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. 

June 2026 Arrivals

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

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

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

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

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

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

February 2026 Empties

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

1. berkley jensen Scented baby wipes Green Tea & Cucumber: I use these wipes mostly to wipe down surfaces and to clean up any makeup messes or makeup items in my collection. They have a nice, fresh scent to them. 

2. Miscellaneous Angled Brush: This brush doesn't seem to have a label on it so I'm unsure where it's from, but given that it's broken I will be parting ways with it.

3. inm Out the Door Topcoat for Nails: I like this top coat because it dries quickly and also helps smooth any minor imperfections on the nail surface so that my nail polish looks smooth and pretty.

4. Sally Hansen color therapy Strengthening Base Coat: This was a nice base that helped hydrate my nails. That said, I feel like due to damage from gel polish, my nails needed a little more TLC than this was able to provide. It did not stop my nails from peeling for the most part, but it did help smooth their surface.

5. Cococare 100% Natural Peppermint Oil: This is a nice smelling peppermint oil that works great both in my fragrance diffuser and for sprinkling around my room as a deterrent to creepy crawlies. 

6. one+other Pro-Strength Nail Polish Remover Dip: I feel like this nail polish remover makes quick work out of taking my nail polish off because it is 100% acetone. But that said, I found that this particular jar, the inside bristles that take the polish off all came loose and so I ended up having to soak the polish off my nails and that really dried them out. I've decided to take a break from pure acetone for the time being in hopes that my nails can recover from dryness and damage.

7. Secret pH Balanced Powder Fresh 24 Hr Invisible Solid Antiperspirant/Deodorant: This is a great basic deodorant. It leaves me feeling and smelling fresh while keeping me dry. 

8.  Misc concealer brush: While this brush had a great fluffy shape where it dispersed and blended concealer beautifully, unfortunately, the brush has become severely disformed and has come loose from the ferule. It is time for me to say goodbye. 

9. Green Pharmacy Cactus Squalane Ultra Moisturizing Eye Cream: I feel like the serum from this line spoiled me into thinking it was going to be very hydrating. Unfortunately, this eye cream feels quite basic and is probably good for someone getting their first eye cream who needs perhaps a tiny boost of hydration around the eye area. For me, however, it wasn't hydrating, brightening, or depuffing which are the three things I need most. I will not be getting it again. 

10.  Dove deep moisture all day lotion-soft skin: As I always say, I like to use these body washes to shave with because they give my razors a smooth glide and leave my skin feeling soft and silky. This particular body wash is very hydrating and has a light, clean, slightly powdery scent to it.

11. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Prebiotic Lemon Balm: I love how gritty this scrub is. This has a very refreshing, intense lemony scent to it. I personally LOVE it, I feel like it wakes me up, but I can see how it can feel intense to some people.  This leaves my skin feeling very soft, smooth, and is great for shave prep. 

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

13.  deal worthy Fresh Scent Body Lotion: This is a nice, inexpensive body lotion. It does a good job of being hydrating in a basic way. As in, it keeps my legs soft post-shave but I do feel like I'd prefer something a bit richer for the soles of my feet. 

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

15. White Barn Sunshine & Lemons Pocketbac anti-bacterial hand gel:  I like how these hand sanitizers don't dry my skin out. This particular one has a bright, intense sweet lemon scent to it. 

16. KimChi_Chic Beauty Powder Puff: I am actually so sad that it is time to replace this puff because it's so cuddly and soft on the face. I will say that since I use puffs mostly for placing powder on targeted areas like under my eyes or around my nose that it was kind of big and cumbersome to use due to its size. But that said, its texture is so nice that I was willing to overlook its size.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the sheet masks and under eye patches which were a Christmas gift.

Nail Product Review: Sally Hansen color therapy Strengthening Base Coat

Hello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Sally Hansen color therapy Strengthening Base Coat.

Availability: You can purchase this at any drugstore that sells Sally Hansen nail products - the pricing varies but on average this goes for $7.50 -$11. 

Would I buy this again?: Yes!

Notes: I've had a lot of issues with some of my nails peeling so I decided to give this a try since it claims to "strengthen" nails. Frankly I was concerned that, because this has oil in it, that it would impair the wear time of my nail polish or sheer it out but those concerns were unfounded. I've used this about three times so far and the peeling I had on my nails is nearly entirely gone which came as a pleasant surprise and my nail polish wears nicely over this as well! I'll definitely be getting it again!

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

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. 

August 2021 Empties

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

Sheet Masks Galore:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

April 2021 Arrivals

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

1. m-61 PowerSpot Clear x2: I know that these aren't going to be as accessible to me as they once were so I decided to stock up because I really do love them as a spot treatment. 

2. NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk (not photographed): I ran out of my white shadow base and needed to replenish. Although I haven't had this in years it's an old standby for lots of makeup enthusiasts so I've decided to pick it up. 

3. Sally Hansen Problem Cuticle Remover: I really like that this cuticle remover is a cream formulation and has aloe in it, as I've started to use 100% acetone to remove my nail polish because it does a super quick job of it, this gives my cuticle area a little extra TLC and hydration while allowing me to push them back so I can have nice-looking nails.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above.

October 2020 Arrivals

 Ok folksickles! Given that I went nuts in September, I was very tame this month and didn't get too much. Arrivals feature items I bought this month that are joining my collection; a haul if you will. Without further ado.

1. m-61 PowerSpot Clear x2: You know I really love this as a spot treatment so I stocked up. 

2.  Pop-arrazi nail polish mini Haul: These are a CVS exclusive and I've found them to work pretty well on me and they're inexpensive so I decided to pick up a few colors for funsies since I kind of either discarded or gave away a large chunk of my nail polish collection. I purchased a mint and a turquoise:

Shell Me More

Seaside Brunch

3. Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover: Given that I ran out of my other cuticle remover and needed something to replace it, I picked this up. 

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above.

Departures - January 2019

Ok folksickles, I had a thought to have a new "column" in here that I'll be calling Arrivals and Departures which is essentially a two-parter that will happen monthly (or as applies). Departure blogs will contain items that aren't empties but that are going to be given away for one reason or another. I'm working hard to curate my makeup collection and want it to include only the products that I think truly work well, that I reach for often and do what they're supposed to do.

1. Sally Hansen Purple Pulse Complete Salon Manicure: I found that this just had a poor wear time on me and chipped quite a bit. It's a lovely color so I'll be passing it along.

2. MAKE UP FOR EVER 406 Artist Plexi-Gloss: A gorgeous burgundy which, unfortunately, didn't wear all that well on me. I found that it faded quite unevenly so I've decided to pass it along.

3. MAC Reckless Desire Lipglass: I found this a bit too pastel for my liking.

4. Bite Beauty Four Watercolor Gloss: This was also too pastel for my liking.

5. Christian Dior 013 Etoilee Dior Addict Gloss: I found that this didn't really stay on me very well and is quite sheer. It's pretty but I'd rather pass it along to someone who can love it more.

6. Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Palette: While a really beautiful, good-quality palette I just find it redundant in my collection - I know I won't reach for it very often.

7. Bite Beauty Five Watercolor Gloss: This was also too pastel for my liking.

Disclaimer: I purchased all products mentioned myself with the exception of the Bite Beauty  product which was provided for testing purposes. All opinions are my own. 

Arrivals - May 2018

Ok folksickles, I had a thought to have a new "column" in here that I'll be calling Arrivals and Departures which is essentially a two-parter that will happen monthly (or as applies).  Arrivals will feature items I bought this month that are joining my collection. Without further ado.

Ignore the nail polish remover, I forgot that I purchased it last month

1. L'Oreal Paris Smooth & Glow Pure Sugar Scrub: So I'm running toward the lower end of my facial scrub and decided to pick up more. This particular one appealed to my as I'm curious how it compares to the Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off.

2. L'Oreal Paris Purify & Unclog Pure Sugar Scrub: Given that the pores on my nose are always an issue, especially when it comes to them being "clogged" I decided to pick this up to give it a try.

3. Sally Hansen Big Kwik Dry Top Coat: I believe, but can't tell for sure because it's in an opaque black bottle, that I've run out of my top coat so I decided to pick up something new. This is a nice, somewhat quick-drying (regardless of this claim I give my nails a full 30 minutes to set completely before doing anything too involved with my hands), and mega-shine giving top coat. I love how smoothly it goes onto the nails.

4. Ardell Faux Mink Lashes 4-pack in 811 x3: These were on a buy 2 get one free sale and came to just about $3 per set of lashes - not bad at all. They're dramatic yet the soft mink-like effect makes them not overly intense-looking. I feel that with faux mink lashes there's quite a hit-and-miss situation, I LOVE the way they look but the lash bands on some of them, these included just aren't made properly and I don't know why. I suppose the idea is that they look more "natural" hence this gel-like band is used versus a regular one but I find that the gel lash bands just don't have good structural integrity. If a normal pair of lashes lasts me 5-10 uses on average, I'm lucky to get 3-5 uses out of the gel band ones. Sadness.

5. Clarisonic Luxe Cashmere Cleanse High Performance Facial Brush Heads x2: This is my absolute favorite brush head for the Clarisonic device as it's the cuddliest on the face and, this may be in my head, but I feel like it produces a more foamy wash because of how gentle it is. I really love it, especially when you compare it to how scratchy and intense the regular Clarisonic brush heads feel in comparison.

