Products I've Used Up // February

Over the past few months I only did Products-I've-Used-Up posts every two months so I could talk about more products in one blog post. That worked out fine at first but the latest blog posts just got too long because there were too many products to talk about. That is why now I have simply decided to do them whenever I have accumulated enough empty products to write about. That might make them a little irregular but that is just they way I will go about it for the next few months to test it out.

XX by Mexx Perfume Wild: Wild is the perfume of my teenage years. I believe this is my second bottle but I have not used this perfume in years because I was scared to use it up. It is no longer available in stores and so I am very sad I cannot repurchase it anymore. There is a little bit of perfume still left in the bottle but it has sadly gone sour (which is no surprise considering how old this bottle of perfume is).

Schupp Shower Gel & Shampoo Happy Holidays!: This shower gel is very out of season now and I am sure I would have enjoyed a lot more would I have used it in December. I never used it as a shampoo so I cannot say how it would have preformed as such but I rather liked it as a shower gel.
Garnier Fructies Hair Mask Oil Repair 3: This used to be my favorite hair mask. I still love the way it moisturizes my hair but since I found out it contained hormonal substances I decided to not repurchase it again.

deep steep Argan Oil Sugar Scrub Peppermint Vanilla: This was the strongest peppermint scent I have ever experienced in a product. The scent but also the scrub itself was very intense. This is the first deep steep product I ever used but I would like to try some more of their products.

 

alverde Clear Face Scrub & Mask: I do not like throwing away products that I have not used up this face scrub / mask has been sitting on my shelves for too long now. It has sadly expired before I could finish it. In the beginning I used to really like this mask but as my skin got dryer and dryer it just no longer fit my skin type. I also happened to discover another face scrub by alverde that I now use instead.

ISANA Limited Edition Heart Warmth Bathing Pearls:This is one of the few bath products I really did not like. The scent of the water when I used these bath pearls was not strong but what little I could smell I did not like. It did not do anything special for my skin and overall I just did not enjoy this product.

 

ISANA Nail Polish Remover: Considering how much I change up the nail polish I wear I would think I would use up nail polish remover more regularly but it actually takes quite some time for me to do that. This is my favorite nail polish remover. It works well, it is not expensive and it does not smell too bad.

How often do you check the products in your collection for their expiration date?

How often do you have to throw out products before you can use them up? 

Products I've Used Up // January

A few months ago I decided to do Products I've Used Up posts every other month instead of once a month. Now I am starting to think maybe that wasn't such a good idea. This is a rather long posts about a lot of products and next time I am going to try and keep it shorter. Also, I have had to use new software to work on my images and I am not quite happy with it yet. It just takes time to figure all that out.

Carmex Classic Moisturizing Lip Balm: This is the most effective lip balm I have ever used. It helps with dry, chapped lips and it looks like a simple, clear lip gloss when you apply it. I have already repurchased this lip balm and I will probably do it again when I use up the next tube.

alverde Face Scrub with Apricot & Calendula for every skin type: I just wrote a review of this product that I will link here: click. Overall I really liked this face scrub and I already repurchased it.

alverde Eye Creme for every skin type: I have generally dry skin but the area around my eyes is especially sensitive. The eye creme that works best for me is this one by alverde. The company does do eye cremes especially made for dry skin but I still like this one the best. It is very moisturizing and sinks in quickly. The creme also does not irritate my skin and it is one of the most affordable eye creme I could find in the drugstore.

alverde Body Butter Macadamia Nut for very dry skin & alverde Limited Edition Fairy Tale Forest Body Butter Snow White: This is the most lovely body moisturizer I have ever used. I do not like the scent of macadamia nuts but I still loved this body butter. The Snow White body butter that was part of a limited edition miniature body butter set smells like apples. I usually like that scent but there is something sour about that scent that I do not like. It is my least favorite scent from the set but I am still very happy with the product. Alverde body butters are the most moisturizing but also the quickest body products to sink into the skin. On top of that Alverde body butters are usually vegan which is a great plus.

 

ISANA Creme Shower Limited Edition Forbidden Apple: This the best shower gel I have used in a while. The combination of apple and caramel is just lovely and I am looking forward to repurchasing this.

Fa Limited Edition Winter Love Blueberry Dream Shower Creme: This is a really long name for a simple shower gel. I liked the scent and I liked the overall product but I do not remember it as anything special. The one thing I really did not like was the packaging - it just looks a little cheap.

