June 2024 Empties

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

1. reese robert Faux Fur 3D Feather Effect - Amplified Volume lashes: 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. Equate Coconut Hibiscus Shea Sugar Scrub: I really like that these scrubs are gritty without being overly abrasive and are at an affordable price point. I feel like the sour notes of hibiscus come through more in this particular scrub, it doesn't smell strongly of coconut but is more kind of sweet and tart at the same time. 

3. MIZON Multi Function Formula Snail Repair Eye Cream: I am sad to have finished this because it's such a lovely, nourishing eye cream which I feel is fantastic for keeping my eyelid eczema at bay.

4. Fourth Ray Beauty Soak It Up hydrating hyaluronic Mask: I like to use this mask as a sleeping mask because I feel like it boosts the hydration of my skin while being a lightweight add-on to my nightly skincare routine.

5. FRUDIA My Orchard Mango Mochi Cleansing Foam: This is another product that I'm sad to have run out of. This is one of those soft, whipped, foaming cleansers from Korea that I feel leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated. It also works great as a shaving foam and it smells like mango juice. I definitely had a good time using this!

6. berkley jensen scented baby wipes in Green Tea & Cucumber: As I mentioned before, I like to use these to wipe down surfaces, wipe down my makeup collection, and to wipe any swatches off my skin because they are fairly gentle. I also really enjoy their scent.

7. Shiseido Prepare Dermaplaning Razor: It's about that time to replace this razor as it's getting a bit dull.

8. Skinfood Powder Puff: This is another item I'm replacing for hygiene reasons, as I've been using it frequently and it's kind of a bit worn down. 

9. Eminence Organics Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant with Lactic Acid: I absolutely love this scrub as it leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, like a baby's bottom. That said, I barely have any left and what is left in the bottle seems to have clumped into a, well, clump that won't dispense out of the bottle. I was able to get the top off my first bottle but it isn't coming off of this one so in order to avoid injury I've just given up on it.

10. Ivon Cuticle Pusher: I purchased a three pack of these because my cuticles were starting to look raggedy and they 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.

11. Nivea Essentially Enriched Body Lotion with Deep Nourishing Serum & Almond Oil: I feel like this lotion is alright for the body, it hydrated my legs just fine post-shave. But that said, it just doesn't hydrate the soles of my feet enough, I feel like if I want something that does both, I need a thicker, more hydrating product. 

12. Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen Spray SPF 70: I like that this sunscreen is really lightweight and doesn't do that weird thing where it rolls off you where there is skin friction. It kept me from burning out in the sun, which I appreciated. 

13. Equate Island Coconut Shea Sugar Scrub: I really like that these scrubs are gritty without being overly abrasive and are at an affordable price point. I feel like their coconut scent is more floral and reminiscent of coconut water, rather than being over the top, intense, sweet, and more similar to coconut milk the way a lot of coconut scents can be. Now I personally enjoy them either way, but this take on coconut feels more mature and I appreciate it. 

14. Soapology Walnut Polisher: I really love this scrub - it feels gritty, luxurious, and a little goes a long way to really get you smooth and exfoliated. That being said, I don't love the mess it makes of the tub or shower floor - this product is very sand-like which makes it avoid going down the drain. Now I did have a high success rate of clearing up most of it with giving the tub a good rinse following my showers. But if you're someone who's maybe in a rush or it will bother you that it will take several showers after you're done with this product to make 100% of it go down the drain, maybe this would be a skip for you.

15. COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence: I absolutely love this serum to help revive dry, dehydrated skin as well as to keep it feeling supple and well-moisturized. I'm sad to have run out of it.

16. Ardell Original Demi Wispies: 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.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the Soapology product, which was kindly gifted to me by a friend. All opinions are my own.

April 2024 Empties

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

1. Fourth Ray Beauty Avocado superfood nourishing Mask: I find that this is a nice more deep cleansing mask that doesn't leave my skin feeling dry and tight because while it has clay in it, the avocado and other hydrating ingredients keep it from drying my skin out. 

 

2. reese robert Faux Fur 3D Feather Effect - Amplified Volume lashes: 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.

3. berkley jensen Green Tea & Cucumber baby wipes: As I've mentioned previously, I like using these wipes to remove swatches off my hands/arms when I do them for the blog, I also like to use them to wipe down surfaces including those of my makeup items.

