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: 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: April 2017 Empties

Hello again, everyone!

What a crazy, crazy month! I know – it is so boring to say that… but this month flew by.  We are nearing the end of construction in our bathroom FINALLY. Throughout the construction, I have been using really minimal version of my daily routine… for what seems like forever at this point. But it has really helped me focus on using up a few things – deluxe samples, full size.. the whole deal.

So here we goooo! This was a fairly productive month, so 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

Balance Me Tinted Wonder Eye Cream – in theory, this is great. It is a hydrating, light reflecting moisturizer that diminishes under eye circles. It’s an all-natural product, chock full of hyaluronic acid and light reflecting particles… Ok – what is the down side?? It actually did nothing for my skin – it was all smoke and mirrors. The tint was just a bit too dark for my skin tone and it didn’t actually have any long-term brightening effect. I didn’t finish all of this and wasn’t really interested in purchasing. Available on Birchbox.com for 0.34oz.

Kate Somerville Hydrating Firming Mist – did not firm, was not overly hydrating. I didn’t really enjoy this. Bummer. But for those KS die-hards, you can purchase the full-size at Sephora for $48 for 4oz.

Murad Renewing Cleansing Cream – this was a very dense, creamy cleanser. It was a bit harsh for my eyes, so had to use a different cleanser. I would recommend as a follow up to an oil or balm cleanser, but did not find it thorough enough to remove everything on the first try. This would be much better for mature or dry skin. This was not my favorite Murad product and I would probably not purchase. Full-size available at Ulta or Sephora for $38 for 6.75oz.

 

Perricone, Vichy, Murad, Kate Somerville, Balance Me

 

Perricone MD Photo Plasma Broad Spectrum SPF 30 – this was a great moisturizer – it was hydrating during the cold months and light enough for the summer months. I loved the high SPF and found it really took great care of my skin. I would definitely repurchase. Available at Sephora for $75 for 2 oz.

Vichy Liftactiv Supreme – this was received through an Influenster box a while back – I received this and a serum, which I ultimately went and purchased a full-size of! This was an excellent moisturizer and a great introduction into the brand. I definitely want to explore more and would definitely consider purchasing. Full size is available at Ulta for $42 for 1.7oz.

Vichy 3 in 1 One Step Cleansing Micellar Solution – another Vichy freebie! This one was a gift from the company through an Instagram contest. Seriously – I was thrilled! This is a really great formula – very gentle and removes makeup so quickly and easily. I actually have a backup of this, but down the road I would definitely repurchase. Full-size available at Ulta for $14.50 for 6.8oz.

MAKEUP

 

Buxom

 

Buxom Vanity Lash Mascara – this is a really flimsy wand. I get that Buxom wants to offer options as far as the wand, but I cannot get behind this one. This bent so much during application that I cannot actually speak to the formula of the mascara because I cannot apply it well. I think Buxom has a lot of great products – this is just not one of them. Full-size available at Sephora for $20 for 0.37oz.

BODY

 

Kiehl’s, Aveda

 

Aveda Hand Relief Night Renewal Serum – this was a great addition to my daily hand treatment. I used this day and night and liked the additional boost it gave with my regular hand cream. This was really great during the winter months. Would definitely repurchase. Available at Aveda for $35 for 1oz.

Kiehl’s Crème de Corps – still not a fan. Am I the only one who does not love this? I think I’m in the minority. I used this at night on my hands.. whatever. Available at Kiehl’s for $11 for 2.5oz.

HAIR

Aloxxi Firm Hold Hairpray – this is a very firm hold at first, but then starts to break down after a couple hours. I’m not a big hairspray user so… I received this through Birchbox and I can’t find this version on the website anymore. It’s not worth hunting down.

 

Aloxxi, Cricket, Klorane

 

Cricket Static Free Fast Flo Brush (1.5in) – I’ve had this brush for like 6 years and it is completely falling apart. It no longer eliminates static and the brush tips have started falling off. But I love it and have already replaced it! Available at Ulta for $7.49

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk (x2) – I’m pretty sure I reviewed this before and I was not impressed. It says it’s for normal hair, but I think this is more for fine hair – I have lots of hair and this just gets lost. I don’t feel like this works beyond a few hours for me. Full size available on Birchbox for $20 for 3.2oz.

LIFESTYLE/Other

 

Seche Vite, Julep, Deborah Lippmann, Saint Augustine and Suds

 

Deborah Lippmann Nail Color in Lady is a Tramp – can I just point out that I used a whole bottle of Deborah Lippman polish? These are 0.5oz bottles so this is quite a feat! This is a crème pink-toned red that was semi-opaque. I needed 2-3 coats to assure there was no streaking or thinner spots. I would definitely like to try out more shades – this formula is fantastic! Available at Nordstrom for $18.

Julep Crème Color in Vicki – hot, hot pink! Whoa! This is an obnoxious, but great spring/summer color. Sadly, this bottle broke down and got really clumpy. I couldn’t salvage it! I couldn’t find this on the website, but there are some other really similar colors and sooo many others available for $14 at Julep.com.

