Skincare stash decrease project – update 8

Here is my latest update about my skincare stash decrease project for 2020. Unlike my last post that gave an overview for 2 months, this post will not contain lots of products.

I’m From Rice Toner – At the beginning, I loved this toner since it was really soothing and brightening at the same time. It was also making my skin very supple. However, the closer I was getting to the bottom of the bottle, more my enthusiasm was diminishing. I still think this is nice toner, but I do not think it is great. I do not have any important complaints since it delivers nicely, it is not irritating, it absorbs well, it doesn’t leave any residue. It is just that I’m not that much into this toner anymore. Maybe I will purchase it in the future.

Pyunkang Yul Mist toner – this is one of my 2 favourite watery toners. It is very hydrating, it provides nice refreshment to the skin. It is very runny and therefore it slips easily between the fingers so you need to be very careful if you do not want to spill the product. It is absorbed perfectly and nicely and leaves no residue, but only a happy skin. I really like it and sometimes I put few layers of it. I cannot remember how many bottles I emptied so far. I will repurchase it.

Alpha-H Vitamin B with copper peptides – I bought this serum mostly because it contains vitamin B in its inci list. I must admit that I bought it on a whim and it was only later that I realised that it also contaied copper peptides. Due to that, it was rather challenging to incorporate it into my routine, since copper-peptides do not work well together with some ingredients I usually put in my night routine (acids, retinoids). Because of that, I was alternating it with other niacinamide serum. When I started to use this serum, I turned it into my prime suspect for the breakouts I had on my cheeks in August, so I put it aside for some time. I never break out, I didn’t even have skin troubles during puberty. However, I realised that it was just an unfortunate coincidence with my PMS which makes me break out maybe once in 6 or 7 months. This serum has a jelly texture and is more on a thicker side. This texture was something that I didn’t like since I prefer watery niacinamide serums. On top of that, this serum is really sticky and it takes a while before it is absorbed in the skin. Like all copper-peptides serum, it has a distinctive blue colour and metallic scent that is not unpleasant; I simply do not like it. I will not repurchase this serum.

Tonymoly Bio-ex Cell peptide serum – I only had this serum in pouches and not in regular packaging, so it was dragging around my stash for quite a while and I frankly forgot about it. I really enjoy in this ampoule every time I used it, since it makes my skin velvety and firm (at least it feels firmer upon application). It has a gel texture and it is not too thick, glides nicely on the skin, sinks in elegantly and doesn’t leave any sticky or tacky residue. I quite like it. However, I will probably not repurchase in this form of pouches. I would think about full size product.

Herbivore bakuchiol – When making my skincare stash inventory in February, I “classified” this product as an oil, since all products in Herbivore set I had were oils. Actually this is serum and it is very nice one. This is not the first bakuchiol product I have tried so far. I tested also The Inkey List bakuchiol which is a lotion/moisturizer type of product. You probably know that bakuchiol is marketed as a botanical retinol, an extract that mimics the effects of retinol. I’m not sure I would go so far when it comes to claims, but my skin was really smooth and toned after using this serum. It is not irritating, it is not sticky, it is really nice serum. I wish only I had bigger bottle . I would repurchase for sure, but I think it is discontinued.

Herbivore Lapis – this is another oil from Herbivore set I purchased a long time ago. I read some reviews that Herbivore’s products tend to go bad rather quickly due to the fact that do not contain preservatives. I didn’t have this issues with my Herbivore oils. It is thicker than Herbivore’s bakuchiol, but still very pleasant to use since it is absorbed nicely and it doesn’t leave any oily or greasy residue. It layers nicely overtop of any serums that I use. Although it is an oil, it is pretty hydrating, which can be quite surprising feature for an oil. Just like any other oil, I use it in my night routine and I wake up in the morning with a glowy and healthy looking skin. However, it is always a question whether this oil is worth a price since this glow and healthy look can also be achieved with oils that are far less expensive than this one.

Paula’s Choice Resist Skin Restoring moisturiser SPF50 trial – When I first applied this sunscreen, it crossed my mind that I might have found my HG western sunscreen. As it is often the case, the first impressions can be deceiving. I must say that I liked almost everything about this sunscreen. It has a texture of a lotion, glides nicely on the skin, is blended easily and has almost no cast. Once absorbed it leaves the skin smooth with a velvety finish. And than we come to one thing, actually the only thing that I didn’t like and it is the fact that it pills of the skin. I tried to apply it on different routines, I played with the quantity of sunscreen I applied and to my big disappointment, the result was always the same: it pilled off in small white bits. I will not repurchase it!

Anessa Perfect UV sunscreen spf50 PA++++ 20ml – This sunscreen is one of my biggest discoveries of 2020. It is the best sunscreen I have tried so far. It has chemical filters and this is 2020 edition that I purchased. It has beautiful texture, glides nicely on the skin, it is not drying or greasy, it is just perfect! The skin is velvety once it is absorbed. It has a minimal cast that disappears quickly. I tried it on the beach and it provides sufficient protection. And of course, it works excellent with my makeup (I have tried it under Missha Perfect cover bb cream. Nars Pure radiant tinted moisturizer and Estee Lauder Futurist hydro)- I will definitely repurchase.

Innisfree Capsule recipe pack – This was one-shot mask that hydrates and refreshes the skin. The effect is pretty much the same as what I get from regular aloe gel. I buy those masks from time to time on Iherb as shipping saver, otherwise I do not honestly think that I would repurchase.

So in October, I emptied: 2 toners / 2 acid & active treatments / 2 sunscreens / 2 oils / 1 mask.

October total:  9 empties + 2 sheet masks

Yearly total: 77 empties + 43 sheet masks

And once again, I bought some new products and broke my nobuy, but this time is quite a big increase. Here is what I purchased / received during October: Oskia Super C-Smart Nutrient capsules, Garden of Wisdom C-Deep Vitamin C, Garden of Wisdom Alpha arbutin 2% and Kojic acid 1%, Secret Key Aloe toner, Melano CC serum, Blithe Tundra chaga mini 10ml, Versed Doctor’s Instant resurfacing mask, Versed The Fix emergency eye mask, Phyto Niacin whitening essence, Morningstar Minerals Derma boost rejuvenating spray mist

So, at the end of October 2020, this is current status of my skincare stash:

• 12 cleansers
• 14 toners and mists
• 23 acid & active treatments
• 14 essences
• 9 serums / ampoules
• 3 emulsions
• 20 moisturizers and sunscreens
• 5 sleeping packs
• 8 facial oils
• 18 masks
• 4 eye creams and eye masks
• 85 sheet masks

Till next time stay healthy and beautiful!