Category Archives: Favourites

My 2021 stash decrease project – Final update

Happy New Year everybody! I wish you all the best, lots of health and happiness! I wish you only good skin and good hair days every single day:)

Here I am again after a long hiatus I took from my blog. This is definitely not how I had imagined my stash decrease blogs would look like in 2021. But then again, it never turns out as we planned, right? So without further ado, here are my empties collected since end of July when I posted my last update. As you see, the pile is huge and that’s why this post will not be like the updates with reviews I usually publish. It would probably turn into the novel like Joyce’s Ulysses or Tolstoy’s War and Peace if I wrote about each and every product I emptied during past months.

Since this post is not like the others, I will also start differently than I use to do. It means that I will begin with the purchases I made during last months.

As you might have expected and suspected, I bought myself few things. Since I’m writing this post in January, this pile contains inevitably some Black Friday hauls and I splurged a lot this year (despite of my no-buy). I must admit, I feel very silly each time I mention no-buy or low-buy when my shopping habits demonstrate the opposite.

This is what I bought:

  • Cleansers – Then I met you Living cleansing balm, Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Enzyme cleansing balm and the newest Youth To The People Superberry dream cleansing balm, Farmacy Green clean cleansing balm, Vanicream Gentle cleanser for sensitive skin, Summer Fridays Super amino cleanser from SF kit, The Ordinary squalane cleanser 50ml,
  • MisshaTime Revolution Artemisia Treatment essence mist,
  • Eye creams: Shiseido Benefiance Anti-wrinkle smoothing eye cream, ROC Retinol correxion line smoothing eye cream 15ml , The Ordinary Caffeine solution 5% + EGCG
  • Acid and active treatments: The Inkey List Succinic acid blemish treatment, Geek & Gorgeous C Glow and B-Bomb serums, The Ordinary Azelaic acid 10% suspension, Summer Fridays CC me vitamin C serum 15ml, Paula’s Choice Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid exfoliation 118ml
  • Moisturizers and sunscreens: ELTA MD UV daily broad spectrum spf40 facial sunscreen, Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep moisture cream in travel size, SVR Cicavit+ Creme spf50+ Soin apaisant reparateur, Ultra Violette mini set that contains Supreme Screen Hydrating Facial Skinscreen SPF 50+ (15ml) and Queen Screen Lightweight Skinscreen SPF50+ (10ml), Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-free gel cream 15ml, and last but not least, one Croatian product, Skintegra Cica-Cera.

And now, here are my empties starting with cleansers:

Since I do the double cleansing every single day and I wash my face in morning with the gel cleanser, I tend to empty lots of cleansers. So, since the end of July, I emptied: Make P:rem Low-irritant and mild acid foam 20ml which I honestly didn’t like a lot since it burned my eyes terribly on the first use, Indie Lee Brightening cleanser 20ml which I liked and would purchase a full size definitely, 2 jars of Farmacy Green clean cleansing balm (100 ml and 50ml) which is not here in my empties for the first time, Tosowoong Enzyme powder which lasted for years and is now discontinued, Fresh Soy face cleanser, The Vegan Glow Mild foam cleanser that I got in Iherb discovery kit and which didn’t leave an impression on me, The Body Shop Camomille Sumptuous cleansing butter which checks all the boxes when it comes to an excellent cleansing balm, but unfortunately is no longer available at local TBS, Physician’s Formula The Perfect matcha 3 in 1 Melting cleansing balm which was fine.

Cleansers – 9 empties

When it comes to toners, I have radically decreased the use of those, so since August I have only emptied 2 toners and both in travel or luxury sample size bottles: Rovectin Skin Essentials Activating Treatment lotion which was part of my 3-months empties post and is very hydrating, makes my skin fuller and plumper and can stand by my favourite hyaluronic lotion, Hada Labo and Laneige Cream skin refiner 30ml which is great hybrid of toner/moisturizer, rich and nourishing and can replace a moisturizer for some skin types.

Toners and mists – 2 empties

Although I do have a lot of products in this category, with consistent use, I get to empty quite few of them, especially niacinamide serums and vitamin C serums. So I emptied: Melano CC serum which I use every now and then since the beginning of my Kbeauty skincare journey, Tiam Vita B3 source which was one of my favourite niacinamide serums, but for some reason, I didn’t enjoy this bottle as usual, as it turned to be somewhat sticky and greasy which wasn’t the case with previous bottles, Trilogy Vitamin C booster treatment 5ml which I used during a week away from home and it lasted exactly a week, Tiam My signature red serum with which I had an accident while opening it, it foamed out of bottle like it passed through quick fermentation so I lost a half of bottle, it stung my skin from time to time, but had an amazing brightening effect, Good Molecules niacinamide serum which one of my new favourite niacinamide serums and I’m currently using the 2nd bottle, Summer Fridays CC me vitamin C serum 15ml which I quite liked and would like to buy a full size, Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA liquid exfoliant 30ml which does great job in clearing complexion and removing blackheads and which I have already purchased in full size, The Inkey List Bakuchiol which is a repeater in my empties and which I use as a serum/moisturizer in my morning routine under sunscreen, Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta peel Extra strength 5pcs pack which are awesome peeling pads and contrary to the their scary extra strength part in the name are mild, but yet extremely effective and will definitely be part of my routine again, Sweet Chef Kale + Vitamin B serum mini size which has terrible packaging a.k.a dropper that cannot pick up the product at all since it is thick serum.

Acids and active treatments – 10 empties

Together with active and acid treatments, the category of essences is the category where I do not do much of significant change in stash quantity. Since last update I emptied: Benton Snail Bee high content essence 15ml which is decent snail essence, but still not excellent enough to replace my favourite snail essence (Cosrx 92 snail essence), Huxley Secrets of Sahara Essence: Grab water 5ml, part of Huxley kit that contains 4 essences, Missha Time Revolution The first treatment essence RX 30ml which I quite like and which is perfect beginning of every routine, Claires Guerisson 9 complex essence 65ml which is one of my favourite essences for winter time and Primera Miracle seed essence 30ml which I love for its deep moisturising effect and would repurchase any time if I wasn’t working on stash decrease. I gifted Celimax Real sedum essence to my sister.

Essences – 6 empties

I know I have a big stash of moisturizers and sunscreens, but I use both on a daily basis few times a day, so I go quite fast through my stash. Here are the moisturizers and sunscreens I emptied since end of July: The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA which is ok, but it does not provide enough care for my 40-something year old skin, Eyenlip Hyaluronic Acid water drop which is perfect light moisturizer for summer which turns into water when in contact with the skin and whose name suits it perfectly since it is really a huge hydration drop to the skin (the only bad thing is terrible, lingering scent it has), Sunday Riley Ice Cream 5ml which I got in an Asos box, it is a thick nourishing moisturizer perfect for winter and for drier skins, Biossance Squalane + Omega repair cream 15ml which is just perfect for my skin providing enough moisture and nourishment, leaving the skin soft and smooth and happy, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream 28ml which has a perfect whipped cream texture, but still nourishes nicely the skin. I used up lots of sunscreens: Garnier Ambre Solaire Anti-dark spots & anti-pollution super UV spf50+ which I really liked in general and would repurchase again, Ultra Violette Supreme screen hydrating facial skinscreen spf50 which is one of the best performing sunscreens I have ever tried (with the nice texture, absorption, finish and feeling on the skin, the way it performs under the make up, protection); I have bought a mini set which contains it, but will definitely repurchase full size, Elta MD UV Daily broad spectrum spf40 facial sunscreen which is 2nd best I tried this year, but being only sold in USA it is very difficult for me to get my hands on it, SVR Blur sun secure spf50 which I didn’t like and which was too mattifying and not enough moisturizing for my skin,

Moisturizers and sunscreens – 9 empties

During last months, I have been masking rarely (except wearing the face masks that became our routine), so I only emptied Make P:rem Wonderful me in-shower face pack which I actually decluttered due to the fact that I kept it for far too long in my shower.

Wash-off masks – 1 empty

Since I use regularly an eye-cream, both in morning and night routine, I ended up emptying Bobbi Brown Extra Repair eye cream which is one of my all-time favourite eye creams and Berrisom The prestige Balancing eye serum which I was using in my morning routine and which was great for plumping, depuffing and smoothing my eye area while working great under make up.

Eye creams and eye masks – 2 empties

And here is a recap of my empties since my last blog: 9 cleansers / 2 toners / 10 acid and active treatments / 6 essences / 1 serum / 9 moisturizers and sunscreens / 1 wash-off mask / 2 eye-creams /

Empties (August – December 2021): 40 empties + 2 sheets masks

YTD Total: 70 empties + 9 sheets masks

So, at the end of December 2021, here is the summary of my cosmetic stash:

  • 15 cleansers (7 in, 9 out)
  • 11 toners and mists (1 in, 2 out)
  • 26 acid & active treatments (6 in, 10 out)
  • 13 essences (6 out)
  • 5 serums / ampoules (1 out)
  • 2 emulsions
  • 26 moisturizers and sunscreens (7 in, 9 out)
  • 4 sleeping packs
  • 10 facial oils
  • 19 wash-off masks (1 out)
  • 4 eye creams and eye masks (3 in, 2 out)
  • 72 sheet masks (2 out)

So, in the period from August till December 2021, I used up skincare products in value of 470,99 USD or 427,03 EUR

YTD total: 1.040,77 USD or 936,32 EUR

Till next time, stay healthy and beautiful!

Skincare stash decrease project – 3 months of empties

Hello everybody!

Once again I have made another long hiatus from my blog and didn’t post anything for quite a while. This is mostly because of my job which is going back to normal that we knew of before the pandemics. I have been busy, but I have also been diligent when it comes to emptying skincare, so here are my May, June and July empties. And for those who do not know how it looked like at the beginning of 2021 skincare stash decrease project, here is the link and here is my last April update.

