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. 

July 2026 Arrivals

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

1.  Maybelline New York Lifter Full Coverage Serum Concealer in 05: I essentially just ran out of two of my concealers so it was time to get something new. I wanted to try a new concealer so I decided to pick this one up.

 

2. wet n wild photofocus Loose Setting Powder in Soft Pink: I purchased a second one of these powders since I essentially ran out of mine. Unfortunately, I feel like something must have changed because this one is very obviously pink on my face rather than being translucent with a pink tint. It also oxidizes a bit orange-y. 

3. Gifted items: My friend sent me a sweet little care package with some skincare and makeup goodies. These included:

Pyunkang Yul Calming Mask Pack

Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Hydrating Water Gel Mask

dasique Water Blur Tint in Berry Ade 

4. Sally Hansen miracle Gel Nail Polish in Sunbrella: I really wanted a buttery, summery yellow and this looked like a good contender. It's pastel enough to be soft but is still a fun bright yellow. 

 

5. Mini OPI Nail Polish Haul: I believe I mentioned in my last few posts regarding nail polish that my personal collection of regular polish had dwindled and I didn't pay much attention because my friend gave me a bunch of gels for my birthday. But given that my nails just don't cooperate with gels wherein they get physically damaged and lift up off the nail bed during removal, and require a very prolonged removal process, I have come back to regular polish. With that long explanation over, I'm slowly rebuilding my collection. I spotted these in Marshall's and they all looked very pretty so I decided to just get them all:

Sage Simulation

Less is Norse

Yoga-ta Get this Blue! 

 

6. COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence x2: I used up nearly all of my serum and since it's an absolute holy grail for me for hydrated, plump, smooth skin I went ahead and replenished on it. The two pack on Amazon is a good deal and lasts me nearly an entire year so I go ahead and get it there.

Disclaimer: I purchased all the items listed above, with the exception of the gifts, myself. All opinions are my own. 

Concealer Review: Maybelline New York Lifter Full Coverage Serum Concealer

Maybelline New York Lifter Full Coverage Serum Concealer in 05

 

 

  

Availability: This retails anywhere from $9.50 - $14  and can be purchased at most drugstores that carry Maybelline products as well as at amazon.com and maybelline.com.

Would I buy this again?: Probably not.

What is it supposed to do?

Quoted from maybelline.com:

Meet your new secret weapon against dark circles: Lifter Serum Concealer from Maybelline New York, made with 78% skincaring formula.
This high-performance, creamy concealer is infused with a brightening serum formula to deliver hydrating, full coverage that seamlessly blends into the skin. It effortlessly conceals dark circles, imperfections, and blemishes, leaving you with a naturally radiant complexion and a lifted look.
Clinically tested to brighten the look of under eyes instantly and over time, powered by a 2% peptide blend and caffeine.
Pair it with other products in the Lifter family, for a naturally lifted look:
Lifter Plump & Glow Foundation for a brightened, plumped skin look.
Lifter Stix to sculpt your look. 

 Full coverage: Covers dark circles, blemishes, and other imperfections.

Brightening and hydrating power: made with a 78% skin caring formula with 2% peptide blend and caffeine. Up to 24hr hydration

 Seamless blend: The formula blends into your skin for a non-cakey, undetectable finish.

 Lightweight feel: so light and skin-like, you’ll forget you’re wearing it.

 Natural finish: Leaves you with a naturally radiant look.

 Clinically tested to improve bare skin’s radiance after 2 weeks of daily use.

Does this come in any other shades than the one pictured above?

This comes in 18 shades.

What's the coverage/consistency like?

This has a medium to full, build-able coverage with a creamy consistency.

Does this have any beneficial ingredients in it?

Glycerin: Has humectant properties, attracts moisture to the skin. 

Caffeine:  Helps constrict blood vessels which helps reduce the appearance of under-eye darkness. 

Lactic Acid: Have exfoliating and brightening properties.

Hyaluronic Acid: Helps boost skin's hydration by promoting water retention.

Vitamin E: Has antioxidant properties, helps preserve the product. 

 

Is this scented?

This has a very faint, clean skincare scent that, frankly, I only notice if I'm smelling the applicator directly. 

What has my experience with the product been like?

I'm unsure who is naming these serum concealers as such because personally I associate the word serum with a slightly thick, liquid product and not something that is a heavy whipped cream consistency with full coverage. Now, I do like a fuller coverage but I'd prefer it in a lighter weight, more hydrating formula. This product is alright, it does the job, it stays put on my skin. But I just wish it were thinner and lighter-looking - meaning perhaps it starts off with more medium coverage and can be built up, or at least is in a thinner formula that isn't as likely to become cakey. I also wish it were a bit more hydrating, as I find it dries down a touch too matte for my personal preference. It is a natural matte so it doesn't make my skin dry, but I wish it were more luminous. I also don't love the doe foot applicator on here, it's rounded so I find it difficult to dot it into more precise, hard-to-reach areas like the inner corner of the eyes or around the nose.

What do I use to apply the product? 

I apply this with  a no-name big fluffy face brush and my ring finger.

I feel like this review is as thorough as it gets but please let me know if you have any questions or comments. 

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

Concealer Review: Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer

Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer in 95

 

 

 

 

Availability: This retails anywhere from $10 - $15  and can be purchased at most drugstores that carry Maybelline products as well as at amazon.com and maybelline.com.

Would I buy this again?: No.

What is it supposed to do?

Quoted from maybelline.com:

Instant Age Rewind Eraser is the do-it-all concealer that moisturizes too! This multi-use concealer does it all: hydrates, conceals, contours, and corrects in a click! Get up to 12 hours of moisturizing wear for crease-resistant coverage.
Multi-use concealer. This isn’t just a concealer for dark circles, but it’s pretty great at that too! Instant Age Rewind Eraser conceals, color corrects, contours, and highlights for smooth skin that’s expertly contoured.
Moisturizing concealer. Instant Age Rewind Eraser is designed to deliver up to 12 hours of moisturizing wear. This hydrating concealer is perfect for dry skin and everyday wear.

