Overview of what I bought in March: I received my The Ordinary order and so far I love what I’ve tried This is a really effective, cheap brand. I also like their minimalist packaging.
My skin had been looking dull from crummy weather and I realized I don’t have an AHA cream. Based on a friend’s recommendation, I bought derma E Overnight Peel. This stuff is wonderful for me. For an AHA, it’s very gentle and effective. It’s a good “maintenance” product.
As far as Low-Buy, I had a relapse. I was stressed from a term ending and the weather was so crummy. I ended up going to Harmon Face Values and buying cheap stuff I didn’t need (like an OPI Nail Polish, Essence Palette and a Wet n Wild Liquid Lipstick). I bought three Edward Bess products that I arguably didn’t need but wanted (they’re discontinuing some things I like).
I went to Charleston and somehow ended up buying a solid perfume of LUSH Death & Decay. It’s surprisingly good. It’s so indolic. Solid as the medium keeps it from being suffocating.
It sucks that I broke my Low-Buy, but I tell myself it’s OK. I’m breaking a habit. Everyone relapses. I’ll try harder next month.
In addition, David bought me three Makeup Revolution Eyeshadow Palettes as a gift. I am impressed with these too. The Ultra Eye Contour one is such a great daily palette, especially for hooded eyes.
To the Empties…I didn’t really empty much at all. I was out of town. I have bought new skincare before I emptied what I already own. I’m still going through my stash, so these empties are pretty darn random:
SKINCARE
I used a lot of masks, especially wash off masks that weren’t really for my skin type. What is my problem? Why do I do this to myself?
Garden of Wisdom Concord Grape Antioxidant Serum – This is a lightweight serum that I layer under Vitamin C serums. I love it so much. It makes me feel like I’m wearing a protective helmet or something. It plumps up my skin. It does have a musky grape fragrance though. I don’t mind the fragrance.
- Repurchase? Yes. I actually like it better in the summer but I learned in the winter that if I layered it with a thicker serum, all was good.
Garden of Wisdom Coconut/Chocolate Nutritive Gel – This is a moisturizing gel that is weightless. Don’t use it alone because it’s not for that. It won’t provide enough moisture but it’s a nice “boost”. PLUS, I do think it helps to make pores look better. Mainly I use it because it smells amazing – natural scent of cocoa and shredded coconut.
- Repurchase? Probably not. Actually, I’m undecided because I liked it a lot in the summer/fall.
Garden of Wisdom Fruit Hydrating Mist in Pomegranate – I’m all about mists and layering. GoW makes excellent, inexpensive mists. This smells amazing but it’s also effective. It’s naturally high in Vitamin C and is good for aging/acne-prone skin. I have the old formula; they’ve since upgraded it by added more moisturizing and fermented ingredients.
- Repurchase? Yes. I plan on buying the upgraded version.
TonyMoly Latte Art Milk-Cacao Pore Pack – I only bought this because the packaging is so freak’n cute. LOOK AT THIS PACKAGING! The product itself is pretty <meh>. It smells like Hersheys Chocolate Syrup. When you mix the product, it’s a zombie flesh gray shade. It dries out my dry skin so I can only use it as a spot treatment most of the year.
- Repurchase? No. But, it’s adorable (which sums up my feelings about TonyMoly in general).
Phoenix Botanicals Faerie Balm – This is a good natural balm made with linden blossoms. I use it as a lip balm but it’s also a good cuticle cream.
- Repurchase? Maybe.
Omi Brotherhood Shea Lip Balm in Sakura – How can anyone resist a Japanese cherry blossom lip balm? One can’t.
- Repurchase? Maybe. It’s perfume-y and I like it.
TonyMoly Floria Nutra-Energy Sheet Mask – To generalize, TonyMoly masks aren’t luxurious. This is the more luxurious mask. It’s packed with nourishing oils and feels good on my dry skin.
- Purchase? Yes. It’s one of the few TonyMoly sheet masks that I would buy.
Leaders Hydrogel Eye Therapy Patch – I keep buying these because I like them.
- Repurchase? Yes but I think they’ve been discontinued.
Innisfree It’s Real Mask in Bamboo – This has been my least favorite from this brand. The serum is too watery and did nothing for me. Plus, it smells sour/bitter (citrus) and I don’t like that.
