Trash Stash: March 2017

~ stashy

It’s April already! Did anyone get pranked on April Fools Day? 😛 Mine was uneventful.  Here are the empties that March yielded:

I got a bit nervous at around mid-March since I didn’t have a lot of empties in my bag but it seems at the tail-end of the month, I was able to use up a bunch. 🙂

Skincare


Antipodes Vanilla Pod Day Cream – $55 for 60ml

This jar lasted me a while and I enjoyed every minute of it. I reviewed this product here. Toward the end I used a little cosmetic scoop to reach the bottom of the jar which made me realize just how small amount is required each time. I originally found this at Winners for $17 but I would pay full price for this cream.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Yes

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid – $29 USD for 118ml
I’ve been using Paula’s Choice BHA and AHA liquids for years and have always found them to be effective and affordable. However lately, the affordability of the products are lessening due to price increases and our poor exchange rate. This $29 USD bottle converts to almost $39 CAD for me now. I recently purchased the CosRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid which I got for $16 USD (C$21) and I’ve heard that people found it more effective than Paula’s Choice.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes, depending on how I get on with CosRX 😉

Etival Ener-C Vitamin C Brightening Serum – $30 for 30ml
This is Shoppers Drug Mart’s own brand of skincare, which replaced their old line called Dermavive. This is an opaque white creamy lotion type of serum which isn’t what I’m typically used to. It has a light citrus scent which was uplifting. As far as brightening claims, I didn’t really notice much result. It was hydrating and created a nice base for my makeup. But it did sting the skin amount my nose though. I really like the packaging of this – a sanitary vaccum pump that dispensed the perfect amount in one pump. But, I was surprised how quickly this got used up – 4 weeks and it was gone. I bought it for 40% off so it wasn’t too bad.
Stash worthiness: 6/10     Repurchase: Maybe

Kose Pure UV Cut Collagen SPF 17 – $7 for 3.3g
I bought this lip balm off Sasa and have had it for years – I keep using it on and off but since it contains SPF that’s past its prime, I decided to stop using it. The SPF didn’t leave a white cast, which was good. But I don’t find the lip balm to last well on the lips – and it has a light floral scent which is odd for a lip product.
Stash worthiness: 5/10     Repurchase: No

Dewytree Ceramide Nutrition Solution Mask Sheet – $3 each
I’m quite impressed with this! The packaging reminds me a bit of the Leaders Insolution mask with the medical looking theme. The mask itself is also similar – the material is very thin and molded to my face extremely well. The solution is a bit slimy but it helped the mask adhere to my face. The mask holes all align to my face holes. XD There is a slight tingle to this mask which I wasn’t expecting – it subsided after about 5 minutes. The results from this mask was fantastic – the next morning my skin was smooth and looked radiant.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

The Face Shop Real Nature Rice Sheet Mask – $3 each
These are my go-to inexpensive sheet masks when I want a quick fix. They fit my face well, have a good amount of serum and deliver a nice dose of moisture – nothing fancy. But now that I’ve found the Etude House 0.2 Therapy Air Masks, which are much better than these and cost less, I don’t think I’ll be buying these as much.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Maybe

The Face Shop Myeonghan Miindo Yul Sibigyeongrak Lifting Mask – $8 each
This is a 2 pc sheet mask with a top portion (think Phantom of the Opera) and a bottom portion. This makes it easier to apply, plus, if I pull the chin portion up, it creates a lifting action. 😉 There’s a slight medicinal smell to this mask but not strong. The paper on this mask is THICK – probably the thickest I’ve used so far. I was worried this would cause the mask to not adhere to the face well, but whatever serum they used kept this suctioned to my skin like glue. There was a mild tingle which started after a few minutes and was constant throughout the 30 minutes I kept this mask on. When I removed the mask, my face (especially my cheeks) were a bit pink but not irritated. The next day my face was super smooth. This is one of TFS’s premium masks so it is more costly.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Maybe

I took a picture before I used them all up.