4.  wet n wild photofocus Translucent Loose Setting Powder: Overall I like this powder because it sets my makeup in place while still allowing my skin to look and feel like skin. That being said, I do find that if I'm not careful that this can make my under-eye area look dry and sometimes I get creasing in that area despite using this powder there.

5. Living proof. Perfect hair Day night cap overnight perfector: This was a really nice, essentially leave-in conditioning treatment. I felt like it gave the ends of my hair nice hydration.  

6. Duo Brush-On Adhesive with Vitamins: My tube was getting all gross and goopy so it was time to replace it.

7. L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara: As with my lash glue, this mascara also was getting gross and goopy so it was time for a new one. Overall, I'm glad to be done with it as I found it made my lashes too clumpy for my taste and the only times it worked ok was when I'd clean off the entire spooly thoroughly with a tissue so it picked up less product. That said, over a few days, it would get all gunky and full of mascara again so I kind of just gave up on it. Unfortunately, I am not a fan.

8. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: Unfortunately my tube was drying out so it was time to replace it. 

9. Equate Coconut Lime Shea Sugar Body Scrub: I really like how abrasive these scrubs are and this one just smells absolutely delicious, it has such a good citrusy sweet scent to it but isn't overpowering. 

10. Aveeno Fresh Greens Blend Conditioner Refresh & Thicken: I really enjoyed this conditioner, I felt like it hydrated my hair nicely and made it feel thicker.

11. Dove refreshing cucumber & green tea body wash: As mentioned in previous empties, I purchased these specifically to shave with and I feel like it's hydrating and gives my razor a nice glide. This has a nice, sweet scent to it too.

12. reese robert lash addiction faux fur 3D feather effect multi-dimensional lashes: I really like these lashes because they're big enough to give definition to the eye but are soft and somewhat natural-looking, at least for my taste. 

13. Nivea Essentially Enriched 48 hr Nourishing Moisture Body Lotion with Deep Nourishing Serum & Almond Oil: Honestly, while this does feel hydrating going on, I feel like even though it's marketed toward "dry to very dry skin" that my skin needs something more nourishing or perhaps with a thicker texture. I find that as soon as the moisture in this evaporates, my skin tends to feel dry again. 

14.Fourth Ray Beauty A-HA Moment exfoliating enzyme Mask: I enjoyed this mask because I felt like it did a good job of exfoliating my skin and making it soft without drying it out. This smells nice too.

15. now essential oils 100% pure lemon essential oil: I love this oil for my diffuser because it has a sweet, refreshing lemon scent. 

16. Dr. Bronner's All-One Hemp Rose Pure Castile Bar Soap: This was a great soap to wash my brushes with as it does a good job of cleaning them while keeping the integrity of the bristles intact. It has a nice rose scent to it. 

17. Trader Joe's Oatmeal & Honey Soap: This soap is an absolute must-have for me because I get eczema on my wrists when it's cold or there are steep weather changes, which only gets exacerbated by hand washing. This soap really helps to soothe my irritated skin and keeps it from getting worse. 

18. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: If you've followed this blog for any length of time you'll know I absolutely love squalane oil. This is the only product that reduces inflammation on my face to where it isn't noticeable and also keeps my skin soft, smooth, and supple.  

19. Dr teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Prebiotic Lemon Balm: I really like how abrasive these scrubs are and how this has a nice, sweet yet very tart lemon scent. 

20. e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealer Matte Finish: I bought this concealer because of the hype around it and this, at least the matte finish, did not live up to the hype for me. It was difficult to color match myself, which is partially the fault of the Target I bought it at not having mirrors in the makeup section. But additionally, the color names are confusing because I usually am a fair beige in other brands. Additionally, the texture of this was just too waxy, matte, and overall difficult to blend over my foundation. I found it difficult to find a good balance between applying the correct amount of product to get the coverage I was after and being able to blend the product out to where it looked natural and not cakey or thick on my skin. Overall, due to my bad experience with this, and difficulty in color matching I hesitate to try the dewy formulation.

