The goal is still to hoard less and purchase only when necessary. June seems to have been a success of sorts. One item is going to be a replacement for something I am running low on and the other is not a need in my collection but inexpensive enough to not warrant too much scrutiny, I hope.
My current eyebrow pencil is still months away from its end; I just like having a replacement on hand before that time comes. I can always work with eyeshadows had I not bought a backup but nothing beats the speediness and ease of a pencil. I chose to go with the Innisfree Brow Master Pencil in #1 Gray because it was double-ended, included an eyebrow powder, and color seems to match my natural black hair well. I also wanted to give something more affordable (at USD $11) a try as the last few I had were all higher-end brow pencils (USD $20+).
The Ordinary's 100% Plant-Derived Squalane is 100% unnecessary to me right this moment as I had bought the Olivarrier Fluid Oil Squalane just 3 months prior—which is still unopened. However, I was already at Deciem's storefront in Soho to pick up something for my brother and was curious how their much cheaper option of squalane (USD $7.90) would fair against the pricier option (USD $42). It is such a huge cost difference, how could I not pick it up?
This is a progress report to be proud of! Never would I have thought my picks would empty so quickly especially when I have so many blush and eyeshadow options. When excluding my tendencies to over-swirl and -scoop products, I attribute the success to using more combinations of blush (cream + powder) and using multipurpose eyeshadow colors (highlight, contour, & eyeliner).
As with past Project Make a Dents the results for certain items didn't look so drastic until I compared the before and after shots side-by-side. I am hoping there will be just as much progress in the latter half of 2018. I may never see the pan in the powder blushes and eyeshadows but making an even larger dent would suffice.
VDL MULE Ultimate Cover Palette A03
The unexpected and most drastic update award would most likely go to this VDL palette. I never thought I would be able to pan out so much of the two cream blushes yet here I am. I am about halfway finished with the cream foundation. Scooping out the product first rather than dipping a brush directly into the cream helped a lot.
Kate Lasting High Coverage Powder Foundation OC-C
Pressed powders almost never get completely used up. By the time I expose enough of the middle pan, any brush swirling increases the chances of the outer ring of powder crumbling into unusable pieces. It is just not worth the effort to re-crush the powder in order to continue usage.
I am glad I could finally let this powder foundation go. It wasn't a terrible product but wasn't the most favorite part of my makeup routine.
Skinfood Salmon Dark Circle Powder
Quite possibly the most satisfying comparison photo. I genuinely thought I hadn't used much of the loose powder. I guess I remembered beginning with less than I thought? Using the product as an overall face setting powder instead of just on the under eyes area seems to have helped get through this quicker.
MAC Cosmetics Mineralized Skinfinish in Pink Power
Considering how large this baked powder is, I am proud of how flat the dome has gotten. It still seems like there is a long ways to go before all the rings are fully visible. At this point, I have given up on using the remainder of the highlighter/blush shades.
Milani Minerals Blushes in Sweet Rose and Luminous & MAC Cosmetics My Highland Honey
Out of the 3 powder blushes I picked for the year, I have consistently used the bottom two thus far. Sweet Rose was great during the winter months when I seemed to gravitate towards dustier/cooler shades. My Highland Honey is currently in my makeup mix simply because of how bright and sunny it looks. I intend to swap in Luminous in a few months time.
VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot in 502 Triple Burgundy and 101 Triple Pink
I have to confess, I didn't reach for these at all during the colder months of 2018. Buying the JUNGSAEMMOOL and Maybelline lipsticks kept my interests preoccupied for a while. I have only recently started to use the Triple Burgundy shade VDL Tint Bar but progress has been made. These are two products I cannot wait to complete; not that they're not good nor I don't like the gradient look but I think I have outgrown the finish these give.
Urban Decay Naked Palette
The dents in these eyeshadow pans are so encouraging. I think some greed has grown within me to see at least one of these shades hit pan. Luckily I found it easy using some colors in large amounts (Virgin, Sin, and Half Baked) as they are great for facial highlight. There was a phase during these last 6 months where I mixed Naked and Buck together as a nose contour.
While I used Milani's Sweet Rose blush, I loved pairing it with Sidecar, Toasted and Hustle. As I am using MAC My Highland Honey, I tend to reach for Naked, Bucked, and Darkhorse or Half Baked, Smog, and Darkhouse in those combinations. I am not sure what to pick when I switch over to Milani's Luminous blush nor if I'll ever use Creep and Gunmetal. Next challenge perhaps?
Lotus leaf extract doesn't sound quite as exotic yet it is still a unique ingredient in the beauty world. The Lotus brand touts the extract as something of an anti-ager and antioxidant-rich star—clearly something worth basing their entire brand towards. They carry essences, serums, mists, creams, shampoos, and even teas; The Lotus Essence with Lotus Leaf Extract 89% boasts the highest concentration of lotus leaf extract to soothe, hydrate, and brighten.
The Lotus' description:
The Lotus has formulated a deeply hydrating essence (serum) blended with 89% lotus extract.
