In terms of beauty and skincare, 2013 was a great year for me. I always used skincare and always tried different products before, but last year was when I finally sat down and asked myself: 'Skin, what do you want? What do you need to be healthy?'. I started listening to myself and focusing on what my skin needed to be healthy, rather than listening to what everyone else was telling me would work for me. Although I am always looking for peoples opinions on skincare and grateful when someone turns me on to something promising, but with disappointment after disappointment - I really needed to focus on finding what works for ME and MY skin. 2013 was a great year for me and skincare because I started getting a lot more educated about what I was putting on my skin and face, I was able to do more thorough research and tested countless samples to find the best products for my face. I will always be on the hunt for the better face wash or night cream, but I think I am well on my way to finding the perfect skincare routine.
Here's the breakdown on what I used up last year:
Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Restoring Cream - I've never used Shiseido Skincare before and I received this little deluxe sample with a promo code with Sephora online. I was super excited to try one of their products and I needed a night cream so this was perfect at the time. I used this as a night cream because it is a little thicker in consistency, and since there was no SPF. Restoring creams usually scream night cream to me as well. Although it's really good at moisturizing and I did notice plumper, more fuller skin (especially where its sunken in a bit or scarred), that's about all it did. I didn't notice a change in any of my pigmentation or any acne prevention, it did not keep my oily tzone or acne at bay. I feel this might be better for more mature skin, and I might revisit this product again for moisturization purposes - but I will most likely not repurchase in 2014.
Philosophy Purity Facial Cleanser - I loved loved loved the idea of Philosophy and their products made more naturally and simple. But if that were the case, truly, than why do their products have parabens!?!? Ugh, I hated finding parabens when I was reading the ingredient list - I was soooo disappointed! I actually enjoyed this as a cleanser, the scent and the freshness of the Tea Tree Oil was so refreshing and my skin looked just as fresh. But unfortunately, with the growing evidence against Parabens and how they are linked to cancer cells is just too much of a risk to continue using Philosophy products. So lame! I loved everything that I've sampled from them, but one of the reasons I started this skincare mission is to find products that not only make my skin healthy, but keep me healthy and good for the environment as well. So disappointed Philosophy! Definitely not repurchasing this one or any Philosophy products unless the reformulate their products to EXCLUDE parabens in the future.
GoodSkin Eyliplex-2 Eyelift/Circle Reducer Day & Night Eye Combo - I had bought this on my last trip to the Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale (to see my entire Haul from that trip, click here), and as they were 2/$25, I still have one more that I am using. I actually really like this product, I feel that the two different formulas for day and night really target certain eye concerns. The cooling and refreshing day gel helps depuff eyes and diminish the appearance of dark circles; and the night balm is super moisturizing and helps repair skin including lines and wrinkles. If I happen to go to the next sale in March, I will definitely be picking this up again, especially if its the same price 2/$25. Great price and product, can't go wrong!
Murad Renewing Cleansing Cream from the Resurgence Line - I got this from my mom, she tends to buy special value packs when they are on sale, and since I needed a cleanser at the time - I tried this one. Although I don't have a list of ingredients, I do know that Murad products have a great repertoire for being great for sensitive skin and they don't test on animals! Big points there! I did enjoy using this cleanser, I felt that it gave just enough moisturization and still felt like it really cleaned my skin. No filmy residue and it didn't dry out my skin like some lather cleansers do. If I didn't already find the perfect cleanser and one that I absolutely love and won't give up for anything - I would definitely repurchase this. I am interested in trying some other products from their line since I did like this one.
Nivea Visage Light Moisturizing Day Care SPF 15 Cream - Coming from a European family and visiting Europe quite often myself, Nivea has been a household name almost my entire life. This is not the first time that I tried Nivea face cream, or this product for that matter. On one of my trips back home, I bought and loved this cream so much that I brought back 3 bottles of it (at the time, Nivea had not launched their facial skincare line in North America). When I was finishing my last bottle of day cream and needed a new one I found myself holding this cream again and figuring 'Why not?! I used and loved it before, lets try the formula now - it might be better!'. I like that there's SPF already in the cream, and it was light but moisturizing. It didn't do anything to even skintone or complexion and did nothing for my acne. Great (cheaper!) option for a good moisturizing cream, but I think I will not repurchase. I want to see what else is out there, something more natural or not tested on animals and of course - without Parabens!
First Aid Beauty F.A.B. Face Cleanser w/FAB Antioxident Booster - The search for the perfect face cleanser is over! This is it! After many samples and product trials, this is the absolute best facial cleanser that I've tried and for my skin. I love that this is an acne fighting cleanser, but still gentle and super moisturizing for sensetive skin. Its so hard to find something that will both fight acne and be gentle enough for my sensetive skin. I have been using this baby since April of last year (to read about that Sephora Haul, click here) and I don't intend on stopping anytime soon! Unless it's of course to try FAB's new Red Clay Cleanser! Stay tuned for that review this year! I recommend this to anyone and everyone, it will work for you! Loved it so much that I bought other products from their line and loving them so far!
Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer - Again, another goodie from my last Estee Lauder Warehouse sale back in September. I had used this before when I recieved a deluxe sample from a friend, but I was happy to try it again since I got it free at the sale! It's the full sized bottle too! I used this twice a day on top of my moistuizer, and it does exactly what it says it will. I noticed a bit difference in my skin tone and discolouration. It also helped keep my acne at bay and healed my scars to where you can't even see them anymore. I don't think I will be repurchasing anytime soon. Mostly because I think this product is better suited for more mature skin. I do like to purchase and use a product for more mature skin for a short period of time (usually right after summer) to try and correct some of the sun damage I accumulated during the summer. I know I will be purchasing and using either this or their 'Laserfocus' serum, but not until after summer is over (or if I get another for free!;)).
Whew! There you have (some) of my more recent empities from 2013, there were definitly more empties - I can't tell you how many different little deluxe samples I've tried - but these are the ones that I happened to hold on to. Have you tried any of these products before? What did you think? I would love to know, tell me in the box below! Or if you have any skincare suggestions that you would like me to try and maybe do a review on, make sure to let me know about them too!
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Still on the hunt for the perfect skincare products - so much skincare, so little time!
Better get on it.
xoxo
Ashley
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