March empties

I know this is a long due post but I've been very busy because of the tax season. I didn't use up a lot of full size products this month but I managed to finish up a lot of samples.

Mamonde Flower Vitamin Massage: I always have problem finishing up massage cream especially this one. This has too much fragrance in it and I hate the floral smell. The first few times I enjoyed it but after a while I hated the scent so it took me over a year to finish this massage cream. I would buy other massage creams but not this one.

Biotherm Aquasource: I hate this cream. I don't hate the smell but there is something in the formula that caused serious breakouts on my skin. I ended up using it as a body lotion.

Nuskin clay pack: I love this clay pack. It's a non drying clay mask that doesn't irritate my cheeks. I would definitely repurchase it. 

Clinique clarifying lotion 2: It's a clarifying toner that I've been using on and off for several years. This is not my regular toner but I do use it when my skin is acting up. I always have a bottle of this toner at home.

Etude House Moistful toner and emulsion: These do not provide enough hydration to my skin.  I've tried using them in place of the Sulwhasoo toner and emulsion during my regular skin care routine and they left my skin super dry. I didn't notice the difference on my skin on the first day but after using it for several days, I noticed my skin getting dehydrated. I guess I'm too old for Etude house skin care products.

Yu-bi Moisturizing cream: There are good reviews about this cream on Sephora but I hate it. It didn't absorb into my skin. I left a waxy layer on my skin and it didn't smell nice. 

Regene Smoothy White concentrate: It is a non greasy sunscreen but it does leave a white cast on your face. If you have pale skin, this isn't a problem for you. This is still one of the sunscreen I repurchase once in a while.

Missha Super Aqua Oxygen Deep Pore Cleanser: This is a bubble cleanser, you spread a layer on your skin and it turns into bubble then you start to rub it and clean your face. You can use it as your make up remover as well but I wouldn't trust anything other than my cleansing oil or cleansing balm for removing make up. There are other bubble cleanser/masks on the market so I don't think I'll repurchase it.

Sulwhasoo Clarifying Mask: I love peel off masks. Like all peel off masks, it brightens your complexion and removes dirt from your pores and also remove fine facial hair. This one has an amazing ginseng scent to it. I still have a few samples packs that would last me several times but I will buy it. 

Fancl Washing Powder: This is still one of my favourite face wash. I find this being the best washing powder in the market. It's not readily available in Canada and that's the only reason why I stopped using it. 

Lancome Visionnaire serum: The alcohol scent is just too strong in this serum. After I apply it on my skin all I could smell was alcohol. There are other better serums out there for me to choose from. Not going to buy it.

Nature Republic fresh aqua serum: For the price it's quite good as a hydrating serum but not readily available in Canada. Again there are other serums I want to test out so I don't think I'll buy it.

Elishacoy Snail Cream: I love this cream. It worked wonders to my skin. I used it when I was having minor breakouts and it helped calm the pimples and redness on my skin. I like it so much I am considering switching to the snail skin care line during the summer.

The Face Shop White tree snow serum: It did nothing to my skin. It was heavily fragrant and I don't like it. Not a product I would consider buying.

Julep one step polish remover pads: I like these little pads. They are convenient so I would probably buy some.

Tymes agave nectar body lotion: The samples was so small I couldn't test out the product properly. 

Sally Hansen Raidiant hands, nails and cuticles: I find it too greasy and non absorbant.

Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Puree Body Lotion: I know I shouldn't be using this in March and should save it for the summer but I wanted to finish it quickly so I used it in the wrong month. It would be perfect for the summer as it cools your skin but using it during winter means that it's not hydrating enough. 

Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia cream: I love this body cream. I love the scent and I think it'll be a splurge when I get my bonus and tax refund later this month. 

Burts Bee lotion: Another non absorbing lotion. I still have a few samples of these I need to get rid of. 

Benefit that gal primer: It brightens my complexion and I got it at a great price so I still have one or two at home. 

