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. 

April 2026 Arrivals

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

1. Milani StayPut Eyeshadow Primer Longwear Eyeshadow Base in Universal: I've run out of my eyeshadow primer and since it's a product I swear by and have heard good things about this one, I decided to give it a try.

2. Organic Kitchen Pistachio Mafia Polishing Face Scrub: I'm running low on my current jar of this so I decided to go ahead and replenish on it.

3. Green Pharmacy Rose Water and Almond Oil Facial Toner: Since my current toner is also running low, I decided to pick this one up because it's inexpensive, smells nice, keeps my skin soft, and honestly I like it well enough to keep repurchasing it. 

4. timeless Skin Care Squalane Oil 100% Pure: Since unfortunately my bottle of The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane fell and most of it spilled out, thus causing me some heartbreak, I decided to try out a new squalane oil. Frankly, since The Ordinary keeps going up in price and it was less pricey for me to purchase a 2 oz. bottle of this oil instead, I decided to get it and see how I'd like it.

5. Missha M B.B. Boomer Primer: The name of this product doesn't really say much regarding what this is but in short, it's a glowy primer. I really like glow boosting primers because they make my skin look healthy and luminous so I figured I'd give this one a try. 

6. Missha Perfect Cover B.B. Cream: I'm running low on both my tubes of bb cream and like to wear it when I'm not doing a full face. It has been an absolute age since I last used Missha and it seems like they've released a lighter shade so I decided I'd try it again.

7. L'Oreal Paris true match Super Blendable Foundation in C 0.5 Cool Light: I am running low on my current foundation and wanted to replenish. I decided to give this a try because there are more shades in it than the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup and have been really liking it so far. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all the items listed above 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.

Primer Review: Missha M B.B.Boomer Primer

 Today's review will be for the Missha M B.B. Boomer Primer.

Availability: This retails at $12-$16 for 1.35 fl. oz. (40 mL). It is available at misshaus.com, amazon.com, and yesstyle.com. 

Would I buy this again?: Yes!

What is this product designed to address?

According to misshaus.com: 

A creamy-soft illuminating primer to pair with BB cream to extend wear time and finish. Providing a dewy finish, BB Boomer offers moisture, brightening, and wrinkle care effects with ingredients like squalene, moringa, adenosine, and pearl powder.

Primes skin, prolongs foundation wear time, moisturizes, brightens, and prevents wrinkles.

Recommended for all skin types.

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Once again, according to misshaus.com, the key ingredients are:

Moringa Oil (Patented): Hydrates and protects against environmental factors

Mannan: Moisturizes and softens skin through quick absorption

Squalene: Aids in moisture retention and improves overall skin health

What is the texture like?

This has a creamy, hydrating, refreshing, and cooling feel to it. 

Is it scented?

This has a faint floral scent to it. 

My overall experience/comments on the product:

Y'all know from my past reviews that I love a glowy primer. I really do find that they improve the coverage of my foundation versus using nothing. This gives my skin a really pretty glow, a lit-from-within effect with foundation over it. It actually reminds me a lot of MAC's original Strobe Cream because it has that slightly thicker, slightly initially tacky texture (this does dry smooth though) and a pink iridescent glow to it. I'm sure it would make a pretty sheer cream highlight if you wanted to use it for that as well. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

Primer Review: L'Oreal 901 Fair Glow True Match Lumi Glotion

Today's review will be for the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion in 901 Fair Glow.

Availability: This retails at $17-18 for 1.35 fl. oz. (40 mL). It is available at ulta.com, target.com, cvs.com, and walgreens.com along with select physical store locations that carry L'Oreal as well as at amazon.com. 

Would I buy this again?: Yes!

What is this product designed to address?

According to lorealparisusa.com: Viral TikTok Favorite, Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer Tinted Moisturizer for Face and Body, Lightweight, infused with Shea Butter and glycerin

• Viral TikTok Favorite, Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer Tinted Moisturizer for Face and Body, 

• Illuminating moisturizer infused with glycerin and shea butter

• Wear alone, under or over makeup– works as a full face and body tinted moisturizer, luminous primer, highlighter and contour

• Available in 5 shades - fair, light, medium, deep and rich - Lumi glotion achieves the natural glow of a tinted moisturizer with instant hydration

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Shea Butter: Has hydrating, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties; helps protect the skin's barrier, and is rich in Vitamins A and E.

