body Shop Winter Jasmine Shower Gel

LV Saippua Bar Soap

Then, February purchases. LV Soap I got for cleaning my brushes and it was only 1,4 €. TBS Shower Gel was something I've had my eye on since the launch last year, it was part of their holiday collection... well, it just so happened I decided to get it before it was too late! I do love jasmine when it is not overdone. And the shower gel is perfect subtle and fresh jasmine. 

Lumene Kirkas Clarity Radiance Boosting Complexion Water Toner 200 ml Review

Ingredients:

AQUA (WATER), GLYCERIN, PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, RUBUS CHAMAEMORUS (CLOUDBERRY) SEED EXTRACT, PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM PCA, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, PROPANEDIOL, ALLANTOIN, SORBIC ACID, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SODIUM HYALURONATE, LINALOOL, LIMONENE, GERANIOL, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE).

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Lumene's Radiance Boosting Toner broke me out in small bumps everytime when I tried to use it originally

 
- Quite strong fragrance originally, could smell it hours later after applying... still can, but not so strongly. I thought it was crazy it was trying to overpower the actual perfume I applied later!

- I didn't notice brightening results but I stopped using the toner on my face soon after breakouts



+ Wasn't drying nor hydrating, but this is more hydrating than purifying toner, water consistency

+ Leaves slightly sticky finish, but didn't pill or cause problems with other products

+ The bottle design is very appealing! Haha. Reason I bought it I guess!

* I don't remember when I bought this Lumene toner, maybe 2017? It is still available with the same formula, but the packaging has been updated. The toner was definitely an impulse purchase! I was really into toners.

* After discovering that my face didn't like the toner, I have been using it to wipe my neck and back. I really hate letting things go to waste. But it is not very good at this new purpose either, since I am oily and used to have neck/back acne as well, so purifying toner or micellar water works better.

Price: 

Maybe on sale for 5 € / 200 ml, now I see it online for about 8 €

Bought from: 

Supermarket

Buy again? 

No.

Worth the money? 

Ehh, Lumene's Radiance Boosting Complexion Water Toner totally wasn't worth it for me, but it wasn't expensive to begin with. But I just can't figure out who would love this toner anyway. There are actual things that can brighten your skin. There are other toners that have a more clear purpose, i.e. purifying, hydrating, this doesn't really do anything that well. Or it does the strong fragrance well, too bad it is not too nice scent in my opinion!

Hylamide High-Efficiency Face Cleaner 120 ml Review

 Ingredients:

cetyl ethylhexanoate, peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate, bisabolol, oenocarpus bataua fruit oil, bertholletia excelsa seed oil, plukenetia volubilis seed oil, crambe abyssinica seed oil, simmondsia chinensis seed oil, solanum lycopersicum (tomato) fruit extract, pongamia pinnata (karanja) seed oil, squalane, ethylhexyl stearate, tocopherol, phenoxyethanol, chlorphenesin.

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Very thin, watery feeling dry oil type, sometimes I feel like it just absorbs into my skin! But I just had to use more product to be able to massage again.

- Didn't like the chemical smell in the beginning, but now that bottle has been in use/open for a while can't smell it much anymore

- Also I am so used to pumps with oils that I found it very inconvenient to always pick up the bottle and squirt

- I feel like the bottle mechanism to open and close doesn't work really well and I find it leaks



+ My skin seems to like this one, next day after using my skin looks/feels somehow better (compared to The Ordinary's Squalane Cleanser for example and some others). I don't know why though!

 
+ Removes makeup easily, just need to use enough product

+ I was able to massage my skin and get grits, but I think some thicker oil is better for that (so that it doesn't start to absorb to skin at all).

+ No irritation, no breakouts.

+ Washes off quite clean, even though it doesn't seem to emulsify the same way (as white milk) as some other oily things - it just washes off and disappears

+ Doesn't dry my skin, doesn't leave it oily

* I have used Hylamide's High Efficiency Face Cleaner only on dry skin with sunscreen or makeup, not on wet skin like Deciem says you can also do. I have read complaints that it doesn't always work for wet skin however. 

