First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen
For me, for various reasons, some of those reasons might even be a little bit petty, I started thinking that the reason some of these products might not be working for me might be reasons they would work for you, so I thought I would share them with you today. I have products of all kinds in this video.
Initial Impressions
Welcome back to my channel, welcome if you’re new. I’d love to hear your thoughts on any of these products as we go through the video. If you’ve tried them and what you think about my thoughts as well. So let’s go ahead and get into these products that aren’t quite fails, but aren’t favorites either. This is a great example of why I don’t do many first impressions here and if I do a first impression I come back with a later review after I’ve tested that product some more.
Not Quite a Favorite
I initially talked about First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen in some kind of a haul video a while back and I initially really loved it for my sensitive combination skin with rosacea. This is a zinc-based, broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen. It’s got some really nice hydrating ingredients, so for me, it functions really nicely as a moisturizer and sunscreen all-in-one. It’s got a really thin, runny texture with a slight tint to it, so you don’t get that white cast that a lot of mineral sunscreens give you. It sinks right into your skin and massages.
Skincare Savior Turned Disappointment
In like a lotion very quickly right after application, it looks pretty glowy, but as you let it sink in for several minutes, as you should with sunscreen before you apply your makeup, it just absorbs into your skin nicely. It never leaves me feeling greasy or oily during the day, theres no heavy sunscreen scent either and it wears beautifully under makeup and doesnt pill under makeup that Ive tested anyway.
Convenient but not a Favorite
So for me this is a really nice one-step moisturizer SPF all-in-one product. If I do not try and layer anything underneath it anytime, I try to layer this over a vitamin C serum or a peptide serum whatever it is thats. When I get peeling with this product and most days, I use those types of serums.
A Limited-Love Relationship
So this is a product I have to reserve for days when Im really in a hurry and need to streamline my skin care or, if Im traveling days like that, but if youre a skincare minimalist, if youre trying to streamline things and youre not layering products like I am, this may really work for you when Im not trying to layer it over something it works so beautifully.
Hit or Miss
I just wish it would work that way. For me all the time I couldnt not share this at all, because it may have a place for you. Thats kind of the purpose of this video – I guess this is Clarences total eye lift. This is a very popular, highly rated Eye Treatment cream.
Intriguing Ingredients
There are some really nice ingredients in this eye cream. It boasts a retinol alternative that is supposed to be as effective as the real thing. This alternative is gentle on the skin, helping to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, tighten the skin, and combat dark circles. The promise of these benefits certainly piqued my interest when I first started testing out this product several weeks ago.
Day and Night Use
I found that this eye cream works well for both day and night use. It is not too heavy to wear during the day and sits well under makeup. The consistency of the cream is suitable for both morning and evening application, which is a bonus for me. I often struggle with finding a nighttime eye cream that is not too heavy for day use, so I was pleased to see that this product had a versatile formula.
Luxurious Packaging, Frustrating Pump
While the eye cream itself comes in a luxuriously packaged bottle, complete with a pump dispenser, I encountered some issues with the pump mechanism. Mine seemed to be defective, as I would sometimes have to pump several times before any product came out. Then, suddenly, a large amount of cream would dispense at once, leading to product wastage.
My efforts to delicately push the pump resulted in the cream squirting out in an inconsistent manner, making it challenging to control the amount dispensed. This was particularly frustrating given the high price point of the product. I was reluctant to waste any of the eye cream due to the faulty pump, and I found this to be a significant drawback to an otherwise promising product.
Disappointing Design Flaw
After researching further, I discovered that I was not alone in experiencing issues with the pump dispenser. Many other users had reported similar frustrations, praising the effectiveness of the eye cream while lamenting the flawed packaging design. It was disappointing to see such a well-formulated product let down by a simple but crucial flaw in its packaging.
The Pump Issue
The bottle is good. Why is this pump not being addressed? I find myself not wanting to reach for it as much as I should, specifically because of the pump. There are other Lux and not Luxe, effective eye creams. I could reach for that. Have a fully functioning pump. I just do not understand this, so this has really affected my experience with it. Otherwise it would be great.
Lack of Sharpener
I’ve shared my love for House Labs Le Monster lip crayons in the past. This is the Shade Blush Matte. I have swatched here on the back of my hand, and I applied it over Huda Beauty pinky brown lip liner that I had lined and filled my lips in with these. They have such a nice lightweight texture and they’re smoothing and flattering, and they have a velvety matte finish and they’re really comfortable. I also love how slim they are, but the longer I’ve had these the more I’m bothered by the fact that there’s no included sharpener. If you’re like me and you have uneven lips and you need some more precision around the perimeter of your lips, a rounded tip is not practical. So, I sharpened this with just a sharpener I had laying around. I had to be really, really careful because the product is a little bit soft for that, but you can see here they had so much room down here to turn this silver end into a sharpener. I just don’t know why they didn’t do that it even pops out, but there’s no sharpener.
The Lipstick Product
I just don’t understand why they didn’t take that opportunity to make this a lipstick product that you could be precise with and fill in your lips. So that may be kind of petty kind of nitpicky, but that alone is why I like this product, but I just don’t love it.
The Fairy Duster Dry Shampoo
This is the somewhat new fairy duster dry shampoo from day. I was excited to try it because it’s an alternative to aerosol dry shampoo, there’s an optional brush – that I kind of thought was overkill, so I just decided to get this so first off.
This smells great, it’s got this Citrus Orange Blossom, vanilla scent that smells divine. So it’s talc free – and this is supposed to, of course, absorb excess oil and boost volume and extend your style. They say that one of the equals four aerosol cans, so a little goes a long way, and I 100% agree with that.