21. Chaos Makeup Strawberry Lemonade Highlighter: Due to this breaking, this was in the sandwich bag in the photo above. This is a pretty pink highlighter with a yellow golden sheen and while I did think it was pretty, it wasn't my favorite and I wouldn't be getting it again. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above.

December 2023 Arrivals

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

1. Colourpop Mini Haul: I purchased some holiday presents for my friends but also replenished on masks since I figured that's a skincare item I don't have much of at the moment. I picked up:

Fourth Ray Beauty A-HA Moment exfoliating enzyme Mask

Fourth Ray Beauty Avocado superfood nourishing Mask

Fourth Ray Beauty Soak It Up hydrating hyaluronic Mask

2. wet n wild Mini Haul: I essentially got products to replenish on because I liked them, I am trying out a new concealer here though. Both concealers took some guesswork to pick out a shade so I'm unsure how accurate I was.

photo focus Dewy Foundation in Shell Ivory x2

photo focus Concealer in Fair Beige

Photo Focus Loose Setting Powder in Translucent x3

Mega Last Incognito All-Day Full Coverage Concealer in Light Beige 

3. Shiseido Prepare Dermaplaning Razor 3-Pack: I like to use these little razors for precision work around the face so if I have an upper lip hair under my nose, say, this gets to it wherein tweezing it might be too painful and a regular razor just won't give me the precision I'm looking for.

4. COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence: I've started to run low on the bottle I'm currently using so I've decided to replenish. Honestly, initially, I was considering trying a new serum but the price point of this at the time was just too good for me to pass up because I really do love this product.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above.

Eye Cream Review: Fourth Ray Beauty So Radiant brightening eye cream

 Hello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Fourth Ray Beauty So Radiant brightening eye cream.

Blended out on the top half of my hand, the bottom has no product so you can see the brightening qualities

Availability: This retails at $15 for 0.5 oz. (15g) and is available at ulta.com as well as its physical store locations (I would call ahead to make sure it's at the location you're going to) as well as at fourthraybeauty.com and colourpop.com.  

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

What is this product designed to address?

According to fourthraybeauty.com:

Start the day bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

Our fave product for more awake-looking, radiant eyes! A triple-duty eye cream that instantly brightens the look of tired eyes while delivering a super dose of Vitamin C and the perfect amount of moisture to keep skin soft and hydrated.

😍 Brightens Eyes Instantly – Infused with illuminating pearls and power-packed Vitamin C to deliver a luminous glow for a visibly brighter under eye area while color correcting pearls instantly help minimize the look of dark under eye circles.

🍊 Triple Action Vitamin C Formula – Formulated with 3 sources of stabilized Vitamin C, including Turmeric and Camu Camu Extracts, known to reduce the effect of free radicals for brighter, more radiant skin.

✨ Essential Daily Moisture – This lightweight eye cream effortlessly glides over the delicate eye area for a silky smooth application, restoring essential moisture thanks to super hydrator, Squalane.

BRIGHTENING ILLUMINATING

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Once again, according to fourthraybeauty.com:

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is known to help boost radiance and even skin tone.

Turmeric: Turmeric is known to provide antioxidant and calming benefits.

Camu Camu: Camu Camu is known to be a natural and rich source of Vitamin C.

What is the texture like?

I would describe the texture as a lightweight cream.  

Is it scented?

This has a very subtle, "clean' soapy scent.

My overall experience/comments on the product:

This has a really nice brightening effect and provides my under-eye with a nice boost of hydration. I do wish it were slightly more hydrating and had anti-puffing qualities but overall if your main concern is darkness, this eye cream is worth checking out.

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

Disclaimer: I bought this myself. 

April 2023 Empties

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

1. berkley jensen scented baby wipes in Refreshing Green Tea & Cucumber: As I always say, I love to use these wipes to wipe down surfaces, my makeup collection, and to remove swatches when I take photos for the blog. These have a nice thickness to them, I store the wipe packaging upside down so the top wipe is optimally moist and the bottom one is never swimming in wipe juices. Additionally, I really like how these wipes smell. 

2. OPALHOUSE Sparkling Yuzu Scented Soy Candle: This candle smells absolutely delicious! If you are a fan of citrus scents I highly recommend checking these out at your local Target. 

