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Hey, it's already the end of January! Whoa, how did that happen? In any case, the end of the month means it's time for another edition of... USE IT OR LOSE IT!
New to my Use It Or Lose It series before? Each month I select a few beauty/personal care items I've been hoarding in my stash, and vow to either use them up and review them or throw them away! I typically select about five products each month, but since one of my new year's goals was to declutter, I decided to kick it up a notch and do one product per day during the month of January. If you follow me on Instagram you've probably seen me posting about this every day-ish with the tag #UIOLI30DayChallenge. For the non-Instagrammers out there I shall repost my product selections and original comments below, plus any follow-up thoughts if applicable.
DAY ONE: Mor Neroli Clementine Hand Cream
"This stuff smells AWESOME! Light and fruity without being overwhelmingly cloying or floral. Nice texture too, not too greasy or sticky. Would totally buy the full size of this, assuming I can get through my current stockpile of other hand creams..."
Would I buy it? Yes, but as long as I'm subscribed to beauty boxes will I ever really run out of hand cream?
DAY TWO & THREE: Herbal Essences "Naked" Volume Shampoo and Conditioner
"I got these samples as part of a Klout Perk/freebie last month... I tried the dry shampoo from this line before and hated the scent (sort of minty/tea-ish), but somehow it works in shampoo and conditioner form. I found both of these to be unremarkable: They made my hair clean. That's about it. I might buy the shampoo if it's on sale - it is a perfectly serviceable drugstore shampoo, after all! But I'd probably opt for something else in terms of conditioner. Not bad, not great. Live and learn!"
Would I buy it? The shampoo, maybe. Probably not the conditioner.
DAY FOUR: Olay Fresh Outlast Body Wash in Cooling White Strawberry & Mint
"I got this sample in a free #PinchMe box recently. I like the scent more than I expected to - it's fruity in a way that isn't hideously artificial. I thought mint + strawberry would be a weird combo, but it makes for sort of a pleasantly "smooth" fragrance so yay. I do wish the formula was a bit thicker, but otherwise I have no complaints... it doesn't seem to irritate my skin or anything like that. What else can be said about body wash?"
Would I buy it? Sure, why not.
DAY FIVE: Thompson Biotin 800mcg
"I found some biotin tablets whilst doing my great new year's organizational purge. I tried taking them for at the end of 2013, but I think they made my skin break out... flash forward to now and my skin is in better condition overall thanks to an improved skincare routine, so I'm willing to give them another shot. I'll probably know by the end of the month whether or not they've caused my skin to freak out again. Why deal with the potential hassle, you might ask? My hair could really use some TLC. Which is worse, thinning hair or acne breakouts? What a fun thing to ponder. :P"
Follow-up thoughts: I have continued using this and my skin has been breaking out more than usual this month, unfortunately. I'm still not sure if there's a direct link between that and biotin usage though. I don't think I would buy these again, but another company recently gave me some chewable biotin supplements to try so I think I'll see how I fare with those before I make any final decisions re: biotin.
DAY SIX: Alpha Hydrox Extra Strength Deep Therapy Foot Cream with 12% AHA (Glycolic Acid)
"I purchased this a while back in the hopes that it would make for a cheaper alternative to some of the other AHA body lotions I've tried - what I discovered is that this stuff does indeed work as an exfoliating body lotion, but the texture is slightly thicker/stickier than it's body-intended counterparts and I'd rather pay a little extra to ditch the stick. Since then it's been lingering in a basket in my room unused and unloved, so I've decided to bring it back into action for the thing it was intended for: As a foot cream! It worked as a body exfoliant, so I'm sure it'll do a reasonably good job on my feet too. I'll probably have more to say about that at the end of the challenge!"
Follow-up thoughts: My feet feel smooth and lovely. This is an excellent foot cream—would buy again and definitely recommended for dry, flaky feet!
DAY SEVEN: My Scheming Bamboo Charcoal & Cryste Marine Whitening Double Lifting Mask
"Don't mind me, just hangin' out doing blog stuff in THE MOST FRIGHTENING MASK EVER. I actually reviewed these masks on my blog waaaaaaay back in 2013. The short version of my review was that they were nice, but not really amazing, which is probably why I still have one in my stash. It just passed its expiration date, so now's definitely the time to use it or lose it! There are two really good things about this mask though: One, it's very sturdy, and two, the loops make it really difficult for it to fall off your face. Perfect for hydrating whilst blogging, jogging, etc."
