Use It or Lose It May: Pan and Purge Project 2020

Copper Pink N9 Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick Mini | Make Up For Ever

Monday, May 18, 2020

Use It or Lose It April: Pan and Purge Project 2020

Happy Monday, dear readers! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I've been laying low since a surgery Friday morning, and thankfully I've been up and about without too much issue. I still have more testing ahead of me, but it's one day at a time as I get through this. Now on to today's post!

It's later than I would have liked, but here is my post featuring my Pan and Purge Project items from this year. I decided to set of goal of 175 products to leave my beauty stash. While it may seem lofty, this goal includes not just products I have emptied but those that don't work for me and have decided to destash. April wasn't a particularly productive month, but I definitely made some progress towards my goal. Let'e jump in and I'll share what I used up and what I opted to let go during the month of April!

Use It: The Empties

As the subtitle suggests, these are the items I have finished up this month.

Skincare

GLOW Glycolic Boost Brightening Infusion Sheet Mask | PIXI Beauty

I'm a fan of Pixi's Glow Tonic, and this is another way to get the glycolic acid experience with a little extra self pampering of a mask. I don't have a lot of time for masking right now with the kids home all day, but this was still a nice little treat. I kept this (and the last remaining one) in my fridge so it is delightfully cool, especially now that it has gotten hot around here. I'm not looking to purchase single use masks so I won't be replacing these when I use my last one.

Starry Eyes Indulgent Self-Warming Eye Mask | Popmask London

I'm generally a fan of a cool mask, so this is an interesting experience for me. I applied this mask just before going to bed, and the warmth has help to send me off to la la land. I have another one of these waiting for me, but again, I don't anticipate replacing these when I use my last one.

Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule | MIZON

I've been a fan of snail mucin-based products, and this particular one my MIZON is one I have repurchased several times. I prefer to use this in the evening as it pills up on my skin under makeup when used during the day. As much as I have loved this, I actually like the following snail mucin product more so I may finally have moved on.

Advanced Snail Repair Cream | THEPURI

It may be called a cream, but the texture is much closer to a lightweight gel moisturizer. I like that it has a high snail mucin content- a whopping 92%- and it is rather affordable at less than $20! It plays well under makeup, and now that my moisturizer needs are even less with the hot summer months upon us, this is actually enough for me for most days. I've got another one open and in use now!

First Care Activating Serum | Sulwhasoo

I was really interested in trying this product out as a first step in my post-cleansing routine, and I'm afraid to say it didn't have the WOW factor I was expecting. It is reported to help hydrate and firm the skin, but I didn't notice anything spectacular that other products I enjoy can do. Add the much higher price tag to this and I don't think it is worth it for me.

Cosmetics

Rainbow Sherbet Lip Balm | Epically Epic Soap Co.

I'm not sure how much I would consider a lip balm a cosmetic item, but this is the closest I got to completing one this past month. I really like the Epically Epic Soap Co. brand, and the flavor options are always fun and interesting. Sadly Rainbow Sherbet is no longer available, but with other great options to choose from, I'm not too broken hearted to see this one empty.

Nails

Pistachio Macaron Cuticle Oil | Bohemian Polish

Cuticle oils really have been my BFF lately with so much hand washing, and I have systematically been going through my collection of oils! This one by Bohemian Polish is such a good cuticle oil, and a brand I am happy to recommend if you are searching for your perfect cuticle oil. I really enjoyed this scent, but the brand has so many others to select from should Pistachio Macaron not appeal to you. I'm still trying to work my way through other cuticle oils I have on hand, but I am very likely to pick up another one of these once I have done so!

Body

White Tea and Ginger Shower Gel | Bath & Body Works

I LOVE with Bath & Body Works offers retired scents! White Tea and Ginger is one of my favorites from B&BWs, so I always grab several when this becomes available. Other than the scent, it isn't a spectacular body wash and leaves my skin a little stripped and needing a lotion application follow-up. I don't mind it too much but I may finally be at the point where I stop picking these up. I may have my last one in a different scent left, so my time with the brand may be coming to an end this year.

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Lose It: Purged Products

These are the items that are not empty but I have decided to let go.

Skincare

Divine Beauty Serum | Sahara Rose

I picked up this oil-based serum as part of the Cosmoprof North America Boutique last summer, and after multiple uses, I finally decided it was time to let it go. Every time I used it on my face, I would break out horribly, and it was just not the right feel that I want for in my hair. I suppose it could be used on the rest of my body, but oils aren't really my thing so it's just time to let it go.

Cosmetics

This is one of those products that I should have finished, but unfortunately it just smells off and not something I want to be putting on my face at this point. I came across it while searching for something else, opened it, and noticed a very unpleasant plastic scent. It's a pretty pink-brown hue and one I enjoyed for awhile there.

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And this, dear readers, concludes the products I either finished off or decided to purge during the month of April. Let's check out my stats to this point!

Monthly Stats

Empties: 8

Purged: 2

Total: 10

Yearly Stats

Empties: 50

Purged: 47

Total: 97

April may be my least successful month this year, but I am still well on my way to hitting my goal! Being sick has really slowed down my product use and testing, but if I can keep up at this pace, I should still be able to meet my goal.

Have you tried any of these products? What have you finished up lately? I'd love to hear about your empties, especially which products you have loved!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!

XO!

Connect with me on Social Media!

Calendula Facial Cleansing Tissues | Moira Beauty

Monday, April 20, 2020

Use It or Lose It March: Pan and Purge Project 2020

Greetings dear readers! I had hoped to get this post up last week, but it was a particularly stressful one around here. I have been in and out of the Urgent Care and Emergency Room, and at this point, I am arguably more mentally spent than I am physically. I still wanted to get this post up, so I've been plugging away at it over the weekend to get it up. We're already two thirds of the way through April, but I have been determined to get the March edition of my Pan and Purge Project here on the blog.