* They also say: "Unlike traditional oil cleaners, this advanced micro-emulsion does not require using a towel or mitt to clean the face as it rinses off efficiently with water in a single step." Well, I haven't used traditional oil cleaners, just emulsifying oils. I am not sure if Deciem also means that you don't have to use a second cleanser afterwards High Efficiency Face Cleaner, but I always do, as my skin doesn't feel "right" without. 

Price: 

18 € / 120 ml

Bought from: 

Deciem website

Buy again? 

Maybe.

Worth the money? 

Yes, at least if you wait for the hopefully every year November sale, -23 % that would bring the price down to 14 €. There is nothing revolutionary about Hylamide's High-Efficiency Face Cleaner to me and it is not the best at removing clogs or for massaging the face and the scent is a bit chemical (so not a huge enjoyment but also not bad) and you might have to use quite a lot for dry skin to stop it from absorbing too much, also maybe you get irritated by the bottle design but... I am willing to forgive because the product itself just works so well for my skin and it is so easy to wash off without clear residue!

Lumene Nude Perfection Glow Foundation Classic Beige 30 ml Review DISCONTINUED

Ingredients:

Aqua, Triisostearin PEG-6 Esters, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Dipelargonate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenol Triazine, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Boron Nitride, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloudberry) Seed Extract, Betaine, Ceteth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-75 Stearate, Steareth-20, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Trehalose, Urea, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, PEG-8, Pentylene GLycol, Serine, Alumina, Tocopherol, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl PAlmitate, Potassium Phosphate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Parfum. MAY CONTAIN: Mica, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Color is not right for me, there's this orange tint. I don't think it shows up clearly in pictures. Makes me look oompa loompa on the face. Also a bit too dark for me.

- Probably not a good choice for an oilier skin because the finish is so dewy, there's some "oiliness"

- Broke me out so badly once (closed comedones) when I applied it a bit more to get a better feel of the texture and shade



+ Sheer beautiful natural dewy finish, just disappears into the skin (or would disappear if the color would be right), my skin but better - look

+ Pleasant consistency, quite light feeling, soft

+ For a more tanned skin, classic beige would for sure make the skin healthy summery glowy!

+ Doesn't stick to dry patches

* I'm pretty sure this color Classic Beige matched my hands when I was sampling it at the store a long time ago, so it could be that I was more tanned and my religious sunscreen use has actually made me a shade lighter. But finding color matches has become harder as well, without a tan I don't just look pale, I look quite gray-ish, splotchy, sick yellow but not quite warm, sigh. Maybe it's just aging making me look dull?

* Lumene Nude Perfection Glow Foundation is an old Lumene product that I bought on sale when Lumene was phasing it out of production and for some reason I hold on to it even though it never worked for me!? Just chucked it out a little while ago. I just want to post a review to remind me of this purchase.

* I don't know if Lumene has something similar right now to offer, doesn't look like it, even though they do have some Natural Glow foundation. I just can't keep up with Lumene, they keep changing packaging and re-naming and discontinuing stuff every year now. At least they still make the CC Color Correcting Cream that I like! They also still have CC Color Correcting Powder, but it has changed again, it doesn't have the green part anymore (and the green part didn't exist in the original CC Powder). The CC Powder works very well on my eyelids on top of eye primer to stop the oiliness.

* As for the orange foundation, I have learned you can try to shift the shade more neutral with blue drops! Only drops available to me seem to be L.A.Girl PRO.Colour Foundation Mixing Pigment. I think I'm going to get some drops to play with at some point because I guess the best way to get what you want is to customize. Already what I do with lipsticks and blushes! When it comes to color, I can be very particular about what I want.

Price: 

On sale 5 € / 30 ml

Bought from: 

Some supermarket

Buy again? 

No, discontinued. 

Worth the money? 

Overall I really do like the consistency and the finish of Lumene Nude Perfection Glow Foundation. However I do regret buying it because it didn't work for me, it was a wrong shade and broke me out.

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum Mini 10 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Water*, Glycerin*, Butylene Glycol*, Ethylhexyl Palmitate*, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6,Polymethyl Methacrylate, Dimethicone, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract*, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum (Fragrance), Squalane*, Potassiumsorbate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Juice*, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum,Sorbitan Oleate*, Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan, Citric Acid, Sorbitan Laurate*, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Phytate*, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Myristyl Malate Phosphonic Acid.