Would I buy again? Probably not. I like the physical design of these masks but there are other comparably-priced products that do more for my skin.
DAY EIGHT: Be A Bombshell "The One Stick" in Sunset
"I got this in an Ipsy bag a reaaaaaally long time ago - maybe even in 2013? Used it once and stuck it in my fridge because I thought the texture was weird. This is meant to be a lip/cheek/eye pigment all in one, but it's almost sort of grainy, so... no. Tried it again yesterday and still don't like. I think it's safe to say that this one goes in the "lose it" pile!"
Would I buy it? Hell no. And I actually threw it away right after posting the picture on Instagram instead of letting it linger on my desk forever!
DAY NINE: Silk Naturals Strawberry Spritz
"I can't find this on the SN site, so I guess they don't make it anymore? In any case, this is a facial spray that smells kind of like strawberry-infused water (as opposed to super sweet or artificial smelling fruit sprays). I bought a sample of this a few months ago and clearly didn't love it enough to finish it up right away, but all things considered it's not half bad. It's nice to use facial products with no added fragrance once in a while. I think I'll finish it up this month so I have one less half-used spray lying around!"
Would I buy it again? I ended up finding it on their site later (I think I did, anyway?) But still probably not.
DAY TEN: Smirnoff Vodka Mega-Bottle Dregs
"And now for something a bit different! Stan and I rarely drink vodka (and aren't really big drinkers anyway), so the dregs of this bottle of Smirnoff we bought to serve at a party has been taking up space in our kitchen since 2013. We've decided that this weekend we're finally going to get rid of it! And by get rid of it, I mean drink it. But what to make with it? What are YOUR favorite easy drinks/cocktails made with vodka?"
Several people made great suggestions in the comments (here), but we had limited stuff in our fridge/pantry, so this is what we ended up doing with it:
"In case anyone was wondering what I ended up doing with the leftover vodka, I mixed it with a dash of grenadine (that's also been in our kitchen since before the beginning of time), a splash of 100% cranberry juice, Sprite, and fresh lime juice. Leftover limes from guacamole night, yay! If this is a legit cocktail I don't know what it's called, but I can assure you that it's tasty. Until I find out the real name (if there is one), Stan has proclaimed that it should be called Buzzy Shirley Temple. Hic."
Would I buy it again? I've purchased Smirnoff vodka for many a party punch in the past, so yes, I'm sure I will. For regular sipping I think I'll stick with wine and whiskey though.
DAY ELEVEN: YuFit EON Wheat Germ Cream 75
"I got this in a #Memebox a while back (can't remember which one offhand), used it a couple times, but didn't totally love the texture on my face. The PAO says to use this within six months after opening, and I think we'll be approaching that limit soon. What to do? I'm going to try it as a body butter on my heinously dry legs! And if that doesn't work, I'll lose it at the end of the month."
Follow-up thoughts: This stuff ended up working really well as a body lotion, actually. It sunk in nicely and didn't leave behind gross residue, yay! This stuff costs like $30 per 75ml jar though, so I certainly won't be repurchasing it just to use as a body lotion.
DAY TWELVE: Fekkai Blowout Hair Refresher Dry Shampoo
"I got this in the fall Target beauty box and have been using it occasionally since then - time to polish it off! This dry shampoo isn't terrible, but I didn't like the texture it gave my hair. Sort of like post-hairspray hair. Wouldn't buy again for that reason. The best dry shampoos I've tried to date are Batiste (cheap) and Klorane (not-so-cheap). Apparently the primary oil-absorbing ingredient in both is rice starch - methinks I should hunt down some plain rice starch and attempt some DIY concoctions!"
Would I buy it? No. And I have been researching DIY dry shampoo recipes... my main issue is finding a dispensal method that isn't insanely messy.
DAY THIRTEEN: Tom's of Maine Natural Lip Shimmer in Whisper Pink
"I got this in that massive bag-o-beauty GWP I posted about yesterday - why not start in on some of that stuff now? This is basically just a lip balm with the FAINTEST hint of pink shimmer. Barely pigmented - I couldn't really pick it up with my camera. Definitely not a replacement for lipstick, but is sort of pretty. The balm has a nice minty tingle and is slightly moisturizing. Not my favorite formula, but not bad. I'll use it up but probably won't repurchase!"
