January Empties | #22

While preparing for baby's arrival, we've spent a lot of time prepping the nursery. And baby's nursery is my old beauty room. With that said, I've rearranged everything and found new storage to fit my new beauty area's space, and I have to say - going through all my stuff has me motivated to use up a LOT of stuff. Maybe it's nesting that has me wanting to get rid of everything in sight, but no matter what it is, using some stuff up and downsizing will be good for my storage and my sanity. Here's what I went through in January...

• Cotton Labo Organic Cotton Puff (would not repurchase) - I got a two pack of these cotton pads on a whim on Amazon. I was thinking they'd be like the Shiseido cotton pads, but unfortunately they didn't measure up at all. They're too flimsy for my taste.

• Finchberry Sweet Dreams soap (would repurchase) - I got this soap as a gift and I really enjoyed using it. It suds up really well and lasted me quite a while. Finchberry soaps are vegan and chemical-free and I'd recommend trying them out if you haven't.

• Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream (would repurchase) - I'm a sucker for the Ginger scented Origins products. This lotion was nice and light and smelled amazing. I've got backups for future use. 

• The Body Shop Absinthe Purifying Hand Cream (would not repurchase) - This stuff sucked. It had a fresh scent, but it didn't moisturize at all. In fact, I think it made my hands drier. Now that it's gone, my hands seem to be in better condition than when I was using it. I won't bother with this stuff again. 

• Caldrea Body Lotion in Honey and Nutmeg (would repurchase) - This lotion was nice and light and kept my skin soft. The smell got a little old, but fortunately it didn't last all day.

• Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme (would not repurchase) - I got this in a Target beauty box or something like that. I threw it in my purse to use as a hand cream. It's nothing special and had an old lady scent. I'd never purchase it in a full size. 

• Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter (would repurchase) - I really like Soap & Glory products. They smell amazing, and they're nourishing. This body butter was really nice and kept my skin feeling soft even in the dead of winter. 

• Urban Decay Eye Shadow Potion  (would not repurchase) ---- - This is super old (hence the outdated packaging!), and while it isn't used up, it's time to let it go. I was never a big fan of this eye primer. This particular one has a golden sheen and I'd rather use one without any shimmer.

• Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara (would not repurchase)- I don't know if this dried up on me before I got to it, but it was not enjoyable to use. It was clumpy and very dry... I don't remember it being that way the first time I tried this formula a long time ago. 

• Kat Von D eyeliners in Poetic and Saint (would not repurchase) - I am not a fan of Kat Von D eyeliners, and I might be the only person in the world who isn't. I have a whole post planned for this topic, but just know that I wouldn't bother spending money on these again. 

• Chapstick Hydration Lock lip balm (would not repurchase) - I was not a fan of this chapstick. It felt like a light wax that never sunk in to my lips to actually hydrate them. I don't think I've ever disliked a Chapstick balm before this one.

• Lypsyl lip balm (would repurchase) - On the flip side, this lip balm is amazing. It's mega hydrating, has good ingredients and feels so nice on my lips. I would highly recommend it. 

• e.l.f. Eye Refresh (would repurchase) - I don't know if in my head I thought this worked well (placebo effect) or if it was just a dud, but it felt cooling and helped if my eyes were puffy or in need of a refresh. I'd probably get it again because it was so cheap. 

• Hask Keratin Protein Smoothing Conditioner (would repurchase) - I liked this a lot. Find a full review here. 

• The Seaweed Bath Co. Volumizing Argan Shampoo in Lavender (would repurchase) - This was a really nice shampoo. I used the conditioner up last month and the combo of the two was nourishing and made my hair shiny and soft. 

• Macadamia No Tangle spray (would repurchase) - This spray was a bit thicker than your average detangler, but it was super nourishing and really did help get rid of tangles. 

• Serge Normant Meta Luxe Hair Spray (would not repurchase) - While this hair spray works well and smells nice, it's uber expensive and that alone is reason enough to not buy it in a full size. I have others I like better for much less. 

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation (would repurchase) - You already know, this is my favorite foundation of all time. It's my umpteenth bottle and it certainly won't be my last. Full review here. 

• Maybelline Better Skin foundation (would not repurchase) - This started smelling really weird, a key indicator that it's expired. I didn't use it all, unfortunately it wasn't a favorite. Full review here.

• NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Face Powder (would repurchase) - This is a holy grail face powder for me. It's under $5 but performs like it's high-end. Definitely worth trying out if you haven't before. 

