I took these photos in June and July so I've panned more products since then, but it's taken me a while to sit down and write all my notes (obviously) so I don't want to delay even more by trying to include the new ones 😅 I also rewrote this intro multiple times because I kept noticing typos in my post and the mobile app makes it impossible to scroll up and edit anything 🙄
Emojis indicate my likes/dislikes. If something doesn't have an emoji, that means it was fine, I neither loved nor hated it. For reference I have combination skin, tending to an oily T zone with dryness and rosacea on my cheeks.
- ❤️ Love it
- 👍🏼 2nd best, still recommended
- 🫤 I'm not a fan
** HAIR & BODY **
JERGENS ULTRA HEALING MOISTURIZER 👍🏼 – I included this because I don’t moisturize often enough, then my skin ends up dry and itchy so I can't stop scratching. I’m using the project pan mentality to try to be better about that, even though it still took me way too long to finish this bottle
D.S. AND DURGA BODY CREAM ❤️- I took this from a fancy hotel because it smells DIVINE and is also very moisturizing on the skin. If I had a large size of this I might enjoy using lotion more because it just spreads so easily and feels luxurious on top of the amazing scent
SOL DE JANEIRO BRAZILIAN BUM BUM CREAM 🫤- Smells amazing, feels so nice, and absorbs into the skin immediately BUT after using it for a few days my skin kept being itchy (maybe it's the fragrance?) Will not repurchase for that reason
COSRX MASTER PATCH SET – I think I like the zitsticka ones better, but I'm skeptical of all pimple patches except for using on small surface zits… for bigger ones, it still takes a few days to away so was it the patch or just time? They are good camouflage during the day though
OUAI SCALP AND BODY SCRUB 👍🏼- Bought this in a half off sale which is good bc I wouldn’t pay full price, mostly out of personal preference… I realized I don’t really like dealing with body scrubs, but it does work fine and lathers well in the hair. The smell is very nice but does not linger long after the shower, which is a plus for me because I like to apply perfume before bed.
BIOSSANCE SQUALANE + OMEGA REPAIR HAND CREAM 👍🏼 – This is a nice cream and for some reason doesn't smell as weird as the face cream, or maybe it's just not as noticeable because it's farther away from my nose. I like how moisturizing it is. I'll say that I have another tube and as I'm writing this review, I put some on my hands/arms to remind myself, and my dog jumped up and came over to smell me… so take from that what you will 😅
SMITH'S STRAWBERRY LIP BALM ❤️ – This has lanolin in it and I loooove the way it feels. It's very thick coming out of the tube but melts with your body heat on the lips. The strawberry scent is very light and not noticeable after you apply it. I went through this quicker than all the other balms I already had opened because I just wanted to reapply it all the time lol
AQUAPHOR HEALING OINTMENT ❤️ – it's a staple, what's not to love?
TOO FACED HANGOVERX PILLOW BALM (LAST PHOTO) ❤️ – This is really thick and really is like a pillow for your lips. I reapplied several times a day and went through it in a few weeks while ignoring all the other balms I'm trying to pan. I recently repurchased but haven't opened it yet, trying to use it as motivation for those others 😅
** SKINCARE **
PEACH AND LILY GINGER MELT OIL CLEANSER 🫤 – Blind bought these during an Ulta 50% off sale but I did not love it, even though I’m usually a fan of P&L products. It seemed to leave some makeup behind compared to the Tula oil I used before this (and have again now), so I probably won't repurchase
THE PURE LOTUS JEJU LOTUS LEAF ESSENCE ❤️ – I love this soooo much, I was sad to finish it! It made my skin bright, hydrated, and feel so soft. Would definitely repurchase after I get through my stockpile (although I bought it on sale on the P&L website and after looking up the price now I would def purchase somewhere else lol 👀)
MURAD ESSENTIAL-C DAY MOISTURE SPF30 ❤️ – this is the backup that I mentioned in my last post, and yes I already have another one (though I haven’t opened it yet). Still a fave!
** MINI SKINCARE**
And now all the minis… I’m focused on trying to declutter these because I have too many and don't travel often enough to save them for trips.
KIEHL’S ULTRA FACIAL CREAM 👍🏼 – it’s popular for a reason, it goes on very smoothly and makes your skin feel very hydrated. No scent, either. It didn’t feel like a magic cure for really dry skin, though. Since it spreads so easily you don't need to use a lot, this little sample lasted about 3 weeks
BIOSSANCE SQUALANE + OMEGA REPAIR CREAM 👍🏼 – This honestly had the same texture/feel as the Kiehl’s (probably because of the squalane oil in both), but with the added bonus of smelling like crayons 🙃 I enjoy biossance products but the smell is never pleasant… the good thing is the scent isn't noticeable on the face. I think I got this in a holiday set so it's a larger size than the others and lasted a while.