Saint Augustine and Suds Tonka Whiskey Leather Candle – this is so good. Oh man. Can I bottle this and wear it? I love this combination – it is amazing. I bought several of these so there will be no running out! More scents available seasonally at Saintaugustineandsuds.com for $12.

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat – this dries super fast and makes any shade look super glossy. I’ve gone through a few of these now and I think it’s definitely reached permanent status in my stash. Available at Ulta for $9.95.

Total products used 2017:

Skincare: 15

Body: 7

Hair: 11

Makeup/face: 5

other: 5

Nails: 5

Samples: 5

Sheet masks: 1

Month total: $242.44   (approximately)

Year total: $580.19

In keeping with the past few months of tracking my low-buy behavior, I will sadly share my inevitable derailment. Thanks Sephora VIB sale… Also, there is so much amazing new stuff out that I threw up my hands and totally caved:

VIB Sale:

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo – FULL SIZE! $23 for 3.5oz

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino EDP 1oz – $145

Deduct 15% and a $10 Shopkick gift card… I also used a $100 gift card from work. This ended up costing about $40 total out of pocket.

Ulta trip… not with 20% off… oops…

Monthly Brow Bar visit – $21 -but I don’t count this in my monthly low-buy tracking!

Benefit Cheek Parade – $58.00 for 5 full size cheek colors!

Cotton balls – $1.99 I don’t count this either!

Cricket Static Free Fast Flo Brush – $5.39 on sale!

NYX Blotting Tissue – buy one get one 50% – $3.99 each

Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat – $9.95

Tony Moly Fresh Cleansing Tissue – $8.50 (5x points!)

Ulta Nail Polish Remover – $2.49

Total – $120 (ish) – minus $3.50 coupon and $35 gift card. Actual out of pocket expense $87. Subtract Brow Bar visit= about $62

Total spent in April – just over $100 out of pocket. Not bad! My wine spending however… yikes! Good thing this is a beauty blog and not a wine blog, right?

There you have another month of empties. What did you use up this month? Any favorites?

Use It: September 2016 Empties

Hello and happy October!

Farewell summer – I won’t miss you!

As usual, everything is broken down into one of the following categories: skincare, makeup, body, hair and lifestyle. Sample reviews are posted frequently to my Instagram (@lvp8779) as they are used. This month included a higher number of samples than usual as I was participating in Sample September. It was really nice to be able to clear out a few more things out of my sample stash!

Here we go!

SKINCARE

 

Yes to Cucumbers- Lancôme – Julep

 

Julep Charcoal Konjac Sponge – I really liked the shape and feel of this sponge. This was great out of the gate, unfortunately between uses it would dry out too much and start to condense. After a couple weeks it became increasingly difficult to rehydrate and use comfortably. It kept shrinking and absorbing less and less water every day. I think I really only got one good week of use out of this and completely gave up after 2-3 weeks. This was only with using a gentle cleanser first thing in the morning – no cleansing oils or use with makeup. Would not repurchase. Available at Julep.com for $12.

Lancôme Genifique Yeux/Youth Activating Eye Cream – this was from L’Oréal Product Evaluation and probably one of the best gifts they’ve ever given! This was great for day and night – incredibly hydrating and soothing. This has reflective agents and minimizes the appearance of dark circles. It did not, however, tighten or firm the fine lines. I liked this, but did not love it for that very reason. Would not purchase. Available at Nordstrom for $67 for 0.5oz.

Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Facial Towelettes – this confirmed my dislike of cucumber scented things. Additionally, they did not remove my makeup very well… it was fine for foundation and some eyeshadows, but they didn’t touch mascara or eyeliner. Would definitely not repurchase. Available at Target for $2.99 (10 sheets).

MAKEUP

Benefit They’re Real Beyond Blue Mascara – this was so perfect for summer! I originally discussed this here. As typical for They’re Real, it lasted about 3 months on the dot before it started to dry out. I was hoping to get a few more uses out of it, but managed to get yet another round of pink eye.. ugh! Out it goes! I love this formula, but I probably would not purchase this color in this line again. It’s fun, but I know I can find a colored mascara for much cheaper. Available at Ulta for $24.

 

Vella-Benefit

 

Vella Flower Flower B.B Whitening Moisturizing Color Control Base – this was a really great BB cream. I used this quite a bit when I was battling perioral dermatitis – it cancelled out all of the redness and was hydrating enough to minimize some of the flaky skin. This made my skin overall look super porcelain and flawless. It did get shiny throughout the day, but it wasn’t anything that a little powder couldn’t get rid of! If I could find this, I would definitely repurchase. It was a Memebox find from when the majority of the products were coming straight from Korea. I will probably never find this again.

