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I've recently bought a bunch of skincare and beauty items (many recommended by readers in our “beauty empties” post!) and I've been working through a bunch of them, so I thought I'd share my reviews!
(We're also working to update the “beauty empties” post to include a roundup at the bottom of the post of things at least two readers swore by, along with links to places where you may want to buy them.)
Readers, did you try any new beauty products in the recent Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales (and specific beauty store sales like the big Sephora sale?) What are your reviews?
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Good Genes was, without a doubt, the number one thing I was excited to try after hearing all the readers rave about it! It's been years since I've used a chemical exfoliator and my skin, since my kids, as been very dry. This lack of a chemical exfoliator was in part because during my first pregnancy my OB/GYN suggested I use only natural skincare, and you just don't find really strong acids like this in the beauty aisle at Whole Foods — and then, after I was out of the pregnancy corridor and bumped my skincare regime up to include retinols, I wasn't totally sure how to use serums and exfoliators WITH retinols. (My current solution is to take a night off from my retinol creme if I'm using another serious product, although I've read you can also just wait 30 minutes or more between products.) Verdict: Readers said Good Genes was lifechanging, that with a single application their skin was smoother and had a glow. I would agree with both of these things. But the minor downside for me is that if I use Good Genes too often my skin has SUCH a glow that I suddenly feel like I need powder again, which I haven't used in at least five or six years. So my current plan is to dial my use back to once or twice a week — and considering the shelf life of lactic acid can be pretty short (I saw one roundup that said a few months!) I'm considering whether I want to return the full-size bottle I got for a smaller travel-size bottle as part of another set like this one from Nordstrom. A 1-oz size is $105. |
THE ORDINARY Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG . I've heard great things about The Ordinary, so when I saw readers singing the praises of their caffeine serum for eyes I thought, maybe that's just what I need. I was kind of blown away by how inexpensive the brand is — the caffeine serum is a mere $6.70 at online shops like The Ordinary and Beautylish. I actually got mine through Amazon where it was more expensive, but didn't require me to fill out new credit card info which, hey, is sometimes a plus. Verdict: I just got this one a few days ago and I like it. It doesn't do anything for the circles under my eyes, but it does feel like my eyes get depuffed more quickly than other eye creams. Because it's a serum, not a cream, you may want to layer another eye cream on top, or you can just use your regular moisturizer. I probably will not use this at night, but so far I really like it for the mornings. |
 I've wanted to try Laneige's Lip Sleeping Mask since I saw it at a random online store years ago. Verdict: I like it — but not more than Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy, at least for serious dry lips. There's a huge difference between something that costs $5 and $20, though — the Laneige is definitely more of a luxury experience, with its little lip wand and pretty smell — so I may gift my mother both the Laneige and Neosporin as stocking stuffers this Christmas. Side note: I also got a travel set of other Laneige stuff, so have also tried the water sleep mask (less thick/creamy than my favorite Sleepwear mask from Bioelements), Laneige Water Bank Essence (meh), and Laneige Essential Power Skin Toner (meh, but I haven't really been a fan of toners in a zillion years). |
Someone else mentioned that Colleen Rothschild Radiant Cleansing Balm was a must for them, and I remembered I had an (admittedly old) box of it in my closet from attending a blogging conference, so I thought I'd give it a try. The idea is that you scoop some of the balm on your hands, rub them together to warm the balm up, spread the balm over your face, then wet a muslin cloth with warm water to scrub the balm off your face. Definite verdict: The muslin cloth is definitely a hit, and after reviewing this article on Into the Gloss about the best washcloths for your face, it sounds like I'm not alone – I'm going to try to buy a few muslin / flannel / bamboo options and come back and review. That said: I can't tell if I like the “cleansing balm” or not. What I like: I haaaaate washing my face first thing in the morning, and this is a MUCH more pleasant experience to rub a nice-smelling balm on my face — and I get a little mini exfoliation with the muslin cloth (I usually just splash water at my face). Meh: The scent is VERY lemony, which I think I'm OK with but I could see being a problem. Bottom line: I'm not totally sure how “cleansed” I'm getting — since the main reason I wash my face in the morning is to remove the retinol and other sun-sensitive nighttime things from my face, I'm not sure how much I like leaving it to chance. (I so detest washing my face that I once asked my dermatologist once if I could use micellar water instead — “sure,” she said, “but you might get blocked pores.” So I may go back to washing with something nice and foamy on the nights I use retinol.) I could also see this being very similar to “cleansing” with coconut oil, which is a far more affordable thing. (I should also note that for some reason I hate spending money on face wash since I feel like it's possible to get great face washes for drugstore brands — that said, I'm kind of between them right now. I don't love the CeraVe face wash I currently have in the shower. I liked the TonyMoly Magic Food Banana Cream Foam Cleanser I had before that, but not enough to repurchase. I like the Glossier Milky Jelly I have by my sink but didn't think it was earth shattering or anything. I've tried other face washes through my Ipsy subscription and other random samples and they've all kind of been meh. Readers, any favorite face washes? |
