i’ve recently opened two new oil cleansers and they’re not it. this got me thinking about all the products i had high hopes for that were ultimately not very good - so what oil cleansers have you tried and hated? 

i’m thinking specifically about the peach and lily ginger melt cleanser and the cocokind oat oil to milk cleanser. the peach and lily one isn’t bad but it requires so much oil per use to really feel like it’s reaching all parts of my face so the bottle is already half empty and it’s been less than a month. it’s also not super effective for oil pulling imo, though it’s been fine for dissolving makeup. the cocokind cleanser is such a weird waxy texture and i don’t like it!!!! so thick and barely emulsifies with water. doesn’t really feel like it’s doing anything either, i honestly tried it twice and have given up on it immediately. 

these are the oil cleansers that aren’t working for me - which ones are your least favourite?

worst oil cleansers you’ve tried

i’m torn on this: i like the idea of essences but the only one i’ve tried thus far (tatcha’s the essence) was underwhelming and had a burning sensation when applied. obviously i had a reaction to a specific product and not every essence out there,  but it’s put me off trying a new one, especially since i didn’t see any difference after using it for weeks. 

do you use essences, and do they make a noticeable improvement to your routine (or, like me, did you ditch them)? which products are your favourites, especially for sensitive skin? 

thanks everyone!

essences: are they worth it + your faves

i’d love to know what works for you and your skin type! i haven’t tried a cushion foundation but am looking for the right one for mostly balanced + semi-sensitive skin. currently i’m drawn to the amuse dew jelly and dew power lines as i like a more luminous look, but i’d be happy to learn about products that have other finishes as well. 

which cushions do you like (or wouldn’t recommend)? thanks everyone!

what’s your favourite Korean cushion foundation?

doesn’t really do a lot if you layer it over a regular moisturizer - for some reason it works best over oil only. 

this works really well over facial oils, really helps seal them in and provides super-soft skin in the morning. you can see the little microbeads in the formula when you apply it. one pump is enough for face + neck. gel cream texture spreads easily. bought this on a whim and am quite happy with it! so far the airless pump has been working without issues. i use this to help seal in my sunday riley luna retinol oil before bed. 

it’s not as long-lasting or hydrating as i expected but it does stay for a couple hours at a time and doesn’t dry out my lips. 

7 PRODUCTS I OPENED IN FEBRUARY • @summerfridays dream lip oil in blush dreams

🌸 this is my first lip oil! i have no benchmark to compare the dream lip oil to but it is a very nice formula, super sheer and semi glossy. 

🌸 i love the huge doefoot applicator. it’s so soft and easy to swipe on the lip oil, though sometimes it’s easy to apply too much at first. i’ll always pick a bigger applicator over a thinner one though, so i was delighted to see the size of this one. the packaging overall is so clean and sleek and is such a great visual addition to the summer fridays lineup. 

🌸 the coverage is sheer and the blush dreams shade is actually the exact colour of my natural lips, oops 😂 that being said, i think it’s a great option for the low-key girlies and anyone who likes a my lips but better, natural flush, beauty on the go kind of vibe. i’d definitely try a deeper shade like rosewood nights next time. 


I usually buy glossy balms so I found these a bit less hydrating than I typically like, but they’re a nice change and not bad for a matte finish. 

@athe.global Authentic Lip Balm (01 Authentic, 11 Low-Key) x Authentic Airy Lip Balm (04 Chilli) review 🎀

*pr: I received this product for free from Picky @go.picky @pickyrewards and Athé @athe.global in exchange for my honest review.

🎀 These lip balms have such cute packaging! I love how sleek the cases are and the magnetic closure - so satisfying to feel the lid lock in place. The Authentic line comes with a pink lid, and the Authentic Airy balm has an orangey-beige cap. All three have little loops at the end to tie a ribbon onto! Love this cute girly touch from Athé. 

🎀 All the balms have medium-light pigmentation and take a few swipes to build opacity. The Authentic balms in Authentic (sheet baby pink) and Low Key (midtone pink) weren’t quite my ideal shades as I find pinks difficult to match, but Chilli (muted soft red) is a really pretty colour for fall/winter. All three are great everyday shades! 

🎀 The balms are a soft matte finish and are non-drying, though because they’re matte I don’t find that they’re highly moisturizing either. I’d say they’re quite a good ‘barely-there’ sort of texture - super lightweight even with a few coats, and comfortable to wear for hours at a time. They are semi transfer-proof, but will need to be reapplied after eating and drinking. 

Overall, Athé’s made two nice versions of matte tinted lip balms with thoughtful, appealing packaging. The finish is really interesting because I don’t see a lot of matte balms on the market, mostly glossy or natural finish, so if you like matte products but want the no-fuss ease and comfort of a balm, this is a great product to check out. I’ll be wearing Chilli this season to match the changing leaves! 🍂 Thank you Picky & Athé for sending me these products to try! 

I usually buy glossy balms but these are a nice change - they’re not quite as hydrating as I usually like though, but they’re not bad for a matte finish. 

Nothing, I really like this! It was hard to shade match online but that’s the same for any base product. 

Swipe right ➡️ for @tower28beauty’s new Swipe Serum Concealer! 

➡️ I haven’t been a concealer user for years and years, but lately I’ve been sleeping poorly and breaking out due to dry weather and was tired of the dark circles and red spots. Enter Swipe: this new concealer just landed in August and it’s such a fantastic formula coming into my life at exactly the right time. Swipe is packed with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica (cica) leaf extract, both of which I really love in skincare and am excited to see in the beauty space as well. 

➡️ The coverage is light/medium and so silky smooth under the eyes - I prefer the @glossier Stretch concealer for spots but it creases terribly under the eyes, while Swipe doesn’t budge all day. Two tiny little dots under each eye covers the entire area, so one tube will go a loooong way! I haven’t tried personally but I feel that this concealer would also work so nicely as a light coverage base layer on its own or blended with a tinted product because of its gorgeous serum texture. 

➡️ I’m genuinely so impressed by how well Swipe covers dark circles and blends into skin - I have neutral undertones and usually struggle to match base makeup, but Tower 28 (which is WOC-founded) has a fairly inclusive range of shades and blends in nicely with just my fingers. The tube is also quite a generous size for the amount needed, and the purple cap is so cute! 💜 I love that I can essentially dab and go - Swipe is so flexible and fits into a minimal beauty routine without and hassle. 

sosie