October 2026 Favorites

Hey folks,

Alright, what I've been enjoying in October :)   

 

1. L'OREAL ELVIVE Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner: I had been using a different shampoo and conditioner before switching to these but I had the yellow hair mask from the ELVIVE line and absolutely adored it so I wanted to try the shampoo and conditioner from the line too. I personally really love this combination of products because it rejuvenates and hydrates my dry hair but isn't thick or heavy so it doesn't weigh my hair down either. I have extremely fine baby-like hair and not too much of it either, so I appreciate that these both feel gentle on my hair. I also like the scent, it's lightweight and a little sweet without being heavy.

 

2. Blush from Reinarebelde On Your Face Contour + Color Trio in Adorada: I really developed a love and appreciation for this blush during October despite using this palette since last year. I adored the highlight in it, you can see it's all used up! But this blush is such a bright, pretty warm pink that gives my skin a nice flushed, woken up, dimensional look while simultaneously looking fairly believable as a natural blush. It isn't too subtle or too much. That said, my skin-tone is quite fair, so I feel like this shade of blush would work up to a medium skin-tone but someone much darker than me would obviously need a brighter, more intense blush to create the kind of effect I'm talking about.

 

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

Disclaimer: My mom bought the shampoo and conditioner for us to use and I received the face palette as a birthday gift. All opinions are my own. 

September 2026 Empties

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

1. Veleasha Lashes in Sunny T-4 x2: 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  issue is that not only are the lash bands thick and plastic-y so it takes them a while before they bend to the shape of the eye nicely but they tend to separate from the lash clusters when I pick glue off them, and I'm typically quite gentle, so they don't hold up too well over multiple uses. I have to be careful with them.

2. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer body mist sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 70: I personally like this sunscreen spray because it's very lightweight, doesn't cause me any sensory issues, and I feel as though I do tend to burn less if I'm wearing it. I like that it doesn't pill up or start coming off in clumps. That said, I do a double layer of spray in circle motions and then I rub it in to make sure that I'm fully covered. 

 

3. wet n wild photofocus Loose Setting Powder in Soft Pink: Unfortunately, despite liking this powder in the past and finding it brightening and loving that its pink tone helped to color correct any foundations that happened to be too orange-y or oxidized orange-y on me... I feel like they've reformulated the powder to be a darker and more obvious pink than it once was. It's just too pink for me personally, it looks somewhat odd on my face and I've gone back to purchasing the translucent version. 

 

4. Organic Kitchen Pistachio Mafia Polishing Face Scrub: I'm a bit sad to have used this all up because it seems like my local pharmacy is no longer selling it. This was a nice scrub that was gently gritty but not so much so that it irritated my skin. It left my skin soft, supple, and hydrated. This smelled delicious too!

 

5. Organic Kitchen Silent Hour Revitalizing Face Mask: This mask has a yummy berry yogurt scent. It gave my skin a nice boost of hydration - leaving my skin soft, smooth, and glowing.

 

6. Anua Eternal Honmoon Anua Vita Brightening Collagen Mask in Radiance:  I have stepped away from sheet masks because I feel like they're wasteful in terms of there's so much trash involved in them that they're probably awful for the environment unless they biodegrade. That said, since I received this as a gift with purchase, I did go ahead and use it. My skin was so flaky, dry, and just not doing too cute when I used this mask. I found that the mask did a fantastic job of rehydrating my skin and also left my skin feeling very soft and velvety. 

7. Dove bond strength Damage Therapy Shampoo: I will say this shampoo did a fantastic job of leaving my hair clean and shiny. It also smells amazing! However, I find that these "bond repair" protein products tend to make my hair dry and brittle, so I would not get this again. 

 

8. Dove bond strength Damage Therapy Conditioner: Much like the shampoo, I wasn't a big fan of this. I was hoping for a thick conditioner that would replenish my hair but found that this simply wasn't hydrating enough on its own and had to mix it with another conditioner. 

 

9. scent theory Brazilian Coconut Moisturizing Spray hand sanitizer: I'm in a Facebook group where someone said this smelled like Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa '62 Eau de Parfum so I decided to pick it up and give it a try. I do like that this is a fine mist, it is hydrating, and it smells yummy. That said, I don't find this to be a direct dupe of the Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa '62 Eau de Parfum , but more of a close approximation. I didn't love it enough to want to purchase it again. I find these spray hand sanitizers are quite pricey for what they are and they are more bulky to carry around versus traditional small bottles of gel hand sanitizer. 

 

10. equate Island Coconut Shea Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. This has a really yummy clean, watery smelling coconut scent to it, it has a very slight sweet creaminess to it but I'd say it's more of a "clean" scent. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, it's also great for shave prep.  

11. Children's Soap with Chamomile: I love this soap very much! It leaves my skin feeling very clean but also soft and hydrated without triggering any eczema flares.  It's also got a very silky, frothy foam to it which I enjoy. It's not as hydrating, in my opinion, as the bur-marigold variety though, so going forward I'd rather get that other one. 

 

12. Being frenshe Detox Scalp Scrub: I like this scalp scrub because it's gentle and not overly gritty, but between the scrub granules and the little scrubber attachment on it, I feel like it's quite effective at getting any dry skin or residue off my scalp. This feels very deep cleansing. It has a really nice ocean-y yet musky yet clean scent to it. It's not a scent I personally would gravitate toward but I actually really like it in a scalp scrub.   

13. Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Body Lotion:  I really enjoy using this body lotion because it's lightweight yet I find that it's deeply hydrating. Even the soles of my feet seem to stay generally on the softer side when I'm using this. This also has a really yummy warm scent to it. 

 

14. Dove sensitive hypoallergenic body wash: I really enjoy how hydrating this body wash is. It leaves my skin so silky smooth and is the perfect sub for shave gel. I find these bottles last me a month if not longer whereas, because I am a hairy beast, shave gel is something that only lasts me a week. When shaving with this, my skin is left so smooth yet hydrated. My skin isn't irritated at all. I really enjoy it.

 

15.  ogx smoothing + coconut coffee Scrub & Body Wash: I essentially use this as just body wash because the scrubbies in it are so gentle that I don't find that they're sufficient as a body scrub for me personally. This smells nice and I purchased it because I've had it before and I really love how soft and smooth it leaves my skin feeling. However, it has a scent that reminds me of burnt caramel. I wish it were more discernible as coconut coffee or at least had a discernible note of either in it. 

 

16. Milani Make It Last Original Natural Finish Setting Spray: This setting spray has become a holy grail for me in my collection and I never want to be without it. It really sets my makeup in place for all-day wear but in a way where my skin feels very soft, smooth, and hydrated. It takes away that powdery look while leaving a velvety feel. It's also fantastic for applying metallic or loose eyeshadows wet. In short, I absolutely adore it!

 

17. Misc mermaid flat shader brush: Unfortunately the ferrule of the brush just snapped off the handle so it's time to part ways with this brush. 

 

18. Misc unicorn large dense fluffy brush: When I first started using this for foundation, I really liked the finish it gave me and how quickly it would blend everything out because of how large this brush is. That said, it's so large that I couldn't really get into smaller areas with it. Additionally, it is shedding so much that it's become intolerable and the entire brush head popped out of the ferule.

 

19. L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara in 960 Deep Green:  I loved the violet version of this mascara so much that I wanted to try the other colors. That said though, the green doesn't ever really show up as green. It's more of a black with a greenish shimmer through it and looks black on the lashes. I so wish it were clearly green. This mascara also develops something of a funky scent to it when it's time to replace it.

 

20. DUO QUICK-SET Striplash Adhesive: Unfortunately this glue had started to become very goopy so it was time to replace it.

 

21. MIZON Multi Function Formula Snail Repair Intensive BB Cream SPF 50+ PA+++ : After I fell in love with the MIZON Multi Function Formula Snail Repair Eye Cream I thought I'd like the other products in the snail line too and picked this up because I was running low on BB Cream at the time. Unfortunately, this BB cream is thick and felt somewhat uncomfortable in hot, sticky weather wherein I'd feel it sitting on my face. It gave me nice coverage but I wish the formula were more thin and lightweight. It also wasn't as hydrating as I wish it were given that it has snail secretion filtrate in it.

 

22.  LEBELAGE High Protection Extreme Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA++++: This is a really hydrating SPF cream but I found its texture a bit too thick for my personal taste.

 

23. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: This was starting to dry out so it was time to go ahead and replace it. 

 

24. now essential oils 100% pure peppermint: I like to have this around to deter any critters from invading my space. It's great to just drip a bit on carpet or to use in an oil diffuser. I also find that peppermint helps to unclog my sinuses.  

 

25. L'Oreal Paris Eye Defense Eye Cream: I found that this eye cream, despite having a nice brightening function, did not provide enough hydration for me. Toward the end of the jar, it would leave my eyelids irritated and inflamed so I'm happy to just be done with it.

 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the mermaid and unicorn brushes which I received as a gift. The Anua mask and the LEBALAGE SPF I got as gifts/samples with purchase. All opinions are my own. 

March 2026 Arrivals

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

1. Dr. Sante Nature & Innovations Hydro Intensive Hyaluron + Aloe SOS Hydrating Mask: Since I ran out of my other masks I decided to pick this one up to try. 

2. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: I am running low on my current bottle and needed to restock because I don't like being without my squalane. 

3. Paula's Choice SPF 50 Broad Spectrum 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer: I decided to give this moisturizer a try because I haven't had anything from Paula's Choice before and have heard of the brand for years. I've been quite curious. Additionally, my skin tends to react well to Vitamin C and I hadn't used a Vitamin C product in ages, so it'll be fun to try this out. 

4. Kerastase decalcifying system,  reparative shampoo: So exactly a year ago, I got a sample of the Kerastase Chronologiste Youth Revitalizing Hair Mask and fell entirely in love with it so when I saw another opportunity to try a Kerastase product I jumped on it. The heart aching thing about falling in love with that mask is knowing that at such a high price point that I would never be able to get my hands on it. 

5. L'Oreal Elvive Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm: On the topic of the Kerastase mask, my hairdresser friend told me that this was technically a dupe or similar to it.  So, since this is at a far more approachable price point, I decided to give it a try. If anything, I'm out $10 and not $60-70.

6. Jiocolor Wispy Lashes x7: I was on my last pair of lashes and decided to give the large multipacks online a chance. These are a pretty wispy shape, I like the alternating short and long bits. 