Guhl Deep Repair Conditioner: This is already my second bottle of this conditioner. I feel like I used up this product a lot quicker than I usually do but maybe I am just imagining that. I have dry hair and this conditioner takes great care of that. It also makes my hair a lot easier to brush through than if I do not use any conditioner on it.

Schwarzkopf Schmusekatze Anti-Frizz Lotion: I have been using this product for years. That in itself should tell you how much I like this lotion. The only reason I did not repurchase this product and will not recommend it anymore is that there are hormonal substances contained in it. I personally try to avoid those substances which is why I no longer want to use this product. I luckily happened to use the product up right when I found out about the hormonal substances so none of it will go to waste.

Dresdner Essenz Limited Edition Winter Magic Bath: I love taking baths in the winter time. This product had a wonderful apple caramel scent but it does not translate that well to the water. I would like the scent to be more intense but other than that I really liked this product.

 

essence Colour & Go Nail Polish 146 that's what I mint!: This was a very on trend nail polish a few years ago - a dupe for a more expensive essie nail polish. I try do go through all of my nail polishes at least once a year so I can sort out the once that have gone bad or maybe rediscover an old favorite. This is one of the polishes that has gone bad. The polish has separated and the consistency is simply no longer the same. I still really like the color but if you are looking for a similar polish I would recommend the Maybelline Super Stay Forever Strong Gel Nail Color 615 Mint for Life.

Garnier Eye-Make-Up Remover & Balea Shaving Gel Limited Edition Oriental Flower: Both of these products are regulars in my Products I've Used Up posts. I have repurchased them both multiple times and will probably do that again soon. There are different scents available of the Balea shaving gel and I personally prefer other scents to this floral one. The scent is just to heavy for my taste but that is simply a question of preference.

What products did you use up this month?

Products I've Used Up // November

It is hard to believe it is already December - time is flying by. I have not been that active on this blog in the past month because on one hand I had a lot to do but on the other hand I did not really know what to write about. This is one of the posts that is pretty much a given. There are always products I have used up and now it is time to talk about those.

Garnier Eye-Make-Up Remover 2in1: My eyes are getting more and more sensitive and this is one of the few products that still work well with my skin. It works well and is gentle to the skin.

Catrice Glam & Doll Volume Mascara Waterproof: This is by far my favorite mascara. It gives length and volume to the lashes and holds a curl all day.

essence Lash & Brow Clear Mascara: Sorry for how this look but that is just what happens with brow gel in a clear packaging. It just starts to look dirty. Aside form that I really like this brow gel. It works well and it is rather inexpensive.

Catrice Liquid Camouflage Concealer 010 Porcelain: I have not actually used this product up completely. It may look full but there is not a lot of product left in there. I use concealer pretty much every time I wear make-up but I do not use a lot of it. I guess that is why it takes a long time for me to use up a concealer. Since this is such an old and well used concealer it is starting to dry up and it is simply time to throw it out.

the Body Shop Body Scrub Blueberry: I like the the Body Shop Body Scrubs but I have been using them for such a long time now that it is time for something new. If you have never tried these body scrubs I can highly recommend them. The exfoliate well while not drying out the skin (and the scnet selection is amazing).

essence the gel nail polish top coat: I can recommend every essence top coat I have ever tried but my favorite is still the essence better than gel nail top sealer which is why I did not repurchase this.

Nivea Intense Repair Shampoo: I wrote an entire review about this shampoo and the corresponding conditioner you can check out here: click.

alverde Shower Gel with Pomegramate & Ginger: When it comes to shower gel you would think that pretty much all of them work fine. Lately that has not been the case for me which is why this shower gel stands out to me right now as one of the best I ever used. The scent is intense and a truly original combination and the product is not drying out my skin.

dusch das Shower Gel Red Apple & Grenadine: This is the shower gel I was really disappointed by. The scent on the skin is just weird and not pleasant at all. The consistency is very slippery and it was not as moisturizing to the skin as other shower gels I have used. Overall I did not like this product and I will probably stay away form dusch das for a while.

What did products did you use up this autumn?

Drugstore Haul // November

When you put aside the Isana shower gel you could think I deliberately shop only for products that fit into my color scheme. This is quite a big haul to me but I am (again) proud I did not buy any make-items that I did not need.

