I’m trying really hard to finish things up and give things away when I can. I have way too much stuff. So I was glad to make some more progress in November. Let’s take a look at what worked for me and what didn’t.
Makeup
- NYX Whipped Fouetté Lip & Cheek Souffle, shade Plush: I am not finished with this multitasker that I got in an Ipsy bag a few months ago, but I decided to toss it. It’s a thick, caramel-scented sticky liquid. I had high hopes for the color based on the color of the tube, but on my lips, the shade is a couple of shades lighter and a bit too light for my lips. It would be a pretty blush shade, but I can’t imagine putting this thick, sticky stuff on my face. No go. It does dry down, but it takes a while. Good bye! Repurchase? No.
Skincare and Bath & Body
- NeoCell Ceramides Skin Hydrator Supplements: After finishing up this one month supply of skin supplements, I decided I wanted to give them another month. Jeff’s apartment is very, very dry and he doesn’t have a humidifier. My skin is having a very hard time. I’ve been loading on the hyaluronic acid, but I thought I’d continue trying to hydrate from the inside out. Repurchase? I already did.
- Incredible By Nature Eye Gel: I used this eye liquid, not gel, as an eye serum or pretreatment, and it was effective for me at helping to tighten the skin above my crease. But what irritated me about it was the pump: instead of pumping the liquid out smoothly, it came out in a spurt. When I mentioned this to the manufacturer, they said they were working on fixing it. Repurchase? Maybe in the future after they fix the pump.
- Johnson’s 24 Hour Body Lotion, travel size: I still love Johnson’s Baby Lotion! I love the scent. I love the consistency of the lotion. I love the pink tube. The 24 hour version does a much better job hydrating my dry skin than did the original that I used when I was younger. Repurchase? Next time I’m traveling, I will repurchase it.
- Sisley Express Flower Gel, sample packet: I was able to get two usage occasions out of this little packet, so this is far from a review. It was a very nice lightweight gel with a light, fresh floral scent that I used as a sleeping mask. While I liked it from my limited use of it, Sisley is too expensive IMO. Purchase? No.
- CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, sample tube: This sample tube that I think I got in an Ipsy bag was bigger than the Sisley packet so I got a couple of week’s worth out of it. In fact, I loved it. It’s a fragrance-free medium weight white eye cream that is very soothing, and it’s viscous enough that it helps firm the skin above my crease. Purchase? Yes, I already did.
- Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 30, sample tube: I think I got this at maybe a Hilton Hotel as an amenity. I have purchased this previously, but I find it to be on the heavy side so it’s not my favorite daytime moisturizer. Repurchase? No.
- Dr. Hauschka Moor Lavender Calming Bath Essence, sample tube: I like this natural lavender bath cream. It smells nice and leaves my skin feeling hydrated. Purchase? I have a couple more tubes to use first, but I don’t think I like it enough to buy it.
- LATHER AHA Hand Creme with Evening Primrose, sample packet: I got 2-3 usage occasions from this little packet of hand cream. It has a very light herbal scent that lasts for only a few seconds. It dries down completely and very quickly. It softens nicely, but doesn’t plump skin. I am very curious about what it would be like to use an entire tube of this hand cream with AHA – would it help fade my sun damage/age spots on my hands? Purchase? Though I’m very curious about its longer term benefits, I have about 5 tubes of hand cream right now. Maybe sometime in the future.
Makeup Removal
- MyChelle Quick Clean Micellar Water: I’ve written about this micellar water a couple of times. Initially, I liked it because it does a good job removing face makeup. But overtime, I changed my mind about it. First, you MUST shake it. With other micellar waters, some say to shake it and others don’t, but this one you have to shake vigorously to combine, and I have a tendency to forget to shake it. Second, the more I used it and the lower the liquid inside sank, the harder it was to operate the unusual pump top. So my feeling is that it’s just too much work. Repurchase? No.
- Bioderma Hydrabio Moisturizing Makeup Removing Micellar Solution, big 16.7 oz. bottle: I love this micellar water. The Hydrabio version is perfect for me. I can and do use it every night to remove my eye makeup with no stinging whatsoever, and it does a good job removing my face makeup. Why use anything else when I can use this? Repurchase? I already have.
