You know, being immersed in this world of beauty has its drawbacks. Stop snickering back there, because you know it’s true! If you blog, or if you read enough blogs or follow social media, often you find yourself being updated on what’s new.
Everything published is new or forthcoming. We buy them, and we enjoy them and then… “Ooh look! New shiny makeup!” and what we enjoyed before is stuck at the back of the drawer. I’m, hands up, as guilty as they come. People are already releasing images for Christmas collections, and it’s only August! Slow down, slow down!
Recently however, I decided to take a look at some of the items I own that I’d forgotten about, or just stopped using, for various unknown reasons. I was curious to see if they might strike the same chord in me now, as they did back when I first got them.
Let me spare the suspense – they did! So here are a few beauty products I rediscovered recently. What are yours? 😀
Guerlain Meteorites
I’d been selling people on the notion of owning these gorgeous Guerlain Meteorites powders for so many years! Yet, for months on end, I’d barely touched, much less, looked at my tubs of Meteorites pearls. For the most part, I’d been making a substantial dent in my Hourglass Ambient powder instead.
2 days ago, when I did my makeup, I decided to see if the Meteorites had the same magic as they used to have. What d’ya know? They do! I got the same beautiful impression of glowy, translucent skin as I used to, without colour or heaviness. I’d gotten so used to the slightly heavier coverage offered by the Hourglass powder, that I’d forgotten what it’s like to have my makeup set with a barely there powder that bathes skin with a natural, inner glow. Naturally, I’m back in love with those pearls of mine! 😀
They are very expensive now, and I’m a semi-retired collector, but I own enough from collecting over the years, to enjoy their magic.
Guerlain Eye Pencil in Blackjack
I don’t even know if Guerlain makes this pencil anymore but they may make something similar. I hated this the first few times I tried it. It would transfer and smudge like crazy and I wondered why I even bothered.
Recently, because my ancient Guerlain pencil got too short to sharpen any further, I decided to give this Eye Pencil a try again (I was too stingy to buy a new one 😛 ). To my surprise, this time, it was a dream! The pencil is the creamiest, smoothest pencil I’ve ever used, literally gliding on my skin like a liquid liner. The black is the deepest, darkest black I’ve come across, adding beautiful dimension to the eyes.
However, I realised that it did still smudge on me, if I used it on the upper lid and did not let it set first. Used as a tightline on the waterline, it stayed on with a little transference that I wasn’t bummed about, for up to 12 hours (it was a long day) I was stunned. Naturally, I’m holding on to this and I’m glad I rediscovered it, and even better, that I didn’t toss it out the first time around! 😀
Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser
I’d been flitting around different balm cleansers for months. Recently, after a bout with problematic skin, I dig around my skincare cupboard and came across my spare tub of Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser. I’d remembered how much my skin loved it, and being an organic product, it would expire more quickly. So I took it out and put it into rotation.
Oh my! Why have I stopped using this?! My skin loves the thick buttery feel of this balm cleanser and the nourished feeling after I’ve wiped it off. It is by no means a rinse off cleanser, so I know it won’t appeal to many people. But if you aren’t averse to using a face cloth (why would you? It’s very good!) then try this balm cleanser.
The texture is so buttery on skin, and I find that it nourishes my skin so much better than any other balm cleanser I’ve used to date. There’s just something MORE about it, that my skin enjoys. Sure, I’ll flit about, but I’ll always come back to this one after a while 🙂
Dior blushes from previous collections
I haven’t been paying a lot of attention to recent Dior makeup launches. You could say I’m a little sore at how I perceive the quality to have changed over the years. But there was a time when I was head-over-heels in love with the brand.
