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. 

April 2026 Empties

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

1. e.l.f. Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer: I liked this primer because it's clear and has a very thin formula so it doesn't alter any eyeshadow that's placed on top of it. It really helped my eyeshadow stay in place and kept it from creasing. My only issue is that the product packaging makes it difficult to get every last bit of product out of it. 

2. Dove pamper shea butter + vanilla body wash: I feel like this body wash is great for colder weather because it's deeply hydrating, moisturizing, leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth, and also has a warm, inviting scent that isn't too heavy or too sweet. As always, I like to use this as a shaving cream because it helps my razor glide along my skin smoothly and lasts much longer than traditional shaving foam would. 

3. wet n wild photofocus Loose Setting Powder in  Translucent: I love this setting powder because it keeps my makeup in place but has a really nice, skin-like finish where it neither looks nor feels powdery.  

4. OPI Heart and Con-Soul Nail Lacquer: This is a really pretty orange-y red nail polish. Unfortunately my bottle is essentially all out to the point where even thinning it out with nail polish remover doesn't make sense to do. It also is prone to chipping so while I really liked the color, it's time to say goodbye.

5. Jiocolor Wispy Lashes x2: 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. 

6. Alterna Caviar CC Cream 10 in 1 Complete Correction Leave-In Hair Perfector: This was a really nice styling cream that gave my hair softness and shine. I feel like it made my waves look shiny, soft, and pretty. 

7. White Barn Peach Bellini PocketBac anti-bacterial hand gel: This hand sanitizer just smells so yummy! Peach Bellini has been one of my absolute favorite scents since I was in college so it's very nostalgic to me.

8.  essie mint candy apple nail lacquer: I'm so sad to have finished up this nail polish because as you know, I love wearing mint on my nails! But it's gotten to the point where I already thinned it out with acetone and there's not much left and what is left is quite goopy. It is time to say goodbye. 

9. equate Cherry Vanilla Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. I think this scent is newer and I LOVE it!  It's a yummy, sweet cherry scent that's reminiscent of a Cherry Jolly Rancher; I don't really get any distinct vanilla in it but I'm not too upset about that. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep.  

10. Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation Perfecting Moisturizer: I love the texture of this moisturizer, it's a lightweight, almost whipped feeling, cream texture that melts right into the skin. I think it's fantastic for oily skin because of how light it is. That said, I found it to be quite hydrating, for the most part, even for my dry skin. I was a little worried using this at the end of winter/start of spring because it was still quite cold outside and that's when my skin tends to be at its driest but I'm pleasantly surprised that I didn't really experience much dryness or flakiness when using this.

11. COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence: Even though I have another bottle of this, I am sad to have used it all up. Over the years this has become something of a holy grail product for me when it comes to having a hydrating serum that makes my skin feel bouncy, juicy, soft, and supple. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the essie polish, which was a gift.

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.

December 2025 Empties

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

1. Ardell Wispies in 113 Black x3: These lashes are pretty and provide some nice length. That said, I find that they're delicate and bend easily so if you cry with these on or take a nap or something, it will bend the lashes funny and impact their longevity. You have to be careful with them! Otherwise they're easy to work with, have thin bands that bend to the eye nicely and wear well.

2. Green Pharmacy Honey & Coffee Face Scrub: Honestly, I didn't love this scrub. It doesn't smell like honey or coffee, which was something I found disappointing. Additionally, it is too abrasive for my liking - it leaves my skin soft but it's more scratchy than I'd like it to be. 

3. equate Coconut Hibiscus Shea Sugar Scrub: I love how gritty this scrub is and how delicious it smells; it has a tart yet sweet, kind of fruity floral scent. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth and is great for shave prep. 

4. Crabtree & Evelyn Peach body lotion: This lotion has a really delicious sweet peach scent to it. It left my skin feeling silky and hydrated.

5. Isle of Paradise Body Beautifully Balanced Body Butter: I personally found this body butter a bit too thick for my liking, it needs to be warmed up to properly spread and I don't love that aspect of it. I prefer something with a lighter, more whipped texture that melts into the skin. Outside of that, this does leave my skin fairly hydrated and silky. 

