I’m trying out a new format for products that I’ve tried, but don’t warrant their own deep dive. So, introducing, the Quarterly Product Review! A catch-all post for everything I’ve spent my money on, and whether or not I’d recommend it. I would imagine this will be somewhat makeup and skincare focused, with some favorite clothing purchases, but we’ll see how it evolves over time.
Skincare Reviews
I review skincare products very carefully, as I have really acne-prone, somewhat sensitive skin. I introduce new products slowly, over time, and watch carefully to see if there’s any increase in blemishes. If something breaks me out it might not break you out if you have reasonable skin.
Laneige Radian-C Cream
I’ve been trying to add Vitamin C to my skincare regimen for some time now, because of its purported benefits of reducing wrinkles and dark pigmentation. The Laneige Radian-C Cream is the first product that I’ve encountered where I’ve actually noticed a difference in my skin after using it. My skin seems brighter and looks better after I have used it, and I can notice my skin looking duller if I forget to apply it. I haven’t noticed any specific reduction in pigmentation, though, just an overall feeling of healthier skin.
I actually repurchased the Radian-C cream last month because of the positive changes I see when I use it, but I don’t know exactly where it fits in my skincare regimen. It’s a fairly thick cream, but isn’t as moisturizing as my actual moisturizer, and it leaves a slight residue on my skin. Because it doesn’t moisturize as well, I don’t want to use it at night, but I also don’t want to feel it on my skin during the day if I use it in the morning. So it exists in a sort of grey area for me.
I think the packaging could be improved. The cream comes with an applicator, which is great because you don’t need to put your fingers in the jar for the product, but then you have a loose bit of plastic that you have to keep track of. I wish the applicator could somehow snap into the lid, preventing it from getting lost or falling off the bathroom counter.
The jar also has a ridge at the top, which makes it really hard to get the last bit of product out. When I am using a $35 Vitamin C cream, I can guarantee that I am going to use every last drop of it, and I want the packaging to make that easier for me.
Essentially, I think the Laneige Radian-C Cream is an effective product, but I might keep searching for the holy grail Vitamin C product.
Topicals Faded Under Eye Masks
I had LASIK eye surgery last November, which has been an incredible choice for me for a variety of reasons. The one con to come of it, though, is that I’ve had to redo my eye makeup routine quite a bit, as I was always working around glasses. I’ve always had dark circles under my eyes but now they are a bit more noticeable as I don’t have the glasses frame to distract from the area.
Enter the Topicals Faded Eye Masks. They claim to brighten, depuff and remove dark circles – sounded like the perfect product for what I needed! I used them two times without anything happening – good or bad – but then on the third time I had a skin reaction. Nothing crazy, just a red blotch that went away after half a day, but enough for me to discontinue use.
I do have other Topicals products that have not led to any problems (and they’ll probably make it into the next Quarterly Product Review), so I don’t want to say that these eye masks are bad – they just didn’t work for me.
Peace Out Early Stage Acne Dots
The Peace Out Early Stage Acne Dots are a different variety of the regular ones that are supposed to target those gnarly pimples that you can feel under the skin but haven’t yet come to fruition. I love this idea – I would love to be able to nip pimples in the bud before they actually surface.
The main problem is that these didn’t work and actually made the problem worse. I left the dot on overnight on top of a pimple that I could see and feel forming, but wasn’t red and wasn’t anywhere close to a head. I took the dot off in the morning and had a red scaly patch the size of the acne dot, and I could still feel the clogged pore underneath the area. So, yes, I had a small, mostly unnoticeable pimple that turned into a giant red patch of dry skin in the middle of my forehead.
Yeah, I would not recommend these to anyone.
Mascara Reviews
Did you know that you’re only supposed to use your mascara for only three months once you open it? And after that you’re supposed to throw it away because of the risk of bacteria growth? Yeah, I never did that either, but now I’m trying to, to both protect my new laser eyes and go through all of these mascara samples I regularly get free with purchase. So here’s what I went through over the past few months.
Clinique High Impact Mascara
I feel like I really only have strong opinions on mascara when it’s excellent or awful. This slotted into that middle area where it was perfectly acceptable but not amazing. It is mascara. It made my lashes black. I would not buy it, especially at full price.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara
I liked this mascara. I haven’t tried drugstore mascaras for a couple years, but I was pleasantly surprised with the look given by this one. It did a good job of lengthening my lashes. It was probably going to win this Quarterly Report until the next one came along…
Tower 28 Make Waves Mascara
The Tower 28 Make Waves mascara has taken over my Instagram feed and I just had to try it and see what the hype was all about. Y’all, the hype is real with this one. I literally gasped when I put it on for the first time – it’s that good. Amazing. Highly recommend.
Clothing Reviews
Two clothing picks this time, both comfy pants options from Target. For reference, I am a size 10 or Large in pants, and am on the taller side at 5’9″.
All In Motion Mid-Rise Cargo Joggers
These have become my favorite travel pants. They are super comfortable and have so many pockets that are actually functional! I can fit so many random things in these pockets, and some of them are zippered for additional security. Love love love, I have bought both the black and taupe colors – black is definitely the more flattering of the two if you’re going to choose between them.
The only con is the con I have with all joggers – I hate having exposed ankles when it is cold, so these are limited to the spring and fall.
Stars Above Perfectly Cozy Wide Leg Lounge Pants
Perfectly Cozy is the perfect description of these pants. I love that they’re lightweight and the fabric is so soft! I also bought two pairs of these, as I get plenty of wear out of lounge pants in the post-pandemic remote work lifestyle. They’re also respectable enough that you can go down to a hotel continental breakfast without really feeling like you’re in pajamas.
Summary – Q1 2024 Product Reviews
Well, that’s it for this quarter! What do you think, do you like this format of post? Is it helpful? As always, leave a comment below or reach out on social (Twitter, Instagram) if you have suggestions! What product reviews would you like to see in the next one?
