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]

April 2026 Foils

MTD = 6 

YTD = 24

Had good experiences with the foils I used this month 🙌 and if I wasn't committed to being better about using and enjoying what I already have and more selective and mindful of what newness I bring in and when (and why), I'd pick up a few of these in full sizes. Even though some of these beauties fall into that like-love 😍 category for me, I want to wait a little longer before picking up full sizes @ather, both because I already have (or have recently purchased) similar products and/or I want to work through what's currently in my collection. 

😍  Bumble and bumble Thickening Volume Shampoo and Bumble and bumble Thickening Volume Conditioner - clean, fresh scent, light not overpowering. I have a recollection of using the volumizing spray from this range years ago but don't believe I've tried the shampoo and conditioner until now.

The shampoo cleans without stripping or drying hair; and the conditioner easily and smoothly detangles and moisturizes  strands. I was able to get about 2-1/2 uses with each of these products and my hair felt soft and smooth hair after each use. I also noticed that my hair didn't feel flat like it can after washing it sometimes, and that is a huge plus. Both are potential purchases once I make my way through more of my current supply of shampoo and conditioner.

😍 for bronzer and 👍 for highlighter.  Was not expecting or necessarily wanting 💸 to like the ILIA Sunshift Weightless Silky Cream Bronzer with 12-hour Wear as much as I did; or the ILIA Lightshift Weightless Silky Cream Highlighter with 12-hour Wear for that matter, but of the two, I like the bronzer more, a lot more, actually. The cream-to-powder formulation on both bronzers and highlighters is silky smooth and easy to apply and blend, which says a lot coming from someone who isn’t great with applying cheek products in general.

The highlighter gives an illuminated finish to the face, not sparkly or glittery. The bronzer adds a soft warmth and glow, and the color is easy to build up, if and as desired. I’m less inclined to reach for highlighter on a daily basis and more than enough already so I won't be purchasing a full size of the highlighter. As for the bronzer, I can see it making its way into my collection at some point though not immediately, as I also have a pretty healthy collection of bronzers to work my way through as well and that I want to work my way through. 

[ather]

@itsfi  Sounds like you had a great month!!!! 

[Mellmars1185]

March Foils - 7

I didn't keep track of what i used in L.A for Sephoria. What a great time! I know I used an Amika Shampoo and Conditioner Foil pack. 

Question - Do you count shampoo and conditioner packs as one foil or two?

 

[ather]

@Mellmars1185  Great job! 

[itsfi]

March 2026 Foils

MTD = 12

YTD = 18

A leap in foil usage thanks to a long weekend getaway.

👍  At first glance, Fenty Icon Semi-Matte Lipstick Pose Queen (discontinued?) is not a shade I'd naturally gravitate towards - leans too warm and might look less dark peach and more terracotta (not in a good way) on my lips. IT surprisingly works on my lips and skin tone if I build it up in light layers and wear it with a neutral nude/brown liner.

👍  Another item that took me by surprise, Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick,  I did not expect to like this at all. For whatever reason, this looks less disco ball shiny than I expected, than it holds itself out to be, which for me is a good thing. It does or can be a smidge too dewy for me but setting it with a powder, particularly along my T-zone and jawline take away that extra shine when I'm a little more oily in those areas. I'm surprised as anyone to say that this is a product I would consider picking up in a full size if I find a better shade than the ones in this packet. I can make them work by mixing shades but I wouldn't want to pick up full sizes of multiple shades in this product. On the repurchase-worthy list in general, and the "maybe" list for the sale.

👍  INNBeauty Project Bright & Smooth Body Serum seems to have been discontinued. The full size was part of my  Shop Your Stash Challenge: Winter 2026 ❄️  and will make an appearance later in this month's empties thread. If it was still in production, I'd likely pick up another one, but probably not until the fall savings event as I have a couple of similar products that I'd like to put to more use first.

❤️  Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid Eau de Parfum with Vanilla - a fresh, crisp, warm, creamy, green & floral that wears best on me in the warmer months. I know I have a travel size as well as a deluxe sample size, but I also feel like I have a full size ... somewhere, possibly one of the boxes that remains in the garage since the remodel. *Adding one more thing to the list ..

❤️  Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo for Damaged Hair and Pureology Strength Cure Conditioner for Damaged Hair are one of those products that I have in pretty much every size that the brand manufactures - full size, travel, and these foil packets. The shampoo cleanses without stripping my hair and the conditioner softens and nourishes without weighing it down. These are both repurchase-worthy but I won't need to repurchase as I have an unopen set waiting to be put into the rotation, which will happen once I use up, or at least make a dent in, the shampoo and conditioner sets that are currently in use.

🐐  Sephora Collection Caffeine Eye Mask (discontinued) x 5 - look, these get a GOAT designation for a reason; this is the Greatest Of All Times in my opinion, the one against all other eye masks are compared. A serious comparison will start soon enough; I'm still just in that phase of enjoying them and still have an ample supply that I can do so. 

