Project Pan: Speed Reviews

More Project Pan

Here are some more items I have used up, with just some brief reviews:

Project Pan Item #65: Butter London Kitten Heels
Smelly feet? This will help! This is a deodorant foot cream that has a light clean scent. I'm already onto my next tube. Butter London used to make one in a strong woodsy, natural sort of scent but I think they discontinued it, which is why I started using this one in Kitten Heels. The former scent had stronger deodorizing capability but the fragrance could also be a bit overwhelming. This one is not obnoxious and it does a decent job at keeping my feet fresh.

Project Pan Item #66: The Aloe Source Jojoba Radiance Cleansing Polish
This is a trial size item from a Glossy Box. I kept it in my shower and used it as a morning cleanser. I enjoyed its refreshing scent. It was densely packed with small polishing beads that they weren't too coarse or abrasive. I liked this but it is not something I will be repurchasing because I don't find anything particularly special about it, and it s not something I can easily find in stores.

Project Pan Item #67: Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover
Reviewed previously. Still loving it. I'm on my next one already.

Estee Lauder DayWear

Project Pan Item #68: Estee Lauder DayWear
I've reviewed this before, and I have gone through so many tubs of these. It's my favorite moisturizer!

Project Pan Item #69: Naobay Oxygenating Cream
This is another item I received in a Glossy Box. It was a nice moisturizer with a fresh, clean scent. It's texture wasn't as creamy as the Estee Lauder DayWear but it wore nicely, wasn't sticky or greasy, and I enjoyed it. I have no intention to repurchase it though, just because I love the Estee Lauder DayWear so much. Plus, it does not include SPF.

Project Pan Items #70 and #71: Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age-Correcting Creme
I got these as parts of Gifts with Purchases for buying either the Estee Lauder Daywear or the Advanced Night Repair Eye. The Re-Nutriv Creme is a much thicker, richer moisturizer that I used as a nighttime moisturizer right before bed. It has an elegant scent, and it was a wonderful moisturizer. I'm sure it was great for my skin during the very dry, cold winter months but it's not like I noticed any dramatic difference in my complexion while I used it. I would be happy to use it again if I received it in a GWP, but I will not be purchasing it on my own just because I don't feel I'm at a point where I need to have something heavy duty for aging skin.

Project Pan Item #72: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub
I first tried this product a long, long time ago, possibly in high school but definitely during college. It has a wonderfully refreshing grapefruit scent and I like the way it can lather and foam. The beads are bigger and coarser than the ones in The Aloe Source's cleansing polish but they're also much less dense so they're not abrasive. I use this as a morning cleanser and I feel that I get a nice, squeaky clean from it. I am already on the next tube.

Project Pan Item #73: Soap & Glory Hand Food
God, the scent is amazing. I loved this. I think I got it as a bonus point thing from Sephora a few years back. It was a great hand lotion that didn't leave my hands feeling too greasy. I have to say though, the scent does go bad so don't let it sit too long.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

 Project Pan Items #74 and #75: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent
I initially got this because of all the hype on YouTube. When I first started using it, I applied it with a dense brush only over the T-zone area. I found that it looked heavy, and it didn't end up keeping me matte anyway. However, one day, I decided to apply it all over my face with a fluffier brush and I found that the effect was much more rewarding. It has a way of smoothing everything over so that everything just looks finished and polished. I still find myself shiny by the end of the day but I don't mind because I think that's natural. I'm sure if I applied more of this throughout the day it would help but I can't be bothered to touch up. I like that this is very affordable and easily accessible, so I plan to continue repurchasing it.

Project Pan Item #76: Rimmel Match Perfect 2-in-1 Concealer and Highlighter
Reviewed previously here. Loved it, and I have another tube ready to go.