• Seche Vite top coat (would repurchase) - While I think this top coat is good - it creates a shiny finish and it dries really fast, and I'll certainly buy it again.. it does make my nail polish chip quickly. But for some reason, that doesn't stop me from buying it again and again.  

• Missha Cacao & Cream Facial Scrub (would repurchase) - This is a korean brand that came in a past Memebox. It smells legitimately like (and resembles!) cookies and cream! My husband used it and really loved how it smelled and worked. It's not too abrasive and has a creamy texture, so if you don't like a rough facial scrub, you might enjoy this one.

• Lush Hot Toddy shower gel (would repurchase) - This is a limited edition Christmas scent that I bought last holiday season. It smells like cinnamon and is filled with glitter (that doesn't stick to your body). I like Lush shower gels, and this was no exception.

• Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume (would repurchase) - Not quite finished with this perfume, but it is oooolllld and the scent just isn't quite right anymore. I loved this when I first got it, but I'm ready for a break from this perfume for a while. People describe this as fruity, but I definitely can't smell those notes. To me it smells like a  sophisticated floral scent. 

• BCBGMAXAZRIA bon chic perfume (would not repurchase) - While I used up this little sample size, this perfume wasn't really my kind of scent and not unique enough that I need it in my collection. It's sweet and kind of fruity, but mature enough to wear to work or for a day out. 

• Clinique Moisture Surge gel moisturizer (would repurchase) - I realllly liked this gel moisturizer. It felt so nice on my skin and felt moisturizing without being heavy. I would love to get a full size of this at some point. 

• Fresh Soy Face Cleanser (would repurchase) - I've used many samples of this face wash and I really like it. The scent isn't overwhelming and the formula is really gentle for any kind of skin type. I wish it wasn't so expensive or I'd totally purchase it! 

• Quantum Canker Covers (would repurchase) - Kind of a weird empty, but I had to throw it in because these are a total life saver for me. I am prone to canker sores, especially when I bite my lip (which is all the time), and nothing provides relief and promotes healing like these. If you suffer from canker sores, you have GOT to check these out. 

And that's it! What did you use up this month? Have you tried any of the products I talked about? Let me know! 

Empties | #5

Wowza, I just did one of these posts a month ago but my bag of empties filled up quite quickly in that time so here we are again! Are you ready for this? Here we go...

• Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Mask - I love this stuff. Seriously, holy grail status. It's an expensive little mask, retailing for $30, but it's worth every penny. I'll definitely buy it again. 

• Aveda Invati Shampoo & Conditioner - I bought this stuff because I had been on some medication which totally dried my hair out, and made it feel thin and disgusting. My hair wasn't actually thinning, but I wanted to bulk it up and add some life to it. I didn't really notice any difference, and while this smelled really nice, I wouldn't buy it again.

• John Frieda Luxurious Volume Volume Refresher (dry shampoo) - This made my February favorites because it rocks. If it wasn't discontinued, I'd totally repurchase it again. See my review here. 

• Garnier Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Moisturizer - I bought this on a whim quite a while ago and finally used it up. This had a very strong smell that didn't linger on the skin, but certainly is enough that it may turn some off. I didn't notice any major wrinkle reducing properties, but it did a decent job moisturizing. I dont' think I'd buy this again, however.

• Simple Soothing Facial Toner - This was really nice. It never made my face sting or burn, but it removed any excess makeup that lingered on my face post-cleaning. I'd buy this again.

• Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser - I got this in last summer's Allure Beauty Box. It's been marketed as a better alternative to Cetaphil, which I've also used before, and I have to say I did like this better. It didn't break me out and did a good job of washing my makeup off. I'd repurchase this.

• Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover - This wasn't anything special, but it did remove my eye makeup easily and efficiently. It was fairly cheap, too. I would buy this again.

• OPI Avojuice in Jasmine - Avojuice's are one of my favorite lotions, and I especially love the jasmine scented version.This lotion was really hydrating, but it never left my skin feeling greasy. I've got plenty of other lotions to use first, but I'd repurchase this in the future.

• Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Body Cream in P.S. I Love You - This isn't completely gone, but it just doesn't smell the same anymore... a tell-tale sign that a product is expired. This was one of my favorite B&BW scents, but sadly it's discontinued. These triple body moisture creams are awesome and really hydrating. If it ever gets brought back, I'd buy this again.

• Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel - You may recall seeing this in my recent Lush haul. This is a cult favorite body wash that comes out at Christmas, and this was my first time trying it. To be quite honest, I didn't like the scent much at all. It's super sickly sweet and just not my taste. I have one more bottle of it (I got sent another because this bottle leaked during shipping) which I'll use, but I wouldn't buy it again.

• Hello Anticavity Toothpaste in Supermint - This is a fairly new brand as far as I know, and I picked this up just out of curiosity. I do like natural toothpastes quite a bit, and this was really nice. My only complaint was the packaging made it quite difficult to get anything out once it started to run out. Because of the packaging, I wouldn't buy it again.

• Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer - I got this in a past Birchbox, and this deluxe sample size lasted me over a month! I really liked this, but the full-size is a bit spendy and I've got comparable drugstore alternatives I'd use instead of spending the money. If I did find it for a good deal, I would buy it.

• Wet n Wild Mega Liner in Black - Ya'll know I love this. I've bought it time and time again, and will continue to. 

• Benefit They're Real Mascara - I got this little sample in my Sephora birthday pack from last year. I know everyone raves about this mascara, but I really didn't enjoy using this sample. The brush was sharp and it tended to clump on me. I've heard that these little samples aren't the best way to judge this mascara, but I can't say I'd buy the full size any time soon.

• ChapStick Overnight Lip Treatment - This was nice. I used it every night before bed, and it left my lips feeling really soft and hydrated. I'd buy this again.

• Bath & Body Works PocketBac in Wildberry Freesia - You already know, I use these every time before I do my makeup. I liked it, this was a nice scent, but I'd probably try a new scent before buying this one again.

• ChapStick in Strawberry - Everyone knows these are just fine. I kept it in my desk at work and it did the trick of moisturizing my lips when I needed it. I've got plenty more of these, so I won't need to repurchase this any time soon. 

• Givenchy Very Irresistable Perfume sample - This smelled nice, but I don't think I like it enough to get a full-size. I'm not the greatest at describing scents, but it was floral and fresh. Not bad, but just not anything I absolutely need.

• The Country Corn Crib Soy Candle in Pomegranate Spice - These candles are made in Minnesota, and can often be found at craft shows in this area. This scent smelled SO good and had really great scent-throw. You can find them online here. 

• Soy Candle in Exotic Woods - You can read more about this candle in my February Favorites. I really liked it, and would purchase it again if it gets re-released. 

• Bath & Body Works Candle in Black Pepper Bergamot - I really love this scent, but these little candles are just silly. They don't burn very long, and don't put off much scent at all. I'd buy this in a bigger size, but not in this teeny tiny version again.

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

Best of Beauty 2013

Happy New Year everyone! 2013 was such a great year for me; my husband and I truly had a whirlwind of a year. If you would have told me at this time last year just how much my life would change, I wouldn't have believed you. 

In February we moved 90 miles back home to the town both my husband and I grew up in. I started a brand new job which I absolutely love. We spent 7 months living with my parents, and in September we moved in to our very first home - something Jake and I are so proud of. We rang in the New Year with my parents, eating Greek food, putting a puzzle together and flipping between Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve and (my personal favorite) Anderson Cooper & Kathy Griffin's New Year's Eve special. It was nice to have a quiet night in with family.

2013 was so good to me and my family, and I'm going in to 2014 feeling positive and wishing for the best year yet! 

--

2013 was not just awesome personally, but there were some great beauty products that stuck out as true gems this year. Here are the items that were my go-to from head to toe all year long.

• Moisturizer: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream -- My #1 this year. You've probably seen it mentioned many times that I was on medication that dried me out completely, and this thick cream was just the trick to keep my face hydrated. I especially love that it has hyaluronic acid in it. 

• Foundation: Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation -- I think I beat this foundation over all of your heads this year. I seriously love this stuff. It's super full coverage, and it doesn't budge. You can wear it all day without it wearing off. Amazing stuff.

• Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder -- I have used this for years, and 2013 was no different. I've repurchased it countless times. It keeps you matte without looking cakey or powdery, and it won't break the bank!

• Eye Primer: theBalm Put A Lid On It -- I received a sample of this in one of my Birchboxes and fell in love with it. This stuff is no joke; if you want your eyeshadow to stay on all day long, this will do the trick. 

