January - May haul 2025

So much for sticking to my no buy 2025 - where I gave myself the exception to purchase two items until Black Friday sales in 2025! I caved in three times, as I purchased three items, and that in effect when only just over three months have passed of the year! 

The first purchase was made on my birthday whilst on a work-trip abroad. In came the "birthday" blues - so a trip to Target was just the medicine where I ended up buying myself a elf blush. The other purchases were two different lip balms - one from Refy and the other from Violette Fr. Then some other stuff came into my possession in the form of gifts and purchases, mainly hair-products, a category which I have so far not been wild about. 

Hair towel, mini Guinot products and a hair serum

Sephora gift, samples, and a gifted facemask

Kerastase conditioner and shampoo

Cosrx - The 6 peptide skin booster (30 ml): This was the Utla birthday gift in 2025 - and I was fortunate enough to be close to a Ulta store in my birthday month to pick one up.

Aquis flip - hair drying tool - wove with copper sure: This hair towel I ran into at a Marshalls store in Baltimore. This one is woven with copper which is supposed to be good for the hair. It was on a really nice discount, well turns out the elastic was not very well sown into the base. So I had to sow it up again. But as I have been dealing with hair-loss it is worth giving a go.

Elf - Camo liquid blush - Peach perfect (4 ml): This I got tempted to buy on my birthday in February, wandering around the isles in Target being hit with a wave of the birthday blues. Since I have perhaps used it two or three times, it is a very soft color.

Guinot - Micellaire cleansing water (30 ml): My sister had already gifted me a x-mas calendar containing these Guinot products. But my mom was also gifted this calendar, and she figured she would not use any of them, so she ended up giving me a few of them. 

Kerastase Genesis - Fortifying serum (90 ml): I have been dealing with considerable hair-loss in the last six months or so, and after seeing this being recommended all over social media I decided to grab a bottle during the Sephora sale. It turned out to be hard to find it in store, as I had to visit three different stores in Washington DC to find it in stock. You are supposed to use it every day, in combo with the shampoo and conditioner from the same line. I have not used it like that, but when it is getting closer to a hair-wash day, I put it in the day in before a wash. The smell of this product is nice, but it tends to linger for at least 24 hours. I have also started taking hair-vitamin on a regular basis, and hope I will able to turn this hair-loss around. 

Guinot - Express eye makeup remover (30 ml): This was also re-homed to me from my mom. 

Guinot - Hydra toning lotion (30 ml): The last item I got from my mom. I better start using some of these items, as I have duplicates by now. But they are the perfect size to take to work or on holiday. 

L'occitane - Hand cream - dry skin (30 ml): One of my co-worker who was flying with us on standby, gifted all of the crew small hand-creams. A perfect size for the handbag.

Refy - Tinted lip gloss - Taupe (13 ml): This was a 100% weakness purchase. I had seen this color featured on some social media. And during a layover in Washington I forgot my lip-balm at my hotel room, and instead of me going back to fetch it - I popped into the next Sephora store and bought this one. The color is super soft though - and does hardly show up on my lips at all, I might as well have purchased the clear gloss. But then my lips are quite rosy pigmented. 

Summer Fridays - Lip butter balm - Pink sugar (7 g): This was a part of the Sephora birthday gift for 2025 - so of course I decided to grab the free gift this year.

Summer Fridays - Jet lag mask (15 g): Also a part of the Sephora birthday gift, and have I heard nice things about this mask.

Violette Fr - Bisou Jelly - Bonbon Caramel (2.5 g): This is a brand I have had my eye on for some time, and now it just launched in Sephora. So I got tempted to buy one item in New York. Not sure the color suits me very well, it is described as a warm caramel color, maybe I will just put it aside for a few months as it might be more suitable in the autumn. 

Summer Fridays - Rich cushion cream ultra plumping moisturizer (2 ml): The third and last item in the Sephora birthday gift.

Elemis - Pro-collagen marine cream (2 x 2 ml): This most likely came into my possession at Sephora, as some free samples they give you with purchase. 

Sephora - Green tea eyes mask (6 g): A friend gifted this to me for my birthday.

PS - Two blender sponges: I came across these at the register at Primark, and I decided to give them a try.

Kerastase Genesis - Fortifying anti hair-fall conditioner (200 ml): After I bought the hair serum from the same line, I saw a summer giftbox on a 20% discount in one of the hair salons of Reykjavik, so I decided to splurge and buy the shampoo and conditioner.

Kerastase Genesis - Anti hair-fall fortifying shampoo (200 ml): This was a part of previously mentioned gift set. I have only used it once, so it's too soon to say if it works. I am also taking hair vitamins on the regular, so any improvement will probably be two sided.  

So all in all - quite the fail from a no-buy until Black Friday 2025. I did give myself the exception to purchase two items until that time, well in the period of January - May I have indeed purchased three items, two of them being a lip product. The third; a liquid blush. Ironically when this spring powder blushes are making a serious comeback. And what on earth do I have to do with more lip glosses when I had 14 lip-glosses before and 7 lip balms? Totaling now in 15 lip glosses and 8 lip balms! It usually takes me years to finish one lip-balm or gloss.... 

Something really needs to change! And the only person who has the power to do it, well it's me!

Project pan 2025

For the year 2025 I will be focusing on a few items, both makeup and skincare for the year to come, as I usually do. Along this project pan I will be doing a makeup + skincare no buy for 2025! My ultimate goal will be to get better results on reached goals for 2025 vs. to my project pan 2024, which reached 37.5 % success rate. So my goal for 2025 will be to reach my goal on over 37.5% of the items in the project pan 2025.

10 of the 14 products in my project pan 2025

Lipstick, color corrector and testers

Guinot - Lounge vie mains hand cream (15 ml):

Weight at the start of 2025: 20 g

Goal: Finish it

Why: I got this amongst many other items from Guinot in a Christmas calendar in 2022 - I have not used so many items from this calendar so it makes sense to use some of the items, including this hand cream.

Dr. Organic - Organic manuka honey skin lotion (200 ml):

Weight at the start of 2025: 224 g

Goal: Finish it

Why: This was gifted to me in 2019 and thus one of the oldest body lotions I have so it makes sense to use it up and move it out of my stash, and work on other things.

Bioeffect - EGF body serum (120 ml):

Weight at the start of 2025: 159 g

Goal: Finish it

Why: It has already expired with a label marked June 2023 - so it is past it's due date and it would be good to finish it.

