November 2018 Empties

Hello reader, thank you for coming to read me and I sincerely apologise for my sporadic presence here. I started a full time job a month ago, so I am still trying to find the best way to juggle work, children and ever growing list of chores and errands. I could consider abandoning the blog but I found myself unable just to throw out a product so I am bringing you empties again😉

Cou you believe I finished only two products in the first 10 days of November and one of them was a sheet mask? After that though, it started getting better but it is nothing like those days when I had like 30  empties a month. Sometimes it felt like a chase to use up as many products as possible but I am not in that kind of mentality anymore. I noticed that my acne was getting worse over the last year while a few years ago in November I could say I had almost normal skin. There are things that help but I suspect all those products shifting and adding to my skincare play a role in it and although I wouldn’t say I want to cut it back to basics, I want to mostly use products that feel good.

Skincare

Masker Aide Detox Diva Detox Diva. I enjoyed this mask as it hydrated my skin without feeling heavy or leaving greasy residue and some congested areas that had bumps came up to the surface the next morning without being inflamed and painful so I can say I wouldn’t mind getting this mask again.

Masker Aide Restore mask had a rich milky essence so it was nice to see their masks are different. I wanted to use the mask because I had some dry patches after treating breakouts I had on jawline and it delivered. As I mentioned, the liquid was rich so I didn’t feel my oily skin needs more skincare after this step.

Masker Aide Pre Party Prep promised to brighten, prime and energise. Although not the best of fit, I liked these mask and it really delivered on nicely smooth skin, ready for makeup.

Manuka Doctor ApiClear Skin Rade & Repair gel with propolis. I would say that it was a slightly more effective than other spot gels I used but I am getting rid of it even if it should have lasted for 24 months after opening because there was something like mould on the lid and the gel got darker colour than it used to be.

Oriflame Alfalfa Peptide Q10 night cream was a cheap moisturiser that wasn’t bad, didn’t feel greasy or too heavy but just like with the day cream I had to make sure I applied with a light hand otherwise I broke out. To be honest I used the last 5 uses for neck and hands as I was getting tired of it.

The Body Shop Skin Defence multi-protection essence SPF50 PA+++ was a lovely sunscreen for face. It had light milky texture. Some could say it feels like nothing, me with oily skin and certain layer of of skincare can feel I have something but in comparison with most of sunscreens I tried, it is very light.

Snail Bee High Content Essence was a nice addition to my skincare, it was a gel that changed into water the moment it touched the skin, sinked in seconds and I also used it around eye area without a problem. I didn’t notice hydrating effect immediately like with COSRX 96 Snail Mucin but after around a week. I liked it but not sure I would repurchase (maybe in the summer) because I know there are things that work better, especially as I saw it being sold for twice as much as I bought it last year. So in conclusion, I would recommend it to oily skin that needs some light additional hydration but it might not be enough for other skin types.

Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Treatment is so far my favourite retinol from those I tried. Besides retinol, it also contains vitamin C and peptides and gives me a lovely morning skin as an overnight treatment. It is richer, so I often skip moisturiser with this one.

Dr. Organic Organic Snail Gel Facial serum was more like light moisturiser and what hit me was strong scent like a ginger shot but as it doesn’t have aby ginger on INCI, my guess is the lemongrass oil that gives it such aa stron scent. And I can’t say I liked how strong it was, I actually really started thinking I am beginning to hate essential oils in skincare. Also my preference for serum is to be lighter. Although I found a way it worked for me, I didn’t enjoy it and don’t intend to repurchase.

Body

Crabtree & Evelyn Pear and Pink Magnolia  andhand cream were more my kind of scent than some of the others. It keeps my hands soft with regular use and it is a nice hand cream but I am not sure whether it is special special to look for it with an intention of repurchase although I wouldn’t mind getting it again as a gift.

Soap&Glory Clean On Me shower cream  is a good old classic with its vintage fragrance (at least to me) has been copied by some brands. It is non drying and very pleasant to use. Loved it and although I don’t shop for S&G that often I am pretty sure I’ll get some gift set at some point again.

Yves Rocher Refreshing Deodorant in Green Tea from China. When I first bought this aluminum salt free roll-on in pomegranate, I was enthusiastic and bought two more for my daughters for their PE bags. However, when I bought other deodorants, they gave me these back and I am not surprised – it feels wet, doesn’t last and if you do just a small physical task, you can smell your own BO more than this. I used it on day I spent at home.

Yves Rocher Orange Blossom eau de toilette. This was to me like D&G Light Blue but instead of lemon with orange in it. Loved it and loved D&G but I have so much fragrance, I don’t plan stocking on till the next Black Friday.

Yves Rocher Jardins du Monde energising shower gel in Pomegranate from Spain. JdM are my favourite YR shower gels and for somebody who loves fruity bodycare, this was again very enjoyable. I love the shape of the bottle as well. The only things is that we finished it under two weeks. Also, I think it was discontinued and they’re selling out the stock, if you’re able to find it.

Hair

Pantene Pro-V Intensive Repair mask. Man, I love this mask. I know is a silicone based mask but the way my hair felt and looked… I can’t even remember the last time my hair felt like that. I have no illusions, I know that there is silicone but this with Moroccanoil Treatment made my hair like a silk. Repurchased already.

Noughty Wave Hello Curl Defining Taming Cream was thick and very heavy for my hair, but it worked well for my children’s hair so I would repurchase for them.

Moroccanoil Treatment is one of my favourite hair products. Little goes a long way on my hair and 25 ml bottle lasted me a few months. If I use it on my children’s thick curls, it is around a month or two.

Make Up

Eveline 8in1 Total Action concentrated lash serum. Purchase of this was based on good reviews online and my friends and also because it was cheap. It is supposed to nourish my lashes, make them thick and healthy and it works great as a primer before mascara but unfortunately, it contains something that makes my eyes teary so I can’t really use it.

Yves Rocher 360° Length mascara is black version of one I used to love and I still love it but not as much as the first time. I also used it with the above mentioned lash treatment so it started stinging me as well as it got mixed with it.

