Empties | #41

I thought I'd just recently done an empties post, but I peeked in my bin to throw something out, and lo and behold it was plum full and it's been a month! Somehow it filled up rather quickly, and it's that time once again. Without further ado... my empties for you, with mini reviews and purchase recommendations for your reading pleasure.

• Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream (would repurchase) - I used this extra-potent moisturizing cream on my hands at night because it is rather thick and greasy. It always made my hands feel brand new, especially during the cold and dry winter months. See full review here.

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 foundation (would repurchase) - I've talked this to death. It's my holy grail foundation and I've never found anything quite like it. I've always got a bottle or two on back up for when I run out. This is probably my 20th bottle, and it won't be my last. 

• LaVanila Vanilla Passion Fruit deodorant (would repurchase) - LaVanila is my favorite natural deodorant brand. I enjoyed the scent of this and would certainly get it again. 

• Korres Hand Cream in Bergamot Pear - This was a nice hand cream. It smelled fruity and moisturized nicely. 

• Ken Paves Volumizing Shampoo (would purchase) - I really enjoyed this sample. It felt luxurious, and was reminiscent of Aveda shampoo and conditioners that I've used in the past. I'd definitely get this in the future.

• Kiehl's Daily Reviving Concentrate (would not purchase) - I wasn't a big fan of this face oil. It sat on top of my face and didn't do a lot.

• Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream (would purchase) - This was a nice, basic moisturizer. It felt good on my skin, didn't have much of a smell, and didn't break me out. I believe this is ridiculously expensive, but I'd consider it in the future.

• Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam (would repurchase) - This is one foamy cleanser. It foams up like crazy but it left my skin feeling clean and refreshed. 

• Nubian Heritage Abyssinian Oil & Chia Seed Body Cleansing Smoothie (would repurchase) - This was great. It doesn't foam up, it feels more like a light lotion. It smells amazing and it lingers. It's not super hydrating, but I could skip lotion and my skin wouldn't be completely desert-like. I haven't seen these around, but I picked this up at TJ Maxx and I'd definitely pick up more if I saw them again.

• Suave Smoothing lotion (would not repurchase) - The only good thing about this is the nice, light smell. It wasn't very hydrating and felt like it just sat on top of my skin.

• Tarte Lights Camera Lashes mascara (would not repurchase) - I know these samples are pretty inconsistent, unfortunately, and this one was awful. It was so dry and flaky I could hardly use it. I used it a couple times and then threw it away.

• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner (would not repurchase) - I'm one of the few people who is not gaga for the Kat Von D tattoo liners. This is a brush-tip liner that dries to a satin finish. It's not that it's bad, I just think there are better liners for cheaper.

• Milani Clear Brow Shaping Gel (would repurchase) - I've purchased this brow gel time and time again. This particular gel is clear so it's perfect if you just need to control the brows you have, or want to lock your brow powder in place. 

• Clinique Bottom Lash mascara (would repurchase) - I'd totally get it if you told me I was crazy for buying a mascara solely for my bottom lashes, but I SWEAR by this stuff. It won't flake all over your face, and the small brush makes it easy to apply without smudging it everywhere. This is a new holy grail product of mine.

• Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara (would repurchase) - I really enjoyed this mascara. It gave me volume and length and didn't flake all over my face.

• Hask Charcoal Purifying Shampoo (would repurchase) - I really like Hask shampoos and conditioners. They've sent me a variety of different ones to try, and this Charcoal line is one of my favorites, mostly because it smells heavenly. Full review here.

• Brandless Mouthwash (would not repurchase) - Brandless is a super cool website where everything is $3 because they aren't making you pay for the brand. I tried a variety of kitchen products and I also grabbed the mouthwash. Unfortunately I wasn't a fan of this in the least. It tasted weird and made my teeth feel chalky.

• First Aid Beauty Blemish Patrol Pads (would repurchase) - I liked these. They didn't completely keep my skin under control, but they helped shorten the time of my break outs and they felt nice on my skin. 

• Befine Night Cream (would not repurchase) - I wasn't a fan of this night cream. It smelled nice, kind of like cocoa, but I think it contributed to breakouts on my skin and it wasn't moisturizing enough for my taste.

• Pur-lisse Gentle Soy Milk Cleanser (would repurchase) - This cleanser is very gentle, and I'd definitely recommend it if you have sensitive skin. I really liked it and would definitely consider buying a full-size bottle.

• Acure Facial Toner (would repurchase) - I like the packaging of this toner. The top is a spray nozzle, but it looks like it's more of a lotion bottle. This toner is gentle and the ingredients are great.

• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - Surprise, surprise. I always have a tube of these in my empties. I love these for applying toner, removing eye makeup, cleaning brushes, taking off my nail polish, etc.

• Organyc Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - I ordered these off of Vitacost just to try out an organic cotton round, and I liked them. They're not as great of a price as the Swisspers, but I'd consider ordering them now and then. 

