April 2026 Empties

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

1. e.l.f. Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer: I liked this primer because it's clear and has a very thin formula so it doesn't alter any eyeshadow that's placed on top of it. It really helped my eyeshadow stay in place and kept it from creasing. My only issue is that the product packaging makes it difficult to get every last bit of product out of it. 

2. Dove pamper shea butter + vanilla body wash: I feel like this body wash is great for colder weather because it's deeply hydrating, moisturizing, leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth, and also has a warm, inviting scent that isn't too heavy or too sweet. As always, I like to use this as a shaving cream because it helps my razor glide along my skin smoothly and lasts much longer than traditional shaving foam would. 

3. wet n wild photofocus Loose Setting Powder in  Translucent: I love this setting powder because it keeps my makeup in place but has a really nice, skin-like finish where it neither looks nor feels powdery.  

4. OPI Heart and Con-Soul Nail Lacquer: This is a really pretty orange-y red nail polish. Unfortunately my bottle is essentially all out to the point where even thinning it out with nail polish remover doesn't make sense to do. It also is prone to chipping so while I really liked the color, it's time to say goodbye.

5. Jiocolor Wispy Lashes x2: These are a pretty wispy shape, I like the alternating short and long bits. I will say that these are very thin and delicate so while they do glue onto the eyelid fairly easily, they're also easy to bend out of shape or to get lash glue all over the band. So, it's important to be careful and gentle with them. 

6. Alterna Caviar CC Cream 10 in 1 Complete Correction Leave-In Hair Perfector: This was a really nice styling cream that gave my hair softness and shine. I feel like it made my waves look shiny, soft, and pretty. 

7. White Barn Peach Bellini PocketBac anti-bacterial hand gel: This hand sanitizer just smells so yummy! Peach Bellini has been one of my absolute favorite scents since I was in college so it's very nostalgic to me.

8.  essie mint candy apple nail lacquer: I'm so sad to have finished up this nail polish because as you know, I love wearing mint on my nails! But it's gotten to the point where I already thinned it out with acetone and there's not much left and what is left is quite goopy. It is time to say goodbye. 

9. equate Cherry Vanilla Sugar Scrub:  I love how gritty this scrub is. I think this scent is newer and I LOVE it!  It's a yummy, sweet cherry scent that's reminiscent of a Cherry Jolly Rancher; I don't really get any distinct vanilla in it but I'm not too upset about that. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth, and is great for shave prep.  

10. Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation Perfecting Moisturizer: I love the texture of this moisturizer, it's a lightweight, almost whipped feeling, cream texture that melts right into the skin. I think it's fantastic for oily skin because of how light it is. That said, I found it to be quite hydrating, for the most part, even for my dry skin. I was a little worried using this at the end of winter/start of spring because it was still quite cold outside and that's when my skin tends to be at its driest but I'm pleasantly surprised that I didn't really experience much dryness or flakiness when using this.

11. COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence: Even though I have another bottle of this, I am sad to have used it all up. Over the years this has become something of a holy grail product for me when it comes to having a hydrating serum that makes my skin feel bouncy, juicy, soft, and supple. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the essie polish, which was a gift.

September 2025 Arrivals

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

1. e.l.f. Brow Comb & Brush: Unfortunately, even though I prefer these with metal teeth because these plastic ones inevitably always break, the metal one I had broke off from the ferule and I feared that it would poke my eye out at some point so I decided to pick this brush up since it is fairly inexpensive. 

2. Chique Pro Highlight Brush: My highlight brush also fell apart a while back and I've been experimenting with existing brushes in my own collection but haven't found anything I loved for highlight application. So given that this brush was also fairly inexpensive I decided to pick it up and give it a try. 

3. one+other Pro-Strength Nail Polish Remover Dip 100% Acetone: The version of this I currently had has become all gross to the point it was no longer working well so I've gone ahead and replaced it. 

4. L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion in 901 Fair Glow: I really enjoy a glowing primer and I've found I like ones that are translucent without much of a base tone. I find this is a great option because it has a pretty pinkish glow and looks nice under foundation. 

5. Organic Kitchen Reboot Mask & Silent Hour Mask: I'm running low on my masks and given that these were fairly inexpensive I decided to give them a try. 