- Lumene Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, travel size: I think I bought this travel size fragrance-free, gentle eye makeup remover when I was traveling. It did a good job, and it didn’t make my super-sensitive eyes sting. Repurchase? I prefer micellar water, but if I didn’t have a travel size MW, I would repurchase this.
- Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover, travel size: I got this sample bottle not long ago in a Sephora Play bag. Like the MyChelle Micellar Water, it must be shaken vigorously before use. It was a decent eye makeup remover, but if I were to choose between eye makeup removers, I would choose either the Lumene or good ole Maybelline Eye Makeup Remover. Purchase? No.
- BlenderCleanser Solid Makeup Sponge and Brush Cleanser: I’m a big fan of the solid cleanser for both my brushes and sponges. It cleans sponges without a ton of work, and it’s a breeze to clean brushes with it. This is my fourth jar of the stuff. Repurchase? I already have.
What’s your Reaction?
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Impressive empties, Allison! I always travel with sample sizes as well because it is so much easier than carrying all those large bottles, jars and tubes.
Lola Seicento recently posted…Lancôme Énergie de Vie The Smoothing & Plumping Pearly Lotion | Review
You win, though, this month!
I like the Whiped Fouette as lipstick, but not on the cheeks. Also, the Sephora solid cleanser is a favorite of mine!
Kristina recently posted…NYX Super Cliquey Matte Lipsticks
Kristina, does Sephora have their own solid cleanser???? If so, I’ll bet it’s more affordable than the Blendercleanser
I love the solid cleaning forms for sponges and brushes too. 🙂
Kristi V BeginNails recently posted…Ribbits Stickits December Polish Pick Up: Chinese New Year Set
Do you have a less pricey one that you use, Kristi?? I’d love to find one that works as well but costs less than Blendercleanser!
I really wish that the Beauty Blender cleanser was unscented. I find the lavender to be overpowering.
Our bathrooms are being remodeled at last so I tossed all the empties I was saving. I don’t have room for what I’m using let alone empties and I wasn’t in the mood to write about them.
MarciaF recently posted…Looking for fabulous affordable skincare? Vivo Per Lei is just that. Learn about it and enter our giveaway
I wish I were home now, Marcia, coz I never noticed that the BlenderCleanser Solid has a lavender scent! I like lavender – how could I have missed it?
I like using the whipped soufflé from NYC as a lippie but agreed – not wanting to put that on my cheeks! Great job on empties this month!
Judy recently posted…Beauty Spotlight Team 11/26/17
Thanks, Judy! Even the fluffy NYX Whipped Fouette dries down too much for my dry lips, but I couldn’t imagine putting it on my cheeks and waiting a half hour or so for it to dry, yikes!
I see lots of my favs!
Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted…Lucid Liquid Candles Brighten Up Any Decor!
I’ve had ONE empty all year! I don’t know how you all do it – I always switch up things too often
LOL, I hate throwing away stuff that isn’t used up (unless it’s a bad product or it spoiled), so I try to use as much as I can up. What’s really hard is shampoo and especially conditioner that seem to last forever
You have finished a lot, you are so good! I am the same, I constantly give/donate all my excesses and since I don’t accept that much PR samples anymore, my stash has become more organized and manageable
Actually, I’m looking for more places to donate product. Any ideas? I don’t know what to do with products that I opened, swatched or used only a couple of times for a review.
I love reading this type of post. I started taking some Neo Cell products a few weeks ago too. I read good reviews of them and hope they’ll help my dry skin too.
Stacie Hamilton recently posted…A Quick and Easy Gift Wrap Solution
I hate stuff that takes forever to dry down.
Phyrra recently posted…Darling Girl Double Feature Die Hard & Love Actually
I might try and find the Bioderma make up remover where I live. I’m looking for a remover that is good and not to oily.
Helena recently posted…Reader’s Choice – Emily De Molly Gaze Into The Stars
I love Cerave. It’s so great and from a drugstore!
It’s always good to see what people think is good enough to buy again!
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