Beauty empties #14 feat. Sulwhasoo, Glossier, and probiotics

Trash has been piling up for way too long, so you know what that means. Reviews on products I’ve finished in the last couple of months categorized by how much I enjoyed them and how likely I’d repurchase them.

Yes, yes, yes!

• Curology
  Reviewed here and here. This is my go-to anti-aging treatment, mainly because they feature the most potent form of vitamin a, tretinoin. This is why I never buy over-the-counter retinol products, nothing will ever be as effective as Curology.
• La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
  Reviewed here. A must have in my stash on days when my skin is irritated or just not feeling 100%. I’ve tried a few different barrier/skin repair products but none compare.
• Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Finishing Spray
  This stuff makes my hair shiny and smooth without making it greasy! Love using it after I curl my hair to eliminate the frizz.
• Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser
  I forgot to list this as one of my 2018 discoveries! It’s absolutely luxurious, cleans well, non-drying, and I love the cooling sensation on the skin. It’s pricey, but if you’re looking for a bougie cleansing experience this is excellent.
• Glossier Boy Brow
  My HG brow product and a favorite since I discovered it in 2017. I have the Hourglass Brow Gel and Kate Brow pen that I need to finish first, then I’m definitely repurchasing this.

• Activist Skincare Precious Oil*
  Reviewed here. I adore this personalized oil and the thought Allison, the brand owner, puts into formulating her products. I definitely want to add this back to my routine soon, plus a little birdie told me their redesigning their packaging! Plus get 10% off your order with code GEEKYPOSH :)
• Live Botanical Oceania Body Cream*
  This is more of a body balm and it smells like yummy lemon pound cake! It does feel a bit oily, but applying on damp skin immediately after you shower will help with absorption. Otherwise it leaves skin super soft and moisturized.
• Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask Ex
  Of all the Sulwhasoo products I’ve tried, this is my favorite and the one I most recommend. It does a fabulous job of nourishing the skin without breaking the bank, so if you’ve ever wanted to try Sulwhasoo’s hanbang goodness, this is it.
• LIXIRSKIN Vitamin C Paste
  One of the few vitamin c products that actually delivers noticeable results with minimal irritation! If you have time in the morning for a quick wash off mask, this is fabulous.
• Nivea Creme
  Reviewed here. It’s so friggin’ cheap and it just works. I only buy the small can because a little goes a long way, and my skin doesn’t need it in the summer. But in the winter, this is God-sent.

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Still good, just not for me

• Sofina Primavista Ange Long Keep Base SPF25 PA++
  This was my go to in the summer when my face is at its peak oiliness, as it helps my foundation last all day and reduces shine all without drying me out. Now that I’m back to going foundation-free, I won’t really need this primer anymore, but I still highly recommend it to those whose makeup have trouble lasting in the heat or humidity!
• Santa Marche Green Tea Deep Cleansing
  I actually read enjoyed this, and from the little Japanese I could read, this is full of beneficial ingredients to soothe the skin. Not that it matters as much in a cleanser, but I did like how gentle this was! It’s a pain in the ass to get outside of Japan though, so I won’t be repurchasing.
• Klairs Supple Preparation Toner (unscented)*
  I was so excited when this was released and thought it’d be identical to the original (my holy grail) minus the essential oils, and ingredient wise it seemed that way. But this just didn’t feel as hydrating, so I’ll be sticking with the original, though oily skins might like this one more!
• Prose Custom Shampoo
  Reviewed here. The bottle is small for a shampoo, so with 5 pumps per use I finished this after a few months. I still think they do a fantastic job customizing the shampoo to fit your hair type and needs, but I prefer Formulate’s formula a bit more. However Prose’s Custom Hair Mask is a 2018 favorite and definitely worth buying!

• Pixi Glow Tonic
  I know everyone raves about this, but for me I thought it was just ok. I didn’t really notice any results, but it didn’t irritate my skin either. Given that a lot of people saw good results with this, I think it’s a great option for anyone wanting to introduce chemical exfoliants in their routine.
• La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Cream Comfort
  The UV protection is excellent, and despite its creamy moisturizing texture, it’s not overly heavy. I recommend it for dry skin types though, and personally I still prefer the fluid light version.
• Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse
  This is just a lovely and affordable all-purpose oil, though I had the most success using it on my body. Like the Live Botanical Body Cream, I apply this on damp skin to help with absorption, but unlike that body cream, its scent and formula just aren’t as appealing to me.
• Kose Sekkisei Lotion
  This is a great brightening toner, and actually delivers results. However brightening is no longer the main goal of my routine, so I prefer toners that are either hydrating and/or anti-aging. That and this contains alcohol, which I try to avoid when I can.

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Thank you, next

• Caudalie Instant Detox Mask
  I really wanted to like this mask, but nope. I found it more drying and sensitizing than your usual clay masks, and it did very little to actually deep clean my skin. As in my skin didn’t look or feel any different after using it, except for some extra redness.
• Instytutum Alive Water
  Not surprised that this was discontinued. If you thought La Roche Posay’s water in a can (which I still love btw) is ridiculous, this is that, but much more expensive and delivered no results.
• Youth To The People Superfood Firm and Brighten Vitamin C Serum*
  This actually isn’t a bad serum, it’s actually got a great texture and ingredients. But I just think it’s really overpriced and the value isn’t there, especially since there are plenty of affordable antioxidant serums options available.
• Pony Effect Stay Put Eyestick
  Non-existent color payoff and the stick actually broke after a few months, while it was in the tube? Literally I tried to use it one day and the stick just fell out. What a joke.
• Probiogen Probiotics
  I’m a big believer in the benefits probiotic supplements provide to our overall health, so I decided to give this brand a try when Gothamista recommended it in one of her videos. Yeah it did nothing for me, and I’m back to using Hyperbiotics Pro-15, which btw, does work.
• Kiehl’s Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Mask
  Reviewed here. So disappointing. There are definitely better hydrating gel masks out there, so save your money and skip this one.
• Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream*
  This is definitely a luxurious eye cream with a ton of ingredients, but sadly it did absolutely nothing for my eyes. Save $180 and try any other eye cream out there, or my current favorite Instytutum Eye Cream (reviewed here).
• Cosrx Triple C Lightening Liquid
  The most disappointing vitamin c product I’ve used to date. It irritated my skin like crazy and oxidized after a few weeks, despite me having this in the fridge! 100% trash.
• La Roche-Posay UVIdea XL Melt-in Cream SPF50 (Tone Up)
  This would actually be a good sunscreen if it wasn’t for the awful white cast. Why do Asian countries keep creating these “brightening” and “tone up” base products that make people look paler then a sheet of paper? If I wanted to look like a ghost I’d put sheets over my head and call it a day. Pass.

Have you tried any of these? Curious to know if you got similar results or the complete opposite! Skincare is very much ymmv, so please do take my reviews with a grain of salt!

Jenny Wu

Passionate about science-based skincare. Tested hundreds if not thousands of products since my 20's. Working regularly with brands like iHerb, Ulta, CurrentBody, and MedStar Health to share my knowledge and experience in all things beauty. Learn more.

Skin profile: 35+, dry/combination, focused on well-aging, hydration, and a healthy glow ✨