My 2020 was filled with a plenty of hauls. Although there is no such thing as a bad haul, sometimes there are a few duds to be found within these amazing hauls once I have actually given products a try or two. I went through so many products as you can see in my latest set of empties. Below are some of the ones that stood out (for better or worse) in the year 2020 of our Lord Beyoncé.
Body Care
OMG! The Dr. Jart+ Dermask Foot Smoothing Mask was one of the biggest surprises this year. It was impossible to resist buying these foot masks when they were 75% off at TJ Maxx. Now, I’m sad because they are no longer available at Sephora. It’s unlikely I will ever find them in the wild any time soon.
I added a lot of fragrances to my collection this year, but the Kilian Princess Eau de Parfum has been on my wish list for years. I was excited to haul it during my birthday month and finally add it to my growing tower of scents. To help even out the skin around my knees and elbows, I used two jars of the Florence by Mills One Swipe Glow Wipe Pads, but it did absolutely nothing. This was one of the biggest misses of the year for me.
Fashion
I didn’t haul too much in the fashion department this year, but my constant disappointment was with the Torrid Premium Full Length Leggings. Despite purchasing several pairs of leggings throughout the year, I only have 1 pair, now. I did just buy another pair on clearance, so fingers crossed for these leggings making it through 2021. Torrid wasn’t always a bust this year because the Betsey Johnson Collection brought me back, and it started with the Betsey Johnson Rhinestone Combat Booties. I was sold immediately! I love everything I purchased from the Betsey Johnson Collection, but those boots hold a special place in my heart.
Hair Care
Needing to find a new brand after Qhemet Biologics was discontinued at Sephora led me to the Adwoa Beauty Baomint Deep Conditioning Treatment during an impromptu Sephora haul. Although the scent has nothing on the Carol’s Daughter Coco Crème Curl Quenching Deep Moisture Mask it replaced, I can’t deny how soft this deep conditioner leaves my hair. I also like the tingly feeling it gives my scalp.
I used the Truly Star Fruit Hydrate and Shine Hair Mask almost immediately after hauling it and knew it was an immediate miss after that first use. It was thin and watery and didn’t hydrate my hair or leave it shining, shining, shining, shining, yeah.
This Ultimate Ulta haul included a lot from Pattern, but the Pattern Jojoba Oil Hair Serum Self-Heating Packs was a hit that missed the mark because the product works well, but the whole process was gimmicky. Also, the price does not match the amount of product. I will leave this on the shelf and just buy the bottle instead.
Home Decor
Just like fashion, I didn’t haul much in home decor, but everything I did haul was for my upgraded vanity. It started with the beautiful and sleek Black Granite and Gold Metal Celine Desk along with the Impressions Vanity Hollywood Tri-Tone Makeup Mirror as the main area for my daily makeup and hair routine. Best of all, I finally scored something to properly store all the makeup I wasn’t using. Finding the Poppin Slim 3-Drawer Stow Filing Cabinet at The Container Store was a blessing. Along with these organizers I found at Target, I was able to put everything in their rightful place. I also learned it’s time to chill out with all the makeup hauls. LOL
Makeup
Although I have bought a lot of makeup this year, there are many products still sitting unopened in my aforementioned stash. Of the products I have used thus far, there are products I have really liked such as the Nabla Skin Glazing I hauled during the Ulta’s Spring 21 Days of Beauty, but the item that took me by surprise was the Tarte Tarteist Pro Remix Amazonian Clay Palette. It was a fluke purchase during a visit to Ulta’s clearance section. The swatches gave me pigment and sparkle, which is something I never got from any of the Tarte Tartelette palettes.
The surprise loser in makeup for me this year came in the same haul. I was so excited to haul my first Pat McGrath palette, but I didn’t like any of the eye looks from the Pat McGrath Labs MTHRSHP: Subliminal Platinum Bronze for the entire month I used that palette. The beautiful color story in the pan that made me excited to score this on such a great deal just didn’t translate on my eyes. I am going to keep trying with it though because quitters never prosper.
Skincare
Not only was 2020 the year Clarisonic stopped selling my beloved Radiance Brush Head, the company actually shuttered its doors. I used an Ulta 20% coupon to buy the Clarisonic Sensitive Skin Cleansing Brush Head during my Fabulous February Haul, but I didn’t actually get to use it until several months later. I absolutely love this brush head! It is actually more gentle and softer than the Radiance Brush! However, I only bought the one, so I’m currently S.O.L. until I come across more.
When it comes to always hitting it out of the park, the Acure serums and oils I hauled from the Acure Seriously Soothing Blue Tansy Night Oil to the Acure Radically Rejuvenating Serum Stick were bar none. They never let me down. The best for me was the Acure Seriously Soothing Serum Stick. I can’t count the number of times I have bought it, and I just keep coming back for more!
I’m always trying a new cleansing balm or oil to remove my makeup, so they usually run together in my mind, but there was something different about the Banila Co Clean It Zero 3-in-1 Cleansing Balm. Unlike the claims of other cleansing balms, I actually didn’t need a lot of this one. Also, It melted quickly in my hand and did an excellent job of dissolving my makeup without a lot of effort. The one I purchased was a travel size, but since then I have bought a full size of their Nourishing Cleansing Balm, and it might be better for my dry skin than the original.
What were your best (or worst) hauls of 2020?