3M Nexcare Acne Absorbing Covers – $12 for 36 pcs
These are hydrocolloid bandages that suck out the gunk from blemishes. I ordered these off Amazon and initially didn’t think they worked – turns out they only work once a pimple has burst (yucky and satisfying at the same time!) so there’s a “path” for the gunk to extract from. 😮 These definitely help blemishes heal faster and the skin looks flatter the very next day. I put these on my favourites list recently. The patches come in 2 sizes but I wish they were all the larger size. I find the smaller ones sometimes pop off while I’m sleeping… I’ve found them on my pillow, on another part of my face (LOL), or stuck to my night gown. XD I’m giving the CosRX version a try next.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Maybe

Delon+ Premium Cotton Rounds – approx $1.60 for 100 count
Another bag bites the dust. I’ve been going through these faster lately because of using the BHA liquid nightly.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

Makeup


Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Concealer in Light – $13 for 6ml
My favourite drugstore concealer! But I got a wonky tube. Just look at the hot mess:

It all started with a crack around the maroon part and then I wasn’t able to dispense any more product when I twisted the tube. So I took it upon myself to pull the stopper out. But it turns out you can’t put it back in without the product oozing out the top out the sponge. 😳  I’m not too mad since I’ve gone through quite a few of these tubes and this is the first dud. I got through about 60% of this. The concealer itself is fantastic (pigmented, blendable, long lasting) although I find the colour selection to be lacking – I usually have to mix Light or Neutralizer with Medium to get my match. See this in action in my Maybelline concealer overview.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

Covergirl + Olay Concealer Balm in in fair / light 320 – £13.95 for 75g
I wasn’t sure if this belonged here or in my upcoming makeup declutter / purge post. But my rationale is that this is something that I use regularly, not a neglected item that I need to get rid of. For the past couple of years I’ve been using this concealer nearly daily as my brow bone primer / highlight – I don’t find it to be long lasting or pigmented enough to do “real” concealing (you can see this swatched here). Sadly, this concealer is drying out and not emollient like it used to be and I’ve noticed it tugs at my skin now. This tube was about 85% used. This product is now discontinued.
Stash worthiness: 6/10     Repurchase: No

Daiso Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown – $3
I got this either in San Fran or Vancouver – I took a risk in buying this plus the corresponding refills. Thank goodness I ended up liking this brow pencil. It’s slightly on the waxy side but I set it with face powder and it lasts all day.  The colour is a touch on the warm side of brown – I typically like taupey or greyish browns – but this isn’t orange. For such an inexpensive product, it’s really well-made – the casing is metal and the other end holds a spoolie.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Yes

Prestige Cosmetics Primed and Ready Eye Primer – $12 for 15ml
This is my favourite drugstore eyelid primer. Unfortunately, Prestige all but disappeared from Canadian drugstores.  To me, this is similar to the Too Faced Shadow Insurance in its performance – it also suffers from the same issues – it has a tendency to separate inside the tube over time. So if you’re not fond of the TFSI, then this may not work for you. For reference, other eyelid primers that work well for me are the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer and the Nars Pro-Prime Eyeshadow Base.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

Body Care


Steam Cream – £13.95 for 75g
I’ve owned another tin of this before in another design and wasn’t a huge fan of it. It smells too strongly of lavender and I didn’t find it that hydrating. It’s quite expensive for what it is.

(and ha, mine expired in 2014! It smelled and worked just fine – yay parabens!)

