Saturday, August 1, 2026

July 2026 Empties

All my monthly trash on display for you to see. :P


1. Jiocolor Wispy LashesThese are a pretty wispy shape, I like the alternating short and long bits. I will say that these are very thin and delicate so while they do glue onto the eyelid fairly easily, they're also easy to bend out of shape or to get lash glue all over the band. So, it's important to be careful and gentle with them. 

2equate Almond & Shea Shea Sugar Scrub I love how gritty this scrub is. This has a really yummy almond cookie scent to it. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep.  
 
3. Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 Pure Castile Magic Soap in Peppermint:  They have these 25 fl. oz bottles sold as a two pack in BJ's now so when I saw them at a good deal I decided to jump in and buy them. I essentially only use this to wash my makeup brushes with and it does a fantastic job of getting the makeup off of them and leaving them deep cleaned.
 
4. Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Hydro Intensive Hyaluron + Aloe SOS Hydrating Mask: I like how this is a lightweight gel mask that gave my skin really good hydration without feeling thick or heavy. That said, I did prefer to rinse rather than tissue it off, my skin felt cleaner that way.

5Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Gel: I feel like I've had this aloe gel forever now. I love it for sunburns, irritated skin, insect bites, or even just as a lightweight, refreshing facial moisturizer. This bottle is quite large and lasts a long time. That said, there's a tiny bit of residue at its bottom and due to the design I've given up on getting to it or on cutting the bottle open without injuring myself. I do really love the product itself though.
 
6. Crown Brush Pro C523: This is a really handy little pencil brush that's fantastic for precision work. I love it for highlighting the inner corner, but because it's longer and smaller than typical pencil brushes, it also works fantastic for tight crease work, any sort of blending where precision is  necessary, softening out gel or pencil liner, and softening out any eye shadow placed underneath the eye. Unfortunately my brush is fraying and it's time to replace it. 

7. Crown Brush Pro C510: Just as the brush above, I absolutely love this one as a perfectly sized paddle brush for placing eye shadow directly onto the mobile lid. It has soft edges so it was perfect to add crease color too - not to blend it, but to sort of "reinforce" it since I like to do the crease first and then the lid, so to bring the depth of the color back, I'd use the edges of the brush to add more of the crease color into my socket. Like the brush above, this one is also significantly frayed. 
 
8. Nameless Large Paddle Brush from Crown Brush:  Unfortunately this brush is just getting sparse and falling apart. It's a very densely packed paddle brush which made it perfect for applying a highlight underneath the brow and to act as an "eraser" if my crease eye shadow ever came up to high and into that brow area.
 
9. Bubbi Buffer brush Unfortunately this brush broke off from the ferule. It is a lovely buffer brush - great for any face powder or applying more diffused blush to the cheeks. It's also super soft!
 
10. wet n wild photofocus Loose Setting Powder in Soft Pink: I decided to give this particular shade of the powder a try because, as you know, I love the regular translucent version of this powder - it's very soft, silky, prevents my makeup from creasing, yet looks and feels like skin. I figured perhaps the pink shade would be nice for brightening the under-eye area and also, since my skin tone is a pinkish neutral and foundation can occasionally oxidize orange-y on me, I figured the pink might help neutralize those orange tones a bit. Both were true and I love this shade of the powder as well!

11. PRORANCE International Gold Snail BB Cream I  will say I love the coverage on this BB cream and how smooth it made my skin look. But that said, it oxidized into an orange-y shade on me that was a shade or two darker than my skin. It also unfortunately felt quite heavy in this hot weather. I felt it sitting on my face and it was uncomfortable. 
 
12. L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion in 901 Fair Glow: As you may have guessed I love me a glowing skin primer and this is no exception. It has a lovely lightweight lotion texture that spreads over the skin easily and gives it a lit-from-within quality that I adore under foundation. That said, I would only use it as a highlight if I was going to wear this alone or without some sort of foundation/powder on top of it because it can make the skin look greasy. 

13. equate Coconut Hibiscus Shea Sugar Scrub I love how gritty this scrub is. This has a really yummy sweet yet tart scent to it. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep.  
 
14. L'Oreal Paris Eye Defense Eye Cream: I found this to be a nice eye cream that left my eye area generally moisturized, gave my eye skin a nice glow, and works well with makeup over it. It has a nice texture that feels lightweight yet hydrating. 

15. Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer in 95: Personally I think this concealer is ok - it's thin and blends out nicely. But that said, I felt like I went through this quickly and had to use quite a lot to get the coverage I was after. Additionally, I felt like every time I set this with powder that it had a tendency to either move around or disappear where I felt like, again, it wasn't giving me the kind of coverage I wanted. 
 
16.  Veleasha Lashes in Sunny T-4: These are a really cute spiky lash, which I tend to like because I feel like they make my eyes look larger. I know for some folks these lashes might seem dramatic but to me they're on the smaller side, I almost wish they were larger - meaning just longer with bigger spikes. My only issue is that the lash bands are thick and plastic-y so it takes them a while before they bend to the shape of the eye nicely. 
 
