July 2026 Empties

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

1. Jiocolor Wispy Lashes: These are a pretty wispy shape, I like the alternating short and long bits. I will say that these are very thin and delicate so while they do glue onto the eyelid fairly easily, they're also easy to bend out of shape or to get lash glue all over the band. So, it's important to be careful and gentle with them. 

2. equate Almond & Shea Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. This has a really yummy almond cookie scent to it. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep.  

 

3. Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 Pure Castile Magic Soap in Peppermint:  They have these 25 fl. oz bottles sold as a two pack in BJ's now so when I saw them at a good deal I decided to jump in and buy them. I essentially only use this to wash my makeup brushes with and it does a fantastic job of getting the makeup off of them and leaving them deep cleaned.

 

4. Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Hydro Intensive Hyaluron + Aloe SOS Hydrating Mask: I like how this is a lightweight gel mask that gave my skin really good hydration without feeling thick or heavy. That said, I did prefer to rinse rather than tissue it off, my skin felt cleaner that way.

5. Holika Holika Aloe Soothing Gel: I feel like I've had this aloe gel forever now. I love it for sunburns, irritated skin, insect bites, or even just as a lightweight, refreshing facial moisturizer. This bottle is quite large and lasts a long time. That said, there's a tiny bit of residue at its bottom and due to the design I've given up on getting to it or on cutting the bottle open without injuring myself. I do really love the product itself though.

 

6. Crown Brush Pro C523: This is a really handy little pencil brush that's fantastic for precision work. I love it for highlighting the inner corner, but because it's longer and smaller than typical pencil brushes, it also works fantastic for tight crease work, any sort of blending where precision is  necessary, softening out gel or pencil liner, and softening out any eye shadow placed underneath the eye. Unfortunately my brush is fraying and it's time to replace it. 

7. Crown Brush Pro C510: Just as the brush above, I absolutely love this one as a perfectly sized paddle brush for placing eye shadow directly onto the mobile lid. It has soft edges so it was perfect to add crease color too - not to blend it, but to sort of "reinforce" it since I like to do the crease first and then the lid, so to bring the depth of the color back, I'd use the edges of the brush to add more of the crease color into my socket. Like the brush above, this one is also significantly frayed. 

 

8. Nameless Large Paddle Brush from Crown Brush:  Unfortunately this brush is just getting sparse and falling apart. It's a very densely packed paddle brush which made it perfect for applying a highlight underneath the brow and to act as an "eraser" if my crease eye shadow ever came up to high and into that brow area.

 

9. Bubbi Buffer brush:  Unfortunately this brush broke off from the ferule. It is a lovely buffer brush - great for any face powder or applying more diffused blush to the cheeks. It's also super soft!

 

10. wet n wild photofocus Loose Setting Powder in Soft Pink: I decided to give this particular shade of the powder a try because, as you know, I love the regular translucent version of this powder - it's very soft, silky, prevents my makeup from creasing, yet looks and feels like skin. I figured perhaps the pink shade would be nice for brightening the under-eye area and also, since my skin tone is a pinkish neutral and foundation can occasionally oxidize orange-y on me, I figured the pink might help neutralize those orange tones a bit. Both were true and I love this shade of the powder as well!

11. PRORANCE International Gold Snail BB Cream:  I  will say I love the coverage on this BB cream and how smooth it made my skin look. But that said, it oxidized into an orange-y shade on me that was a shade or two darker than my skin. It also unfortunately felt quite heavy in this hot weather. I felt it sitting on my face and it was uncomfortable. 

 

12. L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion in 901 Fair Glow: As you may have guessed I love me a glowing skin primer and this is no exception. It has a lovely lightweight lotion texture that spreads over the skin easily and gives it a lit-from-within quality that I adore under foundation. That said, I would only use it as a highlight if I was going to wear this alone or without some sort of foundation/powder on top of it because it can make the skin look greasy. 

13. equate Coconut Hibiscus Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. This has a really yummy sweet yet tart scent to it. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep.  

 

14. L'Oreal Paris Eye Defense Eye Cream: I found this to be a nice eye cream that left my eye area generally moisturized, gave my eye skin a nice glow, and works well with makeup over it. It has a nice texture that feels lightweight yet hydrating. 

15. Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer in 95: Personally I think this concealer is ok - it's thin and blends out nicely. But that said, I felt like I went through this quickly and had to use quite a lot to get the coverage I was after. Additionally, I felt like every time I set this with powder that it had a tendency to either move around or disappear where I felt like, again, it wasn't giving me the kind of coverage I wanted. 

 

16.  Veleasha Lashes in Sunny T-4: These are a really cute spiky lash, which I tend to like because I feel like they make my eyes look larger. I know for some folks these lashes might seem dramatic but to me they're on the smaller side, I almost wish they were larger - meaning just longer with bigger spikes. My only issue is that the lash bands are thick and plastic-y so it takes them a while before they bend to the shape of the eye nicely. 