BODY

Nivea Sun-Kissed Radiance Fair to Medium Skin – I despise most tanning lotions simply because of the scent. This one smells so nice! It is also a really subtle color enhancer that doesn’t make my incredibly pale skin look orange or too dark. This never streaks or leaves uneven patches. I already have a backup! Available at Ulta for about $10 for 13.5oz.

LIFESTYLE/OTHER

Bath and Body Works Soothing Pillow Mist in Eucalyptus Spearmint – I love, love, love this and have been using it for years. When I have the Sunday blues and can’t fall asleep, I just spray on my pillow and I’m out within 5 minutes. I don’t know what kind of magic this stuff is, but fortunately I have backups! The down side is that this wasn’t completely empty, but the sprayer thing broke. Bummer. I will purchase more during one of the BBW semi-annual sales where it’s 50%. Available in-store and on the website for $12.50 for 5.3oz.

Butter London Nail in The Sweet Spot – this lovely, creamy pink was part of last year’s collaboration with Allure – I think they had 4-5 limited edition shades. I received this last year through the Allure Beauty Box (which I discontinued a few months ago) and originally featured in my 2015 Favorites – with good reason. The formula was long lasting and well pigmented – I have some other shades from this brand that I look forward to testing out! Regular shades available at Ulta for $15 for 0.4oz.

Formula X Delete All – I bought this in hopes of finding something that would take off glitter polish better than my regular $1.99 remover. This is one of those contraptions that has 5 slots for each finger… you contort your hands so it coats your nail and removes the polish. This worked incredibly well on removing all traces of gritty glitter! I’m not sure why I was on the kick, but I have certainly moved past it. It works well on all formulas, pigmentations, etc. It has really dried out so it’s time to say goodbye. I would definitely repurchase! Available at Sephora for $15 for 5oz.

 

Formula X – Butter London – Julep – Seche Vite

 

Julep Nail Color in Rayma – so this was a September favorite and an empty 😦 I absolutely love this color. It reminds me of wine, which is probably why I like it so much! This started to get really thick, so I added a similar shade to kind of thin it out. I was able to get a few more uses, but sadly it is no more. I would consider repurchasing if I didn’t have so much nail polish… the Julep subscription was great, but just soooo many products. I will not need to buy polish for the next 5 years. Available on Julep.com for $14

Julep Ta Da! Quick Dry Drops – this worked really well and lasted forever! This oily formula dried polish in a snap. I do have a back up of this and will use it, but I don’t anticipate repurchasing. The product below will explain why… Available on Julep.com for $18.

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat – ah, my beloved Seche Vite. Toxic as hell, but I can’t resist it. I can use this on any polish and it will be dry in 2 minutes. I never get a smudge, bubble or crinkle when I use this. As you can probably tell, this is not empty, but it got really thick and hard to use. Don’t worry, I already have a backup! Available at Ulta for $7.99.

Whew! There you go. Again, it never seems like a lot until I start typing… then it seems like it takes forever to wrap it up!

Total products used 2016 year to date:

Skincare: 13

Body: 17

Hair: 13

Makeup/face: 22

other: 5

Nails: 13

Samples: 39

Sheet masks: 10

Month total: $190.98

Year total: $1,217.09 

What did you finish up this month? Any favorites? Non-favorites?

Have a great October!

February 2016 Favorites

Hello everyone!

The down side to a short month is that when you don’t finish your previous month’s favorites until mid-month, the end of the month comes up real quick! So while I’m still regularly using (and loving) everything from January, there are a few new things that have made the rotation.

I’m just going to say that everything in my Current Winter Rotation post is still part of my daily routine. My favorite of the rotation is definitely the Julep Hydrating Body Cleanser – it is a really hydrating body wash and even though it is an oil, doesn’t leave me feeling oily.

It has been really dry in my house and office, but super humid with fluctuating temperatures outside. The side affect is dry and static fueled hair, dry skin and even a bit of eczema. How is it possible that my face is oily and dry at the same time?  I’m not amused. These things are helping though!

Once again, I have to bring up another limited edition item. I’m sorry! If you were lucky enough to snag some things from the MAC Ellie Goulding collection, congratulations. You can still find a few of the products on the MAC website. I managed to snag the last Halcyon Days quad from my MAC store and started out using it very sparingly. After a couple weeks, I caved and started using regularly. This quad has 4 cream color bases and a blotting powder. These beautiful cream shades can be used under a powder shadow or layered for a multi-hued eye look and the coral can also be used as a cheek color. It is so versatile and very long wearing.

My final favorite is a cult classic. Once again, I am super late to the party on something. This time it is the Seche Vite Top Coat. My friend Laura talked about it for a long time and I went to look for it at Ulta a couple times and it was sold out. I finally found it and have been using nonstop. It dries incredibly fast and prevents smudging if I do my nails before bed. The down side is this stuff is toxic as hell – kept away from open flame, pets and your face. Hey, I’ll take some fumes if it means my nails look good. Yes, I AM that superficial. 🙂

So there you have it – another month in the books. What were some of your February favorites?