August 2021 Empties

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

Sheet Masks Galore:

A'Pieu Daily Sheet Mask (Black Tea/Hydrating): So the reason you haven't seen me writing about sheet masks lately is because I was using up this box and then I got sick at the beginning of August so I took a week off from skincare altogether. Anyway, these are a really nicely, but lightly, hydrating mask. They have a nice tea scent to them as well. 

A'Pieu Air Pocket Sheet in Coffee Milk x4: As in previous reviews, I continue to love these sheet masks. They're beautifully hydrating and leave my skin feeling very silky with a supple softness. 

A'Pieu Strawberry Milk Air Pocket Sheet x2: You already know that I simply adore these sheet masks. They smell delicious - exactly as described, they're hydrating, they leave my skin feeling soft and rejuvenated. 

papa recipe Bombee Black Honey Mask Pack: Frankly I think I like these even better than the original honey mask! This smells just as delicious but it leaves my skin even more radiant, hydrated, and smooth. The mask itself feels more silky and luxurious. The only downsides are that the masks themselves are somewhat small and I feel like they're designed for someone with a smaller face. I feel like a lot of the serum drips all over my neck and chest when I wear this, which isn't the most pleasant of feelings. 

goodal raspberry infused honey mild sheet mask: This one is a mask that I really enjoyed, it left my skin feeling super supple, smooth, an hydrated. 

2. KISS Lash Couture Triple Push-Up Collection Lashes in Bombshell x2: As much as I love the look of these lashes in the box, I don't really like them on myself. Unfortunately, because they're very thick and full all the way across the band they tend to make my eyelids look heavy and down-turned.

3. Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Deep-Conditioning Treatment: Ultimately this worked like a very hydrating mask but I think its application as a pre-shampoo renders it ineffective. First of all there's the hassle of wetting your hair and chilling with it on with a shower cap 20 minutes pre-shower, which is frankly a bit awkward to do - at least an in-shower mask can be done while you shave your legs or something. In addition, washing it off with shampoo essentially washes away the softness that it gives the hair. I personally didn't see a big difference using this versus not. 

4. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer body mist SPF 70: Although the 100+ version of this is my standby, I really like this one too! It genuinely keeps my skin from burning, which I'm grateful for. In terms of texture, it leaves my skin with a film that's a bit oily BUT in comparison to store-brand dupes of this or of more cream-based sunscreens, this does feel more sheer. 

5.  fresh Rose Hydration Cream: This is a really lovely, lightweight cream that absorbs readily into the skin and smells like rose jam. I quite enjoyed it.

6. Soap & Glory Scrub Scrub For Joy Body Polish: While, initially, I found this not scrubby enough I kind of grew to enjoy its more gentle, gel-based, sudsy scrubby feel. This also has a really delicious sweet, juicy grapefruit scent to it that I absolutely adore. I think I would get this again just for the scent alone. I wish they had other products that smelled the same. Ok further research has told me that anything in the Uplifting line smells the same - you know I'll keep my eye out for that when I need to replenish on body wash and lotion! 

7. Sally Hansen Problem Cuticle Remover: I feel like in the past I used to love this stuff for hydrating around the cuticle but I find that now that my cuticles have gotten extra thick and scraggly this just isn't as effective as the Instant Cuticle Remover they sell. 

8. Dove glowing mango butter & almond butter Nourishing Body Wash: This body wash is incredibly moisturizing and I love it for shaving. It smells delicious, gives my razor a great glide,  and leaves my skin feeling really soft and smooth. 

9. bath & body works Scented Candle in Cranberry Woods: This is a really beautiful, autumnal, holiday-scented candle and despite it still being summertime I still enjoyed this scent a lot. It's cozy and warm without being overly heavy.

10. wondergloss beauty Pumpkin Latte Masque: This mask was really nice for resurfacing and revealing softer, smoother skin but honestly I wasn't a fan of its tingle, scent, or the way that it left little bits of pumpkin on my face after I would go to wash it off.

11. dermalogica biolumin-c serum: As I've mentioned before, I really like this serum as it combines both a hyaluronic acid serum along with a vitamin c serum so you get the benefits of hydration and brightening. It absorbs into the skin quickly.

12. m-61 PowerSpot Clear: A repeat favorite for treating and helping clear up any acne. 

13. m-61 Hydraboost Collagen + Peptide Water Cream:  This is a really nice, lightweight moisturizer and I really enjoyed it while I had it. I can't justify its price point but I really like its texture.

14. Jack Black Intense Therapy Natural Mint & Shea Butter Lip Balm: This is a really nicely hydrating balm with an SPF in it. Funnily enough, despite the SPF I really like to use this as a nighttime balm before bed to keep my lips hydrated.

15. AOA studio Buildable Satin Foundation: I love the price point of this foundation but, that said, I personally prefer using something more luminous. This unfortunately fell a bit flat for me. I feel like it tends to create texture on my skin due to it being a tad bit too matte.

16. NATURE REPUBLIC HAND & NATURE sanitizer gel in Rose: I really loved this hand sanitizer because it has a beautiful rose scent and a gel texture that absorbs quickly. It leaves your hands feeling really soft and smooth afterwards. It's not slimy at all and smells great which I appreciate. 

17. Shea Moisturizer Coconut & Hibiscus Illuminating Hand & Body Scrub: This is a really nice intensely scrubby exfoliator that has a really beautiful scent. It's sweet, tropical, and refreshing. 

18. Bath & Body Works Maple Cinnamon Pancakes: Frankly friends I feel weird having burned this candle in  the summertime BUT it smells so delicious and made me crave pancakes every single time I burned it. It sort of reminds me of Pumpkin Caramel Latte from many years past and, in my opinion, is a very cozy scent that I enjoy. 

