July 2024 Empties

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

1. Pixi Summertime Beauty Bronzer: I'm sad to have run out of this bronzer as it was actually a good contour product for me - it was neither too gray nor too orange-y on my skin-tone and despite the shimmer in it, it didn't look weird or gaudy. 

2. Edmong Honeybee Water Cream: This is a really nice, refreshing, hydrating gel that I enjoyed using in this hot season. Despite my skin being dry, I feel like in combination with my sleeping mask that this provided adequate hydration for me.

3. Ardell Original Demi Wispies x2: I love that these lashes are very easy to work with, glue close to the lash-line, and are very natural-looking. In fact I wish all lashes had lash bands like the ones on these because they make it so easy to glue these lashes on without them popping off anywhere the way that thick lash bands tend to do. My only issue is that if I take a nap and have these lashes on, they tend to bend easily and never go back to their original shape. 

4. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: I've had this eyeliner for a while now and while it's still working ok, I'm replacing it for hygiene reasons. 

5. method body coconut, rice milk, shea butter simply nourish body wash: I really liked this body wash. It has a almost salted caramel, coconut scent to it that's warm, toasty, and pleasant. This also foams up nicely and feels hydrating on the skin. 

6. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara: I feel like this is a nice starter mascara because its wand shape makes it easy to use and it gives the lashes a natural lengthened and volumized look. That said, I'm looking for something that gives my lashes more oomph. 

7. Duo Quick-Set Striplash Adhesive: I like this glue because it does tend to set a bit quicker versus the brush-on glues. While I still have plenty left, because of hygiene reasons I'm replacing it. 

8. Kari Gran Cinnamon Pimenta Berry Naked Lip Whip: I enjoyed how hydrating this lap balm is, but that said, I wasn't the biggest fan of its flavoring.

9. e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter: I like how this product gave me a lit-from-within type of glow to my skin but that said, I purchased this in the Fair shade and I think I need to go lighter because it was a bit too orangey for me.

10. Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub: I personally really like this scrub for getting rid of any flakes from dandruff or product buildup on my scalp; I feel like it's deeply cleansing and great at keeping dandruff at bay. That said, because of the salt in here, it can be a bit stripping to the hair itself and I recommend following it up with a deeply nourishing hair mask. 

11. Equate Island Almond & Shea Shea Sugar Scrub: I really like that these scrubs are gritty without being overly abrasive and are at an affordable price point. This has a nice, subtle almond scent that's sort of reminiscent of a cookie or the inside of an almond croissant, I like that it isn't overpowering.

12. Bath & Body Works Cucumber Melon Shea Butter Cleansing Bar: I love how long-lasting these are compared to their liquid soaps and wish that they'd release more fragrances in the cleansing bar form. I know some people use these as alternatives to liquid body washes but I use them almost exclusively as hand soap. This smells delicious and has a rich, creamy lather. It also leaves my skin feeling really hydrated.

13. Femme Fatale Cat's Eye Nail Polish: Funny enough, I was painting my nails with this as I'm writing this blog and the nail polish is literally on its tail end, there's a bit on the bottom but I can't get to it with the way the brush and bottle are set up so I'm giving up. It's pretty and a fun color so I enjoyed it while it lasted.

14. Dove revitalizing cherry and chia milk body wash: This body wash has a yummy cherry scent and a creamy lather. As I mentioned before, I like to use these to shave with.

15. berkley jensen Scented baby wipes Green Tea & Cucumber: These are great for wiping down surfaces, especially when my makeup collection gets a bit messy or dusty and are also great for removing swatches from my hands/arms.

16. one+other Pro-Strength Nail Polish Remover Dip: I like this dip for my fingernails. It being 100% acetone means it does a fairly quick job of getting my nail polish off, and the little scrubbers in this help remove more stubborn glitter nail polish.  

17. wet n wild photofocus Translucent Loose Setting Powder: I really love this setting powder because it gives my skin a very soft, natural finish without emphasizing any dry or crusty spots. It also looks nice and smooth on my undereye area - although I will say it does tend to crease occasionally, especially on my left undereye.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the Kari Gran product, which was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

May 2024 Empties

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

1. reese robert Faux Fur 3D Feather Effect - Amplified Volume lashes x3: These lashes are beautiful, they really do have this wispy feathery effect that makes them dramatic yet also soft at the same time. That being said, I do find that they have a habit of wanting to come off at the corners.

2. dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance: I really like this moisturizer specifically because it hydrates my dry skin nicely while simultaneously being lightweight so it doesn't sit on my skin or make my skin feel sticky or like it's not absorbing. I really enjoyed using it.

3. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Cannabis Sativa Hemp Seed Oil: I really like these sugar scrubs because they're nicely abrasive and feel like they're doing a good job scrubbing while leaving my skin smooth.

4. Biore UV Aqua Rich Water Essence SPF 50+ PA++++: I love this sunscreen so much, it feels very lightweight but hydrates my skin nicely and works well as a primer underneath makeup and obviously on its own as well.

5. Tattoo Junkee Pucker Up Lip Paint: While I can still get this to sort of work, unfortunately it has dried out wherein it goes on dry and patchy. I think it is time for us to part ways.

6. Christophe Robin Purifying Hair Finish Lotion: I am unsure if this did much for my hair other than making it feel a bit softer and cleaner. That said, I feel like it has an intense scent and that the spray particles would get into, and irritate, my nose. 

7. Dove refreshing cucumber & green tea body wash: I like to use these body washes in place of shave gel because they hydrate my skin nicely and provide a slick base for my razor to glide over. This one has a really nice refreshing, as its name implies, scent that I really enjoy.

8. now essential oils 100% pure tangerine essential oil: This has a sweet, citrusy, tangerine scent that I find uplifting. That said, the oil is a very intense orange shade that tends to stain my diffuser.

9. Grandma Agatha's (Agafia's) Recipe Nourishing Hair Mask with Eggs: I found that this mask  hydrated my hair nicely. At the same time, it was somewhat thin which was nice because it didn't weigh my hair down and was still nourishing enough to provide the hydration my hair needed. 

10. pop arazzi Shell Me More Nail Polish: This nail polish is a really pretty minty blue. Unfortunately, it has become very thick and goopy which causes it to apply in a streaky fashion or just it just skips as I apply it. For this reason it is time for us to part ways.

11. Bath & Body Works Peach Bellini Cleansing Hand Soap: This soap smells really delicious but I feel like because I wash my hands so frequently, that I go through it too fast. The bottle only lasted me a week.

12. The Skin House Aloe Soothing Vitamin Gel: I really loved this as a cooling yet hydrating gel moisturizer, especially as the weather grew hot. That said, toward the end of its lifespan, this aired out a bit and therefore became kind of dry and goopy rather than remaining gelatinous.

13. Soapology Dead Sea Salt Soak in Rose: This soak smells delicious and I feel like this helped in soaking sore muscles and making my achy feet feel rejuvenated. 

14. Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel in blackberries & basil: This hand sanitizer just smells absolutely delicious. I loved using it while I had it. 

15. wet n wild photo focus Dewy Foundation in Shell Ivory: I love this foundation - it looks natural and dewy on my skin, making my skin look healthy and luminous. It also has great lasting power and stays on my face for 8+ hours even in hot and humid conditions. Currently, it is my favorite foundation at the drugstore.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the dermalogica, Soapology, and Christophe Robin products, which was provided for testing. All opinions are my own.

May 2023 Arrivals

Ok folksickles! Look at me for a change, pretty much only buying essentials.

1. Mini Candle Haul: My mom had a coupon for these candles at BJ's so she let me pick out the ones I really liked:

Yankee Candle Seashore Breeze

Yankee Candle Sweet Violet and Basil

2. Mini Flip Haul: I mostly used this as a chance to replenish on products or product types that I was running low on:

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub

The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane

Colourpop Shadow Stix in Honey BB

Palladio rice powder in translucent

3. e.l.f. Skin Holy Hydration Eye Cream: I'm running low on my eye cream and people have said good things about this line of products so I decided to check it out.

4. Trader Joe's Peony Blossom Candle: If I'm being honest, I had every intention of picking up the new Salted Caramel & Pistachio candle instead of this, but in my opinion that candled smelled very intense and not like the scent of the rest of the line so I got this one instead. This has a really beautiful, sweet, floral scent to it.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above with the exception of the Yankee Candle candles.

September 2022 Empties

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

1. The Ordinary "Buffet" Serum: Although I can't speak to the anti-aging benefits of the peptides in here, given my lack of aging signs thus far, I found this serum gave my skin a nice boost of hydration and made my skin feel plump.

2. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Cannabis Sativa Hemp Seed Oil: The scent of this grew on me, it's very green and I wasn't its biggest fan at first. It does not, however, smell like the type of weed people smoke so if that's what you were expecting or hoping for, this isn't it. This provides a nice exfoliation due to its large sugar pieces and makes my skin feel soft and smooth. I can't say that it has any pain or inflammation reduction benefits, nor does it claim to, but I know some cannabis products do and therefore felt the need to point that out. 

3. AOA studio lashes in Alexis: While these lashes are beautiful and easy to put on, I find that you have to be very delicate with them as they have a tendency to rip off at the lash band. Given that these lashes were under $2 I can't complain much but I'm unsure if I'll get them again. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the style, it was wispy the way I like but I found it a bit too chunky for my liking. 

4. L'oreal Excellence Creme Conditioning Treatment x2: 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.

5. SOLINOTES Paris Rose Eau de Parfum: While I personally still prefer sweeter, fruitier, rose scents this grew on me as I was using it. This has a nice fresh rose scent to it.

6. berkley jensen Maximum Strength Ant-Itch Cream 1% Hydrocortisone: I purchased this to help get the itch out of my eczema patches and I have to say it does a really great job of that. 

7. 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. I do personally feel that I need more hydration than this offers though.

8. Trader Joe's Brazil Nut Body Butter: I have to start by saying that this smells absolutely incredible and I just love it. As far as this being a Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream dupe - it's a dupe in scent for sure but the texture of this is thicker, and in my personal opinion, a bit more stickier, especially on the soles of the feet. Despite its thickness I feel like the soles of my feet have a tough time absorbing it and getting adequate hydration from it. That being said, it makes my legs feel super silky post-shave. I feel like this is the kind of item I'd purchase if I was in Trader Joe's and wanted to pick it up because I wanted its scent but it's not an item that I feel I always need to have on hand. 

9. COSRX Aloe Sun Soothing Cream SPF 50 PA+++:  I really love this sunscreen and am sad to have run out of it. It has a nice lightweight yet hydrating texture and doesn't leave a white casting behind. I like that it feels hydrating and I don't need to use an additional moisturizer with it and that it keeps my pale behind from burning out in the sun. 

10. AOA studio lashes in Audrey: Unfortunately I was feeling a bit weepy when I wore these lashes and sort of ended up screwing their shape up entirely because I cried with them on. Overall they're pretty and are easy to apply and shape to the eye. 

11. Christophe Robin Cleansing Volumizing Paste with Pure Rassoul Clay and Rose Extracts: I really like using this product as a weekly scalp scrub just to get rid of any dead skin and product residue. I personally prefer their sea salt scrub because it's a bit more intense but this is a nice, gentle alternative.

12. Soapology Black Coconut Creamy Scrub: Honestly this scrub is just absolutely dreamy. It does a beautiful job of exfoliating and smoothing my skin while giving it hydration. It feels invigoratingly scrubby but, in my opinion, is fairly gentle for the body. It can be used for the face and the one time I tried it made my facial skin super smooth but I found it a bit too abrasive for my liking. That being said, it's great as a body scrub and it doesn't leave an oily residue in the bath/shower either, which is fantastic. The black coconut scent feels sweet yet sophisticated. All in all, while this is a super pricey item and I received it as a birthday gift, I absolutely love it and would purchase it myself if I wanted to treat myself or someone special. 

13. Farmacy Very Cherry Clean makeup meltaway cleansing balm: I really enjoyed using this cleansing balm because it removed not just my long-wear makeup, but also most of the lash glue residue I get on my lashes without leaving any kind of oily residue behind on my skin. I've been using it regularly since March so I think it lasting me just about 6 months is really fantastic and well worth the price. I would definitely consider repurchasing this. 

14. #I Dew Care Berry Groovy Brightening Glycolic Wash-Off Mask: I really enjoyed using this mask because it smells like a delicious berry smoothie and leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth.

15. Korres Renewing Body Cleanser in Lilac Hyacinth: This body wash smells absolutely delicious and left my skin feeling very clean and soft. I am sad to be done with it.

