Spring 2020 Empties!

Like many of you, I haven't been wearing much makeup since this pandemic got real in March. I have been working from home since then and likely will continue to do so for quite some time. I do miss makeup though and I've started to dab a bit on when I go to the grocery store just for kicks. Mostly eye makeup. I don't remember the last time I wore foundation because I usually wear a mask when I go out. So all of this being said, I haven't had many empties the last few months. However, I did manage to gather up what I have used and do a Empties post for you here today.

Nivea Pure & Natural Body Milk - Another one bites the dust. Already replaced x2.

Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple - I got rid of two BBW hand soaps! Yeah! I think I have maybe 4 or 5 left scattered throughout the house and I am on a mission to get rid of all of them! You would think that Winter Candy Apple would smell nice, but this soap sure didn't. Phew. I think it smelt better when I bought it, but once the air hit it, downhill it went. Good riddance.

Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Kitchen Lemon - This is likely one of the best smelling hand soaps that BBW has. I quite liked it in the kitchen, but I am over these chemical hand soaps so I will not replace it.

Tony Moly BBO BBO Lip Balm in Honey - I remember when this was all the rage! Now Sephora doesn't even sell this brand. Product was ok but doesn't compare to Bite Beauty's Agave Lip Mask of the past, not present. I decided to use this up and get rid of it.

Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Power Serum - I used to swear by this stuff and I still do to some extent. It is a fabulous product, I've just really started to love Drunk Elephant and I find it does a great job for me anyway. I have another small tube of this and I will repurchase though as I like using it at night.

Shiseido Facia Cotton - I can't go back to regular cotton pads after using these the last couple of years. Worth every damn penny.

MAC Painterly Paint Pot - Another one done. Already repurchased. A definite cannot live without item.

Living Proof frizz humidity shield - This was hands down the most useless hair product that I have ever used. It did nada to my hair when I sprayed it. Did nothing to tame frizz. It was like spraying air into my hair. One day I got mad and sprayed all that was left in the can onto my hair. No difference. Total garbage and I normally really like Living Proof products.

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream - This moisturizer makes my skin glow. It is not the most moisturizing cream in the world, but when you add in some DE Marula Oil and it doesn't get much better than that! Already repurchased.

Leanne Grace Blissful Body Butter in Vanilla Rose - I have another couple of jars of this cream that I am trying to use up. This product is a good moisturizer but it smells like baby powder and it's a bit pasty. My husband, as I think I have mentioned before, says it smells like baby powder too and I didn't even ask him what it smells like! I've mentioned too that I had issues with 2 shipments arriving smashed, but the company did make it right. I am not convinced it wouldn't arrive smashed the 3rd time if I reordered as it is not packaged well. The shipping costs to Canada are very expensive and the powdery smell and feel turns me off a bit.

Belif The True Cream - Moisturizing Bomb - Review

I got a 10ml sample of this from Sephora (I stole the picture from them as well above). I decided to try it several weeks ago at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown. The first thing I noticed was how incredibly soft and moisturized my skin was after I put this on. My skin felt very luxurious with this on. Also, almost instantly, my skin looked fantastic - it was like imperfections were blurred and I was not expecting that!

When I awoke the next morning, my skin still felt extremely hydrated and like silk. I was wowed. I was tempted to open up my Sephora App and make the full-sized purchase. Since I have a ton of moisturizer around at the moment (I had just restocked several of my Drunk Elephant faves) I held off on rushing to order.

Later that same day, I noticed my skin was starting to feel a bit itchy and tender. That passed quickly and then I started to get little bumps. Within a few hours of this, I broke out like crazy with cystic acne, the likes of which I hadn't experienced in years! Since it was that time of month nearly upon me, I chalked it up to stress from the recent lockdown coupled with hormones.

Since my skin was not happy, I went back to my Drunk Elephant products and my skin recovered within a few days. Fast forward a few weeks and I decided to try my Belif sample again. As if I was in the movie Groundhog, the same thing happened. Put it on, skin felt amazing, looked amazing, woke up the next morning, skin looked and felt fabulous and then a few hours later irritated skin, small bumps, cystic acne breakout. It was not near that time of the month. So it was the face cream. I won't make that mistake again.

It is clear from the online reviews that people either think this is their holy grail or they had my experience. I should have googled first, but it was only a sample....If you have dry skin which is not sensitive, this may be the best cream you have tried! I'm sure for some people, this is a fantastic product for them. I would caution those who haven't tried this to get a sample first, maybe test a small area before you put it all over your face. If you have sensitive skin, just pass. Maybe I and others are allergic to something in it? Don't know but it was not good for me.

The product sells at Sephora for $50 Canadian for 50ml.