October Empties | #31

Holy cow - my empties bag filled up quick this month. Lots of goodies to share with you, so let's get right to it...

• Proganix Soy Protein + Caffeine Volume Shampoo (would repurchase) - Last month I used up the conditioner, this month I made it through the shampoo. This stuff was fine. It didn't blow my mind, but it made my hair feel clean and volumized without stripping it. Full review here.

• Psssst Instant Dry Shampoo (would repurchase) - This will be featured soon in a battle of the dry shampoos so I don't want to get too detailed, but just know I enjoyed this. 

• Clairol Hair Food Root Cleansing Shampoo (would repurchase) - I absolutely loved this clarifying shampoo. It smells amazing and removes buildup, and it's a better option than some other brands. I only use this once a week or so, so this lasted me forever and ever, but I never got sick of it. Full review here.

• Schwarzkopf Oil Potion Gold Shimmer Treatment (would not repurchase) - I think this was discontinued, and I can kind of see why. It really didn't deep condition my hair, it didn't smell that nice, it was just sort of blah. The only cool thing about it is that it's a shimmery gold cream that looks cool in the jar. 

• CC Pollen Anti Aging Serum (would not repurchase) - I purchased this on a whim from Vitacost, and I can't say I noticed any difference in my skin when using this. It had fabulous ingredients, but it just didn't do anything. Maybe with continued use it would, but I'd rather try out other serums instead.

• Insta Natural Youth Express Eye Gel (would not repurchase) - Let me first say, this is a good product. The reason I wouldn't repurchase it is because it's only good for me in the months my skin needs less hydration, plus this lasts forever and I like to switch things up. If those two things aren't something that you need to look out for, go for this! It has good ingredients and the price is right. Full review here.

• Exuviance Skin Rise Bionic Tonic (would repurchase) - I was on the fence about this product when I first used it. I brought it back out earlier this month to use up, and combined with a retinol, I saw a noticeable difference in my skin. I'd definitely consider getting another jar of these pads because the ingredients are dang good. Full review here. 

• Naobay Oxygenating Moisturizer (would repurchase) - This is a very basic facial moisturizer that I really enjoyed using. I got it in an Ipsy bag, and finally pulled it out just to use up, and not only did this little sample last me forever, but I actually liked using it more than I expected to. It didn't have a scent, and it didn't break me out - both pluses. 

• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Boosters Facial Cleanser (would repurchase) - I like to keep my skincare WAY more natural than this, but I truly enjoyed using this cleanser. It made my skin feel super clean and fresh, which I loved the feeling of in the morning. I get samples of this now and then in Walmart Beauty Boxes, so I hope I get some more. 

• Lush Sympathy for the Skin Hand and Body Lotion (would repurchase) - I really like using Lush lotions, and this is a new favorite. I smelled this when I was in Colorado last year, and loved it so much my husband got it for me for Christmas. I used it sparingly and only just used it up. It smells like vanilla, which I love, and even has little vanilla bean granules in the lotion that soak in to your skin. This certainly won't be my last jar.

• Lush The Sacred Truth Fresh Face Mask (would repurchase) - A great mask for hydration. Full review here. 

• Reviva Labs Antioxidant Skin Smoothing Day Cream (would repurchase) - This is actually my husband's daily moisturizer and he likes it. It has good ingredients and doesn't break him out, so he already had me repurchase another one for him. 

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation (would repurchase) - You already know this is hands down my favorite foundation of life. I've repurchased this a million times and already have a few bottles on back stock because I refuse to be without it. Full review here.

• Carmex Cherry (would not repurchase) - I love Carmex, but I do not love the Cherry flavor. The taste takes over my mouth and it isn't pleasant. 

• Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara (would not repurchase) - This wasn't the worst mascara, but there was more I disliked about it than I liked. The wand was way too big so I got product all over my eyelids, and it took around 3 coats to get the volume I prefer. This isn't worth the price tag in my book. 

• Rimmel Scandaleyes Precision Micro Eyeliner (would not repurchase) - I only used this a couple times because it's awful. The tip isn't long enough, and it applies so sheer it's laughable.

• Jafra Hydrating Toner (would not repurchase) - There wasn't anything bad about this toner, but it also wasn't anything special. I think Jafra is one of those pyramid scheme beauty brands, and ya'll know I hate that shit, so I wouldn't bother trying to get my hands on this in the future.

• GUM Cavity Protection Toothpaste (would not repurchase) - This is a little sample from my dentist. Again, nothing overly special here. I prefer more natural toothpastes than this, and if I weren't to use a natural kind, this isn't my first pick.

• DKNY My NY perfume (would not purchase) - Not bad, not great. Fruity and warm, but nothing I need a full size of.

• Babyganics Face, Hand & Baby Wipes (would repurchase) - Let me be clear, I wouldn't purchase these again to use on my son's butt because they suck for that. I would purchase them to wipe off swatches and clean up my vanity, which is what I use them for. They're made with good ingredients and free of gross chemicals.

• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - Y'all already know how much I love these. I use them time and time again and I buy them in a mega pack from Costco so I never run out. 

