October - December Haul 2025

 So how is my low buy for 2025 going, well it is going this well:

Setting spray, toner, creams and more

Bleaching cream, balm and African black soap

Samples, cream eyeshadow, lip gloss and lip liners

Tower 28 - Daily rescue facial spray (30 ml): I had bought this facial spray for one of my friends, who absolutely loved it, and during the Sephora sale, I grabbed me the smallest bottle of it. 

The body shop - Aloe soothing toner (250 ml): A constant repurchase for me, a mild and soothing toner that does not agitate perioral dermatitis for me. 

Boots - Ingredients - Deep moisture spray (150 ml): When I was on holiday in Scotland, Edinburgh to be precise, I went to Boots of course, one of my favorite stores in the UK. And I had a few recommendations from Andrew Donaldson-Wheatcroft on Instagram, this was amongst them and in a category I do not have "too many" backups of already, so I could justify the purchase. 

Byoma - Moiturizing rich cream (50 ml): My friend recommended this cream as her daughter had discovered the brand on TikTok - and during one of my work trips to the US 

Lancome - Eau Miceallaire confort (50 ml): When me and my mom went to a promo event in Smáralind shopping center a few years ago, we each got a gift bag full of Lancome products. This was one of the products in my moms bags which she has not used so she gifted this to me to use. I loved my bottle, so this will come in handy for work and travel. 

The Edinburgh natural skincare co. - The very, very best lip balm in the entire world! (15 ml): This I purchased in the Edinburgh christmas market. It felt great, but it has a very big name claim. 

Vieve - Super skin nova - Moisture rich primer (12 ml): I spent one last night in Scotland in Glasgow, and visited the Vieve store. For how long I had wanted to visit this store, I spent only about 15 minutes in store. Well I had spotted a few items from Vieve in H beauty or John Lewis in Edinburgh and swatched a few items there. Plus I really do not need any more eyeshadows, nor foundations, so I stayed clear of temptation.

Jolen - Creme bleach lightens dark hair mild formula (30ml + 7g): This I purchased as a pure backup as I have this item, but as I was in the UK I decided to grab another, as I have never come across a bleaching cream in Iceland, and as my facial hair is darkening a bit with changes in medication recently, I see this as something I will use on the regular in the coming future. 

Balmonds - Skin salvation (50 ml): This was another recommendation from Andrew, as this is supposed to be excellent for eczema skin. So that I also grabbed in Boots.

Shea moisture - African black soap - Calm & Clearing bar soap (227 g): My favorite facial soap that manages to keep by perioral dermatitis in check, without stripping my skin. 

The body shop - Plum shower gel (sample): This came as a gift with purchase when I bought the toner.

The body shop - Plum body yogurt (sample): This came also as a gift with purchase.

Wycon - Mono shot eyeshadow - 21 brick ( ): I had a work trip to Rome, Italy in November, where I had a free afternoon in the city. So I took a stroll to the Spanish steps and Fontana di Trevi - and strolled perhaps along two of the main shopping streets between those two places. There I came across a Wycon store, which I had never heard of before. They were having a some sort of a black Friday sale, so after swatching a few items in store, and contemplating what I could justify to buy - I opted for a single eyeshadow in a brown color with a warm red undertone.

Makeup by Mario - Master mattes long-wear cream eyeshadow - Sandstone (2 ml): These cream eyeshadows were so hyped online, and this brand in general. And as I do not own anything from this brand I decided to grab one of these cream eyeshadows during the Sephora sale, where I got a 10% discount. This one is very similar in tone to my skin color though, so it is more of a no makeup, makeup look. It dries down super fast, I am not sure I would want to pick another up in a darker color, as I am not sure I would be able to blend it well enough before it would dry down on me. 

Lancome - Fix it forget it - Makeup setting mist (1.5 ml): Another item from the Lancome gift bag from my mom. I can put this in my travel makeup bag and use it up in a matter of days. 