Bioeffect - Osa water mist (60 ml):

Weight at the start of 2025: 83 g

Goal: Finish it 

Why: I bought it in 2021, and it has a best before date 05/2025 so this is the year to finish it. 

The body shop - Himalayan charcoal purifying glow mask (75 ml):

Weight at the start of 2025: 229 g

Goal: Use it up

Why: It is getting old, and I have not much use for it anymore - as my skin tends to be more dry than oily- but it might be nice to use once a month or so.

Fenty Beauty - Gloss bomb in Fenty glow (9 ml):

Remaining amount at the start of 2025: 2/3 of the gloss remains in the tube, product sits at T in Fenty.

Goal: Use it up.

Why: It is far from being my favorite gloss, but it might pair nicely with the Charlotte lipstick for work.

Ecooking - Primer (30 ml):

Remaining amount at the start of 2025: Half.

Goal: Use it up.

Why: I did manage to use half of the primer in 2024, and it is a cleaner product, and I do really like the formula, I decided to continue working on this primer vs. the 3 or 4 others I have in my stash. Plus the packaging gets super messy. So it is ideal to use it up and in 2026 I could move onto a different primer. I still like this one that much I could well consider to buy it again in a few years.  

The Ordinary - 100% Cold-pressed virgin marula oil (30 ml):

Amount remaining in bottle at the start of 2025: The oil sits just above the sticker on to glass.

Goal: Finish it, by using it in my hair and mix in with my moisturizers.

Why: Oils tend to go bad, and I have had this in my stash for quite some time. I originally bought it to use it in at the ends of my hair, but I found it a bit of a too dry texture compared to the hair oils I had used in the past. So it would be ideal to get some use out of it, before it goes off. 

The body shop - Brow and lash gel, clear (10 ml):

Amount remaining at the start of 2025: The gel sits in the tube between the O and D in Body on the side of the product. 

Goal: Finish it.

Why: This is guaranteed the oldest item in my stash.

Gosh - Kohl eyeliner in 005 nude (1.1 g):

Length of pencil at start of 2025: 11.5 cm

Goal: Use 0.5 cm of it

Why: To get some use out of it before it dries out. 

Charlotte Tilbury - Nude matte lipstick in Very Victoria (3.5 g):

Length at the start of 2025: 2.5 cm from plastic base

Goal: Use 0.5 cm of it

Why: I have focused on a few lipsticks in the years past, so now it was time for this one. It is a nice color of pinky brown, just a tad more brown than my lips, so it wears off nicely. 

Becca - Under eye brightening corrector (2.3 g):

Weight at the start of 2025: 22 g

Goal: Use it up

Why: It was a part of my project pan 2023, and I did not finish it then, so it is time to use it up. Plus I have a full size backup I would love to move onto. 

Inglot - YSM cream foundation in shade 45 (1.5 ml):

Goal: Use it up

Why: It is old in my stash of testers, and it would be good to get some use out of a few of them. I have no idea how the shade is, so it might end up just ending in the trash, as 45 sounds like a medium shade. And I have fair skin. 

Inglot - Beautifier tinted cream in shade 102 (1.5 ml):

Goal: Use it up

Why: Same applies to this one as to the previous tester - get some use out of my tester stash, so it is ideal to add two samples, or "give me" products that I should be able to use up with ease and boost the amount of items I will be able to use up, and increase my usage percentage.

Other goals for 2025 include a makeup and skincare no buy until black Friday 2025 - as I started my no buy around that time in 2024. So instead of shopping in 2025 I intend to enjoy the items I have in my stash and play with the items I already have, instead of buying more. Other goals for 2025 include using a face mask once a week and a hair mask two times a month.

Will I allow myself some exception from the rule? Yes, for the months January - November 2025 I will make an exception from the no buy makeup and skincare rule in two cases, where I can buy two products in kind of emergencies if you will. What the emergencies might be, I am not sure - but will give an exception for the no buy rule for two products during this period. Also I will be able to get the Sephora and Ulta birthday gifts in February, and those birthday gifts do not count as the two products I will be able to buy in case of "emergencies".

July - September haul 2024

As per usual some items keep rolling into my possession, let's not even talk about the stuff you see and grab whilst you are on holiday, or the items you purchase for your upcoming trip. 

Mix of Sephora, Target, Amazon and Denmark purchases

Wrinkles schminkles giftbag

Haul mostly from Helsinki and Greece

Biossance - Squalane + marine algae eye cream (3 ml) and Squalane + omega repair cream (15 ml): This I decided to use some of my Sephora points on, moistly as I forgot my moisturizer on a work trip to the US, and also as I was going on holiday and this was a perfect travel size moisturizer for the trip, and I had previously gotten a sample of the cream, and I really did like it.

Miild - Skin glow tinted beauty balm in 02 Soft coral (7.9 ml): This was a recent launch from Miild, and I simply could not resist. The hardest thing was actually to choose the color as all of their options were super cute.

Numbuzin - 2 Cica repair cream (60 ml): This I ordered on Amazon, as it is supposed to be similar to Dr. Jart ceramidin skin barrier cream.  

Miild - Cleansing cream, mild and light for dry and sensitive skin (100 ml): I decided to pick this up on a short holiday in Copenhagen. As this is a brand I am very interested in.

Derma - 30 Sun lotion high spf (150 ml): I picked this up in Fotex in Copenhagen, I was running low on my spf 30 and this grabbed my attention with the "bedst i test" label and being fragrance free.

Herbal Essences - Rose hips shampoo (100 ml): This I picked up in Target specially for holiday 

Herbal Essences - Rose hips conditioner (100 ml): The same for this as the shampoo, perfect size for travelling 

GIVE Beauty - Eye see in sparkle multidimensional eye pigment in the color Dazzle (5.5 g): So much for not falling for a discount! I had been keeping an eye on this product ever since I saw it featured in one of Erin Nicole's videos and had been wondering if I should pull the trigger on it or not. Then when I saw it was on offer, I did indeed pull the trigger.  

CeraVe - Hydrating facial cleanser for normal to dry skin (87 ml): This I also picked up in Target, as I managed to forget my mini Drunk Elephant deluxe sample size at the pool. So I needed a new facial cleanser to take with me to the gym or to the pool. 