 

17. Shik Baby soap with bur-marigold extract: This a really gentle soap  that doesn't aggravate my eczema. I found it to be quite gentle, it has a nice smell, and I like the way it leaves my skin feeling soft and silky.  

 

18. Pyunkang Yul Calming Mask Pack: This sheet mask is really nice and thick, it's clearly nice quality. This left my skin feeling hydrated, plump, smooth, and glowing initially after removal. It felt very soft and rejuvenated the next day as well. 

 

19. bubbi Dome brush: This brush isn't necessarily broken per se. But it sheds so aggressively every time I use it that I am left picking off all the bristles that end up on my face which takes forever and is an absolute sensory nightmare for me so I would rather just get rid of it entirely.

 

20. Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Hydrating Water Gel Mask: They are not kidding when they call this mask hydrating - not only did it leave my skin plump, juicy, and glowing but there was so much serum in here that I had enough for my neck, chest, and upper arms. That plump, hydrated feeling lasted well into the next day as well. 

 

21. Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++: This has been my favorite sunscreen to date and, as always, I'm sad to have used it up. Especially since I bought this jumbo tube of it. I was hoping that Teso Life would start carrying the jumbo tubes but alas, it was a one time lucky thing.

 

22. Colourpop Watermelon Sugar Fresh Kiss Glossy Lip Balm: I feel like the premise of the gloss balm sounds good - a lightweight, hydrating gloss with a sheer tint? One that comes in lots of yummy flavors. Sounds like a great product! Except it doesn't hydrate much due to it being a lightweight, thin gloss that wears off quite quickly. I truly wish they would bring back the Lippie Crayons because those were my favorite tinted lip balm ever and alas, they are gone. 

 

23. CoverGirl + Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Foundation in 205 Ivory: I really enjoyed this foundation. It was a good shade match for me, it feels hydrating going on and has a nice, healthy, luminous finish to it. I like that it's a medium to full coverage too and is easy to blend. Overall I'm sad to have run out of it. I felt like it lasted me a long time too. I've had the bottle since January and while I wasn't using it daily, I'd say around 6 months of continuous use isn't too bad.   

  

24. Dove deep moisture body wash: As I always say, I really love these creamy body washes for use as an alternative to shave gel. I find that they last me much longer, provide my razor with a nice smooth glide, and leave my skin feeling hydrated and irritation-free after shaving. 

 

25. equate Cherry Vanilla Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. This has an absolutely delicious cherry scent to it! I think the scent of this might be one of my favorites, if not my very favorite from the scrub lineup. The only issue I have with it is that it tends to stain my right palm red- because that's the hand I used to apply this. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep.  

  

26. berkley jensen Baby Wipes x90: I got the unscented version this time because the day I went to purchase the wipes, the green tea ones were all the way in the back and I couldn't reach them. These still work fantastic for wiping dust off surfaces, for removing makeup swatches from my hands, for wiping down my powder makeup when it gets messy, and they even work as makeup remover wipes in a pinch. I love that these come in big packs too so they last quite a while.

  

27. Secret Powder Fresh 24 Hr Invisible Solid Antiperspirant/Deodorant: Personally, I think this is a great baseline deodorant. I still do get sweaty with it on if I do something more physically intensive like vacuuming in the heat and, frankly, if it's super humid I will sweat through this. Otherwise it works just fine, keeps me smelling and feeling fresh. I like the solid sticks because they don't irritate my pit skin and they don't sting on freshly shaved armpits either. 

 

28. esfolio Hyaluronic Acid With Peach Cleansing Foam: This is a really nice, gently hydrating, foaming cleanser. I really liked the texture of it, it left my skin feeling soft and refreshed after rinsing it off. My skin wasn't dry or tight at all. It also has a yummy peachy scent that I enjoyed. 

 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the sheet masks, which were gifts from a friend and the Colourpop Glossy Lip Balm which I received for testing. All opinions are my own. 

June 2026 Arrivals

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

1.  Reihaku Hatomugi The facial foam : I'm running low on my current cleanser so I decided to give this one a try.

2. Organic Kitchen Reboot Revitalizing Face Mask: One of my current masks is running low and since I like to rotate through my collection I decided to go ahead and pick this one up again because I remember liking the way it made my skin feel. 

3. ORLY Nail Lacquer in Happy Camper: I might have mentioned that my regular nail polish collection has dwindled and I was hoping to rely on the mass of gel polishes my friend generously gifted to me. Unfortunately since I can't do gel without suffering nail damage I am slowly building my collection back up. As you all know, I love a good mint polish so when I saw this I couldn't pass it up. 

4. Sally Hansen miracle Gel Nail Polish in It's Sherbert Day: I feel like I haven't had a periwinkle nail polish in quite a while and remember loving having one so I decided to pick this up. It has a really pretty pearl in it too so I'm excited to try it out. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all the items listed above myself. All opinions are my own. 

