It's finally happened, I finally posted one of these Finished Products Post BEFORE the end of the month! Hmm considering I am a month behind and combining the two, the efforts may have backfired!
Hmmm quite a pile of...well garbage now =P
On to the reviews!
Skin Care!
I think I'm just done with Khiels. I want to like this brand, but it's just not working!
Khiels Rare Earth Toner: Claims to Mattify Skin and Minimize Pores. Used the entire bottle up, and saw neither of these claims happening. Took about three months and saw zero change. I got just as oily everyday, and did not find this helpful in combating the daily combination skin problems.
Will not be repurchasing.
Khiels Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser: In the summer, I like to use a daily exfoliator as a face wash. This is probably one of the finest daily scrubs I have tried. The scrub particles are very fine, and do not feel damaging on the skin in the least. I actually loved the texture! The only problem is, I didn't feel like this did anything in the long term outside give myself a bit of scrub in the AM. It didn't feel deep pore cleaning to me, in fact, I used a cleanser after this step just to feel the deep clean. For this reason, I don't think I would repurchase this.
I tried the Rare Earth line because I did enjoy the Rare Earth Deep Pore Mask. I had high hopes for the rest of the line, and I am sorry that these did not perform to my expectations. I would repurchase the mask.
Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion: Used to calm down and prevent cystic acne from coming to the surface ( the BANE of my existence) This product works, sometimes. You have to do it VERY early in the cyst's existence. If you wait to long, and long not being long at all! it's going to come out, and this does well...nothing. This is a shake up item and is very very watery. When you apply it ( I use a Q tip) it drips right down your face. Also I hated the fact that I had to use a Q tip. I tried using my fingers, but after a few days noticed my fingers were all peeling. Using the Q tip prevented this, but it absorbed alot of the product.
Although this offered results, I prefer my Clinique blemish solutions, which does the same thing, is slightly easier to find, is cheaper, and a gel, so does not drip, and I have no issues applying it with my fingers.
Will not be repurchasing.
Oxy Maximum Strength Cream: I know you're not supposed to use high dosages of Benzoyl Peroxide to combat spots ( this one being 10%) but this REALLY helps bring down my spots, and prevents not cystic acne but more normal pimples and white heads from becoming issues.
I have already repurchased this.
Lancome High Resolution Refill 3x: A sample that has lasted me about 4 months? I really like this!!! Unfortunately if it has a long name like that, it usually means its expensive. This is a moisturizer used to prevent wrinkles. I don't really have a wrinkle problem yet, but have noticed some lines on my neck, also when I am very tired or stress, I seem to develop deep laugh lines. These really age you! I would apply this on my neck and a bit on my laugh lines every night, and I can confidently state this has diminished them.
The lines on my neck have faded, I also moisturize that area in the AM with a normal moisturizer, and the laugh lines are all gone!
Luckily I have another sample of this to last me a few more months, but I think I would purchase the full size product once it is out, as I have found results with this cream. I don't think I would use it all over my face, but if that is a worry of yours, this is very fast absorbing, and although it is a cream, does not feel greasy at all.
Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash in Pink Grapefruit: Another one of these down! I used to use this after the Khiels Daily Cleanser. I have repurchased this several times. I am now using it again, but the green version which calms down redness. I had realized within this Acne line the soaps are all slightly different in severity on the skin. The original Orange, no scent version seems the harshest in my opinion, pink grapefruit being in the middle, and the current green no redness being the most mild. If you like this line, but found it being too gentle or too harsh, maybe try another product in the line to suit your needs, but still remove the spots.
Repurchase? Yes.
St. Ives Green Tea Scrub: Sample from my vacation. This feels and smells very nice! I prefer this over the Apricot version because the grains feel finer, and the result is just as refreshing! St. Ives is a very well priced brand, and I would repurchase the full size.
Hand + Body Creams
Neutrogena Hand Cream: Did not like this at all. It was very sticky, and felt like solidified glycerin. Hard to absorb and left what looked and felt like white slime all over my hands.
Was happy this was done. Would not repurchase.
Korres Body Butter in Guava: Used this on my vacation. If you have very dry skin on your body, I would consider looking into this product. Very dry patches would be soothed by this thick cream. Because I don't have dry skin on my body, I found this incredibly hard to blend and absorb. I was unaccustomed to using such a thick cream, and for myself this is not what I needed, so I would not repurchase, but would recommend for those who had different needs.
