April Empties

Last month I was into using a lot of samples, so my empties had a whole bunch of them. This month I continued working through my samples, but I also finished a lot of full size products. There's a whole bunch of empty packages, so let's dig in!

Acure Sensitive Facial Cleanser - I really really loved it even though I didn't expect that much. I use a two step cleansing method where in Step 1 I remove mascara with micellar water or wipes, and then wash the whole face with facial wash. Because of this habit, I rarely used it by itself, but when I did, it did a good job on my eyes as well. This cleanser didn't irritate eyes or skin, removed makeup quickly, and didn't dry the skin. The consistency was that of a very thick soap, and it even had a tiny bit pearl-y look of the soap, and while faint the smell was a little soap-y too. Nonetheless, it was a very good cleanser, and I would buy it again.

Promise Organic Coconut Facial Wipes - I've mentioned these more than once on my blog. They're good, and were my favorite at one point, but I prefer EcoCare facial wipes much more. Yet, they are nice and moist enough, and they remove makeup well.

Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Vitamin C+ Serum - I had a set of 10 samples, which is a 5 day supply. The smell bugged me a bit, and I wasn't crazy about it in general. In fact, I don't think I saw any real results. Well, maybe the skin got a little more even-toned, but the difference was really minor.

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser - This came in a discovery set from Sunday Riley, and it's exactly the size that's enough for me for a long while. I never used it as the main cleanser, and would use it as a treatment by putting it on already clean skin. Since it left my skin squeaky clean, I didn't want to use it too often (my skin is normal towards dry), so I would use as an extra strong cleanser (e.g. after workout to remove sweat completely) or I would use as a mini facial mixing Ceramic Slip and Good Genes lactic acid treatment from Sunday Riley and applying the mixture to my face for a minute. In both cases the results were pretty much the same.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum - I liked it, and I liked it a lot! There are a couple other serums I want to try at the moment, but I would definitely buy this one again. It was a thicker serum, which absorbed to the skin fast. There was some stickiness left on the skin, but only until other products were applied. The smell was very faint, almost nonexistent, and from all the other hyaluronic acid serums that I've tried, this one's the winner. Besides, you can't beat the price as this little bottle lasted me for 2 months using 2 times a day.           

Hylamide Glow Radiance Booster - Another product from the Deciem brands, and this one I liked less. I'm only halfway done, but I'm getting rid of it. It's a very water-y product that gives the tiniest amount of color on the face after continuous use. Apart from being an extra step in my skincare routine, I didn't feel that it's doing anything for my skin. Yes, it gave me some color, but it wasn't enough not to wear makeup.. I just can't justify it, so I stopped using it, and I didn't feel like I want to use it again since then.

Origins Maskimizer Mask Primer - One more product that is going to the trash being almost full. It's a spray that you're supposed to use before applying a mask, but it wasn't for me. I don't feel the need for it, and I don't like the smell. It came in a set with Origins masks (I enjoy them very much), but after trying it a couple of times, I realized it's not for me. I much more prefer a regular face mist/spray if I need something to dampen my skin.  

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzime Water Cream - just like the other products in this photo, this was a deluxe sample that lasted for a while. It's a very light moisturizer, but I enjoyed using it a lot. The only thing that I wasn't crazy about was smell as it reminded me of raw grated potatoes. Other than that, it's a great light cream that's good layered with other products or by itself. It absorbed well, gave enough moisture, and left skin feeling nice.

Kat Burki Intensive Vitamin C Cream - I fell in love with this cream the moment I laid my hands on it! I want it in full size, in fact, I need it in full size. I love everything about this cream: it's texture, it's absorption, it's smell, and how it made my skin feel afterwards. I used it as a night cream, and my skin felt like silk even in the morning. It's not a heavy/rich cream, but it would be too heavy for hot weather, so I'm keeping it in my wishlist until the fall.

Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Transformation Gel and Sheer Transformation Perfecting Moisturizer - like the other 2 creams mentioned above, these 2 products were used during my evening skincare routine. Long story short, they were nice products, but I don't think I'd buy them full size. Besides, there's always something new I want to try. If you are interested in them, I have a whole post on them HERE.

Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask - even though this was a deluxe sample, it was good enough for only one use. I had this mask in sample size last month, and I told how there's not enough of the product to apply a thick layer (that's what the directions tell to do). This sample was enough to properly cover the face, but again I didn't see any magic, except that the skin felt soft and nice to touch.

 
Derm Institute Anti-Oxidant Hydration Gel Masque - This sample contained two single-use masks. The directions tell to apply a generous amount on a clean face, and massage it in after 5 minutes. Since this mask doesn't require rinsing, I used it in the evening. I don't like leaving open packages, so I applied the whole contents of the package at once. I also didn't really do anything else - just applied it, and left on the skin through the night. Originally I was planning to apply some cream as well, but the mask felt so moisturizing that I didn't need anything else. My skin was softer than soft in the morning. It felt hydrated, plump, soft. The second packet gave the same results, and I'd love to get full size box of these. I think this mask is great whenever extra hydration is needed. It could be used during the winter when the skin gets drier from the cold weather, or it can be used after a day in the beach to replenish moisture in the skin.