May 2026 Empties

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

1. equate Tropical Mango Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. This has a really yummy, sweet, juicy, fruity mango scent to it. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep. 

2. Jiocolor Wispy Lashes x3: These are a pretty wispy shape, I like the alternating short and long bits. I will say that these are very thin and delicate so while they do glue onto the eyelid fairly easily, they're also easy to bend out of shape or to get lash glue all over the band. So, it's important to be careful and gentle with them. 

3. Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa '62 Eau de Parfum: I'm so sad to have run out of this perfume! It smells so delicious and I loved wearing it! I'll be honest that often, when I come to the tail end of perfumes I don't love them the same any more but this is a rare occasion where I'd love to purchase another bottle someday.

4. bodycology strawberry cheesecake 2 in 1 body wash & bubble bath: This body wash did a good job of leaving my skin feeling soft and clean. It was also gentle on my eczema and I found it didn't really irritate my skin. That said, the scent is just a bit too sweet and frosting-like for my personal tastes. I'd be open to trying out a different scent from them. 

5. Maybelline New York Tattoo Studio Jet Black Ink Pen Liquid Eyeliner: It was about time for me to replace my eyeliner so I picked up a new one. However, this was still going pretty strong but with my eyes getting dry lately I just didn't want to risk an eye infection. I really like this eyeliner, I like that it's a pen-style brush and think it's precise and easy to use; it glides along the lash-line nicely.

6. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: As predicted, due to the unfortunate fall of this product and a lot of it leaking out onto the carpet, I ran out of its remnants quite quickly. As you know, I love my squalane oil and have a replacement. 

7. Organic Kitchen Pistachio Mafia Polishing Face Scrub: This is another item I was sad to have run out of because I enjoy using this scrub, it smells yummy, and it leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth without being too abrasive. 

8. Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Pre Age Ceramide + Prebiotic Barrier Moisturizing Mask: I really enjoyed how hydrating this mask is. It left my skin feeling really hydrated and replenished. I think it's fantastic for the wintertime because it kept my skin from drying out.

9. L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara in 970 Deep Violet:  I loved the purple tint on the mascara! It's obvious enough to be purple but is still dark enough to give my lashes depth. The formula is also really nice and gives my lashes both volume and definition, which I adore. That said, it has developed quite an intense scent so it was time to go ahead and replace it.

10. Dove pamper shea butter + vanilla body wash: This is a really nice, hydrating, gentle body wash that leaves my skin feeling soft and silky smooth. I love using this for shaving because it gives my razor a nice glide and makes my skin feel so nice. It has a really soft, soothing, slightly sweet scent too which I found comforting especially in the colder months.

11. Children's Soap with Bur-Marigold: I was unable to get to Trader Joe's to buy my holy grail oatmeal and honey soap so I picked this one up at a nearby Russian-speaking pharmacy instead. In truth, I love this soap very much! It leaves my skin feeling very clean but also soft and hydrated without triggering any eczema flares.  It's also got a very silky, frothy foam to it which I enjoy. 

12. The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser: This is such a nice, gentle, creamy, hydrating cleanser. It left my skin feeling really soft and smooth after using it without any stripping or irratation. It also worked really great to give slip for my razor when I was shaving. I really enjoyed it while I had it. 

13. Etude House Collagen moistfull cream: I'm sad I ran out of this moisturizer - it has a really nice gel cream texture that's very hydrating but absorbs quickly. It left my skin feeling hydrated and plump. It also has a sour, floral, tea-like scent that I enjoy. 

14. Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream:  While this cream is hydrating, it is also lightweight and despite it being called "deep" moisture, I found that, especially as I was using this mostly in the winter that the hydration it provided was insufficient to keep my eczema and flakey skin away. 

15. equate Green Apple Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. This has a really yummy, sour apple scent to it that I just adore! I feel like it not only smells juicy and delicious, but it's an invigorating scent that wakes me up.  This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep. 

16. DUO Brush-On Adhesive with Vitamins: My tube of glue has just gotten really gunky and gross so it was time to replace it.

17. Marc Jacobs 240 So Rouge Le Marc Lip Creme: I'm usually so sad when I run out of things but I was actually quite excited to run out of this lipstick. Don't get me wrong, this had a lovely formula and was a beautiful true red, it went on smoothly and wore comfortably. That said, I feel like in my effort to use them up, I have been wearing red lipsticks back to back to the point where I miss wearing softer colors. So I'm quite excited to wear something other than red for the time being. 

 

18. Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo: This isn't in the picture because my mom threw the bottle away. In terms of the product itself, I found that it was a gentle shampoo that smelled nice and left my hair lightly hydrated but not weighed down. If you have very dry hair though, I would suggest something more nourishing but otherwise this is great for maintenance. 

19. PRETTYSKIN Snail Collagen Toner: I'm sad to be out of this toner - it lasted me since last November, which is quite a while. It also is a lightweight, watery texture but adds a really nice boost of moisture and hydration to my skin. It left my skin looking glowy and feeling bouncy. 

