In this post I will go through all of the makeup and skincare items that I managed to use up sometime during the second half of 2025, July through December. 23 items in total and out of those nine were makeup products.

Categories not included in this bi-annual post are SPF/body/nails/hair. I also want to highlight some things about my skin that can be useful to know before reading my thoughts on these products. I’ve always had combination skin that is prone to dehydration. Due to ageing my skin is changing so I am slowly adjusting my routine to its evolving needs. I still get the occasional breakout and can get quite shiny during the day, but my skin is less oily and a bit more sensitive and textured now. I do not have any ingredient related allergies.

Cleansers

My current routine: I use a cream cleanser in the morning before skincare/makeup and then I use a balm cleanser as a makeup/sunscreen remover in the evening. A micellar water occasionally assists in the removal of makeup. Sometimes I double cleanse. I usually have a couple of cleansers in action at any given moment.

As mentioned in my last empties post I bought some Glow Recipe products because my tween daughter is interested in the brand and I have promised her she can play with my empties when I am done. The brand is not really appealing to me personally but it is always fun to try new stuff and it makes her happy, so here we are. Two products from the brand are in this post starting with the Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser (150 ml, 369 SEK). This cleanser was on the thicker side and I found it a tad difficult to get out of the tube. The cleanser has a very green fruity scent that reminded me of melon and it foams when used with water. It is marketed as makeup removing but not to be used around the eyes and for me that sort of defeats the purpose a little bit. I’m also not the biggest fan of foaming products in general so I used this one primarily in the shower, but only if I was makeup-free. It is for sure a nice cleanser that works well but just not for my personal preferences.

Continuing with a recurring staple, two bottles of Sensibio H2O makeup removing micellar water (250 ml, around 190 SEK) from Bioderma. I have been reaching for this a lot recently because I’ve been tired. Sometimes I use it to do a first cleansing round on my eyes and lips and sometimes I really cannot be bothered and use it all over my face as my only cleanser. I also use it to remove swatches from my hands and arms. This product works well for me and I have another bottle in use at this moment.

Then we have two jars of a cleanser I tried for the first time in 2025, the Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm by Dr. Althea (50 ml, 258 SEK). The balm is unscented and the jar has a grinding mechanism under the lid that dispenses product by twisting the top without having to dig into the product with fingers or a spatula. I enjoy that feature a lot and have been repurchasing this one since then.

I am currently using 2 different cleansing balms at the same time, but when I’m down to only this I will keep an eye out for how long a jar actually lasts. But I enjoy the balm itself, not only the packaging, and it is a pleasure to use. It removes makeup very well and I can use it on my eyes without problem.

Toners & mists

My current routine: I usually have a hydrating spray on hand that I use after cleansing, before serums. Sometimes I use a toner as a complement, either a hydrating one or an exfoliator. In the evenings I might finish with a more nourishing mist (with oils) as a last comforting step after hydration, but I do that very infrequently.

This is a lot of toners/mists for six months but a few of these have been in use for a very long time and I just focused on using them up before they expired. Normally there are one or two empties in this category per bi-annual post.

The big jar is my fist foray into toner pads. I picked the Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad (160 ml, 278 SEK) by Anua when I visited the Yeppo Soonsoo store in Gothenburg. I was recommended these when I asked for a mild exfoliator. It is described as soothing toner with gentle PHA-exfoliating ingredients. It does the job as intended, mild exfoliation without being harsh in any way. The pads can be used as a mask as well but I never did try that. I really enjoyed using this product and I can see myself repurchasing in the near future.

The Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist (75 ml, 379 SEK) from Glow Recipe was interesting to try since I’ve heard a lot about it online. I never considered it a product for me since it has glow in the name and I have a naturally glowy (read oily) skin. But as I mentioned this bottle will now be fun for my daughter to have so I took one for the team. I did like the mist, it was vey fine, and the scent is pleasant but not something I feel I need to experience again. Also I do not need glow in spray form. This product is probably a lovely mist for other people, simply not for me.

I tried the the Collagen Tonic by Pixi (250 ml, 299 SEK) for the first time in 2021 and have repurchased it relatively regularly since then. I still enjoy it as a hydrating toner patted into the skin morning and night. I might repurchase in the future but right now I have got a toner from another brand I am using instead.

The Daily Acid Toner (100 ml, around 400 SEK) by Josh Rosebrook took me many years to use up. Not sure it was in good condition at the end. This exfoliator never became a favourite due to the smell of the product. It is a clean beauty brand and the products simply smells like its ingredients, but I found it deterring. So I did not reach for it regularly enough to bond with it or notice its effects on my skin. It was a struggle to use up and in the end I used it to exfoliate my hands. Josh Rosebrook does not have a Swedish stockist at the moment but I have tried a few of their products over the years and my favourite is by far the Hydrating Accelerating Mist, I would repurchase that in a heartbeat. But this toner is a no for me.

Moving on to a new to me mist, the Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Cloudy Mist (120 ml, around 300 SEK) from Skin1004. It has a rather fine mist but I did not enjoy the feel of the product on my face. Felt like spraying myself with nothing. No positive feeling on my skin at all. It also smelled both like nothing and something at the same time. Very weird. I used it up but was not enjoying the process.

Then finally we have the Rose Glow Mist (80 ml, 249 SEK) by Pixi, another product that took ages to use up. This mist contains oils and I primarily used it as a last step in the evening when I felt I needed the extra layer of moisture. I have previously used the regular version of this mist (in 2021) and wanted to try the rose version when I ran out of my first bottle. I have enjoyed it, it’s a nice product, but I think it is unnecessary for me moving forward. It had a purpose for me a few years ago but my skin is different now and other products fulfil its needs.

Essence & serums

My current routine: I always use a hydrating serum morning/evening. I also dabble with more treatment focused serums but I’m more irregular with those.

This time there was only one empty serum and it is because I have multiples in rotation right now. This is my first bottle, but not my last, of the No.5+ Vitamin Concentrated Serum (30 ml, 358 SEK) from Numbuzin. I bought it for the vitamin C but is has a long list of other ingredients described as smoothing, brightening, moisturising and balancing without being irritating. The serum has a thicker texture and I find that on the days I use this I do not need to put much on top. Usually I just go in with sunscreen or if it’s in the evening I just use a little bit of a lighter moisturiser. I really enjoy this serum and I currently have another bottle in use.

Moisturisers & oils

My current routine: I vary the creams I use depending on the season and what my skin needs. A maturing combination skin that loves moisture but hates too many layers (products start to pill). For daytime my focus is hydration and spf that looks good under makeup and at night I might experiment a little bit more. I use oils sparingly but I like to have one on hand for facial massages or as an extra comforting layer when my skin needs it.

First up we have an eye cream and one I did not think was for me until I tried it. The Avocado Creamy Eye Treatment by Kiehls (7 ml, not available for purchase) was a mini that was part of a box set I picked up. I imagined this eye cream was for people with dry skin and that my skin would hate it but that was not the case. The thick cream worked best when I rubbed it between my fingers quickly before applying and then it applied beautifully. Really lovely and hydrating and it worked well under makeup. I have another eye cream in use right now that I really like but if I in the future thinks my under eyes need a bit more comforting moisture I will certainly consider purchasing this again.

The 147 Barrier Cream (50 ml, around 320 SEK) by Dr. Althea was another new to me product in 2025 and it is now a firm favourite. Initially I used it mainly in the evening as a final layer but it was also used in the daytime during the colder months. It did not make my skin feel greasy or anything, just a very elegant cream. I do have a new tube waiting for me in my cupboard, but I am focusing on using up a few other creams first.

Base makeup

The Perfect Hydrating Foundation (25 ml, around 100 SEK) by H&M was never in a perfect colour for me but it was neutral and sheer enough to be a good mixer with other (flawed) foundations. This is the shade 2N Light Neutral and I have since bought another shade (1W Cashew) that is a bit lighter and more yellow. I have not worn the new shade much though so opinions on that will come later. But, as I am checking out the H&M website to find the price of the product I realise it is no longer available. I’m not sad because I doubt the new shade will rock my world but I am always a bit annoyed when products are discontinued (unless they are really crap). I usually dislike formulas with spf in them but I did not really find it bothersome in this specific formula. Maybe because I used it as a mixer.

Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light (10 g, 530 SEK) by MAC Cosmetics is an old favourite that used to be my go-to setting powder. My previous one was used up in 2019 (and then the price was 315 SEK!!) and since then this powder has been used less frequently and differently than before. I moved on from using it every day as a setting powder, due to changes in my taste and skin, but continued to use it as a touch up powder since it gives a slight bit of coverage. Then I tried other products and this compact was neglected despite being well used. This past year I made a dedicated effort to finish it and remembered why I liked it. So I have purchased a new one recently but I am saving it in my backup drawer. I have a few other powders in use right now that I want to finish first.

Mascara & brows

The Lash XTNDR Mascara (7 g, 109 SEK) in Pitch Black by Elf has quickly become a new staple for me. It is the least flaking tubing mascara I have used so far with a great price. It is also easy for me to find both online and in stores where I live. I have another one in use currently.

The Shape Shifter Eyebrow Gel (4.8 ml, 70 SEK) in Clear by H&M was an ok product. Not great and not bad. It had a nice small brush and did not look white and crusty when it dried. The only negative is that it could not really tame my brows as well as I had wished. I will try some other brow gels moving forward but if I get frustrated I might go back to this one. Its cheap and better than no brow gel at all.

Miscellaneous makeup

Then we have my final bottle of the Gloss Embrace Lip Gloss (4,5 ml, £20) by Lisa Eldridge, in the shade Decade (I have previously used up four other shades in the same formula). This gloss can be found in three pigment levels and I think Decade was in the most pigmented one, but the shade is now discontinued. I like the formula of this gloss but I have, as I have previously mentioned, an issue with the large doe foot. It distributes too much gloss for me which is not optional since I am not a high gloss lip person. I had to apply a small dot on my bottom lip and blend with it with a finger to get the desired effect. The colour was stunning when blended out though (I would have liked it even more if it was a bit less pigmented). I have not repurchased a Gloss Embrace since finishing this one and I am unsure if I will. I might if a really delicious shade comes along, but for now I have plenty of other lip products that I should show some love.

Velvet Fawn is the first shade of the True Velvet Lip Colour (3.5 g, £27) by Lisa Eldridge that I have used up. I own so many shades of this lipstick formula but this is my first empty. As you can see I have left a little nub since I want to put this lipstick in archive. A few years back I started to keep a little archive of some special yet old makeup items in an archive (I have space for it) for the memories and in some cases as colour reference. But back to the product and shade in question today. I knew when I bought Velvet Fawn that it might not be perfect for me. I knew it was on the lighter and warmer side. But I loved the name and it looked so good on other people. So I wanted to try it for myself. I have worn it on my lips over the years, often combined with a deeper liner and/or something glossy on top. But it always felt a bit off. So I tried it on my cheeks instead and realised it worked great as a warm but not too warm blush on me. Very wearable. Lisas lipsticks are great as blushes in general and especially the velvets. So that is how I used it up, as an everyday blush. My lesson with this lipstick is that a light and matte shade, especially a warmer one, is not ideal to my preferences.

The Colour-To-Go Crayon (2.8 g, around 90 SEK) in When in Rome by H&M has been discontinued for quite a while. I did buy a backup when it was available so I have another one in use right now since it a great wearable brown for me. Looks good with almost any makeup look. Not too warm or too cool or too glossy. Just perfect. I do wish this was still available but I guess I just have to enjoy the one I have and move on.

