Empties since May

My empties from May to June so two months. Again, battling with the samples! Currently it is really hot here so it has limited my product usage. My face can't stand too much product when sweating all the time. I've been very good about sunscreen though! 

Face

Pile of Samples

My goal was to finish 20 samples again. I finished 19. I must admit I am a bit over samples now! My skin would love to just settle into a more long time routine! But I am still setting a goal of another 20 samples for the next two months so I can finish them all this year. I am not sure how many are still left.I do have quite many K-Beauty foundation samples but I would think everything is discontinued by now.

My favorites were DHC Elastin Collagen Ceramide Placenta Fresh Lotion, andLAB Hyarucerin Moisture Cream, Etude House Berry AHA Bright Peel Mild Gel (discontinued).

Sheet masks: Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb, The Saem Charcoal and Potato, Innisfree Tomato and Broccoli

My favorites were Garnier Moisture Bomb and The Saem Charcoal. 

I actually have only few sheet masks left anymore. They are definitely not part of my basic routine, but I just fixed last week some sudden peeling around my mouth going on day 3 just by using a single sheet mask. And it was gone and not back, yet at least. So I am perhaps going to buy a couple new masks once my stash is finished.

A-Derma Lip Balm

Ok product, but probably wouldn't repurchase. A bit too stiff formula for my tastes, but I think it will not melt easily when carried in a pocket everywhere. But I kept this one bedside and it was my night lip balm for over a year! (Lip balm that I can easily put on in the middle of the night or in the evening if I can't be arsed to get out of bed anymore for something else. During winter I sometimes wake up with super dry lips and can't go back to sleep unless I do something about it.)

The Ordinary Pycnogenol 5%

I really do like this serum. This was my second bottle maybe? I have a backup. My skin just looks better (brighter, smoother, less acne, more even color) when I use it. Pycnogenol is supposed to have antioxidant properties. I guess I will repurchase as long as The Ordinary makes it!

Nivea UV Face Sun Sensitive SPF50

Good face sunscreen, I've repurchased. I would recommend, affordable and fragrance free. I am now curious about Nivea's other face sunscreens.

Avene XeraCalm A.D. Lipid Replenishing Balm Sample

Feels nice and protecting, but nothing spectacular. Did try it when my skin was slightly irritated, worked nicely. Too greasy for day time wear, good sleeping mask. Possibly could purchase.

Body

The Body Shop Frosted Cranberry Shimmer Lotion

Got this one as a gift. Must be from 2017. Or 2016. Not very moisturizing anymore, not sure if it ever was. Leaves kind of a film on skin. Shimmer is crazy pretty though, and long lasting at that too! I think that was the reason I was trying to save the lotion. Too strong scent, very fake berry. Aggravates a head ache/migraine if it's already coming.

Rexona Maximum Protection Antiperspirant Sport Strength x2

My staple. I have backups.

Molton Brown Rose & Rhubarb Shower Gel

At first wasn't impressed by the scent, but it grew on me. Would use again, but would not go out of my to purchase. Molton Brown's shower gels are not cleansing enough for me, so the scent is the main thing.

Nivea Kids SPF50

I have no idea how old this one is! And I haven't even written a review for it! But I am fairly sure I have even repurchased this bottle so it can't be older than a few years, right... right? Nivea has reformulated and released new sunscreens this year and it will be interesting to try them. I did like this one a lot, no scent, no white cast, easy to apply and wash off.

Hair

Wella Professional LuxeOil Reconstructive Elixir for Keratin Protection Mini 30 ml

Got this one from my hair stylist as a freebie when I got permanent. Quite a strong fragrance and very slippy oily texture. I wasn't a huge fan in the beginning, but the more I used it, the more I liked it. Easy to apply and not heavy. Didn't particularly make my curls better but did feel protecting especially because I have thin hair and it turns frizzy easily. A little goes long way as well, realistically if I hadn't so many other products it would take me ~5 months to finish 30 ml. So now that it is gone I do miss it. I miss hair oils in general too. This was more effective than Moroccan Oil Treatment. But Moroccan Oil definitely smells a lot better! 

Shopping from May to June

My shopping from May to June so two months. I bought everything in May, nothing in June... I spent about 158 €. So I did go slightly overboard. So far I have used this year about 269 € in 6 months and I have had 3 shopping free months. Last year I had spent at this point 317 €. 

Also, last year I spent from July to August about 429 € so now I must contain my stress levels for the next two months! I took a peek what I bought and must admit there were several things I haven't used much during the year I've owned them. Kind of stupid to buy something just to "test it out" in a spur of the moment "I am doing this order now so better get everything at once because free shipping". But most of them have been useful which is good. I have only finished maybe 2-4 of those things though! Because most was makeup and it will take ages to make a dent.

ETUDE HOUSE Sunprise Mild Watery Light SPF50+ PA++++

THE FACE SHOP Natural Sun Eco No Shine Sun Primer SPF50+ PA+++

MISSHA All-around Safe Block Aqua Sun SPF50+ PA++++

Innisfree Anti-aging Serum Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ 

Missha Super Aqua Ultra Hyalron Peeling Gel

+ Samples + Korean Wash Cloth (yellow one)

This is from Jolse, I've ordered many times from them. My only choice for shipping is DHL so the package comes from Korea in a few days, Jolse took about a week to ship it out.  Obviously have to deal with customs because it comes outside of EU. But actually DHL releases packages from customs almost immediately after payment, unlike basic Posti that is slow and can take days, argh! DHL has really stepped up, I like them now! About 75€

I got another Innisfree Anti-Aging Serum Sunscreen because I gave the rest of the last one to my mom to try it out (she's not into sunscreen so I give her once in a while something I think she could use easily). EDIT: She actually likes it! Says it is just like applying a moisturizer.