Jojoba Esters: Have hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties.

What is the texture like?

This has a lightweight, creamy feel to it. 

Is it scented?

This doesn't have a particularly discernable scent. 

My overall experience/comments on the product:

I honestly didn't buy this product because I heard anyone raving about it, but because y'all know from my past reviews that I love a glowy primer. I really do find that they improve the coverage of my foundation versus using nothing. This gives my skin a really pretty glow, a lit-from-within effect with foundation over it. I'm sure it would make a pretty sheer cream highlight if you wanted to use it for that as well. This particular shade is a fleshy pink-tone that blends out fairly sheer. I would say it's not really like a tinted moisturizer because, while it gives the skin a glow with a tint to it, the tint itself is so sheer that you won't get ANY coverage with it outside of the glow itself versus flesh-toned products called "skin tints" or "tinted moisturizers" that tend to have light to medium, buildable, flesh-toned coverage.

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

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.

July 2025 Empties

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

1. saie Glowy Super Gel: This is a really pretty, glowy, lightweight product that I personally liked applying as a primer to give my skin a bit more radiance. It also has a lovely lilac scent that I enjoy. That said I'm unsure if I'd buy it because there are similar items at a lower price point that work just as well.

2. The Creme Shop Flexible Fit 3D Faux Mink Lashes in Bossy x2: I really like how long, voluminous, and spiky these lashes are. 

3. WOW Skin Science Organic virgin coconut oil + avocado oil conditioner: Despite being fairly lightweight, I found this to be a nourishing conditioner that gave my hair a lot of shine and bounce without weighing it down. As someone who likes coconut scents, I appreciated the fresh coconut scent that this has. 

4. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: As anyone who's been following this blog for a while might know, this facial oil is an absolute holy grail for me so of course I purchased more as soon as I started running out of this. It takes the redness out of my skin and leaves my skin with a beautiful glow and soft texture.

5. Hourglass Blush in Sublime Flush: I am so sad to have run out of this blush - it's a really pretty, brightening yet natural-looking pink shade that gave my skin a nice glow. 

6. berkley jensen Scented baby wipes in Green Tea & Cucumber: As I mentioned in previous posts, I like using these to wipe down my makeup when it gets dusty or messy and for removing swatches from my hands and arms.

7. KISS Lash Couture Super Strong Strip Lash Adhesive in Clear: I don't see why they called this lash glue "super strong" as I found it to have the same level of hold that literally every other brush-on glue I've tried in the past has had. That said, this also took quite a while to get tacky and stick to my lashes so I probably won't be getting it again.

8. deal worthy Fresh Scent Body Lotion: At the price point that this lotion is, I really can't complain. I do wish that it were slightly thicker and more hydrating because while it does an alright job on the soles of my feet - where I need the most hydration, it gets absorbed rather quickly and then my feet are dry again. It does do a great job of hydrating my legs post-shave though.

9. L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Panorama Mascara: I'm honestly sad to be letting this mascara go because it made my lashes look so fantastic! This gave me the length and volume I've been seeking from mascara for ages!

10. equate Tahitian Vanilla Shea Sugar Scrub: I love how gritty this scrub is and how delicious and sweet it smells. I like that its vanilla scent feels sweet in a sophisticated way and isn't cloyingly sweet. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth and is great for shave prep. 

11. Cococare 100% Natural Peppermint Oil: This time of year I use this oil as a deterrent for critters getting into my room and scaring me in the middle of the night. Unfortunately it doesn't do anything for centipedes but it seems fairly effective otherwise. 

12. COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream: I find that this is a good eye cream if what you're looking for is mainly hydration. It depuffs slightly, but I wouldn't say it's necessarily the most depuffing and it doesn't really do much to brighten the under-eye area.

13. miss spa Quick Dry Nail Color Top Coat Ultra Shiny Nail Polish: Unfortunately this top coat has gotten really goopy and difficult to work with which I feel happened quickly but alas. 

14. Dove refreshing cucumber & green tea body wash: As you know I like to use these Dove body washes in place of shave gel and like how they leave my skin soft and silky. This one has a nice refreshing yet sweet scent.

15. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner:  It was time to replace this and given it's my favorite, I just went out and picked up another one.