7. Veleasha Sunny T-4 Lashes x7: I think I mentioned in the past that I like spiky lashes on myself and these are so pretty in the packaging! I'm excited to try them out. 

8. Kose softymo Deep Cleansing Oil: This is my holy grail makeup removing oil so I had to go ahead and replenish on it since I am near running out of my current bottle.

9. Being frenshe Hair Wellness Detox Scalp Scrub: I am currently running out of my scalp scrub and decided to give this one a try. I feel like unlike dandruff shampoo, that using scalp scrubs once weekly really and truly keeps my scalp flake-free the vast majority of the time so I like having one around.

10. wet n wild Loose Setting Powder in Soft Pink: As you all know, I love the translucent version of this powder. I decided to give the pink version a try since sometimes my foundation can oxidize a tiny bit orange so I'm hoping this might soften out that issue. Perhaps it'll also offer some under-eye brightening as well. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all the items listed above myself with the exception of the Paula's Choice and Kerastase samples. All opinions are my own. 

January 2025 Empties

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

1. L.A. Colors Dramatilash winged Volume Cat Eye: I really liked the tapered shape of these lashes and how they have these wispy clusters. I find that they're flattering on my eye shape and make my eyes look larger. 

2. one+other Pro-Strength Nail Polish Remover Dip: My current dip is getting super gross, isn't working too well, and is falling apart inside (meaning the plastic) so it's time to replace it.

3. Grandma Agatha's (Agafia's) Recipe Hair Mask with Brewer's Yeast for Hair Growth: This mask literally smells like baking bread which is strange. That said, I did find that my hair grew well when I was using this, as it's usually slow to grow. Additionally, this mask left my hair feeling really soft, looking shiny, and overall easy to manage. 

4. Love Beauty And Planet Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower volume and bounty shampoo: I don't have a photo of the bottle to show you because my mom poured this into a different bottle. That said, this shampoo smells nice but it leaves my hair feeling too squeaky clean to the point of it feeling dehydrated. This also made my hair prone to tangling. I wouldn't get it again. 

5. Equate Sour Blue Raspberry Shea Sugar Scrub: I was so excited to try this scrub out because I generally like "blue raspberry" flavored things and thought oh, this could be fun in a body product and just like the rest of these scrubs, it's gritty and gives me an invigorating exfoliation. However, I just find that it smells too much like actual candy where it's too sweet for my liking and it has a tendency to leave a blue cast on my skin which I  also don't appreciate. 

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

7. COVERGIRL Lash Blast Fusion Mascara: I did get to liking this mascara more as the formula dried out a bit but overall the look it gave my lashes was still fairly soft and natural. Not quite the level of oomph I was looking for. 

8. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: We all know this is, hands down, my holy grail eyeliner. This particular one dried out almost entirely so it was time to get a new one.

9. CALA Lash Adhesive: As much as I tried to make this work, I am just not a black lash glue girly. It makes such a mess during application, because if I don't glue my lashes perfectly from the get-go or have a thick line of black eyeliner, it's obvious where I tried to glue the lashes on or where they lifted and didn't attach quite properly. Additionally, when I'd go to wash my makeup off at night, this would linger around my eyes into the next day. The pigment specifically, even if it appeared that I had washed it all off, stuck around and created the appearance of racoon eyes which I wasn't a fan of. I would pass it along because I only used it twice, but since it was used on used lashes I'd rather not risk anyone getting an eye infection and will just toss it out. 

10. CALA Eye Adore Lashes in Wispy x2: These lashes are pretty and have a "natural" look wherein they give the eye oomph without being too dramatic or over-the-top. That said, they take quite a few wears to mold to the eye and have the tendency to want to pop off which can make them a pain to work with.

11. Joico Defy Damage Sleepover Overnight Nourishing Treatment: This is essentially an overnight leave-in conditioner. It smells absolutely delicious and left my hair feeling soft and silky while helping with shine and manageability. 

12. primera Alpine Berry Water Cream: This moisturizer is really hydrating - it left my skin feeling very soft and supple. Especially with the very cold weather we've been having lately, having a nourishing face cream was particularly beneficial because this kept my skin sufficiently hydrated where it was comfortable, not dry or tight. 

13. Dr Teal's Vitamin C Shea Sugar Scrub: This scrub just smells so good! It being a sugar scrub, it's very abrasive which I prefer, this feels invigorating and helps me wake up in the morning.

14. : As I mentioned in previous posts, I like to use these wipes to wipe down surfaces and to remove swatches if I take blog photos. They smell really nice and these large packs last quite a while. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the Joico (received as a gift from a friend) and primera (received from Influenster for testing) products . All opinions are my own.

March 2024 Empties

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

1. Ivon Cuticle Pusher: I purchased a three pack of these because my cuticles were starting to look raggedy and they do a really nice job of getting rid of the dead skin but I feel like they're not as invasive as literal cuticle nippers and are easier to use.

 

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

4.  Shiseido Prepare Dermaplaning Razor: It's about that time to replace this razor as it's getting a bit dull.

5. Skinfood Powder Puff: This is another item I'm replacing for hygiene reasons, as I've been using it frequently and it's kind of a bit worn down. 

6. ColourPop Blush Stix in Mini Me: I'm sad to have run out of this blush as it was such a pretty pink coral and I really liked it on myself. I think they discontinued this shade too, which is a shame.