• Elizabeth & James Nirvana White perfume (would repurchase) - I adore this perfume. It smells wonderful and reminds me of really great memories. I've already purchased a full size bottle to replace this. Full review here. 

• Hillary Duff With Love perfume (would repurchase) - I liked this much more than I thought I would. It's warm with notes of amber, but also has a strong "tropical" note. It's not coconut-y but, just has this added note that lightens the amber, woodsy-ness. I liked it! 

• Clinique Moisture Surge moisturizer (would repurchase) - If you have really dry skin, this isn't going to be for you. It's a good base for us normal skin type folks. I used this during the day because I prefer a heavier night cream to do the dirty moisturizing work.

• Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer (would repurchase) - This was a good day time moisturizer. It has added SPF so you can protect your skin from UV rays. It's lightly fragranced and a little oily, but it was fine. Nothing to write home about.

• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Boosters Facial Cleanser (would not repurchase) - I wasn't a big fan of this cleanser. It didn't feel like it did much.

• Caudalie Eye Lifting Balm (would not purchase) - This didn't do much for my undereyes. I'm very particular with my eye creams because I need extra oomph with the fine lines I have, and this didn't do it for me. It's quite pricey, too, so I wouldn't shell out for this. If it worked a miracle, I'd spend the money.

• L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream (would not repurchase) - The smell of this is a bit "old-lady" like and it doesn't soothe the cracks in my knuckles that the Minnesota winter burdens me with. It's also quite greasy. It's not worth the money.

• Nivea A Kiss of Recovery lip balm (would repurchase) - Maybe it's weird, but I adore medicated lip balms. They feel minty and that makes me think it's working, even if it's just a psychological thing. This really did treat my dry lips and get rid of dead skin.

• Chapstick Green Tea Mint lip balm (would not repurchase) - I did not care for this. It felt like it was making my lips more chapped than they were and I wasn't crazy about the scent.

• Smashbox Photo Finish primer (would repurchase) - I honestly can't tell if this contributes to break outs a little but I like the way it makes my skin look (smooth and poreless), so I used this up and I'd consider purchasing it.

• Spongeables Pedi-Scrub Foot Buffer (would repurchase) - Every summer, I love having one of these in my shower. I go for a lot of walks and my wearing sandals 24/7 means I want my feet to be clean and exfoliated. These work great and last me all summer long.

• Cutex Advanced Revival Nail Polish Remover Pads (would repurchase) - I snagged these at the Dollar Tree, and I actually really liked using them. The pads are really durable cotton or wool and one pad gets all 10 of my nails polish-free. 

• Crest Be Inspired toothpaste in Vanilla Mint Spark (would not repurchase) - Typically, I'm all about anything vanilla mint flavored. This was a miss, though. It didn't make my mouth feel clean and I learned that perhaps vanilla mint is not a good toothpaste flavor.

• Listerine Mint Floss (would not repurchase) - This used to be my holy grail floss. It's braided so it's thicker and gets more gunk out of my gums. But I found a new love and this has taken the back seat with no repurchasing in the foreseeable future. 

• B&BW Cheers Mulled Wine candle (would not repurchase) - This is a candle from a couple years ago. It's very fruity and it made my whole house smell nice. It's not my favorite scent to have burning, and I'm done buying candles that aren't soy so I wouldn't get this again.

• B&BW Cranberry Pumpkin candle (would repurchase) - So, I still wouldn't buy B&BW candles in the future, but if you love them you need to pick this scent up. It's scrumptious and smells like the holidays. I adored it.

• DW Candles Honey Pumpkin candle (would not repurchase) - This was fine, very sweet, but nothing to go crazy over. It's also not soy, unfortunately.

• Trader Joe's Vanilla Pumpkin candle (would repurchase) - I LOVE that Trader Joe's is releasing soy candles around the holidays. I think the packaging is adorable, and this scent was nice (quite sweet), too. 

• Yankee Candle Lake Sunset candle (would repurchase) - Another non-soy candle, but it smelled amazing. Something about the smell really made me think of being at a cabin in the summer time. Such a good, nostalgic smell. 

And that's it! Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments!

Empties | #40

It's been about two months since my last empties post, and it's time that this post is written. My bag is full, and my brain is too - humming with my thoughts on all these used up products. Below you'll find mini reviews and purchase recommendations on everything I've finished over the last two months. Let's get to it...

• Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer (would repurchase) - I really like this concealer for underneath my eyes. It covers my dark circles and is one of the best drugstore options I've found that creases minimally. It seems that it's been reformulated (anyone know??) and the consistency is a bit different with the latest tube I've bought, but I still like it.

• Essence Liquid Eyeliner (would repurchase) - This is a dirt cheap liquid eyeliner (I'm talking under $5) and I love it. It has a felt tip making it very easy to apply, and it wears all day long. You can also get this in a waterproof version which I like equally.

• Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth foundation (would not repurchase) - I don't know why I am sometimes overcome with the desire to purchase "dewy" foundations. I know my skin, and while it's not particularly oily, it works best with satin to matte foundations that sit and settle on to the skin. This would separate during the day, break apart, and settle in to my fine lines. I didn't finish this whole bottle up, I eventually just tossed it in the empties bin.

• Covergirl Full Lash Bloom mascara (would repurchase) - This is the second tube of this that I've used up. It really does make my lashes look fuller, while giving me length. It's cheap at the drugstore and something I'm sure I will use again. I like it so much, in fact, that it made 2016's yearly favorites.

• Essence Make Me Brow (would repurchase) - If you're too cheap to shell out for Benefit's Gimme Brow, like I oftentimes am, this Essence knock off is a great alternative. It's not quite as pigmented, but it does the job of giving my brows a pop of color. This drugstore option is a fraction of the price of most tinted brow gels from Sephora.

• Mitchell and Peach The Radiance Face Oil (would not repurchase) - I enjoyed using this - it smelled really nice and felt luxurious, but it never seemed to actually sink in to my skin. Even after hours, it was just pooled up on top of my face instead of diving deep and hydrating my skin. I love the branding and packaging and the scent and feel, but it didn't perform unfortunately.

• Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish (would repurchase) - I love getting little samples of the facial exfoliator. Many might find this too abrasive, but with gentle hands, I think this is the perfect way to get baby smooth skin. It feels like you're rubbing gentle sandpaper over your face, removing the dead skin and junk that needs to be buffed away. Some day I'll shell out for a full size of this. 

• L'Occitane Gentle Toner (would not repurchase) - I am not a fan of L'Occitane's toners. They're more like perfumed waters, and don't seem to be providing my skin with any benefits. 

• Up & Up Eye Makeup Remover (would repurchase) - The Target Up & Up brand of eye makeup remover holds a candle to any higher end brands. It works great, it's dirt cheap, and it'll last you! Oftentimes you can find double packs of these bottles for a better deal than just one. Keep your eyes peeled!

• Estee Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover (would not repurchase) - I was not a fan of this. It's highly HIGHLY fragranced which bothered me, and it didn't seem as effective as a cleansing oil or makeup wipe. Happy to have tested a sample of this before shelling out on a full size and hating it.

• Dior The One Facial Serum (would not purchase) - I enjoyed using this delicately-Dior-scented facial serum, but can't say I noticed it doing anything. Truth be told, a small sample like this isn't the best way to know if it would perform over time, but I'm too cheap to find out with a bigger size.

• Organic Surge Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser (would repurchase) - This was a nice, gentle cleanser that I opted to use in the morning. A hot cloth cleanser, if you've never used one, is applied on dry skin, and then removed with a hot wet wash cloth. I just rinsed it off, personally, but it worked the same nonetheless and was an effective gentle cleanser. Brightening? Hard to say, but it did leave my skin clean without stripping it.

• Ginger People Ginger Face Cleanser (would not repurchase) - This was a very basic, very bland cleanser. It cleansed my face just fine, but I felt like it could've done more. It has no skin nourishing ingredients, anti-agers or anything of the sort. If that's what you're looking for, you'll probably like this! I prefer something a bit more beneficial and nourishing for my skin.

• Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser (would repurchase) - This was a lovely, simple face cleanser. It has gentle beads that help exfoliate the skin, but they're very very gentle and won't be abrasive in the least. My skin felt clean and refreshed after using this and I'll definitely get it again!

• Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel oil controlling towelettes (would repurchase) - I've had these for ages and finally pulled them out to use as a toner after washing my face. I liked them - I like using witch hazel as a toner because it helps clear up blemishes naturally.

• Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins (would repurchase) - I thoroughly enjoyed this night cream. It felt luxurious, slowly melting in to my skin. It didn't break me out, it hydrated without being too much. Overall, just really nice.

• Ladykin Affinitic Snail Cream (would repurchase) - This moisturizer is light but still packs a punch with hydration. My husband also liked using it. It sits easily under makeup, and is perfect if you've got normal to combination skin like I do. If you have dry skin, you may need something more than this. See full review here.

• Origins Ginger Burst Body Wash (would repurchase) - I love love love the ginger burst scent from Origins. It's such a juicy sweet scent that I adore at any time of year. This body wash lathers nicely and leaves me feeling fresh and clean.

• L'Occitane Verbena Shower Gel (would repurchase) - This shower gel smells lightly of lime. It's a refreshing scent, great for summer. I enjoyed using this sample.

• Molton Brown Orange & Bergamot body wash (would repurchase) - Molton Brown shower gels are highly fragranced, so much so that you'll still smell it lingering on your skin when you're out of the shower. I liked this fresh, clean citrus-y scent. It foamed up nicely as well. 

