Editor's Picks: Things I sorely regret buying
I don't buy that many beauty things anymore due to the nature of my job. I get to try products for free plus I research thoroughly before dropping the dough on something I like! I often know what I want and what to avoid so I don't make that many mistakes when I finally commit to a purchase. Chalk it up to nine years of trying out hundreds upon hundreds of beauty products - I have high standards, but I also understand that what works for you might not work for me and vice versa.
That being said, I'm definitely not infallible. Sometimes my skin unexpectedly reacts to something in the product or I simply didn't know better. Here are three things that are just gathering dust in my shelf! I can't throw them away because, nor give them away in good conscience.
Pixi Glow Tonic. I actually got to try a 5ml sample of this first. I was, I kid you not, blown away! I love how smooth and refined my skin looked in the morning from just a single use. This is a cult favorite based on the reviews online so it was an easy decision even if the bottle cost me around P1,500-P1,800.
It took me a few weeks to notice that while my skin was oodles brighter, I started developing painful cystic pimples on my chin. They did not show signs of slowing down! I was in denial at first; how can this be? The reviews were so positive! That's the thing with skincare though. You never really know exactly what your skin reacts to unless you have yourself tested at a lab for allergies.
I've tried lots of things from Pixi as a brand, but this is the only one so far that made me break out. I envy those who are hiyang with this, because it works. So. Well. You should definitely give it a chance if you haven't yet! Thinking of using it on my underarms - it might just work.
I grabbed the Evita Beauty Whip Soap in Hong Kong last year because I saw the viral video and I needed it in my life. NEEDED IT. The flower-shaped foam is too cute! Evita is one of Kanebo's drugstore brands so I was fairly confident in the quality. I don't remember the exact price anymore, but I vaguely recall it was around P900-P1,000.
While the foam is fun to pump out and feels super cushy to wash with, I found this cleanser drying. I tested the pH level and yep it's quite high, at 7.5-8 pH! Our skin's natural pH level is around 5.5, which is acidic. Using anything beyond pH 7 is not recommended as it can destroy the moisture barrier of skin and encourage the growth of acne-causing bacteria.
Since I use facial wash at least twice a day, I can't afford to mess with my skin. I used to not care about my cleanser's pH levels - I thought it was just something skincare beauty bloggers obsessed needlessly about - but ever since I started exclusively using a low pH cleanser daily, my skin has completely transformed. I break out way, way less and I'm also less oily! Whodathunk. My HG is of course In Her Element's Low pH Rose Gel Cleanser (P675 at inherelement.ph) which has a pH level of 5.5-6
Do you guys remember my review of the April Skin Magic Soap? Oh, I loved it so much that I bought back-ups! I used up a few bars since I love how it can remove heavy makeup and cleanse my face at the same time. Who has time to double-cleanse, amirite? I didn't mind that it stung my eyes in a major way. I swear I want to bop 2016 Liz in the head right now!
I stopped using it because it did make my skin drier and also, ironically, oilier over time. As it turns out, it has a whopping pH level of 10! Gah. I'm never using this again on my face or body. Sayang my back-ups.
And that is that. Share your list - which beauty products do you regret buying?
