March 2026 Arrivals

Ok folksickles! I'm back to replenishing on things that I'm running out of and buying mostly just necessities.

1. Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Hydro Intensive Hyaluron + Aloe SOS Hydrating Mask: Since I ran out of my other masks I decided to pick this one up to try. 

2. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: I am running low on my current bottle and needed to restock because I don't like being without my squalane. 

3. Paula's Choice SPF 50 Broad Spectrum 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer: I decided to give this moisturizer a try because I haven't had anything from Paula's Choice before and have heard of the brand for years. I've been quite curious. Additionally, my skin tends to react well to Vitamin C and I hadn't used a Vitamin C product in ages, so it'll be fun to try this out. 

4. Kerastase decalcifying system,  reparative shampoo: So exactly a year ago, I got a sample of the Kerastase Chronologiste Youth Revitalizing Hair Mask and fell entirely in love with it so when I saw another opportunity to try a Kerastase product I jumped on it. The heart aching thing about falling in love with that mask is knowing that at such a high price point that I would never be able to get my hands on it. 

5. L'Oreal Elvive Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm: On the topic of the Kerastase mask, my hairdresser friend told me that this was technically a dupe or similar to it.  So, since this is at a far more approachable price point, I decided to give it a try. If anything, I'm out $10 and not $60-70.

6. Jiocolor Wispy Lashes x7: I was on my last pair of lashes and decided to give the large multipacks online a chance. These are a pretty wispy shape, I like the alternating short and long bits. 

7. Veleasha Sunny T-4 Lashes x7: I think I mentioned in the past that I like spiky lashes on myself and these are so pretty in the packaging! I'm excited to try them out. 

8. Kose softymo Deep Cleansing Oil: This is my holy grail makeup removing oil so I had to go ahead and replenish on it since I am near running out of my current bottle.

9. Being frenshe Hair Wellness Detox Scalp Scrub: I am currently running out of my scalp scrub and decided to give this one a try. I feel like unlike dandruff shampoo, that using scalp scrubs once weekly really and truly keeps my scalp flake-free the vast majority of the time so I like having one around.

10. wet n wild Loose Setting Powder in Soft Pink: As you all know, I love the translucent version of this powder. I decided to give the pink version a try since sometimes my foundation can oxidize a tiny bit orange so I'm hoping this might soften out that issue. Perhaps it'll also offer some under-eye brightening as well. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all the items listed above myself with the exception of the Paula's Choice and Kerastase samples. All opinions are my own. 

March 2026 Empties

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

1. equate Tahitian Vanilla Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. It has a yummy, vanilla cookie scent combined with the kind of yeasty scent that freshly baked bread has. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep. 

2. Organic Kitchen Reboot Revitalizing Face Mask: This mask left my skin feeling soft and hydrated after using it. This is a fantastic mask for those days when the winter weather left my skin feeling a bit dry, raw, and needing an extra boost of moisture. 

3. IVON Cuticle Trimmer: I feel like these do a good job of removing excess dead tissue along the sides of my nails and around the cuticle area. That said, they can be sharp so it's important to be gentle and careful with them not to take off too much skin. 

4. Shiseido Prepare Dermaplaning Razor: I like to use these once weekly to really get any strays on my face due to my PCOS.  It's about time to replace this razor, as it's getting a bit dull. 

5. LUSH Rose Jam Body Spray: I have to say that, unfortunately, this is one of those scents that the longer I had it, the more I grew sick of it. While generally, it does have a yummy sweet rose scent to it, it also has a very powdery note that seemed to get more intense the longer I had the perfume and I didn't really enjoy that aspect of it. I'm glad to have finished it up. 

6. Organic Kitchen Silent Hour Revitalizing Face Mask: I really enjoyed the berry yogurt scent of this mask and how soft and smooth it made my skin feel after using it.

7. CALA 3D Faux Mink 35151 Multi-Dimensional Lashes x2: These are a pretty fluffy-looking lash that I feel help to open up my eyes and make them look larger. That said, I find that they have the tendency to want to pop up at the inner and outer corners.  