FARMACY HONEY HALO ULTRA HYDRATING CERAMIDE MOISTURIZER 🫤 – This smelled more like straight flower pollen than honey to me, somewhat stings the nostrils lol. It worked fine, absorbed pretty quickly (which makes me go through it faster) but didn’t blow me away with hydration. I still needed something extra on my cheeks to keep from getting flaky (to be fair this was during winter)
PERRICONE MD FACE FINISHING & FIRMING MOISTURIZER – This sample lasted barely a week so it's hard to judge, but it seemed fine like the others.
PHILOSOPHY PURITY MADE SIMPLE MOISTURIZER – This was a nice inoffensive moisturizer, I have no bad things to say about it but it also didn’t blow me away. It’s good for when you need something simple.
REN EVERCALM ULTRA COMFORT RESCUE MASK & GLOBAL DAY CREAM ❤️ – I love the evercalm line, so I held onto these samples for a long time because I didn't want to finish it… now I have full sizes though. The rescue mask is great for reducing redness and soothing skin if it's irritated. The day cream I mostly use during winter when I don't need sunscreen (because I'm too lazy to put on multiple layers) but it leaves my skin nice and bouncy.
Back to full sizes in the LAST PHOTO…
REN READY STEADY GLOW DAILY AHA TONIC (LAST PHOTO) ❤️ – I first tried this in a travel size and it made my skin so clear and bright looking I had to get the big one. This bottle lasted a good 2 years because of course it's huge, and also I took a break on the middle when I went a little overboard with trying new products and had to repair my skin barrier. I was glad to be able to use it again!
GOOD MOLECULES HYALURONIC ACID BOOSTING ESSENCE (LAST PHOTO) – This was a free GWP from Ulta. It worked fine, can't say anything specific. I didn't always use the hyaluronic acid serum afterwards so maybe that would make a big difference… although, I'll admit that since I started using essences, whenever I skip that step in my routine to try other products i tend to miss it… not sure if I'll repurchase this one again.
DR JART CERAMIDIN MOISTURE RETENTION SHIELD CREAM (LAST PHOTO) 👍🏼 – My skin wasn't in bad shape when I got around to using this, but even so it seemed to strengthen my skin barrier and leave my face more balanced. I would consider buying again. I got this in a holiday set and it lasted about 4 months.
EYE CREAM
HERBIVORE MOONDEW RETINOL ALTERNATIVE EYE CREAM ❤️ – This lasted a solid 9 months and seemed to help shrink the fine lines around my eyes. I used it daily at first but I got some irritation, so then went down to 3-4 days alternating with the Algenist.
ALGENIST TRIPLE ALGAE EYE RENEWAL BALM – I kept using this after I finished the Herbivore cream, but I still got little red patches even without the bakuchiol so this wasn't as moisturizing as I had hoped… maybe something in the marine ingredients doesn't agree with me.
MAKEUP
BOBBI BROWN MINI SMOKEY EYE MASCARA 👍🏼 – This gives a nice natural look, and did not smudge AS MUCH AS some other brands, but it did still smudge and has those short bristles that somehow always bump mascara on my lid above the lash line. Won't repurchase (actually I think this was a sample)
CALIRAY MINI COME HELL OR HIGH WATER MASCARA ❤️ – This was the 2nd or 3rd I've been through, it's now my holy grail because it doesn't smudge or flake AND is super easy to remove. Because it's a tubing mascara, you do have to be careful about how many times you comb it through while applying (I usually do several passes) because they can get TOO long 😅
MARC JACOBS MINI AT LASH'd LIFTING AND VOLUMIZING MASCARA ❤️ – This came in a sample GWP and I'm mad at myself for letting it sit in my stash for so long before using it (obviously discontinued now lol). It made my lashes so full and dramatic but didn't smudge TOO bad (it did a little but I loved the look enough to make up for it)
RARE BEAUTY MINI PERFECT STROKES MASCARA 🫤 – I bought this because it was hyped on social media and it does look good when you apply, but it flakes and smudges like crazy. Also, I poked myself in the eye a lot, so the brush shape / bristle length doesn't agree with me
CHARLOTTE TILBURY MINI FILMSTAR CONTOUR & HIGHLIGHT DUO ❤️ – I don't use highlighter (and I have plenty of eyeshadow) so I consider this panned with the contour done. It's a sheer product but it's a nice neutral color and really does give a perfect, effortless look, since you don't have to worry about overdoing it. I already bought a replacement.
KOSAS REVEALER CONCEALER ❤️ – I know this product gets a lot of hate for being "clean" but mine didn't go bad. I'll admit I did a lot of "concealer as foundation" looks over the winter to try and use it faster since I saw all the horror stories! So it lasted almost a year (10ish months) Would repurchase but I also bought into the hype on 2 other concealers (Givenchy and tower28) so I need to use them up first.
ABH BROW WIZ ❤️ – I've gone through more of these than I can count, though I've come to like the Benefit pencil better. I have a few pencils in my stash to use up before I consider whether to repurchase
by sosovanilla