Use It: May 2020 Empties

Happy July, everyone!

How’s everyone holding up? It has been such a very strange few months – everything is kind of blurring together and the days and months are just ebbing into one. Being at home has become very routine and while I don’t hate it, do miss traveling and spending time with friends and family in person.

While I’ve been home, I’ve made serious efforts to use up a lot of products and scale back on the number of things I have open at any given time. You will see between the June and the upcoming June empties that I’ve used up quite a few skincare products. The hope is to use up a bunch of things in my stash, which has also been easier because I am not going out and not being tempted by grabbing new, shiny things at stores.

So with all of that being said, here are my quick thoughts:

SKIN CARE

Garnier All-in-1 Micellar Cleansing Water – this is probably one of the best micellar waters I have used to date. This easily removes the most stubborn eye makeup or lip color without leaving my skin feeling overly dry. It also works as a quick refresh for any eye makeup that has migrated throughout the day – just dampen a q-tip with it and swipe under lashes. I’ve heard some people say that this leaves almost a soapy feel on their skin, but I have to disagree as I have never noticed residue. At this price point, I would absolutely repurchase. There is a ton of product and a little bit goes a long way. Available at Ulta for $8.99 for 13.5oz.

Guerlain Abeille Royale Eye Sculpt Serum – this is by far the fanciest face product I have ever purchased. The applicator is coated with 22k gold. Ridiculous. But let me tell you – when you apply this serum with the cool applicator, it feels really amazing. Guerlain provides step by step instructions on how to get the best lift in problem areas. This lasted far longer than I ever thought it would, so in that sense, I feel like it was a great value for a very effective product. Would I purchase again? Ehhhhh… maybe? See my notes below about the Ordinary Caffeine Solution… Available at Saks for $130 for 0.5oz.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater – this smells lovely, but that’s really the only thing I can say about it. As for all of the hype – I don’t get it. This is cooling and refreshing but it doesn’t do anything magical. Would not repurchase. Available at Ulta for $7 for 4 oz.

Murad Essential-C Toner – this toner, on the other hand felt refreshing and hydrating. I did pair it with a vitamin C serum, so I cannot speak to how effective it is to brighten on its own. This was a great morning toner also – the bright citrus scent would always help perk me up. I might repurchase this again – the price has me on the fence. Available at Sephora for $35 for 6oz.

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% – I used this opposite of the Guerlain and applied before bed. It certainly was not effective, but it did help me depuff the eye area after a long day. This formula is a little thick, but absorbs quickly and is soothing and cooling. My skin felt better after application and I feel like it helped absorb retinoids better. I did not use this during the day so can’t speak to the effectiveness on dark circles, but I would certainly add this back into my daily routine. At this price point, it’s a no brainer. Available at Sephora for $6.70 for 1oz.

MAKEUP

Maybelline The Falsies in Very Black – I picked this up on a whim when I was traveling (back when we could do that) and forgot my mascara at home. Maybelline consistently makes great mascara and this said it would give me volume. Perfect. While I did not love the curved brush applicator, I did really like the formula. It did not clump even when I decided to big with multiple layers and lasted all day without flaking off. The Very Black shade was also perfect – I have very light lashes and wear glasses so am always looking to add a bit of drama. Would definitely repurchase. Available at Target for $6.99 for 0.25oz.

Murad MattEffect Blotting Perfector – I don’t know if this goes under skincare or makeup, but I use it as more of a makeup product so we will put it here! This is great during hot, humid weather. I like to use some blotting papers to absorb extra oil, use a cooling facial mist and after it dries, pat this on just as you would a powder. After it sets, I do like to do a quick swipe of pressed powder – since it is liquid, it does shift thinner sections of foundation in the T-zone. I bought a bunch of these during a FabFitFun sale, but I would buy them at full price down the road. Available at Sephora for $39 for 0.4oz.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion – yes – I am not only wearing eyeshadow, but I’m also wearing primer at home. Whatever. I also really don’t like going without eye makeup, especially on video calls because I feel like I look sickly. See note above about blonde lashes. This is the OG shadow primer and one of the best sellers out there for a reason. When you use this, your shadow does not budge. I have kind of greasy lids and this has always held stuff in place. Absolutely repurchase. Available at Ulta for $24 for 0.33oz.

BODY

Nivea Crème – this is just a smaller version of the big bottle I finished last month. Since it was a smaller package, I just tossed it in a bag to use as hand cream. As I mentioned before, it’s fine, I’d buy again. This was part of a holiday set purchased a while back. Approximate value – $2 for 2 oz.

Philosophy Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion – I love the Amazing Grace scent – it’s really light, long lasting and can be paired or layered easily with other scents. I didn’t notice anything firming, but it was definitely hydrating. I have a few more of these travel/GWP sizes and look forward to using them! Full size available at Macy’s for $26 for 8oz. 

LIFESTYLE/OTHER

The Body Shop Almond Nail & Cuticle Oil – this is a very thick almond oil cuticle hydrator. The applicator is one of those twist bottoms with a brush on top and you never get the right amount that you need. It is always not enough or way too much and it goes everywhere. As it heats up, the oil spreads a LOT and gets all over your hands. It’s just too messy for me to enjoy, but if go for it if that is your thing. Available at The Body Shop for $12 for 0.06oz.

Stay tuned for even more skincare in the June wrap up – I’m clearing it all out, folks!

Here is the breakdown for the year to date:
Skincare: 9
Body: 14
Hair: 7
Makeup/face: 7
other: 1
Nails: 1
Samples: 0
Sheet masks: 1
Total Products used: 40

Monthly total: $274.93

2020 Total: $733.09

What did you use up this month? Any favorites?

Use It: April 2020 Empties

Hello everyone!

I’ve had this draft sitting here for 3 weeks because I initially forgot one of the items. I have no idea why it took me so long to write 2 sentences about it. These are very strange times and my brain is a bit fuzzy. But I’m getting it done just in time to write up my May empties. Go figure.

Here we go:

SKIN CARE

SkinCeuticals Reservatrol B E – oh man. My skin loves this stuff… like really, REALLY loves this. I almost pulled the trigger on buying the full size and as I reached toward the bottle, I swear there was some sort of lighting bolt that came and zapped me into my right mind. This is an incredibly hydrating gel treatment that is like nothing else I’ve ever tried. After cleansing and toning, I apply a thin layer all over my face and let dry before applying a night cream. In the morning, my skin looks amazing – hydrated, plump, visible reduction in fine lines and pores and noticeably less oil than other nighttime treatments. Guys, I may have to break down and but this stuff… Available at Dermstore for $153 for 1oz. 

Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturizing Cream – now this one, I’m not so sure. I grabbed this out of my stash during colder weather when my day cream was not cutting it. During that time, it was great. It added some much needed moisture and protection during the cold, windy days. It is very emollient, applied smoothly and makeup applied well over it. As the day went on, I felt like my makeup tended to move around a lot more than normal. I didn’t feel greasy, but it created some strange sort of slip that even a primer couldn’t fix. Once the weather warmed up, I finished this up at night and it was fine. Once again, I feel like this is just another ho-hum Sunday Riley product. It’s fine. Am I going to seek it out? No. Full size available at Sephora for $65 for 1.7oz.  

MAKEUP

None

BODY

Kiehl’s Close Shavers Squadron Smooth Glider – this is hands down my favorite shave gel. It is an unscented, lightweight cream that prevents me from getting razor burn. I initially fell in love with the Blue Eagle, but Kiehl’s came out with this beauty. Yes, this is a men’s shave cream. I don’t care – it is magic. I have multiple backups of this and probably never need to buy them again. Available at Kiehl’s for $18 for 5oz.

L’Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream – this is a very nice hand cream… however, it almost seems like it absorbs too quickly and I immediately need more. There is sort of a residual greasy feeling, which doesn’t make sense! I have several minis around here and will be using them up soon. Available at L’Occitane for $12 for 1oz.  

L’Occitane Cleansing and Softening Shower Oil – now, THIS, on the other hand is gorgeous. I have always loved body oil, but never tried this oil cleanser. I’m definitely a convert. I was afraid that this would leave my skin greasy, but it was quite the opposite. I left even the hottest showers feeling incredibly clean and my skin felt smooth and hydrated. This is perfect for cold, dry weather. I still used a lotion or body oil afterwards just for that extra bit of moisture. Purchase again? Yes! Available at L’Occitane for $9.50 for 2.5oz.

Nest Moss and Mint Body Wash – this is the pair to the lotion that I finished a while back. Clearly I use a lot more lotion than cleanser. I won’t get into it because like I mentioned before, this seems to be discontinued. The shower gel itself was nice, but I know I can spend far less on something just as effective. Similar Nest products available for approximately $22.

Nivea Body Lotion  for Dry to Very Dry Skin – I decided to purchase an entire Nivea holiday gift set for myself at some point. It was on sale and it seemed like an incredible deal. I didn’t recall ever using many Nivea products aside from their gradual tanning lotion but figured it would be fine. And it was. This is a super thick almond oil lotion that left my skin feeling soft and hydrated. There was nothing spectacular about it, but honestly that is fine for a body lotion! It doesn’t need to do anything other than make my skin feel not chapped. Repurchase? Sure – I love a good product at a decent price. Available at Target for $5.49 for 16.9oz.

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Silk Body Butter – ohhhkay, and then there is this. I don’t get the hype. This is a very nice herbal scented lotion that leaves my skin feeling soft. I cannot tell you that it does anything more for me than the lotion I just mentioned that is $5.49. Remember, all I want is my skin to have a bit of moisture. The full size is $48. This 1oz lotion is $12.

HAIR

John Frieda Frizz Ease Frizz-Immunity Primer – I believe this is another discontinued item – such a bummer. This is a great product to help reduce frizzies. Approximately $8.

Not Your Mother’s Royal Honey and Kalahari Desert Melon Dry Shampoo – that’s a very long name for “scented dry shampoo.” I didn’t get any honey or melon, but I did get a dry shampoo that performs so well. I’ve used another version of this in the past so was very excited to get this from Influenster a while back. I was alternating this with the Amika Perk Up that was reviewed last month. The performance is comparable for a few hours, the NYM lets some oil creep back in after 6 hours or so. I can easily get an extra day out between washes but can’t push it any further. I’d still buy again. Available at Ulta for about $10 for 7oz.

Rusk Color Protecting Leave-in Conditioner – here is what I can tell you about a leave in conditioner – I can tell if I do not use it. Does brand make a difference? Not that I can tell. So I’m not going to get all crazy about this – I got it on the sale rack at Ulta and it lasted me an eternity. I remember paying $5.99 for it.

LIFESTYLE/OTHER

TonyMoly Foot Peeling Shoes – I have used these several times and have had great success. This particular mask seemed a bit off. I’m not blaming the product, but maybe this particular batch. Save your cash on Baby Foot and buy this instead. Available at Ulta for $6.50.

Here is the breakdown for the year to date:
Skincare: 4
Body: 12
Hair: 7
Makeup/face: 4
other: 0
Nails: 1
Samples: 0
Sheet masks: 1
Total Products used: 29

Monthly total: $150.16

2020 Total: $458.16

Stay tuned for the next round which will be posted in the next few days!

Please stay safe and healthy!

Use It: January and February 2020

Happy March, everyone!

Once again, time has gotten away from me… I guess it’s a good reason though – less time on the internet and a lot more time reading some books. Aren’t we all saying how we need to be less connected?

Once again, I’m breaking everything down by type: skin care, makeup, body, hair and lifestyle/other. However, this month there is no “other” category. Most of these products were used up in January, maybe one or two in February. I anticipate finishing a lot more in March.

SKIN CARE

Julep Restorative Facial Milk – this was an interesting product – I never really felt like it was particularly hydrating or provided any unique benefit. I ended up using this a lot on my neck. The product started to separate so it’s a de-stash. I have no interest in repurchasing. Available at Julep.com for $28 for 1oz.

MAKEUP

Cover FX Mattefying Primer – believe it or not, this was the first Cover FX product I’ve tried. There are so many primers out there and this one really stood out. This applied easily and dried quickly with no pilling or creasing. My makeup glided perfectly over top and didn’t move all day. It definitely helped reduce oil and did a great job of keeping my face from getting shiny. I would definitely repurchase this! Full size available on the Cover FX website for $38 for 1oz. It looks like all of the brand is on sale on the Sephora website – I hope they are not discontinuing the line!

Maybelline Master Conceal in 10 Fair – this is one of my absolute favorite concealers. One small squeeze provides enough coverage for my entire undereye area and neutralizes the dark circles. This tube seems to have lasted forever – I definitely got my moneys worth! Repurchase? Of course! Available at Ulta for $8.99 for 0.4oz.

