January 2026 Arrivals

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

1. CVS Calcium & Wheat Protein Ultra-Strength Nail Strengthener: I feel like since recovering from gel polish that my nails could use a little TLC so I decided to see if a nail strengthener wouldn't be able to help fix the issue of my peeling nails.

2. one+other Original Nail Polish Remover Sponge: It was time to remove my dip nail polish remover for my collection because it was getting gross and the brush pieces in it all broke apart. I decided to go for the original formula versus the 100% acetone this time in hopes that it would be gentler on my nails that are unfortunately still recovering from gel nail polish. 

3. Clionadh Cosmetics Light Scatters Multichromatic Palette: My bestie was in town and surprised me with this beautiful palette! I feel so grateful and am so excited to play with it!

Disclaimer: I purchased all the items listed above myself with the exception of the Clionadh palette which was a gift from my bestie. All opinions are my own. 

Nail Product Review: CVS Calcium & Wheat Protein Ultra-Strength Nail Strengthener

Hello folks. Today's review will be for the CVS Calcium & Wheat Protein Ultra-Strength Nail Strengthener.

Availability: This is exclusive to CVS where it goes for $5.29. 

Would I buy this again?: I'm not sure yet.

Notes: I've had a lot of issues with some of my nails peeling and being weak/fragile since using gel so I decided to give this a try since it claims to "strengthen" nails. I haven't used this long enough to say how it'll work long term, but thus far it applies easily and works great as a base coat for nail polish. It doesn't alter the color of the nail polish applied over it in any way. As you can see, this is somewhat of a sheer, milky nude tone on its own. I suppose it can be worn alone and would give the nails a healthy appearance or would at least mask minor imperfections. I'm crossing my fingers that this helps with my peeling issues. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

February 2025 Empties

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

The following two moisturizers have separated entirely and have a weird texture now that I don't feel comfortable using:

1. Chamos Acaci Pomegranate Anti-Wrinkle Cream: 

2. Sephora Collection Instant Moisturizer: 

3. Laura Mercier Devotion Velour Lovers Lip Color: Unfortunately, this lipstick has developed an off scent so I've decided to discard it. I used up most of it anyway so it's not that big a loss.

4. Dove deep moisture body wash: I feel like this body wash is perfect for shaving especially for this time of year. It doesn't have any kind of fancy scent to it. But as its name implies, is deeply hydrating, which leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth.

5. CVS Health Intense Dry Skin Therapy Deep Repair Lotion: I would say that the title of this product can be misleading in the sense of, if you have an area where the skin is thin but very dry, it will hydrate and exfoliate that area and leave it feeling soft and smooth. However, if you have dry, cracked soles and you're looking for something to revive your feet - this isn't the product. Let me explain - I mostly use body lotions on my legs post-shaving and on the bottom of my feet twice daily because my feet tend to dry out - they rarely crack, but they can peel occasionally. For my legs, this worked perfectly, it leaves them silky smooth; but for my feet - while it did slow the growth of calluses and kept my foot skin soft overall - I found that my skin absorbed it rather quickly and then felt like it wanted more hydration or something thicker. 

6. Dr Teal's Lavender Shea Sugar Scrub: This is very strongly scented of lavender which, I'm not mad at, but it can feel intense at times. It being a sugar scrub, it's very abrasive which I prefer because its abrasion feels invigorating.

7. berkley jensen Green Tea & Cucumber baby wipes: I like to use these wipes to wipe down surfaces, especially when I'm cleaning my makeup collection. I also like them for removing swatches from when I take blog photos. These smell really nice and refreshing, I also like adding a bit of alcohol to them to make them antibacterial. 

8. CALA Eye Adore Lashes in Wispy: These lashes are pretty and have a "natural" look wherein they give the eye oomph without being too dramatic or over-the-top. That said, they take quite a few wears to mold to the eye and have the tendency to want to pop off which can make them a pain to work with.

9. Dr Teal's Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub in Glow & Radiance: Honestly, I wasn't expecting to like this scrub because many salt scrubs irritate my skin, due to them being salt based, and then shaving after using them is an unpleasant experience. Hence you'll see me using sugar scrubs instead. But that said, this left my skin feeling silky smooth, wasn't irritating at all, and smells delicious! It has a very yummy tart-sweet citrus scent. 

10. ORLY Bonder Rubberized Basecoat: While I find this to be a reliable, basic base coat, I don't particularly find that it helps my nail polish to stick on. As in, this doesn't prevent chipping and doesn't really do much for nail health either. Because my nails have the tendency to peel, I have found more nourishing base coats keep my nail polish on longer because it sticks better onto healthy nails. 

11. Isehan Kiss Me Sunkiller Perfect Water Essence Alcohol Free SPF 50+ PA++++: This is a decent sunscreen that left my skin feeling moisturized without the need for additional moisturizer underneath. However, in comparison to my beloved Biore UV Aqua Rich Water Essence SPF 50+ PA++++, this has a heavier texture that I don't like as much.

12. TRESemme Ultra Fine Hairspray: This bottle is so gigantic that I was shocked when I ran out merely because it lasts for something close to a year - and that's using it on my head daily and also using it as an anti-static spray for some of my clothes. I love that this has a touchable hold and that it doesn't leave my hair feeling sticky or crunchy. 

13. Ivon Cuticle Pusher: I purchased a three pack of these because my cuticles were starting to look raggedy and these do a really nice job of getting rid of the dead skin but I feel like they're not as invasive as literal cuticle nippers and are easier to use.

14. Ardell Professional Active Lash in Speedy: I really like how soft and natural these lashes look, they add a little length and volume without being over the top. That said, similar to many other pairs I have issues with, they really like popping off at the inner corner and it's a bit of a fight to get them to stick on there.

15. Unnamed Powder Puff: I'm unsure where this powder puff came from but all I have to say is that its overall quality was just not good. It ripped early on in use and the internal foam came out wherein I had to discard it. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the Sephora Collection item which I received for testing.  All opinions are my own.