 I bought a travel set of the CAVIAR Anti-Aging Transformation Moisture Duo to give this shampoo and conditioner a try. I'm a huge fan of Alterna products anyway — they smell nice and work well with my hair. Verdict: I've washed my hair with these once and noticed a HUGE difference in softness afterwards. Also, to be honest, a bit of limpness that comes with more moisturized strands. I'll probably save these for once or twice a month use, at least until we get into the dead of winter, but I'm definitely glad I bought them. |
 Various Fenty products. I bought a bunch of Fenty products because I keep hearing amazing things about them. Fenty Reviews: I'm keeping the Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer (pictured)– it's a nice basic sparkly gloss that you can layer or wear by itself and isn't quite as sticky as some of the others I've had in the past. While I'm returning the Starlit Hyper-Glitz Lipstick (too sparkly for me), I will note that I think it's very similar to but better than Glossier's Generation G in that I like the consistency and color more. (I did not get the highlighter that everyone else loves because I feel like I'm set there. (I like Glossier's for everyday and Benefit's Highbeam for nighttime looks.)) |
 Various Bioelements products. This is the second or third year in a row that I've bought the “anti-aging travel set” from Bioelements, which usually gives me enough of a fix for Sleepwear, Sleepwear for Eyes, and Multi Eye Concentrate to last me for an entire year. (It also comes with an Advanced Vitamin C Complex, but personally I prefer my regular Vitamin C serum.) This time I also got samples of a bunch of other things (hooray for Cyber Monday sales), so I thought I'd share. Equalizer toner spray: like I said above with Laneige's toner, I haven't been a big toner user since my teenage years, where some blue, medicinal-smelling bottle (Noxzema?) was a regular part of my routine. That said, I like the Bioelements equalizer toner (and after the Rothschild cleansing balm I can see the benefits of such a toner!) but I'm not sure it's indispensable to my routine yet. I was excited to try the Quick Refiner for Eyes, which is a special serum designed for your eyes at night to help with wrinkles and lines. The first morning I woke up thinking my eyes looked worse than they normally do — but after I put on concealer I thought it went on smoother and blended better than it normally does, so maybe it did work. I'm still working my way through other samples — I'll keep you posted if I find any big hits. |
These were some of the products I've tried recently — what have you tried?
wildkitten
I live alone and want to cook more. Should I get an instapot?
cat socks
I cook for two people and I make soups and chili in the Instant Pot that keep as leftovers for a few days. The InstanPot isn’t necessarily quick cooking, but I find it easy to cook everything in one appliance.
Anonymous
What do you think has stopped you from cooking more up until now? If it’s a matter of time/effort, an instapot may be useful. On the other hand, if you don’t like leftovers, or just don’t enjoy cooking, an instapot may or may not inspire you to cook more. I’m not saying don’t get an instapot, just think about it before you spend the money on a pricey gadget.
Torin
+1 I like mine but I don’t mine eating leftovers in the slightest and am a fan of soups/stews/rice. If those things aren’t true for you, don’t get one.
AnonInfinity
Agreed! I cook a lot and live alone. I love mine. Generally I’ll cook a batch of chicken or pork or something on Sunday and then use that in various ways throughout the rest of the week. For example, yesterday I cooked 3 lbs of chicken thighs in it and shredded that. I’m using it in salads, tacos, and with steamed veggies on the side this week. This means the most time consuming aspect of the meal is already done, and I can eat it enough different ways that I don’t get tired of it. I do the same with pork loin as well.
I can’t make a pot of chili for myself and eat that same thing over and over again; I have to be able to figure out a way to change it up.
But my best friend also lives alone and I’d never encourage her to get one. She never cooks and doesn’t particularly enjoy cooking, so it would just be a waste for her.
cat socks
I just heard about Laneige for the first time when I watched a video from emilynoel83. I’d like to try it because my lips get really dry. Good to know there is a comparable drugstore product.
kag
Maybe I am weird or something, but I didn’t like Laneige lip mask. It didn’t manage to mosturize my dry lips. I had better luck with argan oil balm from the Bodyshop and honey lip mask from Skinfood. Both are considerably cheaper than Laneige, as well.