20. one+other Original Nail Polish Remover Sponge: I purchased this with the hopes that because it isn't 100% acetone that it would be gentle on my nails. Truly, I forgot how quickly the sponge inside gets to feeling absolutely disgusting and just goopy. Sticking my fingers in there to take the nail polish off felt gross and I felt like I had to leave them in there soaking to get it off too. I will not be picking it up again. 

 

21. IVON Cuticle Trimmer: I feel like these do a good job of removing excess dead tissue along the sides of my nails and around the cuticle area. That said, they can be sharp so it's important to be gentle and careful with them not to take off too much skin. 

 

22. Colovis Eyebrow Razor: I got these for dermaplaning as I prefer using smaller, more precise razors for it versus those larger blades designed for the face. I think these do a fairly decent job of getting rid of hair in small, detailed problem areas like under the chin or on the chin itself or on the upper lip. 

23. Laura Mercier Powder Puff:  I had such high expectations for this puff given that it's from a luxury brand and, I'm not sure if it's just because I had it for such a long time, but I really wasn't a fan of the puff. I felt as though it was sort of dry to the touch and it took it a while before it got soft and flexible - something close to about a month. Even so, the puff has developed a lump on the inside of it. It's also decent for just powdering all over the face but if you're looking to do precision work with it like under the eyes or around the nose, it was a bit too large and cumbersome for that. Overall, unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of it. 

 

24. deal worthy Fresh Scent Body Lotion: I have been enjoying this lotion for post shaving my legs lately. It comes in a large bottle, is fairly inexpensive, smells nice, and leaves my skin feeling silky smooth and hydrated. It works alright for the soles of my feet too, but I do wish it was just a tiny bit thicker or that the brand would release a body butter. Other than that, the bottle lasts me a long time, so I really enjoy that aspect of it as well. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the Youth to the People moisturizer which was gifted to me for testing and the Marc Jacobs lipstick that was a gift with purchase. All opinions are my own. 

May 2026 Arrivals

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

1.  L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara in 960 Deep Green: I had this in the deep purple shade and really loved it, but unfortunately that mascara has developed a strange scent so I decided to replace it with this one. I don't think I've ever seen a mascara in this shade before and really want to see how the green will look on my brown eyes. That said, it also comes in blue and burgundy so I might get both of those to try out in the future. 

2. Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF 50+ PA++++: I'm running low on my current Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ and needed to replenish. However, they did not have the essence at my local Teso Life so I went ahead and got the gel. I figure it might be nice and lightweight for summer while still giving my skin hydration. At least the tester felt hydrating in-store. 

3. L'Oreal Paris Eye Defense Eye Cream x2: I got this two pack at BJ's where I felt they were decently priced at about $18 for two jars. I picked this particular eye cream because the one I'm currently using is running low and I'm finding it not hydrating enough. I wanted something that hydrates, depuffs, and brightens so this one seemed promising and I decided to give it a try. 

4. Organic Kitchen Silent Hour Revitalizing Face Mask: I just ran out of one of my face masks and since I liked this one in the past, I decided to pick up another one. It's a nice, lightweight, hydrating and refreshing face mask that smells like berry yogurt so I enjoy the sensory experience of using it. 

5. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Multi-Use Concealer: I'm running low on my current concealer and I have not had this particular concealer in ages and have had it on my wish list so I decided to pick one up and see how I like it now. 

6. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: As you know, this is my absolute holy grail eyeliner so when it was time to replenish and this was in stock, I went ahead and picked it up because I love it!

7. one+other Pro-Strength Nail Polish Remover Dip: The current dip polish remover I have has just gotten so gross that sticking my fingers into that goopy, sticky liquid and sponge gives me the ick! Hence I have gone ahead and bought a fresh new one. I also feel like the 100% acetone removes my polish faster which means I can go wash my hands quicker so overall, it's probably causing less damage than soaking my fingers quite a while in the non-acetone one to get all the polish off. 

8. DUO Quick-Set Striplash Adhesive:My lash glue was also getting quite gunky and gross so I went ahead and replaced it. 

9. Milani Make It Last Original Natural Finish Setting Spray: I'm running low on my setting spray and since this is my very favorite I decided to just go ahead and pick up a bottle. 

 

Disclaimer: I purchased all the items listed above myself. All opinions are my own. 

March 2026 Arrivals

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

1. Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Hydro Intensive Hyaluron + Aloe SOS Hydrating Mask: Since I ran out of my other masks I decided to pick this one up to try. 

2. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: I am running low on my current bottle and needed to restock because I don't like being without my squalane. 

3. Paula's Choice SPF 50 Broad Spectrum 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer: I decided to give this moisturizer a try because I haven't had anything from Paula's Choice before and have heard of the brand for years. I've been quite curious. Additionally, my skin tends to react well to Vitamin C and I hadn't used a Vitamin C product in ages, so it'll be fun to try this out. 