7. Virtue Full Shampoo: I am just so devastated that after all this time I finished my bottle of this shampoo. I really love how this smells, makes my hair feel clean, and gives my hair the sensation of being slightly thicker. I probably won't be replenishing on it any time soon but I really enjoyed having it. 

8. wet n wild megalast Incognito All-Day Full Coverage Concealer: Unfortunately the shade I got this concealer in was too dark for me and oxidized quite a lot too. That said, I really liked the formula on this, it provided good coverage and blended really nicely as well. 

9. Secret Cool Waterlily Antiperspirant/Deodorant: I really like these deodorants because they keep me feeling fresh and clean while being gentle and non-irritating on my pits.

10. Kose softymo Deep Cleansing Oil: I am so sad to have run out of this because it was so good at removing my makeup. It wasn't the most thorough thing in removing waterproof eyeliner or lash glue but I found that in combination with a Makeup Eraser, they both removed all my makeup while leaving my skin feeling soft and hydrated.

11. innisfree Jeju Color Picker Real Color Nail in 2: This is a really pretty dark purple nail polish. Unfortunately I have worked my way to the last bits of it which are now goopy and difficult to get out of the bottle or apply evenly, so it is time to part ways.

12. Trader Joe's Lavender Hand Sanitizer Spray: I like these sprays because they're lightweight, they don't dry my skin out, and they smell nice. The lemongrass version is also effective as a bug repellant which is nice. 

13.  Bath & Body Works PocketBac in Afternoon Apple Picking: This smells like a crisp, fresh, sweet apple and was really nice for the fall season but in general I think it has a nice scent to it. 

14. L'Oreal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Boost It Volume Inject Mousse: This mousse did give a nice texture to my hair and I felt like it enhanced my curls/waves but I don't know that it gave me a lot of volume. It would probably be more noticeable if I used a hair drier on my hair but I only do so rarely. I do think my hair was more voluminous with this mousse in it versus how it would have been on its own.

15. Equate Tropical Mango Shea Sugar Body Scrub: I really like how abrasive these scrubs are and this one just smells absolutely delicious, it has such a good sweet yet somewhat tart mango scent to it. 

16. Equate Exotic Rose Shea Sugar Body Scrub: I really like how abrasive these scrubs are and this has that sweet rose scent to it that I love. It was such a joy to use. 

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

18. Bitter Lace Beauty Coral Cove Highlighter: I am so sad to have run out of this highlighter. It has made it onto several of my favorites and I just loved the pretty peachy, golden glow that it gave my cheeks. I feel like it's bittersweet because I have so many other highlighters to use up but I'm sad that this one is completely gone. 

19. Trader Joe's Brazil Nut Body Wash: This body wash smells absolutely delicious - it is very reminiscent of the scent of Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa '62; I also found it to be fairly gentle on my skin. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Colourpop blush which was given to me as a gift.

Best of 2023 Favorites

Hey folksickles. I feel like this list will be shorter than years past as I stuck to mainly the same products and things in 2023 especially so, there's that. But alas here are the products and things I very much enjoyed and would repurchase. I will say that I don't have photos of the products here because I've used up many of them and thrown them away but... there's always Google and in the instance that I've reviewed a product, the product name will be clickable and you can take a gander at the review.

1. Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Butter: It's been a minute since I've used this body butter and I remember why I used to love this so much. It smells delicious and leaves my skin feeling smooth and silky. 

2. Smith's Brambleberry Rose Lip Balm: This stuff is SO GOOD -  it makes it to favorites repeatedly because every time my lips are a chapped mess this lip balm just comes to the rescue! A few weeks ago, my lips were really chapped and this brought my lips back within a week and felt extremely soothing and hydrating to apply. I highly recommend any of the Smith's Rosebud salves but this is my favorite scent/flavor of the line.

3. UGG Ansley Moccasins: Ok so I don't really talk about fashion at all on this blog but I just HAD TO mention this because I am so blown away by them. Now, I wasn't the biggest moccasin wearer and in fact I didn't wear them at all but one of my friends got a pair of these fuzzy moccasins in 2019 and said they were super comfy which had me wanting a pair. I mean I got my first pair of proper UGG boots (the Bailey Bow, if you're curious) in 2019 and I absolutely LOVE them, they're super cozy and warm but the slip-on, slip-off aspect of the moccasins got me curious. So when I saw that these were on sale I decided to go for it. Well, these are BEYOND my expectations. I wore them out in 30 degree (F) weather and with bare feet and they kept my feet warm and feel like sticking your feet into cuddly warm clouds, it's just wonderful. That being said, I like to wear nylons with them when the temperature falls below 35(F) just to protect my skin against the elements. They are perfect to throw on for shopping or driving or just generally when you want comfort and can't be bothered with boots (alas they're not rain or snow-friendly, I haven't really worn them in either condition but I wouldn't try it).

4. MIZON Multi Function Formula Snail Repair Eye Cream: I've really been enjoying using this eye cream lately because it feels very refreshing and hydrating to apply. My eye area has been really in need of something deeply moisturizing yet not overly heavy lately and I think this eye cream is perfect.

5. Soap & Glory Clean on Me Hydrating Body Wash: This body wash smells so good! It has that signature Soap & Glory scent to it, which I personally really enjoy. Additionally, it makes my skin very smooth and silky.

