Before I get too far behind in this year’s Project Pan mini-reviews, here’s what I used up in January. Maybe I’ll make my 100 product goal this year!
Skincare
City Beauty Barrier Rescue Firming Night Cream: If I had to choose my favorite barrier creams, City Beauty Barrier Rescue Firming Night Cream would be one of my two faves. This one is peach-colored and it’s slightly lighter weight than my other fave from #OOTD. However, this one is also more expensive. Ah, decisions, decisions. Recommend? Yes, I do. I’ve been using City Beauty Barrier Cream since it was introduced a few years ago. Fortunately, I will open the jar I have waiting in the wings when the weather warms up a little more. (PS If you ever want to buy anything from City Beauty when there isn’t a sale going on, you can always save 15% with my code NEVERSAYDIEBEAUTY.)
BYOMA Moisturing Rich Cream: I received cruelty-free and vegan BYOMA Moisturizing Rich Cream in one of my Ipsy/Boxycharm boxes during the past year. It’s a barrier boosting brand from the UK. It was indeed a rich cream with ceramides to built skin’s barrier. I liked it alot, but I had to put it aside to test another skincare moisturizer. When I went back to it not too long ago, I used it for a few nights, but then the packaging stopped working correctly and I was unable to get anything out of the airless pump. Not only that, there’s no way to open the container at all. Sadly, I will have to throw out what’s left. Recommend? Because it is an affordable brand that has lots of good things going for it, I do recommend BYOMA Moisturizing Rich Cream. If you use it consistently, I have a feeling the packaging will be just fine. I believe that Ulta carries it.
Thrive Causemetics Bigger Than Beauty Defying Gravity Eye Cream: As you may know, BTB Defying Gravity Eye Cream has replaced former favorites of mine as my favorite eye cream. It can be used all around the eye area, and it is a lifting cream that helps firm the skin above the crease. Plus, it’s comes in an airless tube. Recommend? Yes, I strongly recommend BTB sold on the Thrive Causemetics website. I stockpile this eye cream when it’s on sale.
Skyn Arctic Repair Cream, travel size: I brought the travel size Skyn Arctic Repair Cream (a vegan, CF brand from Iceland) with me to Costa Rica, and I loved it. I was sorry to use it up. It’s a white, fluffy, mousse-like and totally non-greasy face cream that is nourishing and soothing. Key ingredients include arctic algae, gooseberry extract (barrier repairing), soothing colloidal oatmeal, and antioxidant-rich essential fatty acids. Recommend? Yes, perfect for those with dry or sensitive skin. I will buy myself a full size tube one of these days.
Haircare
igk More Life Color Preserving Shampoo: I’ve been using igk More Life Shampoo for more than a year, and I am very happy with it. My color-treated red hair fades rapidly in the sun and from the hard water in my home’s pipes, but igk More Life helps it not fade quite as rapidly. And BTW, it is not a color-depositing shampoo. Recommend? It’s been worthwhile for my hair. If you have color-treated hair that fades, give it a try.
Nails
Olive & June Super Glossy Top Coat: My favorite top coat bar none. Recommend? Yes, absolutely.
Health & Beauty
JustCBD 1000mg CBD Gummies, Clear Bears: As I’ve said before, I really like these CBD Gummy Bears to help me fall asleep. Recommend? I like ’em, you might too.
Makeup
Wayne Goss The Luxury Cream Lipstick: Sadly, the bullet on one of my Goss Luxury Cream Lipsticks that I’ve had for about three or more years broke off. There’s no way to fix that, so I am tossing it. Recommend? In spite of this mishap that I am blaming on keeping the lipstick for a long time, I bought another one. I also have another shade that I use all the time that is just fine.
Cover FX Total Cover Cream Foundation: My Cover FX Total Cover Cream Foundation compact lasted for more than a year! But I have finished it up. And I love it. I use it as both foundation and concealer. On days when I don’t feel like wearing foundation, I will dab a little on my dark spots and go. Recommend? Yes, absolutely! It comes in oodles of shades. And it costs $16.90. It’s a steal.
City Lips Lipgloss, Clear: I go through one of these babies almost every month, maybe every 6 weeks. I’ve been using City Lips Clear Lipgloss for more than 15 years. Recommend? Yes, of course!
Fragrance
Pura Archipelago Kashmir Diffuser 4 Home Scent: I still like my Pura Diffuser although I wish I were able to use the internet connection with it. Pura Archipelago in the scent, Kashmir, is so far my favorite scent, and I have another bottle waiting in the wings. I just love it. Recommend? If you’re a fan of the warm and enveloping scent “cashmere” (a mix of different notes e.g. orange blossom, sandalwood, vanilla, musk etc.), you would like this opulent scent.
Frederic Malle Iris Poudre EDP, sample size: I’m a fan of iris in perfume so I was happy when an SA at a department store gave me a sample of Iris Poudre, an expensive eau de parfum from the same house that makes one of my longtime favorites, Musc Ravageur. Iris Poudre is a feminine aldehydic floral perfume. Its notes include powdery iris, the vanilla from tonka bean, white musk, rose, and aldehydes (organic compounds where the scent can range from soapy-waxy-lemony-floral). Although it is a complex, lovely fragrance, it doesn’t mesh with me. Better to find that out with a sample! Recommend? With a pricey classic perfume like this, you would need to try it for yourself. But do check it out if you’re a fan of the perfume’s notes.
Project Pan 2025 Update
In January, I used up 11 beauty products. A good start. And it’s just about time for my February update!