Farmacy - Green clean makeup meltaway cleansing balm (20 ml): This I got as a gift with purchase with the Give eye sparkle. I have wanted to try this makeup cleanser, so now is the perfect time to try a mini one. 

Dior - Diorshow maximizer 4D (10 ml): I had an older version of this product (then called 3D) but I had to change it out as I got an eye infection and had to take out the mascara and the Dior 3D maximizer I was using at the time. I have yet not tried this one out, but if it is any good as the 3D I am sure it will be amazing.

Wrinkles Scminkles giftbag - Wrinkles schminkles morning after glow serum (60 ml), Forehead wrinkle patches (2 patches), Neck wrinkle patch, Chest wrinkle patch, mouth & lip wrinkle patches (2 patches), Eye wrinkle patches (6 patches), Self dissolving microneedle patches (4 patches), Silicone patch cleanser (6 x 1.5 ml), 2 scrunchies and a spa headband: This I won in a online Facebook giveaway, I have been curious about this brand for some time, now I can try these multi use patches.

Lumene - Nordic berry length & volume - mascara with cranberry and lash lengthening complex in brown (8 ml): I easily broke my "no buy" on mascaras as I came across the Lumene brand at Helsinki airport. I used to love their blueberry mascara, but as that type did not come in a brown color, so I decided to pick this one up. And I found out the price difference between this product in the supermarket in Helsinki vs. the HEL airport is 2 Euro cheaper at the airport.

Biafin - Skin emulsion (100 ml): Finally I ran into the OG Biafin cream, it is supposed to be good for sensitive skin, minor burns and rashes. 

Olivolio - Deep hydration foot care cream (150 ml): I have bought this before for my mom, and she absolutely loves it, so as I was recommended to use a foot cream, it made perfect sense to pick this up whilst on holiday in Greece.

Donkey milk treasures - Lip balm organic olive oil & beeswax natural spf 15+ (3.2 g): I seem to have managed to loose my spf lip balm, so I grabbed this one in the supermarket in Greece. The packaging is a little bit rinky dink, but the product inside is ok. 

Pharmacy skincare - L300 Normal to combination skin face cream light sensitive (60 ml): The skincare aisle in the supermarket in Helsinki was amazing, so it became the ultimate temptation to buy some skincare there, I was originally going to buy a cream from a Finnish brand that my friend uses, but that turned out to contain parabens, so I opted for this Norwegian brand instead.

Lumene - CC all over concealer in 0.5 light (8.5 ml): This concealer had a massive stand in the supermarket in Helskinki. Did I need a concealer? Definitely not, but somehow it ended in my basket anyway! 

Skinfix - Triple lipid-peptide cream (2 ml): This I got as a sample from Sephora by the entrance when I went in there one day. 

Pff.. now it is seriously time to pull the breaks on this shopping addiction.

X-mas haul 2022

I received three gifts this year that can be considered beauty related..

Guinot Advent calendar

Gifts from my nephews

Guinot Advent Calendar: My sister gifted me my Christmas gift from her in advance on December 1st. It contained 24 little bags, each containing a deluxe sample size of different Guinot products. Contents of the Advent calendar: Sculpt expert cream - sculpt and firm cream body (30 ml), Longue vie corps body cream - firming youth cream body (30 ml), Hydra fraicheur milk - cleansing milk face (30 ml), Hydrazone corps lotion - gentle moisturizing lotion body (30 ml), Gommage facile easy scrub - gentle exfoliating gel body (30 ml), Nouvelle vie cream - first signs of ageing cream face (15 ml), Biologic exfoliating gel - gentle exfoliating gel face (15 ml), Dynamisant anti-fatigue mask - instant refreshing mask face (15 ml), Night logic cream - anti-fatigue radiance night cream face (15 ml), Anti-wrinkle mask - instant revitalising anti-wrinkle mask face dull skin (15 ml), Pur confort cream - soothing protective cream spf15 face sensitive skin (15 ml), Longue vie mains hand cream - youth cream anti-dark spots hands (15 ml), Eclat parfait scrub - exfoliating cream with double microbeads face (15 ml), Mirific anti-age oil - anti aging oil body (15 ml), Hydra fraicheur toning lotion - toning lotion face (30 ml), Micellaire cleansing water - cleansing water face and eyes all skin types (30 ml), Longue vie pids foot cream - regenerating youth cream feet (15 ml), Express yeux eye make-up remover - cleansing lotion non-oily eyes (30 ml), Hydra summum serum - perfect moisturising serum face (5 ml), Hydra finish cream - moisturising complexion-enhancing cream spf  face (10 ml), Masters colors Paris - lip definer lip pencil - color 01 (0,28 g), Masters colors Paris - lipstick color 02 (4 g), Masters colors Paris - nail color - color 30 (5 ml) and a Guinot facial brush. 

Shiseido - Colorgel lip balm: - 108 Lotus (2g): one of my nephew and his bf, gifted me 2 Clarins lip balms, one in 02 and the other in 04 - so I swapped the 02 and paid a little difference to change it to this Shiseido lip balm. The formula is a dream, rich color and super soft on one's lips!

The body shop - Aloe calming toner (250ml): I had requested this toner for x-mas when my younger nephew asked me what I wanted for x-mas. I am about half way through my other one I have. And this is something I purchase repeatedly it was ideal to get it for x-mas.

Clarins - Lip comfort oil - 04 Pitaya (7 ml): This was another item I had requested for x-mas, as I had been super curious about this oil from Clarins. This color is apparently PH-responsive, but the 02 color is not. Both of them are pink, but I assume my lips turn more pink with 04 - 02 applies more clear - but according to swatches online 02 is also a super cute color. Maybe I will get that one when I finish 04. 

That sums up my beauty x-mas gifts, did you get any?

August - October Haul 2022

 So I lost it a little bit in the eye-shadow department in these last few months

Cream eyeshadow and brushes

Liquid eyeshadow, makeup removers and eye cream

Sheet mask and facial concentrates

Body care, hair care, creams and lotions

Facial masks and testers

Maybelline - Color tattoo eyeshadow - Socialite (4 g): I have one eyeshadow from the original launch of the color tattoo, and I absolutely love it. It is one of those products that I am actually close to finishing, as I believe it used to be a part of a project pan in 2019.  

RMS beauty - Eye polish - Solar (4,25 g): RMS launched a new series of cream eyeshadows, this type being the old one, and thus on a good discount on the RMS website, so I decided to snatch one up before they go off the market forever.

