There are two things I told myself I'd go on a no-buy and try to size down: 1. Makeup and 2. Big body spray sort of fragrances + Eau de Toilettes. As for the latter, I've done good progress emptying some of those – still several VS sprays to go – I've been instead focusing on smaller indie bottles and trying to figure out fragrances I actually like to wear. I've been quite strict with the former, essentially the only "makeup" I've been purchasing is tinted lip balms once I run out of the current one. But it's been somewhat discouraging because… I'm just not wearing makeup as much lately, a combination of skin issues (combating hormonal acne + tret dryness/irritation), and lack of time due to being in the writing the thesis phase of my PhD. However if there is one thing I do wear regularly it's lipsticks – nice to see progress in those, because God knows I'm not seeing them in blushes or eyeshadows any time soon lol (I've been somewhat considering Marie Kondo-ing my liquid blushes (2 Rare Beautys) and some of my eyeshadow singles that I don't use).
Anyways, as pretty as the Flower Knows products are, I am still happy to part with them and free space on my vanity. Probably the next products on the chopping blocks are my 4 remaining FK lipsticks: 2 Strawberry Rococos, 1 Chocolate Wonder-shop, 1 Swan Ballet, since I'm trying to focus on my cream/liquid formulas so I'm left with a collection of longer-lasting bullets… and my absurd, full-size Kaleidos collection which will let me choose between basically any shade I want lol.
Strawberry Rococo Lip Cream in Shade 08 Velvet Redwood While I still think this is their best lip formula out of the ones I've tried, except for maybe Swan Ballet (that's not saying a lot, the only other ones I've tried are Moonlit Mermaid and Midsummer Fairytales due to the aforementioned low/no buy)… It looks very lip-like, applies and fades elegantly, is comfortable to wear, doesn't smudge past the lip line. No notes, good product. I have other 3 in this formula but they're in shades I enjoy more – I'm not typically a red lip person but this is the kind of red I can wear: not too bright, not too cool, not too warm, just muted enough without veering into brown – so I used it every time I wanted a red. As you can see I dropped it (not too long after I removed the stopper), so not really a full pan, but I'm satisfied.
Chocolate Wonder-Shop Cloud Lip Cream in Shade 09 Lava Chocolate On paper this should be the same as the Strawberry Rococo, except even better: I LOVE browns and don't enjoy bright pinks/red/corals (I have muted, oliveish skin), so I was excited to see this collection was like Strawberry Rococo but with colors that were right up my alley. But this formula just seems… worse? I did enjoy the color: a deep cocoa brown, brighter than I usually go to, like the perfect compromise between my usual, more muted browns and FK's brighter preferences. But omg – this one smudged past the lip line, did not fade as elegantly and often settled into the lip lines. Perhaps it's an issue with the shade – I also have this in a more "typical" shade, 04, a muted pink. I've left it alone for now, but I remember it being less bad than this. Perhaps they just really didn't know how to formulate this color, but yeah, it was gloopy.
Violet Strawberry Rococo Glowy Lipgloss in Shade 03 Berry Bomb Not much to say here, a perfectly nice gloss. Did not call a lot of attention to itself. It was not a "moisturizing"/lip oil sort of formula whatsoever, more of a sticky, stays-on-the-lips without moving around sort of formula. Did not wow me but it was an easy way to make your lips look nice – I truly and well cleaned the inside of this one hahah.
by Ainaraoftime