Vieve - Super skin nova - Moisture rich primer (1 ml sample): This came as a sample with my Vieve order I placed after my holiday in Scotland.

Vieve - Lip dew glossy lip oil - Socialite (6 ml): This I did purchase in the Glasgow store, initially I had thought to buy the color supermodel, but I did chicken out as it was quite brown. This is more beige, lighter brown, but I am still not quite sold if a brown lip color suits my rosy colored lips. 

Vieve - Modern lip definer - Velvet sands (1.2 g): This lip liner I grabbed in Glasgow - after I came home it was a bit warm though, and started to have second thoughts if I should have purchased a different color.

Vieve - Modern lip definer - Aphrodyte (1.2 g): After I came home from Glasgow, oh did I hit the Vieve website, used my points for the in store purchase towards more Vieve lip liners. The aphrodyte color is right up my ally, rosy brown. 

Vieve - Modern lip definer - Bark (1.2 g): This I also ordered online, a perfect shading color to go with either the velvet sands color or the aphrodyte. 

So that concludes my shopping for 2025. 

Empties 2024

So how did I do in 2024 on using up stuff? Let's take a look..

Skincare, cleansers, spf and facial sprays

Skin care, concealer, gloss and more

Items used up on holiday

Facial soap, powder and lip balm

Sheet masks and skincare samples

Items I used up:

Kiehl's - Creamy eye treatment with avocado (14 ml): I did like this eye cream, the only annoying thing about it, is the fact that the formula always separates from time to time, oil away from cream, so you have to shake it back together. 

Lancome - Hydra zen anti-stress moisturising cream (30 ml): This facial cream is super light, and worked well over the summer. It was not moisturizing enough for me in the winter. 

Clinique - Take the day off cleansing balm (125 ml): This was a part of my project pan for 2024 and I do really like it, even though I promised myself not to repurchase I already fell to temptation at TJ Maxx. 

Lumene - Pure arctic miracle micellar cleansing water (500 ml): This item I purchased years ago whilst in Finland visiting a friend, it had started to get a bit yellow in the bottle, and I could see like floating oil on top of the liquid inside the bottle, so it was about time for it to be used up. 

The body shop - Aloe calming toner (250 ml): This toner has remained my tried and true toner for a few years. 

Nivea - Care & orange shower cream (250 ml): This I purchased while on holiday in Greece years ago. It was an average shower cream.

Supergoop - Zinc screen 100% mineral lotion SPF 40 (50 ml): This bottle is labelled at the bottom to expire in April 2021 - finally it is finished. I now already have two sunscreens going. 

Evian - Brumisateur facial spray, moisturizes, refreshes, tones (50 ml): This was gifted to me from one of my airlines passenger, and as it comes in a small bottle, I kind of swapped the toner I intended to pan in 2024 out for this one, and moved it into my work purse and aimed to spray it once per flight. There is a tiny bit left in the bottle, but I can not spray it out. So it is pretty much done, seriously doubt I would buy it though. 

Rudolph care - Acai facial mist toner (30 ml): If I remember correctly I purchased this one in the duty free at CPH airport a while back. I ended up putting it in my travel bag, and that way it was used up quickly and I am sure I will use the bottle for something else in the near future. 

Dr. Organic - Organic snail gel (50 ml):

Biossance - Squalane + omega repair cream (15 ml):

Five vits - Daily shampoo (40 ml): This and the conditioner is in one of our hotels we stay at in the US for work. It is the perfect size for travel and was used up either on a trip or when I go to the gym. It is a decent shampoo.

Five vits - Daily conditioner (40 ml): Decent conditioner, I have dark colored hair, and am not in particular fuzzy about shampoos or conditioners. And usually find them to be of an ok quality, the same goes for this one - the scent I love in particular, it does not smell like any conditioner I have smelled before.

Vichy - Aqualia thermal rehydrating cream light (50 ml): This I purchased in Canada summer of 2019 - so it was way past it expiration date (8/21). And the fact that the serum remains in my stash seriously has made me rethink about buying so many items that they keep on expiring in my closets before I get around to using them.