• Origins Gloomaway Grapefruit body souffle (would repurchase) - I don't like Gloomaway nearly as much as the Ginger Burst scent, but it was nice and fresh nonetheless. This is lightly hydrating, good for summer when you don't want your skin to be sticky and oily from your body lotion - not intense enough to combat winter dryness.

• Hask Charcoal Purifying Conditioner (would repurchase) - Hask is a super affordable drugstore haircare brand, and the quality isn't lacking despite the cheap price! I love the smell of this Charcoal line (sort of citrusy and perfumey) and it made my hair feel so soft. See full review here.

• Batiste Floral dry shampoo (would repurchase) - Batiste is my favorite dry shampoo. It's affordable, and it soaks up oil in my hair, extending the time between hair washes. There are many different scents to choose from, and this floral version was pleasant!

• Progranix Quench Leave-In Moisture (would repurchase) - This wasn't my favorite, but it wasn't bad. It didn't do anything spectacular for my hair, but it did help me comb out tangles with a little more ease. See full review here.

• Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Conditioner (would repurchase) - I loved this conditioner! It smells so nice and it made my hair silky smooth and soft. Bumble & Bumble isn't cheap by any means, but I'd consider shelling out for this in the future.

• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - I get these cotton rounds in bulk from Costco and use them nearly every day for one thing or another - makeup removal, nail polish removal, toner application, etc. They're great and are economical when bought in bulk. 

• Q-Tips Precision Tips (would repurchase) - I know it seems trivial, but pointed q-tips are everything when it comes to removing makeup mishaps or anything that requires even a teensy bit of precision. I've bought these repeatedly and I'll continue to do so. 

• Carmex lip balm (would repurchase) - I love Carmex for a bed time lip product. It's cooling, and it exfoliates the dead skin off, so in the morning I have smooth lips that are lipstick-ready. (Can you tell my one-year-old teethed all over this?! ha!)

• Folle de joie perfume (would repurchase) - I adored this perfume sample, and if I ever see it for a good deal, I will buy a full size bottle. It's characterized by notes of citrus, rose and woody musk. It's fresh and sexy all in one.

• Lancome La vie est belle perfume (would not purchase) - I like this scent, but it's very reminiscent of Flowerbomb to me, which I already own a full size of. It's pretty much a copycat scent -- my husband always asks if I'm wearing Flowerbomb whenever I'd wear this. It's warm and musky with hints of floral.

• Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (would not purchase) - I am the ONE person on the planet who doesn't like the smell of this lotion, it seems. It reminds me a lot of some summery Bath & Bodyworks scent (Waikiki maybe?). It's ridiculously fragranced, so much so that I can smell it even after washing my hands - you definitely don't need to (and shouldn't) wear a perfume with this. I wanted to like this, but it made me nauseous, which isn't a typical response I have to things, so yeah... I'll never ever buy this. 

• Jafra Night Moisture (would not purchase) - Honestly, I don't remember much about this so that tells you how much of an impression it made on me... I know Jafra is one of those pyramid scheme businesses, which means I won't ever buy anything from the line. 

• Radius Ginger Citrus Coconut Oil Toothpaste (would not purchase) - I had high hopes for this, but it has a weird plastic-y taste and it doesn't foam up at all. It's like rubbing plastic-flavored spit around in your mouth, so you can imagine how fresh your mouth tastes after using this... yuck.

• Auromere Ayurvedic Toothpaste (would not repurchase) - I'm bummed because I really do like this toothpaste. It's one of my favorite natural toothpastes, but I didn't realize until I started using it that it has SLS in it. I prefer my toothpaste to be SLS free because that stuff gives me canker sores which I am prone to. Unfortunately, this will be my last tube. 

• Sensodyne toothpaste (would not repurchase) - I used this while my husband used up the Auromere because it doesn't have SLS. It's nothing special, and honestly doesn't leave my mouth feeling that clean, so I probably wouldn't buy a full size tube.

• Dr. Tung's Smart Floss (would repurchase) - This is my absolute favorite floss. It's the perfect thickness to get crud out of your teeth and it's more natural than your typical drugstore options. I used to purchase this on Vitacost but it appears they don't carry it anymore, so you can find it on Amazon if you're interested.

• Dr. Jacob's Sweet Tea Tree Castile Soap (would repurchase) - I loved this stuff. This scent is amazing and I thought it made a great kitchen hand soap. I found this at TJ Maxx but I've also seen it on Vitacost. I'll definitely get this again in the future.

• Jason Total Protection Coconut Mouth Rinse (would not repurchase) - This was just ok. It didn't leave my mouth feeling overly fresh, and I really didn't notice it doing much of anything. I typically love Jason products, but this one just didn't impress me.