Mereadessco lip balm: I don't like this lip balm, it's not hydrating and it does nothing to my lips. It was so hard to finish this product as it did nothing to my lips. 

Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes: I'm normally not picky about face wipes but these face wipes I find them drying and couldn't remove all make up on my face. 

Selena cotton pads: I love these cotton pads and they can be split into 5 layers for lotion masks. I already found a place that sells them cheaper than J town so I will get them next time I head out. 

What products have you used up lately?

February Empties

This is my first empty post and this is my first time tracking how much product I use up in a month. Every time I empty a product I just dump it in the recycle bin so I'm actually amazed at the amount of products I use up in a regular month.

Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Toner Alcohol free: I love using toners and I find toners clear out my skin. This toner is non drying and leaves my skin smooth. I also used this with my ion cleansing device. 

Repurchase: maybe as I enjoy trying out new products

Avene Eau Thermale: I love thermal water. They give my skin a great boost in the afternoon. I especially enjoy using them during the warmer months.

Repurchase: already have!

Give & Give Venus All in one EGF skin care lotion: An all in one skin care lotion that can be used as a last step for cleansing, toning, as a mask, essence. I've been using this everywhere. I use this for cleansing in the morning and the last step of cleansing at night. I also use it as a mask during shower and I use it as a body lotion. 

Repurchase: Yes! 

Sulwhasoo skin clarifying mask: A peel off mask that brightens and deep cleanses. It has the light ginseng smell you find in all Sulwhasoo products. 

Repurchase: Already have

Sulwhasoo First Care Serum: The first step skin care serum you use before your toner. Leaves my skin silky smooth. I use it with my ion cleansing device during the micro-pat mode. I ran out of this product but will go get a new bottle this week

Repurchase: Yes 

Sulwhasoo Balancing water: This is a a gel like toner and I use it every day. It keeps my skin moist and great for winter use. This is my HG toner so I normally have it on my counter. 

Repurchase: Already have

Sulwhasoo Balancing Emulsion: I would say this is a light lotion where I use it after my daily serum. Another HG skin care product that is always on my counter.

Repurchase: Already have

Sulwhasoo Firming Cream: A great cream that smells good and keeps my face hydrated. I don't have dry patches on my face when I use this product. But I haven't noticed any change to my skin in terms of its firming effect.

Repurchase: Maybe

I stopped using my regular toner and emulsion to try this line. I've always been using the whitening serum so I wanted to see if using the entire line will  help brighten my skin a little bit more. 

Sulwhasoo snowise balancing water: This is a gel like toner that I tried. I went through three tiny bottles of this toner. It's like the regular Sulwhasoo balancing water but not as moisturizing.

Repurchase: maybe but during the summer

Sulwhasoo snowise whitening fluid: I also went through 3 bottle of this emulsion. This is like the balancing emulsion but not as good. It's thicker than the regular emulsion. It's still easily absorbed into my skin but it doesn't do much. I tried to like this product but doesn't seem to be working for me.

Repurchase: No

Sulwhasoo snowise whitening serum: This is a milky white serum that I've been using for a while. It does a good job in brightening my skin and lightened my dark spots. It also helped lighten the freckles on my cheek. 

Repurchase: Already have

Sulwhasoo snowise whitening cream: A cream that is not hydrating enough and I don't find the whitening results that obvious.

Repurchase: No

DDF Advanced Firming cream: A moisturizer that stinks. I don't mind using a fragrance free product but this one the smell is just horrible and it did nothing in terms of firming my skin. It was a deluxe sized sample (15ml) so it was so hard for me finish it. 

Repurchase: No

Dead Sea Spa collagen, beta carotene and seaweed mask: It hydrates my skin and leaves it silky smooth. It revitalizes my skin and I do enjoy using this mask. But I have too many face masks at home so I don't think I will buy it even I like it. 