December 2024 Arrivals

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

1. Shiseido Prepare Razor L-Type: I really like to use these razors to dermaplane and to fix up any precise areas of facial hair growth (for instance right under the nose) that's in sensitive areas and would hurt to pluck.

2. CVS Health Intense Dry Skin Therapy Severe Dry Skin Lotion: I picked up this lotion because I feel like lately the lotions I've used don't hydrate enough for my liking so I just went in with something labeled to be intensely hydrating to see how I like it. 

3. dossier Floral Berries: This is allegedly a dupe for Jo Malone's Peony and Blush Suede, which I've coveted for a long time, but it's pricey and not necessarily the longest-lasting perfume, so I've always hesitated to purchase a bottle for myself. That said, since this is a fraction of the price I decided to try it out. Although I don't have the Jo Malone to compare them side by side accurately, in my recollection the Jo Malone smells a bit different. Perhaps slightly sweeter. But I like the way this smells so I'll be holding onto it. 

4. COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence: I love this essence for the winter season because it's extremely hydrating and keeps my skin from getting prune-y and crusty. 

5. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: This is an absolute holy grail product for my skin so I refuse to be without it! This oil really helps take away any redness, irratation, and inflammation in my skin. This also helps smooth out my skin's texture so my skin is left feeling very soft and supple. 

6. wet n wild photofocus Loose Setting Powder in Translucent x3: I love this powder because it's not overly matte or powdery, it is friendly to use with my dry skin because it doesn't emphasize or cling to dry patches, it helps with the longevity of my makeup, and ultimately my skin looks like skin with this on. Hence, I stocked up on this while it was on sale. 

7. Brow Brush/Lash Comb: I purchased this because my current one has lost many patches of hair from the brow brush section so it was time for a new one. But that said, I like lash combs with metal teeth because the plastic ones tend to not hold up very well. I find this to be an indispensable tool to comb through my lashes after I apply mascara to help comb out any clumps. Additionally, if there's lash glue stuck in my lashes, this is a great tool to gently dislodge it!

8. Ivon Cuticle Trimmer x3: I'm on my last cuticle trimmer and I like to replace these about every 3 months when they start to dull and for hygiene reasons. Given these were on sale, I decided to restock. 

9. Sally Hansen color therapy Strengthening Base Coat: I'm running low on my base coat and since I have some nails that are prone to peeling, I figured I'd try a base coat that's meant to condition and strengthen the nails and see if that doesn't help with the issue. 

10. miss spa Quick Dry Nail Color Ultra Shiny Top Coat: I ran out of my topcoat completely, it got so gloppy that it wasn't useable so while waiting for the shipment of my trusty standby, I went and purchased this as an emergency solution. I'm finding that it works alright but it doesn't have the same smoothing effect that the one below does. 

11. inm Out the Door Topcoat for Nails x3: This is my absolute favorite topcoat for nails. It smooths out any issues with the nail polish, it looks and feels smooth, and it actually does help speed up drying time. Granted, I still like to give my finished nails a good 30 minutes to fully set. But regardless, they often feel dry to the touch well before the 30 minutes pass.

12. be natural by ProLinc cuticle eliminator: The name of this product sounds very dramatic. Anyways, I bought this because frankly it's less expensive to buy cuticle remover in bulk so I went for a larger bottle. In fact I bought the super jumbo bottle of this because I like the way this product works and I have the smaller bottle to use for refills. 

13. fino Premium Touch Hair Mask: Since I'm running low on my current hair mask and my wife recommended this one highly, I decided to pick it up because it was also on sale. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above. 

August 2022 Empties

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

1. Christophe Robin Pre-Shampooing Hair Oil with Lavender: Although this is a great pre-shampoo treatment if your hair is in need of a boost of hydration I would personally suggest this to people with either very damaged or thick, course hair because it tended to weigh my very fine hair down and felt very greasy and heavy while it was in. I found that it did wash out fairly easily, however, with the use of the companion Cleansing Mask with Lemon as well as other shampoos.

2. GARNIER green labs Smoothing Milky Wash Hyalu-Melon: This cleanser was alright, and the more I used it the more I liked how soft it made my skin. It foams up alright and everything but I honestly prefer my hydrating cleansers to have thick, luxurious foam and this just wasn't quite there.

3. wet n wild photofocus Loose Setting Powder in Translucent: This is a really beautiful setting powder that goes on very smooth and creates a beautiful smooth finish. It doesn't crease underneath the eyes or cake, which I appreciate. I'll definitely be picking it up again.

4. CVS Health 100 Ultra Sheer Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 100 Sunscreen: While this did the job I would, in no way, say that this is "ultra sheer" - while it doesn't leave color behind, it does leave quite a greasy residue on the skin.

5. Trader Joe's Grapefruit & Lemon Hand Sanitizer Spray x2: So I actually combined the remainder of this and another bottle of the spray together because I have discovered that this doubles as an efficacious bug spray - it won't kill them but they don't like its scent so it usually causes them to leave the room or at least get on a part of the wall where I can easily get rid of them. I did use up the second bottle.

6. Fourth Ray Beauty A-HA Moment exfoliating enzyme Mask: I really like this as an exfoliating, non-drying mask. It leaves my skin feeling very soft after I use it.

7. Korres Elasti-Smooth Body Butter: I'm sad to have used all this up because it smells really nice and leaves my skin feeling very smooth and hydrated. I loved that it worked on the soles of my feet too, to keep them soft and looking smooth.

8. m-61 PorePerfect Primer: Honestly, I'm glad that this is all gone. This had a nice smoothing function and I felt like my makeup looked nice and held up well over it but, in my opinion, it's very silicone-y in texture and if anything I feel like this led me to have more clogged pores and prominent sebaceous filaments on my nose versus other, lighter weight, primers.