6. L'Oreal Telescopic Intense Lash Length Original Mascara in Black: Ok so disclaimer, I purchased this mascara not realizing I had already had it in the past and didn't love it. It's just that I really dislike how smudgy my current mascara is so I was so excited to buy a replacement that I managed to forget.

7. Le Mieux Iso-Rose Hydrating Mist: One of my friends got me this for my birthday because she knows I like rose scents and said that she herself really likes this spray. I'm a bit surprised because she's notorious for disliking rose-scented things but I have tried this mist out once and like it so far.

8. Sephora Mini Haul: I was running low on my squalane oil and while I was replenishing I decided to pick up some samples as well. 

The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Instant Glow Moisturizer (sample)

Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate (sample)

9. Biore UV Aqua Rich Water Essence SPF 50+ PA++++: I was near running out of this entirely so I had to go out and replenish on it.

10. The Creme Shop Flexible Fit 3D Faux Mink Lashes in Bossy x3:I had run out of lashes and realized I like spikier lashes; I feel that they look nicer on me - I remember I had these before and I liked the way they looked so I was willing to give them another chance. 

11. Ardell Wispies in 113 x5: I have very vague memories of having these in the past and liking them so I decided to give them another chance. They appear larger than the demi wispies I've bought before so I decided to give them a try. I've begun to feel like, lately, while I used to like wispy lashes, I feel like they don't give my eyes adequate oomph and I want something that feels both natural yet has some drama to it and I'm hoping these fit the bill. 

12. DUO Brush-On Adhesive with Vitamins: Given that I had a bunch of coupons at CVS including $3 off DUO I decided it was a good a time as any to go ahead and replenish on my lash glue. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all the items listed above myself with the exception of the Le Mieux item and the Sephora samples. All opinions are my own.

March 2025 Arrivals

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

1. e.l.f. 16HR Hydrating Camo Concealer in Fair Rose: I'm running low on my current tube and decided that perhaps the Fair Beige shade is a hair too dark, so I'd give this a try. I'm a little wary that it might be too light, but I suppose we'll see. 

2. e.l.f. Suntouchable Whoa Glow Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen in Sunlight: I'm running low on my current primer and wanted to try something else that was also glow-giving so this was a good option. 

3. wet n wild photo focus Dewy Foundation in Rose Ivory: I'm running low on my current bottle of foundation so I figured I'd replenish. 

4. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: I was on the very verge of running out of this and ordered a replacement right quick. Luckily I got it in wherein as soon as one bottle ended I received the other one so it was a seamless transition. This is an item I really don't want to be without due to the extent that it reduces redness in my skin and helps to smooth my skin's texture.

I received the following two products as samples with my squalane oil purchase:

5. Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VI: I keep sticking to the same serums lately and while I probably won't be switching, I decided to try something new out.

6. Kerastase Chronologiste Youth Revitalizing Hair Mask: This is a hair brand I've wanted to try for ages now but their products are pricey and I'm a girly that, despite having very fine hair, it gets quite dry so I figured trying out a hair mask would be a good way to go.

7. L'Oreal Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Bronzer in 250 Light: I'm running low on my current bronzer and had coupons for L'Oreal so I decided to give this one a try. 

8. wet n wild Rose Addiction Photo Focus 3-in-1 Primer Water: I was running low on my setting spray and since my local CVS stopped carrying Milani (the one I've been getting) and I had all these coupons I just decided to get this old standby. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above with the exception of the sample Sulwhasoo and Kerastase products. 

March 2025 Empties

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

1. Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 Hemp Citrus Pure-Castile Soap: I'm sad I've run out of this because buying these big bottles full-price is expensive and I snag them when I see them at Marshall's. This one has a nice citrusy scent and I like using it to wash my brushes as it removes makeup quite well. 

2. The Face Shop Clean Beauty Rice Water Bright Vegan Eye Cream: Unfortunately this eye cream was neither hydrating nor brightening enough for me. It works alright as a basic daily eye cream but I was left unimpressed. 

3. NARS High-Pigment Longwear Eyeliner in Via Veneto: This was a mini that I used mainly for doing swatches for the blog. It's too soft and smudgy for my personal tastes as eyeliner on the upper lash line - you all know I love my sharp cat eyes. As for the waterline, I don't like wearing black on it because it closes up my eyes. So overall the main purpose of this wasn't daily wear, although I feel like I ran out of it quite suddenly regardless.