19. Secret Cucumber Water Antiperspirant: This works just fine and dandy at what it's supposed to do and smells great. Unfortunately the cap on mine broke and while I tried to make it work, it just drags across my armpits quite painfully due to the fact that it dried out. At this point I have to suck it up and say goodbye.

20. Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt: I absolutely adore this product for being a great physical remover of dandruff and any product buildup that might be in the hair. Even this tiny jar lasted me for many months so I can certainly say it is worth the investment. I find weekly use is enough for me. My only advise would be to follow this up with a rich conditioner or hair mask as it tends to dry the hair out a bit, due to the sea salt.  

21. skinfix eczema+ Targeted Body Balm: As always, this is my go-to for soothing and hydrating eczema patches. I do find that this can clear up eczema patches entirely but that requires about a month and a lot of patience. That said, I'm willing to commit the time as having an untreated eczema patch is infinitely worse in my opinion. 

22. KISS Lash Couture Faux Mink Collection Lashes in Little Black Dress: As much as I love the look of these lashes in the box and on myself I wish that, especially given how soft and natural they look, that they had thinner, more flexible lash bands. I find them difficult to work with because they don't want to bend to my eye shape. I do find this annoying thick band frequently with faux mink lashes so that might be the issue. 

23. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Exotic Bloom: I know it seems like I went through a load of scrubs this month. The case with this particular one is that I was almost out of it anyway so I figured I'd just use up the rest. As I've mentioned before I really like these particular scrubs due to the intensity of the scrubbiness. This has a really beautiful floral scent to it as well. 

24. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy: Unfortunately this has an off scent/flavor when I put it on. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the fresh, dermalogica, m-61 (moisturizer), Jack Black, Christophe Robin, First Aid Beauty, and Philip Kingsley products. 

Moisturizer Review: fresh Rose Hydration Cream

Hello folksickles. Today's review will be for the fresh Rose Hydration Cream.

Availability: This product retails at $17 for 0.5 fl. oz. (15 mL), $45 for 1.6 fl. oz. (50 mL) and is available at sephora.com, ulta.com, fresh.com,  jcpenny.com, macys.com, and bluemercury.com along with their physical store locations. 

Would I buy this?: Probably not. 

What is this product designed to address?

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

What it is: A best-selling hyaluronic acid moisturizer featuring a new clean formula with 72-hour hydration and a lightweight texture for plump, dewy skin.

Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily
Skincare Concerns: Dryness, Dullness, and Uneven Texture
Formulation: Cream
What Else You Need to Know: This lightweight moisturizer delivers up to 72 hours of hydration in three ways: a duo of hyaluronic acids hydrates while time-release technology delivers continuous hydration. It also contains damask rose extract to support the skin’s barrier, resulting in dewy skin that’s plumped with moisture.
Clinical Results:
Scientifically proven to deliver 72-hour deep hydration*
Scientifically proven to strengthen the skin’s barrier for 24hrs**
100% said it provided immediate hydration***
*instrumental test, 11 subjects
**instrumental test, 10 subjects, 24 hrs
***self-assessment, 60 subjects, 4 weeks
Clean at Sephora

Clean at Sephora is formulated without a list of over 50 ingredients, including sulfates (SLS and SLES), parabens, phthalates, and more. 

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?
Again, according to sephora.com:

- Damask Rose Extract: Retains moisture and supports the skin’s barrier.

- Hyaluronic Acid Duo (1,500 and 50 kDA): Delivers hydration.

- Time-Release Technology: Helps deliver continuous hydration on the skin’s surface.

What is the texture like?

I'd describe the texture as a refreshing light-weight cream. 

Is it scented?

This has a very soft, cucumber rose-jam type scent that's typical of fresh products.

My overall experience/comments on the product:
I'll be honest that I really love the lightweight, quick-absorbing texture of this. It makes the skin feel hydrated and silky without being heavy at all. Over time, I just don't love fresh's rose scent especially since I've tried products with more of that sweet rose scent that I genuinely enjoy. Otherwise I like this moisturizer; it makes my skin feel very smooth and silky.

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

Disclaimer: This was provided for testing purposes. I am under no obligation to mention this product on this blog.

Mask Review: fresh Rose Face Mask

 'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Fresh Rose Face Mask

Availability: This product retails at $26 for 30mL (1 fl. oz.) or at $64 for 100mL (3.3 fl. oz.) and is available at fresh.com, sephora.com, jcpenney.com, bluemercury.com, macys.com, bloomingdales.com and nordstrom.com along with their physical store locations.

Would I buy this? No.

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

Product info according to sephora.com:

What it is: An instant hydrating mask with real rose petals suspended in a silky gel that gently soothes and tones with a plumping effect.
Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily
Skincare Concerns: Dryness and Dullness/Uneven Texture
Formulation: Lightweight Mask
What Else You Need to Know: This fresh classic face mask drenches skin with rosewater, cucumber extract, and aloe Vera gel to instantly cool and calm, while a blend of teas helps to brighten. Plus, it smells like fresh roses.
Clinical Results: In-vivo test:
- 100% reported healthy-looking, supple skin
- 93% felt their skin was moisturized, softened, smoothed, and soothed
- 93% noticed a cooling and calming sensation
- 90% said it nourished and visibly improved the appearance of their skin
Clean at Sephora
Clean at Sephora is formulated without a list of over 50 ingredients, including sulfates (SLS and SLES), parabens, phthalates, and more. For the full list, check out the Ingredients tab.

Does this contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Once again, according to sephora.com:

-Pure Rosewater: Soothes and tones.
-Cucumber Extract and Aloe Vera Gel: Help soothe the skin and have an immediate cooling and calming effect.
-Porphyridium Cruentum: A "smart" algae, it delivers optimum moisture. Maintains moisture levels for soft, supple skin. 

What is the texture like?

This has a gelatinous texture to it. It feels cooling and hydrating as it goes on.

Is this scented?

This has a clean, floral rose scent that reminds me of rose petal jam. It visually looks like rose petal jam too. 