• Audrey and Lewis Barrier Reef Hand Soap (would repurchase) - I haven't included hand soaps in my empties before, but I figured I'd start. I got this at Marshalls and I enjoyed it. It was very lime-y, so if you like citrus scents, you'd love this.

• Seche Vite Top Coat (would repurchase) - One of my absolute favorite top coats. It dries super fast and leaves my nails looking mega shiny. 

• Benefit Porefessional Primer (would not repurchase) - This is a nice primer that helps minimize the appearance of pores. It has a slippery silicone feel, and actually did make my skin look pretty good. I didn't notice it extending the wear of my makeup at all. I don't think I'd get it in a full size, though. 

• B&BW Radiant Red Maple candle (would repurchase) - I got this candle last year and finally pulled it out -- I'm not sure they brought it back for this season. It smells amazing - like toasted marshmallow and apple. The scent throw was amazing and I could smell it throughout my entire house. 

• dw Home Apple Cider candle (would repurchase) - I'm obsessed with apple cider scented things this season and this candle lived up to my expectations. It smelled just like cider and had great throw. Extra points for the gorgeous frosty orange/red glass. Wish it didn't have writing all over it so I could save it and reuse it.

• Yankee Candle Vanilla Chai candle (would repurchase) - This spicy-scented candle was nice, but didn't have quite the scent throw the other two did. If I left my bathroom door mostly closed, I could smell it when I walked in, but not if I left the door open. It was nice though, perfect for fall. 

What did you use up this month? Let me know!

Lip List #4

I was inspired this past week to put a little effort in to my lipstick routine. Truth be told, I couldn't be bothered to do much with my eye looks, so I jazzed up the bottom half of my face instead. ;) Here's what I wore in the last week, in order Monday-Friday:

• Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in As You Wish Victoria - A creamy, hydrating bright magenta. Full review here. 
• Revlon Lip Butter in Sugar Plum - This is a moisturizing mauve color, perfect for every day wear.
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pink Pop - A light pink tinted gloss, perfect for the faintest hint of color.
• Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Get Ready - A creamy rosy pink, super comfortable to wear on the lips. 
• Mirabella Lipstick in Volatile - A vampy berry purple, perfect for fall. 

Have you tried any of this lippies? What's your favorite? Let me know! 

Empties #12

While I haven't been so great about not buying things (I really need to put myself on a a strict "no buy") I HAVE been excellent about finishing what I have. Let's dig in...

• Essie Smoothies hand & body lotion in Pomegranate & Mango (would repurchase) - This was a nice light lotion that I used as a hand lotion. It didn't leave my hands feeling greasy, but it also wasn't mega-hydrating. This is definitely a good choice for the warmer months when my skin doesn't tend to be so dry.

• C.O. Bigelow Lotio Mentholus (would repurchase) - I loved this hand lotion. It's also very light, and has a soft menthol scent. I love the bottle, too!

• Suave Smoothing lotion with cocoa butter & shea (would repurchase) - Another great lotion option! It is lightly scented so it won't interfere with any perfume you're wearing. It moisturizes without being greasy. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

• Alba Botanical Hawaiian Sunscreen in revitalizing green tea (would repurchase) - This sunscreen is very thick and greasy. It's a bit tough to smooth around on the skin. I wouldn't use this as a daily SPF, but it's good if your plan is to bum around on the beach all day. Plus, it's free of nasty chemicals.

• Soap & Glory Hand Food in Fruitigo (would repurchase) - I loooooved this hand lotion! The scent is addicting but not overwhelming. It moisturizes my hands so well. I could easily abandon all other lotions and use this every day from here on out!

• Lush Snow Fairy shower gel (would not repurchase) - I think I'm one of the only people who does not enjoy the cult Snow Fairy scent. It's not the kind of sweet that I enjoy, it a sickening smell. I bought it online without ever smelling it, and I won't be doing that again!

• The Body Shop Almond body butter (would repurchase) - Holy cow, I used a lot of lotion these last couple months. Anyway, I love love loved this body butter. It smells sweet and hydrates intensely. It reminded me of my beloved Creme Anglaise (right next to it), and I'll definitely buy this again.

• Lush Creme Anglaise hand and body lotion (would repurchase) - This is hands down my favorite lotion of all time. And unfortunately, Lush discontinued this last year. It is a tragedy. I hope it makes a comeback for a limited release, because I will stock up even though this costs an arm and a leg.

• Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub (would repurchase) - This was a very gentle exfoliator, not harsh at all. If you have sensitive skin, this would be a good option for you. Jake also enjoyed using this. It is fragranced, but not overly so. 
• amie Morning Clear Purifying Facial Wash (would not repurchase) - This was an odd face wash. It felt more like I was slathering lotion all over my face than soap. It just didn't do anything for me. 

• Maybelline Clean Express Makeup Remover (would repurchase) - This gets my eye makeup off well. There's not much more to say about it. 

• L'Oreal Voluminous Extra-Volume Collagen waterproof mascara (would not repurchase) - I took a chance on this, and I didn't like it at all. It was clumpy and gritty and was hard to work with. 