Deviant Cleansing Concentrate – This is hands down the best cleansing balm I have ever tried. And trust me, I have tried a bunch: kbeauty, western, cheap, expensive, name it, I have probably tried it. If I knew I would be able to afford buying this cleanser for the rest of my life, I would immediately take a life-time subscription to it. That is how I love it! Not only I could nominate it for this month’s favourite, actually this cleanser could be my every day, every month and every year favourite. With the texture that is out of this world, the specific scent, the ultimate softness it gives to the skin, it is the best balm cleanser I have ever tried. When I think of it, I do not honestly know how to describe the texture since it is so soft, velvety, melting like the finest butter you have ever come across. And it does flawlessly what it is supposed to do and that’s cleansing your face, removing all the dirt, makeup, spf, off. I have used it as a first cleanser of course, but every time I had few minutes for myself, I left this beauty on my face for 10-15 minutes as a mask and I enjoyed every second of it. I do not have to say I will definitely repurchase it.

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face cleanser – If I remember well, I got this 30ml cleanser in one of Advent calendars. I was using it in as a second cleanser in my night-time routine and as my morning cleanser. It is very nice cream cleanser that doesn’t foam too much, it is not aggressive or drying, the skin doesn’t feel stripped or tight. It is washed off easily, however it does burn a bit if it comes in contact with the eyes. It is a decent cleanser, but I was using it at the same time as my beloved Allies of Skin Silk amino cleanser, so this FAB cleanser wasn’t so exciting as the other one which was a real treat. I do not think I will repurchase this.

Klavuu Pure pearlsation revitalazing cleansing foam – This cleansing foam is creamy and thick when squeezed out of the tube, but it transforms easily into nice, soft foam. This small tube lasted for quite a while since you need only a small amount. It is easily spread, it is effective. Although its ph is leaning towards higher values according to the other reviews, I didn’t experience any tightening or drying effect. I liked it, but I didn’t love it, so I will not repurchase.

Cleansers – 3 empties

Rovectin Skin essentials activating treatment lotion 15ml – At first, I wasn’t so satisfied with this lotion, since I had a feeling that it did almost nothing to my skin, but with each use, I kind of grew into it. It is really viscous, sometimes it can feel a bit tacky on the skin, but the level of moisture it provides to skin is really nice. It is packed with different humectants and moisturizing factors like sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, pantenol, but also with some other good ingredients like niacinamide, allantoin, etc. The skin feels and looks fuller, plumper, healthier. I dare to say it can easily stand by my favorite hyaluronic acid toner, Hada Labo. I currently use my second 15ml bottle, but I will definitely buy a full size bottle.

Earth Recipe Energy boosting toner – If you liked Whamisa Deep rich toner, you will definitely like this one or you will even like it better than Whamisa. It is thick toner, it really has a lot of viscosity to it. Sometimes I felt like I was dealing with a serum instead of toner. Even with the thick consistency, it is still easy to apply and quickly absorbed. The skin is replenished, nourished. It has a herbal, almost medicinal scent, but it is not overwhelming and it disappears within few minutes. So, the scent is there, but not it is not perfumed and I guess this scent comes from all the herbal extracts with which this toner is packed. A little goes a long way and it took me more than a year to empty it. It should be emptied within 12 months after opening, but I didn’t notice anything wrong with it even after 15 months. I will come back eventually to this toner after I decrease my stash.

Primera Water organience 15ml – I opened this 15ml bottle long time ago so I must admit I didn’t use this toner consistently. It is not completely watery, it has a bit body to it. It has a nice herbal scent. Its inci list contains some ingredients like houttuynia cordata, artemisia which have calming effect on the skin and soothe the irritations and redness. And that’s how this toner really is: calming and soothing. I can say that I liked it, but honestly do not know if I will revisit it.

Josh Rosebrook Hydrating accelerator – I enjoyed in every single drop of this wonderful hydrating mist. It is absolutely beautiful and smells heavenly with its herbal, floral scent. It provides excellent shot of hydration, refreshes the skin perfectly, but also has the soothing, calming effect on the skin. The spray / nozzle is great, it makes a perfect mist. It is expensive, but for me it was worth every single penny I paid. I was using it in both of my routines under serums and moisturizers as I felt it improved absorption, but also I was using it during the day for hydration boost and refreshment. I would like to repurchase it, but for some reason Cultbeauty is no longer shipping it to my country.

Toners and mists – 4 empties

Pixi Glow tonic – Since I read so many raving reviews about this acid toner, I simply had to buy it. However, it didn’t live up to my expectations. I cannot remember for how long this bottle was dragging around my bathroom, but it was there for around 2 years. I managed to empty half of the bottle and than I noticed some tiny bits of something that looked like threads, so I threw the rest into the toilet. This toner contains 5% of glycolic acid, it is mild acid toner which is suppose to remove impurities, cleanse the pores, but also is suppose to hydrate and soothe the skin due to the aloe in it. It didn’t cause any bad reaction to my skin like redness, sensitized skin, but on the other hand, to be honest, I didn’t see too much results of it. My skin wasn’t so smooth, soft, shiny like it usually is after the use of some other acids like Alpha-H Liquid gold (which does have higher concentration of AHA than Pixi Glow tonic and thus is much more potent). I probably expected too much from this toner or maybe expected something it is not supposed to do due to the low concentration of AHA, but still I’m not happy with it. I satisfied my curiosity, but will not repurchase it again.

Paula’s Choice 10% azelaic acid booster – To tell you the truth, for the most part of my experience with this tube, I struggled to find a good spot for it in my routine, actually to find a good purpose in general. Although I’m in my 40’s, I do not have many issues with my skin like redness, acne, spots. It was only by the bottom of this tube that I realized how amazing this product was. It was during my PMS that I got a volcano on my cheek, it had a size of bigger middle European country. This happens to me once in maybe 7-8 months. This booster almost destroyed this volcano in 2 days. It calmed down the redness and made the acne almost invisible (at trust me, it was pretty prominent). I was speechless!! Now I’m thinking of buying the travel size of this booster to have it always handy, although that’s not economically smart investment.

Oskia Super C-Smart Nutrient capsules – This is the last oil-based vitamin C serum that I used. Before finishing Oskia, I emptied Garden of Wisdom and Medik8. This serum is really an excellent one, works great in brightening the complexion, but also nourishes the skin at same time being oil-based serum. Although it is oily, it is absorbed nicely. The packaging itself is pretty interesting: the serum is packed in the heart-shaped capsules containing the quantity that is sufficient for one application. Before I bought this serum, I read tones of reviews and some people were complaining about the capsule that contained too much of product, which is honestly a mystery to me, since I find that these capsule contain just enough serum for one application. From time to time, I even felt like it wasn’t enough for one use for whole face. The serum is nicely absorbed, leaves the skin so smooth and velvety and not oily. The price tag is high, but a part of it is probably due to this packaging. Although I didn’t plan to repurchase it immediately, I got it in SpaceNK vitamin C box I couldn’t resist to (see below).

Klairs Midnight blue activating drop – This was the first peptide serum I have ever tried and I have already written about it in my empties when I started my blog. This is one of my favourite peptide serums. The serum itself is very thin, watery and runny and it is very difficult to handle if you apply it directly from the dropper (which I do not do anymore). When applied, it is almost immediately completely absorbed. My face feels and looks firmer and brighter. It evens the skin and makes it supple. Although it is serum, it should be used as a first step of the routine, so the peptides act directly on the cleansed skin. It has a blue hue which comes not from some colorant, but from guaiazulene (derived from chamomile) which has calming effect on the skin. Although with its 20ml only, it is on a pricey side, I will repurchase it for sure, since I really like this serum.

Acids & active treatments – 4 empties

I’m from Mugwort essence – This is my favourite mugwort essence, together with Hanyul artemisia essence. It is thick and viscous, but not tacky. It provides an instant relief to the skin while moisturizing it deeply. It is soothing, calming, has a distinctive herbal scent that acts therapeutically on me, it really has a calming effect on me. I would repurchase this immediately if it wasn’t for my essences stash which is pretty big.

Essences – 1 empty

Bring Green Artemisia calming ampoule – I finished this serum in a blink of an eye. I recently opened it and it was love at first touch and application. Just like other products that contain mugwort / artemisia, this serum has that distinctive herbal scent and as such, it has a therapeutical impact on me. The serum itself is rather thick and it is a tad difficult to get it out of pipette, but on the other hand, it has really nice slip and glides easily on the skin. It provides immediate relief and deep moisture. I was so heavily handed with this serum and it didn’t last a long time, but I enjoyed in every single drop / use of it.

Neogen Serum in oil drop White truffle – Although this is 50ml serum, I went through the bottle rather quickly since I was using it both in the morning and in the evening, using around 2 pumps for one application. If you read carefully these short reviews of my empties, you might have noticed that I used frequently the same products in the morning and in the evening which is something I didn’t often do before. I think it has something to do with the season as I tend to simplify my routines during summer. Going back to this nice serum, I quite liked it. Contrary to its name, it is not oily at all. I would rather say that it is lightweight watery serum, perfect for summer. The serum has nice slip to it, it is spread easily and absorbed nicely leaving the skin glowing. The skin is moisturized, but also nourished, probably due to the truffle oil which is nourishing ingredient. This is probably first skincare product I tried that contained truffle oil which is more frequently mentioned in recipes than in the products’ ingredient lists. Although truffles do have a distinctive scent which is not everybody’s preference, this serum doesn’t smell of anything (or at least I didn’t notice it). I liked the serum and I might go back repurchasing it in the future.