What has my experience with the product been like?

I really liked the way this mask feels going on. It left my skin feeling really rejuvenated and hydrated. That said I find that its effect is no better than a sheet mask and it's very pricey for what it is.

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

Disclaimer: This was provided for testing purposes. I am under no obligation to mention it on this blog.

Serum Review: fresh Vitamin Nectar Glow Juice Antioxidant Face Serum

fresh Vitamin Nectar Glow Juice Antioxidant Face Serum

Availability: This is available at sephora.com, macys.com, bluemercury.com, fresh.com, nordstrom.com and jcpenney.com  as well as their physical store and/or boutique locations.  The retail pricing is $28 for 15 ml. (0.5 oz.) or $68 for a trio of 15 ml bottles.

Would I buy this? Maybe. 

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

Product info according to sephora.com:

What it is: A juice serum with microbubbles that delivers an essential dose of skin nutrition for an energized, healthy look.

Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily

Skincare Concerns: Dryness, Dullness, and Uneven Texture

Formulation: Lightweight Serum

What Else You Need to Know: Inspired by cold-press juice, this skin nutrition serum sets skin up for success. Microbubbles containing coconut oil, vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene blend with the watery base of fruit extracts and minerals, leaving skin energized and smooth, hydrated, and nurtured with antioxidant protection.

Clinical Results: In a self-assessment on 60 subjects for 4 weeks:

- 98% noticed their skin was immediately healthy looking

- 97% said the skincare applied after absorbed better

- 95% felt their skin was immediately energized and smooth

Clean at Sephora

Clean at Sephora is formulated without a list of over 50 ingredients, including sulfates (SLS and SLES), parabens, phthalates, and more. For the full list, check out the Ingredients tab.

Does this contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Again, according to sephora.com:

-Vitamin Fruit Complex: A blend of vitamins C, E, and B5, lemon and orange fruit extracts, and minerals that helps revitalize dull skin for a vibrant, healthy-looking complexion.

-Jicama Root Juice: Obtained by cold pressing jicama tubers, it helps to hydrate and revitalize skin.

-Chicory Root Juice: Has a vitamin D-like effect to help moisturize and protect.

What is the texture like?

This has a gelatinous texture.

Is this scented?

This has a fizzy citrus scent, it reminds me of Emergen-C. 

What has my experience with the product been like?

I really like how smoothing and hydrating this serum feels. It leaves my skin feeling super silky but this serum is also incredibly lightweight and quick-absorbing. It gives my skin a really nice glow and it smells good too. I just feel like it's kind of misleading in terms of its size, typical serums are 1 fl. oz. so this seems less expensive at $28 but it's actually $56 an ounce. Personally I still find that it's not a bad price for a non-sticky Vitamin C serum, as I find less pricier ones tend to have a weird sticky feeling to them.

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

Disclaimer: This was provided for testing purposes, I am under no obligation to mention it on this blog.

December 2020 Empties

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

Sheet Masks Galore:

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Face Gels: Well lmfao I just realized that these are for smile lines and not for the under-eyes, which is where I put them, and I was gonna say I hated how sticky they were but I was using them wrong the whole time... well then... I didn't find them to be particularly hydrating or cooling - can't tell you if they smooth smile lines either. 

patchology Illuminating Eye Gels - Glitter Edition: I really didn't love these because they fit under the eyes kind of strangely and the glitter is just like... why would I want chunky glitter under my eyes? These did feel hydrating and refreshing I just think the glitter aspect is unnecessary. 

Candy O'Lady Mellow Cotton Candy Mask: Unfortunately this is another one that I wasn't a fan of and it's because this mask is just extremely oversaturated with serum to the point of feeling like wet goo on the face. The serum doesn't pat in nicely afterwards either, it just sits on the skin because there's too much of it. 

goodal citron infused water mild sheet mask: We're finally onto a good one. I really like these particular masks because I find that they do a wonderful job of infusing their serum into the skin while making the skin feel refreshed and hydrated. This particular one has more of a rosemary than a citron scent which I find rather odd. 

EVERYDAZE Collagen Focus Treatment Mask: I found this mask to be very hydrating and refreshing. 

goodal apple infused water mild sheet mask: This one has a nice, mild apple scent. 

goodal green tea infused water mild sheet mask: This one has a really fantastic tea scent that I just adore! 

papa recipe Bombee Honey Mask: It's been so long since I've used these masks and I have to say I still LOVE them so much! They smell so good and leave my skin feeling super soft and rejuvenated. 

Candy O'Lady Cake Pop Candy Mask: This is another one I didn't love because again, it's oversaturated with a serum that doesn't absorb well into my skin and with both masks, I find that the philtrum area (the part between the nose and mouth) never lays down flat so I feel like I have some kind of odd Dr. Zoidberg flappy upper lip area.

A'Pieu Strawberry Milk Air Pocket Sheet: This is a great hydrating, refreshing mask that leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth, and supple while smelling like a strawberry milkshake. I think it's great.

Candy O'Lady Lemon Candy Mask: This is another one I didn't love because again, it's oversaturated with a serum that doesn't absorb well into my skin and with these masks, I find that the philtrum area (the part between the nose and mouth) never lays down flat so I feel like I have some kind of odd Dr. Zoidberg flappy upper lip area. At least this particular one had a somewhat nice lemon scent to it.

Etude House Smoothing & Firming Snail Mask: This mask is fantastic in that it's hydrating without being heavy. It left my skin feeling smooth and a tiny bit firm, mostly just smooth and soft. I love that this mask is inexpensive and does what it promises to do.

Jajun Okra Green Mask: This is another mask that I really enjoyed because it left my skin feeling hydrated, refreshed, and soft. 

esfolio Rose Essence Mask Sheet: This mask left my skin feeling super silky and soft like a baby's behind. It has a pretty, soft, herbaceous rose scent.