9.  Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Citrus: This is by far my favorite in the collection! It has this sweet, bright, orange citrus scent that is delicious. I love how scrubby this scrub is, it helps me wake up in the morning.

10. Darphin Hydraskin Light All-Day Hydrating Cream Gel: I really love the texture of this moisturizer because it feels very hydrating and nourishing while also being extremely lightweight. It's also nice for the summertime because this feels refreshing to apply.

11. Fourth Ray Beauty The Big Detox Mud Mask: Honestly I enjoy the fact that this leaves my skin feeling deeply cleansed without stripping or drying out my skin. That being said I probably won't purchase this again because I make such a mess with it every time I try to wash it off my skin.

12. Too Faced Eyeshadow Insurance: Honestly this does the job of keeping my eyeshadow in place and is a nice, basic eyeshadow primer with a matte, slightly powdery finish to it.

13. hey HONEY Open Your Eyes Lifting Eye Serum: I really liked this serum while I had it, this has a really refreshing, hydrating feeling to it. I also really liked the metallic applicator because it soothed my eyes when they were irritated; it felt really nice and cooling.

14. Bumble and bumble Bb thickening Go Big Treatment: Because I don't use this with heat, I really cannot speak to its full volumizing potential but I feel like it gives my hair a thicker texture. 

15. Winsome Lash 3D Faux Mink lashes in Cloudless x2: Honestly, as is the case with many faux mink lashes, these have a thick lash band that just doesn't want to stay on my lash line. I feel like I have to fight with them to get them to stay put on my eyelids.

16. L'oreal Excellence Creme Conditioning Treatment: For whatever reason my mom doesn't use these after she dyes her hair so I end up using them instead. This leaves my hair feeling very soft, silky, and smooth. It gives my hair a nice shine.

17. Sephora Collection Pro Small Blush and Contour Blush #74: As you may know, if you've seen the looks posts on this blog, I use this brush primarily for highlighting my cheek bones and have had it for many years now. Unfortunately it has shed a lot and just isn't quite the shape it once was, and because the bristles have broken in spots, it pokes my face in an unpleasant, prickly way. While it is a well-loved brush, it is time to say goodbye.

18. Trader Joe's Brazil Nut Body Scrub: Ok so I was super excited for this scrub because it smells amazing. That being said, I love its smell but I feel like the packaging causes too much of the scrub to end up exposed to the shower stream and steam, causing it to develop an odd texture. I love how gritty it is and I love that they chose sugar as a base, as salt scrubs sting if you're someone who shaves. That being said, it's also a touch too oily for my personal taste. I wanted to love this so very much but I don't think I'll be purchasing it again. 

19. Bettie Pain I Will Speak For Her: I'm sad that this has come to an end now that fall is approaching, as this is a perfect pumpkin color. Additionally, I feel like I only used this three or four times - maybe I used it more and just don't remember, but in any case it's very thick, goopy, and difficult to extract from the bottle and since I've had it for nearly 6 years I think it's just time to say goodbye to it. 

20. wet n wild Rose Addiction Photo Focus 3-in-1 Primer Water: This is another product that I am genuinely sad to have run out of. In my opinion, it is by far one of the best setting sprays I've ever used, it just sets everything beautifully, helps products to wear longer, feels refreshing, smells great, and gives the skin a very beautiful skin-like finish, you won't look cakey or powdery. I wish it was sold in a larger volume. 

21. IUNIK Propolis Vitamin Sleeping Mask: I honestly wanted to love this mask and it was alright but I personally wanted something that would add just a bit more hydration than this did to my skin. I also wasn't a fan of it being kind of tacky when you first put it on. 

22. Garnier Fructis Style Flexible Control Hairspray: Personally I think this is my favorite hairspray out of everything I've tried. It helps to smooth out any frizzies I might be having and gives my hair a tiny bit of hold and volume while still retaining touchability - this will not make your hair stiff or crunchy which I appreciate. 

23. Dove refreshing cucumber & green tea Nourishing Body Wash: As I've mentioned many times, I really love to use these body washes to shave with because they're very hydrating and more economical for me to have on hand versus shaving foams. This has a nice, refreshing, slightly sweet scent to it. 

24. berkley jensen unscented baby wipes: As I've said in previous posts I love these baby wipes because you get a lot in each package so it feels like it lasts a while and  they're great for everyday cleaning like wiping down countertops, makeup, and swatches without smelling like chemicals.

25. e.l.f. Cosmetics Total Face Sponge: As I've mentioned in the past, I really love these sponges because they don't absorb much product and, due to how large they get when wet, they blend makeup out very quickly and easily.

26. The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane: I honestly found that this worked relatively well because it didn't cause my skin any peeling/dryness or irritation except in this one spot on my chin where I developed an eczema patch but I'm sure the rest of my routine not being hydrating enough is to blame. While using this I only really broke out around that time of month or if I was testing new skincare and my skin texture was really smooth, it didn't make a significant difference in terms of my sebaceous filaments though. In addition, I can't really speak to any wrinkle-reduction or anti-aging benefits because I don't have any signs of aging yet and am grateful. That being said, I'm unsure if this is having any kind of preventative effect.  

27. Nature Republic Color & Nature Nail Color in 44 Mermaid: This is a beautiful nail polish top coat. Unfortunately mine has become extremely goopy so I will be parting ways with it.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the m-61, Too Faced, hey HONEY, Bumble and bumble,  and Darphin products. 

