Hopping off the Hype Train
Is there a really popular product, technique, or otherwise viral trend that you tried and it fell short somehow?
What was it, what were your expectations, and what was the result?
(LOL no shame, totally posting this in the makeup community if I can find it)
Oh man, I've got a bunch. I keep a list so that I don't make the same mistake twice lol
Hyaluronic acid: used it for about six months as a serum, have tried moisturizers with it since then, I feel like it does nothing for my skin.
First Aid Beauty: I swear everyone swore by them a few years ago, I tried the makeup remover and the moisturizer. Makeup remover didn't actually take any of my makeup off and the moisturizer was alright, just not worth the price.
Foundation/tinted moisturizer (just broadly, lots of different brands): tried one and then the other, with all the different powder/primer combinations and techniques. My skin just feels way better without it, nowadays I just do highlighter and blush right on top of moisturized skin.
lip oils: I don't get it??? It's like a worse lip gloss???? Just get tinted chapstick?????
Any eyeliner that isn't drugstore: idk what it is about cheap liquid liner, but it always applies way better and lasts way longer than fancy liquid lliner. I believe I've tried the Too Faced one and the KVD one from before The Rebrand.
Revolution brand: I think this may have just been in the circles I knew in the UK where people loved this brand, but not a single Revolution product I've tried has been good, even for the price. Maybe it's just my skin. Eyeshadows were super chalky and patchy straight out of the box and irritated my skin.
Slugging: look, I've got real bad dry eczema prone skin, flakes, peels, cracks if I don't moisturize immediately after the shower sort of skin. I don't really think slugging did any more for me than a well formulated, heavy moisturizer did.
Laneige sleeping masks: felt amazing for the first few minutes of application but I feel like it did nothing otherwise. Smelled really good though.
(this one's just a personal preference don't take it too seriously lol) nude lipsticks: I mean fuck it why not just do something more fun than skin tone when you're putting product on amirite?
Hey, I just finished some First Aid Beauty moisturizer! I was going to buy another tub, but do you have something that you suggest more? It's my first 'premium' moisturizer so I don't have anything to compare it to.
Do I even want to know what slugging is? 😰 I guess I'm behind the beauty trends haha
Keep in mind I'm speaking from the perspective of someone with fairly sensitive and dry skin. I also prefer heavier moisturizers with no fragrance which I know may be different from your preference. Personally, I haven't found any premium moisturizers that have worked for me better than drugstore but ymmv. Theres no shame either if you want to use a premium product just because it's premium or because you like the smell, skincare is all about self care. Different things also work for different people, so if the First Aid Beauty one really worked for you, I'm glad you liked it!
That being said, I swear by the CeraVe stuff. The Walgreens generic dupe is exactly the same too and slightly cheaper (although CeraVe is already pretty affordable). If you like a lighter moisturizer, LaRoche Possay has a couple nice ones. I don't buy it anymore just because I go through moisturizer suuuuuper fast and it's just too expensive. I also like Eucerin a lot but that's a brand that's sort of geared towards people with problematic skin or skin disorders. Cetaphil is alright, but I just feel like CeraVe goes on smoother and leaves my skin feeling moisturized for longer.
In terms of premium moisturizers I've tried, I liked the Tatcha rice one (yes from the Sephora birthday sample). It smells really good but again, I didn't feel like it did a lot more for me than any drugstore moisturizer and the price tag was hefty. I've tried something from Paula's Choice but that was ages ago and I don't remember which one it was. I've also tried that one The Ordinary moisturizer and I quite liked it and the price was good. The only reason I went back to drugstore was because it was more readily available.
Sorry for the rant lol I have opinions
And slugging was a trend at some point a few years ago where people would cover their whole face in a thick layer of Vaseline after doing their nighttime skincare routine. It made me break out and felt super gross haha
Thank you so much for writing all of this out! I also have super dry sensitive skin (exactly like you described in your original comment; I need to have lotion close by at all times because if I wash my hands once or twice they get cracky again, ugh), so I'm definitely going to give your suggestions a shot.
With skincare I feel like it's so easy to fall into the trap of "it's more expensive so it must be better!", at least it has been for me sometimes. Especially battling dry skin, I start thinking I need something expensive to really take care of it, but I guess that's not really true.
And omg, ewwww, that sounds so unpleasant, haha
Hyaluronic acid. Makes my skin drier and brings out fine lines in cold, dry winter weather, no matter how much hydration I use and how thick an occlusive layer i yop it with. I now reserve it for hot humid weather only.
I had this struggle too! I only use mine as an occasional thing and I put it on wet skin, like not drenched but still drips of water? Basically after I shower I towel off but just do one pat on my face and put my wet hair in the towel and apply the HA.
alternatively just do a gentle quick pat after washing your face then apply and let dry before continuing your routine. And to anyone wondering micellar water wasn't adequate for me.
Hmm... I guess mine would be niacinamide (as I stare at my Holy Snail's Whale Shark and have a Geek & Gorgeous B-Bomb on the way 😅). Like, it's nice, but at the same time I really don't feel like this ingredient does much for me. I keep using it because it doesn't hurt me, but I'm not sure if it's just placebo at this point lol
Thanks for asking! I don't try that many products so I don't really have an example
Thanks blaze I appreciate the validation! Sometimes even the upvotes aren't enough to keep me warm :'( lol ok ty for real tho! I'm up way too late but I will share something tomorrow! I was hoping to give others a chance first.
@asteriskeverything Game of Thrones. Hated the series, found the book boring. It went on forever yet it felt like nothing happened. Finished the first one on principle, didn’t bother with the rest…
Are you sure you posted in the right community?
George is never going to finish the series now, so you might end up ahead of everyone that loved the books but are forever doomed to never have the satisfaction of a canon ending.