• Nov-Dec 2021-Jan 2022 Product Empties

    January 31, 2022

    Hi Everyone!

    I mostly finished skincare products in the past few months and I also decluttered a few things.

    Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser – I’ve used a few bottles of this already. I use it as a cleanser in the morning since it’s very gentle.

    Repurchase? Purchased bottles in bulk from Costco.

    Cerave Moisturizing Cream – Love this body lotion during the colder months. It keeps my skin feeling moisturized.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    How long does it last? 3 months – used once a day on full body.

    Boscia Plant Stem Cell and Ceramide Barrier-Defense Moisturizer* – This was an okay moisturizer. I probably should’ve tried it in the spring/summer because it definitely isn’t enough on its own for my dry skin.

    Repurchase? Maybe in the summer time.

    How long does it last? About 100 uses (took 1.5 months) two times a day. I used a generous amount to moisturize my face and neck.

    Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector – I had this as my fave eye cream in the past, but the size of it is getting smaller and the price is going up. I feel like there are eye creams that are more hydrating than this one. I know that hydration isn’t the target for this, but it does keep my under eyes pretty smooth.

    Repurchase? Undecided.

    How long does it last? 6 months, used two times a day.

    Volition Beauty Hibiscus Unspottable Correcting Oil* – I really enjoyed this oil. I also noticed that a dark-ish spot on my nose got lighter as I used it.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    How long does it last? Almost a year (about 11 months)! I used 2 drops per use, two times a day.

    Decluttered

    Oh K! Soothing Face Lotion* – I used this for a while, but didn’t notice any improvements in my skin.

    Repurchase? No.

    The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum* – I didn’t like this. I found this product too tacky for my liking. I think I don’t like Hyaluronic Acid when it’s on its own. I prefer it with other ingredients. I also didn’t like the bottle this came in. The serum would often get on the top and dry.

    Repurchase? No.

    L’Oreal Ever Pure Bond Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner* – I had to give this to a friend. At first, I thought the scent of it was really nice and fresh when I smelled it from the tube. But once I actually used it, it was way too powerful for me.

    Repurchase? No.

    Burt’s Bees Goodness Glows Primer* – I did not like this primer. It just sat on my skin and when I tried rubbing it in, it would pill.

    Repurchase? No.

    What products did you finish lately?

    Love,

    Products marked with * were sent to me for review or gifted.

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  • April 2021 empties

    April 2021 Product Empties

    May 3, 2021

    Hi Everyone!

    Jouer Essential Lip Enhancer Balm – I’m not usually a fan of rose-scented products, but this one wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t overly sticky and it kept my lips moisturized for hours.

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Jouer Essential Hydrating Lip Oil – I started out liking this lip oil because it kept my lips hydrated for a couple hours, but the outside started getting sticky because the oil is so runny.

    Repurchase? No.

    Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara – I bought one of those Sephora Favourites mascara kits with travel-sized mascaras and a coupon to redeem a full size. I redeemed this back in 2019 and never got a chance to use it. Unfortunately, it dried up a bit and I had to declutter it.

    Repurchase? Maybe. I enjoyed this mascara, but it is quite expensive.

    Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel – This brow gel was good. It kept the brows in place, but it did feel a little stiff/crunchy. I didn’t really like the size of the brush because it was huge. I would prefer a smaller brush (like the ones they have for their tinted brow gels).

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    eos Organic Lip Balm Sphere in Vanilla Bean* – This lip balm irritated my lips and it’s not the first time this has happened. In the past, I tried these lip balm spheres and the same thing happened. I decided to try it out again because that was a while back, but they irritated my lips again. My lips felt super dry. I’ve seen some people talk about having an allergic reaction to this where their lips got blistered and crusty from using this balm. I stopped using before it could get to that point, but it did take a while before my lips felt smooth again. I would rather just stick to vaseline.

    Repurchase? Absolutely not.

    L’Oréal Revitalift Fragrance-Free Moisturizer* – I enjoyed this cream. It wasn’t too thick, but it kept my dry skin moisturized throughout the day. I do prefer serums/creams that come with a pump instead of a pot so I don’t know if I would repurchase this one. Especially since it’s on the more expensive side for a drugstore product.

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    Cerave Moisturizing Cream – I started using this in mid-January and I’ve already finished two tubes (2x57g) and a tub (539g). I kept a tube beside my desk during the day and I use the tub after showering. I have found that when I moisturize my body with it and then put clothes on, it can transfer onto your clothes. A few times, I’ve worn a black shirt and it had white on it (similar to getting deodorant on your shirt). It has been great during the winter. My skin hasn’t felt dry at all.

