Monday, March 18, 2024

January - March haul 2024

So here is my haul for the first three months of the year, they are a mixed bunch, some are purchases I made abroad and some are birthday gifts. My project pan for 2024 is not completely going as planned, as I stocked up on an item I had really no plans to stock up on... but I hope it will go better moving forward in the year 2024.

Glow cream, toner, cleanser, creams and a tinted moisturizer

Glow powder, fizz tamers, lip products and eye wands

Face masks

Barbie beauty bag


Bondi Sands - Gloss finishing glow instant luminous bronzed sheen for face and body (100 ml): My friend gave this to me for my birthday, we had seen it used by someone on social media and it looked really nice, she was so sweet to remember, and gifted it to me amongst other things. 
The body shop - Aloe soothing toner (250 ml): I grabbed this during a sales night in Kringlan shopping mall when The body shop was offering 20 or 25% off of everything in store. As I have almost finished my current bottle of this, I thought it was ideal to buy one on a discount as there are just a few weeks 
Clinique - Take the day off cleansing balm (125 ml): I had made it one of my goals in my project pan for 2024, not to purchase it again until I had finished some of my makeup removers, but it was on such a good price I caved in and bought it for later. 
Peach & Lily - Matcha pudding antioxidant cream (25 ml): As a Ulta member, and happened to be close to an Ulta store in February (my birthday month), I did go in store and got to choose amongst pre selected items and was torn between this and a Kopari body cream, and ended on choosing this one. 
Ecooking - Night cream (50 ml): I grabbed this item whilst at work, during a flight back and forth to Kastrup airport Copenhagen, but as we had an unusually long stop in at CPH I ran into the duty free and bought this plus the Tromborg item listed below. I had just finished the jar of this I had before, and I LOVE it.
Dr. Jart - Ceramidin cream mist, intensive moisturizing (110 ml): My friend who gave me the Bodi Sands product also gave me this ceramidin cream mist, as I had mentioned to her I was very curious about this product (again I had seen on some instragram feed of an influencer). 
Saie - Slip tint broad spectrum spf 35 sunscreen tinted moisturizer (40 ml): 
Garnier Fructis - Sleek and shine frizz tamer (8 ml): This I came across in one of the US drug store and thought it would be amazing, it is not so great. But it will suffice to use while I stay abroad for work for simple hair fixes, but for the stubborn small hairs, it does not work.
Kosas  - Air brow clear lifting treatment gel (1.77 g): This with the Kosas lip oil was a part of the Sephora birthday gift for 2024. There were a few options, and I was going back and forth between this one and a skincare set from Youth to the people. But for the makeup hoarder I am of course I opted for more makeup. 
Nature Republic - Honey melting lip in 01 Apricot (2.7 g): I saw Stait of Kait featuring this in one of her videos, and it sounded super nice, so I decided to grab in whilst in New York for work. So there went 50% of my colored lip product quota for 2024.
Tromborg - Baked minerals in silk (5.5 g): I had been eyeing this product for years, and finally pulled the trigger during a turnaround in CPH. It is a little bit dark and golden for a traditional highlighter (they also sell a lighter color called Highlight) but as this has been hyped among Danish beauty-bloggers for year I went with Silk.
Vieve - Eye wand in Hazelnut (1.4 g): I came across this brand not too long ago, and I had been very intrigued about it. And as I went on a short holiday with my friends to the UK, I decided to order some products and have them shipped my hotel in England. I chose this color as it is a medium brown shade and probably super versatile.
Vieve - Eye wand in Sand (1.4. g): I decided to grab another item from Vieve, as so many times before, I was torn between another eye wand and a liquid blush. But opted for the eye wand as I am trying to reel it in on the liquid or cream blushes. 
Kosas - Wet lip oil gloss plumping treatment gloss in Unbottoned (2 ml): The other half of the Sephora birthday gift. I swatched the color in store, and from there, there was no going back. The makeup birthday gift it would be. 
Purederm skin solutions - Deep purifying pink 02 bubble mask peach (25 g): Another friend of mine is also a lot into skincare, and gifted me this facemask and the following two packaged skincare products. 
Iroha Nature - Pre-soaked pads hydrating toner cica + blueberry (10 pcs 25 g): At first I mistook this for a facemask, but what a genius product, pre soaked toner pads. Perfect for travel.
Iroha Nature - Aloe vera and hyloronic acid Soothing and hydrating face mask (20 ml): The third skincare product I got gifted from my friend for my birthday.
PS - Moisturizing avocado sheet mask (23 g): Avocado face mask for 1 Pound at Primark, I just had to.
Primark - Barbie beauty bag: When I spotted this in Primark, I just could not resist and had to buy it. 

This was quite a lot for three months, but a few of the items were indeed birthday gifts. But as I got a few facemasks, I really have to put some effort to use these single use sheet face masks. 

