I mentioned that I’ve veen inspired by minimalism content in my first declutter video. It peaked my interest because in 2021 I felt very overwhelmed and frustrated with skincare. At the time, I coudn’t really figure out why.
I’ve come to realize that it was due to a few things:
I felt discontent about my skin,
I had an accumulation of unused skincare products I no longer cared for,
I lacked motivation to write/film anything,
I just felt “meh.”
Like all lows, there’s only going up! I eventually got over my rut and got my groove back. This is where the point of this post begins!
My 2021 end-of-year faves video featured 15 products, all new products I purchased this year. What you don’t know is that in the background I have 50-80+ other skincare items – opened, unopened, expired, forgotten.
That doesn’t factor in my hair and body products, gadgets, makeup, nail polish. At first I thought it was just PR items. Stuff sent to me that I didn’t give away and wanted to keep. When I sat down and looked through the items, 90% or more were purchased by me.
For those of you new to my corner of the internet, my name is Michelle. I started my blog and YouTube channel to not only review skincare products, but to share my clear skin journey. I want to share with the world that you’re not alone in the struggle to clear skin. My content was (and still is) supposed to be my creative outlet, something fun.
I got excited when brands started reaching out for PR opportunities. I also participated in review giveaways for online retailers. But then this all started to feel like a job. So I started hauling skincare more frequently and taking on PR opportunities. I felt like I needed to be consistent with my “work”. And this feeling of it being a second job is what began my discontent. I couldn’t keep track of my collection and everything started to feel the same. All the while, I had this underlying feeling that I was becoming a place for free labour and advertisement.
Now these companies are not to blame, I was the one who agreed to these terms. I agreed to accept the product in exchange for review, to meet a deadline. I’ve also never felt negative about affiliates like Wishtrend. I’ve always been able to take my time with reviews and I’ve given a fare share of negative ones. I also found some great products through PR in general.
But I did have to put other skincare on the backburner for these reviews (my purchases) because I do want to thoroughly test products before sharing my thoughts with you all. However this has now lead to me having what I think is an absurd amount of skincare for one person. Most I purchased, have been opened and I don’t know if I can use them all up in a timely manner while trying to test out products to review.
So I have decided that for 2022 I am going to do a low buy. Here are my low buy rules to help reduce my skincare spending.
Why I’m doing a Low Buy for 2022
Empties from 2019
Declutter Backburner Beauty Products
Simply put, I want to reduce the products I have. I have come to know my likes and dislikes. It’s obvious what I like reaching for and what I forgot existed. It’s not good to buy new products and put older ones on the backburner… Let them be unused, expire, and ultimate become unnecessary waste.
Have Mental Clarity
I was surrounded by stuff that I felt pressured to create content about but wasn’t quite ready to share my thoughts on. I’ve come to understand what my testing/reviewing habits and methods are. Having a bulk of opened, unused skincare confused my direction. I wasn’t enjoying blogging and filming anymore. I felt like I was surrounded by stuff and I didn’t know where to begin. I’m hoping by decluttering, reducing my spending, I will have better direction and organization with my content in the future. I want to bring back more joy I had in skincare.
Have More with Less
I am also hoping to use minimalism to lower my reliance and need for products. Don’t get me wrong, my skincare is my self-care and applying makeup feels therapeutic. But I don’t want to feel a heavy reliance and be surrounded things in general to feel whole. It’s funny… I used to love seeing all my products on the bathroom counter and my vanity. Now, I just want clear surfaces and a bin of my trusty go-tos.
My Low Buy Rules for 2022
Press Samples from Wishtrend.
No More Freebies
I will not be accepting any more PR, gifts, participating in review giveaways, until I reduce my current collection. Freebies will be at a halt unless:
I get offered an item I planned on purchasing/repurchasing, or
if it was gifted by a family member/friend.
Remove Temptations
Avoid what caused me to buy a lot in the first place! This all falls under “Online Window Shopping” because it’s so easy nowadays to access online retailers and make a purchase.
Unsubscribe to emails – Always contains FOMO content like limited time deals, free shipping, limited stock.
Unfollow social media accounts – I was moreso effected by brand accounts themselves for they created the prettiest content of their products, and would have giveaways.
Uninstall shopping apps – I’ve already removed a couple from my phone, but the biggest one was Amazon. Us North Americans will know, that Prime delivery is dangerous for impulse shopping!
Remove myself from my device when I’m “bored” shopping – If I have spare time at work or am feeling bored in general, I take a breather and literally look outside, take a walk, do a chore, something other than mindlessly shop.