ISANA Limited Edition Forbidden Apple Shower Gel: Apples are my favorite food and my favorite scent. Combine that with caramel and you made the perfect shower gel for me. I have such high hopes for this product (especially because I was really disappointed by the last apple-scented shower gel I used) because I liked the other Isana shower gels I tried before.

Fa Shower Creme Winter Love Blueberry Dream: First of all I do not like this packaging. I have never tried Fa shower gels but I know a lot of people that like them. The scent is really nice and wintry, so I am looking forward to trying this.

alverde Limited Edition Winter Love Shower Creme & Body Butter: This is one of the limited edition gift sets alverde just came out with. The body butter looks smaller but is just as big as the regular body butter by alverde. I love their body butter and was really excited about this limited edition. Even though there is a also a shower creme included in the gift set it is still more expensive than buying alverde's regular products. Since I do like alverde products very much and they are both vegan I am very excited about these new products. I still a have a few products to use u before I can start using these but I am looking forward to that.

alverde Limited Edition Fairy Tale Forest Body Butters Sleeping Beauty with Wild Rose, Cinderella with Pansy & Snowwhite with Apple: Well, I do have a lot of body butter back-ups now. This was another limited edition gift set by alverde where I like the packing less but I am just as excited about the products. I love the body butter by alverde and I am really excited about these new scents. Again this gift set is more expensive than the regular body butter but since this is a limited edition I think its fine.

Guhl Shampoo for Long Hair: I have not bought shampoo in so long it is a little surreal. I had a lot of back-ups I wanted to use up before I bought any new shampoos. Now I am all out of back-ups and it was time to get some new shampoo. Guhl is one of my favorite hair care brands and I don't think I ever tried a Guhl product I did not like. These products are a little more on the expensive side when it comes to drugstore hair care products but they do go on sale regularly in Rossmann so I just wait for that.

batiste Dry Shampoo for Brunettes: About a year ago I used dry shampoo on a regular basis and I do not really know why I stopped that. batiste dry shampoo works wonderfully with my hair but I have never tried this colored version. Let's hope this works with my hair just as well.

wellaflex Hairspray Frizz Control: I get all my hair spray recommendations from my best friend. Whenever I get ready at her place I use her hair spray and I am always happy with the results. I do not know how I always overlooked this special frizz control version of the hair spray I used to use anyways. The main reason I use hair spray is to control fizz and keep my hair in place so this works perfectly for me.

Garnier Eye-Make-Up Remover 2 in 1 Waterproof: This is probably my most repurchased drugstore item ever. I wear waterproof mascara and eyeliner and this is the best make-up remover to take it all off at the end of the day.

essence Lash & Brow Mascara: I only use this mascara as eyebrow gel. It works fine for me and it is really inexpensive. The only down side to this product is the clear packaging because it starts to look really dirty really quickly (as you will be able to see in my next Products I've Used Up post).

What did you buy from the drugstore this month?

Updated Skin Care Routine // Part I

It has been over a year since my last skin care post. There are things that have changed, products that are still the same and others that have been replaced. My skin is sensitive but there are not too many products that break me out. The biggest problem I have with my skin is how dry it can get and this is the skin care routine that helps me manage that.

In my everyday life I usually wear waterproof mascara and my favorite eye make-up remover is the Garnier Make-Up Remover 2 in 1 waterproof. It is gentle on the skin but at the same time it removes all my mascara. If I ever wear non-waterproof I use the Rival de Loop Clean & Care Oil Free Eye-Make-Up Remover which I have used for years before I started wearing waterproof mascara. I do not wear foundation or BB creme so I only use water to remove any make-up residue on my skin and no extra products. I have tried many eye cremes and my favorite - by far - is the alverde Eye Creme for every skin type. This has already been a part of my last skin care routine and I have talked about this in my Favorites 2014. It moisturizes well, sinks in quickly and does not irritate my skin or eyes. At night I also use an old favorite: Weleda Skin Food. If you have dry skin you should definitely give this product a try. It is the most moisturizing creme I know because the skin actually takes in the moisture and the creme does not just sit on your skin without sinking in. It does leave your skin feeling a little sticky which is why I only use it at night but it works really well.

