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! 

 

[itsfi]

January 2025 Foils

I used 3 foil samples this month, which was 1 more than I thought I would be able to get through. 2 likes (but not a repurchase) and 1 that's just "meh".

👍  Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots - these particular hydrocolloid acne patches used to be my go-to pimple patches - for decades; a definite GOAT. When the brand launched ones geared for daytime use - thinner and thus, more discreet those slowly morphed into my favorites. The Inkey Lit recently released their own version of these (The INKEY List Hydrocolloid Invisible Patches 22 patches / pack) which include two sizes and can be worn day or night. I went into more detail comparing the product from two brands on theBeauty Product Battles, Throw Downs and Showdowns thread, and ultimately, TIL has come out on top. I would happily use these Peace Out dots (though I'm happy that m need to use them has become less frequent), but the one-time GOAT in this category is now a backup and TIL's version is in the starting lineup. 

😐  amika Dream Routine Overnight Hydrating Hair Mask 3.3 oz / 100 mL (gratis) - I received a full size as gratis but instead of breaking it open, I reached for this deluxe sample sized foil of it to test out. It's not bad, but it didn't wow me. My hair (mid-length, color-treated, fine strands, but I have a lot of strands so it seems like my hair is thicker than it actually is) prefers the Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum Hydrating Treatment for Dry Hair 3.04 oz / 90 ml.

👍  Target's up & up Gel Nail Polish Remover Pad - I've used these pads before even though I've never had gel nails. I find these good for removing glitter nail polish, or in this case, removing and cleaning the exterior of a candle jar where the label had oddly melted away. I have plenty of nail polish remover and individual remover pads so I'm not in need of replenishing anytime soon - these are good especially, as I mentioned, for removing glitter nail.

Foils Dashboard:

Month-To-Date = 3

Year-To-Date = 3

I feel like this year, I may try to be more proactive at the beginning of the month and pick out a couple of foils I will aim to use up during the month @ather. Right now, I'm thinking I'll include at least one of either (a) a fragrance sample vial or (b) makeup sample (something on the foil or smaller side, if possible). I had previously contemplated going for both in the same month but I think one or the other is better suited for me at the present time (though I could see some months incorporating both). I'll likely have foils of other products I will use in a given month. I'll alternate monthly between a fragrance and a makeup sample, beginning next month. Unless I find that this isn't working out for me at all, I'll revisit this approach at the end of May.

[ather]

@itsfi  Good job! It’s nice to test some out and even if they aren’t a 🐐 it’s nice to test it out! It’s nice to have some nail polish removing pads around. Especially when you have some stubborn polish! Oooo I’ll have to check out the throw down thread for the acne patch throw down! 

[itsfi]

💯 @ather! I expect to see more variety in my product ratings when it comes to samples - with the full sizes, there more likely to be likes or better than likes, especially since I’m testing them out first before buying, for the most part at least. 

I was really surprised by how well The Inkey List pimple patches perform. I also like the new CosRX ones so there may be a battle with those two later this year. 

[itsfi]

December 2024 Foils

From last month, I went through 2 foils @ather; makeup ones too! Well, technically, I went through one of the foils here - Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Kind Words Matte Lipstick Gifted and partially through the other shade - Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Kind Words Matte Lipstick Lively; I tried to use up as much of Lively as I could before the end of last year. I used up half of the product in the foil - there's a lot of product packed in these - Lively is pretty but it just isn't a shade for me. 

In addition to these 2 foils, I included 25 foil samples in a bag of clothes and other items that went to a local women's shelter. 

Foils Dashboard:

Month-To-Date = 2

Year-To-Date = 133

[ather]

@itsfi  Great job!! Makeup samples are hard especially if it isn’t the shade that works for you!! And 133 is amazing!! Great year. 

You are so sweet to donate yours! I need to go through my clothes and samples and make a little care package! 📦 

[ather]

November Foils!

 I have quite the collection of these guys and I was trying to get through them. Up until I started seeing negative effects and had to slow down. So I am only once a week. I will still try to get through these this month! 

[itsfi]

@ather, I think with our skin type once a week is good. You could even try less if you have other actives in your skinare routine. If you're still experiencing negative skin reactions to these peel pads, maybe try using them on your feet / soles / heels? 