3. Trader Joe's Peach Black Tea Candle: This is another really yummy smelling candle. I hope they bring this back because to me it literally smells like a Snapple peach tea but with more of a real peach scent.  

4. Country Home Candle Happy Days: My bestie got me this candle and it, like the rest, was also very yummy smelling. Its scent reminds me of sweet and sour candy. 

5. Fourth Ray Beauty BLOOM SERVICE rose cleansing balm: While this balm did a good job of removing my makeup, I won't be repurchasing it. The biggest factor being that it kind of stung my eyes and made it difficult to see when I would use it to remove my eye makeup. Additionally, I wish this came with a scoop - I used one from another product - because I think it would be messy to go digging about in it with one's fingers.

6. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Black Elderberry x2:  I really love how gritty these scrubs are. This has a soft, sweet, berry scent to it. 

7. AOA Studio 3D Faux Mink Premium Natural Lashes in Terry:  These are a very pretty fluffy lash but as with the other AOA Studio lashes I feel that I have some trouble getting these to stick to the inner and outer corners of my eyes.

8. DUO Brush on Adhesive: This lash glue has gotten all thick and gunky so it was about that time to replace it. 

9. L'Oreal Paris Feria Power Shimmer Conditioner: I really enjoyed the way this made my hair hydrated and silky smooth.

10. Freeman Hydrating glacier water + pink peony Gel Cream Mask: I've been using this as a sleeping mask and really enjoy the extra boost of hydration this provides for my skin.  The eczema patch I constantly complain about seems to finally be fading away and it started doing so when I was using this so I'd like to think this product helped. 

11. MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Sculpting Palette in 20: I am so sad that I've finished this palette up because they're no longer being made (or it seems as though it's no longer on the US market) and it was such a nice face palette. Everything was such nice quality where it melted into the skin and blended smoothly and easily. Additionally, the colors here were really flattering on my very fair skin. 

12.  Holika Holika Aqua Petit Jelly Starter: I'm absolutely devastated that I've run out of this primer. It gives the skin such a  beautiful, radiant glow; is lightweight, and feels very refreshing to apply. 

13. L'oreal Paris Excellence Creme Caring Deep Conditioner: This did a really nice job of providing extra hydration and shine for my hair. It also smells really nice.

14. Trader Joe's Oatmeal & Honey Soap: I absolutely love this soap! It's relatively inexpensive and I personally purchase it because if I end up with eczema, this soap helps to soothe and not further aggravate the condition.

15. ORIBE Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil: Either this oil is surprisingly lightweight or my hair ends were just really dry but in any case, I used this on damp hair and it absorbed without leaving my hair feeling greasy. This added a nice little boost of hydration but I personally find it to be too expensive for the effect that it gives given that my ends remained kind of on the drier side. It smells delicious though.

16. Soap & Glory Call of Fruity Hydrating Body Lotion: This has what I would personally describe as a tropical fruit - think papaya, guava, mango - scent to it versus the citrus fruit that is pictured on the packaging. While it's not bad, it just wasn't what I was expecting. The lotion gives my skin nice hydration but I would prefer something thicker for the soles of my feet.

17. Dove deep moisture body wash: Honestly, I like to use these body washes for shaving. This one in particular gives my skin a very smooth, soft, silky finish. 

18. Kara Beauty Fabulashes 3D faux Mink Lashes in 202: These are a beautiful, soft, fluffy lash that I find are relatively easy to apply and work with. That being said, occasionally they do want to pop off at the inner corners.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the OPALHOUSE, berkley jensen, L'Oreal, ORIBE, and Country Home Candle products. 

December 2022 Arrivals

Ok folksickles! Look at me for a change, pretty much only buying essentials but also a few fun things to play with.

1. ColourPop Mini Haul: I needed to get some skincare items and decided I'd try the ColourPop ones and pick up these two palettes that caught my attention while I was at it:

Clay It Cool Palette

Not a Box of Chocolates Palette

Night Dew Hydrating Mask

Bloom Service rose cleansing balm

Double Shift Cleanser

2. Juvia's Place I Am Magic Concealer in J21 x2: Since I really like this concealer I decided to pick it up on Black Friday since it was 50% off. Juvia's often has sales especially on their palettes but I hardly ever see the concealer being on sale.