This year, I decided to set a goal of 175 products that need to be either emptied or purged from my stash. While it may sound like a lofty goal, I have a rather large collection of items that just don't get used. It's not always been easy, but it feels good to empty another container or just let go of something I didn't love but still held onto for some crazy reason. Let's get a look at what has left my stash for the month of March!

Use It: The Empties

As the subtitle suggests, these are the items I have finished up this month.

Skincare

Essentials Foaming Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin | Clean & Clear

This has been a favorite go-to facial cleanser for me for several years now, and I keep going back to it. It is gentle enough for my skin and leaves it feeling clean without feeling overly stripped or raw. I really like the affordable price point, especially since the hubby has decided he likes using it too, and we have another one in use now!

Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea | Mario Badescu

I've gone through a couple bottles of this Mario Badescu facial spray! It is the perfect pick-me-up for my skin, especially living in a drier climate. I also like to use a light spritz when applying some of my skin care products like when using my hyaluronic acid. I've got another bottle already open and in use of this baby as well!

Glow Glycolic Boost Brightening Infusion Sheet Mask | PIXI

A friend of mine gifted me this (and a couple other) masks, although I have only tried this single one. I do enjoy PIXI skincare products and this mask was no exception. I don't foresee myself picking up more than the others i already have as I stopped buying these types of masks, but it is a nice product.

Repairing Neck and Decollatage Treatment | Restorsea

I have spent so much time focusing on my face and not enough time on my decollaté. Thankfully this treatment from Restorsea did wonders to help smooth out my skin and turn back the clock thanks to an enzyme in the fish hatching industry. For those who must be wondering, no, this does not smell like fish. I really could use some more, but I have to look into the details of shipping as these enzymes are temperature sensitive and it's in the 90's this week here.

Hyaluronic Acid PURE | Timeless Skin Care

I've used products that contains hyaluronic acid before, but this was a first for me that was about as pure as you could get- HLA suspended in an alcohol solution. Because it has to be suspended in alcohol (otherwise you would have a powdered product), it can be drying to the skin if you do not take the added precautions of applying to slightly damp skin. I like to not fully dry my face after washing, apply this to the skin until rubbed in, and then follow up with my Mario Badescu spritz. I currently have other Hyaluronic acid products in rotation, but I'm planning to pick up another one of these when I'm needing more.

C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream | Drunk Elephant

I got this eye cream after reading a positive review, but to be honest, I wasn't that impressed with it. Yes, my eye area looked fine, but this eye cream didn't seem to do anything special that other, far cheaper versions already do for me. The packaging is cool, but I don't love not knowing exactly how much is left and trying to guess when I will need a replacement bottle. I'm glad I tried it, but I will not be repurchasing it.

Nutrilogie 2 | Vichy Laboratoires

If you followed along on my Instagram stories in February, you likely would have seen this moisturizer. After having what appeared to be a chemical burn from an unrelated product, I picked up this moisturizer as it didn't have any potentially irritating products on my extremely fragile and sensitive skin. While this moisturizer is richer than my skin would normally prefer, it is exactly what my skin needed at the time! I’m likely to pick up another for night use when winter rolls around again. As for now, my skin is healed and it is just too much for it this time of year.

Beauty Sleep Water | Harmony Proteins

After trying out some other Harmony Proteins collagen supplement flavors, I picked this one up when I spotted it at my Walmart. While I'm still not entirely convinced ingested collagen helps the appearance of skin, I do believe it can help your joints. Not to mention, the added flavor can help encourage drinking more water! I’m not really sure this helped with my sleep, and the flavor sadly was just not my favorite. I'm going to stick with their watermelon flavor for the time being.

Mint Juleps Lip Scrub | LUSH

I'm a big fan of lip scrubs, and I always seem to have one from LUSH in my drawer! As the name would suggest, this particular one is minty, but I did enjoy it. I wouldn't say it is my favorite option, but I didn't care for the other flavor options when I purchased this one so Mint Juleps it was! Now that my trip to New Orleans this week has been cancelled, I kind of wish I hadn't finished it off yet so I could pretend to have more of the experience at home....

Starry Eyes Indulgent Self-Warming Eye Mask | Popmask

I got a few of these from a friend and was really eager to try one out. The masks stsart to warm immediately after unfolding and fit comfortably on the eyes and stay secured with elastic bands. It was a nice luxury experience from the comfort of my home, and I even fell asleep wearing it. The heating sensation lasts for about 20 masks and the masks are not reusable, at least if you want the heat aspect. It is a nice treat and I am looking forward to using the others I have on hand. I’m still on the fence as to whether or not I would purchase more.

Cosmetics

It's U Setting Spray | Sistar Cosmetics

I've not been wearing a lot of makeup lately as I've been slowly recovering from being sick, but setting spray is a product I use a lot. My usage hasn't been too bad, but as the days heat up, I find I have to start applying setting spray multiple times as I apply layers of makeup on my face. While this one from Sistar Cosmetics isn't quite as fine as I would like- I really like very thin mists- it was perfectly functional for me. I would use my blender to soften any areas in my face that felt particularly damp, but that's par for the course with other setting sprays I use. I didn't get to try this in the high heart of summer here, and because it is so affordable, I'm thinking of picking up another one and see how it holds up in our 110ºF+ days.

Nails

Hand Lotion | eos

There was a time I loves eos products, and to be frank, I'm not sure what I was thinking. I got this as part of a set, and I just wasn't crazy about it. I know I've been washing my hands A LOT more than usual and using alcohol sprays to wipe down things entering (and leaving) my home, so I know I am asking a lot from a hand lotion right now. That being said, this would leave my hands feeling moisturized immediately after use, but an hour or so later my hands would just feel dry. I have another one from the set I am currently using in rotation with others, but I'm ready to say farewell to the brand.

