May 2026 Favorites

Hey folksickles,

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

1. Tocca Gia Eau de Parfum: This fragrance has made it to several favorites in the past and it is now back! It has such a lovely fresh, sweet, floral scent to it that is perfect for springtime but if I'm being honest, I love it for any time! I'm glad I've come back to it!  

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

Disclaimer:  I paid for everything mentioned above. All opinions are my own. 

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. 

July 2023 Favorites

Hey folksickles,

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

1. Tocca Gia Eau de Parfum: Since I ran out of my last perfume I used a randomizer to pick the next one I was going to use and it landed on this. I haven't used this fragrance in a while and I just remembered why I love it so much - this is a great combination of sweet, floral, yet lightweight and fresh. I absolutely adore it!

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

Disclaimer: I purchased the product discussed 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. 

April 2022 Empties

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

1. Korres Renewing Body Cleanser in Cashmere Rose: This body cleanser smells absolutely delicious and left my skin feeling super soft and silky. 

2.  beauty 360 Original Nail Polish Remover Pad: I purchased these to use on my feet since my local CVS, unfortunately, was closing and out of the liquid remover. These work fairly decent and do a good job of removing my nail polish. I'm able to get both feet done before it dries. That being said the pad is a bit thick which, overall, is not bad but it's difficult to get it around the cuticle area to remove nail polish there. 

3. ProBeauty Essentials Faux Mink Wispies x2: These lashes are a bit hard to get the hang of because they seem to want to just jump off the lash-line or not glue quite to where the lash-line begins. It took two pairs for me to finally got the hang of them. That being said they're a very pretty lash that gives great length and volume.  

4. thisworks deep sleep pillow spray: I personally used this fairly sporadically because it smells too herbaceous for my liking but I find that it does work to make me feel sleepier and to fall asleep faster versus when I wasn't using it.

5. Tocca Gia Eau de Parfum: I am very sad that I ran out of this perfume, because, as I'm sure many of you know I just absolutely adore it. That being said, I was starting to get sick of it at times, which is odd because as spring is approaching I'm loving it more and more again. With that being said, I appreciate running out of it because now I can play with my other perfumes. The rollerball lasted me a little over a year which, in my experience, is both shocking and a pleasant surprise.

6. Tree Hut Vitamin C Shea Sugar Scrub: I really loved this scrub, as I do most Tree Hut scrubs because they feel scrubby and invigorating to use. This has a sweet yet tangy, slightly citrusy (although more like a candy than an actual fruit) scent.

7. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: I really love this eyeliner so much. It stays put very nicely, goes on easily, and is easy to work with. I'm sad to be done with it but I have a backup so I'm technically good.

8. Duo Brush-On Adhesive with Vitamins: This is, unfortunately, getting goopy so I have replaced it with a new one.

9. L.A. Girl Flash Big & Bold Mascara: When it comes to this mascara I am so glad to be done with it. It felt dry and like it wasn't really doing very much for my lashes at all since I started using it and I am just genuinely happy it has come to an end.

10. Maybelline New York Fit Me Concealer: While I did say that I liked this in my original review of it, I personally find that I have to use a lot of product to achieve the kind of coverage that I'm after. I think when I first used this product, I was using it in conjunction with a full coverage foundation, which worked. That being said, I'm now using a tinted moisturizer and I find the combo to be one where I have to use lots of product. In addition to that, it is impossible to get to the last of this product that is gathered at the bottom of the tube. For these reasons I will probably not be repurchasing this product.

11. ColourPop Pretty Fresh hyaluronic tinted moisturizer: Although this tinted moisturizer is comfortable to wear I found that this shade is a little bit too light for me and, because it's too sheer for my personal preference, I will not be replenishing on it.

12. Nature Republic Hand & Nature sanitizer gel in Apple: Honestly, this smells like apple Jolly Ranchers which is neither here nor there for me. I wish it had more of a granny smith scent to it but it doesn't bother me much. I really like that these hand sanitizers are really lightweight and hydrating; they don't leave your skin feeling dry at all.

13. Trader Joe's Kombucha Black Tea Cleansing Oil: This cleansing oil smells delicious and overall worked well to take my makeup off (I realized I needed to use a little bit more of it than I was initially) but while I liked it I just find my other makeup removers work better and, as this isn't available in a full size I will not be getting it again.