Then we have a tool, a brush. It is a very old stippling brush (price unknown) from Real Techniques and I do not think this specific one is available anymore. I used it primarily for cream blush but the reason it is in this post is because it has started to become scratchy from usage over the years. It has done its job well but it is spent. I have other brushes that can take its place so I do not need to look for a replacement.

Lastly we have a tool adjacent product. This one is from MAC and it’s their Brush Cleanser (235 ml, 199 SEK). I used to use this product maybe 10-15 years ago and then stopped having this kind of cleanser available. I switched over to cleansing my brushes and makeup tools with Dr Bronner liquid soap instead. However I recently realised that it is good to have a quicker option available too for in-between my more proper cleansing sessions (with the soap). I wet a paper tissue with the cleanser and swirl my brush on the tissue until clean. The brush dries quite quickly after cleansing. A note is that I use this cleanser for brushes that have powder products on them primarily, maybe one with a little cream blush. But not for brushes with foundation, concealer or a lot of cream products on them since it will not work. I have repurchased this cleanser and is currently using it.

2025 empties wrap-up

A note on this type of summary: All of these specific items were not purchased in one year , some were bought several years ago and some were bought with a discount. I’m not doing these wrap-ups to track how much I spend but rather to highlight to myself the “worth” of the products I actually use up in one year. It shows how I spend my money on certain consumables and it gives food for thought. I also spend my money on and therefore own quite lot of items, mainly makeup, that will never end up in this kind of post because I will not have time to use them up before they expire.

To summarise 2025 I managed to use up: 7 cleansers, 3 face mists, 4 essence/serum, 2 eye creams, 2 face creams, 1 colour corrector, 1 makeup mist, 2 foundations, 1 powder, 2 mascaras, 1 brow tamer, 3 lipsticks and 3 lip glosses, 1 brush and 1 brush cleanser. That is a total of 34 skincare and makeup products worth around 9 000 SEK if purchased at full price today. An average of 265 SEK per item compared to 395 SEK the previous year. I like that. I seem to have found a nice balance between price points.

During 2025 I did buy and try a lot of new skincare and some intriguing makeup items. I am very pleased with my purchases but also very aware that I have older stuff to use up (if possible). My makeup wearing was a bit infrequent this past year and I had multiple options in each category in use at the same time, both factors that affected the number of makeup related empties. The same goes for skincare – I had multiple face creams, toners and cleansers opened at the same time simply because I like variety and was curious about trying new products. But so far I have managed to use everything up before expiry. The only exception was face oil. I almost never manage to finish a face oil before it goes rancid, so they never make it to this end of year post.

It feels nice to conclude this year and recycle the trash (or give it to my kid to play with, as promised). I already have several new empties from the fist months of 2026 that want to live in that designated basket.

Thanks for reading!

Half of 2025 has flown by and it is time for another empties round-up. In this post I will go through all of the makeup and skincare items that I managed to empty sometime during the first half of 2025, January through June. 14 items in total and out of those half were makeup products. That’s exciting!

Categories not included in this bi-annual post are SPF/body/nails/hair. I also want to highlight some things about my skin that can be useful to know before reading my thoughts on these products. I’ve always had combination skin that is prone to dehydration. Due to ageing my skin is changing so I am slowly adjusting my routine to its evolving needs. I still get the occasional breakout and can get quite shiny during the day, but my skin is less oily and a bit more sensitive and textured now. I do not have any ingredient related allergies.

Let’s dive in!

Cleansers

My current routine: I use a cream cleanser in the morning before skincare/makeup and then I use a balm cleanser as a makeup/sunscreen remover in the evening. A micellar water occasionally assists in the removal of makeup. Sometimes I double cleanse. I usually have a couple of cleansers in action at any given moment.

Starting with a recurring staple, the Sensibio Make-up removing micelle solution (500 ml, around 200 SEK) by Bioderma. I’ve used this product on and off for years and I’ve become a bit more regular in my use of it recently. I use it as a first step to remove makeup if I have a lot on my eyes, or as a complete makeup remover if I am very tired and just cannot be bothered to use another cleanser. I also use it to remove makeup swatches from my arm.

The Squalane Cleanser (150 ml, 266 SEK) by the Ordinary is another repurchase. I still do not use it as instructed (dispensing it into hands and then rubbing them to melt the product into an oil before applying to the face) but simply massage it directly onto my dry face. Works well for me and a little goes a long way. I like it as a mild morning cleanse or as the odd second cleanse. Not a fan of using it to remove makeup. I’m sure I will repurchase this cleanser at at some point.

Essence & serums

My current routine: I always use a hydrating serum morning/evening. I also dabble with more treatment focused serums but I’m more irregular with those.

In this category we have three prodcucts that are new to me. Starting with the Watermelon Glow Dew Drops (15 ml, 249 SEK) by Glow Recipe. This is not a product I would have picked for myself, but my tween daughter chose this one for me. She has a budding beauty interest but is not yet of age to use a lot of the products that intrigues her. But she will be the owner of this empty bottle when I am done with this post. The product smells nice and has a nice feeling on the skin. But I did not feel it was the best fit for my combination skin, I do not need extra glow in my life. I am shiny as is.

However, the No. 3 Skin Softening Serum (50 ml, around 350-400 SEK) by Numbuzin was a hit for me. A lovely hydrating serum that worked well under other products without pilling. It is marketed as strengthening the skin’s natural renewal and healing processes and improve the skin’s elasticity and texture. I can see myself buying this one again (I tried to but it was sold out so I had to settle for another option).

Another hit is the Probio-Cica Intensive Ampoule (50 ml, around 300 SEK) by Skin1004. Focused more towards the wellbeing of more mature skin I picked this up in store of Yeppo Soonsoo in Gothenburg (as did I with the Numbuzin serum). It is marketed to help the skin to recover and gives radiance and support collagen production. I can only attest to my skin and my person liking it. I have since repurchased.

Moisturisers & oils

My current routine: I vary the creams I use depending on the season and what my skin needs. A maturing combination skin that loves moisture but hates too many layers (products start to pill). For daytime my focus is hydration and spf that looks good under makeup and at night I might experiment a little bit more. I use oils sparingly but I like to have one on hand for facial massages or as an extra comforting layer when my skin needs it.

The Heartleaf 70 Intense Calming Cream (50 ml, 348 SEK) by Anua was picked last year as my winter option. It was lovely – very hydrating without feeling heavy, worked great day and night, including under makeup. Jars in general are not my favourite type of packaging (the need to use a spatula for hygienic reasons), but this one had a spatula that could be stored in the lid which made it less of an effort. I really enjoyed using this cream and can see myself buying it again despite the jar.

Another jar was the Collagen Power Firming Eye Cream (25 ml, 350 SEK) by Mizon. A gel-like cream that was very hydrating and worked very well under makeup. Only a little product was needed per application so the 25 ml lasted a long time. The only down side for me personally was that it was in a jar. It came with a spatula, but it had to be stored outside of the jar. The rounded lid meant I could not store anything on top, so I had a little rouge spatula that bothered me. I doubt I will repurchase.

Base Makeup

First we have Quick Fix Hydra-Charged Complexion Prep Priming Spray (118 ml, price unknown) by Urban Decay by Skindinavia. I am including this hydrating mist as a makeup item since that is how I used it – as a priming hydrator or as a refresher over makeup during the day. I enjoyed this mist a lot even though I was a bit infrequent in my use of it. If it was still available I might consider repurchasing it, but it is discontinued. Urban Decay and Skindinavia have recently parted ways, but I think this one has been unavailable for a while. I checked the Skindinavia website and they do have a priming spray available but I cannot easily see if it is the same product, since it is described a bit differently.

Then we have my attempt at replacing for the discontinued NYX colour corrector (HD Studio Photogenic Concealer), namely the Camo Color Corrector (2,8 ml, 59 SEK) in Green by Elf. I picked this up when I realised that my previous staple was discontinued. I also bought the new version from NYX but that one has not seen too much action as of yet. Below you can find a colour comparison of the three.

When I realised that the colour was much more yellow than the NYX one I was a bit disappointed, but I quickly noticed upon using it that the shade worked very well with my skin tone. Maybe better or a more natural result even? Since buying the Elf version I have one found several of the old NYX formula in the sale so I have quite a few of those to go through before circling back to the Elf one, but it is a worthy replacement for sure. I am very happy about that.

Then we have the Close-Up Futuristic Foundation (30 ml, price unknown) by Nabla in the shade L10 Light. I bought this in 2019 and used it a lot for a few years and then took a break. I used the last bit up recently and also realised that the product has been discontinued. That is sad because I really enjoyed this one. The shade was a great match in tone (albeit a bit light) and I was able to get quite the coverage without looking cakey. If it was still available I would consider repurchasing.

Mascara & brows

Continuing on with a mascara. It’s a tubing mascara as per usual, this time the Dailism Smudge Stop Mascara Volume (9 g, 199 SEK) in black by Heimish. I bought this one when I could not find and repurchase the Dailism Smudge Stop Mascara Curling by the same brand. It seems like the formula is the same between the two, but you can purchase the brush version you prefer. I must say I prefer the slimmer brush if the curling version, but the volume one worked well with only a little bit of fallout. I have not repurchased because I have since found a new tubing favourite – the Lash XTNDR Mascara by Elf.

Miscellaneous makeup

Then we have two shades of the Gloss Embrace Lip Gloss formula (4,5 ml, £20) by Lisa Eldridge, Blush Lightly and Sorcery (I have previously used up Blush and Muse in the same formula). I enjoyed both shades and they were very subtle on my lips. This gloss can be found in three pigment levels and I think both of these were the middle one, named Light Natural Pigment. I say think because Blush Lightly is not on the website anymore so I suppose it has been discontinued. Sorcery is still available. As I have previously concluded (The Used Up 2023:2) am not a gloss/high shine person and this is not the perfect product for me. But I can use them and enjoy them to a degree and the reason for repurchasing has always been my interest in the shades that Lisa creates. I like this nourishing formula and use the glosses applied lightly, dabbed in the center of the lips and then blended with a finger. That is how I reach the subtle shine and balmy comfort level that I prefer. The pigment level and the large applicator is just not optimal for my lip size or my gloss preference but for someone with a larger lip area who loves a glossy lip this is should be a very lovely option.

Ending with a favourite both in colour and formula. The Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour (3,5 g, £27) in Painterly also by Lisa Eldridge. I picked up this lipstick when it was first released in the Spring of 2021. For me this is one of those perfect shades that look good with most makeup looks, give a bit of something something to the lip in form of colour and is in a comfortable formula. I wear this a lot to work and when I want a quick and easy lip. The formula is just shiny enough (for my taste) and very pleasant to wear all day. Of course I have to reapply during the day but that is to be expected with a formula like this, and I do not mind it. I have quite the collection of shades in this formula, but Painterly is for sure my favourite one. I have repurchased it already and the little stump left of the original one will be put in archive.

And that was all! Not a lot of skincare in this round but I think the next six months will see a lot more items emptied.

Thank you for reading!

In this post I will go through all of the makeup and skincare items that I managed to empty sometime during the second half of 2024, July through December. 10 items in total and out of those five were makeup products.

As per usual I’m not including all beauty consumables in this bi-annual post. Categories not included are body care, nail care, haircare or any type of SPF (unless it is a skincare/makeup item that just happens to have SPF in it). I still prefer not to track those categories. I also want to highlight some things about my skin that can be useful to know before reading my thoughts on these products. I’ve always had combination skin that is prone to dehydration. But I am noticing my skin changing a lot because of ageing (I’m 43) so I am slowly adjusting my routine to its evolving needs. I still get the occasional breakout and can get quite shiny during the day, but my skin is less oily and a bit more sensitive now. I only react badly to products on occasion and I still have not discovered any ingredient related allergies.