17. Shik Baby soap with bur-marigold extract: This a really gentle soap  that doesn't aggravate my eczema. I found it to be quite gentle, it has a nice smell, and I like the way it leaves my skin feeling soft and silky 
 
18. Pyunkang Yul Calming Mask Pack: This sheet mask is really nice and thick, it's clearly nice quality. This left my skin feeling hydrated, plump, smooth, and glowing initially after removal. It felt very soft and rejuvenated the next day as well. 
 
19. bubbi Dome brush: This brush isn't necessarily broken per se. But it sheds so aggressively every time I use it that I am left picking off all the bristles that end up on my face which takes forever and is an absolute sensory nightmare for me so I would rather just get rid of it entirely.
 
20. Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Hydrating Water Gel Mask: They are not kidding when they call this mask hydrating - not only did it leave my skin plump, juicy, and glowing but there was so much serum in here that I had enough for my neck, chest, and upper arms. That plump, hydrated feeling lasted well into the next day as well. 
 
21. Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++: This has been my favorite sunscreen to date and, as always, I'm sad to have used it up. Especially since I bought this jumbo tube of it. I was hoping that Teso Life would start carrying the jumbo tubes but alas, it was a one time lucky thing.
 
22. Colourpop Watermelon Sugar Fresh Kiss Glossy Lip Balm: I feel like the premise of the gloss balm sounds good - a lightweight, hydrating gloss with a sheer tint? One that comes in lots of yummy flavors. Sounds like a great product! Except it doesn't hydrate much due to it being a lightweight, thin gloss that wears off quite quickly. I truly wish they would bring back the Lippie Crayons because those were my favorite tinted lip balm ever and alas, they are gone. 
 
23. CoverGirl + Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Foundation in 205 Ivory: I really enjoyed this foundation. It was a good shade match for me, it feels hydrating going on and has a nice, healthy, luminous finish to it. I like that it's a medium to full coverage too and is easy to blend. Overall I'm sad to have run out of it. I felt like it lasted me a long time too. I've had the bottle since January and while I wasn't using it daily, I'd say around 6 months of continuous use isn't too bad.   
  
24. Dove deep moisture body wash: As I always say, I really love these creamy body washes for use as an alternative to shave gel. I find that they last me much longer, provide my razor with a nice smooth glide, and leave my skin feeling hydrated and irritation-free after shaving. 
 
25equate Cherry Vanilla Shea Sugar Scrub I love how gritty this scrub is. This has an absolutely delicious cherry scent to it! I think the scent of this might be one of my favorites, if not my very favorite from the scrub lineup. The only issue I have with it is that it tends to stain my right palm red- because that's the hand I used to apply this. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep.  
  
Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the sheet masks, which were gifts from a friend and the Colourpop Glossy Lip Balm which I received for testing. All opinions are my own. 

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Concealer Review: Maybelline New York Lifter Full Coverage Serum Concealer

Maybelline New York Lifter Full Coverage Serum Concealer in 05

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AvailabilityThis retails anywhere from $9.50 - $14  and can be purchased at most drugstores that carry Maybelline products as well as at amazon.com and maybelline.com.

Would I buy this again?: Probably not.

What is it supposed to do?
Quoted from maybelline.com:

Meet your new secret weapon against dark circles: Lifter Serum Concealer from Maybelline New York, made with 78% skincaring formula.
This high-performance, creamy concealer is infused with a brightening serum formula to deliver hydrating, full coverage that seamlessly blends into the skin. It effortlessly conceals dark circles, imperfections, and blemishes, leaving you with a naturally radiant complexion and a lifted look.
Clinically tested to brighten the look of under eyes instantly and over time, powered by a 2% peptide blend and caffeine.
Pair it with other products in the Lifter family, for a naturally lifted look:
Lifter Plump & Glow Foundation for a brightened, plumped skin look.
Lifter Stix to sculpt your look. 

 Full coverage: Covers dark circles, blemishes, and other imperfections.

Brightening and hydrating power: made with a 78% skin caring formula with 2% peptide blend and caffeine. Up to 24hr hydration

 Seamless blend: The formula blends into your skin for a non-cakey, undetectable finish.

 Lightweight feel: so light and skin-like, you’ll forget you’re wearing it.

 Natural finish: Leaves you with a naturally radiant look.

 Clinically tested to improve bare skin’s radiance after 2 weeks of daily use.

Does this come in any other shades than the one pictured above?
This comes in 18 shades.

What's the coverage/consistency like?
This has a medium to full, build-able coverage with a creamy consistency.

Does this have any beneficial ingredients in it?
Glycerin: Has humectant properties, attracts moisture to the skin. 
Caffeine:  Helps constrict blood vessels which helps reduce the appearance of under-eye darkness. 
Lactic Acid: Have exfoliating and brightening properties.
Hyaluronic Acid: Helps boost skin's hydration by promoting water retention.
Vitamin E: Has antioxidant properties, helps preserve the product. 
 