4. Kerastase decalcifying system,  reparative shampoo: So exactly a year ago, I got a sample of the Kerastase Chronologiste Youth Revitalizing Hair Mask and fell entirely in love with it so when I saw another opportunity to try a Kerastase product I jumped on it. The heart aching thing about falling in love with that mask is knowing that at such a high price point that I would never be able to get my hands on it. 

5. L'Oreal Elvive Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm: On the topic of the Kerastase mask, my hairdresser friend told me that this was technically a dupe or similar to it.  So, since this is at a far more approachable price point, I decided to give it a try. If anything, I'm out $10 and not $60-70.

6. Jiocolor Wispy Lashes x7: I was on my last pair of lashes and decided to give the large multipacks online a chance. These are a pretty wispy shape, I like the alternating short and long bits. 

7. Veleasha Sunny T-4 Lashes x7: I think I mentioned in the past that I like spiky lashes on myself and these are so pretty in the packaging! I'm excited to try them out. 

8. Kose softymo Deep Cleansing Oil: This is my holy grail makeup removing oil so I had to go ahead and replenish on it since I am near running out of my current bottle.

9. Being frenshe Hair Wellness Detox Scalp Scrub: I am currently running out of my scalp scrub and decided to give this one a try. I feel like unlike dandruff shampoo, that using scalp scrubs once weekly really and truly keeps my scalp flake-free the vast majority of the time so I like having one around.

10. wet n wild Loose Setting Powder in Soft Pink: As you all know, I love the translucent version of this powder. I decided to give the pink version a try since sometimes my foundation can oxidize a tiny bit orange so I'm hoping this might soften out that issue. Perhaps it'll also offer some under-eye brightening as well. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all the items listed above myself with the exception of the Paula's Choice and Kerastase samples. All opinions are my own. 

March 2026 Empties

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

1. equate Tahitian Vanilla Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. It has a yummy, vanilla cookie scent combined with the kind of yeasty scent that freshly baked bread has. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep. 

2. Organic Kitchen Reboot Revitalizing Face Mask: This mask left my skin feeling soft and hydrated after using it. This is a fantastic mask for those days when the winter weather left my skin feeling a bit dry, raw, and needing an extra boost of moisture. 

3. IVON Cuticle Trimmer: I feel like these do a good job of removing excess dead tissue along the sides of my nails and around the cuticle area. That said, they can be sharp so it's important to be gentle and careful with them not to take off too much skin. 

4. Shiseido Prepare Dermaplaning Razor: I like to use these once weekly to really get any strays on my face due to my PCOS.  It's about time to replace this razor, as it's getting a bit dull. 

5. LUSH Rose Jam Body Spray: I have to say that, unfortunately, this is one of those scents that the longer I had it, the more I grew sick of it. While generally, it does have a yummy sweet rose scent to it, it also has a very powdery note that seemed to get more intense the longer I had the perfume and I didn't really enjoy that aspect of it. I'm glad to have finished it up. 

6. Organic Kitchen Silent Hour Revitalizing Face Mask: I really enjoyed the berry yogurt scent of this mask and how soft and smooth it made my skin feel after using it.

7. CALA 3D Faux Mink 35151 Multi-Dimensional Lashes x2: These are a pretty fluffy-looking lash that I feel help to open up my eyes and make them look larger. That said, I find that they have the tendency to want to pop up at the inner and outer corners.  

8.  Kose softymo Deep Cleansing Oil: While I'm sad to have run out of this as it's my favorite makeup removing oil, I do have to say I appreciate that a bottle of this lasts me nearly an entire year. It does a fantastic job of removing the majority of my facial makeup and I use it with my Makeup Eraser or similar cloths and remove the rest. 

9. Suave Skin Solutions Nourishing Lotion in Cocoa Shea: This lotion has a really nice cocoa butter scent to it, it helps hydrate the legs after shaving, absorbs quickly, and is lightweight. However, other than my legs, the soles of my feet need hydration as well and this just isn't as hydrating on the soles as I wish it were. I feel like they just suck up all that moisture quickly and become dry again. 

10.  The following eyeshadows all developed an off scent so I am discarding them:

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Nillionaire

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in IRL

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Banana Daiquiri

11. Arencia Cloud Body & Scalp Scrub in Black Tea & Yuzu: I purchased this scrub specifically for use on my scalp and it worked fairly nicely for what it was. It has a very luxurious scent to it which smells expensive. I just wish that it was a bit more abrasive. I feel like the scrub particles would dissolve quickly and it would lather up a lot which was nice in the sense that it doubled as a shampoo. I will say that it kept my dandruff and scalp flakiness away so it did do the job. 

12. Green Pharmacy Mask in Pomegranate and Argan Oil for Dry, Damaged Hair: I find that this mask was hydrating but it's also very lightweight. I would say that if someone is looking for hair that feels silky and hydrated that this works alright, but doesn't provide the kind of nourishment I'm after in a mask. 

