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! 

 

[caitbird]

@itsfi  wow, so many foils, great job! A trip is the perfect time to use foils or samples, too! I don't travel much, but I pet sit for neighbors and stay over at their houses sometimes, so I like to pack foils and samples for those occasions when I can. So much more convenient than schlepping a bunch of full sized products back and forth!

This reminds me that I have a sample of Tatcha The Indigo Cleansing Balm Moisturizing Makeup Remover 1.9 oz / 54 g  that I have in my "to try" stash - will have to move that one up in the rotation! I've been really wanting to try it, as I've only heard good things here on BIC.

[ather]

14 in a month!!! @itsfi  That’s so amazing!!! 🤩 you are a rockstar! And all favs! That’s such a nice feeling! I feel like I feel the same about LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer for Moisture Barrier Repair  it’s nice  glad it worked out for you on this trip!! Those steam eye masks are so relaxing especially when on a trip! 

[itsfi]

March 2025 Foils  

Checking in a bit early with my foil count this month as I don't foresee using up any additional foils this month, @ather. I'll update this post if that changes. 

Fragrance is such a personal thing, not just what we're drawn to, but how the different notes and combination of those notes interact with our body chemistry, the climate, etc. My feelings on the foils this month all came down to my scent preferences. No loves, or products I would pick up in a full size, from this batch, but that's alright. 

😕  PHLUR Missing Person Eau de Parfum 1.7 oz/ 50 mL eau de parfum spray is a favorite of many, but it didn't smell like anything to me. I tried layering it with other scents and that helped to bring out certain notes in the other fragrance. 

👍  DIOR Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet is a pretty floral fragrance, one that would be wonderful for the spring and summer. I would use this if I had another vial (which I would not be surprised if this were the case), but I have other fragrances with similar notes that I like more.

😐  The products themselves, Youth To The People Superfood + Niacinamide Body Cleanser with Antioxidants & Hyaluronic Acid 16.4 o... and the Youth To The People Superberry Firm + Glow Dream Body Butter with Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid + Ant..., performed well - nice formulation and consistency, and they did what they are intended to do. The particular combination of earthy and herbaceous notes in this one, however, is not for me - it was too strong for my preference. 

Foils Dashboard (as of March 25, 2025):

Month-To-Date = 4

Year-To-Date = 11

[ather]

@itsfi  Great job! Hmm PHLUR Missing Person Eau de Parfum 1.7 oz/ 50 mL eau de parfum spray  was a miss. I think there is so much scents out there it’s ok for it to be a miss!! Too bad the YTTP are also misses. I haven’t tried any of these either! 

[itsfi]

@ather, I know the scent has a huge fan base; it just isn’t for me. Same with the scent on the YTTP. Yes, so many scents out there - and I somehow have more of that sample sizes than I remember picking up or requesting. 😝 It seems like a sorting project needs to happen at some point. 📝

[ather]

February foils! 

I actually used more than I expected since half the month I was sick. All I loved. And will consider purchasing once I get through my current stash.

I have a ton of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel Pads #i have to be careful using them since they are a little to strong on my skin. Maybe in the warmer months it won’t be as drying for me. 

[curlychiquita]

I’m glad you’re finally feeling better, @ather! Great job on your foils, though.

[ather]

@curlychiquita  Thank you! I still have. Cough but I’m feeling myself now! 

[itsfi]

February was a rough month for you but you did a fantastic job with samples @ather.  🙌🏼  I spy some good ones - tarte marula oil is a good one - good for nails/cuticles too! 

[ather]

@itsfi  Yes! I was surprised I actually used any since I was so sick! I need to up my game again. I have been getting more. 

[itsfi]

What? I think your foils game is already strong @ather but I look forward to seeing you up it! Foils are going down!! 😅

[ather]

@itsfi  Omg so funny!!! 😆 yess those foils need to go down!! I feel like a couple years ago I was better at using foils but lately I’ve been slacking!

[itsfi]

Oh, I hear that @ather! Confession time - I found a couple of foil makeup samples and they were expired. I'm not talking like they were past the expiration date by a week or a month, but by years. I'll just show myself to the corner and sit there. 😅 Le sigh. 😣

[ather]

@itsfi  Oh noooo!!! Do they all have an expiration date on them? I feel like I never noticed it before. Now I must check them all!! 

[itsfi]

@ather, I've seen a few foils with expiration dates but I think most do not include them. My pile of foils have grown (eek!) and it was a reminder that I need to go through them and make sure that I'm not hoarding them without a good reason (i.e., future trip, etc.)

[itsfi]

February 2025 Foils

👍  The Givenchy foundation that makes up these samples is no more - I don't know if the brand simply renamed and repackaged it or if it's been discontinued and replaced by the new foundation. I have a full size of this foundation already so even if it were still around, no need to repurchase. This is a reminder (again) that I should really use my foil samples closer to the time I pick them up. Unless, of course, I'm saving them for a trip or waiting to accumulate a few more samples so I have a decent amount of the product to test out, neither of which was the case here, but I'm going to try to be better at using my foils sooner rather than later, @ather.

🤔  I'm confused by the Prada Paradoxe Virtual Flower Eau de Parfum with Musk & Jasmine - the initial bergamot notes do not come acrosss the same way consistently. Some days it's been bright, fresh, and citrusy, which is a plus; and then, other days, there's a lingering sharp metallic undertone that lingers far longer than I prefer. I'm fairly certain I have more vials of this fragrance and I *may* keep them to see how this wears on my skin in the warmer months, but I may also include them with a few items I plan to donate. 

Foils Dashboard:

Month-To-Date = 4

Year-To-Date = 7

[ather]

@itsfi  ooooo I haven’t seen that foundation before. I wonder if it was short lived?? Good job!!! 

I feel like I also have that perfume sample and I wasn’t in love either. Interested if you try in the warmer months! 

[itsfi]

@ather, hmmm.... 🤔 I feel like the Givenchy foundation has been around for a while; they did a repackaging recently or semi-recently (1-2 years? but I could be mistaken) and then the new foundation came out. I'll let you know about the Prada if I do have another one - I'll try it when it gets warmer and may try layering it with other scents.

[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 Hair Serum 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.