A by BOM Ultra Water Leaf Water Mask with Plant Energy from Garden: This mask was quite wet and gloppy so I was concerned that it would just end up feeling like a mess but it was incredibly hydrating and left my skin very smooth, supple, and soft. 

2. Neutrogena Hydro Boost water gel: This is a fantastic hydrating gel cream moisturizer. I personally liked it a lot and found that it gave me adequate hydration despite having a gel texture. It absorbs quickly and I like the way it smells too. The fragrance is a bit much though and I can see why someone wouldn't like it. 

3. fresh Rose Face Mask: I really loved how soft and smooth this made my skin. I'm sad to have used it all up completely. 

4. ColourPop Creme Gel Liner in Cry Baby: I'm so sad to have used this up entirely because not only was it a fantastic brightening shade for my waterline but this color has been discontinued. It's such a pretty lavender. 

5. Anastasia Beverly Hills False Lashes in Gorgina: These are a really pretty voluminous fluttery lash. I got loads of compliments when I wore these. 

6. Scentsy Blue Grotto Scentsy Bar: This smells so wonderful. It's got a really beautiful bright, intense citrus scent to it. 

7. Tree Hut Firmin Sugar Scrub in Mocha & Coffee Bean You know this is another product that I adore and keep repurchasing because it's really scrubby and works well to make my skin softer and smoother as well as to give me a closer shave. This has a delicious coffee scent to it that wakes me up in the morning.

8. ORLY Nail Defense Strengthening Protein Treatment: Unfortunately I don't find that this did much to help strengthen my nails. Last year especially my nails were a disgusting peeling mess and nothing helped until I started taking prenatal vitamins. 

9. Jack Black Double Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20: I really loved this moisturizer - it adds a great lightweight hydration that I find is nourishing enough for my dry skin and has SPF protection. I wish it had a higher SPF to it because I really enjoy its texture. 

10.  Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Moroccan Rose: You know this is another product that I adore and keep repurchasing because it's really scrubby and works well to make my skin softer and smoother as well as to give me a closer shave. This has a nice soft rose scent.

11. R+Co Balloon Dry Volume Spray: Honestly I feel like this is a product that I want to love because it's meant to add volume to the hair but be weightless so it's a great product, in theory, for someone with fine hair like myself. Unfortunately it deflates in my hair very quickly and because it's lightweight and doesn't seem to have any type of weight or grit to it there's really nothing there to keep the hair elevated in place. 

12. Virtue Volumizing Mousse: Say hello to my new favorite thickening/volumizing mousse. I love that this mousse gives me volume, more definition to my waves, a slight hold and thicker-feeling texture, and feels smooth and weightless (read: non-crunchy) in my hair. I think it's an incredible product and definitely worth checking out. 

13. Fourth Ray Beauty The Big Detox Mud Mask: This is a fantastic, albeit messy, mud mask. It does a really wonderful job of removing impurities and dirt from the pores - you can literally see the oil coming out onto it - and really draws pimple gunk to the surface. I like it a lot but I wish it wasn't such a mess to remove. 

14. Anastasia Beverly Hills False Lashes in So Hollywood: I got quite  a bit of compliments on these lashes, they're a really pretty semi-chunky, semi-wispy style. 

15. Bath & Body Works Shea & Vitamin E Shower Gel in Sparkling Limoncello: This shower gel is super sudsy and has a yummy sweet lemon scent that wakes me up in the mornings.

16. Laneige Multi Deep-Clean Cleanser : I am so sad that this cleanser has been used up - it provides a deep clean, as its name implies, but leaves my skin feeling very soft and hydrated. It's not the least bit stripping and is perfect for my dry skin that experiences things like clogged pores and acne that need a deeper cleaning. 

17. Chesapeake Bay Asleep Lavender Essential Oil: This has a very true lavender scent to it and did a beautiful job of scenting my room when used in my diffuser.

18. Maya Chia The Super Couple Astaxanthin + Chia Ultra Luxe Facial Oil: Another product that I am sad to have used up completely. This does such a wonderful job of boosting my skin's hydration, leaving it feeling very soft, smooth, and supple. 

19. boscia Vegan Collagen Booster serum: This serum is nice in providing hydration to the skin. I can't really say if the collagen in it produced any benefit in terms of my skin's own elasticity. My skin felt bouncy and supple with this on it but that could be just from the hydration.

20. NEST Holiday Scented Candle: This is a really pretty holiday scent that smells of holidays spices and pine. Unfortunately for me, it also reminds me of the way one of my, now ex, friends' houses in Puerto Rico smelled especially during the holidays. It makes me oddly nostalgic and mostly just sad at how that friendship disintegrated. But alas. 

21. Chesapeake Bay Mind & Body Clarity Peppermint Essential Oil:  This is a good, sweet peppermint essential oil that did a good job scenting my room in my diffuser.

22. Bath & Body Works Wish on a Starfish Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel: This smells really citrusy and yummy. 

23. Dove Rejuvenating Pomegranate & Hibiscus Tea Nourishing Body Wash: As mentioned previously, I really like to use these as shaving cream. This one has a yummy, somewhat sour-sweet fruity scent to it. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the fresh, Jack Black, Maya Chia, boscia, NEST,  and R+Co  products. The Scentsy and Neutrogena products were given to me as gifts.

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. 

Toner Review: fresh Rose Floral Toner

fresh Rose Floral Toner

Availability: This product retails at $15 for 2 fl. oz. (60 mL) or at $40 for 8.5 fl. oz. (250 ml) and can be purchased at sephora.com, blumercury.com, neimanmarcus.com, fresh.com, jcpenny.com, spacenk.com, macys.com and nordstrom.com along with their physical store locations.

Would I buy this?: No. 