 

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October 2018 Empties

Hello everybody, I continue in my series of empties blogs only as I am not inspired to write more blogs and considering the amount I finish up usually (I feel like I am unable to just throw away an empty bottles and tubs, it is smaller than usual, in fact, it is probably the first time I didn’t finish any body moisturiser). It is probably due to the fact that I got a cold a month ago that although didn’t seem as serious as full blown flu, left me so tired for weeks that I just did my skincare and barely ever managed to deal with body care, just fell dead tired in bed in the night. Besides that, I am trying not to be buying (I am mindblown that I haven’t ordered from Latest in Beauty in four months and I resisted Merumaya’s birthday offer, although I am a bit worried I will regret it) and although all Hada Labo and Pyunkang Yul in my virtual trolley make my figers itchy wanting to pay and buy, I am telling myself, I will buy when I REALLY need it. I want use up what I have already and have smaller, more curated collection/stash. Still, I added some items that have maybe one to three uses left so I wouldn’t have to keep them for one more month.

Anyway, let’s proceed with the empties.

Skincare

Dr. G Wrinkle Snail Mask is probably my favourite sheet mask this year and appeared in my empties numerous times. I love it because it hydrates my face perfectly without leaving my face feeling sticky or heavy.

Mizon Enjoy Vital-up Time calming mask is a great mask that might feel slightly heavy in the summer heat but I love it now in autumn and I also feel like it helps at calming small breakouts as well. Pity is, that Lookfantastic don’t sell Mizon anymore and other sellers have rather limited choice.

Nature Republic Real Nature Mask Sheet Bamboo was the last from my Nature Republic set of masks and if I am honest, most of the masks from the same range seem similar although it doesn’t necessary mean a bad thing. It was cheap and did what you generally expect from a sheet mask. The fit of the mask wasn’t bad and it even covered the tip of my big European nose. There was plenty of the essence left for neck and decolletage but the sheet itself held the liquid quite nicely so it wasn’t dripping down. My face felt a bit sticky afterwards but the following skincare sank in well.

Aurelia Revitalise & Glow serum was lovely to have when I wanted a break from actives. My skin felt beautifully nourished and I loved milky texture that didn’t feel heavy but gave my skin everything it needed. It was only a 4 ml sample but it lasted for around a week. Pity that this is out of my budget.

Aurelia Miracle Cleanser is a beautiful creamy cleanser good as both first or second cleanser as well as in the morning, I enjoy massaging it into my face for a minute or two before wiping with included cloth. It leaves my skin feeling soft and clean, however the price for 120 ml is £42, so Liz Earl or Organic Surge (150 ml for £13.99) certainly seem a better option, not to mention Organic Surge removes eye make up a tad bit better, in my opinion.

Oriflame Swedish Spa Purifying Face Mask seemed at first as any other budget clay mask, I would say, nothing special but doesn’t hurt. However, after a few uses, when I tried to wash the mask off as it dries more to a powder than thick pulling layer (I also tried to avoid over abrasion by using washcloth or face towel too many times), I noticed that instead of the mask pulling out the dirt and oils from my face, the kaolin powder actually clang on my oils (I am not sure whether that is what they call HydraCare+ on the packaging) and I was left with green face that I actually really had to use slightly abrasive face towel to remove. I still tried to use it up but I just lost my patience with it. So definitely WON’T repurchase.

Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus moisturising cleanser was brilliant second cleanse – it made me feel squeaky clean without being stripped one bit. I know I said it about a few cleansers already but this one was something different for me. However, I think Jurlique discontinued this range as I know that had big sale during the summer and had a bit of make over in their range.

Avon Anew Clinical Infinite Lift was in my empties not so long ago and just before I finished it, I found I have another in my stash with the expiry at the end of this year. It is divided in two parts where the gel part is supposed to be used on the upper part of eye, while the moisturiser under eye. As I mentioned before, the moisturiser part was quite rubbish, working at most as a serum and I wasn’t sure about the gel but I read good reviews about it so this time, I decided to try to use alebo under my eyes and I think it worked much better so conclusion is, they should just dump the moisturiser part completely and keep the gel.

Gatineau Floracil Plus gentle eye make-up remover remover make up well, including waterproof mascara but I didn’t find it more effective than my favourite Nivea or Garnier make-up remover and actually, it seemed to leave oily residue which sometimes gave me blurred vision.

Beauty Pie Japanfusion Deep-Treatment Serum was my morning antioxidant serum with vitamin C and grape polyphenols. It was a generous 50 ml size, so using 3 pumps every morning made it last almost four months. It was oil-free, milky consistency, it wasn’t heavy but wasn’t watery and it sank in quickly leaving slightly matt finish. Although there was some viscosity and you could feel having you have some layer on, it worked well for layering skincare and didn’t pill. If anything, skin felt slightly plumped up and after around a month of use, I could see my skin being healthy looking after getting a slightly dull and ashy appearance towards the summer. My face looked brighter but I wouldn’t say that it is strong enough to brighter pigmentation marks, to be honest, sometimes I am not sure Vitamin C serums are not more like placebo for brightening skin as they never got rid of pigmentation marks even if they claimed it. However,I use them more as morning topical antioxidants, so I don’t care. I know that a fragrance shouldn’t be a plus in skincare but I loved a light cherry blossom scent it had. Overall, great morning serum I wouldn’t mind buying again (although I want to try other serums first).

Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence was a sample of the essence that comes out as a clear gel but the moment it touches my skin, it melst into water. It might not be enough for people with dry skin but gives the right hydration boost when layering on my dehydrated oily skin. I have a full size which I’m currently using.

Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising mask didn’t seem that exciting. I would say, I had better.

Huxley Secret of Sahara Sleep Mask: Good Night was lovely for my oily skin and I think I would love it especially in the summer as it was like milky gel but I think it wouldn’t be enough for other skin types.

Oriflame Love Nature Anti-ageing Alfalfa Peptide + Q10 day cream with SPF10 was a cheap and good enough day moisturiser, nothing to complain or write home about.

Body

Argan+ Moroccan Spice Oil Infused Body Wash was a very enjoyable shower gel this time of the year – not only the mix of ginger, pepper and cinnamon smelled amazing, it contained argan, baobab, kukui, moringa and sacha inchi AND it also had vitamin E infused beads that burst once you massage it in. It was Made in the UK and I think I will surely have to explore the brand more.

Crabtree & Evelyn hand cream in Evelyn Rose is a good everyday hand cream in a convenient handbag format. This one had a typical rose scent.

Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm should for some people be in skincare but for me, it is too heavy to be used on my face and I use this kind of products only on my body. I used this one on my feet and hand at bedtime and it worked well, I would even say that it dried rather quickly in comparison with similar balms.