Revlon - Colorstay cream eyeshadow - 730 praline (5,2 g): I bought this one at the same occasion as the Maybelline one would you believe? The color is beautiful, but the packaging is awful, yes the base is clear class, but the lid is extremely difficult to screw off if it has remained closed for a few days -  so difficult as a matter of a fact, ones hand hurts trying to unscrew it, which makes it not worth it to keep it as it is such a hustle to get into.

BK beauty - 107 flat brush: I had been curious about the BK beauty brand from the moment they launched, as I had watched Lisa J on Youtube for some time before they launched. So I took the advantage of a discount they had running on their web-page. 

BK beauty - 101 contoured foundation brush: this brush I was the most curious about out of the entire BK beauty collection. So far I have only used it a handful of times, but it does an immaculate job of blending out foundation. 

Armani beauty - Eye tint liquid eyeshadow - 11 rose ashes (3,9 ml): ttsandra raved about this product, and especially this color in one of her youtube videos. And me being on the light pink eyeshadow train, and the Armani website having a sale, it somehow ended up in my posession. 

Bioderma - Micellar water makeup remover (250 ml): I have wanted to give this one a try for several years now, so it was about time I picked it up.

Skinfix - Barrier + triple lipid boost 360 brightening eye cream (15 ml): after experiencing dry flaking eye-lids, I decided to grab this eye cream in Sephora, to have in my beauty bag for work. So this one now comes with me when I stay abroad for work, as well as I grab it when at home, and it feels super calming and moisturizing. 

Sephora - Waterproof eye makeup remover (200 ml): a tried and true staple in my arsenal of makeup removers.

Garnier - Moisture bomb sheet mask (32 g): my friend bought me the sweetest "take care" package when I was at home with a bad flu at the end of August - tea, honey, candy, cinnamon buns and a facial mask! What a friend!! I was close to tears I tell you!

La Roche-Posay - Hyalu B5 serum, anti-wrinkle concentrate repairing replumping (30 ml): well you will spot a theme here, three anti wrinkle serums/concentrates? Well I guess it is safe to assume the fact the big 4-0 is approaching soon is getting to me. 

La Roche-Posay - Retinol B3 serum, anti-wrinkle concentrate renewing resurfacing (30 ml): did I need another concentrate from La Roche-Posay, I guess not, but apparently could not stop myself. Where I am going to find the time to slather all these products on my face, and with the amount of products that await to be used, god knows when I will come around to it.

Ecooking - Night cream (50 ml): This came as a free gift with purchase in Magasin Copenhagen when I bought a few hand soaps from the same brand. And this brand is actually something I am quite interested in, vegan, clean and free from unnecessary ingredients (assumedly).

Joico - K-pak Color therapy - Color protecting shampoo (1 L): I picked this up in Marshalls in Toronto, as I love to buy big jugs of shampoo and conditioner, then you do not have to think about buying it again for months at a time.

Dove - 0% aluminum sensitive deodorant (74 g): like with the eyeshadows I am also on a deodorant shopping spree? I mean how many armpits do I have? Well one good thing is that my previous deodorant is about to be finished 

Lumene - Nordic bloom anti-wrinkle & firm moisturizing v-shape serum (30 ml): as Lumene is a brand I really love, I decided to pick up this serum while in Copenhagen. Now I just have to finish a few of the ones waiting in line among my backup products. 

Mario Badescu - Drying lotion (29 ml): in the last few months, I have started to develop pimples on my face, this being an issue I have not had to deal with for several years, I decided to pick this drying lotion up which is supposed to work miracles against blemishes. 

CeraVe - Therapeutic hand cream (85 g): I was flying with a co-worker who really recommended this hand cream, as with flying, frequent washing of your hands and hand sanitizer they tend to be very dry.

Nature Republic - Real nature mask sheet - olive, bamboo, acai berry, tomato and green tea (23 ml each): My friend who went to S-Korea came bearing gifts after her holiday, five facial masks and a few samples from this brand I have once come across in Toronto before. 

Nature Republic - Vitapair C - dark spot serum: I might have to google how to use these samples.

Nature Republic - Snail solution, emulsion: some version of a snail cream - I am exited to try

Nature Republic - Snail solution, skin booster: same for this one. I seriously have to get working on my samples though! 

I seriously need to stop shopping....

Beauty goals for 2021 - final results

So did I hit my beauty goals for 2021..?

Final results of beauty goals 2021

Lumene - Instant glow beauty serum (30 ml): 

Weight at the start of 2021 (with packaging - as for all of the products): 78 g 

Weight at the end of 2021: 70 g

Goal: was to finish it up - I ended up using only 8 g

Kiko - Stick eyeshadow - 05 (1,64 g): 

Weight at the start of 2021: 11 g

Weight at the end of 2021: 10 g 

Goal: was to use 0,6 g of it - according to the weight I did reach the goal - but I am not so sure, as the scale I use is just a standard kitchen scale 

Garnier - 5 sec perfect blur, soothing perfecting primer (30 ml): 

Weight at the start of 2021: 34 g

Weight at the end of 2021: 32 g.Goal: use 10 g - I used 2 g 

Goal: was to use 10 - I used 2 g - as I used this product probably around 4 times this year I should just stop buying primers

Jergens BB Body perfecting skin cream -all medium to deep skin tones (221 ml): 

Weight at the start of 2021: 95 g

Weight at the end of 2021: 41 g 

Goal: was to finish it up, well I did not reach it

One direction - Our moment eau de parfum (100 ml): 

Weight at the start of 2021: 324 g

Weight at the end of 2021: 304 g 

Goal: was to finish it up, but I did use 20 g in the course of 2021

Lumene - Vitamin C+ anti-puffiness roll-on eye serum (10 ml) - (missing on photo):

Weight at the start of 2021: 10 g

Weight at the end of 2021: 8 g (empty packaging) 

Goal: was to finish it up, which I did

Clarins - Radiance-Plus golden glow booster (15 ml): 

Weight at the start of 2021: 27 g

Weight at the end of 2021: 26 g 

Goal was to use half of the remaining product, or get the product line down to the area where "radiance-plus" is written on the packaging. I did use this in the year of 2021, but I did not reach my goal

Essence - Stay all day concealer - 10 natural beige (7 ml): 

Weight at the start of 2021: 9 g

Weight at the end of 2021: 7 g (empty packaging without stopper)

Goal: was to use it up, I did reach that goal

Victoria's Secret - lip gloss (13 g): 

Weight at the start of 2021: 11 g

Wight at the end of 2021: 9 g

Goal: was to finish it up, ended up using only 2 g

Gina Tricot Beauty - eye-shadow - 42 caramel (1,8 g): 

Weight at the start of 2021: 13 g

Weight at the end of 2021: 11 g (I am sure a lot of the product went down the drain though as the shadow kept crumbling).