14. beauty360 Pro Strength Nail Polish Remover: Unfortunately this is getting really bad at removing my nail polish so it's time I replaced it.

15.Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Rose Essential Oil: I may have found a series of new favorite scrubs y'all. This smells so yummy and scrubs just as well as my beloved Tree Hut scrubs. That being said, I feel like lately the scents of Tree Hut have started going in the direction of appealing to teenagers (as in, they're extremely sweet compared to the scents that were available a few years ago) whereas these smell delicious but aren't painfully sweet. I just started on the citrus one and it's also fantastic! 

16. Lilly Lashes 3D Faux Mink in Miami: Although I found that I got good wear out of these lashes I unfortunately had a bad day and ended up crying them off. As you can imagine they were not useable after that. Frankly I think these lashes are pretty on other people and while they were OK on me I found them a bit too big, full, and having a lash band that's thicker than I like - I always ended up with a load of glue on my eyelashes that was difficult to remove and I'm convinced it's because of the lash band on these.

17. berkley jensen unscented wipes: As I mentioned in the past I really like to use these to wipe down my makeup collection or to remove swatches when I take blog photos. I like them for wiping down dust off surfaces as well and I will occasionally add rubbing alcohol to them to make them antibacterial (for instance, when I go to the laundromat I like to wipe the folding table down before I fold my clothes on it).

18. Laneige Berry Lip Sleeping Mask: Honestly so many people love this mask and I just can't relate. I wish it were thicker and more hydrating as it just doesn't do enough for me. I like its candy scent though.

19. m-61 Hydraboost Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF40: This is a really nice, lightweight, hydrating SPF that I liked to use as both an SPF and a daytime moisturizer. I am sad to have run out of it because I really liked its texture but will probably replenish with something at a lower price point.

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

 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the thisworks, Laneige, m-61, and L.A. Girl products. 

Fragrance Review: Tocca Bianca Eau de Parfum

Today I will be reviewing Tocca Eau de Parfum in Bianca

Availability: This is available on sephora.com, macys.com, jcpenny.com, nordstrom.com, birchbox.com and bluemercury.com along with their physical store locations. You can also purchase it on tocca.com. It retails at $76 for 1.7 fl. oz. (50 ml). It appears the other sizes are no longer being sold.
Would I buy this?: Yes, I did finally buy this after lusting after it for years. In fact, I once had a dream that I married an elf and wore this as my wedding fragrance. 

Notes: To quote from fragrantica.com: 

Top Notes: Amalfi Lemon, Bergamot, Mandarin Orange, Lavender
Mid Notes: Tea, Tincture of Rose, Jasmine
Dry Notes: Sugar, Musk

Smelling it straight out of the bottle, there's a sweet tea scent.
Freshly applied, this definitely hits you with a citrusy floral combination. As the scent dries down that sweet tea comes out to play. If I had to describe this perfume visually, I'd say picture having an iced citrus tea in the garden during springtime. I absolutely love this scent, as you know I really love these particular florals - jasmine and rose scents are my favorites, I love tea scents, I love citrus scents. This combination is just done so perfectly and I genuinely love this perfume so much that several years ago I had a dream about it.

In terms of wear, I had this on for just under 10 hours and I get a faint whiff of it but nothing to write home about.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

Best of 2020 - Favorites

Hey folksickles. I am extremely tardy to the party but... Oh you thought I was gonna forget? I wasn't gonna forget! The moment when I award my favoritism to the products I used in 2020 that I would hands down buy again and recommend or buy for a friend. Are we ready or are we ready? I will say that I don't have photos of the products here because I've used up and thrown away many of them  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. Sugarpill Doll Up Liquid Lip Color: This is so pretty! It's a bit more of a peachy nude versus the mauve that Trinket is and, in addition to the gold shimmer, this also has silver and purple bits. It's so pretty and I've gotten loads of compliments on it. I also love that, despite being a light shade, this has full opacity on the lips.

2. Violet Voss Pro Eyeshadows Holy Grail Palette: I feel like I've sung my praises to this palette in the past but now that I've truly embraced red and pink eyeshadow I love it even more. I think it's a wonderfully versatile palette that's high-quality and easy to use - all the shades play so well with each other to create polished, blended looks effortlessly.

