Empties | #42

So many empties, so little time. Let's get right in to it - here's an up close and persona look at my recent beauty trash, complete with purchase recommendations and short reviews.

• StriVectin Hair Shampoo for fine hair (would repurchase) - A nice shampoo choice, but it is not the cheapest option you'll find. See full review here. 

• Batiste Dry Shampoo in bare (would repurchase) - I love me some Batiste, and I enjoyed this new (to me) scent. It soaked up oil effectively, and also gave my hair a little oomph. The scent was indeed light and not overpowering.

• Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultra Moisture Conditioner (would repurchase) - This smelled good and worked fine. It wasn't anything to write home about. I wouldn't run out and purchase it, but if I needed something in a pinch, I'd grab this.

• OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Hibiscus lotion (would repurchase) - This is a lightly moisturizing lotion with a subtle scent. I liked this because it didn't leave my skin greasy and the scent was light enough that I could use perfume on top without being a scent-bomb.

• The Natural Dentist Antiseptic Rinse in Cool Mint (would repurchase) - This is an alcohol-free mouth rinse that is way overpriced ($9+ at full price!!). It left my mouth feeling clean, but I got it for half off and couldn't imagine paying close to $10 for a small bottle of mouthwash.

• Schmidt's deodorant in Holiday Spice (would not repurchase) - I enjoyed this scent quite a bit. It smelled like oranges and cloves and kept me smelling fresh all day long. The thing I don't like about this deodorant is it can get stuck in your clothes even after washing, which darn near ruined a couple shirts of mine. Unfortunate for such a nice deodorant.

• Sephora Lashcraft Mascara (would repurchase) - I liked this little sample mascara. It gave my lashes lots of volume and length. I felt like this little tube dried out rather fast, but I'm not sure if that would happen with a full size.

• Becca Backlight Priming Filter (would repurchase) - I liked this primer for the glow it gave my skin. I wish it also filled in pores and helped with makeup longevity, because then it'd be a major keeper, but it just gave my skin a nice radiant glow and that's about it.

• Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara (would repurchase) - Surprise, surprise. Another tube of this stuff. Like I always say, it's trivial, but I really like it because it makes it easy to coat your bottom lashes without getting mascara all over your face. 

• Guerlain Maxi Lash mascara (would repurchase) - Nothing overly memorable, but a solid mascara. It's uber pricey, so I probably wouldn't buy it, but I'd gladly use up another sample. 

• BeautyBlender (would repurchase) - I have yet to find another beauty sponge that compares to the BeautyBlender. It's light and bouncy and doesn't absorb your foundation the way some sponges do. I think it's worth paying a little extra for this applicator.

• Maybelline Color Tattoo in Nude Pink (would repurchase) - This was a limited edition Color Tattoo that came out ages ago. I loved it as a primer for eyeshadows as it was the perfect color for my skin tone. Full review here.

• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - A standard in my morning and evening skincare routine. I use these for applying toner and removing eye makeup, in addition to removing nail polish and cleaning brushes.

• First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads (would not repurchase) - I've heard so many good things about these, but I didn't see what the hype was all about. Maybe it takes a full size jar to see the change in your skin because a trial size just didn't do it for me.

• GlamGlow Daily Hydrating Cleanser (would repurchase) - I really enjoyed this cleanser sample. It smells good and it made my skin feel clean without being stripped. I've sometimes seen this at TJ Maxx, and I'd definitely grab it if I saw it again.

• StarSkin Hydrating Bio-Cellulose Mask (would repurchase) - This was nice! It didn't do anything amazing, other than some light hydrating, but it felt good. I like to think sheet masks are kind of like taking a multivitamin - there's gotta be benefits that I can't see happening for my skin, right? See more here.

• Secret Garden Olive Oil Ampoule Mask (would repurchase) - This is the first two-step sheet mask I've tried before. You apply the little serum first, and then you stick the sheet mask on top. I loved this mask. I felt like I could see and feel a noticeable difference in my skin. I got this in an Ipsy bag ages ago and I'd love to know where I could find it in the future.

• Choco Cacao Collagen Mask (would repurchase) - I honestly can't remember much about this mask. It must not've been terrible, or I think I'd remember it. Basically, I liked the packaging and that alone would make me grab it again. 

• Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Moisturizer (would repurchase) - I like that this version of Reve de Miel is in stick form, compared to the standard jar. It was comfortable on the lips. I enjoyed it most for daytime use, not as much for night time when I prefer something thicker and more healing than this. 

• Neutrogena Norwegian For000000mula Hand Cream (would repurchase) - I was pleasantly surprised by this hand cream. The texture is something between a lotion and petroleum jelly, but every night I used it, I'd wake up with smooth hands in the morning. This is a nice option for winter time healing.

• Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose Kiss (would not repurchase) - I don't like these lip butters at all. They don't hydrate, they just sit on top of my lips and give the illusion that they're doing something. 

• Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream (would not repurchase) - This was fine, nothing amazing. I read somewhere that these water-based moisturizers don't actually do much for your skin so, whether or not that's true, I probably wouldn't get this again.

• Origins GinZing eye cream (would repurchase) - A gentle hydrator for under the eyes. Truth be told, I could probably use a little extra boost beyond what this provides, but I do like it and would consider it again in the future. 

• Belif The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb (would repurchase) - I liked this way more than I expected to. It was so moisturizing and luxurious, and had a very light pleasant fragrance. I will be purchasing this when the Sephora VIB sale rolls along for sure. If you have more oily skin, this may be too much oomph for you.

• Burberry Brit Sheer (would not purchase) - This was not my style at all. It's floral and woodsy, but not something I liked on me at all. I didn't use up the whole sample.

• Bvlgari Jasmin Noir perfume (would not purchase) - Also not my favorite, this scent is obiviously heavy on the jasmine but has woodsy and floral notes as well. I am not huge into Bvlgari scents, so it came as no surprise that I wasn't floored by this.

• Yankee Candle Apple Cider (would repurchase) - A perfect apple cider scent for fall. It's exactly as you'd imagine it, warm and spicy. 

• ScentSationals Simple Romance wax melts (would repurchase) - Oh these smelled so good, kind of like perfume almost. I loved the way this made my house smell and I'd definitely grab these again if I saw them.

And that's it! Have you tried any of these products? Let me know your thoughts below!

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!

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!

Product Empties!

If I had to pick a favorite type of video on YouTube, I think I'd have to say product empties vids are my favorite. (Click here or here to see what I mean) I love them because by the time you've used an entire product, you darn well know whether or not you like it. If you're unfamiliar with the format, click the links above, or keep reading to dig through my trash with me and get a quick review of each product.

1) Treat It Amazing Leave-In 12-in-one Hair Treatment - I'm pretty sure this is an off brand product that I picked up at Big Lots a long time ago. Despite that, I really liked it. I'd spray it in damp hair and I actually did notice my hair feeling silkier throughout the day. I would most likely repurchase this in the future.

2) Dove Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo - I really liked this dry shampoo. It has a light clean scent and does the job of sucking up any excess oil in my hair. It also adds a nice bit of volume to the roots. Be warned fellow darker haired ladies, it does leave a white cast, but it can be brushed or massaged out sufficiently. I would repurchase this in the future.

3) L'Oreal Everstrong Deep Replenishing Masque - I cycle through deep conditioning masks like no one's business, as I use them typically once a week. I hadn't tried anything from this Everstrong line until this, so I figured, what the heck? I didn't hate it, I didn't love it. I don't really think it was as good as others I've tried, but considering it was something like $5, I wasn't super disappointed. I think this specific product is discontinued, but if you want to try something pretty much the same it is just repackaged differently and can be found in the drugstore. 

1) Jergens Natural Glow + Firming Lotion - As you can tell, I like this stuff. I've gone through two full bottles. Remember when this came on the market years back and the smell was completely unbearable? You don't have to worry about that anymore. I actually like the smell of it now. I use the medium to tan lotion despite being as fair as they come, but it actually builds up, and I don't feel like the fair to medium version makes much of a difference. The glow it gives is subtle yet noticeable and looks natural. I can't say I've noticed any firming action, but I keep thinking it can't hurt to keep using it in case it actually is doing something. This is a tried and true summer favorite of mine. I'll certainly repurchase this again.

2) Nivea Touch of Sparkle Cream Oil Body Wash - When I bought this, I thought it was going to be shimmery because it says "diamond powder." Then I realized, that is the scent. Are you kidding me, what does diamond powder smell like? If it smells like this body wash, it smells really good - kind of fruity and floral. This body wash is really moisturizing and creamy, and I enjoyed it. I'd repurchase it, but what's the point - there's always a new body wash out there to try!

1) Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer in Ivory Light - This product is so stinkin' old it's discontinued and probably has been for a long time. Don't get me wrong, I don't like to keep and use expired and nasty makeup, but I found this in the depths of my makeup the other day and immediately decided to throw it out. I haven't used it for a long time and I've actually always hated it. The mousse consistency is weird, it didn't cover well or stay in the area you applied it. Big huge fail. Goodbye gross concealer!

2) Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Radiant - On the total flip side, here is an absolute WIN of a Maybelline concealer. I used this down to the last twist, and immediately repurchased it once it was gone. This is the first concealer I've ever used where I can actually tell a noticeable difference when I use it under the eyes. It brightens up areas that need it, and hides any tired dark circles. It's under $10 and you can find it at the drug store. I would highly recommend it.

