Love It Or Leave It; Review 2.0: Milani Gilded Violet Palette

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. 

Milani Gilded Violet Palette

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

So as you can see I created all sorts of colorful, some soft, some smoky looks with these shadows. Generally speaking, the quality of this palette is fantastic! In fact I really loved a lot of the looks that I did with it. That said, I will be passing this palette along. The reason being: I feel like I have very similar shades in palettes that I'm more likely to reach for so I just don't see this particular palette getting much love and would rather it goes to a home where it gets the love it deserves.

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

Disclaimer: My wifey gifted me this palette, all opinions are my own. 

Primer Review: L'Oreal 901 Fair Glow True Match Lumi Glotion

Today's review will be for the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion in 901 Fair Glow.

Availability: This retails at $17-18 for 1.35 fl. oz. (40 mL). It is available at ulta.com, target.com, cvs.com, and walgreens.com along with select physical store locations that carry L'Oreal as well as at amazon.com. 

Would I buy this again?: Yes!

What is this product designed to address?

According to lorealparisusa.com: Viral TikTok Favorite, Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer Tinted Moisturizer for Face and Body, Lightweight, infused with Shea Butter and glycerin

• Viral TikTok Favorite, Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer Tinted Moisturizer for Face and Body, 

• Illuminating moisturizer infused with glycerin and shea butter

• Wear alone, under or over makeup– works as a full face and body tinted moisturizer, luminous primer, highlighter and contour

• Available in 5 shades - fair, light, medium, deep and rich - Lumi glotion achieves the natural glow of a tinted moisturizer with instant hydration

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Shea Butter: Has hydrating, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties; helps protect the skin's barrier, and is rich in Vitamins A and E.

Jojoba Esters: Have hydrating and 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:

I honestly didn't buy this product because I heard anyone raving about it, but because y'all know from my past reviews that I love a glowy primer. I really do find that they improve the coverage of my foundation versus using nothing. This gives my skin a really pretty glow, a lit-from-within effect with foundation over it. I'm sure it would make a pretty sheer cream highlight if you wanted to use it for that as well. This particular shade is a fleshy pink-tone that blends out fairly sheer. I would say it's not really like a tinted moisturizer because, while it gives the skin a glow with a tint to it, the tint itself is so sheer that you won't get ANY coverage with it outside of the glow itself versus flesh-toned products called "skin tints" or "tinted moisturizers" that tend to have light to medium, buildable, flesh-toned coverage.

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

Mask Review: Organic Kitchen Silent Hour Revitalizing Face Mask

 'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Organic Kitchen Silent Hour Revitalizing Face Mask.

Availability: I can't seem to find a retailer online for this, but I bought it at my local Russian-speaking pharmacy for $4.29 for 100 ml.

Would I buy this again? Yes.

What is this product? What is it supposed to do?

According to the packaging:

Give your skin a moment to rest and rejuvenate! This mask has powerful regenerating and rejuvenating properties. Organic yogurt nourishes and softens the skin, Your skin will glow!

Does this contain any special/beneficial ingredients?.

Once again, according to the packaging:

Organic Yogurt: nourishes and softens the skin.  

Papaya Fruit Extract: tones the skin and nourishes the skin with vitamins; improving firmness and elasticity.

What is the texture like?

I would describe this mask's texture as being like a cold cream. It never fully sets or dries. 

Is this scented?

I would describe this scent as being reminiscent of berry yogurt; I personally find it pleasant. 

What has my experience with the product been like?

Personally, as someone with dry skin that can be sensitive or get inflamed easily I really enjoy using this mask and I feel like it leaves my skin feeling  very soft and supple - I like that it doesn't dry down or feel tight. This mask smells nice and leaves my skin feeling hydrated with a really nice healthy glow. 

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

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

October 2025 Departures

 Ok folksickles. Departure blogs will contain items that aren't empties but that are going to be given away for one reason or another. I'm working hard to curate my makeup collection and want it to include only the products that I think truly work well, that I reach for often and do what they're supposed to do.

1. Milani Gilded Jade Palette: Honestly there's nothing inherently wrong with this palette - the shades in here have good color payoff and they all blend together well. That said, I feel like I have these shades in other palettes that I'm more likely to reach for. 

2. Milani Gilded Violet Palette: Just as with the palette above, the quality of this palette is fantastic - the colors play nice together, are well-pigmented, and blend easily. I even really liked the looks I did with it. That being said, I know I have similar shades in palettes I'm much more likely to reach for so I will be passing this along.

3. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Ethereal Glow: Unfortunately, after years of holding onto this and trying to make it work, I need to face facts that this blush only shows up on me in the dead of winter due to how sheer and pale it is. Unfortunately it's too pink to use as an all-over or under-eye brightening powder for me. 

4. ColourPop Pressed Powder Blush in Night Bloom: Unfortunately, as with the blush above, this blush is just really sheer and doesn't show up on me well. I feel like I'm on a perpetual search for that elusive lilac-colored blush that's smooth, pigmented but obviously not insanely so because I'm fairly pale, and that will have nice longevity when worn. I suppose for now, I'll have to look within my eyeshadow collection for a contender.

Disclaimer: The Milani palettes were gifts from my wifey. I purchased the blushes myself.

All opinions are my own. 

October 2025 Arrivals

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

1. The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Foaming Cleanser: I was running low on cleanser and spotted this in Marshall's which made me excited. I think I had a sample of it in the past and liked it so I've been meaning to purchase it ever since and finally got my chance.

2. PRETTYSKIN Snail Collagen Toner: I am running low on toner and since I like products with snail secretion filtrate in them I decided this is worth giving a try. 