Let’s dive in!

Toners & mists

My current routine: I usually have a hydrating spray on hand that I use after cleansing, before serums. Sometimes I use a toner as a complement, either a hydrating one or an exfoliator. In the evenings I might finish with a more nourishing mist (with oils) as a last comforting step after hydration, but I do that very infrequently.

The Hydrating Milky Mist by Pixi (80 ml, 279 SEK) used to be a recurring favourite but was ultimately dismissed in 2019 due to having consecutive issues with the packaging (the mist). But last year I decided to give it another go and it seems like Pixi has solved the mister issue. The mist is very fine and I could use up the entire bottle without issues. I am very pleased. I will definitely purchase this product again.

Essence & serums

My current routine: I like to use a hydrating serum 1-2 times a day and it is a core item. I also dabble with more treatment focused serums but I’m more irregular with those.

The Rich Moist Soothing Serum by Klairs (80 ml, 429 SEK) is a great hydrating serum. The consistency was on the thicker side, but not in a negative way by any means. No scent and it did the job. This large bottle lasted me quite a while and I can see myself buying this product again.

Moisturisers & oils

My current routine: I use a variety of creams depending on what my skin needs. In the morning after serums I like to put on a basic moisturiser before adding SPF and/or a primer. I have lighter and heavier creams (I’m using the term heavy lightly here – I have combination skin after all) and adjust the combination according to seasonal variations like the climate outdoors/indoors. For daytime the goal is to have a face base that does not pill or look patchy when I apply makeup on top. In the evening I like to use a more robust and comforting cream since I do not need to worry about the makeup bit. I use an eye cream both morning and evening and the main goal is to hydrate the skin without stinging my eyes or melting my mascara. I use oils sparingly but I like to have one on hand for facial massages or as an extra comforting layer when my skin needs it.

The Rose Quartz Supreme Rich Cream (50 ml, 749 SEK) by M Picaut is still a firm favourite. Right now I do not have it in use but I do miss it. I will most likely buy it again soon. It is nourishing and smells delicious. My skin loves it.

Masks

My current routine: I do not have one. I use masks very infrequently but usually I like to have a lineup of a hydrating one, an exfoliating one and a deep cleansing one. I like to use an overnight mask when I have one.

These two masks by M Picaut was kindly given to me by my family as a birthday gift. I was intrigued by them when they first launched and put them on my wish list. But since I am such an infrequent mask user it has taken me a while to use them up. The Rock Crystal Clear Treatment Mask (50 ml, 499 SEK) was the one I reached for the most often, not because I particularly enjoyed it but because I craved the promise of a deep purifying effect. Unfortunately this mask has a smell that I cannot enjoy. I suspect it is the sulphur, but I do not know. If the smell was only prevalent when using the mask it would have been fine, but it lingers on the skin after removal. And that fact is one of the reasons why I am hesitant to buy this again. The other factor was that my skin reacted badly a few times when using this mask, on my neck and cheeks, so I think I’m a bit sensitive to this particular formulation. It says to leave it on for 5-10 minutes and my skin probably couldn’t handle the full 10 and I most likely used it that way. So a little user error on my part. But I’m rarely sensitive to anything skincare-wise so it did not occur to me to be especially careful. When using it up I was more mindful and used it primarily on my t-zone in the end. This jar lasted me for about 10 uses.

The Aventurine Radiance Treatment Mask (50 ml, 499 SEK) agreed better with my skin and also lasted 10 uses. However my verdict is tainted by my very infrequent use of the mask. I think I enjoyed it just fine, but I never used it frequently enough to notice anything special about my skin. It was a very mid experience and I think it was mainly my fault. I kept it way past its expiry and it was a bit dry in the end. I might try this again in the future and give it more love. But right now I am in the mood to try something else. I must say I tend to use masks in tubes more frequently than masks in jars. Something to think about.

Base makeup

The Rose Inc Softlight Luminous Hydrating Concealer in the shade LX 010 (10,8 g, 365 SEK) was a nice product for me. A fair neutral and a bit dirty toned shade, as you can see in the swatch above. A rare shade on the market. A bit light, but I prefer too light over too dark. The product is very pigmented and I used it in a few different ways. Dabbed on top of foundation to add more coverage. Mixed into foundation either to lighten, add more coverage or to neutralise the colour. I have bought replacement and it is currently in use.

Then we have the usual – the HD Studio Photogenic Concealer (3 g, 109 SEK) by NYX in the shade Green (CW12). Only one tube this time, but it is due to me having multiple correctors in use at the same time. This product has been discontinues sadly, but I have some backups that my daughter found in the sale. Hopefully they will be good to use when I get to them but I do realise they run a risk of being old by then.

The Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment by Dr. Jart (15 ml, 215 SEK) is a product that change colour a bit when you rub it onto the skin. For me this small jar was a try on to see if I liked the product, and I did. It was light enough for me to use and the green evened out the redness on my face in a very effective way. It did such a good job that it could stand alone as my base on some days. When this jar was finished I naturally bought a replacement and was not pleased to find out that they had changed the formulation. The cream now became a much darker and more beige shade when rubbed onto my skin. I am sure this change was great for a lot of people who are darker than me, but for me it made the product unusable. I am trying to use the jar I have by mixing it with other things, but this is sadly a product I will not purchase again.

Mascara & brows

Next is a tubing mascara that was new to me – Dailism Smudge Stop Mascara Curling in black by Heimish (9 g, 159 SEK). It did leave some particles under my eyes during the day but it was minimal. I could see myself picking this one up again.

Miscellaneous makeup

Then we have one final makeup product, one lone eye shadow primer. The primer is an old favourite – the Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Anti-aging version, by Urban Decay (10 ml, 325 SEK). I have used this a lot over the years and it is my go-to eye primer at this point. I enjoy trying other brands once in a while byt I tend to revert back to this one. I does the job without interfering with my blending and the tube lasts for ages.

2024 empties wrap-up

A note on this type of summary: All of these specific items were not purchased in one year, some were gifts from friends/family and some were bought with a discount. Obviously I have loads of items, mainly makeup, that I will never use up and that will never end up in a post like this. I’m not doing these wrap-ups to track how much I spend but rather to highlight to myself the “worth” of the products I actually use up in one year. It shows how I spend my money on certain consumables and it gives food for thought.

To summarise 2024 I managed to use up: 4 cleansers, 2 face mists, 1 essence/serum, 1 eye cream, 3 face creams, 2 masks, 1 concealer, 3 colour correctors, 2 mascara, 1 brow tamer and 1 eye primer. That is a total of 21 skincare and makeup products worth around 8 300 SEK if purchased at full price.

Those numbers are an all time low. Lowest number of products used and lowest amount by far. One reason for the number of products I can think of is that started buying and experimenting with more skin care and makeup products last year and have multiple items in the same category in rotation at the same time. So each item takes longer to use up. So I think the number of empty items will be higher in 2025. But please do note that the numbers are lower but the average cost per item is higher than ever, so I still buy and use up products that are more expensive than previous years. Another reason for low numbers of items might be the fact that I have had more makeup free days in 2024 than usually. Otherwise I think more makeup products would have been emptied. I’m still good at using up the skincare items that I buy before they go bad and I hope I can keep this up despite have so many options in rotation. I am currently doing my best to use up some liquid lip products (lip gloss, lip balm and lip mask) before they go off. Wish me luck!

Thanks for reading!

In this post I will go through all of the makeup and skincare items that I managed to empty sometime during the first half of 2024, January through June. Some items wear near empty when the year started and some were were unopened, but they all ran out during that time period. 11 items in total and out of those three were makeup products.

As per usual I’m not including all beauty consumables in this bi-annual post. Categories not included are body care, nail care, haircare or any type of SPF (unless it is a skincare/makeup item that just happens to have SPF in it). I still prefer not to track those categories.

I want to highlight some things about my skin that can be useful to know before reading my thoughts on these products. I’ve always had combination skin that is prone to dehydration. But I am noticing my skin changing a lot because of ageing (I’m 42) so I am slowly adjusting my routine to its evolving needs. I still get the occasional breakout and can get quite shiny during the day, but my skin is less oily and a bit more sensitive now. I only react badly to products on occasion and I still have not discovered any ingredient related allergies.

Let’s dive in!

Cleansers

My current routine: If I have a cream cleanser or something similar I use it in the morning before skincare/makeup and then I use a balm cleanser as a first step in removing makeup and/or sunscreen in the evening. I might go in with a second round with the same cleanser that I used in the morning or the balm again. But I have been less prone to double cleanse in the evening compared to before. I usually have a couple of cleansers in action at any given moment.

The Glow Mud Cleanser by Pixi (135 ml, 279 SEK) has been a staple for some time and I mainly used it in the shower in the morning. The big difference this time around is that I will not repurchase it. Simply because I find that my skin prefers even more gentle cleansing nowadays and I will heed to that. So I have grown out of this cleanser, but it was a great product for the younger me.

I tried the Squalane Cleanser (150 ml, 266 SEK) by the Ordinary in 2020 but in the smaller 50 ml size. I enjoyed it then but felt I ran out too quickly. This time I bought the 150 ml and had no such feelings. I really like this mild cream to oil cleanser. I did not use it as instructed (dispensing it into hands and then rubbing them to melt the product into an oil before applying to the face) but simply just massaged it onto my face directly. It dissolved my makeup just fine but I also enjoyed it as a morning cleanser. I can see myself buying this product again in the near future. A good basic staple at a great price point.

Then we have the big no surprise to anyone – Golden Amber Probiotic Cleansing Balm (125 ml, 399 SEK) by M Picaut. I still love using this cleansing balm and repurchase as soon as I run out. As I have previously written – The smooth honey-like texture and warm and comforting scent is a joy to massage onto my face. It does not sting my eyes or leave any residue after removal.

Then we have a product that is new to me. It is the Skin Enhancing Treatment Cleanser (100 ml, £43) by Lisa Eldridge. It is marketed as a hybrid balm cleanser, face mask and facial massage treatment and that in itself is an intriguing concept. The uphill for product is that I already adore a similar product, the Golden Probiotic Cleansing Balm by M Picaut. So my standards are super high. The big difference between the two is that the Skin Enhancing Treatment doubles as a face mask/treatment and that is how I tried to use it. The texture is smooth and lovely and the scent is subtle. I was not very impressed at first (again, high standards) but the more I used it the more I enjoyed it. I can see myself picking this one up again when I make an future order from the brand, as a treat. This is the first skincare item I have tried from Lisa Eldridge and I am now keen on trying the face mist as well.

Toner & mists

My current routine: I usually have a hydrating spray on hand that I use after cleansing, before serums. Sometimes I use a toner as a complement, either a hydrating one or an exfoliator. In the evenings I might finish with a more nourishing mist (with oils) as a last comforting step after hydration, but I do that very infrequently.

The Hydrating Accelerator by Josh Rosebrook (100 ml, 399 SEK) is recurring favourite that would recur more often if I only could get my hands on it. It is currently not stocked at Caeleste and I had to buy another mist to replace this one. I bugs me a lot that it is out of stock so often and that it takes so long for it to return.

Moisturisers & oils

My current routine: I use a variety of creams depending on what my skin needs. In the morning after serums I like to put on a basic moisturiser before adding SPF and/or a primer. I have lighter and heavier creams (I’m using the term heavy lightly here – I have combination skin after all) and adjust the combination according to seasonal variations like the climate outdoors/indoors. For daytime the goal is to have a face base that does not pill or look patchy when I apply makeup on top. In the evening I like to use a more robust and comforting cream since I do not need to worry about the makeup bit. I use an eye cream both morning and evening and the main goal is to hydrate the skin without stinging my eyes or melting my mascara. I use oils sparingly but I like to have one on hand for facial massages or as an extra comforting layer when my skin needs it.