Biobelle Primer Mask* - I've tried sheet masks in the past, but I was never a fan of them due to poor fit around nose, lips, eyes. I felt like those areas don't benefit from the mask and it's a bit of a product wasting. This Biobelle sheet mask changed my mind. I got to try 3 of these masks, and used up 2 already. They fit all over the face perfectly, they're moist, but not dripping, and they make a face so smooth. After trying these out, I want to try more sheet masks. I'm preparing an article on masking, so I will tell you more about them in that article.

Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment - I received a deluxe size of this product in my Sunday Riley discovery box, and it was the favorite of the bunch, so when Sephora was giving these sample sized Good Genes packets, I had to get one. There were 7 single-use packets in the envelope, and I used them at night by themselves or mixed with Ceramic Slip clay cleanser for a mini facial. I think I prefer using them the regular way as I see better results then, and when mixing with a cleanser, I don't see a big change. My skin likes this treatment and responds well to it by becoming soft, smooth, more even toned.

Kypris Glow Philtre Face Mask - To be honest, I don't remember much about this mask. This sample size was good for one use, and afterwards my skin felt nice and soft, but it wasn't something that would make me want to get full size. Though I wouldn't mind trying it in full size as maybe using it a couple times in a row would make a difference.

Eve Lom Rescue Mask - Another mask that I don't remember about. I think that's a sign that I should make notes on them. As for the mask itself, I can't say anything as my mind is completely empty, but I guess that means that it wasn't impressive.

Koh Gen Do Moisture Spa Gel - This gel is described as a 3-in-1 product (serum, lotion, and emollient). The texture is that of a thin gel, I used it instead of a serum, and applied moisturizer on top. I didn't like it, didn't feel like it's giving moisture boost, and I'm not interested in getting full size.

Origins Planstscription Anti-Aging Power Eye Cream - It was an ok cream, not heavy, not too thin. I liek a lot products from Origins, so I wouldn't mind getting this in full size and getting a better opinion.

Earth Therapeutics Pore Cleansing Strips - I had one last one left, and decided to use it up. I never have big problems with my noise, but I get strips like that, and then it takes months and months until I use them up. These particular ones get stuck to the skin and are super painful to rip off. They work well, but are too painful for me.

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Triple Recovery Cream - I had a pack of 6 samples, and used them on my face and chest after applying Sunday Riley's Good Genes. The name says "cream", but it's more of a balmy texture, and I don't always like that. One packet was a little too much for me, but I didn't want to leave any for next day, so I used it on my neck and chest as well. It didn't absorb perfectly leaving a little bit of an oily film on top of the skin. It would eventually sink into the skin, but I just prefer different products. As for the effect, I didn't see anything other than giving moisture and softness to the skin.

Origins Checks And Balances Frothy Face Wash - I actually liked this. I liked the smell, the texture, and it washed skin clean. It was a really nice face wash, and I'd gladly use it again.

    
Schwarzkopf Color Ultime Iconic Blondes in Color 10.1 Light Blonde - It was the first time that I used this hair color and this shade. It didn't stink, it was easy to apply, and it didn't dry out the hair. It was a little hard to wash it out, but it might be because I used two boxes as my hair is long and I used it for the first time. The processing time is 45 minutes, but I didn't keep it that long. After 25-30 minutes it seemed that the color has developed enough, but when I washed it out, the tone was a little more yellow that I'd like to. Though after a few times with purple shampoo I like the results, and I would use this color again.

John Masters Organics Citrus & Neroli Detangler - This is my all time favorite leave-in conditioner. I've been using this for years and years, and I never get bored of it. I only use it on the ends of my hair and run halfway through the hair length with whatever is left on my fingers. It helps when brushing hair, and it also makes hair soft when dry.

Giovanni VitaPro Fusion Leave-In Hair Treatment - It's another one of my must haves. I spray it on damp hair (lighter on the top half of my hair, heavier on the bottom half). It softens and hydrates hair. This and Citrus & Neroli detangler are two products I can't imagine my haircare without.

Whole Foods Color Preserve Shampoo - I got tired of using it as it seemed to never end. It's a little watery shampoo that smells very naturally. It was an ok product, nothing amazing, nothing bad.

Earth Science Olive & Avocado Hair Masque - It must be 6-7 years since I first tried this mask. I usually apply it on my ends and use as a conditioner (not leaving for a longer time), but I love the result nonetheless. It makes my hair slippery and moisturized. It rarely happens that I don't have it in my shower.

 
Show Beauty Pure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner - I loved both of them! They smelled great, were nice on the hair, and left the hair feeling wonderful. Most of the times when trying out new shampoo I don't apply any additional products afterwards so I could see the true results. With this duo my hair felt and looked amazing throughout the second day too, and even on the third morning. My hair didn't loose volume, didn't dry out through the length or at the ends. I would love to try more products from this brand, and I would definitely get these two in full size.