Follow-up thoughts: I lost this somewhere in my apartment about a week ago and don't really miss it. Definitely won't be repurchasing!
DAY FOURTEEN: Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée Cologne Absolue
"I got this as one of the samples in a #Birchbox bonus mystery pack - it also came with the postcard pictured under the vial. Fancy! This is a very vanilla-y scent, but not a sickeningly sweet one - think fresh and woody instead. It smells nice, but I don't think it suits my personality... does that make sense? It's a "mature" vanilla. It reminds me of a boss I had a number of years ago, actually. She was a classy lady! I'm rambling now. Anyway, nice scent, but not for me. Pass!"
Follow-up thoughts: If you ever get a sample of this in Birchbox, be careful—the slightest drop on the outside of the vial will make your hands smell like vanilla for hours. Strong stuff!
DAY FIFTEEN: MaskerAide Pre Party Prep Sheet Mask
"MaskerAide Pre Party Prep sheet mask, pictured next to some pasta that I did NOT use because I was keeping it in my fridge. I wore this mask last night before I went to sleep, so if by pre-party you mean pre-watching TV and drinking whiskey in bed, then YESS!!! Anyway, this is a hydrating sheet mask with niacinamide for a brightening effect. Lots of essence, made my skin feel good, but the actual shape of the mask is a little awkward and the fiber could be softer. This is the kind of thing I would buy again if it was a buck or so, but apparently they're CAD $5.99 each on the Maskerade website! Sorry, but that price would snag me a hydrogel."
Follow-up thoughts: I just re-read my comment and realized it makes no sense. I was keeping the mask in the fridge, so when I took it out I happened to set it on a shelf holding several boxes of pasta, which is where I snapped the picture. Does any of this matter? No, because the masks are still overpriced. But you can get pasta for about a buck a box at Costco!
DAY SIXTEEN: Hydroxatone Anti-Aging BB Cream
'This is another treasure from the drugstore.com big bag-o-samples. When I first put this on I was like "Holy crap, too dark!" But then I realized that they sent a sample of shade medium... no wonder. It does seem to offer decent coverage, though this cream definitely has a strong yellow undertone, so I'm not sure if the lighter shade would suit me. IMO this would suit dry or normal skin types best, as the formula is kind of creamy and will slide around if you don't set with powder. A pass for me, but not terrible overall, I reckon."
Seriously, how did I not notice that it said medium on the tube?! Ugh.
DAY SEVENTEEN: English Laundry "Arrogant" EDT
"This is another goodie from the drugstore.com bag-o-madness. Is it destashing if you use something you *just* added to your stash? Better to try it now than in months, I guess. Anyway, when I first spritzed this I was like "whoa holy crap masculine"... I probably should have realized from the name that this is a men's scent. But what does that really mean anyway? It smells kind of grassy and fruity on first spritz, then dries down to a slightly mellower woodsy scent. Not bad, but I don't think my BF or I would wear something like this on the regular so in the swap pile it goes!"
Follow-up thoughts: I spritzed this on Stan and he frowned. Guess my instincts were correct?
DAY EIGHTEEN: Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Body Buttercream
"Pretty sure I got this sample with a Sephora order. This is a thick body butter that sinks into dry skin nicely, not too greasy, and the scent is interesting. It smells kind of like pistachios and vanilla frosting. The fragance is also quite strong so I have a feeling that this would probably be a love-it-or-hate-it thing for most folks, but I'm definitely in the "love it" camp! And now I want to eat my arm."
Would I buy it? Yes!
DAY NINETEEN: Kocostar Face Spot Mirror Patch
"I got these in a #Memebox a while back, but haven't had many occasions to use them recently because my skin has been behaving... until yesterday, anyway. Yay? These are acne spot patches. I thought they'd be kind of like Nexcare acne patches (which are great), and they are but also sort of aren't. They work but not as well? Sorry for being vague - I'll explain more in my blog post roundup at the end of the month because I don't want to write a novel on Instagram. One cool thing though - the pack comes with a crappy little mirror attached! Perfect for attaching to your face by the glow of your phone whilst in bed."