Repurchase: Maybe 

History of Whoo cream cleanser: I got 4 uses from this little sample. I've never tried a cream cleanser before. I've used cleansing soap, foam, gel, oil, cleansing milk but never cleansing cream. This left my skin soft and smooth and it didn't dry out my skin at all. There is also a light herbal scent to it. I love this cleanser and I will get this cleanser.

Repurchase: Yes

History of Whoo Hwa Hyun Essence: An essence that smells great. It's a cream like essence. It is an anti-aging brightening serum. I don't see any results but it felt great on my skin. I'm not used to cream essence and I find it too expensive. It's around $260 for the full size serum. 

Repurchase: No

Thymes Kimono Rose body lotion: Sample too small to really test it out. Smelled nice but not hydrating enough

Repurchase: No

Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil: To me this is the best cleansing oil on the market. I like this even more than the Shu cleansing oil. I've been on and off using this for years.

Repurchase: Yes

DHC Olive virgin oil: I used it on the dry patches on my skin. Helped moisture my skin but I think you can have those results from any face oil. I'm never a fan of DHC so I was just trying to get rid of the product.

Repurchase: No

Fresh Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment: Fresh lip treatments are always good. I kept this at my work desk and it helped keep my lips moist. Do I notice a difference between the lip therapy and regular lip treatment? I actually find the regular lip treatment easier to glide onto my lips. It's a good lip treatment but I prefer the regular Sugar Lip Treatment because there is SPF 15 in it.  

Repurchase: No

Jo Malone Vitamin E Nourishing Hand treatment: A hand cream that is quite long lasting. 

Repurchase: Maybe

Cuccino Naturale butter: This smelled so good I kept on sniffing my hands. I couldn't get enough of it. I don't find it long lasting and wasn't hydrating enough. But I think it would be suitable for warmer months. It smelled so good I will buy it again

Repurchase: Yes

Eucerin calming cream: This sample is too small for me to try out on my skin. I used it on my body and i only had enough product to cover 1 leg so I don't see any results. Given it's a drug store brand I might pick up a bottle during sales just to test it out.

Repurchase: Maybe

Naruko Magnolia Brightening and Firming mask: I already wrote a review for this product. So I'm not going to go through the details. Overall a good paper mask ( Review here)

Repurchase: Yes

Naruko Raw Job's Tears Mask: I already wrote a review for this product. So I'm not going to go through the details. Overall a good paper mask ( Review here)

Repurchase: Yes

Beauty Friends Herb Mask: A mask that didn't have enough essence in it. Did nothing to my skin. At least it didn't dry out my skin. 

Repurchase: No

Beauty Friends Green Tea Mask: Again, there is not enough essence in the mask and I don't notice any difference to my skin after using it. 

Repurchase: No

Elishcoy Snail Skin Repairing Mask: My first snail mask. It's an amazing mask. It pumped up my skin, gave it enough moisture and calmed my skin. The result of this mask lasted two days. Amazing face mask. It's around $2 a piece if you purchase it from Korea. 

Repurchase: Yes

Regene Honey Sos Nourishing Mask: a Royal jelly and honey mask. I use it as an emergency mask when my skin is very dry. An all time favourite paper mask of mine.

Repurchase: Yes

Regene Vita Aqua Spa Rejuvenating Mask: A deep hydrating mask that delivers. Great moisturizing mask.

Repurchase: Maybe

My Beauty Diary Strawberry Yogurt Mask: Didn't do much to my skin. 

Repurchase: No

Beautymate Bright up Nano Eye Mask: Did what it claimed! It helped brighten my dark circles. The effects are not long lasting but great product to use before those special occasions. The price is also reasonable. I remember paying $10 for a box of 7 masks at pacific mall.

Repurchase: yes

Laniege White plus renew apple zone mask: It came as a set with my laneige eye cream. I used up the eye cream a long time ago and all I had left were the eye masks. This is a gel mask that didn't do much to my skin. It just refreshes the skin without providing any whitening effect.

Repurchase: No

So have you tried any of these products?