Philip B White Truffle Shampoo - I had a little trouble with this deluxe sample as I didn't like the shampoo at all. I didn't like the smell, and the shampoo felt too heavy. It was ok while in the shower, but once dry, the hair got oily very quickly.

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub With Sea Salt - I tried it once on my hair, and that was enough so I would finish using it as a feet scrub. This scrub really dried out my hair, and tangled it almost to a point where I didn't even want to touch or do anything to my hair as it was painful and uncomfortable. I had to put a mask all over the hair to soften it up. I tried another scalp scrub, and it dried my hair badly too, so I guess my hair is not right for such products.    

Living Proof Prime Style Extender and Overnight Perfector - Some of Living Proof products I love, and some are just ok. Overnight Perfector is the one I loved. I put it into halfway through the hair and braided it leaving the product until the morning. In the morning my hair looked good, a little wavy from the braiding, and I could have left it that way. Since I decided to brush my hair, I didn't like how the product felt on the hair afterwards, and I washed my hair. As for Prime Style Extender, I wasn't impressed, and I didn't like how the product felt on the hair. It's just not a product for me.

John Masters Organics Lavender Rosemary Shampoo - While I love JMO detangler, I'm not crazy about their shampoos. I tried almost all of them 5-6 years ago, and wasn't impressed. I gave a chance to this one again, but it's not a product for me.

 
Molton Brown Gingerlilly Body Wash - I really enjoyed using this deluxe sample. I loved the smell, and it was gentle on the skin. It might seem like a small bottle, but it lasted pretty well.

Mojo Spa Sugar Me Sweet Face & Body Scrub - I have a whole review on it HERE. To sum it up, I loved the smell, how gentle it was, and how nice my skin felt afterwards.

The Chemist Brand Inhibit Intimate Care - It's a gel that's supposed to slow down hair regrowth and to moisturize. I didn't like it at all and gave up on using up halfway through the tube. It felt like a sticky gel on the skin that never fully sinks in. Well, the moisture gets absorbed, but there's some sticky residue left. I didn't feel that it slows down anything, and due to it's stickiness, I didn't even want to use it everyday. It's a big fail for me.

Jason Toothpaste in Very Berry Mint Flavor - I'm a person who doesn't care how minty the breath is after brushing the teeth as long as my teeth are clean, so I've tried a lot different toothpaste flavors. I like minty toothpastes at night, but in the morning I prefer something non-minty. That's because I brush my teeth right after getting up, and then go downstairs to have my coffee, and I hate how coffee tastes after strong minty toothpaste. This toothpaste left no aftertaste, and was very gentle in flavor, so I liked it a lot. I would use it again for sure.

Dior Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet EDT - I like all Dior's Miss Dior fragrances, but none of them are my "have to have it". However, I've got a bunch of the Blooming Bouquet, and the more I use it, the more I like it. It's light, spring/summer scent that's elegantly sweet.

Versace Bright Crystal EDT - I loved this fragrance when I was 18-20 years old, but now it's not my scent. I used the sample, but that's enough.

Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream - No, no, and no. I have a hard time with any liquid foundation, CC/BB cream, tinted moisturizer, etc. I'm not sure what causes that, but no matter if I apply them with a brush or with my fingers, my skin gets a reaction and I get red itchy spots all over my face, and my face feels like burning. However, I took a chance and tried this out - I got a light reaction, and on top of that I didn't see much difference. It was very light, almost minimal coverage. No need to say that I'm getting rid of this without trying to finish it up.

Guerlain Maxi Lash So Volume Mascara - I'm not lucky with Guerlain mascaras, and this was no exception. It made my lash clump together, made them look very thin and sparse. I gave enough time for the formula to change, but it never did.

Burt's Bees Blueberry & Dark Chocolate Lip Balm - I love Burt's Bees lip balms (and lipsticks), but this flavor wasn't my favorite. I didn't like the flavor at first, but then got used to it and finished the product. As for the balm itself, it gives lasting moisture to the lips, goes on smoothly, and feels light and nice. The lip balm I got to replace this one is by Burt's Bees as well.

Sante Eybrow Pencil in 01 Blonde - I talked about it in my previous post (link here). It's one of my 2 favorite eyebrow products, and the favorite eyebrow pencil of all times. It gives beautiful color, it applies easily, it stays on well, and looks great.   

 

*  marks PR samples that I received complimentary
 

My Favorite (And Not) Eyebrow Products

There are days when I don't feel like wearing mascara, and I don't, but I never ever skip perfecting my eyebrows. In general, I'm happy with the shape of my brows nor do I have spots where hair is missing, but my biggest concern is color. Even though I'm blonde, I go for a little darker/bolder eyebrows as that is what's giving my face some features. Otherwise with my light skin, light eye lashes and lighter brows I look too washed out. At least that's how I feel.

