Foil Challenge

[ather]

I know we all talked about this but I need it in writing to hold myself more accountable! I have picked out around 28 foils that I am hoping to get through by the end of Feb. that’s 1 foil a day unless I decide to stack more than one! Here’s what I’ve picked randomly! 

 

[CynthieLu]

I was sooo lucky they were all so good 😉 @Cissy63 thank you 🥰

[JoSometimes]

@CynthieLu That’s actually a genius travelling hack! You could easily stash a bunch of them in a ziplock for the plane. Even if you’re driving, it won’t be as bulky as bringing entire bottles with you. Glad to hear they’ve all worked with your skin!

[CynthieLu]

Thank you! It was risky only in the sense that if I had a reaction to something I was a bit out of luck, but everything I brought was not too skin-drastic @JoSometimes.

I'm very happy my skin has been cool with everything. 🍀And, it feels good to use up a bit of the stockpile. 😉 

No plane just a solid long car drive 🙃 but I did over pack possibly lol

[itsfi]

July 2023 Foils

Eeek! 😩 My streak of not reaching for any of the foils I planned for this challenge continues for another month. 😣I had a rosacea flare up about mid-July and have been sticking to my tried-and-true skincare products, except for the new Tatcha cleansing balm, which I've been using for about 10 days now and lemme just say this - if you see a foil or sample of this beauty, pick it up, folks; pick it up!! 👍 I did use these foils and sheet mask at the beginning of the month, before my rosacea flare up. The Sulwhasoo Mini First Care Activating Serum .5 oz/ 15 mL Sulwhasoo Anti-Aging First Care Activating Serum 2.02 oz / 60 mL is lovely; if I wasn't working on some well-loved serums already, I would pick up a full size of the Sulwhasoo.

The Dr. Jart+ Dermask™ Clearing Solution Face Mask  sheet mask was fine; I can't say it worked to clear my skin of acne but it did add a nice light layer of hydration and for a gal with dehydrated combo skin, that is a beautiful thing. This is a sheet mask I'd use again if I had another one, but it's not one I feel I need to run out to pick up.

August Foil Goals: 

Not sure at the moment how I'm feeling about setting aside certain foils to work on for August @ather. At the same time, I feel like having a goal for the next month will be a good way to keep me motivated. I will aim for 10 foils total; about 2 foils per week. I have two work trips scheduled in August so I may have more opportunities to use up more foils. Stay tuned! 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Sorry to hear about the flare up. I have not reached my goals for July and will probably take a different approach. Using up foils have been more challenging than I had thought. 

[ather]

@itsfi  I think you still did great! You had to take care of your skin and make sure the flare up doesn’t last longer! That’s awesome you found a new serum that you love! Do you think you love it more than your current serum? That mask sounds amazing. I’m glad you enjoyed it! 

I think 10 is perfect for next month! It’s definitely easier to use foils when you travel! You will do great!! 

[itsfi]

Thanks so much @ather! I'm really enjoying the serums in my current routine - EADEM Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum with Niacinamide and Vitamin C 1 oz/ 30 mL followed by Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid. I don't think I love the Sulwhasoo as much as those two. If I were to pick up a full size of the Sulwhasoo it'll likely be during the fall / holiday sale - that should give me some time to work in and use up some other serums in my collection.

[ather]

@itsfi  That’s a great plan! And probably a hard to beat combo!! 

[JoSometimes]

I have a small collection of foils now from various purchases. Finally cracked open a few and tried them out. 

First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA 10 oz / 283.5 g has got to be one of THE MOST abrasive products I’ve ever used! It’s incredibly gritty and did a great job filing down some of the rough skin on my arms and back. Managed to squeeze two tries out of this little foil. I’m tempted to purchase this one…

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair!™ Deep Conditioning Hair Mask did a fine job conditioning my hair. I’ve always been pretty lucky with my hair being nice and soft, so I’m not sure what real benefit I’d get for using this one regularly. Plus, I cut my hair regularly, so any damage doesn’t stick around for long (benefits of maintaining a masc hairstyle 😊). Probably won’t buy unless something drastic happens to my hair. And short hair is economical; I managed to squeeze three uses out of one foil!

[ather]

@JoSometimes  Great job! I have a few foils of the FAB and I’ve been meaning to try it out! Glad you had good results from it! 

[Mellmars1185]

@JoSometimes Thanks for sharing your foil experiences!

[JoSometimes]

My pleasure @Mellmars1185! 😊

[heartsmyface]

I’ve completed three more foils.  Getting through foils is a dangerous sport cause I end up wanting to buy products.  Ha i guess that means they’re doing their job.  

The Elizebeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules say they’re a serum but almost feel like a primer.  It’s got no fragrance and that dimethicone feel to it where it doesn’t feel like it’s absorbing but just sitting on the skin.  It gave me a soft skin effect.