Abercrombie & Fitch - First instinct eau de parfum (2 ml): I really like the scent of this perfume. I do not smell after I apply it, so I guess it suits me well. I might even consider purchasing it as I seem to have developed a sensitivity to fragrances in the last few years, and many of the scents I try spraying on in store, and wear throughout the day tend to give me a headache or I can smell them through the remainder of the day (and I mean not in a good way).

Clarins - Mascara supra volume in 01 intense black (3.5 ml): I really loved this mascara, and that even for a natural bristle brush wand (I used to love plastic wands). This I believe came in a gift set I purchased for myself. Would consider repurchasing if I did not have a backup stash of 4 or 5 mascaras or more. 

Rimmel - Wonder'full brow 24hr waterproof brow mascara with fibres (4.5 ml): This I won in some online game, and got it for free. It is actually amazing! I am not sure what the color is, I assume it is 002 and I love it in my brows! Will repurchase for sure when I get through the clear gels in my stash. 

Crabtree & Evelyn - Pear and pink magnolia hand therapy (25 ml): A nice hand cream, not amazing though. 

Drunk Elephant - Beste no. 9 jelly cleanser (30 ml): This I got as a part of a Sephora birthday gift a few years back. Since it has lived in my gym bag, and now just got finished.

Ecooking - Night cream (50 ml): I loved this night cream, and as a matter of a fact, I think it is the first night cream I ever purchased or tried. It smells a bit herbal, but I believe it is a clean brand and has good ingredients. 

Bio effect - EGF day serum (2 x 5 ml): I have no recollection on where I got these from, gift with purchase or what, but they were nice, but happy I got to use up a few samples/testers this year.

The body shop - Aloe soothing toner (250 ml): Another empties of my favorite toner, it has since last empties bottle been reformulated and now is in a different packaging. Thank god the formula has not changed too much and is gentle enough on my sensitive skin. 

Taramar - Night treatment (10 ml): Me and my crew were gifted this from one of our passengers who worked for the brand and was going abroad for a meeting. It has a BBF date: June 2022 - so glad I got to use it up, even a bit after it's BBF date. 

Lily Lolo - BB cream in light (40 ml): This is a nice and clean formula, and did not irritate my skin at all. It also is a light weight formula, which is perfect to apply with my fingers, and blends out nice - which I usually prefer vs. a fussy formula. 

Bio effect - EGF body serum (7 ml): I have a full size of this product, it is really nice. But a tester of 7 ml - I can not remember how much skin that covers...

Dior - Diorshow Maximizer 3D triple action lash primer-serum (10 ml): This I stopped using after I got an eye infection, but omg it's AMAZING - I love it. Have already repurchased an updated new formula.

Guinot - Nouvelle Vie cream first signs of aging (15 ml): Another Guinot item from the Guinot calendar I got for Christmas 2022 - I ended up putting it in my work bag for when I stay in the US or Canada for work - perfect size for travel.  

Yves Saint Laurent - Gloss volupte probably in shade 30 (6 ml?): This gloss I have had for years, and as you probably can see on the picture, it is completely empty, removed stopper and all! The sticker underneath it has lost all it's writing, so I am guessing it is the shade 30.

Collection - Lasting perfection concealer in Fair 1 (4 ml?): Almost all the writing on the packaging has rubbed off, so I am not sure how much product was in this concealer, but the packaging sold now from the brand contains 4 ml, so I am guessing it is the same amount. This has lived in the last years in my travel makeup bag I used for work abroad. I did remove the stopper and used it up - or at least to the point I am not getting any usable product on the wand. 

The body shop - Cool cucumber softening body butter (200 ml): This was a part of my project pan 2024, and was used up whilst on holiday in Greece, where I made it my mission to finish a few items up to be able to keep my checked in luggage under 14 kg on my flight leg from Rhodes to Athens. This body butter I had not used a lot before starting my project pan, and to my surprise it was in fact cooling, and gave a cool sensation after using it - which made it perfect for holiday in Greece. As I did not prefer to use it just before bed at home in Iceland. 