So today I'll share my opinion about a couple of my eyebrow products. Out of the 4, 2 are my all time favorites, one I like and one I don't.  I got all of these products by myself.

I can't remember the first time I used an eyebrow product, but I know I wasn't very skilled at using a kit with brow shadow/wax/etc. I also didn't want the hassle as I like to apply my makeup easily and quickly. So over the years I used mostly gel products just to tame my eyebrow hair and once in a while I would try some brow pencil though none really stuck with me. The first eyebrow pencil that I was totally in love with was by Sante in color "01 Blonde" (in photo above). It's a very convenient and quick application (plus it's great when traveling) as it has a spoolie at the end. The pencil is pigmented well, it's not too hard and not too soft, and it glides easily. The only downside is that if I'm using it every day, I finish it in a month as I sharpen it every or every second use. Obviously that's not a big issue for me as I keep repurchasing this pencil for over 4 years now.    

  

L to R: 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Eye Brow Powder Gel in Taupe
100% Pure Long Last Brows in color Blonde

L to R: 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Eye Brow Powder Gel in Taupe
100% Pure Long Last Brows in color Blonde

The next holly grail product is 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Eye Brow Powder Gel in color "Taupe". This product is fantastic! I love the color, I love how easily it applies on my brows, and even when using it for the first time, I had no trouble with it and got perfect result. This is also something that I've been using for years and years. When I purchased it for the very first time, it came with an angled brush (#8 if I'm not mistaking), and I still use it for application. However, I prefer shorter, smaller, a little more stiff brush, so I apply this powder-gel with Anastasia Beverly Hills #14 dual ended brush (angled brush on one end, and a spoolie on the other one). I can never remember to mark when I repurchase this powder-gel, but it does last for 6+ months.

Pretty recently 100% Pure came out with another brow product in a pot - Long Last Brows, which I got in color "Blonde". I had high hopes for it, but now I'm not sure how I feel about it. I mean I like it, and I like it a lot, but I don't think it's better than their powder-gel. Long Last Brows does stay well on, and when removing swatches from my hand, it and Sante brow pencil took a few extra rubs before they were gone. I mentioned that in case anyone cares about it, because for me it's not an important factor as I don't touch my brows during the day and they stay perfect with any of these 3 products. The texture of Long Last Brows is softer than Fruit Pigmented Eye Brow Powder Gel, but I think powder-gel gives a little more control of the product when applying it..

While in pots and swatches these two shades look different and one is more warm tone while the other one is more cool tone, they aren't that different on my brows. The colors of both fit me well. Yes, the tone/shade differs, but I apply the product lightly (not as heavy as in the swatch), and you can't really see that different unless you compare the two side by side.

100% Pure Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder in Soft Brown

L to R: Sante Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde
100% Pure Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder in Soft Brown

The newest brow product from 100% Pure is Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder. I got it in color "Soft Brown", and it is the strongest/darkest/boldest color of the four. I used this product once - I didn't like it at all. I tried to find other ways to use it, but so far it's not working out. I don't like the brush, I don't like the application, and I don't like the result. The directions tell to brush it in the direction of brow growth, and that it can be built up in the areas needing more coverage. Well, I consider myself experienced enough at brow product application, but Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder was a disaster. First, the brush seemed uncomfortable and I couldn't feel it, so I went beyond eyebrow contour, which resulted in extra time to clean up. Like I mentioned before, I like quick and easy makeup application, so this was a con to me. This messiness started at the fullest part of the brows, so you can only imagine how bad it was at the end of the brows where they get narrower. The ends got too wide/big, which again resulted in fixing them up. Probably there's no need to mention that at this point I wasn't happy at all. The other downside of this product is that when looking up close I could see tiny loose fibers/particles on my brows, and especially around the areas where I have lighter brow hair. It didn't look good.

One time was one time too much by using Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder by itself, so I thought I might use it on top of other brow products. So, when I was getting ready to go out on Friday night I carefully applied this products on top of the other brow product to enhance the color (that part went ok), and proceeded to applying highlighter under my brow bone. Guess what - one more fail! The brow builder smeared all over my upper lid, because it got dragged by the highlighter brush. I must say I have never experienced that with any other of the 3 products mentioned earlier. I can apply my brow product, and highlighter right after it, and I get no messiness. While this product has good reviews on 100% Pure website, it just didn't work for me.      


To sum it up, I prefer 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Eye Brow Powder Gel and Sante brow pencil over the other two as they give the smoothest application. They will definitely be repurchased in the future. I will try including 100% Pure's Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder into my eyebrow routine, but if I can't find a way for it to work, I'm not gonna cry and just gonna get rid of it. As for 100% Pure Long Last Brows, I will continue using it, but right now I don't think I'll repurchase it.