Sunday, January 7, 2024

Project pan 2024

I just finished giving you an update on my project pan for 2023, now it's onwards and upwards to choose the items I plan to focus on for 2024!! Usually I pick 10 products, but this year, I chose 16 items in total. So why 16 you might ask? Well four items are sample size, and some of the products I do not plan to finish per se, but more get some use out of, so I decided to add a few more items onto the project this year.

A few of the products I plan to focus on in 2024


The blusher, bronzers, concealers and eyeshadow for 2024


Lipstick, cream eyeshadow and cream blusher for 2024


So here come the products I chose for 2024:
Clinique - Take the day off cleansing balm (125 ml):
Weight at the start of 2024: 140 g
Goal: Finish it 
Why: About 1/4th of the product remains, and as I bought it in 2018, and the fact it takes up a lot of space in my small bathroom cabinet it is time to push to finish it. I would purchase again though, but I just have too many makeup removers at the moment, and need to finish a few of them before purchasing any more
The body shop - Cool cucumber softening body butter (200 ml): 
Weight at the start of 2024: 207 g
Goal: Finish it
Why: It is one of the oldest body creams in my arsenal, and it has started to separate, the cream from the oils. So it's now or never, and I hope to finish it early on in the year.
Mario Badescu - Facial spray with aloe, herbs and rosewater (236 ml):
Amount remaining at the start of 2024: The remaining product in the bottle reaches just above the upper part of the label. Even though I had decanted some of this product into another bottle I take to work, so in reality I have more product remaining of this facial spray than this bottle by itself suggests. 
Goal: Use 1/3 of this bottle by the end of 2024
Why: This is the "oldest" facial spray in my stash so it makes sense to hone in on it as my main facial spray for 2024
Smashbox - Photo finish foundation primer (7.1 ml): 
At the start of 2024: Unused
Goal: Finish it
Why: I have too many samples laying around and it would be perfect to finish some of them in 2024
Caudalie - Vinoperfect radiance serum complexion correcting (10 ml):
Goal: Finish it
Why: I had intended to take this to work with me, but as the product leaked during one of my flights, I decided it would be better off staying at home to be used up in 2024.
Ecooking - Primer (30 ml):
Remaining amount at the start of 2024: Almost full, the product just does not "touch" the top of the bottle.
Goal: Use about half of the bottle.
Why: This is not my oldest primer in my stash, but as it is an organic primer, I assume it will not have as long of a shelf life as the other ones I have - so I thought it would be a good idea to get some use out of it before it goes off. 
Sensai - Total lip gloss (4.5 ml):
Weight at the start of 2024: 26 grams
Goal: Use it up
Why: It is getting up there in age and as it is a clear gloss it is perfect for everyday use.
Charlotte Tilbury - Lip cheat re-shape and re-size lip liner in pillow talk (1.2 g):
Length at the start of 2024: 11.7 cm
Goal: Use 1 cm of it
Why: I did not focus on a lip liner last year and I think it would pair perfectly with the clear lip gloss.
Benefit - Hervana blush (8 g):
Weight at the start of 2024 (without the included brush): 41 g 
Goal: The goal with this item is not so much to use it up, but more focus on it and get some use out of it.
Why: At the moment these light pink blushes are very trendy, so it is a perfect time to incorporate this blush into my project pan 2024
The body shop - Bronzing powder shade 03 medium matte (11 g): 
Weight at the start of 2024: 48 g
Goal: Use it up
Why: It is my only bronzer that has any pan at the moment, and is a perfect shade to focus on over the winter. I will miss it from my collection though (as it is a discontinued product). It never looks muddy on the face and compliments my skin tone very well. 
Miild - Natural mineral concealer duo in 01 light ample (2.4 g):
Weight at the start of 2024: 46 g
Goal: Form dents into the two pans - and use it on the day to day on a no makeup-makeup days, when I keep my makeup to a bare minimum with mascara and concealer. 
Why: Again I focus on this product as it is a more organic/clean product and I assume it has a shorter lifespan than the average non-clean product. 
Bourjois - Smokey eyes 09 vert de gris eyeshadow trio (4.5 g):
Weight at the start of 2024: 22 g
Goal: Finish it
Why: Because I would love to finish a smaller eyeshadow palette in my collection and get a feeling that I am gaining some process on my collection, and this trio already has two pans in it. On the plus side cool shades seem to be in fashion for 2024 so even better to be focusing on this in particular.
Clinique - True bronze pressed powder bronzer in Sunblushed (1.3 g):
Weight at the start of 2024: 13 g
Goal: Use it up
Why: It is amongst the oldest products in my collection, as I do not even remember how I got it in the first place. It must have been some kind of a gift with purchase years ago. And it would make the perfect summer bronzer with a tad bit shimmer. Plus it would be great to be able to use two bronzers up in 2024 and make room for new bronzers in my collection.
Nars - Audacious lipstick in Anna (4.2 g):
Length at the start of 2024: 2.2 cm from the plastic base
Goal: Use 1 cm of it
Why: I tend to focus on one lipstick for the year. As I tend to wear one at work, and this is a perfect color that works for most of the year! I have tried to finish a few lipsticks in the last few years, but I never seem to manage to completely finish one up, so I decided to put a moderate 1 cm goal for the year 2024.
Clinique - Chubby stick shadow tint for eyes 04 ample amber (3 g): 
Length at the start of 2024: 2.5 cm fully screwed up
Goal: Use 0.5 cm of product
Why: I tend to focus on one cream eyeshadow for each year, and now this one is getting older in my collection and has gone unused in my collection so it was ideal to get some use out of it.
NudeStix - Nudies all over face dewy color in Bohemian rose (1.8 g): 
Length at the start of 2024: 1.6 cm
Goal: Use it up
Why: It is a mini, and has gone unused until the end of 2023, when I gave it a try to see if it would be possible to use in my project pan for 2024. And OMG this product is SO pigmented, so pigmented in fact it is borderline difficult to work with. Perhaps it is because it is getting older and dried out, but omg how can people then use the full size of similar products from this brand?

