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. 

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. 

July 2018 Empties

All my garbage of the month! :D

1. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes in Crisp Lemon: I've been using these to wipe down counter-tops and some makeup items and to be real with y'all I prefer baby wipes. I find that these are very wet - almost drippy, that they're thin, and they have a very strong, cloying, chemical scent.

2. Tree Hut Firming Sugar Scrub in Italian Mocha x2: This is a really nice, intense sugar scrub with a wake-you-up delicious mocha scent. I LOVE IT to get me going in the morning. One thing I haven't mentioned in the praises I sing to these scrubs is that they are all non-greasy which is so important when using a body scrub in the shower. I hate scrubs with a layer of oil sitting at the top because you just know that's a slipping hazard and I really don't have to worry with these.

3. Kao Essential Damage Care Rich Intensive Repair Pack: This is a hair mask that was recommended by Bubzbeauty some years ago. It's got a nice rose scent and is richly hydrating. That said, I find it very similar in function to the Garnier Honey mask and will purchase the Garnier going forward as it is far more easily accessible to me.  That said, I do find that this mask hydrates the hair quite intensely and that it restores shine along with manageability without being too heavy.

4. Udderly Smooth Original Formula: Honestly folksickles, I had high hopes for this product and have been meaning to try it for years. From my understand the original formula used to be (or quite possibly still is?) used as an udder cream to soothe cow's udder pains. That said, farmers found that it helped hydrate their hands and so it then began being sold on the mass market. You know, hence my high hopes - if it could repair intense dryness perhaps it could hydrate my feet really well. I didn't find this different from any other moisturizer I've used except that it's not strongly fragranced. They do carry a foot cream in this line so perhaps I'll try that someday.

5. Dove Go Fresh Cucumber & Green Tea Scent Body Wash x2: This is a nicely hydrating, fresh-smelling body wash that I use solely for the purpose of shaving my legs. I think it works really great and enjoy using it.

6. Bath & Body Works Magic in the Air Shower Gel: This is a very "perfume-y" smelling shower gel and while I like these because they produce beautiful foam and do a good job leaving me feeling clean I will not be repurchasing this scent. I don't hate it but I don't love the combination of floral notes used here.

7. ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Dare: I'm so sad to see this go - as beautiful of a shade that it is mine just smells funky and I'd rather replace it than to contract some kind of eye problem.

8. Aveeno Active Naturals 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream: So I've developed a nasty, stubborn patch of eczema and was using this to take care of it. I will say that this took care of the itch A LOT but didn't do much for the actual eczema.

9. Dial Hand Sanitizer Light Citrus Scent: This is quite a standard run-of-the-mill hand sanitizer. I didn't notice any "light citrus scent" as to me it smells mostly like rubbing alcohol with an afterthought of aloe.

10. Too Faced Cocoa Powder Foundation in Light: This is an incredible powder foundation - I used it to set my liquid face makeup and I really loved this because while it set the foundation, it also left my face feeling really silky - not dry or too matte-looking. Unfortunately it is no longer available in stores and is sold exclusively on Too Faced's website. You know... because they love to be inconsistent. -. -

11. ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Bae: Another unfortunate ColourPop shadow that smells awful and is a beautiful, unique burgundy with teal sparkle. I will definitely get another one at some point.

12. Ardell Faux Mink Lashes in 811: These are beautiful lashes but honestly not my favorite. I find that the band is poorly constructed in that it's thick and requires a fight to mold to the shape of my eyes properly. It also tends to fall apart easily if you're not careful about how you remove these lashes/pull the excess lash glue off them. I bought three packs when these were on sale and will not be repurchasing.

13. Korres Mango Lip Butter: This is a really beautiful, hydrating, silky lip balm with a nice fruity scent and a soft pop of orange-coral color. I'm quite sad that this shade is discontinued as I loved it a lot.

14. Tiffany & Co. Eau De Parfum: I find this scent kind of having weird earthy notes that I am not a fan of. It was nice to get a little sample but I won't be going out to purchase this.