    Repurchase? Absolutely.

    What did you finish in April?

    Love,

    Products marked with (*) were gifted.

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  • project pan makeup empties

    Project Pan Update | 2019

    August 13, 2019

    Hi Everyone!

    It’s been six months since my last Project Pan update!

    Check out my last update and my original 2019 Project Pan post!

    STILL IN MY COLLECTION

    Marcelle Velvet Gel Lip Liner in Rosy Nude – Still working on this one because I don’t wear lipstick that often.

    FINISHED

    Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color in Bare Pink – This was a beautiful lipstick shade. I’ve been leaning more towards glosses and lip balms lately, so I probably wouldn’t repurchase this one.

    Lancôme Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation in 01N Nude Vanilla (read my review) – Loved this foundation, but I wish it came in more shades. If they expand to a shade that matches me better, I would definitely repurchase!

    DECLUTTERED

    MAC Cremesheen Glass in It’s A Strike – I bought this at the MAC Warehouse Sale in 2017 and it started to smell different, so I decided to declutter it.

    MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil in Kittenish – I also bought this at the MAC Warehouse Sale and I liked it, but again, I am leaning more towards glosses and balms.

    TheBalm Batter Up Eyeshadow Sticks in Dugout and Shutout (read my review) – I decided to declutter these because I just didn’t reach for them when I would wear eyeshadows.

    So, my 2019 Project Pan kind of failed since I ended up decluttering quite a few of the products. It did make me realize that I need to think twice before I go and buy something that I can’t return (from a warehouse sale or Winners – TheBalm Batter Up sticks were from Winners). 

    Love,

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  • September 2018 Product Empties

    October 1, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    This month I went through a lot of products! So, let’s get started!

    Bioré Blemish Fighting Astringent – This would sometimes sting my skin (even if I didn’t have a pimple. The alcohol content was very high and would make my eyes water.

    Repurchase? No.

    belif bergamot Toner – This was a very nice, gentle toner.

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Spectro AcneCare Wash – This was a great acne wash that wasn’t too strong.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches (read my review) – Cannot get enough of these patches, they’re amazing!

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Clinique Pep-Start Quick Cleansing Swipes – These were gentle and removed makeup okay.

    Repurchase? No longer available, I believe.

    The Face Shop Clean Face Clear Away Spot Treatment (read my review) – This wasn’t very strong, I would rather buy the Kate Somerville eradiKate or Mario Badescu Drying Lotion.

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    The Face Shop Jeju Volcanic Lava Self-Heating Clay Mask (read my review) – This was interesting. The self-heating factor might be good for body aches (although it would be a bit messy).

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    Live Clean Baby Colloidal Oatmeal Eczema Cream – This cream definitely smelled like oatmeal. I don’t know if it did anything to help. I was using it when I didn’t have any eczema flare ups.

    Repurchase? Probably not, I would rather get a Cetaphil cream bottle.

    got2be Guardian Angel Gloss Finish Flat Iron Balm – I have only ever tried 2 heat protectant sprays, but this did the job and made my hair look glossy.

    Repurchase? I have.

    Remay Shave Gel Bar – I received this for free and while it smelled nice and was very nice to shave with, I probably wouldn’t purchase it.

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo – I got this in a Topbox and I knew it was expensive so I kept not using this little bottle. I love the smell of this dry shampoo and I got compliments twice when using it that I smelled nice.

    Repurchase? I finally splurged and bought a new one. I got a mini because the big size was out of stock.

    Live Clean Mineral Clay Rebalancing Shampoo + Conditioner – I liked this shampoo and conditioner.

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette (read my review) – This is a good concealer palette if you’re just starting out and don’t want to splurge. You can use it to colour correct, conceal and contour.

    Repurchase? No, because Coastal Scents charges shipping to Canada.

    Colourpop No Filter Concealer in Light 20 – This concealer was bought before they added more shades, so there’s no longer a shade called Light 20. This concealer was okay for me. It oxidized really quickly. I would rather get Maybelline Fit Me Concealer since that’s easier for me to pick up.

    Repurchase? No.

    Milani Retouch + Erase Light-Lifting Concealer in 02 Light – This is a thick concealer that blends out nicely. I wasn’t sure if I would like it because I thought it might cause creasing under my eyes, but I wore it for over 8 hours and it didn’t crease 

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (Colour Correcting- Adjust) (read my review) – This did nothing to cover redness.

    Repurchase? No.