- Repurchase? No.
Mamonde Flower Essential Mask in Peach Blossom Shiny Hydrating – This is one of my favorites from this line because it leaves me so glossy looking the next day.
- Repurchase? Yes.
Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate (deluxe sample) – Like so many Kiehl’s products, this is overpriced and simple. However, my skin is so finicky when it comes to Vitamin C and this one doesn’t irritate me AND made my dark spots lighter. I think with Vitamin C, my skin needs simple. The more ingredients, the greater the risk of irritation.
- Purchase? I don’t want to but I probably will. It’s hard for me to find a Vitamin C that doesn’t turn me beet red.
Valmont Prime B Cellular Serum (deluxe sample) – This is a lightweight moisture serum.
- Purchase? It’s expensive af so “no” but I like it. It would be good for summer.
Valmont Moisturizing Serumulsion (deluxe sample) – It’s a moisturizing lotion that will make you look as fresh as a Swiss mountain.
- Purchase? Nope but I like it.
Bonvivant Botanical Mellow Clay Mask (deluxe sample) – It’s a green clay mask with a minty scent that should have irritated the heck out of my skin but it didn’t.
- Repurchase? No.
Kiehl’s Hydra-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate (sample) – I think this is really overpriced for what it is (basically it’s just glycerin) but it’s not bad. It absorbs quickly, moisturizes and doesn’t have a fragrance.
- Purchase? No. But, if I ended up with a bottle or a deluxe sample, I wouldn’t be mad.
FRAGRANCE
I didn’t use up many samples in March. I was really hung up on my full-size bottle of YSL Y.
Bernard Loiseau Pain d’Épices Room Spray – This is kicking it so old school. I don’t even want to know how old this is because it will make me feel 100 years old. Years ago a friend bought me this entire range because I was a Bernard Loiseau fan. This is an amazing spicy gingerbread: cinnamon, ginger, CLOVES, black pepper! It is so spicy.
- Purchase? If it were still available, yes. It’s one of the best gingerbread fragrances EVER.
DSH Perfumes Le Jardin Vert EDP (sample) – I’ve been in a green mood and this is green!
- Purchase? No, but I really like it.
Odin 01 Sunda EDP (sample) – This is like a a really dry, woodsy heliotrope. It fits with the brand but doesn’t really fit with me.
- Purchase? No.
Libertin Louison Indiscrete EDP (sample) – It’s one of those fruity, musky, sweet “in da club” scents.
- Purchase? Nope.
BATH/BODY
This is such a random collection of cleansers. I’m trying to power through my surplus bath/body stock.
Nivea Moisturizing Crème (jumbo size) – When I bought this, I thought that I liked Nivea more than I did. It’s really not that great for the entire body but is great for feet/hands/elbows/knees.
- Repurchase? Not for a very, very long time. I’m so sick of it.
Madame Scodioli Bar Soap in Aged Bourbon – It’s a woodsy scent with a hint of boozy maraschino cherry. I really like this line.
- Repurchase? Probably.
Choco-Story Chocolate Bar Soap (not pictured) – I bought this in Mexico at a tourist shop at a Mayan temple. It’s a boozy chocolate/vanilla soap that melts hella fast.
- Repurchase? Nope.
Molton Brown Ylang-Ylang Body Wash (travel size) – I don’t think it smells like ylang-ylang at all, but it smells great. It’s a waxy floral, like honeysuckle and California jasmine. The scent is strong and will linger.
- Purchase? Probably not. I do like it and using this reminded me how much I like the Molton Brown line.
HAIR
I was very lazy when it came to hair styling in March.
Aquarian Soul Pink Sea Salt Mermaid Hair Spray – This is one of those salt/oil “ocean wave” mists. I liked it much better when my hair was a lob. It smells like coconut and for some reason there is a crystal jangling around in the bottle.
- Repurchase? No but that’s because I don’t really style my hair in that way when it’s this length.
MAKEUP
Boring, “routine” makeup empties.
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Mascara (deluxe sample) – It’s not great. It’s not bad. It does a decent job but there’s no way in heck I’d pay full price for it.
- Purchase? Nope.
