June 2026 Empties

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

1. 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. 

2. berkley jensen Scented baby wipes in Green Tea & Cucumber:  I like to use these wipes to wipe down surfaces in my room whenever anything is dusty, to take makeup swatches off my hands and arms when I take blog photos, and they work to take off my makeup if I'm in a pinch. I like the way these smell and also that they stay damp as long as I keep the packaging upside down. They are plush, soft, and have a nice level of wetness where they get the job done and aren't sopping  wet.

3. Green Pharmacy Damask Rose Ceramides Revitalization Eye Cream: I thought I might like this eye cream because I love the Green Pharmacy Rose Water and Almond Oil Facial Toner , and rose products generally tend to be hydrating. Unfortunately, I find that it's so lightweight that my skin just sucks it up, absorbs it, and then my eye area is quite dry.

 

4. Le Mieux ISO-ROSE HYDRATING MIST: I enjoyed how lightweight and refreshing this mist was. It added a nice bit of extra hydration to my skin, kept me from looking powdery, and also worked well to wet my eye shadow brush with so I could use my metallic eye shadows wet. This had a fine, pleasant spray to it and a refreshing, clean rose scent. 

5. Pantene Pro-V Repair & Protect Conditioner: I personally found this to be a nicely hydrating conditioner; it left my hair soft, silky, and shiny. I also really love the way this smells - it has a fruity perfume scent to it. 

 

6. equate Island Coconut Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. This has a really yummy, clean coconut scent to it that I just adore! I like that it doesn't go the sweet, gourmand direction but instead has a refreshing scent to it that smells, to me, like coconut water with chunks of coconut flesh in it.  This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep.  

7. Korres Renewing Body Cleanser in Cashmere Rose: I'm so sad to have run out of this. It has this super cozy, warming rose scent to it which I adore. It also leaves my skin feeling hydrated, smooth, and silky.

 

8. OPI Nail Lacquer in This Color's Making Waves:  This is a really beautiful sparkly teal nail polish with golden glitter in  it. As you can imagine, loving all nautical and mermaid themed things, I loved this as well. That said, it is down to the bottom and has become very difficult to use so it's time to say goodbye. 

9. one+other Pro Strength Nail Polish Remover 99% Acetone:  I will say that this works fantastic for quickly removing regular nail polish BUT it took forever when I was using gel. I would have to soak for a good 20-30 minutes before anything came off. I have given up on gel for myself but even so I figured I' give y'all a heads up. 

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

11. equate Tahitian Vanilla Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. This has a really yummy, toasty vanilla scent to it. I like that this isn't overly sweet and leans more into that toasty note; I mean it's obviously still sweet because it's vanilla and smells like cookies. However, some vanilla scents are just painfully sweet and this one isn't.  This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep.  

12. Cococare 100% Natural Peppermint Oil: Since there are many critters who are out and about in the summertime I like to use peppermint oil as a deterrent to keep said creatures from crawling about my living space. 

13. L'Oreal Paris true match Radiant Serum Concealer:  Truly, I wish the concealer was radiant and serum-like in texture as promised. Personally, it's thicker and more matte than I wanted it to be and feels almost paint-like. I don't love its texture or finish.

 

14. TRESemme Ultra Fine Hairspray: Generally I prefer fine hairsprays because they keep my hair tame but still touchable. My main reason to use hairspray is to minimize frizz in the summertime and static in the wintertime so I don't really need any crazy amount of hold. I like that this comes in a large canister, it lasted me just about a year or so. I think it works well for what I need it to do. 

15.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.  

 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above. All opinions are my own. 

May 2026 Arrivals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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.

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.

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.

October 2024 Empties

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

1. Green Pharmacy Green Tea and Tea Tree Oil Facial Toner: I like that this toner feels refreshing, leaves my skin soft, and has a prominent green tea scent that I enjoy. 

2. Vaseline Intensive Care cocoa radiant Lotion: This is a nice, lightweight lotion that left my legs feeling very soft and silky post shave. That said, I wish it were a bit richer as it doesn't hydrate the soles of my feet as much as I would like. 