Stash worthiness: 5/10     Repurchase: No

Bath and Body Works Black Currant Vanilla Sugar Scrub – $18 for 368g

I did not care for this scrub. The granules are much too course and rough on my skin. The scent of this is also overpoweringly musky and heavy – I was hoping for a more fruity sweet scent (unfortunately I wasn’t able to smell it in advance as it was sealed with foil – one of the few items at BBW that is sealed like that! Most other products are wide open for people to dig their grubby hands in even though there is clearly a tester available! >:D #rant)

This scrub is also very oily – look at the layer of oil left over after I used up the scrub (first 2 ingredients are sugar and mineral oil). It left a greasy film in the bathtub so every time I used this, I had to immediately clean the tub to prevent a slip and fall accident. The only good thing is that it did left my skin very well hydrated and I didn’t need to moisturize after I got out of the shower. Thankfully, I got this at the 75% clearance sale so it wasn’t expensive. This tub lasted me about 6 uses.
Stash worthiness: 2/10     Repurchase: No

LUSH Refresher Shower Jelly – $7.95 for 100g
I love these shower jellies! What I do with these is break off little bits (about the size of a grape) and put into a mesh foaming net (like this one from MUJI). The foaming net prevents the jelly from falling down in the shower, and when I rub the netting, the jelly foams up (I do not use the net to actually wash my body).  I’m a rebel, I used this 2 weeks past its prime. 😉

This is how the product looked before I used it up. 🙂

I found this Refresher jelly to be firmer than the Bunny version I had before. This tub lasted me almost 2 months.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

Hair Care


Lee Stafford Coco Loco Blow & Go Genius Lotion – £6.99 for 100ml
I won this from Rachael’s giveaway and it is amazing! It provides good volume but doesn’t weigh my hair down. This was on my favourites list last year and I have been using it sparingly for the past few months since I’m not able to buy this locally. But all good things must come to an end…
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes, somehow

Clear Intense Hydration Deep Hydrating Treatment Mask – $8 for 177ml
This is my favourite hydrating mask for the winter months when the scalp around my hair line becomes dry and flaky. It relieves the tightness but doesn’t cause my hair to go limp. I fear this might be discontinued as I’ve not seen this in stores any more!
Stash worthiness: 10/10     Repurchase: Yes

Sample / Travel Size


Biotherm Biosource Instant Hydration Toning Lotion – really enjoyed this alcohol-free toner and of course, it’s no longer available. 😦 I would be tempted to try the version they have now – I bet it’s the same thing but repackaged.

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet – I used this in my t-zone in the evenings and liked how hydrating it is without the greasy feeling. This sample lasted me a week and I would consider purchasing the full size.

Fekkai Shea Butter Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner – This is very nice! It leaves my hair quite bouncy and smelling like I just left an expensive salon. I have a stash of another 5 packs of these so expect to see more of them in future Trash Stash posts. 😉

Pantene Dry Defy Shampoo and Conditioner – this was just ok. It didn’t do anything noticeably different to my hair but I was glad it didn’t weigh it down. This lasted me 2 shampoos and 4 conditionings.

Mary Kay Timewise Microdermabrasion Step 1: Refine – I’ve tried this before and it still feels like using tiny shards of glass to scrub my face. I’ve learned to use a lot less pressure when using this but it’s still not my favourite.

Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Moisture Lotion SPF 30 – this is way too greasy for me! I used it for a few days and gave up.  At least it didn’t break me out.

Mary Kay Simply Cotton Body Lotion – I’m not a fan of cotton-y scents so I didn’t like how this smelled. The lotion itself is fine.

Burt’s Bees Shea Butter Hand Repair Creme – this is super greasy and smells medicinal. I used it only at night and on my feet.

Asprey Purple Water Shower Gel and Body Lotion – I pilfered these from the Ritz-Carlton when we stayed overnight back in February. I love the scent (ginger and citrus) and just googled it to see where I might buy these – turns out it’s a house brand of the Ritz-Carlton and they sell these items, how interesting.

Shine by Bliss Labs Mandarin & Mint Shampoo – another pilfered hotel item (I think from the W Hotel?). I like it enough but wouldn’t seek it out to purchase.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara – I’ve used this before in another sample and I quite like it. It provides great volume and length. The only issue is that it smudges under my eyes and flakes.