Brand Review: Mojo Spa

It's been a long time since I reviewed a brand. I love doing that as I get to know the brand, its products, and since I'm in no rush, I get to see the pros and cons of them. Today I'm coming back with Mojo Spa (link here) which has a huge range of handmade cosmetics. Usually when I think about handmade, I imagine small batches of a couple specialized products (e.g. soaps/face care/perfume). With Mojo Spa things are different as they offer makeup for eyes, lips and face, different lines of skincare, various products for body care and bath. They also have such an exciting thing as massage candles! I mean it's even impossible to name them all.

When I got to pick my products, I had the hardest task as I wanted to try everything. However, I tried to stay with one theme, and finally picked Lip-A-Luscious lip scrub, Sugar Me Sweet face & body scrub, and Pear Berry body meringue. I opened and tested all these items the day I got them, because I was really curious.

I've always been bad with using lip scrubs. I buy one, try it a couple of times, and I get too lazy to include it in my skincare routine. Though I picked up Lip-A-Luscious lip exfoliator & moisturizer from Mojo Spa, and so far I've been good about using it. When I tested it for the first time, I imagined the texture to be hard-ish, but I was surprised how perfect it was. It's easy to take a little amount out of the jar yet the scrub is not too soft (and not too hard either). The other thing that I love about the texture is that the product is very uniform, and feels the same way when being rubbed on the lips. I've had store bought as well as homemade lip scrubs that have all good stuff (like honey, sugar, oils) in them, yet they seem to be more separated and feel grainy on the lips. I've been using this lip scrub almost every day since I got it, and I really enjoy it. I'm not a big honey person, but the taste doesn't bother me in this one. Usually I wipe it off just out of habit, but I left it on my lips a few times, and I have no complaints.

Before I got Lip-A-Luscious, I used to use a really thick lip balm, leave it on my lips for a few minutes, and wipe off with a towel to create some exfoliating effect. It worked well, but I prefer the actual lip scrub. I only wish Mojo Spa offered more flavors of this.

I've ran out of a body scrub a little while ago, and didn't have one until I got Sugar Me Sweet face & body scrub. I never planned to use this product on my face, and I didn't even try doing that. I only used it as a body scrub. Actually, I already used it up as I always use more than needed. Usually I go through any body scrub container up to 10 oz goes in 1-2 weeks. The smell of this scrub was very pleasant, yet I can't find the right thing to compare it to. It's like the word is on the tip of my tongue, and I can't do it. Maybe I could compare it a little with cookie dough though probably I'm not very accurate. Nevertheless, it was nice, and I think it is pretty much season neutral (not too heavy for summer, not too light for winter).

The first time I tried out the scrub, I tested it on my arm, and was disappointed. It seemed like one of those scrubs that are on the dryer side (even though they contain oils), and half of the product falls off the body when using them in the shower. However, when I tested it in the shower, I changed my mind. The scrub stayed on the skin where I put it, and nothing fell down on the shower floor. It was very gentle on the skin, the sugar particles were very fine, but I could feel exfoliation. It did a good job, but most sugar scrubs do the same in terms of exfoliation, so I can't praise Sugar Me Sweet as something amazing at that. Though one thing really impressed me as this product left a perfect layer of moisture/oils on my skin after the shower, but it didn't feel uncomfortably oily or sticky. I've tried many body scrubs that either didn't leave any film at all or made skin very oily. I still used body cream or lotion after the shower, but I needed lesser amount than usual.

Left: Sugar Me Sweet face & body scrub
Right: Pear Berry body meringue 

Last but not the least is body meringue in Pear Berry flavor. I was very intrigued by the name "meringue" and had to have it. Many people swear by coconut oil for multi purpose use, but I don't like pure coconut oil neither for my hair, nor for my skin. By now it must sound really weird that I pick products with ingredients that I don't like as this body cream has coconut oil as its number 1 ingredient. Though I believe that there are combinations where ingredients may work the way I like even when I dislike them on their own (can I be any more complicated?).

This body meringue is a very interesting product. It looks like a regular body butter/hard oil in the container (actually, it looks like pure coconut oil), but it is very soft once touched. It has mousse-like texture, and melts easily on the skin though the product didn't melt/soften up during a couple hot days that we already had. The good is that it really hydrates the skin, a little goes a long way, and it absorbs pretty quickly. However, it does leave a slightly oily film and glow/shine on the skin, so I probably would use it only on open skin when wearing dresses/skirts/shorts/short sleeves as to get the most of the product and not to rub it into clothes. Let me be clear - it didn't stain my clothing, but I would do that just to benefit the most from the product. Also, the skin feels amazingly soft even next day! I found that one of my favorite ways to use this meringue is to apply a little extra on my legs and then dust some highlighter on the very front of my leg. I use it when going out, and I love the effect.

The bad for me is the smell. I expected it to be more fresh, but it is kinda heavy-ish sweet. I don't smell pear and I don't smell berries, it's just something like berries buried under a pile of sugary sweetness. Again, this might be just my noise, but I'd prefer something lighter. Of course, this might be a con for me, but a pro for someone who is into these kind of flavors.


