I know that I say this every month but it is hard to believe that another month is over. November just flew by. It was warmer and wetter than usual here in Virginia so I haven’t totally transitioned to cold weather products. I have a ton of empties this month, in part, because I get so many beauty boxes with sample sizes in them. The order does not correspond to the pictures at all because there were so many. So, here we go!
Equate Sensitive Cleansing Facial Wipes – this is the Walmart version of Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes. I use these at night to take off my makeup before I wash my face. I find that I get my face much cleaner when I use cleansing wipes and then my usual cleanser. This helps my serum and moisturizer to be more effective. These work fine and I would repurchase. The first few times I used them they did tingle some but they didn’t irritate my skin at all.
Boots No. 7 Protect and Perfect Intense Advanced Serum – this serum is powered by Matrixyl 3000 Plus, a combination of the most powerful form of Matrixyl plus a next generation peptide that work together to help restore more youthful skin. I got this sample by requesting it online with a link provided by See Ann Save. It made my face feel amazing! I got about 3-4 days use out of the packet and I really like it.It felt super smooth and soft. This is a very affordable serum and an ounce sells for less than $25. This is something that I will certainly buy in the future. I have enough serum to last for a while right now.
Equate Moisture Last Multi-Purpose Solution – this is the Walmart version of Opti-Free Pure Moist. A two pack costs about $5 less than the Opti-Free. Unfortunately, I had an eye appointment this weekend and the doctor told me not to ever use Equate contact lens solution. I have an open bottle and an unopened bottle left that I will finish but after that I guess I will pay more for the name brand.
Equate Saline Solution – yes I save a few pennies on store brands where I can. I use saline solution so that my solution lasts longer. I use it to rinse off my contacts before I put them in each morning. I also use it to rinse out my contact case.
Clinique Purifying Cleansing Brush – it was time to replace the brush on my Clinique Sonic Cleansing Brush. I have been using this brush since about July and I do think that it helps get my face much cleaner. You just get it damp and apply your cleanser either to your face or the brush head and wash. It has a timer and cuts off after 30 seconds. I do two cycles and wash for a full minute.
Assured 100% Pure Cotton Cotton Rounds – I buy these at Dollar Tree and there are 80 in the package. I use them to take off my eye makeup. I used to just use toilet paper but these work so much better. I bought them at Walmart but the cheaper ones at Dollar Tree work just as well. At Walmart 100 White Cloud Cotton Rounds cost $2.04.
Clinique City Block Sunscreen 13 SPF – I don’t know where they came up with 13 SPF! What a totally random number to choose.This is a sample size and it lasted about 2 months or so. I use this every day under my foundation. It has a tint so you can see where you put it. I would prefer to have sunscreen in my foundation but my current foundation does not have any. The tube is cut because I get a couple weeks out of it after it gets too hard to squeeze out of the tube. I use every last drop of all my products. I feel like I paid for all of it so I’m going to use all of it. I use this every day so I repurchase as needed.
Avon Vita Moist Enriched with Vitamins E,A, D hand and nail cream – Vita Moist Hand and Nail Cream for healthy-looking hands and stronger nails. Moisturizes, softens and smooths dry hands with an extra-rich, non-greasy formula fortified with Vitamins E, A, and D. Contains Keratin, the protein found naturally in healthy nails. I use hand cream all the time. This tube sat beside my bed and I put it on before I go to bed every night. To be honest, it did not feel all that great going on. It felt tacky and not at all creamy. I guess it helped my hands but there are too many good brands out there to buy this one again.
Avon Skin So Soft Replenishing Hand Cream – this is the Soft and Sensual + argan formula. Transform your hands with irresistible softness. This sensually floral scented hand cream with precious argan oil provides 24+ hours of moisturization, leaving hands looking and feeling silky smooth. I have much love for the Skin So Soft line and this hand cream is no exception. It is my Holy Grail Hand Cream. It makes my hands feel fabulous. I keep a tube of this on my desk at work and use it throughout the day. I work in a hospital so I wash or use antibacterial gel on my hands all day long. My hands get really dry so I have to use hand cream to keep them from cracking. I cannot say enough about this hand cream and highly recommend it. I buy this every time Avon has it on sale. I just ordered 3 tubes for $1.69 each. You cannot beat that price for this awesome product. I buy it in all three scents that it comes in and like them all. This one smells like jasmine and is a light floral scent.