Other goals for 2024:
1. No face mist purchase in 2024
2. No mascara purchase in 2024
3. No primer purchase in 2024
4. No cream or serum purchase in 2024 (unless I am out of that particular type of product)
5. Maximum purchase one makeup brush in 2024
6. Maximum purchase of two colored lip products in 2024
7. Use a face mask once a week
8. Use a face mist at work

Friday, January 5, 2024

Empties 2023

 I managed to finish quite a lot of products in the year 2023 - and then I decided quite early on to declutter an eyeshadow trio from Kat Von D, as I tried it early on in the year and the performance was below par, and nothing close to when I got it in the first place. 

The main empties


All sorts of empties

Samples, a soap, face masks etc.

I am missing an empties picture of this sunscreen

Decluttered items of 2023


Harklinikken - Daily conditioner normal to dry hair (290 ml): this was an excellent conditioner, quite pricy for what it is, but it was very nice.
Tabaibaloe la marca de canarias - Aloe cream face and body islas canarias (300 ml): My friend gave me this body lotion a few years back, it came in super handy on this years summer holiday, as it is the perfect after sun lotion. 
Elizabeth Arden - Green tea honey drop body cream (500 ml): This body cream was a part of my 2023 project pan, it was a very nice body cream, and I would repurchase when I run out of my stash. You can hardly see it in the picture, but it is there in the back.
Alberto Balsam - Exotic mango shampoo (350 ml): This is 100% the worst shampoo I have ever tried, I originally bought it to shampoo my Barbie dolls and My little pony - toys when I went through my childhood toys a few years back. But I decided to try to use it up, I could not use this shampoo every time I washed my hair, it is that stripping. but once in a while it was ok, and did not wreck my hair.
Meraki - lip balm lime (4.8 g): This was an average lip balm, not great but not awful. Glad it is finished and will not purchase in the future.
Rituals - Conditioner cherry blossom and rice milk (25 ml): This definitely originates from one of the hotels I have stayed at, and for sure has been used up on a holiday or at the gym. Using these types of hair products 2-3 times does not give a lasting impression, and I do not have a solid opinion of this product. 
Drunk Elephant - Protini polypeptide cream (15 ml): This I was gifted from Sephora, and I think I have finished 2 of these. It was a nice face cream. 
Dr. Organic - Organic manuka honey cream (50 ml): I think this is the second bottle I finish of this face cream. I really like it, and I think it keeps my perioral dermatitis in check. I will 100% repurchase in the future. 
Kiehls - Midnight recovery concentrate (4 ml): This was a part of my project pan 2023, my skin is super sensitive, and I am not sure it can handle this on a long term basis. So I will not purchase. 
Lancome - Eau micellaire confort (50 ml): I really liked this micellar water as a makeup remover, but I am not sure it will perform that much better than your average micellar water.
Lancome - Bi Facil (30 ml): One of my favorite eye-makeup remover of all time. I got this tester some while back. Will repurchase always.
Evy Technology - Sunscreen mousse 30 spf (150 ml): One of my favorite sunscreen mousse, too bad you can not get this everywhere as it is super good, and supposed to protect your skin to a deeper layer than your average sunscreen.
Caudalie - Beauty elixir (30ml): This was a part of my project pan 2023, I like this product but it is a bit to perfumie for me, so I would not repurchase. But it was nice to try one of these super hyped beauty products. 
Dr. Hauschka - Facial toner (10 ml): I really like this toner, and would consider to buy it full size, it smells a little bit herbal though. But I do believe that Dr. Hauschka is a clean brand and does not contain harmful chemicals. It is also a big plus that this product comes in a small glass container - that makes me feel it is even more cleaner.
Nature Republic -Snail solution skin booster - brightening and wrinkle improvement (sample): I am not sure how much product was in this, perhaps 5-8 ml. I used it up, if I saw any benefit - I am not sure.
The Body Shop - Aloe calming toner (250 ml): My favorite toner, will repurchase forever.
Bio Effect - EGF Serum (15 ml): I really like this product! This was gifted to me at work some years back. I will buy some time in the future, when I have managed to use some of the products up I have stocked up.
Lancome - Tonique confort - Rehydrating skincare lotion (50 ml): This product I really liked, it was milky pink in color and felt super gentle on my skin. Might perhaps buy sometime in the future. 
Korres - Body milk fresh citrus (30 ml): This like so many of my miniatures originates at some hotel, as this is a Greek brand it always raises my interest. The scent is quite masculine, and was used up at the end of the year specially to declutter my stash. 
Lancome - Hypnose mascara 01 black (6.2 ml): I was gifted this mascara a few years back (either 2019 or 2020) as a part of Lancome Idole launch - but I dragged my mom to the mall and we got a gift bag, full of Lancome products. 
Express - Love Express eau de parfum (10 ml): I bought this in Express, years ago. I really like the scent and seriously considered to buy it full size few years back. Not so sure today, but it is mild enough for me to be able to wear it, but when I browsed the perfume aisle in Hagkaup, the biggest beauty department in a supermarket in Iceland I found most of the new scents to be quite heavy and to potent - and I would unlikely to be able to wear it. 
Sin Kov - Insect repellent (100 ml): This I bought in Turkey years ago, I did finish it in Crete this summer. It did me wrong though, as I probably did not spray enough on and got severely bitten - to the point I had to see a doctor and get a shot. 
Becca - First light priming filter (15 ml): This was a part of a set, and I put this particular item into my project pan for 2023. It was almost full when I started out, and managed to finish it within the course of one year. I do not use makeup every dag, but I tried to make an effort to use this primer when I did, so now I can assume I will be able to finish 15 ml of primer in one year.
Blue Lagoon Iceland - Hand cream (7 ml): This was just an average hand cream, not awful but not great either. 
The Body Shop - British rose hand cream (sample): This hand cream is among the worst I have tried, it is super light, and the scent of rose unbearable. But did finish it this December to be able to declutter it. 