One more thing that I wanted to mention is that containers were sealed, which is a really big plus for freshness and hygiene. Mojo Spa products are reasonably priced, customer service is great, and I enjoyed the products a lot. When picking my products I wanted everything they have, and now that wish is even bigger. I will definitely try out more as Mojo Spa has such a big selection, and I was very satisfied with what I tried out already. Though I got all 3 products sent to me by the company, the opinion expressed in this article is my own.

My Evening Skincare Routine

I already shared my morning skincare routine, so now I will tell about my evening skincare routine. In general, it's not much more different than what I do in the mornings as I use some of the same products, I layer them on my skin, and I use a lot of different bottles. I'm a little less careful at night about product textures as I don't mind if they take longer to absorb, if they leave a little more oiliness/stickiness on the skin, etc. Just because I don't have to wear makeup afterwards, I'm more forgiving, but I still want the products to meet my expectations.

First thing is to clean my skin, and I do it in two steps. If I don't wear makeup during the day, I might skip step 1, and just wash my face. The step 1 is to remover my mascara and then lightly go through the rest of the face using either Promise Organic coconut facial wipes or Pacifica "cactus water" micellar water. These wipes are not my favorite as I prefer another brand currently, but they do a good job. I only wish they were a little bigger and/or a little thicker. Pacifica's micellar water is amazing. In fact, I like Pacifica face washes and micellar waters a lot, and I might do a separate review on this brand.

Next step is to wash my face with face wash. I also use this pink silicone pad from Sephora. At the moment I'm using Acure sensitivee facial cleanser, which I apply on the cleansing pad and massage all over the face. I'm not sure why, but I prefer that rather than doing that with my fingers, but I have no problems rinsing my face off with my hands.

I'm not going to talk a lot about this duo as I told about them in my morning routine entry (HERE). I apply Dickinson's witch hazel toner on a cotton pad and go over my entire face. Next, I spray Kiehl's"Cactus Flower & Tibetan Ginseng" hydrating mist and let it sink in.

Once my skin is clean, it's time to move on to hydration. Just like in the morning routine, I apply The Ordinary "Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG" eye serum on my undereye area, and then apply The Ordinary "Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5" face serum to my entire face. I let both serums to be absorbed, and layer Laidbare "From Dusk Till Dawn" facial serum on top. Now this serum has oil texture, which isn't my favorite. I don't mind it too much for a nightime product, but if I can choose, I never buy oil based serums.

Again, this is mirroring morning routine, and I apply additional product on my eyes. I like using Strivectin intensive eye concentrate for wrinkles for that purpose. I got it in a sample bag, and didn't think much of it, but I really like it once I started using it. It's a deluxe sample size containing 7g, so it will last a long time. The texture is a little slippery (but doesn't feel silicone-y), it spreads easily, and absorbs quickly. I can't comment on how it works on wrinkles, but it feels nice on, feels hydrating, and that's enough for me. Lastly, I apply face cream to my face and neck. By the way, I know I didn't mention that, but anything I apply to my face, I apply to my neck as well (creams, serums, cleansers, etc.). Currently I'm on a mission to use up a whole bunch of mini cream bottles that I acquired through time, so I use them at night. Right now the lucky one is Kat Burki "Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream", which I fell in love with the moment I tried it for the first time. It is so great that I have it in my wishlist.

My Morning Skincare Routine

I discovered Deciem brands pretty recently, and I was very excited to try their products. So I got a couple different items, and incorporated them into my daily routine. Originally I was thinking to do a review on them, but while with some products I'm halfway done, there are others that are still waiting to be started. I know I mentioned Deciem brands, but this post is not just about them - it's something better! I'm about to share my morning routine, and what products I'm currently using.

The first thing I do in the morning is clean my face and neck with with hazel toner. I know I know, I'm supposed to wash my face in the morning, but this method worked for me for years, and I guess I'm just not into morning face washing. Currently I'm using Dickinson's hydrating witch hazel toner, but Thayer's is just as good. I've used Thayer's for many years, and keep switching between these two brands. I'm not a big fan of how this one smells (it's a little too strong smelling too), so next time I might stick to the regular one.

Next thing I do is use spray/mist. Right now I'm into Kiehl's "Cactus Flower & Tibetan Ginseng" hydrating mist, which I really enjoy. While the bottle is only 2.5 fl oz (75ml), it's lasting quite well. This steps gives extra hydration to the skin, and prepares for next step.

Serum is a product that I skipped many times. In Fact, my skincare routine changes once in a while, and I go from using a bunch of products to minimizing to just a few essentials. Though today is the day of plenty, and I apply all 3 serums every day. The Ordinary "Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG" is an eye serum, which promises to reduce appearance of eye contour pigmentation and of puffiness. One drop is enough for both undereyes, and I use it both morning and night. I have dark undereyes, and I don't believe creams/serums can really help with that, but this serum is really nice, and refreshes, moisturizes, and depuffs my eyes. The Ordinary "Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5" serum for the face goes on next. I've only used a couple hyaluronic serums, but this one is my favorite for sure. It does help with adding moisture to the skin, and I see a difference while using the serum. The texture is a little bit sticky, but once I apply all other creams, and let everything sink in, the face is left soft and hydrated, and there's no stickiness to it. The third serum that goes on the face and neck is Hylamide "Glow Radiance Booster". Directions tell to apply it AM and PM, but I apply it only in the mornings. Over time it gives a little tint to the skin, but nothing dramatic, and nothing like a face tan. It's a nice product, but to be honest, it's not something that I need in my routine, so once I go through it, I'm not gonna repurchase.