3. bh Cosmetics Aurora Lights Palette: My best friend got this for me as a holiday gift and I'm really loving it! It's so gorgeously sparkly and versatile too! So many different looks can be created from it, although I do suggest pairing the palette with a matte highlight and/or matte crease shades. Some of the eyeshadows make really lovely cheek highlights or blushes as well.

4.   Sonia Kashuk Essential Blending Crease Brush No. 273: For years I've heard great things about Sonia Kashuk brushes and just hadn't invested until, that is, I was in Target and I needed a brush for applying transition tones with, given that the one I had fell apart. This brush is absolutely fantastic - despite being synthetic it picks up and diffuses color just absolutely beautifully. I've had it for a year now and it still looks, and performs, as though it were brand new. At this point I definitely need to replenish on this. 

5. Bitter Lace Beauty Mermaid Dreams Bundle: I will be honest that I don't have a particular favorite in the palette as of yet, they all have such a GORGEOUS metallic glow to them and as someone who loves that super intense highlighted cheek, these are definitely up my alley.

6. Lume Deodorant in Jasmine Rose: Frankly friends, I think this may have been the first product I decided to try out because Facebook constantly showed me ads for it and here it is, making it to favorites. Granted, I know one of my friends tried it and really loved it and I trust this friend's opinion on products so I knew she wouldn't sway me wrong. Anyhow, let's get on with why I love this so much - I've tried to use "natural" deodorants in the past, not because I have anything against run of the mill deodorant - you know I was a Secret loyalist - mostly because I KNEW that all their solids worked well for me and didn't irritate my pits. I was skeptical going into using this for two reasons - one is that in the past, natural deodorants simply didn't work, everything would be fine when I first put them on and then a few hours later, due to them not having anti-antiperspirant properties I'd sweat up a storm and stink. It's no good when you smell your own pit stench! In addition, baking-soda based deodorants reduced my poor pits to sweaty, rashy, angry bits 'o meat. Lume actually works! Now when I say it works - the first few days on it, I was a bit sweaty and stinky, so there is a bit of an adjustment period. However, within a week, the smell was gone. Now I'm not gonna lie to y'all, you still sweat, maybe not as profusely as you would sans deodorant completely, but this doesn't block your sweat glands. I'm typically not so profusely sweaty that it's an issue but if you are, I can see this not being ideal. I've been using this for about a month and a half now and even when I do sweat quite a bit because it's hot out, I hardly smell at all. You need only a tiny bit of this to coat your pits nicely - now, I suggest you buy the tube. My friend suggested the tube to me too - but ya girl didn't listen. It's just that the stick is pointless. The product is gelatinous and you're only meant to use a tiny bit of it - enough to just create a thin coating on your pit - so the stick does nothing other than become a smeary mess. Also it smells exactly what it sounds like, legitimate jasmine with legitimate rose, nothing artificial - which personally I love, I was a little apprehensive ordering this but I wanted something scented and historically I've enjoyed both jasmine and rose-scented items so I decided to give it a shot. Lastly, NO RESIDUE. None. At all. Which means you can wear all your black/dark clothes with confidence that not only will you not have deodorant show, but you won't have those weird deodorant stains either. Plus because you only need so little, this will last you forever, so don't be put off by it being a lot pricier than deodorant at the drugstore. I love it so much and to be honest I'm curious to try out their bar soap now because I'm hearing good things about it as well.

7. Orly Nail Lacquer in Kiss The Bride: This is such a pretty pastel bridal/ballet type pink that looks elegant and is just perfect for absolutely any occasion.

8. Orly Nail Lacquer in Crawford's Wine: I absolutely adore this shade of red - it's this fantastic metallic cherry that I think would look gorgeous on absolutely everyone  - it's got a pinup vibe to it and I am here for it!

9. Violet Voss Sakura Blossom Palette: This is such a beautiful palette that's so versatile - you can do super bright looks with it but you can also do really soft neutral looks with it - the shadows are so pigmented and easy to blend. It's an absolute joy to play with.

10. Maya Chia Supercritical Omega-3 Chia Face Oil: This oil makes my skin feel buttery smooth and hydrated, it feels really luxurious to apply, it smells wonderful, and it relieves redness and inflammation on my skin. I really enjoy using it.

11. Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask: I can't believe that I hadn't put this in a favorites yet! It makes my skin feel buttery smooth, is really soothing and hydrating to put onto inflamed dry or thirsty skin, smells nice, has a beautiful whipped texture... I just genuinely look forward to putting it on at night.

12. LUSH Rose Jam Shower Gel: I genuinely look forward to using this in my shower routine because it smells so delicious! If you like sweet rose scents this would probably be up your alley. It also foams up beautifully.

13. Tocca Gia Ea de Parfum: I've been using this perfume daily and it just smells absolutely delicious. Another scent that I would suggest if you like sweet floral fragrances. It smells like spring, summertime, and a fresh blooming garden all rolled into one. I love it.

14. Inglot 353M:  I use this so often I think it's kind of unfair to it to not get a shoutout. My favorite matte highlight for the brow-bone, utter perfection. I love it so much.

15. ColourPop Just A Tint Lip Crayon in Maui Wowie: You know I've raved about these lip crayons before but I like this one in particular because its color is so pretty! It's this gorgeous pinkish red kind of coral shade that brightens up my complexion but isn't over the top because the product is sheer. I think it's fantastic. 

16. ColourPop strawberry shake Pressed Powder Palette: Ok so what makes this palette special, even more than the fact that I just LOVE it and the looks I was able to create with it. Which, let me just go off on that tangent for a bit, it's a palette that looks bright pink, intense, and crazy at first glance but is actually very versatile and allows you to create looks that are soft and romantic or bright and intense. Anyway, back to the original train of thought, my bestie convinced me last year to start wearing pink eyeshadow on a far more regular basis. Sure I'd wear it here and there and usually went for "safe" soft pinks, dusty roses, mauves but to go for bright pinks and reds - I thought they'd make my eyes look bloodshot when in reality they bring out the slight hint of hazel I've got going on. I LOVE them and I don't think I'd have gone the pink route if it wasn't for him. And then, as well, my wifey got me this palette which also makes it very special to me. So it's due to their collaboration that I have this and that I am enjoying it very much.

17. Trader Joe's Oatmeal & Honey Pure Vegetable Soap: I've mentioned my eczema on and off on this blog and this year it attacked my knuckles to the point of drawing blood - this soap honestly brought my skin back to normal. Granted, it took several weeks but I notice that when I'm washing my hands when my eczema is active on them typical hand soaps tend to be extremely stripping and drying whereas this leaves my skin feeling super soft and replenished. It also foams up quite nicely. 

18. Eminence Organics Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant with Lactic Acid: I love this scrub so much! It remains fairly scrubby even with water added and I love that it's a combination of physical and chemical exfoliants. It smells absolutely delicious, like really good fresh strawberries and leaves my skin feeling like a baby's bottom. It has somewhat of a hefty price tag but given how far a tiny bit of it goes I find that it's genuinely worth the money. It also provides a nice radiance to my skin and isn't irritating at all. 

And now, some shows I really loved:

19. Somali and the Forest Spirit: I have literally harassed multiple of my friends to watch this show and I promise it's absolutely worth it. If you remotely like the fantasy genre please consider adding this to your list. It's short, only 12 episodes at half an hour each, so it's quick to get through but the story is gripping. The characters are all written wonderfully and I love nearly each and every one of them. The world design is breathtaking. The story-line is heartwarming and will destroy your feels organ. It's just such a wonderful anime that you won't regret watching.

20. Toilet Bound Hanako-Kun: This one's a bit more lighthearted, a show reminiscent of things like Harry Potter, Spirited Away, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Madoka Magica (at least in art-style at times) it follows unlikely group of high school friends as they traverse between the boundaries between the human and spirit world. Another one with beautiful character design and an interesting world to delve into, and again short, at 12 episodes.

21. The Witcher: If you enjoy magic, historical-fiction type shows (i.e.: Lord of the Rings, The Last Kingdom, Game of Thrones) this is one I HIGHLY suggest you check out. The storyline is action-packed, the characters are interesting and super dynamic, the pacing is great, it's well-written. Like, I cannot wait for season 2 and I cannot wait to get my hands on the books. 

And books!

22. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: One of my favorite books of all time, a book that is inspirational and the moral of which is to follow your dreams. However, it's not merely about following your dreams, it highlights the importance of the journey as much as the destination; it highlights the importance of the people that are there for you when you want to give up. A beautiful story.

23. Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho: Another book that I genuinely love, despite its dark and heavy theme. I genuinely think this book explores the concept of what I can't call anything but "yolo" and taking life too seriously, the detrimental effects of being filled with bitterness. Overall a beautifully written and hopeful book.

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

Disclaimer: I paid for all these items with the exception of the bh cosmetics (which my bestie got me), Maya Chia, and Youth to the People products which were provided free for testing purposes. 

October 2020 Favorites

 Hey folksickles,

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

1. LUSH Rose Jam Shower Gel: I genuinely look forward to using this in my shower routine because it smells so delicious! If you like sweet rose scents this would probably be up your alley. It also foams up beautifully.

2. Tocca Gia Ea de Parfum: I've been using this perfume daily and it just smells absolutely delicious. Another scent that I would suggest if you like sweet floral fragrances. It smells like spring, summertime, and a fresh blooming garden all rolled into one. I love it.

3. ColourPop Just A Tint Lip Crayon in Maui Wowie: You know I've raved about these lip crayons before but I like this one in particular because its color is so pretty! It's this gorgeous pinkish red kind of coral shade that brightens up my complexion but isn't over the top because the product is sheer. I think it's fantastic. 

4. ColourPop strawberry shake Pressed Powder Palette: Ok so what makes this palette special, even more than the fact that I just LOVE it and the looks I was able to create with it. Which, let me just go off on that tangent for a bit, it's a palette that looks bright pink, intense, and crazy at first glance but is actually very versatile and allows you to create looks that are soft and romantic or bright and intense. Anyway, back to the original train of thought, my bestie convinced me last year to start wearing pink eyeshadow on a far more regular basis. Sure I'd wear it here and there and usually went for "safe" soft pinks, dusty roses, mauves but to go for bright pinks and reds - I thought they'd make my eyes look bloodshot when in reality they bring out the slight hint of hazel I've got going on. I LOVE them and I don't think I'd have gone the pink route if it wasn't for him. And then, as well, my wifey got me this palette which also makes it very special to me. So it's due to their collaboration that I have this and that I am enjoying it very much.

5. innisfree moisturizing cleansing foam with olive: This cleanser is so bomb because it does a fantastic job of cleansing my face, removing makeup residue and impurities while being incredibly gentle. This leaves my skin feeling soothed, soft, and supple. In addition, you hardly need any product for this to provide a rich, thick, moisturizing foam. It has a nice olive-y floral scent as well. Overall I'm really enjoying using this. 

Disclaimer: I paid for the products mentioned above myself with the exception of the ColourPop strawberry shake Palette and innisfree products - both were gifts from my lovely wifey.

Fragrance Review: Tocca Florence

Today I will be reviewing Tocca Florence Eau de Parfum

Availability: This is available on sephora.com, macys.com, jcpenny.com, nordstrom.com, birchbox.com and bluemercury.com along with their physical store locations. You can also purchase it on tocca.com. It retails at $76 for 1.7 fl. oz. (50 ml), $45 for 0.68 fl. oz. (20 ml), or $27 for 0.33 fl. oz. (10 ml)
Would I buy this?: I want to say yes, I really like it.

Notes: To quote from fragrantica.com: 

Top Notes: Grapefruit Leaf, Bergamot, Pear, Apple
Mid Notes: Violet Leaf, Iris, Gardenia, Jasmine, Tuberose
Base Notes: Musk, White Woods

Smelling it straight out of the bottle, there's a super floral scent.
Freshly applied, this smells like a creamy white floral bouquet and as it dries down I can really pick up on the jasmine especially. It smells like a garden during the springtime - being so heavily floral yet also fresh. 

In terms of wear, I had this on for just under 10 hours and I get a faint whiff of it but nothing to write home about.

Disclaimer: This was provided for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.

September 2020 Arrivals

Ok folksickles! Given that September is my birthday month I feel like it's also a month in which I tend to go a bit nuts. Arrivals feature items I bought this month that are joining my collection; a haul if you will. Without further ado.