• rareESSENCE Passion Oil Diffuser (would repurchase) - These rareESSENCE diffusers are lovely. They're made with 100% pure essential oils, so you don't have to worry about breathing in disgusting chemical scents. This smelled great like patchouli, tangerine and cinnamon leaf,  and it lasted a long time. I'll definitely get more of these in the future.

• Yankee Candle Campfire Treat candle (would repurchase) - I love nearly all campfire marshmallow candle scents, this being no exception. It's sweet and smoky and made my house feel cozy. I adore this and I'm sure I'll get it again sometime.

And that's a wrap! Have you used any of these products? If so, let me know in the comments!

April Empties | #36

If there's one blog post I can manage to write at least once a month, it's empties. They don't stop coming... and it's an easy way to do a bunch of reviews on lots of different products. So thanks for bearing with me as my posting schedule has been so up in the air! (Blame my growth-spurting, teething, semi-sleep-regressing, cute as a button, near 10-month-old)

Without further ado, here's what I finished up in April. 

• Michael Todd Organic Lemon AHA + DMAE Toner (would repurchase) - I liked this toner. It had a fresh scent, and made my face feel clean without stripping it. Plus it lasted ages. I didn't notice any crazy results, but I enjoyed using it. 

• Human + Kind Wash Off Facial Cleanser (would repurchase) - I purchased this on a whim when Sephora had it on sale, and I really liked it. It's creamy and nourishing but cleanses at the same time. Read more on my past Favorites post.

• Alba Botanica Good & Clean Toxin Release Scrub (would repurchase) - I adored this scrub. It had the perfect amount of scrubbies in it, it wasn't too harsh, and my skin felt so soft and smooth after using it. The ingredients are more natural, which earns points from me. I will definitely be purchasing this again. 

• Weleda Evening Primrose Age Revitalizing Concentrate (would not repurchase) - This was just OK. I think it might have broken me out a bit. If you're looking for a more natural anti-aging serum, give this a shot - it may work better for you than it did for me.

• Keomi Skincare soap in Sea Breeze (would repurchase) - I enjoyed this bar soap. It was hydrating and lathered up nicely. The ingredients are natural, and it smells good. I'd be happy to use this again in the future. See full review here. 

• Zum Bar soap in Frankincense and Myrrh (would repurchase) - Zum is my favorite bar soap brand. Everything smells amazing, it lathers great, it leaves my skin feeling soft, and the ingredients are clean. This scent was so so good, but I think it might be a limited holiday fragrance.

• Hask Greek Yogurt Repairing Deep Conditioner (would repurchase) - This packet of hair treatment got me 2-3 uses, and I enjoyed it. This was on par with a normal conditioner, it didn't seem to have extra treatment properties that I noticed, but I still enjoyed using it. Full review here. 

• Clinique Clearing Gel (would purchase) - This had a strong alcohol scent, but I do think it helped clear up some smaller zits on my face. I'd be interested in keeping a full size of this on hand for when my skin is freaking out.

• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - You already know, these are  my favorite cotton pads. I use them to apply toner and remove my eye makeup and they work great and don't fall apart.

• Batiste dry shampoo in Blush (would repurchase) - I love Batiste dry shampoo... it's my holy grail. It smells great and actually makes my hair manageable between washes. This mini size was convenient to throw in my purse or keep in my desk at work. 

• Detox Dry Shampoo (would repurchase) - I liked this dry shampoo quite a bit. It gave my hair a bit of volume, it soaked up oil. It'll set you back quite a bit more than a bottle of Batiste, but if you've got the budget, I' recommend trying it.

• Giovanni Wellness System Scalp Serum (would not repurchase) - I didn't notice this doing much for my hair. It was frustrating to use because the serum is so thick the dropper didn't really pick up anything. I couldn't get anything out anymore, and there was easily still half the bottle left, but I was sick of fiddling with it so out it goes.

• Schwarzkopf BC Oil Potion Shampoo (would not repurchase) - There wasn't anything inherently wrong with this shampoo, but I just don't think it kept my hair as fresh between washes. Plus, I think it's discontinued... sooo, there won't be any repurchasing in my future.

• Yes To Carrots Pampering Conditioner (would repurchase) - This is one of my favorite drugstore conditioners. It leaves my hair feeling soft and manageable. It doesn't weigh my thin hair down, yet it leaves it feeling soft and silky. 

• Poshe Treatment Base Coat (would not repurchase) - This is supposed to be a strengthening base coat, but it didn't do anything for my nails. It made any nail polish I put over it bubble, which is a definite no-go.

• Zoya Anchor base coat (would not repurchase) - This is another base coat I can live without. Zoya is my favorite nail polish brand, but this base is sub par. It doesn't do much for me. I did notice, however, that when paired with a Zoya polish on top, the lasting power of my polish was pretty good.

• Derek Lam Crosby Ellipsis perfume (would not purchase) - Upon first sniff, this smells really good. And then I sprayed it on myself and it had this awful rancid undertone that I could not handle. This is a super expensive perfume and I would never ever want a full size. Yuck.