Lausch
Face Wash Recommendation:
I love my Estee Lauder Soft Clean face wash. It cleans well, foams nicely, doesn’t try, doesn’t grease and my skin has improved a lot.
JC
Does any know if good genes is ok for sensitive skin/rosacea? Anything with the word “acid” gives me pause that it may cause redness or another reaction. TIA!
Kat G
They note that for sensitive skin you can put it on as a mask for 15 minutes (instead of leaving on over night) — not sure how that would work for rosacea though. Hope that helps!
Chest Freckles
Looking for recos for freckle bleaching cream? I got a very bad sunburn last summer in my neckline area and now it has turned to a thousand uneven freckles. I don’t have them anywhere else so I don’t know what to do with them. Does anyone have a product to recommend?
Jules
Yes! Eminence Bright Skin.
I had sun damage in that area and on the left side of my face (“I don’t need sunscreen, I’ll just be in the car . . .”) and it was recommended to me at a fancy and expensive organic spa where I had a facial while on vacation. I bought the night cream at the spa – so, so expensive – and they gave me samples of the daytime version with sunscreen. I have since found the products on Amazon, still pricey (~$45 each, but the jars seem to last a long time) but much cheaper than the spa. I’ve been using them both for about six weeks and they have made a huge difference. The product line uses some kind of organic alternative to chemical bleaching agents.
Jules
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009K7NA1U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://smile.amazon.com/Eminence-Organics-Skin-Overnight-Correcting/dp/B074HS11KB/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1513032994&sr=8-5&keywords=eminence+bright+skin
The overnight version is actually $60. But I’ve used less than a third of the jar that I bought about 10/21.
OP
Thank you!!
kag
Kat, I liked Innisfree volcanic face wash enough to re-purchase.
Ellen
I do not think it is free, but if it is good, they should give out free sampel’s! YAY!!!
yasmara
I love the Colleen Rothschild line. I do think the cleansing balm is more of an evening wash thing for me than a morning wash. It’s great for really taking off makeup and not stripping moisture. The dual enzyme polish is also great – I use it a couple of times weekly in the morning. It works better when you let it sit for a while, then scrub it in, then wash it off.
For a foaming wash, I love the Shisedo Perfect Whip: https://www.amazon.com/Shiseido-Fitit-Perfect-Cleansing-4-2oz/dp/B001CC1VV2/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1513101266&sr=8-4&keywords=perfect%2Bwhip%2Bcleansing%2Bfoam&th=1
You can use a teeny tiny pea sized amount and get a crazy amount of foam, especially if you’re using a face brush like a Clarisonic.
For a non-foaming cleanser, I tried the Vichy Purete Thermale in a travel size and liked it so much I immediately bought a full-sized bottle. Worth every penny, I love it. https://www.amazon.com/Vichy-Thermale-Cleanser-Remover-Sensitive/dp/B000V3ME6Y/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1513101419&sr=1-2&keywords=vichy%2Bpurete%2Bthermale&th=1
Cm
I’m on my third bottle of CosRX low PH good morning gel and adore it. It’s not actually low PH but very close to PH neutral which is a big deal in the Asian beauty circles for being ideal. Most cleansers over clean for me and leave my face super dry but this one doesn’t. A 5 oz bottle is around $5 on Amazon and it almost always has free shipping with prime.
Ferret Wrangler
It’s a pH of about 5, which is low *and* good for cleansers; your skin is at this pH as well. A pH of 5 only sounds like it’s close to neutral (pH 7), but since pH is a logarithmic scale, it’s actually 100 times more acidic than pure water. Having a pH 7 cleanser would be way too alkaline (basic) and not good for your skin’s balance.
Anon
Fresh soy face cleanser. Gentle, non-drying, fragrance-free and doesn’t leave a residue.
Donna
In the winter I can’t live without the m-61 Hydraboost HA Serum pads from Blue Mercury. If my skin is feeling extra dry and tight, these give me all day hydration. The serum comes in a bottle too but the results are not the same as the pads, I don’t know why. Works better than any other hyaluronic acid product I’ve tried (and I’ve tried a lot!) I also love the Caviar hair products, and Laneige lip. Laneige seems pricey but lasts forever (over a year and still 1/4 of the product left) – I wake up with baby soft lips every morning.