The Rose Quartz Supreme Rich Cream (50 ml, 749 SEK) by M Picaut is still my go-to cream for night and even day during the colder months. I love that it is in a pump and so easy to dispense. I enjoy the scent and the texture and find that my love for it makes me blind to the fact that the price point is high. I still repurchase this cream every time I run out.

This was my first bottle of the Energizing Eye Cream (30 ml, 499 SEK) by Acasia. A nice eye cream that lasted a long time with a pump that was easy to use and dispense the right amount. I will consider buying this product again but right now I have another brand in use.

Base makeup

A single base makeup item this time. A staple, the HD Studio Photogenic Concealer (3 g, 109 SEK) by NYX in the shade Green (CW12). Sadly this product seems to be discontinued and I am looking for a replacement. I have another tube in action right now but when they are gone they are gone.

Mascara & brows

Starting with the Expressioniste Brow Pomade (5 g, 350 SEK) in Clear. It keeps my brows in place and looks great whilst dry. This was my second tube of this specific product but I did not repurchase another one immediately when I ran out. Not because I did not want to use it again but rather I wanted to see how necessary a brow tamer really is in my routine. After many months without I can now say that I do miss it. Sometimes I just want to shape my brows a bit and put stray hairs in their place. So I might by a new tube of Expressioniste Brow Pomade soon again.

Then we have a mascara from MAC, the Extended Play Gigablack Lash (5,7 g, 310 SEK). I purchased this since it is a long lasting formula that can be removed with warm water. Compared to my previous mascara from Surratt, this was similar in effect but not as easy to build. It smudged a tiny bit less than the Surratt one (se my previous posts for info on the Surratt mascara) so they are comparable products to me. Good but not great. However I am searching for something that smudge even less than those two. I am currently trying a similar mascara (long lasting that can be removed with warm water) from Heimish and so far it is a winner.

And that was all! It seems like a small amount of items for six months. But I have been wearing makeup a lot less lately and that affects how I prep and cleanse my skin as well. Less product use, less empties I guess.

Thank you for reading!

Yet another year has passed and THEN SOME, and it is time to do the second and last instalment of the Used Up. We are well into 2024 at this point but in this post I will look back a bit and go through all of the makeup and skincare items that were used up by me during the second half of 2023, July through December. In that period I managed to finish a total of 20 items and out of those 9 were makeup products.

As per usual I’m not including all beauty consumables in this bi-annual post. Categories not included are body care, nail care, haircare or any type of SPF (unless it is a skincare/makeup item that just happens to have SPF in it). I still prefer not to track those categories in any way.

I want to highlight some things about my skin that can be useful to know before reading my opinions on these products. I’ve always had combination skin that is prone to dehydration. But I am noticing my skin changing a lot because of ageing (I’m 42 now) so I am slowly adjusting my routine to its evolving needs. I still get the occasional breakout and can get quite shiny during the day, but my skin is less oily and a bit more sensitive now. I only react badly to products on occasion and I still have not discovered any ingredient related allergies.

Let’s dive in!

Cleansers

My current routine: I use a cream cleanser or something similar in the morning before skincare/makeup and then I use two cleansers in the evening. One oil/balm as a first step in removing makeup and/or sunscreen and then I go in with a second round with the same cleanser that I used in the morning or the balm again. I usually have 2-3 cleansers in action at any given moment.

Let’s start with an odd one. This is the battered tube of the Hydrating Milky Cleanser (135 ml, 279 SEK) by Pixi. This is my first tube of this specific cleanser and I’ve had it for several years. The product is not milky as the name suggest, but more a cross between solid and a cream. Very odd. I’ve tried to illustrate it with the below pictures.

If I add a bit of water is dissolves easily and if I add a bit more it foams a lot so you only need a teeny tiny amount to cleanse the whole face. But it was not what I envisioned when I bought what is described as a cream cleanser. The information on the tube says it should be massaged onto skin, but nowhere does it say to add water in any way. And this “cream” is not possible to massage onto skin without water in my opinion. I tried and failed. So the cleanser worked well but not in the way it is marketed. A bonus is that it lasted for a really long time, but I do not think I will buy it again. I prefer balms and actual creams over foam.

Then we have the recurring cleanser favourite. I purchased the Golden Amber Probiotic Cleansing Balm (125 ml, 399 SEK) by M Picaut when it was released and posted my thoughts on it in The Used Up 2022:1. My feelings have not wavered since then and I repurchase whenever I run out. It is just lovely!

Toner & mists

My current routine: I usually have a hydrating spray on hand that I use after cleansing, before serums. Sometimes I use a toner as a complement, either a hydrating one or an exfoliator. In the evenings I might finish with a more nourishing mist (with oils) as a last comforting step after hydration, but I do that infrequently.

The Glycolic 7% Toning Solution from The Ordinary (240 ml, 174 SEK) was my replacement for the Pixi Glow Tonic as mentioned in The Used Up 2020:1. I had used the Pixi one for so long that I wanted to try something new and I was curious about the one from the Ordinary. The bottle lasted me three years but I was very infrequent in my use, even more than I hade been with the Pixi Glow Tonic. I think I just found it less pleasant to use, a bit too harsh on my skin upon application. I have since finishing this bottle picked up a replacement from Josh Rosebrook instead.

I tried the The Collagen Tonic by Pixi (100 ml, 179 SEK) for the first time in 2021. A spontaneous purchase that I enjoyed using a lot more than anticipated. When I ran out I swiftly purchased a new bottle. The tonic smells lovely and make my skin feel nicely hydrated. I use it as an essence, applied and patted in with my hands and then I layer serums on top. A nice hydration sandwich! I have another bottle in use currently. The product is available in a 250 ml bottle as well.

The Hydrating Accelerator by Josh Rosebrook (100 ml, 399 SEK) is an old favourite that I managed to track down again at Swedish reseller Caeleste. This time I noticed that the bottle size had changed. It used to be available in 60 ml and 120 ml, but now only a 100 ml was available (at the same price point as the previous 120 ml). I still love to use this and would love to repurchase but it is out of stock currently and has been for a while. I hope it returns.

Essence & serums

My current routine: I like to use a hydrating serum 1-2 times a day and it is a core item. I also dabble with more treatment focused serums but I’m more irregular with those.

For hydrating serums we have two new items for me. First we have the Centella Uncented Serum by Purito (60 ml, 250 SEK at the time of purchase). I wanted to try a more inexpensive serum and chose this one on a whim whilst buying some sunscreen at Maques.se last year. I found that it worked nicely as a hydrator but I did not enjoy the thicker texture (thicker than what I was used to) or the smell (unscented). I did not care for the plastic bottle either, but the pump worked just fine. This specific product has since been reformulated and has new packaging. I have liked the sunscreens I have tried from Purito and I can see myself trying the new version of this serum in the future.

Then we have a more luxurious option from Josh Rosebrook, the Hydrating Boost Concentrate (30 ml, 785 SEK). The serum was on the more watery side of a serum but it was easy to apply nonetheless. A nice hydrator. I found this serum generally pleasant to use but I used it up way to quickly to warrant the price tag. At that price point the product would have to wow me even more than it did. I really like Josh Rosebrook as a brand and think it is a nice treat to try his products from time to time but the only product I return regularly at this point is the Hydrating Accelerator.

Moisturisers & oils

My current routine: I use a variety of creams depending on what my skin needs. In the morning after serums I like to put on a basic moisturiser before adding SPF and/or a primer. I have lighter and heavier creams (I’m using the term heavy lightly here – I have combination skin after all) and adjust the combination according to seasonal variations like the climate outdoors/indoors. For daytime the goal is to have a face base that does not pill or look patchy when I apply makeup on top. In the evening I like to use a more robust and comforting cream since I do not need to worry about the makeup bit. I use an eye cream both morning and evening and the main goal is to hydrate the skin without stinging my eyes or melting my mascara. I use oils sparingly but I like to have one on hand for facial massages or as an extra comforting layer when my skin needs it.

The Hyper Real SkinCanvas Balm from MAC (50 ml, 660 SEK at the time of purchase) was a pleasant surprise. I bought the balm and the accompanying serum, with a discount, close to the launch in 2023. I liked both products a lot but the serum was more suited to my skin type. I used the SkinCanvas Balm mainly as night cream in the warmer months and then as a day cream when winter came along. My skin enjoyed it a lot. It has a very pleasant scent and the jar is very beautiful and luxurious. I might purchase this again in the future as a treat if I get a discount.

I picked up the 24 H Repair Cream by Acasia Skincare (50 ml, 395 SEK) in 2021 and I’ve struggled to use it up ever since. It was difficult to apply and did not want to sink in. When it did my skin felt dry but with a film on it. I think this is a classic case of a product that is not meant for me, but works well for others with different skin types than mine. I’ve read good things about this cream from people with dry skin. So this is a big NO from me. I used it up only by using it on my hands at night and it was not the best experience either.

The Retinol Eye Cream by Pixi (25 ml, 339 SEK) was a nice eye cream that took me a long while to use up. Only a little bit was needed to hydrate the skin around my eyes. However I was hesitant to use it during the day because of the retinol even though the product information does not advise any caution. Retinol can cause sun sensitivity and my skin is a bit prone to that. So I used it mainly at night. I enjoyed the product but I am currently using an eye cream without retinol for convenience. I cannot be bothered to have two.

Masks

My current routine: I do not have one. I use masks very infrequently but usually I like to have a lineup of a hydrating one, an exfoliating one and a deep cleansing one. I like to use an overnight mask when I have one.

The Glow Mud Mask by Pixi (45 ml, 279 SEK) was a nice mask for days when I wanted a “pick me up” and clear impurities. The product seems to only be available in 40 ml at the moment, so something has changed, but the price point is the same. I got 16 uses out of this tube (full-face) and I would consider buying it again in the future.

Base makeup

I received the Hollywood Flawless Filter by Charlotte Tilbury (10 ml, 580 SEK) as a birthday present a few years back and have used it on and off since then. My favourite way to use it is to mix it with a green colour corrector and apply it as a priming base before foundation or concealer. This is the lightest shade (1 Fair) but it is still too dark for me. If CT came out with a lighter and more neutral shade I would consider repurchasing since I love the finish it gives. It gives the skin a little slip as well and I found that other base products applied beautifully over it.

The Hydrating Camo Concealer by Elf (6 ml, 89 SEK) worked ok for me but the shade (Fair Warm) was too dark and peachy. I did not like it under my eyes since it looked cakey and creased so instead I used it to even out my skin tone in other places. It still had the tendency to settle in my pores and fine lines so I doubt I will buy it again even if they would create a shade that would suit me better. Elf is a bit difficult to get a hold of in Sweden so that also turns me off a bit.

Then we have the usuals, two tubes of the HD Studio Photogenic Concealer (3 g, 109 SEK) by NYX in the shade Green (CW12). I have enjoyed using this formula for a long time now and it is an integral part of my makeup routine. I use it as a mixer with most of my base products to neutralise the redness of my face but also to adjust shades so that they are closer to my skin tone. This specific product seems to be out of stock in a lot of places and I wonder if they are discontinuing it. NYX has released the Pro Fix Correcting Concealer in a bunch of shades including a green so maybe that is a replacement but in a different formula. We shall see..