Wander Beauty Mile High Club Mascara – Wander has quickly become one of my favorite brands. I have really liked everything I’ve tried including skincare and makeup. This mascara is no exception. It has a tiny wand that really helps me get between the lashes and build the volume that I need. A couple coats create a dramatic look that lasts all day. It is difficult to remove, but that is my only complaint. I just received another in my Beautylish Lucky Bag so I’m very excited! Available at Sephora for $26 for 0.35oz.

BODY

Bliss Blood Orange and White Pepper Body Butter – so I have a ton of older Bliss products – they have the old packaging but have been sealed and stored properly. I will use all of them because I waste nothing!! Be prepared for an eternity of old packaging… It’s fine. I love this scent – it is citrus with a bit of spice. The pepper in the name is very deceiving. And the Bliss body butters are so hydrating and leave a light scent on your skin that lasts all day. I think I have more of this.. don’t need to buy! Available at Blissworld.com for $12 for 6.7oz.

Bliss Blood Orange and White Pepper Sugar Scrub – this is such a great, gentle scrub that leaves your skin soft and hydrated. I love a good body scrub but it seems like so many are way too harsh on my skin. This is the perfect level of grit for me. I am not sure if they still make the scrub in this scent, but I would definitely repurchase. Available at Blissworld.com for $20 for 10.6oz. (it used to be 11.6oz…)

Diptyque Phyloskos Shower Gel – contrary to the body lotion a couple posts back, this was a great shower gel. It was a thicker consistency that foamed up well. It left a light scent on my skin but it didn’t last more than a couple hours. I would probably not repurchase just for the price – would rather spend the money on the perfume that would last all day. Similar product available at Nordstrom for $42 for 6.8oz.

Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Cream – this was one of the products I posted about a while back that I always repurchase. With this, not only do I always repurchase it I usually have several backups. My hands are always dry and in the winter crack so easily. This is incredibly nourishing and absorbs quickly. Available at Kiehl’s for $23 for 5oz.

HAIR

L’Oréal Root Cover Up in Red – this is a frequent flier on the empties list. I use this regularly as my roots grow out between color treatments and can extend my salon appointments an additional couple weeks. I have at least 2-3 backups of this. Available at Ulta for $10.99 for 2oz.

Quantum Riveting Reds Color Replenishing Shampoo – this is an intense color depositing shampoo that I have to de-stash. This does a great job refreshing the deep red tones on my colored hair, however it does not clean my scalp as thoroughly as I need – by the end of the day my hair is a greasy mess. As much as I love the color boost, I’m also incredibly lazy and do not wish to wash my hair every day. Available at Sally Beauty for $9.99 for 10.2oz.

So there you have it, folks. Another pile of trash out the door.

Here is the breakdown for the year to date:
Skincare: 1
Body: 4
Hair: 2
Makeup/face: 3
other: 0
Nails: 0
Samples: 0
Sheet masks: 0
Total Products used: 10

2020 Total: $172.97

That’s all for the first two months! What were some of the things you used up so far this year? Any favorites?

Use It: November 2019 Empties

Hello again, everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving (to all of those in the U.S.) and have been enjoying the holiday season. We have been enjoying a bit of snow and all of the holiday cookies!

Once again, I’m breaking everything down by type: skin care, makeup, body, hair and lifestyle/other. Sample reviews are posted to my Instagram (@lvp8779) as they are used. I really haven’t been using any samples, so as you can imagine my stash of assorted sample products is overflowing. I will try to get through some of those soon!

So here we go:

SKIN CARE

e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator – this is a de-stash item. I liked it at first, but it must have dried out a bit and it is just so harsh on my skin. I will probably not buy this again. Available at Target for $4 for 0.16oz.

Erno Lazlo Multi-Task Eye Serum Mask – oh this is really nice. I used these one morning that I had some exceptionally puffy eyes. Within 10 minutes, my eyes looked amazing – no dark circles, no puffiness… magic! Unfortunately, this is a brand that is just a bit too expensive for my wallet. A pack of 6 runs $38 and I just cannot justify that! However if another one were to show up in another subscription box, I would not complain!

Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 – this is a perfectly fine lip balm. It is lightweight and wears well under lipstick. However I don’t find it to be super hydrating or long lasting. For the price, I have higher expectations. Available at Kiehl’s for $9.50 for 0.5oz.

Perricone MD Cold Plasma – this is such a unique product. It is a thicker gel-like formula that melts into a serum. It feels really wonderful on my skin and absorbs immediately. Perricone does some really innovative things in skincare and I really like their products. Again, this is older packaging and I’m not 100% sure of what this is now, but I believe it is the Cold Plasma+ Serum Concentrate. Available at Sephora for $149 for 1oz.

Perricone MD Concentrated Restorative Treatment – as much as I liked the Cold Plasma, I disliked this. It smelled of cinnamon and left my pillow orange. I don’t really know what this did for my skin and I didn’t finish the jar. I believe this is now the Vitamin C Ester Overnight Treatment. Available at Sephora for $99 for 2 oz.

MAKEUP

Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Youth Boosting Perfect Skin Foundation – I don’t know that I have ever had a bottle of foundation last so long… It truly never wanted to end and I think there might still be some in there… how is that possible? This is a beautiful, sheer foundation that is a bit buildable. It hides the flaws, but lets the freckles show. I really loved this foundation for the warmer months – it didn’t make my skin look too shiny and held up through the humidity. I purchased the shade 1 Fair and it was perfect for my skin tone. I would consider purchasing this again. Available at Nordstrom for $46 for 1.4oz.

BODY

Diptyque Phyloskos Body Lotion – I received this as a gift many moons ago and only recently opened it – I wonder if the formula broke down a bit. The scent was gorgeous, but the formula was a bit thin. Or maybe this is just how Diptyque lotion is? While I love the scent, I would probably not purchase the lotion. Similar product available at Nordstrom for $55 for 6.8oz.

Nest Body Cream in Moss and Mint – I loved this scent – it was clean and fresh and left a subtle scent throughout the day. The mint was not overpowering as it is with many scents. The lotion itself was thick and incredibly moisturizing. It worked so well on the really dry spots and left my skin feeling great. The body products in this scent have been discontinued – and that’s a darn shame. Similar Nest products available for approximately $55.

LIFESTYLE/OTHER

Deborah Lippman The Stripper – this is the most overpriced nail polish remover I’ve ever used. At the end of the day, it’s fine. Do I need to spend that kind of money on remover again? No. I will, however, keep this great pump and refill it. Available at Nordstrom for $19 for 4oz.