And I’ve been enjoying blushes from their old collections. Props to you if you remember or own, or can name either of the two above (answer below!) I know you might be wondering if they’re too old to actually use anymore. I don’t know to be honest. I used them, and so far so good! haha! 😀
I somehow feel that Dior blushes of the past were nicer than the current selection available, which strike me as being mostly form over function. Sure, they’re pretty to look at, but they don’t impress me when I test them. There was a time when I’d collect the seasonal designs, because they were unique to look at and pretty to use. These days, they keep re-releasing the same designs in different colour combinations which makes me think they’re trying to make people collect them, not actually use them. But that’s me. Dior and I have a bit of an axe to grind in recent times haha! 😀 I get like that with brands occasionally. Sometimes, I find that they suck and I avoid them for years on end… and then they release an impressive collection and I’m all over them again. Not happening yet, I’m afraid!
Have you rediscovered any beauty products recently? What are they?
So that’s been me in recent times. Enjoying some new stuff and at the same time, trying to enjoy what I used to enjoy in the past. I think that’s a happy balance 🙂
Paris B
Answer: Round blush is Dior Paradise blush and the square one is Rose Brazilia! 🙂
I bought MAC’s Refined Golden just to try a bronzer years back but I didn’t know how to use it properly. At one time, I used it to slightly “darken” a foundation that was too light for me because I’d been under the sun.
I brought it to Aussie with me because I was like heck, them Caucasians want to get tanned, so me being darker here wouldn’t look too weird. Lo and behold though, it works for me as some sort of contour powder!
That’s awesome to know you found a use for it Hanny! 😀 I still can’t get the hang of bronzer OR contour haha
Lip balms, funnily. No need for crazy expensive lip oils from Hourglass. Just good old faithful Lucas Paw Paw Balm. I even use it to moisturise Coco’s dry paw pads and nose in winter. It’s all natural so if she wants to licky it all off, yea, whatever. I also use it to moisturise my cuticles when I remember. I was never a lip balm user but Tine converted me 😛
The many uses of Lucas Papaw! I use it nightly myself. It’s perfect for keeping my lips chap free! I still don’t use lipbalm in the day though. Never found the need for it! But then, it’s not that cold or dry here – if it was, I’d be going at it!
Clarins cleansing milk with alpine herbs: I have one sitting in a drawer in the bathroom and I used it this time with a cleansing cloth. Results were excellent. It’s much gentler than a foaming cleanser.
Glad you found a use for the cleanser Evie! I have forgone foaming cleansers for a while now and my skin LOVES it! I never realised how drying they were on my skin. That said, I think those who have oily skins will still enjoy a foaming cleanser, while those who have normal or drier skins may find cleansing milk or cream more comfortable 🙂
I’ve always made an effort to rotate my makeup so all of them get used at some point. I also find this helpful because I get to rediscover some faves, like you said, and also decide that maybe I don’t like something anymore, and I’d give it to friends and family.
At the moment, there are a few base products I want to use up, so I focus mainly on them. That leaves me colour products to play with 🙂
Yep, it’s always useful to rotate makeup. I just realised the reason a lot of my stuff get overlooked is because they’re stored in drawers, not on my dresser (to keep them dust free) as my dresser is reserved for skincare. I should think about putting out a box weekly and play arounda little 😀
I tend to rotate through most of my products because if I leave something sitting in a corner awhile usually I’ll pick it up and use it the next time I remember. I think one that I have somewhat forgotten about is the Chanel Nymphea quad – totally in love with the colour selection, although it’s on the sheer side. Probably should pull it out tomorrow 😛
Is yours the old or new Nymphea? If it’s pre 2015, then I will agree that it’s so sheer. I used to have one many years ago and while I loved the combination of colours, the sheerness really bugged me so I got rid of it. The new version is much better! But I have to think about putting out my makeup to rotate. I just reach for them as and when I need, leaving my dresser real estate for my skincare. I guess I”ll have to think about rearranging my dresser! 😀
There is a 2015 one?????? Please elaborate DDDDD: Mine is the old one – yes, it’s sheer, but it’s also pretty buttery and so beautiful, so I wear it as a elegant wash of colour. If you think about it like a Japanese eyeshadow it isn’t so bad. But I will totally grab the 2015 one!! I saw a few in the new Chanel lineup that looked QUITE close but not exactly it!
