Project Use It Up

As much as I love trying something new, when it comes to beauty I’ve been putting a huge emphasis on loving and using up what I already have. Perhaps a bit of an obsession of mine as of late has been Project Use it Up or ‘Project Pan’; largely in part because it just feels good to finally finish a product you spent time researching and have invested in, and I love having that little bit of extra shelf space back when I’m finally done using up a product.

I have this habit of Marie Kondo-ing my house whenever I have a spare five minutes, and my beauty drawer is inevitably one of the first places I’ll look. This is large part because I always seem to have a bit of an overflow of products, and only one face to use them on. Plus, I can’t be the only person who feels that there’s a need to have ten similar red lipsticks in their beauty stash, right?

This is going to be a pretty long one (maybe grab a cup of tea and get ready to get cosy), so I thought I’d split this post up into three sections: To Use Up, Product Empties, and New Products.

TO USE UP

La Mer Treatment Lotion (also here)
It took me years to realise that I didn’t actually have oily skin, and that really, it’s mostly dehydrated and crying out for more moisture – something you can never have too much of, right? This is a high end skincare product but it’s become an integral part of my morning routine. It’s the first thing I apply to my complexion after washing my face and I love that it balances out my skin ad adds that extra hit of hydration. A little goes a long way too.

Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate
I’ve been using this serum from Lancome every morning for the last couple of months, and am slowly making my way to the bottom of the bottle. I love the soft silky texture that the serum has when applying it to my skin, and have noticed that my complexion has felt smoother as a result of using it consistently for the last few months. I’m pretty generous in my application; I’ll use a full dropper and sweep the product across my face and down the upper part of my neck. I’d love to repurchase this when it runs out, though I might opt for something a little more budget-friendly before I splurge on a back up.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (also here)
Where I like to use the Lancome serum in the morning, I reach for the cult classic Advanced Night Repair from Estee Lauder in the evening. I like to credit this product with helping to keep my skin looking youthful and feeling hydrated. That being said, it is eye-wateringly expensive, so I’m on the lookout for something that will give me similar results, without breaking the bank.

Avene Hydrance Aqua Gel-Creme
Living in such a humid and warm climate, I’ve really come to develop a huge love of gel moisturisers. The formulation feels cooling on my skin, and I find that this step stops me from looking too shiny as the day goes on. This gel-creme formula is really lightweight yet feels nourishing, and a little goes a long way.

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel (also here)
This was a bit of a splurge from our trip to the Maldives last year, though it has proven to be worth every single penny. It has a bit of a nostalgic element to it and makes me feel a little like I’m enjoying a spa day at my own home, and the scent of the cream is heavenly. This is great applied once a week, and leaves your skin feeling rejuvenated, and incredibly supple and soft.

Clinique Even Better Glow Foundation (also here)
I’ve been testing out a few different foundations this year, and somehow, I sort of *forgot* that I had this one tucked away in my beauty stash, so I’ve promptly pulled it back out into regular rotation. The formula has salicylic acid in it, so it fights against acne while making your complexion look radiant and dewy. I’d say the coverage is light to medium, depending on how much you apply, and overall I like the finish – your skin looks like skin.

Glossier Stretch Concealer
Probably the Glossier product I was most excited to try, and I have to admit that my enthusiasm for the stretch concealer has waned a bit. The formula is incredibly creamy, and while it literally does melt into your skin when applied – and it’s great for covering up blemishes – the formula stays a bit *wet* and is prone to creasing not long after application. I don’t have any other concealers to cover up blemishes and since this does a pretty good job of it, I’m making do for now.

Chanel Ombre Premiere in Undertone
This was one of those impulse purchases while waiting to board a flight to New Zealand, and I’m pretty glad I made the splurge. I really love using cream products, and was looking for something that would be a bit of a one-wash-wonder. I went for the shade Undertone which is a beautiful cool-toned taupe hue with a bit of shimmer to it – I love that as it adds dimension when applied to the eye. I use my fingers for application and find that the shadow is very easy to blend out, however if you have oily eyelids like me, you’ll need to start with some sort of eyeshadow primer first (this one from NARS is excellent). I don’t often tend to use up eyeshadows, but I’ve been reaching for this one daily and really want to make the most of it given it was quite a spendy beauty purchase.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo Eye Chrome
I talk a lot about having oily eyelids, and I was pretty thrilled when I realised that this eye chrome from Maybelline doesn’t budge once applied. It has a doe-foot applicator which is great for dabbing a small amount of product onto your lids, and I’d generally blend this out using my fingers. There’s a fair amount of glitter in this so it’s really the kind of product I think most would reach for when getting ready for a night out. I like my makeup products to be multi-taskers, so I’ve actually been using this as an eyeshadow primer (!!). And it’s really worked – it’s stopped my eyeshadows from slipping and creasing up throughout the day, and because the shade I have is such a light taupe shimmer, it’s not been visible underneath any of the shadows that I’ve been wearing.