Then we have the Skin Hero Blur Powder from BeautyAct by Kicks (8 g, 229 SEK) that I had heard great things about so I picked it up in Translucent. I was looking for a replacement for my Charlotte Tilbury powder but this was not it. It made my foundation look darker and I needed to use quite a lot to get the desired effect and then it just ended up looking cakey. I disliked the packaging and the scent as well. I used it up but reluctantly. Not a powder for my taste and needs obviously.

Mascara & brows

Yet again we have the recurring favourite Relevée Mascara (6 g, 320 SEK) by Surratt Beauty. I have used it since 2020 but in 2024 have I started to dabble with other brands of tubing mascaras. Relevée is lovely to work with but it smudges on me. Not as much as a regular mascara, no way near, but enough to make me start looking at other options.

Miscellaneous makeup

I am always pleased when I manage to use up a lip product before it goes off. I bought two shades of the Lisa Eldridge Gloss Embrace Lip Gloss (4,5 ml, £18 at the time of purchase) in 2020, Blush and Muse. Both shades are great in theory but they are very subtle on my lips. My lips are not very pigmented in themselves so Muse is a barely there shade and Blush gave a slight depth. I just prefer a bit more oomph on my lips. Not to mention that I am not a gloss person, I prefer balms. I do like this nourishing formula and used the glosses primarily on my lips as a treatment. The pigmented formula and the large applicator also made them a bit messy to apply to my thinner lips. I always have to dab a tiny bit in the centre of my lips and then spread it out in a thin layer with a finger. I love Lisa Eldridge products in general but this one is not perfect for me, I have to fuss a bit too much for my liking. That said I have bought more shades after using up these two. Lisa always creates intriguing shades and her latest drop of the Gloss Embrace shade extension had me wanting more despite the above mentioned issues with the product. I think objectively is is a great product with lovely packaging, a large and stunning shade range, different pigment levels and a reasonable price point. It might just not be a favourite of mine.

The Eyeshadow Primer by Milani (8 ml, 179 SEK) was another surprise miss. I had heard so many people rave about it online but it was just ok. I have very oily eyelids and at this point I have almost given up on finding eye primers that I like. The longevity was not great with the Milani one. I also prefer the Urban Decay Anti-Aging one since it is so easy to blend eyeshadows on top of.

2023 empties wrap-up

I few years back I started looking at the total items in each category and divided them into more accurate sub-categories to track how I consume a specific type of product and comparing the numbers to previous years. This year I will present it slightly differently. Instead of specifying numbers for previous years in this post I will do that tracking privately, since it is mainly for my own benefit. Old stats are available in previous posts for anyone curious. Any interesting patterns I find will be mentioned in this post, of course.

A note on this type of summary: All of these specific items were not purchased in one year and some were gifts from friends/family and many were bought with a discount. Obviously I have loads of items, mainly makeup, that I will never use up and that will never end up in a post like this. I’m not doing these round-ups to track how much I spend but rather to highlight to myself the “worth” of the products I actually use up in one year. It shows how I spend my money on certain consumables and it gives food for thought.

To summarise 2023 I managed to use up: 5 cleansers, 2 toners, 2 face mists, 6 essences/serums, 1 eye cream, 3 face creams, 4 masks, 1 spot treatment, 2 concealers, 4 colour correctors, 1 face primer, 1 powder, 1 mascara, 1 eye primer and 2 lip glosses. That is a total of 36 skincare and makeup products worth around 12 000 SEK if purchased at full price.

The trend this year was my tendency to use up fewer product overall but the average cost per item is higher. So my choice of more expensive items is shining through, the same theme as in 2022. I’m still good at using up the skincare items that I buy before they go bad and rarely throw skincare bits out due to old age. A trend I hope to keep up in the coming years. My prediction of last year of many empty masks was fulfilled, a task years in the making. Nothing else really stands out except the fact that I obviously need to change my mascara a bit more often.

Thanks for reading!

Another year has passed and it is time to do the second and last instalment of the Used Up. In this post I will go through all of the makeup and skincare items that were used up by me during the second half of 2022, July through December. In those six months I managed to finish a total of 12 items and out of those only 4 were makeup products. As per usual I’m not including all beauty consumables in this bi-annual post. Categories not included are body care, nail care, haircare or any type of SPF (unless it is a skincare/makeup item that just happens to have SPF in it). I still prefer not to track those categories in any way.

I want to highlight some things about my skin that can be useful to know before reading my opinions on these products. I have dehydrated combination skin and I am noticing my skin changing a lot because of ageing (I’m 41) so I am slowly adjusting my routine to its evolving needs. I still get the occasional breakout and can get quite shiny during the day. My skin rarely reacts badly to products and I have no allergies.

Let’s dive in!

Cleansers

My current routine: I use a cream cleanser or something similar in the morning before skincare/makeup and then I use two cleansers in the evening. One oil/balm as a first step in removing makeup and/or sunscreen and then I go in with a second round with the same cleanser that I used in the morning. I usually have 2-3 cleansers in action at any given moment.

Let’s start with a recurring favourite. I purchased the Golden Amber Probiotic Cleansing Balm (125 ml, 399 SEK) by M Picaut shortly after it was released and this was my second tube. I love everything about this product I will for sure keep on repurchasing it.

This tube of the Glow Mud Cleanser by Pixi (135 ml, 279 SEK) is the first time I tried it but I do have another one in use now. I enjoy using this specific cleanser in the shower. I massage it in on damp skin and wait 30 seconds, as instructed, and then use a cloth to wipe it away. I find it effective yet never drying. I am really bad at exfoliating my skin as frequent as I could/should (i.e would benefit from) and this cleanser somewhat picks up some slack in that department. The tube lasts me a good while and I see this as a staple product at this point.

Then we have one bottle of Bioderma Sensibio Make-up removing micelle solution (250 ml, around 100 SEK). This was a staple product for a while, last mentioned in The Used Up 2020:2, and it took me two years to use the last bottle up. I practically stopped using it on my face on a regular basis and only used it to remove the odd pigmented lipstick or arm swatches of the more stubborn kind. I might repurchase someday for that purpose but I am not sure at this point.

Toner & mists

My current routine: I always have a hydrating spray that I use after cleansing but before serums. Sometimes I use a toner as a complement, either a hydrating one or an exfoliator. In the evenings I also like to use a more nourishing spray (with oils) as a last comforting step.

The Hydrating Water (100 ml, 349 SEK) by M Picaut was what I chose to pick up when I realised I could not get my favourite hydrating mist by Josh Rosebrook anymore. The Swedish reseller at the time never did restock it. I do like this M Picaut product, it does its job well, but not as much as the Hydrating Accelerator by Josh Rosebrook. The glass bottle does make me a bit nervous as well. It is quite heavy and I’m always a bit wary about dropping it in the bathroom and ruining the sink or the tiled floor. The bottle can be repurposed as a vase though and will save this bottle for that purpose. I have bought another bottle of the Hydrating Water and it is currently in use but when I run out I will pick up the Hydrating Accelerator again since I just found it at a new (to me anyway) Swedish webshop – Caeleste.

The Collagen Tonic by Pixi (100 ml, 179 SEK) was a spontaneous purchase in 2021. But I did enjoy using it a lot more than anticipated and swiftly purchased a new bottle when I ran out. The tonic smells lovely and make my skin feel nicely hydrated. I use it as an essence, applied and patted in with my hands and then I layer serums on top. A hydration sandwich! I have another bottle in use currently. I have continued buying the smaller bottles but the product is available in a 250 ml bottle as well.

Essence & serums

My current routine: I like to use a hydrating serum 1-2 times a day and it is a core item. I also dabble with more treatment focused serums but I’m more irregular with those.

This is no surprise. Another bottle of the Hyaluronic Super Serum (30 ml, 359-495 SEK) by Acasia. This is my third empty bottle this year, see my initial post The Used Up 2022:1, and I nearly finished a fourth one before 2022 was over. I still use it morning and night and I have nothing bad to say about it. I will buy a new one soon.

Moisturisers & oils

My current routine: I use a variety of creams depending on what my skin needs. In the morning after serums I like to put on a basic moisturiser before adding SPF and/or a primer. I have lighter and heavier creams (I’m using the term heavy lightly here – I have combination skin after all) and adjust the combination according to seasonal variations like the climate outdoors/indoors. For daytime the goal is to have a face base that does not pill or look patchy when I apply makeup on top. In the evening I like to use a more robust and comforting cream since I do not need to worry about the makeup bit. I use an eye cream both morning and evening and the main goal is to hydrate the skin without stinging my eyes or melting my mascara. I use oils sparingly but I like to have one on hand for facial massages or as an extra comforting layer when my skin needs it.

Let’s start with a rather new favourite. I initially purchased the Rose Quartz Supreme Rich Cream by M Picaut (50 ml, 749 SEK) to use as a night cream but I also use it in the daytime during the autumn/winter months. You can read a bit more about my thoughts after finishing my first bottle here. I have another one in use right now and I will repurchase when I run out. I really really like it.

The Lait-Crème Concentré (75 ml, 269 SEK) by Embryolisse is a newer acquaintance as well. I say newer since this is my first tube but I did buy it as far back as December 2020. It lasted me two years and during those years I used it in two different ways. Initially I picked it up to be used as a moisturiser during the colder months. So that first winter I did use it for that purpose. Then I started wearing the Rose Quartz cream by M Picaut during the day the following winter and have continued on with that ever since. So I tried using the Embryolisse cream more like a hydrating primer and my skin loved it. I apply it over whatever skincare I am wearing as an extra priming step before makeup. It does contain perfume and it has a distinct scent, but oh how I adore that scent. For anyone interested the product can be found in a perfume-free version as well but in a 100 ml tube.

Base makeup

I wrote at length about these in my last The Used Up post, including swatches. It’s the HD Studio Photogenic Concealer (3 g, 109 SEK) by NYX in the shades Alabaster (CW 00) and Green (CW12). I like working with this formula and use them every time I do my makeup. Alabaster under the eye and Green as a targeted colour corrector or as a mixer for other base products to make them a shade closer to my skin tone. I have repurchased both shades and consider them as staples. But I must say I am a bit keen on trying similar products from other brands during 2023, just for fun. It is always fun to try new things and compare them to old favourites.

Mascara & brows

No one is surprised to see the Relevée Mascara (6 g, 320 SEK) by Surratt Beauty in this post. I switched to this in mid 2020 and have used it ever since. As mentioned in previous posts I do not think it’s the perfect tubing mascara since it does smudge a bit on me. A bit more than I enjoy. But I’m still not overly keen on searching for a new one just yet. I have another tube of Relevée in use at the moment and after that, who knows?

Moving on to another product by Surratt, the Expressioniste Brow Pomade (5 g, 350 SEK) in Clear. I love this brow product. It does exactly what I want it to do, keep my brows in place without leaving them feeling stiff and looking crusty. The pomade is undetectable once it is dry and this is the only brow product that has managed to put my brows in their place so to speak. The packaging was previously the same colour and design, albeit a slight difference in size, as the Relevée mascara. But when I repurchased the brow pomade last time I noticed that Surratt had made the wise decision to differentiate them. The brow pomade is now in an oil spill coloured tube and it is so much easier to tell them apart.

2022 empties wrap-up

As I now wrap up the year of 2022 in numbers I also want to take the opportunity to look even further back and compare those numbers with the previous three years. I did the same thing at the end of 2021. Below you can see the numbers from 2021, 2020 and 2019 in brackets where applicable.