French 75 Cuticle Oil | Northern Star Polish

All this hand washing also has me using cuticle oils more frequently, and this one was part of a set that was exclusive to the Polish Pickup. Northern Star Polish cuticle oils always work really well for me, so I have numerous scents open and in rotation at any given point. The downside about this being exclusive is I will not be able to get this particular scent again unless it is offered during the flashbacks in July, but I love so many of the other scent offerings that I admittedly have forgotten what it smelled like by now.

Body

Hand & Body Lotion | Smartly

I first picked up this product (but not this exact bottle) on a whim while at Target one day when I saw it was unscented and affordable without fancy packaging, and I am so glad I did! It's a nice daily use moisturizer on its own, but I often use this to cut my scented moisturizers. I am particularly sensitive to smells, and while I may enjoy the scent of a product, it tends to be too strong when used as a lotion applied over my body. I have a couple bottles of these Smartly lotions in my house as my kids like using it too, and I don't have to worry about fragrances irritated my oldest's eczema-prone skin.

After The Rain Sugar Scrub | KBShimmer
Lime Margarita Sugar Scrub | KBShimmer

I know you've seen me say it before, but in case you forgot, I really LOVE KBShimmer sugar scrubs! Both these scents were exclusive to the Polish/Indie Pickup and I've been slowly using them because I know I cannot replace them. Between these two scent options, After The Rain was more to my taste as it was a lighter scent in general and could be used in the shower. While Lime Margarita smells delicious (and has quite a fan following from what I could see), the scent was too strong for me to use on my body and was delegated to hand scrub use only. At least that allowed me to enjoy the scent more often! Again, these were exclusives and no longer available, but KBShimmer does have a new Spun Sugar scent coming up in about two weeks at the next Polish Pickup opening.

Hair

Melon-tini Invisible Dry Shampoo | Garnier Fructis

I have my dry shampoos that I love and tend to stick with, but when I spotted this one at Target, I opted to get one to try. I'm used to having to brush out the white cast many dry shampoos initially leave in my hair, and I was pretty impressed that I didn't have to really do that with this dry shampoo. While the scent isn't quite what I was hoping for, it still wasn't bad, not that I can really smell my short hair much, particularly at the roots where this would be applied. I did feel like this dry shampoo would really only buy me a day of not having to wash my hair again without reapplication unlike some of the others I use that get me two days. I wouldn't place this dry shampoo in my list of favorites, but I wouldn't mind using it in a pinch if my favorites weren't available.

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Lose It: Purged Products

These are the items that are not empty but I have decided to let go.

Skincare

Facial wipes aren't really my jam- I don't think they remove makeup particularly well and I'm not a fan of the waste. That being said, I usually like to have small packs on hand for when I attend assorted beauty shows so I can easily swatch products in my hand and/or arm and remove without having to make a mess. I had hoped these would work for me, but they were so irritating to my skin and did not work well to remove easy, non stubborn makeup. This makes these a definite no-go, even for the little I use this type of product.

Better Skin Lava Magik Cleanser Scrub Mask | The Better Skin Co

I believe this was part of a recent FabFitFun box I had purchased, and I knew immediately I likely would not be a fan of this product. I do not like harsh scrubs when it comes to my face, and given the pumice content on this baby, I quickly realized my assumption was correct. I still attempted to use this a handful of times as a very diluted face wash and a mask, but it was still horribly abrasive. I am keeping the little scoop that came with it though to use with other jar products.

Cosmetics

Orange Cream Blush | NYX Cosmetics

Y'all, I am so sad to let this go, I'm really feeling orange blush right now but I've had this one for a few years now and it is just time to let it go. It smells fine and din't get much use as orange wasn't my thing when I was gifted it, but I just don't trust cream products after a certain period of time. I have been enjoying cream blushes a lot in particular recently so if you have a good orange suggestion, even if it is a powder, please let me know!

Frozen Cream Pigment | Hikari Cosmetics

Like the previous product, this one also hurts a little to let go. Again, this is a cream product I have had for a few years, and I just don't feel comfortable putting it on my eyes any longer. The colour is a beautiful silver, a shade that I generally wear very infrequently, so I'm mostly ok with saying goodbye to it. Even now it swatches with smooth pigmentation on the skin so I may end up picking up a few other Hikari Cream Pigments in shades I would wear frequently so I can at least get more use before I have to let them go.

Naturally Neutral Airspun Loose Face Powder | Coty

I know some people love this loose face powder to set their makeup, and they affordable price is a great perk, but I just cannot get over the smell. It is just too perfumey for me, and as someone that has a very sensitive nose, I found myself still smelling it long after applying it to my skin. This particular shade is also a touch too light for my skin tone, but with the smell issue, I have no desire to pick up a translucent or darker shade.

Rotating Makeup Brush (Foundation brush head) | blendSMART

I stumbled across this product at Cosmoprof North America a few years ago and was really excited about it at the time. It was a cool concept and a great way to apply foundation to the skin. Since that time, my techniques and preferences have changed, and this brush just doesn't suit my needs like it did then. In an effort to attempt to declutter my brush collection, it's sadly just time for me to let this one go. It was fun for awhile, but since I never grab for it any more (and got irritated with it when I did recently while debating on whether or not to keep it), it's gotta go.

Rosè Face Perfecting 4 piece brush set | MōDA Brushes

I've been wearing makeup a long time, and while I do enjoy trying new things and my techniques are constantly evolving, I had never tried this style of brushes until now. After reaching them in a mystery box, I was actually pretty excited to try them out. Unfortunately, I was really unhappy with these brushes. I found the bristles to be so densely packed that I never felt like I could get a particularly even application. In comparison to the brush heads, the handles just felt flimsy and these brushes were poorly balanced between the hand weight and the brush head weight. I don't know if this means paddle-style brushes in general are not for me or if this set just doesn't cut it. Those that have used paddle brushes, please chime in and let me know what you think!