16. e.l.f. 16HR Hydrating Camo Concealer in Fair Rose: I honestly think this color is the best match for my skin-tone over Fair Beige, which is a hair too dark, but this is a hair too light and I wish there was a pinky shade in between those two.

17. pixi skintreats Rose Remedy Mask Nourishing Toning Jelly: This is a really great mask if you need an extra boost of hydration. It's gelatinous in texture which makes it feel cooling and soothing while it's on your face. I also personally think you don't need a thick layer of it to achieve results so the jar actually lasts quite a while if the mask is used in thin layers.

18. Green Pharmacy Rose Water and Almond Oil Facial Toner: I like this toner because it's gentle, hydrating, and feels refreshing to apply. I feel like the newer bottle doesn't smell as nice as this one did, but it still makes my skin feel nice.

19. Erbario Toscano Lavender & Lemon Purifying Soap: I really enjoyed this bar soap because it's very big, so it lasted quite a long time - about 4 months as a hand soap. Additionally, it smells really refreshing without being heavy and leaves my hands feeling soft. It's not harsh or drying like I feared it might be, so I really loved it. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the saie product which I received as a sample with purchase. All opinions are my own.

June 2025 Arrivals

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

1. Florasis Floral Engraving Beauty Goddess Makeup Palette: I was very generously gifted this palette by a friend of mine and it's absolutely gorgeous! From the designed stamped onto the palette itself, to the quality of the eyeshadow, to the beautiful warm tones that were chosen - I absolutely love it!

2. The Creme Shop Flexible Fit 3D Faux Mink Lashes in Bossy x3: It's been a while since I had big, fluttery, spikey lashes so when I saw these at Marshall's I felt like it was high time to pick up a few pairs.

3. ProBeauty Essentials Wispies x5: As for these, I picked them up because wispies tend to work for me as a natural-looking lash that looks nice for any occasion so I figured they'd be a safe bet.

4. Sanrio Cinnamoroll Lip Balm: My friend very graciously got me this lip balm as well, which I think is very cute!

5. Milani Make It Last Original Natural Finish Setting Spray: I ran out of this a while ago and unfortunately my local drugstore stopped carrying the brand so now I have to order it online which is a bit of a pain. That said I finally have this back in my life - it's my favorite setting spray because, frankly, I don't notice a big difference in wear time when I use this versus when I don't - but it feels refreshing to apply, smells nice, and works fantastic for applying eyeshadow wet. This big bottle also lasts me quite a long time. 

6. I forgot to take photos of the following but I had made a tiny purchase at Sephora that featured:

The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: because I was running out and needed to replenish.

 I chose the following as my samples:

Youth to the People 15% Vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum

saie Glowy Super Gel 

Disclaimer: I purchased all the items listed above myself with the exception of the Florasis palette and the lip balm which were both gifts from a friend. All opinions are my own.

May 2025 Empties

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

1. Nexxus Clean & Pure Invigorating Detox Scalp Scrub: I really loved this scalp scrub because it helped my scalp feel clean, kept dandruff and flakey skin at bay, was sufficiently gritty and scrubby, and also doubled as a shampoo on the days I used this (about once a week) because it foamed up. For some reason it seems like it may be getting discontinued, because I haven't seen it around, but if that's not the case I highly recommend this. 

2. equate Shea Sugar Scrub in Island Coconut:  As I've noted many times, I love how gritty these shea sugar scrubs are. They make my skin feel smooth and are invigorating to apply. This one has a really nice, subtle, coconut scent that's almost perfume-like and not overly sweet or in-your-face; I really like it. 

3. Ardell Demi Wispies x2: Not only do I love these lashes but I'm convinced all others should be similar to them. I say that because I don't need to trim them to fit my eye shape and the bands on them are so thin and flexible that it's easy to sit and adjust them so they're right at the lash-line.