1. Sheet Masks Galore: Due to me running low on sheet masks I went absolutely nuts when it came to restoking - at least I won't have to buy any for a while:

A'pieu Air Pocket Sheet Mask in Coconut Milk

A'pieu Real Big Yogurt One Bottle Yogurt Sheet Mask in Blueberry x2

A'pieu Air Pocket Sheet Mask in Coffee Milk x2

A'pieu Air Pocket Sheet Mask in Strawberry Milk x2

AbyBOM Ultra Water Leaf Water Mask With Plant Energy From Garden

AbyBOM Ultra Royal Glow Queen Royal Mask With Honey Energy From Garden

Candy O'Lady Holiday Candy Mask

Candy O'Lady Sweet Lemon Candy Mask

Candy O'Lady Cake Pop Candy Mask

Candy O'Lady Mellow Cotton Candy Mask

Candy O'Lady Mystic Potion Candy Mask

esfolio Rose Essence Mask Sheet

Etude House Snail

Etude House Madecassoside

Everdaze Collagen Focus Treatment Mask

goodal apple infused water mild sheet mask

goodal raspberry infused honey mild sheet mask

goodal citron infused water mild sheet mask

goodal green tea infused water mild sheet mask

goodal blueberry infused water mild sheet mask

JC Jayjun Cosmetic Aloe Pink Mask

JC Jayjun Cosmetic Okra Green Mask

JMsolution Glowing Luminous Flower Firming Mask

JMsolution Marine Luminous Pearl Deep Moisture Mask

papa recipe Bombee Black Honey Mask Pack x10

papa recipe Bombee Honey Mask x10

A'pieu Daily Sheet Mask Black Tea Hydrating x33

A'pieu Daily Sheet Mask Green Tea Soothing x33

A'pieu Soft Foot 30 Minute Peeling Socks (ok they're not a sheet mask but I can sort of class them as belonging to a similar family but for the feet instead of the face)

YesStyle also provided me with a sample pocket of the coxir Intensive EGF Peptide Cream

2.  Sephora mini Haul: Ok so I brought back the NEST fragrance because I wasn't really feeling it and instead picked up:
Tocca Gia (you know I LOVE this perfume so it was a no-brainer to do a swap with)

Rare Beauty By Selena Gomez Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner

Sol de Janeiro Birthday Gift which includes the Bum Bum Cream and Copa Cabana Cream

3. ColourPop mini Haul: 

Night Bloom Pressed Powder Blush

The Full Beat Sponge Set

4. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Mint: You know I love mint anything so... why not.

5. Wondergloss Beauty Makeup Assassin Makeup Remover and Oil Cleanser: My good friend Donna insisted this was the best makeup remover she'd ever used and pretty much sold me on this when she said it removed lash glue. While this doesn't do the job completely (I use a Makeup Eraser to help) it does the best job out of any other makeup remover I've ever used. Plus it smells amazing!

They also sent me a mini  Face Aperitif Hydrating Facial Mist in Rose as a gift.

6. LUSH Rosie Set: As you all know I love the smell of roses, especially a sweet take like LUSH's Rose Jam so I picked this up. The set includes:

Rose Jam Body Spray

Rose Jam Shower Gel

Ro's Argan Body Conditioner

Rose Jam Bubbleroon

The lovely LUSH associate also threw in:

Mint Julips Lip Scrub (a full size one!!!!)
Elbow Grease Moisturizing Balm

American Cream Shower Gel

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above with the exception of the coxir sample, Wondergloss Beauty gift, LUSH free gifts, and Sol de Janeiro birthday gift.

June 2020 Arrivals

Ok folksickles! Arrivals feature items I bought this month that are joining my collection; a haul if you will. Without further ado.

not the Duo, lol

1.  The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: I was SO SAD when I ran out of this and didn't replenish right away because I have other skin oils but... my skin hasn't been happy and I just know that, out of any other face oil I've used, squalane is by far the one that agrees with my skin most - it makes my skin silky soft and reduces inflammation, helping me look less red.

2. Chaos Makeup June Bug Pressed and Loose Pigment: Now this wasn't intentional, I decided to treat myself to their multi-chromes and I went on the website saying I could have any that caught my eye, which I did. Not until I got my shipment confirmation - nearly a month after placing the original order - did I notice I ordered the same color in two forms, so I'll be giving one away.