6. ColourPop Mini Me Blush Stix: I have added this into the rotation since I finished my last cream blush and I have been loving this so much! It goes onto the skin beautifully, even over a powder, and looks very smooth. I also really love the coral shade of this, I find it flatters my skin tone nicely.

7. Bitter Lace Beauty Coral Cove Highlighter: I have been absolutely adoring this highlight because it's such a beautiful glowy off-white peachy gold but also with a pink shift and golden glitter bits. It's an intense highlight and I just love the way it reflects light on my cheeks.  

8. ColourPop clay it cool Pressed Powder Palette: I've been playing with this palette this month and have just been absolutely loving it! The shadow quality is phenomenal, all the shades work with each other so well in terms of both the shade selection and the way they all blend together; the shadows themselves are very soft, smooth, and pigmented. I also just personally love the way this palette looks on my eyes, I find the shade selection to be very flattering. I love the way this has shadows that I could use as blush and highlight on the face as well. Despite being on the neutral side of things, I like that it still has some color to it and have been enjoying playing with it. 

9. Virtue Labs Full Shampoo & Conditioner: Both this shampoo and conditioner feel very high quality (which they should, at their price point) and leave my hair feeling clean, smooth, hydrated, and manageable. My hair just looks and feels better/healthier when using these products. Additionally, even though Virtue Labs has their Flourish line, I prefer the scent and effect that the Full line has in terms of making my hair feel thicker and healthier.

10. Tocca Gia Eau de Parfum: I love it so much - this is a great combination of sweet, floral, yet lightweight and fresh. I absolutely adore it!

11. Charmed Aroma Strawberry Donut Candle: In keeping up with the tradition of having nicely scented products as my favorites, I have to say I absolutely adore this candle! It smells so delicious - it has this berry dough scent that I just love and I love having my room smell like it.

12. Bath & Body Works Berry Waffle Cone Scented Candle: This candle has already made it into several favorites and it's no surprise to me that it's made favorites again. This just smells so good and cozy which I think is perfect now that we've transitioned into colder weather. I would say its scent isn't so much ice cream as it is some kind of gently cinnamon sugar sweet dough. I think it smells delicious!

13. Bobbi Brown Neutral Rose Luxe Lip Color: I think this lipstick is just absolutely perfect because it's a nice neutral pink shade that literally pairs well with any eye look in a way where it looks harmonious and complementary without anything competing. The formula is lovely wherein it glides on, feels hydrating, and stays put nicely. My only issue is the high price point on this.

14. Hourglass Blush in Sublime Flush: This blush is just absolutely gorgeous! It blends into my skin seamlessly and gives a beautiful brightening effect that I think works nicely with any look that I do. I am really loving it!

15. ColourPop Bare necessities Pressed Powder Palette: This didn't make it to any of my monthly favorites which, honestly, is a shame but I'm putting it on here because I absolutely LOVED it. If you were going to ask me which neutral Colourpop palette to get, this is the one I would recommend. Granted, I personally am biased toward warmer tones when it comes to neutrals and would communicate that being the case, for something cooler-toned that's still wearable and won't make you look dead I would recommend the ColourPop Stone Cold Fox Pressed Powder Palette. Now, granted, purists will argue that technically the ColourPop Stone Cold Fox Pressed Powder Palette is still warm-toned, it's just on the cooler end. If that's why it's wearable and doesn't make me look sickly, I'm fine with it! I just love the color selection and quality of this palette so much! If I was someone who needed to wear neutrals on a daily basis I could see this easily becoming a go-to palette for me.

And now, some shows I really loved. I feel like I watched so much trash anime last year that I can't say anything other than this moved me enough to recommend that others watch it:

16. Tokyo Revengers: Ok it's been a very hot minute since I brought up a show on here BUT it's also been a hot minute since I've genuinely enjoyed an anime and wasn't watching some random crap isekai. While Tokyo Revengers is largely about a group of hoodlums and is therefore filled with loads of what most would call senseless violence, it's also filled with a lot of wholesome friendships amongst (we can only assume) heterosexual men that want to come off like tough guys but have feelings and emotions too. The beauty of Tokyo Revengers for me is its depiction of masculinity, especially in teenage boys, as complex rather than giving all these hoodlums an "alpha" male personality. It's also beautifully lacking in what I would call anime bullshit - common but unnecessary tropes in anime that I genuinely want to say no one asked for, and if they did... why? Things like characters randomly having crushes on their relatives or harems that are there for the sake of having a harem but the characters literally do nothing that would actually take place within a real harem so having it be there is kind of pointless. In any case, I've watched both the first and second seasons and really enjoyed the show a lot, I've yet to watch season 3 but I'm looking forward to it!

17. Hoozuki no Reitetsu (Hoozuki's Coolheadedness): When Hoozuki came upon my list, I wasn't expecting much and was  just so pleasantly surprised by this show! If things like hell, Japanese pop culture and folklore, perhaps Chinese folklore, and somewhat unhinged humor are up your alley, I would absolutely recommend checking this show out. I am genuinely devastated that I've finished it because now I'm going to really miss Hozuki and co. 