December 2018 Empties

All my garbage of the month! :D

1. Sheet Masks Galore:
nu Pore Rosemary Collagen Essence Face Mask: This is a nice hydrating, refreshing sheet mask. it has a bit of an herbal spa-like scent but I wouldn't say it smells like rosemary the way I was expecting.
TONYMOLY I'm Red Wine Gel Eye Patch: I found this eye patch to be really hydrating and de-puffing for the under-eye area. I really like these eye patches because I find that my under-eye area looks more hydrated, brighter, and that the fine lines around my eyes seem less prominent when I use them.
TONYMOLY I'm Lemon Gel Eye Patch: Truth be told I found that all of these eye patches have a fairly similar result, just different scents. I was concerned that the lemon might be irritating to my under-eye area but that was not the case at all.
A'Pieu Coffee Milk Air Pocket Sheet Mask: This mask is EFFING INCREDIBLE! I cannot wait to buy more! Firstly, it smells exactly as its name implies. Like a café au lait! But on top of smelling wonderful it also left my skin feeling firmer, more hydrated, and refreshed.

A'Pieu Cicative Zinc Sheet Mask: I found this to be a fairly hydrating sheet mask.
the Creme Shop Last Christmas Forever Young Face Mask: I find this was a good refreshing, hydrating mask. 

nu Pore Aloe Collagen Essence Face Mask: A nice soothing, hydrating face mask.
I'm Sorry for my Skin Jelly Mask - Revitalizing: Frankly speaking these masks are not my favorite. They're over-saturated in this jelly serum and feel like a wet rag more than a refreshing sheet mask. I find overall that it worked ok but is nothing to write home about.
I'm Sorry for my Skin Jelly Mask - Hydrating: Although I know the point of this mask is to combat the skin dulling effects the dehydration that drinking too much coffee may cause I found myself disappointed that it didn't smell like coffee. As the one above this worked ok but I wouldn't pick it up again.
A'Pieu Cicative Calcium Sheet Mask: I found this to be a lovely sheet mask that made my skin feel hydrated and supple.

I'm Sorry for my Skin S.O.S. Jelly Mask - Calming: Frankly I'm not the biggest fan of these masks as I find the jelly serum too thick and gelatinous for my liking.
I'm Sorry for my Skin Jelly Mask - Pore Care: As with the other mask described above I found the serum too thick and gelatinous. I don't find that this made a difference for my pores.

TONYMOLY I'm Green Tea Gel Eye Patch: I found this eye patch to be really hydrating and de-puffing for the under-eye area. I really like these eye patches because I find that my under-eye area looks more hydrated, brighter, and that the fine lines around my eyes seem less prominent when I use these patches. It's described as refreshing and I have to agree with that.
the Creme Shop Clarifying Face Mask: A nice, refreshing sheet mask.
A'Pieu Icing Sweet Bar Sheet Mask: This is a really nice, refreshing sheet mask that smells like pineapple juice. I think it's fun but I don't find that it did very much for my skin.

Nu Pore Vitamin E Collagen Essence Sheet Mask: A nice, hydrating sheet mask.
Nu Pore Honeysuckle Grapefruit Moisturizing Eye Mask: I found this to be a refreshing under-eye mask but that being said, it's lighter-weight, and therefore not as hydrating, as the TONYMOLY masks are. 

Nu Pore Green Tea Collagen Essence Face Mask: A nice, soothing, hydrating face mask.
Nu Pore Cucumber Collagen Essence Face Mask: A nice, hydrating face mask.
patchology Soothe 5 Minute Flashmasque: Although this is meant to be a quickie 5 minute sheet mask I kept it on for 20 minutes the way I do with my other masks. Firstly, at $8, it's pricier than my other sheet masks so I wanted to get my money's worth... or rather THE money's worth as this happened to be a gift-with-purchase at work. Anyhow, I found that it did a nice job of feeling hydrating, soothing, and slightly reducing the redness in my skin.
Nu Pore Pomegranate Collagen Essence Face Mask: I think you can gather from my one-liners about these masks that I found them to be just ok. I like pomegranate masks but this one was also, just ok. It was refreshing and hydrating but I wasn't really moved by it.

2. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Tropical Mango: As you folks know I absolutely adore these body scrubs - they're super scrubby and do a wonderful job of getting rid of hard, dead skin cells and waking me up. This smells sweet, tropical, and delicious!

3. Bath & Body Works Butterfly Flower Fragrance Mist: This smells like the rest of the Butterfly Flower range - a beautiful lightweight summer floral.

4. Clinique Pep-Start Double Bubble Purifying Mask: Although this is supposed to be a purifying mask I found that it did an alright job of making my skin feel cleansed and mostly the bubbles just tickled. I wouldn't go out of my way to pick this up.

5. m-61 Vitablast C Serum Pad: Although I enjoy the idea of these pads and found them to be alright while I had them overall I found them a bit tacky feeling and not well-moistened enough (especially in comparison to the Hyaluronic Acid pads). I find that although convenient, these pads are extremely pricey for what they are and honestly it's much more cost-effective to purchase a bottle of serum.

6. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Pear & Chia Seed: I believe this is a newer scent and it smells absolutely delicious! A nice sweet, refreshing scent with the intense scrubby sugar that I'm used to.

7. CVS Pomegranate and Lime Brightening Gel Facial Mask: Although not marketed as such, this mask has somewhat of a self-warming function and feels really nice on the skin. I find that it refreshes my skin and leaves it looking and feeling hydrated. This also has a nice scent to it. I wish it were available in a large tube as I really do enjoy using it.

8. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes in Fresh Scent: This is the last of the batch I had and I am glad to b done with these. The scent is cloying chemical and although I love that they disinfect I don't love that they have such an intense chemical scent - I feel like there's all kind of awful harsh things in this which makes me wary of wiping things like my makeup down with them.

9. Bath & Body Works White Tea & Ginger Shower Gel: I love tea scents and this one doesn't disappoint. It smells incredible, produces a great foam, and leaves me feeling clean without being stripped.

10. m-61 Hydraboost HA Serum Pad: I really enjoyed these pads, I feel that they really hydrated my skin and felt REALLY well-moistened. One pad covered my face, neck, décolletage, back-of-the-neck, elbows, AND backs of my hands. That said, I still feel like you'd get more of a bang for your buck buying a bottled serum versus buying these pads.