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Exfoliating Gel Body Scrub. As a lover of green tea scent, I thouroughly enjoyed this product and while it was an exfoliating gel or jelly, as body scrub it doesn’t have the grittiness that would leave my body super smooth, it was more on the level of exfoliating shower gel that you can use almost every day.

Elsa’s Organic Natural Deodorant Stick in Dew was another good one from the brand and it gave me an idea what ingredients to look for in deodorant. Liked the scent but still liked Love and Ocean more. At the moment, I want to use up deodorants I already have in my stash and then try something with similar inci from other brands.

Armand Basi Sensual Ted was and okay fragrance I bought a long time ago. Despite the cherry blossom on the bottle, it was more like spicy cherry wood to me.

Hair

Noughty Leave-in Conditioner for frizzy and damaged hair was used mostly on my children’s hair and for home-made detangling spray but I did use it a couple of times. It is a richer conditioner and I thought it might be heavy for my fine hair but it actually worked great for frizzy hair and as I’m prone to very dry split ends I found it working very well. The tube also lasted much longer than I would expect for the three of us.

ORS Hairepair Coconut Oil & Baobab hair oil smelled delicious and although it wasn’t my favourite hair oil, it worked fine and I liked using it for making home made detangling spray. For the price happy and might repurchase although I would like to try some other from their range.

Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Body Booster Mousse was a nice mousse to give a shape controlled volume boost without getting my hair rock hard or leaving lots of residue. What I didn’t like is that there was still a considerable amount of product left but it didn’t come out. Might repurchase.

Batiste dry shampoo in Fruit & Cheeky Cherry is my favourite scent and it works quite well if I am careful to massage and brush out the white residue properly.

Jason Normalising Tea Tree treatment shampoo. It is SLS and paraben free so I could use it also on my my girls but just didn’t work as anti-dandruff shampoo for me. I kept having one anti-dandruff shampoo to maintain flake free scalp I had but I started getting small ones again after a few months of using this one, so no repurchase and thinking of going back to T Gel or Nizoral after a long while.

Make Up

Eyeko Sport Waterproof catch & curl mascara was my occasional summer mascara. It was really waterproof so I used it when we went swimming with the children or when I wanted to make sure my mascara doesn’t melt in summer heat. The bristles and bent wand really lifted eyelashes well and coated each lash however, it did dry quite a bit after a month although I used it just a few times a week and it was then difficult to build up some volume.

Yves Rocher Longueur 360° used to be my favourite mascara a few years back and this was a revisit and I really loved it again but I am not sure whether except the new packaging it was also a bit reformulated because while I found it long lasting before, if I had it on the whole day this summer, I sometimes found smudges under my eyes at the end of the day (except when I didn’t apply it on my lower lashes).

Revolution Pro Fix Makeup Fixing spray worked well for me and didn’t make me oily quickly. Good price as well, so wouldn’t mind buying again although it took ages for me to use up and now I have one from Avon so don’t know whether that’s gonna happen☺️.

September 2018 Empties

I am not gonna say I can’t believe it is the end of September because it was a busy month for me and a lot happened and I got less active on the blog and all social media and I begin to think I should call my blog Daniela’s empties now as that’s mostly what I get to at the moment but here we have another monthly empties post.

Skin

Oh K! Coconut Water fibre face mask. I liked this mask as it hydrated without leaving heavy residue or sticky yucky but I can imagine it wouldn’t give much to a person closer to dry skin as well as  I can imagine getting a mask with similar product for cheaper.

Skin Chemist Aqua Repair Facial Serum was something I received in Alice Davis Hart box for Allboxedup and to be honest, I still didn’t expect much from it but this thick oil-free gel surprised me at how well it hydrated, even though aloe vera was almost at the end of ingredients. Although I try to press out of the tube as much as I can, I am rather lazy to cut it to get every last bit but I did cut the tube with this one so it says something even if it doesn’t contain hyaluronic acid.

DHC Alpha Arbutin White Mask. This was a thick paper sheet that didn’t stick to the face very well and somewhere between 15 and 20 minutes started falling off my face completely. Although it would be impossible to get rid of Dark spots after just one use, my face did look fresh afterwards.

Avène Cleanance Mat mattifying toner. As alcohol is the third ingredient, I am having no illusions why it works well as a mattifying toner or claiming it’s for everyone, however it doesn’t make my skin feel right or like all water was sucked out like drugstore toners so I wouldn’t mind having this as my morning toner again.

Eucerin Dermo Purifyer cleanser is a soap-free gel that is based on 6% ampho-tensides. Loved it as my second and mornig cleanse although now that weather got colder or when my skin feels a bit stripped, I prefer something creamy in the morning.

Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner was really lovely and hydrating and just by the sample I would like to buy full size in the future.

Pretty Athletic Recovery Boost Cell Repair serum. In my eyes this was just oil although very runny but it took ages to sink in, I divided it to two uses (around 1 ml per use) and it was basically still there feeling rather oily when I went to bed one hour after my skincare routine, I wasn’t willing to add any moisturiser. I have to admit though that when I woke up in the morning, my skin felt genuinely restored and some old breakouts that never really came to head on my jawline felt calmed and soothed.

DHC Extra Nighttime Moisture seemed quite rich and greasy at first but most of it absorbed after around 20 minutes, still leaving a lot of sheen.

Benton Aloe BHA skin toner was a sample of the toner. I have a full size but I used this as it was getting close to expiry date. If I’m not mistaken, it contains 0.5% BHA (in form of salicylic acid), aloe vera juice, snail secretion filtrate and hyaluronic acid. I use it as my evening toner and so far I am still unsure whether my skin got better because the hot weather finished or this product or combination of both.

Elemis Balancing Lime Blossom Cleanser was just as any other cream cleanser to me. It had quite creamy texture so squeeze tube instead of bottle would be better.

Body

The Body Shop Mango shower gel was beautiful, one of my favourite from TBS. Unfortunately, I got only three uses from this one as my husband opened it while I was visiting my parents.

The Body Shop Fijian Water Lotus shower gel, body lotion and eau de toilette. This was in old packaging and I wanted to use it up before it expired and I bought a set of shower gel, body lotion and eau de toilette (I had two more sets to go). I have to say that the fragrance didn’t impress me although was okay for everyday use. I loved the lotion though – it was light and runny but I felt moisturised enough and more for my needs.

