September Empties

I've been trying to work on my panning game, but it seems it's just other stuff that's been emptying on me lately.. 

Ole Henriksen Face the Truth Gel Cleanser - I can't seem to find this in a "full" size, which I would expect to be somewhere around 150mL. I bought it in a set with Truth Serum and a moisturizer last year, but I really enjoyed the cleanser. I would buy it again, but it was pretty small, approximately 50-60mL, if I recall correctly. It smells like citrus. Gel cleansers are my favourite type. 

Missha Perfect Cover BB cream, no.21 - mine was a sample size, but I so rarely use the same base product two days in a row, so it took me over a year to use it. I really liked it. At one point, I also used shade no.13. I find them both totally usable for my fair, neutral-to-yellow skin. The no.13 is quite fair and whitening, and no.21 is a bit more neutral. It has 42SPF and looks just like skin for me. 

CoverFX Illuminating Primer - illuminating primers are my thing! I would try this one again after I finish all the others one I'm trying to get through. It's a close contender for favourite, but I really love my Becca Backlight Priming Filter. 

Smashbox 24/HR Photo Finish Shadow Primer - I'll probably always buy this. This is my third one since 2014. It lasts me over a year, you don't need much for a day's application. 

Urban Decay/Gwen Stefani Blush Palette (Highlight shade Angel) - The first highlight I have ever panned. I worked on it daily for a while. I don't really find it glittery/shimmery enough for my tastes, it's better for someone who likes a subtle highlight. I'm preserving Hush because I love it and I can't find a good dupe. I thought Becca Rose Gold would be similar, but it's too orange. I'll work on Easy and Lo-Fi next. 

Empties & Reviews

I have to say I'm absolutely obsessed with checking tags on IG like "projectpan." I like the idea of people getting their money's worth from a product and enjoying all it has to offer. There is also the side of things where you want to use up a product you're not totally in love with, but it's always commendable to me that people stick with it and finish something up.

I think what I've done - hold onto some empty packaging for a couple months to "collect" my empties and show them off and review them - is kind of weird. I don't know if I'll do it again for an extended period of time, because it feels a little obsessive and like hoarding garbage! But I'm always envious of posts on /r/reddit/panporn so I wanted to do this just once! 

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter
I really enjoyed this. This was my first "solid" balm or butter for cleansing. The tin is a bit small, but I used it for several months because I alternated nights with a cleansing oil. It has a strong scent, so beware. I ended up liking the Banila Clean It Zero balm better and it's larger, but I'm not opposed to getting this because I can just go to a store and grab it easily.

Stratia Velvet Cleansing Milk
I liked this, but I think for a gel or creamy cleanser, I prefer glossier's. I don't necessarily think the price is crazy high for Stratia, especially because Alli's ingredients and vision are all very good and I support Stratia and love the products and don't mind. But it's $15 for 4oz vs. $22 for 6oz, so the price per oz is only just slightly higher for Stratia. I don't have a problem with scents and I love the scent of glossier's cleanser, so I've been using it instead (plus I have 2 bottles to use up) and didn't buy this one again yet. She does now produce an 8oz version for $28, though, so once I get through some other products, I might buy it!

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
This is my favourite lightweight summer moisturizer! Gel-based moisturizers are so good for me and my skin in general, actually. I just don't like the packaging because you can't cut it out and squeeze everything out, I have to use a beauty spatula to clean it out. I will repurchase this again once I use some other ones (Drunk Elephant B-Hydra, Citrus-Honey Aqua Glow).

the Ordinary Niacinamide 10% & Zinc 1%
I make a pretty powerful skincare cocktail with my beloved Ordinary products - this one, Argireline 10%, and Buffet serum. I find that this one reduces redness after a bad blemish, taking away spots that might otherwise last longer once they're "healed." My turn-around time for breakouts has significantly lessened when I use all these guys together. I already have backups.

COSRx Advanced Snail Mucin 96 Power Essence 
Ah, a staple for so many. I really enjoy it. When I'm particularly dry, red, or irritated, I triple-down in snailtown and use this with Mizon's Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule + Recovery Gel Cream. I use this daily and it lasted me 10 months somehow. I have a backup! It is highly recommended by so many and I think the price and packaging is all very good.

Mark Prep For It Hair Primer
I honestly don't even know if Mark/Avon makes this anymore. I found it in with some of my near-forgotten hair/bath stuff and decided to use it up, because it's a decent product. It sort of feels like a leave in conditioner or lotion that sprays out and I feel like it worked best for me as a detangler. My hair is really curly and practically dreads or gets matted immediately after showering, doesn't matter if I use a comb in the shower or concentrate my conditioner or a treatment on the ends.. I need an oil or leave-in product to comb through my hair! I have lots of other stuff I like now, so I won't miss this, but I'm glad to have used it finally.

Welcos Kwailnara Banana Milk hand cream
I first tried this in a Pink Seoul mystery box and loved it! It's cheap, moisturizing, and smells great. I can usually find a package of 3 creams on eBay that's very inexpensive, so I have these all over the place. I even take them to work and my co-workers love the scent.

