As a product junkie, I sometimes try so many things that I fear I may never finish using them before I move onto my next. For me, the end of a product is the best time for me to write a review because it helps me think if I’m going to repurchase, what I’ll miss about it, what I won’t miss. I find that products that seem to have run out ‘too soon’ always tend to be favorites that incorporate into my routine and use a lot and there are products that I have to make a serious effort to use up – at which point its kind of like eating at a buffet, you might go back in the future but for now you don’t want to even look at it!
For September, I’ve finished using:
Jurlique Purifying Foaming Cleanser($34): A syrup-like cleanser formulated with tea tree oil and lavender to target blemish prone skin. Other cool ingredients include honey, green tea, grape seed, tumeric, and witch hazel. It really does help to remove makeup and grime but it is a little bit too strong. It foams a lot (more than the natural cleansers I’ve been using) so this is perhaps why it is also a bit drying since foaming agents can lead to that. Unless I follow with a facial oil in the summer, my skin will feel stripped and go into over-production of sebum. The scent was a very strange botanical scent, not that relaxing but not really a deal breaker for me. I felt like I really had to work to finish this cleanser, but perhaps that is because it isn’t really ‘right’ for my skin type which no longer needs a cleanser this strong.
Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector ($49.50): If you’ve read a few of my past posts on acne scars, you’ll know I didn’t really see results with this serum. Instead it aggravated breakouts on my forehead so I could not really use it. It has been a challenge for me to finish using but since I didn’t want to waste it, I ended up applying this around a few sunspots on my arms since my face has cleared up significantly with this product from YULI. Not sure if Clinique really did anything for those sunspots but just glad to have finally used this all up. Scent is a chemically, fluid is a milky cream gel.
Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask ($55): Most of the products in the Tata Harper line are not suitable for my skin type and tend to be too heavy on my pores. However, the resurfacing mask is perfect. It is a gorgeous amber hued gel that smells like a spa. It resurfaces skin but is delicate enough for sensitive skin. I did not get any redness and my skin felt so hydrated and nourished after using it. I can safely keep this on my face for an hour before washing off and my face will just glow. I used up my sample in 4 days because I was so addicted to the mask, just ordered a full sized jar.
Dermatologica Multivitamin Power Recovery Mask ($46): I’m not a huge fan of Dermatologica but I received a sample of this from a Beautybar order. I know their products aren’t completely clean but I love any mask that focuses on nourishing skin with vitamins, antioxidants, etc to relieve stressed skin. The mask is a white cream that looks like a lotion at first but once you apply it, you can really feel this layer on your face. Skin just feels ‘injected’ with moisture and looks soooo well rested when you wash it off. If the formula were cleaner, I would not hesitate to buy the full sized product but since it is not, I chose to spend my ‘mask’ money on Tata Harper.
Caudalie Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Fluid SPF 15 ($72): I had read a lot of great things about how this product is the perfect balance between moisturizer + spf + light coverage foundation. When I got my hands on this, the first thing I noticed was how silky and fluid the consistency was – lighter than most moisturizers and foundations I’ve used. The scent is like heaven, but I know they use a synthetic fragrance to achieve that. It absorbed fast but you do need a lot of this product to feel it moisturize. I don’t really see much coverage but this product is virtually weightless. I just wish the SPF could be higher, or the coverage could be a bit more but this isn’t a bad product by any means. I will definitely consider buying this if they could make a SPF 30 variant even if it is not as light weight.
YULI Panacea Elixir ($36): Remember how I said some products you just always run out of? This is one of them. If I was paid a dollar every time I sprayed this, I could probably buy this product over and over every day. I’m a stickler for scents and the most recent batch from them just smells GORGEOUS! Whenever I feel a breakout about to come out, I just spray this over my face at night, massage all over and go to bed – it seems to detoxify all the junk out over night. It also cleans out my pores and makes my skin look way better than it genetically should. I also use this after workouts and it keeps my face really hydrated. There is no alcohol in this so it doesn’t dry out your skin. And I found that facial oils and moisturizers sink into skin faster after I apply this product. This has become such a staple in my regimen.
Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel ($45): I think I said in the Sunday Riley Good Genes review that this is a cheaper, less refined, but more active version of the same thing. Truth be told, this is actually my boyfriends product but I use it too. I notice that it is way too strong to leave on overnight as the instructions say. I tried it once, and I looked like I had been laying out in the sun all weekend with no sunscreen. With that said, if you want a clean, acid peel this is a great product. It really allows your skin to start fresh. It is a clearish-green gel with a slightly slightly acidic scent. Not too sure if I would purchase this product again – there are a few clean acid peels and resurfacing products out there so I will probably test some, but this is still a very solid option.