Boots - Moisturising nail polis remover pads (15 pads): This I purchased in Boots years ago, and it does come in super handy on a holiday - as you do not need to take with you a bottle of acetone which can wreck havoc in your suitcase. 
Sóley - Græðir hand cream (50 ml): This on the other hand is amongst the top three hand creams I have ever tried. Will repurchase for sure (if I do not forget how good it is).
The body shop - Vitamin C microdermabrasion facial exfoliator (75 ml): This had been lingering in my shower for years, so it was about time for me to finish it up. I did not use it that often, but it worked well when my skin was giving me some issues. 
The body shop - Hemp hard working hand protector (10 ml): This is for sure in my top 3 hand creams of all time. 
Primo Bagno - Aloe vera gel 100% organic (100 ml): This I purchased in Greece a few years back, and did come in handy as an after sun on my holidays this year.
Lancome - Hydra Zen Jelly mask - Anti stress rehydrating mask (15 ml): This came with the Lancome gift set I got in the mall with my mom in 2019/2020 - even though it was only 15 ml it lasted quite a while. I did even try to finish it up in 2022 without success. 
Victorias Secret - Lip gloss in cookie kiss (13 g): This I tried to finish in my project pan 2021 without success, I have been working on it ever since, unofficially and finally I managed to finish it up, and I mean completely, as I did cut the packaging up, and OMG the amount that remained inside the packaging after I was not able to squeeze anything more out of it.
Jergens - BB Body perfecting skin cream (221 ml): Another product I tried to pan in my project pan 2021 without success, but I had really gone a long way with it, and it only took a few uses in the beginning of 2023 to use it up.
Carroten - Be cool after sun tissue face mask (20 ml): This was a brilliant purchase in Crete early summer 2023 and I did use it on that one week holiday, but it contained a whopping 20 ml of product, so I was able to use the remaining product a few times more as a serum.
Sea Moisture - African black soap (227 g): This is my favorite facial soap, and I continue to purchase it time and time again, as it suits my skin and seems to be able to keep my perioral dermatitis in check. 
Neutrogena - Cica-repair hand mask (20 g): I was gifted this hand mask, and it contained two tissue gloves, and it worked like a charm. 
Caudalie - Vinoperfect radiance serum (1.5 ml): I got a few of these testers at Sephora, and what a great thing to have in my suitcase for work or for travel. 
Peter Thomas Roth - Water drench hyaluronic clout rich barrier moisturizer (2 ml): This was used in the same way as the previous product, probable at one of my stop-overs in the US for work. I am very interested in these skin barrier creams, and it has been on my radar to buy one of those in the near future. Not sure it will be this one though, even though it was light and very moisturizing. 
Nature Republic - Real nature mask sheet tomato (23 ml): This I probably used that early on in the year I do not remember this product in particular. But I am sure as it contains a lot of product I was able to use the remaining product in the packaging as a serum for a few days after I used the sheet mask itself.
Dr. Belmeur Advanced - Cica recovery serum (1.5 ml): This had lived in my skincare travel bag for quite some time, so I decided it was time for me to make use of it.
Taramar - The serum skin restoring bioactive formula (1.5 ml?): I was gifted this tester at work some while ago, so it was about time to use it up.
Garnier - Moisture bomb sheet mask Super hydrating + revitalizing mask, hyaluronic acid + pomegranate extract (28 g): Another facemask I did use up this year. The only downside of these single use face mask is that they contain so much product, so a lot of it remains in the packaging after you use it, so you end up using the leftover product for several days as a facial serum.
Pharmaid - Aloe treasures - Intimate care mild antiseptic cleansing liquid with 100% organic aloe vera + tea trea oil & bisabolol (5 ml): This I got as a gift with purchase in one of these cream and olive oil stores in Crete last summer. I originally mistook it for aloe vera gel - but when in fact it was an intimate cleanser!! And what a surprise, if I had tried it right away I would have bought it full size while on holiday in Greece.
Kalliston - Sun protect cream face & body 30 spf (2 ml): This I got at the same time as the previous sample. And I did use it whilst on holiday in Turkey.
The body shop - Body butter almond milk (8 ml): I really love the body butters from the body shop and this was no exception.
Dr. Hauschka - Rose day cream (1.5 ml): This I did also use up either on holiday or at work. I do love all the Dr. Hauschka products I have tried, it was a little bit thick but very nice.
Biotherm - Aquasorce gel (1 ml): This like the others I did use up probably at work. It was ok, but in general I am not a fan of gel creams.
Biotherm - Aquasorce aura concentrate intense regenerating serum (2 ml): This serum was very liquidy, again I probably used it up at work. But I am always quite skeptical about "intense" products and am afraid they will agitate my perioral dermatitis. But these small samples rarely do though. 
Sulwhasoo - Essential comfort firming cream (1 ml): Another tester that had lived for some time in my work/travel skincare beauty bag, so it was about time for me to use it up.
Hawaiian Tropic - Silk hydration protective sun lotion (180 ml): I am missing an empties picture of this product as I finished it on my summer holiday in Turkey this autumn, and forgot it in one of my hotel rooms during that trip. I love the smell, but sadly the ingredients might not be the best.
Kat Von D - True romance eyeshadow in dreamer (7 g): I apparently bought this in Seattle 2013 - so it is roughly 10 years old, and I only used it a couple of times. In retrospect I am happy I bought on a sale, but perhaps I would preferred I had not bought it at all. When I tried it at the start of the year 2023 and it performed awfully I decided to declutter it from my collection. 
L.A. Colors - eyeshadow in Onyx (3 g?): As this shadow has been depotted I am not sure how many grams of product it contains. But as I have not reached for this shade in years it was time to get rid of it from my palette of depotted eyeshadows. 
Urban Decay - Eyeshadow primer potion (6 ml): My original plan was not to declutter this, but when I was looking for the time I purchased the KVD eyeshadow I realized I bought this product at the same time, and as I rarely use it and as the formula has a tendency to separate, I decided it was due to declutter it. 

