skincare

Guide to upcycling disappointing beauty products: How to find a second life for stuff you didn't like

If a product isn't worth repurchasing, you don't always need to stop using it altogether. Here's how I found new uses for a disappointing toner, shampoo, and face wash.

I write about a good number of products that have disappointed me—either because they irritated my skin, led to breakouts, or just didn’t seem to be doing much for me at all. But because I was raised by immigrant parents who know what it’s like to go without such luxuries, I try not to automatically dispose of products before trying to think of a way to upcycle it. Without further ado, I’d like to share a few of my most recent attempts to give disappointing products a new lease…

DUFT & DOFT Hand Cream Stockholm Rose Review

This antioxidant-rich cream may help fade age spots—but it may be unsuitable for those with eczema and sensitive skin.

DUFT & DOFT is a Korean beauty company that specializes in fragrances and skin care products. I received a sample of the Stockholm Rose Nourishing Hand Cream as a bonus included in a large CVS.com order, so I got a chance to try out a lotion that I would probably never buy for myself. Here are my honest thoughts on this hand cream, who I think might like this hand cream, and who might not want to invest in this particular hand cream.

artnaturals Vitamin C Serum: A worthy alternative to SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum?

This serum boasts the same holy trinity of antioxidants—at a fraction of the price. But could it really be just as effective as the name brand, or do you get what you pay for?

The holy grail of vitamin C serums has to be SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic—but it comes at a crazy high price point. Many companies make similar products because SkinCeuticals is kind enough to spell out the key aspects of its patented formula: 15% vitamin C (in the form of L-Ascorbic acid), 1% vitamin E (in the form of alpha tocopherol), and 0.5% ferulic acid. SkinCeuticals’s serum includes this specific combination of active ingredients because research has shown that these ingredients make…