3. YesStyle Mini Haul: I've been running low on some skincare and decided to hop on and replenish on things I've been needing:

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

PURITO PLAINET SQUALANE OIL 100

COSRX Aloe Sun Soothing Cream SPF 50 PA+++

SKINFOOD Buckwheat Loose Power in Clear

SKINFOOD Peach Cotton Multi Finish Powder

4. Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Haul: My friend Donna is always going on and on about how incredible these palettes are and since they were 50% off and I managed to score an additional 20% off my total order I decided to just go for it. I got the following:

Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 2

Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 3

Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 5

Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 6

4. OPALHOUSE Scented Soy Candle in Sparkling Yuzu: My friend Jolty got me this as a holiday present and it smells delicious, the scent reminds me a bit of the Trader Joe's Mango Tangerine Scented Candle. I'm excited to burn this!

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above with the exception of the OPALHOUSE candle.

Sleeping Mask Review: Fourth Ray Beauty Night Dew hydrating jelly mask

'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Fourth Ray Beauty Night Dew hydrating jelly mask.

Availability: This product retails at $16 for .34 g (1.2 oz.) and can be purchased at fourthraybeauty.com and colourpop.com

Would I buy this again? I want to say yes.

What it is formulated to do:

According to fourthraybeauty.com:

Dew you boo.

💤 What it is - Catch some ZZ’s and wake up with super hydrated skin! This overnight jelly mask revives dry, dull skin with moisture-loving ingredients for instant + long-term hydration while you sleep.

💙 Why you’ll luv it - Perfect for all skin types, its unique jelly texture applies like a serum and feels cool and lightweight on the skin. It’s also infused with Cucumber Extract for a soothing spa-like fragrance.

🌙 Why you need it – It’s formulated with ultra-hydrating, quick-absorbing Hyaluronic Acid, superstar hydrator Mushroom Beta Glucan and soothing Vitamin B5 for replenished, soft skin.

PM

HYDRATING

an overnight jelly mask that deeply quenches dehydrated skin. formulated with hero ingredients in an ultra-hydrating new jelly texture with a serum-like application to effortlessly absorb into skin overnight. skin is left hydrated, supple and totally revived when you wake.

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Again, according to fourthraybeauty.com:

hyaluronic acid - known to deeply quench skin with replenishing, fast-absorbing hydration.

mushroom beta glucan - superstar hydrator known to boost collagen and provide instant + long-term moisture.

vitamin b5 – known to hydrate, soothe and soften skin by attracting + retaining moisture.

What is the texture like?

This has a gel cream texture that absorbs quickly and feels cooling when applied. 

Is it scented?

This smells mostly of cucumber with just the slightest hint of something sweet. 

My overall experience/comments on the product:

My skin has been so dry and flakey lately, especially in the eczema patch that I've been complaining about that I decided to pick up products with the primary function being hydration and potentially repairing the skin barrier. Given that my skin usually doesn't do well with thick products, and thereby true barrier creams/balms being out of the question, I opted for more lightweight hydrators. Now, personally, even though the sleeping masks that I've been using are meant to retexture and give a healthy glow upon waking, my preference for sleeping masks is that they add a boost of hydration to my nighttime routine, so something like this sounded like a perfect thing to try.

I have found that this masks really does add a nice, soothing, cooling, boost of extra hydration to my skin. While it doesn't completely take away my eczema patch, I have notice that the skin in that area tends to be more hydrated, less flakey, and less inflamed when I used this.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

Cleanser Review: Fourth Ray Beauty Double Shift face cleanser

 'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Fourth Ray Beauty Double Shift face cleanser.

Availability: This retails at $15 for 5 oz. (142 g) and can be purchased at fourthraybeauty.com and colourpop.com.

Would I buy this again?: I doubt it.

What is this product designed to address?

