August Empties | #29

Happy September, ya'll! Can you even believe the summer is drawing to an end? I have no idea where the time has gone. While I'm sad to see summer go, I absolutely love fall and I'm excited for pumpkins, apple cider and cozy sweaters. The end of August also means it's empties time and I used up a bunch of different products. Keep reading for mini reviews on each item and recommendations on what to purchase.

• Shea Moisture Replenish & Rejuvenate Body Polish (would not repurchase) - This smelled great and the ingredients are good but it was a pretty weak scrub. There are mini beads in a creamy base and they just don't exfoliate my skin enough. I ended up using this as a body wash with a loofah and that worked fine. I'll stick to Tree Hut sugar scrubs in the future though.

• NKD SKN Tinted Tan Liquid (would repurchase) - This is a good self tanner. It's fool proof and easy to use. See full review here. 

• Waxelene (would repurchase) - This lip balm is a nice alternative to petroleum products if you don't want to use them. This is very basic, unscented, nothing very special, but it'll hydrate your lips and the ingredients are good!

• Rimmel ScandalEyes eyeliner (would repurchase) - This was a good creamy nude eyeliner that I used in my waterline to make my eyes look bigger and more awake, but it's old and I don't want to use anything old on my eyes. 

• Honeybee Gardens Pressed Mineral Powder (would repurchase) - I really liked this setting powder. It doesn't have gross ingredients and it's affordable. I purchase mine on Vitacost where it's a little bit cheaper. (click here for a $10 coupon to Vitacost, affiliate link)

• Algenist Lip Renewal Balm (would repurchase) - This balm came in a Christmas set and it was fine -- nothing special. I used it at night (even though it has SPF in it) and it nourished my lips. It doesn't have a scent so if you avoid fruity or fragranced lip balms, you might like this. 

• Aveeno Nourish + Shine Conditioner (would repurchase) - I liked this conditioner. It made my hair soft and easy to brush.

• Proganix Coconut H2O + Electrolytes Quench Shampoo (would repurchase) - I really like the Proganix shampoos and conditioners. This one smelled great; even though I don't typically like coconut scents, this is one I really enjoyed. See full review here.

• St. Tropez Gradual Tan Anti-Ageing Multi-Action Face lotion (would not repurchase) - This was just an OK tanner for the face. It smelled like tanner, which is gross, and it never really did much for me. 

• L'Occitane 5 Essential Oils Shampoo (would not repurchase) - This worked fine and got my hair really clean, but the smell wasn't my favorite and it costs more than I prefer to spend on a shampoo. 

• Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Souffle Body Creme (would not repurchase) - This little body lotion was part of a set I got at Christmas. The lotion itself is very moisturizing and makes my skin feel soft and smooth, but this is highly scented, so much that you definitely can't wear a perfume with it. I wasn't a big fan of this particular scent, so I wouldn't repurchase, especially because a full size is ridiculously expensive.

• Korres Body Butter in Guava (would repurchase) - This was part of a mini sample pack, and of all the lotions, this was my favorite scent. It didn't really smell like guava, but it didn't smell bad either. Korres products have good ingredients and these lotions are hydrating without being greasy. I liked it!

• Devita Essential Control for Blemishes (would repurchase) - This wasn't a miracle for blemishes, but the ingredients are A+ and I do think it helped prevent further breakouts from forming. This is a great option if you're pregnant and need to avoid traditional acne-fighting ingredients. See full review here.

• Humphrey's Witch Hazel in Citrus (would repurchase) - I used this witch hazel as a toner and I enjoyed it. It smells amazing and I like that it has natural antiseptic properties that help fight acne. 

• Rodan + Fields Daily Cleansing Mask (would not repurchase) - This cleanser is meant to be used like a mask. You apply it to your face, then let it sit, then wash it off. I don't have time to cleanse my face like that most days. I didn't completely use this up, but it's old, so it's got to go. This would not be something I'd purchase, especially because it's quite expensive and I didn't think it did a good job of cleaning my face. See full review here.

• Aquaphor (would repurchase) - I love Aquaphor for healing dry skin. If ever my nose is dry, or I have a patch of dry skin, I slather aquaphor on it before bed and it's healed by morning.

• Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste (would not repurchase) - I don't know, I just don't really care for this toothpaste. It's not natural enough and it wasn't very refreshing.

• Listerine Mint Floss (w0uld repurchase) - This is my favorite floss. It's braided so it's thick enough to get everything out from between my teeth. I've purchased this many times and I already have a backup.

• Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening Gel (would repurchase) - I love this teeth whitening system because it really does get my teeth sparkly white. See full review here. 

• Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion (would repurchase) - I've purchased a full size of this before, just in a different formula (there's a few kinds), and I like it! I wasn't a huge fan of the smell of this kind, but it's a good product to have if you're in a pinch but still want to have hydrated skin without applying lotion after a shower.

• Garnier Blackhead Eliminating Scrub (would repurchase) - I really liked this cleanser. It had the perfect amount of scrubbiness to it and my face felt really clean after using it. I don't have any blackheads so I can't speak to how well it removes them, but I liked how it made my skin feel and I'd like to get this in a full size. 

• Pur-Lisse SPF 30 Sunscreen (would not repurchase) - As much as I liked using this SPF moisturizer for my face, I think it made me break out so I wouldn't buy it in a full size.