Serums & ampoules – 2 empties

Cerave Moisturizing lotion for dry to very dry skin – I bought this moisturizer after testing a smaller quantity that was sent to me by my friend. In the beginning, it wasn’t quite clear for me how this kind of light texture can be appropriate / enough for the skin type this product is intended to. This lotion is really light, not greasy or heavy, it is massaged easily into the skin and absorbed nicely and quickly and it nourishes well the skin. It contains 3 types of ceramides that are excellent for protection of skin barrier. I used in the morning and in the evening, under the makeup, under my sunscreens, before retinoids, combined with some facial oils which turned out to be an excellent combo. In the winter, I used it as a last step of night routine and I mixed it with The Ordinary’s squalane. I had a 237ml bottle which lasted for very long time, it is inexpensive, efficient; for me this is an excellent product and I will definitely repurchase it.

Missha Time Revolution Night repair Probio ampoule cream 7ml – I wasn’t using this cream long enough to be able to assess its effect when it comes to anti-aging, wrinkle reducing, skin elasticity improvement what the description of this cream claims. It is very thick cream, I dare to say it is balmy, but not heavy in any way. It is very moisturizing and nourishing and leaves nice dewy finish to the skin. Being thick and balmy, it feels like it forms a protective layer to the skin, so I honestly think I would not be able to use this during summer, since it is a thad too rich for me and my skin. However, I think I could really enjoy using this moisturizer in the winter and in full size to be able to test other claims.

Anessa Perfect UV sunscreen spf50 PA++++ 60ML – I have already mentioned this sunscreen in my 2020 skincare overview, as something that marked my past year when it comes to skincare. I still love it. I will just repeat what I have already said. Texture, absorption, the way it feels on the skin and works under the makeup, protection, everything about this sunscreen is just perfect. 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 which disappears pretty quickly. I have also tested it on the beach and it provides sufficient protection. I have already bought a back up bottle and I will keep on buying this perfect sunscreen. 

Caudalie Crème solaire spf50 25ml – I got this sunscreen in Asos beauty box. It is on a thicker size, but it is spread easily and elegantly. It leaves a white cast for 1-2 minutes, but then it is nicely absorbed into the skin leaving the skin dewy which I personally like. Although it looks heavy and greasy, it went well along with my makeup and didn’t interfere with it. However, this would definitely work better for drier skin type. Since this was a 25ml tube, I emptied it quickly and didn’t manage to test it on the beach since I emptied it some time in May. It did not disappoint me, but then again it didn’t either wow me, so I do not think I would repurchase.

Klairs Soft airy UV essence – I had one tube of this notorious sunscreen whose spf became a subject of lots of skincare discussions few months ago. I was quite disappointed when it turned out that its spf is around 19 instead of 50 declared. This reveal resulted in refunds for all clients who purchased this sunscreen (at least I got refund for tubes I purchased on Ebay). Still I didn’t want to throw it away and I kept it my stash thinking I would use it for my hands. However, I was contacted by a girl who doesn’t mind the fact the spf is not 50 and so I gave it to her.

Moisturizers and sunscreens – 5 empties

23years old Aquabab modelling mask – This packaging contained the raw material for 4 uses / masks + 4 spatulas for mixing and applying. The ball that you mix your mask in is actually bottom part of the packaging. One of the mask components is jelly-like and the other one is powdery (white powder). When you mix them, the beads change the color and turn darker, so the mask gets light, pale green kiwi hue. You get the substantial quantity of the mask, I would say it could even suffice for 2 applications, but then again there is a question of how to keep it fresh till the next use, so I slapped on all the quantity each time. Its application is somewhat tricky and challenging since I really struggled to apply it. I tried some other modelling masks (like Dr Jart’s) and those were much easier to handle. Since it wasn’t easy to spread the mask on the skin, I didn’t succeed to apply it evenly. Compared to Dr Jart’s, this mask is much more dripping of the skin and it looks pretty slimy. It is recommended to keep it on around 20 min, but I usually kept it for more, around 30 min, since it was still wet after that time. I didn’t manage not even once to remove this mask in one piece. Nevertheless, the effect on my skin was pretty amazing: the skin was hydrated, so soft and smooth to touch and it looked like I applied some makeup, it was so even and brightened. I was definitely wowed with it. And I must admit it was always fun playing with it. To demonstrate it, this is how I looked like while I had the mask on 🙂

Algenist Alive prebiotic balancing mask 10ml – I got this mini 10ml mask in last year’s SpaceNK birthday gift, I opened it and forgot about it. This mask is good, it is kind of fun to see how it changes color and turns from baby blue to light pink when you massage it on your skin. It is easy to apply and I put both thinner and thicker layers. It is a bit challenging to wash it off, but I solved this issue by using my cleansing clothes for removal. It clears the skin, especially the T-zone, as well as blackheads on and around the nose. I didn’t notice any spectacular effect on my skin, or anything special that some less expensive clay mask wouldn’t do either.

Wash-off masks – 2 empties

Versed The Fix emergency eye mask – I was using this eye mask as my morning eye-cream. It is lightweight gel that is easily spread. The instructions say that you can wipe it off after some time, but I always kept it till complete absorption. It soothes, brightens, depuffs my eye area, while working well under my makeup. I already have a back up tube, but I’m using now another eye serum.

1 eye-cream

During last 3 months, I used up: 3 cleansers / 4 toners & mists / 4 acid & active treatments / 1 essence / 2 serums & ampoules / 5 moisturisers and sunscreens / 2 wash-off masks / 1 eye-cream or eye-mask/ 5 sheet masks.

Total empties (May/June/July) – 22 empties + 5 sheets masks

YTD Total: 30 empties + 7 sheets masks

However, I wasn’t disciplined at all when it comes to buying habits during last 3 months, so I splurged again on skincare. To my defence, the SpaceNK box was really a bargain (not in a sense that it is cheap, but in a sense that those 6 products cost “only” 95 GBP). The saving was huge. I also bought quite a lot of sunscreens, but I do use them a lot. So, this is resume of what I bought: 3 cleansers / 5 acid or active treatments / 10 moisturizers and sunscreens / 1 facial oil

Unfortunately as you can see, all this splurging on skincare cancelled all the efforts I put into decreasing my stash. Even worse, some of products categories grew in quantity.

So, at the end of July 2021, here is the summary of my cosmetic stash:

  • 17 cleansers (3 in, 3 out)
  • 12 toners and mists (4 out)
  • 30 acid & active treatments (5 in, 4 out)
  • 19 essences (1 out)
  • 6 serums / ampoules (2 out)
  • 2 emulsions
  • 27 moisturizers and sunscreens (10 in, 5 out) – this was total flop!!
  • 4 sleeping packs
  • 10 facial oils (1 in)
  • 20 wash-off masks (2 out)
  • 3 eye creams and eye masks (1 out)
  • 74 sheet masks (5 out)

During last 3 months, I used up skincare products in value of 389,04 USD or 352,73 EUR

YTD total: 569,78 USD or 509,29 EUR

So till next time, stay healthy and beautiful as you are!

Skincare stash decrease project 2021 – April update

Here is the first update of my 2021 skincare stash decrease project. This is just the continuation of my 2020 skincare stash decrease project, since I wasn’t so happy with the status of my stash one year after starting this project. I explain in my post about November and December beauty hauls where it went wrong and if you see those hauls, you can understand why I continue with a nobuy.

So, here are my empties for April 2021.

Allies of Skin Silk molecular amino cleanser – I will dearly miss this cleanser in my routine. It was one of my biggest 2020 skincare discoveries. It is lush, luxurious, has gorgeous texture. It is effective, mild, doesn’t foam and still performs flawlessly leaving the skin soft and clean. I really enjoyed in cleansing lately, especially since I introduced Deviant skincare Cleansing concentrate in my routine. Those two are cleansing match made in heaven ❤. Both are on pricier side, but worth every single penny. I would definitely repurchase.

Mamonde Petal spa oil to foam Rose – I’m so happy this oil finally vanished from my stash! I honestly do not know why I had high expectations from this oil cleanser, but I did. At first, I liked it, but then as I was using it more often, I started to be more and more unsatisfied with each use. This cleanser can replace both cleansers in your routine as its name says: oil to foam. And it really transforms easily from oil phase to an emulsion by adding the water. However, when you apply it to the dry face, it feels like it has no slip at all, just a grip, which is really weird for an oil. It doesn’t go smoothly on the face, I always had a feeling it stucked. The moment I added a water, felt always like a moment of salvation. I cannot deny its efficacity when it comes to removing dirt, spf, makeup, but I couldn’t go nowhere near my eyes with it, since it stung like hell (pardon my French). I cannot remember of any cleanser that burnt my eyes so badly. Even when rinsing it off, I had to be very careful that it doesn’t go to my eyes. Another reproach is that it is really heavily scented, you can smell roses from miles. The scent itself is not unpleasant, it is simply way over-perfumed. I struggled with it for 1/3 of bottle and then I found a new purpose for remaining 2/3 of bottle: I was cleaning my makeup brushes with it. Can you guess if I will repurchase it or not?

Secret Key Aloe soothing toner – This is wonderful hydrating toner. Actually I thought it was pretty watery until I opened my current toner (Klairs Daily hydrating water) and than I realized it wasn’t so runny and it has some body to it. It isn’t sticky at all as some products that contain aloe, no matter of consistency, tend to be. It is absorbed nicely and quickly and gives such a nice hydration boost to the skin. Sometimes I used this toner three times a day (morning, evening and with my Nuface). I really enjoyed in this toner and will definitely repurchase.

Secret Key milk brightening– Unlike with its green brother, I didn’t get along so well with this blue one. When I first started to use this toner, I had really nice results in skin softening so, I got a bit over-excited and tried to apply few layers, something like 7-skins and it didn’t go so well since it badly irritated my skin. The ingredient which probably irritated my skin is the milk protein which is an exfoliant. After this unpleasant experience, I ditched this toner in a corner of my room (it sound so poetic) and didn’t use it at all for quite a while. When I reintroduced it back to my routine, I was applying it all over my body (hands, arms, feet, legs) just to finish it. Although it is a decent toner, I didn’t let myself be thrilled again so easily. I will not repurchase.