    Nude by Nature Perfecting Primer (read my review) – This was an okay primer, I didn’t love it and didn’t hate it.

    Repurchase? No.

    Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primer (Smoothing) – This is one of my fave smoothing primers.

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in Y245 – This was a great foundation, but the shade was too yellow. I think I’d need to mix two shades with different undertones to get the right match.

    Repurchase? Maybe.

    Burt’s Bees Goodness Glows Liquid Foundation in 1025 Natural Beige (read my review) – Because this foundation is very natural, it washed away easily with water. I didn’t like the smell of it either and it lingered after applying it.

    Repurchase? No.

    Fenty Pro’Filtr Soft Matte Longwear Foundation in 150 – This was too matte for me. While it was beautiful, I prefer something more luminous and natural.

    Repurchase? No.

    Coastal Scents Revealed3 Palette (read my review) – These had some great neutral colours if you’re starting out with eyeshadows.

    Repurchase? No.

    Urban Decay troublemaker Mascara – This deluxe sample was hard to judge the full-sized because it was such a short stick, I couldn’t apply the mascara very well to my lashes.

    Repurchase? No.

    Bella Pierre Cheek Stain in Coral – It was pretty, but I feel like I never gave it a fair shot. I think I’d prefer a cheek stain that twists up or in a pan instead of a pot.

    Repurchase? No.

    Burt’s Bees Nourishing Mascara – While this was easy to wash off, it didn’t do much for my lashes.

    Repurchase? No.

    bareMinerals Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick in Tutu – It was a pretty pink shade, but a bit too pale pink on me. I might consider buying a different shade.

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    Dior Addict Lipstick in 983 Insoumise – My mom bought this for my sister’s wedding, but it was way too pink for her and had shimmer in it, so she gave it to me. It’s a beautiful pink shade, but it’s a bit too pink for me too. I would sort of do an ombré lip with this on top of a nude/pink lipstick and it added the perfect amount of shine and pink.

    Repurchase? Not this shade, but I loved how hydrating this lipstick was, so I would definitely consider getting the Dior Addict Lip Glow or purchasing a different shade.

    What products did you finish this month?

    Love,

    jen

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  • clothing declutter

    My Rules for Decluttering | Clothing Edition

    August 24, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    Similar to my Makeup Goals and Style Goals, I thought I’d set some rules for when I declutter beauty products and clothing. This post will focus on clothing and if you missed the beauty edition (click here)!

    I feel like I have a bigger attachment to clothes and accessories than makeup and skincare. Unless makeup or skincare is discontinued, I can always pick it up again if I need to, but for clothes and accessories, they might not sell it anymore. I’m a bit of a hoarder that way because I always think, “I might need this for a Hallowe’en costume or something.”

    If the clothes/accessories are still in good condition, I’ll donate them (unless it’s underwear). I’ll ask the following questions before decluttering anything:

    Where did I buy it from? 

    Any jewellery that I’ve bought from Claire’s, Forever21 and other similar stores, I’ve decided to donate them. If you read my Style Goals post, you’ll know that I am only going to buy better quality jewellery.

    Does it still fit?

    Obviously if it doesn’t fit anymore, I will probably get rid of it, but sometimes I’ll think, “maybe I’ll fit into it again.”

    Is it too young for me?

    I know I’m still young, but there are certain things I probably should stop wearing because they look too girly and cutesy. For example, my prom dress still fits me, but I don’t know if I’d ever wear it again unless I got it altered. It’s a light chiffon material which looks kind of girly and feminine. It’s pleated and it has a design at the bottom that makes it look like it has tiers which is what makes it more girly. It hits above the knee and has an empire waist. I think, for me, unless it’s a summer dress or made of a thicker material than chiffon, I should get dresses that are knee, midi or maxi length.

    The very left pic is my prom dress (it looks so much shorter on the very tall model, it’s just above the knee on me) and the second one is a dress that I think is too young for me because it’s mid-thigh, chiffon and the way that it flares. I think the window of opportunity for wearing the black dress would’ve been ages 15-20. I don’t think I own any dresses that are fit and flare and mid-thigh length. Any dresses that are mid-thigh are form-fitting so there’s lower risk of seeing underwear when leaning over. The two dresses on the right are ones I think are more appropriate. The maroon dress is above the knee, but it’s a cotton material which has more weight to it, so it’s not as flirty. Also, the way it flares isn’t as dramatic as the black dress because it’s still form-fitting and won’t make me look hippy. The blue dress on the right is at the knee which makes it more grown up.

    How long have I had it? Is it in good condition?