Lotus leaves have the natural antibiotics, flavonoids which has anti-aging effect. The leaves contain detoxicating agents, iron, vitamin C, potassium and tannin and 20 times more calcium than green tea leaves. They have twice more protein than common vegetables and dietary fiber as much as apples.
Lotus leaves are natural antibiotics and antioxidants which benefit the skin.
Formulated without: Parabens, Synthetic Dye Free.
Ingredients
NELUMBO NUCIFERA LEAF EXTRACT, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, NIACINAMIDE , HYDROGENATED C6-14 OLEFIN POLYMERS, GLYCERYL OLEATE CITRATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, CARBOMER, TROMETHAMINE, WATER, XANTHAN GUM, STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) PEEL OIL, ADENOSINE, DISODIUM EDTA, COCO-GLUCOSIDE, OCTYLDODECANOL, HIPPOPHAE RHAMNOIDES OIL, GLYCERYL POLYMETHACRYLATE, RIBES NIGRUM (BLACK CURRANT) SEED OIL, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, BENZOIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, CITRUS UNSHIU PEEL EXTRACT, ORCHID EXTRACT, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, CAMELLIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, OPUNTIA COCCINELLIFERA FRUIT EXTRACT, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, CERAMIDE 3(CERAMIDE NP), HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL UNSAPONIFIABLES, SODIUM LACTATE, TOCOPHEROL, CARDIOSPERMUM HALICACABUM FLOWER/LEAF/VINE EXTRACT, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT, PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) OIL, PELARGONIUM GRAVEOLENS FLOWER OIL, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) PEEL OIL
Essence 125 ml / 4.2 fl oz
The Lotus (Korean retail): ₩50,000
The Lotus (USA retail): USD $64.00
Peach & Lily: USD $64.00
BeautyBoxKorean: USD $52.97
Packaging
Essence comes in a sturdy translucent plastic bottle with a pump (which does not have a twist-lock mechanism). The expiration is clearly printed on the bottom.
The Lotus does everything right with the packaging's functionality. I love being able to see through the bottle; it allows me to spot how much of the actual product is left. I appreciate that the tube inside which connects to the pump is long enough to reach the bottom and then some so I can easily get out every last drop of essence. I have never had an issue with the pump clogging up (but the formulation of the essence probably also plays a big part). Plus the beautiful artwork on the inside of the box is a great touch.
Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent
Looks milky in the bottle but comes out to be on the clearer side, and even more transparent once blended into the skin. There is some viscosity but isn't overly thick or sticky, just enough to keeps it general shape on a level-ish surface. The essence spreads easily into a water-like texture. My skin absorbs the product quickly, leaving behind no residue, and looks almost as if I applied nothing while still feeling moisturized. The essence has a light fruity...floral (?) scent; not overpowering nor lingers long.
How I Apply
Apply after cleansing and toner. Directly squirt onto my face, once on the forehead, once on each cheek, and once on my neck. Lightly smooth the essence evenly and pat the product in, if I feel like it, otherwise, I let it sit a few minutes to absorb on its own. Use twice daily, in AM and PM.
Thoughts & Recommendations
Anyone can benefit from including antioxidants into a routine. They're supposed to protect against the environment, firm, and brighten—all of which we inevitably have to battle against forces of nature and time to prevent. The Lotus' essence is very lightweight and supposedly packs a punch of said antioxidants with the 89% concentration of the lotus leaf extract.
One bottle of essence lasted me a good five months (plus or minus a few days) of twice daily usage. It hydrates most of my skin well; it just wasn't nourishing enough for the more stubborn patches of dryness I am prone to having no matter the weather conditions. I found it lacking in the winter months especially and had to layer other products in addition to the essence. My skin does feel softer where it is typically normal/oily.
The brightness of skin is a hard quality to measure in my opinion. I don't think my skin tone is noticeably different after using the essence. Sometimes my face does seem more glowy when I wake up after using the product but I can't say for sure it was solely the essence alone.
I cannot comment on its anti-aging properties as I don't have fine lines or wrinkles yet. However, I also don't believe using just one bottle of an antioxidant-based product could produce long-term results in the anti-aging department.
The biggest reason why I don't like to use the essence is how flushed and slightly stingy my face feels after immediate application. The feeling only lasts for about a minute or so and oddly enough only on my face (not neck nor hand) but unpleasant nonetheless. There isn't an especially harsh ingredient in there which makes it even more puzzling. I have gone through pages of reviews on the Peach & Lily site and I seem to be the sole minority.
A repurchase is unlikely since I want to believe there is an antioxidant based product that my skin won't react to even if momentarily—especially if the retail price is USD $60+. Otherwise, I loved the formulation of the essence: lightweight and a non-sticky finish. While many dry skin customers seem to love this product, I personally think it would be best for those with any skin but dry skin, live in a climate with humidity or generally prefer a weightless product. Sensitive skin may want to take caution as there are a few typical essential oils (lavender, orange, etc.).