Thank You Farmer True water deep serum – This is very light serum, but at the same time extremely hydrating and moisturizing. It has a gel consistency, it is easily spread and nicely absorbed and despite the texture, it provides rich moisture to the skin. I used it both in my morning and evening routines. When I was using it in my morning routine, sometimes I skipped the moisturizer and went straight to sunscreen and I never felt like I was missing something in the sens of moisture or that my skin was feeling tight due to the lack of moisturizer under it. It is really nice serum and I will definitely repurchase it.

Drunk Elephant Polypeptide cream 15ml – I got this mini size as gift with purchase at Sephora, although I would probably buy it myself anyway, since I like to have peptides in my routine. The moisturizer has a nice texture which is on richer side, but not heavy or greasy in any way. It is easily spread and sinks nicely in the skin. I used it in my night routine as a last step and in the morning, my skin felt smooth, soft, but also replenished and nourished. Since this was 15ml moisturizer, I emptied it rather quickly, so I cannot write about long-term effects on firmness or fine lines. However, I would definitely purchase this in full size.

Supergoop Unseen sunscreen spf30 – I have already had this mini tube in my empties. I got it in Cultbeauty discovery box. This sunscreen is a light, yellow gel that is invisible on the skin, sinks in nicely, is absorbed completely and leaves no greasy or sticky residue what so ever, being oil-free. It leaves a silky, silicon-like finish, but not in the way that it would feel like mask on your face. It feels so comfortable on the skin. I must say that it performs flawlessly as a makeup base, I dare to say it performs much better than some actual primers I have tried. It doesn’t pill under the makeup, the skin stays hydrated throughout the day. Overall, this is an excellent sunscreen whose only minus is that is on a pricey side, since this small tube costs around 15 GBP which is rather expensive for 15ml tube. Nevertheless, I would still repurchase it.

I’m from Mugwort mask – Among 3 I’m from masks I have tried so far, this mugwort mask is definitely my favourite. It is spread easily, has a pleasant herbal scent that has calming and relaxing effect. The mask itself is cooling, smoothing, calming. I played with this mask applying it in thiner and thicker layers, and, unlike with I’m from honey mask, I didn’t have any issues with removing it. Ginseng mask is waiting for me to open it, but I will for sure repurchase this one.

April total: 8 empties + 2 sheet masks

In April, I used up: 2 cleansers / 2 toners / 1 serum / 2 moisturisers and sunscreens / 1 wash-off mask / 2 sheet masks

Since my birthday is in April, I got some presents that increased a bit stash. I got Asos March beauty box which contained some pretty interesting items like Elemis Pro-collagen cleanser, Caudalie spf50 and Sunday Riley’s Ice cream. I also got SVR Sun secure blur spf50.

So, at the end of April 2021, here is the summary of my cosmetic stash:

  • 17 cleansers
  • 16 toners and mists
  • 29 acid & active treatments
  • 20 essences
  • 8 serums / ampoules
  • 2 emulsions
  • 22 moisturizers and sunscreens
  • 4 sleeping packs
  • 9 facial oils
  • 22 wash-off masks
  • 4 eye creams and eye masks
  • 79 sheet mask

I decided that I will also write down the value of the emptied products. I did my homework, went through the loads and loads of my orders and wrote down the value of almost all items in use and in my stash, so I can record the value of emptied products (I will save for myself the value of my stash).

So, in April, I used up skincare products in value of 180,74 USD or 156,56 EUR.

Till next time, stay healthy and beautiful!

My 2021 skincare stash decrease project

I started my 2020 skincare stash decrease project in February last year. At that time, it was really a must, since my skincare stash was growing bigger and bigger and it was making me kind of nervous (by the way, it still does). If you read my blog, you might have followed my progress throughout past year. At the very beginning I had more success, but then as the year was passing, I started to have minor relapses and a major one by the end of year. This major one was the result or, more precisely, the consequence of Black Friday and Christmas’ shopping sprees (and above all, consequence of my weak character when it comes to skincare). If I take a look at the product categories I divided my stash into, I managed to decrease some of them a lot, but then again, there are some categories like essences or acids/treatments where I almost didn’t move for an inch. What is worse, I even managed to increase the quantity of both (shame on me). However, in my defence, I can say that I noticed few mistakes made during last inventory, so it is not that bad as it may seem.

So, without further ado, this is my current skincare stash (with a photo of last year’s stash for comparison).

CLEANSERS

This is how it looked like last year.

And this is how it looks now.

In use :

Allies of Skin Molecular silk amino hydrating cleanser,  Cosrx Low ph centella cleansing powder, Deviant skincare Cleansing Concentrate, Klavuu Pure Pearlsation Revitalizing Facial cleansing foam, Mamonde Petal spa oil to foam cleanser, Tonymoly No-wash Cleansing water (100ml), Tosowoong enzyme powder

Unopened:

Farmacy Green clean cleansing balm, Fresh Soy cleanser, First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face cleanser, Indie Lee brightening cleanser (30ml), Make P:rem Low-irritant and mild acid foam (20ml), Niod Sanskrit Saponins, Olival Professional Mikroeksfolijant, Saturday Skin Rub-a-Dub peeling gel, The Vegan Glow Mild foam cleanser, Wishfull Yo-glow enzyme scrub

Total: 17 cleansers 

In 2020, I started with 21 cleanser.

TONERS AND MISTS

This is how it looked like last year.

This is how it looks now.

In use:

Earth’s Recipe Energy boosting, Laneige Cream Skin Refiner (30ml), Primera Organience water (15ml), Rovectin Skin Essentials Activating treatment lotion 15ml, Secret Key aloe, Secret Key Milk brightening

Unopened:

Hada Labo Gokujyun Premium lotion – NEW, Haruharu Wonder Black rice hyaluronic toner mini, Indie Lee CoQ10 (30 ml), Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator, Klairs Daily skin hydrating water 500ml, Laneige cream skin refiner 30ml, Neogen Probiotics youth repair mist, NIOD Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist, Round Lab 1025 Dokdo, Rovectin Skin Essentials Activating Treatment Lotion 15ml, Sukoyaka Suhada Urea moisturizing lotion

Total: 17 toners and mists 

In 2020, I started with 22 toners and mists.

ACIDS/ACTIVES (except hyaluronic acid)

This is how it looked like last year.

This is how it looks now.

In use:

A313 Vitamine A pommade, Alpha-H liquid gold, Bioderma Matricium, Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra strength daily peel (5-pcs packaging), Klairs Midnight blue activating drop, Oskia Super C-Smart Nutrient capsules, Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic acid booster, Pixi Glow tonic, Sweet Chef Kale + Vitamin B serum, The Inkey List Vitamin C, The Ordinary EUK134, Zelens Power A oil

Unopened:

Derma-E Firming DMAE serum Alpha lipoic acid and C-ester, Good Molecules Discoloration serum, Good Molecules niacinamide serum x2, Good Molecules Niacinamide toner, Indeed Labs Bakuchiol reface pads, Medi-Peel Bor-tox, Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Probio ampoule (10ml), Mizon AHA/BHA toner, NIOD C.A.I.S., Retincare, Summer Fridays Soft reset AHA exfoliating solution, Sweet Chef Vitamin A shot, The Inkey List Bakuchiol, The Inkey List Q10, The Ordinary Copper+peptide, Tiam Vita B3 source

Total: 29 acids/ actives 

I started 2020 with 20 acids/actives.

ESSENCES

This is how it looked like last year.

This is how it looks now.

In use:

Hanskin Real Complexion Hyaluron skin essence, I’m From Mugwort Essence

Unopened:

Benton Snail Bee High Content essence (15ml), Caudalie Vinoperfect Essence concentree eclat, Celimax The Real Sedum Aqua boosting essence, Cosrx Snail 96 mucin essence, Cosrx Snail radiance dual essence, Dr Jart Vital hydra solution essence 50ml, Guerisson Claires 9 complex essence 65ml, Huxley Secrets of Sahara Oil Essence, Huxley Set of 4 mini essences, Neogen Real Ferment micro essence (2 bottles), Neogen Real Ferment micro essence mini, Missha Time Revolution The first treatment essence RX 30ml, Primera Essence Miracle seed, Tonymoly Prestige jeju snail essence

Total: 20 essences

I started 2020 with 14 essences.

SERUMS/AMPOULES

This is how it looked like last year.

This is how it looks now.

In use:

Clinique Moisture surge hydrating supercharged concentrate, Thank you Farmer True Water Deep serum

Unopened:

Blithe Tundra chaga mini (30ml), Bring Green Artemisia Calming Intensive serum, Hylamide SubQ serum, Neogen Serum in oil drop White truffle, It’s Skin Power 10 formula LI effector, The Inkey List Hyaluronic acid, Tosowoong Propolis sparkle ampoule

Total: 9 serums / ampoules

I started 2020 with 18 serums / ampoules.

EMULSIONS

This is how it looked like last year.

This is how it looks like now.

Unopened:

Primera Organience emulsion, Missha Time Revolution The first treatment serum emulsion

Total 2 emulsions

I started 2020 with 4 emulsions.

MOISTURIZERS AND SUNSCREENS

This is how it looked like last year.

This is how it looks now.

In use:

Anessa Perfect UV sunscreen spf50 PA++++ 60ml, Cerave Moisturizing lotion (for dry to very dry skin), Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide cream 15ml, La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5, Supergoop Unseen sunscreen

Unopened:

Anessa Perfect UV sunscreen spf50 PA++++ 60ml, Atopalm MLE cream (8ml), Banila Co Miss Flower & Mr Honey cream 7ml (2 pcs), By Wishtrend Acid-Duo Hibiscus 63 cream, Caudalie Vinoperfect creme eclat anti-taches 15ml, Dr Jart Cicapair Derma green solution cream (5 ml), Eyenlip Hyaluronic acid water drop, Eyenlip Salmon oil nutrition cream 15ml, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream (28g), Glow Recipe Banana souffle moisture cream, Illiyoon ato ceramide concentrate cream, Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence, Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Probio Ampoule cream 7ml, The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Sweet Chef Superfoods Vitamins moisture boost (10ml)

Total 21 moisturizers and sunscreens 

I started 2020 with 26 moisturizers and sunscreens.