Goal: was to hit pan, and that goal I did reach.

So all over I only hit 2 of my goals, finished the Lumene C+ vitamine eye cream and hit pan on the Gina Tricot eye-shadow

Other goals:

1. No impulse buys just because there is a discount - 90% successful - as I was only tempted to buy one gift box in Copenhagen on discount, but still I had had my eye on that gloss for some time. So the other items came as a bonus with the purchase, and at a cheaper price than if I had bought that lip gloss in Iceland by itself
2. Only one eye-palette purchase in 2021 - Yes I did reach this goal as I did not even buy a single eye shadow palette in 2021
3. No body lotion purchase in 2021- Yes did not buy a body lotion in 2021
4. No bronzer purchase in 2021 - Yes did not buy a bronzer in 2021
5. Keep an ongoing wish-list - Yes I did keep an ongoing wish list
6. Use nail-polish at least once a month - Did not reach that goal - maybe used nail polish 3 times during 2021! 

Beauty goals for 2020 - final results

 So how did my beauty goals for 2020 go?

12 month update

One direction - Our moment eau de parfum (100 ml): This product I swapped out for another parfum in the course of 2020 - as I did not like how yellow the parfum was turning. When I started using it, it was almost full, and have I managed to use a little bit more from the 9 month update, but am not quite half way through the bottle.

Jergens BB Body perfecting skin cream - all medium to deep skin tones (221 ml): As I swapped out this body cream for another, I did not weigh this product until the 9 month update, when I measured it then it weighed 146 g - and I put myself the goal at the end of the year to get the product down to 90 g. I did not reach that goal in three months, but I did get it down to 95 g, which means I managed to use 56 g of this body cream in three months.

Yves Saint Laurent - Volupté tint in oil - No. 4 (6 ml): In the beginning of the year the bottle weighted 25 g - now at the end of the year, with the product not finished and no way of seeing how much is left the bottle weighs 22 g. Which means I used 3 g of the product over the year

Bourjois Paris - Happy light luminous serum primer (15 ml): At the beginning of 2020 the remaining product + packaging weighed 56 g - now after scraping all of the product I can out of the bottle, it weighs 52 g - so I managed to finish this product and the 4 remaining grams that was extractable from the bottle. 

Origins - Drink up 10 minute mask to quench skin's thirst (100 ml): When I weighted this bottle in the beginning of the year it weighed 44 g, now with the bottle cut in half and empty it weighs 16 g - which means I managed to finish the remaining 28 g of product. This was a roll-over product from 2019 - and now finally finished.

Maybelline - Color Sensational lipstick - 235 Warm me up (4,2 g): My original goal for this product was to use it up in 2020, but with covid-19, air-travel dropping down, witch meant I hardly went to work until my contract ran out in September, and with mask life, there was very rare opportunities to wear a lipstick. At the beginning of the year it measured 2,3 cm - now 12 months later; 2 cm. So I managed to finish a meager 0,3 cm of it.

Victoria's Secret - Lip gloss (13 g): In January this gloss weighted 15 g, at the 9 month update it weighted 12 g, and now in December 11 g. Total gloss used this year: 4 g.

Youngblood - Mineral rice setting powder - Medium (10 g): At the beginning of the year it weighed 36 g, at the 9 month update 32 g. And as I have not used it since the 9 month update it still weighs 32 g. But I decided to use some pressed powders instead of this one, as I love it so much, and wanted to make some use of the many pressed powders I do have. 

Alix Avien - Pearly eyeshadow - Bronze: The goal was to use up 2 cm of this pencil, at the 9 month mark I had used up 0,5 cm of it, and now in December I have used up 0,7 cm. 

Clarins - Lipliner pencil - 02 nude beige (1,2 g): My original goal for 2020 was to use half of this pencil that measured 12,5 cm at the beginning of the year. Result: I managed to use up 0,2 cm. I blame Covid-19 and mask life. 

My final results have never been as bad before, as I only hit two of my goals for this year. I have always had 10 products in my goals for each year, last year (2019) I hit 4 goals out of 10. In 2018 I hit 6 goals out of 10, and in 2017 I hit 3 goals out of 10.

Other goals for the year were: 

1. No nail polish purchases - successful
2. No purchases just because there is a discount - I did buy two items in 2020, just because there was a discount: a body butter from The Body Shop, and a sunscreen from Biotherm
3. Maximum one cream eyeshadow purchase for the year 2020 - successful, as I did not buy even one cream eyehsadow in 2020.
4. Keep an ongoing wishlist - this I did stick to, and even published one on this blog.
5. Only one lipstick purchase - successful, as I did not even buy one lip product this year.

But then again 2020 was not quite the average year, with wearing a mask when out and about, resulted in me not even wearing any makeup to speak of. Then also definetly no reason to wear lipsticks as all they would do would be smudging into a face mask. So for sure there was no reason to buy one.

Did you have a goal to finish anything up this year?

November - December haul 2020

 These last two months of the year I have not added a great deal to my stash, as a matter of fact I have only added two items.

Facial mask brush and foundadtion/concealer

The body shop - Facial mask brush: I had been contemplating to purchase a facial mask brush, and when The body shop was having a discount for black Friday weekend I grabbed the opportunity.

RMS - "un" cover up - shade 22 (5,67 g): I had had my eye on this product for some time, and had swatched it from time to time when passing through Shoppers Drug Mart in Eaton Center in Toronto, when one could travel over the world. With the current situation, covid-19 life, with not a lot of social engagements, and having to wear a mask when out and about I am not into wearing a full face of makeup. Still with my perioral dermatitis sometimes causing some redness around my mouth, I wanted something light that would blend in nicely and would not agitate my skin, and it looks amazing on my skin.