Finally, there are a few items that I have already documented under Project Pan but I just wanted to show that I made further progress. I am now ready to call it quits and throw these out:

Tarte Natural Cheek Stain in Flawless

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake

Tarte's Natural Cheek Stain in Flawless was Project Pan Item #56 (reviewed here), and Maybelline's Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake was Project Pan Item #38 (reviewed here). I have been very into pink cheeks this past year and while this may be excessive, my current makeup routine calls for three blushes. My regimen started with the Tarte blush, followed by the Maybelline Bouncy Blush, and I finished off with a powder blush. I found that the cream blushes underneath helped the powder blush to last longer, and they helped to enhance the flush. I think I have now exhausted these two cream blushes, so it is time for them to retire.

That's all for now!

Project Pan Black Eyeliner Pencils: Sumita Beauty Kala Color Intense Pencil vs Milani Liquid Eye

Sumita Beauty and Milani Eye Liner Pencils

Project Pan Item #63: Sumita Beauty Kala Color Intense Pencil in Black ($15)

Project Pan Item #64: Milani Liquid Eye Liquid-Like Eye Liner Pencil in Black ($7.99)

Given my early morning work hours, I've been striving to whittle down my morning routine so that it's fast and efficient. In this process, I have rediscovered eye liner pencils, which I had long given up in favor of gel or cream eye liners. I love the control and precision that I get from applying gel or cream eye liners with a brush. I had never in the past found that I could get as sharp or clean a flick from eye liner pencils. Not so anymore. Let me explain.

Sumita Beauty Kala Color Intense Pencil in Black

This all started with the Sumita Kala Color Intense Pencil that I received in a Glossy Box. Like I said, I had not thought to try a pencil liner in ages. This one was a pleasant surprise because it was incredibly creamy, long-wearing, and very black. I found that it was a breeze to swipe this along the lash line because the texture was so smooth. Then, because there was some leeway before the liner set into place, I found that I could use an eyeliner brush (the one shown above) to drag out and shape the ends of the line into a sharp flick. Once the liner set, it was budge-proof. I actually received this item when I was preparing for Coachella last year and trying to figure out a simple yet effective makeup routine. I ended up bringing this with me to the music festival and it held up impressively, through heat, sweat, sand storms, etc. I clearly loved it enough to use it up to the nub you see pictured.

Milani Liquid Eye Liquid-Like Eye Liner Pencil in Black

When I was about finished with the Sumita pencil, I started itching for a replacement. The Sumita pencils are not readily available in stores so I thought to re-try the Milani Liquid Eye Pencil in its sharpen-able form, of which I have owned the brown shade in the past. I remembered it being creamy with good longevity along the waterline, though I don't recall that I ever used it along the upper lashline. Long story short, the sharpenable pencil in Black was not available at my local CVS but the mechanical version was, so I went ahead and purchased it. Much like the Sumita pencil, the Milani Eye Pencil is also incredibly smooth, intensely black, and sets nicely into place. It also is more accessible and affordable! Best of all, you never need to sharpen it!

L-R: Sumita Kala Color Intense Pencil; Milani Liquid Eye Liquid-Like Eye Liner Pencil

(NOTE: hardly any product left in Milani pencil so it was hard to swatch, normally more pigmented)

I will say that since summer of last year, I have noticed more often than not that my liner to tends to smudge or stamp across my lid by the end of the day (right side only, because of the way my lid creases on that side). This never used to be a problem for me. The timing of this phenomenon coincided with when I started using the pencil liners regularly, which again coincided also with when my schedule began to involve early mornings and long days. I switched back to gel liner to see if pencil liner was the culprit or if it was something to do with my skin (perhaps changes in oil production, or maybe increased perspiration from being on my feet for many more hours of the day). I did find that my tried-and-true MAC Fluidline also smudged and stamped, although less dramatically than either of the pencil liners. Hence, while it does appear that changes in my skin are partly to blame, the pencil liners also don't hold up as well on oily lids as a gel liner.

Given that I am experiencing this smudging with both gel and pencil liners, I have just accepted that this is something that is going to happen when I wear liner. I still very much appreciate the ease and convenience of the pencil liners so I am continuing to use them. I will not be repurchasing the Sumita pencil, although I did enjoy it while it lasted. I love the Milani one because it works just as well, is readily available, about half the price of the Sumita pencil. Plus, not sharpening the product means I get to use every bit of it, rather than losing product per sharpening!

