Product Empties #4

I've been MIA for the past few days; just needed a break but I'm back! It's such a satisfying feeling when I finish a product and I managed to get through more than I thought I would. Let's dig through my trash and see what products I'd repurchase or pass on.

Purederm Tea Tree Pore Freshner ($24)

The pump was a little temperamental with me and stopped working all together at the halfway point. Other than that, I enjoyed using this as a toner and it felt refreshing with ingredients like tea tree, witch hazel, sage, and peppermint extracts. I used this up rather quickly so it didn't last quite as long as I would have liked. "This Tea Tree Freshner helps soothe and de-stress stimulated skin and maintain a healthy skin condition by controlling makeup residue, dirt, and impurities clogged up in pores." Would repurchase again.

Boscia MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil ($28)

So the last time I purchased this I could have sworn it was $24. I stocked up 2 years ago on the cleansing oil because it was that awesome. I've probably gone through 5 bottles so far which is a lot for me! I've heard some people complain that it dries out there skin but I've got combination-oily skin so that's not an issue for me. This does a great job of removing makeup gently and starting the cleansing process. "This effective formula gently melts impurities and makeup, including waterproof, without leaving an oily residue. It is formulated with antioxidants and botanicals to soothe and protect skin." I have to use up a few cleansing oils from past Memeboxes but I would buy the Boscia one in a heart beat if I didn't have any backups.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir ($18 for 1 oz)

"Part-toner, part-serum mist of essential oils and plant active ingredients. Smooths the skin, tightens the pores, and provides an instant burst of radiance, as it stimulates microcirculation." I used to like this but then I tried Korean toners and mists and that was the end of the beauty elixir for me. This pretty much does nothing as far as the product claims and is expensive. 1 oz is a good travel size but it sure doesn't last long. I believe the full size bottle is $49. Will not buy this again in the future!

Xaivita Goat Milk Moisturizing Hand Cream

There was no info card from Memebox when I received this hand cream so I have no idea how much this costs. "Goat milk with abundant moisturizing agents deeply replenishes dry, roughened hands and creates a protective moisture film over the skin to maintain your hands soft and silky." This brand has a goat milk line with a face wash, essence, and whitening cream. I liked this hand cream and it was quite moisturizing during the winter without feeling greasy. It has a pleasant scent so I'd repurchase it again if I could find it somewhere online.

Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunscreen SPF 55 ($8.63)

"Specially designed to provide superior sun protection without causing breakouts on acne-prone skin. Formulated with Helioplex® Technology, it provides superior broadspectrum UVA/UVB protection. Perfect for face and body, this liquid-lotion has a water-light texture that leaves a weightless, matte finish so skin can breathe." I was looking for a facial sunscreen that wouldn't break me out and didn't contain alcohol in the ingredient list. This didn't cause any acne and leave any greasiness or stickiness after application. It does have a slight scent on the chemical side but it doesn't bother me. I'd repurchase this but I'm currently using The Yeon All Day Sun Cream which I'm really enjoying.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 45 ($9.49)
"It protects with advanced broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection - and combines it with Dry Touch technology to provide an ultra-light, non-shiny finish. This lightweight sunscreen absorbs quickly and has a light, fresh scent. The non-oily formula is enriched with anti-oxidant vitamins A, C, and E to help fight against environmental damage." This is the second tube I've purchased but I won't repurchase it. This has a light, fresh scent which is pleasant and gets the job done as far as sunscreen goes. What I don't like about it is the greasy feeling it leaves behind, particularly on really hot days. The combination of sweat and oil in the summer makes me want to wash it off. The description says this is a non-oily formula but it sure doesn't feel or seem like it.

Dr. Lin Skincare Acne Spot Corrector ($7.49)

This 1 oz tube lasted forever. I think the spot corrector helped shrink some non cystic acne that would occasionally pop up but didn't have much of an effect on cystic acne. This claims to "treat the first sign of a breakout and fade the red and dark marks left behind with this fast-acting treatment. Formulated with 5% benzoyl peroxide to kill acne-causing bacteria. Works on old and new acne marks to fade discoloration." Unfortunately there was no fading of red marks on my face whatsoever. I'm on the fence about buying this again since the condition of my skin has improved dramatically.

Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream (12,000,000 won)

I wrote about this cream in my April Favorites here. I stand firm on my original opinion, do not like this stuff! I'd use a tiny amount on my face and it still left a sticky feeling I couldn't stand. I ended up using the remaining cream on my elbows since it wasn't working for me. Would NOT buy again.

I tend to use less sheet masks towards late spring/summer since clay masks work better me during those seasons. I need less moisture on my face, not more, and a sheet mask will just exacerbate the issue.

My Beauty Diary Collagen Firming Mask 7/10

This is for firming, rejuvenating, renewing, and brightening. Didn't notice amazing results but it had a nice scent. My only gripe was the lack of room in the eye area because it wasn't wide enough.

Innisfree It's Real Squeeze Mask Mugwort 7.5/10

It wouldn't be an empties post without this mask. I always use at least one of these within a monthly period. Think I have 20 left but I'll move on to some other brands. There are so many different sheet masks out there, why use the same brand unless it's amazing.

Pure Smile Yogurt Essence Mask Mixed Fruit 8/10

I used this right after my last empties post so it's been awhile. I do remember this smelling really good, "like banana and kiwi" is what I have written down in my notes. There is an eye cut out option but little room in the mouth area. For me, this makes a good summer mask because it contains less essence in the pouch. It may not be as moisturizing for the winter months or those with dry skin.

O'gce Minus Touch Pore Slim Pad (5/10)

These contained 3 pads which were quite large. The pads are more for puffiness so they're cooling to the eyes. They have a strong scent, maybe menthol. This calmed morning puffiness under my eyes but also irritated my eyes turning them red.

TonyMoly My Little Pet Eye Patch (7/10)

Wrote a review about the eye patch not too long ago. They're not bad but I want to try more to get a better sense of what works for me.

TonyMoly My Little Pet Wrinkle Line Patch (9/10)
Love these! I need to get my hands on some more from Tester Korea but I've been lazy about placing an order with them. I've heard grumblings about bad customer service and horrible shipping times with the company so I've been hesitant about ordering from them. These are sold on Amazon but at a higher inflated price.

Etude House Collagen Eye Patch (6/10)

I've mentioned this in previous empties as well and they're not bad. I've got 4 or 5 left in my stash so you'll see some more until I've finished them up.

Only 2 finished samples this past month.
Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfecter Daily Anti-Acne ($12.99)

I've never used American BB creams, only Korean brands. I was curious about this one because I've heard good things about Garnier BB Creams. I was pleasantly surprised by this. There is 2% salicylic acid in this and it's available in 2 shades: Light/Medium and Medium/Dark. I used the Light/Medium shade which is workable but a bit dark for me. I was able to use the sample for 5 days and it offers a good medium coverage. I like the cucumber scent as well. My skin did appear super oily after a few hours (used a powder over the BB) but that's what blotting sheets are for. I'd purchase this product if I ever ran out of BB creams in my stash.

Bare Minerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener ($22)

I'm still not sure if I like this or not. I got quite a bit of uses out of this sample but it didn't seem to do any brightening. There are 4 shades but I have no idea which one I received. This is "an eye brightener that diffuses dark shadows while visibly reducing fine lines and dark shadows." Meh, it may have brightened a teeny bit but there wasn't much difference in fine lines or dark shadows. And at $22 I won't buy a product that doesn't do much for me.

Thanks for stopping by!
Jennifer