3. Dove revitalizante cherry & chia milk body wash: As I mentioned, I like using these in place of shaving gel. The reason being I find that the body washes last me two months versus a week with shave gel because I am a hairy beast with sensory issues that hates the feeling of hair on their body. I also find that most of the body washes in this line are hydrating and gentle on my skin. Anyway, this one has a yummy cherry scent that's a bit creamy and reminiscent of cherry yogurt.

4. The Face Shop Calendula Essential Moisture Cream: I am really sad to have run out of this as it's a rich yet not heavy facial moisturizer. As in, it is rich enough where it helps to hydrate and heal any eczema patches I might have on my face but it's not so heavy that I feel it sitting on my skin and not getting absorbed. This left my skin feeling very hydrated, soft, and supple. 

5. wet n wild Rose Addiction Photo Focus 3-in-1 Primer Water: As much as I like how this feels refreshing to spray on my skin and the way it smells, I feel like I went through this product extremely quickly and wish it came in larger bottles. 

6. Cococare 100% Natural Peppermint Oil: In the summer I used this as a deterrent for water bugs trying to come into my room and that seemed to work quite well, because since I started gratuitously sprinkling this on my carpet they left me alone. Now that the weather is cooling off I bought another bottle to use in my diffuser.

7. Clean Beauty Smoke & Mirrors 6 Pairs of Reusable Lashes with Lash Glue (second pair from top): Frankly my love and success with the top pair set me up for failure when it came to this pair of lashes. The top pair are a wispy lash with this gelatinous lash band that molded to the eye easily. These, on the other hand, are some kind of papery plastic material that just is flimsy in the sense that it did not want to mold to the eye and loved to pop off at the inner corners especially, but on the outer ones occasionally as well.

8. Equate Tahitian Vanilla 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, almost nutty vanilla cookie scent - I was afraid vanilla might be too sweet or overpowering for me but I actually really enjoyed it. 

9. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: I love this eyeliner so much! It's easy to use, precise, and long-lasting. That said, I've had this particular one for a while and for hygiene reasons it's time to replace it.

10. L'Oreal Telescopic Intense Lash Length Original Mascara: Frankly, while I didn't love this mascara at first, I actually started really enjoying it when it dried out a bit, which is common with mascaras. This gave my lashes a nice lengthened appearance it a little bit of extra volume and thickness, nothing crazy, but I think they looked good. 

11. DUO Brush-On Adhesive with Vitamins: For some reason this tube was particularly leaky but other than that this lash glue worked just fine as expected. I prefer the brush-on ones because they're easier to apply and don't have that urine scent of the formaldehyde like the glue in the squeeze tubes does. This is another item I'm replacing because of hygiene reasons. 

12. L'Oreal Paris Excellence Creme Caring Deep Conditioner: I actually used this from my mom's hair color because she doesn't always use these conditioner tubes and I really love this. It's deeply conditioning and left my hair feeling hydrated and silky. 

13. one+other Advanced Nail Polish Remover: I like this remover because I find it easy to use and it just gets nail polish off quickly.  

14. Clean Beauty Smoke & Mirrors 6 Pairs of Reusable Lashes with Lash Glue (third pair from top): These, like the other pair I talked about here, are some kind of papery plastic material that just is flimsy in the sense that it did not want to mold to the eye and loved to pop off at the inner corners especially, but on the outer ones occasionally as well.

15. Crown Pro C510 brush: Unfortunately this brush has become extremely frayed to the point if being difficult to use, so I am discarding it.

The following lipsticks all have an off scent so I'm discarding them, I'm sad about all of them since they're such pretty colors:

16. Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Grape Pop: 

17. Incendio Beauty Lipstick Potion in Fairy Blood: 

18. Juvia's Place The Empress Lip Collection Metallic Liquid Lipstick in Ditu: 

19. MAC Lipstick in Hot Gossip: 

20. MAC Lipstick in Mind Control: Especially sad about this one because it's such a beautiful red!

21. Bath & Body Works Island Margarita Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel: I really love this hand sanitizer! It smells delicious and doesn't dry my skin out. 