Did you use up a lot of items this year?

Friday, December 29, 2023

November - December 2023 Haul

 So here is my last shopping confession of the year


Skincare and lip balms

Brush, concealers, eyeshadow and hand cream


Nuxe - Honey lip care (10 ml): This I grabbed in Paris after searching for it in January 2023 without success, I found this in the first pharmacy I visited in Paris this December.
Lumene - Pure arctic miracle 3 in 1 micellar cleansing water (250ml): I already have a big bottle of this micellar water, but as I got stranded in Copenhagen for one night without any makeup or cleansers, so I grabbed the most needed items for a one night sleep in Copenhagen.
Cosrx - Advanced snail 96 mucin power essence (100 ml): This was on a major sale in Ulta Beauty on black Friday, and as I had the chance to grab one I did decide to snatch one up as I am running low on my snail gel I already have, and do believe this does miracles for my skin. 
Manufactura - Dead sea soft day face cream (50 ml): I purchased this on a holiday in Prague, as this brand came highly recommended and you always do need a face cream.
Lumene - Nordic hydra moisture balm (50 ml): This for sure was not a planned purchase, and as the micellar water was purchased as I needed a face cream for an unexpected overnight stay in Copenhagen. I do like the brand so I opted for a cream from this brand vs. something else.
By Terry - mini to go baume de rose lip care (2.3 gr): This I spotted at Prague airport and as this was a mini, and it is an item that is very hyped among beauty gurus I decided to give it a try.
Dermacol Prague - Master brush powder and blusher D56: I spotted a few of the Dermacol stores around the city of Prague, the makeup looked to be a bit of lower quality, but the brushes seemed to be of a decent quality, so I decided to grab one, and as a matter of a fact, I was having the hardest time to choose between two of them. 
Nilens Jord - Second skin concealer no.2 Shell (3 ml): This I also picked up in Copenhagen, in Magasin du Nord, I did need a concealer, as the bare minimum, and I did not have this type of concealer in my stash, this kind of a click pen with a brush.
Mac - Eyeshadow - All that glitters (1.3 gr): This is another item I snatched up on a black Friday offer in Mac, as they were having a discount of everything in their stores. 
Dermacol Prague - Magnolia flower care delicious hand cream (30 ml): This was gifted to me from the sales associate at the Dermacol store in Prage. Such a nice gesture, and will for sure come in handy as my hands tend to be dry.
Bare minerals - Multi tasking concealer broad spectrum spf 20 in bisque (2 g): I had been intrigued about this product for some time, and as I kept on getting red splotches on my face the current concealers I have at hand at the moment did not seem to stick I decided to give this a try. And it does work like a charm!! 