SLEEPING PACKS

This is how it looked like last year.

This is how it looks now.

In use:

Some By Me Yuja Niacin brightening sleeping mask

Unopened:

Isntree Clear skin PHA sleeping mask (25ml), Isntree Hyaluronic acid water sleeping mask (25ml), Naruko Taiwan Magnolia Brightening and Firming night jelly

Total 4 sleeping packs 

I started 2020 with 9 sleeping packs.

FACIAL OILS

This is how it looked like last year.

This is how it looks now.

In use:

The Ordinary 100% plant derived squalane

Unopened:

Farsali Rose gold elixir, Indie Lee squalane, Herbivore Emerald, Herbivore Lapis (2x), Herbivore Phoenix, Herbivore Prism, The Ordinary 100% Marula cold-pressed virgin oil

Total: 9 facial oils

I started 2020 with 11 facials oils.

WASH- OFF MASKS

This is how it looked like last year.

This is how it looks now.

In use:

23years old Aqua bab modeling mask (4pcs set), Algenist Alive prebiotic balancing mask 10ml, A’pieu Good morning sorbet mask, Drunk Elephant F-balm Electrolyte Waterfacial, Filorga Meso-mask, I’m from Rice, I’m From Mugwort, Make P:rem Wonderful me in-shower face pack, Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzymatic 14ml, Starskin VIP 7-second luxury all-day mask, Versed Doctor’s visit instant resurfacing mask

Unopened:

Blithe Patting Splash mask Rejuvenating purple berry, I’m from Ginseng, I’m from Honey mini (30g), Isntree Real Mugwort clay mask (25ml), Isntree Real Rose calming mask (25ml), Isoi Intensive lifting mask pack, Mediheal Masking Layering Ampoule Exceltoning shot (set of 3), Peter Thomas Roth 24k gold mask 14ml, Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud purifying black mask 14ml, Skin Chemist Rose Illuminating glow peel off mask, Sukin Pink clay facial mask – Sensitive, SVR Hydracid C50 foam

Total 23 masks  

I started 2020 with 22 masks.

EYE CREAMS AND EYE MASKS

This is how it looked like last year.

This is how it looks now.

In use:

Berrisom The Prestige Balancing eye serum, Bobbi Brown Extra repair cream, Versed The Fix emergency eye mask

Unopened:

Versed The Fix emergency eye mask

Total 4 eye creams and eye masks 

I started 2020 with 6 eye creams and eye masks.

Here is the summary of my cosmetic stash:

  • 17 cleansers
  • 17 toners and mists
  • 29 acid & active treatments
  • 20 essences
  • 9 serums / ampoules
  • 2 emulsions
  • 21 moisturizers and sunscreens
  • 4 sleeping packs
  • 9 facial oils
  • 23 wash-off masks
  • 4 eye creams and eye masks
  • 81 sheet mask

And for the end, here is my small pile of products that I managed to empty between my 2 posts, the one about my winter empties and this one. Few of those were decluttered due to the fact that they were opened for far too long or the expiry date has passed. So sadly, I have first “victims” of my skincare hoarding. And I hate to throw away the products.

Morningstar Minerals Derma boost rejuvenating spray mist, Nacific Phyto Niacin whitening essence, Skin & Lab Barrierderm ampoule, Huxley Secrets of Sahara Anti-gravity cream (7ml), Good Molecules Instant cleansing balm (23ml), Goodal Waterest emulsion, Petitfee B-Glucan deep firming eye mask, Lively Super calming blue oil, Manyo Vitamin Tree brightening pack

I’ll be writing a bit about those in my next empties / skincare stash project update at the end of April.

Till next time, stay healthy and beautiful!

My skincare in 2020 in some numbers and letters

Although we are getting close to the end of  February and everybody probably forgot about last year or is at least trying to forget it for very obvious reasons, I still want to share this post about my skincare in 2020. I have already written the same post for 2018 and 2019, so it would be nice to continue in the same tone for past year which was anything but usual.

During 2020, I was trying to decrease my skincare stash,  and most of my posts were related to this topic. So, since end of February 2020, when I started to document my progress, till end of October , I managed to empty 77  different skincare products and 43 sheet masks and I emptied total of 186 products (skincare, body and hair care, makeup). Meanwhile, I managed to empty several products, but I didn’t write a post about empties for a while now.   In 2019, I  emptied a total of 117 different items.

Although I was trying to maintain my nobuy during the year, I still managed to make 194 online orders (!!) during 2020. However, taking into account that we spent most of the year in different lockdowns, isolation, etc., this is rather normal (in 2019, I made 213 orders).

Throughout 2020, I opened 111 skincare products and a total of 245 items which includes everything for face, body and hair, makeup and some supplements (in 2019, I opened 115 different cosmetic items).  For the moment, I have 65 opened tubes, jars and other skincare containers.  I decided to elongate a nobuy further on 2021, since I must continue working on decreasing my skincare stash which is still rather huge.

And here is my cosmetic 2020 in some letters:

A as Allies of  Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser

This is one of the best second cleansers I have ever tried. It’s simply pure pleasure  to clean the face with this cleanser. It is lush and luxurious and I love it!! It has a jelly-like texture that glides so smoothly on the skin, it is gentle and is washed off easily. Actually I’m kind of saving this as a skin treat, since I will not be repurchasing it immediately due to my skincare stash decrease targets, but I definitely will buy it again!

A as Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen skin care milk spf50 

Although I only had a mini 20ml tube of this sunscreen, I immediately knew I found a jewel among sunscreens. Texture, absorption, the way it feels on the skin and works under the makeup, protection, everything about this sunscreen is just perfect. I have already bought a full size back up and I will keep on buying this perfect sunscreen. 

N as Nobuy – I have dedicated this year to my skincare stash decrease project and it  obviously had to include refraining from shopping or popularly called a nobuy. I managed to respect it with some minor relapses through the year and major one in November and December (I dedicated a post to it), but I will definitely continue with a nobuy in 2021.

N as Nuface

Since I’m in my mid 40’s, it is inevitable that some signs of skin aging and aging in general are visible on my face and body. The skin is not so tight as it used to be, my neck and décolleté look a bit older than before. I’m not interested in botox, fillers or plastic surgery, so I found a perfect match for my skin needs in the treatments with micro-current devices.  I started to use Nuface mini beginning of October and I must say that I’m really satisfied. I do not expect miracles, but my skin definitely looks fresher, somewhat tighter, healthier. I followed the instructions and used 5 times a week at the beginning. Now I keep the rhythm of 3 treatments per week.

R as Retinoids

This is basically related to the previous point/letter. I started to use retinoids during spring 2020 while we were in first lockdown. The product I introduced is A313 Vitamine A pommade which is heavy and very greasy ointment. The type of retinoids used in A313 is retinyl palmitate which is supposed to be the weakest type of retionoids (retinoid esters), but suprisingly it feels pretty strong on the skin. The other product that contains retinoids that I introduced to my skincare routine is Zelens Power A High Potency Vitamin A treatment drops which contains three types of retinoids: encapsulated retinol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate and Retinyl Palmitate. The product is in an oily base, sinks in nicely in the skin. I didn’t experience any side effects with neither one of these 2 products.

V as Versed

This is the brand I discovered during 2020 and I quite like it. I have tried several items from their skincare range and there is not a single one that disappointed me. The first product I tried was their niacinamide serum, Just breathe clarifying serum which was nice watery serum. I also tried their Doctor’s visit instant resurfacing mask. It only takes 2-3 minutes to apply it and it works wonders in smoothing and resurfacing the skin with the cocktail of AHA, BHA and enzymatic exfoliation. And the last, but definitely not the least, is their eye mask The Fix Emergency eye mask which quickly became a staple product in my eyecare routine (I used it every single morning to refresh and smooth eye area). I do not want to be without this cream.

So, this was my skincare in 2020 in some numbers and letters!

Till next time, stay healthy and beautiful!

Skincare stash decrease project – update 7

I’m here again with another update about my 2020 skincare stash decrease project. You might have noticed that in August I haven’t posted anything, so this is going to be an overview of 2-months empties for August and September. Unlike June and July, I really have a lot empties to talk about. So without further ado, let’s see my cosmetic trash.

Sioris Time is running out mist – this was love at first spritz!! It is great double phased mist that has a watery and oily phase. When shaken up, it creates a perfect, fine mist that refreshes skin and envelops it in a nice hydrating cloud. I used it in my morning routine before hyaluronic acid products, but also during a day to provide a hydrating boost to the skin. And I cannot forget the scent. It smells divine!! I loved it and will repurchase for sure!!

Scinic Snail matrix skin – Together with Cosrx 96 snail essence, this is my favorite product with snail mucin. It is wonderful, hydrating toner whose texture is on a thicker side, but it glides beautifully on the skin, it is absorbed perfectly and completely and provides a nice refreshment to the skin. I have used it for “sandwiching” my Hada Labo premium lotion, and I have been using it lately as a layer under Indeed Labs Hydraluron. This toner complemented nicely both of these products. I will really miss it in my routine. I will repurchase for sure.

Keep Cool & Soothe Bamboo toner – this is my new favorite hydrating toner. I even like it better than Pyunkang Yul mist toner which was my favorite watery toner for a very long time. This toner contains 85% of bamboo water which is great for hydrating and soothing the sensitive skin. It is nicely absorbed while providing to the skin such a nice burst of hydration. I really feel like this toner penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin and thus keeps my skin happy, hydrated and plump. I will repurchase again!!

Mizon AHA/BHA toner – I have already emptied few of these. I use it before my acids, including my serums with vitamin C. I feel like it gives such a nice boost to those products without being harsh to my skin. I have already purchased a backup bottle.