Nivea Smooth Replenishing Macadamia Nut Oil hand cream
I like this in the winter, it feels pretty "heavy duty" for me without being greasy. It feels like a protective glove.. like that Debba cream that they have in workplaces! Since it's cheap and easy to find in drugstores, I've gone through a few.

Wylde Rose Fruit Punch body lotion
Wylde Rose is local to me, but they have an online shop! I LOVE THIS PLACE, the owner is awesome, she has so many products. I've used bath bombs, soaps, nail polishes, probably almost everything at this point. This sounds weird, but I love this lotion's scent - to me, it smells like Monster energy drinks.. yeah, told you that's weird! But it's sweet and moisturizing and I always buy it.

NYX White Single Eyeshadow
I just use this as a base to set my primer. There is still some product clinging to the edges and I could repress it, but I'm kind of lazy and done with it. I have a lot of white and cream matte shades in palettes, so I'm not missing anything. Great cheap, matte white shadow, though! I can't believe I finished an eyeshadow!

Maybelline Fit Me! Matte and Poreless Translucent Powder
This one isn't completely used up, but I got really tired of it. It worked fine but I wouldn't use it again. It doesn't really "wow" me for any reason. All of the really hyped drugstore powders don't do it for me.. I have a similar feeling about the Rimmel Stay Matte powder!

Epically Epic Dreamsicle lip balm 
Another "indie" soap shop! I love her lip balms and interesting scent combinations. This one was Dreamsicle, which is obviously sweet and orange and creamy! I buy 6 or so at a time, sometimes scents are seasonal or have a limited run, so it's always worth it to check her out every once and while. I opened a Coconut Almond one after this and it's heavenly.

Missha Perfect Cover BB cream #13
My "holy grail" next to klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish cream. The Missha has a high SPF, good colour, creamy medium coverage that works well with all of my primers. NO COMPLAINTS. This was a small package, I will get the full product soon!

Boscia Light BB cream
This was my favourite BB cream before I tried the other two I previously mentioned. It has a thicker, almost mousse texture and lots of microglitter. The glitter doesn't bother me, but it's not for everyone. It lasted a long time, I went through 2 of these in the last few years but I think I've moved on to better things.

Too Faced Hangover Primer 
I love the scent, it's a good primer. I just think it's kind of expensive for what it is and if I had to recommend a similar "hydrating primer," I'd go with glossier's. I miss the sweet smelling coconut, but it's a small sacrifice.

I'm working on some foundations and skincare, I don't think I'm going to finish many makeup items any time soon except maybe mascaras and liquid eyeliners. But they're boring and can't really be photographed!

What did you finish up recently?

May/June Empties ✨

I am really bad at hanging onto to empty packages and remembering to take a picture.. somehow it feels a bit unnatural to hoard my garbage for social media? But here are a couple items I've finished up recently and how I felt about them.

Adama Minerals French Rose Clay Hydrating Face Mask - this was only just fine to me. I picked it up at Winner's on a whim, at the time I didn't have another clay mask I was using. It reduced oil after application but didn't do wonders for my skin. The mask feels like a regular clay mask once applied, but when you squeeze it out it's very wiggly like jell-o! It just made me laugh for no reason, so at least it was a joy to use. I would be interested in trying the brand's other masks and some other products.. the deodorants seem interesting!

Overall rating: 2.5/5, wouldn't repurchase. 

HadoLabo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Lotion - my favourite hydrating toner. It's just perfect in every way to me. It lasts forever, it has a nice watery consistency, it absorbs well, it helps with moisture and the rest of my routine. I only didn't buy another one because I order in online and I am deviating from my "holy grail" to try Klairs' Supple Preparation Toner. I'll likely go back to this one after.

Overall rating: 5/5, likely will always have a place in my routine.

OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Penetrating Oil - I just use it on the ends of my hair after showering and before styling. I always use some sort of oil or serum and to me they all work similarly. I like to try new brands and types of oils and serums, so while I liked this I probably won't buy it again any time soon. I'm using RenPure's Coconut Oil Renewing Dry Oil now since this one's gone. 

Overall rating: 3.5/5, worked well enough, but not running to grab a new one immediately. 

Stila Huge Lash Mascara - I really liked this deluxe sample, but at the same time, I have discovered most mascaras will work for me. I mostly just go out of my way to not purchase waterproof and everything else is fair game. Since I'm not picky, I don't repurchase mid-range mascaras. I can buy something that works well for $6 and don't have to shell out $30+. 

Overall rating: 4/5, but too expensive. 

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara - Now, considering what I just said.. I wouldn't be mad if another sample made its way to me or I was gifted this. It really did go the extra mile and make my lashes look perfectly lengthened and separated.. luxurious, like falsies. This is the only expensive mascara I would love to get again!

Overall rating: 5/5, but I really don't like the price so I'm crying into my new tube of Lash Paradise.

I'm really close to finishing up a couple of cleansers, some small skincare samples from Clinique and GlamGlow, and a Clean & Clear BHA. For makeup, I suspect I'll soon be reporting back about a bb cream, eyeshadow primer, and pencil eyeliner.