January - October haul 2020

With a year consumed by Covid-19, and only having had one layover in March, working as cabin crew, there indeed have been less shopping for makeup (and only one visit to Sephora). And with government recommendations for people to stay at home as much as possible, fewer flights, and hence less workdays - and fewer occasions to wear makeup. 

Sunscreen, body oil, lash growth serum, facial roller and Sephora's birthday gift for 2020

Handmasks, body butter and bronzer

KKW Beauty Classic eyeshadow palette

Biotherm - Water lover sun mist SPF 30 (200 ml): I needed a sunscreen for the Icelandic summer days, and got tempted to buy this one as there was a tax free, and an extra discount on Biotherm products. The bad thing? I seem to be allergic to something in it, well I can use it without problems if I put it on before I go to the swimming pool. But if I put it on in sunlight, and stay in the sun, I get little bumps on my skin that take up to 2 weeks to disappear. 

Evy - Sunscreen mousse SPF 30 (150 ml): I should have just stuck with tried and true Evy sunscreen. It works, and is hypoallergenic

Moroccanoil Body - Night body serum (100 ml): This I got sucked into buying, after not buying anything for months. The price was $$$ even though I grabbed it on 20% discount. But the smell is divine, have my eye out for a Moroccanoil candle, if it has this scent. 

GrandeLash-MD - Lash enhancing serum (2 ml): Grabbed this in Sephora in March, had the most difficulty to choose between the old packaging and the new, and big or small. After I started using it, I find my eyes to be a bit sensitve, and after hearing Jessica Braun saying the new type makes her eyes sensitive, and the old one does not. Which makes me wish I had bought a smaller one in the old packaging. 

Supergoop - Zinc Screen 100% mineral lotion SPF 40 (50 ml): Glad I was able to snag this one in Sephora in March, as a mineral facial sunscreen had been on my "to buy" list. Love it as it does not flare up my skin. Should use it more often though. 

The body shop - Aloe calming toner (250 ml): As my toner of the same kind is running low I took an advantage of the fact that The body shop was running a 20% discount on all products in their online store. 

The body shop - Oils of life revitalizing facial roller: This product I had been curious about since I saw RachhLoves had praised it in one of her videos. Just purchased it so I have no idea if it works or not.

Sephora Beauty insider birthday gift 2020: This was an easy choice over hair-masks and bad smelling body butters.

• Milk Makeup - Lip+Cheek in Werk (6 g): Super excited for this product, as I was tempted to buy this and give the formula a try.
• Milk Makeup - Kush mascara (3 ml): This will go into my mascara stash, as I think I have 4 unopened mascaras in my drawers. 
• Milk Makeup - Hydro grip primer (1,5 ml): When I finish the primer I have in my beauty goals for 2020 I will use this one, as I am also on a mission in 2020 to use up samples and testers I have stashed.

Sephora - Macadamia hand masks (2 pairs): When I went to Sephora early March, the Covid pandemic had just started, and the constant use of hand sanitizer made it an extra good idea to buy hand-masks, have I used them so far? No, but I think there is plenty of time to use them as Covid does not seem to be decreasing any time soon.

The Body Shop - Cool Cucumber softening body butter (196 g): And I who had promised myself not to buy anything this year just because it was on sale, well I am particularly swag for the smell of cucumber - always have the feeling it is extra moisturizing and juicy. 

Flower - Heatwave luminous bronzer in sunrise L1 (6 g): I ordered this off the Flower website, along with a gift for a friend, had it shipped to Washington, and was going to pick it up at the end of March. Well my flight never went for Washington, but a friend picked it up for me who's flight was on schedule. 

KKW Beauty Classic eyeshadow palette (17 g): I had for a long time been contemplating the Classic and the Classic Blossom palettes from KKW, and swung from one to the other between months. Then they came out with Classic II - but there were too many similar colors in that one, and in the end I decided the Classic Blossom pulled too pink, as there are two other pink pulling eyehsadow palettes on my wishlist. 

What is your favorite beauty purchase of 2020?

Beauty goals for 2020 - 9 month update

It seems a bit weird to be doing an update on my beauty goals for 2020 - one due to Covid 19 and the fact I did swap two of the products out for another two comparable products very early in the year, that is in February or March.

The two products I removed were the following:

Swapped out products

Jucy Couture - Viva La Jucy eau de parfum spray (50 ml): this I swapped out for One direction - Our moment eau de parfum (100 ml). I swapped the two as I believe the parfum from One direction to be closer to expiring than the Jucy Couture parfum. As can be seen in the next picture, the color of the One direction parfum is a slightly amber yellow. Given the fact the color used to be light pink, I would estimate that this bottle is on it's last leg, so I decided to prioritize using One direction over Jucy Couture.

Elizabeth Arden - Green tea honey drops body cream (500 ml): this I swapped out for Jergens BB Body perfecting skin cream - all medium to deep skin tones (221 ml). This I decided to take into the mission for the year, as it is a tad older than the cream from Elizabeth Arden.

There is no point in putting in pictures of the new products from the start, as I did not take any. 

9 month update

One direction - Our moment eau de parfum (100 ml): When I started using this parfum early this year, it was almost full, and the liquid inside reached higher than the "Our moment" text on the glass bottle. Goal: use as much as I can.

Jergens BB Body perfecting skin cream - all medium to deep skin tones (221 ml): I did not measure this product when I started using it this year, but now it weighs 146 g. Goal for the remaining 3 months of the year. Get it down to 90 g. But this product I can only use on my legs, as I did get red on the inside of my elbows after applying this on my arms just before going to bed. The dedication to use stuff up, seriously, why do I not just throw this out?

Yves Saint Laurent - Volupté tint in oil - No. 4 (6 ml): At the start of the year the bottle weighed 25 g, now the wight fluctuates between 24 and 25 g, on a standard baking scale (hint hint not super accurate). That said this is one of the few lip products I still remain to use this year, as it is oil based, and hence nourishing for the lips in some sense. But with Covid 19 travel restrictions, the workload for cabin crew has been minimal since mid March. And the occasion to wear colored lip products are few and far between.

Bourjois Paris - Happy light luminous serum primer (15 ml): When I started the "project" in January the remaining product with packaging weight in at 56 g - now it weighs 54 g - which means I have used 2 grams. And only a few applications of primer remain (but I hardly ever use primer on all of my face. And having to wear makeup way less for work, it is very slow going.