Brush Essentials 6 piece Travel brush set | Royal & Langnickel

This was another item in a mystery box, and I was particularly interested in trying out this set. I like to travel light, and I have been on the hunt for my perfect mini brush set to save me some space. Sadly, this set was just not it. While they weren't particularly harsh on my hand, the eye brushes were so uncomfortably scratchy when applying product. Attempting to then blend became painful fast! The foundation and blush brushes in this set weren't bad and performed reasonably well for me, but when all is said and done, I'm not happy with the overall performance of the set. Using this set was, I believe, the final straw in my attempt at finding a good compact travel set and made me accept that I should just take my full size brushes that I love. It's not like I have to take my full brush collection anyway, and these mini sets really aren't saving me that much space.

Monthly Stats

Empties: 17

Purged: 16

Total: 33

Yearly Stats

Empties: 42

Purged: 45

Total: 87

For March not feeling like a productive month for me- I was sick for part of it and not as focused on testing as I wanted for other times- looking at the stash I put in my discard bin, and writing this all up, I feel rather accomplished! April is unfortunately nowhere near as productive, but I've been sick all month so I'm giving myself a pass. Besides, I've already hit half my goal in the first 3 months of the year. It's not always easy to be really honest with myself when it comes to products I just don't use, but in the end, I've not found myself missing anything I have let go.

Have you set any goals on panning or purging products this year? How has your progress been towards that goal? I know times are particularly stressful right now, but I know you can do it!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!

XO!

Connect with me on Social Media!

Body Soufflé | Human + Kind

Monday, March 2, 2020

Use It or Lose It February: Pan and Purge Project 2020

Greetings, dear readers, and happy Monday! It has been quite some time since I've posted on a Monday here on the blog! I have a few things I really would like to try to post this week, and I figured an early jump might help with those plans. Whether or not it all happens is another story, but I'm certainly going to try! Now let's get to today's post!

I decided once again to challenge myself to use and/or destash my beauty products this year; my goal for 2020 is to pan and purge a total of 175 items. While it certainly would be a lofty goal if all I did was pan items, destashing products that I just don't use or really enjoy (but still held onto as if my life depended on it) makes my goal attainable. My numbers for February pale in comparison to January's, but I'm hoping to make good progress testing out my potential destash pile this month.

These are the items that have left my stash in February.

Use It: The Empties

As the subtitle suggests, these are the items I have finished up this month.

Cosmetics

Photo Focus Foundation | wet n wild x2

I have a variety of open foundations, so it took some time to get these empty, but I did it! These are the original matte formula, and since wet n wild didn't have my exact shade, I ended up purchasing two and tweaked them to get pretty close to my colour. It's not been kept secret that these have a rather unpleasant chemical smell, but I found the smell disappears rather quickly, allowing me to use these until completion. I actually really enjoyed these as an affordable drugstore option, but I really wish they had a bigger shade range. The brand's cruelty-free status has been a hot topic since it has been discovered they sell in China, so between these points, I don't foresee repurchasing these.

Nourishing Lip Polish | PIXI Beauty

I have bent and twisted this tube so much to get every drop out I could that the writing on the the tube has come off! I've been using this product (not this particular tube!) for a few years now and really like it! The textured silicone applicator allows for gentle exfoliation, but it is the product itself that I like. Filled with shea butter and a blend of oils, the Nourishing Lip Polish has saved my lips from being wrecked when I end up with a cold and cannot breathe through my nose. I actually use it when I'm not sick as well, but the fact that my lips can sail through a cold without any noticeable difference speaks wonders about this product. It's a must have for me, and I already have a replacement open and in use.

Body

Rice Flower and Shea Shower Gel | Bath & Body Works

This is one of my favorite scents from B&BWs, and naturally it means that had to discontinue it! Every once in awhile they would have a clear-out, either in store or online, where I happen to stumble across a bottle or two, and I would snap them up quickly. I don't feel particularly strongly about B&BW's shower gels- they smell nice and leave my skin clean. It doesn't have the rich and luxurious feeling as some other brands, but I've never minded when I can get them on sale. As this is discontinued, I'm not so likely to replace this, although never say never!

Sugar Scrub (Cocoa & Cookies; Astronaut Ice Cream) | KBShimmer

I really enjoy sugar scrubs by KBShimmer, and these scents were no exception to that rule. Both these scents were exclusive to the Polish Pickup and unfortunately cannot be replaced, but KBShimmer offers a selection of 6 scents permanently on there site. Further, they have another Polish Pickup exclusive scent available coming this Friday; there's really no excuse to not be able to enjoy these! In an effort to work through my open stash, I've held off on getting more, but with two more jars close to completion, I think I'm about ready to start adding more for future enjoyment!

This was my first experience with this brand, and WOW, did I love this body moisturizer! It is creamy and moisturizing without a greasy after-feeling. My skin really loved this tlc this dry winter season, especially after the occasional leg shaving session! The smell is refreshing- light and clean. I have some other moisturizers I want to try to get through first, but I'm thinking about picking up another one of these when those are empty.

White Tea & Ginger Body Lotion | Bath & Body Works

White Tea & Ginger is my other favorite B&BWs scent, and of course, this one is retired as well. I'm not sure if my nose has become even more sensitive, but this (and another B&BWs lotion I'm using) smells stronger than I remember, so much so I cannot use it straight from the bottle as is. The lotion is light and not as moisturizing as I would like anyway, and I mixed this with another unscented moisturizer that felt more nourishing to the skin. I'm just not thrilled with the quality of these and won't be repurchasing, even if I do find my favorite scents, in the B&BWs lotion,

Hair

Smooth Blow Dry Anti-Frizz Cream | Garnier Fructis Style

I don't have too much issue with frizz in my hair, and generally whatever styling products I use end up combating that regardless of whether or not they were designed to prevent frizzy hair. The real reason I picked this up was because it offers heat protection for your hair, and that is something I do need. I wash my hair every three to four days, and unless I'm not feeling well or want it straight, I typically blow it dry. If I want my hair to be straighter, I have to take a flat iron to it. Even though I use a low temperature setting (I want to flatten my hair, not bake it), I still want my hair protected from the heat. This is a great and affordable option for me and a product I'm probably going to repurchase when I finish off another heat protector I'm currently working through.