4. Ardell Professional Active Lash in Speedy x2: I really like how soft and natural these lashes look, they add a little length and volume without being over the top. That said, similar to many other pairs I have issues with, they really like popping off at the inner corner and it's a bit of a fight to get them to stick on there. I wish they were like a centimeter or so longer because what causes issues is how difficult that inner corner is to grab onto and adjust.

The following two shadows have dried out and become unusable

5. stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in into the blue: 

6. stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in next to notte: 

7. equate Shea Sugar Scrub in Tahitian Vanilla:  As I've noted many times, I love how gritty these shea sugar scrubs are. They really make my skin feel smooth and are invigorating to apply. This one in particular has a pleasantly sweet vanilla scent that's not too over the top.

8. e.l.f. 16HR Hydrating Camo Concealer: I feel like there's a little bit of a learning curve with using this concealer because a tiny bit goes such a long way, it's best applied with a fluffy brush to give nice, thin layers of product so it doesn't go on thick or cakey. That said, once I figured out the application technique, I really fell in love with this product! It gives beautiful coverage, lasts a long time (both because it's long-wearing and because the tube itself lasts a long time), and I really like the way it gives my skin a healthy glow. 

9. e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter in 0.5 Fair: I love how brightening this is, that it gives my skin a beautiful glow when used all over as a primer, has a tacky grip that holds my foundation in place, and seems to provide a little extra coverage. But that said, despite me purchasing the lightest shade this comes in, I feel like the shade itself is a hair too dark and too warm-toned for my skin. I wish they would come out with pinkier, lighter shades of this! 

The following three products have all developed an off-scent

10. Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Creamsicle: 

11. Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Berry Sweet: 

12. Random Franken-lipstick: I melt leftover odds and ends of lipsticks and balms to create franken-lipsticks because it's difficult to get to those bits at the bottom and use them up fully so this gives me a way to do so. That said, this smells very off so I feel like it's safer to just discard it.

13. Green Pharmacy Chamomile and Cotton Proteins Facial Toner: Although I didn't like the way this toner smelled, when I transferred it to a spray bottle, the scent of it was much more pleasant when atomized. That said, it isn't my favorite and I don't think I'd get it again. This felt refreshing going on but that was pretty much it. 

14. MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Seal: I purchased this years ago and frankly I don't even remember what my plans for it were. That said, it's gotten really thick and sticky so it's time to part ways.

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

16. ColourPop Over the Moon Super Shock Cheek: This was such a pretty highlighter - with pink and violet glitter - that gave me a nice glow - and I'm sad to have used it all up. 

17. Trader Joe's Oatmeal & Honey Soap: As you may know by now if you read this blog frequently, this soap is somewhat of a holy grail for me. It's very hydrating, a bar lasts a month or so, and it doesn't dry my skin out or aggravate my hand eczema even with frequent hand washing. I love it and highly recommend it especially for anyone with inflammatory skin conditions.

18. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: As  always when I run out of this oil, I am sad to have done so. I did purchase a replacement so I wouldn't have to be without but I just adore this oil so much! It's lightweight, it really helps reduce inflammation and redness in my skin, and it also helps to smooth out my skin's texture.

19. Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VI: The sample size I got was only enough for two uses, so I can't tell you how this functions long-term. But that said, this serum isn't as hydrating as I prefer my serums to be, it felt fairly watery.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the NARS eyeliner which I received for testing, stila next to notte which I received as a gift, and the Sulwhasoo Serum which I received as a sample.  All opinions are my own.

Primer Review: e.l.f. Suntouchable Sunlight Whoa Glow Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen

Today's review will be for the e.l.f. Suntouchable Whoa Glow Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen in Sunlight.

Availability: This retails at $14 for 1.7 fl. oz. (50 mL). It is available at ulta.com, target.com, cvs.com, and walgreens.com along with select physical store locations that carry e.l.f. as well as at amazon.com and elfcosmetics.com. 

Would I buy this again?: Possibly.

What is this product designed to address?