First impressions: Etude House Mild Watery Light smells surprisingly bad to me! Not strong, just hits the spot which makes me slightly nauseous. Otherwise, texture is nice and light, good stuff.

The Face Shop Natural Sun Eco No Shine Sun Primer is, hmm... pretty horrible. White and patchy and pills. I did expect it to be "brightening" (= somewhat white, mixed filters) but I also expected it to act like primer (= prime the skin smooth!). More like Clio's old primer sunscreen, you know? So I will experiment with this one and if I can't fix the texture issue I'll have to chuck it. 

But the reformulated Missha All-Around Safe Block Aqua Sun I actually like more than I thought. It has a sharp floral fragrance that does dissipate (no where near SVR's Sun Secure line stink to me) and nice texture. Good I haven't tried the original Missha Aqua, because many seem disappointed that the finish is not matte anymore. Because I would be disappointed too and like this new version less, now I don't have a comparison. This one has worked so far under every foundation I've tried.

So overall a random bunch. Wonder what I should try next? European ones, or more from Missha and Innisfree (they have a good track record in my eyes)? Or just sit tight and see the possible new innovations/reformulations next spring 2023?

A list of European ones on my "wishlist": Kiehls Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel SPF50 (expensive), Anthelios Uvmune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ (golden standard these days?), La Roche Posay Anthelios Uvmune Ultra Cream SPF50+ (some say this could dry more matte than fluid?!), Vichy Capital Soleil UV Age SPF50+ (fluid), Eucerin Oil Control Sun Gel-Cream SPF50+ (holy grail for oily skin?), Eucerin Pigment Control Sun Fluid SPF50+...

SpaceNK's free gift with purchase: Feelgood Edit. I am impressed! I did get two different products than what they promoted. Maybe they ran out of the original ones.

Both lip products look good on me colorwise. Rare Beauty's Lip Souffle reminds me of Peripera's Lip Tint. But I must say when I tried Nars Rosecliff my first thought was: I need this lipstick in full size. So natural and beautiful, my lips but better!

Medik8 X Space NK Limited Edition Skincare Box: 

Crystal Retinal 3 (30ml)

Press & Glow (50ml)

Hydr8 B5 Intense (8ml)

Daily Radiance Vitamin C (12.5ml)

The Discovery Gift: Feel Good Edit 11 products:

Nars Lipstick Rosecliff 

Rare Beauty Lip Souffle Fearless

Rose Inc Brow Renew Gel

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster

Ultra Violette SPF30 Clean Screen Fragrance Free Gel

Olaplex No 3

Sunday Riley Auto Correct

Fresh Floral Recovery Calming Mask

Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Body Scrub

Malin+Goets Vitamin E Face Moisturizer

Malin+Goets Facial Cleansing Oil Sample

Verso Super C Serum Sample

I had been eyeing the Medik8 set for a while but resisted, because it is 72 € after all (value 100 €). It includes almost all products I've been interested in from Medik8! When SpaceNK released the free gift with purchase set when you spend 70 € I couldn't resist... Wow, the set includes actually interesting things! Free shipping sealed the deal. Altogether 15 products (I think 2-3 fullsize the rest minis) for 72 €! 

It took 2 weeks to receive my order and it was well packaged, BUT the other one of the free samples had twisted and opened up and dried. Lol. Well, it's ok because it is very unlikely I would have even entertained purchasing Verso products. But maybe SpaceNK still should also put samples properly in the box and not just throw on top.

The GWP set had two different products from the promo pictures, I guess they ran out or something. I do not mind that either, because Ultra Violette SPF50 was switched to SPF30 (close enough) and Rose Inc Toner was switched to their brow gel which I actually do prefer as I have enough toners/essences as it is. This is a really good set. Usually GWP sets include mostly things I do not even want. I think both lip products, Rare Beauty Fearless and NARS Rosecliff, look great on me. 

A313 Pommade Vitamine A 50G  

This vitamin A ointment has a cult reputation, but apparently it is very weak because it uses only Retinyl Palmitate which is a retinol ester. Still, I have read mixed reviews how people have got nice results with this one, I do wonder how, but I figured it is at least a good night sleeping mask if nothing else (I noticed that for me it is best to use tretinoin/adapalene every other day so this could be my choice for the other nights). I ordered one for my mom who is afraid of any strong treatments too. At least they were affordable! 

I ordered them from Soin et Nature and this was my first order from them. The shipping was about 5 € and one tube cost 8,5 €. There were some good deals on this webstore as well but I decided not to gamble a big order because I do not have experience with them yet. It took 3 weeks to receive my order and it was well packaged. So if there is no hurry the deals plus affordable shipping may be worth ordering again! Another French store I just looked at is Cocooncenter.

Laponie of Scandinavia Free Sample Set:

FACE CREAM Moisturising light gel-cream 5ml

GEL CLEANSER Purifying, non-drying gel cleanser 5ml

How can I say no to free test set from a Finnish brand that I've heard people praise? Especially the moisturizer and cleanser. The packaging is beautiful and I like their brand philosophy: products with only the necessary natural ingredients, made for sensitive skin. But they are a bit pricy as well so I haven't dared to buy a full size to try them out. The full size moisturizer costs 32 €. Also their shelf life is only about a year, but they clearly state the best before date for the batch they are selling. So I would purchase a tube only when I can use it immediately. I own so many expired or nearly expired things that I try to be more careful in the future.

The ingredients they use include oats, both oil and kernel flour, papaver somniferum seed oil which is poppy seed oil that I personally haven't seen in skincare, and honokiol and magnolol which are antioxidants derived from magnolia bark.