3. Green Pharmacy Cactus Squalane Ultra Moisturizing Eye Cream: I literally just mentioned that I loved the serum in this line so I decided that, since I ran out of my eye cream, I'd give this one a try.

4. COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence x2: On the topic of loving products with snail secretion filtrate, this is one of my holy grail serum products for glowing, plump, supple skin. I found a really good deal on this two pack so I jumped on that given that I ran out of my other serum

5. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: On the topic of holy grail products, this is a constant rebuy for me because it's reliable and works great! Unfortunately the old one had a frayed bristle in the brush and it was time for a new one anyway so I went ahead and replenished.

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

October 2025 Favorites

Hey folksickles,

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

1. Green Pharmacy Cactus Squalane Ultramoisturizing Face Serum: I really enjoyed what a nice boost of hydration this serum gave my skin. It felt really juicy and refreshing going on while leaving my skin really glowing and bouncing with the hydration. I like the way it smells too.

2. ORLY Kiss The Bride Nail Lacquer: I feel like this nail polish repeatedly makes into favorites and that's because I feel like it's just universally flattering on me. Meaning regardless of nail length, it looks good. It goes with absolutely everything. I just love it, it's the perfect shade of pastel blush pink for me. 

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

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

October 2025 Empties

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

1. now essential oils lemon oil: I'm so sad that I ran out of this oil. I like using it in my diffuser and it smells delicious! It has such a lovely, fresh, lemony scent. 

2. COVERGIRL Lash Blast SuperCloud Mascara: Although I liked this mascara when I initially got it, I find that it smudges like no one's business every time I'd go to apply lashes and would cause me to have to do a lot of clean up work. I would not get it again.

3. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: I feel like we've already established that this eyeliner is a holy grail for me. I replace mine every 3 months to avoid eye infections and I feel like it works great and it really does make my lashes nice and conditioned over time.

4. DUO Quick-Set Striplash Adhesive: I feel like this isn't as quick-setting as it once was. Meaning it used to at least be tacky within 30 seconds but now I feel like I have to wait a bit longer for it to get tacky enough to glue lashes on. 

5. COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence: This is absolutely a holy grail serum for me because it really helps to rejuvenate my skin whenever it's dry and bring it back to life. It leaves my skin feeling plump, soft, and supple. 

6. Green Pharmacy Cactus Squalane Ultramoisturizing Face Serum: This is another really hydrating serum that I enjoyed using. I feel like this one is even more hydrating than the COSRX one I just discussed but it's a bit pricier too. 

7. Dr Teal's Prebiotic Lemon Balm Shea Sugar Scrub: I love how gritty this scrub is and how delicious and sweet it smells; it has a refreshing sweet-sour lemon scent. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth and is great for shave prep. 

8. equate Island Coconut Shea Sugar Scrub: I love how gritty this scrub is and how delicious and sweet it smells; it has a sweet, creamy, yet refreshing coconut scent. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth and is great for shave prep. 

9. berkley jensen Scented baby wipes in Green Tea & Cucumber: As I always mention, I used these primarily to wipe down surfaces and to remove makeup swatches from my skin. They smell really nice and stay moist for quite some time when kept upside down and last a long time so I'm pretty happy with them. 

10. The Creme Shop Flexible Fit 3D Faux Mink Lashes in Bossy x2: These are a beautiful thick, voluminous lash and they go on fairly easily. Occasionally they do want to pop off at the inner corners of the eyes but generally I find they stay put well.

11. Trader Joe's Oatmeal & Honey Pure Vegetable Soap x2: This is a holy grail bar soap for me. I mostly use it as hand soap, but it's fantastic for not only keeping my hand eczema at bay but also for keeping my hands gently hydrated. It's not irritating at all and produces a gentle. slightly hydrating foam.

12. equate Tahitian Vanilla Shea Sugar Scrub: I love how gritty this scrub is and how delicious and sweet it smells; this has a sweet, almost yeasty scent to it. I know yeast might sound gross in this context but I mean it in the sense of the scent that yeast gives freshly baking bread. It's very pleasant without being cloying. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth and is great for shave prep. 

13. Compliment Lavender and Blueberry Clay Face Mask: I really liked this mask because despite being clay, it wasn't drying on my skin. It has a nice, blueberry yogurt scent to it and left my skin feeling both deep-cleansed yet soft. 

14. Bath & Body Works Pocket Bac Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel in Pineapple Mango: I am genuinely so sad at how this is gone now, because it smells absolutely delicious. I like that these hand sanitizers smell nice but that the scents aren't intense in the sense of, sometimes hand sanitizer smells really "sharp" in a way that I find bothersome. They do have quite obvious, long-lasting scents though. They also don't dry out my skin at all which I appreciate.

15. Compliment Banana and Guava Face Mask: Just as with the mask above, I liked that this has the deep cleansing properties of clay but without being dry or tight on the skin. This has a yummy, creamy banana scent to it.  

16. Wow Skin Science Apple Cider Vinegar shampoo: I like that this shampoo foamed up nicely, and due to the apple cider vinegar properties it kept any dandruff at bay and left my hair shiny. That being said, I found it somewhat stripping and not hydrating enough for my personal taste. I wish it had all those properties I described but would also hydrate the hair. 

17. Lebelage Snail Cleansing Foam: I found this cleanser worked ok, but it isn't my favorite because I wish it were more hydrating. It did leave my skin feeling clean without making it dry or tight. 

18. MIZON Multi Function Formula Snail Repair Eye Cream: I'm so sad to have run out of this eye cream. It is literally my favorite because it's so hydrating yet lightweight, it plays really nicely with makeup over it, and helps with undereye puffiness as well.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products mentioned above with the exception of the Wow shampoo which I received as a gift.