8.  Kose softymo Deep Cleansing Oil: While I'm sad to have run out of this as it's my favorite makeup removing oil, I do have to say I appreciate that a bottle of this lasts me nearly an entire year. It does a fantastic job of removing the majority of my facial makeup and I use it with my Makeup Eraser or similar cloths and remove the rest. 

9. Suave Skin Solutions Nourishing Lotion in Cocoa Shea: This lotion has a really nice cocoa butter scent to it, it helps hydrate the legs after shaving, absorbs quickly, and is lightweight. However, other than my legs, the soles of my feet need hydration as well and this just isn't as hydrating on the soles as I wish it were. I feel like they just suck up all that moisture quickly and become dry again. 

10.  The following eyeshadows all developed an off scent so I am discarding them:

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Nillionaire

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in IRL

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Banana Daiquiri

11. Arencia Cloud Body & Scalp Scrub in Black Tea & Yuzu: I purchased this scrub specifically for use on my scalp and it worked fairly nicely for what it was. It has a very luxurious scent to it which smells expensive. I just wish that it was a bit more abrasive. I feel like the scrub particles would dissolve quickly and it would lather up a lot which was nice in the sense that it doubled as a shampoo. I will say that it kept my dandruff and scalp flakiness away so it did do the job. 

12. Green Pharmacy Mask in Pomegranate and Argan Oil for Dry, Damaged Hair: I find that this mask was hydrating but it's also very lightweight. I would say that if someone is looking for hair that feels silky and hydrated that this works alright, but doesn't provide the kind of nourishment I'm after in a mask. 

13. berkley jensen Scented baby wipes in Green Tea & Cucumber x2: As I always say, I love these wipes because you get a lot in the package, they smell nice, and they work great for wiping down surfaces, cleaning my makeup, as well as cleaning makeup or skincare swatches off my hands or arms. They're quite versatile to have on hand. 

14. equate Almond & Shea Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. It has a yummy, sweet kind of almost almond cookie scent to it, it's not cloyingly sweet though. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep. 

15. bodycology strawberry cheesecake body cream:  My wifey got me this for Christmas and it smells very sweet in almost a buttercream with a hint of berry type of scent. If 'm 100% honest it's a little TOO sweet for me. But, that said, I did like how hydrating this was on both my legs and feet. It has a nice texture, so I'd be curious to try out other scents from this line. 

16. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: As you might know, this has been something of a holy grail product for me so I'm always sad when I run out. This oil reduces redness in my skin, it makes my skin soft and smooth, and it also gives me a nice glow. I absolutely adore it.

17. Paula's Choice SPF 50 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer: I was so looking forward to trying this moisturizer because I haven't had anything from Paula's Choice before and wanted to try it out. However, I am sad to report that I am woefully disappointed with this. I was hoping that because it has Vitamin C, that it would smell a bit citrusy but it is entirely unscented, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, it's also very runny and liquidy, which I find makes a big mess. It also has that kind of tacky tell-tale sunscreen feeling despite being thin and I don't like that about it.

18. Kerastase Decalcifying system, reparative shampoo: As you can imagine, I cannot comment on if this decalcified my hair. I'm unsure if we have hard water here - my hair generally feels ok, so perhaps not. That said, I found this shampoo to be deeply cleansing yet simultaneously deeply nourishing. It's a combination of things I highly appreciate. My hair is very soft, shiny, and easy to manage. That said, as the line is very pricey, I likely won't be going out to purchase this shampoo without some sort of magical windfall coming my way. 

19. Trader Joe's Oatmeal & Honey Soap Pure Vegetable Soap: I love these soaps because they cleanse well without triggering my eczema. They leave my skin feeling soft and smooth. I find that this soap also helps my skin recover when I'm going through an eczema flare up. 

20. equate Coconut Hibiscus Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. It has a yummy, sweet tart scent to it, it's not obviously coconutty but does have a slight hint of hibiscus.  I really like the way it smells! This 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 bodycology body cream which was a Christmas gift and the Paula's Choice and Kerastase items which came as samples with purchase.