11. TONYMOLY Changing U Magic Foot Peeling Shoes: While these work alright I find that it took FOREVER - I'm talking like a good 8 days for my feet to begin peeling. In these 8 days they felt intensely tight, dry, and itchy to the point where I was about to give up and moisturize them right around the time they started peeling (I don't moisturize my feet when I do peeling masks as I find that it negates the peeling effects). Now, I wouldn't say it was worth the wait as I know my feet were rather dry and crusty and the peeling that occurred was no more intense than other masks I've tried.

12. Now Essential Oils in 100% Pure Lemon: This is a really delicious-smelling lemon essential oil. I use it mainly in my fragrance diffuser but it works well to gargle (infuse about 10 drops into a cup of warm water) a sore throat with.

13. wet n wild photo focus Concealer: I have to say that this is probably, hands down, my favorite concealer - if not one of my favorites. It glides on beautifully, provides great coverage, and is seriously inexpensive. I am genuinely sad to be out.

14. Trish McEvoy Wild Blueberry Vanilla Scented Candle: I have to be honest in that these candles disappointed me. For high-end candles I expected for there to be a throw - even if I was burning a mere 3 votive candles. This smells delicious, like blueberries & cream oatmeal and Trix cereal had some sort of baby. I really love the scent but given their lack of throw and high price point I wouldn't consider picking this up again.

15. Tresseme Flawless Curls Mousse: This is a nice mousse that gives definition to my waves and a bit of hold. It can occasionally be crunchy if I use too much or don't do a good job of distributing it through my hair evenly but overall I find that it works great and smells nice too.

16. NARS Audacious Lipstick in Apoline: This is a really pretty pinkish nude shade and I received a lot of compliments when I wore it.

17.L'Oreal Smooth & Glow 3 Pure Sugars + Grapeseed Pure-Sugar Scrub: I found this scrub useable but overall more aggressive than I'd like for the facial skin. Although I used to like harsher scrubs in the past I find that my facial skin responds best to either chemical exfoliators or to softer, more gel-like physical scrubs. That said, this smells absolutely delicious.

18. Odacite Ba+S Baobab Sarsaparilla Eye Contour Serum Concentrate: This serum smells fantastic and I found that it did a beautiful job of hydrating the eye area without being thick or heavy. I felt like a little went a long way - I'd use a drop per eye but a drop for both eyes would've probably worked just as well. I found that I went through this kind of quickly but I enjoyed it while I had it.

19. Sally Hansen Big Kwik Dry Top Coat : I found that this topcoat worked just okay - it didn't dry quicker than most other top coats that I used and I didn't really feel like it prolonged the wear of my nail polish.

20. Darphin Hydraskin Light All-Day Hydrating Cream Gel: This moisturizer is just incredible. Although it's a cream gel I find that it moisturizes my skin really well without feeling heavy. It has an absolutely beautiful texture that my skin just LOVED.

21. Crown C511 Brush: I've had this brush for 2 years now and it's gotten rather frayed and a lot thinner than when I originally bought it. Given the inexpensive nature of Crown brushes I don't mind parting ways with this. It was good while it lasted but I have a backup which I'll be using.

22. NEST Fragrances Sparkling Cassis Scentstick: This was a singular mini liquid-less diffuser stick that SCENTED UP MY ENTIRE ROOM with the delicious scent that it has. I have to say I am quite impressed.

23. dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Cleanser: This is a very gently exfoliating cleanser. I found that it worked to cleanse my face but is overall more drying than I'd like. In addition, it doesn't smell that great - the scent is kind of chemically.

24. Bath & Body Works Frosted Cranberry Scented Candle: One of my favorite holiday scents - this has a nice sweet, refreshing cranberry scent.

25. Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Aging Body Cream: While this body cream has a really nice apricot scent I find that it's fairly lightweight - I wish it were thicker and richer, more luxurious-feeling for its price point. I also didn't notice any lightening, tightening, or brightening of the skin where I would've thought "oh wow this really has anti-aging" benefits. I don't wanna be the one but I'm gonna be the one - this is just very overpriced skin cream in  my personal opinion and I'd really have to be wowed a lot harder for me to want to go out and buy this.

26. Indiee Lee I-Awaken Eye Serum: This is a nice depuffing, hydrating serum for the under-eye area. I like that it feels hydrating and isn't heavy.

27. Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream: I will say that I really like this cream - it's not too heavy but feels hydrating. That said, I genuinely don't understand the sky-high price point for an everyday face cream. Like, I get that for the high-end luxe crowd $215 may not feel like a lot of money to drop on a cream but for an everyday person who maybe understands that their skin would benefit from a moisturizer that's insanely expensive! In addition to that, I didn't find that this did anything so mind-blowing for my skin that I feel that the price point is in any way justified. I'm just kind of annoyed with this being so pricey.

28.Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser: This is a powder cleanser that you are meant to emulsify with water. I like that it foams and does a nice job of cleansing my skin whilst still feeling gentle. Like the face cream I think it's lowkey ridiculously expensive for what it is and while I think it's nice it is by no means $75 nice when my favorite cleanser is a mere $10 and frankly makes my skin feel just as good, if not better, than this does.

29. Dove Go Fresh Cucumber & Green Tea Scent Body Wash: A staple item - I really like these body washes to shave with because they're really moisturizing, smell good, and provide a good glide for my razor.

30. Ardell Double Up in 206 Black: I feel like I'm always trying the double up lashes hoping I'll find a pair I like and it always fails. These look kind of chunky and spidery - not a fan.

31. Eylure x Jasmine Brown Lashes in Jaybee: I absolutely LOVE these lashes - they're a nice full, spikey lash that give great definition to the eyes. This pair lasted me three weeks and really kept its integrity - in fact they still look fairly new, outside of the band itself being kind of crusty from glue.