They put some nice ingredients in here: prickly pear seed oil, cactus flower extract some other things that are supposed to nourish and soften your hair, strengthen and improve manageability and naturally cleanse and exfoliate. Now they say it’s transparent, and that is where I’m saying no. I have a lot of experience with dry shampoos, and so I was pretty confident that I can make this work work, but the first time I went in I had so much white in my scalp that it would not disperse so now I get the brush that I thought was unnecessary.
My Unique Application Method
While some people may find it necessary to really scrub dry shampoo into their scalps, I have a different approach. I prefer to hold it out away from my scalp, poof it into my hair, let it sit for a bit, and then massage it in with my fingers. In fact, I have even used one of my more dense makeup brushes as a makeshift hair brush just in case I apply too much on my scalp.
Experimenting with Application Techniques
Sometimes I pump the dry shampoo into my hand and then apply it into my hair. This way, I can distribute it evenly and avoid having too much product in one spot. I believe that everyone has their own method for applying dry shampoo, but the key is to be careful with the amount you use and the technique you implement.
Lack of Expected Volume
Although some people swear by dry shampoo for adding volume to their hair, I personally don’t find that I get a significant amount of volume when using this product. However, I do appreciate that it serves its primary purpose as a dry shampoo, especially when I’m traveling by air and want to avoid carrying liquids or aerosols.
Suggestions for Improvement
One aspect that would make me love this dry shampoo even more is if it were available in tinted versions. Shades like blonde, brown, black, or even gray would be incredibly helpful in disguising any white residue that may cling to my hair or scalp. While I understand that the white color is inherent to the product, having tinted options would certainly eliminate the hassle of dealing with clumps that are difficult to manage.
Pacifica Future Youth Foaming Cleansing Gel
I should love the Pacifica Future Youth Foaming Cleansing Gel, but I just don’t. While it is a nice product, I wish it were more user-friendly. Perhaps a tinted version would make it easier to use. Although I appreciate that a little goes a long way with this cleanser, I can’t help but feel like it could be improved.
Consistency and Lather
When it comes to the consistency of this cleanser, I find it lacking. It doesn’t create the rich lather that is promised on the bottle. Instead of a luxurious foam, it turns into a creamy, slightly foamy texture. While this may work for some, it falls short of my expectations.
Skin Hydration
One thing I do appreciate about the Pacifica cleanser is that it never leaves my skin feeling stripped. After each use, my skin feels hydrated and nourished. It contains ingredients that help to smooth, improve texture, protect, soothe, hydrate, calm, and brighten the skin. While this is all well and good, I still can’t seem to fully love this product.
Strawberry Scent
The strawberry scent of the Pacifica Future Youth Foaming Cleansing Gel is a big selling point for many users. However, I can’t help but be disappointed. While it is described as smelling like soft, sun-kissed strawberries, all I smell is a generic, artificial scent that falls short of my expectations. This discrepancy between what is promised and what is delivered leaves me feeling a bit let down.
Smoky Strawberry Scented Product
I use this Smoky strawberry and its just such an odd smell to me. I guess that’s what they’re calling sun kissed that Smoky scent. It’s just kind of odd. I do feel like my skin is nice and calm and balanced after using this. I just don’t love it for some reason, and I think that smell, that scent is the reason why. I want it to be a brighter, more fresher strawberry scent, which you may find petty and some of you may really love the scent of This, but for me it’s just not quite hitting. I am someone who really loves a sensory experience with my products. They don’t all have to smell like fruit, they don’t all even have to smell, but if that is a part of the experience, I need for it to be fully there and it’s just not for this.
Other Products
I had a couple more products I could have added, but I think I’m going to save those for the next one if you liked this video, that is, and just keep this one kind of short and sweet. Of course, I don’t really know how long this is going to end up being, but I could always add them as kind of mid products in my favorites and fails video, if you would prefer that also. Let me know how you feel about the products that I shared if you’ve tried those. I hope you enjoyed this video and found it helpful in some way. If you did, give it a thumbs up, subscribe if you’re not already, and if you haven’t seen my Ulta beauty week, 2 video it’s here with all the products that are included plus my top picks and the changes that Ulta has made to their semiannual sale.
Face serums with fancy ingredients
As a beauty enthusiast, I know I should be all over face serums with fancy ingredients like hyaluronic acid and peptides. They promise to hydrate, plump, and rejuvenate the skin. But for some reason, every time I try to incorporate them into my skincare routine, I end up feeling like they are just an unnecessary extra step. Do they really make a difference, or are they just a marketing ploy?
Sheet masks
Sheet masks are all the rage right now. They come in fun designs, promise to instantly revive tired skin, and make for great Instagram selfies. But I can’t seem to get on board with them. They always seem to slide off my face, and the whole experience just feels messy and cumbersome. Maybe I’m missing out on the skincare benefits, but for now, I’ll stick to my traditional masks.
Liquid lipsticks
Liquid lipsticks are hailed for their long-wear formula and intense color payoff. They are supposed to last through meals and drinks without budging. But every time I try to wear one, I find them to be too drying and uncomfortable. The last thing I want is to have crusty, flaky lips halfway through the day. I’ll stick to my traditional bullet lipsticks, thank you very much.
Expensive exfoliators
High-end exfoliators with luxurious ingredients like diamond dust and crushed pearls should be a staple in every skincare routine, or so they say. But I just can’t bring myself to splurge on them. I mean, are they really that much better than my trusty drugstore exfoliators? The markup on these products seems more about branding than actual effectiveness. I’ll save my money for other skincare investments.