Little Aurelia Sleep Time Top To Toe was a sample from Aurelia’s children’s range so I used it on my younger daughter when we ran out of her body moisturiser and I used it for hands once. As it is a night time moisturiser, it doesn’t sink in immediately but leaves slightly greasy layer which is good for my daughter. The scent is relaxing and although not subtle, not so strong to offend senses. We know Aurelia is way out of my budget but it was lovely to try. The small dark glass container is great for decanting products for travelling.

Crabtree & Evelyn Pomegranate argan and grapeseed ultra-moisturising hand therapy was just the perfect handbag size in 25 ml and the pomegranate was a dream, I couldn’t stop sniffing on it every time I used it. The cream itself for me was somewhere in the middle – it moisturised well bit it wouldn’t nsave you much if your hands are extremely dry but it isn’t something that would fully absorb within a minute on my hands.

Crabtree & Evelyn Summer Hill ultra-moisturising hand therapy was the same as the above mentioned, just the scent was of meadow flowers.

Avon Far Away Bella body lotion. I love Avon’s Far Away fragrances and this one is no exception, however I don’t much prefer body lotions matching to the fragrance although this one didn’t feel unpleasant.

Yves Rocher Yellow Peach shower gel. YR shower gels rarely disappoint me and this was another great one – the gel washed well without being too drying and the peachy scent was amazing, it lingered a little after somebody had shower and I could always tell when somebody used it.

Hair

Klorane Ultra gentle conditioner with oat milk. I don’t know but somehow I don’t feel the love I wanted to for this oat milk range as I don’t find it nourishing enough.

Salon Science Reglosse Smoothing Serum is oil gel serum that I wasn’t sure about until I found the right amount to apply which basically meant that instead of one pump recommended in directions, I needed around 5 but I really liked nice defined curls on my fine hair. I wouldn’t mind buying again.

Klorane Color Enhancing shampoo with pomegranate. Unlike the oat milk shampoo, I found this one gentler and loved the pomegranate scent.

Dr Santé Argan Hair Mask with argan oil and keratin is great mask and the  best mask I bought for € 1.60 by far. It was the only hair mask they had in village minimart where my parents live but I already plan to stock up, if I see it again when I’m visiting. It is like a butter and worked well for mine as for my daughters.

Philip Kingsley PK Prep Perfecting Spray was a sample I used again as a detangler/light leave in conditioner for daily use and I liked its scent and it worked well on hair.

Salon Science Thickening Serum I was happy to see go even if I use it up. It didn’t give much to my hair and it seemed to me like it was a bit more difficult to detangler my hair.

L’Oréal Paris Elvive Phytoclear Anti-dandruff. I already had a sample of this before and like I wrote before, this is one of those L’Oréal shampoos I wouldn’t mind buying as it smell quite nice, not over perfumy and left my scalp feeling comfortable.

Make Up

Essence The Velvets in Mr. Mocca Bean was described as velvety soft and longlasting eyeshadow but longlasting it wasn’t. Although it was an intense dark brown great for smoked eye, outer corner or to line the eye, it always melted only after a few hours, so when it smashed on the floor, I didn’t try to save it.

E.l.f. Hydrating Under Eye Primer. I think this might be good for someone with dry under eye area but although I am 37 and ageing is showing now, I didn’t feel like it’s doing much for me, maybe because I have oily skin. It wasn’t unpleasant though and considering low price I wouldn’t say I won’t buy it again, even though I wouldn’t use it daily on my skin as it contains mineral oil, silicone and titanium dioxide, so it might be clogging pores easily and I also wouldn’t use it if you’re prone to millia in that area.

 

What I Used Up in August Part 2

Hello again with the second part of my empties. Still a lot of samples, travel size and some that I left behind when I visited my parents last Christmas. I thought it would be shorter but I finished some stuff I didn’t expect to, so here we go.

Skincare

COSRX One Step Original Clear Pads were one time rather hyped and I would say they are a great gun to fight congested skin without overdrying this type of products causes. The ingredients list is good as always with COSRX and there isn’t really nothing bad I could say about it because even if it doesn’t stop me from having my hormonal breakouts, it helps their healing. I am a cosmetic slut so I want to try what many other brands offer but I wouldn’t mind coming back to these at some point.

The Ordinary Advanced Retinol 2% was the old version of their Granactive Retinoid. Although I think that Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Treatment gives better results, it is also 7x more expensive so you can’t beat that price.

Organic Surge Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser was one of the items I forgot to take and I regretted it as it is a great hot cloth cleanser, in fact, for me, it is the best I’ve tried so far. You can rely on it to remove the whole face make up.

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Super-Recharging Antioxidant Gel-Cream Night was love I developed graduated. I love the feeling at the initial application when it touched my skin and it felt like I splashed my face with water. What I didn’t like in the summer heat much though was that later I could feek there silicone in it as it felt a bit like when you apply dilluted silicone primer but using a fan did help and now I can actually say I really love it. I would say you get a lot of music for little money, because it really hydrated well, especially on my neck and decolletage was a big difference after using it so yes, it is a great budget option.

Avon Anew Clinical Infinite Lift Dual Eye System is not something, I can recommend. I didn’t notice much difference on my aging hooded eyelids and the “cream part” didn’t work well as I saw my lines getting deeper, if I used this only. If I used other cream on top, the results were good. So this one is more like serum than something that would save your eyes from wrinkles so might be suitable for late 20s and early 30s with oily skin.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleanser gelee milk. I can imagine some people would like it as a morning cleanser as it isn’t supposed to be washed off but I used it as the first cleanser when I wanted to remove suncsreen or face make up after getting home but didn’t want to continue with the full skincare routine yet as it plumped up the skin. It wasn’t good to remove eye make up as it wasn’t very effective and it stung my eyes.

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream contained SPF50 broad spectrum and although thicker consistency, it didn’t feel heavy gave relatively matt finish on my face. I usually just left out moisturiser when using this. Over all a very good sunscreen and I wouldn’t mind buying it again.

Nivea Double Effect Eye Make Up Remover is together with Garnier 2in1 Express Eye Make Up Remover my favourite. Quick, effecient without rubbing eyes too much even on waterproof make up. As it is more widely available than Garnier one and often only for £1.50, it is winning at the moment for me.

Vichy Minéral 89 was a great hyaluronic acid booster before serum. The 50 ml lasted 2 months of everyday morning and evening use. Although some people reviewed it as sticky, I did experience no such a thing with this clear gel and I am one of those who love it for sure. I like that it is in glass bottle as it is easily recyclable and they now sell more travel friendly 30 ml bottle.

