Winter Empties!

Winter Empties: Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate, Murad Essential-C Cleanser, Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil, Milani 01 Moisturizing Almond Coco Moisture Lock Oil Infused Lip Treatment, Vichy Purete Thermal 3-in-1 One Step Cleansing Micellar Solution

Buying new beauty products is easy but finishing them is hard. Really hard. There’s always something new and shiny around the corner touting to be the best thing since sliced bread and every now and then (or almost always) we give in to see if it’s truly worth the hype. It’s a vicious cycle, man. I’m definitely guilty of loving one thing and then leaving it by the wayside when a shiny new product comes along to take its place. However, there are times that I tend to stick with a product ’til the very end because it’s just too damn good to be replaced. Those, my friends, are what we call holy grail products. They make you wonder, “How the heck have I ever lived my life without this stuff?” I’ve actually discovered quite a few holy grail products this year that I’ve managed to finish up (or put a serious dent in) before spring that I’m dying to share with you lovelies. Let’s get started, shall we?

Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate

Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate

Last summer, I decided to try my very first serum and I have to say that I picked a pretty darn good one. I fell for the Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate after feeling its magic on the back of my hand at the Lancome counter one day and decided it would make a great addition to my skincare routine. Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate is an airy gel serum that’s designed smooth the texture of skin while delivering a youthful radiance. Every morning and night, I applied the Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate after cleansing and toning and it left my skin feeling soft, lightly moisturized and radiant. Over time, I noticed that my fine lines were much less dry and my skin remained clear and even with natural glow that shined even without highlighter. I’m usually excited to finish a beauty product but coming to the last drop of Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate was almost heartbreaking because my skin loved it so much. Thanks to Ulta, I already have another serum to put in rotation but I have a strong feeling that I’m going to end up repurchasing the Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate in the future. I’m not too sure that I can go back to life without it!

Murad Essential-C Cleanser

Murad Essential-C Cleanser

The Murad Essential-C Cleanser quickly became my go to morning cleanser when I realized just how well it worked to help reverse the signs of sun damage on my skin and seriously even my skintone. The Essential-C Cleanser is packed with Vitamin C and power antioxidants to help protect skin from free radical damage while diminishing the appearance of dark spots and energizing the skin. I love using it every morning as it wakes up my tired skin with its fresh, crisp citrus scent and gentle bursting beads that leaves my skin feeling super clean but never stripped. In fact, my skin feels really soft after using the Essential-C Cleanser and it adds a bit of radiance too. This is actually the second travel tube of Essential-C Cleanser that I’ve gone through and I’ve already purchased the full size because I couldn’t bare to go a morning without it. The Murad Essential-C Cleanser is hands down one of the best cleansers I’ve ever used and will probably always remain a staple in my skincare routine.

Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil

Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil

Removing a full face of makeup after a long day can feel like a chore sometimes but the Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil made removing even the toughest of waterproof makeup a breeze. It’s an incredibly gentle cleanser formulated with a botanical blend of organic sunflower, olive and jojoba oils to melt makeup on contact and cleanse the skin without disrupting skin’s natural moisture barrier. I found myself reaching for Bobbi’s Soothing Cleansing Oil quite often on my lazy nights when sleeping in makeup wasn’t an option but I was too tired for traditional makeup removers. When applied dried, the Soothing Cleansing Oil acts as a makeup remover instantly breaking down makeup–no cotton pads needed. Then when you add water, it emulsifies into a milky cleanser that’s great for my dry skin. My favorite way to use the Soothing Cleansing Oil was as a “pre-cleanse” before following up with a gentle foaming cleanser. It kickstarted my obsession with double cleansing and showed me just how useful cleansing oils can be. Everyone needs to try Bobbi’s Soothing Cleansing Oil!

Milani 01 Moisturizing Almond Coco Moisture Lock Oil Infused Lip Treatment

Milani Moisturizing Almond Coco Moisture Lock Oil Infused Lip Treatment

Working long hours has led me to love liquid lipsticks even more as they last me pretty much all day. However, those liquid-to-matte formulas can really wreak havoc on my dry lips when I wear them back to back. That’s how I ended up almost demolishing the new Milani Moisturizing Almond Coco Moisture Lock Oil Infused Lip Treatment in less than a month. It’s a lip oil and lip balm in one that’s intensely hydrating (with a delicious scent ?) thanks to its blend of coconut, Tsubaki, avocado and jojoba oil. I’ve been using the Moisturizing Almond Coco Moisture Lock Oil Infused Lip Treatment religiously as a lip balm, lipstick topper and even an overnight treatment to keep my dry lips smooth, soft and flake free in the midst of my liquid lipstick addiction. At the moment, I still have a less than quarter left but I had to include the Moisturizing Almond Coco Moisture Lock Oil Infused Lip Treatment in my Winter Empties because I know I’m going to end up finishing it before spring hits. It’s just too good!

Vichy Purete Thermale 3-in-1 One Step Cleansing Micellar Solution

Vichy Pureté Thermale 3-in-1 Cleansing Micellar Solution

If the Vichy One Step Cleansing Micellar Solution looks familiar to you it’s probably because I’ve gone through about 3 bottles of the stuff. LOL! The Vichy One Step Cleansing Micellar Solution is a makeup remover, cleanser and gentle toner in one which is pretty much a lazy’s girls dream after a long day. I’ve used the One Step Cleansing Micellar Solution all 3 ways with great results which is probably why I run through the stuff like water. I’ve tried other micellar waters (like Simple) but some formulas just don’t cut it when it comes to mascara and waterproof eyeliner. The One Step Cleansing Micellar Solution gently removes it all without any stubborn tugging or pulling at my sensitive eyes plus it allows me to clean my face when I’m just too tired to hit the sink. I’ve used it plenty of nights to remove my makeup and cleanse without waking up to the typical nasty blemishes or annoying breakouts–proof that it’s good stuff. I’ve recently started using the Garnier SkinActive Micellar Water with great results but eventually I will end up grabbing another bottle of Vichy’s One Step Cleansing Micellar Solution because it’s more lightweight and allows my skin to breathe a little more. It’s a bit pricey for a drugstore buy ($17) but it’s well worth the extra coins!