Benefit Gimme Brow Voluminzing Brow Gel in #5 (deluxe sample) – I was surprised by how much I like the reformulation. It’s easy to use and does give me thick, natural looking brows. The color works for me too. It’s deep with no red/warm undertones.
- Purchase? Maybe. I bought the Essence dupe and will report.
Total: 26. 15 full-size. 7 travel/deluxe samples. 4 samples
Chocolate seemed to be a theme for the month of March…
What about you? Which products did you empty in March? Did you buy anything new?
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“… a really dry, woodsy heliotrope”! That sounds really interesting, I may have to give it a try.
And I was almost sold on that Faerie balm, until I looked at her other listings and saw that she used the word “yummy” to describe something. Ugh, I need to not be such a bitchy snob, but that word just grosses me out so much. That and “delish”. Someone probably needs to slap me.
It’s good. It’s a little “bro” for me, but I say this as someone who’s spouse shops at Odin and wears their scents.
Well, stay away from Fragrantica! There’s so many “yummers” reviews. I can handle “yummy” but “yummers” makes me a little rage-y.
It’s a great line. I love everything that I’ve tried from Phoenix Botanicals. And she’s actually really cool. You’d like her. I promise 🙂
A few months ago–no doubt inspired by you–I started a personal program called “Finish It Friday” which is my weekly project to finish off one more decants (mostly ones that are nearly empty due to use and/or evaporation) per week. It takes some focus, I can tell you. But it feels so good to toss out the empties! Then if it is something I don’t also have a bottle of, I take some notes so I won’t forget what it smells like and how much I like it. Some I’ve finished off include: L’Heure de Nuit, vintage Miss Dior, Loboissier Violet, Baiser Vole EdP, Ava Luxe Oeillet. I was surprised to discover this way that I actually love Lorenzo Villoresi Teint de Neige. I also finished off some perfume samples.
I really hope you write about The Ordinary. I bought a few products recently and I’m not sure what I think yet. So far only use the Buffet and the Vitamin C suspension.
Yes! That’s great. I’m trying to empty at least one sample a week. I love having my references. But, it’s not like I’m here as a library. Even small things start to take up space! Also, this stuff evaporates. I’d rather use up things than see them go a slow, painful death.
I really like Buffet and Squalane Oil. I’m truly torn on the Vitamin C Suspension. Quick background – all the Vitamin C serums I’ve tried that retail for under $140 burn my face. I have the hardest time finding a Vitamin C serum that I’ll actually use. The Ordinary Vitamin C serum doesn’t hurt my face and it does improve my skin (even as quick as one use). It’s also very cheap! BUT the texture is truly terrible. It’s gritty and frankly, not fun to use. So, I’m truly torn with it. Maybe I’ll have more to say about in a month?
Yeah I have a tiny travel tin of Nivea that is pure nostalgia (because of the scent) but I’ve never been able to use it up. How you got through that giant tub is a mystery! And Molton Brown is great! If you can find scents you like, it’s waaay better than BBW/etc. My favorite is White Sandalwood, which is not sandalwoody at all. It’s a beautiful and potent white floral that somehow doesn’t overpower me.
–Purchases–
– Body Shop body creams x 4. My hands are so dry, despite the Gloves in a Bottle experiment, so I will use these giant tubs for the next 5 years or until they go rancid. I really like the fruity scents of Papaya and Pina Colada. Also the yummy Almond Milk and Honey and light floral Kukui Nut.
– Hourglass Lip Stylo. Sigh. Went outside my comfort zone with a brown shade and wish I had stayed in my zone. I still like the formula but need to mix it with something red or pink I think.
– Physician’s Formula face mineral powders (BOGO 50%), to replace my discontinued Becca compact that only has powder along the edges. I know PF *never* has options for my yellow undertone so WTH was I thinking? They’re going back.
– Timeless Vitamin C to replace my Drunk Elephant VitC, which is almost out. I’ve been waiting and waiting for the DE 20%off sale that usually happens in the spring, but got desperate.
– Anastasia brow powder. I like it! I switch between it and a Nyx skinny brow pencil.
– Lanolips lip moisturizer. Not sure why. My dog thinks this smells great though. Nooooo!
– Scentbird subscription, bottle 1. Because I need MOAR perfume in my life WTF. I chose my first bottle poorly: Malin & Goetz Dark Rum, a blind sniff which is not rummy. It’s a weird plum thing that thankfully doesn’t last but is still bleah.
