It seemed to me like January lasted forever, but February was over in a flash even with Leap Day today!
So we’re at the end of the month already, and I spent more than a week away from home. How did I do using up beauty products in February?
Project Pan February ’24
Bath & Body
TOA Waters Bubble Bath Mini Gift Set, 2 vials: I finished up two vials of TOA Waters Bubble Bath (Casanova and Tuscarora), and I will wait till I’ve used them all to count them as one product. Each one lasts me about 8 showers since I use them in the shower rather than the tub. I liked the scent of both of them, but Tuscarora was my favorite of the two and would consider buying it in the full bottle size. I’ve got 4 more scents to try! Recommend? Yes, I recommend them if you like fragranced bath and shower products. On a pouf, TOA Waters Bubble Bath makes a ton of bubbles!
Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion for Very Dry Skin: This has got to be at least my 4th pump bottle of Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion, and I still love it. I use the fragrance-free version so it doesn’t interfere with a perfume I may be wearing. Though Eucerin rates this variety as in the middle between “Light” and “Rich”, it sure feels rich and effective to me! I read a lot of the reviews, and the few who didn’t like it felt that it was too rich for their skin. Not me! Definitely my favorite drugstore body lotion. In fact, I buy the largest size, 16.9 fl. oz./500 ml. Also, I think that it has been reformulated since the few negative reviews, because it is not greasy. Recommend? Absolutely wonderful lotion with ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier to keep moisture in. Buy it if you have very dry skin like me!
RITUALS Ritual of Ayurveda Recovery Hand Balm for Dry Skin, purse size: I always like to have a tube of Ritual of Ayurveda Hand Balm in my purse and on my night table because it’s my favorite hand cream because it really hydrates and Ayurveda has a lovely fragrance, Indian Rose and Sweet Almond Oil, that reminds me of my favorite amber scents. Recommend? I heartily recommend Rituals Hand Balm if you have dry skin. The scent you choose (there are several but not unscented) is your preference.
Beauty Tools
Venus Razor: After more than 5 years, my Venus plastic razor handle finally broke during our trip to LA. The plastic piece that allows you to expel the blade broke off. Although I have two other Venus razor handles with metal as well as plastic on the handle (Deluxe model??) at home, I prefer the all plastic one (might be the Simple model that usually comes with 3 blades rather than the 5 blades I prefer) that I don’t seem to be able to find anymore at Costco. I guess I will live without the lightweight all-plastic handle. Recommend? Yes, I do. I never liked Schick razors or blades as much. And truth be told, I haven’t tried any of the new razor and blade combos that have been introduced from new brands in the last several years. I like buying blades at Costco, so I will stick with Venus by Gillette. BTW, do NOT buy the stubby small razor handle in a plastic travel case (see photo below)! I bought one for travel and almost shredded my legs!
DHC Silky Cotton pads: DHC Silky Cotton pads are my second favorite makeup remover pads after much pricier Koh Gen Do pads. DHC is made from 100% natural cotton with a silky blend wrapped on top to make them soft to my skin and leave absolutely no lint behind. They’re larger than cotton rounds so usually one pad removes all of my makeup. 80 pads per box. Recommend? Yes, I’ve had good luck with them. If I understand the offer correctly, right now on Amazon you can get 3 boxes of DHC pads for $7.00 plus free shipping with Prime. 240 pads should last about forever! Usually, they’re around $7 or slightly less per box.
Spa Sister Shower Parlor Box shower cap: Several years ago, I bought a cute green and white polka dot shower cap to keep at Jeff’s. It reminded me of photos I had seen of cute shower caps from Vintage Cosmetics, and the price was right at HomeGoods, so I bought it. I am not at his place all that much, so I don’t use it very often. However, when I did use it, even though it was lined with lightweight plastic under the satiny polyester outer cover, my hair always got wet. Boo. Recently, I also noticed that the elastic that kept the cap on my head stretched out so much that it wouldn’t stay on. Time to go! Recommend? No. I don’t think Spa Sister sells them anymore, plus most importantly, a shower cap should keep your hair DRY!!
Hourglass Lash Curler Pad: I couldn’t find lash curler pads by Maybelline or Revlon at my local CVS, so I ended up buying Hourglass Lash Curler pads (2 pack) from Ulta recently. My excellent Canadian-brand V Kosmetik eyelash curler that I got from Ipsy that doesn’t crimp or pull my lashes needed to have the red pad it came with replaced, and I tried one from Hourglass. The Hourglass pad was fine, and it wasn’t expensive in spite of the brand name ($5.40 at Ulta for 2 pads). Recommend? Sure, but I might still look for a curler pad that’s cheaper if I hadn’t been placing an Ulta order. Pretty soon I may have to get a new eyelash curler, and most likely, I will buy another eyelash curler from V Kosmetik because the design is so darn comfortable to use.