16. Soapology Buttercream in Verbena & Ginger: This is a really yummy scented lightweight body cream. As with many, I love the way it leaves my legs feeling silky but it just doesn't do enough for the soles of my feet. I do love that it's quick-absorbing and doesn't leave any kind of residue on my clothing. 

17. AOA studio lashes in Lauren: So, my advice when it comes to these lashes is do not fall asleep in them because you will end up deforming them in one way or another. I took a nap and these look like weirdly bent caterpillars now. 

18. Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream: This was a nice lightweight yet hydrating moisturizer. That being said, I feel like my facial eczema is aggravated at this time and this didn't really do enough to hydrate the bits afflicted by the eczema. 

19. 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. 

20. Soapology Walnut Polisher: I absolutely love that something about this scrub smells like a bookstore as I find the scent of bookstores very comforting. But that aside, this scrub leaves a lot of sandy residue in the tub which is a pain to clean up. 

21. Nature Republic Hand & Nature sanitizer gel in Apple: I really like these hand sanitizers because they don't feel thick and goopy, and they also don't dry out your hands. The apple scent reminded me of apple Jolly Rancher.

22. Soapology Buttercream in Yuzu: This body cream just smells absolutely incredible. It has a very strong, lasting yuzu scent that's citrusy and refreshing. Unfortunately, as with most body creams, this did a wonderful job on my legs but didn't cut it for the soles of my feet. 

23. Soapology Dead Sea Salt Scrub in Waterlily & Jasmine: I absolutely love the scent of this body scrub and I love how grainy and scrubby it is. That being said, unfortunately it's just too oily for my personal liking. It leaves a residue behind on my skin. I understand that the oil is to counteract the drying properties of the sea salt but I wish they would've just made it a sugar scrub instead. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Darphin, Soapology, and Christophe Robin products. 

August 2022 Arrivals

Ok folksickles! Look at me for a change, pretty much only buying essentials

1. Flip Mini Haul: So I was running low on these types items and decided to replenish on them from Flip

TONYMOLY Intense Gold 24k Snail Sun Cream SPF 50

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt

#I DEW CARE Mini Scoops Mask Set

e.l.f. Holy Hydration Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm

COSRX The Vitamin C 23 Serum

2. Shop Miss A Haul: I was running low on setting spray and needed to pick up more lashes as well as setting powder and setting spray. My currently face highlight brush is falling apart and fraying so I decided since Shop Miss A is inexpensive and I've liked their products in the past I'd try these out. 
AOA Perfect Setting Powder - Brightening
AOA Perfect Setting Powder - Soft Light
A+ Setting Spray
Paw Paw: 3D Faux Mink Lashes - Isla
Paw Paw: 3D Faux Mink Lashes - Krissi
Paw Paw: 3D Faux Mink Lashes - Elidia
AOA Studio Eyelashes - Lauren
AOA Studio Eyelashes - Audrey
A+: Super Lash Glue
AOA Studio Eyelashes - Alexis
AOA Artista Fine Tip Liquid Eyeliner - Navy
AOA Artista Fine Tip Liquid Eyeliner - Black
A+: F30 Precise Highlight Brush
F19: Highlighter Brush
Paw Paw: Super Soft Wonder Blender - 6 Pack
A+: Mochi Wonder Blender Teardrop-6 Pack

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. 

June 2022 Empties

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

1. Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder: This alleges on the back that it's meant to blur fine lines and wrinkles but I honestly find that it makes me look drier and more wrinkly than I actually am. It also has a very intense odor to it. I feel like I had it in the past and liked it but I can't say that it was enjoyable to use this time around. I probably won't be picking this up again. 

2. Christophe Robin Cleansing Mask with Lemon: I used this mask as a co-wash type of mask in conjunction with the Hair Oil with Lavender and it left my hair feeling very hydrated, silky, yet refreshed and clean. While I personally prefer the clean feeling I get from traditional hydrating shampoos, this was a nice once a week treatment to help hydrate my hair. I definitely feel as though my hair is healthier in having used this but I don't know if I want to put in the effort of doing the treatment again.

3. berkley jensen unscented baby wipes: As mentioned in the past I like that these wipes stay moist (I do keep them in the packaging upside down so the liquid goes from the bottom to the top when I flip it over to use it) and are great for wiping down surfaces and makeup, as well as removing makeup swatches when I take photos for the blog. I also like to add a little rubbing alcohol to these and wipe down surfaces when I go to the laundromat because people let their kids into the carts and onto the tables in the shoes these kids are hanging around outside, stepping into all kinds of dirt in and I don't want the extract of that nastiness on my clean laundry so this is certainly a helpful measure.