Origins - Drink up 10 minute mask to quench skin's thirst (100 ml): At the beginning of the year the bottle weighted 44 g, now, empty it weights meager 18 g. Meaning I have managed to use 26 g of facial mask this year. This was a roll-over product from 2019, and way over due to get finished up. And I already have another Origins mask going.

Maybelline - Color Sensational lipstick - 235 Warm me up (4,2 g): At the start of the year the lipstick measured at 2,3 cm, and I swear it still measures 2,3 cm, even though I am certain I did use it to go to work tor the half a normal month I had of work (sin mask) in March.

Victoria's Secret - Lip gloss (13 g): Remaining product with packaging was 15 g, now it is 12 g and visible progress can be seen on the tube. But in deed it is really my favorite lip gloss, even though it is probably full of mineral oil, but it keeps my lips moisturized better than my Hurraw lip balm.

Youngblood - Mineral rice setting powder - Medium (10 g): Weighed 36 g at the beginning of the year, now it weighs 32 g, and not a lot remains. I love this powder, and when I have made some dent in my compact powders I will 100% repurchase.

Alix Avien - Pearly eyeshadow - Bronze: My goal for 2020 was to use 2 cm of this eyeshadow pencil, which at the beginning of the year measured 7 cm, so far I have only used 0,5 cm of it. That even when this has been my go to eyeshadow!

Clarins - Lipliner pencil - 02 nude beige (1,2 g): In January it measured from end to tip 12,5 cm, and with the Covid 19 situation, and how rare I use lipsticks, it has not been touched more than three times all year, and at most have used up 0,2 cm.

Beauty goals for 2020

Since the year 2017 I have chosen 10 beauty products each year to focus on for the year, this year being no different.

The products for my beauty goals for 2020

So here come the ten products I decided to focus on for the year 2020, and the reasons why I chose them:

Yves Saint Laurent - Volupté tint in oil - No. 4 (6 ml): Remaining product with packaging 25 g: As this is a lip oil I purchased a few years back, so it is about time for me to use it up, before the oil in the product goes off and becomes unusable. As well as this seems to be a discontinued product from YSL.

Bourjois Paris - Happy light luminous serum primer (15 ml): Remaining product with packaging 56 g: This is the first of two roll over products from 2019. There is just a tiny little bit left, but a small amount goes a long way, and in all honesty I really need a one give me product or two.

Jucy Couture - Viva La Jucy eau de parfum spray (50 ml): Remaining product with packaging 291 g: As this is one of my older perfumes, it is about time for me to use it up before it goes bad. I love the smell far to much to let it go to waste, plus the fact that the color of the perfume seems to have darkened a little bit, which could be an indicator that the scent is about to turn off.

Elizabeth Arden - Green tea honey drops body cream (500 ml): Remaining product with packaging 427 g: So many of my friends have recommended this body cream, so I bought it at the CPH airport a few years back, and have barely used it. As it is an expensive product, and contains mineral oil (which I try not to buy these days), it is due time for it to get used up!

Origins - Drink up 10 minute mask to quench skin's thirst (100 ml): Remaining product with packaging 44 g:This is a roll-over product from 2019. No matter how much effort I put into finishing this product last year I just was not able to finish it. So now in 2020 I really have to grab the bull by the horns and put mask Mondays firmly into place and knock this product out.

Maybelline - Color Sensational lipstick - 235 Warm me up (4,2 g): Remaining product from base of lipstick 2,3 cm: This is one of the older lipstick I own, and seems not to agree with my perioral dermatitis, but I do love the color and want to use it up. I mainly use it for work, and I do not go in every day, so my skin seems to tolerate it in moderate dosages. When it is done, I am for sure going to get a Mac lipstick that is super similar in Modesty - sometime in the future - right after the project? Hopefully not, as I have a lot of lip products to burn through.

Victoria's Secret - Lip gloss (13 g): Remaining product with packaging 15 g: One of the oldest lip glosses I own, and way due to get used up.

Youngblood - Mineral rice setting powder - Medium (10 g): Remaining product with packaging 36 g: Actually this is my only loose powder, but I have several setting powders that I have not broken into yet, in any real way. So I want to knock this one out, to have one less setting powder in my stash.

Alix Avien - Pearly eyeshadow - Bronze: Remaining product from end to tip 7 cm: I thought it could be an excellent idea to focus on one cream eyeshadow product each year. To make sure I am getting some use out of them before they dry out on me, as well as to defer me from buying a whole lot of them, just for them to sit in my collection and go bad. And as I used this in December 2019 I could feel it was not as creamy as when I purchased it, and it is the second oldest cream eyeshadow I have in my collection (after Maybelline color tattoo, which was in my "Beauty goals for 2019"), it was a no brainer to put it in this project. My goal? To use 2 cm of it this year.

Clarins - Lipliner pencil - 02 nude beige (1,2 g): Remaining product from end to tip 12,5 cm: I rarely use lip pencils at all, so as I have five of them in my stash, it was a perfect idea to put one of the older one into this project, as a reminder, both to use lip liners, and to defer me from buying any more of them. My goal is to use half of it up.

Other goals for 2020:

1. No nail polish purchases
2. No purchases just because there is a discount
3. Maximum one cream eyeshadow purchase for the year 2020
4. Maximum two eyeshadow palette purchases in 2020
5. Keep an ongoing wishlist
6. Only one lipstick purchase

Do you have plans to empty something in the coming year?

July-September haul

It seems to have become a standard for me to do an update on my beauty product purchases in about every three months. This being no exception, so here come the items I have purchased abroad and domestically in the last three months:

Face powder, mist, blush. strobe cream, eyeshadow, gloss and a lip brush

Nail polish, cleanser and foot scrub

Boots No. 7 - Lift & luminate triple action translucent finishing powder - Light/Medium (10 g): After I saw Jessica Braun sing praises for this finishing powder, I just could not resist buying it in Target on one of my visits to that store. Did I need it? No. Do I need it in the next 4 months? Probably not...

Mac - Strobe cream - pinklight (50 ml): I had heard so many good things about this product, I was really curious to try. so far I really do like it, it gives the skin a subtle glow and also works good if I mix it with my foundation. But to my surprise I found out later that you can purchase a smaller version of this product. If I had known that I would for sure have bought the smaller, over the whopping 50 ml bottle.

Sephora Collection - Pro lip brush #85: This purchase was probably the most sensible one out of this haul, as it is perfect to use to finish up lipsticks that are almost done.