• Eyeshadow Palette: Urban Decay Naked 3 -- Hands down, this is the best $52 I spent all year. I got so much use out of my Naked 2, but Naked 3 has the rose-gold tones that are perfect for my fair skin. Unless something major comes along, this might very well make the best palette of 2014, too! 

• Mascara: Covergirl Clump Crusher by lashblast -- This mascara performs like a high-end brand, and you can pick it up at Target! It lengthens, volumizes and separates but NEVER clumps... even after 2-3 coats!

• Eyeliner: Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eyeliner --For the longest time, Wet n Wild's Mega Liner was untouchable in my world. But this year, Milani's Eye Tech Extreme swooped in and changed my mind. It's convenient and super easy to use.

• Bronzer: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer -- Oh my gosh, this smells like chocolate!! Even though I've used it for over half the year, I still can't get over the chocolate smell! I have the chocolate soleil bronzer in milk chocolate, the perfect color for lighter skin tones. This is a matte bronzer that warms the face up for a healthy glow. 

• Blush: NYX Blush in Peach -- Clearly I've loved this blush as I've almost hit pan on it! This blush is a gorgeous matte pinky-peach color. It blends really nicely in to the skin and the best part? It's super affordable. 

• Highlighter: NYX Illuminating Bronzer in Narcissistic -- So I guess "technically" this is a bronzer (but what fun is makeup if you don't make your own rules now and then?), but it's far too shimmery, for my taste, to use all over my face. I use this as a dewy pop on the top of my cheekbones . It has a tiny bit of glitter, but it won't leave you looking like a disco ball. 

• Lips: NYX Butter Glosses -- I can't pick just one of these as my favorite... I seriously love them all! I've got a good few of these, but featured in this picture are Peaches and Cream and Strawberry Parfait. These smell absolutely amazing and they leave your lips with a creamy pop of color that's hydrating and exceptionally comfortable to wear.

• Hair Spray: CHI Farouk Royal Treatment Ultimate Control Volume Shaping Spray -- A former boss of mine swears by this hairspray, and she got me swearing by it as well. I dare you to find a hairspray that smells as amazing as this one. It holds without being crunchy and won't make your hair feel weighed down. 

• Hair Care: Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Spray -- My former boss also turned me on to this product and it has stayed a staple in my hair care collection since. It smells so good (I seriously want to bathe in the scent of it) and it will leave your hair silky smooth. Don't let the steep price scare you away; this little bottle will last you ages as a little goes a long way.

What products did you love in 2013? Let me know in the comments below! I love hearing from you!

October Favorites

It's been a while since I've done a "favorites" post, but October brought some new (and some old!) products in to my makeup and hair regimen that are worthy of talking about. Here's what I've been loving this past month.

• Covergirl Clump Crusher by Lashblast Mascara - Ohhhhh my word, what took me so long to try this stuff out?! This is easily going to be a part of my mascara collection from here on out because it's just that awesome. You can layer this on as thick as you want and you can bet your lashes won't get clumpy. This is an awesome drugstore mascara, and it costs just $6.99!

• Macadamia Healing Oil Spray - This is a holy grail product of mine that I won't ever go without again. This will make your hair silky smooth and it will smell absolutely amazing while doing so. I use it once a week on second-day hair to keep my hair moisturized, tangle-free and shiny.

• CeraVe Moisturizing Cream - I've got the big daddy tub of this stuff because I use it daily, but I need so little to moisturize my whole face that I think I'll have this for a lifetime. If you've got dry skin, especially if you are prone to a dry face, this stuff will keep your skin moisturized all day long without breaking you out. Look for it at any drugstore.

• Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss - I'd heard the hype about these lip butters all over the internet and I finally gave in to temptation one day during a stroll around Ulta. I don't regret my purchase for a second. This stuff smells like a dream, it's creamy and soft on the lips, and it is so moisturizing. You can find these at any drugstore for under $5.

• e.l.f. Professional Foundation Brush - To be honest,  I think this would make for a horrible foundation brush. I don't use it for that. I actually use it to set my under-eye area after using concealer. It's cheap, it works well for what I use it for, and I use it nearly every day! You can pick this brush up at Target for just $1!!

• L'Oreal La Laque Lipstick in 411 Never Lacque-ing - I won't go in to detail on this as I did a full review here, but I am so obsessed with this color. It is a natural dusty pink that is ultra shiny and really pigmented. I've been seeing these clearanced out at Target and Walgreens, so sadly I think these lipsticks are limited edition. Grab them while you can!

What have you been loving this month? Let me know in the comments below!