To summarise this year I managed to use up:

• 5 cleansers (9, 11, 8)
• 1 toner (1, 1, 0)
• 1 face mist (3, 3, 5)
• 3 essences/serums (8, 8, 11)
• 0 eye creams (1, 2, 1)
• 4 face creams (2, 5, 4)
• 1 oil (1, 1, 0)
• 0 masks (2, 1, 2)
• 0 spot treatments (1, 0, 0)
• 4 concealers (1, 4, 1)
• 2 colour correctors (1, 0, 0)
• 1 foundation (2, 2, 3)
• 2 powders (1, 2, 3)
• 2 mascaras (3, 4, 2)
• 2 brow tamers (1, 4, 1)
• 2 eye primers (1, 1, 1)
• 1 lipstick (2, 1, 0)
• 1 eye liner (0)

That is a total of 32 skincare and makeup products compared to 40 in 2021, 55 in 2020 and 49 in 2019. The value of these products (if they were to be purchased at full price) is around 10 000 SEK (the same as 2021 and compared to 13 500 SEK in 2020 and 2019). So 2022 consisted of fewer yet more expensive items on a whole. All of these specific items were not purchased in one year and some were gifts from friends/family and many were bought with a discount. Obviously I have loads of items, mainly makeup, that I will never use up and that will never end up in a post like this. I’m not doing these round-ups to track how much I spend but rather to highlight to myself the “worth” of the products I actually use up in one year. It shows how I spend my money on certain consumables and it gives food for thought. The average cost per item is 250 SEK and spread out over 12 months it lands at approximately 835 SEK per month compared to 1100 SEK per month in 2020.

I’m glad that I’ve found so many core favourites over the years. Products from varying price points that do their job so well that I buy them again and again. It is also very satisfying to know that I use up most of the skincare items that I buy before they go bad. The only area where I could improve my usage is masks. I own some lovely masks but I am not in the habit of using them very often. In 2023 we will see an accumulated heap of empty masks I think, several years in the making.

Thanks for reading!

In this post I will go through all of the makeup and skincare items that were used up by me during the first half of 2022, January through June. This post have been in the making for several months but somehow time always slips away from me. But better late than never as they say. In those six months I managed to finish a total of 20 items and out of those 13 were makeup products. I’m not including all beauty consumables in this bi-annual post. Categories not included are body care, nail care, haircare or any type of SPF (unless it is a skincare/makeup item that just happens to have SPF in it). I still prefer not to track those categories in any way.

As per usual I want to highlight some things about my skin that can be useful to know before reading my opinions on these products. I have dehydrated combination skin and I am noticing my skin changing a lot because of ageing (I’m 41) so I am slowly adjusting my routine to its evolving needs. I still get the occasional breakout and can get quite shiny during the day. My skin rarely reacts badly to products and I have no allergies. Let’s begin!

Cleansers

My current routine: I use a cream cleanser or something similar in the morning before skincare/makeup and then I use two cleansers in the evening. One oil/balm as a first step in removing makeup and/or sunscreen and then I go in with a second round with the same cleanser that I used in the morning. I usually have 2-3 cleansers in action at any given moment.

Let’s start with a new favourite. I purchased the Golden Amber Probiotic Cleansing Balm (125 ml, 399 SEK) by M Picaut shortly after it was released. Since I am always on the lookout for a good cleansing balm and I generally like products by M Picaut it was an easy purchase. Hello new favourite cleanser! I love the smooth honey texture, the soft smell and the beautiful tube that makes it easy to squeeze out the right amount. There is nothing I do not love about this balm. I’m even ok with the price since I think it is a very luxurious product that lasted me a good while. I have already repurchased this one.

Moving on to the Clean Cleanser by Acasia (100 ml, 199 SEK), another brand that I have repurchased from recently. This was my third tube of this specific product and possibly my last. It is a good cleanser but my critique is as mentioned in my last post “This milky cream cleanser has a mild scent and does the job very well but the consistency was a little too runny for my taste and I felt like I needed quite a bit of product to cleanse my face. So one tube did not last as long as I would like it to. I do not think I will repurchase this any time soon but I might try it again in the future since it does have a preferable price point.”

Essence & serums

My current routine: I like to use a hydrating serum 1-2 times a day and it is a core item. I also dabble with more treatment focused serums but I’m more irregular with those.

Let me present to you another new favourite – two whole empty bottles of the Hyaluronic Super Serum (30 ml, 359-495 SEK) by Acasia. The serum contains hyaluronic acid (duh!), niacinamide, Vitamin C and E. Three drops is enough for the whole face and it is a dream to apply. One bottle lasted me longer than I had anticipated and these two bottles lasted longer than six months. I use the serum both morning and night and my skin loves it. One thing to note about this product is that the price varies quite a bit depending on which reseller you pick it up from. Something I will definitely focus on since this is a product I have and will continue to repurchase.

Moisturisers & oils

My current routine: I use a variety of creams depending on what my skin needs. In the morning after serums I like to put on a basic moisturiser before adding SPF and/or a primer. I have lighter and heavier creams (I’m using the term heavy lightly here – I have combination skin after all) and adjust the combination according to seasonal variations like the climate outdoors/indoors. For daytime the goal is to have a face base that does not pill or look patchy when I apply makeup on top. In the evening I like to use a more robust and comforting cream since I do not need to worry about the makeup bit. I use an eye cream both morning and evening and the main goal is to hydrate the skin without stinging my eyes or melting my mascara. I use oils sparingly but I like to have one on hand for facial massages or as an extra comforting layer when my skin needs it.

Another recurring product is the Natural Moisturizing  Factors + HA by The Ordinary (30 ml, 79 SEK). I use this as a basic surface hydrator and usually layer it under my sunscreen. I have repurchased this and will most likely continue to do so. It is reliable, nicely priced and works well under other products without pilling.

Here we have yet another new favourite. I purchased the Rose Quartz Supreme Rich Cream by M Picaut (50 ml, 749 SEK) to use as a night cream but I have also worn it in the daytime during the autumn/winter months. It is a creamy dream with a comforting scent that reminds me of vanilla pods. The pump distributes product with great control and it “pops” in the end when all of the product is distributed. The bottle is easy to close, you simply twist the top to secure it and it has a little lid on top of that. A little goes a long way and I felt like this 50 ml bottle lasted me long enough to warrant repurchasing it at this more hefty price point. My skin feels soft and nourished but never greasy after applying this cream. I have no issues with applying makeup on top in the winter-time, but I have not yet tried using it that way during the warmer months.

The Overnight Retinol Oil by Pixi (30 ml, 399 SEK) is a repurchase. I gave it a favourable opinion when I used up my first bottle in 2020 (read The Used Up 2020:2 here). However I did not enjoy using the oil as much the second time around. It was merely ok and I often omitted using it in the evenings. I was simply not drawn to it and it was forgettable. Since the product has a shelf-life of 6 months it started to smell rancid before I had finished the bottle. I persevered and used it up but it was not the best experience. I will most likely not buy this product again.

Base makeup

The Blur 16 H Longwear Foundation (30 ml, 209 SEK), here in the shade 00 Ultra Light, used to be a favourite until Lumene changed the formulation and no shades matched me anymore. They did this more than once. From a trusty staple product to an inconsistent mess and ultimately failed purchase. Not a good arc. As previously stated I would use the tubes I had already purchased and then stop trying. You can see in the swatch picture that the lightest shade is not a good match for me.

Next we have one concealer in two different shades that have quickly become new staples for me. It’s the HD Studio Photogenic Concealer (3 g, 109 SEK) by NYX in the shades Alabaster (CW 00) and Green (CW12). The formula is easy to work with, pigmented yet light and blendable, and the price point is great. I use Alabaster as my under eye corrector. The shade might be a smidge too dark but I get away with it most days. If I need a little brightness I just tap another concealer on top where needed. The shade works very well to neutralise the colour under my eyes and make me look more awake. The Green version is used as a neutraliser for the redness on my face but also to bring any other base product in a direction that better matches my undertone. My perfect shade is a fair neutral with a hint of green in it. Most base products are too pink och peach for me so the NYX concealer is a great mix-in. I repurchased both of these as soon as I ran out.

Moving on to the Milk Makeup Flex Concealer (5,9 ml, 349 SEK) in Porcelain. First of all, I did buy a shade that is way too light for me. So it does not work on its own as a concealer, the job I intended it for when I bought it. But I have been using it in combination with other base products that are also not quite right on their own. I used it primarily to lighten foundations that were too dark. But I did notice that the concealer was not as easy to work with as I had anticipated by the name Flex. It was thick and not as blendable as I would like. So after trying this one I do not feel the need to try another shade of the same product.

The Pat Away Concealing Base by Pixi (3,8 g, 249 SEK) had a good shade match for me from the start. I picked up the shade Cream and the undertone works very well. It could be a little lighter but it is one of the best shades I have found in a long time. I used this concealer all over the face where needed and it was pigmented and blendable. However it felt like I used it up very quickly and always in conjunction with other products I was trying to use up so I did not focus too much on what it was capable of. I am considering buying it again in the near future to give it a proper run.

The MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation (15 g, 395 SEK) is an old hero product for me. I’ve used this product for nearly half of my life. I used to buy NC20 for years and later picked up this specific one in NC10 when that lighter shade became available. I would for sure be interested to pick up another one of these but I think I would like to try them in store before choosing what shade to get. On the MAC Scandinavia website they list an NC15 as well, but I want to see them next to each other before deciding. Last time I was in store these products were out of stock, otherwise I would have bought a new one already. The Studio Fix powder for me is the best product to add on more coverage during the day. I have combination skin that gets shiny easily and melts my makeup. Since I have a lot of redness I want a product that adds suitable coverage as well when touching up my makeup. Only blotting away the oils does not do it for me. I can apply Studio Fix straight on top of my makeup and it saves the look. If I am very oily I blot first, but it is not always necessary with this powder.

This is my second compact of the Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder (10 g, 55€) by Charlotte Tilbury in 1 Fair. I got this one for my birthday last year and my first purchase was in London in 2017. I must say this is so far my favourite powder and any attempt to find another one I like as much has failed. The product has since been updated to a refillable version and I got one of those compacts for my birthday this December. I also wished for, and received, the new Airbrush Brightening Flawless Finish Powder by CT. It will be fun to use them side by side and see how they compare. Both are refillable which is great.

Mascara & brows

Milk Makeup Kush Fiber Brow Gel (4,5 g, 259 SEK) had a great colour for me in Grind – a lovely cool dark brown. That, and the size of the brush, was my favourite aspect about this product. The formula was very wet and got everywhere where I did not want it. I could not notice any build up by the fibers and the overall appearance was messy. Another thing is that it started to smell “off” quite quickly. The white packaging did not do it for me either, but that is a smaller complaint. On the whole, this was not a good product for me.

Relevée Mascara (6 g, 320 SEK) by Surratt is a staple at this point (you can find my previous thoughts on this product in The Used Up 2021:1 and 2021:2) and I still enjoy the formula and I very much like the brand as a whole. BUT. As I have mentioned before the mascara does tend to create some fall-out smudge, especially from my bottom lashes. It did not bother me too much in the beginning of our relationship but it’s starting to get on my nerves a bit. I do not want to check my face regularly to see if my under-eyes are smudgy. Of course I wish it did not have any fall-out of any sort but until I hear about another great tubing mascara that I would like to try I am stickning with this one.

Miscellaneous makeup

The Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Caffeine is my secret weapon when I want to do a quick yet impactful eye look. This mustard brown primer works as a cream eyeshadow and primer in one on my skin tone. I apply it all over the lid and a bit up in the crease and then blend and shape with a stiff synthetic brush. It is very easy to blend and when I’m happy with the shape I just pat a shiny metallic shadow on the lid, all over or just in the center depending on what I’m going for, with a flat brush or my finger and it is more or less done. I already have a new tube of this in rotation.

