beauty: february 2019 ins and outs
While January 2019 seemed to last a lifetime, somehow February seemed to fly right on by. I’m not complaining though. We’ve had some horribly cold days here in Maine this month. The closer we get to spring, the better.
I am now two months into my three month no buy (read about January here!). I’m really excited to share my progress with you. So, let’s get into it!
First, we’ll talk about my trash - all the things I panned in February.
Makeup I Finished
Urban Decay All Nighter Spray ($36*): I’ve been using this setting spray for a while. It’s great for us oily skinned ladies who need to really lock down their makeup for the day. I spray after I finish everything but mascara. It helps melt my powder products into my skin and set my makeup for long days. I already had a back up in my collection (a habit I’m trying to break!). It’s a true favorite.
Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Cream ($38*): My sister first introduced this product to me in 2014. I’ve been using it as my everyday foundation ever since. It gives fantastic, medium coverage. It looks beautiful on the skin. It has SPF 45 and it lasts all day on my oily skin when set with powder and the Urban Decay setting spray. I’d be hard pressed to find a better everyday base product. I can’t imagine being without this one. My one complaint is it does give flashback in photos. So, I tend to reach for something else when I know there will be flash photography involved.
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper ($20): This was my favorite black liquid liner of all time. In fact, I had purchased a backup prior to the big controversy. While I don’t believe in “canceling” brands, I do believe in being intentional and ethical in my purchases. I don’t agree with the direction the company has been headed and I don’t think I’ll be re-purchasing this any time soon. If you don’t mind or happen to agree with Kat, that’s totally cool. This is a seriously awesome formula and I find the felt tip really easy to work with whether I’m doing a thin line or a dramatic wing. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, hit that Google box. For now, I’ll be searching for something else.
Skin and Body Products I Finished
Boscia Makeup Breakup Cleansing Oil ($32*): If you wear waterproof mascara, this makeup remover could be your new best friend. Although they call it an oil, it doesn’t leave that oily film behind like a lot of those biphasic fluid eye makeup removers out there on the market. It works like a charm for breaking down my mascara, black liqiuid liner, and my brows - which I basically shellac onto my face everyday. It doesn’t irritate my eyes and this bottle will last you around 9 months which is brilliant. Basically, this stuff is great. If you’re in the market for a new eye makeup remover, give this one a go!
OleHenrickson Uplifiting Transformation Eye Cream ($42*): I replaced this at the end of January and finally kicked the old one a few days later. If you’re curious what my thoughts are, check this post! Spoiler alert, I love this eye cream - hence the repurchase.
Skin&Co Blue In Capri Body Wash ($22): I received this in my FabFitFun box. I really enjoyed using this body wash. I loved the smell - very spa-like. However, the price point is just not realistic. I am not the kind of person who spends over 20 bucks on soap. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to use it but I will not be buying it again.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream ($38*): It’s no secret that I love First Aid Beauty products. Their line is curated and thoughtful. This night cream is a dream. If you struggle with hydration, this cream could be the answer to your prayers. I’ve repurchased it many times. It’s perfect for winter when I start to get real scaly. I use it on my face, neck, and on all the little eczema spots that start popping up when the temperatures drop. You’ll wake up with baby soft skin and who doesn’t want that?
Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion ($40*): This is another FabFitFun* box find. I had never tried any other Murad products before and I loved this stuff. It is perfect for my skin - which is oily through the T-zone and dry around the edges. It’s gentle and basic but I felt like my makeup applied beautifully over it. I would absolute repurchase this again.
Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream ($23*, full size): I got this mini in a Sephora order and I decided to give it go. The sample was generous enough for me to get about two weeks of use out of it. I think this is a good eye cream and I like the squeezy tube. However, it didn’t really wow me.
Eden’s Garden French Lavender Sage Natural Deodorant ($12*): I’ve been using natural deodorants for just over a year now after having a reaction to an antiperspirant that contained aluminum. Since then, I’ve tried a lot of natural deodorants and is the absolute best one I’ve tried so far. First of all, I loved this scent. It’s so beautiful but not overpowering like traditional formulations. Unlike a few natural deodorant I’ve tried, this one didn’t cause any irritation or clogged pores. It’s soft at room temperature so you don’t have to hold it under your arm to warm it up before applying. Let’s be real...natural deodorants are just that. Deodorant. They don’t stop you from sweating but they help conceal the stink. I absolutely will repurchase this and I’ll be throwing one in for my Boo. If Lavender isn’t your jam, they have several scents to choose from.
Hair Care Products I Finished
Alba Botanica Drink It Up Coconut Milk Hawaiian Shampoo ($7): This is a fantastic shampoo. I have oily, medium length hair with a lot of natural wave. Not only does this smell amazing but it left my hair clean and manageable. I love the price point and that I can pick it up in my grocery store. I will definitely be buying this shampoo again and I want to try out some of Alba’s other products soon!
Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner Set ($13): This duo. Oh, my. This is a bold statement but this shampoo and conditioner are holy grail status for me. My hair loves this stuff. For real. Unfortunately for me, the price point is a bit steep. Especially considering that I know I also love (although not quite as much) a much less expensive shampoo. It’s a real dilemma. Ulta usually does sales on those giant, salon sized jugs of hair products a few times a year. I’ll be keeping my eye to see if these babies are included in that sale. Until then, I’ll be using something a little cheaper.
Shampoo and Conditioner Foil Packet Samples: I used up a whole bunch of foil packet samples of shampoo and conditioner sets this month because quite frankly I was sick of looking at them. These types of samples don’t give you enough to get a real sense of how the product performs. Based on a single use, the only set I’d be interested in trying again is the Living Proof set which did actually reduce my frizz. The others were nothing to write home about.
Now, on to the three things I purchased this month.
February 2019 Purchases
Shea Moisture Coconut& Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo ($8.85*)
Body Merry Breakthrough Night Cream ($16.99*)
Pacifica Coconut Probiotic Water Rehab Cream ($16*)
These three products are all new to me so I don’t have much to say about them yet but stay tuned for updates! And now on to my favorite part...the numbers!
My total spend in February: $41.84
My total spend in 2019: $177.84
The value of the products I finished in February: $292
The value of the products I’ve finished in 2019: $342
I’m really, really pleased with my progress on both my low-buy and the number of products I’ve finished up so far this year. I really want to get value out of the things I already own and end 2019 with a curated collection of beauty products I truly love. I think I’m well on my way!
How are you doing on your budget this year?
FTC: Some of links in this post are affiliate links, denoted with a*. If you shop through these links, I may earn a small commission. Thanks for supporting Laurel and Iron!