Formula X Nail Polish – one of the worst things to happen was Sephora getting rid of this nail polish line. This was a great formula and shade. Paid approximately $7.

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat – I have used so many of these over the last few years. I’m sure I don’t need to keep talking about it. I am already using another bottle. Available at Ulta for $9.95 for 0.5oz.

Here is the breakdown for the year to date:
Skincare: 19
Body: 9
Hair: 3
Makeup/face: 20
other: 2
Nails: 8
Samples: 0
Sheet masks: 2
Total Products used: 63
Monthly Total : $423.08

2019 Total: $1,236.59

November was quite the month – lots of high value products in here! There are still a handful of random things that I want to talk account for before the end of the year, so stay tuned… there will be a couple more posts this month.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday and enjoy your time with family and friends!

Use It: January and February 2019 Empties

Hello again, everyone!

As always, the best intentions fell by the wayside. There has been so much going on that once again, blogging took a back burner at the start of the year.

In January, we finally closed on the sale of our old house and had to finish moving the remaining things to the new house. It was great to finally close that chapter. There was some work travel and fun travel in February, but my husband was ill so we had to postpone a trip to Florida until March. I’m so ready for a few days of sun and fresh seafood.

I am happy to share that I finished a bunch of items over the last couple months and am looking forward to getting rid of all of my recycling! As usual, I’ll be breaking everything down by type: skin care, makeup, body, hair and lifestyle/other. Sample reviews are posted to my Instagram (@lvp8779) as they are used. Since I changed jobs a couple years ago, my use of sample items has really gone down. The down side to this is that I have a ton of sample products taking up much needed drawer space! Hopefully I can start making a dent in some of those soon.

Here we go.

SKIN CARE

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment (Feb) – just when I thought I didn’t have any more of these, I found one in one of my makeup bags. What a pleasant surprise! I’ve been using the Rose version of this for so long that I forgot how much I enjoyed the original. It has a slightly sweet, lemon hint to it that lasts for hours. It wears well under makeup and alone. Full size available at Sephora for $24 for 0.15oz. 

GLAMGLOW YouthCleanse Daily Exfoliating Cleanser (Jan) – I really enjoyed this product – it comes out in their normal mud-like consistency and you use on the face and then add water. It deep cleans without over drying skin. It’s a bit much for everyday, but I do love to add a deep cleanser in every few days to the routine. They change their products so often that I can’t figure out if this is now under another name or what… I would probably not repurchase. 

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Jelly Sheet Mask (Feb) – well this was fun! This was a strange, slimy mask that smelled like a Jolly Rancher. It was a bit difficult to remove from the packaging, but I loved wearing this. It was cooling, soothing and so hydrating. The scent wore off a bit after I removed it and the serum dried down. If it wasn’t for the high price tag, I might repurchase. Available at Sephora for $8 for one mask.

L’Oreal Revitalift Volume Filler Eye (Jan) – this is a great eye cream. Much like the other Revitalift products, it is chock full of hyaluronic acid and makes my skin feel great. This is now in a jar versus a much more sterile tube… that makes no sense. I would consider repurchasing. Available at Ulta for $17.99 for 0.5oz.

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation Facial Crème (Feb) – this is now the Perfecting Moisturizer. I seriously don’t understand the need for all of these name changes. This is… fine. It’s a nice, lightweight moisturizer. There is nothing outstanding though. I would not repurchase. Full size available at Sephora for $40 for 1.7oz. 

Perricone MD Neuropeptide Facial Cleanser (Feb) – I have no idea what this is under the new Perricone reformulations… Seriously… I’m tired of saying this, so I know you are probably also tired of reading the same thing over and over. Stop changing things, Perricone. This was a nice, lightweight cream cleanser. It was really gentle, but wasn’t anything magical. I would probably not repurchase. Similar cleansers available at Sephora for $38.

Skyn Iceland Nordic Skin Peel (Feb) – this is not an empty, but a toss. These burn the shit out of my skin. I just can’t do chemical exfoliants. Available at Ulta for $45 for 60 pads.

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil (Feb) – my skin LOVES retinol. I didn’t necessarily love the texture of the oil, but the product overall was great. Also, there is the whole conversation about the need for the additional blue dyes in this product, but that’s something for another day… I have other retinol products that work just as well, so probably wouldn’t go out of my way to purchase again. Available at Sephora – full price is $55 for 0.5oz. 

MAKEUP

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Liner in Black (Feb) – this is a matte black liquid liner that lasts all day. However, it is a felt tip applicator… I just have such a hard time using this. I had a hard time getting an even line – forget even trying a wing. This is fine, just not for me. Available at Nordstom for $22 for 0.07oz.

Guerlain Terracotta Summer Collection Summer Shadow in White Sand (Jan) – I’ve been using this for probably far too long for a cream shadow…. This is beautiful and sheer on its own or acts as a great eyeshadow base. Since I cannot possibly let anything go, I made a point to use up as a shadow base. I hope they come out with more of these again. Purchased at Saks for $32.

MAC Pro Longwear Paintpot (Feb) – I’m not sure, but I think this is Painterly… it’s pretty old and the writing has worn off. I don’t know when I purchased it, but that alone is reason to de-stash. I really liked this – it neutralized any discoloration on my eyelid and extended the wear time of my eyeshadow. This worked especially well with the MAC loose pigments. I may repurchase. Available at MAC stores and website for $22 for 0.17oz.

Rimmel ScandalEyes Eyeshadow Stick in Bulletproof Beige (Jan) – I picked up a couple of these a while back to use when I was traveling and left my makeup at home. This WAS a super soft, multi-use pencil  It went on so easily and could be layered for more coverage. Unfortunately, it dried out and can’t be used any longer. These rival any high end shadow stick out there. I would totally buy more of these. Available at CVS for $4-$5.

BODY

Bliss Blood Orange and White Pepper Body Butter (Feb) – this is the older version of this, so I can’t speak to the newer formula. This is a warm, citrus scent that is not overpowering. The white pepper might seem unappealing, but it really is not the standout note here. I always enjoy the Bliss body butters – they’re not too greasy and leave my skin feeling great. Newer version available at Target for $5 for 1.7oz.

Lavanila Fresh Vanilla Lemon (Feb) – I’ve heard so many great things about this brand and wanted to explore a more natural deodorant option. For some reason I have no problem with perfume or hair scents, but deodorant scents drive me nuts. This is a really nice, mild, clean scent but it still just seemed so overwhelming. It did last several hours and keep me feeling clean and dry, but I just felt like the scent overpowered everything. I probably would not give this another shot. Available at Sephora for $14 for 2oz.