Vichy Double Glow Peel Mask was a pink, lightly scented AHA gel mixed with volcanic rock which was basically like powder so the physical exfoliation was very gentle. I left it on only for 5 minutes and my skin got baby soft.

Origins Clear Improvement was a 15 ml sample that lasted 2 1/2 uses. Black charcoal mask left my skin soft and clean. It did dry out but my skin didn’t feel dry when I removed it. I can imagine the new version of this mask with honey works like a treat.

Urban Veda Daily Purifying Facial Wash was almost as refreshing for summer, loved the eucalyptus and wild mint in it. I had a full size toner from the purifying range before and I loved it.

COSRX Low pH Good Morning gel cleanser was a lovely gentle non drying gel, I can smell a bit of tea tree but otherwise nothing else.

Pyunkang Yul mist toner, moisture serum, ampoule and cream. The single use sample set contained lightweight products giving dewy, moisturised complexion, great for that Korean glass skin effect although I would prefer something with more matt finish for daytime.

DHC face wash powder was one of those love at first use. I thought it would be slightly abrasive but in combination with water it created the creamest facewash that felt amazing.

Klairs Gentle Black Cleansing Oil was lovely to use, I had only sunscreen to remove the day I used it so cannot really comment on make up removing qualified.

Bodycare

Superdrug Foot Nourishing Sock Pack tea tree and peppermint  were worth the 99p I spent on it. I left it on much longer than recommended 20 minutes (in fact, I put it on my feet when I went to bed and pulled it off when I woke up some time in the night) and it softened my soles nicely.

Superdrug Deep Action Spot Clearing Body Spritz is one thing I would list as no 1 necessity for summer. It contains high level of salicylic acid to blitz body acne, it cost around £2 and it works. I already have another bottle.

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, honey and coriander was fairly reasonable mini. It wasn’t a cream that would sink immediately but still not something you couldn’t apply during the day. I like the scent. I have a set of many 25g tubes with different fragrance so won’t need to repurchase any hand cream for a bit but I am not sure whether I would look specifically for this brand, maybe if it was on offer.

The Body Shop Strawberry Body Sorbet was a light body moisturiser with a nice strawberry fragrance. Its curdly texture might not be everybody’s cup of tea plus I am not sure it is much moisturising.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula bust cream is one (if not only) of my forever repurchase as long as I can. Love it for 10 years and continue.

Haircare

Garnier Fructis Anti-dandruff 2in1 shampoo was good when I fancied something with SLS. And it was cheap. But I still think Nizoral and Neutrogena T Gel were my all time anti-dandruff shampoos although I didn’t have them for ages.

L’ORÉAL Elvive Extraordinary Oil Low Shampoo is a cleansing cream I bought for my daughters but I also used it a few times as a refresh for my hair as my hair gets very dry in the summer and it worked well even for my fine hair, although I made sure I didn’t rub it into my scalp. Of course, just like all L’Oréal product it’s very perfumy but I don’t mind that as much in hair products.

Salon Science Hydrasoothe Cooling Spray is something I can recommend for summer as it gives a light cooling sensation to scalp and also provides some hydration to hair if sprayed All over.

Bumble and Bumble BB Hairdesser’s Invisible oil Heat/UV Protective Primer was a lovely travel size that was great to use if you wash your hair in the morning. I don’t use much heat on my or my girls’ hair but I loved this as a UV shield. It contains grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, macadamia oil, coconut, argan and safflower oil as well as tiare (or gardenia) extract. I wouldn’t mind buying full size.

Revlon Uniq One Lotus Flower hair treatment should have 10 real benefits but I am still unsure after using this 9 ml size which lasted me 2 uses.

Philip Kingsley Moisture Balancing shampoo was a clear, gentle shampoo that was a bit runny and as PK make shampoos for daily use, hair will get oily more quickly.

Make Up

Collection Bronze Glow mosaic got used only a couple of times in I don’t how many years I have it because it makes me orange whether I used it as a bronzer or tried as a blush.

Illamasqua Hydra Veil was a hydrating gel and also made non-greasy, slightly tacky surface, trasy for the application. I liked it a lot.

Yves Rocher exfoliation shower gel in organic raspberry. Love shower gels from YR. I like the idea of real fruit seeds although it doesn’t give a thorough body exfoliation, at least it can ca used more often.

Paula’s Choice Ultra-light Daily Hydrating Fluid with SPF30 was a light runny lotion. Great for oily skin but I did notice some pilling, especially on my neck but not more than with any other face SPF.

What I Used Up in August, Part 1

Welcome back to my blog and it is an empties post again as I am now more devoted to using up my stash than looking for something new.

I spent August with my family as usual so this is going to feature many products especially in travel mini and sample size but also there were many products that I left at my parents’ on its last leg when I was there for Christmas. Because of that, I decided to break this month’s empties into two parts with the second part coming at the end of the month.

Skincare

Paula’s Choice Clear Anti-Redness Exfoliating solution with 2% Salicylic Acid. I love this product although it didn’t prevent breakouts in this heat but the week I got them was not as horrible as the last month, the zits stayed relatively small, with the exception of one they looked more like a small cluster of congested skin from sweat and subsequent dirt stuck on my skin (sorry for the detailed discription but that’s the reality of oily skin). It helps quick healing and fading red marks. I intend to buy full size or at least travel size when I reduce all the acids in my stash (and basically the whole my stash).

Skin Republic Anti-Spot & Pore Refining sheet mask contained the typical witch hazel and tea tree combo and I could also smell it when I opened the sachet. There were some PEGs and the mask felt slightly richer although it sank in fully however it worked well (I squeezed pimples prior to the mask) and they were almost fully healed the next day, no leftover puss coming out or causing pain, neither any new pimples on my chin.

Avon Anew Hydra Recovery Overnight Mask was a product I liked. It was basically a light gel with encapsulated hyaluronic acid, shea butter beads and plant ceramides. I really liked bursting the beads while massaging the mask into my skin. Not sure it provides the 48 hours hydration it says it does but my skin was nice and plump in the morning. I have too much stuff in my stash to repurchase next year and Avon shift their products quickly so we’ll see whether there will be a chance to repurchase.