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Fragrance, if you are against it or don't like this particular one

- Shame on Caudalie calling this serum "S.O.S." and "A burst of moisture" because for a dehydrated skin you need something much stronger, this is just marketing done wrong! There is nothing S.O.S. about this one! (Maybe if you layer it 10 times...)



+ The same floral Caudalie scent that Vinosource Moisture Sorbet has as well, I find it nice! I didn't feel it was strong at all this time, disappeared very fast.

+ The serum is between a liquid and a thin watery emulsion, absorbs very fast and leaves skin smooth without any product feel, like it is your own skin texture but slightly better

+ No pilling, easy to layer with other things

+ The serum is hydrating, but on a scale it is very light hydration, best for summer time/for layering/for oily skin

+ No irritation

+ Feels refreshing (not skin plumping though)

+ Didn't feel it clogging while on tretinoin, can't comment on my normal combination skin. But Vinosource Moisture Sorbet wasn't clogging when I wasn't on tret.

* I do have a soft spot for Caudalie for some reason. And at the same time I also do not feel like incorporating their products into my staple routine, because they feel a bit too pricy for that. I guess I'll keep buying some mini sets forever.

* I bought Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum in a mini set containing also Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet and Micellar Cleansing Water last year. I paid 7,20 € for the set, it was on sale. That was a very good price and I will keep my eyes peeled for Caudalie sets again - especially on sale. I really really like Moisturizing Sorbet and Micellar Cleansing Water is fine, nothing spectacular but nothing bad.

* I think it took about a month to finish the 10 ml mini bottle when using it only on face (not neck) and using it 1-2 times a day.

Price: 

On average 30 € / 30 ml

Bought from: 

Feelunique (in a set)

Buy again? 

Maybe? Most likely in a mini set if I feel like using Caudalie again.

Worth the money? 

Actually, for the full price, I don't think Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum is worth it. It is not very spectacular or memorable, but it is nice and light extra layer for summer or oily skin perhaps. I would personally price it around 15 € as for that price I'd be willing to jump on a full size bottle now.

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 100 ml Review

Ingredients:

Aqua / water (La Roche Posay/La Roche-Posay), hydrogenated polyisobutene, dimethicone, glycerin, butyrospermum parkii butter / shea butter, panthenol, butylene glycol, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, propanediol, cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone, tristearin, zinc gluconate, madecassoside, manganese gluconate, magnesium sulfate, disodium EDTA, copper gluconate, acetylated glycol stearate, polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, sodium benzoate, phenoxyethanol, chlorhexidine digluconate, CI77891 / titanium dioxide.

I try to mark the sunscreen ingredients in red and other possible irritants in lilac. Ingredients thought to be good and useful for skin I mark green.  Learning as I go, google is my friend etc...

Thoughts:

- Pills quite easily, especially if you add a generous amount. Bunches up around nostrils, eyebrows...

- Leaves a white cast, especially if a lot is applied - when added a tiny bit, actually the white cast is nicely brightening

- Many people use Cicaplast Baume as a final occlusive, but I actually don't think it is the best for that purpose (It still works though!)... basic Aquaphor works better, or something else with mineral oil. But this I feel because I use tretinoin now. If I wasn't using tret, I wouldn't use any of these, I tried before and they felt clogging to me!

- Still, Cicaplast Baume is not terribly moisturizing alone either, for me I need another moisturizer underneath.

- Not good under/with make up

- The jar picture says the product is good 6 months once opened! That's quite a short time. I will never finish anything in that time. 



+ Non-irritating and soothing cream, it can be applied no matter the skin condition and it doesn't sting - I used it to heal my poor hands with painful micro wounds and hang nails as well

+ Very versatile moisturizer, for both face and body

+ Quite affordable, especially on sale, and easily available (in Europe)

+ Doesn't clog me when I am using retinoids

+ Nice ingredients - glycerin, panthenol, madecassosside...

+ A thick protecting cream, but still not sticky or greasy or overly balmy, easy to apply without tugging skin

+ No scent or fragrance

* I mainly use La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5 as a night occlusive or during the day when I am not leaving home. I've been using it now for about 2 months. I am thinking the tube will last me a year at least, I hope it will not show signs of expiration.

