Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Using What I Have – Beauty Products

December 18, 2021

Note – I wrote this almost a month ago and I’m almost out of some products that are in this post so I’ll update after the new year. That said – it feels good to use things up instead of buying more stuff.

It’s no surprise that I am a beauty/skincare junkie (starting when I was 13) but really cutting loose when I was making my own money around 1981. Recently I’ve been piling up minis of skincare and makeup and it’s time to start using them instead of buying anything else. I’m also going to start tracking what I thought of the products and if they are worth investing in. With that in mind here’s what I’m using right now.

Skincare:

Cleanser -I started with the mini Beautycounter Counterstart cleanser and went to the Pacifica Sea Foam wash I’d picked up on sale at Ulta when the Counterstart ran out. I really liked the Counterstart and it’s only $20 for the full size tube, so a steal for a good cleanser. It removed my makeup really well and was fragrance free. The Pacifica is a heavy coconut scented cleanser that cleans well and isn’t irritating. Well except for the fragrance so I won’t buy again.

Toner – Versed Baby Cheeks – I like this as it’s not irritating and like Beautycounter it’s clean. Not sure it’s doing anything for my skin but it’s not aggravating it either. Also fragrance free.

Moisturizer – I’m currently using my Cerave Moisturizing Cream mini. At $4.99 it’s a very good buy and it lasts several months if I only use it on my face. That said, it does a better job moisturizing my hands than on my face – not sure why. I’d like to find something rich but not greasy to sink into my parched skin so still looking. And without perfume. Lancome and Estee Lauder have good moisturizers but the fragrance is overpowering.

Extras – I bought a set of mini’s from Beautycounter and one of those is the Counter+ All Bright C Serum. I used it for about a week but not sure my skin loved it so I dropped it out of rotation. Also in the set is the Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Serum. It certainly isn’t irritating but not sure it’s resurfacing either. I’ll keep going with it though and see if it just takes time or if I need to use it twice a week instead of just once. Serums and me don’t always get along so I go very slowly.

Sunscreen – I am still using my COTZ Face Moisture sunscreen which I really like – I think I’ve purchased it at least 3 times now because the results are just that good. It is running out but I still have sunscreen minis from the Sephora Sun Safe set I bought earlier this year (although several are chemical ones and my skin doesn’t do well with them) and several foundation minis that have mineral sunscreen in them as well so will be using those up.

Makeup:

Foundation – I have had two samples I’ve tried this fall – The IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation and Make Up Forever’s HD Foundation. Of the two I’d definitely purchase the Make Up Forever – it wasn’t drying at all and was easy to work with. On the other hand I kind of like the IT foundation but it seems dryer although it’s not bad. I am also still using up my Cover Girl GC Smoother Hydrating Foundation. I like it but I always layer it over sunscreen because it’s fairly thin. That said, I think this is at least my third bottle.

Eyeshadow – I have two Urban Decay items I’m using – the Anti-Aging Primer Potion and the Naked Palette 2 because I wanted some neutral colors. I really like the Primer Potion because it just evens out the tone on my eyelids and I can layer other shadows over them for more staying power. I mostly just use it on it’s own though. I like the Naked Palette and the colors are great but it’s a lot of product for someone who really doesn’t use much. I’m thinking of just getting a good cream eyeshadow in a neutral shade that I can use all the time. Much simpler.

Mascara – I used up my Cover Girl Professional Mascara (black-brown) and decided to try the Maybelline Total Temptation Mascara because it came in brown. Brown mascara is incredibly hard to find these days, but it’s just more natural looking with my fair skin and very light graying hair so when I find it I tend to buy it. That said, I still prefer the Cover Girl mascara although this one is pretty good. So, we’ll see what I repurchase when the Maybelline is gone.

Eyebrow Pencil – I picked up the L’Oreal Age Perfect brow pencil in blonde a few months ago and I have to say it’s pretty good. Nice and creamy so it applies easily and can be blended easily too. It also has a little spoolie on the opposite end which I like. Bonus – The Age Perfect Line is for mature skin. The over 50 crowd seems to have been left behind by many cosmetic companies yet we buy plenty. And don’t get me started on “anti-aging” – it’s a rant for another day.

Blush – Milk Makeup came out with a new color of their all in one blush/lip stick called Dash and when I saw it came in a mini decided to try it. I really like this one! I used another of their mini blush stick in the color Werk which I liked, but the Dash is a better pick for my skin tone. It’s almost a clear pink and it goes on very nicely and gives just the lightest hint of color which I love. Bonus – you can use this one on your lips too.

Lips – I have a set of lip balms from Fresh – rose and honey – and both are very nice sheer colors. The other two balms are colorless and mostly for moisturizing super dry lips so I use those at night. I also have the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask and the Lip Balm and I have been using them for a few years now. They just perform so well. I was bummed they remade the formulations though and the lip mask doesn’t come in all the cool colors it used to, but the clear one is perfect to go over or under lipstick as well as at night for a really intense burst of moisture. You just can’t go wrong with that one. I have several other glosses that I like but these are my go-to’s at the moment.

And that’s it. That’s the lineup for now. As I use things I’ll update on what my current products are. But as you can see, I’m definitely going for less is more and after my makeup sins of the 80’s I’m fine with that.

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» 2021 » December » Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Using What I Have – Beauty Products

December 18, 2021

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