• Earth Mama Angel Baby Postpartum Bath Herbs (would repurchase) - New mamas, you need these. I went through a box last month, and I used up one more, and I definitely think it helped speed along my healing. In general, this makes a nice herbal bath soak that's good for your lady parts even if you haven't had a baby recently.

• AuraCacia Lavender essential oil (would repurchase) - I diffuse lavender at bed time at least three nights a week. It's a great way to naturally make a room smell fantastic and it helps promote calm and relaxation. 

• Yankee Candle in Summer Wish (would repurchase) - This used to be one of my favorite YC scents (until I just got sick of it). It has great scent throw and is obviously a great summer scent. Fresh and a bit fruity.

• B&BW Sundrenched Vineyard Candle (would repurchase) - This smelled great and had awesome throw. This fruity wine scent was perfect for  the end of summer. This was a scent that came out a couple years ago, but I have seen it brought back before.

• B&BW Villa Bergamot Candle (would repurchase) - Another oldie but goodie from B&BW that's been hanging out in my backstock. It has a strong bergamot scent with notes of lavender and geranium. This was nice, and definitely something worth picking up if they bring it back again. 

That's all my empties! Have you tried any of these products? Let me know your thoughts!

NKD SKN Pre-Shower Tan

Being a pale girl, I am a fanatic for self tanners. They are literally the only way I have even an ounce of color in the summer, until I can work on getting all my freckles to join together in to one big "tan". I also love them because they're safer than exposing your skin to so much sun and I won't have excessive tanning wrinkles when I'm older. I like to think I'm doing my skin a favor. Ya feel me? 

I've talked about self-tanners on Glazed Over before (see here and here for just a couple examples) and I've got a brand new one to talk about today - the NKD SKN Pre-Shower Tan. 

This tanner is marketed as a gradual tanner, so don't expect amazing bronze results in just one application, this is going to take a bit. All you have to do is apply this before you shower, leave it on for 10 minutes, and go about your normal shower routine. Of course, don't scrub the daylights out of your skin in the shower, or when drying off, and you'll start to see color develop over the next 4-8 hours. Avoid using any lotions afterwards so the tan can properly develop.

The cream itself is a thick, yellow lotion that doesn't have any nasty self-tanner smell (gotta love that!). It rubs in easily and doesn't feel greasy on the skin. I tended to leave it on for closer to 20 minutes each time, only because I got busy doing things or cleaning the bathroom while I waited for the lotion to set. Once I dried off, I could smell a faint tanner smell which I didn't like, but it didn't last all day. I used this every other day, for 3 applications, and achieved a nice glow that looks natural on this Snow White-esque pale girl. It's even lasted me 4-5 days without becoming patchy (pro tip: moisturizing on days you don't use this product is key to keeping a lasting glow that doesn't look patchy!). Check out my results:

I've heard other people bash this product because it doesn't give them enough color. For me, it's just enough to not make me look like a crazy tanned redhead. The glow you get is comparable to using the Jergens gradual tanning lotion or the Suave version, and it doesn't have the nasty smell and it takes less time to develop. 

As a new mom, I personally love that I can lather this on and rinse it off so my little one doesn't get covered in self-tanner. This is just what I needed for the summer time! 

If you're interested in trying out this tanner, you can find it online and at Ulta ($19.99 for 6.76 oz).

Vita Liberata NKD SKN Tinted Tan Liquid

This summer has been the summer of self tanners for me. I've tried more tanning products than I even realized existed. One of my most recent finds is NKD SKN Tinted Tan Liquid, a line from popular tanning company Vita Liberata, clearly marketed to a younger demographic. 

NKD SKN Tinted Tan Liquid comes in a 2.54 fl oz spray bottle, and also comes conveniently with a mini tanning mitt. The formula boasts natural and organic ingredients that are good for the skin (it does claim to have aloe vera, lychee and licorice), and a completely odorless application. While I'm not 100% sure how natural and organic the ingredients truly are, I can vouch that it's an odorless tanning product. 

The NKD SKN tan liquid comes only in the shade dark (they have mousses that come in both medium and dark if you're looking for something lighter) and I will tell you - don't be frightened by the "dark" label, as I was. Being a fair-skinned girl, I was scared I'd end up an orange, or just plain too tan - but my fear was unwarranted. If you've ever gotten a spray tan (I typically get the medium shade spray tan), this is 2-3 shades lighter than that. It's just right, and will give you a perfect tan glow. I actually got told I look tan (for probably the first time ever?!) by someone after using this product 2 or 3 times. 

Application is easy. After exfoliating your skin, just spray some (scarily dark) product on to your tanning mitt and rub it in to the skin. This product does have a color guard, so you can see where you are applying it to your skin. It dries very fast, and the color lasts about 4 or so days on my skin (although it claims to last up to 7 days). It fades very naturally, not streaky or patchy. 

I have no idea why it looks like my right leg doesn't have any product on it - I tried and tried to get a picture to accurately show what I saw in person, but I couldn't capture it. In person, they both looked even. 

Overall, I really enjoy this product. It's totally affordable, ringing in at $19.50 per bottle (available at Ulta), and I have gotten 6 or 7 uses out of it and my bottle still has about 25% left. I think this is a fabulous option if you want to try out the Vita Liberata brand without spending $50 per bottle.


Have you tried NKD SKN? Let me know your thoughts! Also, what's your favorite tanner? I want to try them all!