Skin79 Super+ Beblesh Balm Bb Cream Triple Function SPF25 PA++ – this is the original “hot pink” version and was my HG BB cream before I found the Charmzone BB cream. Now I’m reminded of how great the Skin79 is – it creates a natural finish with great coverage and lasting power.

Tally for March: 18 full sized items and 12 sample size items, for a total of 30 empties. Phew!  Just one short of my target of one per day. 😛  What have you used up last month?

74 thoughts on “Trash Stash: March 2017”

  2. Prestige also disappeared from UK stores, it used to be carried in Boots and one day it vanished, I used to love their liners, both lip and eye so it’s a shame they disappeared!
    Similar to you, I have a floral EOS balm I think it’s honeysuckle and I just don’t reach for it cause the floralness on my lips I find bizarre!
    Totally has that mini keying thing of B.B. Cream years ago when the bb trend took off, seem to remember liking it but haven’t tried it since!
    If you need a blow (and go) dealer, let me know. I have contacts haha

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    2. Yes, Prestige liners are some of the BEST. I have a ton of them! I stocked up on a bunch of their lip liners for $2 when they were cleared out.
      Floral scents and lip products just don’t go together…
      Haha besides being a Palette Pusher, you’re also my Blow (and Go) Dealer! XD

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  4. Love Refresher shower jelly. So fresh smelling. The medical looking face mask looks very interesting☺ Also the acne absorbimg covers. Probably gross but I love anything that sucks out the bad stuff from skin x

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    1. Yes no one wants to think about blemishes but it’s good to know what works! These days I try not to spend too much on sheet masks but some of the premium ones do feel very luxurious! 🙂 I saw that LUSH released a FACE jelly for Easter? It’s a bunny head! But no body jellies for Easter like they did for last year.

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  8. Prestige disappeared from Ulta last year. You can still find them on their website though. Ulta just stopped carrying Palladio too but I can still get them at Sally Beauty.

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  9. You finish more in one month than I do in half a year!

    I love that Maybelline Age Rewind concealer. I just wish you could test them out in stores, because I never know which one to get!

    The BBW Black Currant Vanilla Sugar Scrub sounds like it would smell amazing…it’s really too bad that it’s not fruity, which is how I would have envisioned it! Also eughk, all that oil looks like a hot mess…

    The Lush shower jellies are still on my list of things to try! Do you think they would work well with a loofah?

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    1. Yes I think the LUSH shower jelly would work with a loofah if there’s a hole or compartment to keep the jelly so it doesn’t just fall off / out?

      I really wish Maybelline Age Rewind would expand their colour range! It’s their ploy to make me buy 2 shades and have to mix. 😛 What under eye concealer are you using at the moment?

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        1. I’m using the Nars too but it’s too dark for me on its own right now so I’ve been mixing the Maybelline Age Rewind in Light. I’ve still got a few other concealers on the go including the Too Faced Born This Way and a Shiseido one… 😛

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            1. My friend and I both got Born This Way and we both felt it wasn’t enough coverage and it doesn’t last through the day.
              The Tarte Tape Shape is so tempting but I’ve heard mixed reviews – that it’s cakey and heavy looking. I just wished we could test it in person.

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  10. I’ve heard amazing things about that Maybelline concealer! It’s really hard for me to find a drugstore concealer that actually conceals my dark circles but I’ve been seriously considering this one! Thanks for the insight on it!

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    1. Definitely give the Maybelline a try – it’s been a favourite of mine for years. I have yet to find something at the drugstore level with such good coverage and longevity!

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  11. I’m on the verge of running out of several products at the same time. There is a shower gel that is almost gone, body butter that is on its last legs and some skincare items that I’m going to have to rotate out very soon.

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    1. That happens to me often too – usually my skincare will all run out at the same time. I need to break the cycle!
      Are you rotating out skincare due to the weather change?