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour (also here)
Granted, I’m almost all out of this contour stick, but it’s been my holy grail since I got it, and I’m a little at a loss as to what I should be trying next. The formula is highly blendable, and it’s so easy to apply. I draw this on wherever I’m after a bit of bronze – generally on the contour lines. I tend to find that cream products look a lot more natural on the skin, which is a huge part of why this has been such a winner for me.

Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil (also here)
I was inspired to buy this after attending a breakfast with Benefit. It had been on my radar, and after going to a brow session with the brand (who are total experts when it comes brows), this seemed like the perfect addition to my every day beauty stash. I really love that it comes with a spoolie attached, and the product itself is incredibly pigmented, so I go in with a light hand with this one. I actually picked this up a shade darker than I should have (I got the 5 when I should’ve bought the 4), which makes my brows look a little too bold if I go overboard. I’ll be opting for the lighter shade when it comes to picking up a replacement for this one.

YSL Vinyl Couture Mascara
I have a hard time finding a mascara that really works for me mostly because of how oily my eyelids get. Generally this means that if it isn’t waterproof, I’ll get smudging on my brow bone or along my lower lash line, so I’m always thrilled when I find a mascara that not only makes my lashes look great, but is smudge-proof too. And this mascara from YSL ticks all the boxes. It’s separating, lengthening, and it adds volume – everything you could want out of a mascara. I’d go as far as to say that this is one of my favourite mascaras to date, and I’ll definitely be repurchasing this when it runs out.

it Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Poreless Finish Powder
My make up routine tends to sit on the more minimal side, so applying powder generally feels a little bit like an unnecessary step. However, I pulled this out recently and was reminded of just how good this mattifying powder is. It dials back the shine without looking cakey, and wears well on the skin too.

Byredo EDP in Mojave Ghost (also here)
Perhaps one of my favourite scents in my perfume library, Mojave Ghost has some punchy and fresh notes of violet and sandalwood which I adore for spring-time. It’s a lighter fragrance – great for day-to-day this time of year – so I just need to remind myself to reach for this more.

O&M Style Guru Styling Cream
Maybe it’s just me, but I always find haircare products the hardest to get through – probably because I tend to draw out each wash to three or four days where I can. I use this styling cream once I’ve towel-dried my hair, prior to blowdrying, and I’ve found it helps to control frizz and smooth out my tresses.

PRODUCT EMPTIES

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm (also here)
One of my favourite products of the last 18 months has been this cleansing balm; the emollient texture breaks down make up effortlessly, it’s unscented, and I love the way that the product melts into your skin when it comes into contact with water. I originally was using this as a single cleanse, but later switched to a double cleanse, kicking off the two-step routine with this cleansing balm. Luke and I have gone through quite a few tubs of this product, and it’s one that I’ll definitely repurchase again.

Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator (also here)
I’m a huge fan of Clinique’s Moisture Surge Line, and this really was no exception. This is the latest iteration of their best-selling gel moisturiser, which promises to keep your skin hydrated for up to 72 hours post-application – and this is even after you’ve cleansed your face! I can’t say I properly tested the theory, but I will concede that it is an effective moisturiser, which doesn’t feel heavy on the skin, and dries down to a matte-like finish. I have found that it’s not ideal to apply powder product onto your face after using this though – the pigment tends to pick up in certain spots, and it can be very difficult to blend out and get a natural looking finish, particularly when using powder bronzer.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Another one of those splurge-worthy skincare items I purchased in the Maldives. This smells beautiful, and has a velvety texture which feels beautiful on the skin. I did find that this would break me out a little when using it during periods of high humidity, but it was a great winter moisturiser for me, leaving my skin feeling soft and hydrated.

The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA (also here)
The Ordinary is one of those brands which is straight to the point. The products do what they say on the tin, and nothing more, making it perfect for those who like a tailored approach to their skincare routine. I really enjoyed using this lightweight moisturiser, which is loaded with Hyaluronic Acid. It was effective, and didn’t break the bank either. If memory serves me, it came in at under $15!

Avene Hydrance Hydrating Serum (also here)
I went through this serum so quickly. My skin drank it up, and I was so impressed by the fact that it didn’t irritate my skin or make my eczema flare up – a risk I often take when testing out new (to me) beauty products. I used about four pumps of this morning and night, and generously applied it to my complexion. The product sunk into my skin very quickly and left my complexion feeling hydrated and smooth. While I’m not in need of any new skincare at the moment, this is currently on my wishlist to pick up again soon.