LIFESTYLE/OTHER

Bath and Body Works PocketBac (Jan) – no clue what scent it is – it’s completely worn off. The scent is nice and beachy though. This little bottle lasts a long time and gets hands clean quickly. I always have a random scent in my purse. Repurchase? Sure. Available at Bath and Body Works for $1.75 for 1oz.

Julep Nail Color in January (Feb) – this is a beautiful classic red shade. This cream formula lasted for 4-5 days without chipping. As with most Julep shades, there seems to be a fair amount of product left at the bottom.. I feel like there are a lot of great formulas at a lower price point though, so probably would not repurchase. Available at Julep.com for $14 for 0.27oz.

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (Jan) –  another product that has appeared multiple times. This is an absolute staple, you know I already have another one in progress!  Available at Ulta for $9.95 for 0.5oz.

Ulta Regular Nail Polish Remover (Jan) – this is fine. It works and it’s cheap. I would repurchase this, but I can never find it in the store… Available at Ulta for $2.49 for 6 oz.

Here is the breakdown:

Skincare: 7

Body: 2

Hair: 0

Makeup/face: 4

other: 1

Nails: 3

Samples: 0

Sheet masks: 1

Total Products used: 21

Total : $283.18

So there it is.. a great start off to 2019. What did you use up lately? Anything you would repurchase?

Have a great week!

Use It: October – December 2018 Empties

Hello again, everyone!

Loooong time, no blog. As I’m sitting here on the first week of the new year, I’m sort of in awe that I have been away so long. Last time I posted, I was packing up my house and preparing to move to our new home. Here is the quick overview of the last 3 months – October – move, November – trip to Sonoma and Napa with some girlfriends, end of November through December – holidays, work chaos, and then right before Christmas, my beloved 11 year-old Boxer passed away very unexpectedly. It’s has been an absolutely crazy couple months. I’m really looking forward to some down time in January and a quick vacation in February.

In this time away, I have amassed a boatload of empties. I’ve been stashing them away in weird little places and they need to go in the trash. I’ll be breaking everything down by type: skin care, makeup, body, hair and lifestyle/other. Sample reviews are posted to my Instagram (@lvp8779) as they are used.

SKIN CARE

Avene  Eau Thermal Spring Water (Oct) – let me be clear – this is NOT empty… the sprayer just stopped working. I am really cranky about this. I highlighted this as a go-to during the summer months. This is great during hot weather, as well as after a clay mask or to help cool down after a good workout. I have more of these stashed away, but if they break too, I will not repurchase. Available at Birchbox for $18.50 for 10.58oz.

Boscia MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil (Dec) – ooohh I really liked this one. Just a half pump would really break down a full face of make up so easily. This, followed by a gentle cleanser, would leave my skin feeling incredibly clean. I would repurchase for sure. Available at Sephora for $10 for 1.7oz.

L’Oréal Revitalift Volume Filler Night Cream (Nov) – this was a gift from the nice folks at Influenster a long while back. This was one of 4 products they sent for review and I’m finally getting to the last items. I liked this, but I did not love it and will probably not repurchase. I believe the packaging has changed on this and it may now be available in a jar at Ulta for $17.99 for 1.7oz.

Perricone Acyl-Glutathione Eyelid Serum (Dec) – this was really nice. I used every night in combination with a retinol or hyaluronic acid eye cream. It did provide a lot of additional moisture and helped depuff my skin. The Perricone brand just went through a major overhaul and everything has been rebranded. This is now the Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Eyelid Lift Serum. I still don’t know what acyl-glutathione is, but I think I like it. I do not love the price though and probably would not repurchase. Available at Sephora for $122 for 0.5oz.

Perricone Face Finishing Moisturizer (Dec) – I love Perricone products… everything I have ever used has been great. I cannot for the life of me keep their products straight… I think this is now the High Potency Classics: Face Finishing & Firming Moisturizer…? I don’t think this was very firming, but it was an excellent moisturizer. Would I repurchase? Sure if you can help me figure out what it is!

MAKEUP

Benefit They’re Real! in Beyond Blue (Oct) – this is the convergence of two things that I love – this mascara formulation and blue mascara for summer. I do love getting my hands on this mascara every once in a while and would definitely repurchase. It is very difficult to remove, so be prepared to use a lot of eye makeup remover. Available at Ulta for $25 for 0.3oz.

Bite Beauty BB for Lips in Tawny (Oct) – RIP to this wonderfully hydrating product. Sadly Bite stopped making this forever ago and I am not even going to talk about it. I’m still salty.

Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Rose (Nov) – this is has appeared so many times on the blog. It is such a great lip product. I don’t know how I keep finding all of these mini versions of it, but I don’t hate it.  Apparently I have a massive stash of them.. If it ever happens that I run out, I would purchase. Available at Sephora for $24 for 0.15oz.

Guerlain Meteorites Baby Glow in Light (Dec) – I just love this and I’m very sad to see it go! This is a beautiful, sheer foundation that lasts all day. And it has the most lovely violet scent. Available at Saks for $54 for 1oz.

IT Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil in Universal Taupe (Nov) – longest name ever… good grief. I use this to create a multi-hued look with the Chella auburn pencil from the last round of empties. I have another taupe shade that I am working through, so don’t feel that I need to replace it. It is a great brow pencil, but there are a lot of great brow products out there! Available at Ulta for $24 for 0.005oz.

LORAC Cobra Mascara  – this came in a sample box at some point… it is completely dried out.

Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara (Oct) – I’ve encountered this one before and it’s the same issue… the wand is just too much. I just don’t want to use it ever again. Full size is $24 for 0.23oz.

NYX Green Tea Blotting Papers (Oct) – I keep going back and forth on these… this time I liked them. Last time I did not.  If I have any more stashed away, I will use them, however will not intentionally repurchase. Available at Ulta for $5.99 for 100 sheets.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes (Oct) – I used this about three times before I was reminded how much I despise it. This is the waterproof version of some other Lights, Camera, whatever from Tarte, but I dislike them all. They leave my lashes feeling crunchy and then it flakes off all day. BUT when you try to remove it, it will not come off. Be gone! Available from Sephora for $10 for 0.13oz.