• L'Occitane Relaxing Shower Gel (would repurchase) - This was a lovely shower gel. It had the smell of natural lavender. I don't know if it's a more expensive shower gel, but if it is, I probably wouldn't shell out a ton of money for it... there are plenty of cheaper shower gels I like just as much.

• Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes (would not repurchase) - If you like drier mascaras, this will probably be your new fave. I prefer a wetter formula, so I was not a fan of this. It was hard to build up the volume and length I like, so I used this for a few weeks and then called it quits.

• Sensodyne Pronamel Toothpaste (would repurchase) - This is fine. I use it when my husband has a toothpaste open that has SLS. SLS gives me canker sores, and Pronamel is free of SLS and therefore I'm free of canker sores. It doesn't make my mouth overly fresh, but it cleans my teeth nonetheless.

• Avene Hydrating Serum (would purchase) - This was nice. I had never tried anything by Avene, only heard people rave about it. This did hydrate my skin, felt nice. Nothing overly special, but I'd give a full size a chance.

• Origins Plantscription (would not purchase) - I did not like this moisturizer. It made my face really greasy and shiny. Not a fan.

• Clinique Pep-Start eye cream (would repurchase) - I actually liked this eye cream so much I purchased a full size. This is the first eye cream I've found that actually helps with the fine lines under my eyes. I'm planning to do a blog post soon about the other product I pair with this for the ultimate hydrating under eye duo. Stay tuned. 

• Christie Brinkley Instant Wrinkle Reducer & Treatment (would not repurchase) - This did nothing for me. See full review here.

• Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter (would repurchase) - This isn't my favorite Soap & Glory scent, but like everything they make, it's pleasant. The lotion kept my skin feeling soft and you get a lot of product for the price. 

• Soap & Glory Hand Food in Sugar Crush (would repurchase) - I enjoy Hand Food. It has a yummy sweet scent, and this version has a hint of lime. It's not the most moisturizing hand cream, but it serves its purpose.

• B&BW Candle in Be Daring (would repurchase) - This candle has notes of spiced saffron and redwood. It's more masculine, with hints of "sexy man" which is the technical term obviously. This usually comes out around winter time at B&BW and it's worth grabbing if you like fresh, cologne-like scents that aren't overbearing.

• New Chapter Perfect Postnatal Vitamin (would repurchase) - Since having my son nearly 10 months ago, this has been my vitamin of choice. It has good stuff in there to support breastfeeding, energy, mood, etc. It's a bit spendy, but it's created with nutrients from whole foods which I prefer.

• Britney Spears Hidden Fantasy perfume (would repurchase) - This scent is so nostalgic for me. I've had it for years and it really makes me think of my college days. It's a mix of warm, spicy and fruity all in one. I've got a soft spot for Britney perfumes, and think they're really well done, this being no exception. If you're a fan of scents like Katy Perry Purr, Viva La Juicy, or Hilary Duff With Love... I think you'll like this.

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments!

HASK Greek Yogurt Collection | NEW!

You guys, Hask is such an underrated drugstore hair brand. I've tried a bunch of their different lines (exhibit 1, exhibit 2) and I've loved them all. They're affordable, easy to find, and they actually work! 

Hask has recently launched a Walgreens exclusive, their new Greek Yogurt line. There are three different scents with different motives; personally, I tried the Blueberry & Acai line which is for repairing. There is also Fig & Honey for hydration, and Pomegranate & Cranberry for color protection. 

This collection, while sort of gimmicky, is pretty cool. (Is greek yogurt about to be the new wonder ingredient in the beauty world? Hask might be on to something here...) There's supposedly real greek yogurt and fruit extracts in with all the usual hair washing & conditioning shiz to "feed" your hair with nourishing ingredients. 

As you can see, there's two chambers to the bottle. The inside is greek yogurt which has calcium, minerals and other good things that are beneficial for the hair. The outside is the fruit extract blend. The Blueberry & Acai blend repairs damaged hair with essential vitamins. 

If you look closer at the shampoo bottle in the first image, you can see there's a white bottle inside the clear part, where the greek yogurt is. Kind of cool, but might be annoying towards the end when one may run out faster than the other. Again, dual chambered products for hair care is a bit of a gimmick in my book. There's no reason this stuff can't mix...

I'm not sure if there's legit greek yogurt in these, because yuck... wouldn't that smell rancid at some point? Or need to be in a refrigerator? I seriously don't know, but what I do know is that these washed and conditioned my hair really well. My hair felt soft and clean and also smelled nice. And that's really what I look for in a shampoo + conditioner. 

I don't see these for sale on the Walgreens site, so I'm guessing these are an in-store exclusive. Typically, Hask shampoos & conditioners retail for around $5.49 a bottle, which is pretty darn cheap. Check them out - I'd recommend any of the Hask lines!

