Sunday, January 22, 2023

Project pan 2023

So it's the time of year to choose my items for my project pan, set a few goals, and try my best to reach them.

As so many years before I have chosen 10 items, to finish - or reach a certain goal with:

The 10 products in my project pan 2023

Status of the Fenty match stix and Becca under eye corrector


Supergoop - Zink Screen SPF 40 (50 ml):
Weight at the start of 2023 (with packaging and cap): 85 gr
Goal: Finish it
Why: It technically has expired, and I want to use it up, plus I should make a habit to use spf on the daily
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
Why: It is getting old and I want to get more use out of it
Becca - First light priming filter (15 ml):
Weight at the start of 2023 (with packaging and cap): 16 g
Goal: Finish it
Why: I bought it around Christmas time in 2019 - and I have several primers, so I need to start to use them up, and this is quite small and should be manageable. 
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
Why: The remaining product was left outstanding after Project pan 2022, so this year I want to use it up
Caudalie - Beauty elexir (30 ml):
Estimated product at the start of 2023: 1/3 
Goal: Finish it
Why: It has a heavy scent to it and it would be good to have one less setting spray in my collection
Bath and Body works - Fine fragrance mist in French lavender and honey (236 ml):
Goal: Use about 1/3 of the remaining product - or down to the lower purple line on the bottle
Why: It is getting older and I want to get some use out of it.
Kiehls - Midnight recovery concentrate (4 ml):
Amount left at the start of 2023: Just below half
Goal: Finish it
Why: I got it some time back, and have several serums and similar products in my stash, so I thought this one could be finished quite fast, so I could focus on other items.
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
Why: I have never gotten into the habit of using this bronzing gel, as it remains quite a hyped product within Iceland. So I want to try to figure out a way if I can use this product.
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.
Why: This is the original formula, and I must have bought it in 2019, so it is about time I get some use out of it.
Becca - Under eye brightening corrector (2.3 g): 
Weight at the start of 2023 (with packaging and cap): 23 g
Goal: Use it up
Why: I have owned this since the end of 2019, even though I did not start to use it until late 2020 - it is time to finish it up, plus I have a full size backup.

Other goals for 2023:
1. No colored lipstick nor lip-gloss purchase in 2023
2. No mascara purchase in 2023, second year in a row
3. Use a face mask once a week
4. Only buy one colored cosmetics per month - or 12 items in the year 2023

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Empties January - December 2022

 So for the duration of 2022 I have collected all the items I have finished up during the year - and it is a lot! So I can say this is a successful year of using up stuff.. and then I also did somewhat of a de-clutter, which was really needed, in particular within the color cosmetics "category" as some of my cosmetics are were getting old and had at this point expired. 