Love It Or Leave It; Review 2.0: Clionadh Cosmetics Light Scatters Multichromatic Palette and NARS Mojave Palette

Hello folksickles. As a makeup junkie and blogger you may have realized that I review a LOAD of eyeshadow palettes and I like to think of myself as being largely an eyeshadow junkie. In order to de-clutter a bit  I've decided to pick out a palette or series of eyeshadows 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 eyeshadows - how I feel about them and whether I'll be keeping them or giving them away (and why :P) as well as if I think it's worth its price tag. 

Clionadh Cosmetics Light Scatters Multichromatic Palette and

NARS Mojave Palette

A tutorial I did using the palettes can be found here and here, respectively. Here are the looks I did using these palettes:

So as you can see I created a bunch of colorful and somewhat neutral looks using these palettes. 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. Generally, both palettes are fantastic - the shades in them are smooth, pigmented, buttery and blend really well together. That said, my main and only criticism of the Clionahd palette is that it's impossible to use it as a standalone due to the fact that each and every shade in it is a multi-chrome and packing a bunch of them on the eye creates a lack of focal point and a situation where there is just too much going on so it works best as a compliment to other palettes. Hence me also using the NARS here as a bit of a supplement. That said, I will be passing the NARS palette along - it is a lovely palette but I absolutely have those colors in my collection and will likely never reach for this particular palette, even if I were to travel. Hence, I'd rather give it to someone who can make use of it. 

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

Disclaimer:  The Clionahd palette was a gift from my bestie and the NARS palette was provided for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Mask Review: Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Hydro Intensive Hyaluron + Aloe SOS Hydrating Mask

'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Hydro Intensive Hyaluron + Aloe SOS Mask.

Availability: This is available at makeupstore.com where it retails for $3.18. I bought it at my local Russian-speaking pharmacy for $3.69 for 75 ml.

Would I buy this again? I'm not sure, perhaps in the summertime.

What is this product? What is it supposed to do?

According to the packaging:

Instant SOS help for dry and dehydrated skin. The skin is filled with moisture and radiance, becomes smooth and silky. 

Does this contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Glycerin: Helps draw moisture to the skin.

Hyaluronic Acid and Saccharide Isomerate: Helps draw moisture to the skin and helps skin retain moisture. 

Aloe Barbedensis Leaf Juice: Has hydrating, anti-inflammatory, and skin-healing properties.

What is the texture like?

I would describe this mask's texture as being like gel-like. It feels cooling going on and never fully sets or dries. 

Is this scented?

I would describe this scent as a very clean, green, refreshing aloe scent.

What has my experience with the product been like?

Personally, as someone with dry skin that can be sensitive or get inflamed easily I really enjoy using this mask but friends, I have an embarrassing thing to admit. As I'm writing this review, I realized that the instructions say it's meant to be tissued off, not rinsed off. So my review will be for me having rinsed it off this whole time. I like that it doesn't dry down or feel tight. Frankly, outside of my dry and sort of beginning to crepe under-eye area (or maybe I'm just dehydrated) I don't really have signs of aging but since I really liked the Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Pre Age Ceramide + Prebiotic Barrier Moisturizing Mask, I decided to give this a try as well. This is a much lighter weight mask that also feels more refreshing, hence I feel like it would be best for the summertime or might work well on skin that feels hot and inflamed.  Despite me having rinsed it off thus far, this mask leaves my skin feeling soft, supple, and refreshed. It gives me a healthy glow; I am really enjoying it thus far.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

Clionadh Cosmetics Light Scatters Multichromatic Palette Look

Hey folks! Today I bring you a soft, colorful look.

Enough blabbering, tutorial time!

I  applied YSL Babydoll Kiss & Blush in Orange Fougueux as a base for  The blush from the Reinarebelde Adorada On Your Face Contour + Color Trio with my Sephora Collection Pro Mini Airbrush 55.5. I also applied ColourPop Super Shock Cheek in Perilune as a base for the highlight from the Reinarebelde Adorada On Your Face Contour + Color Trio using my CHIQUE PRO Highlight Brush.

As a base for my eyeshadow I applied NYX Milk Jumbo Eye Pencil and blended it out with my Crown Pro C511 brush. 