–Empties–
– Paula’s Choice Resist 2% BHA. A staple and better than the non-Resist version IMO.
– 1 snail jelly mask. I like it, but I don’t like how cold it gets on my face after 3 minutes.
– 1 nylon body/scrubby towel thing, the kind you see in Japanese markets. Way better than nylon poofs.
– um, 1 box of Kleenex
Jeez it wasn’t a great month, but most things were not uber superfluous. Lots of sensible replacements. I’m very close to finishing a few things. Maybe April will be the month when empties > purchases!
Nivea – I bought it for the fragrance! It lasts forever. I swear I bought it when I first moved here and that was 2 years ago…
Molton Brown – I used to use their stuff. Since then, they’ve changed names. Luckily, there are MB boutiques in the city so I can sniff in person now. I remember liking one of theirs that was woodsy/cade-like and there was a floral too.
Purchases – Not too bad 🙂 When I’m not using ABL brow stuff, I’m always like “Why did I settle?!” As far as PF, their formulas are great but this 1-2 shade thing is some BS.
Empties – Not too bad either 🙂 I feel like all the empties even out at the end of the year.
Late again, but here’s what I emptied in March:
Molinard Tendre Friandise sample
Roja Dove No. 5 sample
Diptyque L’Eau de Tarocco decant
House of Matriarch Destiny decant
Aedes de Venustas Signature decant
Majda Bekkali J’ai Fait Une Reve pour Elle decant
Caswell Massey Lilac Body Mist used as room spray
Tenzing Momo Cedarwood Incense Sticks
Yves Rocher Green Tea shower gel travel size
Le Labo for Fairmont Hotel Rose 31 Body Bar soap
Tonymoly I’m Real Brightening Lemon Sheet Mask
Alba Botanica Even Advanced Sea Minerals Cleansing Gel
Root Candles Oakmoss Votive
Voluspa French Bourbon Vanilla candle
Nothing terribly exciting, but I need more Aedes EDP asap. I didn’t buy that much. I got a Carnal Flower travel spray in a split, participated in a few other splits on NST, bought the January Scent Project sample pack, and partial bottle lot of Annick Goutal Passion on ebay. The ebay stuff still hasn’t arrived due to a shipping mix up, but I’m excited to try that old Goutal. I’m working on buying a bunch ofold AG perfumes before they start discontinuing them.
I think I forgot to respond to you last month about YR Aloe Vera shower gel. I love that one! It’s creamy and moisturizing and smells like a green, young coconut. I would buy it again.
You’re really knocking out the decants! I’m jealous.
Is Signature the one that smells like weed? I like that one. But, I like most of the Aedes perfumes.
It’s a shame what is happening to AG. I love Passion and Songes so much. I can’t imagine a world where they no longer exist.
Thanks! I noticed they launched some new scents too. I don’t need any shower gels right now. I have wayyy too many in my stash right now, but I guess they’re my weakness (like lipsticks too). Anyway, it’s hard to resist the YR deals.
Yeah, I can see the weed comparison. It is my favorite take on citrusy rhubarb. I find it pretty long lasting for its type. May spring for the travel set soon because I don’t want to be without it this summer.
I agree about AG. I need to buy up more Songes too. I already have 100ml each of Camille and Chevrefeuille, thank goodness!
I also am awash in shower gels (pun intended). I still have one more YR to try from my last stock up during one of their sales.
I forgot that in March I also bought Klorane shampoo and ROC face wash.
I actually love it. I mention this because I had sprayed some from a friend’s bottle (that they left at my house). It was like 11 am on a Monday or something. Anyway, husband walks in and was like “Really, Victoria?! It’s not even noon yet!” thinking I had been smoking, lol.
It really sucks that they are getting rid of those that really meant so much to the brand 🙁
Everyone has their weakness and for some reason mine is bath products and lip products. I have too much of both of those.
Oh, and my mom just sent me a bar of oatmeal coconut soap in my birthday soap, so that takes the bar soap stash up to 11 bars. Sigh.
I meant birthday package of course.
Happy belated birthday!
My mom also keeps sending me soap. I’m not complaining but I’m probably at a dozen right now :S