6. Laneige Multi Cleanser: This has been on my wish-list for a LONG time because way back in the day Bubzbeauty recommended it. Given that I was running low on cleanser and love Korean beauty brands I finally gave in and ordered this on eBay... where it's cheaper. Haha.

7. Laneige Multi Deep-Clean Cleanser : So I was perusing on eBay and saw this when trying to purchase the regular multi cleanser and figured you know what, why don't I try them both to see how this compares.

8. Laneige Moisturizing Foam Cleanser: Another cleanser that I spotted while looking for the multi cleanser, although this was a while back and has been sitting on my wish-list for a while. Given that my skin is dry I want to see how this compares to the other two cleansers in terms of how it leaves my skin feeling.

9. Trader Joe's Rose Water Facial Toner: Alright so I was in Trader Joe's the other day and spotted this in the checkout aisle for $3.99 and figured... y'all know I LOVE the majority of rose products I try, they're my favorite flowers - they look pretty, smell nice, and leave my skin with a beautiful, hydrated glow. Also $3.99! So I tossed it in my basket full of tasty goodies because I figured even if I didn't like it, it's only $4 which is just so much less than most other toners on the market... I mean compare it to something like MAC's Fix+ in Rose which is $26... I smelled it when I got home and it smells amazing - it's got that sweet apple-like rose scent I JUST LOVE. I have a feeling I'm going to really enjoy using this but we'll see, I haven't had very much luck with Trader Joe's skincare thus far. :I

10. Beauty 360 Prep & Set Resurface Ridge-Filling Base Coat: Although I'm only halfway through my current base coat I feel like my nail polish just doesn't stay on for more than 2-3 days without chipping and I feel like it being several years old is probably contributing to its lacking integrity. So I figured I'd pick up a new one. This has an off-white color which makes colors show a bit brighter. While I don't really have ridge issues some of my nails are sort of peeling and I thought perhaps this can smooth over the peeling layers while the nail grows out.

11. wet n wild photo focus Concealer: I've had a tube of this for a while now and have really been enjoying it so I decided to pick up a back-up.

12. Kat Von D 10-Year Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette: You folks, once I touched this palette I HAD TO HAVE IT. I haven't had such excitement about a palette in a long time, not since I started in makeup years ago did I look at a palette and think "oh I want to do a look with these colors and those, I wonder what this combo will be like together" I mean, I have... but not with such glee and excitement. I love how this palette allows you to achieve a bright, rainbow look or a soft pin-up look, high-shine or matte. It's so versatile! Plus there's colors that are unique to my collection - the orange-y yellow, muted teal, olive... gah!

13. Beauty Blender Pro Solid Brush Soap: Be warned, this soap is pricey but I have sung the praises of the original Beauty Blender Solid so much that I knew I had to have this. It's over 5x as big - giving you a whopping $35 savings over buying the 1 oz size. People are saying it works even better than the OG! I can't wait to try it out! Now I do use Dr. Bronner's as a supplement to the original Beauty Blender soap to have it last longer - both last me about 6 months when used together - I will use the Dr. Bronner's for eyeshadow brushes and to give a pre-wash to face brushes and then I complete washing the face brushes with the Beauty Blender soap as it gets out every last drop of makeup. I'm thinking this chunk will last me for at least a year.

14.  Sephora Collection Eyelashes in Vivacious: These remind me so much of the Scarlett lashes  from Huda Beauty so I had to pick up a pair to see how they compare. It'd be great if these turned out to be the same thing for half the price. 

15. Pantene Pro-V In the Shower Daily Moisture Renewal Foam Conditioner: Influenster sent me this for review and I thought it was a cool idea in theory; a mousse-based conditioner that's very light on the hair. That said, while it's light on the hair, it feels more like a co-wash than a downright hydrating product the way I expect conditioner to be. Mixed feelings so far.

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above with the exception of the Pantene product which was sent for review by Influenster. 

Sally Hansen Big Kwik Dry Top Coat Review

Sally Hansen Big Kwik Dry Top Coat

Availability: This retails at around $5.99 - $7.50 at drugstores that carry Sally Hansen. 

Would I buy this?: So far it's working well but I'm not 100%.

Notes: This is a clear topcoat that is supposed to be quick-drying and having a shiny finish.  It was fairly dry to the touch when I felt my nails about 10 minutes after applying this, that said I like to give my nails a full 30 minutes after I've done painting them to set properly as they can occasionally smudge or chip afterwards or the layers beneath the top one move because they aren't fully set. So far I'm liking it a lot, it's got a nice thin texture and glides onto the nails really smoothly. 

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

Disclaimer: I bought this myself.