February Empties | #34

Why empties? A couple reasons. One being that once a product is used up, you're qualified enough to give a review on it. Would I repurchase? Would I pay for a full size? All of these questions are answerable. Secondly, I genuinely love these posts - both writing them and reading others posts or watching their videos about it. 

That being said, here's what I went through in February - mini reviews and repurchase decisions and all.

• Caldrea Hand Balm in Mango Lily (would repurchase) - The scent wasn't my favorite, but the lotion itself was nice. It moisturized my hands without being greasy.

• Vaseline Advanced Repair Unscented lotion (would not repurchase) - This was fine, but it sort of just felt like a layer of gunk sitting on top of my skin, not really ever breaking my skin's barrier and doing some deep moisturizing like it claims. 

• Laura Mercier Souffle Body Creme in Creme Brulee (would not repurchase) - I was not a fan of this scent at all. It's a super strong sugary-bakery scent. I'm not opposed to bakery scents, but I wasn't a fan of of this one. The formula is nice, and it really does make your skin soft, but I'd recommend one of the other scents. 

• Deep Steep Argan Oil Body Wash in Peppermint Vanilla (would repurchase) - I really liked this body wash. It had a nice pepperminty-tingle and smelled great. I love Deep Steep because their products have great natural ingredients. 

• Hask Mint Almond Oil Thickening Shampoo (would repurchase) - Another good one. I enjoyed using this. See full review here. 

• Dr. Bronner's Pure Castille Soap in Baby Unscented (would repurchase) - I love Dr. Bronner's soap. It's multipurpose, no nasty ingredients. I used this to make homemade baby wipes, but I also use it to clean my makeup brushes. 

• Avalon Organics Intense Defense Cleansing Gel (would repurchase) - I liked this. It's a pretty basic, gel cleanser, but it has good natural ingredients. It didn't strip my skin dry, nor did it break me out. I'd get it again.

• Clean & Clear Deep Action 60 Second Shower Mask (would repurchase) - This brought me back to my high school days of using Clean & Clear. It has that classic smell and the classic tingly feeling. By all accounts, I don't need this, and it's not nearly as natural as the things I like to buy, but I weirdly want to get a full size of it... it was just convenient and nice to use. 

• Derma E Hydrating Night Cream (would repurchase) - Loved this night cream, and also the fancy new redesigned packaging by Derma E. This felt nice, moisturized well, didn't break me out, and has good ingredients - a.k.a. everything I love in a moisturizer bottled up in to one. Full review here.

• Blum Naturals Daily Cleansing & Makeup Remover Towelettes (would not repurchase) - Not a fan... these were way too dry for my taste and didn't get all my makeup off. If you use towelettes to remove your eye makeup, too, these wouldn't do it. 
• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - My tried and true cotton rounds. They work great for removing eye makeup with and applying toner. 

• Zum Frankincense & Fir goat's milk soap (would repurchase) - This was a limited edition holiday zum soap, but I adored it. Zum soaps are amazing and have stellar ingredients. I got two of their holiday packs because I loved these soaps so much.

• Keomi Skincare soap in Golden Crown (would not repurchase) - As much as I like these soaps, I didn't care for the scent of this one so I wouldn't get this one again. Full review here.

• Makeup Forever HD Foundation (would repurchase) - I love this foundation. It's a light to medium coverage but makes my skin look A+. This is especially good to wear if you have photos to be taken.

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation (would repurchase) - My holy grail foundation. Full coverage, wears all day, I've talked this to death. 

• Essence Waterproof Liquid Liner (would repurchase) - I really like this eyeliner. It's under $5, is super matte black, and goes on really easily. It can crack if you apply too thick of a layer, but it's avoidable. 

• Nivea Extended Moisture Body Lotion (would not purchase) - This was fine, but nothing special. I didn't much care for the scent of it. 

• Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate (would purchase) - I really liked the feel of this pre-serum. It's goal is to help whatever you put on top sink in better. Hard to say if it did anything, but I'd be interested in giving a full size a shot. 

• Clinique Turnaround Overnight Multitasking Moisturizer (would not purchase) - I did not care for this. I think it broke me out and it didn't feel overly hydrating. 

• Clear Total Care Nourishing Conditioner (would purchase) - I really like the Clear shampoo and conditioner line. They make my hair feel clean, they smell nice, and don't strip it of all it's natural moisture. I'm a fan. 

• Jimmy Choo Stars perfume (would purchase) - I got this deluxe sample from Scentbird and I adored this scent. It's a warm, musky take on the original scent, with notes of toffee and patchouli. I think this was limited edition, but if I stumbled upon it at TJ Maxx or something, I'd think about picking it up. See full review here.

• Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne (would purchase) - I actually already have a full size of this perfume. To me, it smells like the holidays in a bottle. I get compliments on this one when I wear it. It's not a scent for the spring and summer, but it's one you neeeeed for the fall and winter season. 