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Lose It: Purged Products

These are the items that are not empty but I have decided to let go.

Monsoon Cuticle & Lip Scrub | KNI Beauty and Bath

This brown sugar and shea butter scrub + balm was an exclusive to the Polish/Indie Pickup and I snapped it up immediately. While it can be used on either your cuticles or your lips, my main interest was as a lip scrub. Other scrubs often come in pots, requiring me to pinch it out with my fingers and rub onto my lips. I do it because that's just what you do, but I love when I come across lip scrubs that are in a tube and can be directly buffed (gently!) on the lips before rinsing off. I actually used this tube most of the way through before setting it aside to try to get through one of my sugar scrub pots. Unfortunately, when I picked it up again, it had dried out just a little too much to be comfortable for use on my lips. I probably could still use it, but I think it is best to let it go. As this version was exclusive to the Indie Pickup I won't be able to replace it, but I definitely will be picking up the one they offer of their website once I finish up my open lip scrubs!

Eye Primer | Anastasia Beverly Hills

This little sample tube was an option to spend some of my Sephora points, and while I'm in no rush to use my points, I was interested in trying out this primer on my oily, hooded eyes. While the rest of my skin is normal to slightly oily, my lids are, pardon the expression, oily as fuck, and very few eye primers work well for me. I was actually pretty impressed with how well my eye makeup would hold up with this primer, but it feels so thick going on, no matter how tiny amount I would try to use, and it actually left my eyelids feeling uncomfortably dry. I had pretty high hopes on this one since I know others really enjoy it, but sadly it just did not seem to work with my body chemistry.

Master Pro Blush Brush | Royal & Langnickel

Royal & Langnickel chooses to describe this brush as soft on their website, and all I have to say is soft, my ass! Maybe I've just been spoiled by the soft synthetic brushes that have found there way into my brush collection, but this brush does not feel very pleasant on my face. It isn't the worst thing I've used, but I like my back scratched, not my cheeks. This brush is just not for me and I won't be missing it.

Master Pro Tapered Blender Brush | Royal & Langnickel

I have a weakness for eye brushes, so I was pretty excited to test out this brush after it arrived in my Royal & Langnickel Deluxe Mystery Box (like the previous brush, by the way). As it's in my destash list, it obviously did not perform well for me, and I've be struggling to figure out exactly why. I liked that it is fairly thin, as the wider blending brushes can be a little unwieldy with my hooded eyes, but I found it just did not want to actually blend colour at all. It was the same results regardless of primer or eyeshadow I would use, and I don't like having to put in a lot of work to try to make a product work when there are others on the market that do. I'm wondering if the bristles are either just not quite dense enough or a little too long, or just a combination of both, at least to be used with my techniques. I am disappointed to let this go, but I've got new brushes entering my life soon so I'll get over it.

Monthly Stats

Empties: 10

Purged: 4

Total: 14

Yearly Stats

Empties: 25

Purged: 29

Total: 54

February may not have been the most productive month when it came to pan and purging, but I still made respectable progress towards my goal of 175 products. I have a few products that I know will be empty before the end of the week that I thought would make it to my February list, but alas, it looks like they're just holding off. I didn't purge as much as I thought I would, but this month I plan to take advantage of my kids being out of town for Spring Break with the hubby, leaving me as quiet a week as my dogs a troublesome feline can manage. Overall, I would say that February wasn't great but not bad. At the end of the day, I still managed to remove 14 products from my life, and that ultimately is the goal.

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!

XO!

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Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream | Kate Somerville

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Use It or Lose It January: Pan and Purge Project 2020

Greetings, dear readers! I figured I better get with the program and share my collection of products that I either finished or destashed in January before we get even further along in February. I'm always so torn when it comes to these types of posts- it's so satisfying to watch my number count roll up as I destash and purge, and I enjoy reading empties posts from other bloggers, but for some reason, I'm not crazy about writing these posts. It always feels so daunting. It's no wonder my final post from last year included products for five months! I really want to do better about it this year, so here's hoping I can get these posts done for every month!

I mentioned in my final post from 2019 that my goal for this year is to either pan or purge 175 products. While the number seems ridiculously high, I do have a rather substantial number of products that I have held onto that I just don't use for one reason or another. Those that I have really disliked have been easy to destash, but those that are "ok" get put away in a drawer to never see the light of day again. I could probably raise the number further, but I do want to use some of those items again before I commit to a destash. I've got a respectable number of products to get through on today's post, so let's jump in and do this!

Use It: The Empties

As the subtitle suggests, these are the items I have finished up this month.

Skincare

Foaming Facial Cleanser (Sensitive Skin) | Clean & Clear

Anyone that has been following along on my empties posts should know this facial cleanser by now; it's been my go-to for years! The Sensitive Skin formula works up to a light lather that removes dirt, excess oil, and light makeup without stripping my skin and leaving it feeling dry. I've added other cleansers into the mix periodically, but this is the one I always come back to.

Deep Cleansing Oil | DHC

After going to Ulta three times last year for my birthday gift and them always being out, they decided to give me this travel bottle of cleansing oil instead. I was initially irritated by the switch, not that I can recall what I was supposed to get, but as it turns out, I really liked this oil! I used it on the days when I wore heavier makeup, and it certainly did the job well at breaking it up quickly and effectively. What took me by surprise is just how well it rinsed off my face with just a few splashes of water! Mind you I have no experience with cleansing oils like this, but I have used balms that were just gunky and needed a good facial cleanser to remove. I still would wash with my cleaner after using this oil, but I didn't feel like I needed to use it to wash off the oil first before getting to my skin. I have no done so yet, but I will be picking up another one in the full size!

Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Sunscreen SPF 50+ | Etude House

If you've been following along on my skincare woes last month, you've likely seen this sunscreen. I like how it applies to the skin and dries to a smooth finish without leaving a sticky or slick film like so many other sunscreens. What I don't like is it leaves a white cast on the skin, but I've come to accept this as fact with sunscreens. To prevent the white cast, I added a drop of concentrated foundation liquid before applying to the face. This is one of my favorite sunscreens and I already have another bottle open and being used.

Vitamin Sadness Mask | MustaeV

It's no secret that I have enjoyed the Vitamin masks from MustaeV, particularly this "Sadness" version, and I am a little sad that this is my last one in my sheet mask stack. I decided last year to no longer purchase sheet masks, but I still had some to go through and I don't use them particularly often. This particular one contains snail mucin, and I just love how it made my skin look! Mind you I don't use masks often enough, nor the same one repeatedly to really get a feel for how well this one works compared to others, but it is one I enjoyed a lot and will miss. I'm no longer finding it on their website, along with other skincare items, so we'll see if MustaeV has parted ways with their skincare lineup!

Cucumber Sheet Mask | Oh K!

I don't think I have had a sheet mask baffle me as much as this one by Oh K!. FOr a product that is described as ultra hydrating, I actually found it left my skin feeling dry as could be. I don't think I have ever encountered that with a sheet mask before- they all seem to leave my face feeling hydrated, so for me to experience dehydration with this one was rather shocking. It was the only one of this type on my stash so I’m not having to destash others, but I definitely did not like this mask and wouldn’t want to use it again.

Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks | Wander Beauty

I had several of these eye masks I used towards the end of last year, and this was my last one left! I actually enjoyed this eye mask and could see a difference in my undereye area after weekly use of these. Of course I ended up using a different skincare product that undid all the good these had done to my dark undereyes. I'm so torn on my decision to not purchase single-use masks as I really did like these. I have a few other products I am using at the moment, but I may pick up a box of these since I know these work well for me.

Cosmetics

Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara | L'Oréal Paris

I don't know what I'd do if this mascara were to come off the market. It is my go-to mascara, and I am obsessed with its tubing nature! It makes my lashes look a little thicker and a fair bit longer, but I mostly keep coming back to this one because it doesn't smudge and yet it is so easy to remove with water. I've used so many different mascaras that always end up giving me less-than-sexy raccoon eyes, and yet when I want to wash the rest off at the end of the day, they were just a pain in the backside to remove. Not so with this baby! Just a few splashes with water and a short soak and this mascara easily wipes off. The only downside is if my eyes get watery during allergy season the mascara on my lower lashline in the outer corner occasionally comes off, but it is a trade off I am willing to make.

Orchid Gel Canvas Ready Treatment Eye Primer | Skinn Cosmetics

While I wouldn't say this was my go-to eye primer, I have used a few tubes of this one by Skinn Cosmetics. The formula is a little thicker and may feel a little drying for those with drier skin, but it works really well on my oily lids. It dries to a tacky finish, which can also take some getting used to, but overall, I like this eye primer. I currently have two others I am using, one of which I am liking a lot so far, so I'm not sure when or if I'd purchase another one of these, but I wouldn't write it off either.

Nails

Cuticle Oil | Northern Star Polish
Scents: Highball and Raspberry Truffle

I've recently taken a hard look at my cuticle oil stash, and have decided this year to only keep on hand the products I really enjoy. As these two are empty, I'm sure you know this means I loved this cuticle oils by Northern Star Polish enough to finish them up! They were part of two different sets offered on the Polish Pickup, and I am working my way through the rest of the scents. I love Northern Star Polish's cuticle oils so much I actually have another untouched set of four already (on top of the 6 currently in use that I have yet to finish); it's definitely become my go-to cuticle oil! The only downside for me is the sets, each with a different fragrance collection, is limited edition, and that makes me so sad! I really love the way they all smell, and I wish I could make each scent forever!

Lemoney Flutter Cuticle Butter | Lush

I tend to stick with cuticle oil during the day, but at night, I often rub a little bit of Lemoney Flutter onto the skin around my nails. The dry weather of winter has been rough on my hands in particular, and this helps to keep them soft. This is a product I have enjoyed for several years now, and it should come to not surprise that I already have another jar on my nightstand currently in use.

Body

Seaside Olives and Citrus Foaming Bath Bar | Lollipop Posse Lacquer

This was another limited edition product that was offered exclusively for the Polish Pickup. I had actually purchased two of these and used the first immediately. I held onto this one, and it sadly was forgotten about until after the move and unpacking a box of random items. I really enjoyed the first bath bar, although this second one didn't hold up as well over time. Don't get me wrong, it still smelled nice and looked lovely (before getting destroyed for the bath, obviously), but it just didn't have the foaming action. I cannot fault this product though as it is my fault it sat so long. I've love to see Lollipop Posse offer more foaming bath products in the future!

Proud as a Peacock Gentle Bastille Soap | Handmade Natural Beauty

This was another limited edition exclusive made for the Polish Pickup, and I delayed using it as long as possible. It its fresh, unused form, the colours were so beautiful, but it was time it got some use. While not so pretty in the end, I did like how gentle this soap really was on the skin! My six year old deals with dry skin periodically as he's been outgrowing (we hope) his eczema, and this soap helped to get him clean without stripping away oils completely.

Mochaccino Organic Sugar Scrub | Soak It!

I was really excited to try out this sugar scrub as it contained sugar and coffee, and I've had such mixed results with this type of scrub. It was a dense formula reminiscent of brownie batter, and the delicious cocoa fragrance I'm sure helped sway my thoughts on that. While the formula was thick, I was pretty blown away by how well this scrub would then rinse off in the shower. I've used a few others that were sticky and required a post scrub scrubbing with a loofah to get residue off, but that was definitely not the case here. I believe Soak It! has closed up shop at this point, so I sadly won't be able to get a replacement for this scrub. If I ever seen a come back, you can best believe I'll be looking for another one of these!