13. berkley jensen Scented baby wipes in Green Tea & Cucumber x2: As I always say, I love these wipes because you get a lot in the package, they smell nice, and they work great for wiping down surfaces, cleaning my makeup, as well as cleaning makeup or skincare swatches off my hands or arms. They're quite versatile to have on hand. 

14. equate Almond & Shea Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. It has a yummy, sweet kind of almost almond cookie scent to it, it's not cloyingly sweet though. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep. 

15. bodycology strawberry cheesecake body cream:  My wifey got me this for Christmas and it smells very sweet in almost a buttercream with a hint of berry type of scent. If 'm 100% honest it's a little TOO sweet for me. But, that said, I did like how hydrating this was on both my legs and feet. It has a nice texture, so I'd be curious to try out other scents from this line. 

16. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: As you might know, this has been something of a holy grail product for me so I'm always sad when I run out. This oil reduces redness in my skin, it makes my skin soft and smooth, and it also gives me a nice glow. I absolutely adore it.

17. Paula's Choice SPF 50 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer: I was so looking forward to trying this moisturizer because I haven't had anything from Paula's Choice before and wanted to try it out. However, I am sad to report that I am woefully disappointed with this. I was hoping that because it has Vitamin C, that it would smell a bit citrusy but it is entirely unscented, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, it's also very runny and liquidy, which I find makes a big mess. It also has that kind of tacky tell-tale sunscreen feeling despite being thin and I don't like that about it.

18. Kerastase Decalcifying system, reparative shampoo: As you can imagine, I cannot comment on if this decalcified my hair. I'm unsure if we have hard water here - my hair generally feels ok, so perhaps not. That said, I found this shampoo to be deeply cleansing yet simultaneously deeply nourishing. It's a combination of things I highly appreciate. My hair is very soft, shiny, and easy to manage. That said, as the line is very pricey, I likely won't be going out to purchase this shampoo without some sort of magical windfall coming my way. 

19. Trader Joe's Oatmeal & Honey Soap Pure Vegetable Soap: I love these soaps because they cleanse well without triggering my eczema. They leave my skin feeling soft and smooth. I find that this soap also helps my skin recover when I'm going through an eczema flare up. 

20. equate Coconut Hibiscus Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. It has a yummy, sweet tart scent to it, it's not obviously coconutty but does have a slight hint of hibiscus.  I really like the way it smells! This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the bodycology body cream which was a Christmas gift and the Paula's Choice and Kerastase items which came as samples with purchase.

Mask Review: Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Hydro Intensive Hyaluron + Aloe SOS Hydrating Mask

'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Hydro Intensive Hyaluron + Aloe SOS Mask.

Availability: This is available at makeupstore.com where it retails for $3.18. I bought it at my local Russian-speaking pharmacy for $3.69 for 75 ml.

Would I buy this again? I'm not sure, perhaps in the summertime.

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

According to the packaging:

Instant SOS help for dry and dehydrated skin. The skin is filled with moisture and radiance, becomes smooth and silky. 

Does this contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Glycerin: Helps draw moisture to the skin.

Hyaluronic Acid and Saccharide Isomerate: Helps draw moisture to the skin and helps skin retain moisture. 

Aloe Barbedensis Leaf Juice: Has hydrating, anti-inflammatory, and skin-healing properties.

What is the texture like?

I would describe this mask's texture as being like gel-like. It feels cooling going on and never fully sets or dries. 

Is this scented?

I would describe this scent as a very clean, green, refreshing aloe scent.

What has my experience with the product been like?

Personally, as someone with dry skin that can be sensitive or get inflamed easily I really enjoy using this mask but friends, I have an embarrassing thing to admit. As I'm writing this review, I realized that the instructions say it's meant to be tissued off, not rinsed off. So my review will be for me having rinsed it off this whole time. I like that it doesn't dry down or feel tight. Frankly, outside of my dry and sort of beginning to crepe under-eye area (or maybe I'm just dehydrated) I don't really have signs of aging but since I really liked the Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Pre Age Ceramide + Prebiotic Barrier Moisturizing Mask, I decided to give this a try as well. This is a much lighter weight mask that also feels more refreshing, hence I feel like it would be best for the summertime or might work well on skin that feels hot and inflamed.  Despite me having rinsed it off thus far, this mask leaves my skin feeling soft, supple, and refreshed. It gives me a healthy glow; I am really enjoying it thus far.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

December 2025 Arrivals

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

1. Dr. Sante Pre Age Ceramide + Prebiotic Moisturizing Mask: Since I'm running a bit low on one of my masks and we're already in December where it's only going to get colder and thus my skin is likely to get drier I went ahead and purchased this mask in hopes it'll keep my skin hydrated and happy. 

2. Organic Kitchen Pistachio Mafia Polishing Face Scrub: I am entirely out of my facial scrub and needed to pick up another. Since I've liked the masks from this brand I went ahead and got this facial scrub to try out.

