As always, foils will get minimal-to-no comment, since they are generally too small to form an opinion on.
Makeup
Fresh Sugar Balm in Rosé: This was part of the Sephora birthday gift a couple of years ago. I don't like anything about these balms, really. I don't find them moisturizing, and I'm not a big fan of citrus fragrance in lip balms. I used it up by wearing it under lipstick.
Wet N Wild Fergie Take on the Day Eyeshadow Primer: This is my favorite eyeshadow primer. You can see how it compares to a bunch of others here. The tube lasted almost 2 years (which explains why the print on the tube wore off), and it worked perfectly the whole time. Now I am left with subpar primers, and it's making me sad.
LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer: I started to use this again after the WNW primer ran out, but it was getting pretty dry and was even more ineffective than when it was new. When I realized that it was actually making my eyeshadow crease more, I ditched it. What a waste. (Also reviewed in the same post linked above.)
Sephora Anti-Shine Foundation Primer: This worked well under foundation, but it seems to have been discontinued, so I'll have to find something else I like. Right now I'm working through some clear silicone primers, which are never that impressive to me.
Tarina Tarantino Eye Dream Hyperlight: I complained about this on Instagram. I barely used any of it, but I just couldn't get any product out without a huge fight, so I gave up. I got it in a subscription box (Boxy Charm), so at least I didn't pay full price for that rage-inducing shit.
ULTA Plush Drama Volume Mascara: I also complained about this on Instagram. The brush was way too fucking big for my face.
Skin Care
e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator: Briefly reviewed here. I had used about half of it, but then it started to smell funky.
Paula's Choice Clear Pore Normalizing Cleanser (mini): As I've said before, all the PC cleansers I've tried are effective but very expensive for pretty basic products. In general, I find most cleansers unobjectionable and unexciting, unless they are very drying, don't remove makeup, or sting my eyes.
Philosophy Hope in a Jar Moisturizer (mini): This stuff does indeed moisturize, but I found the fragrance so obnoxious that after using it twice I just squeezed the rest into a big bottle of body lotion. To me, it smells kind of like moldy lavender.
Mason Natural Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is the thing that works best for me when it comes to acne treatment but not all of them are equal, because a lot of oils are diluted despite being labeled 100% tea tree oil (see this Tumblr post). This one is effective. I'm on my third bottle.
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol: I'm not sure about this. It's a very light moisturizer that I used at night throughout the winter. I don't totally understand what it is supposed to do - or at least what makes it different from any other moisturizer, other than that it contains retinol. I didn't think it made much improvement to my skin when I was using it, but my skin has been terrible for the last month or so, so maybe it was doing something? This is why I haven't reviewed it - my review would read: "Moisturizer, yes, ??????" I might try it again. It would probably provide more than enough moisture for my summer skin.
Paula's Choice Hydralight Moisture-Infusing Lotion: Good. Reviewed here.
Paula's Choice Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum: Love this stuff. On my third tube. Reviewed here.
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Serum with Retinol (mini): I also don't know if this did anything, but it smelled weird and had a super-slippery silicone texture that I didn't love, so I probably won't use it again. It was similar in feel to a silicone primer, so it might do double duty that way.
Kate Somerville Oil-Free Moisturizer (foil)
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Moisturizer (foil): So. Much. Perfume.
PC 4 Men (Paula's Choice) Daytime Protect SPF 30 (foil): This was a decent, but not special, sunscreen. I assume the idea for a men's sunscreen is that they shouldn't be forced to feel anything icky on their precious man-faces, but it wasn't any less greasy than any other decent SPF 30 product.
That's it! At least as of April. Let me know if you want more details about any of these things.
That WNW primer sounds pretty good - the only thing I have from that Fergie line is a highlighter type product and man the packaging is huge for it!
ReplyDeleteThis is the only Fergie thing I've tried, besides a lip gloss stain that worked well, but started to smell funky after a few weeks. But when they get it right, they get it right, for cheap!
DeleteI thought I was the only person in the world who wasn't impressed with the Sugar Lip balms. I can't stand the way they feel on my lips and I don't find them particularly hydrating. Combine all that with the fact that there really isn't a lot of color payoff and I find them to be total duds. I have a sample one sits, sadly and unused, with the rest of my lip balms and every once in a while I pull it out only to be reminded that nope I still don't like it. I should probably just toss it.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few of us out here! I can't imagine paying $20+ for a tube. It just sits on my lips and doesn't do much. And I know this is totally psychological, but I don't like sour lemon scented lip balms. It doesn't seem soothing to me; it seems acidic (even if in reality it's not).
Delete