So that concludes my purchases for the year 2023 - and soon there will be time to outline my goals for 2024, both for project pan and as what to buy and what not to buy.
Do you have any plans regarding your cosmetics in the coming year?

Monday, December 25, 2023

Project pan 2023 - final results

So how did I do on my project pan for 2023. Well first of all I did remove one item from the lot quite early on, that was the French lavender and honey fragrance mist from Bath and Body works. As the bottle was huge, and I did really not fancy the scent after all, and decided to sell it in a second hand shop booth I had booked in October. That fragrance mist unofficially got replaced with the perfume I attempted to finish in 2021: Our moment by One direction which is a whopping 100 ml bottle.

The 10 products I focused on in 2023

Update on usage


Supergoop - Zink Screen SPF 40 (50 ml):
Weight at the start of 2023 (with packaging and cap): 85 gr
Goal: Finish it
Weight at the end of 2023: 56 gr - which means I used about 18 g of sunscreen.
Estée Lauder - Pure color creme lipstick in Rose tea (0.12 oz/3.4 g):
Length at the start of 2023: measured from plastic base: 2.4 cm
Goal: Finish it
Length at the end of 2023: 1.9 cm
Becca - First light priming filter (15 ml):
Weight at the start of 2023 (with packaging and cap): 16 g
Goal: Finish it
End of 2023: finished (empty packaging weighs 5 g)
Elizabeth Arden - Green tea honey drops body cream (500 ml):
Weight at the start of 2023 (with packaging and cap): 245 g
Goal: Finish it
End of 2023: finished, empty packaging weighs 67 g, which means I used up about 178 g of product.
Caudalie - Beauty elexir (30 ml):
Estimated product at the start of 2023: 1/3 
Goal: Finish it
End of 2023: finished
One direction - our moment eau de parfum (100 ml):
I replaced the body spray from Bath and body works for this parfum I had tried to finish in 2021, at the end of 2021 it weighed 304 g - I did not weigh it at the start of this project but now at the end of 2023 it weighs 278 g. So I assume over two years I managed to finish 26 g of parfum.
Kiehls - Midnight recovery concentrate (4 ml):
Amount left at the start of 2023: Just below half
Goal: Finish it
End of 2023: Finished.
Sensai - Bronzing gel in BG 62 Amber bronze (50 ml):
Weight at the start of 2023 (with packaging and cap): 64 g
Goal: Use 10 g of it
Weight at the end of 2023: 64 g - so instead of 10 g, I ended up using less than 1 g
Fenty Beauty - Match stick, matte skinstick in Amber (7.10 g):
Start of 2023: When fully screwed down, the product sticks out 6 mm from the packaging.
Goal: To use enough product that when it is fully screwed down, the product will not stick out at all.
End of 2023: it still sticks out about 3 mm - and that even I did use it considerably to contour.
Becca - Under eye brightening corrector (2.3 g): 
Weight at the start of 2023 (with packaging and cap): 23 g
Goal: Use it up
Weight at the end of 2023: 23 g - and this is even when I really tried to focus on this product

Other goals for 2023:
1. No colored lipstick nor lip-gloss purchase in 2023 - well that was a fail as I bought 3 lip products over the course of the year. 
2. No mascara purchase in 2023, second year in a row - I brought 2 of them into the year - one mini came with the birthday present from Sephora, the other I bought in Tukey. 
3. Use a face mask once a week - that I did perhaps manage 12 times vs. 52 times.
4. Only buy one colored cosmetics per month - or 12 items in the year 2023 - This I did in the end actually stick to, even counting an unexpected product I bought in Copenhagen, but I can add to this number three testers or deluxe sample size products, two from Ilia and one from Rose inc.

So what is the total number of colored cosmetics I brought into my stash in 2023?