Notes: According to sephora.com:

What it is: A soothing, alcohol-free toner and setting spray that delivers hydration with a heavenly scent.
Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily
Skincare Concerns: Dryness, Dullness and Uneven Texture
Formulation: Liquid
Ingredient Callouts: Free of sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, and phthalates.
What Else You Need to Know: This cooling mist moisturizes for 24-hours for a healthy, dewy look. The extra-gentle formula for all skin types—even sensitive—is made with pure rosewater, revered since antiquity for its calming benefits. Use it to set makeup and refresh skin throughout the day.

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

According to sephora.com:

Rosewater: Soothes and tones the skin

What is the texture like?

This feels pretty watery, hydrating and is refreshing when applied. 

Is this scented?

This has a cucumber-y herbal rose scent.

What has my experience with the product been like?

Honestly this doesn't do much, it feels refreshing when it's sprayed on but so do other toners that come in spray bottles. I didn't find that this did anything for my redness and I personally prefer a sweet rose scent that's pure rose.

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

Disclaimer: This was provided for testing purposes. I am under no obligation nor am I being compensated to mention it on this blog. 

May 2020 Departures

Ok folksickles. Departure blogs will contain items that aren't empties but that are going to be given away for one reason or another. I'm working hard to curate my makeup collection and want it to include only the products that I think truly work well, that I reach for often and do what they're supposed to do.

1. Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish in Out of the Shadows: Unfortunately this polish just chips too much and doesn't stay on my nails nicely.

2. Clinique Super Strawberry Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm: This is a really pretty color but I don't love its texture as much as the ColourPop Lip Tint Crayons so I'll be passing it along.

3. ColourPop BFF Creme Gel Liner in Brew-Haha: I'll be honest I just don't love brown eyeliner, it doesn't give me definition the way black does and tends to be red in comparison to my eye color which makes me look sickly when I use it on the waterline.

4. ColourPop BFF Creme Gel Liner in Honeydude: In terms of this shade, I wish it was available in a lighter version - it just doesn't brighten my eyes enough for my liking.

5. Fresh Sugar Nourishing Lip Balm Advanced Therapy: I don't love the texture of this balm and I feel like it's not hydrating enough.

6. Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish in Dim All The Lights: Unfortunately this polish just chips too much and doesn't stay on my nails nicely.

7. Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish in How High The Moon: Unfortunately this polish just chips too much and doesn't stay on my nails nicely.

8. Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish in Break Free: Unfortunately this polish just chips too much and doesn't stay on my nails nicely.

9. Sugarpill Liquid Lip Color in Pillow Fight: Personally I feel like this shade is a bit too brown for my personal taste.

Disclaimer: The Clinique and fresh products was provided for testing purposes. I purchased everything else myself.

February 2020 Empties

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

Sheet Masks Galore:

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Biocellulose Mask: I was quite pleasantly surprised by this mask - it has more of a mulled orange-y cider scent vs the pumpkin spice that I was expecting, which is fine - I just wish I could buy it again but alas I'll have to wait until pumpkin season. This mask is SUPER hydrating and left my skin feeling soft and supple.

A'Pieu Air Pocket Sheet Mask in Coffee Milk: A really nice, soothing, hydrating mask.  This one also smells like coffee which I really enjoy. 

A'Pieu Air Pocket Sheet Mask in Coconut Milk: Unfortunately this mask doesn't really smell like coconut but it is SUPER hydrating. I found it a bit too heavy but it would be good to follow up a drying mud mask with or if your skin is very dehydrated or wind/cold-chapped.
A'Pieu Air Pocket Sheet Mask in Chocolate Milk: Ironically I found this to have a coconut-y scent. It's a very hydrating mask.

A'Pieu Air Pocket Sheet Mask in Strawberry Milk: I love that this mask smells like a strawberry milkshake! I find it to be very hydrating.
A'Pieu Fruit Vinegar Sheet Mask in Pomegranate - Softening & Moisturizing: I was a little afraid o this mask because of the vinegar aspect - I was concerned that it would sting because of the acidity. That said, I was surprised because it actually left my skin hydrated without being a heavy mask at all and it was super gentle. It also has a light pomegranate scent to it which I like. 

A'Pieu Air Pocket Sheet Mask in Banana Milk: Another milkshake scented one. I really like how hydrated and silky this leaves my skin feeling.
A'Pieu Fruit Vinegar Sheet Mask in Lemon - Softening & Brightening: I find that this mask, while it hydrates ever so slightly, is a bit astringent - probably because of the lemon. I liked it ok but I don't think I'll be getting it again as it isn't as hydrating as I personally like.
A'Pieu Air Pocket Sheet Mask in Green Tea Milk: This left my skin feeling very soft, silky, and it also has a lovely green tea scent.
berrisom Cocktail Recipe Mask in Kahlua Milk: This mask smells so strongly of coffee - which I personally really enjoyed! It left my skin feeling soft and smooth.
innisfree My Real Squeeze Mask in Rice: Quite possibly one of my favorite masks in this line, this leaves my skin feeling very smooth and silky.
Etude House Air Mask in Cherry Blossom - Firming & Brightening: This mask left my skin feeling silky smooth and has a lovely light cherry blossom scent.
Etude House Air Mask in Cherry Pearl - Bright Complexion: This mask left my skin feeling very soft and smooth.
Etude House Air Mask in Snail - Smoothing & Firming: This is a really lovely, super hydrating mask that left my skin feeling soft and smooth.

2. Eylure London Luxe Silk Lashes in Marquis: I really love these lashes - they're natural-looking but also give the look of voluminous, gently spiked lashes. I got a bunch of compliments on them and I find they really enhanced both my eye shape and the looks I did. 

3. Nexxus Mousse + Volumizing Foam: I found this mousse made my hair very crunchy and didn't really add much in the way of volume. Granted, I air-dry my hair and this might've been made with heat-activated ingredients in here. Alas, I try not to heat style my hair if I can help it.

4. ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Mixed Tape: I was using this to contour with and while it was a touch too cool on its own it did a wonderful job in cooling down the warmer bronze shade I used to contour on top of it.