3. L'Oreal true match Radiant Serum Concealer in  W1: I'm running low on my current concealer and decided since I always get the same one I might as well give something new to me a try. I've liked the true match formula in the past in terms of the lumi foundation so we shall see.

4. wet n wild Loose Setting Powder: I'm running low on my current powder so I felt that I should go ahead and replenish before I ran out. This is a really nice, smoothing, slightly blurring powder that feels like skin and doesn't make my skin look or feel dry so I just went ahead and repurchased it. 

5. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: I was running low on my squalane oil and since it's a holy grail for my skin I went ahead and replenished.

Sephora also sent me the following samples with my order (I say sent because these aren't what I asked for but alas... also do we remember when 3 samples were the standard? They've gotten cheap for no reason, I'm sure companies send them loads of samples and want customers to discover these products...)

Juliet Has a Gun Not A Perfume

Isle of Paradise Body Beautifully Balanced Body Butter 

6. Biore UV Aqua Rich Water Essence SPF 50+ PA++++: I was running low on my sunscreen and noticed they now have this packet that is nearly twice as big as the tube and only $5 more so I went ahead and picked it up.

7. Reinarebelde On Your Face Contour + Color Trio in Adorada: My friend got me this really cute face palette for Christmas. I love the vintage tattoo vibes that it has.

8. Sheet Masks: My sweet wifey got me a whole bunch of sheet masks (among other self-care goodies) for Christmas:

innisfree Jeju Root Energy Mask in Lotus Root

Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Facial Barrier Mask

LuLuLun Precious Mask White Resilient, Glowing skin Aging Care

papa recipe Bombee Whitening Honey Mask Pack

patchology Soothe 5 Minute Flashmasque

innisfree My real Squeeze Mask EX in Aloe

LASplash Jelly Eye Pads x15

9. CoverGirl + Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Foundation in 205 Ivory: I've been wanting to try out a new foundation for a while and decided to give this a try since I did have the cream version years ago and wanted to check out the liquid version. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all the items listed above myself with the exception of the samples and Christmas gifts I've been given. All opinions are my own.

Mask Review: Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Pre Age Ceramide + Prebiotic Barrier Moisturizing Mask

'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Pre Age Ceramide + Prebiotic Moisturizing Mask.

Availability: I can't seem to find a retailer online for this, but I bought it at my local Russian-speaking pharmacy for $3.69 for 75 ml.

Would I buy this again? Yes.

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

According to the packaging:

Strengthens the skin's protective barrier and restores comfort, replenishing it with energy. Perfect for dry skin with early signs of aging.  

Does this contain any special/beneficial ingredients?.

Betaine: Helps draw moisture to the skin; has anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repairing properties.  

Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate and Olive Oil, Ceramide NP: Has hydrating, anti-inflammatory, and skin barrier repairing properties.

Glucose and Fructose: Have hydrating and brightening properties.

Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate: Had anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repairing properties.

What is the texture like?

I would describe this mask's texture as being like a thick cold cream. It feels cooling going on and never fully sets or dries. 

Is this scented?

I would describe this scent as being sort of perfume-y and I know this will sound strange but it is VERY reminiscent of Molton Brown's Vintage Elderflower scent. I really enjoy it, but I know that it may seem like a strong, intense scent to some folks.

What has my experience with the product been like?

Personally, as someone with dry skin that can be sensitive or get inflamed easily I really enjoy using this mask and I feel like it leaves my skin feeling  very soft and supple - I like that it doesn't dry down or feel tight. Frankly, outside of my dry and sort of beginning to crepe under-eye area (or maybe I'm just dehydrated) I don't really have signs of aging but I thought this would be a great mask for the wintertime because between the hot, dry indoor air and the cold, dry outdoor air my face can take a beating this time of year and can easily turn prune-y if not cared for properly. This mask leaves my skin feeling so plump and supple, I am really enjoying it thus far.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

Mask Review: Organic Kitchen Silent Hour Revitalizing Face Mask

 'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Organic Kitchen Silent Hour Revitalizing Face Mask.

Availability: I can't seem to find a retailer online for this, but I bought it at my local Russian-speaking pharmacy for $4.29 for 100 ml.

Would I buy this again? Yes.

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

According to the packaging:

Give your skin a moment to rest and rejuvenate! This mask has powerful regenerating and rejuvenating properties. Organic yogurt nourishes and softens the skin, Your skin will glow!

Does this contain any special/beneficial ingredients?.

Once again, according to the packaging:

Organic Yogurt: nourishes and softens the skin.  

Papaya Fruit Extract: tones the skin and nourishes the skin with vitamins; improving firmness and elasticity.

What is the texture like?

I would describe this mask's texture as being like a cold cream. It never fully sets or dries. 

Is this scented?

I would describe this scent as being reminiscent of berry yogurt; I personally find it pleasant. 