4. the Creme shop 3D Faux Mink lashes in Lolita: These lashes look really full and pretty but honestly I find that lashes that are longer in the center like these are difficult to trim in a way that looks cute - I guess the best way would be to trim pieces from both the inner and outer area so the center remains longest and it's a less awkward look. In addition, I found that it was very difficult to get the corners of these lashes to stick down. 

5. Cortizone 10 Intensive Healing Formula: Honestly I've been using this a lot lately because my eczema has flared up. I am happy to say that I find cortisone creams really help to soothe and clear up my eczema patches in combination with a more hydrating eczema cream.

6. pixi skintreats Makeup Fixing Mist: I liked this setting spray okay. While it did the job of feeling refreshing and generally helping my makeup stay in place - both face makeup and eyeshadows that I used wet with it, I just wasn't blown away with it in any sense. I wish this smelled like roses but unfortunately it doesn't - it just has a very faint perfume-y scent.

7. beauty blender Bounce Liquid Whip Long Wear Foundation in 2.10: Overall this is a nice foundation but given that I only had these bubble samples and this was the lightest one in it, I think the shade isn't quite right for me; it's a tad bit too dark and yellow and, if I was to purchase this, I think shade 1.50 is the one I'd go with just guessing off the chart on the back of the cardboard this came with. This is a full-coverage, lightweight foundation with what I'd describe as being a natural matte finish - meaning that it looks like healthy shine-free skin, it isn't powdery or overly flat - overall I prefer something with a more dewy finish but the wear is comfortable and it truly is long-wearing like it claims. I had this on for just under 12 hours the other day and wore it in humid, hot conditions underneath a mask and it stayed put beautifully except for around my mouth. I did eat so I can't really blame the foundation for having moved in that area.

8. Dr. Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Coconut Oil: This is a really great scrubby sugar body scrub that, even though it's called "coconut oil" doesn't have a super prominent coconut scent (it's toasty and light) and is hydrating without an oily feeling. It rinses cleanly and doesn't leave a residue behind.

9. The Ordinary "Buffet": Honestly, I'd have to use this long-term to say if this does anything regarding aging because, as of now, I don't have any prominent signs of aging I can comment on. This serum feels really hydrating and gives my skin a nice boost of hydration while leaving it feeling really smooth, which I enjoy. 

10. Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Glow Foundation in 1-N95 Fair: Frankly, the amount provided in this little sample wasn't even enough to tell me if this matched my skin well (because it just kind of blended away into sheer nothingness) let alone if I liked the foundation or not. I'm disappointed because a luxury brand like Givenchy can afford not to be cheap with their samples but of course they are because they want to seem "exclusive." 

11. Dove renewing peony & rose oil body wash: This body wash smells INCREDIBLE and leaves my skin feeling super soft and silky. As always, I really like to use these body washes for shaving because they're hydrating and provide a nice glide for my razor.

12. the Crème shop 3D Faux Mink Lashes in Tea: These lashes are very pretty and have a nice elongating effect. That being said, they are unfortunately a pain to get glued down to the eyelid nicely as they like to pop off at the corners.

13. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: As we all know this oil remains a holy grail in my collection and while I'm sad to have finished up this bottle, you already know I've replaced it with another.

14. Trader Joe's 100% Australian Tea Tree Oil: Honestly it's strange to put this into an empties post because I essentially only use this to clean my air conditioners but on the rare occasional I'm afflicted with athlete's foot I find that tea tree oil helps kill it off.

15. COVERGIRL Trublend Undercover Concealer: I honestly didn't love this concealer the way I wanted to. It's high coverage but sets in a way that I feel looks sort of cake-y. 

16. Trader Joe's Supreme Hydrating Eye Cream: While this is in no way "supremely" hydrating I did really like the way that it hydrated my eye area. This is lightweight and plays nice with makeup, even when I put it on my lids (I have lid eczema so I could use the extra hydration) it hasn't caused my eyeshadow to crease.