 Crease-resistant coverage. Our multi-use concealer doesn’t settle into fine lines and wrinkles, with a crease-resistant formula that helps makeup stay in place.
Easy application. Application is easy with a built-in sponge tip applicator.

 Skin-loving formula. Instant Eraser is a vegan, non-comedogenic, mineral oil-free, paraben-free, and talc-free concealer infused with Haloxyl to combat the look of dark circles.

Does this come in any other shades than the one pictured above?

This comes in 20 shades.

What's the coverage/consistency like?

This has a light to medium, buildable coverage with a light creamy consistency.

Does this have any beneficial ingredients in it?

Glycerin: Has humectant properties, attracts moisture to the skin. 

Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract (Goji berry):  Has anti-aging, antioxidant, and brightening properties.

Lactic and Citric Acid: Have exfoliating and brightening properties.

Biotin: Helps promote skin barrier function, keeps skin hydrated. 

 

Is this scented?

This has a very faint, paint-like scent that, frankly, I only notice if I'm smelling the applicator directly. 

What has my experience with the product been like?

I purchased this shade because it's a little pinkish and I thought that would have a brightening effect, which it does. I had this concealer maybe a decade or so ago and decided to try it out again because it's popular and people seem to love it. That said, I didn't love it back then and I haven't changed my mind. I find that the coverage this gives is initially alright and it looks nice but as soon as I go to set it with a powder, it moves and disappears. Which is a quality these older gen concealers seem to have had and I always found issue with. I used to wear tinted powder foundations for this very reason, to give extra coverage because the concealers would move. It also creases on my under-eyes even when set. It creases less when set, but I just don't like how it wears.  I also feel like in order to get the kind of coverage that I'm after, I ran through it quite quickly. Additionally, I don't understand why a concealer that is designed for the under-eyes has exfoliating ingredients in it when that is an area of thin, sensitive skin. I will not be getting it again.

What do I use to apply the product? 

I apply this with  a no-name big fluffy face brush and my ring finger.

I feel like this review is as thorough as it gets but please let me know if you have any questions or comments. 

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

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. 

January 2026 Arrivals

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

1. esfolio Hyaluronic Acid with Peach Cleansing Foam: I feel like I'm starting to run low on my current cleanser so just in case I decided to pick this up while I was at Marshall's given that it was at a good price point.

2. CALA 3D Faux Mink Lashes in Noir 35151 x4: These are a pretty fluffy, sort of spiky lash that I think generally works well for my eye shape so I decided I'd give them a try.

3. Duo Brush On Striplash Adhesive: My lash glue was getting all crusty so it was time to replace it.

4. Maybelline Tattoo Studio Ink Pen in 880 Jet Black: It was time to replace my eyeliner as well and since this was the only pen style liner available at the store, I decided to give it a try. 

5. L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara in Deep Violet: There was another plum colored mascara I meant to purchase instead of this one but since they were out of stock and I was kind of craving a tinted mascara that was plum-colored I decided to pick up this one. 

6. Green Pharmacy Damask Rose Ceramides Revitalization Eye Cream: I'm running low on my current eye cream and I feel like it isn't as hydrating as I wish it would be so I decided to pick this one up to try it out. 

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. 

Maybelline New York Tattoo Studio Jet Black Ink Pen Liquid Eyeliner

Today's eyeliner review is going to be on the Maybelline New York Tattoo Studio Ink Pen Liquid Eyeliner in Jet Black.

I have this on the upper lash-line

Availability: This ranges from around $5 - $18 and can be purchased at drugstores that carry Maybelline New York and Ulta along with their respective websites. 

Would I buy this again? Probably not. 

Notes: I'd say that this is a true matte black. It's waterproof and stays put nicely (about 8-12+ hours). It glides on very easily. I would say it's not too difficult to use if you're someone who's used to these calligraphy pen style eyeliners. That said, I personally prefer a more lacquer-like finish to my eyeliner versus it being completely flat matte - which I think is a bit of a hot take, many people seem to prefer theirs flat. In any case, that's the only reason I wouldn't get this again. I think otherwise it works well and if it's available and my beloved Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner isn't, I'd definitely pick this one up. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself. 

Love It Or Leave It; Review 2.0: Colourpop Chirp Super Shock Shadow Ultra-Glitter and Maybelline New York Lemonade Craze Palette

Hello folksickles. As a makeup junkie and blogger you may have realized that I review a LOAD of eyeshadow palettes and I like to think of myself as being largely an eyeshadow junkie. In order to declutter a bit I've decided to pick out a palette or series of eyeshadows for the month and have that be my monthly selection for those instances where I'm not doing a tutorial for the blog. Every month I'll do a recap on the eyeshadows - how I feel about them and whether I'll be keeping them or giving them away (and why :P) as well as if I think it's worth its price tag. 

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow Ultra-Glitter in Chirp and Maybelline New York Lemonade Craze Palette

You can find a look I did with the eyeshadow and palette here and here. These are the looks I created this month:

So as you can see I created all sorts of soft, somewhat neutral, somewhat colorful looks with these shadows. I personally have found that these shadows are easy to blend and the pigmentation on them is fantastic. All of them work really great in my experience. I feel like while this palette would be great for any time of year, it really does feel very summery so I had a fun time using it now! It is certainly a keeper as is the Colourpop eyeshadow.

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

Disclaimer: The Colourpop eyeshadow came as a gift with purchase.  I purchased the Maybelline palette myself. All opinions are my own.