[ather]

@itsfi  I agree! I always think I can bump it up but when I do it’s a no! I have been avoiding most actives lately. I noticed that my skin is much happier with none. But I think just doing actives once a week I might be better off!! 

[itsfi]

November 2024 Foils

All three products were good, though of the hair care set, the conditioner performed better for me than the shampoo. It's not the first time I've used the Drybar Liquid Glass Smoothing Shampoo 8.5 oz/ 250 mL and Drybar Liquid Glass Smoothing Conditioner 8.5 oz/ 250 mL. My hair looks and feels soft and smooth every time I use these two hair care items. I have a good number of shampoos and conditioners to be used so I don't plan to pick up full sizes any time soon, but I'm happy to use the foils of these that I do have. 

Skinceuticals Gentle Cleanser Cream is new to me - I've tried a fair number of Skinceuticals products, including the gel version of this cleanser, which is a nice no muss, no fuss cleanser. This cream format is gentle and effective, and suits my normal-to-dry skin very well. This is one I would consider purchasing a full size after I make my way through more cleansers. 

Foils Dashboard:

Month-To-Date = 3

Year-To-Date = 131

[ather]

@itsfi  Oooo possibly finding a new cleanser! This month is a win! It’s nice to hear the hair care wasn’t a flop. 

[ather]

October Foils!

 

 

My total for October is 9

i didn’t care for the Verb shampoo and conditioner it was ok but not my fav. 

I love the Kérastase Chroma Absolu Shampoo for Medium to Thick Color-Treated Hair 8.5 oz/ 250 mL and 

OUAI Detox Shampoo 

the skincare foils are ok. But nothing stood out to me. 

[itsfi]

You did a great job with your foil usage last month @ather! I like that Kerastase line - the scent on it can take some time to get used to, but all the items from Chroma Absolu collection that I've tried have been good ones. 

Yeah, I felt the same way about the Verb Hydrate range - I thought it would be one my hair would love but I also thought it was just okay. I prefer the shampoo and conditioner in their Ghost line.

[itsfi]

October 2024 Foils 

I'm early with my check in this month, but I don't see myself using any foils or the week, so it's an early check-in on my foil use for the month.

❤️  OLEHENRIKSEN Strength Trainer Skin Barrier Moisturizer with Peptides and Niacinamide 1.7 oz/ 50 mL is a moisturizer I would typically use during the transitional seasons of summer-to-fall and spring-to-summer, but with how my skin seems to be changing, I've been reaching for something like Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream most of the year and a different moisturizer for the summer and winter seasons. It'll be interesting to see what role, if any, this one plays in my skincare routine moving forward.

😕 Mizani Press Agent Smoothing Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Mizani Press Agent Smoothing Sulfate-Free Conditioner were both fine; they did what they were intended to do and I was happy to have foils of them to try, but I didn't find they stood out enough to make me want to pick up full sizes over other shampoos and conditioners I'm currently using.

🌟  These Kao - MegRhythm Steam Thermo Patch For Neck are lovely. I like their ease and convenience for travel and effectiveness at helping to relax the muscles in my back. The PEMF mat I've been using has been excellent for that; these thermo patches are great for when I don't want (or can't) lug the 11lbs mat with me. 

🙊  There's a grassy, leafy note in PHLUR Lost Cause Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.32 oz/ 9.5 mL that did not suit me. I was able to use it up by layering it with other fragrances and using that combination as a home fragrance spray.

😘  At one point not long ago, the DIOR J'adore Parfum d'Eau would have been a GOAT fragrance for me and technically it is one of the few fragrances that I've actually repurchased enough times to earn that distinction. I've just come across so many more fragrances that I really enjoy and while this still ranks high among my fragrance collection, it doesn't seem like it should keep a GOAT status if there are other fragrances that could earn that if I were to go through multiple bottles. 

👍  #Tower 28 Beauty SOS Gentle Hydrating Gel Cleanser + Makeup Remover 5 fl oz. / 148 ml #makes for a nice second cleanser. I would pick up a mini or deluxe sample if either were offered. What keeps me from a full size is that I have a handful of second cleansers - both new-to-me ones I've wanted to try as well as oldies-but-goodies that are repeated repurchases.