Clinique All About Eyes – reduces circles and puffs. This is a sample size that I got as part of a gift with purchase. This is a pretty common item in the gift with purchase when you buy Clinique products. I use this in the morning to help with the puffiness I generally have when I wake up. It is a gel and goes on easily and is quickly absorbed. It claims to actually hold eye makeup in place. I don’t know about that because I only use it under my eyes. It does seem to work and I have been using it for months. I don’t know that I would actually buy it but I have plenty of samples to last a good while. It is fairly expensive and .05 oz costs $32. I will try some less expensive drugstore brands when I finish my samples.
L. A. Colors Luxe Lash Mascara – get ready for lush and luxurious lashes that super intensify your eyes. Formula nourishes and conditions with Vitamin E and Pathenol. Specially designed brush weaves and coats lashes for extreme lift and length. This is the best cheap mascara you will ever buy! It sells for less than $4 at Dollar General. I found it, along with a couple other L.A. Colors Mascara formulas, at Rugged Wearhouse for $1.99 and that is the best $2 I ever spent on mascara. It lengthens and thickens with absolutely no clumping. It stayed perfect up until the very last use and never clumped one single time. It didn’t smear, run, or flake. Yes, I will repurchase this one again and again.
Colgate Maximum Strength Sensitive Complete Protection Toothpaste- it promises 8 benefits: sensitivity, enamel, cavities, tartar, plaque, gums, freshens, whitens. The older I get the more sensitive my teeth become. I always use a sensitive teeth toothpaste. This one is fine and works as well as the others. I will probably buy it again but I don’t really feel loyalty to any particular brand of toothpaste. They all work pretty much the same so I usually but the one that is the best bargain.
Juara Tumeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask – brightens, minimizes pores, for all skin types. I got this sample in my first Ipsy bag. It is a small tube and I think I got 3 uses out of it. I is one of those masks that get warm after you put them on. It worked ok but it smelled odd. I guess maybe the tumeric. I don’t see buying the full size but I do like trying masks and getting them in subscription boxes. I use a mask 2-3 times per week so I do use these samples.
elf Makeup Mist and Set – with aloe, green tea, Cucumber, and Vitamins A, C, & E. I use this every morning after I get my makeup done. It makes my face feel fresh and hydrated. I don’t know that it really helps my makeup set but I like using it. I have already bought a new one.
Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Concealer + Corrector – I use this concealer on dark spots on my face. It is supposed to reduce hyperpigmentation but after using the whole tube I don’t see any improvement. I do like it as a concealer. It blends well and lasts all day. I will repurchase this after I finish the concealer I am using now.
Clinique Smart Custom Repair Concealer – Clinique claims that this serum reads your skin and addresses your unique problems. I just don’t believe that is possible. I do like this serum, though. It makes my skin feel so silky smooth. It says to use it twice a day but I only use it at night. There are only so many products I have time to put on each morning! This is a sample size that comes as a gift with purchase. I like this serum and will buy it again but I have been trying less expensive options to see if I can find something I like as well or better. The Bots No 7 I mentioned above might be a solid option.
Moisture Therapy Hand Cream for Dry, Itchy Hands – this is another Avon hand cream. Fortified with colloidal oatmeal, it instantly soothes and comforts dry, itchy skin. I kept this tube in the drawer of my coffee table to put on my hands when I am watching television. This is a decent hand cream that is quickly absorbed by the skin. It has a light scent that does not linger.
Colgate Optic White Platinum Toothpaste – I got this sample in, I think, a Target Beauty Box but it may have been a Walmart Beauty Box. It was fine but just toothpaste. It tasted ok but it was gritty. I know that most whitening toothpastes are gritty but I don’t really like the way it feels. I won’t buy a full size tube because I have to use sensitive tooth formulas.
Whew, that was a bunch of empties. I can’t imagine I will have so many in December but then again I will get a whole new bunch of subscription boxes starting soon.
Makeup and Skin Care for Mature Skin 