OK, now let me elaborate on what I meant on my initial post. I put one of these on a pimple that had almost come to a head and it did seem to burst... thing is, when you use Nexcare (or other hydrocolloid patches) the center of the patch turns this sort of yellow-ish white-ish color, which is a mixture of the pus (ew) and the pus reacting with the bandage. These stayed completely clear, just oily, which makes me think that they're just plain plastic stickers... that may sound pointless, but if you're a face-picker they might prove handy as a physical barrier to keep you from messing with your skin. So not totally useless.
Would I buy it? No. I don't really have issues with face-picking, and the whole reason I like the Nexcare patches is because of that sexy hydrocolloid action that draws pus (EWWWWW) away from the skin. (I wrote more about the Nexcare patches here, by the way.)
DAY TWENTY: Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream
"This is a multi-purpose, glycerin-based moisturizing cream that's meant to... well... moisturize. I've had this random dry/flaky patch on my face the past few days that has been annoying the crap out of me, so I used it on that and it really did seem to soften it up. The camphor scent makes it a little weird to use as a daily moisturizing treatment, but as a salve for lips or dry patches I give it a thumbs-up!"
Would I buy it? Undecided. Right now I don't think I really need it, but if I start getting scaly patches like that more frequently I would consider picking up a tube.
DAY TWENTY-ONE: Sweet Anthem Perfumes' Juliet (Oil)
'I must have received this as a sample with an order, but I have no memory of actually trying it before, so here we are. This has top notes of Clove, Mango, and Pink Pepper, middle notes of Neroli and Jasmine Sambac, and base notes of Muskwood and Tobacco. Despite being a little spicy, I think this scent has a clean sort of sweetness to it. Kind of aquatic. It's a lovely fragrance but I don't think it suits my personality - maybe I'm not a sweet girl? :P"
Would I buy it? Not this particular scent, but I would certainly try others by Sweet Anthem in the future.
DAY TWENTY-TWO: Sally's Box Love Recipe Sheet Mask in Paprika
"A lot of people were intrigued by this variety when I had a Sally's Box giveaway a few months ago, and I'm just getting around to trying it for myself now. The verdict: I don't think it's really too distinct from the other Sally's Box Love Recipe masks, other than maybe the scent - I *feel* like it smells like bell peppers, but that could just be confirmation bias or something. In any case, it moisturizes and soothes nicely and fits on my face reasonably well. Not bad for a $1 mask!"
Would I buy it again? If Memebox ever brings these back to their shop for $1 apiece, yes.
DAY TWENTY-THREE: Dearberry Ice Cream Hand Cream in Green Tea
"I recently did a swap with a fellow #Memebox fan and she threw this in as an extra - yay! Google tells me it came from one of the Black Friday boxes. So far as I can tell, this is only called "Ice Cream" because of the tube design. The formula is pretty average - not greasy, but not ultra-hydrating either. At least the scent is nice - like sweet green tea, shockingly enough. I let Stan use some and he sniffed his hands creepily for a long time. Mmmmmmm."
Would I buy it? No. But Stan still sniffs himself for a bit too long whenever I let him use it.
DAY TWENTY-FOUR: Ryo/Ryeo/Ryoe/Ryu Anti Hair Loss Treatment
"This is a conditioning-type rinse that's supposed to prevent hair loss (surprise!) I got it in a Memebox a while back and didn't really pay too much attention to it at first, but I've been using it for the past few days, and I think it really may be improving the condition of my scalp. Not sure about the hair loss, but healthy, happy scalp! This stuff has a pretty distinct herbal medicine scent (AKA dirt) which might be a dealbreaker for some, but I don't mind it. I'm pretty certain I'll end up buying a full-size tube of this!"
Follow-up thoughts: I started translating the ingredients list for this, and it seems like two of the ingredients are Salicylic Acid and Zinc Pyrithione, which would totally explain why it's making my scalp less flaky. This leaves my hair nicer-feeling than other similarly-priced treatments of this type though, so I will certainly be purchasing more. And maybe post a review with the full ingredients list once I figure out what all of them are.
DAY TWENTY-FIVE: Versace Bright Crystal EDT
"This is a soft, musky floral with some fruity/watery notes. This is what I'd describe as a "safe" scent- not so strong that it will make your officemates sneeze to death, but not really that unique or interesting either. Smells nice but I won't be hunting down more!"
Would I buy it? Still a nope.
