A Foil a Day in October 2018 – Challenge to Use and Review the Beauty Packets Deal Shopper Collect

I am getting a really late start in October, so I will probably not finish this until sometime in November. The month I take off gives me time to catch up on any I miss in a challenge month, so I hope I am on time in December.

What do you do with all those foil packets you collect? I have so many foil packets and rarely use them, because I prefer not to make snap decisions. Like with everything else I do, I put thought and consideration into product reviews. Trying a foil is a great way to see if your skin reacts to the product, you cannot tolerate the smell, the consistency is annoying, or if there is anything about the product that bothers you. Sampling a foil and thinking you need to have that product in your life is rare, but it does happen. This is most likely to happen with products where you can see instant results. My plan is to try a foil of something new or something I have not used in a long time every single day during a challenge month. To give my skin a break from constant new products, I’ve decided to alternate months. After every month I complete, I will take one month off. Feel free to take part in this challenge with me. If you are a fellow deal shopper, I bet you have a lot of foils stockpiled in your collection.

Trying a foil of the same type of product each day would probably wreak havoc on my skin. Too much change can irritate the skin, and it easier to see how a specific product reacts when you are not introducing new items to that area too often. I will be trying different types of products throughout the month. My skin is sensitive so I try not to introduce new (wet) products to my face more than once a day. When I try a new sheet mask, foundation, serum, eye cream, etc, I make sure everything else I apply that day is something I’ve used before. If you have sensitive skin, I recommend you do that as well to know what is causing irritation should you react to something. Since there are 31 days in October, I want to try 31 new products via foils this month. On any day where I run out of a full or sample size skincare item I am already using and do not have a backup of the same item or an item I’ve used in the past, I will try a foil of a new hand cream, hair product, body lotion, etc.

The 31 products I’ve selected for this month are below. What is great about some of these foils is I have bigger sizes of them. This challenge can help me see if any are worth opening or if I should just donate or gift them. Those I am unsure about can go into a maybe pile. As I use them, I will edit in my first impressions. They will not necessarily be used in the order listed. I want freedom to grab whatever item I want each day and write about the products when I choose to. Some foils are big enough for multiple uses so I may come back and edit more detailed reviews if I notice anything else from extended use. We’ll see how my skin reacts to the changes, because I am usually pretty consistent with skincare. Other than hand creams, hair products, and lip balms, I usually only have one type of product open at a time.

Amore Pacific Cushion Foundation Light/Medium – This just sat on top of my skin and never really sank in. The sponge that comes in the sample is awful, so I would want to apply it with a beautyblender if I ever got another sample of this. Determining how much of the product failure was a direct result of application is difficult unless I can get a second sample and apply it better. I did think this was too yellow and too orange for my skin tone, but it was not too dark. That leads me to think the shade does adjust slightly. It clung to dry patches I was not even aware I had, but again I wonder if that is because of how poorly it absorbed. Despite not setting it, this stayed on my skin all day. There was some light creasing in all the usual places where skin folds. At the end of the day, it looked the same as it did when I applied it on the smooth areas of skin.

BB Face Mask with Hyaluronic Acid by Daiso Japan – This is a really wet mask, which I love. When I removed it, my skin felt super hydrated. The price is amazing, too. If I had a Daiso near me, I would grab more.

Bioderma Sensibio h2o – This is very gentle on my skin. It does remove eye makeup without burning my eyes, but it takes a lot of product. Only when I am testing a remover do I use it on my eyes. Typically, I have a dedicated eye one that I love. The 0.33oz sample was not enough to remove all makeup. When I used my Lancome Micellar water after using this and washing my face, some residual makeup was left. Again, I think it is just because I ran out of product. However, it never takes more than 1/3 of an ounce to cleanse my face with the Lancome. My Lancome product was also $50 (in the large size I own), so it is a lot more expensive. I can forgive needing more when the product is cheaper.

boscia MATCHA Magic Super-Antioxidant Mask – I would use this again just for the fun color it gave. Elphaba and I would match, but I still can’t sing Defying Gravity the way she does. My face did not really look different after I removed it, but it did have a slight cooling effect from minutes 2-5. It must have done something. Although I think I have another to try this again, I think I might give it to my sister. She FaceTimed me while I was wearing this and could not stop laughing. That leads me to believe she would enjoy the other one even more than I would.

Dove Exfoliating Body Polish – I know I tested this in June, but I wanted to use it again. My thoughts from June remain the same. This smells great and is not overly abrasive. It has a gentle lather so you could use this alone. I used a cleanser first and this afterward. My skin felt softer after using it. The almost mask like consistency leaves my skin feeling moisturized as well. Those looking for an exfoliator that is not rough but leaves skin soft and smooth would probably love this. While I prefer an oil based exfoliant for a slippery feel, this was very nice.

Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil – This feels incredible and leaves my skin feeling very hydrated all day (when applied in the morning) or in the morning (when I apply it at night). I am convinced it is clogging my pores though. I noticed pimples on my forehead where I never get them, and this was the only new product I had tried within the earlier three days. So, I took a few days off from all new skincare testing to let my face return to normal. Within two days of applying only this (as new items), I had new pimples again. It really is a shame, because this is one of the best feeling oils ever.

drybar Hot Toddy Heat & UV Protectant – I was in the middle of blow drying my hair and something important came up that prevented me from finishing. On the partial blow dry, I can tell you that it did not help with frizz. Adding heat to wet hair without finishing the job is probably one of the worst things you can do though. It leaves the moisture in the hair with heat that has dried it out. When I tried it on a full blow dry, I did not notice much difference. If it protects the hair cuticle from the heat, that is not something I would notice from a single use. Those who use nothing long-term or use this long-term then stop can review it that way.

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Sheet Mask The Super Hydrating Mask – This mask did hydrate, but it was far from the most hydrating mask I’ve tried. By the next morning, my face already felt like it always does. Usually when I apply a super hydrating sheet mask before bed, my face still feels plump the next morning.

GlamGlow ThirstyCleanse – I thought I had tried this before, but I could not remember what I thought. As soon as I opened it, I was convinced I tried a different one. This looks like a thinner mud than the mask, but it lathers nicely. My skin feels clean when I rinse it without feeling stripped. Most of my cleansers use a very small amount causing me to take a long time to get through it. Using a small amount with this, because of the consistency, is very difficult. Thus, it takes a lot more product to get the job done.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask – I love sleeping masks and anything that smells like watermelon, so this was a sure hit, right? Wrong. This is one of the least hydrating sleeping masks I’ve tried, which is a big deal for really dry skin in cold weather (tried it in November, not October). It is also sticky, which I normally do not mind if it adds hydration. The least impressive part is how red and inflamed my face got. There is something in here I am clearly allergic to. Whenever I have a bad reaction to a product and it has enough for more than one use, I will give my skin a break for about a week and try it again. My skin got red and angry both times, so I know this is the culprit.

HEMPZ Milk & Honey Herbal Hand & Foot Cream – This is a medium density foot cream. I prefer something richer. It did moisturize better than the one I’ve used, so my feet appreciated the added moisture. My feet are still craving the moisture from the foot cream that Ulta discontinued, so I am still on the hunt. This is not it. Winter is coming, so I need to find something soon.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer – I wanted to try this in colder weather, because I tried it in the summer last time. For a lightweight moisturizer, it did a nice job. My skin did not feel dry or tight.

Kate Somerville CytoCell Dermal Energizing Treatment – This is a lightweight moisturizer that does not leave my skin feeling dry or tight. While I cannot say I found it energizing, it did feel refreshing.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner – This milky toner provides instant hydration. Anything I apply after this gets almost instantly absorbed by my skin. I am in love.

Klorane Nourishing leave-in cream with Mango butter – It is pretty thick, which can weigh hair down. I do not think this weighs hair down as much as other thick leave-ins, but it definitely is not as voluminous as it is with a thin leave-in conditioner. This definitely works better at removing knots than a thin leave-in conditioner. If I were to purchase this, I would exclusively use it on days where I have really bad knots. There was one time where I had three large knots and thought for sure it would be impossible to comb, but it did it better and faster than I expected. With fine hair that tangles easily, that happens more often than I like. My hair does seem softer, but I do not notice this helping much with frizz (by providing moisture). Maybe a larger sample or purchasing it would give me more time to see if it really adds moisture.

Living Proof frizz Conditioner – Together with the shampoo, this does a great job to reduce frizz. It is not too light or too heavy. My hair does not get weighed down, but it does not tangle as easily as it does with thinner conditioners.

Living Proof frizz nourishing styling cream – I do see some slight frizz reduction, but I did not notice more than a regular hair oil. This is supposed to have special molecules, so I expected more. What I did like is how soft it leaves my hair. Most styling products leave texture or make hair less mobile. With this, I can even comb through my hair after styling with no problems at all. For that reason alone, I would explore this further.

Living Proof frizz shampoo – The product definitely reduces frizz, which is especially helpful for someone who air dries. I do not want to use hot tools to lessen frizz. It lathers nicely and rinses clean. This is something I will purchase once I’ve used up similar items in my stash.

Living Proof Perfect hair Day in-shower styler – I noticed less frizz and more control in my hair after it dried. Since I used all the product in a single use, I want to get a bigger sample or purchase this to play with it more. There is probably some trial and error to rinse the right amount out. It is possible I rinsed too much out.

masque BAR Rose Gold Foil peel-off mask – I like to apply a thin layer of masks like this, because it takes forever to dry when it is thick. Even with a thin layer, it still took over 20 minutes (more than the 10-15 recommend on the packaging). Because of the thin layer, it was also difficult to peel off. It came off in about 30 pieces and I ultimately used micellar water to remove the last stubborn strips. My skin looked no different after using this nor did it feel more moisturized. Since my layer was thin, there was enough for my husband to treat his entire face. He had the same experience. If I tried this again, I would apply the whole mask to my face in one application. As I was not impressed, I would not purchase it. I would need it to come as a freebie or in a kit.