22. wet n wild photo focus Concealer in Fair Beige: I liked that this was a good shade match for me and that this concealer provides buildable but natural-looking coverage. That said, even though I removed its wand wiper, I had an impossible time of getting to the product on the edges of the tube because it's so narrow, I can't quite get anything in there to fully scrape it out and I feel bad throwing out usable product. I suppose I don't love the packaging on this.

23. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer body mist Broad Spectrum SPF 70: While the 100+ is my favorite SPF of all, given how fair I am and how easily I burn, I really like this as a stand-in. I feel like it really does keep me from burning. Additionally, the formula is genuinely very lightweight, non-sticky, and doesn't pill or move around oddly which makes it comfortable to wear. 

24. method body peony, rose water, pink sea salt pure peace body wash: This body wash has such a nice light, sweet, floral scent. It's very creamy and foams up well which leaves my skin feeling clean and hydrated. I really enjoyed using it.

25. Equate Almond & 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, almost almond cookie scent, kind of like a biscotti. I like how the scents on these are neither heavy nor cloyingly sweet, I feel like they're enjoyable while in the shower but not that I'm actually left smelling like a cookie. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the Clinique lipstick which was provided for testing and MAC Hot Gossip which I got through the Back To MAC program.  All opinions are my own.

August 2024 Arrivals

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

1. Isehan Kiss Me Sunkiller Perfect Water Essence Alcohol Free SPF 50+ PA++++ x2: I'm running low on my sunscreen and needed to replenish, since these were on sale if you purchase two, I decided to just go for it.

2. PRORANCE International Gold Snail BB Cream: I'm also running low on my BB cream so I picked this one up to try.

3. wet n wild Rose Addiction Photo Focus 3-in-1 Primer Water: An old favorite is back, I stopped purchasing this because the Milani one is less expensive, but since my drugstore was out, I decided to pick this up for nostalgia's sake. 

4. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: I'm running out of my squalane oil as well and since this is an absolute must-have for my skincare collection, I've replenished it as well. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above. 

February 2024 Arrivals

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

1. Milani Make It Last Original Natural Finish Setting Spray: I decided to go ahead and replenish on this setting spray because it lasted me a long time and it also, as its name suggests, helps makeup last on my face. I also like to use this spray to apply my eyeshadow wet. 

2. Ducato nailmine Nail Polish in 01 Beginning Smile: Admittedly, this purchase was for fun. I discovered this line of nail polish at my local Teso Life and they have so many beautiful colors to choose from. I decided to start off with this shade because it is part of a limited edition collection so I didn't want to miss out and I figured it would be a good way to see how these nail polishes perform. They're a bit pricey for me ($9.50-$10.50) to just randomly drop my money and buy a bunch. 

3. PURITO PLAINET SQUALANE OIL 100: This took forever to reach me because I ordered it on Amazon this time around and they kept having shipping delays. However, I've repurchased this squalane oil several times already and really like it a lot.

4. one + other Pro-Strength Nail Polish Remover Dip: I love this stuff and feel like it does a really great job of removing my nail polish. That said, my old jar has gotten gross and ineffective so it was time to get a replacement.

5.  : If I'm being honest, I originally ordered the PURITO PLAINET SQUALANE OIL 100  from Amazon to get free shipping on there and because I was running low on my last bottle. That said, there's some kind of shipping delay on that and since it now says I won't get it until mid February I did not want to be without squalane for so long so I went ahead and picked this up from Sephora.

6. Marshall's Mini Haul: I mostly picked up things I was out of, like lashes. As for the nail polishes, I've given away several and a lot of mine have gone down or dried out lately so I figured I'd get some for fun.

reese robert Faux Fur 3D Feather Effect - Amplified Volume

reese robert lash addiction faux fur 3D feather effect - multi-dimensional

OPI Nail Lacquer in Heart and Con-Soul

ORLY Nail Lacquer in Beautifully Bizarre

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above.

February 2024 Empties

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

1. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar scrub in Shea Butter & Almond Oil: I really love how abrasive these scrubs are. I find that they give me a nice exfoliation without being too harsh, yet are abrasive enough to wake me up. This has a really yummy, sweet, nutty scent.