* I do see why LRP Cicaplast is a cult classic, I think it is because I just can't see it being irritating to anyone, so it is a very safe choice when you are unsure or you have a damaged skin.

* Sometimes, Cicaplast Baume tingles on my skin for a few seconds after applying. I have no idea what it is. It is not unpleasant or stinging or anything, it just tingles, like air bubbles...

* I don't think I would use so many occlusives if I wouldn't be using retinoids daily now. All these things have clogged my usually combination skin in the past! Now my skin is dry. Except my nose and forehead, of course. Now those parts are just normal. 

* Of course there is also La Roche Posay Cicaplast Gel B5, which is a light gel and I tried it before briefly (bought for my family members who have super oily and sensitive skin) and it was fine! Not moisturizing but with similar ingredients otherwise, so it could be used as a less clogging light occlusive. It is a lot more elegant formula and is easy to use under makeup as well. Cicaplast Baume is definitely more moisturizing and more occlusive and better for a dry skin as a night mask compared to the Cicaplast Gel.

Price: 

I paid on sale 10.60 €, usually 16 € / 100 ml

Usually 8 € / 40 ml

Bought from: 

Feelunique

Buy again? 

Maybe. I wouldn't mind having a tube around, but this is not something I absolutely need.

Worth the money? 

Yes, if you are looking for a soothing cream for a reasonable price. Probably not for oily, easily clogged skin types like what mine is normally.

This is 100 ml tube of La Roche Posay and 50 ml of A-Derma.

A-Derma is yellow-y and La Roche Posay is white.

Similar texture but A-Derma is thicker, more difficult to spread.

Both leave some white cast, depending how much you apply. Not bad, but it is there.

Current Favorites

 Molton Brown Fiery Pink Pepper Bath & Shower Gel

Addicting is the word I would use to describe the scent! I wish it would linger longer on the skin after the shower. Very sweet pepper, sweet spices. I never knew I liked pepper scents and never would have bought this myself. This came from Lookfantastic Advent Calendar 2019 and I opened it just a few months back. It is so great for those hot, steamy, long winter showers after a jog in the cold!

Picture taken inside, no direct light. I think it is pretty true to color, at least on my monitor that has been calibrated.

Natasha Denona Blush Glow Duo - All Over Glow #1 Light and Golden Coral

Golden Coral is such a perfect shade and I love the formula as well! So easy to blend, almost seamless, I get that glow/blush from within look. The color meshes perfectly with my own blush shade. It's easy to apply very little or layer it. The blush looks so pink in the pan, how can it look so good on cheeks?! Usually pink doesn't suit me too well, not even warmer pinks. Cooler pinks are a definite no-go. My theory is that the formula is sheer so that it lets my own skin color peak through so it doesn't look like a mask and the golden hue warms it.

I admit after experimenting with Natasha Denona's Blush Glow Duo I went on rampage online and scrutinized every Natasha Denona blush. So yes, I could definitely buy another one. But I couldn't really make out the differences between ND blushes based on swatches/pictures properly or fall in love with a certain shade. So considering their price, I wouldn't like to buy a 40 € product this "blind". Maybe ND's colors and formulas are just something that I do not feel unless I actually swatch them.

SVR XERIAL 10 Lait Corps

SVR XERIAL Fissures & Crevasses

Both are excellent moisturizers! Xerial Fissures&Crevasses is greasier. I use them both on my face and my hands. They have no scent. Lait Corps has 10% urea, F&C 5% urea. They are definitely more moisturizing than Eucerin's Urea Repair Face Cream 5%, but Eucerin is better under make up. SVR Lait Corps works under make up as well and dries reasonably fast on hands without too much tackiness or film. SVR Fissures&Crevasses on the other hand is better as a night cream and it works really well for dry skin. I don't see myself using it during summer though, too much. But I've almost finished my tube already, it's been a cold winter. :)

A-Derma Dermalibour Repairing Cream

Very nice occlusive thick cream. I almost like this better than the cult favorite La Roche Posay Cicaplast. Of course they both are nice. But A-Derma's cream is thicker, stays put better, doesn't pill like LRP and calms skin faster or maybe I am just imagining things. Both leave the white cast though. A-Derma uses oat extract as their hero ingredient. I use this cream mainly during the night, sometimes even during the day when it is cold/windy and I'm going outside.