Glossier Super Bounce Hyaluronic Acid
I think we can all agree that Glossier is a pretty hyped up brand. And, I get the hype. The branding and marketing is cool, and the entire ethos behind their product range is focused on enhancing your natural beauty. I’ve tried quite a few things and this was probably one of the skincare bits I liked the most. It’s an effective hyaluronic acid, and I loved adding this into my am/pm routine whenever my skin was feeling a bit lacklustre and dry, to help pep it up a little. That being said, I probably won’t be repurchasing this anytime soon. With only 15ml of product, it’s very easy to quickly make your way through this, and I think that there are similar products out there which are as effective, but easier to get your hands on if you live in Australia like I do.

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (also here)
I’m yet to find a toner that is as effective as SK-II’s iconic Facial Treatment Essence. This gently exfoliates the skin, and really seemed to transform my complexion with consistent use. It helped keep acne and red spots at bay, and the size of my pores seemed visibly reduced. A must purchase, and something I’ll definitely be buying again.

Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo
I remember picking this up on a bit of a whim to stash in my travel beauty kit – it smells fresh, and didn’t leave a white cast on my hair, though I don’t recall it being the most effective dry shampoo I’ve tried. Probably not one I’ll be repurchasing soon.

Klorane Dry Shampoo
There are two dry shampoos that I tend to have on rotation: a can of your classic Batiste, and Klorane’s Dry Shampoo. I personally prefer this specially-formulated product for brunettes as it doesn’t leave a white cast in my hair, and I find the product easy to distribute and massage into my roots.

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NEW PRODUCTS

Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate (also here)
I’ve had this serum from Clinique for a couple of months now but have been waiting to get through some of my other skincare products before giving it a go. We might be heading towards summer here in Sydney, but despite having an oily complexion, I find that my skin is often in need of a big boost of hydration. The formula is a water-gel, so it’s cooling and light to the touch. Will report back when I’ve had a chance to use this one properly.

Pixi Glow Tonic (also here)
I first tried the Glow Tonic from Pixi a couple of years back, and it’s quickly stuck in my mind as a product I really enjoyed adding into my routine. In my opinion it’s pretty affordable, and I find that my skin clears up a lot when I’m using something like this to balance out my complexion on a regular basis.

Philosophy Purity Cleanser
This is my second time using the best-selling purity cleanser from Philosophy, and it has been a reminder of how much I enjoyed having this product in my routine. The formula is gentle yet strong enough to break down makeup in one step, and it leaves my skin feeling smooth and clean, but not stripped of moisture.

Hop & Cotton Skinshield
I really enjoyed using my personalised skincare routine from Hop & Cotton, and was pretty excited to see that they recently launched a sunscreen. This is a physical sunscreen with 21% zinc oxide, which deflects the sun’s rays before penetrating the skin. What this inevitably means is that there will be a slight white cast on the skin following application. I’ve generally combatted this by applying a small amount which I’ll then vigorously work into my skin. It does have a slight tacky feel to it which I think makes this a good option as a makeup primer, and I like that it’s loaded with antioxidants and is fragrance free.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (also here)
I’ve been out of my HG eyeshadow primer – the NARS Pro Prime Eyeshadow Primer – for well over a year now, and when I got the chance to try Urban Decay’s iconic Primer Potion, I figured it would be a good test. And, I’ll admit it… it’s completely won me over. It’s become a huge part of my day-to-day routine as it stops my eyeshadows from creasing – a huge win if you have oily eyelids like I do!

Clarins Joli Rouge Lipsticks
Clarins recently expanded their Joli Rouge line to include satin, shine and velvety-matte finishes, and I was very kindly sent a handful of the new lippies to try out. My favourite so far has been from the ‘brilliant’ range – Nude Brick – which is a beautiful nude YLBB shade, in an intensely moisturising formula with a sheer finish.

Urban Decay All Nighter Waterproof Setting Powder
After watching Urban Decay’s Global Makeup Artist Steve Kassajikian in action, I was pretty set on adding the All Nighter powder to my beauty stash. I’ve been using this to set my undereye area plus anywhere that I tend to get a bit of shine, and I have really like the effect. It has a slight bit of pigment to it, so it helps to add a touch more coverage and conceal any lingering sallowness you might have.

Urban Decay Beached Bronzer
It’s been a while since I’ve used a powder bronzer, but I’d heard really good things about Urban Decay’s Beached Bronzer (I have the shade ‘bronzed’), so figured I would give it a whirl. It’s a matte formula without any shimmer, which I personally tend to prefer from my powders, as it has more of a natural finish to it. I’d say pigmentation is medium; you can really build it up or you can apply it with a soft hand to get a more natural look.

Mugler EDT in Alien Flora Futura
I’ve yet to find a fragrance from Mugler that I haven’t loved, and Alien Flora Futura really is no exception. It’s very floral, which comes out in the notes of jasmine, while having undertones of the zesty citrus fruit, Buddha’s Hand. Those floral notes make this one perfect for spring.

So those are all the products I’m trying to get through – or have made my way through – for Project Use it Up. I’d love to know if you’re on a similar journey, and how you combat that urge to add shiny new beauty products to your stash.