Bio-Essence 24k Bio-Gold Gold Water was something I developer liking for. After I ued seven skin method with Mizon’s first essence, this one didn’t feel quite as hydrating but in this heat was great because the runny gel consistency sank in quickly without residue so it was ideal for layering skincare in the summer. And although my acne was as usual, I did notice after a few weeks of use that my pores and skintone looked bit better. At first it felt luxurious to put golden flakes on my skin but I had to be careful I massage the water properly as it happened to me a few times that I found golden dots on my face during the day.

Africology Purifying Cleansing Gel really delivered on the promise of not being drying and I rather liked massaging it into my face before washing off but there were days when I really didn’t feel good about its strong scent after essential oils even though I usually like them. It had a good small pump so the 25 ml lasted me two weeks of twice daily use but the lid on the pump was a real pain to remove and with wet hands completely impossible because it was so tight so if it is like that on full size, I would be angry opening it. What I see as a plus though, is a glass container.

Vitamasques PomegaPomeg sheet mask was exactly what I like in the summer – light, hydrating, almost watery. The fit was great and I wouldn’t mind trying more from the brand if the price was right.

DHC Pore Cleansing Oil was a one use sample I received with a DHC order. The oil felt very pleasant to use, there was just a very slightly scent of orange peel and emulsified well. I used it on a day when I didn’t have make up just sunscreen so don’t know how well it works for that, especially eyes.

Pyunkang Yul skincare sample set is great for travelling as it contains toner, serum, ampoule and cream. Moisture Toner was a watery toner, greatfor hot summer. Moisture Serum was a runny milky lotion that I applied before the Ampoule which was like a sticky oil gel but was still good for me even in hot weather. Moisture cream didn’t feel greasy but after the layering, especially the ampoule, took some time to sink, it kind of felt like after a richer sheet mask.

Urban Veda Daily Radiance Facial Wash. Can’t fully judge a facial wash from two uses but good point is that it didn’t dry me out. It doesn’t contain fragrance as per se but the patchouli and cedar oils it does contain give it a strong perfumy scent which is slightly offputting to be tempted to buy a full size.

Dr G Wrinkle Snail Mask Sheet is my favourite sheet mask this summer as it does what it says without leaving heavy residue and the plant-derived cellulose sheet is a really good fit for my face.

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum. After a bit of disappointment with their rosewater, I really liked this antioxidant gel serum with niacinamide and over 18 botanical extract. Although some sun spots I have didn’t vanish, my skintone got better and 15 ml lasted surprisingly long.

Elemental Herbology Facial Detox Purifying Facial Mask is what my oily skin appreciated this summer. It feels deceivingly smooth and creamy when applied but you quickly feel pulling and drying. It regulates sebum so well that I used it twice a week because I suffer from extreme oiliness in heat but as it is one of those masks that sucks the moisture out, I wouldn’t recommend it to other than oily skin type and if you’re older than 30 using a sheet mask or a light hydrating mask afterwards is also a good idea. The mask also goes a long way because the 15 ml I had provided 5 full face applications with jawline and upper part of neck.

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask was a revisit. It is interesting to have a break from a product you like and then come back to it after trying many others. I still like it and I think for a European brand sheet mask is still one of the best (although made in China).

Bodycare

Elemis Skin Nourishing shower cream was really lovely creamy and soothing even on hot days but the fragrance in had was definitely not my cup of tea and as I like having fragrance I enjoy with my body products, this was a big minus point even though it was a great product otherwise.

Grace Cole Nectarine Blossom & Grapefruit  body wash was another 100 ml from a gift set I received. Fragrance wasn’t bad but nothing special and although I can’t say I don’t own anything made in China, I really can’t see a reason to buy a shower gel from China.

Avon Solutions Cellu Break 5D anti-cellulite lotion. No I don’t believe a lotion could solve cellulite but I know this type of lotions does make my skin firmer. What I also liked about this one is that even though this one was more like cream than a lotion, I felt the cooling effect a few minutes after the application.

Skinyoga Coffee Body Scrub. Do we have enough of coffee scrubs? This one was great for morning, woke me up and smelled like it would make a good cup of coffee. The thing is that you can make your own coffee scrub and this one has pretty simple ingredients to replicate – coffee, coconut oil and sesame oil, so if you’re willing to pay £32 for a 200g full size, it is your choice. Another big con is that your shower or bathtub is so messy after using this that you have to clean it with bleach.

Forever Aloe Moisturising Lotion was another sample I used for a family sleepover at my sister’s. It was kind of average, without any fragrance but my skin felt moisturised well.

Haircare

Dove Advanced Hair Series Oxygen Moisture shampoo and conditioner were targeted for fine, flat hair which is partially a description for my hair. I like Dove as a brand and although the clear gel shampoo wasn’t nourishing like their normal range, it cleansed hair well without overstripping. The conditioner was a bit lighter but you would expect something like that for fine hair and I think that if your level of hair ends is not the level of mine, this duo is enough to maintain your fine hair lovely. Not bad but still don’t feel like I am gonna run to the shops to buy full size because I can’t live without it (although I wouldn’t mind to buy at good price when my hair stash is low).

Tresemme Heat Defence Styling Spray took a very long time to finish as I barely use heat on my long, fine and curly damaged hair, basically only when I needed to use a hairdrier when I was pressed for time, as my hair take long to dry in winter and I also used it as a detangling spray a couple of times and it worked well for both purposes as it kept my hair silky soft and didn’t make them heavy or greasy. The pump also worked well for me and I liked its spray lock.  I would easily buy this 300 ml bottle again.

Paul Mitchell Express Style Fast Form cream gel was great for styling curly hair without leaving them a greasy mess or giving hard crunchy hair.

Avon Advanced Techniques Supreme Oils shampoo worked well for my sun parched hair and I felt the oils in it when I massaged it into my hair. Definitely not something you use for hair that gets oily easily.

Dr Santé Macadamia Hair Reconstruction and Protection conditioner was something I found in the village supermarket where my parents live. Unfortunately, I didn’t see much results although it sounded good being without parabens and mineral oils and besides macadamia there was keratin in it. It cost around €1.50 so it wasn’t such a big loss.

Make Up

Freedom Pro Mattify Primer was basically paraben and silicone and once I spread it, I couldn’t see any mattifying effect. I used it a handful of times and now it’s been sitting on the shelf for around two years so it’s been declutterer.

