2021 Empties (will I repurchase?) – Part 1

I’ve decided to do one of these posts every 5 empties (a fully finished product) to keep the posts short and so I don’t keep more than 5 pieces of extra trash around at a time. I’m super excited to take a good look at what I thought of the products I’ve finished and whether or not I’d buy them again.

Vichy Pureté Thermale One Step Face Cleanser for Sensitive Skin – I loved this cleanser. It’s incredibly non-stripping and hydrating while still being effective at cleansing. That said, I have a bunch of cleansers I’m testing right now that I need to get through before deciding which one I’ll buy when I finally run through them all. Will maybe repurchase!

Vichy Minéral 89 Face Serum – This is great for my dry skin, and I’ve loved using it as a primer for makeup and as a serum. I loved the texture of this and how effective it was. Plus, it’s a lot more cost effective than some similar products I’ve tried. Like cleansers, I have a ton of similar products to get through before deciding on my HG. Will maybe repurchase!

Saint Jane Luxury CBD Beauty Serum – This oil was lovely, and my skin liked it. Was it worth $38 for this tiny bottle? Absolutely not. Are there dozens, if not hundreds, of other oils (even with CBD) that work just as well for way cheaper? Yes! I’m glad they have the mini so you can try it out without spending $125 for the 1oz full size, but definitely not worth it for me. My favorite of the CBD face oils I’ve tried is the Josie Maran Skin Dope Argan Oil which is about $46 for 1oz. You can get 2.7oz for the same price as 1 of the Saint Jane. So nope, will not repurchase!

Glossier Balm Dotcom – So hear me out – not all of the Balm Dotcoms are created equal. I have the berry one and love it so much. The Birthday one though – I hate it. The scent is overwhelming, the glitter is far too much (you can feel it!), and it is somehow way less moisturizing than the berry. The packaging also rubs off (as you can see in the picture) and gets everywhere! If you read my blog, you know how much I love Glossier products in general (so many have shown up in my favorites), but this is a definite no from me. So nope, will not repurchase!

Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator – This is my favorite facial mist of all time. I’ve used it alone with nothing else if I’m in a pinch and somehow it actually hydrates my skin enough even with my incredibly dry skin. I already have two more bottles of this, and I will continue to repurchase this. Once I get through the two I have left, I am 100% getting the giant bottle because I will for sure go through 8oz of this, and I can keep the smaller bottles I have to refill. Will definitely keep repurchasing!

Let me know what else you’d like to see in 2021 – I’m so happy to have you reading and would love to hear from you!

February 2020 SKINCARE AND MAKEUP FAVORITES

I’m super excited to share my February 2020 favorites! These are 5 things that I either discovered or rediscovered in January that stood out as favorites.

I missed the original launch of the Sonia G. Sky Eye Brush Set and made sure to pre-order when they finally came back, and I’m so happy I did. These are the best eye brushes I’ve ever used, and I have some pretty amazing brushes already. Every eye look I’ve made with them has been perfect, regardless of which eyeshadow formula I’ve used. My eye look have never looked this blended, and I can finally do shadow liner with the mini booster or the flat definer. These are incredibly versatile and high quality, and I cannot recommend these enough.

I learned a great trick from Cate the Great Beauty on YouTube to make the most out of my hyaluronic acid serums. I felt like my The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid wasn’t really doing anything until I started putting it on while my skin was still wet in the shower – total game changer. My skin feels way less dry and the serum is a great base for all my other nighttime skincare. I feel like everything absorbs better on top. I’m going to try this tip with the Good Molecules one when I run out of the The Ordinary version, and I’ll report back if it works just as well!

I traveled in February, and the only color cosmetics I brought were my Salt New York Crème Tint Pros. This is my favorite cream formula, and I love how quickly I can do a natural “my face but better” look with them. They blend out super easily, are super lightweight, and are the perfect shades for me. The highlighter shade in the top right, warm tan, is also one of my favorite eye shadows to use if I want to do something super quick. They just had a presale that ended and will be opening the store back up soon.

As much as I love my Salt New York cream blushes, I discovered a new favorite blush this month. I got the new Mac Glow Play Blush in Grand, and it’s incredible. It brightens up my whole face and blends so easily. The texture is like a cross between a powder and a cream, so it looks super lifelike with a slight sheen like a cream and has great lasting power like a powder. I’m trying so hard to resist buying more colors because the formula is probably the best blush I’ve ever tried.

A skincare discovery this month, also inspired by Cate the Great Beauty, was the Glow Recipe Pineapple-C Brightening Serum. It’s one of the only Vitamin-C serums my skin can tolerate, and it really brightens my skin in the morning. I mix it with my moisturizer before sunscreen, and I think it has really helped keep my skin hydrated and smooth during the day under makeup.

I hauled quite a bit for my birthday so you’ll be seeing some new discoveries next month. There are already some things I can tell are going to earn a spot in my every day routine. I’m also always here to help you find your next favorite things, so let me know in the comments if there’s anything you want me to test out!