Items finished abroad in July 2022

Skincare, hair care, body care empties 

Skincare, cleaners and color cosmetics empties

Face masks, eye masks and serum testers

Face mask, serum testers, hair mask and body lotion tester

De-clutters of 2022


Clinique - Mineral sunscreen fluid for face SPF 30 (30 ml): I finished this sunscreen when I was on holiday in Croatia. I had owned it for a few years, and love the formula, light a little bit oily and it even works under a foundation. 
Crabtree & Evelyn -Verbena and lavender body lotion (24 ml): This I must have gotten at one of my hotel stays, and I decided to grab it with me to go for a one week holiday in Croatia, as it would be allowed on my carry-on luggage, and that was the only luggage I took with me on that holiday. It is just an average milky body lotion. 
The Body Shop - Avocado body butter (8 ml): This was also a perfect size to take with me on holiday - and it is an amazing body butter, super rich and nourishing on skin that has spent a day in the sun.
TRESemmé - Moisture rich conditioner (500 ml): One of the better hair conditioner I have purchased in Bónus supermarket in Iceland. I would 100% buy it again.
John Frieda - Brilliant Brunette moisturizing shampoo (750 ml): This bottle has lasted me several years and I am always as happy about it - not stripping but leaves your hair clean.
Pantene Pro V miracles - Grow strong biotin + bamboo shampoo (400 ml): I still love the Pantene Pro shampoos in general and this is no exception.
Natural Olive - Body lotion (35 ml): This is probably the biggest bullshit product I have ever gotten at one of my hotel stays around the world - as I got this in Greece, world renowned for their olives - and this body lotion was made in China! Really? Yes, just an average body milk that I randomly used up.
The Body Shop - Sweet lemon shower gel (250 ml): a good standard shower gel - was gifted to me a few years ago.
Apivita - Face and body milk apricot and calendula SPF 50 (150 ml): This I picked up while on holiday in Greece a few years back, it had a heavy smell of apricot, but I really grew to love the scent - the cream was super thick and white and could get stuck in your swimsuit, but it did a good job of protecting you from the sun. After I could not squeeze a drop more out of the tube, I cut it in half and got so much more use out of it.
Kiss my face - Natural active life aluminum chlorohydrate & paraben free deodorant (70 g): I bought five of these deodorants a few years back when I was trying to find a aluminum free deodorant, and as this was scent free and only available in a 5 pack - I ordered it and gifted a few of them to friends and family and finally finished mine last year, and then I mean completely finished it - dug out the remaining product in the base and used every bit of it.
The Body Shop - Boost uplifting hair and body wash (tester): I got this as a free gift with purchase when I bought something in The Body Shop, it was surprisingly good (for a shampoo + body wash product) and I loved the scent - I would even consider to buy it full size.
Zenology -Nourishing shampoo (30 ml): one of my hotel shampoos, perfect for the gym or while travelling. 
Sóley Organics - Eygló moisturiser (50 ml): I love this face cream. It has clean and I assume organic ingredients and did not irritate my skin at all. The company even offers a refill - so I can take the container to the company and just pay for the refill. I will for sure do that some time in the future.
Peter Thomas Roth - Mega rich shampoo (24 ml): this is an ok shampoo, a little bit stripping for my hair, but is ok to use from time to time.
Crabtree & Evelyn - La source ultra moisturizing hand therapy (25 g): this hand cream is quite good, but excellent maybe not.
& Other stories - Fig Fiction hand cream (30 ml): also this was a good hand cream, better than the Crabtree & Evelyn one. 
The Body Shop - Aloe calming toner (250 ml): my absolute favorite toner - will keep on repurchasing.
Sephora - Waterproof eye makeup remover (200 ml): one of those good eye makeup removers that mixes an oil and water based cleanser. 
CeraVe - Micellar cleansing water (295 ml): my friend absolutely swears by this product - I on the other hand did not find it so amazing.
Thayers - Witch hazel aloe vera formula cucumber toner (89 ml): this size I thought to be the ultimate travel size, or for the gym - the only downside is the cap that apparently opens up super easily - and spills in your gym bag, so sadly half of this product, literally went to waste. 
Santorini herbals - Eye cream lightening (30 ml): as the name might suggest I did pick up this product in Santorini - buying skincare, that can be kind of a souvenir, right? It was quite good though.
Blue lagoon - Hydrating cream (20 ml): this I mistakenly opened thinking it was a face mask, as it comes in the same packaging. This was a "deluxe" sized tester and it was nothing beyond an average face cream.
Lumene - Instant glow beauty serum (30 ml): I used this as a light foundation. It was super light and serum-like and gave a luminous finish. 
Skyn Iceland - Pure cloud cream (10 ml): this I used up at the start of the year, and do not remember anything in particular about this cream other than I thought it was pleasant and fluffy in texture.
Estee Lauder - Advanced night repair (7 ml): as many people swear by this product, I can not say I was blow away by it, but then again I did not use it consistently - if anything I think it aggravated my perioral dermatitis, so I would stay away from it in the future. But it was a part of my Project pan 2022 - so indeed I am glad it is finished. 
Golden Rose - City style mascara (9 ml): this mascara is one of my favorite mascaras - too bad I am on a mascara ban, and have way to many samples waiting for me to open them up - other vise it would be repurchased. 
Gina Tricot - Beauty eyes eyeshadow in 42 caramel (1.8 g): this eyeshadow was the perfect crease color, and was part of my Beauty goals for 2021 - and the fact that there was so little left of it by the end of 2021 I continued using it for every day in 2022 until it crumbled and turned to dust and I used up every single dust of it (well apart from those who literally fell down the drain). 
Mac - Studio fix fluid in NC15 (tester): this tiny tester lasted me surprisingly long, it was quite good color match for me. And surprisingly did not irritate my perioral dermatitis.
Yves Sant Laaurent - Volupté tint in oil No. 4 (6 ml): this product was a part of my Project pan 2022 and I had been on a mission to use it up - so finally it is finished. It was good, but I was a bit tired of it after putting it into my project pan. 
Dr. Bragi - Marine enzyme intensive treatment mask (10 ml): don't get me wrong, this is a good face mask, but I am sure it is not worth the price tag, but I have a sense Dr. Bragi products are super expensive, but I received this as a gift. 
Real Nature - Calendula face mask (20 g): this brand is WAY extra in the amount it carries in their face masks - after wearing the mask on my face, I was able to use the tissue to wipe my entire body down and it was still a bit moist after - and there was plenty of liquid left in the pouch, which I poured into a small jar and used several times after it's initial use. 
Real Nature - Cucumber face mask (20 g): The same was for this face mask, plenty of product, and I was able to use the left over liquid for a few applications. Feels moisturizing and calming. 
Blue Lagoon - Silica mud mask (7 ml): I am always a little bit apprehensive about the Blue Lagoon products, as some of them are super strong, and some of them even leave my skin a little bit red afterwards. This is the "flagship" product of the lagoon, and it does indeed work, and you literally feel how super soft it leaves your skin afterwards. 
Nature Republic - Vitapair C dark spot serum (tester): my friend gifted this to me, and as I was already on a roll with testers I decided to use this one up as well.
Bio Effect - Eye mask (2 sheets x 1.25 g): eye-masks always leave me a little bit baffled as I do not have dry skin under my eyes - so I always wonder if they do something at all - and that turned out to be the same for this one. 
It cosmetics - Confidence in a cream (tester): even though the tester was small, I could well consider to buy it full size one day.
Taramar - Day treatment cell activating cream (tester): this tester lasted 2 or 3 times and was ok
Skyn Iceland - Hydro cool firming face gels - for forehead (6 g): The texture of this I remember was a bit unique, a bit gel like - and really felt cooling. This was gifted to me and I sincerely believe I would have tried it out or would repurchase. 
Garnier - Moisture bomb tissue mask (32 g): This face mask even contains more product than the Real Nature one, and the liquid left in the pouch I was able to use for other applications. 
Caudalie - Vinoperfect radiance serum (2x 1.5 ml): these small packs are perfect for work to take with me abroad - even though one of these packets lasts for 2-3 applications.
Mythos - Hair mask olive extract + honey (7 ml): This would have been perfect to take with me on the holiday to Croatia - as the end of my hair turned to shit with the sun and sea - and I had to buy the only available hair mask brand on the island of Vis - which turned out to be a huge jar.
The Body Shop - Shea body butter (8 ml): like most of the body butters from The Body Shop, it did not disappoint.