• Jason Sea Fresh Toothpaste (would repurchase) - Jason toothpastes are my absolute favorite. They're natural, don't have bad ingredients, but also don't taste like ass and still foam up. Highly recommend. 

• New Chapter Perfect Postnatal Multivitamin (would repurchase) - Since having my son in July, these have been my multivitamin of choice. They have ingredients that support lactation and energy for postpartum mamas.

• DW Home Warm Tobacco Pipe candle (would repurchase) - I've had this candle before and I love it. It has a warm, sweet tobacco smell, but not in that gross cigarette stink way. It is such a cozy winter scent to have burning. I'll definitely get this again. 

• B&BW Winter Sun (would repurchase) - I'm trying to burn through my stash of candles and only burn soy from here on out, but I did like this. The scent carried through the house, and has notes of vetiver and musk. It was really fresh, I enjoyed it. 

• B&BW Mahogany Teakwood candle (would not repurchase) - I know this is kind of a cult favorite scent, but I'm not crazy about it. It's got that "man candle" scent going on, kind of cologne-y, and super strong. 

• Better Homes Under the Mistletoe wax melts (would repurchase) - These were nice. They had sort of a pepperminty-vanilla-balsam thing going on that I enjoyed. Perfect for winter time.

What did you use up this month? Are any of these products your holy grails? Let me know in the comments!

HASK | Charcoal Purifying Hair Care Collection

You guys already know how much I love Hask. Their hair line is not only affordable, but their products work and perform like they're high end, not from the drugstore. They recently sent me their Charcoal Purifying line, and I am so excited to share it with you. 

The Charcoal Purifying line has three components: a shampoo, conditioner and deep conditioner. The main goal of these three products is to get rid of build up in your hair (think hair spray, product residue, gel, you name it) and deep clean your tresses. However, despite the mega cleaning they'll provide, they're safe enough to use every day - they won't strip your hair of the moisture and oils it needs. 

Charcoal is the main ingredient that works to suck up all the nasty you want to get rid of. It acts like a magnet to attract dirt and impurities so your hair is fuller, shinier and voluminous! Vitamin C, grapefruit oil and lemon oil are the three magic ingredients that allow you to use these products as often as you want without losing moisture.

I loooooove this shampoo and conditioner. I notice my hair feeling cleaner but also really soft and free of build-up. As if that wasn't good enough already, the smell of this line is unreal. If they could bottle this scent in to a perfume, I'd wear it. It's lemony and perfumey and amazing. 

If you're someone who doesn't wash their hair every day, or uses a lot of products like hairspray or gel, (or both!) I think you'll find this line to be your new favorite.

Other good things? This line is free of parabens, pthalates, sulfates, gluten, alcohol and artificial colors. For more information on this line, check out this site.  Purchase Hask at your local drugstore or Ulta.

HASK | Mint Almond Oil line

Hask is a brand I've recently come to love. You may recall my review of their Keratin line, which I adored! Well, they recently sent me one of their other lines, the Mint Almond Oil line. Minty shampoos and almond-y things are my favorite, so needless to say I was excited to try these out.

This line has three components: the Thickening Shampoo, the Thickening Conditioner and the Root Thickening Spray. For reference, I wouldn't say my hair is thin by any means, but I definitely wouldn't mind added thickness to my locks. Each one of these products has three key benefits for hair - it restores volume, invigorates and fortifies. 

The aim of this line is to breathe some life in to limp hair, and boost volume and thickness in the process. It's formulated with Hask's Bio3 Thickening Complex to leave you with hair that looks full and voluminous. 

I really enjoyed using the shampoo and conditioner ($5.99 each). It has peppermint oil in it which feels tingly and pleasant. I didn't feel the tingle so much with the shampoo, but as I let the conditioner work it's magic and I soaped off in the shower, I could feel the tingle as my hair rested on my back. I love that feeling! This would be a refreshing duo to use in the summer time as it has that cooling effect. 

This shampoo and conditioner were really enjoyable to use. My hair felt soft and it did give me a little extra boost to my limp hair. Nothing over the top, but I know my hair requires a miracle to hold any volume.

The Root Thickening Spray is something I need to keep experimenting with. You're meant to spray this in damp hair, focusing on your roots. Blowdrying is said to produce the best results. You can also spray it in dry hair for an added boost. 

Unfortunately, this spray didn't do much for me. I tried it on damp, blowdryed hair and I tried it on dry hair and I just didn't notice any extra lift. I'll keep giving this a try, but not sure if it's the miracle limpness cure for me.


This line seems to be tough to find online. Ulta doesn't carry it online anymore, and  you can't purchase it online at Walgreens but supposedly you can in stores. You can find the shampoo and conditioner on drugstore.com, FYI. Look around - this is a really nice line and I'd definitely recommend giving the shampoo and conditioner a try!