Timeless C + E ferulic – I really enjoyed using this serum. This bottle lasted around 4 months and I kept it in the fridge for whole time. It has very watery texture, it is by far the runniest vitamin C serum I have ever tried. This watery texture makes it very difficult to handle, so I was literally applying it drop by drop. I like the glow and shine it gives to my skin and the healthy feeling I get after apply it. It does not tingle, burn or irritate the skin in any way. I was using it in my morning routine. I will repurchase it.

Dr Jart Peptidin blue – This is nice peptide serum. It has a light, jelly texture, like a light emulsion. It has a hint of blue hue, it is not scented. Although it contains lavander oil, I didn’t detect that scent (which, by the way I hate). The serum is nicely absorbed without being sticky or tacky. It gives certain firmness to the skin if applied on a regular basis. I like it and will probably repurchase it.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron – I bought this serum after reading many raving reviews, but I bought it also because Caroline Hirons recommended it, so I was really curious about it. And they were all right: it is great hyaluronic serum! It has gel-like texture, you need only a small drop to cover face and neck. It is not sticky, tacky, it absorbs quickly and perfectly. The skin is left glowy, plump, hydrated. It makes perfect pair with Caudalie’s Eau de raisin, with some toner or even with a simple thermal water. The only con is that I emptied rather quickly this tube, maybe within a month, since I use hyaluronic acid every single morning. I’m used to Japanese hyaluronic lotions who last for year. Nevertheless, I will repurchase this great hyaluronic serum for sure!

Garden of Wisdom niacinamide – I was so happy when I finished this niacinamide serum. Although by its content, it belongs to “weaker” niacinamide serums (it contains 5% of niacinamide), it didn’t feel like it. It was quite the opposite, it felt very strong and I was affraid it would dry my skin completely. It is recommended to wait for 1 minute after the application before you apply your next step. However, after only 15-20 seconds my face would feel so tight and dry that applying next step would be such a relief. Other than that, I must also say that the packaging is awfull. The plastic pump literally spits the product out. I will obviously not repurchase it again.

Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide booster – I really liked this niacinamide serum / booster. I was using it as 1st step in my evening routine, as I always do with niacinamide serums. Thus, its watery texture is perfect for my routine. It is absorbed in quickly and completely, leaves no residue. I didn’t experience any redness or tingling or burning which sometimes happens with this kind of serums. After the bad experience I had with Garden of Wisdom niacinamide, this serum felt like a real treat to my skin and gave it such a relief. I emptied this 20ml bottle rather quickly since I was using it every night. Taking into account that it costs around 50 EUR for 20ml, I must admit that this is not a very affordable choice. Otherwise, I love it!

Celimax Nooni ampoule – This is a good, hydrating little serum. I use the word little since I think it is alright, but nothing more or less. It does no harm to my skin, but apart an instant refreshment, I do not honestly see any additional benefit of using this serum.  I like its scent, it is herbal and kind of relaxing and therapeutical. This serum isn’t something that is indispensable for my routine or something that I will miss.  I will not repurchase it.

Real Barrier Essence mist – This is nice mist that is on a thicker side. It didn’t suit me as a 1st step, but it was a perfect choice for “sandwich” with hyaluronic acid product. This mist locks in the hyaluron and its moisture nicely. Since I only had a 30ml bottle, I emptied it rather quickly. I do not think I will give it another try.

I’m from Fig cleansing balm – This is nice cleansing balm. It looks like it is on a heavier, thicker side, but once you start massaging it between the fingers, it melts easily. It is not greasy, it disolves and removes the makeup and dirt easily. It is easily washed off. Although I always use the separate eye makeup remover, I test each cleansing balm on my eyes. It is effective in removing eye makeup, but it does blur the sight a bit. I still like this balm and will probably repurchase it.

Nooni Re-cover pads – The packaging contained 7 exfoliating discs since it is intended for a week of use. However, I used them during longer period, since I do not use any exfoliating product on a daily basis. These are very mild exfoliating pads that refresh the complexion and are not irritating or tingling, but honestly when it comes to exfoliation I didn’t notice a big effect. I will not repurchase.

Glamglow Supermud cleansing treatment – I got this tube in some beauty box or in an Advent calendar. Since I used it only once in 2 weeks and only on my T-zone, this 15 ml tube lasted for ages. At first, I struggled to find an appropriate quantity of mask. If I put a thin layer, it would dry down in a second and my whole face felt very tight. On the other hand, if I put a thicker layer, it would take ages to dry down and it was very difficult to wash it off. Once I found the appropriate quantity, I really liked this mask since it removed few blackheads I have and it made my skin very clean and clear. If I could find another small tube, I would purchase again.

I emptied 2 sunscreens: Ducray Melascreen Creme legere and Supergoop Unseen sunscreen. I was satisfied with Ducray Melascreen at first. However, after I emptied maybe 2/3 of tube, it started to burn my skin upon application. It was really unpleasant feeling so I didn’t even go through the whole tube. On the other hand, Supergoop’s Unseen sunscreen is great. It is a yellow transparent gel which leaves no white cast at all, just like the name says, it is unseen. It is spread nicely, it is absorbed quickly and acts like a perfect primer for my bb cream and foundation. I have already repurchased a new small tube.

During last 2 months I emptied only 9 sheet masks. At the same time, I bought few ones, so my stash increased and decreased at the same time.

I also gifted 1 moisturizer (Elemis Pro-collagen marine cream).

August/September total:  16 empties + 9 sheet masks

Yearly total: 68 empties + 41 sheet masks

Just like past months, I did cheat a bit and I purchased some things: Klairs Daily skin hydrating water 500ml, I’m From Mugwort mask, Derma-E Firming DMAE serum Alpha lipoic acid and C-ester, Versed Just Breathe clarifying serum, Olival Micro-exfoliant with vitamin H and salicilic acid (local Croatian product), Alpha-H Vitamin B serum and another Supergoop Unseen sunscreen spf30 (15ml).

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

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

Till next time stay healthy and beautiful!

7-days sheet mask challenge

Hello everybody!

Last week I tried just for fun 7-days sheet mask challenge. I usually do not do this kind of stuff, but when I came across this challenge with sheet masks, I thought it could be beneficial for my skin, but also for my stash decrease project.

I didn’t choose in advance which masks I would be using. I decided that I would choose them along the way according to the needs of my skin. I only decided that I would not use the same sheet mask throughout whole challenge.

DAY 1 – THANK YOU FARMER True water deep cotton mask

On the first day of challenge, I used Thank You Farmer True water Deep cotton mask. This was the second time I used it (I bought the box of 5 pcs). The mask is well soaked, hence it is a bit complicated to unfold it. There is not a lot of remaining essence in the packaging once you remove the mask. The essence itself is more on a jelly, than on a watery side. A light floral scent is present, however it is not overwhelming.

The mask is made of cotton, the cut fits just fine my face although the eye openings seemed small.

According to the manufacturer, this mask is supposed to hydrate, soothe and brighten. 

I kept the mask on for 30 minutes, it started to dry a bit on the forehead and on the cheeks. When I removed the mask, I felt like my skin got a nice dose of moisture with a bit of nourishment. I notice a certain brightening effect, but nothing dramatic. This is really a basic, but still very nice sheet mask.

DAY 2 – TOSOWOONG Dr Troubex sparkling mask

I have already used this sheet mask 2 or 3 times and it amazes me each time I use it. This one goes into my wow group (I keep on repeating wow when I remove these masks 😁).

It is really well soaked in the essence. Besides the beneficial ingredients like centella asiatica, some antioxidants (Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate) and EGF, this mask is infused with the sparkling water (carbonated). Thus, with the remaining essence you can treat your elbows, hands or use it as an essence few days after the application. The material is very thick, not elegant, but still feels very nice. The fit is very wide, but still ok.

I kept the mask for maybe 20 minutes, but then I had to remove it since it was drying fast. The skin is hydrated, soft, plumped, soothed, very brightened and exactly what the name of the mask pretends: really sparkling. And what is also great, it is still sparkling even the next day. I love it!! And I’m so happy I still have a stash of this mask.

DAY 3 – MAY COOP Raw sheet

May Coop Raw Sauce is one of my favorite Kbeauty products and a great multi-tasker, so I had to try these sheet masks. This mask is very thin and has plastic support for easier handling. It is well soaked in the essence and there’s a lot of it in the packaging. I put the compressed sheet mask in the remaining essence. 

The mask is made of thin unbleached cotton which adheres perfectly to the skin and is almost invisible on the face. 

I kept it on for 30 minutes and I could have left it for a bit longer. The mask delivers nice hydration, cools the skin and makes it soft. It is perfect choice for masking during the summer.

DAY 4 – SHINGMULNARA Natural delight mask Honey

This was the first time I tried this mask. It is well soaked, but there is almost no remaining essence in the packaging. The mask is very thin and adheres nicely to the skin. It is almost invisible when you put it on. The fit is nice, the only thing I didn’t like were the eye openings, but this can be fixed by cutting into the mask. And one thing that mesmerized me is the scent. It is absolutely divine and makes this masking experience even better. It is the same scent that you can find with Papa Recipe honey mask (yellow one).

I removed the mask after 30 minutes. The skin was nourished, soft and supple, glowy, healthy and what is very important, there was no sticky residue which is common for lot of products containing honey. This is yet another one which can be put in the wow group. A big thumb up from me!! And I will certainly repurchase.

DAY 5 – KLAIRS Midnight blue calming sheet mask

This is one of my favorite sheet masks. It is a 2-piece sheet mask and is a bit complicated to handle it.  The difference between this mask and the other is that it is completely black and this is due to the fact that is made from bamboo charcoal which should draw out impurities from pores. There is lot of remaining essence in the packaging. This is soft rayon mask and feels nice on the skin.