5. Sephora Collection  Instant Nail Polish Remover with White Peach Extract: I am so sad that this has been discontinued because it was, by far, the very best nail polish remover I've ever used. It really did work quickly and got all the nail polish off... Alas. 

6. patchology POSHPEEL Pedi Cure: This is by far my favorite foot peel because it really gets all the gunk and dead skin off your feet. That said, it can make your soles fairly sensitive after use so just be aware that your feet might hurt.

7. fresh Black Tea Firming Corset Cream: I will be honest that I didn't really notice any firming benefits from this but it was very hydrating which I enjoyed because my skin has been dry and irritated lately.

8.  Eylure Lashfix Adhesive: Honestly, I really liked how this glue was very low-residue but it also dried very quickly and didn't hold my lashes on too well. I'm unsure if this is because it's just the mini tube that came with my lash pairs and a full size might perform better.

9. Bath & Body Works Sea Mist & Citrus Deep Cleansing Hand Soap: I haven't had a liquid soap in a while and I find that I run through these so quickly. It smells alright, I find it a bit too musky for my liking.

10. Trader Joe's Pineapple Papaya Enzyme Mask: I liked this mask - it exfoliates the skin very gently, is lightweight, non-drying, and smells pretty nice. I wish it were available permanently on its own but alas.

11. beauty 360 Strengthening Nail Polish Remover: I can't really say that this strengthened my nails in any fashion but it did do a good job of removing my nail polish and it lasted quite a long while too which is nice. I think I had this bottle for something like a year and a half or two years.

12. Bath & Body Works Lemon Mint Leaf Candle: To be honest this is a nice, refreshing smelling candle but the mint in here can be heavy and a bit earthy at times. It's not my favorite.

13. Oribe Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse: I'm unsure what was off about this mousse because I only managed to get four uses out of this bottle and I tend to get plenty of use out of mousse. It's pricey so that's really disappointing. It also came out mostly liquid and wouldn't foam up that great. When it did foam up, it was fairly decent mousse that gave me a bit of volume and didn't leave my hair crunchy. That said, it did leave my hair crunchy when it wouldn't foam. Overall, it was meh in practice and I wouldn't pay for it.

14. LAFCO Classic Candle in Champagne: This candle had a mostly gingery scent that was refreshing.

15. Bath & Body Works Tea & Lemon Scented Candle: One of my absolutely favorite candles - I find the scent of lemon tea to be really soothing and comforting - I love this candle for cold and/or rainy periods.

16. Bath & Body Works Pineapple Sunrise Scented Candle: This candle smelled like warm pineapple juice which I, personally, really enjoyed. Yum!

17. fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate: This is a very hydrating eye cream that's a bit on the heavy side. I really liked how hydrating it is but I really can't speak to the anti-aging aspect - it didn't really smooth out any of the lines under my eyes past just making the under-eye looking more hydrated and I'm unsure if the effect of this would show up over time. That said, other than my under-eye crinkles, which most people have, no matter their age, I can't really speak to any other anti-aging benefit.

18. fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence: This stuff felt SO NICE on my skin. It gave my skin a nice boost of hydration and left the skin feeling refreshed, smooth, and silky. It also has a nice tea scent that I love.

19. Bath & Body Works Scented Candle in Beach Grass: As you folks know, I love airy sea/beach fragrances for the home and this really hits the nail on the head. It smells really lightweight and fresh.

20. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Pomegranate Acai:  This has a nice sweet-tart scent to it. You folks 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.

21. CVS garden orchid scent advanced formula hand sanitizer: Frankly I'm unsure what about this formula makes it "advanced" but it's a nice, lightly floral, scented hand sanitizer.

22. Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel: I used this stuff as a spot treatment and I really liked it because it would really draw all the gunk out of my blemishes which helped them clear up quicker. It also didn't dry out my skin, which I appreciate.

23. Klorane Anti-Pollution Detox Shampoo with Aquatic Mint: I was expecting this shampoo to be pretty harsh due to its "detox" aspect but I found that it got my hair deeply clean without stripping my color too much and without being drying - my hair was actually left feeling super clean yet soft.

24. Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel in Make A Splash - Turquoise Waters: Another product with that nice airy ocean fragrance I like.

25. Bath & Body Works Peach Bellini Deep Cleansing Hand Soap: I have been getting this soap for ages and it SMELLS SO GOOD! Definitely a nice treat.

26. Dove fresh cucumber & green tea scent body wash: I really like to use these body washes for shaving because they hydrate the skin and give my razor a nice glide but because I am lowkey a hairy beast they last a month, unlike shaving gel, which lasts a week.

27. Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder: I absolutely love this product - it sets my makeup and leaves my skin looking smooth and silky whilst imparting a pretty subtle glow. HOWEVER, the packaging is, in my opinion, for privileged rich people. In most of these lose powders you can remove the sifter and get to the remaining bits of powder so you can use every last bit. Oh no, not here, the sifter will not come off for the life of me. I'm disappointed that there's still a bit of powder left that I can't get to unless I want to risk injuring myself.

28. m-61 PowerGlow Peel Gradual Tan: Frankly I've found these tanning pads to give me a bit of a jaundiced look but I used this right before doing a mask this time around so I feel that the color didn't really stick around much but I got the exfoliation benefits. Not complaining.

29. Virtue 6-in-1 Styler: This is a really nice, hydrating, styling cream - it also functions as a leave-in and protects the hair from heat. I really like how it left my hair feeling soft.

30. Eylure x Jasmine Brown Lashes in Jaybee: I really love these lashes, they're voluminous and a bit spiky which makes my eyes look a lot larger.

31. ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in High Tide: I used this to highlight the cheeks and I really liked the subtle hint of white gold it gave me and how it intensified the powder highlighters that I would use on top of it.

32. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer: I find that this primer does a lovely job of smoothing the skin and helping foundation to stay put throughout the day without being drying.

33. Molton Brown Infusing Eucalyptus Bath & Shower Gel: I find this to be a really refreshing, Vicks-smelling shower gel, it's great if you have mental fog or you're congested to open up the sinuses.

34. Pampers Baby Wipes: As I've mentioned before I use this to wipe surfaces, especially those of my makeup collection, and to remove swatches off my hands/arms.

35. Saint Jane Micro Dose Lip Gloss in Alchemy: This gloss is really beautiful but unfortunately it just smells off, not like CBD or pot but like stale crayons/plastic. I feel like it's safer to discard it.

36. Revive Superieur Body Nightly Renewing Serum: Well, well, well there I go using this product both night and day. I found it to be lightly hydrating and smoothing.

37. Oribe Featherbalm Weightless Styler: I feel like this product is too lightweight for my hair - had it been in its unbleached days, I think I would've liked it, but now I'm looking for something more smoothing and hydrating.

38. Revive Renewal Firming Cream: To be perfectly honest I don't feel like this had a firming effect on my skin but there was hardly enough in here to truly give it a long-term test. It hydrated my skin nicely but so can a moisturizer from the drugstore. 💁‍♀️

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Nexxus, Oribe, LAFCO, Klorane, m-61, Virtue, Hourglass, Molton Brown, Revive, and fresh products. 

September 2019 Empties

All my garbage of the month! :D

Sheet Masks Galore:

innisfree my real squeeze mask in pomegranate: This is a yummy smelling mask that left my skin smooth and hydrated.

innisfree my real squeeze mask in bamboo: This mask left my skin feeling refreshed and hydrated. 

innisfree my real squeeze mask in broccoli: This left my skin feeling soft and smooth.
innisfree my real squeeze mask in tea tree: This left my skin feeling refreshed and with a  nice clarity but I find that it's a bit drying.

innisfree my real squeeze mask in lime: I wasn't expecting much from this because I thought, given that it's lime, it might be drying but I found that my skin was left feeling soft and smooth. Plus this smells really yummy.
innisfree my real squeeze mask in green tea: This left my skin feeling soft, smooth, silky, and refreshed. 

innisfree my real squeeze mask in aloe: This is a really nicely hydrating and soothing mask. It left my skin feeling soft and refreshed.
innisfree my real squeeze mask in cucumber: This also left my skin feeling soft, smooth, and refreshed. It hydrates very lightly which I enjoy.
innisfree my real squeeze mask in honey x2: I feel like I was expecting a more intense honey scent from these - they hydrate lightly and leave my skin feeling soft.

2. NARS Audacious Lipstick: Frankly I mislabeled these sample packets and I'm unsure what shade I had but this is an orange-y red. It's pretty and wore very comfortably. 

3. Dove Go Fresh Pomegranate & Lemon Verbena Scent Body Wash: As I've said many times I tend to get these at BJs because you get 3 big bottles which last about a month each (my mom and I share) and work great as a substitute for shaving cream. This leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated. My only beef with it is that I feel it doesn't hydrate as well as many of the others in the same line but its scent is fantastic - floral, fruity, and sweet.

4. Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray: A cult favorite that I find... just ok. I like that it adds texture and definition to my hair but I genuinely think the salt here either dries my hair out or causes it to be dry and not retain moisture well. Either way I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase it.

5. Supergoop Defense Refresh Setting Mist SPF 50: In theory I really wanted to love this product but in practice... not so much. It's somewhat heavier than expected from a setting spray and it has this odd rosemary herbal scent that I'm not a fan of.

6. Osea Atmosphere Protection Cream: This is a nice, lightweight moisturizer that provides great hydration without being heavy. It also has a nice lightweight, fresh, sea-breeze type scent.

7. m-61 Powerglow Peel x2: As you folks know, I really like these peel pads, they gently help resurface and exfoliate the skin resulting in a really nice glow. Normally when I don't get much sleep my skin looks dull, dehydrated, kinda crusty even but this makes me look wide awake and fresh.

8. Laura Mercier Radiance Foundation Primer: This has a really beautiful subtle glow that makes skin look dewy and does a great job keeping makeup on throughout the day.

9. fresh Vitamin Nectar Glow Juice Antioxidant Face Serum: This has the most delicious scent and texture - it gives my skin a pretty glow.

10. too cool for school Marshmallow Puff: This is a nice makeup sponge but I find it kind of firm - in the sense that I can't use it wet because it doesn't retain water. It does a good job of blending and I like that it has a pointy end to get into hard-to-reach spaces.

11. Essie Mint Candy Apple Nail Polish: This is a very pretty Tiffany blue polish but unfortunately mine is getting dry and goopy.

12. dermalogica AGE smart multivitamin power firm: Ironically nowhere in the name of this product do you gather that it's an eye cream until/unless you read the directions. I found this to be nicely hydrating and smoothing - it has a bit of a berry scent which I find odd given that it's a product designed for the eye area - like why is there scent?

13. fresh Rose Floral Toner: This is a nice, lightly hydrating toner with a floral rose scent.

14. Sol Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream: This stuff smells absolutely delicious and does a nice job of hydrating the body. I use it as a body butter more so than a firming product because I don't really feel it doing much in the firming department.

15. Bawdy x Sephora Flaunt It Butt Sheet Mask: Alright friends I bought this as somewhat of a gag gift... for myself, partially because I felt guilty just asking for my birthday gift without making any kind of purchase. Firstly I feel like, although I managed on my own, it's probably for the best to do this as a partner activity... for best results... or on your own but I mean like ON. YOUR. OWN. so you can let your tush hang free - unless your friends don't mind that. Anywho, ya girl had put her pants over this and left a delightful wet mark upon my friend's couch. It didn't stain. On the actual tush - this has a noticeable firming and softening effect. My booty felt refreshed. It's fun - I would recommend it for funsies.

16. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Moroccan Rose: I feel like I constantly say this in every empties post but these scrubs are my favorite - they feel really abrasive and scrubby - which I personally like for the body. They're also sugar-based which means that they'll hydrate the skin and won't irritate the skin if you shave. This has a nice sweet rose scent.

17. REN Clean Skincare Moroccan Rose Otto Body Lotion: I'd say that this worked alright, it was nicely hydrating but nothing extraordinary to write home about - as always, not hydrating enough for the soles of my feet. I also found that the fragrance was somewhat plastic-y which is odd given that it's natural fragrance.

18. Garnier Fructis Style Flexible Control Hairspray: This is my favorite hairspray because it keeps frizz away but keeps your style manageable and touchable.

19. LUSH Santa's Belly Shower Jelly: This is a nice, very hydrating shower soap product. I'd say toward the end of its use it became a mess as the jelly fell apart. They suggest you take the entire chunk of jelly and lather it up - which I did upon my loofah.... which I felt caused the jelly to deteriorate with time. I think this would probably work best with either a washcloth or by pinching off a small chunk of jelly and working it into a loofah.

20. Supergoop! Superscreen Daily Moisturizer SPF 40: I really enjoyed this stuff but unfortunately it smells off.

21. Fresh Sugar Ruby Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15: Unfortunately like the product above, this smells really off.

22. Molton Brown Heavenly Gingerlily Bath & Shower Gel: This has a really nice, clean light floral scent.

23. LA MER The Regenerating Serum: I'm not perfectly clear what this serum is meant to accomplish outside of being anti-aging - given I don't have any super noticeable signs of aging I can't really pinpoint to it having results in that aspect. That said, I found this to be hydrating in a lightweight manner which I really enjoyed.

24. Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 Hemp Citrus Pure-Castile Soap: This has a really nice citrusy scent. I use it pretty much exclusively for washing my brushes and I find that it does a really good job of getting them clean and keeping the bristles soft.

25. Pampers Sensitive Wipes: I use these to wipe down surfaces and my makeup collection. I find they work fairly well for all that.

26. Darphin Predermine Sculpting Night Cream: I found this to be a nicely hydrating night cream that felt fairly lightweight and had a bit of a skin-tightening feeling.

27. Revive Moisturizing Renewal Cream SPF 15: This moisturizer is so wonderfully lightweight while being hydrating. I love how well it sinks into my skin and that, although it contains SPF, it isn't sticky or heavy.

28. Darphin Intral Redness Relief Soothing Serum: This was a very lightweight, watery serum. Unfortunately I can't say it did much to get rid of my redness or even to soothe my skin. I wanted to love it but it was kind of a miss for me.

29. Jack Black Face Buff Energizing Scrub with Vitamin C & Mint: This is a mint-scented very abrasive feeling scrub. It's not so abrasive that I was in pain but I definitely found it to be a bit rough on my skin. I can see why this would be marketed more toward men specifically because this would help more with things like buffing around areas where facial hair grows to help avoid flaky skin and ingrown hairs. I think it could work as body scrub for the ladies tho.

30. Moroccanoil Moroccanoil Treatment Light: I felt like this gave a very light boost of hydration to my hair. I also appreciate that the scent on this treatment is less intense as well as I don't really like the scent of the Moroccanoil products.

31. Natura Bisse C+C Vitamin Eye: Given how hydrating the face cream for this line is I found the eye product being a gel rather... disappointing. It worked alright but I was hoping for more hydration.

32. Osea Blemish Balm: This is a really lightweight moisturizer - I really liked it for hot, humid days but overall it's not hydrating enough for me personally. My skin is dry so I wasn't expecting much but I was breaking out a lot in August so this was helpful.

33. Osea Advanced Protection Cream: I find the cream a bit too heavy for my personal tastes. I think I'd like it better in the dead of winter when my skin is wind-chapped but overall the consistency is too rich for my skin.

34. Tokyomilk Dark No 83 Bittersweet: Overall I find this scent to be more of a winter scent given it's heady, gourmand nature. It's sweet yet also musky which gives it a nice complexity but given that it is heady and I typically lean toward lighter scents I'm glad to be done with it.

35. m-61 JetGlow Serum: I'm not sure what it is that m-61 uses for its glycolic acid but I find that it doesn't aggravate my skin or cause me to break out nearly as much as many other glycolic products. This kept my skin soft and smooth while providing a bit of radiance. Overall though I still prefer using Vitamin C to create a radiant glow versus glylcolic acid because my skin is sensitive and tends to be less irritated by Vitamin C.

36. Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen with Sunflower Extract SPF 50: I really liked this sunscreen because I found it gives my skin a nice boost of hydration without feeling heavy, especially given its high SPF level.

37. Revive Masque de Radiance: Overall I find this product somewhat gimmicky in that the mask itself has a metallic gold shimmer through it. Like... is it the shimmer giving the skin radiance or is it the mask itself? That said, it does leave my skin feeling very soft and smooth.

38. wet n wild Rose Addiction Photo Focus 3-in-1 Primer Water: This smells so wonderful - like rose tea. Yummy! I'm so sad to see it ended. I found that it kept my makeup in place nicely throughout the day - I used this as both a primer and a setting spray.

39. Garnier Whole Blends Oat Milk Delicacy Gentle Shampoo: (not pictured) This is a relatively gentle shampoo that's lightweight and leaves the hair feeling soft and hydrated. I say relatively because it contains sulfates so... there's that. Overall my mom used this a lot more than I did (twice, because I have other shampoo on rotation) and she liked it a lot.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Bumble & Bumble, Supergoop, fresh, Osea, m-61, Laura Mercier, dermalogica, Sol Janeiro,  REN, Molton Brown, LA MER, Daprhin, Revive, Jack Black, Moroccanoil   and  Natura Bisse  products.