Let it Marinate
Prevent impulse buying, give yourself time to think about this upcoming purchase. It can be 24 hours minimum up to a week to evaluate this. During that time, check your current collection to make sure you’re not doubling up on something already.
Empty Before Newbie
Be close to finishing what I own before considering purchasing something, or using up what’s in my skincare stash first!
No Makeup
I have been on a foundation free kick since 2019. It’s helped me come to like my face and skin more for what it is. I hauled makeup in 2021 and they cater to my current aesthetic. Having said that, I don’t find a need to want more and am very content shopping my stash. The only items I would consider replacing are brow gel and mascara. But even then I haven’t worn mascara in a long time!
How I Will Hold Myself Accountable to my Low Buy Rules
Is me
As a content creator, how will my audience know I am holding myself accountable? I want those of you reading/watching to be in the know, especially if you feel like you’re in the same boat as I am.
Seasonal Empties + Check In
No better way to show I decluttered and used up my existing stash than to do empties videos! Instead of making it a monthly thing, seasonal seems appropriate. With the seasonal empties I’ll also touch upon my progress in general and how I’m feeling about the Low Buy year.
Empties and Newbies
This type of content will showcase what’s replacing what in my skincare routine. I find it will be a good way for to keep track as to what I’m using. It’ll also point out whether the newbies are from my stash or purchases.
Speak to Someone Before a Purchase
I always speak to my husband before I pull the trigger and make a purchase. I have noticed in recent times however that I’m quite silent about my skincare hauls. He always seemed surprised by the packages we had to pick up at our local post office 😀 He’s typically pretty supportive of my purchases, so I know I can count on him to tell me when I’m going out of line.
So friends, will you be doing a low buy year with me? Do you also cave to the skincare/makeup/beauty craze? If so, I hope my personal low buy rules for 2022 help you out as well.
Also – Happy New Year! Stay positive, be healthy, say “I love you” to your family and friends.
This is an unsponsored post.
Products marked with an asterisk (*) are PR / Gifted Items.
This post contains affiliate links. This means if you use this link to make a purchase, I make a small commission. Thanks for your support if you decide to use them! If you feel uncomfortable, feel free to google a new link.
For the past few years, Klairs products have at some point, and still is, part of my skincare routine. When my skin was going through a very confusing time, their skincare managed to provide some type of relief and help with my skin concerns. I have tried old and new formulations of their products, been exposed to their marketing long enough, and follow them on Instagram to see their updates. I figured it was about time I did a big review on the products I have tried, as well as the brand as a whole!
P.S. The video version shows me demo-ing the products!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UKVzbCX8aU&w=560&h=315]
QUICK FACTS
Here’s some information on Dear, Klairs based on what’s available online and what I have noticed when shopping their products:
Vegan
Cruelty-Free
They actually created “Stay Beagly” Badges for Wishtrend’s Cruelty Free Week Sale and proceeds went to saving Beagles and making sure they get a loving home! Check out their Instagram posts in May, and be sure to click left to see more! May 20th, 2018
High quality at reasonable prices
Only use necessary ingredients in the formula that contribute to skin’s overall health
No artificial fragrances used (although one of their products just has “Fragrance” on the list – I’ll point it out)
Effective, yet mild formulas
They keep sensitive skin types in mind
Suitable for all skin types
Have a variety of products
Beauty tools
Makeup
Skincare
Different skincare lines focused on specific concerns
Price range is $$
Least expensive product – Mochi BB Cushion Air Puff $1.50 USD
Most expensive product – Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop $30 USD
Always offer great deals with their skincare bundles. I always get them if I plan on repurchasing a product, as well as if my family and friends want to repurchase something in my order.
Their samples have expiry dates so you can save them for short trips! I did that when I went to Puerto Vallarta with friends.
Something they don’t list themselves, but deserves a quick mention: They take constructive criticism well and use the feedback they get from customers to improve their formulas and create new products!
I have tried old/new formulations of the following:
Supple Preparation Facial Toner – added Unscented version
Rich Moist Soothing Serum – less sticky, more elegant formulation
Rich Moist Soothing Cream – jar to tube with more product and added ingredients
Sheet masks – cotton to tencel and bamboo sheet material
Even with reformulations, I still find some Klairs products a hit and miss for me. Not a miss in a way where I think the product is awful, but moreso that it doesn’t tickle my fancy and it doesn’t have a purpose in my routine. Overall I do think they offer a variety of products for everyone, even the ones I personally don’t care for.
I will only be reviewing the products I own / have tried, which is about 14/23 products. It’s not all, but they seem to be the more popular products out of the bunch! For any product I did a full review on, I’ll be sure to leave the corresponding blog posts for you to look at if you’re interested in finding out more.