The Dark Crystal Sugar Scrub | KBShimmer

It certainly feels like the theme for January was limited edition and Polish Pickup, as this is another item that was an exclusive. I really enjoy sugar scrubs by KBShimmer, so it was no shocker that I liked this one as well. Not as thick as the previous scrub, it gently sloughs off dead skin cells and smooths those tiny little bumps on the back of my arms that insist on coming back. The scent was created for this past November, but I opted to pull this one out in December as the amber plus plum scent combination was a fun festive fragrance (say THAT three times fast) for the season but a pleasant alternative to the more common peppermint smells. The Dark Crystal scent was excluvice for the month, but the sugar scrubs in general are not: KBShimmer is back in this month's Polish Pickup with a Freesia-scented Sugar Scrub.

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Lose It: Purged Products

These are the items that are not empty but I have decided to let go.

Skincare

I don't think I have the words for how much I disliked this moisturizer. I've used some on the past, but apparently they have reformulated to this chemical-scented, barely moisturizing (and that's being generous) formula that left my skin in a lurch the last half of January. After about a week of use, my skin hurt and started peeling like crazy. I had not used anything new other than this new jar nor had I recently done any sort of chemical peels, but my skin was on fire and required some serious tlc to get to a healthier state. Thankfully my skin is pretty much back to normal at this point, but my loathing of this product is high and I recommend using caution when using this product.

Glacial Water Cleansing Sherbet | Crystal Hearts

This was a press sample I received awhile back and I just couldn't bring myself to like it. While it worked well at removing stubborn makeup, I really disliked the coating on my face that wouldn't easily wash, let alone rinse, off. I held onto it for stubborn lipsticks, but once I started using the DHC oil above, I just couldn't reach for it any longer.

Velour Lip Scrub (Cherry Soda) | Jeffree Star Cosmetics

I have thoughts and feelings about the brand, but I'm not going to get into them here. I got this lip scrub along with an eyeshadow palette. I have not enjoyed using this lip scrub, and it's difficult for me to separate he product quality with the feeling dirty about using the brand. The scrub itself seemed ok- not too harsh but still would slough off dead skin form the lips. The flavor left a lot to be desired and was kind of disappointing to me. If it were just these two factors I maybe would have continued to use this product, but add to it my feelings on the brand and I just have to get rid of this scrub.

White in Milk Whipping Foam | G9 Skin

I had received and used a small sample size of this product awhile back and loved it, so I happily picked up a full sized version from the G9 Amazon.com store. Y'all. This one is awful! While the sample version foamed up, it did not strip my skin and leaving it feeling as dry as could be. I was so disappointed when I realized this was happening with the full-sized product, and I have no idea what is happening! I have moved into a drier climate since using the sample, so that may be playing a role in it, but I'm not convinced. No matter how little product I would use or how much water I added , I couldn't find a way to make this work well for me. Away it goes!

Skin Balancing Carbon Mask | Paula's Choice

I don't know if it's due to age or that I've been using richer moisturizers than I did in the past, but my skin has become less oily and more in the normal range (except my eyelids; they betray me). I've not needed to use this face mask to help with oil so it's been sitting for quite some time in my medicine cabinet waiting to be used. At this point, this bottle is pretty old and should just get tossed in the garbage. I don't anticipate purchasing another as it doesn't seem to suit my skin's needs, but it is a good mask if you are oily-prone.

10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Gel | Equate Beauty

Again, here is another product that is old, past the expiration date, and has just been taking up space in my medicine cabinet. I deal with hormonal acne, and often have one of two zits just before my period starts. As a result, this type of product gets used, but only on occasion. It dries my skin out, so I end up using the fewest applications, so this is one of those product types I never finish up by the time it expires. I have not yet picked up a replacement, but I foresee picking up another. I have no major brand loyalties when it comes to acne products, so if you have something you love, let me know! I appreciate the low cost of this one, but since I don't go through tubes quickly, I don't really mind spending more as long as it helps clear up acne quickly.

Advanced Génifique Yeux Light-Pearl | Lancôme

I reviewed this product this past fall and had pretty good results after a few weeks of use. It's not a bad product, by any means, but I didn't notice any improvements beyond what I had previously experienced the three weeks prior. I also found I stopped wanting to use this in favor of other eye products because it took too long to absorb into the skin. You know how there are those things that are fine at first but become annoying after a period of time? The slow absorption started to really bug me and it wasn't long until this was just sitting untouched on my vanity. I've opted to just destash this and use other products that I enjoy more. Even if I did love this, I don't think I would have loved it enough to pay for another.

Cosmetics

Subculture Eyeshadow Palette | Anastasia Beverly Hills

Is anyone really surprised to see I've finally decided to cull Subculture from my stash? I did find a way to make it work for me, but it was still work. I bought this when it was released and I didn't have anything remotely similar to this palette. Now that I have found a love of singles and indie cosmetic brands, I just don't need this in my collection any longer. Other shadows still perform better for me without extra effort or attention needed, and I just didn't WANT to use this when I had it in my "test to keep or purge"bin.

Meet Matt(e) Trimony Eyeshadow Palette | theBalm Cosmetics

I initially had some trouble deciding the destash this palette as I've really enjoyed several of the lighter matte shades. It wasn't until I had so much issue using the darker mattes that I lost my patience and decided to just let this one go. I already have a respectable selection of lighter neutrals that I enjoy, so it wasn't worth even depotting those shades.

Ultra Precision Eye Liner (Black) | Doucce Cosmetics

Doucce is a brand I have enjoyed that doesn't seem to get much attention. I actually like this eye liner, but I have another along with a slew of other black liners. This particular destash is most because I'm overwhelmed with black liners and didn't see a reason for me to have two of these.