BODY

Aveeno Positively Nourishing Smoothing Body Wash (Oct) – I have a very long history with this body wash. It is a lightly exfoliating, foaming cleanser. I absolutely love it and would repurchase again and again if it were still available. Whyyyyyy, Aveeno??

Body Shop Body Butter in Moringa (Dec) – this was another win. I haven’t used one of these body butters in a while and it was so nice to revisit this one. I have no idea what moringa is, but I loved the smell of this and would buy it again. Available at The Body Shop for $6 for 1.69oz.

Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash (Oct) – I love the Dove body washes. They are really hydrating and leave my skin feeling great. This has that classic Dove scent that is so pure and clean, never overpowering other scents. Repurchase? Of course. Available at Target for $6 for 22oz.

Julep Rethink Your Shower Hydrating Body Cleansing Oil (Dec) – another ridiculously long name… I have been using this off and on for a really long time. I love using it during cold months because it doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped and dehydrated. This works best with a konjac body sponge – I have gone through a couple but can’t remember what they were… obviously unremarkable. I might repurchase – currently using the L’occitane version to see how it compares. Available on the Julep website for $38 for 10oz.

HAIR

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Fruity and Cheeky Cherry (Dec) – cute name. There is nothing at this price point that works this well – Batiste consistently knocks it out of the park. I stock up on assorted versions of this when it goes on sale buy one get one free at Ulta. This is the first time using this scent – it was sweet and fruity, but not overwhelming. I would buy it again. Available at Ulta for $7.99 for 6.73oz.

dpHUE ACV (Dec) – this is an apple cider vinegar hair cleanser that really helped balance my scalp oil and remove any product build up. It is incredibly gentle and cleanses thoroughly without stripping any color. This was my second mini and I did end up buying a full size version.  Full size available at Sephora for $35 for 8.5oz.

Drybar Detox Brunettes Dry Shampoo (Dec) – a while back, I used up a can of the regular Drybar Detox and I made the comment that I couldn’t wait to try this version. I take it back… seriously. I wish that I never purchased this. The formula is nothing like the original version. This did not make my hair/scalp feel less oily, in fact it barely absorbed oil. Also, it left a ton of pigment on my scalp. I double shampoo every time I wash my hair and I could not remove the remnants of this. So this is not empty, but I/m just done using it. Available at Sephora for $23 for 3.5oz.

Here’s the 2018 total:

Skincare: 21

Body: 17

Hair: 10

Makeup/face: 25

other: 5

Nails: 6

Samples: 6

Sheet masks: 2

Total Products used: 92

2-month total: $476.47

2018 total: $1,710.25 (approximately)

Okay, so that was a ton of stuff… I promise not to do that again. I also promise to start blogging more regularly again. 🙂

Have a wonderful January!

Use It: February 2018 Empties

Happy March, everyone!

Just when I thought it was about to get warm and sunny, we’ve been forced back inside by cold, angry, snowy weather. I’m about done with this. On a positive note, I did a little bit of traveling. I spent a several days in my favorite city, Washington, DC. There was some work travel that allowed me the opportunity to visit the National Portrait Gallery to check out the new Obama paintings (amazing) and have a some great meals after hours. We went back the following weekend to visit some friends and family. While my husband went off to drink whiskey for a couple days in the mountains with his buddies, I bundled up and went to the Bridgestone Stadium Series game at the Naval Academy to see my beloved Washington Capitals destroy the Maple Leafs. We can definitely say that March has been off to a chilly, but wonderful start! This is also why I’m getting a late start on these February empties. 🙂

Since this was a lower-use month, I will go alphabetically again rather than split the products by type. Here we go:

Bath and Body Works Stress Relief Lip Balm – I really like the Stress Relief line and had really high expectations for this product. But I don’t really feel like this stood up to the rest of the line. It wasn’t overly hydrating, smelled like vanilla and tasted very sweet, which seems really counterintuitive before going to bed. I am not sad to see this go. This is no longer on their website, so I’m guessing I wasn’t the only one who was disappointed.

Bite Whipped Cherry Fruit Scrub – I am a huge fan of Bite products – this is no secret. This is a really wonderful, gentle lip scrub. I feel like this was a very effective exfoliator that also left my lips well hydrated. It also helps that it smells amazing. The only down side is that the oil is really hard to remove, so I only use this in the shower before I wash my face. Will I repurchase? Maybe. I have a couple other products to test out, so maybe down the road. Full size available at Sephora for $18 for .26oz.

IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara – I do not love this. This applies well and does a nice job thickening my lashes but it does not stay on well. After a couple hours, it starts flaking and smudging under my eyes. It refuses to come off with eye makeup remover or micellar water, but then proceeds to flake off all night in my sleep. This is so frustrating! I know some people really love this, I’m sorry but I am not one of them. Available at Ulta for $12 for .17oz.

Kiehl’s Close Shaver’s Squadron White Eagle Shave Cream – this was my first attempt with the White Eagle and probably my last. I typically use the Blue Eagle for my legs and I ended up purchasing this because it was the only version that came in a travel size at the time. This has camphor and menthol which kind of burned my skin. Maybe that feels nice on a man’s face, but it definitely did not feel nice on my legs. Fortunately, Kiehl’s has expanded the travel options and I was able to find a travel size of the new Smooth Glider that doesn’t irritate my skin. Available at Kiehl’s for $10 for 2.5oz.

Kiehl’s Crème de Corps Grapefruit Whipped Body Butter – I finished up it’s shower scrub counterpart a couple months ago, but this just lasted a bit longer. Generally, I am not impressed with Crème de Corps, however this whipped version is fabulous. It feels like it melts into your skin as you are applying it. The light citrus scent and hydration lasted all day. I am definitely a fan. Available in limited edition size during the holidays at Kiehl’s stores – $24 for the set (2oz. each).

Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Antiperspirant & Deodorant Cream – I have been through so many of these. It is been a staple in my routine for about 4-5 years now. This is unscented,  doesn’t irritate my skin and keeps me from sweating year round. I have multiple backups! Available at Kiehl’s for $21 for 2.5oz.

NYX Matte Blotting Paper – another one bites the dust. Available at Ulta for $5.99 for 100 sheets.

Omorovicza Complexion Perfector BB SPF 20 – I finally finished a foundation! I have really enjoyed all of the Omorovicza products I have tried and this is no exception. This is a lovely, sheer BB cream that provides a natural, healthy glow. The color match was spot on and easy to build color on top of. However, this worked best with cream blushes and eyeshadows instead of powder based products. I also really liked that when the pump stopped working, I was still able to get an additional month of use. At a $135 price point, can you blame me for scraping the bottom?? Sadly, I think this has been discontinued.

