February Empties | #23

February wasn't a very exciting month of using things up, and because it was a shorter month, I feel like I don't have much now but I have a WHOLE bunch of stuff that's nearly empty. March will probably be jam packed with goodies. Here's what I used up in February and my two cents on each product. 

• Suave Visible Glow Self-Tanning Body Lotion (would repurchase) - This stuff reeks like tanning lotion, but it gives a really nice color and it builds fast. It's also ridiculously cheap. I didn't quite finish this bottle, it expired before self-tanning season, but I'll definitely get some more for summer.

• glonaturals essentials SPF 30 sunscreen (would repurchase) - This is a Vitacost house brand (Vitacost.com is the best website ever with all sorts of healthy and natural products at a better price than in-store). I like this lotion because it isn't super sticky and it kept me from burning.

• Honest Company SPF 30 Sunscreen (would not repurchase) - This stuff is mega greasy. You will look oiled from head to toe. It's fine for a beach day, but it's not something you want to be covered in if you're just headed out to a ball game or something.

• Davines LOVE Conditioner (would repurchase) - This smelled nice and made my hair feel soft. I do know it's kind of a pricey product, but if I saw it for a good price, I'd snatch it up in a full size.

• Equate Latex-Free Applicator Wedges (would repurchase) - Wedges are still my go-to way to put on foundation. I think they help keep acne at bay because they're one time use only. I'll always have a bag of these in my stash.

• Ken Paves Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner (would repurchase) - These smelled really good, kind of herbal and reminiscent of certain Aveda products. They made my hair so soft and shiny. I'd definitely pick up a full size of these. 

• Clear Eyes Maximum Redness Relief eye drops (would repurchase) - This spilled all over the bottom of my purse, sadly, but they were good while they lasted. I'm prone to red eyes, so I always keep a bottle of these on hand. 

• Milani Brow Shaping Gel (would repurchase) - This is probably one of my top 3 favorite brow gels. I get it on Amazon for under $10 and it lasts me a solid few months and keeps my eyebrows from being wonky. 

• Dr. Brandt Pores No More pore refiner (would not repurchase) - I've been trying to make my way through the tons of mini primer samples I have, and I started with this one. It does a good job of making your skin look flawless, but I just don't *need* to have it on hand so I wouldn't buy it if I saw it.

• Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste (would repurchase) - I've got a million of these little travel sizes. I like this toothpaste, and I'd purchase it in a full size.

• Up & Up Eye Makeup Remover (would repurchase) - This stuff works awesome to get tricky waterproof eye makeup off easily. It's cheaper than name brands but works exactly the same. 

• Weleda Oat Replenishing Treatment (would repurchase) - This smelled amazing, very herbal and sort of Aveda-like. It's super thick, like spreading lotion in to your hair, but it leaves hair soft and conditioned. A nice option for a more natural deep conditioner.

• Kiss My Face Triple Action Toothpaste (would not repurchase) - I wasn't a big fan of this toothpaste. It didn't foam up well and it never left my mouth feeling particularly clean. 

• Bella Organics Iced Lemonade deodorant creme (would repurchase) - I did a review on Bella Organics deodorants back in the day, and I ended up buying a 3 pack of the full sizes when they were on Zulily this past summer. I like these natural deodorants a lot. Read the full review for more info. 

• Sephora Organic Cotton facial pads (would not repurchase) - These are overpriced and are far too flimsy. I didn't enjoy using these up and I won't buy them again. 

• Q-Tips Precision Tips (would repurchase) - I loooove these Q-tips. The ends are finer so you can easily remove any messed up eyeliner (what I use them for) or  nail polish. They work great.

• Skinfix Ultra Rich Body Butter (would not repurchase) - I used this on my hands at night before bed. I had realllly dry hands through much of this winter and even this stuff couldn't really save them. It would work if you need medium-intense hydration, but it won't give you mega hydration. 