Skincare
Paula’s Choice RESIST Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturizing Cream: I was surprised when I finished up my Paula’s Choice Barrier Cream, and I noticed the front of the pump bottle with the letters of the name etc. moved all over the jar and look like alphabet soup! Strange.
But I must admit that the new-ish Barrier Cream from the RESIST collection was maybe my favorite moisturizer I have ever tried from Paula’s Choice. Although I also love City Beauty Barrier Cream, Paula’s Choice Barrier Repair Cream is a very close runner-up for a more affordable price. Recommend? Yes! If you have dry skin, this midweight moisturizing cream with ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier is a must-try. Next time, Paula’s Choice has a 20% off sale, I will buy another airless pump of this excellent cream.
Neocutis Hyalis+ fragrance-free, skincare samples from Dermstore.com: Neocutis Hyalis+ Intensive Hydrating Serum and Neocutis Bio-Creme Firm Riche Extra Moisturizing Smoothing & Tightening Cream. These two small size tubes were perfect to take with me to Los Angeles last week to try out. I wish all product samples came in mini-tubes instead of packets, but the packets are less expensive for the manufacturer and better for the environment. The Intensive Hydrating Serum was a clear oil-free gel-lotion with several types of hyaluronic acid that felt more like it dried on top of my skin rather than getting absorbed by my skin. That said, it wasn’t my favorite serum. However, I liked the peptide infused Bio Creme Firm Riche Extra Moisturizing Smoothing & Tightening Cream a lot. It was a rich cream, went on smoothly, absorbed quickly, and it wasn’t overly heavy. I think it would make a wonderful night cream.
Hair
Pureology Hydrating Conditioner, travel size that’s half of the Pureology Hydrate Gift Set Duo at Sephora from the holidays 2023: I love love love the lavender mint scent of Pureology Hydrating Conditioner that’s safe for color treated, dry hair. The light purple color of the cream is nice too. It’s a good regular conditioner. Recommend? Yes, I do. But because my hair is so coarse, I have gone back to using heavy-duty JOICO K-PAK Conditioning Treatment.
Fragrance
Lolita Lempicka Eau de Parfum, mini sprays: Yet again, I used up two more minis from the pack that I bought in January. The bag they were stored in smells lovely, lightly floral. Too bad they don’t smell like that on me. Recommend? I can’t give an opinion on fragrance since it’s your own preference and body chemistry. I just wish this set of 12 sample sprays smelled as wonderful on me as the first sample spray mini I was sent from some online retailer (which one, I can’t remember). Lolita Lempicka Eau de Parfum has been reformulated from the Original launched in 1997, again in 2010, I think again in 2017, and maybe even in 2021. Who knows which these little minis are? My original mini came in a clear glass mini spray in a white cardboard folder with green rather than purple plastic mini spray in a green folder with white. I need to make time to go to the local Macy’s (in case they too are going out of business) and see if they have a tester to try.
Makeup
Stila Sunset Seranade Convertible Color Lip & Cheek Cream Palette: Because I forgot I owned this pretty palette and it is now 7 years old and somewhat less creamy, I am tossing it. I’m sad about it, however. As I mentioned 7 years ago in my original review of the palette, Stila doesn’t get enough love. In fact, I am somewhat surprised they are still in business. Recommend? I loved this palette when I first got it. Now, I have to go through my stash and see if I can find my single of pretty Petunia (they still make all of these shades as single Convertible Color compacts!) that’s a perfect coral peach for summer. Gerbera, a rosy peachy pink, is the shade in this palette that I used most often. Stila and their Stay All Day collection of eyeliner, lipstick, setting spray etc. are still wonderful and worth considering.
Project Pan Update
In February, I used up 9 beauty products (the DefenAge nail serum shouldn’t be in the photo because I’m on my second bottle that’s not quite used up yet). I will not count the Lolita Lempicka samples and the TOA Waters Bubble Bath till I use up the entire package of both of those products. Also, I didn’t count the Neocutis Hyalis+ sample even though they each lasted me 10 days.
So, 8 empties from January and 9 from February is a measly 17 empties so far in 2024. How have you been doing so far this year???
I jumped on the special price for DHC from Amazon even though I had to shlep them back from Florida. These are my favorite pads.
I’m so glad you got them. I think they were $7 for 3 boxes??? That’s seemed too good to be true. Welcome home! I hope you enjoyed your winter in FL, and also I hope that spring comes soon to MI!