DAY TWENTY-SIX: Vibrant Cleanse Vibrant Cleanse Lemonade
"I got this in a #BeautyArmy box a while back, which is sort of odd because I think it's basically supposed to be a dry/shelf-stable version of the concoction you drink whilst doing the Master Cleanse. I'm pretty dubious of the Master Cleanse, but I did try some of the special "lemonade" when a friend of mine did it, so I will review this purely on its culinary merits: It's bland. Blander than fresh lemons anyway, and the cayenne pepper element is pretty mild. I can't think of a reason why I would ever end up buying this, but it's gone and out of my house now, so... yay?"
Follow-up thoughts: A fellow Instagrammer pointed out in the comments that this sample packet is actually 1/3 of a serving, hence the blandness. That's like... the stupidest idea ever? Who gives out a sample that's only 1/3 of a serving of a drink mix?!
DAY TWENTY-SEVEN: Freeman Goji Berry Hydration Mask
"This is a wash-off moisturizing mask that looks, smells and feels like hair conditioner. Well, maybe it's a bit stickier. Kind of a gel-cream hybrid, in any case. Unfortunately, this didn't really do anything for me... after I washed it off my skin felt pretty much the same as before? So why did I spend 10 minutes with sticky goopiness on my face? Bleh! I like some Freeman masks, but this is definitely not one of them."
Follow-up thoughts: If you want to know which Freeman masks *don't* suck, I recommend the Black Charcoal & Sugar and Strawberry Chocolate Mud Mask varieties.
DAY TWENTY-EIGHT: Babo Botanicals Swim & Sport Shampoo & Wash in Cucumber Aloe Vera
"I have no idea where I got this sample - I think it's meant to be a multi-purpose wash for kids after they get grubby at the pool or playground or what have you. I tried it as a body wash... smells OK and I think it's detergent-like enough to actually remove chlorine from hair even though it doesn't contain sulfates, so maybe it would double as a decent shampoo for color-treated hair? Shrug. I probably won't be purchasing this because it's not something I need, but it seems nice enough for what it is."
Follow-up thoughts: This might actually be handy for travel too. Just saying!
DAY TWENTY-NINE: L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paint in Pin Up
"Got this in the Drugstore.com GWP bag I posted about at the beginning of the month, and am finally getting around to trying it now. I'm sure most of you know of these at this point - if not, they've been touted as budget dupes for Too Faced Melted lippies or even OCC Lip Tars. I don't think either of those comparisons are really accurate, but this is a very nice budget lip product in its own right: Very pigmented, easy to apply, longer-lasting than some other glossy lip products. Pin Up is a really flattering neutral red - bold but not crazy-looking! I will definitely be keeping this in my stash and may even pick up another color or two next time I order from Drugstore.com."
Follow-up thoughts: Yes, I know I totally should have taken a lip swatch picture. But I didn't. I'll try to remember to do that at some point! But really, if you like classic reds and glossiness and lip products that cost under $5, it's hard to go wrong with these.
DAY THIRTY: Fresh Rose Hydrating Eye Gel Cream
"I really like the texture of this cream - it spreads easily and is very hydrating without feeling too heavy or greasy. The scent is nice (sort of like cucumber and fresh flowers) but maybe a bit strong for a product meant to be used in the eye area? Not bad overall!"
Would I buy it? Undecided. I really do like the consistency, but daaaaang it's fragrance-y. I have some other fragranced eye creams and they don't seem to bother me, but they don't smell as strong as this one.
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And thus concludes the Use It Or Lose It: 30 Day Challenge. I laughed, I cried, I smeared some stuff on my face. This was a good experience for me because it forced me to try some stuff I was "saving" for no real reason. Why do I do this?! I know I'm not the only one though. Anyway, my favorites out of this batch were the Alpha Hydrox Foot Cream, Soap & Glory Body Butter, Ryo Hair Treatment, and L.A. Girl Lip Paint. Success!
I don't think I'll be doing a 30-day destash next month, but perhaps I'll do another "of the day" thing on Instagram in February... maybe foodie-related this time? I do plan to do another blog series that's sort of related to destashing next month, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow or Monday to find out more about that. :)
Have you tried any of the items in my #UIOLI30DayChallenge collection? Agree or disagree with my thoughts? Let me know in the comments!
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