In all my years of blogging, I don’t think that I have ever done an empties post. Truth is I don’t think I’ve actually ever finished an entire skincare product. That’s the sort of thing that happens when you work in the beauty industry. There are always new products that launch that claim to be better than the one that you are currently using. This time finished six products all roughly around the same time. I was kind of sticking to a new routine, so that might have helped out. A few of these have become mainstays in my beauty routine.
Origins GinZing™ Refreshing Scrub Cleanser
I’ve always been a fan of this particular line from Origins. In many of my skincare routine posts I almost always reference the GinZing™ Refreshing Eye Cream to Brighten and Depuff. It’s been one of my favorite because caffeine is one of it’s main ingredients, making it a perfect morning cleanser. I also liked that it was an exfoliating cleanser so that you’re able to do two steps at the same time. The exfoliating beads are very gentle so this can definitely be used on a daily basis. It left my oily/combo skin feeling clean but not stripped of moisture. I’m definitely considering going back to using this once I’m done testing a new cleanser I just bought.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
To be completely transparent, this is actually the 4th bottle of this serum that have used to the last drop. It was the first product from the brand that I purchased. I might be slightly obsessed with hyaluronic acid. When I found out that this formula was under $7, I may or may not have ordered half a dozen bottles—because, hey you never know. What I like about this serum is that it absorbs into the skin quickly so even when you don’t have a lot of time for your skin routine you at least know that your skin will be hydrated. Sure, there are other hyaluronic acid serums on the market that offer hydration plus other skincare benefits, but if you are looking for a down and dirty hyaluronic acid serum that you can incorporate into your skincare routine that will get the job done, then this one is it. Do I think you should buy this? The answer to that is a resounding YES, and you should also buy these in bulk because it sells out all the time.
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
Another one of my favorites from The Ordinary is the Caffeine Solution. This is a great eye serum. I use it in conjunction with an eye cream both morning and night it is great. It depuffs, and can be used around the whole eye area. Like most of the serums from this brand it absorbs very quickly which is great. This is actually the third bottle that I have finished and I always have backups of this one and it is my favorite eye serum. Like the hyaluronic acid serum, this one is also under $7. This is also a must buy in my opinion.
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
Okay, so I kind of have a thing for The Ordinary. In all honesty, their products are good staples and the price is so right! This last product that I’ve recently finished was probably the only product that I was initially hesitant about. I don’t have super sensitive skin but this peeling solution looked and sounded like it was going to be intense. The concentration of AHA is like nothing I’ve ever used. It’s a mask and a peel. If you have sensitive skin or cystic acne, then this product is not for you. If you are looking for resurfacing, then this is the product that you need. I will say that it does have a slightly burning sensation when it is first applied, but then it goes away. You should not leave this on for more than ten minutes before washing off with warm water. Believe me, when you wash this off your skin feels brand new. I would suggest using this as part of your nighttime skin routine. Definitely wear sunscreen that has at least SPF 30 everyday when using this product. You only need to use this once or twice a week.
Glamglow VOLCASMIC™ Matte Glow Moisturizer
I love this moisturizer. If you have oilier skin like me it’s always a little tricky when it comes to glowing anything, because you can go from glowy to greasy in 2.5 seconds. Because of that, I’ve always stuck to hydrating but matte moisturizer. But a matte glow moisturizer? When I first purchased this over the holidays last year, I actually didn’t think that there was such a thing as matte glow but apparently, Glamglow found a way to create a glow moisturizer specifically designed for those of us with oily skin. I love the way that this moisturizer feels on the skin. It feels so light and cooling. and it mattifies without dulling the skin. I don’t know how they do it and honestly I don’t care at this point because I have three back up bottles. You should buy this.
I received this in a Glossybox and honestly, I just put it to the side because I had so many other masks that I was using that I didn’t want to start a new one. So late last year, I decided that I was going to try this mud mask and see how it compared to my beloved Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask. Well, I’m happy to report that this mask is now one of my favorite when it comes to cleansing and purifying. It dries rather quickly and you can definitely feel it clearing out your pores. Once rinsed with warm water, my skin was definitely smoother and ready for serums or moisturizers. Definitely something that you might want to keep in your arsenal.
Well that wraps it up. Truth be told, I kind of like writing these posts. It’s also mildly satisfying to see that I liked a product so much that I used every last drop and in this instance I’ve restocked. Until next time always remember to SEE. TOUCH. TASTE.