👍  We had a heat wave early in the month that was far warmer than what we're used to and that lasted far longer than I've ever experienced since moving here. I tend to keep my makeup on the light or non-existent side during those days but had a couple of days where I reached for these foil samples of the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation and I decided to use them all up, as the shade was a fairly good match for me then. For a matte foundation, it did not dry out my skin nor did it look too matte on me. 

🐐  Kao MegRhythm Gentle Steam Eye Masks are truly the greatest of all time for me. I keep a few in the house at all times. These tend to do the trick if I have a hard time falling asleep, whether due to allergies, a cold, stress, etc.

🌟  It's refreshing, soothing, lightly hydrating and this version of the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Jelly Sheet Mask 1.17 oz/ 33 g, which Glow Recipe brought back for a limited time, seems to stay on my face. With the original version, I needed to lie down whenever I used this hydrogel mask because it would inevitably find its way moving down my face during the recommended 10 minute wear time. For some reason, either the different formulation or how my skin has changed over the years, this was stays put and I can do some multi-tasking when I have it on. It remains one of my preferred hydrogel masks (and I'm not typically someone who prefers hydrogel masks) and falls between a like 👍 and a love ❤️ (as does that neck patch). 

👍  I was trying to determine whether I needed a darker shade in the PAT McGRATH LABS Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Weightless Foundation than the full size currently in my collection, and I had these foil samples on hand. I think I could probably use a different shade in this foundation for the warmer months but the shade I tried wasn't the one. That said, the formula and performance of the foundation itself is quite good.

🙈  I prefer the Biore nose strips but I'm pretty sure this SEPHORA COLLECTION Purifying Charcoal Nose Pore Strip 1 pc # is in my stash because Sephora made a change to the previous version and for science I thought I should give it a try and it very likely helped me meet a minimum spend for a promo gwp I was hoping to pick up. Either way, I still prefer the Biore nose strips.

Foils Dashboard:

Month-To-Date = 19

Year-To-Date = 128

I went through more foils than I thought I would this month @ather; I didn't think I'd get in more than 10. November and December (oh my goodness, we have two more months left in the year!!! 😳) could go either way with the foil count - on the one hand, I've been very selective with what foils I pick up / keep / use and I don't have plans for short trips, which is when I have generally been bringing foils with me this year. On the other hand, it is holiday season and there are any number of things I may want to try a sample of first. In any event, I'm happy with the number of foils I've used up so far this year. Breaking 100 feels both good and bad - good for using up my stash 😊; bad that I had so many to use up. 😬

Emoji Key:

Spoiler

Products with a love or above rating are generally ones I would repurchase (or have already repurchased), unless I have a GOAT product in that category that is better suited for my skin under certain circumstances or conditions. Items with that I consider "great" 🌟 or that I "like" 👍 may or may not be repurchased, depending on what is currently in my collection.

🐐 = GOAT = Greatest Of All Time (have gone through at least two of the particular product and other comparable items)
😘 = Chef’s Kiss = Outstanding - think of this as GOAT status in the making 😉
❤️= Love
🌟= Great, better than a like but not quite a love
👍 = Like
😕 = Okay; “It’s fine.”; “meh”
🔬 = Undecided = “Still looking into it”
🙊= Not for me, my preferences or skin type
🙅🏻‍♀️ = ❌ = “No, non, nein, nyet, …”

[ather]

@itsfi  Wow!! You didn’t think you would get to 10 and you almost doubled it! Great job. And 128 so far wow!!! I need to track how much I use each year too. I will add it to my to do for next year! I didn’t know they made steamers for the neck. That sounds very soothing! And relaxing! ☺️ great job. That ghost is so cute! 😊 

[itsfi]

@ather, I’ll be curious to know whether it’s useful to you to track how much you use in a  year. I initially did it to gauge year-to-year numbers as I was slowing down how many foils I would pick up with my online orders. 

I’ve also been eyeballing additional 

metrics to track foil usage in more detail next year and will change things up a bit with what I include here and with full size items. We’re talking about next year already … makes sense as we’re really just a couple of months away at this point. 

