Here are my thoughts on a few empty products (AKA current garbage) I've been hoarding.
Along with
Balm Dotcom (a salve for lips and dry skin), this mask duo was part of my first order from Glossier. My experience went like this...
Use:
Step one: the
Mega Greens Galaxy Pack. Step two: the
Moisturizing Moon Mask. You can use one without the other, however, and they also sell them separately. I'd suggest going for both because 1. you know you'll just be curious about the other and will end up buying it eventually, 2. when you do buy them separately you're adding four bucks to your total, and 3. they're sold together for a reason.
Active ingredients (& what they do!):
Mega Greens Galaxy Pack
— kaolin clay (detoxifies), leafy greens (makes up for environmental pollutants skin is exposed to), orange peel (balances oil), superfruits (work against cell damage), avocado oil and aloe (conditions)
Moisturizing Moon Mask
— hyaluronic acid (hydrates and plumps), licorice root and lemon extract (brighten), honey and aloe (soothe), natural emollients such as shea butter and almond oil (moisturizing), an oxygenating agent (improves texture by increasing oxygen to skin cells)
How it worked for my skin:
So I typically use masks at night. I feel as though it's better to put them on after my evening skincare routine, since that's the time my skin is most fresh, clean, and ready for more intense treatments. It also eases my mind that I won't be slathering on makeup and clogging my pores after. Clean, mask, and room to breathe for a little bit is the way I typically do things around here. With this duo, however, I found I loved using it the opposite way
—before applying makeup in the morning. After a gentle cleansing, the Mega Greens Galaxy Pack removes excess oils that would normally make any concealer I apply slide around (and eventually off) my blemishes. After I've washed that off, I reach for the Moisturizing Moon Mask, which plumps (thank you, hyaluronic acid), calms, smooths, and most of all, adds the perfect amount of moisture to prime my skin for the day.
Will I buy again?
I'll definitely buy my favorite of the two (the Moisturizing Moon Mask) again, but probably not for a while. While this duo is truly effective and makes me look healthy as I go about my day, I can't help but be curious about the thousands of others on store shelves. But when I want to go back to an old faithful, I'll remember this one's a really good match with my skin.
2. May Coop Raw Sauce, $14 for 1.5 oz
Weirdest name ever, right? When I was looking to add an essence to my skincare routine (I'd been interested in trying the steps used in the whole "Korean 10-step skincare routine" for a while), seeing those words jumbled together accounted for 99% of the reason I chose it. Not to mention it has rave reviews all over the place.
Use:
As I mentioned above, this product is an essence. If you think it sounds unnecessary for keeping your skin intact, you are correct. It is very unnecessary. But if my love for trying skincare products keeps me from indulging in my multitude of other (super unhealthy) vices for just a few minutes each day, it's basically irresponsible of me to NOT spend time putting this juiced up liquid on my face. And as I previously mentioned, an essence is a key part of the Korean 10-step skincare routine. Although Korean women and men have a reputation for naturally beautiful skin and I have the opposite reputation, I'll have what their having in hopes that it will give my skin a boost. Whether used as a part of a multi-step routine or a minimal "I've had too many drinks and I'm lucky I'm even washing my face" routine, this is something I turned to every night.
Active ingredients (& what they do!):
This essence has a highly concentrated amount of it's main ingredient, maple tree sap. The particles of this sap are apparently about the same size as our bodily fluids. They're even smaller than water. Why is this important? Particles this small allow for deep penetration into the skin. The other active ingredients, which are able to really get in there because of the sap, include fructan powder (nourishes) and Asian herbal and fruit extracts (hydrate and make complexion dewy).
How it worked for my skin:
In a sea of products that don't deliver on their claims, this one did. Between cleansing and moisturizing, my skin drank it like it's been waiting for it my whole life, similar to me and water during a horrific hangover. It felt so nourishing, balanced both dry areas and oily areas like some kind of strange magic, and overall made me look...pretty? It simply gave me that extra something moisturizing alone just can't. But I guess I should say something about the scent, too. After cleansing I like to use a toner to help balance the pH levels of my skin (cleansers are known to throw it off big time). The one I use is homemade
—a mix of apple cider vinegar and water. This obviously makes my face smell like vinegar and I prefer to smell like anything else. The scent of Raw Sauce not only erases that, but also makes me feel like I'm at a spa for a few minutes. Need I say more? This stuff works all around.
Will I buy again?
Hell yeah. Although I see it's out of stock right now at Sephora and that scares me because I guess the secret's out. It's the first essence I've tried, however, so I definitely wanna try more. That doesn't mean I'm not getting this one asap, though. I'll just be getting another along with it.
3. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, $17
I definitely bought this as a teenager, but thought it's unique separation of ingredients was a mistake. I shook it up each time, and apparently that was the wrong way to use it. Last year I decided to give it another try and see if it'd help me with the constant breakouts I have around my chin (thanks, hormonal imbalance!).
Use:
This time around, I didn't shake it. Good job, me. This stuff's meant to be used at night, unless you want to walk around with light pink dots across your face. All you have to do is dip a cotton swap directly to the bottom of the bottle and bring back up. Then plop a dot on each blemish after cleansing your skin and sleep with it on.
Active ingredients (& what they do!):
Salicylic acid (dissolves the "debris" on your skin that clogs pores), sulfur, calamine/zinc oxide (soothes skin and provides a protective layer for other ingredients to work).
How it worked for my skin:
As I mentioned above, my main skin concern is hormonal acne. Most of the blemishes I get with my breakouts are pretty deep under the skin and take a while to surface. But also in the mix are a few whiteheads and that's exactly what this is supposed to target. For those I can say I think this may have helped to dry them up and speed the healing process. Kind of. Maybe. For the blemishes that form deeper in the skin, this potion simply isn't helpful. But when mine finally came to the surface while trying this out, it was. Kind of. Maybe.
Will I buy again?
Nah. It just wasn't good enough for me. Also, this stuff is $17. Although it lasts a really long time, there are lots of identical and much more inexpensive options you could shop around for if you're interested in trying a drying lotion out.
4. Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water, $12
The majority of the time I use coconut oil to break up my eye makeup and swipe it all off with a damp cotton round. As for the rest of my face I count on a cleanser to remove any foundation or concealer I have on. Recently, though, I was looking for a two-for-one situation that would remove it before cleansing. I decided micellar water was the way to go.
Use:
Pour some onto a cotton round and gently wipe away. I used one side of the round for my face and the other side for my eye makeup. It should be used as step one of nightly skincare, followed by actual cleansing.
Active ingredients (& how they work!):
This cleansing water is a micellar water. If you aren't familiar, this type of cleanser contains micelles which are tiny oil molecules which are mixed with water. This micellar water also contains HydroSenn+, which is a plant derived ingredient that's supposed to soften.
How it worked for my skin:
To take off my makeup, this worked just fine. It was pretty slippery, which was great for preventing pulling the skin around my eyes. It did leave a weird film on my face though, but I guess it's forgivable since I used a cleanser right after.
Will I buy again?
Nah. I think I can find better. But if I don't, I may pick it up once more to use solely for eyes. The filmy residue kind of freaked me out since I'm prone to breakouts and don't want anything adding to that.
There you have it! Hope you learned a little something about a product you've been thinking about.
