November was a good month for using up beauty products for me. Though I still have two or three summer months to catch up on, at least I’m sort of on schedule!
Bath & Body
- Ulta Beauty Dreamy Pineapple Scented Foaming Hand Wash: I bought this bottle of Ulta Dreamy Pineapple Hand Wash more than two years ago, and I just used it up. Frankly, I was surprised at how much I liked this foaming hand wash. I usually don’t prefer foaming washes, but I really got into this one. Plus the pineapple scent was very nice. It was very affordable, too. Repurchase/recommend? Yes, I already bought one, though Ulta didn’t have pineapple any longer. I think they have 5 new fragrances. I’ll let you know how I like Sugar Vanilla scent.
- Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream for Very Dry Skin: You may remember that I am a big fan of Eucerin A.R. Body Lotion, so I thought I would buy an TA-friendly tube of the hand cream to take on our trip to London. Although the hand cream was good, it wasn’t quite as good as the thicker body lotion that feels more hydrating and longer lasting. Maybe it’s just me? Repurchase/recommend? I’m on the fence about the Eucerin A.R. Hand Cream. I currently have a different hand cream in my purse and beside my bed. With the right price, however, I will probably try it again. Unless you have super dry skin like I do, I’m sure you would be more than satisfied with non-greasy, quick-absorbing, AHA and Ceramide including, Eucerin hand cream.
- Aquation Moisturizing Cream: I received this Moisturizing Cream a couple of years ago from a PR company. I used it for about a month or so, but I had new products I had to try so I put it aside and forgot about it. In fact, it was so long ago that I assumed the Aquation Moisturizing Cream was for the body when I rediscovered it recently. So I finished up the pump bottle by using it after I shower, and it did an awesome job! However, now that I look at the container, I think it was meant to be used as a facial moisturizer. Actually, I just studied the container, and it says it’s for face and body so I didn’t make a mistake after all! Aquation is for all skin types. It’s very modestly priced, and it contains all of the familiar ingredients including ceramides for barrier strength, glycerin for hydration, sodium hyaluronate to retain moisture, and dimethicone for smoothness. Repurchase/recommend? It looks like Aquation repackaged their Moisturizing Cream and have several versions flagging key ingredients: Collagen, Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid. It looks like it’s now sold in supermarkets like Kroger’s, Ralph’s, Fred Meyer, Metromarket, and drug store QFC. Sadly, none of those stores are located in my area, but I still recommend it if you come upon it.
Skincare
- Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Repair Cream: I bought Paula’s Choice Intensive Repair Cream a while ago when I was looking for a neck cream. When I received the product, I realized that it wasn’t specifically a neck cream. Instead, Paula’s Choice doesn’t sell “neck creams”; they believe you can use the same cream on face and neck. Good to know. So, I used Paula’s Choice Intensive Repair Cream as a night cream, that contains a small amount of retinol (0.01%), on my face and neck. It’s a very hydrating cream with a somewhat thick texture that sinks in quickly. I like this Intensive Repair Cream a lot. Repurchase/recommend? When I need some very hydrating cream, I will buy another jar. Right now, I have so many bottle of moisturizing cream so I will wait a bit. But for dry skin and/or as an entry-level retinol product, this cream is first rate!
- Glamglow ThirstyMud Hydrating Treatment, travel size: I got Glamglow ThirstyMud Hydrating-y Treatment as an add-on purchase from Ipsy. I chose it because I love Glamglow masks, and I wanted to try this one because I thought it was a mask. Once it arrived, I read that it can be used as either a Hydrating Mask that you can leave on for about 20 minutes, or you can leave it on overnight as a truly Hydrating Treatment. So I started using it as an overnight treatment, and I love it! It smells delicious with its coconut-y fragrance. Repurchase/recommend? The travel size lasted me a couple of months even though I used it almost every night. A little goes a long way! But yes, I loved this product so much that I bought the full size that’s on sale right now at Macy’s ($8 off plus 10% cash back at Rakuten).
- Pacifica Wake Up Beautiful Retinoid Eye Cream: I bought this eye cream also as an add-on from Ipsy. I used it as an eye cream on my crow’s feet because I was concerned about using it around my entire eye area because of the retinol. I only used it at night before bed. Nevertheless, it wasn’t irritating at all. Repurchase/recommend? I’m not 100% sure that it did a lot to fade my crow’s feet. I think it would have been something that I should have added years ago (it didn’t exist then) to help keep those wrinkles at bay.
- Bigger Than Beauty Skincare Defying Gravity Eye Lifting Cream by Thrive Causemetics: I received this fabulous lifting eye cream a couple of months ago. I loved everything about it except for the white font against a pale aqua background that was unreadable on the tube. The tube packaging was terrific for keeping the cream efficacious, and it was easier to use without any waste. The white cream was just right: not too thick and not too thin. It worked brilliantly above my crease to firm and lift my looser skin. It was also plenty hydrating for my dry eyelids. Repurchase/recommend? I loved this lifting eye cream, and during Thrive’s recent sale, I bought another tube. I heartily recommend it for mature skin. BTW, although Thrive’s sale is over, Rakuten is offering 15% cash back on Thrive.