6. Milani Make It Last Original Natural Finish Setting Spray: I feel like every time I run out of this setting spray I'm sad because it generally lasts me quite a long time so it almost feels abrupt that it's gone even though obviously it's clear there's less in the bottle. I feel like it really helps keep my makeup in place and reduces any powdery appearance; it also helps metallic eyeshadow go on very vibrant and keeps it lasting on my eyelids until I'm ready to remove it at the end of the day.

7. wet n wild photofocus Loose Setting Powder: I just adore this powder so much. It gives my skin a smooth, slightly blurred appearance, doesn't particularly crease under the eyes, and doesn't grab onto or emphasize dry patches. It also leaves my skin feeling smooth and velvety. It's very lightweight and doesn't look powdery or dry at all. 

8.  The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: I'm always sad when I run out of my squalane because I love it so much. In fact this bottle is even sadder because I ran out faster than I normally would have on account of having spilled some of it while I was away last month. Alas, I have restocked.

9. e.l.f. Suntouchable Sunlight Whoa Glow Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen: I liked this primer alright and I do feel like it gave my skin a nice glow. But that said, the sunscreen in this makes it feel heavy and since I use a sunscreen regularly anyway I just don't think I'll be purchasing this again.

10.  berkley jensen Scented baby wipes in Green tea & Cucumber: As mentioned previously, I like using these wipes to wipe down surfaces, especially my makeup collection and to remove swatches from my hands and arms when I take photos for the blog.

11. e.l.f. 16HR Hydrating Camo Concealer: This is a very full coverage concealer and, as such, a little goes a long way. I apply it with a concealer brush so I can get both the placement and control that I need. Due to its high coverage properties, this tube does last quite a while and I find that once you get the hang of how to work with it, that it blends into the skin quite easily. 

12.  Dr Teal's Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution in Pomegranate & Black Currant: These salts have a nice, subtle fruity scent. I really like using them when I do pedicures at home to soothe sore feet and to soften my feet as well. 

13.  ecotools powder brush: I've had this brush for ages now and it was one of my very first makeup brushes. The quality is fantastic and it's super soft. But that said, the handle of this broke off and I feel like it'll fall apart soon as I only have the ferule. So, as much as I love it, it's time to say goodbye.

14. Juliette Has A Gun Not A Perfume: I feel like I prefer this kind of perfume on other people and not on myself. It smells kind of musky and sweet in a way that I personally don't enjoy. I prefer either fruity florals or more fresh-smelling scents.  

15. equate Island Coconut Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is and how delicious it smells; it has a clean smelling, slightly sweet coconut scent. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth and is great for shave prep. 

16. dossier Floral Berries: I feel like the perfume, despite me knowing it was running low, came to an end quite abruptly. It's a nice fruity floral and this 50ml bottle lasted me for a little over a year. I'm not sure that I'd get it again, it smells nice but it isn't my favorite. I'd be down to try more dossier fragrances though but I wish there was somewhere I can smell them in person because going off notes alone is difficult - things can sound good in theory but not smell quite like I imagined they would.

17. ColourPop Super Shock Shadows:  Unfortunately the following shades developed an off smell so I am discarding them:
Erotic

Chirp

Fantasy

REM

18. innisfree Jeju Root Energy Mask in Lotus Root: It's been an absolute age since I last used a sheet mask and due to that I was so unused to the sensation of sitting there with something wet on my face for 20 minutes. In any case, this mask gave my dry winter skin a nice boost of hydration. My skin has a beautiful glow to it and feels smoother and more supple than before.

19. Dove Ultra Care Daily Moisture Conditioner for dry hair:  This conditioner smells really nice and gave my hair moisture without weighing it down. I will say that personally, I prefer something with a bit of a richer texture but this did the job.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the perfume which came as a sample with purchase and the sheet mask which was a Christmas gift.

December 2024 Arrivals

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

1. Shiseido Prepare Razor L-Type: I really like to use these razors to dermaplane and to fix up any precise areas of facial hair growth (for instance right under the nose) that's in sensitive areas and would hurt to pluck.

2. CVS Health Intense Dry Skin Therapy Severe Dry Skin Lotion: I picked up this lotion because I feel like lately the lotions I've used don't hydrate enough for my liking so I just went in with something labeled to be intensely hydrating to see how I like it. 

