Beauty Product And Skincare Empties

Out with the old in with the new. One full month down of 2022. Didn’t get off to the best start? Don’t worry today is Lunar New Year so you have a second chance at getting off on a better foot.

What better way to start fresh than getting rid of the old trash that’s accumualted – although granted I held on to it on purpose for this specific post. Today I am sharing my product empties. Things that I have tried and finished, so you know that I have definitely formed a cohesive opinion about it.

Body

The Tarte Better Body Contour Tanning Cream is a HOLY GRAIL for me. I have returned to this product time and time again and it is always a favorite. It is the perfect natural color and is never too much or fake looking. I also love the immediate dry down and that I don’t have to wash it off or worry about that lingering self tanner smell.

Eye Creams

I will preface that until more recently, I have not been the most diligent with a skin routine and applying my eye cream, so to say that these had miraculous results, well I can’t really attest to that. What I look for most in an eye cream is anti-aging benefits and anti-puffing (especially on the upper lid), so it is hard to see major results on these areas from using a product so sporadically. However I was not irritated by any of them and think at least from a hydration standpoint it did add a little plumpness and both eye creams were worthy contenders.

The Lancome Visionnaire Eye Cream Advanced Multi-Correcting Eye Balm was a thicker creamier texture than the gels that I ordinarily use but that could be really great and nourishing for more mature skin types and drier skin types. The Retinol Youth Renewal Serum by Murad was more gel like and lightweight and great for every day and under make up. I would be willing to try both formulas again.

Mascaras

Odly enough the drugstore is the winner in this category. I have zero complaints over the Loreal Voluminious Mascara, including it’s price point. It does everything you would want to see from a mascara and adds both length, volume, and is easy to apply and remove. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy the other two mascaras I tried.

I would say in second place would be the Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara. This got off to a rocky start and was a very wet formula with a brush so large that it takes some getting used to. However after it dried up a little and I got down my technique, it really does make the lashes look long and beautiful. I loved the effect and the only gripe I may have was that taking it off was usually a little tricky and stubborn.

The Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara also did give the lashes a beautiful full effect and I enjoyed using it. I would say a con here was that while it lasted a long time, a long time is not ALL day and by the end of the night I could have some black flakes under my eyes.

All in all, I wouldn’t mind having any of these products in my collection.

Skincare

A +++++++ to the A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream by Drunk Elephant . I noticed an enormous difference when using this product and would definitely repurchase it. Pepole say that retinol is an essential part of a skincare routine, but sometimes tricky to handle because its strength and potency can often cause irritation or purging (things get worse before they get better). The formula of this product neither irritated nor purged my skin, which already tends to be sensitive to products. It didn’t even get overwhelmingly dry or flaky (also maybe in part to my miracle elixer by St Jane). Whatever the case I had beautiful clear skin while using this product and would definitely give it another go.

Murad’s Nutrient-Charged Water Gel has also been another holy grail product in my life for years. I have returned to this moisturizer so many times because of how much hydration it provides but with such a lightweight gel formula that doesn’t clog my pores or causes me breakouts. It works great under makeup and plays nice with other products. In my worse skin days I simplified my routine to this product and the Murad Acne Cleanser and really was able to get things under control. I would repurchase it for sure.

Makeup

The First Aid Beauty Smoothie Primer is definitely a solid basic hydrating primer to give you a good base for your makeup. I used it on my travels and often could use this product as a two in one to replace my moisturizer as well and it fended just fine.

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Have you tried any of these products? Would love to hear your thoughts or if you have any holy grails or recommendations that you’ve used up completely and always go back to.

I also am trying a new schedule. Previously new posts were usually scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays, but to try something new I will be playing with a Tuesday and Saturday schedule. Let me know your thoughts and/or what days you prefer to catch up on your blog reading.

As I mentioned, 2022 is bringing a lot of new improvements to ERA en Vogue so stay tuned. You just may see something new this month.