According to elfcosmetics.com:

What it is: A lightweight, broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen that doubles as a makeup primer and leaves skin with a glowing radiance.

Why you'll love it:Lightweight face sunscreen and primer with broad-spectrum SPF 30

Available in three shimmer finishes for a natural, radiant glow: sheer peach shimmer, sheer champagne shimmer (NEW!), and sheer bronze shimmer (NEW!)

Non-greasy texture

Doubles as a hydrating priming lotion to grip makeup for long-lasting wear

Fragrance-free

Ingredients:Aloe

Hyaluronic Acid

Squalane

Prime, protect, and glow. This lightweight face sunscreen and primer hybrid delivers broad-spectrum SPF 30 sun protection, primes your skin for long-lasting makeup wear, and imparts a glowy, sheer finish. Now available in three flattering shades with just a hint of shimmer, the soothing and hydrating sunscreen formula has a non-greasy feel and is also infused with aloe, hyaluronic acid, and squalane. Use it as the last step in your skincare routine as a makeup primer, or wear on its own for a natural glow with a hint of radiance.

Great for: Oily, Dry and Combination Skin

All e.l.f. products are free from phthalates, parabens, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan, triclocarban, and hydroquinone. All skincare is also free from sulfates.

All e.l.f. products are cruelty free and vegan.

e.l.f. is proud to partner with Fair Trade USA™ and manufacture products in Fair Trade Certified™ facilities. Look for the Fair Trade Certified™ seal on your e.l.f. product!

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Aloe: Helps skin retain hydration, has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.

Hyaluronic Acid: Helps attract water into skin and helps skin retain hydration.

Squalane: Helps skin retain hydration, has anti-inflammatory properties.

What is the texture like?

This has a lightweight, creamy feel to it. 

Is it scented?

This doesn't have a particularly discernable scent. 

My overall experience/comments on the product:

This product gets compared to the Supergoop! Glow Screen, which I like as well but costs over twice as much.  That being said, I find that in comparison, this is a touch thicker and has micro glitter in it when it's blended out. In fact, I was worried the micro glitter would make my face look like a disco ball but thankfully that isn't the case when used as primer. I am reviewing this as a primer specifically because that's what I bought it for. I prefer my Biore UV Aqua Rich Water Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ as my daily facial moisturizer and SPF in one. In terms of working as primer, this gives my skin a beautiful glow and grips my foundation wherein I feel like it gives me better coverage as well, my foundation goes on top of this smoothly and lasts 8+ hours until I wash it off.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

January 2025 Arrivals

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

1. 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 I went ahead and got a new one.

2. Duo Quick-Set Striplash Adhesive: My lash glue is getting all thick and goopy so it's time to replace it.

3.  CALA Eye Adore Lashes in Wispy: I ran out of lashes as well so I decided to pick these up. 

4. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: We all know this eyeliner is my holy grail and because the one I'm currently using is drying up, I have purchased a replenishment.

5. Compliment Lychee and Peach Clay Face Mask: I'm running low on the masks I'm currently using and since I like the lavender and blueberry variant of these masks I decided to try this out.

6. Compliment Banana and Guava Clay Face Mask: I purchased this for the same reasons I purchased the mask in the lines above. 

7. Isehan KISSME Heroine Make Long UP Mascara Super WP #01 in Black: I saw something online wherein the person using this mascara said it was great at holding a curl, was separating/defining, lengthening, and gives volume so I decided to give it a try.  

8. e.l.f. Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer in Sheer: I was running out of my primer and since Alexandra Anele said she really liked this one, and it was on sale at CVS anyway, I decided to just go ahead and give it a try.

9. SENKA Perfect Whip Beauty Foam x2: I wasn't exactly running low on my cleanser but since SENKA Perfect Whip Collagen in Perfect Face Cleansing Foam is one of my absolute favorite cleansers of all time, I decided to pick these up since they were on sale. There's only one in the photograph because I forgot to photograph them both, but I bought two since it was 2 for $12. 

10. COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream: I was running low on my current eye cream and since I love the COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence so much and found that my current eye cream wasn't as hydrating as I'd have wanted it to be, I picked this up and am loving it so far. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above. 