Project Pan: Another Round!

Here goes another round of finished products that have previously been reviewed:

Project Pan Item #57: Physician's Formula Nude Wear Concealer

Project Pan Items #58-59: Estee Lauder DayWear

Project Pan Item #60: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye

Project Pan Item #61: Swedish Skin Anti-Aging Eye Cream

Tarte Natural Cheek Stain: Flawless

Tarte Natural Cheek Stain in Flawless

Project Pan Item #56: Tarte Natural Cheek Stain in Flawless

I purchased a trio of mini-sized Tarte Natural Cheek Stains a while back. At the time, I think Tarte was best known for these products.

Tarte Natural Cheek Stain in Flawless

The Natural Cheek Stains are twist up tubes of solid cream blushes. They have a light floral fragrance that I quite enjoy. The texture is oil-based and somewhat tacky, but it blends out easily with fingers or a synthetic brush. I do not agree that these are stains because they sit on the skin rather than sinking into it.

The shade Flawless is a light-to-medium peachy pink that has light pigmentation. I've been using this as a base blush because I find that the stickiness is great for holding onto the other blushes that I layer over the top. I don't use it as my sole blush because the pigmentation is too light and I fear that with its texture, it will melt or fade away quickly without something set over top. I do find that with my current blush routine (that involves 3 different blushes, including this one) my cheek color lasts well throughout the day. However, I cannot attribute the longevity purely to Tarte's Cheek Stain.

Tarte Natural Cheek Stain in Flawless

Tarte Natural Cheek Stain in Flawless, blended out (note oily texture sitting on skin)

This Cheek Stain was a nice part of my routine but I won't miss it once it's finished. I know there are better cream blushes available that offer better pigmentation and wear (like Stila's Convertible Colors). I don't believe Tarte even makes this shade anymore but I would not recommend it if they did. It is not worth getting just to use as a base for other blushes.

Tarte Natural Cheek Stain in Flawless

Project Pan: More Repeats

Oh how satisfying it will be to finally throw these out! Here are some previously reviewed items that I have used up yet again:

Project Pan Item #49: Seche Vite

Project Pan Item #50: Swedish Skin Eye Cream

Project Pan Item #51: Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover
(Truth be told, I've gone through several more of these...)

Project Pan Item #52: Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser

Project Pan Item #53: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye

Project Pan Items #54, 55: Estee Lauder DayWear Creme

Back with Project Pan!

Project Pan

It's been a long while! I've used up quite a few products in the interim. Here are some items that I've reviewed previously and finished up.

Project Pan Item #40: Swedish Skin Eye Cream

I have a bunch of these to use up but I'm currently using my favorite Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye.

Project Pan Item #41: Maybelline One-by-One Mascara

This is the second tube of this mascara that I've finished. I liked it a lot and wouldn't mind repurchasing it.

Project Pan Item #42: Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm (Hibiscus)
Hibiscus was a new shade for me. It was very close to my natural lip color, perhaps even a tad lighter on some days, so it was a good neutral, easy-to-use shade for anytime. I generally like the Burt's Bees tinted lip balms but my favorite of the ones I've tried is Rose.

Project Pan Item #43: MAC Fluidline (Blitz & Glitz)
Blitz & Glitz is supposed to be a very deep, dark brown with some shimmer but the particles are very subtle, and the liner on the whole just ends up looking black. I have no problem with that and the product itself is great, but if you're looking for something that will look different than just a plain black, then don't expect much from this shade.

Project Pan Item #44: Estee Lauder DayWear
Still loving it, and still using it.

Project Pan Item #45: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat
Will mostly likely go back to this as soon as I'm done with my current bottle of Seche Vite.

Project Pan Items #46, 47: Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover (not pictured)
I've definitely gone through at least 2 of these but possibly more! I'm working through another now and plan to continue repurchasing it.

Neutrogena: Deep Clean Cream Cleanser

Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser

Project Pan Item #39: Neutrogena's Deep Clean Cream Cleanser.