Sometimes - when I feel like my skin needs it - I do like to use the alverde Apricot & Calendula Face Scrub for normal skin. To me it is the perfect mix of effective and gentle. Of course it does not give you perfect skin over night but it definitely has a positive effect on my skin. It helps my skin to clear out and gets rid of dry skin very gently. After that I use the Weleda Skin Food at night or the alverde Face Oil Wild Rose for dry skin in the day time.

If I did not wash my face or take a shower in the morning I still apply a moisturizer in the morning. It is either the Nivea Sun Anti-Age Moisturizer with SPF 50 in the summer or the alverde Teint Perfection Beauty Serum now that the sun is not out that much anymore. I would like the alverde Perfect Teint to have an SPF too so I am not sure if I am going to repurchase this again but I really do like the finish it leave on my skin.

Part II of my skin care routine will be coming up next week. I only realized how many different products I do actually use when I started writing this post so I decided to divide this up into two posts. Today I talked about what products I use on y face but next week I will talk about what else I do to take care of the rest of my skin.

What are your favorite skin care products?

Drugstore Haul // October

Can you believe it is already October? It is finally getting colder and autumn has definitely arrived. I love this time of the year. When it comes to drugstore products they often skip autumn and jump straight into winter and Christmas scents. I would prefer some actual autumn products that are maybe pumpkin-scented or something like that. Still, I love most of the new scents and I am excited to try these new products out. Some of them have nothing to do with autumn but I had to restock on some essentials as well.

dusch das Shower Gel Red Apple & Grenadine: I cannot believe I never noticed this in the shelves before! Apples are probably my favorite food and I love everything apple-scented. This apple and grenadine and it smells amazing. The only thing I already know I will not like about this is the color of the gel. Don't get me wrong, it looks pretty in the packaging but I do not like my shower gel to be red.

Guhl Deep Repair Conditioner: I repurchased this conditioner before I even used it up. I knew  I wanted to try another Guhl conditioner because I liked the last one I used so much. When I was in the store and debated about what to get I just decided to repurchase the one I loved so much. I still want to try other versions of this conditioner and I think the next shampoo I am going to buy will also be by Guhl.

Dresdner Essenz  Limited Edition Winter Magic Bath: This is a caramel and apple scented bath and it smells delicious. Dresdner Essenz came out with more Christmas scents and I am excited about pretty much all of them but it is a little too early for me for ginger bread and similar scents. I don't think I have ever tried Dresdner Essenz products but if I like this one I am definitely trying out more.

Dresdner Essenz Aroma-Creme Bath Pomegranate: Usually I add a little bubble bath when I use another bath salt or bath product that does not produce bubbles itself.  I really like pomegranate and I am looking forward to trying this product out.

alverde Body Butter Macadamia Nut: This used to be my favorite body butter ever and it still would be to this day if they had not changed their scent to one of the few things I really cannot stand. Every body butter or body lotion for dry skin in the drugstore is either made with sheabutter or macadamia nut and I really don't like those scents. Since I am beginning to run out of options I decided to go back to what I already know I love even if I dislike the scent.

Balea Shaving Gel Limited Edition Oriental Flower: I have talked about this shaving gel a million times but still wanted to include it because there is a new scent in the range! I am always excited about their new scents (even if I do have to admit it would be a more autumn or winter related) and the design is again amazing.

Yankee Candle Tart Spiced Orange: This scent reminds me so much of autumn and winter and cold weather and all those good things. I wanted to repurchase this tart last year but I could not find it anywhere. That is why I was even more excited when I spotted it in the shops.

Profissimo Apple Cinnamon Scented Tealights: When discovered these tealights in dm last week I was really excited about it because I have owned these before and did not think I would ever find these again. The scent is phenomenal (can you tell I like apple scented things?) and can fill up the whole room.

Garnier Eye-Make-Up Remover 2-in-1 Waterproof: With the change of the season I got back into wearing eye-make-up and liner and all this good stuff. That also means I have been using a lot more of this eye-make-up remover than I did in the summer time.

ebelin Polishing Nail File: When you wear nail polish for a long continues time and switch it out again and again your nails are going to suffer from that. Then you have to take better care of nails to keep them healthy. I find that filing my nails properly and taking care of them in that way makes a big difference. The nail polish goes on smoother and it lasts longer because there is no 'broken' nail under the polish and it can stick to a healthy, smooth nail that will make it last longer.

What did you shop for this month?