For the crease I applied the shimmering golden brown from the NARS Mojave Palette along with LS #9 with the Sonia Kashuk Essential Blending Crease Brush No. 273 and Crown Pro C511 Brush, respectively. 

For the lid I applied LS #4 with my Crown Pro C510 Brush that I wet with Le Mieux Iso-Rose Hydrating Mist.

To highlight the brow-bone and the inner corner of the eye I applied Lorac Buff and LS #2 (over NYX Milk Jumbo Eye Pencil) using my no-name gigantic paddle brush from Crown and Crown Pro C528 brush, respectively.

For eyeliner I applied the Maybelline New York Tattoo Studio Ink Pen Liquid Eyeliner in Jet Black and winged it out; I also applied OCC Cosmetic Colour Pencil in Pool Boy to the waterline.

For the lower lash line, I applied the shimmering rose from the NARS Mojave Palette using my Bubbi Detail brush.

The look sans falsies. 

For lashes I used CALA 3D Faux Mink 35151 Multi-Dimensional Lashes along with the Duo Brush On Striplash Adhesive in Clear.

For lips, I applied Smith's Rosebud Perfume Co. Lip Balm in Brambleberry Rose and YSL Babydoll Kiss & Blush in Orange Fougueux.

Hope that you liked this! :D It was super fun for me to put together! 

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

Disclaimer: The YSL blush, Sephora Collection 55.5 brush, and NARS products were provided for testing purposes. My bestie got the palette for me. I paid for everything else you see here myself. All opinions are my own.

Clionadh Cosmetics Light Scatters Multichromatic Palette Review

 Today I bring to you the  Clionadh Cosmetics Light Scatters Multichromatic Palette.

Availability: This palette currently retails at $67.14 and is available at clionadhcosmetics.com.

Would I buy this? I weep for how pricey this is but the quality is beautiful!
Notes: My bestie so generously purchased this palette for me and I've been wanting to try Clionadh for ages, so I was excited to finally have my hands on something. This palette is just absolutely beautiful and I'm so grateful to have it. I do have to say that due to the shiny, multichromatic nature of these eyeshadows, they're difficult to photograph, so I apologize if some of my photos are somewhat blurry. Also please note my descriptions are written given my current lighting conditions, the shadows might shift and be different under different lighting giving their multichrome nature. Photos were taken near a window using natural light.

LS #1 is described as a multidimensional iridescent shadow with a red-orange-yellow shift interspersed with silver and aqua sparkles, I'd say it's an off-white base with a white gold-pinkish red shift with silver and greenish-teal micro-glitter. 

LS #2 is described as a sparkling yellow shadow with an intense blue shift, I'd say it's a yellow base with an intense violet pearl shift. 

LS #3 is described as a hot orange-peach-yellow shimmering metallic multichrome, I'd say it's a bronze base with a reddish pink and gold shift. 

LS #4 is described as a violet-pink-peach-yellow shifting holographic shadow, I'd say it's a lilac base with a magenta pearl and holographic multi-glitter. 

LS #5 is described as a muted green base and fine shimmer that shifts from blue-violet-pink-yellow, I'd say it's a cornflower blue base with a shimmer that's also a cornflower but shifts kind of silvery lilac with cornflower and pink micro-glitter. 

LS #6 is described as a plum pink multichrome that shifts from a bright yellow/gold-lime-aqua, I'd say it's a soft plummy pink base with an intense greenish gold pearl. 

LS #7 is described as a bright green-aqua-purple shifting multichrome with a soft tan brown base and a touch of fine particle holographic shimmer, I'd say it's a cool-toned green brown base with a forest green pearl. 

LS #8 is described as a saturated leaf green base an orange-yellow-lime shifting shimmer, I'd say it's a chartreuse base with a green-gold-pinkish red shift. 

LS #9 is described as a pink-peach-yellow-lime shifting multichrome with a denim blue base, I'd say it's a cool-toned plum base with a magenta-fuchsia shift. It can appear somewhat greenish depending on the lighting conditions. 

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

Disclaimer: I received this palette as a gift from my bestie.