Caudalie - Beauty elixir (30 ml): I have been curious to try this facial mist, as many of the beauty bloggers rave about it. And as I managed to lower my "stock" of face mists, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to grab this 30 ml one to try. 

L'oreal skin awakening blush - 01 peach addict (9 g): I am just a sukker for blushes and offers, even though I had decided that one of my beauty goals for 2019 would be not to make a purchase just because there is an offer. Failed once again.

Tromborg eyeshadow - Winter leaf (2,5 g): I really love the Tromborg eyeshadow I already owned, so I really wanted to add another one into my collection. And I picked a really basic usable color, brown, a bit on the darker side.

Clarins - Natural lip perfector - 06 (12 ml): This has long been a very popular gloss in Iceland, and I had never tried it so one day in the duty free I decided to give it a try.

Essie gel couture duo - Fairy tailor and top coat (13,5 ml): I previously had set the goal for myself in 2019 not to buy any colored nail polishes, but I had heard such good things about the top coat, and this duo was on a good deal, so I caved in and bought it.

Matas Natur - 2 in 1 Cleansing milk, e-vitamin and aloe (200 ml): When I was in Copenhagen this summer for one day, I went back to my old "stomping-grounds" in the Danish capital. Rented a bike and biked around all my favorite places, school and old neighbourhood, with a few stops in my favorite stores; Matas included. And they have really renovated the stores, and they look amazing! There I came across their Matas Natur line, which is formulated without all the bad ingredients you can find in cosmetics. And from that line this cleansing milk appealed the most to me - so it came home with me.

Footlogix - Exfoliating seaweed scrub (250 ml): Me and my mom went to a spa in Montréal this summer, and both of us really liked this product the beautician used on us. So we both ended up buying a bottle.

So 10 new items in the last three months? Seriously, as much as I have set myself a goal to finish in 2019? Now something really has to change!

Empties January - April 2019

So here is a small summary of the items I have used up in the first four months of the year + one declutter.

Empties + declutter Jan-April 2019

The body shop - Aloe calming toner (250 ml): an amazing toner, that did not irritate my skin, or my perioral dermatitis in the slightest. Love love love.

Pantene Pro-V - Radiant color shine shampoo (375 ml): an average shampoo, at a good price for the size of the bottle, have nothing to complain about it. But I am no shampoo snob, so I have no idea what is a good or a bad shampoo.

Jean Paul Gaultier - Scandal eau de parfum (tester): A nice sample of the Scandal perfume, not in love enough though to purchase. To strong for every day use in my opinion, plus I have too many perfumes

Herbal essences - Hydralicious reconditioning conditioner for dry/damaged hair (300 ml): my favorite conditioner, makes my hair so soft and nice, too bad it has been discontinued, but I do hope I find another shampoo and conditioner in their range I will love as much as this one.

The body shop - Vitamin E overnight serum-in-oil (28 ml): Another love from The body shop, really love this serum-in-oil, as it seems to calm my perioral dermatitis, will 100% buy again.

L'Occitane en provence - Verveine body lotion (250 ml): A light average body lotion, that was a part of my beauty goals for 2019. I will not go out of my way to repurchase.

Rimmel - Scandaleyes waterproof kohl kajal in 005 nude (1,2 g): This item is the one I decided to declutter from my collection as it basically fell apart on me, as the kohl itself fell out of the pencil, and as it was very dried out and loose in the pencil, I decided to declutter it. In theory I would like to get a nude eye-pencil, but I tend not to use one on a daily basis, plus I have found out that the pencils that come in a wood pencil, tend to last longer, over the ones that are packed in plastic. Or they tend to keep their moisture for a longer time.

Inglot - Bright amber - solid perfume (2,3 g): Another item I used up that was a part of  my beauty goals for this year. I did like the smell, but am not so into solid perfumes.

Dr. Hauschka - regenerating day cream - sample (1,5 ml): A tester I got of this very nice day cream, a light and easily absorbed texture. And would I in deed consider buying it in full size, well when I have made some dent in my stash of day-creams.

Have you finished anything up recently?

X-mas and birthday gifts

It is about time that I summarize up what I got for X-mas and for my birthday, which was on the 11th of February.

Nyx Ultimate shadow palette - warm neutrals, Chanel Soleil tan de Chanel - bronze universel 

and GlamGlow - waterburst hydrated glow moisturizer

GlamGlow - bubblesheet mask and Nyx - born to glow highlight palette

Morphe x James Charles 

Escada - Especially Escada delicate notes

Inika - truly organic - Pure rosehip oil

Nyx - Ultimate shadow palette in warm neutrals (13,28 g): a friend gave me this palette, which was something I had been contemplating buying for myself for months as I did not own any warm color eyeshadows prior. I am still having a learning curve in how to do my eye-makeup with warm colors, but it has a bunch of options that goes from neutral to dramatic, casual to events.

Chanel - Soleil tan de Chanel in bronze universel (30 g): another friend gave me this all so hyped bronzer for my birthday, something that was in deed on my wish-list. And in deed it is a lovely product.

GlamGlow - Waterburst hydrated glow moisturizer (15 ml): I got this with the bubblesheet mask for X-mas, and am I super excited to give this brand a try as I have not tried any of their products (apart from getting a free mini-spa mask treatment at the mall during a promotion).

GlamGlow - Bubblesheet oxygenating deep cleanse mask (1 mask): I am also super excited to try this mask out, as the brand is mainly known for their masks. 

Nyx - Born to glow highlighting palette (28,8 g): a beautiful highlighter palette my friend gifted to me over the holidays 2018. Slowly but surely becoming my favorite.
Morphe - The James Charles palette (75,7 g): my nephew was so kind to give me my favorite item for my birthday, a makeup item! And is this as a matter of a fact my first colorful eyeshadow palette, and my first Morphe product ever. So I am super excited to give it a try, and am in no doubt I can create a myriad of looks with it.
Escada - Especially Escada delicate notes (50 ml): I was gifted this scent from my parents for x-mas 2018. The scent is described as airy, fresh rose and grapefruit scent on Fragrantica.com
Inika - truly organic - Pure rosehip oil (15 ml): my mom gave me this oil for my birthday, but I had put it on a wish-list, as I heard rosehip oil is supposed to be really good for perioral dermatitis. So I am super excited to give it a try.

What is new in your "collection"?