3. dossier Floral Berries: This is allegedly a dupe for Jo Malone's Peony and Blush Suede, which I've coveted for a long time, but it's pricey and not necessarily the longest-lasting perfume, so I've always hesitated to purchase a bottle for myself. That said, since this is a fraction of the price I decided to try it out. Although I don't have the Jo Malone to compare them side by side accurately, in my recollection the Jo Malone smells a bit different. Perhaps slightly sweeter. But I like the way this smells so I'll be holding onto it. 

4. COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence: I love this essence for the winter season because it's extremely hydrating and keeps my skin from getting prune-y and crusty. 

5. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: This is an absolute holy grail product for my skin so I refuse to be without it! This oil really helps take away any redness, irratation, and inflammation in my skin. This also helps smooth out my skin's texture so my skin is left feeling very soft and supple. 

6. wet n wild photofocus Loose Setting Powder in Translucent x3: I love this powder because it's not overly matte or powdery, it is friendly to use with my dry skin because it doesn't emphasize or cling to dry patches, it helps with the longevity of my makeup, and ultimately my skin looks like skin with this on. Hence, I stocked up on this while it was on sale. 

7. Brow Brush/Lash Comb: I purchased this because my current one has lost many patches of hair from the brow brush section so it was time for a new one. But that said, I like lash combs with metal teeth because the plastic ones tend to not hold up very well. I find this to be an indispensable tool to comb through my lashes after I apply mascara to help comb out any clumps. Additionally, if there's lash glue stuck in my lashes, this is a great tool to gently dislodge it!

8. Ivon Cuticle Trimmer x3: I'm on my last cuticle trimmer and I like to replace these about every 3 months when they start to dull and for hygiene reasons. Given these were on sale, I decided to restock. 

9. Sally Hansen color therapy Strengthening Base Coat: I'm running low on my base coat and since I have some nails that are prone to peeling, I figured I'd try a base coat that's meant to condition and strengthen the nails and see if that doesn't help with the issue. 

10. miss spa Quick Dry Nail Color Ultra Shiny Top Coat: I ran out of my topcoat completely, it got so gloppy that it wasn't useable so while waiting for the shipment of my trusty standby, I went and purchased this as an emergency solution. I'm finding that it works alright but it doesn't have the same smoothing effect that the one below does. 

11. inm Out the Door Topcoat for Nails x3: This is my absolute favorite topcoat for nails. It smooths out any issues with the nail polish, it looks and feels smooth, and it actually does help speed up drying time. Granted, I still like to give my finished nails a good 30 minutes to fully set. But regardless, they often feel dry to the touch well before the 30 minutes pass.

12. be natural by ProLinc cuticle eliminator: The name of this product sounds very dramatic. Anyways, I bought this because frankly it's less expensive to buy cuticle remover in bulk so I went for a larger bottle. In fact I bought the super jumbo bottle of this because I like the way this product works and I have the smaller bottle to use for refills. 

13. fino Premium Touch Hair Mask: Since I'm running low on my current hair mask and my wife recommended this one highly, I decided to pick it up because it was also on sale. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above. 

December 2024 Empties

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

1. inm Out the Door Topcoat for Nails: This has gotten to its tail end and I can't reach into the bottle properly in order to be able to use this. 

2. Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish in Rule Breaker: This is a pretty purple nail polish but I have a similar issue as the one above - this is at its end and it's nearly impossible to coat the brush properly in order to get this to apply nicely.

3. Equate Tropical Mango Shea Sugar Scrub: I really like that these scrubs are gritty without being overly abrasive and are at an affordable price point. This has a really yummy sweet, fruity, tropical scent that I really enjoy.

4. Clean Beauty Smoke & Mirrors 6 Pairs of Reusable Lashes with Lash Glue (bottom pair): These are made out of the material that bends easily so they were easier to work with versus some of the other pairs in this set. That being said, I wasn't a fan of this lash shape on myself so they were just ok. 

5. Vaseline Intensive Care cocoa radiant Lotion: I like the texture of this moisturizer and it smells pretty nice but unfortunately I feel like it just isn't hydrating enough for the wintertime. 