Best of 2024 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 2024 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. ORLY Nail Polish in Beautifully Bizarre: I have been really loving this nail polish. I would describe this as ORLY Kiss The Bride Nail Lacquer's (a favorite of mine, as you might know) younger sister because it still has that pastel pink vibe but the teal pearl shift to it and slight tinge of lavender give it a bit of a kick while the color is still super wearable and, in my opinion, appropriate for any occasion because it's not particularly loud in any way. 

2.  e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter: Although this is marketed as a liquid highlighter, I personally use this as a glow-giving primer all over the face. I find that it gives my skin a healthy glow when used this way, it doesn't make me look oily or shiny in a bad way when used under foundation. What I enjoy about this too, is that it gives me a little extra boost of coverage as well so I can use less foundation.

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 these moved me enough to recommend that others watch it:

16. Endo and Kobayashi Live!: I know that it's not as often that I talk about shows on here and that's because I haven't really enjoyed much of what I've been watching lately or I didn't love it enough to mention it here. That being said, not since I watched Hozuki's Coolheadedness in 2023 did I genuinely enjoy an anime. Now, especially anime in the romance genre are ones that leave me frustrated after watching them because most of them leave the viewer hanging. There's a lot of build up in terms of romantic tension that never gets resolved or comes to a conclusion - there usually is no confession of feelings for one another and the anime ends with no resolution and no further seasons in sight. Now, I understand that a lot of anime don't have the budget for multiple seasons and release the first as essentially a teaser for the manga, but I personally don't want to be switching mediums when consuming content. I love how Endo and Kobayashi Live! delivered not only a conclusive romance plot, but one which felt believable and convincing, where the characters were well-developed. I sat there literally clapping at the end of it - and - it's only one season long, so romance anime writers really could've made things work if they wanted to... I think others should be taking notes. :P

17. Cherry Magic!: Another anime, this time a boy love, that really exemplified "if they wanted to, they would" when it comes to releasing romance anime with a romance plot that actually goes somewhere. Similarly to the anime above, I found myself rooting for and clapping for the characters so it was really satisfying to watch!

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

Disclaimer: I paid for all these items mentioned above.

October 2024 Arrivals

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

1. Kracie naive Peach Leaf Makeup Removal Face Wash: I'm running low on my cleanser so I decided to pick this up and give it a try.

2. e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer in Fair Beige: I'm running low on my concealer and needed to replenish. I had the matte version of this one last year and I liked it ok but I've been wanting to try the hydrating version so I figured I might as well get it and try it out now.

3. COVERGIRL Lash Blast Fusion Mascara in Very Black: I remember back in the day, somewhere around 2011-2012 when Lash Blast was super popular on Youtube I picked up both this and the orange tube and I remember really liking this mascara so I decided to pick it up again and see how I felt about it since I needed to replace my mascara anyhow.

4. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: This is another item I needed to replace and since this is my favorite liquid eyeliner it was a no-brainer to just pick another one up.

5. DUO Brush-On Adhesive with Vitamins: This is another item I needed to replace and decided to just go with a lash glue I know I like.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above. 

Concealer Review: e.l.f. 16HR Hydrating Camo Concealer

 e.l.f. 16HR Hydrating Camo Concealer in Fair Beige

Availability: This retails anywhere from $6.50 - $7  and can be purchased at most drugstores that carry e.l.f. products as well as at amazon.com and elfcosmetics.com.

Would I buy this again?: I'm genuinely unsure.

What is it supposed to do?

Quoted from elfcosmetics.com:

What it is: A long-lasting liquid concealer that provides crease-resistant full coverage with a satin finish.
Why you'll love it:Full coverage concealer with a satin finish
Long-lasting wear
Large doe foot applicator for an even and precise application
Non-comedogenic
e.l.f. Shade Match Guarantee means you'll always find your perfect match
Great for: Oily, Dry, and Combination Skin
Nothing to see here—this full-coverage liquid concealer covers up blemishes and under-eye circles while delivering a boost of hydration to your skin. The lightweight, blendable formula corrects and perfects giving you a smooth, satin, crease-resistant finish that’s long-lasting. Find your match with an inclusive selection of 25 shades.
All e.l.f. products are free from phthalates, parabens, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan, triclocarban, and hydroquinone. All skincare is also free from sulfates.
All e.l.f. products are cruelty free and vegan.
e.l.f. is proud to partner with Fair Trade USA™ and manufacture products in Fair Trade Certified™ facilities. Look for the Fair Trade Certified™ seal on your e.l.f. product!