The bliss Shower Steamers shouldn't be in this foils section. Photo bomb. 🤣

Emoji Key:

Spoiler

🐐= product is a GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) in its category [I have a personal requirement that before a product receive this designation, I have to have finished a minimum of two of the product (with at least one being a full size).]
❤️= Love
😘= Like and would repurchase
👍= Like but would not repurchase (at least not immediately), usually because I like another similar product more or because I have other similar products to work through before making a purchase
😐= Lackluster = it's okay / meh, includes products that are fine enough but are not suitable for my particular skin / hair type or concerns
✖️= No [This is usually given to a product that irritates my skin]

Q1 2026 Foil Stats

Spoiler

Out of the 18 foil samples used this 1st quarter: 

• 10 were skincare products
• 3 hair care
• 2 makeup products
• 2 body care items
• 1 fragrance

The 18 foils in Q1 is a handful more than what I had gone through by this same time last year (11). I also touched upon more variety of products (category-wise) with last year's first quarter foil samples, with makeup and fragrance being the most used in 2025 at this point in time.

As has been the norm for most of my foil samples for the last couple of years, the majority have been of either tried-and-true products or products that I've used before. For this first quarter, only 3 of the 18 items were new-to-me, in that the foil sample was my actual introduction to the item. At least for this first quarter @ather, I'm using my foil samples for more travel than for trialing or testing products.

[ather]

@itsfi  Wow! Incredible job!  Although I feel like you should get an award for using all the products that are discontinued!!! It is impressive!!! 

[miss8]

@ather 😱 Holy Crap, Dude ... What A Compliment 😂

[itsfi]

Hahahaha 😂 that's sweet that you think I should get an award for it @ather. I'm usually think I should get a demerit for not using things up before they are no longer in existence. 🙄 However, in my defense for these particular eye masks, I did stock up and was kindly gifted loads by friends so I've really just been cherishing them while I can (while still putting them to use every now and again). Allergy season seems like it's starting to go into high drive soon so we will probably be seeing more under eye masks and steam eye masks as well in future challenge updates. 😁

[ather]

@itsfi  No demerit for you!!!! Oh yea the steam masks are so relaxing!!! ☺️ I need to pull one out tonight! 

[itsfi]

@ather, that's a great idea; I need to start making them a more regular part of my unwinding / digital detox before bed routine. Maybe not every night but a few nights a week would be nice. Good call!

[ather]

@itsfi  Agree! Maybe not so much in the summer. But over here we are on seventh winter it feels like! A nice touch for a cold snowy day!! 

[itsfi]

Oh no, I'm so sorry @ather. Spring is very confused here also but I think it's colder where you live. Today, it's on the cool side but it says it feels 10 degrees colder than the actual temperature, I think that's probably true. There's a chance of rain tomorrow, but we'll see ... 

[ather]

@itsfi oh no! Your weather also has been funky. That’s no fun at all!! It’s been non stop snowing since yesterday. I don’t even know how much fell but more than our entire winter possibly. And it’s still snowing. I had no milk and had to go get some this morning and all the roads were pure ice. Normally I would have winter tires on but we had a mild march and we changed them. It was a mess. Made it to the store and home ok! By the afternoon it was still snowing like crazy but it was warm that the roads melted an it was safer to drive. (Luckily I only live a block from the grocery store) 

[itsfi]

Woah, non-stop snowing? That's crazy @ather, and at the same time, not entirely unexpected given how it seems like weather patterns have been so different everywhere from what is, or was, considered "normal" for this time of year. I'm glad you made it home safely. With the weather being how it is, I've not put away all my winter things, I have a few sweaters, coats and lined pants and a lot of thick socks still out and my thicker moisturizer too. Definitely a play-it-by-ear type of season right now for clothes and skincare. I think the one thing that is the same is that I'm being extra mindful to take care of my skin barrier, whether its susceptible to being compromised by the cold or wind, or by my skin being irritated by allergies. 😂 Gotta keep that skin barrier healthy and happy!! 

[Mellmars1185]

February Foils - 6

 

[itsfi]

You're on a roll with your foils @Mellmars1185; that's awesome! That Sulwhasoo ginseng line is lovely. 😍

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Thank you very much! Next time I am finish my full size moisturizer, I need to remind myself to get through a handful of foils moisturizers first. Hopefully my skin can handle all of the changes coming its way!

[haleyvvvv]

Great job, @Mellmars1185 !! Are any of these new faves? I really want to try Aestura

[Mellmars1185]

@haleyvvvv Thank you! They were all enjoyable. I liked everything I tried. I would have to say I would need to tey them more consistently to get a better opinion on everything. However, the DDG pads are my favourite. I love receiving them as samples or GWP.  

[haleyvvvv]

Same, same about the DDG pads, @Mellmars1185 !!