Hello lovelies, I can’t believe it’s been over a year since my last monthly product review! I hope you missed it as much as I did and let’s get into it!

If you’re new to my monthly product reviews, something you should know is that they’re different to a typical monthly favorites video or blog post. Instead of only talking about products I liked, I’ll be reviewing beauty, fashion, and lifestyle items I loved, liked, and disliked each month. Here’s to hoping this becomes a habit again!

INNISFREE BLEMISH CARE EMULSION WITH BIJA SEED OIL

I mentioned this emulsion in my most recent Innisfree haul.  I was looking forward to trying out the entire bija seed oil kit because I wanted to see if it would really help with acne and hyperpigmentation.

Out of everything in this kit (besides the green tea serum), the blemish care emulsion has been my favorite product. I honestly don’t know much about emulsions in terms of where it belongs in skincare routines, but I started using it in the mornings before applying my SPF and makeup. I think it’s one of the reasons why my makeup has been lasting longer and it’s been keeping breakouts at bay! If I do have blemishes, I feel like this is treating my skin throughout the day and keeps them from getting worse.

This Innisfree Blemish Care Emulsion has 0.6% salicylic acid to treat acne. The bija seed oil is also supposed to have medicinal benefits. I didn’t like the scent at first, but now I really enjoy the earthy fragrance. Overall, I’m glad I stumbled onto this product and I plan on repurchasing it when I run out.

Verdict: Yes!

INNISFREE INTENSE UV PROTECTION CREAM TRIPLE CARE BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 50+

This is a sunscreen I’ve mentioned in an older Innisfree haul. I used to never reach for it because it leaves a noticeable white cast on your face. However, every time I read about how to reduce hyperpigmentation (more commonly known as acne scars), the number 1 step was to wear strong SPF to prevent them from darkening. With that in mind, I decided that my moisturizer with SPF 15 wasn’t cutting it and committed to this sunscreen.

Combined with the emulsion and my regular face primers, I think this product also prevents my skin from getting as oily as it normally does. Even though it does have a white cast, I feel like my skin is more protected with the higher SPF and my hyperpigmentation is improving. Investing in sunscreen is probably one of the best things you can do for your face and body, so I’ll definitely keep using this. I might try out other facial sunscreens because I don’t love the white cast, but I still recommend this product!

Verdict: Yes!

THE BODY SHOP TEA TREE OIL

After looking up many acne spot treatments, I thought I would go with this one because it seemed the most natural. I know you can buy tea tree oil and dilute it yourself, but I don’t trust myself to do it correctly, haha. After using this for a while, I still don’t know how to feel about it.

First of all, I dislike the smell. I do like earthy scents, but this one’s very bitter and strong. Thankfully, the smell fades after a couple minutes.

This is the smaller size and I’ve repurchased it, but I don’t know if I like it enough to commit to the full size. It seems to work sometimes; I mainly use it on new blemishes that haven’t come to a head yet. I’ll also use it as an extra spot treatment before putting on my makeup. It’s not a bad product, but I’ll probably keep using this until I find something better.

Verdict: Maybe?

ESSENCE MAKE ME BROW EYEBROW GEL MASCARA | 02 BROWNY BROWS

Eyebrows have become an important part in almost everyone’s beauty routines, and when I saw so many people using tinted brow gels, I wanted to get one too but didn’t want to break the bank with high-end options.

So I picked up the Essence Make Me Brow eyebrow gel mascara because it’s super affordable and I read some good reviews on it. Browny Brows is a more like a gray-brown color and it matches my brows well, even though I typically use black brow products.

At first I didn’t love it because I didn’t think it was necessary and the application can be uneven sometimes, but now it’s starting to grow on me because I do notice a difference in how defined my brows are after trying it for a while. I don’t know if I’ll repurchase because I want to try out other affordable brands, but it’s a pretty good product for the price.

Verdict: Maybe? (but I still recommend it!)

CLINIQUE TAKE THE DAY OFF CLEANSING BALM

I’ve gone through so many different types of makeup removers, but I think I’ve finally found the best way to remove my makeup. After trying out makeup wipes, micellar water, and oils, I believe cleansing balms are the way to go for several reasons.

First off, you don’t need to waste wipes, cotton balls, or cotton pads with cleansing balms. All you need is your fingers. Second of all, it’s less harsh than rubbing your face with a cloth or cotton because you’re massaging your skin with your hands until the makeup melts away. Cleansing balms can also remove waterproof makeup. And lastly, balms will never leak, unlike oils, because they’re solid, so you’ll be able to travel anywhere with this.

I’ve tried other cleansing creams and read up on other brands, and I really appreciate that Clinique’s cleansing balm doesn’t have fragrance, which can irritate many people’s skin. It also uses 100% vegan ingredients for those of you who are trying to live a healthier and environmentally-friendly lifestyle! I’m open to trying other brands in the future, but I can definitely see why this is such a cult favorite.

Verdict: Yes! 

L’OREAL INFALLIBLE MATTE-LOCK MATTIFYING PRIMER

I purchased this primer quite a while ago while I was on the search for a good-quality face primer. I’ve been testing it for a few months and I would say that this is the best primer I’ve found from the drugstore so far.

It feels like a lotion instead of the thick or silicone texture that other primers have. It works with most of the foundations that I own and I don’t get oily too quickly. I will say at the end of the day, I am oily and sometimes the foundation breaks up, but since I don’t currently have extremely long days like when I was a college student, this primer gets me through the majority of my days without looking like a shiny mess. I still want to test out other drugstore primers, but this one is pretty good.

Verdict: Maybe? (only because I want to test out more primers!)

And that wraps up this month’s monthly product review! As you can see, I’ve been enjoying most of the products I’ve tested recently. Let me know what products you’ve been enjoying or disliking in the comments below, I’d love to know what they are!

Thanks so much for reading and I’ll see you lovelies soon!