Then to the de-clutters of 2022:
Korres - Sunflower and evening primrose eyeshadow - 47 Olive green (1.8 g): This eyeshadow had clearly gone bad, I have the feeling the oils in it have dried out and when I tried to apply it several times at the end of the year (either with a brush or with my fingers) hardly any color was deposited. I even tried to scrape some top layer off, but that did not make any difference. So out it goes. I bought it in 2015 - and it states on the back to have a 36 month shelf life - so I guess it was just past it's due date.
Kiko Make up Milano - Face 103: I bought this brush while on holiday in Milano as a matter of fact in 2012. It is a type they do not make anymore, so I am not sure if it is a real hair brush, but I suspect so as the brush picked up quite a lot of product, and the hairs had started to become brittle and were braking so much I decided to retire it and replace it with another brush from Kiko my friend picked up for me on holiday a few years ago. It will remain as the "golden standard" of brushes, as I really liked the slanted cut and how it applied blush. So much as a matter of fact I did repair it a few years ago, when the metal part fell of the handle and I did glue it back. And it did last just over 10 years and it will be missed - but it is just to annoying to use at this point.
Too Faced - Lipstick in the color Marcia Marcia Marcia (3.5 g): This lipstick is probably one of the oldest items in my entire collection, and I know exactly when and where I bought it - in Sephora in Thessaloniki, Greece in 2008 - and it was on sale! I have perhaps used about 1/3 of the bullet, it is a very pink shimmery color, but was perfect with other lipsticks as a "highlight" on the center of the lips. 
Clinique - Long last glosswear SPF 15 - 04 Sunset (2.3 ml): This gloss my mom gave to me when she was rampaging through some of her closet space - it was always super sticky and the color too coppery. I never used it, so it is about time to let it go.
Milani - Lipstick in 26 Nude crème (3.97 g): This I purchased with a gift card in an online store that used to operate in Iceland a few years back. But the issue from day one was the fact that the color did not suit me at all - either my skin tone or hair color - it just did not work out.
GrandeLash MD - Lash enhancing serum (2 ml): This product was one of the products in my Project pan 2022, but it did not turn better out than that I used it a bit at the start of 2022 - and then I took a session in the later half of the year, but then my eyes became super sensitive and after watching a Youtube video about the main active ingredient in this product I ended up pouring it down the drain - to stop me from using it any further.
Wet 'n' Wild - Fergie lipstick - A033 Fergie daily (0.1 oz): This is another prime example of an awful color on me! When on me, it mostly reminds me of "concealer" lips. Way old as well, probably bought on a holiday in US in 2015.
Wet 'n' Wild - Eye shadow palette - 738 Comfort zone (8 shades original version): I probably got this palette in NYC 2014, and I had depotted it, put magnets under the pans and put it into my Inglot palette. But as one of the Project pan 2022 missions was to de-clutter some old items from my collection, so when going over few older items in my collection, I came to this palette, and OMG it smelled like old Crayola wax-colors, so it was time to throw this away.

This for sure is the biggest amount of items I have used up in a year, and also the biggest de-clutter I have done so far - now I just have to stay focused on the goal, to get rid of more stuff than I am bringing in.