By this time my eye serum is absorbed and I apply Drunk Elephant "Shaba Complex" eye serum. I know it says it's a serum, but the texture is like light cream, and I use it as a cream. Even by itself this serum gives me enough hydration. It's light, it's moisturizing, and it's great under makeup.

As for face cream I choose Estelle & Thild "Biocalm" soothing moisture day cream. I only need a small amount of it for whole face, and while it's on the lighter side, it's really hydrating. After trying their body butters and this face cream, I want to try more products from this brand.

My last step  in my morning routine is sunscreen. I used to skip this step many times, because while my skin is normal-dry, my pores get clogged from sun protection products. However, I want to find a product that would work for me, so currently I'm using MyChelle "Sun Shield" with SPF28 and so far it's performing great. I do apply less than recommended amount, but I hope it's better than not using it at all, and I don't have problems with absorption or break outs. This sun protection cream doesn't leave white marks, absorbs quickly, and let's skin breath.

If I'm not too lazy (or not in a rush), I'll use Peter Thomas Roth contouring tool. I'm in the market for a new tool like that, because while this one is great for forehead and for cheeks, I'd prefer something different for the rest of the face as this one is a little too hard on some parts of the face. Just to be clear, I love this tool, and I will continue using it even when I get another one.

Left to Right (top): The Ordinary eye serum, The Ordinary hyaluronic acid serum, Hylamide Glow booster
(bottom) Drunk Elephant eye serum, Estelle & Thild face cream, MyChelle sun protection cream

March Empties

For a while I wasn't collecting empty packaging of the products I've used up as I just wanted to move on to the next product. Though during March I started saving the empties, because I like seeing how much and what I've finished, and also I enjoy getting rid of that pile of things at once. I've been using a lot of samples and minis last month, but I did finish up plenty of full size products.

Ecocare "rose & chamomile"organic facial wipes - amazing! This brand also carries "honey & apple" facial wipes, which I've used many many times, but I tried this scent for the first time. While I still prefer how the apple ones smell, these are just as effective in removing makeup. The wipes stay moist from the first until the last one, they're not too wet and not too dry, they remove any makeup easily and quickly, and one wipe is enough for the whole face. It's a must have in my drawer.

Shiseido facial cotton - another of my must have items. It's soft, big enough, doesn't tear up, doesn't leave cotton pieces on the face. I used to love CVS oval cotton pads, but these are just as great, and the price/quantity are equal too.

Kiehl's calendula deep cleansing foaming facial wash (sample) - it was fine, it did wash my face squeaky clean, but since my skin is normal towards dry, this wash might dry out my skin too much if used constantly.

La Fresh makeup remover wipes - these I got at the hotel, and they do the job. Yet I'm not a fan of the smell, and I can use them while traveling, but I wouldn't choose them as my regular wipes.

     

Andalou "avo cocoa" face mask -  I've used 3 of Andalou's face mask about 4-5 years ago, maybe longer. This was before they changed packaging, and masks themselves (?). Not sure if they really changed the mask, but in my memory it is different. This mask did make my skin soft, but the smell was irritating me, and all I wanted was to wash it off ASAP. It was sickly sweet, so sweet that I applied it as thickly as I could to use it up quickly.

Patchology lip renewal mask (sample) - it's a 5 minute hydrogel lip mask, which I enjoyed a lot! I would want to try out full size. It really lasted only about 5 minutes as it dried or at least didn't feel as hydrating after that time, but my lips felt nice and soft all day long. Though I did struggle a little bit with keeping the mask on - it seemed like it was on perfectly, but once I tried to speak, I couldn't position it as good as before again. By the way, it tastes/smells nice too.

Roloxin Lift instant wrinkle smoothing mask (samples) - I had fun using this mask, but I didn't see results or at least I don't remember them. I also don't have wrinkles, so not sure how it would work on those.

Tata Harper resurfacing mask (sample) - I think I tried this mask before and liked it quite well. Anyway, that was my thoughts before I tried it. This time I used up 2 samples as the directions tell to apply a thick layer, but one sample is barely enough to cover one side of the face pretty lightly. I didn't see any magic after masking, but my skin felt nice, and it wasn't irritated or red.  

Lancer polish, cleanser and moisturizer samples - they were nothing special, very regular. I liked the polish most the 3, and it also smelled nicely.

Tautropfen sea buckthorn misturizer (sample) - it was light, but moisturizing. It was good for a couple uses, and I would use full size.