32. Moroccanoil Volume Thickening Lotion: One of my friends got this for me as a gift and honestly I wanted to love it but I find that it works well as a styling cream - meaning it adds moisture to the hair and helps with flyaways and creating a smooth look but it doesn't make a noticeable difference with making my hair feel thicker.

33. Beauty 360 Advanced Nail Polish Remover: I will say that, although this isn't as good as my fave - the Sephora Instant Nail Polish Remover - it's a close second. This has little silicone nubs in it that help to buff nail polish off the nails. I find it works well.

34. Laura Mercier Body & Bath Fresh Fig Soufflé Body Cream: This is a nice body cream with a sweet, soft powdery scent. To be honest the scent in the jar usually turned me off because it's so powdery but I decided to try it out and I really like the way it smells on me - sweet and feminine.

35. Klorane Nourishing Shampoo with Mango Butter: I really wanted to love this shampoo because it smells like a mango smoothie. IT SMELLS SO GOOD!!!! Unfortunately, however, I find that it doesn't really moisturize my hair all that well.

36. Maybelline New York Master Primer by Facestudio Hydrate + Smooth Primer: I found that this primer did a really nice job of keeping my makeup on in addition to feeling really hydrating and refreshing when I initially applied it.

37. Dr. G Callus & Cuticle Exfoliant Cream: I mainly used this as a cuticle softening cream and I found that it did a really fantastic job of softening the cuticles enough to allow me to push them back easily. It felt fairly gentle and moisturizing when I had it on - not like it was eating through skin or anything like that.

38. tokidoki Donutella EDT: I feel like this is fairly random but my parents had moved one of their dressers because the folks from the phone company needed to come and fix the landline and they found the remnants of this behind the dresser. It has this odd powdered sugar-meets-floral scent and while I don't mind it I also don't love it. I find that it's not a scent I'd go out of my way to pursue.

39. Moroccanoil Body Soufflé Body Moisturizer: I found that this did an alright job of hydrating my legs (which is mainly where I used moisturizer) but given that I don't love the Moroccanoil scent I wouldn't go out of my way to get this again.

40. Crown Brushes Pro C510 Brush: This is a really nice run-of-the-mill basic paddle brush that's fantastic for work on the lid and packing color on. Unfortunately mine has gotten fairly frayed and it's time to move on to a new one.

41. YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat: I feel like I've had this bottle of foundation entirely too long and I've finally used it all up. This is the older formula for the Touche Eclat so I'm unsure how the new one differs. That said, it was a nice, medium coverage, glowing foundation but given that it didn't cover as much as I would have wanted it to and has a fairly high price point I wouldn't go out and get it again.

42. Bath & Body Works Hello I'm A Unicorn PocketBac in Berry Lemonade: This is a nice-smelling hand sanitizer. I like the scent a lot and I'd get it again if it were available.

43. Sally Hansen Violet Voltage Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color: Although it's a really pretty color this has started to separate really badly - I'm unsure why that's the case but I feel like it's safer to discard it then to try and mix it back together.

44. Odacite Moringa + Petitgrain Serum Concentrate Very Dry Skin: I found this to be truly deeply hydrating. However it smells awful, kind of like an oily black pepper concentrate. I'm not a fan.

45. Bite Beauty Agave Lip Scrub: This did an alright job but I felt like it wasn't well balanced in that there was a high goo-to-scrubby bits ratio. My lips felt soft after using this but I wish it were more consistently scrubby.

46. Moroccanoil Night Body Serum: This product is intended to add a moisture boost to your current body moisturizer and while I felt like it delivered on its promise I also found this to be sort of sticky and oily.

47. Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick: I think it's funny how years ago I reviewed this as a stand-alone product and didn't love it but now I used it as a lip balm and enjoyed it for that purpose. I think it moisturizes the lips in a nice, lightweight way but on its own it doesn't wear for long. However it does provide a nice moisturizing base for other lip products.

48. Julie G Frosted Gumdrops Collection Sugar Crush: I love this nail polish - it's such a gorgeous vermillion red with golden glitter. Unfortunately it's all goopy and won't go on my nails nicely. We have to part ways.

49. NARS Audacious Lipstick in Grace: This is a pretty deep bright pink lipstick. I feel like although it's a fairly bright shade it works nicely with a lot of different looks.

50. Lune + Aster Stratosphere Volumizing Mascara: I'm sad to see this mascara go as I found it to give me really nice volume, length, and separation. I feel like if I didn't feel like wearing falsies as often anymore, I'd gravitate toward this as I really love the effect it had on my lashes.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the M-61, Clinique, Trish McEvoy, NARS, Odacite, Darphin, NEST, Dr. Barbara Sturm, patchology, Indiee Lee, Moroccanoil , Clinique, Bite Beauty, Sally Hansen  and Lune + Aster products. 

Mask Review: CVS Pomegranate and Lime Brightening Gel Facial Mask

'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the CVS Pomegranate and Lime Brightening Gel Facial Mask

Availability: This appears to have been discontinued.

Would I buy this again?: I'm unsure.

What is this product designed to address?

According to cvs.com this is what the product is and what it does: 

You're not dull. Your skin shouldn't be either. This brightening mask contains antioxidant rich pomegranate and lime extracts that will delight both skin and senses. With its brightening effects and fresh fragrance, you'll think you've found summer at your fingertips.

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?
Glycerin - A humectant which attracts moisture from the environment into your skin.

Pomegranate Fruit Extract - contains antioxidant benefits and assists with the formation of skin cells.
Lime Fruit Extract and Lime Oil- contain antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties.

What is the texture like?

This has a gel-like texture that warms up every-so-slightly when it hits the skin.

Is it scented?

This has a sweet, citrusy scent.