Galaxy Eye Glider | Hard Candy

Now this is an old eyeliner! I remember buying this one from Sephora when I was SO much younger, and I just didn't have the heart to let it go. I loved the combination of black with the sparkle, but I just don't use, and quite frankly, haven't used this in so many years I forgot I even had it. While a small part of me wanted to keep this just for the memories, I don't really have any specific memories associated with this liner and would prefer to declutter what I don't use.

Gel Eye Glider (Radiant Amethyst) | Julep

I've not made it any secret that I dislike Julep, especially how they suddenly dropped their Mavens program complete with rewards. I had so many rewards to spend, but with no notice, that never got to happen; I'm still bitter about it. One product I loved from Julep were there gel eyeliners (later renamed to When Pencil Met Gel), and I actually still have and use a few of them to this day. Oh, I get a little mad every time I pull one out to use, but d@mn do I love this eyeliner! I'm letting go of this one because I have two in this shade and just don't need both.

Double Ended Brush Set | Borghese (5 pc)

I love makeup brushes, so when I saw this travel set by Borghese pop up on Zulily for sale, I was quick to snap up the set. I had previously used both cosmetic and skincare items from the brand, so I didn't give this a second thought and knew I would love to have the set with me for travel. Was I wrong about that! These brushes arrived shortly before a trip so I gave them a quick wash and packed them when dry for departure the next day. Not trying them out at home was a big mistake. While traveling, I found I spent almost as much time removing random hairs that fell out of these as I did putting my makeup on in the first place. It was both disappointing and disgusting. Having a set that is double sided that takes up less space just isn't worth it to me if this is the tradeoff.

Neutrals Glitter Palette | Wet n Wild

I don't wear a lot of glitter, but I loved the colours in this palette and bought it on a whim while at Walgreens looking at other Halloween makeup. Unfortunately, it sat unused until last month, and ooh baby, was I angry when I finally used it! When I opened the sealed palette, I touched the shades I was interested in an noticed they felt a little dry with no base pigment showing. Not a big deal, I could create a look with other products and then top it with these glitters. After I had done my base work, digging further into each well revealed the vaseline texture of these shades. All my hard work gone into laying down the base was destroyed in an instant. The slick sensation never dried down, and the glitters shifted and bunched together, pulling my base colours with them. I don't think I have ever tossed a product in my purge bin so quickly before. I'm still made even now because it started out so good and this destroyed the look in minutes.

Nails

Cuticle Oil (Tide Me Over) | KBShimmer

I generally love KBShimmer products, so this one is hard for me to let go. The sugar scrubs and nail polishes are fabulous, but the formula of the cuticle oil just doesn't work for me. Sure, it helps my nails better than nothing, but I have other cuticle oils that I like a lot more. In an effort to declutter my life, it's time for me to accept I'm not fond of this one and move on.

Cuticle Oil (Pineapple) | YouPolish

I found this baby hanging in an old cosmetic bag, and wow is it old! It actually smells fine, quite delicious actually, but I know it is several years old and probably should just be tossed at this point. I'm so bummed as I love the smell, and YouPolish no longer sells cuticle oils for me to buy a replacement. That being said, you CAN buy some really cute decals from the brand, both for on your nails and for windows and such.

Cuticle Oil (Beignet Done That) | Ever After Polish (2)

Oof, there is a lot to unpack when it comes to this brand, and honestly, I just don't want to deal with that here. Instead, I'm just going to focus on the product if that's ok with you. There isn't much to say other than this cuticle oil just isn't nourishing enough for my skin. I picked up two of these when I got them as I loved the scent and it was exclusive to the New Orleans Polish Con event. I already knew the cuticle oil formula wasn't my favorite, but I was willing to set that aside at the time. Knowing what I do now combined with my effort to declutter my beauty products, these have to go.

Body

Orange Ginger Smoothing Body Scrub | Bath & Body Works

Now this is an oldie that somehow has only been used a time or two and never tossed. It's been so long since I used it, so I don't recall if I actually liked it or not, but it's been sitting far too long and now smells rancid. Obviously it has to go! Since I have other scrubs that I enjoy, I don't foresee purchasing a replacement. The few Bath & Body Works products I still have and use just having been winning me over any longer, so it's just not worth it to me.

Hair

Coconut Complex Texture Finishing Spray | Mystic Divine

I got this texture spray from Sally's a fair bit ago and have only used it a handful of times. Even though it contains coconut oil and claims to not be too oily, I found that was not the case. I tend to have an oily scalp (dry shampoo is my BFF), so it is too much for me. Even with a light coating, it also weighted my hair down. I'm sure it would work well for some hair types, but my hair is predominantly fine (with some coarse to the mix) so this combination just isn't a good fit for me.

Saffron Hair Oil Style and Shine | Saffron Secret

While I don't use oils in my hair often, I DO still use them on occasion. This is the original formula by Saffron Secret, but I found I grab for their Anti-Frizz version more, particularly on the days I opt to let my hair curl. The original is still a good product, but since I just don't use it in favor of one of its sisters, I'm going to pass this one on to someone that I think will enjoy it.

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Monthly Stats

Empties: 15

Purged: 25

Total: 40

Yearly Stats

Empties: 15

Purged: 20

Total: 40

With a total of 40 products gone in just the first month, I am well on my way to hitting my goal! I don't anticipate going through this much each month as I do want to test out some things more before I commit to a decision to purge, and last month's skincare debacle put a serious halt on the use of some of my skincare products. That being said, I do want to try to push my destash and make some tough love choices rather than letting sentimentality get in the way. There are a few products that I have a special attachment to, including a brush set I'm not crazy about that my 6 year old picked out for me for my birthday last year. We'll see what the rest of the year brings for my Pan and Purge Project. Who knows, I may end up increasing my goal after all!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day and enjoy your weekend!

XO!

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