18. In The Flesh: Honestly, this is a show I've rewatched recently and really enjoyed it. I'm so sad it was never given the continuation it deserves because it ended on such a cliffhanger and from my understanding it never received further funding. Arguably, the characters aren't as charming and loveable as many from Hoozuki but there are still characters here who I got attached to and that I'm sad to leave. I'm sure you can gather from the above show poster that it's about zombies, but well, it's about zombies so obviously if you're not into that this show would be a skip for you. That being said, I am not a fan of the zombie genre and found this show to be very well-written and compelling enough to the point where I've watched it several times.

And! There's music to talk about:

19 & 20.  Of Monsters and Men as well as Asgeir in particular stand out as a band, and artist, respectively, I listened to the discography of last year and really thoroughly enjoyed. Ironically, both are from Iceland and I'm unsure if that has anything to do with why their music is so great but either way I recommend checking both out. Both have a bit of an indie folk sound with, in my opinion, Of Monsters and Men leaning on the side of rock or pop rock whereas Asgeir's music is somewhat more on the electronic end. 

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

Disclaimer: I paid for all these items with the exception of the Bobbi Brown, Charmed Aroma and Colourpop blush products which were provided free for testing purposes and as gifts, respectively. 

June 2023 Favorites

Hey folksickles,

Alright, all the goodies I've been enjoying in June :) 

1. Virtue Labs Full Shampoo & Conditioner: I'm sure you can tell from the size of the bottles in the above photograph that I loved these enough to purchase the jumbo sizes. Both this shampoo and conditioner feel very high quality (which they should, at their price point) and leave my hair feeling clean, smooth, hydrated, and manageable. My hair just looks and feels better/healthier when using these products. Additionally, even though Virtue Labs has their Flourish line, I prefer the scent and effect that the Full line has in terms of making my hair feel thicker and healthier.

2. Charmed Aroma Peach Sugar Kiss Candle: Unfortunately, while this candle didn't have any jewelry in it (I mean my bestie, who bought me this, couldn't have known), it smells absolutely delicious and has a wonderful throw. I'm adding it to favorites not only because it was a gift from my bestie but also because I would really look forward to lighting it so my room could smell delicious. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased the products discussed above myself with the exception of the candle, which was a gift from my bestie.

December 2022 Empties

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

1. Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Lotion: I adore the scent of this but honestly I prefer this in the actual body butter formula as I didn't find the lotion hydrating enough. It did ok for my legs but it's definitely not enough hydration for my feet.  

2. Suave Professionals rose oil infusion Volumizing Conditioner: I felt that this conditioner left my hair very soft and silky while having a nice rose scent to it. 

3. Maya Chia The Happy Hour The Highlight of the Day: I decided that since I wasn't really using this as a highlighter at the time being and I ran out of my facial oil that I'd use this to replace said facial oil. Unfortunately all I can say about this product is that, if you manage to get your hands on one of these highlighters, you really don't want to let it sit for a while. The pigment completely separated from the oil and would not recombine even when I'd shake the bottle. The dropper also got clogged and while I did unclog it with a pin, it seemed to no longer want to pick up product. I ran through the oil very quickly as it doesn't seem that there was much in the bottle to begin with. Like I said, unless you purchase this and use it all right away I would suggest picking up a different Maya Chia oil, as I have raved about them in the past. Alas, this isn't my favorite.

4. COSRX The Vitamin C 23: While this serum felt refreshing to apply because it had to be kept in the fridge, I didn't find that it did anything worth writing home about for my skin. I really didn't like its scent either. 

5. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub: This is a really yummy scented sugar scrub. It's a coarse grain sugar, which I personally enjoy because I find it invigorating. I like to use these scrubs to prep and smooth out my skin for shaving.

6. AOA studio A+ Glam 3D Premium Faux Mink lashes in Dallas: These are a pretty fluttery, wispy lash but I found that they had some trouble sticking to the inner corner of my eye. Additionally, they kind of lost their shape as I wore them.

7. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Shampoo: This shampoo has that beloved Bum Bum Cream scent to it that I just adore. It lingers in the hair and makes my hair smell so good! I also find that this is a very hydrating shampoo formulation - it leaves my hair feeling soft and silky. 

8. Freeman Detoxifying charcoal + black sugar Mud Mask: I like that this is a mud mask that doesn't feel super tight as it dries. I can't say it works amazing for clearing away my sebaceous filament but it makes my skin feel deep-cleansed yet soft and smooth when I use it.

9. wet n wild Rose Addiction Photo Focus 3-in-1 Primer Water: Every time I use this up I'm sad because I really love the way it sets face makeup. I wish they sold these in jumbo bottles that were like 8 oz .of product or something because 1.52 oz. of liquid is nowhere near enough.

10. pixi by Petra skintreats Rose Cream Cleanser:  Frankly I'm so glad to have used this up because while it left my skin soft, it doesn't really foam up and I am not a fan of its texture or scent. 

11. Fourth Ray Beauty Super Fine pore refinining Mask: This mask was nice in the sense that it left my skin feeling really silky smooth after I used it. That said, I don't find that it helped my sebaceous filaments in any way. 

12. TONYMOLY Intense Care Gold 24K Snail Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA++++: I liked this sunscreen in the sense of it being nicely hydrating without needing the use of additional moisturizer. That being said, it's a bit heavier in texture than what I prefer and I just don't love its scent.

13. innisfree youth-enriched gel cream with orchid: I am sad to be out of this moisturizer because it just worked so beautifully. The only spot that this didn't hydrate fully is my little eczema zone that I frequently complain about. Even so, this did a good job of giving it hydration compared to other products. I love how this is both lightweight and refreshing to apply yet it is deeply hydrating. This leaves my skin feeling plump and soft. 