Bath and Body Works Coconut Vanilla Body Lotion: The types of lotions I need are very easily fulfilled by BB&W. I love Coconut...I constantly purchase Coconut body lotions to the great dismay of my boyfriend who can't stand the smell. I would not run out and purchase this, but I do think these scents are great for fall and winter.
Repurchase? Only if it was on sale. I think the original price is not worth the product.
Sabon Hand Cream: Not this is what glycerin hand creams should be like! Light, pleasant smelling, non sticky, and absorbent while healing. Will gladly purchase more of these!
Hair +Body Care
Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Wash: I was sooo excited when I received this from Sephora. I have always wanted to purchase Philosophy bath products because they smell amazing!!! Unfortunately my love was quickly lit out. Vanilla birthday cake scent from the bottle? Definitely. In the wash, NOT. Every time I used this in the shower it smelled like BURNT Vanilla Birthday Cake. I couldn't escape it. It came with every use.
This was quite a disappointment and has made me hesitant to purchase from the brands bath line. I did find out on the very last day of use, it made a decent bubble bath.
Would not repurchase the full size.
Sephora Nail Polish Remover: Some of you may not buy "higher brand" nail polish removers, but I hate the ones they sell in drugstores. 5 cotton pads later and mass amounts of scrubbing and you have 1 hand done. Forget glitter polishes completely.
I really do like the Sephora Nail Polish remover, and I do think it is worth the money for the fact that I only need 1 cotton pad, and almost no effort for removal.
I have already repurchased this item.
Fresh Shower Gel: Got this free in a gift set. The smell and lather is nice, but I don't think I would ever spend the money to buy a shower gel from Fresh
Would not repurchase
Moroccan Oil: A completely hair must have for me. More details can be found on my Top 10 post.
I have already repurchased this! I would have bought the bigger bottle, but could not find it.
Make up
Quite a pile this time!
NARS Silicone Free Primer: This product is discontinued, so I will not go much into it. I liked this primer, it did not break me out, and lasted me over a year (1.75 oz - almost 2 foundation sizes!). I had heard they removed this from the market because it was sold as Silicone Free, but later found out it did contain Silicone?? I don't know. I would have purchased this again, but I still prefer the Laura Mercier Primer.
Repurchase: If not discontinued I would have.
NARS Eye shadow Base: This lasted me about 7-8 months with almost daily use. I did prefer this to UD Primer Potion- which to me feels like wet cement...It has a nice gel consistency, is pretty easy to blend, does not dry out too fast on the lids for application, and is clear which I did like.
Repurchase: I would buy this again
Fresh Sugar Lip Balm in Rose: My second tube. I lost my first one when I went away to Las Vegas and repurchased there. This has a beautiful color, it looks very red in the tube but after application, the color is just sheerly perfect. I did like that this had SPF which is now a requirement of mine, but I would not buy this again. I think it's too expensive for what it is, and a bit too waxy.
Repurchase: No
Sephora Brand Blush in Coral Frission: Uhhhhhhh...internal debate on this product. I liked the color of this blush I did, but I hit pan on it after about 7 uses...The pigmentation on the finger was fine, but on a brush was not...I hit pan because I had to pack this stuff on with a MAC 109 to get as much color as I could. I finished about 75% of the product, and one night noticed I had some powder on the rim. I blew away the powder and the thing exploded in my face...
They do not sell this shade anymore, but I know a co worker who had a different shade, and was insanely pigmented! I think the blushes are hit and miss, the packaging is flimsy, and my co worker's blush also broke, so they are not held together well.
Repurchase: No.
MAC Lip Conditioner in Petting Pink: I bought this because it had SPF and the color was so cute! This is surprisinly hydrating, and had a nice faint vanilla scent. It does not last very long on the lips, but they do sell a small variety of shades, and have new ones pop in random collections throughout the year. I have 2 back ups of this product in different shades so they are fun to buy as a quick lip product with some lip balm benefits.
Repurchase: I already have, but don't think I would buy many more unless the color was very very nice
Maybelline Dream Matte Powder: My first completed face powder...and it's from Maybelline! Surprisingly good stuff! Quite fine for drugstore, and is probably my HG blot powder. I have one at work, one at home, and one in my purse. I use it mainly as a blot powder, but on it's final days I just wore concealer, and this powder as my "Foundation" and it held up very well with a spritz of Fix +. It did slightly oxidize with this method, but it was not drastic to me.
Repurchase: Most definitely!
Ok, omg... this was incredibly long, for those who stuck to the end, I commend you!!
What have you finished this month?
