January Empties

☑ Marcelle Essentials Purity Soothing Cleansing Water See my review here.

Repurchase? yes! This is my HG makeup remover!

What I'm currently using to replace it: Pond's Cold Cream*

☑ Nivea Visage Gentle Toner I don't really believe in toner, I don't know, it just seems like another useless step in my beauty routine. I mean, if you use a proper face cleanser, you wouldn't feel the need to use a toner, right? I prefer to use toner in the morning instead of washing my face with water - it's faster and it's gentler on my dry skin than water. I like the smell of this one, for some reasons it reminds me of baby powder, and it's very gentle on my skin.

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Marcelle AC-Solutions Anti-Imperfections Clarifying Lotion for acne-prone skin

☑ Glamour Gal Soap Petals with the essence of roses, violets, lavender & musk This is a useless and very annoying product - it did nothing for my skin, it smelled nothing and it was a mess to clean after as it stuck all over the tub!

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: other bath treats

☑ L'Oréal Paris Go 360° Clean Deep Exfoliating Scrub (sample 30 mL)* I don't like this, it's not abrasive enough and I think it's more of a cleanser than a scrub because it foams a lot and the beads disappear in seconds - everything I hate in a scrub!

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Burt's Bees Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub

☑ L'Oréal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara* See my review here.

Repurchase? no, first because L'Oréal tests on animals, but also because this mascara is far too dry for my taste.

What I'm currently using to replace it: Marcelle Power Volume Mascara

☑ e.l.f. Mechanical Eyelash Curler This is the only eyelash curler that I have tried that really works at curling my super straight lashes, but I hate, hate, hate how the metal top is so sharp that it always dig in the rubber pad, creating dents that pull off my precious eyelashes. Also, the stupid pad always falls off and, as if it wasn't enough, you can't purchase the rubber pad separately so you have to buy a new curler everytime which is not really a problem because it's only $1, but still, it's such a waste. Despite all of the bad things I pointed out, I still stick with this curler - do I really have a choice?

Repurchase? yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: e.l.f. Mechanical Eyelash Curler

☑ Passion Savon Mandarin Yoghurt Natural Handmade Soap See my review here.

Repurchase? no, there are many handmade soaps out there that smell better and that don't melt as quickly.

What I'm currently using to replace it: other Passion Savon soaps

☑ Vivaderm Daily Moisturizer See my review here.

Repurchase? yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: The Body Shop Shea Body Butter

☑ OLAY Regenerist Eye Touch of Concealer Eye Regenerating Cream (7 mL)* I really wanted to like this but honestly, I'm not sure it really works - I mean, it's too sheer to be used as a concealer and I don't feel it did something for my eyes either.

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: theBalm Time Balm in Light

☑ Burt's Bees Beeswax & Almond Milk Hand Creme (sample size) Because my job involves submerging my hands in the water and manipulating harsh chemicals a lot, I need to keep my eczema-prone hands moisturized so I keep sample-size hand creams in the pocket of my uniform. I really hate the texture of this hand cream, it's really thick and hard to spread on my hands, I guess it's because of the beeswax. It might be OK for night time but it tends to make my hands sticky during the day and that's annoying! Also, the scent isn't amazing and it's very strong.

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Burt's Bees Beeswax & Banana Hand Creme (sample size) 

☑ John Frieda Collection Frizz-Ease Heat Defeat Protective Styling Spray I'm not sure how you can say if a heat protection product really works or not but I guess as long as your hair is still healthy and not fried or damaged after regular heat styling, it does! This one smells fresh and fruity which I really like, and I also like the pump handle which makes it easier to dispense product.

Repurchase? yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: La Coupe Flat Iron Thermal Straightening Spray

☑ Taro Clobetasol Propionate Ointment USP 0.05% w/w This is basically topical corticosteroid, the strongest steroid I've been prescribed to use on my eczema, and the only thing that really works. I have to pay the price, however: this stuff is so strong that is has partly discolored my skin where I had patches of eczema - now I look like I don't know how to use fake tan, and that's not pretty. I've been told there's nothing I can do to have an even pigmentation again. F*ck my life.

Repurchase? I hope I won't have to...

What I'm currently using to replace it: other prescriptions for my eczema

☑ Clairol Natural Instincts Color Treat Color Conditioning Treatment* This is just your average conditioner that comes in a box of hair dye. This one is actually smaller than the ones I have used previously, but I guess it's because they include the Week 2 Color Refresher in the box as well. See my review of Clairol Natural Instincts Vibrant here.

Repurchase? no 

What I'm currently using to replace it: random hair dye conditiong treatment

 *These products are NOT cruelty-free