 

2. reese robert Faux Fur 3D Feather Effect - Amplified Volume lashes x2: 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. Gold Bond Eczema Relief Skin Protectant Lotion: This is a very highly reviewed product but unfortunately I found it to be a pricey lotion that did not at all relieve my eczema. In fact in early fall last year my eczema had gotten so bad that only a prescription strength topical steroid was finally able to clear it up and give me some relief. This did an okay job of hydrating my skin, especially my legs post-shave, but I won't be buying it again. 

4. Garnier Fructis Style Volume Hairspray: I feel like this did a good job of helping to smooth out my hair, reducing frizz, and holding my waves in place without making my hair stiff or crunchy. 

5. Milani Make It Last Original Natural Finish Setting Spray: I really liked this setting spray for helping my makeup stay in place throughout the day, it also works really well for applying eyeshadow wet and this bottle lasts me several months so overall I think it's a good investment. 

6. one + other Pro-Strength Nail Polish Remover Dip: I love this stuff and feel like it does a really great job of removing my nail polish. That said, this jar has gotten gross and ineffective so it's time to part ways.

7. Equate Island Coconut Shea Sugar Body Scrub: I really like how abrasive these scrubs are and how this has a really sophisticated coconut scent where it almost has a touch of musk to it and isn't overly sweet. 

8. Dove gentle exfoliating sea minerals body wash: Because I use these body washes as a stand-in for shaving cream/gel, I don't love that this one has exfoliating particles in it only because I find that they make the shaving process a bit more uncomfortable. They're nothing big or crazy where they feel harsh or clog up my razor or anything, it just isn't my favorite. 

9. ORLY Bubbly Bombshell Nail Polish: This is just entirely dried out to the point where the brush hairs have broken off the brush.  

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the ORLY nail lacquer which was given to me as a gift.

Primer Review: Milani Make It Last Original Natural Finish Setting Spray

Today's review will be for the Milani Make It Last Original Natural Finish Setting Spray

Availability: This retails anywhere from $11 - $18 and is available in both a 2.03 fl. oz. and 6 fl. oz. (177 mL) size. The price range encompasses both sizes. This is available at ulta.com, target.com, cvs.com, and walgreens.com along with select physical store locations as well as at milanicosmetics.com. 

Would I buy this?: I'm not sure yet.

What is this product designed to address?

According to milanicosmetics.com:

Spray, then slay! This long-wearing primer and setting spray from our Make it Last line will lock in your makeup to make touch-ups a thing of the past. Simply spray to freshly applied makeup to make it last all day ... and all night, too. Make It Last Prime + Correct + Set Setting Spray preps your face, reduces the appearance of imperfections and then locks in for the long haul. You can enjoy up to 16 hours without a crease or smudge in sight. Spray before or after makeup application, or wear it alone for a captivating natural finish. This product – and every other Milani product – is never tested on animals. We don’t allow others to test on our behalf, either. Our products are 100% cruelty free.

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Niacinamide: Has anti-aging properties in the form of helping to boost collagen production and smoothing the look of fine lines. Also has skin brightening properties. 

Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract: Helps boost collagen and elastin production.
Citrullus Lanatus ( Watermelon) Fruit Extract: Has antioxidant properties.
Sodium Benzoate: Has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Citrulline:Has anti-aging properties in the form of skin barrier protection.
Potassium Sorbate: Has antibacterial and antifungal properties. 

What is the texture like?

This has a refreshing, watery feel to it. 

Is it scented?

I would describe this as smelling floral and perfumy; it is neither subtle or overpowering.

My overall experience/comments on the product:

In terms of using this as a primer, I have to say that I don't love it because it doesn't smooth out any textural issues on my skin and I find that my under-eye area and upper cheekbones tend to look a bit cakey when I use this as my primer. That being said, my makeup does hold up really well throughout the day, even in hot and humid conditions so I will definitely continue to use this as a setting spray. It also feels really refreshing to apply which is a plus in the summertime. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.