17. PACIFICA Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream: This BB cream has been truly a bizarre product. I liked it at first because it gave my skin a nice glow and was buildable but after a while this didn't want to play nice with the primer I was using anymore so I started using it without a primer, because it says it doubles as a primer. Well, my old sunscreen ran out and I started using a different one and this didn't play nice with that either, so I had to go back to using primer. Overall, this has a strange texture in terms of what it feels like it plays well with versus not and the coverage it provides is too light for my personal taste. I will not be getting it again. Additionally, I wish this had an SPF in it because, well, it would make sense for this to have SPF as a multi-purpose product.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Christophe Robin, pixi, Givenchy, PACIFICA, and beauty blender products. 

July 2020 Empties

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

Sheet Masks Galore:

Saborino Premium Morning Mask White Strawberry: Alright, I know you're used to me using a bunch of sheet masks and the reason I haven't been reviewing them the way I used to is because there's a whopping 28 masks in this container. Now it's designed to be used for a minute in the morning but that's not how I do so I decided to see what would happen if I used them as I normally do with a sheet mask - as in, after whatever treatment mask I'm using, for about 20 minutes. This approach still worked great but seeing others' reviews the one minute thing works. I just think it's a waste because the mask remains moist for the full 20 minutes, why not give your skin that time to make friends with the serum. These masks aren't my favorite because they're a bit small and thin, also the strawberry scent is a bit artificial. That said, if you have a more petite face and perhaps more combination or oily skin, these might be up your alley. They're a great deal.

2. Bath & Body Works Shower Gel in Wild Honeysuckle: If you've been following this blog for any length of time you already know I absolutely adore this stuff! It smells like the Catskill mountains during the summertime. Just a wonderful, floral, nostalgic sent. 

3. Laura Mercier Caviar Volume Panoramic Mascara: This is a great volumizing mascara that fans out the lashes beautifully while combing through the lashes, leaving them intense-looking yet non-clumpy. Obviously it's not comparable to wearing falsies but I did like it while I had it.

4. Sephora Collection Fairytale Contour Eye Pencil 12 Hr Wear Waterproof: Unfortunately this is just completely dried out.

5. Christophe Robin Hydrating Melting Mask with Aloe Vera: This is a very hydrating mask that makes my hair feel super replenished and silky without being overly heavy or weighing down my hair in any way. It has a scent that I would describe as being very soothing, sort of like a slightly toasted, nutty, milky scent. I'm sad to have used this up as I really enjoyed the effect it had on my hair. 

6. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Tropical Mango:  You know I love these and have been using them for years - my #1 body scrub because it's super scrubby but isn't oily so you won't be slipping and sliding all over your shower or tub. This was the first scent I had ever gotten and certainly does have a nice, sweet mango scent to it.

7. Makeup Geek Full False Lashes in Graceful: I really liked these lashes because they're very soft and a bit natural-looking while also giving plenty of oomph. They don't compete with any type of look that you do, but still give the eyes lots of definition,  which is nice.

8. Stila Periwinkle Smudge Stick: Unfortunately another eyeliner that's just completely dried out.

9. Saint Jane Luxury CBD Beauty Serum: This is an incredibly hydrating, rich face oil. It's supposedly anti-inflammatory but unfortunately it didn't do much for my redness. That said, if you're looking for an oil that feels luxurious that will have a lot of hydration to it, this is a good one to check out.

10. fresh Rose Deep Hydration Oil-Infused Serum: This is a very hydrating serum that makes my skin feel very silky - I find a little bit (3 drops) goes a really long way. This has a nice, soft, floral  yet somewhat cucumber-y rose scent.

11.Youth to the People Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial: This was a really great exfoliating mask that left my skin feeling very soft and smooth after I used it. It gave my skin a really nice glow.

12. Makeup Geek Full False Lashes in Fearless:  A really nice pair of thicc, voluminous lashes.

13. Gucci Flora EDT: As you all may know this is my favorite perfume of all time and I am so sad to have used it up entirely. I've had this bottle for many years now and it's good of me to have used it up, as I can buy a fresh one. But alas, I'm so sad that we have to part ways for now.

14. Bath & Body Works PocketBac in Ocean Citrus: This has a really nice fresh, citrusy scent to it.

15. ORLY Won't Chip Chip Resistant Topcoat: Unfortunately this has gone dry and thick; it also didn't really prevent my nails from chipping so I'm unsure that I would repurchase it.