6. wet n wild photofocus Loose Setting Powder in Translucent: This is a great setting powder that has a satiny finish, stops the under-eye area from creasing, but still has the skin looking like healthy skin which I adore. 

7. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: As we all know I absolutely adore squalane oil and don't want to be without it. This oil takes away much of the redness and inflammation, helps to soothe, and smooths out my skin's texture - making it baby soft, supple, and almost buttery. 

8. Chaos Makeup Watermelon Highlighter: I'm sad to have used this all up. It's a beautiful pink highlight with a greenish gold shift and looks really pretty.

9. Bath & Body Works PocketBac Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel in Turquoise Waters: I like these hand sanitizers in general because, for the most part, they smell nice and don't irritate or dry out my skin. But that said, I feel like the scent on this was just so intense and lingering.

10. Christophe Robin Curls Care x Style Luscious Curl Cream with Flaxseed Oil: While my hair is arguably more wavy than it is curly, I really loved this styling cream. This added a nice boost of hydration to my hair, helped define my waves but left them soft and touchable, and it smells nice as well.

11. Sephora Collection Pro Brow Comb 21: I loved this brush so much because these lash combs with the metal teeth work great for removing mascara clumps or lash glue from lashes and them being metallic meant they stayed intact and didn't fall apart the way their plastic counterparts did. That said, a few clusters of hair have come out of the brow brush end of this and it was time to replace it. 

12. miscellaneous lashes: One of my friends offered these lashes to me and I figured why not, I won't say no to free lashes. These are pretty and fluttery but they had a stubborn lash band so I had issues with them wanting to pop off at the inner corners.

13. Equate Juicy Citrus Shea Sugar Scrub: I genuinely think this is my favorite of the Equate scrub scents, it's so sweet-sour and yummy! Just like the rest of these scrubs, it's gritty and gives me an invigorating exfoliation.

14. berkley jensen Scented Baby Wipes in Green Tea & Cucumber: As I mentioned in previous posts, I like to use these wipes to wipe down surfaces and to remove swatches if I take blog photos. They smell really nice and these large packs last quite a while. 

15. Secret Powder Fresh 24 Hr Invisible Solid: I really like these deodorants because they keep me dry, smelling fresh, and don't irritate my armpit skin. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the lashes which were a gift from a friend. All opinions are my own.

April 2024 Empties

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

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

 

2. reese robert Faux Fur 3D Feather Effect - Amplified Volume lashes: These lashes are beautiful, they really do have this wispy feathery effect that makes them dramatic yet also soft at the same time. That being said, I do find that they have a habit of wanting to come off at the corners.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above.

December 2023 Arrivals

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

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

Fourth Ray Beauty A-HA Moment exfoliating enzyme Mask

Fourth Ray Beauty Avocado superfood nourishing Mask

Fourth Ray Beauty Soak It Up hydrating hyaluronic Mask

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

photo focus Dewy Foundation in Shell Ivory x2

photo focus Concealer in Fair Beige

Photo Focus Loose Setting Powder in Translucent x3

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

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

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

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above.

November 2023 Empties

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

1. UNICAT Loose Setting & Matte Finish Mineral Powder: If I'm being honest I purchased this powder because the packaging is just absolutely adorable. That said, it's a bit too matte for my liking - it didn't emphasize texture or anything like that but it gave me a finish that was more matte that I would have liked. I think this would work nicely for someone with somewhat oilier skin than me.

 

2. Disney Jasmine Storylook Palette golden sands bronzer: I have to admit that I am shocked that I used up an entire bronzer but here we are. This gave my skin a nice bronzy glow without being too intense or over the top.

3. CALA SPOOKY LASHES in Electra x2: These lashes are beautiful - I personally really love the wispy yet spiky effect that they have. That being said, I find that they like to pop off at the inner and outer corners of the eyes so they're a bit fiddly to apply.

4. Clinique Moisture Surge 72 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator: I really liked how hydrating yet lightweight this moisturizer is. It really makes my skin feel plump and juicy. 

5. lune + aster Yes We Can Lip Balm: I am so sad that this balm has now come to an end because I loved it so much. This gave my lips a nice bit of moisture while also having a very soft, rosy color to it that I think worked well with nearly any eye look I did. 