14. Soap & Glory Heel Genius Hydrating Foot Cream: Honestly I absolutely love this stuff for two reasons. The first is that I often complain that body hydrators don't do enough for the soles of my feet whereas this left my feet feeling very soft and hydrated. I'm on my feet a lot and am prone to callus growth; these calluses make my feet uncomfortable because they get dry and stiff, thereby limiting the natural flexibility of my skin where they grow and giving it this weird numbness that I cannot stand - which is why I often complain that body hydrators aren't doing enough - if I'm lucky they'll hydrate the surface of the sole but do nothing for the callus issue - this hydrated deeply enough for even that callused skin to retain its sensation and flexibility. I'm assuming that is partially due to the AHAs this contains along with its hydrating ingredients. That being said, the second reason I love this is because it's not too heavy, greasy, or irritating to have applied to my legs post-shave - my legs and feet are essentially the only parts I put body hydrators on because usually I use hydrating body washes and those are sufficient for the rest of my body (eczema-prone areas excluded, I use special eczema lotions for those) so to find a product that works beautifully for both is like finding some sort of holy grail. The only issue I have with the product is it's a bit pricey for me to keep replacing - it lasted me about 3 weeks. 

15. AOA Studio A+ Glam 3D Premium Faux Mink Lashes in Jeju: These lashes are really pretty but have a habit of wanting to pop off at the inner corners.

16. berkley jensen scented baby wipes in Refreshing Green Tea & Cucumber: I love these wipes largely because, at 500 to a pack, they don't run quickly. As I've mentioned I like to wipe down surfaces with these and use them to remove swatches on my hands.

17. e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm: Overall I really liked the smell of this and how it removed a vast majority of my makeup but I wish it did a better job at breaking down lash glue residue. It did alright but I felt that all the rubbing I did ended up irritating my eyes. 

18. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Cannabis Sativa Hemp Seed Oil: This is a coarse grain sugar, which I personally enjoy because I find it invigorating. I like to use these scrubs to prep and smooth out my skin for shaving. I really like its fresh, earthy, green scent - it kind of smells like a forest with a bit of a sugar note. Thankfully it doesn't smell like the kind of weed that people smoke because that scent makes me nauseous. 

19. REN Perfect Canvas Skin Finishing Serum: I used this serum primarily as a primer versus a skincare item - I really liked the boost of hydration it gave my skin and how it made my skin look really smooth under my foundation. 

20. AOA studio Perfect Setting Powder in Brightening: Honestly, I really wanted to like these powders because they're inexpensive but unfortunately they crease under my eyes and I feel like the emphasize texture on my skin.

21. Crown Brushes: The following are all brushes I like to replace on a yearly basis just because they get used so often that they fray heavily and end up changing in shape - for whatever reason more so than my other brushes. My brow brush is a bit broken as well:

Crown Pro C511

Crown Pro C510

Crown Brush C158 Angled Liner/Spoolie

22. Dove restoring coconut & cocoa butters body wash: On the one hand, I really love this body wash because it makes my skin super soft and silky when I shave. That being said, it's thick and leaves quite a nasty residue around the tub.

23. Fourth Ray Beauty Grand Reveal resurfacing overnight mask: I feel like I really liked this mask at first but overall, I find that it aggravates my eczema and is dehydrating to my skin. I personally prefer sleeping masks that add a boost of hydration to my nighttime routine so I will not be getting this again.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Maya Chia, REN, and Freeman products. 

June 2022 Favorites

Hey folksickles,

Alright, all the goodies I've been enjoying in June :) 

1. Korres Lilac Hyacinth Elasti-Smooth Body Butter: I absolutely adore this body butter! It smells delicious and is incredibly hydrating. You only need a tiny bit to get loads of hydration and silky smooth skin. It even hydrates the soles of my feet and leaves them feeling super soft. This body butter is so funny in that every time I use it I think "what is that yummy lilac scent?" and then realize it's coming from having just applied this body butter.

2. Boheme Haircare Nourish Shampoo: One of my friends got me this for Christmas last year and I absolutely adore it! This makes my hair soft and silky but it also makes it feel very thick and healthy. I definitely think it is worth investing in, you don't need a lot of it at all to get a beautiful lather. In addition to all the things mentioned, despite being hydrating, this is lightweight and leaves both my scalp and hair feeling clean and nourished.

3. pop arazzi Movie Star Quick Dry Nail Color:  Yes, I liked this so much I threw this on my nails again. This nail polish is so beautiful, especially when the sunlight hits it. It is this wonderful holographic, 80s fuchsia, bright Barbie pink that I just absolutely loved wearing! 

4. ORLY Kiss The Bride Nail Lacquer: I haven't used this nail polish in a hot minute and just did a manicure with it last week. I feel like my nails just look so elegant with this on. It's definitely a nice whispery pastel pink that pretty much goes with everything. 