Nexxus Humectress Ultimate Moisture Conditioner – I really love this conditioner, hence its FabuFind status. I had never used it with the shampoo that comes with it, and that is the main reason I placed these foils in this challenge. See below to read how the shampoo went.

Nexxus Therappe Ultimate Moisture Shampoo – I wanted to see if using the shampoo meant for this conditioner would improve the overall appearance. It did. My hair looked amazing. When a single use can work that well on hair, it makes me wonder how using it full-time would work.

Nivea Oil Infused Lotion Cherry Blossom – This moisturizes nicely for a thinner lotion. It also smells great. I would use this in warmer months or if I received samples. Since this is not as rich as the creams I prefer, I would not buy this.

Ole Henrisksen truth serum collagen booster facial serum – I used this years ago and did not remember being that impressed with it. It did not do anything to lighten my sun spot, so I was sure it did not work. Nothing really does much to lighten that, so I was looking at the wrong thing and getting unjustifiably disappointed. After a single use of this sample, my skin looked brighter. It occurred to me that my skin can look dull when I am not wearing makeup and something like this can give me a nice boost. If is has other effects, I will need a bigger sample to notice those.

Oribe Cote d’Azur Body Wash – This feels luxurious. It is rich and smells lovely. The lather is great, and it rinses clean. While I enjoy trying these expensive body washes, I could not see myself using something this pricy when I wash most of it down the drain.

Paula’s Choice Resist 10% Niacinamide Booster – This really does make my pores look smaller. I notice this even when my face is bare. On a makeup day, I used this with a primer and my skin looked amazing. Yes, please let me have more of this.

Rituals The Ritual of Hammam black soap – I did like this despite its lack of lather. It smells nice and my skin seemed clean. The packet only did about half my body leading me to believe it would take a lot of product each time to cleanse. This is an expensive product, too. There are other cleansers that I like from this line better, so I would buy those before this. That said, I would love to get larger samples of this. Rarely do I like a soap that does not lather as much as I like this one. Since I apply moisturizer after very shower, I do not need a moisturizing soap. This does leave skin moisturized though.

S.W. Basics Exfoliant – This was not as abrasive as I thought it would be. My skin felt soft and smooth when I was done. It felt like I rubbed oatmeal on my face. As someone who likes oatmeal, I enjoyed the scent.

SOO AE Acai Berry Revitalizing Sleeping Mask – This is a gel based mask, so I expected it to lack moisture. It is a rare gel mask that packs a punch. There is a lot of moisture in this. My skin still feels great and supple in the morning. I’ve already used this six times and there is still product in the foil. Those who use a thick application would probably get less uses, but I always apply a sleeping mask the same way I apply a night-time moisturizer. Based on packaging alone, I would never purchase this. Foils should be single use.

Sunday Riley Start Over Active Eye Cream – I do not notice much change in dark circles and have not had any puffiness since I opened the sample. There is an improvement in the appearance of fine lines, because this does leave my eyes feeling moisturized. It is really thin, so people who want something lightweight without sacrificing moisture would love this. The packaging on this sample results in a lot of waste, because you need so little eye cream. Getting only a little out is impossible. Anyone who actually purchases this, in the UK, because I guess it is not sold in the US anymore, would probably use very little.

The Body Shop Spa of the World Japanese Camellia Cream Relaxing Ritual – This sample was not big enough to cover my body. Samples should always be big enough for at least one full trial. I love the way this smelled. It felt thick and rich when I applied it. Thick creams typically take a lot of time and product to really work it into the skin, so I expected that. Less than 24-hours after applying this, I scratched my arm. It left white marks. That only happens when my skin is dry. If this cannot even last 24-hours, it is nothing I would purchase.

TRESemme Repair & Protect 7 Instant Recovery Mask – I hate when there is a lot of product in a foil that does not re-seal, so the packaging is disappointing. My hair does feel really soft and looks less frizzy when I use this. It is also a lot easier to comb through after an application of this. This is definitely a wonderful mask for the price. While I prefer a higher end one overall, I would easily grab this as an affordable one to treat my hair if I needed to save some money.

Yves Saint Laurent Forever Light Creator CC Primer Apricot – This made my skin look so amazing, I almost did not even want to put makeup over it. Everything looked smoother, brighter, and healthier. There was not a huge difference in my face from when I applied this to when I added a light to medium foundation on top. It is rare that I fall in love with a product based on a foil, but that happened with this.

Thanks for reading about this challenge, and a special thanks to anyone who follows along with the challenge. It only makes it more fun to complete it with other people. See more challenge articles. View my main page for the guide map to the site and deeper deal exploration.