[itsfi]

September 2024 Foils - a couple of trips last month upped my monthly foil count, and with it, put me past the 100-foil mark. I have to say I wasn't expecting that to happen as I thought (hoped) I had less than 100 foils to work through. It's all good though, they are getting used. I plan to do inventory before the year is over and donate foils I don't plan to use. @ather 

👍  Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Powder Bronzer is an oldie-but-goodie. I have a healthy collection of powder bronzers to work my way through so it's not something I'd pick up anytime soon.

👍  SEPHORA COLLECTION Booster Face Mask Soothe + Hydrating 1 mask / pack has promise - quick and easy 2-piece that leaves skin lightly hydrated. A nice one to prep the skin before applying makeup.

❤️  Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer 1.7 oz/ 50 mL is one of those tried-and-true winter moisturizers. 

🐐  Kao Megrhythm Gentle Steam Eye Masks are fantastic for unwinding and are great for when I am dealing with allergies, insomnia or sinuses. Shout out to @missjeanie and her recent haul for reminding me to put these to use. 

👍  I like to pack some supplements like these individual packets of the Bloom Greens & Superfoods Powder (Mango). I try to get in my greens with food but I feel like I fall short of my intake when I'm home, so something like this comes in handy. They're on the sweeter side so I usually mix this with tea, either a black or green tea to sip on while doing my skincare and makeup routine or a chamomile tea while taking off my makeup at the end of the day. 

🐐  Sephora Collection Caffeine Eye Mask are a staple in my mask collection - I loooove these and am sad they've been discontinued. I've stocked up so I'm good for probably a year, so I have time to look for a suitable replacement (or to give the Sephora Collection team time to bring it back ... 😉)

😕  BodyRestore Shower Steamers Aromatherapy are fine enough. I brought thes with me on my recent trip, testing them to see if they'd be a cheaper alternative to the anihana Shower Steamers at Target. These are not bad, and I wouldn't toss them, but I prefer the ones from anihana more - the scents come through more and last longer. I purchased a variety pack fo these BodyRestore ones and have given the other scents away.

Foils Dashboard:

Month-To-Date = 14
Year-To-Date = 109  

Emoji Key: products with a love or above rating are ones I would repurchase (or have already repurchased); "like" items vary depending on what is currently in my stash

🐐= GOAT = Greatest Of All Time (have gone through at least two of the particular product and other comparable items)
😘= Chef’s Kiss = Outstanding - think of this as GOAT status in the making 😉
❤️= Love
👍= Like
😕 = Okay; “It’s fine.”; “meh”
🔬= Undecided = “Still looking into it”
🙊= Not for me / my skin type
🙅🏻‍♀️ = ❌ = “No, non, nein, nyet, …”

[CookieGirl1]

@itsfi Have you tried many iterations of the Kao steam eye masks?  I actually have some sitting in my cart for the next time I place an order but I haven't ever tried them and there appear to be several versions.

[itsfi]

@CookieGirl1, I’ve tried all the versions / scents in the regular line and a couple of the scents in their limited / special edition range. Are there certain scents that you had your eye on or were wondering about? 

[CookieGirl1]

@itsfi I was debating between Rose and Yuzu.  I've also seen that they have Chamomile (not sure if I'd like that or not), Lavender (an absolute No for me) and an unscented (but what's the fun in that?).  Is the scent even that strong on them? 

[itsfi]

@CookieGirl1, the scents from lightest / non existent to strongest are as follows:

• unscented
• chamomile
• rose
• lavender
• yuzu

The ones I picked up recently (a couple months ago) all seemed more lightly fragranced than they have been in the past. The yuzu is noticeable and I would say strong. Not so much that it gives me a headache but it is strong, with previous versions I've used being much stronger. 

Lavender smells like lavender - I don't always like lavender scented things but this was nice - not too much lavender. Rose is very faint and fleeting too, more so than the others. Chamomile I can barely smell - just a hint of herbaceousness. The unscented is a go-to for me - I can see how it wouldn't be fun for many, but I like that it does the job for me, especially when my allergies kick in.