The top of my dresser is for all my usual stuff – I have basically 1 foundation I use everyday, and the stuff I an unofficially panning – so if I don’t feel like wearing a particular blush, it will be the panning blush on the top of my dresser. But I think I take stuff out pretty often too 😀
Uhoh my bad! It isn’t Nymphea sorry! But you could look to Tisse Venitien or Tisse d’Automne for palettes that are slightly similar. I used to have Nymphea but found it far too glittery and sheer. I love Japanese shadows, so I did get it to work, but just barely haha! The new formula is a billion times better!
Hada labo hydrating toner– just started working recently and had the experience of being in an air conditioner office for 10 hours straight later extended at home. My cheek flaked like crazy, like really flaking in pieces that you can pull off. Added extra skincare with 3 toners, with an additional hydrating 2 serums,even with daily masks with clinique’s daily moisturizer as the last step. Nothing works, still peeling like a snake after each bath. I have extremely oily skin but hydration seems to be gone. Added hada labo and voila! Peeling stopped at the 3rd day! Now my foundation and concealer won’t crack whenever I smile.
Ooh I haven’t used that one in years! So happy that you got it to help your skin. I know how frustrating it is when skin goes bonkers and nothing seems to help! Now that you’ve got your skin fixed, you can smile again hehe… 😉
Just rediscovered my Khiels Midnight Recovery Concerntrate! Switched to full range Aesop products last year and have been loving everything till recently I realize how the Parsley Seed Treatment I was using is getting too heavy for the current Malaysian weather. Did a little swap and have totally forgotten how good it was and how it’s the best and simplest product to be used on sensitive skin 🙂
Real Life Nerd
Mmm I haven’t used Kiehls’ MRC in years! What a lovely reminder of a lovely product 😀 Aren’t you glad you rediscovered it?! 🙂
I used to LOVE the Maybelline The Falsies mascara but they stopped selling it in Malaysia so I stopped using it. During my recent trip to Seoul, they had it in their drugstore so I picked one up and I’m falling back in love with the mascara again! It is so good, it makes my eyes so fluttery and nice. It might be because I already have thick lashes but yeah! SO GOOD
Oh wait, I think I liked that too! I haven’t used mascara in so long I can’t even remember what’s good anymore haha! And you’re lucky to have thick lashes! Thick lashes + mascara is vavavoom! 😀
An old plain moisturizer. I normally go without but I guess since I’m getting older, my skin has slowly become drier especially since I’m starting to dabble in retinoid products.
Also Dr Wu vit C sheet masks. Great for soothing skin, I always bring some for use when on holiday. They have recently updated this to use hydrogel instead of cotton. Unfortunately not available locally but the official website ships reasonably.
Ooh! How on earth have you survived without moisturiser?! haha! But it’s good that you realise what your skin needs and doesn’t 🙂 I love hydrogel masks! Will take a look 🙂
I used to use very thick and heavy sunscreens which were moisturizing enough, that’s how!
The fit of the hydrogels aren’t as good as the old cloth masks. I think it will help if you snipped them all the way in half right under the nose.
Ah the sunscreens explain it! I’ll take a look at the Dr Wu online. I just found a range of affordable hydrogel masks at Watson’s so I’m quite keen to give them a go! 🙂
I always dip back into my Guerlain Meteorites. They are such a fantastic product and work.
Recently, i have been using my Estee Lauder Highlighting Gelee powder, Modern Mercury. A gorgeous rose gold highlighter and the reason for this is because Victoria Beckham is doing a collection for EL and this highlighter is featured. So glad i bought it and it always looks great, especially with a tan. The packaging on VB collection is beautiful but i can imagine it will sell out super quick.
I fully agree about Meteorites. I don’t even know why I stopped using them! Now I’m back and loving them more than ever 😀 Ooh and you reminded me that I have Modern Mercury too! I didn’t know they brought it back! 😀 EL’s gelee powders are really lovely highlighters, before highlighters were all the rage!
I have been actually re-organising my makeup in the last week, so I’ve rediscovered quite a few awesome products and started using them again!
Isn’t that fun? Sometimes, I’m thinking why on earth did I ever stop using that product when it’s so good!