Decluttering like a pro: everyday cosmetics (a long post!)

Every single time I bring home a new product, I feel the need to use it right away. It doesn’t really matter if I already have 3 hair sprays opened, or 5 body lotions – surely, this new one will be so utterly superior to them that I will throw the old ones away and only use the new one for the rest of my life. Sounds familiar? If it does, then you probably have seen something like this before. 

Every once in a while, I reach a point when everything starts falling out, I have no place for new things and I really, really need to clean stuff out. So I did something similar as with nail polishes – got everything out and went through it. Here are the results with small reviews on each of the products and whether I tossed or kept it. I suggest you get a snack, since it’s going to be a long post!

Let’s start with hair products.

L’Oreal Elnett de Luxe – strong hold which also offers extra heat protection. I don’t like the pump, would prefer a spray, but it’s a good hold, and I don’t really use hair spray all that much. Keeping.

Taft Cashmere Touch Power Spray.  This was sitting in the back of the closet for about 2 years and I distinctly remember why I stopped using it – it made my hair so hard that I had problems combing through it after I used it. Trash.

Aiko Styling Heat Protecting Spray. I did not know it was a Müller brand until this very moment. Did not care for this product – I didn’t see any difference in how my hair behaved or how good it looked whether I used it or not. Trash.

Syoss Anti-Grease dry shampoo. This smells like lemon, which I like a lot since it makes my hair smell fresh. It does work to give second day hair a bit of volume, but I wouldn’t necessarily use it instead of washing my hair after that. Good value for money – lasts a long time. Keeping.

Nivea Volume Sensation Styling Mousse. Number 4 (out of 5) – extra strong. I normally put it into wet hair before washing to give it a little extra volume around the base. There’s not really that much left, so I am keeping it.

In my previous post about hair botox I talked about the frizz in my hair and their general dullness. I have quite a few products to combat that, not including the Morrocan oil and Keraste oils I just purchased.

Smooth ‘n Shine Polishing spray-on polisher. I bought this in USA on a whim when I didn’t have anything to tame my hair with me. Actually produced by Schwarzkopf.  I apply it to wet hair when I want it to look great but with the consequence of having to wash it the next day. Perfect for vacation when your hair is exposed to sun and heat every day. Keeping.

Balea Blond Glanz Kur. I’m not blonde anymore, so I have no need for something that would make my blonde hair more shiny. I will not pass this on since it’s pretty old anyhow. Trash.

Syoss Shine-Sealing Finish Fluid for normal-dull hair. It’s very similar to the Pantene Serum. I like it a lot – pump gives out exactly as much as I need for the entire length of my hair. Mostly natural ingredients. Keeping. This will last me forever.

Pantene Split End Mender Serum for normal – thick hair. It’s a serum with oily consistency for dry ends. Nothing special, but it makes the hair look a little bit less frizzy. Keeping. 

Klas Revital Silicone. I’ve been forbidden by my hairdresser to use silicone on my hair since it apparently makes a coat around the hair which prevents the color from getting to it properly – meaning that if you apply silicone product to a piece of your hair (as I applied this to the roots), then chances are the color on this part will eventually not match the rest of your hair. Trash.

In my Avon post, I mentioned this product – it was my first Avon product ever and now my mother-in-law keeps me stocked up.

This is Avon Quick Touch Leave in Conditioner. Yes, I have two opened – just to see if the product remained the same when the packaging changed. Really must make an effort to use one up, but I have a real romance going on with this conditioner. Keeping.

Moving on to body – I only have two body milks in this closet, most are in/on my nightstand.

The Body Shop Moroccan Rose Body milk. This is nice for a quick burst of moisture when I don’t have time – it absorbs into the skin in seconds. I bought it about a year ago on a trip so I need to use it up. Keeping.

Nivea Baby Nutri Sensitive Milk. I have no idea why I bought this, but I have almost used up the entire bottle. It’s a couple of years old as well, so I won’t risk it. Based on the amount I used, I’ll presume I liked it a lot. Trash.

I have a tendency to buy products that would make my skin look shinier and healthier, but I really rarely use them, mainly because I’m lazy about things like that.

Victoria’s Secreat Bare Bronze Daily Glow Moisturizer. I do love this but always forget to use it when I’m showing off my white legs in the summer. Must make some kind of reminder on my phone for 1^st of June to whip it out from the back. Keeping.

Victoria’s Secret Noir Tease shimmering hair and body spray. This was nice a long time ago, but now the shimmer has apparently settled in the bottom or completely disappeared and even though I tried to shake it, all that comes out is just plain perfumed spray. Probably expired a long time ago. Trash.

Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush body glimmer swirl cream in Winterberry. The scent of this is way too sweet for me to handle and I generally don’t like glitter all over me. It’s also very, very old. Trash.