6. Bath & Body Works Golden Sunflower Body Cream: This is a really nice, hydrating body cream that smells nice too. Unfortunately these have gotten too pricey for me to purchase without the semi-annual sale ,however, as I don't feel like they're worth $17/tube.

7. Soapology Dead Sea Salt Scrub in Rose: This scrub smells absolutely delicious and decadent, a truly wonderful floral experience. It's also really abrasive and scrubby just how I prefer my scrubs to be. That being said, I personally found that this is somewhat greasy and tends to leave a residue behind on everything it touches whether that's surfaces or skin which is then, in my experience, difficult to remove. Additionally, as someone who shaves, I prefer sugar scrubs mainly because when salt gets into wounds it stings in quite a prominent way and that's no fun.

8. Bath & Body Works Berry Waffle Cone Scented Candle: I'm so sad that this candle has come to and end because it smells delicious and cozy. I enjoyed burning it every night.

9. Virtue Full Conditioner: I'm genuinely sad to have used this up as the Virtue Full line is my favorite out of all the hair lines I've tried. This smells so good and leaves my hair very silky and shiny. 

10. wet n wild photofocus Eyeshadow Primer: Unfortunately, this primer dried up before I was able to use it up completely. Other than that though I think it's a fantastic primer - it helps my shadow go on smooth and wear without creasing for 8+ hours. 

11. Juvia's Place I Am Magic Concealer in J21: I absolutely love this concealer - it has good coverage, you get a lot of product so it lasts a long time, and has a glowy, skin-like finish. My only issue is that this shade is a bit too light for me as it's difficult to perfectly color match online.

12. Shop Miss A AOA Studio Dermaplaning Face Razor: I honestly realize that even though I use them for dermaplaning, I prefer using smaller brow razors because they give me better precision. This feels too large and sort of clunky. 

13. Laura Mercier Powder Puff: This is the mini size that came with the mini setting powder. I find that this works really nicely to powder my face but I've had this puff for a long time now and it's gotten quite stiff and not soft the way it once was so I believe it's time that we part ways.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Disney, lune+aster, Soapology, and Clinique products which were gifts and/or provided for review. 

September 2023 Arrivals

Ok folksickles! Well, given that it's my birthday month I picked up some things just for fun.

1. Flower Knows Gifts: One of my friends very generously got me these beautiful products for my birthday and we all know I am very excited and grateful because I love mermaids.

Flower Knows Moonlight Mermaid Series Setting Powder in 02 Fair Beige

Flower Knows Moonlight Mermaid Series Hand Mirror

2. ColourPop Haul: I've been eyeing most of these products for a while now and with the Aurora Struck palette FINALLY going on sale, I just went for it:

Fourth Ray Beauty So Radiant brightening eye cream

party proof eye primer in translucent

Rock On Pressed Powder Palette

sage the day Pressed Powder Palette

Aurora struck Pressed Powder Palette

3. Trader Joe's Honeycrisp Apple Scented Candle: This candle legitimately smells the way you would imagine biting into an apple would taste like. I wanted to purchase one last year but the wax looked really odd in last year's candles so I hesitated but it looks great this year so I decided to just go for it. 

4. one+other Pro-Strength Nail Polish Remover Dip: The one I currently have has gotten quite gross so I've decided to replace it.

5. FRUDIA My Orchard Mango Mochi Cleansing Foam : This was an impulse purchase because I have these on my YesStyle wishlist but I saw it for $4 at Marshall's and decided to just go for it.

6. Tiam Snail & Azulene Sleeping Mask: I'm running low on my current sleeping mask and decided to give this a try since it's got ingredients that have historically worked really well for my skin.

7. Birthday Gifts: So one of my friends decided to get me all these beauty goodies for my birthday:

it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser

OYAX Deep cleansing Nutrition Mask Avocado Sheet Mask

OYAX Hyaluronic Acid Whitening Moisturizing Facial Mask

essie nail lacquer in mint candy apple

8. CVS Mini-Haul: These are things I needed to replenish on because I either ran out or that time to replace them is coming:

COVERGIRL CLUMP CRUSHER Mascara in Very Black

Physician's Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner

Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above with the exception of the Flower Knows items and the other birthday gifts I mentioned. 