    Have I had it for longer than a year? Is it in good condition still? For me, I don’t usually have to ask myself if it’s in style because I choose more classic pieces. But every now and then, I decide to wear certain clothes as loungewear instead of wearing out of the house. For example, baby doll shirts were really in style when I was in high school and I have a few of those. They’re great for hiding those food babies!

    I usually go through my clothes every year or so to see what I want to donate. I have more clothes than I have closet space. I think my goal is to have all my clothes comfortably fit in my dresser, closet and shelves without overflowing. Like I said before, I’m a hoarder. For some reason, I have a lot of Forever21 activewear and I also have a lot of t-shirts from volunteering. I think it’s time to donate those and just get a few better quality pieces because I don’t need more than 2 or 3 outfits.

    I was curious to see if there were articles on how often you should throw out underwear and bras. I found out that you’re supposed to throw out your underwear after a year and replace bras every 6-8 months.

    For underwear, I used to buy new ones at least once a year, but I wouldn’t be throwing out old ones as quickly. I have a whole drawer full of bras and underwear and I probably only wear 1/3 of them. A lot are lacy and pretty and not that comfortable, so I don’t wear them that often. I just keep wearing the same ones over and over.

    For bras, it was the same; I’d buy some on sale every year, but still wear the same non-lacy, t-shirt bras on a daily basis. For a while, I had like 30 bras and then I was at La Senza (lingerie store) and the lady measured me and it turns out I was a band size lower and a cup higher. I was wearing the sister size to my bra (i.e. 34A is the sister size to 32B). So, I had a ton of bras in the ‘wrong size,’ they still fit, but the new ones definitely worked better. At first when she said I was wearing the wrong size, I was like pshh! She just wants me to buy new bras, but I went to try them on in the new size and I was like “oh, damnit, she’s right, this fits way better!” Get fitted for your size, people! You might be wearing a size that doesn’t fit you. I was wearing a 34 band size and when I used a tape measure, I was like 31 or 32 when I measured under the bust. I would always wear it on the smallest hook of the three. I’ve learned that you’re supposed to be hooking the last one (loosest hook) and then as you wear the bra more and it stretches, you start to wear it on the middle and tightest hooks. Makes so much sense!

    I think I might try that tip where you put everything in your closet with the hanger facing the other way and then when you wear something, you turn it the other way. That way, after a year, you can see what you haven’t worn and decide if you want to keep it.

    How often do you declutter your clothes?

    Love,

    jen

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  • July 2018 Product Empties

    August 1, 2018

    Hi Everyone!

    There were quite a few products this month that I finished that I will not be repurchasing. I decluttered a bit of makeup while doing my mid-year makeup inventory (read the first post of my makeup inventory). Keep reading to find out which ones!

    Live Clean Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo – I won this in a giveaway and I got 5 shampoos and 5 conditioners. I tried all 10 by using about 1/3 of each shampoo before switching to see which one I liked the best. This one made my hair feel clean and look shiny, but it was my least favourite scent of the 5 shampoos. Since it’s apple cider, it smelled like apple juice to me.

    Repurchase? Not this particular shampoo, but I would purchase others from Live Clean.

    Live Clean Exotic Nectar Argan Oil Restorative Conditioner – After trying each of the shampoos with their matching conditioners, I would switch back and forth between using the Apple Cider Ultra Light conditioner and this one. Since the Apple Cider one is very light, it didn’t make my hair as soft as this conditioner.

    Repurchase? Not this particular conditioner, but I would purchase others from Live Clean.

    Bioderma Hydrabio Gel-Cream – This cream was okay. Nothing special for me.

    Repurchase? No.

    Purlisse Blue Lotus 4-in-1 Eye Adore Serum – Sorry, Purlisse, I did not ADORE this serum. My under eye area always felt tacky.

    Repurchase? No.

    The Face Shop Smart Peeling Mild Papaya – I liked this when I first got it, but now there are so many other peeling gels out there. Since this one is goopy, I’d rather pick up the Soo’Ae peeling gel (read my review).

    Repurchase? No.

    Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser – I like this cleanser and it removes makeup too!

    Repurchase? Yes.

    Tarte Deep Dive Cleansing Gel Rainforest of the Sea – It cleansed okay, but it’s a bit pricey for the size.

    Repurchase? No.

    The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Targeted Gel Blemish Stick (read my review) – As you may know, I love the tea tree oil line from The Body Shop. This is a good spot treatment, but since you’re treating blemishes, I feel like it’s a bit unsanitary to stick it back in after applying to my pimple. I want to try something else for a spot treatment; maybe I’ll try the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion (I’ve tried the Kate Somerville EradiKate and one that’s similar from the Face Shop).