This classic item has been the most consistent product in my beauty regimen since my high school days. It's one that I cannot be without. I don't pack it with me when I visit home because it's not travel size, and I find that my skin always seems to break out. I can't say with certainty that that's due solely to a lack of this product but I wouldn't be surprised if that was a big part of it.

For reference, my skin has changed over the years. In general, I had dry, sensitive skin with oil buildup in the T-zone throughout college and post-graduation (from 2005-2012). Last fall, my skin started to get oilier so I'd say that I'm now normal with oil in the T-zone. I've used the Deep Clean Cream Cleanser throughout these phases and I have not found it to irritate or adversely affect my skin at all. I will say, though, that if your skin is extremely dry, this may not be something you want to use everyday as it does remove oils.

The Deep Clean Cream Cleanser is a thick mousse-like paste. It's quite solid for a cream. It has an odd, herbal scent to it but I've grown accustomed to it after all these years. It doesn't foam but it does provide a cooling sensation as you rub it into your skin. I use it as my nighttime cleanser because I feel that it provides the deepest clean of all my cleansers so I trust it to remove my makeup.

This has probably been in my life for 10+ years now and I don't see that changing anytime soon. I've repurchased it time and time again so I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Project Pan: Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake

Project Pan Item #38: Maybelline's Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake, which I have reviewed before here. I still love it now as I did then!

Bare Minerals Big & Bright Eyeliner: Intense Black

Bare Minerals Big & Bright Eyeliner in Intense Black

Bare Minerals Big & Bright Eyeliner in Intense Black

Project Pan Item #37: Bare Minerals Big & Bright Eyeliner in Intense Black

I got this eyeliner as part of a Sephora set that had these pencils in various shades. Intense Black is a dark, matte black that is smooth and creamy. Even so, when swatching, I found that it skipped a bit on the first swipe so that I had to go over it a second and third time to build up to a nice, even color. I can't speak to how it works as a stand-alone liner because I always use gel liner as my main liner (I like the control and precision I get from using a liner brush), and I top that with other liners (like this one) to fill in the sparse areas that are tugged off after I use my eyelash curler. For that purpose, this liner worked just fine. It intensified the darkness of my liner and wore well throughout the day. It did not flake off or smudge when topped over gel liner. I did find, however, that my hand swatch didn't set. It smudged easily when I rubbed it.

This comes in roll-up packaging that is convenient as it negates the need for sharpeners. I didn't find the liner to dry out over time as the cap snapped on snugly.

This product has been discontinued so I guess this review is mostly for me to record a Project Pan item. I can't advise on how this works when worn alone. All in all, I don't think I'd recommend if you happen to stumble upon it on eBay or Amazon because I feel there are drugstore options out there that are just as good (such as the Milani liner).

Intense Black

Neutrogena: Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover

Neutrogena Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover

Project Pan Item #36: Neutrogena Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover

I'm currently on my second bottle of this (the one photographed) so it goes to show that this is a product I would (and have) repurchase(d). It's a good drugstore option that's effective, inexpensive, and easily accessible. Though oil-free, it has two phases that get mixed when you shake the product up. It also has a light oily feel about it, although it isn't gross and doesn't sit on the skin. Instead, the slight oiliness serves to soften and moisturize. It removes my waterproof mascara and other eye makeup as well as the best removers I've tried so I recommend it.

Swedish Skin: Anti-Aging Eye Cream

Swedish Skin Anti-Aging Eye Cream

Project Pan Item #35: Swedish Skin Anti-Aging Eye Cream

I got a ton of the Swedish Skin eye creams and moisturizers way back when they had some B1G2 deal. Sadly, I was not the biggest fan of these products but I have a big stash awaiting use.