Also since there are quite a number of products, I’ll be linking each one with the COSDNA Ingredient List, that way it’s easier to check out what the primary functions of each one is.
This line focuses on calming the skin and lowering inflammation using Guaiazulene as the star ingredient. It is an extract from the chamomile plant that turns from violet to light blue after the blending process. It is used to treat a variety of skin ailments, especially when it’s inflamed or has damaged skin tissue (eg. sunburns, eczema)
Midnight Blue Calming Sheet Mask* COSDNA IL Amount: 25ml Price: $3 USD
First off – they do not have Guaiazulene in this, and I don’t know why it would not be included in the essence; It’s pretty much the whole reason for the Blue Line!  However, it has a handful of soothing ingredients such as Erythritol, Willow Bark Extract, Allantoin, Centella Asiatica, making this mask particularly beneficial for those with inflamed skin; Since it functions as a calming sheet mask, it does give it merit to be part of the Blue Line. I like that they went the route with using bamboo instead of cotton. It comes in a top and bottom piece, fits my face better and it definitely holds the essence longer. After use, this mask made my face look and feel very smooth, look even tone, and helped lower inflammation around breakouts.
Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop COSDNA IL Amount: 20ml Price: $30 USD
This is a peptide serum that is one of Klairs’ products catered to anti-aging. Despite it only being 20ml, it is not in a base of water and contains only 10 ingredients, EGF and bFGF being the first two on the list. On initial application my skin always feels surprisingly soft, considering that this is a watery formula. I particularly like applying this after using a product that was sensitizing, making sure my skin doesn’t take a bad route from the reaction. I do have a love/hate with this serum however because of the size and if it’s really “keeping me young”. This is my second bottle, and with retinol or retinoids being in my skincare from here on out, I have been applying the Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop afterwards to ensure I don’t get any irritation. A subscriber also commented that they use this serum after dermarolling, instead of a Vitamin C serum like I used, and noticed its benefits. I would definitely like to give that a try, since no matter the % Vitamin C definitely stings, especially if you create multiple small wounds on your face!
Midnight Blue Calming Cream COSDNA IL
Amount: 30ml – 60ml
Price: $24.50 USD – $31 USD This is like the cream version of the Youth Activating Drop, for it also contains peptides and Guaiazulene. The reason I like it better is because it contains other ingredients I really like such as Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica, and Ceramide 3. I repurchased the jar twice and invested in the 60ml limited size. This is a must in my routine, and serves the same purpose as the Youth Drop only heavier. Despite the thickness, I don’t get additional breakouts from the cream, but rather soothed skin, especially when my chin area is inflamed with pimples! The jar is good for travelling, for I almost always breakout after getting off the plane! Even if there is a climate change, I find myself reaching for this constantly to soothe my skin (or if I reeeeeaaaaalllllly react with a skincare product).
Recommended for: Constantly irritated and/or inflamed skin that needs some calming.
Freshly Juiced Line – The Ultimate Brightening Solution
The more “active” line out of the bunch, each product carries a star ingredient(s) that have skin benefits, including maintaining a healthy glow and youthful look!
Soft Airy UV Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ * COSDNA IL Amount: 80ml Price: $23 USD
Klairs’ newest sunscreen, and hallellujah it’s so good! It’s an all chemical sunscreen with the more photostable filters Uvinul A Plus and Uvinul T 150. It come in a large size at a decent price; despite it being a chemical sunscreen it does not sensitize my skin or irritate my eyes. If you have normal to oily skin, you can even get away with this being your moisturizer! I found it adds a slight bit of moisture to my skin, giving it the supple look, not a greasy sunscreen look. It It’s a new addition that is one of the best they have to offer.
Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask * COSDNA IL Amount: 90ml Price: $27 USD
Probably the best sleeping mask I have tried to date. I’ve never been a fan over moisturizing, overnight masks because they tend to enlarge my pores, make me feel congested, and never tackle the dehydrated feeling. The Vitamin E Mask actually performs! My skin instantly looks bright and plump on application, stays moisturized the next day despite sleeping in a dry environment, and my pores look smaller. I definitely see the 2% Niacinamide working well.
Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop COSDNA IL Amount: 35ml Price: $23 USD
This is a likeable serum, but not my favourite. I like that this brightened and plumped my skin, felt hydrating, and evened out my skin tone. However long-term it did nothing for my hyperpigmentation. I am suspecting a few things:
1) The 5% L-Ascorbic Acid wasn’t enough for me
2) The lack of Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid in the formula is not bringing it to its full potential
3) Only suitable for the most sensitive of skin types
Your skin also feels heated on application. It didn’t bother me much or make my skin look splotchy, but I can see this being a concern for very sensitive skin. (Truthfully, I’m questioning if vitamin C really does anything for me atm, even the Timeless serum that has 20% LAA).