It is well soaked and I kept it for around 30 minutes. It is really  soothing, hydrating and it calms any redness that you might have. 

DAY 6 – A by BOM 2step Ultra leaf sheet mask

This was the first time I tried this mask and I really loved it. It is a 2 pieces set composed of regular sheet mask and 4 leaf shaped smaller sheets. First you put the leafs on the spots that need some additional hydration and then you put the sheet mask on. The material is very nice and feels great on the skin. The set has such a nice fresh leafy scent that kind of envigorates the senses. It is really a plausible scent.

I kept the mask for 30 minutes and it didn’t dry out completely. It really delivered a great hydration boost to the skin and the skin looked really plumped and bouncy. I loved the overall masking experience and will repurchase for sure this mask!!

DAY 7 – TOAS Miracle laser mask

This was the first time I tried this mask and also loved it. The mask is well soaked, but it is not a problem at all to unfold it. However there is almost no essence left in the mask packaging. The material is little bit thicker, but still feels very nice on the skin. The mouth and eye openings fit me well. I kept the mask for around 30 minutes. I really liked this one since I felt my face was really nourished and moisturised (I would say that is more on a nourishing side, than on a hydrating one). The skin feels really bouncy and plump. 

OVERALL CONLUSION

After 7 days of sheet masking, I can say that overall experience is nice. The skin is well hydrated, bouncy and has a really nice, healthy glow. However, I cannot tell that my skin got more benefits from this weekly treatment, than what it would have gotten from occasional use of sheet masks that I normally practise. Also, besides sheet masks which I used in the night routine, I also used some wash-off masks on a few occasions in my morning routine, so this also attributed to the overall feeling.

However, I’m sure that lots of you (if anyone is reading what I’m writing) is also concerned for the quantity of waste the use of sheet masks produces. And trust me, so am I. I decided that once this stash decrease project is over, I will definitely buy much less sheet mask that I used to do before.

Do you use the sheet masks and if yes, how often?

Till next time, stay healthy and beautiful!

 

 

 

 

Skincare stash decrease project – update 2

Hello everybody!

Here is the second update of my skincare stash decrease project. So, these are my empties from March.

Farmacy Green clean cleansing balm – I have already written about this cleansing balm in my Empties post. This is my favorite cleansing balm. I will not bother you again with my enthusiastic review about this buttery cleansing goodness. I can say that I haven’t changed my mind a bit. I love it and will continue buying it. I will be without it for some time until I decrease my stash. I wish I’d bought one for back up before my no-buy.

Bobbi Brown cleansing oil (15ml) – I got this oil as a gift with my HG eye cream Bobbi Brown. It is a lightweight oil that feels like satin when you start to cleanse your face. It is not oily at all, it emulsifies nicely and removes well the makeup, spf, everything.. I really like it and will definitely think about purchasing a full size product.

Glow Recipe Blueberry bounce cleanser – My opinion about this cleanser and Glow Recipe as brand in general is really an unpopular opinion. This is second product I tried from their range and I equally disliked it like their watermelon sleeping pack. I have been literally forcing myself to empty this 30ml bottle for almost a year!! I didn’t even go through it all, I just had to throw it away. So, you can guess what kind of opinion I have  about this cleanser. Each time I applied it, my skin was feeling tight, like it was “getting smaller” with each second after I washed it off. On top of that, it burnt my eyes really badly while I was washing it off. And I didn’t even try to remove my eye makeup with this. Honestly, I cannot imagine that I would ever try to remove my eye makeup with product that contains AHA!! I think my exploration of Glow Recipe products ends right here (I have already written about Glow Recipe watermelon mask in my previous post).

Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner 20ml – Pyunkang Yul Mist toner is one of my HG toners, so I thought I could also like Essence Toner. And I wasn’t wrong. Of course by its consistence this is more an essence than a toner. It is hydrating, but more than that, it is calming and healing. It provides instant relief to the skin, is absorbed nicely without any sticky residue. Unlike the Mist Toner, this is basically perfect essence. I will for sure buy a full size bottle.

Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 mucin power essence – this is my HG of Kbeauty skincare. I do not count how many bottles of this essence I have emptied so far. I am always wondering how something so slimy and sticky can be so hydrating. This is also my go to skincare product, my skin saviour when I have some issues like skin redness, failed routines that cause some sensitivity, etc. It is gentle, hydrating, calming, soothing. I love it and will always keep buying it.

Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C dark spot serum – Although my skin loves a good vitamin C serum, I wasn’t quite happy with this one. I have been using the vitamin C serums for more than a decade and I have tried my share of these. My skin enjoyed in almost all these serums, but I honestly cannot explain what is wrong with this one. It has a jelly texture which is easily spread, it does leave some sticky residue which disappears with the application of the next layer. The form of vitamin C used in this serum is ascorbyl glucoside which is stable against light and that why it is packed in a transparent bottle and not in a dark bottle as most vitamin C serums are. This form is non-irritating at all. And still I didn’t like it.  Maybe it is because its main targets are the dark spots which I do not have. What disappointed me also is that I didn’t even notice the immediate brightening effect and healthy glow which I got from almost all vitamin C serums. I also bought the pads from same line which I use also in my morning routine (one day I used the serum and next the pads). I will not repurchase the serum.

Tiam Vita B3 source – I use the niacianamide each day. Since I started to use religiously spf cream, I introduced some changes to my routine and switched the niacinamide and vitamin C serum. So now I put the niacinamide as first step in my evening routine. I really like the texture of this serum which feels a little bit greasy between the fingers (probably due to the arbutine), but once you start massaging it, it disappears instantly. It is gentle, not drying like some niacinamide serums tend to be (especially the ones with zinc). It clears the complexion, it brightens it, improves the skin texture. I will repurchase this for sure.

Bioderma Matricium – I use those on days that follow the application of A313 Vitamine A pommade. It is a thick, but still liquid, it is tacky, but really calms down any redness you might have. This flacon is for 2 uses. I still have more than 20 pcs in the stash.

Drunk Elephant Hydra-B serum – I bought this together with DE C-firma serum. Neither one of those serums didn’t wow me, although I must say that Hydra-B is little bit better than C- Firma. It is a jelly serum that penetrates the skin fast, is not sticky, but the level of hydration it provides to skin is nothing extraordinary that would justify the price tag is has. I will not repurchase.

The Plant Base Quesera Ceramide serum – I had this on my wish list for a long time and I was really excited when I got my hands on this shinny bottle. I really must command the fancy golden packaging and the pressure dropper which makes the dosage easier. The serum itself is of a milky texture with some slip to it. The application is really easy and comfortable, the serum is absorbed fast and almost perfectly, it doesn’t leave any tacky residue. We all know that the ceramides are important for strengthening the skin barrier. Mine is not damaged but I like to use some form of ceramides ever since I introduced the A313 (form of Vitamin A). This serum calms and nourishes the skin, makes it smooth and glowy. I don’t like the bottle size (20ml) through which I went really very quickly. However, I will repurchase at a certain point.

A’pieu Glacier water hydrating ampoule – I liked this simple hydrating ampoule that combines the glacier water and sodium hyaluronate. It sooths and calms skin while cooling and moisturizing it at the same time. The texture is of a watery gel, easy to apply and well absorbed. Although I used it during the winter, this could be a perfect summer cooling/hydrating ampoule. I will repurchase.

Peter Thomas Roth Blue Marine Algae Intense Hydrating mask – this is an average wash-off mask. It provides some cooling effect, sinks in the skin and gives certain amount of hydration, but not the intense hydration as the product name says. Each time I put this on my face, I started to feel the tightening effect as if I didn’t provide my skin with sufficient care. Just like the PTR cucumber mask version, it is absorbed completely, but the result is far from expected.  I will not repurchase.

Oskia Renaissance mask – I got this luxury sample in one of Lookfantastic’s Beauty boxes and I enjoyed in every single masking. Although I wasn’t using it on a regular basis, it impressed me each time I applied it. At the beginning, I was afraid of some negative reactions like burning, so I left it only for 5-6 minutes and then I washed it off. I didn’t feel any burning, only slight tingling and only for first 2 times. I usually kept the mask on not more than 10 minutes. Once it is washed off, you can really see the difference. The skin is visibly brightened, very smooth and soft and it stays like this for days. Basically this mask does the chemical peeling (it contains lactic acid) but in a gentle way. Although the full size is rather pricey, I will buy it for sure.

Huxley Secrets of Sahara Good night sleep mask – Since I really like Huxley’s Secrets of Sahara oil essence, I thought I would enjoy this sleeping mask which is also made with prickly pear cactus extract. However, I didn’t. It is not a bad product, it is hydrating and soothing, feels comfortable on the skin, it is non-sticky and sinks in fast, but each time I put this, I have a feeling that my skin craves for one more layer of something, like my routine was unfinished. And this is not how your skin should feel after applying a sleeping pack which is supposed to seal everything in as a last step of the routine. I don’t think I will repurchase.

I thought I would be using more sheet masks since I’m constantly at home. However, this month I only used 6 sheet masks. Among them, I absolutely have to mention Secret Key Starting Treatment Essential mask. It completely blew my mind!! It made my skin so hydrated, calm, bouncy. I kept looking at the mirror and admiring the effect. I even took a selfie and I almost never do that!! And what’s funny it’s that I didn’t even choose purposely this sheet, it came in a sheet mask set from Jolse. The reason why I would have never chosen this sheet mask before is because of my experience with Secret Key fte that I tried at the very beginning of my Kbeauty journey which did absolutely nothing to my skin. And this sheet mask could easily become one of my favorite mask.