Does this come in any other shades than the one pictured above?

This comes in 25 shades.

What's the coverage/consistency like?

This has a full, buildable coverage with a creamy consistency.

Does this have any beneficial ingredients in it?

Hyaluronic Acid: Has hydrating properties, helps attract water to the skin.

Rosa Damascena Flower Water: Has hydrating properties.

Is this scented?

This has a very faint, fermented, beer-like scent that, frankly, I only notice if I'm smelling the applicator directly. 

What has my experience with the product been like?

You may remember that in my review of the matte version, I said this same shade in it was too light for me. Well, in this hydrating version it's pretty much a spot-on match. I'm unsure how I feel about it because I love that it's full-coverage, that a little goes a long way, and it has a healthy looking radiant finish. That said, I feel like it's very easy to go overboard with this concealer due to its high pigment load and that leads to a very cakey looking finish. I almost feel like this would do best blended out with a fluffy brush or a sponge to sort of blend yet sheer it out simultaneously and should be applied like watercolors - meaning in thin, light layers until the desired coverage is achieved, which frankly wouldn't take long due to its high pigment load. 

What do I use to apply the product? 

I apply this with  my memebox Artis dupe brush and my ring finger.

I feel like this review is as thorough as it gets but please let me know if you have any questions or comments. 

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

September 2024 Favorites

Hey folksickles,

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

1. e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter: Although this is marketed as a liquid highlighter, I personally use this as a glow-giving primer all over the face. I find that it gives my skin a healthy glow when used this way, it doesn't make me look oily or shiny in a bad way when used under foundation. What I enjoy about this too, is that it gives me a little extra boost of coverage as well so I can use less foundation.

2. Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Color in Devotion: This lipstick appears to have been discontinued and honestly what a shame. This is a very comfortable, satin formulation that goes on fairly full-coverage and is a very pretty shade of rosy pink. Personally I love both the formula because it's comfortable and wears well but I also love the color because I feel like it's something that goes with every look while simultaneously brightening up my complexion. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased all the products mentioned above myself.

July 2024 Arrivals

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

1. Duo Brush-On Adhesive with Vitamins: I needed to replenish my lash glue and this has been a long-time go-to for me so I decided to just stick with what I know.

2. Compliment Lavender and Blueberry Clay Face Mask: I am currently running low on my face masks so I decided to pick this one up and see how I like it.

3. e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter in Fair: Given that I finished a bottle of this, I decided to try it in a lighter shade to see if I like that better (although odd that 0.5 and 1 are both called Fair). 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above. 

July 2024 Empties

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

1. Pixi Summertime Beauty Bronzer: I'm sad to have run out of this bronzer as it was actually a good contour product for me - it was neither too gray nor too orange-y on my skin-tone and despite the shimmer in it, it didn't look weird or gaudy. 

2. Edmong Honeybee Water Cream: This is a really nice, refreshing, hydrating gel that I enjoyed using in this hot season. Despite my skin being dry, I feel like in combination with my sleeping mask that this provided adequate hydration for me.

3. Ardell Original Demi Wispies x2: I love that these lashes are very easy to work with, glue close to the lash-line, and are very natural-looking. In fact I wish all lashes had lash bands like the ones on these because they make it so easy to glue these lashes on without them popping off anywhere the way that thick lash bands tend to do. My only issue is that if I take a nap and have these lashes on, they tend to bend easily and never go back to their original shape. 

4. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: I've had this eyeliner for a while now and while it's still working ok, I'm replacing it for hygiene reasons. 

5. method body coconut, rice milk, shea butter simply nourish body wash: I really liked this body wash. It has a almost salted caramel, coconut scent to it that's warm, toasty, and pleasant. This also foams up nicely and feels hydrating on the skin. 

6. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara: I feel like this is a nice starter mascara because its wand shape makes it easy to use and it gives the lashes a natural lengthened and volumized look. That said, I'm looking for something that gives my lashes more oomph. 