Recommended for: Those who need an instant brightening and hydrating boost! I think oily skin types would enjoy this line, but be wary of the Vitamin E Mask for it might be too heavy for you, even with the lightest amount. Sensitive skinned peeps beware of both the Mask and Vitamin Drop – you will feel some type of sensation!
Rich Moist Soothing Line
Deeply moisturize and soothe the skin
These were the first items from Klairs I ever tried. They served as good, gentle products when my skin was transitioning from oily to dry, and when I stopped birth control and started having crazy hormonal breakouts.
Rich Moist Soothing Serum COSDNA IL
Amount: 80ml
Price: $22.99 USD Both old and new formula, I find this did nothing for my skin. It adds a moment of a soothing feeling and disappears into my skin, barely making the surface feel soft. I think this is TOO gentle for me. What’s weird is that it has similar ingredients in the Supple Preparation Toner (which I love), but I don’t find I get the same effect. Maybe I prefer the toner as the “vehicle” for those ingredients rather than the serum? Skincarisma actually did an ingredient comparison of the Rich Moist Soothing Serum and Supple Preparation Facial Toner, what they both have and what one has over the other. Definitely give it a look!
Rich Moist Soothing Cream COSDNA IL
Amount: 60ml
Price: $24.50 USD My OG moisturizer when my skin started transitioning from oily to dry. It is a Glycerin-based moisturizer with Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Ceramide 3, as well as a variety of plant extracts. It comforted my skin while using it and I never felt congested. Now that I have branched off to my Cerave PM, I appreciate the minimal and effective ingredient list, and that it’s more accessible for me to get. I have not gone back to the Rich Moist Soothing Cream and don’t think I need to hang on to it anymore. It’s still a good moisturizer, and I have got my friend hooked on it for her dry, psoriasis skin.
Recommended for: Those new in skincare and need a gentle and simple start. The Rich Moist Soothing Line is basic, and sometimes that’s what you need. You can layer this as you like, making it suitable for oily to dry skin. As for the Rich Moist Soothing Tencil Sheet Mask, I only tried the old formulation and didn’t like it. The new one claims to have ceramides, so it’s possible it’s more nourishing, but I still can’t bring myself to want to try it.
Supple Preparation Line – Cleanse and Hydrate the Skin
It’s exactly what the name of the line suggests, it makes your skin supple! To better describe it in my own terms, they are products that help add a little extra to your skin, without a heavy finish.
Supple Preparation Facial Toner Original & Unscented * COSDNA List Amount: 180ml Price: $21.99 USD
I’ve spoken about this too much, so I’ll be brief! Love this toner, have gone through multiple bottles of it. It is a no fuss type of product that gives your skin that little extra *oomph*. The Unscented one is definitely your go to if you’re looking for a light, simple, hydrating toner to add to your routine without the essential oils.
Toner Mate 2-in-1 Cotton Pad Amount: 60-60 pads Price: $6.50 USD Compressed Pad: 100% Cotton Sponge Pad: Pulp-Rayon blend
Probably the best damn cotton pads ever. I never knew how important cotton pads are until I tried these ones. I still have a pack of Delon cotton pads I got for $15 at Costco. They’re good, but these….. Not a drop of product goes to waste, even with the thicker, more compressed pad. The compressed pad is best used say if you feel like you need to wipe extra stuff off your skin while adding hydration. The softer, sponge pad to help saturate your skin more, and you can even use them for toner masks.
Supple Preparation All Over Lotion (2 samples)
Amount (full size): 250ml
Price (full size): $26.50 USD
This is a fast absorbing body-lotion that can be used for both face and body, depending the type of finish you prefer in a moisturizer. This one caters to those that don’t like a heavy finish. This also has Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide NP and a ton of plant extracts as well. Comparing it to the Rich Moist Soothing Cream, these ingredients are all near the top of the list, but the difference is in the finish.
Recommended for: Those who literally want a “simple, but enough” type of feel to their skin. And high quality cotton pads. It pretty much compliments the Rich Moist Soothing Line (or any skincare routine for that matter) well.
Gentle Black Cleansing Line – Deep cleanse the skin without irritation
Similar to the theme in the Blue Line, Klairs has a few cleansers that have black ingredients as their highlighted ingredients. The ones I see listed are black sugar, charcoal, and black currant.
Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil (multiple samples) COSDNA IL Amount: 150ml Price: $22.90 USD
A gentle makeup remover with Black Currant Seed Oil. It’s a soothing and moisturizing ingredient high in linoleic acid,making it suitable for problematic skin; It found in the middle of the list along with other plant oils such as Jojoba Seed, Soybean, and Sesame Seed. It is an emulsifying cleansing oil so there is no need for a towel, although I do find it takes a bit to wash off without it. From the handful of times I have used this, my skin is left feeling moisturized and smooth, but it also feels like product is lingering on my face. This is also the one I found in their line that has just “Fragrance” on the list, instead of their typical EO blend found in their other skincare products.
Recommended for:Â 1st cleanse steps but still want that slight moisturized finish.
Makeup
Klairs doesn’t really have a big makeup line, but I have purchased and still use their BB Cream!
Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream COSDNA IL Amount: 40ml Price: $24.99 USD
I remember this being the first Asian BB cream I tried without making my skin grey and I could actually wear on its own. My skin definitely had a natural glow to it, and it helped blur my enlarged pores and make my skin look smoother and literally supple. I’m a bit tanner than I was when I first tried this product, and even at my paler times this really makes my skin tone look lighter. At the beginning of this year, I mixed it in with my It Cosmetics CC Cream (Medium) to match my lighter skin tone better. I may just keep using it for that purpose only.
Dear, Klairs is a great brand to consider if you want to venture into K-Beauty that’s cruelty-free with vegan formulas. They reformulate and formulate products based on customer input, any skin-type can use their products, they are fairly affordable, and a little goes a long way when using their products in your skincare routine.
Based on my skin concerns and needs, here are Klairs products IÂ highly recommend:
Midnight Blue Calming Cream
Soft Airy UV Essence SPF50 PA++++
Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask
Supple Preparation Facial Toner
Toner Mate 2-in-1 Cotton Pads
Wishtrend is having their annual Black Friday sale soon, and that’s usually when I shop on their website! Amazon would be preferred for those that have Prime, but I’m not sure if the sale prices will reflect there. If you’ve been eyeing Klairs products, I hope my post helps you navigate their selection to choose and try the ones right for you.
I’m exciting to share a personal accomplishment this month alongside my product faves and empties. It may seem silly, but I’m sure proud of myself! Also, a few of the products I’m going to mention are actually my purchases from the Sephora Spring VIB Haul. Usually I return more than half the stuff cause they end up sucking, but I’ve actually been consistently using all of them since I got it in the mail!
Below are 5 products I’ve been using a lot and liking in January, as well as products I managed to finish during the month! I decided to start a post series called “Roundup” so I not only talk about recent favourites, but to encourage myself (and hopefully you) to use up your current products! As a beauty junkie, it’s easy to collect and not use. I’m trying to change this habit and stop holding onto products that I know I can just buy again.
Another year, another round up of beauty products I have loved for 2017! And by love I mean… When I think about these products, it gives me the glo on the inside. I’ve actually discovered so many products in 2017, the skincare round up is a different post all-together! I don’t think it’s possible for me to live minimally. So much to try, not enough faces!
NUDESTIX has been a brand I have always stared at in the distance while browsing Sephora, but never bothered to swatch and play with. The moment I did, it began a new obsession! As the name suggests, they are makeup sticks. They have concealers, lip&cheek products, eyeshadow pencils, contour sticks and more! I started off by purchasing the following:
Concealer Pencil in Light 3 (0.05 oz/ 1.5 mL)
Full size of Intense Matte Lip&Cheek Pencil in Kiss (0.05 oz/ 1.41 g)
Mini set of their “nudes” Pixi, Belle and Purity (0.088 oz) Lash Lengthening Mascara (0.28 oz/ 8.28 mL)
The final declutter (for now) after a many decluttering posts!
These are just some of the extras I picked to throw out after going through my makeup collection one more time! A few of these products were quite the rave, but I didn’t really get anything special out of them. Hope you enjoy the read!
Hey beauties, back in October I received my WishTrend order of the Klairs Illuminating Supple Blemish Cream and the Enca Concealer. I have been using it on and off since as a daily base for casual outings and for work. I think I’ve tested it enough to write a review!
You know when you get excited about a product that you just got? Well, it went away very fast with a few products I will soon mention. Some I bought, some were given to me from friends/family members. It’s not to say that the quality in all the products were bad, it just didn’t tickle my fancy. I separated the post in skincare and makeup, but this post is mostly about the latter, and in no particular order. Enjoy the read!
It’s exactly what the name of the line suggests, it makes your skin supple! To better describe it in my own terms, they are products that help add a little extra to your skin, without a heavy finish.
