^Full disclosure, some of these are deluxe samples, but I almost feel 2x the amount of accomplishment after finishing those!
Here is a run-down of what I finished this season and whether or not they are worth repurchasing:
*Obviously these are my personal opinions based on how these products performed on my porous, slightly wrinkled skin. Everyone is different, and you may have (or have had) different experiences.
Nars blush in Orgasm ($30, available @ sephora.com)
Le Couvent des Minimes Nourishing Hand Cream in Honey & Shea ($15, available @ ulta.com)
I already purchased my third tube of this. It is a really lovely hand cream that helps keep my hands soft and moisturized at all times (especially during this occasionally harsh winter). It's thick, fits in my purse, and has a wonderful honey scent. It's not perfume-y and smells like actual honey. According to Livestrong.com (while I don't trust Lance, I do trust them) and Paula's Choice, honey is a great moisturizing and wound-healing agent. I immediately notice that my chapped or weathered hands (ew, but it's winter and it's true) immediately look and feel better after applying this. My hands do feel slightly sticky afterwards, but that feeling goes away quickly, and I'm left with some wonderful skin and a craving for sopapillas. Is it worth $15 for 1.7oz... I find that it's a nice splurge without actually breaking the bank (and Ulta carries it, so I use my 20% off or standard $3.50 coupon... so you really don't have to break the bank to do a little pampering).
Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser ($28, available @ sephora.com)
I honestly don't know what to say about this one. I wish it had been better than it was, but it fell a little flat for me. I loved that it warmed when it came into contact with water. Surely it must be doing something for me if it's getting that hot while I rub it into my face, right? Unfortunately, I think the warming was just for my benefit, because I didn't notice anything above average after using it. I enjoyed the actual experience of washing my face with this cleanser, but once it was over, it wasn't anything to write home about.
I honestly don't know what to say about this one. I wish it had been better than it was, but it fell a little flat for me. I loved that it warmed when it came into contact with water. Surely it must be doing something for me if it's getting that hot while I rub it into my face, right? Unfortunately, I think the warming was just for my benefit, because I didn't notice anything above average after using it. I enjoyed the actual experience of washing my face with this cleanser, but once it was over, it wasn't anything to write home about.
Benefit Porefessional Pro Balm ($42, available @ benefitcosmetics.com)
Cards on the table: I already have 4 more backups of this stuff, but I am starting to go a little stir-crazy. I've been uhb-sessed with this for almost a year now. The only negative that I have found thus far is that I have to be very careful about which foundations I layer on top of this (using another mattifying product on top of this guy is WAY too much for my skin to take). That said, I have yet to find a primer that is better at blurring my pores and fine lines than this guy. I'm still committed to this guy (after all, it'll probably take another 6 months to make it through my backups), but I'm starting to get curious about the other pore and wrinkle reducing primers out there. Please give me your suggestions if you know of any that I just "have" to try!
Cards on the table: I already have 4 more backups of this stuff, but I am starting to go a little stir-crazy. I've been uhb-sessed with this for almost a year now. The only negative that I have found thus far is that I have to be very careful about which foundations I layer on top of this (using another mattifying product on top of this guy is WAY too much for my skin to take). That said, I have yet to find a primer that is better at blurring my pores and fine lines than this guy. I'm still committed to this guy (after all, it'll probably take another 6 months to make it through my backups), but I'm starting to get curious about the other pore and wrinkle reducing primers out there. Please give me your suggestions if you know of any that I just "have" to try!
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray ($29, available @ sephora.com)
This was my first foray into thickening hairspray, and I'm definitely still curious about what else is on the market. My hair is very thin and fine, so I desperately need thickeners and texturizers. This was okay. I'll give it another shot eventually, but I want to try a few other things before going back to this guy. Let me know if you have any experience with this or other thickening hairsprays, and if there is some secret to using them that I haven't figured out yet!
Tarte Double Detox Amazonian Clay Exfoliating Face Mask ($38, available @ sephora.com)
I love this stuff. I don't know if it really exfoliates or detoxes your skin (can anything except your liver really detox your body??), but I can absolutely tell a difference in my skin after I use this (and worse, if I don't use it). I typically use this during the weekend, and I find that it leaves my skin feeling and looking refreshed. On the rare occasions that I sleep in my makeup, I'll use this during the week to repair some of the damage that damage, and it really does wonders. I plan to repurchase this guy eventually, but I'm dying to try some other clay masks, so this repurchase will have to wait.
Benefit Fake Up Hydrating Crease Control Concealer ($24, available @ sephora.com)
Not horrible, but not a keeper for me. It did seem very hydrating, but this has to be the fastest that I've ever finished a cosmetic product. I'm not sure what the minimum time required is for finishing a product to make you feel accomplished versus taken advantage of, but this was definitely the latter for me. I finished it so quickly after opening it, that I felt more a sense of woe over my $24 being gone than accomplishment at finishing this concealer.
Not horrible, but not a keeper for me. It did seem very hydrating, but this has to be the fastest that I've ever finished a cosmetic product. I'm not sure what the minimum time required is for finishing a product to make you feel accomplished versus taken advantage of, but this was definitely the latter for me. I finished it so quickly after opening it, that I felt more a sense of woe over my $24 being gone than accomplishment at finishing this concealer.
Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder in Universal ($37, available @ sephora.com)
Nothing special here for me, sorry. The $10 Smooth Criminal Powder by Be A Bombshell is less expensive and gives me a much more flawless finish (granted, I can't breathe while I apply the BAB version, so I don't think I'd repurchase that one either). Even my $5 L'Oreal Translucent powder gave this guy a run for his money. To be fair, the Laura Mercier powder is MUCH better than the L'Oreal version, but for the price and brand... I was really expecting more. I'm used to Laura Mercier leaving me flawless, and this was more of a flop.
Is it just me, or were your empties this season also a little womp-womp? What do you just have to repurchase, and what is getting a good ole Adieu?
Nothing special here for me, sorry. The $10 Smooth Criminal Powder by Be A Bombshell is less expensive and gives me a much more flawless finish (granted, I can't breathe while I apply the BAB version, so I don't think I'd repurchase that one either). Even my $5 L'Oreal Translucent powder gave this guy a run for his money. To be fair, the Laura Mercier powder is MUCH better than the L'Oreal version, but for the price and brand... I was really expecting more. I'm used to Laura Mercier leaving me flawless, and this was more of a flop.
Is it just me, or were your empties this season also a little womp-womp? What do you just have to repurchase, and what is getting a good ole Adieu?