Decleor Aroma Confort Gradual Glow Hydrating Body Milk. The most expensive thing I’m throwing away. I bought it last summer thinking  I‘ll start using it in spring to develop at least some tan until summer. But this smells horrible, like the very old tanning lotions that smelled of something burning. It’s almost a year old so I’m not passing it along to someone who would be able to handle this, but I’m rather getting rid of it. Trash.

Now I know deodorants aren’t the most interesting thing in the world, but I have quite a few anyway.

Borotalco Invisible Anti white marks with Microtalc. Yes, it does probably work against white marks on white clothes, but it also leaves all other clothes completely covered in talcum powder. I used this two times maybe and gave up on it. Trash.

Nivea Deodorant Double effect 24hr. I remember this being quite good, actually, but it dried up on my so there is no point in keeping it. Trash.

Garnier Mineral 48hour protection spray. This is a backup deodorant for when I feel like I’ll need the extra protection. I don’t like the spray since it comes out quite aggressively and is very cold, but I suck it up when I have to. Keep. 

Axe Anarchy For Her. Will not discuss this a lot since I have mentioned it many times before, also in my empties. I use about one a month and I love it. Keep.

Collistar Multi-Active Deodorant 24-hours (roll on, with oat milk). It’s alcohol free, so I use this after shaving (TMI, maybe?). I am keeping this and I will repurchase again, since it’s totally worth the money.

Since I wear a lot of make-up, I obviously need things to get the make-up off as well.

L’Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Gel. Everyone and their dog has the L’Oreal micellar water, so I went for the gel, thinking it’s just as good – and it is. Removes every make-up, even waterproof, in an instance. It does contain butylene glycol, which doesn’t exactly make me happy, though, but we all know where we stand with L’Oreal on natural products and animal testing. I’ve never spoken about this before, but if you care, here is the link on their current practices. Keeping.

Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk with sweet almond and cornflower. 100 % without parabens, phtalates, mineral oils, animal derived ingredients etc. This is actually my first ever Caudalie product. It’s good with removing face make up, doesn’t stand a chance against waterproof mascara. Still like it a lot, but I will probably not repurchase. Keeping.

Nivea Aqua effect Refreshing Wash Gel. I bought this and probably used it about three times all together. I hated the way it smells and particularly how it clung to the skin – it was almost impossible to wash it off. Somehow, all the X’s and Y’s in the ingredients did not agree with my skin, so I’m saying goodbye to this. Trash.

Olay ProX Exfoliating Renewal Cleanser. I got this with my ProX gadget and haven’t even opened it yet. I will keep it since I generally like Olay (or Olaz, as it’s called over here) products. Keeping.

I also had a few random items in the closet, generally used to keep my skin looking nice, firm and soft.

Cadea Vera Anti-Falten Q20 Augencreme. So basically, it’s an eye cream with coenzyme Q10. I should have learned my lesson from the Eveline eye cream, but no, I went out and bought another version of it for pennies. It does absolutely nothing. Trash.

Eveline Cosmetics Argan Oil Anti-Wrinkle Rejuvenating Eye Cream.  I will keep this for when I feel extra bad, but since I recently started with face yoga, I’m expecting not to need eye cream for the next 25-30 years :) 

Nuxe Multiple Purpose Dry Oil for face, body and hair. This I got in a goody bag a while ago. I apply it on no-make up days to restore a bit of moisture in my face. Like it, but this little bottle will last me at least another year. Keeping.

Primavera Organic Argan Oil. For some reason, this oil smells like nothing in the bottle, starts smelling horrible when in touch with the face. Now, I really use it for cuticles and in case I get any cuts on my hands – it will last me forever. Keeping.

Balea Cleansing Water for dry skin. I’m not really sure why I bought the one for dry skin, but I like it. I have had quite a few products from Balea in the past and for the most part, it’s a good brand. Keeping.

Nivea Pure&Natural Cleansing Toner with bio argan oil and bio aloe vera. Very fancy, don’t you reckon? I really only have enough left for a few days so I need to use it up. It’s a very nice toner, especially when used with the cleansing milk (which I already used up). Keeping.

Mixa Soothing Toner. I absolutely love this toner. I love that it has a pump, since it’s much easier to generate the desired amount. Nice smell, doesn’t leave the skin too dry. Will definitely repurchase  and I’m obviously keeping it.

Here’s the result of the declutter. I was even able to fit my Ole Henriksen products and hair oils in there – they had to be stored in another drawer until now.

 

I am quite happy with this and I really feel I won’t regret throwing anything away, so a job well done.

Don’t forget about the giveaway – it’s going to finish in less than a week! Until next time, stay beautiful, stay awesome!