Five vits - Body lotion (40 ml): This had lived in my travel cosmetics bag for work, and ended up with me on holiday to Greece, where it was used up. 

Peter Thomas Roth - Mega rich body wash (27 ml): This I got in a hotel years back, and took with me on holiday to Greece. And used it up

Proganix - Cherry blossom + (Vitamin B5) Anti-fade weightless argan oil + uv protection (100 ml): This I am sure I bought about 9 or 10 years ago whilst on holiday in the US. A hair sunscreen, I only tend to use this on holiday, so of course it was thrown into my suitcase for a holiday in Greece, where it was finished. Ideal to use for a day at the beach or for sight-seeing. 

Hawaiian Tropic - Sunscreen lotion sheer touch spf 30 (236 ml): This is an excellent sunscreen, this I bought in the US and I am sure it differs a bit from the Hawaiian tropic sunscreen they sell in Europe in regards to ingredients. I tend to use zink based sunscreens for my face, and chemical sunscreens for my body - and this one did not irritate my skin. 

Shea Moisture - African black soap with shea butter (99 g): This still remains my go to facial cleanser or facial soap. I discovered it a few years back as it was recommended for perioral dermatitis. It does not aggravate my skin, does not strip it too much. As it is a piece of soap bar it is difficult to keep track of when I finish it, plus I keep one bar at home and one in my travel bag. But I know for a fact that I did finish the bar I had in my travel kit for work. So I am sure this is under-represented in the last few years empties.  

Milani - Prep + set + glow illuminating transparent powder in shade 02 (8.5 g): This item was a part of my project pan 2022, I did not finish it that year, and ended up using it at the end of 2024. I used it as a setting powder and it worked very well as such, did not dry my skin out, and not too glowing. 

Villimey - Varagaldur (15 ml): This remains my favorite lip balm, and will be repurchased for sure some time in the future. 

The Face shop - Real nature Olive face mask with olive extract (20 g): This I purchased in Toronto a few years back, in my stash it as a matter of fact expired in 2021 - I still decided to use it, once as a sheet mask, and then a lot remained in the packaging and I was able to slather it all over my face probably three times after I used the sheet mask. It is a nice face mask, but I did not notice any miracles. but sure it boosted moisture in the skin. 

Nature republic - Real nature mask sheet olive (23 ml): This is the same face mask as the previous one, just in a new and seemingly rebranded packaging. This my friend gifted it to me who went to Korea. And happy to report that this one had not expired yet. 

Caudalie - Vinoperfect radiance serum complexion correcting (10 ml): This bottle I did use up on my project pan 2024 - but it is missing in the photos, as I seem to have misplaced the bottle. I really loved this serum and would consider repurchasing. 

Caudalie - Vinoperfect radiance serum complexion correcting (3 x 1.5 ml): These are small samples I got at Sephora, of the same product as mentioned above.  

Tatcha - The indigo cleansing balm (1.5 ml): Another sample I got from Sephora. It was nice, would I consider buying it after trying it in a single use packaging? In one word; no.

Decluttered items of 2024

Decluttered items:

Sunday Riley - A+ high dose retinoid serum, 6.5% retinoid blend, CoQ10 + honey (5 ml): I have had this sample since 2019 and was about to give this a whirl early this year, but when the product came out, it was all separated and runny - so down the drain it went. Not sure my skin would tolerate a high dose retinoid anyway. 

Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24 hr gel cream eyeshaddow in 35 On and on bronze (3.9 gr): This I have owned for years, and it was a part of my project pan for 2019. I have made some small progress on this since 2019, but it is very thick, stiff and difficult to use. As I have plenty of newer creamy eyeshadows in my stash, it makes more sense to use them rather than this one. 