According to fourthraybeauty.com:

Workin' a double shift.
🧼 What it is – Wash the day (or night) away with our 100% vegan creamy cleanser! This lightweight formula lathers into a rich foam to gently remove impurities, pollution and excess oil without stripping skin of essential moisture or leaving behind a filmy residue.
💖 Why you’ll luv it – Perfect for all skin types, this plush daily cleanser leaves skin feeling super fresh and soft to the touch with a yummy aroma of vanilla, melon + pomegranate for a sweet n' fruity smell!
✅ Why you need it – It’s infused with Squalane, known to improve moisture balance and elasticity, and antioxidant-rich Lychee Extract + Vitamin E to help protect skin from free radicals and oxidative stress for a happy complexion.
a super creamy everyday cleanser that effectively breaks down oil and grime without ever stripping skin. perfect for early mornings or late nights, its gentle formula lathers into a foam to leave your skin feeling fresh, clean and ultra-soft. formulated with an antioxidant-rich blend of plant-based squalane to replenish and support the skin barrier for improved moisture instantly and overtime, and lychee extract + vitamin e to nourish and provide a boost of antioxidant protection.

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Once again, according to fourthraybeauty.com:

Squalane  - is known to improve the moisture balance and elasticity in the skin. It replenishes and supports the skin barrier for improved skin moisture immediately and over time. 

Vitamin E - is known to nourish and supplement skin with vital antioxidants.

Lychee - Lychee is known for its high content of Vitamin C, Vitamin B-complex, and phytonutrient flavonoids. This combination works to fight free radicals and promotes a clear and bright complexion.

What is the texture like?

This has a texture reminiscent of hydrating cream-to-foam cleansers that I like, but significantly more watery. 

Is it scented?

This has a light, clean scent with just the smallest hint of something fruity.

 

My overall experience/comments on the product:

If I'm going to be honest I purchased this in hopes that it would be similar to something like the SENKA Perfect Whip Collagen in Perfect Face Cleansing Foam. Unfortunately, that's not the case. I would say this cleanser works alright but I personally prefer something with a thicker, more hydrating consistency that still turns into a plush foam. I feel like this is close in doing what I want it to but it's watered down in quite the literal sense because it's just too liquid-y. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself. 

Fourth Ray Beauty BLOOM SERVICE rose cleansing balm Review

'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Fourth Ray Beauty BLOOM SERVICE rose cleansing balm.

Availability:  This retails at $15 for 2.3 oz. (66 g). It can be purchased at fourthraybeauty.com and colourpop.com

Would I buy this again? I'm not sure.

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

According to fourthraybeauty.com:

Soft, Clean Skin? Say Less.

🌹 What it is - This gentle cleansing balm transforms into a silky oil that melts away makeup and impurities with a luxurious milky lather. It leaves skin soft, refreshed, and ready for your next skincare step!

💗 Why you’ll luv it - Get the power of a cleanser in a transformative balm to effortlessly cleanse skin of daily grime and makeup (even waterproof!) without leaving behind a greasy residue. It also features a lush rose fragrance for some serious aromatherapy!

✨ Why you need it – It’s infused with Rose Hip Oil to rejuvenate and renew skin softness, Argan Oil, known to intensely nourish and condition skin, and Sunflower Seed Oil, an antioxidant-rich natural botanical known to soothe skin and lock in moisture.

SOFTENING
CLEANSING

a gentle cleansing balm that transforms from a silky oil to a milk to melt away makeup and impurities. it gently cleanses without stripping skin or leaving an oily residue. infused with rose hip oil to rejuvenate, argan oil, known to be rich in essential fatty acids, and sunflower seed oil to soothe and moisturize skin. leaves skin soft, refreshed, and ready for the rest of your routine.

Does this contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Once again, according to fourthraybeauty.com:

Rose Hip Oil - Rich in vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. Rose Hip Oil provides a smoother, more even-looking complexion. 

Argan Oil - is known to be rich in Vitamin E which smooths and refines skin texture. It is high in essential fatty acids and intensely nourishes and conditions skin.

What is the texture like?

This starts off as a relatively stiff, thick balm that turns into an oil when warmed up in the hands. 

Is this scented?

This has a soft, floral scent to it. I don't know that I would describe this as being a rose scent outright but there is a floral undertone to the product. 

What has my experience with the product been like?

This balm cleans my face without leaving residue behind and I don't need a lot of product to get my makeup off. While I enjoy using this, I don't find it to be any better or worse in comparison to other cleansing balms I've tried recently. I simply wanted to try something new and this happened to be on sale. Additionally, I wish this came with a scoop, especially because it is a stiffer balm, it feels kind of unsanitary to just dig into this with my fingers. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

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.