And here is one of my rare selfies (and first posted on my blog) taken after the use of Secret Key sheet mask.  Please be kind and remember I’m 44 years old 🙂

I must admit I broke the no-buy this month and bought some things. I emptied Goodal c vitamin, so I ordered Timeless C+ E ferulic acid although I did have The Inkey List vitamin C in my stash. However, I changed a bit my routine and switched vitamin C and niacinamide serum so I put vitamin C in the morning and niacinamide in the evening. Although I like The Inkey List, its silicony texture which requires some waiting before next step is not suitable for the quick routines before going to work. Then again, due to Covid-19, I changed my mind again as I described in my previous post about the products I opened in March and opened The Inkey List Vitamin C serum.

The other thing I couldn’t resist to was the possibility of bidding for By Wishtrend Polyphenols in propolis 15% which I wanted to try for a long, long time. And the price I paid for it was great (15€) instead of maybe 27-28$ which is the usual Ebay rate. However this serums is still travelling from South Korea and I’m not sure if it will ever be delivered.

In March, I emptied:

3 cleansers / 1 toner / 1 essence / 2 acid – active treatments / 3 serums / 2 wash-off masks / 1 sleeping pack

March total: 13 empties + 6 sheet masks

Yearly total : 20 empties + 8 sheet masks

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

  • 17 cleansers
  • 20 toners and mists
  • 19 acid & active treatments
  • 13 essences
  • 15 serums / ampoules
  • 4 emulsions
  • 23 moisturizers and sunscreens
  • 7 sleeping packs
  • 11 facial oils
  • 20 masks
  • 5 eye creams and eye masks
  • 111 sheet masks

Till next time stay healthy and beautiful!

 

 

 

 

My skincare in 2019 in some numbers and letters

Hello everybody!

I can’t believe it’s already February and I haven’t still posted a single thing in 2020. They say it’s never late for good wishes so I wish you all the best, lot of happiness, love and health!

While everybody is already speaking about their favourites for January 2020, I still want to share with you some thoughts about my skincare journey in 2019. I found the inspiration for this first post in my second post in 2019.  So, I will give you an overview of my cosmetic experiences in past year through some numbers and letters.

During 2019, for a several times, I tried to maintain a no-buy regime, but it usually ended very badly for my wallet. I had some shopping sprees like I have never had before. That’s why I decided to keep away from shopping skicare products in 2020, since my stash grew to giant proportions. I will be writing about my skincare stash reducing project soon.

In 2019, I made 213 online orders. Some of them were for clothes and books, but most of them contained skincare product, but also some makeup and body care.

As I have already mentioned, I’m keeping track of my purchases, use and stash of cosmetic products in a xls file, so I’m able to give you some numbers.

For the moment, I have 115 opened items (skincare, haircare, makeup) which is quite a lot. In total, in 2019 I opened 129 products and I have emptied 117 items. I emptied fewer products than I used to do in previous years (134 in 2017 and 163 in 2018). My stash is currently composed of 100 products (a part of those was delivered during January). Also, I didn’t include in this last number all the products I obtained in Asos advent calendar (I used few of them as a Christmas gift for my family and friends). Wow, when I see these numbers, I start to feel a headache!!

And here is my 2019 in some letters:

F as Farmacy Green clean cleansing balm – this is the first cleansing balm I actually love (I tried the Kbeauty classics when speaking about cleansing balms:  rose Banila and  Heimish, but also Eve Lom and Emma Hardy). I think that these were good, but not so extraordinary. However, I think that Farmacy’s balm is just great as I mentioned in my last Empties post. I emptied two jars and I’m currently using the 3rd one, but this time in maxi size of 200ml. This cleansing balm turns into finest butter once you start massing it over your face. It is gentle, effective, not oily or greasy. I love it and will continue buying it despite its hefty price tag.

L as Laneige Cream skin refiner – if you want to replace few steps of your routine, this milky toner will be a perfect choice for you. It looks like it is a milky, watery lotion but once you apply it on the skin, it almost feels like you applied a nice moisturizer. It is soothing, nourishing. It is a perfect multitasker and replacement for toner/essence/emulsion or even a moisturizer (depending on your skin type, of course). This my winter multitasker, while May Coop Raw Sauce is my summer multitasking product.

N as Neogen Real ferment micro essence – this is by far my favourite product of 2019 and my holy grail. I mentioned it few times this year in my posts and I will just say that my skin is extremely happy when I use this essence (as I said it purrs like kitten when I splash it over my face). I will continue using it (I have 2 bottles in my stash thanks to Jolse’s excellent promotions like hidden sales, brand discounts, etc).

N as niacinamide (vitamin B3) – Until this year, I was always thinking that the niacinamide is an ingredient that targets mostly the acne prone skin and I never bothered to incorporate it in my routine. However, after reading about its overall benefits (improves enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, fights hyperpigmentations and dullness, fights against the environmental impact, etc.),  I started to use it in my morning routine, immediately after washing my face (simple water splash).

I used a bunch of niacinamide serums this year (2sol which contains panthenol, Cos de Baha which flushed my skin, The Ordinary niacinamide with zinc which was a bit too “strong” for my skin, Sidmool Dr Troub niaten, Isntree C-niacin toning ampoule). I’m currently using The Inkey List niacinamide which is starting also to flush my skin. I can confirm that the constant use of niacinamide did improve my skin tone which is more even and brighter now. As for texture, since I’m using it as a first step, I prefer watery texture and that’s why I will probably be rotating 2sol and Sidmool. I also have a bottle of Tiam B3 serum containing arbutin which waits in my stash. I would also like to try Paula’s Choice version of niacinamide serum.

I tried a lot of skincare products this year, I bought even more, so this year will be for me a year without shopping for sure. I can already tell you that in January 2020, I only bought 1 skincare product.

2019 was a really interesting year for me from the cosmetic point of view. I hope that 2020 will be even more interesting.

Till next time, stay healthy and beautifull!

 

 

I’m on a no-buy? It’s more a go-buy!

Hello everybody!

I didn’t post for quite a long time till my last Empties 5 post. During this absence, I was really active in emptying products as you could have seen, but unfortunately for my wallet, I was also more than active in buying skincare despite of being on a no-buy regime (obviously the decision to stop shopping the skincare wasn’t firm enough).

I bought again a significant number of products, some of them were already mentioned in last Empties post, some of them are in use and some of them waiting their turn to be opened. While I wasn’t active here last few months, I was participating quite often on a message board about Kbeauty where I was posting my purchases. I saved the photos I had taken, so you will be able to see how far away I am from a no-buy!

Labiotte UV veil  and Blithe Crystal Iceplant pressed serum are still not opened.

Isntree C-niacin toning ampoule is nice choice for those who like to combine the vitamin C and niacinamide.

As a big fan of sheet masks, I’m always buying and trying the new ones. However, there are few types which I keep buying and one of these is Klairs Midnight blue calming sheet mask.

Manyo Factory Galactomy niacin serum and Hanyul Artemisia miracle relief essence are already emptied.

Klavuu White Pearlsation Revitalising Pearl treatment toner and I’m from Honey mask are already in use. I had high hopes from both of those 2 products, but I’m not so impressed, especially with Klavuu toner. Blith Patting splash mask – Rejuvenating berry and Neogen White truffle serum in oil drop are still not yet opened (I’ve tried a Blithe berry mask, since I received the small decant)

I was so happy when I bought Earth Recipe Energy Boosting toner which was on my wish list for quite a while. I haven’t tried it yet. On the other hand, I did open Goodal Green Tangerine vita c serum and it is nice, but not much more than that.

I always have a bottle of Mizon AHA/BHA daily clean toner. Hanskin Hyaluron skin essence and Acwell licorice 5.5 ph balancing toner are repurchased items. I’m from Magnolia sleeping mask was so long and so high on my wish list. It seems that it is discontinued. Some by me Yuja Niacin sleeping mask was an impulsive buy and it is still not in use. Dr Jart Blue peptidin was bought after I had tried a mini size serum.

Nature Republic and The Saem hair packs are repurchased items. All the others (Krave beauty Matcha-hemp hydrating cleanser, Isntree tw real eye cream and I‘m From rice mask) were bought for the first time and are already in use. I really like Krave Beauty cleanser.

It’s skin Power 10 formula LI effector is my HG calming serum/ampoule (combined with Cosrx Snail 96 mucin essence). A’pieu Glacier water hydrating ampoule and Wellage masks were bought for the first time. I have already opened A’pieu serum and it delivers very nice hydration. Dr Jart Ceramidin body butter is the first Kbeauty body care product I have purchased.

Neogen Real ferment micro essence is my HG essence. I have another bottle coming. Oneoseven Low ph chaga cleanser is the first time purchase.

Although I did try some items from Iherb Kbeauty bag, I still didn’t want to miss this bargain. Petitfee Beta-glucan deep firming eye mask and 23years old Aqua bab modelling mask were bought for the first time.

All these items were bought for the first time (Klavuu white pearlsation ideal actress backstage cream spf30, A’pieu luster lighting bb cream, A’pieu Madecassoside hand cream and Rovectin skin essentials activating treatment lotion). I’m really looking forward to try Rovectin lotion. By the way, don’t you think that the name of Klavuu cream is just hilarious?

The sample set is Cosrx Oil-free ultra moisturizing lotion with birch sap which I wanted to try for a long time so when I saw these samples, I clicked buy button immediately.

This is my wonder box 😁. The fact that I purchased some of these, like The Plant Base Quesera ceramide serum and Atrue Spring green tea watery calming cream, really made me satisfied and happy, because I finally got my hands on them. I’m really keen to see how I’m From mugwort essence works. Tonymoly Pro-clean smoky eye and lips makeup remover is my favourite makeup remover and obviously repurchased item. On the other hand, Etude House makeup remover was purchased for the first time. Laneige cream skin refiner and Huxley Secret of Sahara oil-essence are repurchased items. Thank you farmer true water deep serum and sheet masks were bought for the first time.

Most of these were bought with some discount codes on Ebay or during some promotions on Jolse.

And I still have to share with you my Black Friday haul.

I guess no one will ever believe me again when I say I’m on a no-buy!!

What did you buy lately?

Till next time stay healthy and beautiful!