Is this scented?
This has a very faint, clean skincare scent that, frankly, I only notice if I'm smelling the applicator directly. 

What has my experience with the product been like?
I'm unsure who is naming these serum concealers as such because personally I associate the word serum with a slightly thick, liquid product and not something that is a heavy whipped cream consistency with full coverage. Now, I do like a fuller coverage but I'd prefer it in a lighter weight, more hydrating formula. This product is alright, it does the job, it stays put on my skin. But I just wish it were thinner and lighter-looking - meaning perhaps it starts off with more medium coverage and can be built up, or at least is in a thinner formula that isn't as likely to become cakey. I also wish it were a bit more hydrating, as I find it dries down a touch too matte for my personal preference. It is a natural matte so it doesn't make my skin dry, but I wish it were more luminous. I also don't love the doe foot applicator on here, it's rounded so I find it difficult to dot it into more precise, hard-to-reach areas like the inner corner of the eyes or around the nose.

What do I use to apply the product? 
I apply this with  a no-name big fluffy face brush and my ring finger.

I feel like this review is as thorough as it gets but please let me know if you have any questions or comments. 

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Love It Or Leave It; Review 2.0: peripera 10 Be Lovely Wholly Deep Jewel Pot ,peripera 7 Be Trendy Wholly Deep Jewel Pot, Quo Mauve Over Eyeshadow Quad, and Quo True Hues Eyeshadow Palette

Hello folks. As a makeup junkie and blogger you may have realized that I review a LOAD of eye shadow palettes and I like to think of myself as being largely an eye shadow junkie. In order to de-clutter a bit  I've decided to pick out a palette or series of eye shadows for the month and have that be my monthly selection for those instances where I'm not doing a tutorial for the blog. Every month I'll do a recap on the eye shadows - how I feel about them and whether I'll be keeping them or giving them away (and why :P).

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You can find looks I did with the palettes here and here. Here are the looks I did using these eyeshadows:
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So as you can see I created a bunch of colorful and somewhat neutral looks using these eyeshadows. I have been using the Spin the Wheel app and playing "Palette Roulette" as inspired by xsparkage and it's been so much fun and takes the guesswork out of figuring out which colors to use every day. I just roll 5 shades and work with them for the most part - sometimes I'll add a blending shade or highlight as necessary. I'm definitely holding on to the beautiful glittery pigments - I love the metallic, foiled finish they provide and how technically they can be used on their own or to boost a look when applied over existing eyeshadow. Beautiful! That being said, I will be passing the Quo palettes along. I just know I have similar shades in other palettes and I find that the Quo shadow quality isn't the greatest - they go on patchy, chalky, and I have to fight with them to get them to blend. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer:  I purchased everything you see myself with the exception of the Quo palettes, which were a gift.

Saturday, July 4, 2026

Love It Or Leave It; Review 2.0: Pur Minerals Beauty in Numbers Palette,peripera 10 Be Lovely Wholly Deep Jewel Pot , and peripera 7 Be Trendy Wholly Deep Jewel Pot

Hello folks. As a makeup junkie and blogger you may have realized that I review a LOAD of eye shadow palettes and I like to think of myself as being largely an eye shadow junkie. In order to de-clutter a bit  I've decided to pick out a palette or series of eye shadows for the month and have that be my monthly selection for those instances where I'm not doing a tutorial for the blog. Every month I'll do a recap on the eye shadows - how I feel about them and whether I'll be keeping them or giving them away (and why :P).

Here are the looks I did using the palette:




















 The following looks have all been done with the palette alone and are my takes on the provided tutorials:
 Blue eyes:
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Brown eyes:
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Green eyes:
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Hazel eyes:
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So as you can see I created a bunch of colorful and neutral looks using this palette. I have been using the Decide Now! app and playing "Palette Roulette" as inspired by xsparkage and it's been so much fun and takes the guesswork out of figuring out which colors to use every day. I just roll 5 shades and work with them for the most part - sometimes I'll add a blending shade or highlight as necessary. I have neglected this palette for years, sadly... The majority of the colors in here have a satin finish but they're all beautifully pigmented and blend into one another like a dream. It's a wonderful neutral palette with pops of subtle color like the navy, old gold, soft pink, and muted grey-green. I have really enjoyed busting this out this month and playing with it, I'm definitely holding on to it along with the beautiful glittery pigments - I love the metallic, foiled finish they provide and how technically they can be used on their own or to boost a look when applied over existing eye shadow. Beautiful!
2026 update: This time around I followed the tutorial leaflet that came with the palette except for looks that had fewer than 5 shades I'd randomly roll, now using the Spin The Wheel app because Decide Now! is defunct, for however many extra shades I needed to reach the 5. I absolutely love this palette, all the eye shadows blend like an absolute dream as I said before, the quality is fantastic and I will be holding onto it. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer:  I purchased everything you see myself.