Neutrogena SkinClearing Oil-Free Foundation in 20 Natural Ivory - This used to be my absolute favorite foundation, hence why I have two used up bottles. My skin is very prone to breakouts and blemishes and because I wear makeup nearly every day I wanted to use something that won't clog my pores. I liked this foundation because it finished matte on the skin and seemed to have decent staying power, but I can't say the acne fighting properties actually worked for me. It retails for around $12 and you can find it at most drugstores. Now that I've found a foundation I love even more, I don't think I'll be repurchasing this any time soon. 

1)  L'Oreal Clean Definition Telescopic Mascara in Blackest Black - I talked about this mascara in my June favorites, so check there for a full review. I liked this mascara a lot, it added volume and definition to my lashes without being clumpy. I'm not sure I can buy this exact kind of the Telescopic mascara any more, but I'd definitely purchase a Telescopic mascara again in the future.

2) ModelCo Fibre LashXtend Extreme Black Lengthening Mascara - I received this mascara in one of my previous Birchboxes and I was super excited to try it out, given that it's a full-size product. Much to my dismay, I absolutely hated it. I'm not sure if it was dried out by the time I received it or if that's just the formula, but it is awful. The fibery formula wouldn't stick and my lashes looked horribly spidery. It costs a whopping $28, which is kind of crazy for a brand without much recognition (correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't seen much of anything from them.) I will not be purchasing this in the future.

3) Maybelline The Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara in Glam Black - Truth be told, I bought this mascara because I liked the packaging, but fortunately I also liked the product. I don't think it gave me "cat eyes" (whatever that means), but it applied easily and didn't clump. I also think it smells kind of good? I don't know, I'm weird. Click the link to see what the brush looks like. I don't know if I'd repurchase this because it didn't really thrill me, but it wasn't a bad product- some of you might love it!

4) Urban Decay Supercurl Curling Mascara - I got a little sample size of this mascara and holy COW, I fell in love. This might be my favorite mascara of all time. It was brilliant - it held a curl like no other, it separated my lashes and added volume and it did all of this without clumping. Click the link to see what the brush looks like. I was very sad to use this sample up. If I can get over the $20 price tag, I will most definitely purchase a full-size of this in the future.

1) Wet n Wild Mega Liner Liquid Eyeliner in Black - I talked about this eyeliner in my May Favorites, so check that out for a more thorough review. This is a long time favorite of mine, and probably the 50th time I've used up a bottle because I use it every single day, and I have for the last 8 or 9 years. I will continually repurchase this product until I find something that tops this (which I doubt is possible). 

2) Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent - This is another long time favorite of mine that I've repurchased time and time again. I use it to set my foundation, and I haven't found anything that compares. There are plenty of pricier powders that don't do half as good of a job. For under $5, you've got yourself one heck of a powder. It isn't transparent, as the name suggests, but it isn't cakey or overly powdery on the face. I've already purchased another of these, and will do so until I find some other better replacement.

1) Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes - I love a good makeup removing wipe, but unfortunately I didn't love these. I wanted to use something for sensitive skin, but I don't think they did much for me. Beware of the"simple" marketing, which often makes the mind think "natural" (a mistake I made myself), but there are parabens in these face wipes if you browse the ingredients. I won't be repurchasing these.

2) Pond's Evening Soothe Wet Cleansing Towelettes - I loved these. The wipes are quilted which helps scrub off makeup without being rough on the skin, and they smell absolutely amazing (I love chamomile scented products). These are so gentle and soothing on the skin. I will definitely repurchase these in the future. 

1) Bath & Body Works PocketBac Anti-Bacterial hand gel in Cucumber Melon - I love keeping these mini antibacterial gels in my makeup bag so I can use them before I start doing my makeup, that way I don't spread bacteria on my blemish-prone skin. I especially love these PocketBacs because they're small and don't take up a ton of room while traveling, and they come in a variety of scents. This cucumber melon scent smells just like you would imagine it to - nice and refreshing. 

2) Bath & Body Works PocketBac Anti-Bacterial hand gel in White Citrus - You know I love these already. White Citrus smells really sharp and fresh. It isn't my most favorite scent, but it's not repulsive or anything. I've already replenished my stash of these (in other scents) so I can keep on using them every time I do my makeup. 

3) O.P.I. AvoJuice lotion in Crisp Apple Juicie - OPI's AvoJuice is my most favorite lotion. It's lightweight but it is insanely moisturizing. It is seriously awesome. I have a bunch of full size bottles, and I also have some of these minis which I always keep in my purse for use on the go. This smells just like macintosh apples, and makes me think of fall. I would definitely repurchase this in the future. 

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That's all for now, folks. If you like these kinds of posts, let me know in the comments below. Also let me know if you've tried any of these products and and what you thought of them. Have a great rest of your weekend!