Ilia - The necessary eyeshadow palette in cool nude
Maybelline - eyeshadow in nude glow
Inglot - matte eyeshadow in 356
RMS Beauty - Buriti bronzer
Kjær Weis - brown eyeliner
Nars - gloss in Turkish delight
Elf - Halo glow liquid filter
Golden Rose - City style mascara
Glossier - eyeshadow trio in Almond
Ilia - Multi stick in at last (mini)
Ilia - Limitless mascara (mini)
Rose inc - tinted serum (tester)
Mac - all that glitters eyeshadow
Bare minerals - multitasking concealer
Nilens Jord - Second skin concealer

Then of course all the products I consider not to be of a color, for example 2 lip balms/oils, nail strengthener, 8 makeup brushes, creams, cleansers, body lotions, facial sprays, a scented body spray, mascara primer and hair products. For 2024 I really need to take firm course of action to stop this serious hoarding. 

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

August - October Haul 2023

 There is really a general theme for my purchases in 2023 - and the theme is called makeup brushes!! 


The main haul of Augsut - October 2023


Sephora makeup brushes


Testers from Sephora

Elf - Halo glow liquid filter - 1 fair (31.5 ml): This is supposed to be a dupe for the famous Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood flawless filter. I have never tried the CT one, but this one looks promising. I will for sure have to work on a primer in 2024 for my project pan as I seem to have accumulated quite a few throughout the last few years. 
Glow recipe x Barbie - Watermelon glow pink juice moisturizer (25 ml) and Watermelon glow niacinamide dew drops serum (15 ml): My friend asked me to grab one of these sets when I was in the US - and when I saw the packaging, a pink metal box I knew I had to grab one for myself as well. 
Generic Value Products - Color protecting shampoo, compare to Matrix biolage color last shampoo (473 ml): My friend recommended this brand in Sally's Beauty, so I decided to grab a bottle, as I knew Matrix was a good brand, as my mom used to use that brand in her hair salon. 
First aid beauty - KP smoothing body lotion with 10% AHA (170 g): I have the suspicion I suffer from keratosis pilaris (KP) on my legs, as they tend to be red and spotty. It could also just be eczema as in later years I have skin inflammation issues on my face, so it would be no surprise I have developed KP - so when at Ulta in Target I grabbed a tube with me to give a try. 
Neutrogena -  Rapid wrinkle repair regenerating cream, accelerated retinol SA (48 g): I seriously had a shock after one of my flights to the US in October - the lighting in the restroom in my hotel room was too good, so I was able to spot some fine lines I had never spotted before, I went straight to Youtube to find a good retinol for sensitive skin, and this one was one of the ones that came highly recommended. 
Glossier - Monochrome essential eyeshadow trio in almond (3.9 g): I am always drawn into small eyeshadow palettes (over bigger ones), and this came recommended by a few of the youtubers I tend to watch. I usually draw in a dark brown to complete the look, but I have one dark brown single laying around that pairs perfectly with this one, so I am not very disappointed by the fact that this is just a trio instead of a quad. Though quad for the packaging would have been nice. 
Goden Rose - Mega volume city style mascara (9 ml): this purchase broke one my rules for 2023 - not to buy any mascara, but as I was traveling around in Turkey, I just had to grab one of my favorite mascara on that trip. 
Sephora - Pro foundation 47: I got tempted to buy this brush and the following during the latest Sephora sale, on 30% discount.
Sephora - Pro shadow 14: I also got this one on a Sephora 30% sale - in retrospect maybe I should have gotten the smaller eyeshadow brush number 15.
Sephora beauty insider - Glow recipe - Watermelon glow niacinamide dew drops (15 ml) and Watermelon glow PHA + BHA pore tight toner (25 ml): I was gifted these products and the following while browsing in Sephora, Georgetown Washington.
JVN - Complete air dry cream (20 ml): I was also gifted this item in Sephora. I am not entirely sure what is the purpose of this product, do we need a cream in the hair to let it air dry now?

Did you buy something of late?

According to my calculations I have purchased 9 colored items of the 12 I set my self out as a maximum purchase of 2023 of colored cosmetics products - then to that number I can add 3 sample sizes:

Ilia - The necessary eyeshadow palette in cool nude
Maybelline - eyeshadow in nude glow
Inglot - matte eyeshadow in 356
RMS Beauty - Buriti bronzer
Kjær Weis - brown eyeliner
Nars - gloss in Turkish delight
Elf - Halo glow liquid filter
Golden Rose - City style mascara
Glossier - eyeshadow trio in Almond
Ilia - Multi stick in at last (mini)
Ilia - Limitless mascara (mini)
Rose inc - tinted serum (tester)

Total of 12 colored cosmetics, three of the items are testers/gift with purchase sizes, so I wonder if they should could towards the total 12 count? Still there is quite some product in those samples.
What of the items I purchased I could have skipped? Or which of these I did not like so much in retrospect? Number one that comes to mind, and most likely the only item on this list; the Inglot eyeshadow, it is superdry and almost no pigment comes off from it.
Best purchase? The eyeliner from Kjær Weis and the Turkish delight gloss from Nars - those two are amazing. 
Nota bene I have not started to use the following: Ilia multi stick, Ilia mascara, Rose inc tinted serum, Elf halo glow and the Golden rose mascara..