W7 - Brow grip (13.5 gr): My friend was decluttering a few items from her stash, and gifted this to me, it turned out to work out the same for me as for my friend - it leaving whitish clumps in my eyebrows so it was only used about 2 times, and now ends where it belongs in the trash. 

Unknown brand - Double liner (? gr): My mom gave this to me a few years back, it was a gift with some magazine she bought. Light champagne pink on one side and vine red on the other. I have perhaps used it 4 times, and now it needs to move out. 

So this in all amounts to the fact I used up 25 full items, 11 small sized items and 8 samples (44 in total). Compared to last year I used up 49 items in total, but fewer fuller items and more samples. So for sure using more samples, takes a toll of your full sized items. Of the decluttered items in 2024 I decluttered 3 full size products and one sample. Compared to 2023 I decluttered 3 full size items and no samples.

June - July haul 2022

Well as I have started to fly again, with stops in the US and Canada on a monthly basis, I have had some opportunity to shop a bit, as well as I have picked up a few items in Iceland ofc.

Soap, sunscreen, deodorant and facial cream

Body cream, hair mask and Tangle Teezer

Makeup, facial spf and cream tester

 

Shea Moisture - African black soap (227 g): This has been a tried and true product for me, as facial soap for my skin issues - I was not in a dire need of a refill, but as I spotted it in Target I grabbed it. 

Eau Thermale Avéne - Mineral lotion spf  (100 ml): This I bought in Canada, as I was planning to travel abroad in July, only with hand luggage, and in need of some sunscreen that I could take on carry on (which has a max of 100 ml bottles). 

Hawaiian Tropic - Silk hydration protective sun lotion (180 ml): This I picked up in the supermarket in Iceland, I had not bought an Hawaiian Tropic in years - as I theoretically had enough spf bottles. But it came in very handy, as I squirted some of this bottle into a small travel bottle to bring with me to Croatia. The other spf bottles I have, come in foam and spray form - and would not be rebottled so easily!

Native Deodorant - Aloe and Green tea, sensitive (75 g): I have been very curious about aluminum free deodorant, and as I am finally seeing to an end of one of my 3 previous bottles, it was time to pick this one up.

La Roche-Posay - Kerium DS creme (39 g): I had picked up a tube of this for my nephew a few years back, as he was struggling with flakey eyebrows. And recently I had started to get flakey spots between my eyebrows and eyelids, I went on a mission to find a tube for me to use. And I really think it works!! 

Sol de Janeiro - Brazilian bum bum cream (75 ml): I smelled this exact product a few years back, and did absolutely not understand the hype around this scent as I really did not like it at first sniff. But now - omg I loved it!! Given the fact I have more than enough of body lotions, I just grabbed the small jar of it. But I might actually be tempted to buy other types, or even the scent spray.

Macadamia oil extract - Hair mask (250 ml): My hair after about 5 days of sun and sea in Croatia went totally haywire, and I managed to find this in one of the little shops on the island I was staying - and it managed to turn my haywire hair around after one treatment. But you do need to be consistent with it. 

Tangle Teezer hairbrush: My friend was so kind to grab this for me while she was on a holiday in UK. This has since moved into my gym bag - so I will never forget to take a hairbrush with me to the gym again

Kosas - Revealer concealer in 01N (6 ml): Did I need a concealer? 100% not, I already have about 4 concealers in different formats. Two in liquid format as a matter of a fact. Have I started to use it yet? No not yet... 

Kosas - Revealer skin improving foundation in Very cool light 120 (30 ml): Who am I? Purchasing two foundations in the same year? And I already have several in my stash (again in a few formats; liquid, mineral powder and pressed powder). I guess I just have to put real effort to in 2022 to doll myself up on an everyday basis.

Urban Decay - All nighter long lasting makeup setting spray (30 ml): This was purchased with the intent to take it with me to Croatia for the wedding to double insure the makeup. Then in the end there was no space in my hand luggage for more liquids. I just got one sprits from my friend who managed to take some with her to the wedding. 