3. Tocca Gia Ea de Parfum: So in my original review for this, I said I'd love to buy it and I love the way it smelled so when I was ordering my squalane at Sephora - because they had free shipping - and I noticed that this was available as a 100-point gift I jumped on it right away.

4. Nail Polish Remover: I ran out of my acetone so I decided to pick these up:
beauty 360 Original Nail Polish Remover (the kind you dip your fingers in)
beauty 360 Strengthening Nail Polish Remover

5. Makeup Geek Galore: I've wanted to try out Makeup Geek for AGES now and since I ran out of lashes I decided now was as good a time as any to give some of their stuff a try. I got the following:
Orange Crush Mini Palette
Stormy Mini Palette
Elegant Full False Eyelashes 
Fearless Full False Eyelashes
Graceful Full False Eyelashes

6. Eminence Organics: This brand's Youtube randomly popped up when I was searching for help with sebaceous filaments and while I don't remember these particular products being suggested for the issue of having sebaceous filaments I decided to pick up the following because I was running low on toner and exfoliant regardless. While they're not inexpensive, I would say the price point of the product is pretty on-par with similar items in department stores.
Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant with Lactic Acid
Mangosteen Revitalizing Mist
Mangosteen Replenishing Hand Cream (sample, not photographed because I gave it away)

7. Trader Joe's Watermelon Facial Mist: Friends, I haven't been at Trader Joe's since March so when I saw this in the beauty section - and if you don't know, watermelon is my second favorite fruit - I jumped on it because I figured, well, for $4 if it's no good that's not me spending $40 on a toner product. I did give it a little test when I brought it home and so far it's great - it smells like dunking your face into a juicy watermelon! Yum!

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above with the exception of the Tocca and Eminence Organics sample, which came as a  gift-with-purchase.

Fragrance Review: Tocca Stella

Today I will be reviewing Tocca Stella Eau de Parfum

Availability: This is available on sephora.com, macys.com, jcpenny.com, nordstrom.com and bluemercury.com along with their physical store locations. You can also purchase it on tocca.com. It retails at $76 for 1.7 fl. oz. (50 ml), $46 for 0.68 fl. oz. (20 ml), or $27 for 0.33 fl. oz. (10 ml)
Would I buy this?: No.

Notes: 

To quote from fragrantica.com: 

Top Notes: Blood Orange, Bitter Orange, Watery Notes
Mid Notes: Freesia, Lily, Wild Orchid
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Musk

Smelling it straight out of the bottle, there's a citrusy floral scent.
Freshly applied, the bitter orange comes out at me first with the blood orange soon behind. As this begins drying down the floral bouquet really starts coming forth, I can't place anything specific other than to say it smells like a cross between a garden and a perfume store plus springtime as a whole - it's got a freshness to it but is also sweet. 

In terms of wear, I had this on for about 11 hours the other day and it pretty much smelled the same as it did during the dry-down period. Personally I find this perfume to be intense and to have a very strong sillage. 

Disclaimer: This was provided for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Fragrance Review: Tocca Gia Eau de Parfum

Today I will be reviewing Tocca Eau de Parfum in Gia

Availability: This is available on sephora.com, macys.com, jcpenny.com, and bluemercury.com along with their physical store locations. You can also purchase it on tocca.com. It retails at $76 for 1.7 fl. oz. (50 ml) or $27 for 0.33 oz. (10 ml).
Would I buy this again?: Yes!

Notes: 

To quote from fragrantica.com: 

Top Notes: Pink Pepper, Tangerine
Mid Notes: Turkish Rose
Dry Notes: Amber, Sandwood, Vanilla

Smelling it straight out of the bottle... there's an intense, slightly sweet, floral scent.
Freshly applied...I'd say the scent is floral - although I wouldn't say it was rose right away - mixed with citrus. As this begins drying down a soft powdery sort of scent begins enveloping the rose and citrus but whereas most scents that have a powder note tend to be completely overtaken, and somehow "dried" by the powder note, its presence here serves to soften the overall scent. Personally I really LOVE this scent and think that it's perfect for spring and summertime due to how lightweight it is. That said, it's perfect for any time of year when you want to evoke springtime memories. 

In terms of wear, I had this on for about 10 hours now and still sense a hint of sweetness where I sprayed it.

Disclaimer: At this point I have gone out and purchased my own bottle because I love it so much.