• Lush Let the Good Times Roll cleanser (would repurchase) - This cleanser for face or body, I used it for face, smells like a cookie and has nice natural grit to exfoliate the skin. My husband wasn't a fan, but I definitely am. 

• Flowerbomb perfume (would repurchase) - I have a full size of this but I used this little mini up. This is the perfume I wore on my wedding day, so it has all sorts of good nostalgia tied to it. 

• Marchesa Parfum Dextase (would not repurchase) - This was wayyyy to much for me. It's strong on the hydrangea/floral notes and just isn't my style.

• Thierry Mugler Alien Perfume (would repurchase) - I love this scent so much. It's warm and inviting and really good for the colder months. I got a rollerball size for Christmas so I don't have to keep hoarding these mini samples anymore. 

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

Walmart Beauty Box | Summer 2015

This Summer's Walmart Beauty Box is arriving in mailboxes, and if you haven't signed up for this seasonal subscription yet, what are you waiting for? It costs just $5 a box (4 boxes per year), and you can sign up here. The samples aren't as good as an Ipsy bag or Birchbox, but you do get samples of drugstore items that are nice to try out before spending the $$$ on a full size.

Included in the summer box is a decent sized sample of the Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme, a basic all-over lotion that I've never tried before. Behind that are some lame foil packets of Jergens Natural Glow lotion, which I've used before and enjoyed. On bottom is a nice travel size of Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Lotion with SPF, which is something I'd only use as a sunscreen, not an every day lotion. And the one full-sized product in the box is the NYC Big Bold & Precise Liquid Eyeliner, which I'm excited to try because you know I love me some black eyeliner!

Also included is the John Frieda Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray, which I got a sample of in an Influenster previously. I'm not a huge sea salt spray kind of girl (I don't wash my hair enough for that!) so I can't say I'm too excited about this product. A rather large travel size of Clear Complete Care Nourishing Anti-Dandruff shampoo is in the box, and I happen to enjoy Clear shampoos so that's a plus. There's also a little sample of the One Direction You & I perfume, which is way too young of a scent for me, (I still love you, 1D! I'm lookin' at you, Harry Styles..... mmm...) so I will probably pass it on to my sister who is a 1D fan. It's super-duper fruity, if you like that kind of thing.

Lastly, we've got more annoying foil packets of Ken Paves Volumizing Shampoo + Conditioner, Neutrogena Healthy Volume mascara (never tried!), and Neutrogena Healthy Skin Boosters Facial Cleanser, which actually came in the Spring box, too -- lame.

Overall, this was an OK box. For $5 I can't really complain. I am looking forward to trying the NYC eyeliner, which I'd happily pay $5 to try, so the rest of the samples can just be considered a bonus. What do you think -- have you signed up to receive these beauty boxes yet? Will you? Let me know!

Walmart Spring Beauty Box

The Walmart Beauty Box comes seasonally, and if you haven't yet signed up to receive the spring box, now is the time! You can sign up to receive them here. They're shipping this month. Walmart Beauty Boxes cost just $5, which is solely the price of shipping, so all the goodies are technically free! Basically all of the items in the spring box are travel or sample sized, and aside from the foil packets, everything in this box will get you quite a few uses! 

Included in my spring box are the following:

• Dove Go Fresh body wash in Mandarin & Tiare Flower
• St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub (A favorite of mine, even if the scrubbies are probably horrible for your skin.)
• Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes
• Jergens BB Body lotion (NOT a favorite because it smells like their tanning lotion to me)
• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Boosters White Tea & Vitamin E facial cleanser
• Ken Paves shampoo, conditioner and hair mask foil packets
• Lady Gaga Fame perfume sample

I've seen other season's Walmart beauty boxes and some are a little better than this, and some are worse, but for $5 I don't mind taking the gamble. I've tried the BB Body lotion, the Simple cleansing wipes and the Fame perfume, but all the other products are new to me. Have you tried any of these products? Which ones did you like? Let me know!