It Cosmetics - Your skin but better CC+ color correcting full coverage cream spf 50 in fair (32 ml): I had gotten one or two testers of this particular product in Sephora a while back. And given my previous experience, this product performed exceptionally well, with good staying power, without creasing or looking cakey. And given the fact I was going to a wedding in Croatia, where the temperature would be around 35 degrees Celsius, I would need something long lasting. So I grabbed this during some online discount in Hagkaup Iceland

Revlon - Colorstay brow fiber filler in 303 medium brown (6.8 ml): I am about to run our of my Rimmel colored eyebrow gel, and on a recommendation from Lisa J on Youtube. 

La Roche-Posay - Anthelios mineral fluid 50 spf (50 ml): I got sucked in in a Canadian drugstore to pick this up (even though I have a bottle of Supergoop zink screen). Now I just have to be more active in using these facial sunscreens.

Laura Mercier - Translucent loose setting powder (5 g): This was a part of my Sephora birthday gift for 2022. And boy am I excited to give this a whirl, as this is a product that has been hyped up for years.

Laura Mercier - Caviar stick eye color in strapless (1 g): The other part of the Sephora birthday gift I selected for 2022. Another product from LM that I have heard about for years but never tried. 

Tower 28 - Beach please cheek and lip color in Magic hour (4.5 g): I had been curious about this product and this brand since 2019 or 2020. So I could not resist when I spotted it in Sephora.

It Cosmetics - Confidence in a cream, tester (? g): This came as a bonus with the It Cosmetics CC+ cream. Another leaflet for me to use up for sure... I might even have to go on a "tester use up" mission.

So will I perhaps calm down in my purchases in the months to come? Well I have two orders being shipped as we speak... and several items on my "research list" 

Empties May - December 2019

So there has been some time since I did an empties tally..

Empties May - December

 More empties

Sóley - Græðir hand cream (50 ml): An excellent moisturizing hand cream, rich enough to make your hands feel soft, but not so thick and rich your hands feel greasy.

Garnier - Micellar cleansing water (125 ml): One of my absolute favorite micellar water in a perfect travel size.

Sephora - Triple action cleansing water face & eyes (400 ml): An average cleansing water, still I prefer the Garnier one, but I love the packaging on this one.

La Roche-Posay - Anthelios lotion SPF 30 (250 ml): I picked this one up in Greece 2017, and managed to finish it this summer on the sundeck at my Boston hotel.

L'occitane - Verveine - cooling hand cream (30 ml): A super light hand cream, not very moisturizing at all.

Bio Effect - EGF serum (5 ml): A small sample size I was gifted. Not my favorite, as it is super sticky after you apply it to your face, but will still use up samples I am given.

Bio Effect - Micellar cleansing water (30 ml): A perfect size to take travelling, a good micellar water, not sure it is worth the regular price tag, which does not apply to me as this was gifted to me.

Avon - Moroccan argan oil (30 ml): An excellent hair oil I used in the ends of my hair, which was a part of my "beauty goals for 2019".

Dr. Hauschka - Facial toner (10 ml): This tester has totally changed my ideas about toners, it is amazing to have it in a sprey bottle, so you can forget messing around with cotton pads. You simply sprey it on and you are done. Good on the environment as well.

Lumene - Arctic spring water enriched - facial mist (100 ml): The product itself is amazing, but I do not like the mister on the bottle, as it spreys such a super fine mist, it kind of sits on top of your peach fuzz above your skin. I just put it in another sprey bottle and it worked perfectly.

Vichy - Aqualia thermal serum (30 ml): LOVE this serum, perfect for sensitive skin. The only grievance is the fact the pump straw, does not reach to the bottom of the bottle. So you have to tip the bottle over to get all the product out.

Lumene - Bright now vitamin C eye cream (15 ml): The time stamp on this product states it is good for 12 months after opening. But how on earth can anyone finish a 15 ml bottle of eye cream in one year? Certainly not me! This I have had for two or three years. Finally I manage to finish it, the only thing though is the fact the eye cream I am using now is 30 ml. Please cosmetics companies can you just make eye creams that come in 10 ml bottles?