7. Duo Quick-Set Striplash Adhesive: I like this glue because it does tend to set a bit quicker versus the brush-on glues. While I still have plenty left, because of hygiene reasons I'm replacing it. 

8. Kari Gran Cinnamon Pimenta Berry Naked Lip Whip: I enjoyed how hydrating this lap balm is, but that said, I wasn't the biggest fan of its flavoring.

9. e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter: I like how this product gave me a lit-from-within type of glow to my skin but that said, I purchased this in the Fair shade and I think I need to go lighter because it was a bit too orangey for me.

10. Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub: I personally really like this scrub for getting rid of any flakes from dandruff or product buildup on my scalp; I feel like it's deeply cleansing and great at keeping dandruff at bay. That said, because of the salt in here, it can be a bit stripping to the hair itself and I recommend following it up with a deeply nourishing hair mask. 

11. Equate Island Almond & Shea Shea Sugar Scrub: I really like that these scrubs are gritty without being overly abrasive and are at an affordable price point. This has a nice, subtle almond scent that's sort of reminiscent of a cookie or the inside of an almond croissant, I like that it isn't overpowering.

12. Bath & Body Works Cucumber Melon Shea Butter Cleansing Bar: I love how long-lasting these are compared to their liquid soaps and wish that they'd release more fragrances in the cleansing bar form. I know some people use these as alternatives to liquid body washes but I use them almost exclusively as hand soap. This smells delicious and has a rich, creamy lather. It also leaves my skin feeling really hydrated.

13. Femme Fatale Cat's Eye Nail Polish: Funny enough, I was painting my nails with this as I'm writing this blog and the nail polish is literally on its tail end, there's a bit on the bottom but I can't get to it with the way the brush and bottle are set up so I'm giving up. It's pretty and a fun color so I enjoyed it while it lasted.

14. Dove revitalizing cherry and chia milk body wash: This body wash has a yummy cherry scent and a creamy lather. As I mentioned before, I like to use these to shave with.

15. berkley jensen Scented baby wipes Green Tea & Cucumber: These are great for wiping down surfaces, especially when my makeup collection gets a bit messy or dusty and are also great for removing swatches from my hands/arms.

16. one+other Pro-Strength Nail Polish Remover Dip: I like this dip for my fingernails. It being 100% acetone means it does a fairly quick job of getting my nail polish off, and the little scrubbers in this help remove more stubborn glitter nail polish.  

17. wet n wild photofocus Translucent Loose Setting Powder: I really love this setting powder because it gives my skin a very soft, natural finish without emphasizing any dry or crusty spots. It also looks nice and smooth on my undereye area - although I will say it does tend to crease occasionally, especially on my left undereye.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the Kari Gran product, which was provided for review. All opinions are my own.

Love It Or Leave It; Review 2.0: e.l.f. Sunset Prism Eyeshadow, Etude House Cherry Blossoms Popcorn Air Mousse Eyeshadow, and The Face Shop lovely me:ex Sand Brown You & I Eyes

Hello folksickles. As a makeup junkie and blogger you may have realized that I review a LOAD of eyeshadow palettes and I like to think of myself as being largely an eyeshadow junkie. In order to declutter a bit  I've decided to pick out a palette or series of eyeshadows for the month and have that be my monthly selection for those instances where I'm not doing a tutorial for the blog. Every month I'll do a recap on the eyeshadows - how I feel about them and whether I'll be keeping them or giving them away (and why :P) as well as if I think it's worth its price tag. 

e.l.f. Sunset Prism Eyeshadow, Etude House Cherry Blossoms Popcorn Air Mousse Eyeshadow, and The Face Shop lovely me:ex Sand Brown You & I Eyes

You can find a look I did with the palette here, here, and here. These are the looks I created this month:

So as you can see I created all sorts of soft, romantic looks with these shadows. I personally have found that these shadows are easy to blend and the pigmentation on them is alright but is a bit muted - especially in regards to the e.l.f. palette, I use the other two as eyeshadow toppers. I think the colors themselves are pretty but I will be passing the e.l.f. palette along and I know I have similar shades in my collection that I'm more likely to reach for. I'm giving it to a friend with green eyes and I think the colors will look so pretty on her.

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

Disclaimer: The e.l.f. palette was a gift from my wife, I paid for the other two eyeshadows myself.