We’re already verging the end of summer, can you believe?!
It’s uncommon for me to use anything to the last drop when my vanity is chock-full of delicacies – not even bragging, but who’s to blame when beauty brands are constantly spewing the latest and greatest? So anyway, I accomplished quite a bit this summer when I took these products to their ends. You can always make a fair judgment when you’ve used something in its entirety so here’s an unbiased account on my first empties of summer ’16:
Bioderma Crealine Micellar Water* – This product was pretty good for the most part… It’s actually really good if you’re not wearing much makeup or just needing a quick cleanse prior to makeup (Note: Pat McGrath swipes this across her models faces before working her magic). Since my initial use, I’ve copped quite a bit of micellar waters – this one doesn’t rank high on my makeup remover list, especially if you load up on mascara like me, but it wasn’t bad either… All in all, if you’re donning that whole “no makeup” ordeal, you’ll love it. If you’re a full-blown Instaglammer, you might wanna opt out.
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence* – I had to find out how miraculous this miracle water really was…and now I know. It was nice to have, but I wouldn’t deem it essential nor life changing. I’d spout a few drops into the palms of my hands then tap it all over my face. It made no impact on my occasional acne problems, though it did minimize the dryness in my skin. Aside from that, I saw no textural shifts or toning. My final thoughts are that this is a pricey product that doesn’t live 100% up to its hype – I’ll probably pass next time.
Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM – Consider this my first inception of retinol into my skincare regimen and it was transformational! Retinol is a superstar ingredient that mitigates wrinkles, acne, and improves the appearance of your pores. This product is a great for anyone looking to surface retinol into their life. It’s thinner than your typical serum and feels almost a little greasy as you rub it in, but absorbs nicely. Looking at myself in the mirror every day, I couldn’t tell if it was making a difference, but everyone else seemed to notice and my skin unquestionably felt smoother over time.
Cremorlab Wrinkle-Off Eye Cream – Don’t count on any eye cream to diminish bags and lighten darkness around the eyes – you’ll just be disappointed. What makes a good eye cream is something that’s moisturizing and long lasting. This eye cream was an excellent summer option with its gel-like texture. My gripe with gel textures is that they typically deplete into nihility, but this was different. It definitely kept the hydration at bay and wore nicely under makeup.
Jouer Anti-Aging Moisture Primer – I really liked the idea of this primer, but it didn’t help my makeup much especially in the sweltering heat. I think it makes more of a moisturizer than a primer. As far as all those anti-aging benefits go, can’t say it worked either. This is probably a better option for the colder months because it really is moisturizing.
Rodial Dragon’s Blood Sculpting Gel – This was only a sample, but I liked it enough to warrant it an “empty” because even I have a hard time finishing deluxe samples. If you’ve got oily or combo skin, you’re going to love this. The gel-cream product offers a nice cooling effect that instantly hydrates without feeling too heavy. It’s ideal for humid afternoons at the beach and preps the skin beautifully for makeup.
Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner – This one’s a luxurious toner that smells amazing and is gentle on the skin. My face never felt tight or dry with it, and it removed the last bit of makeup effectively. I used it twice a week until bare and although it was nice to have, it didn’t do much else outside a traditional toner. That being said, it is pretty pricey for pretty small bottle so I’d pass next time.
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer – Custard (not pictured) – I know how severely lauded this concealer is, but I border the dark side. I love how emollient it is and the coverage is beautiful; however, the color options aren’t exactly suitable for my neutral undertone. Custard worked, but it wasn’t perfect. Second, I noticed the product gradually dried out over time and I wasn’t too pleased with that. I’ll be treading the concealer territory before I decide whether or not I’ll come back to this guy. *Update to come*
Tarte Amazonian Cream Blush – Exposed (not pictured) – Since Nars blush in Douceur was discontinued, Tarte Exposed has become my go-to cheek color for EVERYTHING, whether that’s weddings or no occasion. I’ve never hit pan on a blush, so this one’s my first and won’t be the last of my Exposeds. It’s a neutral, dusty rose color that’s unbelievably gorgeous on the skin – sooo good, I use it on everyone else. It exudes that highly coveted no-makeup makeup flush.
Were there any goodies I missed out on? Let me know in the comments!
* These aren’t exactly empty, but they’ll obviously be within the next two weeks, so they were filed away.