The eye cream is the better of the two products I tried. I turned to it after I ran out of my beloved Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye (reviewed here), which I am holding out on repurchasing because I'm learning to live on a strict budget. Swedish Skin's products are apple-based and come in a very light mint green tint with a fresh scent. The texture of the eye cream is sort of gel-like, not quite creamy like a lotion but also not as thin as a true gel. It gets tacky as it dries down, which I wasn't crazy about because instead of gliding across the skin, it'd end up pulling on and dragging the skin. This is not something you want for the delicate eye area. To get around this, I'd suggest patting this product in instead of smoothing it out, Once on, I do feel that this eye cream suffices to keep the skin around the eyes moisturized. It sank in quickly and was not greasy so it did not disturb the makeup that I put on over it.

I tried to look up the price of this product but I got a message from my antivirus program about Trojans so I wouldn't even venture onto their website. This eye cream is mediocre at best, and it's not worth looking into.

Swedish Skin Anti-Aging Eye Cream

fresh Sugar: Lip Treatment SPF 15

fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

I received the fresh Sugar Lip Treatment (Project Pan Item #34) as part of Sephora's birthday gift. It also came with the a tinted one (I think the rose shade) but sadly, I can't find that one anymore.

This lip treatment was extremely soft, which made it feel great on the lips but also made for a mess in application. My tube broke several times because the balm is hardly solid. The product would melt onto the sides of the bullet and it was too easy to over-apply onto the lips because it was so soft that it'd just glop right on. Given its consistency, I think this lip treatment would have been better off in pot form.

As for its performance as a lip treatment, I do feel that it is a very nice balm that's soft and soothing on dry, chapped lips. It's quite slippery, almost like Vaseline but a bit waxier so that it holds onto the lips better than petroleum jelly. It also smells great- a fresh, fruity scent that I can't otherwise describe.

The packaging is gorgeous and luxe, featuring a sturdy metal tube with a cap that twists on and off for secure closure. However, I found that a lot of the product was buried within the bullet. Once you use up the product so that it's flat and can't roll up any further, there is still quite a bit of product that you can reach if you dip your finger or a cotton tip into the bullet.

This product retails for $22.50, which I think is ludicrous for a lip balm. While it's a great lip moisturizer, it's hardly enough to warrant that price. I feel like a lot of the money is going toward the pretty packaging, which to me is silly. I'm glad I got to try it but I would not purchase this on my own.

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm: Red Dahlia

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia

Project Pan #33: Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia

I've previously reviewed the same product in the shade Rose (see review here) and my thoughts on the product still stand. The tint is subtle but enough that it adds some life to pale lips, and it provides good moisture. There is not a scent or flavor, which is great for people who are irritated by or sensitive to those things.

As far as the shade goes, Red Dahlia is browner than Rose, which is brighter. I've provided swatch comparisons. I personally prefer Rose but once on the lips, the difference between them is relatively subtle. They both end up looking like my-lips-but-better so both work for me.

All in all, great product! I highly recommend it.

L-R: Red Dahlia, Rose

L: nude lips

R: Red Dahlia

Collection 2000 Illuminating Touch Concealer: Glow 3

Collection 2000 Illuminating Touch Concealer in Glow

When I went to Europe back in the summer of 2011, I had it in mind to pick up the much-hyped Collection 2000 concealer. Foolishly, I did not think to look up exactly which concealer everyone raves about (Lasting Perfection) because I figured there'd only be one clear choice. I was wrong. I ended up instead with the Illuminating Touch concealer, which I used up by summer of last year (Project Pan Item #32).

Luckily for me, I loved Illuminating Touch! I used it primarily for my undereye area. I had it in the Glow 3 shade, which had a bit of a salmon tone to it that allowed it to blend more seamlessly into my skin than the Maybelline Dream Lumi concealer (reviewed before here), which had a more stark lightening effect. The formula of Illuminating Touch was incredibly smooth and blendable. I think the it is probably the lightest formula I've ever used because all other concealers I've tried have been thicker and stickier. Though it was light, it still managed to brighten the undereye area. This is probably my favorite concealer to date because it was effective without being heavy and cakey.

I highly recommend this concealer if you're looking for a brightening corrector. I wish I could get another for myself. I don't believe that this would be able to conceal blemishes though.

Swiped on hand (hard to see because it's a good match!)

More Project Pan!