5. Somali and the Forest Spirit: This has been on favorites back in 2020 and I re-watched it this month. Honestly I'm so in love with the story and adventure in this anime. I love many of the characters so much. That being said, I find it both healing and heartbreaking to watch. The world this story takes place in is beautiful, a lot of the characters are fun and friendly but a lot of them are also prejudiced and ultimately it's curious to see if they ever find peace. In addition, it's heartbreaking because the manga had to be put to a close due to the author's poor health and, while from what I've seen, it seems that the author wants to continue to work on the manga when they make a recovery, it remains uncertain and weather or not the anime will ever get a second (or subsequent) season. I'm not saying that as a oh they should work in it type of sentiment, I'm merely saying that it is generally sad and I hope that, whether or not they continue on Somali, that the author does recover.

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

Disclaimer: I paid for the products mentioned above myself.

May 2022 Empties

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

1. Dove restoring coconut & cocoa butters body wash: This body wash smells like a coconut cookie and is extremely hydrating without making the shower/tub a slip and slide. I loved this as a shaving cream substitute in particular because it's more hydrating than the other Dove scent variations and leaves my skin feeling extremely silky post-shave.

2. Odacite Mood Cleansing Ayurvedic Bath Soak: Overall I found this to be a nice soak and used it to soak my feet in when I gave myself pedicures. That being said, the scent is too herbaceous for my persona taste. 

3. The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG: This works nicely to depuff and refresh the under-eye area while giving it a very gentle boost of hydration.

4. the Crème shop 3D Faux Mink Lashes in Boujee: I loved these lashes so much! They bent to my eye shape nicely and are fairly easy to work with for a faux mink lash, in my opinion. Plus they looked beautiful on and had a nice, eye-opening effect. 

5.  Dr. Teal's  Shea Sugar Scrub in Citrus: I really loved this scrub. It has a very nice, scrubby texture to it without being greasy so you don't have to worry about slipping and falling in the shower which is obviously an anxiety-inducing, non-fun activity. If you like sweet citrus scents I think you'd love this! it smells so good without being cloying. In my personal opinion, it's a great scent to wake me up in the morning. 

6. REN Clean Screen SPF 30: I'm unsure if it's because my product has aged but, honestly, this felt absolutely awful on my skin. I felt like I had this very heavy cream sitting on my face but it would dry to this matte finish that left my skin feeling tight yet somehow also wet and sweaty. It was quite bizarre and due to the heavy feeling of it I was very turned off.

7. Virtue Curl Shampoo: I feel like this shampoo lasted me forever! This foams up beautifully and leaves my hair feeling clean while, in my opinion, helping to increase how curly my hair was and helping the curl pattern look neat and pretty.

8. MAC Oil Control Lotion: I've held onto this longer than I'd like to admit and kept it around because it smelled fine. It no longer smells fine and smells quite foul to be honest. I am discarding it.

9. the Crème shop 3D Faux Mink Lashes in Crème de la Crème: Frankly, I had high expectations for these lashes because the Boujee pair I talked about above worked so well. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with these. They are beautiful in the packaging but their bands are thick and don't bend to my eye shape so I was constantly fighting with them to glue onto my eyes and not to pop off either at the corners or leave a gap in the center. They look beautiful on but the application process is generally disappointing and I won't be getting them again. 

10. Korres Elasti-Smooth Body Butter in Cashmere Rose: This body butter smells amazing, lasted for quite some time, and leaves my skin feeling super nourished and hydrated. It even did a pretty decent job on the soles of my feet, which is a rare find. I'm so sad that it has come to an end as I thoroughly enjoyed using this while I had it.

11. Layered Fragrance Body Spray in Rose Muscat: I'm absolutely shook I went through this as fast as I did because I usually don't go through fragrances quickly and I used less of this than my typical perfumes because it's so potent. This literally smells like Moscato wine with just a hint of rose which, while I enjoyed it, I probably won't be repurchasing just because the scent is so intense.

12. Ivon Cuticle Pusher: I purchased a three pack of these because my cuticles were starting to look raggedy and they do a really nice job of getting rid of the dead skin but I feel like they're not as invasive as literal cuticle nippers and are easier to use.

13. Shiseido Prepare Eyebrow Razor L Shaped: To be honest I use these mostly on my upper lip and to quickly trim any hair that wants to hang around my face and be unsightly. They do a great job but the blade on this has become dull over time.

14. e.l.f. Cosmetics Total Face Sponge: I really enjoyed using this sponge because it doesn't absorb as much product as other ones tend to do. That aspect makes it easier to blend out product with this sponge, create a fuller coverage, and it's also easier to wash the sponge. It seems like a lot of people enjoy using it from what I hear on Youtube and, in my opinion, it's definitely worth checking out.

15. Dr. Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Black Elderberry: I have really enjoyed these scrubs! Because they're a sugar scrub, they have a great level of grit but they're not greasy so you won't be slipping and sliding all over your shower floor or tub grasping at the walls for dear life. This particular one has a nice sweet-tart berry scent to it.

16. Rock Creek Soaps Loofah Soap in Sweet Sunshine: This technically has a pineapple and mint scent, although honestly it just smells of pineapple juice to me and I'm not mad about it. This smells absolutely delicious and was a joy to use back in March when it was cold because its scent makes me think of summertime. It's still a joy to use and I'm shocked that this piece of soap lasted a good three months. It does a wonderful job of lightly exfoliating the body by having the loofah as part of the soap, smells amazing (as I've said), and leaves my skin feeling super soft and smooth. I really loved having it!

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

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Odacite, Rock Creek Soaps, and REN  products.