This Works Perfect Legs Skin Miracle was like a tinted moisturiser for legs.  I could put it in bodycare but as I see it just as a make up for legs, that’s where I think it belongs to. 10 ml was enough for 1 application if used for both legs. If I’m honest, I didn’t see it coverage skin imperfections and once massaged in, I could barely see one shade difference even if applied quite heavily, more of the tint stayed on my hands, it took a lot of time to sink and if my legs touched some fabric, it got stained. It’s not a product I would look for but I gave it a benefit of doubt as I had a sample and all I can say is that I am still not tempted to buy such a product. I think I have also a full size from a beauty box so I will try to find it other home.

July 2018 Empties

Skincare

Dr. G Wrinkle Snail Mask is one of my favourite because it doesn’t leave sticky or greasy residue but leaves the skin smooth and moisturised, and kind of stretched but in a good way. I definitely recommend it to oily dehydrated skin.

B. Pure Micellar Water wasn’t the best micellar water. In fact, it reminded me why I used dedicated eye make up all the time and wasn’t that excited about micellars. This one wasn’t good for eye make up and if I used waterproof make up, it did nothing at  all. Although it stated that it is a no rinse formula, I found it left a slightly sticky residue. It is cheap but it’s a no from me.

Lavera Hydro Effect Serum was mentioned in my May favourites. It was lovely light milky lotion like serum that spread easily and with once a day use lasted me over three months. It contains anti-pollution complex so I liked using it as my morning serum. I would lie if I said that it caused some massive positive transformation but it was very pleasant to use.

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Multi-Protecting Hydrating Mist SPF30. I liked using this spray as an SPF top up over make up, however I would recommend to shake it properly before each use because especially when the can was full, it was kind of spitting the liquid what looked like white dots around my face but I gently patted it over my face and didn’t have much problem once it was half gone.

Bioré Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser is an SLS based cleanser and although it didn’t leave me feeling tight and uncomfortable, I could tell it was more drying as my skin managed layering skincare better despite the hot weather. Still, it has some hint of menthol so felt refreshing this time of the year. Another con is that using it always left my sink messy and grey. Now that I started using Eucerin facial wash, I can actually feel the difference and I think me and drugstore facial washes should probably part our ways forever.

Superdrug Clearly Youthful Resurfacing Night Serum (not pictured because my daughter liked the bottle for her “experiments”) was from a range that was discontinued I think last year. It is full of active ingredients like salicylic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid and red algae extract but also include tetrapeptide, phytoprotein and polyglycan that all have some anti-ageing and moisturising properties. It was like a dry oil gel. I really liked it when I started using it and saw benefits mainly in clearer, brighter skin but it seemed to me that my skin got used to it and although it was still good, I didn’t see such results as before. I bought two bottles of this when it was on sale and I know I probably should use the second bottle as soon as I can, but I want a bit of break from it so that when I start using it again, I will see better results again.

B. Vitalised Vitamin Facial Spritz was a great addition in the summer, great size for handbag perk me up. It contains vitamin C, caffeine and hyaluronic acid and when you spray it, smells like a lemonade. I also like to spray it on my Armstrong and back of my hands as I can see the benefits in softer skin with daily use. Like I said, nice to have in handbag but I kept it in the fridge when at home to keep it cold in this heat. Might repurchase but I want to try the chamomile one first.

Vita Liberata self tanning night moisture mask. I used this for my legs and 10 ml sample was just enough for three applications after which I saw no difference in colour, sadly. Instead of biscuits, it smelled of raisins or dried figs.

Monu Skin Moisture Rich Hydrating Mask was a creamy mask I used to use after my clay mask. Although this mask is for dry skin, it did okay on my face and didn’t break me out. I stopped using it on face once the weather got as it felt heavy and I used it up as a hand and foot mask instead. I was surprised how many uses I got from this 30 ml sample tube. It had a light flowery scent. Still, I prefer plumping effect from hyaluronic acid more and don’t intend to repurchase.

TimeBomb Smart Balm eye cream was a good moisturising cream. Several months ago, before the winter finished, I was using Avon Anew eye cream but it didn’t seem to be enough and I noticed lines around my eyes go deeper so I decided to switch my eye moisturiser and this one did the trick as the lines went back to original state within a few days.

Mario Badescu Cucumber Cleansing Lotion was a 29 ml sample of a lovely toner for summer. It has alcohol but doesn’t feel drying like a toner from a drugstore and it was pleasure to use. I am not saying I’m gonna rush to make an order for it with Beautybay but I certainly won’t mind buying it in the future.

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel was a non-foaming cleanser and it was an absolute pleasure for me to use as a morning cleanser. I love how it felt on my skin and its clear scent. It contains papaya and grapefruit extract to gently cleanse and exfoliate without overdrying. It says it removes make up but I never used it for that but enjoyed using it in the morning immensly and if I didn’t have a full size in my stash already, I would have made an order with Beautybay for that.

Bodycare

The Body Care Dream Unlimited is an aquatic fragrance that I like using for every day in the summer. Unfortunately, like all TBS fragrances I’ve tried it doesn’t last long. I don’t think I will repurchase.

Soap & Glory Heel Genius foot cream had that typical S&G fragrance and it did soften my feet which now are bare in sandals or slippers but for a cream that claims to contain AHA, I don’t much difference in results in comparison with other foot cream. On the other hand, it doesn’t feel greasy and sinks in more easily than most other foot creams so for that and the scent it is a possible repurchase (most probably in a set like this one).

Avon Planet Spa Herbal Steam Bath with cedar and eucalyptus. You would think by the name that it is a bath product but it is a body cream. To be honest I was disappointed with it because I expected it to be a cooling body cream, just like when I sometimes add few drops of eucalyptus oil to my shampoo in the summer but this is just an ordinary body cream that takes time to absorb and feels heavy in this heat. Really happy to use it up and forget about it.

Soap & Glory Hand Food was a lovely handcream – it had the typical S&G fragrance again, although not heavy, it took a few minutes to absorb and it kept my hands nice and soft. I will most probably buy some gift bundle of S&G soon.

Soft & Gentle 2 in 1 shower and shave mousse was a great product I used in shower on shaving day. It claims to have balanced pH for intimate skin with prebiotic complex and although I am not a chemist, I did find it gentle everywhere I used it to shave and my skin never felt irritated. It had a light, clean fragrance. It was a great buy and I will definitely buy it if I see it in the shop again.