Here are additional items I've used up that I have reviewed before (click on name for link to review). Some were finished a very long time ago before my move last year. They were just sitting around waiting to be photographed and recorded.

Project Pan Items #27-28: Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye

Full-sized pots

Still my favorite eye cream! Macy's has a good Estee Lauder gift with purchase at the moment so I will be restocking on these!

Project Pan Item #29: Essie Grow Faster

There is a bit left but it's not very usable anymore. Even so, this bottle lasted me quite a long time if I'm remembering correctly.

Project Pan Item #30: Estee Lauder DayWear Creme

Trial-size pot

Still my favorite moisturizer! I have a brand new full-size pot ready to go.

Project Pan Item #31: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat

Lorac: Behind the Scenes Eye Shadow Primer

Lorac Eye Shadow Primer (all packaging text rubbed off)

Here is my last post from May 2012:

After I used up my Urban Decay Primer Potion (review here), I turned to Lorac's Behind the Scenes Eye Shadow Primer (Project Pan Item #26), which came as part of the Little Black Palette. When I first started using this, I was carrying it around as part of my travel case because it was so small and compact. This meant that I had it on during long flights, at the end of which I'd often find my eye makeup creased. For this reason, I have to say that Lorac's primer cannot hold up to extreme conditions.

I did not have the best impression of this primer after my experiences traveling with it. I tried going without primer after I ran out of UDPP because I figured the Lorac primer was not going to do anything for me anyway. However, I soon learned that I was wrong to think that I don't need primer because my eyeshadow began to crease. I gave the Lorac primer another try and I was pleasantly surprised to find that when used as part of my normal, everyday routine, it did help to enhance my eye makeup. It is an acceptable primer in the way it improves adhesion and wear of shadows.

I have a mini tube of the primer so I'm not sure if the full-size version is the same. Mine came as a squeeze tube. The product itself is a lot thicker than UDPP and it is prone to getting goopy and hardening around the opening. It can get quite messy as the goop builds up so this is something I take issue with.

In summary, I feel that the Lorac eye primer is a decent product but I feel that UDPP is superior. I prefer the consistency of UDPP, which glides on easily and leaves a thin, smooth veil, as opposed to the thick and more sticky feel of the Lorac primer. I also feel that UDPP works better overall to enhance the wear of eye makeup. The Lorac primer is $21 for 0.47oz, while UDPP is $20 for 0.37oz. or $30 for 0.85oz (the professional size). I'd completely recommend that you go for the professional size of UDPP if you're deciding between these primers.

Goopy buildup around the opening

Estee Lauder: Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator

Estee Lauder Idealist Illuminator

Estee Lauder Idealist Illuminator

Here is another post from May 2012. Enjoy!

Here are Project Pan Items #24-25: Estee Lauder's Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator.

I pointed out in my last post that I adore Estee Lauder's gift sets because I enjoy most, if not all, the products they include. Here is yet another item I sampled from their gifts with purchase.

The Idealist Illuminator is a white, pearly fluid with a consistency similar to a liquid moisturizer. The smell of it is to die for and the effect it gives is gorgeous. I mix a generous dollop of this with my foundation before applying it to the skin. It is hard to describe because it is so subtle and natural, yet it clearly enhances one's complexion with a soft, brightening effect. It is quite amazing.

I really don't have much more to say other than that. It is the best illuminator I've tried. I have not tried many, but I have used ones in the past that were much too pearlescent and gave the skin a greasy sheen. This one is lovely because it looks so natural. It is expensive at $58 for 1oz. My sample size was .24oz and I got decent use out of it. Definitely try to get one as part of a gift set if you're interested in this product!

Blended in (hard to see radiant effect but that's because it's so natural!) 

Estee Lauder: Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum

I wrote a series of posts back in May 2012 that I never got around to publishing because I never photographed the items.... Here they are now, almost a year later! I've updated the Project Pan #s to continue off of my current number.

I have been accumulating a little pile of finished products, and I'm finally feeling productive enough to go through and blog about them!

