February Empties

So this post is a little late...but I guess better late than never! This month I was pretty successful in using up full size products. Next month I want to try and use up a bunch of samples that I still have kicking around.

eos Shave Cream in Vanilla Bliss
This shave cream is just OK. I don't find it moisturizing at all. I actually find that I need a lot of moisturizer after using this, because my legs are left so dry. It also clogs up the razor like crazy. The only thing I really like about this is the smell. Repurchase: No

St. Ives Apricot Cleanser
I bought this cleanser because I really like the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. However, I didn't really like this. I feel that it really didn't clean my skin and it left a residue that made me want to wash my face all over again. The consistency was weird and I had to force myself to use it up. Repurchase: No

B. Kamins Bio-Maple Lip Balm
I really hated this lip balm. I found that the ultra thick consistency turned really liquidy on the lips and I was eating more of it then what was staying on my lips. The smell and taste were off-putting and I am happy this tube is finally finished. Repurchase: No

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles
So this product isn't actually empty. The packaging on this sucks, in my opinion, and broke when a quarter of the product left. I depotted it cause I didn't want to just throw that much product away. I do like this concealer but I feel like the colour is a bit to dark for me. It does a great job at concealing under eye circles and other blemishes. I wish it was packaged differently. Repurchase: Maybe

Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat
This is my Holy Grail Top Coat! If  it was up to me I would only use this forever and ever but at its cost per mL my bank account wants me to find something cheaper. It leaves my nails super glossy and my mani's last at least a week. Repurchase: Yes

Korres White Tea Facial Cleanser
I found this cleanser to be very liquidy and non-foaming. I found I had to use double the amount of product because it kept slipping right through my fingers. I didn't overly love the smell and cleansing wise I wasn't wowed. A big step down considering how well the scrub worked. Repurchase: No.

Korres Pomegranate Scrub
I got this deluxe sample as part of a complete sample skincare set at Winners. I loved this scrub! The smell was amazing and so were the scrubby bits. It reminded me of the texture of the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It left my skin feeling ultra clean and smooth. Repurchase: Yes, if I could find it on sale.

TRESemme Split Remedy Shampoo & Conditioner
I don't normally gravitate towards Tresemme products but I really enjoyed these samples. My hair smelt great and I noticed less fly aways and frizz. Repurchase: Yes

Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Shampoo & Conditioner
This product has always intrigued me but I wasn't wowed by these samples. They really left something to be desired. However, I want to try them again for a longer period of time because they are a hair therapy duo, so one use isn't going to show instant results. Repurchase: Maybe


Have you used any of these products before? If so, what are your thoughts on them?

My Skincare Routine

 

I love reading other girls skincare routine posts so I thought that I would do one of my own.

 

Here is a little background on my skin type. I am a Combination/Oily skin girl. My cheek area is kind of dry to normal, but my T-zone gets extremely oily. I can get quite congested in the nose area but I don't get many breakouts. I never really had bad acne but I feel that over the past few years my skin has gotten a lot better.

 

Now I am not picky about skincare. I don't really have many Holy Grail products that I buy all the time and my routine isn't consistent. I buy whatever is on sale and I try to buy new products all the time if I don't see any results.I wash my face every night in the shower and have a routine that follows and then I lightly cleanse and tone in the morning with a different routine.

 

These are the products I have been working with on a daily basis, however, I do substitute other product samples into the routine from time to time, in order to use up my sample stash.

 

Night Time Routine

 

Step 1 - Every other day I use the St. Ives Apricot Scrub to give my skin an extra deep cleansing. Sometimes I go longer between uses but I can always tell when my skin needs some exfoliation. This gentle yet effective scrub is really the best one I have ever used and will continue to use for a long time.

 

Step 2 - My current facial cleanser is the Nivea Natural Beauty Exfoliating Daily Peeling Cleanser. I bought this cleanser at the Dollarama for $2 which is a steal compared to its price at Walmart or Shoppers Drug Mart. It has tiny exfoliating beads that you barely notice when you compare them to the beads in the St. Ives Scrub. It has a fresh scent and froths wonderfully with only a little bit of product. My skin always feels very clean, moisturized, and refreshed after I use this.

 

Step 3 - On the days that I am not using the St. Ives Scrub I use step 2 of the Clinique 3 Step System. This Clarifying Lotion is a liquid exfoliator. I find this can be quite harsh on my skin so I use this sparingly and make sure that I am not putting it too close to my eyes. This is a product that I find has really helped my skin since I started using it years ago. I will probably always use this.

 

Step 4 - Every night I apply Caryl Baker Visage Firming Eye Gel. I'm only 22 years old but I would rather prevent now then try and reverse later in life. I haven't noticed huge results from this eye gel so I will probably buy something different next time that is maybe a bit cheaper then this gel was.

 

Step 5 - Lastly I finish with Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. This has been my go to moisturizer for the last year and a half and I will probably continue to use it. This moisturizer gives enough moisture to my cheeks that are dry but isn't too heavy for my T-zone.

 

 Morning Routine

 

Step 1 - Even though I thoroughly cleansed my face the night before I like to use a makeup remover in the morning to get any last possible speck of makeup off my face before toning and applying new makeup for the day. Right now I am using Marcelle Essentials and I do enjoy this product but I might try something different once this bottle is empty. This is an oil free makeup remover and I recommend it to any other oily skinned girls. This stuff leaves no residue at all.

 

Step 2 - Toner! I used to use the Clean & Clear Astringent but found it extremely harsh and drying. I switched to Nivea Refreshing Toner for Combination skin because it was on sale and I LOVE THIS! It smells amazing and leaves my skin feeling cleansed and refreshed.

 

Step 3 - Like at night I use my eye gel again in the morning. The firming action makes my eyes ready for concealer and I feel that my concealer goes on better when I use my eye gel compared to when I don't.

 

Step 4 - Like every night, every morning, I moisturize with Clinique Dramatically Different Gel. If I am wearing foundation that day I will mix it with this moisturizer to make more of a tinted moisturizer.

 

 

Once a week I use a mask. My current favourite has been the St. Ives Timeless Skin Mineral Clay Firming Mask. This mint green, mint smelling mask feels cool on your face and, when I wash it off my skin feels tight but not in a bad way. My pores seem smaller when I use this mask and I feel like I just had a facial.

 

 

Here are swatches of some of the products. From right to left: St. Ives Apricot Scrub, Nivea Cleanser, St. Ives Firming Mask.

 

 

What are your favourite skincare items? Which ones do you recommend for me to try out next?