I can’t believe another month has flown by and we’re halfway through 2020. It feels like nothing has happened because we’ve been staying at home, but at the same time, our news feeds have been filled with more headlines than ever.

I’m glad we’re moving forward, but we still have a long way to go and many more battles to fight. Today I have a monthly product review where I talk about everything I liked and disliked in the month of June!

KRISTIN ESS DAILY CLEANSING SHAMPOO AND SHINE ENHANCING CONDITIONER

I just talked about these in my recent hair care haul and I wanted to share my thoughts on them. Kristin Ess is a fairly new brand that launched at Target. It launched its first collection 3 years ago and the founder has over 20 years of experience and also co-founded the website thebeautydepartment.com. This shampoo and conditioner is fragrance-free and doesn’t have silicones, sulfates, etc.

So far, I like how the shampoo lathers well and it seems to help control the oils in my hair throughout the day. I’m also enjoying how it’s fragrance-free because I want to use less fragranced products in my beauty routines. The price point is a little more expensive than what I’m used to at $12 a bottle but I think it’s worth it because my hair looks healthy and if you saw my hair care haul, then you’ll know I’ve been on a journey to fix my oily hair. 

It’s been 2 years since my hair became oilier than usual and I think it might be finally starting to go back to normal? It’s still a little too soon to tell though, so I’ll have to keep using this shampoo and conditioner combo for a while longer before I make any final judgements. If you want a shampoo and conditioner that won’t be too harsh and doesn’t contain fragrance, then definitely give this a try!

Verdict: YES!

AVEENO PROTECT AND HYDRATE SUNSCREEN WITH SPF 50

I’ve had this Aveeno sunscreen for a while now and you can briefly see what I think about it in my beauty haul back in March. This sunscreen has a very dewy finish and it’s quite moisturizing, but it’s almost too moisturizing for me. I always worried about wearing it under makeup because I was afraid it would make me too oily throughout the day. 

I’ve also done some research recently on sunscreens since I want to take better care of my skin and while chemical sunscreens aren’t necessarily bad, I think I’d rather use mineral sunscreens. This sunscreen in particular has Avobenzone (3%), Homosalate (10%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene (6%), and Oxybenzone (5%).

Something else that I want to mention is that it occasionally stings my skin when applying it. It doesn’t happen every time, but it makes me uncomfortable when it does happen because I don’t know if it’s hurting my skin. So overall, I don’t think I would recommend this sunscreen unless you prefer chemical sunscreens and need something more hydrating. The only good points I would note is that it doesn’t leave a white cast on your skin (not sure about flash photography) and it would probably suit drier skin types better.

Verdict: No…

INNISFREE PORE CLEARING CLAY MASK WITH VOLCANIC CLUSTERS

I purchased this clay mask after trying out the sample and I’m glad I did. I’ve mentioned many Innisfree products on my blog and this is another one that I love. 

This clay mask pulls out dirt and oils without drying out my skin and I always feel like my face looks cleaner and brighter afterwards. You don’t need a lot of product because it spreads out over the skin very well and dries quickly. Personally, this helped a lot with the blackheads on my nose. I thought my nose used to look “dirty” before because of the clogged pores so I tried out different cleansers, masks, scrubs, and pore strips, but regularly using a clay mask has helped out my skin and nose the most! 

I usually use my clay mask once or twice a week, but back when I would wear a full face of makeup daily, I would apply the mask up to three times a week to really clean out my skin. Overall, this is a great clay mask that I would recommend trying out and if you want to see my in-depth review about it, then you can check it out here!

Verdict: YES!

MAYBELLINE FULL ’N SOFT MASCARA  

This mascara was first shown on my blog in this haul and I can’t believe how long it’s been since I purchased this product. Surprisingly, it hasn’t dried out in the year I’ve been using it and it makes my lashes look so natural and nice. They don’t look stiff or clumpy; instead they look light and defined with a hint of length and volume.

The formula isn’t wet and it holds a curl well. The wand isn’t too big so it really gets all my eyelashes and I personally haven’t noticed any smudging or flaking, so basically this is the perfect mascara for everyday looks aka all my trips to the grocery store ? I’m super happy with this mascara and I’ll gladly repurchase when I run out.

Verdict: YES!

NYX COLOR CORRECTING PALETTE

I’ve had this color correcting palette for a long time and it’s really come in handy over the years. The only shades I use are the peachy tones and the green to cancel out hyperpigmentation, dark undereye circles, and redness from breakouts.

These days, it’s been especially useful because of my minimal makeup routine. Nowadays, I like to color correct first to cover up any visible problem areas [above my mask] and then apply concealer over it for extra coverage. The color corrector allows me to use less makeup, which makes everything look even more natural. You could even skip the concealer if you feel like the color corrector covers everything (this only applies to the peach shades). Since I’ve had mine for so long, I’m looking forward to replacing it since it’s become an essential in my makeup routine these days. 

If you’re looking for ways to cover up acne, undereye circles, and hyperpigmentation without using as much foundation and concealer, I think color correctors are a great addition to your makeup routine.

Verdict: YES!

So that’s what I’ve been using in the month of June! To be honest, I’ve been getting a little worried in the last couple months about these posts because I wasn’t sure if I’d have anything to review; I used to wear makeup every day but now I only touch my products a few times a month. ? Nonetheless, I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful! Let me know what you’ve been enjoying in the comments and I’ll see you lovelies soon. ?