The Body Shop Piñita Colada shower gel is kind of 50-50 for me. When I got it out of bottle initially, it smells like a coconut and pineapple summer, unfortunately, once it štarte mixing with water, it All stars changing into a smell of plastic although my bathroom still smelled like piña colada afterwards. Also, the bottles TBS shower gels have are a bit difficult to get the product out when they’re full so but I guess it’s good because the size of shower gel three people use in two weeks in our house, took three weeks to finish. Not sure whether I would repurchase this particular one but I know some kind of TBS shower gel always finds its way to me (and there are still quite a few in my stash).

Ladival DNA Repair After Sun I liked when I started using it but I think it was mostly because I don’t burn as much as I always avoid being too long in the sun (or at least as much as mother of younger children and somebody’s working in the children’s playground, especially without an SPF) and because it wasn’t greasy. However, I would prefer something more cooling and hydrating, plus despite it’s claim it doesn’t leave a residue, although it does sink in quickly, I found it left me feeling sticky so I would like to try something different next time.

Super Beauty Raspberry & Cranberry body scrub was the right gritty consistency for body scrub and the scent of cranberries always made me want to drink juice😁  Lovely product and would like to look for more from the brand.

The White Company Seychelles hand cream. I think the White Company is better as a homewear company than a cosmetic company. The scent of their products is kind of old fashion and I wouldn’t buy the handcream myself if it wasn’t in a beauty box.

Elsa’s Natural Deodorant Stick in Ocean was another brilliant deodorant from the set I bought at the beginning of the year. It contains peppermint and tea tree so was great to use in the heat we had this July. It lasted well but I did reapply on very hot days when I was more active, probably because of that and also because it melted easily now, it lasted me one month instead of the usual two.

Balmi lip balm was a nice minty balm without being too waxy, spreads on lips evenly and moisturising enough, although I don’t suffer from chapped lips. I don’t like the packaging though because it keeps opening in my make up bag and smears around.

Haircare

Superdrug Coconut Oil for hair and skin was fragranced and I used it as a pre-shampoo mostly for my girls but occasionally for myself as well. Recommend, if you have long curly hair with dry ends. Not sure whether this wasn’t limited edition and I would repurchase this particular, but I will get some coconut oil soon again for sure.

Dr Organic Hair Rescue and Restore Organic Hemp Intensive Conditioning Hair Mask (again, not pictured because my daughter decided it would be a great trinkets container) made my scalp nice and hydrated but you need to use a generous amount as it soaks into hair easily and I didn’t see a dramatic change in my hair.

Oriflame Nature Secrets Burdock & Grapefruit anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner were okay as hair products and I think they did work to some extend for my scalp as I didn’t have much dandruff and my scalp didn’t feel itchy these days even though the summer as the sweating season makes my scalp feel like hell – sweaty, dirty and itchy. Still, I don’t feel like I want to repurchase and I am not even sure whether Oriflame still sell them, to be honest.

Make Up

Freedom Pro Studio Priming Water was a gift from a friend. I used it to prime my face before mineral foundation as it soaked quickly and didn’t make the powder cling on my skin making the application patchy or making my skin feel suffocated like a silicone primer. I still had around a quartet of a bottle left after a year of use so I used it up as a refresher for my arms and legs in the heat.

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker in Candy Queen didn’t feel like a very sticky lipsgloss which I liked and I also liked the tingling plumping formula because it made me feel like when I massage my lips with my toothbrush (cheapest and in my opinion the best lip scrub). At the beginning I wasn’t keen on fine glitter in it but I got used to it and I liked using it especially in the summer. If I bought it on its own, I would look for something without the glitter but otherwise I wouldn’t mind having it in a gift set again.

MUA clear mascara. I used it to fix my eyebrows after applying a shadow, so what’s left now is a brownish colour. It was £1, lasted ages and worked for what I used it for, so no complain.

Sainsbury’s Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover remover napolish well and wasn’t overly drying. And cheap. Won’t be surprised if I buy it again.

 

 

 

 

COSRX One Step Original Clear Pad

COSRX One Step Original Clear Pad is a product I read and heard a lot about and although not the most expensive cleansing pads, as a person on budget, I was still hesitant to spend £15+ on cleansing pads as there are many cheaper options providing quite satisfactory results. But I kept lusting for them and when Asian Beauty Plus had promotion on COSRX products, I got them for around £10.99.

If you read my blog ever so often, you might know I have oily skin and battle mostly hormonal adult acne, so looking for affordable and effecient acne treatment is kind of my thing, so considering many beauty blogger said they don’t suffer breakouts since using these pads made me want to try them (not to mention I loved everything I’ve tried from COSRX so far). If you, by any chance, haven’t heard of them, COSRX  One Step Original Clear Pads are disc shaped double sided pads soaked in a facial toner to “gently wipe out excess oil an and keep the complexion clear, refined and well-balanced”.

Ingredients:

Willow bark water, butylene glycol, glycerin, betaine salicylate, 1, 2 – hexanediol, arginine, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, panthenol, allantoin, ethyl hexanediol, orange peel oil, tea tree leaf oil, sodium hydroxide, sodium hyaluronate.

As toner pads, you should use them after cleansing, swiping embossing side across the face first, following with softer smooth side the same way.

My experience:

Although the packaging looks large, the size of pads is standard and comparable to other pads of this type. The pads are generously soaked, so I am not surprised that some bloggers cut them in half to double the usage time, I however want to avoid any crosscontamination and I think 70 pieces of pads are still good for the price. I also find the scent pleasant – it is a mix between orange peel and tea tree oil so I assume it is because of those ingredients.

If you tried any COSRX anti-acne products, you know they treat acne gently, without drying out skin and these pads are no exception. They actually feel rather moisturising probably because of willow bark water being the first ingredient and glycerin the third.

It definitely works well for the spots, to the point when I thought “maybe I will finally be spotless” but towards the end of the month that one week came when a spot, ripe to be squeezed looked at me in the mirror calling my name and I picked and I squeezed and then more came. However, using this every evening also helped healing without big dry patches (although I use mineral powder foundation now that it’s hot, it doesn’t cling that much). I also noticed that red scarring after breakouts faded fairly quickly but then I use retinol and acid serums (not all at once but one evening acids, other retinol) in the evening. Still, I think that if you can keep your hands off your pimples so that you wouldn’t spread the infection, this one is good at managing an occasional breakout or if the cause of your acne is congestion but it doesn’t prevent hormonal breakouts.