The 24 H Photo Finish Shadow Primer (12 ml, 215 SEK) by Smashbox was a fail for me. It was quite thick in formula and it dried very quickly. I like to start working with shadows when the primer is still somewhat tacky in order for it to intensify the shadows and the longevity on my lids. I found it hard to blend shadows on top of this primer and it did not boost the look of the shadows as I’m used to. It might be down to pure preference but I will not buy this shadow primer again.

How I wish this product was not limited edition. The Rouge Coco Shine in Noir Moderne by Chanel has been a firm favourite for many years now. I do not remember when I bought it but the internet suggests it was released around 2016 and it sounds about right. The Rouge Coco Shine formula is not even around anymore. It was replaced, I presume, by Rouge Coco Flash. This dark yet transparent lipstick was a good moody yet wearable lip for me. I’m trying to find a dupe for Noir Moderne but no such luck yet.

To finalise this post we have got another Chanel product. It is the Stylo Yeux Waterproof (310 SEK) in Agapé (929). This shade was also limited edition and part of the Le Rouge Collection No.1 for fall in 2016. It was creamy and easy to work with. Lasted well as an eyeliner but not in the waterline. I do not own that many liners nowadays so it was fun to use this one up. I’m not immediately drawn to picking up new shades of this liner (I had two from the same collection) but you never know.

That was all of the products from the first half of 2022. Since I was a bit late with this post I think the next instalment of The Used Up might come in the near future, since 2023 is nearly here. These post takes some time to write, but they are always way easier to conjure up when not too much time has passed since I used the mentioned products. I wish you all a great New Year and I hope you wear some fabulous makeup!

Thank you for reading!

Time flies and the years come and go. I started writing this post in January and now, several months later it is finally completed. Not much has changed except for the weather. I’m still working from home, with limited movements outside my home, and every month takes on a similar hue in my memory. For that reason I highly enjoy any type of post where I get to reminisce about the past a bit, to linger on what I did or felt.

In this post I will do just that by going through all of the makeup and skincare items that were used up by me during the second half of 2021, July to December. We will also take a look at the full year and end with some statistics. In this second part of last year, a total of 18 items were finished and out of those seven were makeup products. Categories not included in this post are body care, nail care, haircare or any type of SPF (unless it is a skincare/makeup item that just happens to have SPF in it). I just do not care to track those categories in any way at the moment.

Some things about my skin that can be useful to know before reading my opinions on these products – I have dehydrated combination skin. I am noticing my skin changing a lot because of ageing (I’m 40) so I am slowly adjusting my routine to its evolving needs. I still get the occasional breakout and can get quite shiny during the day. My skin rarely reacts badly to products and I have no allergies.

Cleansers

My current routine: I use a cream cleanser or something similar in the morning before skincare/makeup and then I use two cleansers in the evening. One oil/balm as a first step in removing makeup and/or sunscreen and then I go in with a second round with the same cleanser that I used in the morning. I usually have 2-3 cleansers in action at any given moment.

During this six-month period I have used up four cleansers and all of them were new to me. I wanted to try a new oil cleanser as my first cleanse in the evening and chose Organic Flowers Cleansing Oil by Whamisa (150 ml, 359 SEK). I had no previous experience with the brand and just chose it at random. It worked just fine but the scent was not my favourite. The oil was on the thinner side and it did sting my eyes slightly. I will not repurchase.

Moving on to cream cleansers (second cleanser at night or only cleanser in the morning) and we have three bottles/tubes. First I used up the Nourishing Cleanser by M Picaut (100 ml, 329 SEK). I enjoyed the formulation of this pale yellow cleanser and it worked well in cleansing my skin. But a few pointers will keep me from buying again soon. It did not last very long and I’m weary of the glass bottle. Let me explain. The bottle is very heavy and I was always a bit scared that I would drop it and damage my sink, the glass shelves in my cabinet or my tiled floor. I also like to cleanse my face in the shower and this is not a bottle I would take with me in there for the fear of dropping it. Another fact worth noting is that one pump distributes very little product. That is not a definitive negative because I would rather pump more than once and get a good amount for a cleanse rather than to have a single pump distribute too much product in one go. But I needed 8-10 pumps to get enough cleanser to distribute and cleanse my face each time. It felt a bit odd to use that many pumps and then go through the bottle quite quickly. I prefer the opposite.

Moving on to the Clean Cleanser by Acasia (100 ml, 199 SEK), another brand that I have recently tried for the first time. I did repurchase this cleanser once as you can see by the double empty tube action. This milky cream cleanser has a mild scent and does the job very well but the consistency was a little too runny for my taste and I felt like I needed quite a bit of product to cleanse my face. So one tube did not last as long as I would like it to. I do not think I will repurchase this any time soon but I might try it again in the future since it does have a preferable price point.

Toner & mists

My current routine: I always have a hydrating spray that I use after cleansing but before serums. Sometimes I use a toner as a complement, either a hydrating one or an exfoliator. In the evenings I also like to use a more nourishing spray (with oils) as a last comforting step.

This was my second bottle of the the Hydrating Accelerator by Josh Rosebrook (120 ml, 399 SEK) but the first time I’ve bought it in the larger bottle. The 120 ml bottle was much better value than the 60 ml (289 SEK) and I would love to buy it again but it has been out of stock at the Swedish reseller for ages. At the moment I’m writing this they do not have any Josh Rosebrook products in stock at all. The mister is lovely and I enjoy the scent and the hydrated feeling it leaves on my face after using it. If it does come back in stock I will repurchase for sure.

The Collagen Tonic by Pixi (100 ml, 179 SEK) was a spontaneous purchase. I wanted to try something other than serums and I used this tonic as an essence, applied and patted in with my hands. It smells lovely and left my skin feeling hydrated and nice. A little skin treat. When I first bought it I had no feelings for it and regarded it almost like a completely unnecessary step. But after frequent use and finishing the bottle I started to miss it. So I have since repurchased and still enjoy applying it every other day before serums.

Essence & serums

My current routine: I like to use a hydrating serum 1-2 times a day and that is my core item. I also tinker with more treatment focused serums but I’m more irregular with those.

A previously recurring product is the Nordic-C Glow Boost Essence by Lumene (30 ml, 299 SEK). This was my go-to serum for many years and this was my final bottle. I have not repurchased since and I’m currently loving the Hyaluronic Super Serum serum by Acasia that is very hydrating and also contains some vitamin C.

“Buffet” Multi-Technology Peptide Serum by The Ordinary (30 ml, 200 SEK) is not a new product for me. I’ve used and liked it in the past. Right now I have another serum that I like (the above mentioned from Acasia) but I can see myself picking up Buffet again in the future.

Moisturisers & oils

My current routine: I use a variety of creams depending on what my skin needs. In the morning after serums I like to put on a basic moisturiser before adding SPF and/or a primer. I have lighter and heavier creams (I’m using the term heavy lightly here – I have combination skin after all) and adjust the combination according to seasonal variations like the climate outdoors/indoors. For daytime the goal is to have a face base that does not pill or look patchy when I apply makeup on top. In the evening I like to use a more robust and comforting cream since I do not need to worry about the makeup bit. I use an eye cream both morning and evening and the main goal is to hydrate the skin without stinging my eyes or melting my mascara. I use oils sparingly but I like to have one on hand for facial massages or as an extra comforting layer when my skin needs it.

Another recurring product is the Natural Moisturizing  Factors + HA by The Ordinary (30 ml, 79 SEK). I use this as a basic surface hydrator and usually layer it under my sunscreen. I have repurchased this and will most likely continue to do so. It is reliable, nicely priced and works well under other products without pilling.

The Age Repair Eye Cream by Grown Alchemist (15 ml, 620 SEK) is another recurring product and I would have repurchased this if I had not been impossible to get a hold of. My usual retailer stopped carrying the brand and I cannot find this specific product anywhere else. And at that point they lost me. I cannot be bothered to spend a lot of time searching to find a product, it is not that special. If it was readily available I would have bought another one but instead I tried something new from another brand.

Base makeup

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Hydrating Foundation Stick in “Birch 1,5” (10 g, 455 SEK) had a lovely creamy formula that I preferred to blend out with a medium stiff brush – my preferred one is the Expert Face Brush by Real Techniques. The coverage was very nice and I liked the finish. It did not feel too slippery after application nor did it set or dry down on my skin. It felt somewhat tacky to touch and I needed to set it with powder. BUT the shade was sadly leaning too pink on me and there is no other great shade match in the range. The only way I managed to wear and use up this product was to apply a green colour corrector underneath. The green sort of balanced out the worst of the pink in the foundation and it looked acceptable (but not great). I would be interested to buy this foundation again if Bare Minerals did a shade extension that included something closer to my undertone.

I am not sure I used the Sephora Green Colour Corrector (3,4 ml, 169 SEK) in the best way. I applied it over my bare skin like a primer. And it did not work very well on me. The formula was a bit hard to spread evenly and I never managed to tone down the red without looking too green. The tube was used up a bit too quickly in this manner. However I do not think it is the fault of the product but rather user error. My current colour corrector, from Nyx, works best when I blend it into my liquid foundation. I mix them before applying to get a slightly more green-leaning shade. One reason for this discovery was that I realised that my undertone has some green in it. All thanks to Fatima @anotherbeautyjunky over at Instagram. I was complaining that I had a hard time finding base shades that work for me and she mentioned that she noticed that I had a little green in my undertone. BAM!!! I had never thought about that before. I’ve just assumed that the lightness of my skin, my more neutral undertone and the redness in my face made it hard to shade match me. But know that I think about the green it all makes sense. It is a very slight green tinge but now that I think about it I cannot understand how I had never identified it before. So blending in a green corrector in my foundation fills both the role of correcting the redness in my face but also adjusting the shade of the base product to better match my neck. Genius!

Macara & brows

Relevée Mascara (6 g, 320 SEK) by Surratt is a repurchase. I still enjoy the formula, brush and the sleek packaging and have already repurchased yet again. The mascara is a bit more wet in the beginning when first opened, as with most mascaras, but after a few uses it dries down a bit and becomes even easier to work with. I do like how it make my lashes look, albeit very basic, and Relevée is buildable if I wait a little bit before applying more. Since I cannot wear anything other than tubing mascaras I am used to the lack of “wow” lashes. The mascara does tend to create a little fall-out smudge, especially from my bottom lashes, but nothing that bothers me too much. If I know I will be wearing a very emollient face product, like sunscreen, I just skip putting mascara on my lower lashes to avoid the “smudge”.

This was my first time trying Control Freak Eyebrow Gel in Clear (9 g, 99 SEK) by Nyx and I can sadly report that I will not be buying it again. The large brush made a mess since the product ended up beside my browns as well when I applied it. I found it to have a very watery formula that did little to control my brows.

Miscellaneous makeup

Then we have three other makeup products, one eye shadow primer and two lipsticks. The primer is the Eyeshadow Primer Potion in the Anti-aging version by Urban Decay (10 ml, 280 SEK). I have used this a lot over the years and it is my go-to eye primer at this point. I’m still trying other brands from time to time but this is the one a keep going back to. I like that I can easily blend eyeshadow on top of this before before it has completely dried down but it never comes out patchy. It it very user friendly and a tube last me a long time. I also enjoy that is comes with an applicator which makes it very easy to apply the desired amount to the lid or wherever you would like the primer to go.

The Fantastick lipstick in Pink Opal (2 g, 199 SEK) by LH Cosmetics was used both as a lip and cheek shade, mainly in the summer. I’m not much for cream cheek but when it is warmer outside I sometimes prefer it. The shade is a bit too light for my taste but the formula worked well and felt nice on the lips. I will not be repurchasing this one but is was nice to use while it lasted.