NARS luminous moisture cream - I didn't like it. It just wasn't for me or for my skin.

Kiehl's pure vitality skin renewal cream - it was way too rich for my skin. I took only a tiny bit of it, and it was enough for whole face. However, after a couple hours I started feeling a pimple coming up on my cheek. This is very unusual to me, and will only happen with very rich creams and pore clogging makeup.

Mario Badescu caviar night cream (sample) - another cream that wasn't for me. I had my usual evening routing, and applied this cream in the end. I needed only a little bit for entire face and neck. 10 minutes later it was sitting on top of my skin, which made me feel greasy and uncomfortable. I wiped down a bit of it, and tried massaging the rest into the skin. Another 20 minutes later the cream still wasn't absorbed, and I had to wipe off as much of it as I could though the skin still felt like I had it on. I used up the rest of the sample on my legs, and I actually quite liked that.

Antipodes avocado & pear nourishing night cream (sample) - I've had the same sample a while ago, and it was too heavy for my, so this one I used up on my legs.

Erno Laszo transphuse eye refiner (1ml sample) - it was an ok eye cream, nothing special, nothing bad to say about it. I used it at night, and it really didn't last long.

Estee Lauder advanced night repair eye (mini) - if I remember correctly, it's only 3ml, but lasted for a couple weeks as only the tiniest amount was needed. It felt too silicone-y for my liking, but it was a good cream.

Caudalie Vinoperfect radiance serum (mini) - I prefer different texture (more watery or gel-like) serums, and since this one was like a very thin face lotion, I don't think I'd buy it full size. I also didn't like the dropper as at least on the mini, it was very uncomfortable in the hand and kept slipping out.

Odacite Marula Neroli serum concentrate (sample) - in general, I'm not a fan of oil based facial serums and mostly avoid them, but neroli is my only exception. Neroli is the only oil that doesn't clog my pores, doesn't sit on top of my skin, doesn't make me break out, etc. This is going to my wishlist as I do want a full size bottle. This serum makes my skin super soft, plump, full of moisture. I couldn't stop touching my face all day long (applied it on the day when I wasn't wearing makeup).

Burt's Bees nourishing lip balm - I love Burt's Bees lip balms! This one is no exception, and I will keep buying them again and again.  

Andalou clementine & ginger shower gel - I loved the smell, but the shower gel and the packaging were just ok. The packaging wasn't comfortable in the hand and felt as if I needed a lot of strength to squeeze out any product. The shower gel itself was like drying jell-o - it wasn't runny, it wasn't thick, but kinda in pieces that stuck together. It was ok if used with a sponge, but when I tried using it without a sponge, most of it would fall onto shower floor as somehow it didn't apply/stick to the skin.

L'occitane shower oil (mini) - I know a lot of people go crazy for its smell, but for me it wasn't that special. Yes, it smelled nice, but a little soapy. This oil lathers up once in contact with water, and it is very long lasting as only a tiny amount is needed.

Estelle & Thild spring rose body butter - must have for sure! The smell is heavenly! This body butter is in the form of cream, not too thick, not thin, but a small container lasts a long time. The smell is lovely on all of them (I used up a couple of these butters before), but it isn't strong. It moisturizes the skin well, and I will definitely buy them again.

Secret clinical strength deodorant - one more of my must haves. When I need 100% protection, it always does the job. No wetness, no smell.

Skin & Co citrus amaro hand cream (mini) -  it was good though I prefer my other hand creams. I did like the size a lot as it is perfect for carrying in the handbag.

John Masters Organics hand cream samples - I'm throwing these away as I've had them for a long while, and they're probably not good anymore. I might still have the same hand cream in full size somewhere around the house, and I should get rid of it too. While I love JMO as a brand, and I have my wholly grail products, this wasn't one of them. It's a little too thin, and also it makes my hand skin itchy once in a while.

Andalou exotic marula oil hair mask - this is supposed to be for one time use, but my hair is long, and it lasted me 3-4 times. I use all masks on my ends and go up half the hair length. This mask has a little bit minty smell, but it's very pleasant. It gives moisture to the hair, and leaves hair soft and manageable.

Moroccanoil shampoo and conditioner samples - I'm not big on rose fragrance in my skin/body/hair products, but I really enjoyed the way the shampoo smelled. They both did their job, but I don't think there was anything special that would make me buy full size.

Laura Mercier pressed mineral foundation - this is my one and only mineral foundation since I discovered it almost 2 years ago. Laura Mercier also has loose mineral foundation that I enjoy equally though I prefer pressed version as it's easier to travel with.

Priti NYC nail polish in Ginger Snap Orchid - it's a beautiful color and a wonderful nail polish. I've mentioned this brand in my recent post. It is one of my favorite brands, but it's hard to get, and the colors online aren't accurately the same as in real life. Though the nail polish stays on well, applies easily and dries quickly.

The fragrance samples that I used up weren't anything special, and not something I must have in full size bottle, and since I'm not best as describing how fragrance smell, I'm not gonna describe them separately.