4. wet n wild Rose Addiction Photo Focus 3-in-1 Primer Water: As much as I used to love to use this as a setting spray and to apply my metallic eyeshadows wet, this time I found myself disappointed. Now, the reason I picked it up is because my local CVS decided to stop carrying my beloved Milani Make It Last Original Natural Finish Setting Spray, and because I used to love this too, I picked it up. The thing is, I ran out of this bottle within a few weeks, and in addition to how quickly I finished it, the scent of it felt so intense that I found it off-putting. I probably will not get this again

The following brushes are all frayed or otherwise broken or damaged:

5. Odacite Facial Brush: 

6. Crown Pro C511 Brush: 

7. Sonia Kashuk Essential Blending Crease Brush No. 273:  

8. Memebox Oval Foundation Brush: 

9. Elizabeth Mott All Over Eyeshadow brush: 

10. AOA studio F19  Highlighter brush:

11. bubbi Blending brush: 

12. Isehan KISSME Heroine Make Long UP Black Mascara Super WP #01: As much as I wanted to love this mascara, I just really wasn't a fan and won't be getting it again. It's difficult to remove, is very textured - probably because it has fibers in it - and left me with racoon eyes no matter how thoroughly I'd go in with my makeup remover oil. Additionally, it smells really musky, off, and is starting to irritate my eyes so I'm discarding it. 

13. pop arazzi Speedboat Nail Polish: This is such a pretty periwinkle shade of nail polish but unfortunately it has become very thick and goopy to the point of not being usable. 

14. Cococare 100% Natural Peppermint Oil: I like to use this in my oil diffuser and on my carpet to open up my sinuses and as a deterrent for creepy crawlies. 

15. Secret Powder Fresh 24 HR Invisible Solid:  Honestly Secret is a tried and true brand for me that is gentle on my armpits, doesn't cause irratation, keeps me fresh, and keeps me from being sweaty and stinky; hence why I picked this up. That said, it was on its last leg, fell, and broke apart entirely today so it was time to take out my replacement. 

16. Quret Strawberry Milk Collagen Body Wash: This is essentially like my favorite Asian-market facial cleansers in body wash form. I loved it! This foamed up nicely, left my skin feeling soft, and smells nice. I wouldn't say it smells like strawberry milk at all, it's more like a floral strawberry scent, but it's nice. 

17. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: This is an absolute holy grail product for me, but unfortunately mine was getting really dried out so it was time to replace it.

18. DUO Quick-Set Striplash Adhesive: My tube of this was getting super clumpy and gross so it was time to go ahead and replace it. 

19. mixsoon Glacier Water Hyaluronic Acid Serum: This is a nice, lightweight, hydrating serum. I like that you get a lot in the bottle so it will last you quite a long time. That being said, I prefer my COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, simply because it provides me with more intense hydration. Given that my skin is on the drier end, I prefer being more hydrated. 

20. Bath & Body Works PocketBac in fresh cut lilacs: This has a really beautiful lilac scent that's perfect for this time of year. I really enjoyed using it while I had it. I like that these hand sanitizers not only smell nice but that they don't dry out my skin either. 

21. Queen Helene Oatmeal 'n Honey Scrub: This scrub was alright, I found it was a bit too abrasive for my taste. 

22. Dove refreshing cucumber & green tea body wash: As I always mention, I like to use these dove body washes to shave with because they last me a month or so and leave my skin smooth and soft. This has a nice, refreshing scent that I think is nice for spring and summer. 

23. no-name powder puff: It's unfortunate that I'm unsure where this powder puff came from because the quality of it was really nice - it was very soft and held up nicely. That said it is starting to come apart so it's time to replace it. 

24. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Vitamin C: This scrub is nicely abrasive and just smells so good! Out of the Dr Teal's line this is my favorite scent - it's bright, citrusy, and helps wake me up. I really enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the Quret body wash which I received as a gift.  All opinions are my own.

April 2025 Empties

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

1. Dove deep moisture body wash: I really enjoyed this body wash because they are very hydrating and thus made my skin feel very smooth and silky post-shave. I like to use this specifically for shaving because this lasts longer than shaving cream/gel and provide my razor with a nice, smooth glide so my skin feels soft and not irritated post-shave. 

2. Dove relaxing lavender oil & chamomile body wash: In a similar vein to the above, I like to use this in place of a shaving cream/gel. The reason I finished two bottles back to back so quickly is because I had this bottle with a tiny bit of product in it hanging out for a while since my eczema came back in the winter and I was using the deep moisture version instead.

3. wet n wild photo focus Dewy Foundation in Shell Ivory: As you all know, I love this foundation - it's very natural looking on the skin, but gives great coverage and is long-wearing. I like the healthy glow that the dewy finish one gives me.