Dolce Vita lipstick (3,4 g, price unknown) from Nars is in the old formulation that has been long discontinued. This was my second bullet of this colour that I have used up. I would love to find a colour dupe for this shade from another brand though. Its is a perfect MLBB shade with just enough pink and enough brown to look very neutral yet add a little something something. If you look at the below swatches Pink Opal look darker than Dolce Vita, but the formula of the Nars lipstick was more sheer and intensified my natural lip colour rather than covering it. Pink Opal did more of the latter and I think that was shy I did not enjoy the shade as much.

2021 empties wrap-up

As I now wrap up the year of 2021 in numbers I also want to take the opportunity to look even further back and compare those numbers with the previous two years. Below you can see the numbers from 2020 and 2019 in brackets where applicable.

To summarise this year I managed to use up:

• 9 cleansers where one was a mini (11, 8)
• 1 toner (1, 0)
• 3 face mists (3, 5)
• 8 essences/serums (8, 11)
• 1 eye cream (2, 1)
• 2 face creams (5, 4)
• 1 oil (1, 0)
• 2 masks (1, 2)
• 1 eye primer (1, 1)
• 1 powder (2, 3)
• 1 concealer (4, 1)
• 2 foundations (2, 3)
• 3 mascaras (4, 2)
• 1 brow gel (4, 1)
• 2 lipsticks (1, 0)
• 1 colour corrector
• 1 spot treatment.

That is a total of 40 skincare and makeup products compared to 55 in 2020 and 49 in 2019. The value of these products (if they were to be purchased at full price) is around 10 000 SEK (compared to 13 500 SEK the two previous years). All of these specific items were not purchased in one year and some were gifts from friends/family and many were bought with a discount. I’m not doing these round-ups to track how much I spend but rather to highlight to myself the “worth” of the products I actually use up in one year. It shows how I spend my money on certain consumables and it gives food for thought. The average cost per item is now at around 250 SEK and spread out over 12 months it lands at approximately 835 SEK per month compared to 1100 SEK per month in 2020.

I will continue to do these bi-annual instalments of the Used Up. It is a nice way for me to gather my thoughts on products I try but also a fantastic way to chronicle what I use and spend my money on.

Thanks for reading!

Time to go through all of the makeup and skincare items that were used up by me during the first half of 2021, January-June. A total of 22 items, whereas five of them are makeup items. I do not include body care, haircare or any SPF in this roundup post, since I do not care to have a follow up for those categories.

Some notes about my skin – I have dehydrated combination skin. I am noticing my skin changing a lot because of ageing (I’m 39) so I am slowly adjusting my routine to its evolving needs. I still get the occasional breakout and can get quite shiny during the day. My skin rarely reacts badly to products and I have no allergies.

Cleansers

I managed to use up a total of five cleansing products during this period and one is a mini. The Rose Cream Cleanser by Pixi (135 ml, 279 SEK) has been a steady part of mosts instalments of The Used Up and I used it as my only cleanser in the morning and as my second cleanser in the evening. I still think it is a lovely product – I love the texture, the scent and the effect. But I have noticed previously, as mentioned in earlier posts, that one tube does not last me as long as I want it to and I wish to find a replacement that lasts longer for the price.

The Olive Cleansing cleanser by Maria Åkerberg is such a replacement purchase. I used up a mini, that I bought as part of a spa kit, and enjoyed the texture and the smell enough to buy the large bottle (250 ml, 229 SEK). However after a while I noticed that the smell started to bother me so I think I might refrain from buying it again. For now at least.

The Rehydrating Rosepetal Cleanser by Elemis (200 ml, 365 SEK) was also purchased as an effort to replace the one from Pixi. The pump dispenser worked well and on a normal day I would use 2-3 pumps for my entire face. The rose smell was a bit too much for my taste but it is i no way off-putting. It is an ok product but I do not feel enticed enough to repurchase.

Nourishing Omega-Rich Cleansing Oil by Elemis (195 ml, 465 SEK) is a product that I used up back in 2019 and decided to try again. It is lovely and smooth oil that effectively removes makeup. I could use it on my eyes without any big problems. The big plus with this product is that it lasts for a long time, more than six months, which would warrant the price. I’ve not experimented with many cleansing oils previously, since I used to prefer balms, but I will try and see if I can find another oil that is a little less expensive or one from a brand that I have more feelings for, you know.

Toner & mists

One type of mist that I use quite seldom is a more hydrating and nourishing mist, like the Glow Mist (80 ml, 249 SEK) by Pixi. It contains oils and this I would use during the day when I want some hydration on top of makeup or in the evening as a last skincare step. I do not use this as a “glow getter” since I have combination skin and my natural glow, or shine if you will, will come naturally anyway. I use it more like a comforting and calming hug for the face when it feels in need. I have repurchased this specific product but in the Rose version.

I continue to mist my face after cleansing before I apply serums etc, both in the morning and evening. I have enjoyed the Nordic Hydra Facial Mist (50 ml, 99 SEK) from Lumene just fine. It is hydrating, has a nice scent and the mister works well. This and the Vitamin-C version have been in my previous iterations of The Used Up numerous times. However I am a bit out of love with Lumene as a brand and will phase out all of my recurring favourites from them. When I finished this last bottle I switched back to the Hydrating Accelerator from Josh Rosebrook again. I found it in the larger bottle (120 ml) and I currently enjoy using it a lot more than I did the first time around.

Essence & serums

A recurring product is the Nordic-C Glow Boost Essence by Lumene (30 ml, 289 SEK). I go through these quite quickly and have another bottle in use right now. But after that I will break the habit and find other hydrators.

The theme continues – two tubes of the Rose Caviar Essence by Pixi (45 ml, 399 SEK) emptied in six months yet again. I have continued to use this product twice daily to layer hydration but I’m not really comfortable with the fact that I go through four tubes in a year. That is a bit much since I combine it with the Lumene essence and those seem to go in a similar rate. That is a lot of money for my hydrating sandwich. I will probably buy the Caviar Essence again in the future but for now I’m going to try some other serums and see if I can get my hydration boost for a little less money.

Niacimide 10% + Zinc 1% by the Ordinary (30 ml, 69 SEK) is what I use whenever my skin is prone to breakouts and I usually apply it over the affected area or the t-zone. I have another bottle in use right now. It feels like it calms everything down a bit.

Moisturisers & oils

This is my second jar of Hydration Recharge Overnight Cream (50 ml, 209 SEK) by Lumene from their Nordic Hydra series. I used it as a night cream on top of serums and/or oils. I’m not repurchasing because – Lumene.

I purchased the 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil (30 ml, 134 SEK) by The Ordinary primarily to use when doing face massage on myself (I have a tendency to tense my jaw and a massage really helps). Then I also started to use it in the evenings whenever I felt like my skin needed a “blanket”. I rarely use oils but this one works very well with my combination skin. It smells a bit interesting, like hay or something, but I’ve grown so accustomed to the smell that now I find it comforting. It did start to go off when I was a the end of the bottle so the shelf-life of 12 months after opening is about right. I have repurchased this product and I find it to be very useful.

Masks

The Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Masque (125 ml, 330 SEK) was a spontaneous purchase when I still lived in Gothenburg and had a Kiehl’s counter readily available. On paper it looked like a great product for me since I really enjoy moisturising overnight masks and it was a huge jar for a reasonable price. I’ve had previous positive encounters with the Ultra Facial series as well. But this product is really not for me. It’s a clear jelly-like product that smells very little but still has a slight chemical scent that is hard to describe. It does not sink into the skin at all but rather leaves a thick sticky surface that gets everywhere including my pillow. I hate sleeping in it and that totally defeats the purpose. I’ve been doing masks really infrequently since I dislike this one so much and that is a shame. I’m so glad it is finally empty so that I could purchase a replacement for that category. I have done that and it’s by M Picaut.

I used the Blue Herbal Spot Treatment (15 ml, 200 SEK) by Kiehl’s on any blemishes to stop them in their track. It worked just fine but when dried down it did leave a film on the skin. Even if that was just a small area it did have a tendency to pill whenever I touched the skin. This tiny tube lasted me a very long time since a little goes a long way and that is a pro for sure but I do not feel inclined to buy it again. I would prefer something that does not form such a prominent film. I’ve purchased a replacement from Pixi.

I really hated the Lumene Deeply Purifying Birch Charcoal Mask (75 ml, 129 SEK) from day one. The consistency felt like applying liquid plastic on my face and the mask did nothing for my skin. The scent did nothing for me either, it was a pain to remove and every time I used it felt like a chore. But I did it, I finished the damned thing! And I will never ever consider buying this product again. I am yet to find/buy a replacement for its position.

Base makeup

My last pressed powder by Soap and Glory, One Heck of a Blot Mattifying Powder (9 g, £12), is now used up. I stocked up on this lovely product when I was in London many years ago and now I have used all of them up. I can highly recommend it if you like a translucent pressed setting powder and can get your hands on it.

Following with two Lumene base items, one being the Under Eye Concealer (5 ml, 149 SEK). This exact packaging does not seem to be available anymore but they have a similar product in their line. It worked well for me but it is not available in any other shades. It’s an apricot corrector type shade but I have a hard time thinking this would work for everyone. I will not repurchase.

The Blur Foundation (30 ml, 199 SEK) in “0 Light Ivory” has been repurchased over the years but Lumene has changed the shades, the formula and even the artwork for this product so many times over the past years that I have lost count. Every time I repurchase there seems to be a new version of the same product/shade. This version of Light Ivory was way too pink for me and I have another one in rotation and surprise surprise, it’s different. I currently have both “0” and “00” and this time around the formula seems to be thicker. The shade match is better now but neither of them are the perfect match. I am a bit over trusting Lumene with this foundation since it is so inconsistent in shade and formulation. I will use up the two tubes that I have and that’s it.

Mascara & brows

After trying to find an option for the Lash Power mascara by Clinique I found out that Surratt made tubing mascaras and wanted to try them out for myself. First i bought the Pointilliste Mascara (2 g, 300 SEK) by mistake, not realising it was such a small tube and therefore also a small amount. It is aimed to be used for the lower lashes and has a tiny brush, but I could use on the top lashes as well. But the price point is ridiculous for such a tiny amount of product. When the Relevée Mascara (6 g, 320 SEK) cam in stock I bought it and used them both simultaneously. Now that I have finished both I will only repurchase the Relevée but I will clean and save the brush for Pointilliste. As with most tubing mascaras the result is quite basic but I do find that Relevée is buildable if I wait a little bit before applying more. Not too long so that the mascara dries, but just going back and forth between both eyes a bit allows it to build somewhat. Not a fat lash by any means, but thicker and a bit more definition. I did suffer a tiny bit of fallout “smudge” on some days but nothing that bothers me at this point. I enjoy this product and as mentioned I have repurchased. The packaging is sleek and the brush is nice and slim, just how I like it. The big draw-back is the price tag. I am not too happy with 320 SEK for a consumable like this but it will do for now.

That was it, six months of used up products. I’m currently very uninspired by skincare and there are few brands that pique my interest nowadays. I’m looking to try some more items from Josh Rosebrook, M Picaut and Pixi. I’m also looking at Swedish brand Acasia since I’ve not tried any of their products but heard good things about them. But what I really long for is to not have to experiment and try new skincare products a lot, but rather to find my core basics from brands that I like. And with a little luck those products will last me a long time so that I do not have to repurchase all the frakking time. Until then..

Thanks for reading!