May 2023 Arrivals

Ok folksickles! Look at me for a change, pretty much only buying essentials.

1. Mini Candle Haul: My mom had a coupon for these candles at BJ's so she let me pick out the ones I really liked:

Yankee Candle Seashore Breeze

Yankee Candle Sweet Violet and Basil

2. Mini Flip Haul: I mostly used this as a chance to replenish on products or product types that I was running low on:

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub

The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane

Colourpop Shadow Stix in Honey BB

Palladio rice powder in translucent

3. e.l.f. Skin Holy Hydration Eye Cream: I'm running low on my eye cream and people have said good things about this line of products so I decided to check it out.

4. Trader Joe's Peony Blossom Candle: If I'm being honest, I had every intention of picking up the new Salted Caramel & Pistachio candle instead of this, but in my opinion that candled smelled very intense and not like the scent of the rest of the line so I got this one instead. This has a really beautiful, sweet, floral scent to it.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above with the exception of the Yankee Candle candles.

March 2023 Empties

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

1. Virtue Flourish Conditioner for Thinning Hair: I really enjoyed both this and the accompanying shampoo (which I am still working on) as they both really did make my hair feel thicker and more dense. This has a spa-like herbaceous scent to it that I really enjoy as well. 

2. AOA Studio A+ Glam 3D Premium Faux Mink Lashes in New York: I really love how big and full these lashes are and how big they make my eyes look, but they have the tendency to want to pop off the inner and outer corners of my eyes.

3. REVLON Colorsilk Beautiful Color After-Color Conditioner x4: So the woman my mom currently works for passed down a bunch of these post-color conditioners because apparently her daughter doesn't use them - which I think is criminal because boxed dye dries out the hair quite badly - but in any case I really like this! It's deeply hydrating and helps nourish my dry ends. I personally happen to think it smells nice too.

4. Fourth Ray Beauty Night Dew hydrating jelly mask: This mask does a fantastic job of adding a boost to my nighttime routine. While, as most things, it didn't really help my eczema patch much I did find that overall my skin was more hydrated and had a nice, soft texture while I was using this.

5. one+other Pro Strength Nail Polish Remover: I found that this did its job as a nail polish remover. 

6. exederm for eczema and dermatitis flare control cream: Unfortunately I didn't find this more helpful than something like just cortisone and that's probably to do with the fact that the main ingredient here is cortisone to begin with. Initially I thought it was better than just regular cortisone but over time the results were essentially the same. Suffice to say I will probably just use plain cortisone for my eczema going forward. 

7. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Cannabis Sativa Hemp Seed Oil x2:  I really love how gritty these scrubs are. This has an earthy, fresh, green scent to it that I didn't think I'd enjoy but I do. At least it doesn't have that signature scent one might associate with cannabis and I appreciate that.

8. Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream: I'm kind of unsure as to why I liked this so much in my original review of it. I've used up my second tube of it and it's alright at moisturizing and everything but it feels and acts very basic for something so pricey. My eczema patch has calmed down a little bit, but I would almost say it's the warmer weather that's helping and not this specific product. Although this is supposed to have skin regenerating ingredients in it, I really didn't see a difference. I felt like it was just okay. 

9. Skinfood Peach Cotton Multi Finish Powder: I really enjoyed the smooth finish of this powder and that it had a bit of a peach scent to it. That being said, the sifter here is not removable which makes me feel like there might be product left behind that I just cannot get to. 

10. Nutrius Brazilian Body Butter Cream: I had asked my mom to get these for me hoping that they were a dupe for the Sol Janeiro Bum Bum Cream and while the cream smells nice, it is no dupe. Unfortunately, I found this overall like a thin body lotion and I wish it were more hydrating. It hydrated my legs ok but really didn't do much for the soles of my feet. 

11. Marc Jacobs O!mega Lash Mascara: I am so glad to be done with this mascara because, it may be because it dried out, but it really didn't do anything noticeable for my lashes. In fact it hardly coated them at all because the formula would just stick onto the brush rather than to my lashes. 