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream – right after I purchased a full-size GinZing, I received an Origins box from Influenster. What timing! I have been using the full size but also taking this mini on the road for the last few months. I really like this formula – it brightens and de-puffs my under eye circles like a champ. It does exactly what it says. I love this stuff. Full size available at Origins for $31 for 0.5oz.

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat –  another product that has appeared multiple times. Since this is the February wrap up, you know I already have another one in progress!  Available at Ulta for $9.95 for 0.5oz.

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream – what a ridiculously long name. This was fine. I’m not blown away by Sunday Riley – is that allowed to be said? I have some other hyaluronic acid products that are way cheaper and much more effective. Would not repurchase. Available at Sephora for $22 for 0.5oz.

And I finished some candles!!

Bath and Body Works Honeyed Pear – I didn’t get a lot of pear, but I did get this amazing, sweet honey and caramel scent. This candle had a ton of throw – I could smell this on a different floor of my house after burning for a couple hours. I would purchase again in a heartbeat, but I think this was limited edition. Available at Bath and Body Works for $22.50 for all 3-wick candles with an approximate burn time of 30 hours.

Siren Fine Fragrances Moonlit Orchid – I should have known that this was on the sale rack at TJ Maxx for $6 for a reason. It smells lovely…. when you are right next to it. Otherwise, you cannot smell this at all. What a bummer.

Here’s the 2018 total:

Skincare: 6

Body: 3

Hair: 0

Makeup/face: 4

other: 4

Nails: 2

Samples: 1

Sheet masks: 1

Total Products used: 21

Month total: $274.94

2018 total: $380.44  (approximately)

I feel like I’m off to a great start making a dent and using up a bunch of products. March should be another great month!

What did you use up recently? Anything you can’t live without?

Use It: May 2017 Empties

Hello again, everyone!

Can you believe it is almost summer? It has been cool and rainy for the last couple weeks – very deceiving!

While it was a longer month, I actually used up fewer items that April. Perhaps last month was also atypical product use?

Due to the lower number of products, we’ll keep this alphabetical. As always, sample reviews are posted to my Instagram (@lvp8779) as they are used.

Beautyblender PRO – I have to be honest… I don’t get it. I have tried this with 3-4 different foundations, concealer, baking, etc. This left my foundation feeling thinner and like it broke down during the day… which, let’s be honest is what will happen when you use a water-dampened sponge to apply your makeup. I never tried using with Fix+ or a setting spray because that is a damn waste of product. I will stick with brushes or even my fingers for foundation application. Available at Sephora for $20.

Bliss Body Butter in Vanilla + Bergamot – I don’t typically go for vanilla scents, but the crispness of the bergamot really won me over. Bliss consistently makes lovely body butters in a number of scents. While I love many of them, I will not likely repurchase this scent in particular. Available at bliss.com for $29 (6.7oz)

Bliss Body Wash in Vanilla + Bergamot – oh hey… look.. a set! I finished the body butter at the beginning of the month and this at the very end. The timing was just a bit off. Much like the body butter, the scent is not really for me. I like it, but I don’t love it. Available at bliss.com for $20 (16oz).

Kiehl’s Micro-Blur Skin Perfector – there was something odd about this. For the first couple months of using this, the product separated. I would squeeze the tube and just get oil. After that initial phase, it came out of the tube smooth and creamy. This helped to even out my skin tone and made my foundation just glide on. I can’t say that it actually minimized the appearance of pores or did any long-term refining. There are a lot of great primers out there so I probably would not repurchase this one again. Available at Kiehl’s for $35 (1oz).

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Pencil – M-10 Matte Black – this is just an okay black eyeliner.. Whenever I used this, I always felt that I needed to do finish work with a black liquid liner. This has a fairly opaque finish – I really prefer bold, deep pigmentation to stand out behind my glasses. I have a few other shades that perform much better. Available at Sephora for $21.

NYX Fresh Face Blotting Paper – this contains salicylic acid and is supposed to help with breakouts. I don’t have many breakouts, but I have been feeling super greasy. This does help, but I can’t say it is any more or less than any other blotting paper. I really like the NYX blotting papers, so will probably repurchase at some point. Available at Ulta for $5.99 for 100 sheets.

Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Youth Activating Oil – I really loved this. It is great for cooler weather, but once the humidity and heat start creeping up, this starts to make my skin a bit too greasy. This absorbs quickly and works very well with other hydrating products. Ole Henriksen has changed up all of their packaging over the last few months – you can still get this, but it looks a bit different. Full size available at Sephora for $45 (1oz), this was part of a 500 point set at 0.5 oz – still very generous!

Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo – a lot of people really love this… I’m not sure why. This was mediocre at best. I didn’t feel that this absorbed much oil or extended time between washing. I also have a mini of the texturizing spray that I do like, but this was a disappointment. Purse size spray available at Birchbox.com for $22… get out of here.

Up and Up Nail Polish Remover – I’ve said many times that I don’t really see the point of spending a ton of money on polish remover. Obviously, I spent $1.04 on this one and it was perfectly fine. It removed polish and didn’t strip my nails… I’d buy it again!

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara – I think I have reviewed this before. I love this mascara. It is incredibly pigmented, layers easily and doesn’t clump or flake. The more I revisit this, the more I like it. If I ever got to a point in my life where I need to actually purchase mascara, this would be at the top of the list! Available at Ulta for $10 (mini).

Total products used 2017:

Skincare: 16

Body: 9

Hair: 12

Makeup/face: 7

other: 6

Nails: 6

Samples: 11

Sheet masks: 1

Month total: $186.53   (approximately)

Year total: $766.72

I made it all the way to the last day of the month without purchasing anything and then fell off the wagon… It was a rough month. I didn’t have coupons or gift cards.. I just needed a little retail therapy.

Kiehl’s:

Sun-Free Self-Tanning Formula – $22.50 for 5oz.

Super Fluid UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50 – $38 for 1.7oz

Nordstrom:

Jo Malone Cologne in Nectarine and Honey Blossom – $65 for 1oz.

Samples on samples on samples… GWP

 

Hopefully I can get back on blogging track in June. I’ve had a lot of personal stuff going on the last couple months – blogging has definitely taken a back seat. Stay tuned…

Happy June!

Use It: March and April 2016 Empties

Hello again!

