I wanted to finish up as many products as possible in August to make room for new purchases in September, which is one of the best months to beauty shop, as there are always such good GWP's to be had. Although it was a slow start and I failed to empty much in the earlier part of August, towards the end I was more successful and I have quite a few things balancing upside down in my bathroom that are almost done!
I was pleased at the end of the month to find I had used up fourteen full sized items and eighteen samples.
Skincare.
I finished two bargain toning products: Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater and Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Pads Extreme, both are products that I have used many times before. The spray smells lovely and the pads are very handy for traveling (although I like them enough that I also use them at home).
I emptied two serums: Algenist Power Serum and Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM. The Algenist Serum felt hydrating but I don't think that it did much beyond that, I used this mainly during the day and found that it did layer well with other products. While I did find the PTR Retinol Fusion to be effective (I used this at night under an oil and it wasn't too strong for me) it had an extremely thin consistency. It resembled a slightly oily feeling water and I found it a little difficult to apply. I would love this if it were available in a creamier formula but in it's current form I wouldn't repurchase it.
I used up two moisturisers: Shiseido Ibuki Refining Moisturiser and Zelens 3t Complex. Shiseido isn't a brand that I seek out but when I do use their products I'm always impressed. This moisturiser was lovely to use during warmer weather especially during the day, it is very fluid with a slightly gel like consistency, and felt very soothing and hydrating. The Zelens 3t was amazing! It felt very indulgent and it lifted, firmed and moisturised. My skin looked wonderful whenever I used this -there's a reason it is so hideously expensive! I would love to use this again but most likely won't as I can't justify the price.
I am making an effort to use up some masks and finished five mask samples. Evan Healy Green Tea Clay was a powder that you mixed with water to form a paste. This did leave my face bright and healthy looking and it rinsed off easily but I find masks that you need to mix are unnecessarily messy.
I loved Tata Harper Clarifying Mask, it was thick and glossy and didn't crinkle my skin as it dried like a lot of other clay masks. My skin looked and felt very fresh after this and it actually pulled some gunk out of a congested area on my chin. This one is going on my shopping list!
Dior Hydra Life Fresh Jelly Mask reminded me of the REN Glycol Lactic Mask but it felt a little stronger - there was a definite tingle happening when I applied this. It brightened my skin but wasn't the easiest mask to remove and it contained some small scrubby particles which annoyingly made their way into my hairline. Farmacy Honey Potion Mask felt gimmicky to me. It resembled honey without the stickiness and turned into a white cream that heated up when you applied it. This again felt tingly on my skin and when I removed it my skin continued to tingle and burn uncomfortably, and was very red. My skin looked very stressed the next day so this is not one that I would use again. Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask feels nice on and improves my skin a little, it's good but not special enough for me to consider purchasing.
I finally tried out Sunday Riley Luna! I used it for five days sandwiched between a serum and moisturiser. I found that it was a light oil that absorbes easily and made my skin look plumper. It also contains a gentle retinol that didn't irritate me. Kora Organics Noni Glow Facial Oil was very good, very light it absorbed quickly leaving my skin soft and supple. I used this at night but it is so light I would also use it in the day.
Vichy Mineral 89 is a clear gel containing a host of minerals and Hyaluronic Acid. It felt light, wasn't sticky, and worked well as a daily serum with other products. I can see myself getting this before too long as not only is it inexpensive, it left my skin nicely plump and juicy.
Lancome Absolue Eye Premium was just OK. I found it a little too oily for daytime use and it didn't do much beyond temporarily hydrating my eye area.
Haircare.
I have a lot of haircare products on the go right now so I finished very little.
Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Sea Salt Spray had a lovely coconut/beach scent. It did make my hair fall into nice piece-y chunks but it did leave my hair a tad crisp - no more so than a lot of other sea salt sprays. Overall I enjoyed it. Sample sizes of Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner left my hair soft and tangle free. They were totally fine drugstore hair products but I wasn't mad about their fruity fragrance. I also used a sample sachet of Miriam Quevedo Extreme Caviar Serum, a leave in conditioning cream that I like as it doesn't weigh my hair down.
Body Care.
I love Korres Body Butters so much that I finished two tubes of them this month! They are formulated with natural ingredients so you do need to wait a few minutes for them to sink in but they are very moisturising and more of a lotion/cream consistency that feels comfortable rather than being heavy and sticky as their name suggests. The 'Apple Blossom' one had a delicate fragrance that felt clean and fresh and the 'Cassis Fig' scent was a perfect compliment to my Philosykos Perfume. I also love the packaging of these as it features an easy to read guide on the back of the tube detailing exactly what is and isn't in them.Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe was also very hydrating with a refreshing scent. It was quite a light formula and wasn't sticky as some aloe lotions can be.
Wholefoods Hand Cream was packaged in a handy easy to carry sized tube and I liked it's Peony, Mint & Blackberry scent which successfully managed to smell harmoniously of all three of those things, but it didn't feel very moisturising or give much relief from dry feeling, itchy hands.
Finally, I had been looking forward to trying Spongelle, a body wash infused buffing sponge. I thought that this would be an ideal item for travel as it saved you from carrying a body wash. However, I found the sponge to be a little too rough (and I don't shy away from scrubby body things as a rule!). It was quite foamy but not enough foam was made for it to feel pampering or to shave with. It also lacked a cord to hang it with so I could never get it completely dry, these are supposed to last eighteen days, I gave up on mine on day twelve as it was becoming a little gross. I still think it's a great idea but it needs a little refining...
Make Up and Perfume.
I finished both a full size and a sample of Hourglass Veil Primer this month. I love this primer, it feels comfortable and my make up stays in place for so much longer when I use it. I always have one of these to hand and have already started a new one!
I finished a full sized NYX Eye Shadow Primer - I'm not sure of the exact name of this as the writing has vanished from the tube, but it was excellent! Flesh toned with a doe foot applicator this made my eye shadow last all day. I have been using this tube for over a year so it's also excellent value as it's less than $10.00. It always seems to be sold out so I'm obviously not the only one who loves it, if I see more I will certainly repurchase!
I finished a mini Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara. This is a very good, if somewhat spendy, mascara. I find it enhances lashes, adding a little lift and curl in a way that looks fairly natural and it never gets clumpy.
I finished a mini Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in the shade 'Lucky'. I love the formula of Chantecaille glosses. This was a little light for me but it worked well over a nude lipstick, it does look very sparkly in the tube but once on it isn't, merely very glossy so it makes lips look plump and full.
I used two vials of perfume: Atelier Cologne Sud Magnolia and one by Raw Spirit. I wasn't keen on either. I also finished a sample of Diptyque Volutes Solid Perfume. I like the idea of solid perfumes and am surprised that they aren't more prevalent (having said that I've never bought one!). This warm spicy fragrance is softened by floral notes and feels very enveloping and comforting, it lingers on my skin longer in this solid formula too.
August produced a satisfying amount of empties and I'm sure that September will also as I have a lot of samples that I'm aiming to use.
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