4. Ardell Professional Active Lash in Speedy: I really like how soft and natural these lashes look, they add a little length and volume without being over the top. That said, similar to many other pairs I have issues with, they really like popping off at the inner corner and it's a bit of a fight to get them to stick on there. I wish they were like a centimeter or so longer because what causes issues is how difficult that inner corner is to grab onto and adjust.

5. Colourpop Party Proof Eye Primer in translucent: I LOVED this primer, the tube itself lasted forever - I believe over a year! I like the translucent shade because it doesn't really have any color in it, so it doesn't interfere with whatever eyeshadow you place on top. Additionally, this gave me a smooth canvas on my eyelids and my eyeshadow was vibrant and crease-free until I washed it off at the end of the day.  

6. Kerastase Paris Chronologiste Youth revitalizing hair mask: When I got this sample, I honestly wasn't expecting anything special other than hydration. That said, I was wrong to think so! My hair felt so silky and healthy in a way it hasn't felt since I was a child! This sample packet actually had enough for 2.5 uses (I say 2.5 because the last one I did have to add a little extra of a different hair mask into my hair), which I am grateful for. This mask also smells delightful -it's got this really sophisticated perfume to it which leaves my hair smelling fantastic. That being said, at $75, this mask is crazy expensive and I'm unsure as to my likelihood to ever actually purchase it for myself. 

7. equate Shea Sugar Scrub in Coconut Hibiscus:  As I've noted many times, I love how gritty these shea sugar scrubs are. They really make my skin feel smooth and are invigorating to apply. This one in particular has a sweet, tart, fruity scent that I really enjoy. 

8. SENKA Perfect Whip Beauty Foam: I love this cleanser because it has a very nice, rich lather to it and leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth after I wash it off. 

9. Milani Make It Last Original Natural Finish Setting Spray: I am so sad that I've run out of this and my nearby CVS no longer carries this so I can no longer get it on sale (nearby anyway), I loved buying the jumbo bottles of this spray because they lasted forever and helped my makeup stay on. I also love using this setting spray to apply metallic eyeshadows onto my eyelids to give them more intensity.

10. Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer in Light Bronzer: My issue with this bronzer is that this light shade felt a hint too light for my skin-tone, and overall the shade range on these is very warm-toned. I do love how silky the formula is, but I feel like the shade range only works on light-to-medium warm skin-tones and not very fair or very deep skin-tones.

11. COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence: I'm so sad to have run out of this as it is a staple item in my skincare collection. This keeps my skin feeling supple, hydrated, and bouncy. I feel like if my skin ever starts drying out, this always brings it right back so I like to have it on hand just in case my skin gets irritated.

12. Bath & Body Works Pocketbac in Passionfruit & Banana Flower: This hand sanitizer smells really nice and I guess it gets the job done? Being a germaphobe I always have hand sanitizer on me and I like that these have a nice scent. They don't have that heavy alcohol scent that standard hand sanitizer tends to have. 

13. equate Shea Sugar Scrub in Tropical Mango:  As I've noted many times, I love how gritty these shea sugar scrubs are. They really make my skin feel smooth and are invigorating to apply. This one in particular has a sweet, tropical fruity scent that I really enjoy. 

14. deal worthy Fresh Scent Body Lotion: I like that this lotion is fairly inexpensive but it feels hydrating and does a great job making my legs feel soft post-shave. It smells nice too, fresh but not overpowering. 

15. wet n wild Loose Setting Powder: Even though I have backups, I'm sad that this ran out because it's a great setting powder. This doesn't cling to any dry patches I have, it makes my skin look very smooth and I don't need a lot of product to create that velvety, natural skin finish I like. 

16. berkley jensen baby wipes in Green Tea & Cucumber: I like using these to wipe down surfaces, wipe swatches off my skin, and to wipe my makeup items off with.

17. Ardell Demi Wispies: Not only do I love these lashes but I'm convinced all others should be similar to them. I say that because I don't need to trim them to fit my eye shape and the bands on them are so thin and flexible that it's easy to sit and adjust them so they're right at the lash-line.

The following lippies all smell off so I'm letting them go:

18. Clinique Pop Lacquer Lip Colour + Primer in Lava Pop: 

19. NYX Butter Gloss in Sugar Cookie: 

20. ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip in Bad Habit: 

21. ColourPop Ultra Satin Lip in The Rabbit: 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the Kerastase hair mask which I received as a sample.  All opinions are my own.