15. Skinfix Eczema Balm: I remember reading an article about this brand whilst suffering with my stubborn, flaky, itchy eczema and was kind of desperate so I picked it up. I will say this product works but I really HATE how you only get 2 ounces. I get that it's a balm and therefore technically a "concentrate" but this product is meant to be applied liberally and although the tube indicates to stop using if the problem lasts longer than a week let's be real - eczema is a stubborn mofo that sticks around and unlike hydrocortisone, this doesn't contain anything that could pose an issue if you were to use it long-term. Due to this, I think they need to make it available in a much larger size. In addition to that here are some "warnings" when using this product - if you have been using hydrocortisone to treat your eczema and it is the type that "weeps" be prepared for the weeping to come back. My first week off the hydrocortisone my eczema was weeping A LOT... as my issue is in the groin region it would weep right through my pants so I had to be careful to wear long shirts to disguise this issue. That said, after that initial week, the weeping is now completely gone. Also, toward the end of the tube this is difficult to squeeze out. If you'll notice I cut the top of the tube off and there was A LOT of product on the sides.

16. Essence Eyeliner Pen Waterproof: Oh folksickles... NEVER AGAIN! I really didn't like this eyeliner -  I found that initially it wanted to smudge everywhere and transfer off into my crease. It just wasn't cute. :/ It also isn't the most precise eyeliner I've ever used.

17. Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara: This was once my very favorite mascara and sadly I find myself unimpressed by it. Perhaps because better things have come along or because I wear lashes all the time now/my lashes have become kind of crappier due to that. It used to be that with this mascara I could get my lashes to touch my brows and I loved that it wasn't clumpy. This tube was somewhat clumpy but I've also had it for a while so... In any case, it just wasn't what I was hoping it would be.

18. Nature Republic 56 Cashmere Gray Color & Nature Nail Color: Another nail polish that fell into my unfortunate case of OCD where I used the same polish week after week. This is a really pretty soft gray shade and has gotten me a lot of compliments.

19. Clarisonic Cashmere Cleanse Luxe Brush Head: In the words of DJ Khaled  - "another one." I just tossed one LAST MONTH and most of the time I got 6 months of use out of these brush heads. I was trying to be... thrifty and ordered these off eBay and while they seemed legit initially I'm starting to suspect that they are either a bad batch or bootlegged as this completely fell apart within maybe 3 weeks of use. I'm sad.

20. Incendio Beauty Lipstick Potion in Empress: This is a really pretty cool-toned nude shade. Unfortunately mine has developed a bit of a chemically off scent and I feel like it's a better idea to replace it than to end up with some sort of infection.

21. ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Coconut: I'm so sad to see this color go but as the rest of them, it smells funky and I'd rather replace it.

22. ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Erotic:  I'm so sad to see this color go but as the rest of them, it smells funky and as much as I'd love to replace it, it's discontinued. :'( !!!

23. Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream x2: This is a really nice lightweight yet gently hydrating eye cream with really great de-puffing properties. I like it a lot.

24. M-61 PowerGlow Peel x2: I find these fairly similar to other peel pads in that they help resurface the skin while providing a brightening effect due to the exfoliation they provide. They do tingle quite a bit initially but the tingle sensation doesn't last for long.

25. NaturaBisse C+C Vitamin Cream: This is a really fantastic, brightening, hydrating, smoothing face cream with a nice citrus scent. I liked the sample a lot! That said, I think that it's pricey for what it is and I wish I didn't fall in love with it.

26. Clinique Turnaround Radiance Peel: This stuff is intense and very astringent-like but it left my skin looking very glow-y and feeling baby's butt smooth.

27. Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel: This is a really nice hydrating serum. I found that it didn't seem to do very much initially but after about a week of twice daily use it did make my skin feel really smooth and hydrated.

28. Seche Clear Crystal Clear Base Coat: This base coat is just alright. Perhaps because I've had it for several years it just doesn't do very much in terms of helping my nail polish to stay on.

29. Darphin Niaouli Aromatic Care: This oil hydrates and balances the skin nicely but I think it's overpriced for being a sesame oil based product and I really don't like the niaouli-eucalyptus scent that it has.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Too Faced, Tiffany & Co., Clinique, Skinceuticals, M-61, NaturaBisse, Darphin and Lancome products.