It does say to apply on face and neck at night before moisturizer.  I’m not sure I like the feel of this product but maybe I’ll warm up to it if it gives results.  I’m not a big fan of the capsules. A pump would be less of a hassle but I do appreciate the pea sized amount being pre measured out. I don’t always get a pea sized amount with a pump.  They still seem wasteful but could maybe be useful to pack in a go bag on a short trip. 

The Caudalie Reversatrol-Lift Instant firming serum is wonderful! It’s lightweight and has their signature grape leafy fragrance.  It absorbed quickly and smoothly and gave me instant plumping results.  Another Caudalie product I need to add to my routine. Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Ultimate Firming Set 

The Lancôme Absolue Soft Cream is a medium weight cream with a subtle rosy  fragrance.  It made my skin feel soooo hydrated and soft.  Mega plumped.  I have this love/hate relationship with Lancôme where I love the effect most of their products have on my skin (except their makeup remover which stings) yet I somehow established this impression they’re a ‘dirty’ brand, yet I don’t know why😅  Did they do something?  I’ll have to research.  I do very much like this sample and have this cream on my shopping list for the time being. Lancôme Absolue Soft Cream Facial Moisturizer  

 

[itsfi]

"Getting through foils is a dangerous sport cause I end up wanting to buy products." Couldn't have said it any better @heartsmyface! I love being able to try out a product first but my goodness, it's hard not to pick up a full size after trying something out. 🤣 The Caudalie and Lancome sound lovely 😍 Would these be something you incorporate into your existing routine or do you think they might replace an existing go-to product for you?

[ather]

@heartsmyface  Great job! I know what you mean about finding more loves to add to your stash! I don’t know why but those capsules make me think of those bath capsules that were popular in the 90s. I don’t think I’ve ever tried a skincare in a capsule like that. It’s to bad you can’t add the empty capsule to your bath to dissolve so you’re not wasting! 

[Mellmars1185]

@heartsmyface Nice foiling! Great to know you liked the Lancome cream (minus the brand name 😆). I have that one on my list to use in July. I have never actually tried a capsule. 

[heartsmyface]

@Mellmars1185  I’m confident you’ll love it.  

yeah the capsules are odd.  I feel like it’s perhaps a way to sell less product for more $$$ cause you’d essentially be buying a half full bottle. 

 

[Mellmars1185]

@heartsmyface Thanks for showing me. It also makes me wonder with capsules are you getting every last drop out of them unless you cut them open 🤔

[itsfi]

JUNE UPDATE: So the goal for June foils was relatively straightforward and simple. Or so I thought. I aimed to work through the 7 foil packets of Youth To The People Triple Peptide Hydrating + Firming Oasis Serum with Hyaluronic Acid 1 oz/ 30 mL that I picked up months ago as part of a promo gwp. Well folks, my simple goal turned out to be an epic fail as far are results go. How many foil packets did I actually work my way through?, you ask? Great question. I finished ... wait for it ... ZERO foils of the YTTP serum. 😩 Do better, Fi; do better.

All that being said, I did use some foils in June. 5, to be exact and these 5 specifically:

Spoiler

fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask 3.3 oz/ 100 mL is a mask I've used in the past and I've liked it. The texture reminds me of whipped potatoes and it leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth, lightly hydrated & refreshed, all in as little as 5 minutes. I wonder though if this foil may have been near the end of its shelf life as I noticed the product pilling, which I've never experienced before with previous samples (foils, deluxe size, mini sized) of this mask. 

Given its name, you'd expect a rich, thick cream with the Dear Klairs Fundamental Nourishing Eye Butter but that was not the case, at least consistency-wise - it's on the thinner side, but the results this provided was similar to the moisturizing, nourishing effect you would expect from an eye "butter". Really nice product; I might consider incorporating this one into my routine as an evening eye cream at some point. 

Dr. Roebuck's No Worries Hydrating Face Moisturizer isn't bad at all - it's lightweight, smells nice, is soothing and gentle on the skin, and lightly hydrating. I just have other moisturizers that fall in the favorites or HG status. 

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm is a well loved product, scented or unscented. It's a repeated repurchase. 

Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Firmeza Firming & Debloating Body Oil 4 oz / 100 mL smells just like the Bum Bum cream - soooo good! I have plenty of body oils to make my way through so I won't be picking up a full size anytime soon, but it's not because the product isn't good. 

I also used several sheet masks but haven't had a chance to take a group photo; they're packed up in one of these boxes... Will try to circle back with info on those another day or may just wrap them into my July foils update at the end of next month. @ather 

Foil Goals for July:

The foil packets of the YTTP serum are going into the mix for July, along with the few foil packets I have of Summer Fridays CC Me Vitamin C + Niacinamide Serum 1.0 oz/ 30 mL, which will give me a total of about 10-12 foils as my July foils goal. Fingers crossed folks. 🤞🤞 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Excellent job. Even though you did not use the one you wanted, there is always the next month! 😊

[itsfi]

Thank you @Mellmars1185! I really want to work through the samples I have multiples of, but I seem to go for the tried-and-true ones more often than the new-to-me products. It's a work in progress.