- City Beauty Lid Lifting Treatment: I foolishly put my City Beauty Lid Lifting Treatment away for several months, while I tested out other products. I think the fact that I opened the tube and used it for a while made the cream (that I call “spackle”) get even thicker. It still works to lift, but I think it would have been wiser to use it up. Repurchase/recommend? Yes, I still definitely recommend City Beauty Lid Lifting Treatment for those with mature skin who, like me, are trying to prevent the skin above the eye crease from drooping. It’s a little thicker and a little more expensive than the Bigger Than Beauty version because the tube is a little smaller. I would say that the City Beauty Lid Lifting Treatment is for those who can benefit from the spackle effect. Luckily, I have another tube waiting in the wings. BTW, City Beauty’s sitewide sale is over for now, but if you click on the link above and add the code NEVERSAYDIEBEAUTY when you check out, you can ALWAYS SAVE 15% regardless of whether there’s a sale on the site or for a specific product.
- City Lips Clear: Repurchase/recommend? I still haven’t found any lip balm I love more. Period. The End. In fact, I bought two more tubes during the recent City Lips 2-for-1 sale that I am still waiting to receive. It’s taking longer than usual this busy holiday season.
Miscellaneous Items/Other Categories
- Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo: I have been using Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo for at least 3 years, maybe 4. I love it. It has a very light scent, makes a ton of suds, and it leaves my hair feeling quite good as I and my hair get older. Repurchase/recommend? Yes, undoubtedly. BTW, Olaplex is 20% off now at Sephora and Ulta has a sale of $10 off of $50 now.
- Olive & June Nail Polish Remover, travel size: I got this travel size O&J Nail Polish Remover in last year’s Hanukkah Calendar. I cannot believe that it lasted for an entire year. Maybe it’s because my O&J Nail Polish lasts so long before I have to remove it! Repurchase/recommend? Yes, for sure. I’m waiting for my order to arrive.
- Just Brands CBD Gummy Bears 1000mg CBD: I’m not sure what happened to my Just Brands subscription, but a while ago during a sale, I decided to buy the larger size bottle that I’m using now. I think it’s a little cheaper and I think the CBD dose is a little higher? Repurchase/recommend? If you’re a fan of CBD, I recommend this brand. I take them to help me sleep primarily. They help me somewhat.
- Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15: Because I have so many foundations, it took me years (probably 5) to use up this bottle. In fact, I have about a 1/4″ left at the bottom, but I think I can call this oldie but goody finished. Repurchase/recommend? So to tell you how old this foundation is, I bought it when Bobbi Brown was still the CEO of the Bobbi Brown company. She’s been gone for quite a while. I don’t believe that this product, as it was, is sold at either the old company or her newer brand, Jones Road Beauty.
Sample Packet
- Korres White Pine Deep Wrinkle Plumping & Age Spot Concentrate: I liked this little packet of Korres’ White Pine anti-aging treatment. It was relatively lightweight and non-irritating. The packet lasted for 2 usage occasions, so I can’t comment on its effectiveness. But I liked using it. Purchase?When I ordered from Korres during their recent 40% off sale, I looked for the sample that I tried but couldn’t find that exact product. Instead, I bought another product from the White Pine collection, the White Pine 360o Lifting Eye Serum. I’ll let you know how that works out once I start using it.
Project Pan Update for November
During November, I used up 13 beauty products. I don’t count the sample packet. I’ve got to get going on my reviews for the missing summer months so I can figure out where I stand at the end of the year. There’s less than one month to go!
How about you? Did you use up any products that you particularly loved? How about that you particularly disliked? Let me know!
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9 Comments
I look for this post every month. I always find something I want to try. Incidentally, I have been using the Paula’s Choice cream for years. I hope she doesn’t reformulate it. Really works well for me.
I was truly hoping you would notice my empties post today, Denise! Thank you, thank you xo I actually tried and used up a few new things this past month! The Paula’s Choice Intensive Night Repair was a wonderful discovery. Since I finished it, I have been using Paula’s Choice new Barrier Cream that’s a little lighter weight. I have to review it soon because it’s well worth knowing about too!
Thank you! I bought the new barrier cream moisturizer and am anxious to try it. Looking forward to your review!
Oh, wow, I hope you like the PC Barrier Cream! I think it’s a terrific choice for year round usage, or at least every season except for New England winters. And it’s perfect to layer over serums. I’ll be curious to hear what you think after you’ve used it a while.
Wow, Allison! This is a very impressive empties post. I can’t believe how much you managed to finish in November. I smiled ear to ear that you bought that Bobbi Brown foundation when she was still CEO! I can completely relate to that given that so many of my older things have the same situation (Tom Ford, Tatcha, Bobbi Brown and more, I am sure). Well done! I can’t wait to see everything that you finished in the summer!
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Good for you.
Thank you, Marcia!
Hi, Allison – I’m so sad that I missed City Beauty’s sale! I wanted to get another Lid Lifting Treatment and there’s another new product I wanted to try as well. Next time I hear about them having a sale, I must remember to jump on it immediately! It seems that life has just been getting busier and busier. I enjoyed reading about your experiences with all these products, especially because you always have so many good finds. Thanks for sharing – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Your True Self recently posted…Are You Up for Some Seriously Chic Classic Style for Fall & Winter Evenings?
I will try to remember to email you, Angie, to let you know, and there maybe a sale coming up soon. I know that compared to 15% off that you can get anytime with my discount code NEVERSAYDIEBEAUTY is nothing compared to the 40% off sitewide sale, but if you ever need anything that you can’t wait for, it’s at least something.