We Aim To Slay

If you’ve scrolled through the #WeAimToSlay post archive you’ll notice a certain trend – I’m addicted to skincare products. A long time Ulta Beauty disciple, I’ve recently switched to team Sephora – due to my deeply ingrained love for the Tatcha Rice Cleanser (thanks, Mom!). Here, I’ll walk you through my last few skincare purchases, and whether I’ll be buying that product again or not! And, I’ll be reviewing my recent Sephora makeup purchases in a similar format coming up!

Tatcha The Deep Cleanse Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

I’ve been using the rice cleanser for a year now, and I have noticed a significant difference in my skin. When I saw that this formula was created to “lift dirt, minimize excess oils, and unclog and tighten pores,” I knew I needed to try it! I’ve long battled with large pores on my cheeks, and thought this could be the missing link! I bought the travel size as a tester, and I won’t lie, I wasn’t crazy about it. This product contains ground Japanese Luffa Fruit to work as exfoliants, but they quickly melt away. It does have a pleasant scent, but I’d rather splurge on the rice wash because I know it’s effective. 

Overall I’m rating this product a 5/10 stars.

Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen

When I started learning to surf I became much more aware of and interested in suncare. Since then I’ve been wearing sunscreen on my face almost daily, until I took a bit of a break last year and I searched for more coral reef-safe options – this sunscreen is not listed as being reef-safe, so I’ll be on the look out for a new sunscreen as surf season gets closer. As an everyday product, this works really well. Ordinarily, I say don’t wear sunscreen under your makeup as it tends to leave your base slick causing your makeup to slide. But this product absorbs quickly and leaves your skin feeling clean and supple, perfect for creating a daytime look!

8/10 stars, because it works really well, but I still don’t treat sunscreen as a mandatory product.

Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream

What I love most about this product is the packaging – Glow Recipe crafted a plum-shaped jar, and the actual product sits in a refillable pod! There’s a few dollars difference between buying an entirely new jar ($40) and the refill pods ($34), so it’s nice to be able to buy an effective product without breaking the budget! This product leaves your face feeling hydrated and bouncy, thanks to the hyaluronic acid, and, there isn’t a strong scent, which is great if you have sensitive skin, like I do.

10/10 stars because it does everything I want it to do, and the packaging is adorable.

Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum

At first I wasn’t blown away by this serum, so in between my first and second purchase I went back to the Fourth Ray Beauty Avocado + Aloe Double Shot Serum but I noticed that the FRB serum was leaving my skin very oily. On second use, I really do enjoy this product, and I know that my skin loves it too!

According to Medical News Today, avocado oil contains “omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins A, D, and E” which all lead to its ability to “moisturize and nourish, relieve inflammation from psoriasis and eczema, prevent and treat acne, accelerate wound healing, treat sunburn, reduce signs of aging, and improve nail and scalp health.”

9/10 stars because they got me with the packaging again, and I can’t deny my skin what it loves!

Sephora Collection Clean Face Masks

I bought a grapefruit, spirulina, lychee, & matcha mask. Pretty sure I’ve only used one so far – wasn’t mad, wasn’t thrilled. But I’m a sheet mask kind of gal, so I’m just happy when I go into the bathroom and can still find one – because Hubby has become quite the fan as well!

5/10 stars because I’m not in love with any one brand of sheet mask in particular, I love to try them all!

Sephora Collection Total Coverage Original Sponge

I’ve been using this sponge a lot recently and I love the finite point, it allows for precision blending especially around the eye area. I really prefer a sponge for all of my blending, so I’ll definitely be buying this one again!

8/10 stars for effectiveness!

Tatcha Indigo Cleansing Balm

In the last few years I’ve really started to enjoy using makeup removing balms, and like most products, I tried a few before finding the Belief Aqua Bomb Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm. I loved this product so much that I went to order a second jar, and it was sold out. This is when the internet suggested the Indigo Cleansing Balm. For the exact same price, this product has everything going for it – and the more I use it, the more I like it! There’s literally no smell, and it leaves your skin feeling very smooth.

8/10 stars because it works really well, but I’m not in love with it yet.

Sephora Collection Cleansing + Exfoliating Wipes

As we all know, I’m a sucker for cute packaging, and these hemp wipes got me! But, I honestly hated these, I’m not sure if I had an old package and they were just dry or if I bought the wrong formula for what I wanted, but I absolutely hated these and won’t be purchasing them again. 

1/10 stars because they were dry and scratchy on my face.

Alpyn Beauty Melt Moisturizer with Bakuchiol and Squalane

When I got the sample size of this I loved it! It felt so silky, and it absorbed almost immediately into the back of my hand. Then I bought the little jar, and I hated it as a moisturizer; it left my face feeling sticky and without that bouncy, hydrated feeling that I’m after. The scent was really clean – like a pine forest on a winter’s day, it would make a stellar candle.

4/10 stars because I did really like it as a hand cream, and I would buy the heck out of a candle with this scent.

Maison Margiela REPLICA By The Fireplace

If, like me, your favorite body spray as a tween was the Victoria’s Secret Amber Romance, this is the adult scent for you! Smoky, spicy, sultry, this perfume evokes the idea of sitting in a log cabin, watching a fire roar in the fireplace, and snuggling under a fluffy blanket while it snows outside.

10/10 stars because I love, love, love this scent. Recently got the sample size of the REPLICA Beach Walk and I have to say, that may be my new everyday scent!

Have you tried any of these products? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments section below! I’ll be back next week with another edition of #SevenDaysOfSlay where I walk you through all of my looks of the week – including my look for our anniversary date night!

Have a wonderful rest of your week, and remember to SLAY!