First up are sample sizes of Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair serum (Project Pan Item #22-23). May I just say, I absolutely love Estee Lauder's gift sets. I definitely recommend that you consider purchasing Estee Lauder when these sets are available because not only is it a great way to test out their products, but they're also generally filled with amazing items. I have not yet been disappointed with anything I've tried from these sets. It was through them that I discovered my favorite eye cream (the Advanced Night Repair eye, reviewed here) and moisturizer (the DayWear Creme, reviewed here)!

Back to the subject of the post- the Advanced Night Repair is a serum that is designed to "[repair] the appearance of past damage and [address] the visible damaging effects of environmental assaults— UV light, smoke and pollution— before they become permanent," "[help] prevent future damage," and "[deliver] high levels of hydration." The serum is runny but not too liquid. It smooths over the skin easily and leaves it feeling softer and more supple. I like that it does not leave behind oily residue. I also think the smell of it is quite nice.

When I first tried this product, I wasn't entirely sure how to use it so I tested it in various ways: as a nighttime moisturizer; as a daytime moisturizer; and as a base before my daytime moisturizer. I agree that it is hydrating but I don't feel that it is sufficient to warrant its use as a standalone moisturizer. Bear in mind that I have dry skin outside of the T-zone.

Then one day, I was watching a Tanya Burr video (pixi2woo on Youtube) in which she mentioned that she loves the Advanced Night Repair as a treatment for damaged skin. This was at a time when I was dealing with spots and scrapes on my upper lip area and trying desperately to minimize scarring/discoloration. I started applying the Advanced Night Repair to this area in hopes that it would promote healing and prevent scarring. I can't say how things would have turned out if I hadn't done this but I like to think that the Advanced Night Repair had a positive effect on the healing process. Still, I was also using Neosporin, cocoa butter, and my normal moisturizer(s) on the area so I can't single out the effect this serum had.

To wrap up my thoughts, I feel that the Advanced Night Repair is a nice product in that it feels lovely to use and there is nothing wrong with it per se. However, I can't be certain that it delivers on its claims to protect and/or repair the skin. Its effects aren't revolutionary or dramatic enough for me to believe in its hype. I'm sure it did not hurt anything, and it may even have helped my skin, but only in conjunction with the other products in my regime. At $52 for 1oz, it is pricey. My sample size was 0.5oz so it was a great deal to receive it as part of a gift with purchase! I definitely recommend that you try to snag a set that includes this if you are looking to try it out.

Sally Hansen: Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Top Coat

(photographed when it was still new)

Although I still have somewhere between 1/2 to 1/3 of this bottle left, I'm going to add Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Top Coat to my Project Pan list (Project Pan Item #21) for reasons to be discussed below.

All in all, this is a great top coat. I think it is identical Seche Vite (reviewed here) except with a nicer price tag. It is extremely glossy and protective, and it definitely speeds up dry time. Its only downfall is, again, exactly like that of Seche Vite- as the product dwindles down, it gets thick, goopy, and ultimately unusable. For some reason, it gets to a point where it bubbles up as it dries, thus ruining the nail look and defeating its purpose. Sadly, I am at that point now. Even so, I will be repurchasing this because it is the best top coat I've tried (along with Seche Vite) and it's a nice buy at around $4.

The Body Shop Eye Colour: 10 Taupe

The Body Shop Eye Colour in 10 Taupe

This is so exciting! I have actually hit PAN on an eyeshadow (Project Pan Item #20), The Body Shop's Taupe. It makes sense for this shadow to be the first for me to make such a big dent in because it is probably my favorite. It is definitely my most reliable go-to shade. As a true medium taupe in the matte formula, it is THE perfect neutral shade. Great to wear on its own for a subtle, polished look, to pair with other neutrals, or to use as the blending color for more dramatic, smokey looks. The options are endless with a shade like this.

I've reviewed The Body Shop's eye shadows before (here and here), and Taupe is no different. Smooth formula that blends out easily with good pigmentation. I can't recommend this shade enough!

The Body Shop Eye Colour in 10 Taupe

10 Taupe worn solo across the lids (photographed after 8-10 hours of wear)