    Repurchase? If it’s on sale, maybe. I prefer other products from the Tea Tree Oil line even though this one does work pretty well.

    Garnier SkinActive Micellar All-in-One Cleansing Water – Surprisingly, this took a long time to finish. It’s probably because I started using makeup wipes. I should probably start using micellar water more because it’s gentler.

    Repurchase? Absolutely! I love Micellar Water for removing makeup.

    Simple Eye Make-Up Remover Pads – My mom picked these up at Walmart because they were on sale. They removed makeup well, they were basically cotton rounds soaked in makeup remover.

    Repurchase? No. I don’t feel like they did any better at removing my makeup than regular makeup wipes.

    Urban Decay Perversion Mascara – This was a good mascara, but not my fave. It did darken my lashes though.

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black – I love this brow pencil. It gives me natural, but not too harsh brows (even with the black shade).

    Repurchase? Already have!

    NYX Makeup Setting Spray (Matte) – This setting spray is okay; sometimes it made my face feel tight and occasionally, I would (accidentally) get it into my eye and my eyes would water. I plan to pick up the Mac Fix + in its place.

    Repurchase? Probably not.

    Here are the products I decluttered:

    Coastal Scents Lipstick in 2 – The shade I got was a bright purpley-pink which I didn’t love. It sunk into the lines in my lips.

    Repurchase? No. Unfortunately, living in Canada, I get charged for duties when ordering from Coastal Scents, so I’d rather get a $10 lipstick instead of a $4 USD lipstick where I’ll get charged for duties.

    Tarte Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Birthday Suit – I got this in the Sephora Birthday gift last year. I didn’t start using it til a few months after my birthday, but I think it’s time to retire it because it’s drying out. I really liked this. The formula wasn’t too drying and it looked pretty with a lip gloss on top too.

    Repurchase? I would consider buying a full-sized lip paint, but I know there are a lot of liquid lipsticks from the drugstore that are cult favourites. I would prefer to pay more for a bullet lipstick since those have a longer shelf life.

    MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Créme Cup – I love MAC lipsticks and this is a beautiful lipstick shade, but it was too light for me. I prefer the more nude/mauve/brown shades instead of the pink ones on my skin tone.

    Repurchase? Not in this shade.

    MAC Fluidline Pen in Retro Black – I bought this at the MAC Warehouse Sale (check out my haul) because I’ve only used drugstore liquid liners, so I thought I’d give it a try since it was on sale. I am terrible at doing wings and I don’t line my lids with liquid liner that often. I prefer using kohl liner and smoking it out. I think I will stick to drugstore brands. I know Kat Von D’s Tattoo liner is a cult fave, but I don’t use it enough to want to splurge on it.

    Repurchase? They no longer sell it in Retro Black, but if they did, I don’t think I would repurchase.

    Estée Lauder Sumptuous Knockout Defining Lift and Fan Mascara in Black – I didn’t like the brush; the bristles were hard and short.

    Repurchase? No. If I bought high-end mascaras, this would not be on my list of mascaras I want to repurchase.

    L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara in Black – I just don’t like the hourglass shape of the Lash Paradise mascara.

    Repurchase? No, I prefer other drugstore mascaras.

    Wet N Wild Photo Focus Foundation in Buff Bisque – This foundation had a spatula that dips into the foundation bottle instead of a pump. I didn’t like this because it’s much easier for bacteria to get in. Especially if you apply the foundation from the spatula directly onto your face. I decided to declutter this because 1) the shade I got was too orange and I don’t think mixing it with anything would help 2) I haven’t been reaching for it when I’m deciding which foundation to use 3) it smells more like chemicals than other foundations 4) I mostly bought it jut to see if the hype was worth it and since it was under $15 and Wet N Wild was disappearing from the shelves of my drugstores (for some reason), I decided to grab it.

    Repurchase? No.

    The Estée Edit Flash Illuminator in Spotlight – This illuminates your skin like MAC Strobe Cream, but it’s not liquidy like the strobe cream, it’s goopy. I never really gave it a good try because I didn’t like the consistency (it reminded me of silly string where it pumped out in a long string). I mixed it once or twice with my foundation which looked pretty good, but it had to be a thicker foundation formula so it wouldn’t get clumps of the cream.

    Repurchase? The Estée Edit line has been discontinued, but if it were still on sale, I wouldn’t repurchase. I prefer the MAC Strobe Cream.

    Love,

    jen

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