Empties 2025

Getting older means my skin condition changes and most importantly, I think about my retirement fund. So I was tracking my expenses. One of the expenses was on skincare. For 2025, it constituted around 2% of my total expenses. It's only 2% due to I spent a lot on medical (unintentional) last year. Hospitalization and follow up eats up the money, so less money saved. Plus, most of the items were bought on double11 sales on 2024. So, 2025 is mostly on clearing the items and on items that are too heavily discounted that I couldn't resist.

Anyway, around 1% is spent on facial service. Well, I think I will still going for the service, but I will decline to buy the package. I will pay on the spot even if it means the price per facial is higher. I don't want to be tied to a service for long time again. 

Others are on cleaner, toner, moisturizer, essence, face cream, body lotion, hand lotion, personal care items like tooth paste, tooth brush, soaps and hair shampoo. I wouldn't choose the cheapest brand and I am already pass the phase where I would buy the more expensive brands. Anyway, below are the items that I finished, some even expired long before I could finish it. Note to self, do not buy too much skincare items!

Below is the COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream, see the cutting line? I squeezed out all the snail mucin and before I threw it away, I cut it into half and finished everything! I did that to my tooth paste and cleanser too.

COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream

Below is Kundal Ylang Ylang body lotion, I only managed to finish this after few years. The smell is too strong, I couldn't use this on my body. Finally, I used this on my feet. I need to undergo electrostatic discharge (ESD) testing before going into the manufacturing line, and somehow for some socks, I would fail the test and I had to spray some water to the socks to pass the test. Well, I guess the feet were too dry? So I started to apply lotion on the feet, and my problem solved!

Kundal Ylang Ylang body lotion

Below Himalaya Intensive Moisturizing Cream, I used this on my neck, it's too rich for my face. Interesting fact, this is made in Dubai. Wow!!

Himalaya Intensive Moisturizing Cream

Below is my usual moisturizer from Naruko Rose series. However, I couldn't get this from Watsons or the official Naruko shop in Lazada anymore. I am using the moisturizer from other Naruko series. I am going to explore other brands. 

Naruko Rose Hydrating Moisturizer

AMPM RX10 peptide total-defense sunscreen SPF50

Naruko Essence 

Naruko Eye Cream

Others like Watsons WATER360 Mineral Spring Rich Moist Essence Toner is repeat purchases. However, as a in-house brand, it is definitely not cheap. 

WATER360 Mineral Spring Rich Moist Essence Toner and others

Below Hatomugi toner also a repeat purchase.

Hatomugi skin conditioner 

Last item that I had photo is the Paw Paw lip balm. Actually it's not even expired yet, but I felt that the texture is a bit weird. So I scrapped this. I decided to use only Nivea Creme for my lips. There are news that Nivea Creme formula is changed in 2026, not sure it will be effective on my lips or not later.  

Paw Paw Lip Balm

So for 2026, I will focus on finishing up the current stock. I am following a Japanese budget guru "Peach" and she only used 2 products, and singing praises on Squalane oil (moisturizer) and glycerin (diluted to be used as toner). I checked the prices on this, and I felt that in Malaysia, the cost of squalane oil is not that cheap, plus I am worry that the diluted glycerin will become bad before I had the chance to finish it. If I do a small batch, then it will use up my time. Hahhh, I think will stick to affordable brands instead of DIY skincare.