Welcome to another round of empties! This is one of my favorite type of posts to write and read. It makes me really take a good look at my purchases and consider if they were worth it. It also puts in perspective how many other things I have to use up!

As always, everything is broken down into one of the following categories: skincare, makeup, body, hair and lifestyle.

SKINCARE

Lancome Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover – I don’t get the hype. This is a fine eye makeup remover, but it isn’t great. More often than not, I would wake up with leftover mascara and eyeliner caked under my eyes (gross). I expect a lot more for this price point and definitely would not repurchase. Available at any Lancome counter or online for $30 for 4.2oz. Nordstrom does price matching and you can purchase there for $27.

MAKEUP

Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/Medium – what a great, easy to use brow tint and filler. Benefit calls this a “volumizing fiber gel.” Just a few swipes fill in sparse areas and the formula holds unruly hairs in place. This little tube lasted 6 months, but I would say its worth it and consider repurchasing. Available at Ulta and all Benefit counters for $24 for 0.1oz.

Bite Beauty Lush Fruit Lip Gloss in Currant – this is a fabulous neutral shade gloss. Bite makes wonderful lightweight glosses that aren’t sticky or clumpy. All of their products are made with natural oils and are scented like fruit. I would definitely repurchase. Available at Sephora for $22.

Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Rose – I’ve gone through so many of these – granted, I have a stockpile of the minis… This balm is lightweight, non-greasy and provides a lovely, sheer wash of color. I will purchase a full size if I ever run out. 🙂 Available at Sephora for $24 for 0.15oz.

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara – I received this through Influenster a few months agoand used it religiously up until a few weeks ago. I read see feedback from another blogger that she knew its time was up when it started flaking throughout the day. and flake it did. This was fantastic until then – this wand separated each lash and the formula coated evenly every time. This lasted easily 10 hours every day. But yes, at the end of its 3-month life cycle, it definitely flaked. Maybe more companies should create a built in reminder when you should toss? Overall I really liked this and would purchase again. Available at Sephora for $26.

Neutrogena Glow Sheer in Ivory to Fair – my friend Laura gave me this forever ago when she was decluttering and I didn’t love or hate it.. perhaps that’s why she passed it along also? The definition of sheer is spot on – it provided little coverage and left a nice dewy finish. It made a great weekend errand-running foundation. Sadly, this has turned and now separates upon application. I have plenty of foundation, I don’t see myself ever repurchasing. Available at Ulta, CVS and many other locations for $12.99 for 1.1 oz.

Stila Smudge Stick Eye Liner in Oscar Fish – I love the Smudge Stick formula so I’m very sad to see this go! This was a great chocolaty brown that I featured in a quick makeup recommendation post last year.  Will not repurchase right now, as I have a few similar shades that I want to finish. Available at Sephora for $22 for 0.01oz.

BODY

The Body Shop Body Butter in Cranberry Joy – I’ve reviewed this product, as well as many other things in this scent. I love cranberry! The body butters from TBS are so great – very hydrating and the scents last all day. I will repurchase this again and again – and I probably don’t need to… I think I have backups. This seasonal scent is available starting in September for $21 for 6.7oz.

 

Saint Augustine & Suds Scrub Down – this is a great coffee scrub from my favorite local gal. They just reformulated this and want to test it out! Its hydrating and exfoliating at the same time. Visit the website to check out when the new scrub is up as well as see her gorgeous soaps!

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter – this was my first Soap & Glory product and I thought it was so great – definitely makes me want to try more from this brand. This little tub sat on my desk for quite a while – a little bit went a really long way. It was very moisturizing, but not greasy and really helped my hands survive winter! Available at Ulta for $4 for the 1.69 mini or $15 for 10.1 oz.

HAIR

Biologe Color Care Shampoo – this is my favorite shampoo. I might change from time to time, but I always come back! It gets my hair incredibly clean without harming my color. I will always repurchase. Available at most salons for $13-24 (this older 16.9oz is no longer sold).

Biolage Pro-Keratin Renewal Spray – this is part of a shampoo and conditioner set that I finished a while ago (these sets never finish together..), so I used this in combination with my regular Biologe color treated shampoo. A few sprays left my hair smooth and shiny when used with high heat. I would consider repurchasing after I downsize some of my current products. Available wherever you can buy salon products for $23 for 6.8 oz.

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk – I think this would be better for fine hair – it does an okay job of absorbing oil.. it is fine for about 4 hours before my hair starts to feel greasy. Will not purchase again. Available on Birchbox.com for $20 for 3.2oz.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo – this was.. fine. It was a perfectly fine dry shampoo. It did fairly decent job of absorbing oil for 5-6 hour, but after that just completely disappeared. I also felt that this was good for like 1-day, but given that I usually only wash my hair twice a week, it did nothing to extend my style or time between regular shampoo. And for such a “clean” line of products, this smelled like chemicals. Would not repurchase. Available at Sephora for $12 for 1.8oz.

LIFESTYLE

Bath and Body Works PocketBac in Vampire Blood and EEK! – yes. These are from Halloween and I love the cheesy names! I have a bunch of different scents hoarded away and will not be repurchasing any for a while. Available at Bath and Body Works for $1.75 for 1oz.

Julep Nail Color in Shari, Claudette and Margot – yes, I finished 3 nail polishes in the last couple months… Julep has so many great shades, however they are very dupable. I love the message behind the brand and like supporting an all-female business, but the Julep formulas frustrate me as a whole. I can get 2-3 days before they chip even with a durable topcoat. They also get really gloopy towards the end, the exception being Margot (gold) and I was able to use every available drop. These colors were beautiful but I will not be repurchasing any of them – especially at $14 each.

Ulta Strengthening Nail Polish Remover – I’ve written about this several times. I’m not super picky about polish remover. This works fine and is cheap. I have backups. 🙂 Available at Ulta for $2.99 for 6 oz.

TOSS

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Black – when makeup artist extraordinaire Lisa Eldridge (bow down!) recommends a product, I take that pretty seriously. Unfortunately this was an absolute fail for me. This constantly smudged onto my brow bone and under my eyes with and without primer. After a week of trying to make this work, I GIVE UP! Ugh!

Total products used 2016 year to date:

Skincare: 4

Body: 9

Hair: 5

Makeup/face: 12

other: 3

Nails: 4

Samples: 13

Sheet masks: 4

March/April total: $274.74

Year total: $593.58

All of my sample and sheet mask reviews are posted regularly on my Instagram (@lvp8779) as well as random other beauty things.. stop by and say hi!

I hope you have a wonderful May!