Sunday, July 23, 2023

April - July haul 2023

So here is the update on my continued shopping spree of 2023 - this one is spray and brush heavy!! 


Haul in April - July

Testers + samples

Carroten face mask


Dior - Diorshow maximizer 3D triple action lash-primer serum (10 ml): I had been curious about this white mascara primer trend. I am not completely sold on it, I just find it a bit of a kefaffle of an extra step while putting on my makeup.
Nars - Afterglow lip shine gloss in Turkish delight (5.5 ml): This gloss Kim Kardashian made famous years ago. It has been on my radar for years, and in spite of one of my main goals for 2023 was not to buy a colored lip product during the year (as I have more than enough of them). But this product is BEAUTIFUL with a medium dark mauve pink lip liner! 
Moroccanoil - Brumes du Maroc fragrance mist (30 ml): This I had been eying for a few months, all since I bought the Moroccanoil body oil, as I loved the smell of it - this has a very similar scent, but still it smells less jucy than the body oil. 
Bioeffect - Osa water mist (60 ml): This I got tempted to buy in the duty free store in Iceland on my way to my summer holiday. Have not tried it yet as I have way too many facial spreys.
Mac - Prep+Prime Fix+ Goldlite (100 ml): I ran into this product at Nordstrom Rack, and got seriously tempted, did I need it? No! Did I buy it? Yes.
Nailberry - Strengthen & breathe base coat (15 ml): I had no intention to buy any more nail-polish products in this year, but I had a remaining credit in Elira from a birthday gift, and they were promoting 20% off everything, so I decided to finish it before it would expire or worse yet, I would forget about it.
Sol de Janero - Rio radiance cream - Cheriosa 87 fragrance - Illuminating mica (75 ml): I love the smell of this body lotion, and the shimmer radiance it gives off, it is perfect for summer. I was seriously tempted to buy the bigger size, but decided to opt for the smaller one, as I have more than enough body lotions stashed away. 
Rose Inc - Blush brush no.2: I was scouting for a blush brush to blend out cream blushes, and I was debating between this one and Sephora no. 47, but that one was sold out in 3 Sephora stores I visited during the Sephora sale this spring. Rose Inc were promoting a discount at the same time so I grabbed this one - to my surprise though, I still prefer to blend 2 out of my 3 cream blushes with my fingers.
It Cosmetics - Heavenly luxe complexion perfection brush no. 7:
Sephora - Pro crease 26 + pro crease 24: During the Sephora sale this spring, I was able to grab these brushes. And wow, did these blow my mind, I previously had some prejudice against the Sephora line - and gosh was I wrong! Now I want every brush they make!
Hourglass - Ambient powder brush: This I grabbed at Toronto airport as our flight was delayed, and we had some extra time to wonder around the airport. Oh my gosh, who knew you could even find Pat McGrath at an airport. But this brush was considerably cheaper at the airport - and it even came with a travel pouch, that snaps close with a magnetic snap. 
Rose Inc - Reusable cosmetics rounds: With my purchase from Rose Inc I could choose two testers, so I chose this one and the next one.
Rose Inc - Skin enhance luminous tinted serum in color 040 (6 ml): I had been super curious about this product, so to be able to get a sample with purchase was perfect. 
Marc Inbane - Perle de soleil tanning drops (1 ml): They were giving these away at Kringlan shopping mall in Iceland during some midnight opening early this summer. I had been curious about this brand, but with 1 ml I am not even sure I can get an idea about the brand.
Kalliston - Sun protect cream spf 30 (2 ml): This I got as a gift with purchase while on holiday in Crete. I will throw this in my suitcase for work and it will for sure be used - not sure I will put it on my face though, as I tend to be sensitive to ingredients in sun lotions.
Pharm aid - Aloe treasures - Intimate care mild antiseptic cleansing liquid (5 ml): At first I just assumed this was an aloe vera gel as there were big pictures of aloe vera plants on the tester - it was jus now I realized it is an "intimate mild cleanser" - which I find hilarious. 
Carroten - Be cool after sun face mask (20 ml): I bought this while on holiday in Crete - as it would be the perfect facial pamper in the sun. 

Now I really need to reel it in and stop purchasing brushes and facial sprays and focus on using some of these items up. As a matter of fact, I am over these shopping sprees - or so I keep telling myself, that might also have something to do with the fact I have a closet full of clothes I am planning to sell in one of these second hand store this autumn, and I have also uploaded some of them in one of the online stores in Iceland. 

So now it is more out with the old - and let's not drag too much in!!