12. Garnier Fructis Smoothing + Avocado Hair Treatment : I bought this on a whim because I needed a hair mask and ended up really loving this. It makes my hair very soft, smooth, and nourished-feeling while also smelling delicious. I love that its scent lingers in my hair.

13. Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara: Unfortunately it seems as though this mascara has also dried out to the point where it does nothing but comb through my lashes without doing anything for them. 

14. wet n wild Vitamins super nutrient face mist: I really enjoyed this mist, it smells yummy, kind of like Emergen-C or Fanta to me. In addition, I think it did a nice job with helping my skin feel refreshed and helping my makeup stay on. 

15. COSRX Aloe Sun Soothing Cream SPF 50 PA+++: As always, I am so sad to have run out of this. It is by far my favorite sunscreen that I've used for face because it's hydrating, fairly lightweight, and absorbs well. It doesn't have very much of a white casting either.

16. lune+aster Desert Moon Bronzer, Blush & Glow Palette: This was a really nice face palette that, while I wasn't sure that the bronzer here would work for me, actually created quite the natural, glowing, sunkissed appearance especially when all the shades were used in tandem. I quite enjoyed it and am sad to have finished it up.

17.  Quo Curl Effortless Mascara: Unfortunately, this mascara has developed an off-scent, it smells fishy, so I'll be discarding it.

18. AOA studio A+ Glam 3D Premium Faux Mink Lashes in Paris x2: These are beautiful, large, false lashes that really open up my eyes and make my eyes look large. That being said, I have trouble getting these to stick in the inner corners of my eyes.

19. Trish McEvoy Jet Black Lash Curling Mascara: Unfortunately, this mascara has developed an odd scent to it so I think it's best for us to part ways. 

20. Tarte Lights, Cameras, Flashes! Statement Mascara: This mascara has completely dried out.

21. up&up 100% acetone nail polish remover dip-it: This has gotten quite dirty so I've replaced it. 

22. Urban Decay Naked Skin Illuminating Beauty Balm: I've been using this as a primer because, on its own this doesn't have much coverage but gave my skin a bit of an orange tint because I assume it was meant to give a "bronze" effect. That being said, it worked well at holding my makeup on and smoothing out any texture on my skin. 

23. Dove gentle exfoliating sea minerals body wash: Honestly, I like to use these body washes for shaving and the exfoliating version isn't my favorite because it's a bit gritty. That being said, the exfoliating factor of this body wash is extremely mild and it still provides me with a smooth shave.

24. Freeman Deep Clearing manuka honey + tea tree oil Clay Mask + Cleanser: I really enjoyed using this as a mask because I found that it left my skin feeling genuinely deeply cleansed but without being tight or dried out. 

25. The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane: I enjoyed this retinol formulation in particular because I believe that due to it being in squalane oil, that it was generally well-tolerated by my normally sensitive skin. However, I have complained for nearly a year now of this horrid eczema patch on my chin and I wonder if perhaps the retinol hadn't been making the spot worse. I have purchased a bunch of gentle, hydrating products since the start of this year and I'll be taking a break from the retinol now that I'm done this bottle so we'll see if it was, in fact, the retinol that may have been causing or exacerbating the patch.

26. Freeman Anti-Stress dead sea minerals Clay Mask: This is another mask I really enjoyed using  because I found that it left my skin feeling deeply cleansed without being tight or dried out. 

27.  lune + aster Powerlips Lip Oil: Unfortunately, although I really enjoyed this lip oil and found it hydrating, it has developed a weird off scent/flavor and I feel like it's best that I discard it. 

28. YSL 5 Fuchsia Temptation Crème de Blush Cream Blush: Frankly I'm kind of shocked that I finished this blush because it very, very slowly and very, very gradually just came to an end. It was a really fun, bright fuschia pink that added a nice brightness to my cheeks. I really enjoyed using it.

29.  Dr. Bronner's Rose Magic Soap: I really like to use these soaps to wash my brushes with. I do find that this has quite an intense floral scent to it that I wouldn't pinpoint as being rose. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Dr. Barbara Sturm, Marc Jacobs, lune + aster, Quo, Trish McEvoy, tarte, Urban Decay, Freeman, YSL, and Nutrius products.