My overall experience/comments on the product:

In all honesty I like the mask's scent and the effect it gives my skin - a nice, hydrated glow. But I HATE the texture. The gel feels kind of tickle-y... uncomfortable almost... and has a tendency to want to drip all down your neck and chest.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

September 2018 Empties

All my garbage of the month! :D

1. Sheet Masks Galore is Back!:
Etude House Tea Tree:I think this would be a great mask for someone with congested skin or who's suffering through breakouts but honestly I didn't feel like it did much for me other than feel refreshing.
Etude House Ceramide: This felt refreshing and hydrating.
Etude House Blueberry: This mask felt refreshing.
Etude House Hyaluronic Acid: This felt refreshing and hydrating.

It's Skin Honey: Ah we have landed on a mask I'd get again! This smells incredible - like sticking your face in a honeypot! It left my skin feeling hydrated, refreshed, soft, and supple. I honestly did not want to take it off!
Etude House Olive: This is quite hydrating - I liked that aspect of it a lot. It left my skin feeling really supple and glowing.

Etude House Aloe: Out of the Etude House masks I'd have to say this is my favorite - I used it right after a peel which typically turns my face tomato red and has me feeling mega inflamed - well, I put this mask on directly after I washed off the peel product and I hardly had any redness after! If your skin is irritated or needs a little extra TLC this is incredible!
Etude House Green Tea: This felt refreshing and hydrating.
Etude House Calendula: This mask felt fairly hydrating.
It's Skin Avocado: So, as of me writing this, I just took this mask off and it's another I really DID NOT WANT to remove! It felt so good on the skin, very hydrating, refreshing, soothing and nice-smelling (a little sweet and fresh). It left my skin feeling like butter. I absolutely adore it and because I loved both of the It's Skin masks so much I'm very eager to try what else they've got in their line.

Bath & Body Works Face Sheet Mask + Hyaluronic Acid: This mask was just alright, it left my skin  feeling refreshed and hydrated.
Bath & Body Works Skin Goals Illuminating Sheet Mask with Triple Berry Complex: I really enjoyed this mask as it smelled nice and delivered the glow it promised. My skin was left feeling refreshed, soft, and supple. 

Bath & Body Works Rose Water Sheet Mask : I'm so sad to report that this mask was, overall, disappointing. From its lack of rose scent to its lack of hydration it was overall just a meh experience.
Etude House Lemon: This mask felt refreshing and hydrating.

2. Bath & Body Works Ultra Shea Body Cream in Midnight Pomegranate: This is my favorite body moisturizer formula at Bath & Body Works as it hydrates deeply without being heavy and does a wonderful job of hydrating everywhere but the soles of my feet (I've given up on my soles to be honest - I absolutely moisturize them day and night because I fear they'll crack otherwise but nothing leaves them deeply hydrated). The Midnight Pomegranate is a beautiful throwback scent - a little tart, a little sweet, a little sultry - I absolutely adore it!

3. Olay Fresh Outlast Cooling White Strawberry & Mint Body Wash: I purchased this to shave my legs with and I have to say that, for shaving, this is just ok - I prefer a formula that's creamier and a bit thicker. However, it smells absolutely incredible! I'd say the scent is really refreshing and a bit sweet/fruity but I can't necessarily place is it strawberry or mint.

4. Beauty 360 Original Nail Polish Remover:  I bought this hoping it would be similar to my beloved yet seemingly discontinued Sephora Instant Nail Polish Remover and while, structurally, it's a similar product - housing a perforated sponge soaking in polish remover solution. That said, it doesn't do nearly as good of a job and I feel like I'm left soaking my fingers longer than I'd like to get the nail polish off them.

5. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Pomegranate Acai: As you all know, these are my favorite body scrubs as they feel really scrubby but aren't irritating - they leave my skin feeling really soft and smooth. This one smells really fantastic - kind of like a Shocktart but a bit more fruity! I like it a lot!

6. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes in Crisp Lemon: I love that these wipes are disinfecting. That said, they have an intense artificial chemical cleaning solution kind of scent and I feel like they're overly saturated in the liquid solution they come in.

7. Trader Joe's Mango Tangerine Scented Candle: I really liked this candle and am sad it was limited edition. It has a beautiful refreshing, citrusy sweet scent.

8. Ardell Faux Mink 811 4-Pack: I feel like I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm not a fan - I feel like the structural integrity of these lashes is lacking - the bands are thick, they're somewhat inflexible, and I don't like that picking the lash glue off them kind of activates some funk in the structure that causes the lash band to separate out, this causing the lash to fall apart. :/

9.  CVS Chocolate and Coffee Self-Heating Clay Facial Mask: If I'm going to be honest I really didn't like this mask. It didn't smell like chocolate, coffee, or strawberries as it implied it would, but rather cheap and hinting at chocolate. It also didn't clarify my skin in any way and kind of felt heavy and balmy. I wouldn't get it again.

10. Rosette Hello Kitty Apple Gommage Peeling: This is a really great chemical exfoliator - a little goes a very long way and it's satisfying watching the dead skin roll off your face while your living skin is left feeling smooth and shiny. I also liked the subtle apple scent of this - it's quite nice.

11. Kiehl's Creme de Corps: Frankly folks, I don't understand why this is such a popular, cult-classic item. I was so disappointed! I had such high expectations! I was so excited to have a little trial size of this! This hardly provides any moisture and absorbs way too quickly. I also hated the bottle - I'm unsure if the full-sized ones have similar issues but I could hardly get any product out without violently banging the bottle against my counter-top. :/

12. M-61 Hydraboost Cream: This is a deeply hydrating moisturizer with a beautiful, lightweight texture. I really enjoy this type of product because it provides my skin with the hydration it needs but because it's neither thick nor heavy my skin can absorb it.

13. NARS Pore & Shine Control Primer: This is a wonderful primer for someone who suffers from oily skin or for someone who uses a lot of dewy foundation that maybe doesn't wear as nice as one might hope because it's too dewy. It gives the skin a matte, velvety texture on top of which foundation glides on beautifully.

14. Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth: I honestly felt like this foundation didn't "fit me" - I received many compliments on my skin when I wore it but honestly I just found that it didn't stay on my skin the way I wished it would and it seemed like it slid off in patches. :/

15. Skinceuticals Discoloration Defense: Although I liked that this felt hydrating I just don't think I was the most appropriate candidate to test a dark spot product when I don't really have any dark spots on my face.

16.Bath & Body Works Hot Cocoa & Cream Scented Candle: I'm so sad that this candle is gone - I absolutely loved it! It smells like really nice, high-quality cocoa with just a hint of salt and whipped cream. So cozy for rainy or cold nights.

17. Bite Beauty Agave Lip Balm: This is a really nice lip balm that left my lips soft, smooth, and silky. I loved how this absorbed fairly quickly while keeping my lips moist so the lipstick I applied over it looked beautiful. I would certainly consider purchasing this at one point or another.

18. Givenchy Prisme Libre in 7 Voile Rose: I really liked this for the under-eye area - I find that it beautifully brightens the under-eye area and is neither too rosy or sparkly like I was concerned it would be. I used this almost exclusively for the under-eye area and really liked the way it set my concealer and brightened that area up.

19. Indie Lee Co-Q10 Toner: This toner was alright but truthfully I don't find that it did anything spectacular for me, it just felt refreshing when I spritzed it on my face.

20.  Colourpop Cry Baby Creme Gel Colour: Unfortunately this has gone off so I am parting ways with it.

21. Sephora Collection Starlight Radiant Luminizing Drops: These have also gone off so I am tossing them.

22. Sephora Collection Morning Light Radiant Luminizing Drops:  Lastly, these have also gone off so I am parting ways with them.

23. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser: This is another case where I genuinely don't understand why people like this product so much. It doesn't foam as nicely as other cleansers, it doesn't have a particularly nice smell, it doesn't hydrate or mattify as well as other cleansers - it's just middle of the road, vanilla, basic... I suppose I'm looking for a cleanser to wow me and this doesn't.

24. Hollywood Beauty Tea Tree Oil: A great tea tree oil formula. I really like using this if I catch an athlete's foot outbreak but also when I clean my air conditioner units because it's antibacterial and anti-fungal but is a natural alternative to something like bleach.

25. Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel: This stuff is THE TRUTH when it comes to spot treatments. It gets rid of stubborn acne like nothing else I've ever tried - bringing all the gross gunk to the top where it can be quickly dealt with. I really appreciate that as every once in a while I'll get a painful deep cyst and this really takes care of it for me. It also helps get rid of any little acne bumps or pustules practically overnight.

26. NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base: This is a fantastic color-free eye primer that keeps your shadows vibrant and crease-less. Now, I've never had very much issues with things smudging as I don't really use a lot of things that smudge (i.e.: kohl or gel liners) but it is extremely crease-resistant in areas where I typically get creasing (the inner corner of my crease) which I really appreciate.

27. Creme de La Mer Moisturizing Cream: A cult classic in the luxury skincare section. I liked this moisturizer OK but had someone not told me it was La Mer and asked me to put a price on it I'd tell you oh... maybe $30-40. It has what I'd refer to as a vintage skincare scent, kind of slightly floral and powdery. In my personal opinion the formula feels thick and I have to work it into the skin some to get it to absorb. It feels... not as luxurious as something you pay $170 should feel, it doesn't melt into the skin, it doesn't make the skin feel like a baby's behind, it doesn't absorb quickly but sits on top of my skin... Like get with it La Mer! I would say the higher the price point on something is the more critical I am of it because if I'm going to shell out crazy money for a moisturizer it better really blow me away and unfortunately I can't say that I feel like this is worth it.

28. Bath & Body Works White Citrus Lotion: This has a nice smell to it and is lightly hydrating but, to be perfectly honest, I prefer the body creams because they're thicker and richer.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Kiehl's, M-61,  Maybelline, Skinceuticals, NARS, Indie Lee, Fresh, Clinique, La Mer, Bite Beauty and Givenchy products. 

Mask Review: CVS Chocolate and Coffee Self-Heating Clay Facial Mask

'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the CVS Chocolate and Coffee Self-Heating Clay Facial Mask

Availability: This has been discontinued.

Would I buy this again?: No.

What is this product designed to address?

According to cvs.com this is what the product is and what it does: 

Is it getting warm in here? This self-heating Chocolate and Coffee Clay Mask is the perfect way to unwind after a long day. It unclogs pores and hydrates skin so you'll be even better than new in no time at all. The decadent scent of chocolate and coffee with just a hint of strawberry will leave you feeling energized, refreshed and maybe even a little sweet.

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?
Glycerin - A humectant which attracts moisture from the air to your skin.

Kaolin Clay - helps to detoxify the skin and draw out excess oil.
Cacao Seed Extract and Cocoa Extract- Promotes blood flow and cellular healing due to its antioxidant and Vitamin C content.
Coffee Extract-  Contains caffeine which helps brighten skin by reducing redness and boosts circulation.
Strawberry Fruit Extract - Contains Vitamin C which helps to brighten the skin and increase collagen production.

What is the texture like?

This has a texture reminiscent of a thick moisturizer; it's thick, rich, and buttery.

Is it scented?

I would describe the scent as being sweet and vaguely reminiscent of cocoa... I am very disappointed in the scent if I'm going to be honest because I was hoping this mask would smell like mocha and it doesn't even come close!

My overall experience/comments on the product:

I find it doesn't do much in terms of clearing up my skin, which, honestly, is what I was hoping for. I have an issue where the pores around my nasolabial (I'm referring specifically to my nose and nearby region of the cheeks) region are congested and appear large/not-smooth due to being clogged with comedones and sebum but because my skin is dry overall I don't want to use any intense mud masks. I was hoping that because this is designed to hydrate and decongest that it would work. I will say that, compared to some, my issue isn't all that bad but it personally bothers me and I'd love to find a product that actually removes the congestion.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.