It's funny how setting goals into motion can actually have a great impact on your day to day life in interesting ways. Last month I wrote about my Project Pan for skincare and highlighted 9 products I wanted to use up in a month, or at least by the end of the summer. And DOGGONE IT, I finished 7 of the produts by the end of July! I only have two remaining (the Dr Roebucks Moisturizer and the Miracle 10 cleanser) which no doubt will feature in my August empties!
I also found that this goal put me in a different mindset for August, a mindset that includes me paring down my collection of lipsticks (which I'll write about soon) and other ways I'm trying to somehow simplify my beauty routines. But back to the empties! As usual I'll just highlight some of the notable (or maybe not so notable) empties and the stuff I recommend or don't.
Skincare
Pixi Glow Tonic - This product is a game-changer! I'm currently using a regular toner this month until I use it up, but the second it's over I'm absolutely buying another Glow Tonic. The 5% Glycolic Acid does WONDERS to help keep my skin texture under control, and my skin feels so amazing every time I use it. Highly recommend.
Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Moisturizer - While I love the formula and overall feel of this moisturizer, I'm not sure I would purchase it again. Read my full review in my June Skincare Favourites post for more details.. Might recommendReceived for review.
Shiseido The Skincare Softener- I'm super happy that this softener literally introduced me to the idea of softeners (something you apply to your face before toner to soothe your recently cleansed and usually squeaky-clean/dry skin to add some moisture back) and while it was really reliable, I think I'll try a few more before returning to it. But you can't go wrong with Shiseido! Recommend
OZ Naturals Super Youth 2.5% Retinol Moisturizer - I got this when I was really new to the whole Retinoid/AHA/HA/Yada yada science of skincare, and regardless of whether it actually has 2.5% or 1% as some reviews have claimed, I really liked this moisturizer. It absorbed quickly and my skin was the calmest it's been with this in my routine. I'm not sure I recommend it right now as they had some issues recently with wrong descriptions going out of their ingredients though. Received for review.
Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch 60 SPF Sunscreen - I LOVE this stuff, I've bought it a few times because its a high SPF sunscreen that absorbs quickly and has that amazing beachy-coconutty smell that literally reminds me of summer and drinking at the beach. Recommend.
Be Delectable from Cake Beauty Lemon & Cream Hair & Body Mist - This is a small, wonderful little bottle of bliss. I love the smell of this lemon meringue-like spray that is the perfect mist for days when you don't want to use a perfume, and instead just want to bask in a lightly-scented aroma. I often will spray this on my shirts or my hair mid-day as a refresher, and it's just so lovely. SO LOVELY. Highly recommend.
Eco-Tools Base Blender - I received this product for review and while I've liked Eco-Tools products in the past, I was a bit disappointed by this sponge. When I would get this blender wet and squeeze the excess, I found that this blender didn't increase in size nearly as much as the original Beauty Blender and tended to absorb a bit more product than some of the competitors. I also found that this blender was slightly less durable than the competitors. I rotate my blenders every few months and the flattened edge of my ecotools was jagged and needed to be trimmed after less than six weeks. This is really fast for me as I'm not AGGRESSIVE with my sponges, I use them about 4-5 times a week but I'm pretty gentle on them, and cleanse them after every use. Don't recommend.Received for review.
Amie Skincare Petal Perfect 2 in 1 Cleanser & Toner- These are two things that should not be put together. It's not a great makeup cleanser and it does not leave my skin feeling fresh and toned. I've tried using this so many different ways and it just is uncomfortable and doesn't work. No thanks. Don't recommend.Received for review. Find more Amie Skincare reviews here.
Makeup
Essence Eyeliners - Over the last few years I've collected a few of Essence's eyeliners, from their kajal pencil, to their Superfine Eyeliner Pen and their Gel eyeliners, and while they are a steal for the price, I've honestly not really been a fan of them for awhile. I'm chucking three right now. I mostly used up the Superfine but the tip was WAY TOO LONG for me and I actually SNIPPED IT to make it blunter. I have a few more I'll test throughout the month but I wouldn't be surprised if you see them in my empties next month. I love Essence, but their eyeliners do not work for me. Don't recommend.
Stila Color Balm Lipstick in Natasha - I love lip balms, I love lipsticks, I love Stila, but this is a terrible product. It's WAY too pigmented to be a balm, it's way too slippery and SOMEHOW still patchy? This moved ALL over my lips and even with a liner, it didn't matter. (Also why should I have to use s LINER for a BALM!?) Don't recommend!
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - This is literally my favourite eyeshadow primer. It absorbs really quickly and acts as a great base for shadows which is really great for people with hooded lids like myself. I've been loyal to this primer for years and I don't see myself changing anytime soon. Recommend.
YSL Baby Doll Mascara - I love this deluxe sample so much, I should've thrown it away ages ago. In this era of falsies and super voluminous eyelash looks, Baby Doll is a rarity because it's a mascara that emphasizes the fine lashes, with alternating bristles of varying lengths to get my finer lashes, as well as my longer ones. I feel like this mascara does a great job coating the lashes, with a formula that dries neatly, not sticky, and doesn't turn me into a smudge monster in 6 hours. If I wasn't DRIPPING in mascara, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Recommend.
Now here's to a slightly smaller beauty/skincare collection leading into the fall! Check back next month when I'll probably be destashing a TONNE of lip products. ✌️✌️✌️
Some of these products I received for review, but all opinions are my own.