What has my experience with the product been like?

Personally, as someone with dry skin that can be sensitive or get inflamed easily I really enjoy using this mask and I feel like it leaves my skin feeling  very soft and supple - I like that it doesn't dry down or feel tight. This mask smells nice and leaves my skin feeling hydrated with a really nice healthy glow. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

Mask Review: Organic Kitchen Reboot Revitalizing Face Mask

'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Organic Kitchen Reboot Revitalizing Face Mask.

Availability: I can't seem to find a retailer online for this, but I bought it at my local Russian-speaking pharmacy for $4.29 for 100 ml.

Would I buy this again? Yes.

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

According to the packaging (note: I edited my translation for enhanced grammar):

Want a change? Take action! Start with a total image reboot! This revitalizing face mask activates natural restorative processes in the following three ways: nourishes, increases skin's elasticity, and improves discoloration/brightness (technically the outright Russian says it improves the "color of the face" but I assume that's what's meant).  

Does this contain any special/beneficial ingredients?.

Once again, according to the packaging:

Organic rosehip oil: moisturizes, tones, and nourishes with vitamins, making the skin smooth and glowing.  

Organic atlas cedar: Prolongs youthfulness and refreshes the complexion, improves metabolic processes in skin cells (I assume this means it encourages quicker skin cell turnover which results in glowing skin). 

What is the texture like?

I would describe this mask's texture as being like a cold cream. It never fully sets or dries. 

Is this scented?

I would describe this scent as being clean and spa-like, with a subtle sweet, green or perhaps floral kind of note to it. It's difficult for me to describe but I personally find it pleasant. 

What has my experience with the product been like?

Personally, as someone with dry skin that can be sensitive or get inflamed easily I really enjoy using this mask and I feel like it leaves my skin feeling soft and supple - I like that it doesn't dry down or feel tight. As my skin ages, masks that are heavily clay or mud-based that dry down often make my skin feel uncomfortable and dry/tight so these cold-cream-like masks are a nice transition. This mask smells nice and leaves my skin feeling hydrated with a really nice healthy glow. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

September 2025 Arrivals

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

1. e.l.f. Brow Comb & Brush: Unfortunately, even though I prefer these with metal teeth because these plastic ones inevitably always break, the metal one I had broke off from the ferule and I feared that it would poke my eye out at some point so I decided to pick this brush up since it is fairly inexpensive. 

2. Chique Pro Highlight Brush: My highlight brush also fell apart a while back and I've been experimenting with existing brushes in my own collection but haven't found anything I loved for highlight application. So given that this brush was also fairly inexpensive I decided to pick it up and give it a try. 

3. one+other Pro-Strength Nail Polish Remover Dip 100% Acetone: The version of this I currently had has become all gross to the point it was no longer working well so I've gone ahead and replaced it. 

4. L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion in 901 Fair Glow: I really enjoy a glowing primer and I've found I like ones that are translucent without much of a base tone. I find this is a great option because it has a pretty pinkish glow and looks nice under foundation. 

5. Organic Kitchen Reboot Mask & Silent Hour Mask: I'm running low on my masks and given that these were fairly inexpensive I decided to give them a try. 

6. L'Oreal Telescopic Intense Lash Length Original Mascara in Black: Ok so disclaimer, I purchased this mascara not realizing I had already had it in the past and didn't love it. It's just that I really dislike how smudgy my current mascara is so I was so excited to buy a replacement that I managed to forget.

7. Le Mieux Iso-Rose Hydrating Mist: One of my friends got me this for my birthday because she knows I like rose scents and said that she herself really likes this spray. I'm a bit surprised because she's notorious for disliking rose-scented things but I have tried this mist out once and like it so far.

8. Sephora Mini Haul: I was running low on my squalane oil and while I was replenishing I decided to pick up some samples as well. 

The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Instant Glow Moisturizer (sample)

Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate (sample)

9. Biore UV Aqua Rich Water Essence SPF 50+ PA++++: I was near running out of this entirely so I had to go out and replenish on it.

10. The Creme Shop Flexible Fit 3D Faux Mink Lashes in Bossy x3:I had run out of lashes and realized I like spikier lashes; I feel that they look nicer on me - I remember I had these before and I liked the way they looked so I was willing to give them another chance. 

11. Ardell Wispies in 113 x5: I have very vague memories of having these in the past and liking them so I decided to give them another chance. They appear larger than the demi wispies I've bought before so I decided to give them a try. I've begun to feel like, lately, while I used to like wispy lashes, I feel like they don't give my eyes adequate oomph and I want something that feels both natural yet has some drama to it and I'm hoping these fit the bill. 

12. DUO Brush-On Adhesive with Vitamins: Given that I had a bunch of coupons at CVS including $3 off DUO I decided it was a good a time as any to go ahead and replenish on my lash glue. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all the items listed above myself with the exception of the Le Mieux item and the Sephora samples. All opinions are my own.