Products I've Used Up #5 | Skincare, Makeup, Hair

Continuing with another "empties" post, today I'm showcasing a bunch of mini-reviews of all the lotions and potions that I've finished over the past few months. To avoid accumulating a sheer excess in products, I always try to use things up or giving them away so that nothing is left unloved.

HAIR

✓ Kiss My Face Whenever Shampoo - Love this, totally recommend. Smells very fresh and works great.

✓ Klorane Tinted Dry Shampoo - This is my favourite dry shampoo, and the tinted version is just as great as the original.

✓ Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Dry Shampoo - Not bad, but definitely not as great as Klorane.

✓ L'Oreal Elnett Satin Hair Spray - Great drugstore hair spray that's a total classic. The scent unfortunately started to bother me by the end.

✓ Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray - This texturizing spray was a nice product for use on wet hair, before blow drying. I'd sometimes use too much, and my hair would feel heavy and sticky. The scent isn't very good, so especially for the price, I wouldn't repurchase.

MAKEUP

✓ Benefit They're Real! Mascara - This is a fine product, though it is a bit tricky to remove. I wouldn't repurchase.
✓ CoverGirl Flamed Out Mascara - Love this, it has a great hourglass shaped wand. I already have a backup.
✓ Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara - This is a really nice mascara, which I reviewed here. I'd recommend it.
✗ Gosh Blue Mascara - No. This was not good - the colour didn't show up well and it did not hold a curl.
✓ L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black - The most classic mascara that I would go back to over and over again.
✓ Revlon Top Speed Nail Polish in Guava - Great polish, but I think it is discontinued. I love the coral shade. (It got too thick/old)
✓ Essie Splash of Grenadine - Love! I have a second already, this is a beautiful polish.
✓ Nivea Lip Smoothie in Acai Berry - Decent balm with a nice flavour, but I didn't love the texture.
✓ Marc Jacobs Daisy Sample - Great perfume, it's such a classic that I continue to go back to.
✓ Essence Color & Go Peach - discontinued, but a gorgeous shimmery peach shade if you can find it.
✓ Sephora Retractable Brow Pencil in Rich Chestnut - Good brow pencil, but it definitely did not last very long. I prefer something that is less precise, like a chubbier sharpened pencil or powder. This shade was also a bit too warm/orange.
✓ Clinique Chubby Stick in Woppin Watermelon - These are amazing lip products and I loved this shade in particular.
✓ Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray - Although this worked well on most occasions, I am far too lazy to commit to using a setting spray every day. I won't repurchase, but it's still very good.

FACE

✓ Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré - This is the perfect face lotion for someone with dry or normal skin.

✓ Clarins HydraQuench Mask - A very nice hydrating mask that works just like a nighttime moisturizer. I prefer the Avène Soothing Moisture Mask to this one.

✗ Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Exfoliating Cleanser - I don't like this, especially because it has microbeads. Too expensive for a face wash.

✓ Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning Lotion - This is the only self tanner that I will use on my face, neck and chest. I already have a second bottle, but one will last for-ever.

✗ Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser - Same as Laura Mercier, not the best and I hated the beads.

✓&✗ Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid - This is the best acne/pore treatment and I always have a backup, but the travel size leaks!!! Such a pain. And I've told them multiple times.

✗ GlamGlow PowerMud Dualcleanse Treatment - I didn't really understand the point of this mask/cleanser, and it didn't do much. 

✓ Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate - This is a nice eye cream, but I wouldn't repurchase it right now since I enjoy using a more simple fragrance-free lotion under my eyes. (Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream)

✓ La Roche Posay Micellar Solution - This micellar water was too fragrant for me, so it's a no-go. But I love the Nivea one for a quick no-water morning cleanse.

BODY

✓ Weleda Citrus Creamy Body Wash - This is officially my favourite body wash ever. So fresh, so good.
✓ Beauty Blender Solid Cleanser - Featured in one of my previous posts here, I wouldn't repurchase this cleanser due to the high price, though it did work very well at cleaning my BeautyBlender sponge.
✓ L'Occitane Arlésienne Shower Cream - I loved this body wash so much, the fragrance is beautiful and it is quite concentrated. One bottle lasted a long time.
✓ Clarins Body Tonic Treatment Oil - This is a seriously luxurious oil that softened my skin better than anything else. The fragrance wasn't my favourite, but the results were absolutely worth it.
✓ Escents Aromatherapy Bergamot & Oakmoss Breeze Hand Cream - I got this as a sample from an Air Canada kit, and it smells divine. Works well, isn't too thick, and is suitable for both women and men.
✓ Mary Kay Satin Hands Lotion - This was average, nothing I'd go crazy over buying.
✓ L'Occitane Rebalancing Infusions for Bath - Loved these so much, they were a very nice addition to bath time, even if they didn't make a huge difference.
✓ Dove Ultimate Go Fresh Cucumber & Green Tea Deodorant - This is a good product, but I'm getting a bit tired of the scent.
✓ MediCare Alcohol - I like to sanitize everything! Just not my skin. Never. No alcohol, friends.

FACE WIPES

✓ Olay Makeup Removing Wipes - These were OK, but the fragrance was too strong and the wipes were a bit thin.
✓ Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths - These are great for on-the-go. Fragrance-free, and a decent size.
✓ Kirkland Daily Facial Wipes - These are the best makeup wipes ever, hands down.
✗ Garnier Clean Refreshing Wipes - I didn't like the scent or texture of these wipes. Not worth it.

COTTON

✓ Costco Premium Cosmetic Cotton Rounds - I still love my Shiseido cotton squares for nail polish removal, but the  are great quality for the face. I use them to apply my Paula's Choice BHA liquid every night, and I'll usually use one round twice - I'll use the opposite side on day 2 since it's the same product and my skin is always quite clean at this point.

✓ Fluffs Cotton Pads - These are the 3/4 inch cotton rounds that can be found at Dollarama. I enjoy using these to remove makeup if I'm not using my Immortelle Cleansing Oil, and they're my go-to for a morning cleanse when I use my Nivea Micellar Water for a quick, refreshing clean.

✓ Premium Cotton Pads - These are the square cotton pads from Dollarama that worked fine, but I wouldn't repurchase since I much prefer the Costco ones. 

And that's everything! I run a pretty tight ship when it comes to cleaning out my beauty inventory. I rarely keep products for over one year, and the two year mark is my absolute limit especially if they've been opened.

Who doesn't like a little spring cleaning in the fall?

xx