July Empties ~ A Tour Through My Trash Can

The true sign of a good product is if we re-purchase it after it’s gone, or in my case, buy and hoard lots of it way before it’s gone so I’ll never run out!

Here are the things I’ve used up this month and whether I’m hoarding it or not:

Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash

Living in New England, we have the heat on for 8 months of the year, so the air gets very dry and my skin gets dry and itchy too. This is the only body wash I’ve tried that leaves my skin feeling moisturized not itchy and flaky. I use this year round, and have already got an extra in the bathroom closet.

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum

I use this serum twice a day, every day. It’s a moisturizing, antioxidant serum that goes on smooth and sinks right into skin leaving no shiny or oily feeling residue. I buy this in a 2-pack at Costco for around $35, and yes, I hoard this for fear Costco will stop carrying it.

CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizer

This is my go-to facial moisturizer for night time year round because it doesn’t contain a sunscreen. For the summer, I use it in the morning too since I put an spf 70 on over my moisturizer. You can get CeraVe inexpensively at the drugstore, but it contains better ingredients than most high-end moisturizers. It’s got ceramides, niacinamides, and hyaluronic acid so it helps to attract water molecules to the surface of my skin and hold it there. It’s a nice light textured moisturizing lotion.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Sunscreen in spf 70

This  is my #1 favorite sunscreen because it’s such a liquidy formula and goes on sheer without a lot of rubbing. It dries to a non-greasy matte finish, and I often use it as my primer. I use it every day in the summer and I love the small container. I keep one in my purse, one in the kitchen, and one in my medicine cabinet so I always have one nearby.

Timeless Skincare 20% C+E Ferulic Serum

I did an epic search for a Vitamin C serum that was comparable to Skinceuticals C+E Ferulic serum and I found this one from Timeless Skincare. The ingredients lists are so similar that they’re practically identical, but the Timeless costs 6X less than the Skinceuticals! I like to save my money, so I buy the Timeless. It retails for $25 for 1 oz. compared to $153 for Skinceuticals. The problem with both is that Vitamin C is very unstable and oxidizes after about 12 weeks. Once it’s oxidized, you can’t use it so I end up dumping half down the drain, but I’d much rather dump out $12.50 than $75 worth of product. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can help brighten your skin and reduce age spots and discoloration. I’m already using my new bottle.

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

Sadly, I don’t love this as an eyelid primer. . . it makes my older eyelids look crepey. But I do love it as a blemish concealer, so that’s why I re-purchased it. It adheres to skin better than most concealers, is slightly drying, but not as horribly drying as pimple creams, and also adheres to makeup applied over it so it stays put all day!

Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Under Eye Cream

I’ve been using this for years, and loved it for it’s sheer, light coverage that blends perfectly, matches my skin tone, and doesn’t settle into wrinkles. Unfortunately, the last time I bought it, it ran out so quickly that I think they’re putting less in the package. It costs $25 for a quarter ounce, so it’s not cheap, and it only comes in one color, so unless you’re skin is a solid medium it won’t match you. But it did match me, and it used to last me between 9 months to a year. This last one was empty within 3 months, so I won’t be buying it again.

Maybelline Mega Plush Volum Express Mascara

I won’t be buying this again. I just didn’t like it. It’s got a really big fluffy brush which I poke in my eye every time (I need a tiny brush), and half way through the day, this mascara has smudged all over under my eyes. I’m happily using CoverGirl Clump Crusher now.

Stila Smudge Eyeshadow Crayon

I tried this on at Sephora and LOVED it! It was creamy, went on smooth, and was the perfect gun-metal grey color. But within 2 weeks it was so dried out I couldn’t get it on my eyelids without lots of pulling, and skipping and then it wouldn’t blend, so I won’t be buying that again either.