Supergoop - Daily correct CC cream - Broad spectrum sunscreen SPF 35 (tester): I got a tester of this product, as it is a 100% mineral sunscreen. And I do in deed love it. It is a bit stiff, as mineral sunscreens tend to be, but perfect under makeup!

Sensai - Concealer brush type - SPF 15 - CB02 Medium (2,6 ml): This concealer lasted for ages, even though it only contains 2,6 ml of product, same again is supposed to be used 12 months after opening. I am pretty sure I had it for two years though. It now has been discontinued, and now comes in a different packaging, with different shade names.

Weleda - Everon lip balm (4,8 g): I completely used this lip balm up to the bone, as I scraped all of the product out from the base. An excellent lip product.

Yves Saint Laurent - Mascara volume Babydoll (2 ml): I have had a tester of this mascara before, and omg even in the tester form it is AMAZING.

Drunk Elephant - Umbra Tinte - Physical daily defense broad spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 (tester): This I also decided to try as it is a purely mineral sunscreen. I prefer this type over the one from Supergoop. Still the one from Supergoop is better if you want to use it without makeup as it is more sheer in color.

Dr. Hauschka - Rose daycream (1,5 ml): A super thick moisturizer, so thick you start to pull and tug on your skin. The cream felt good once on, but too much of a hassle to spread out.

Nature Republic - Real nature hydrogel mask - Aloe vera (22 g): This sheetmask came with whopping 22 g of product. I used the sheetmask itself, once, and poured the rest of the liquid that was remaining in the packaging into a little jar, and was able to use the remains of the product several times, just spreading it out on my skin as a liquid mask and leaving it on for a few minutes.

Skyn Iceland - Hydro cool firming face gels for smile lines (3,1 g): When I was going through my stash of testers in the afternoon on new years eve, I came across this product. And as it felt really hard in the packaging, I decided to open it up, to see if it had dried out. Not at all, what I felt was the plastic tray the mask-pads come in. So there was nothing else to do than to put the mask on for the 10 minutes before doing my makeup for new years eve dinner at my sisters house.

Shea Moissture - African black soap (230 g): This soap has totally saved my perioral dermatitis. I bought it on a recommendation from a perioral dermatitis group on Facebook. Have repurchased already. 

Did you finish anything up recently?

USA + CAN Haul

So in the last few stops I have had in N-America I picked a few things up

USA + CAN Haul

John Frieda - Brilliant brunette multi tone revealing moisturizing shampoo (750 ml): This shampoo I have used from time to time, I really like the brand, but it tends to be way too expensive in Iceland. So when I saw this at 9.99 CAD in Marshalls, it jumped into my hand and to the register.

Vichy - Aqualia thermal hydrating serum (30 ml): this I picked up in a Shoppers Drugmart in Toronto, in spite of me planning to go "stock free" as my friends motto is. Not to have a big stock of backups waiting to be used, rather buy when you are out, or couple of days/a week of running out. I wish to go more towards that direction, but given the price difference of French pharmacy skincare products between Canada and the States, I decided to pick this serum up as a backup for the one I am using now from Lumene.

La Roche-Posay - Micellar water: the lovely shop assistant at Shoppers Drugmart, who suggested the Vichy serum for my skintype, kindly gave this to me as a bonus with that purchase. An absolute perfect travel size.

Shea Moisture - African Black soap, acne prone face and body bar: I am not acne prone, but love this soap for my skin, and it seems to keep my perioral dermatitis at bay. And as long as it works, I am reluctant to try anything else, and when I saw this small bar, I thought it would be a perfect replacement, when I run out of the last pieces of the rest of my original bar - which now live in a small soapbox in my suitcase.