16. Duo Quick-Set Striplash Adhesive: Overall I found this did set slightly quicker than other lash glues but I wouldn't purposely seek it out for being faster to dry. It does a pretty decent job of keeping my lashes glued to my eyes.

17. Revive Masque de Radiance Brightening Moisture Mask: I found this mask to be really hydrating and it gave a nice brightening effect but that said, I think it's super pricey for what it is and what it does.

18. BYREDO BIBLIOTEQUE Eau de Parfum: I really loved this fragrance because it's so multi-faceted; it's floral yet has that antique library feel to it where you get hints of paper, leather, and flowers. It's light because of the florals but heady because of the base notes. I really enjoyed my little sample.

19. Ellis Brooklyn MYTH Eau de Parfum: To be honest I didn't love this fragrance mostly because it was mostly musky smelling. Musk is just not a scent that I really go for unless it's mixed in with other things like florals. Alas.

20. Odacite Ac+R Acai-Rose Youthful Glow Serum Concentrate: This is a really hydrating oil but I can't really say that the glow it gives my skin is just because this is an oil or because it's genuinely doing some sort of anti-aging magic as I personally don't really have many signs of aging yet.

21. Stila Peacock Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner:  Unfortunately mine is completely dried out.

22. dermalogica calm water gel: This is a really cool moisturizer in the sense that it comes out as a gel-balm texture that turns watery when you rub it into the skin. It's definitely great for the summertime as applying it feels super refreshing and provides nice burst of hydration.

23. LIPSMART Lip Treatment: This lip balm smells super yummy and leaves my lips really smooth, pillowy, and soft. I just feel like it's pricey for what a lip balm.

24. Phyto Paris Phytomillesime Color-enhancing mask: This is a really hydrating hair mask that leaves my hair feeling smooth, silky, and manageable.

25. fresh Vitamin Nectar Glow Juice Antioxidant Face Serum: This is a really yummy, citrusy scented face serum that gives the skin a nice burst of hydration and glow. I really enjoyed using it because it smelled so good and left my skin feeling smooth and looking radiant.

26. Tarte Waterproof Amazonian Clay Cream Shadow in Beach Bronze: This is a really pretty amber bronze shade. Unfortunately it's completely dried out.

27. Odacite Po+R Pomegranate-Rose Geranium Hydration Serum Concentrate: So, given that this is an oil, I'm sure that most of its hydrating benefits come from that fact alone. The geranium gives it an odd earthy aroma that I, personally, don't enjoy.

28. Odacite Bl+J Blueberry-Jasmine Cell Energy Serum Concentrate: Much like the serum above, I found that this is really hydrating because it's an oil. That said, I'm genuinely unsure if it's doing anything for my skin's mitochondria - as that's the energy-creating part of the cell. Perhaps in skin that's aging this might make a noticeable difference - back in ye olden college days I remember watching a video that said that people who had more mitochondria in their cells tended to look younger, however; those mitochondria numbers were increased via exercising and moving the body - not by a serum, although I don't see how hydrating the skin to keep it looking youthful would hurt.

29. Softsoap Coconut Gentle Wash: I've switched over to Softsoap as my shaving body wash and I find it's more emollient/foamy yet less hydrating in comparison to Dove. That said, this smells absolutely delicious and left my skin feeling soft.

30. Face Values Pure Castile Soap in Coconut: This doesn't really have a coconut scent but I purchased it to wash my brushes with and it does a good job of leaving them clean and soft. That said, I still use my beautyblender soap for brushes that I've used cream products with, as that soap breaks down cream and liquid makeup better than this does.

31. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Moroccan Rose:  You know I love these and have been using them for years - my #1 body scrub because it's super scrubby but isn't oily so you won't be slipping and sliding all over your shower or tub. This has a really pretty soft floral rose note to it.
 
32. Maybelline 24 Hr Color Tattoo in Tenacious Teal: This is a really beautiful shade but unfortunately it has dried out.

33. Bath & Body Works Ultra Shea Body Cream in Wild Honeysuckle: You know I love my nostalgic honeysuckle scented things. This is a rich body moisturizer that leaves my skin feeling super soft.

34. L'Oreal Infallible Flash Cat Eye Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner: This is a great, precise, long-wearing eyeliner with a brush tip.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Laura Mercier, Saint Jane, Gucci, fresh, Revive, BYREDO, ELLIS BROOKLYN, Odacite and Christophe Robin  products.