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      1. I always use up whatever I’m using first then switch things out. But my skin is dehydrated and sensitive year round so not much changes with the seasons. I mostly become oilier in my t-zone in the summer but that’s nothing a primer and powder can’t control.

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        1. Makes sense. My t-zone is oilier too. I do typically switch out Winter vs Summer skincare since the temperature here shifts wildly. We have -30C in Winter and +40C in Summer! 😮

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          1. I hate leaving products without using them up. I feel you might as well throw skincare out after nog using is for 6 months. Not very hygienic to go back to it, so I make a point of using it up before I switch it out.

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    1. Makeup is always difficult to finish up so kudos to you! Doesn’t it feel so satisfying? Of course, now you have an excuse to go shopping to replace them! 😉

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  15. Woot! 30 items! Not bad!

    I’ve been wanting to try the shower jelly from Lush. I’ll admit I only recently started shopping at lush 2 months ago- can’t believe all the amazing bath things I’ve been missing out on. So I grabbed one of their catalog to look into some items and the shower jelly is definitely on my must try list – that and I’m trying to decide on a face cream.

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  17. The Paula’s Choice BHA liquid is on my list of skincare items I want to try. This exchange rate is really getting on my nerve lol but alas, you can’t win them all I suppose lol

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    1. I am testing the CosRX BHA now – it’s cheaper and might replace the Paula’s Choice for me! Review to come…
      The exchange rate has stopped me from ordering online as much… that’s that positive effect! 😉

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  18. My April Fools was uneventful too. I woke up scoured the newspaper for fake articles but those articles were way too obvious. Even I’m not that silly :p
    I like that concealer too Stashy! The Clear Hair Mask is something I haven’t seen around here but I did like the Clear shampoo range.

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    1. Yeah none of the pranks were that good this year. I think it’s because April Fools fell on a Saturday?
      The Maybelline concealer is so good, isn’t it? I just wish there was better colour selection.
      I haven’t actually tried the Clear shampoo – I will try it!

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  19. That Daiso brow pencil is a surprise! I’ve never bought any cosmetics from them before. Good to know that it was decent!

    I have got to try those acne patch. Totally intriguing stuff~~ I normally pierce and squeeze mine to speed up process *LOL*

    That was a LOT of empties!! I’m so overwhelmed and impressed by the variety that’s in your empties!

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    1. I was surprised and pleased about that Daiso brow pencil! 😛 I hauled a couple more brow pencils when I was in Japan.
      The acne patch is really effective – it’s another arsenal for me to get rid of blemishes when they pop up. You do need to pierce and “relief” the white stuff. Then you slap the acne patch on to suck anything left over… 😛

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  20. You always have the most interesting empties posts – I’ve never seen nor heard of 1/2 of the products you’ve used up (and I like that!).

    I have the hand cream in that B&BW scent and I agree – it’s pretty strong. I do like it but there’s no way I could use it regularly so I keep it in a guest bathroom.

    I also just finished up that Maybelline concealer today – I thought I had a lot more left because of how the packaging looks once it gets to the bottom – damnit!

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    1. Yeah the Maybelline concealer is tricky – it looks like there’s something inside but you keep clicking and nothing comes out…

      Haha funny you keep the stinky scented stuff in the guest bathroom… kind of how I like to use stinky creams for my feet.

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    1. Do you notice that your skincare run out all at the same time? It’s like a cycle…
      I love how cute that Dewytree sheet mask is – so much effort into just the packaging.

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  22. I totally laughed when you were talking about the 3M Nexcare Acne Absorbing Covers and how they get stuck on another part of your face while you’re sleeping hahaha. They sound interesting, I am always intrigued by products that are designed to suck gunk out of your face!

    I’m due to do an Empties post soon as my junk box is filling up again!

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    1. They really do work but you have to super careful when applying them – make sure your skin is dry and does not have any skincare on it (I will often dab a bit of rubbing alcohol just to be sure).
      Looking forward to seeing your empties post!

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