Sonia Kashuk - precision concealer makeup brush: This I picked up in Target (see here) intended for use with my Soap and glory - kick ass concealer, which has two concealer colors, one more of a yellow tone which works perfectly on the face, blended in with your finger. But the pinky/salmon tone of the concealer I have never been able to get to work under my eyes to color correct dark circles. It always ended up to thick, dry and impossible to blend in under my eye. I really hoped that this brush would work with that concealer, long story short; it did not help it at all, still too dry and difficult to blend out under the eye. Maybe I should even return the brush, as I do not really have any other use for it?

USA haul

So as my summer job for 2018 as a flight attendant will bring me to the United States of America several times over the course of the next few months, so here come the hauls for beauty products for my first three stops:

Haul one

So in my first stop over in Seattle, I managed to pick a few items up:

Elf - eye shadow brush (1 $ + tax @Target)- I bought this one as a backup for an older similar Elf eye shadow brush, but sadly they have changed the hair bristles. And it does a terrible job at applying color to my eyelid. I have to try it on more eye shadows, but now I can only see it being used wet to apply pigments, or wet eye shadow - as it does an ok job at that.

Estée Lauder - advanced night repair serum (7 ml) (16 $ + tax @Nordstrom Rack) - I have really wanted to try this serum out for some time, but as my skin can't handle any given product, I really wanted to be able to try it out before investing in a full size bottle. And finally I stumbled upon a small sample bottle, and can't wait to try it out

Elf - pencil sharpeners - set of 2 - (1.22 $ + tax @Target) - I wanted to buy a closed pencil sharpener, for two sized pencils to put in my cosmetics bag, ready to go with me to work, and this one fitted the bill, and on at a superior price. 

Shea moisture - African black soap with shea butter, troubled skin/severely dry skin (230 g) (5.99 $ + tax @Target) - 

Two oceans - Soothing Aloe Vera, Purifying charcoal - Deep cleansing charcoal soap bar (225 g) (3.99 $ @Ross) - I just couldn't resist picking this soap up as it is made in South Africa, and contains Aloe Vera and is black in color, as the African black soap, so it might work perfectly for my perioral dermatitis, if not I can always use it as a body soap in my shower. 

Haul two

Sephora - Pro brow brush no. 20 (18 $ + tax @Sephora) - I grabbed this to put in my travel makeup bag - to go with the brow powder duo. And it performs perfectly.

Anastasia Beverly Hills - Brow powder duo - soft brown (2 x 0.8 g) (23 $ + tax @Sephora). I asked for assistance at Sephora, and was recommended the auburn shade, as I have a hint of red tones in my hair, but did not dare to venture in that direction, and she tried this on me and it looked great in the store. But in retrospect as I continue to wear it I feel like it is a bit to warm for my brows, so I might actually return this color and exchange it for medium brown.

Mac - eye shadow in Kid (6 $ + tax @Mac) - as this is possibly a limited edition re-launch I decided to pick this shadow up, as I had heard so much about it on Youtube as the perfect crease color. And I am constantly on a hunt for one of those. 

Haul three

Sonia Kashuk eyeshadow brush- detail smudge no. 230 (11 $ + tax @Target) - as I busted my Elf detail crease brush, which I used as a smudge brush, I decided to pick this one up in Target.

Neutrogena - makeup remover cleansing towelettes - 25 ultra-soft cloths (6.29 S + tax @Target). A friend of mine recommended these towelettes, and said they get off all traces of makeup, even waterproof mascara. So I grabbed the type that comes in the plastic tub, which will be very convenient on the go.

So by now I have successfully finished my entire original quota (of 12 items) of color cosmetics for the entire year of 2018.

I had a very similar project/goal going on in 2013 - except in that particular project I did not count any purchases into the total count that I purchased abroad. With that in mind and considering I have only finished five items from the haul I made in Seattle in 2013, and two of those items being mascaras, I really have to start using my products more before I hoard any more. Still I am going to raise the total number of colored cosmetic purchases for the year 2018 to total of 18 items. But those remaining six items left then for this years quota have to be considered carefully before purchasing. And they have to have a very particular function in my collection.