• Aquafina Hydrating Lip Oil (would repurchase) - Full review here. 

• fresh Soy Face Cleanser (would repurchase) - I really enjoyed using this face cleanser, and this deluxe sample lasted me ages. I loved how gentle this was. It never broke me out and did a great job of cleansing my skin. 

• Calvin Klein Ck One Color Mascara (Would repurchase) - This was last year's birthday gift from Ulta, and it was awesome. It didn't make my lashes clumpy, but it provided volume and length. If it wasn't a bit spendy, I'd totally buy it again. 

• Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation (would not repurchase) - Full review here. 

• Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Absolute Serum (would repurchase) - This serum was heavenly! It smelled softly of roses which is already a huge win in my book. It's meant to soothe and nourish sensitive skin, and I did find it calming.

• B&BW Antibac in Apple Wreath (would repurchase) - I use these before applying my makeup so I don't spread germs on my skin. I like the B&BW ones because they have so many different scents.

• Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream (would not repurchase) - This moisturizer felt like it just sat on top of my skin. It didn't do a good job of hydrating dry patches. It's a pricey moisturizer and it's definitely not worth it to me.

• DrJ Organics Pure Organic Eye-Lifting Creme (would repurchase) - Full review here.

• Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser (would not repurchase) - I didn't care for the scent of this cleanser and I don't feel like it did much for me. 

• Herbal Essences Body Wash in Body Burst (would repurchase) - This smelled really good, just like all Herbal Essences products do. I liked it!

• Leanni Eco 3-in-1 Revolution Light (would repurchase) - I really liked this toner, moisturizer and serum in one! It hydrated and balanced my skin. Once I work my way through my other moisturizers I have in stock, I'd definitely buy this. 

• Coach Poppy Perfume (would not repurchase) - This smelled nice, but it's nothing unique. I don't need it in my stash.

• Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat (would repurchase) - I have used this top coat for ages. It dries fast and will leave your nails shiny, but it has a tendency to bubble and it chips quickly. I've gone back to using Seche Vite for now.

• Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss (would repurchase) - This smelled heavenly. I smeared this on my lips at night before bed, and it did a pretty good job of hydrating. It doesn't penetrate very deeply, but it's not bad for a cheap lip butter. 

• Wet n Wild Mega Eyes Cream Eyeliner (would repurchase) - I really liked this product, and it made my top 14 of 2014, but it dried up on me. I will get it again because it's so cheap and it's mega-black. 

• Clear Clinic Laboratories Vanished Clear Spot Treatment (would repurchase) - I liked this little sample for zapping spots. It was a good morning treatment for use underneath makeup. It wasn't a miracle product, but I do think it helped speed the healing process along. 

• C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine in Ultra (would repurchase) - I absolutely love this lip product. It's tingly and cooling on the lips and I can feel it moisturizing and healing when I use it. It has a minty smell and it supposed to help freshen breath, too. I'll definitely get this again. 

• B&BW Wallflowers in Winter (would not repurchase) - As much as I hate using these because they're chock full of bad chemicals, I always seem to have one going in my house because they smell so dang good. Winter isn't my favorite scent and it's not very strong, it's kind of a fruity winter scent, so I won't buy it again. 

• Jason Powersmile toothpaste in Vanilla Peppermint (would repurchase) - I love Jason toothpastes because they're more natural and SLS and flouride-free. I really loved the vanilla peppermint flavor.

• Aveeno Nourish & Strengthen Shampoo & Conditioner (would repurchase) - I got one use out of these. It was nice, nothing overly special, but I'd try out the full size in the future. 

• Liquid Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner (would repurchase) - I liked these more than I expected to. My hair felt so soft and silky after using these. I have no clue where to purchase them, but if I saw them around, I'd pick them up.

• Elite Therapeutics Elite Shampoo & Conditioner (would repurchase) - Another good shampoo & conditioner. My hair felt soft and conditioned after using these. I wouldn't go out of my way to find them, but if they're reasonably priced, I'd buy them.

• Yves Rocher Quelques Notes d'Amour perfume (would repurchase) - This little sample smelled SO good. This is the one and only Yves Rocher perfume I've tried, and if they're all this good, I need to smell more! This is musky and slightly rosy - the best of both worlds!

• Lush Honey I Washed the Kids Soap (would repurchase) - I really enjoyed this soap. It has a soft honey scent and is moisturizing. I love that it had a honeycomb imprint on it. I'd definitely buy this again. 

• Lush Butterball Bath Bomb (would repurchase) - The Butterball bath bomb is one of my favorites from lush. It smells like vanilla and makes the bath extra moisturizing. I have another of these in my closet, but it won't be my last. I'll always repurchase this. 

• Yankee Candle Winterland candle (would repurchase) - Aside from the fact this candle burned like crap (see all those ridges?!), it smelled nice like sweet peppermint and I enjoyed it.

• Target Toasted Almond soy candle (would repurchase) - This smelled really good, just like you'd imagine toasted almonds to smell. I loved the chic maroon glass packaging. All around good candle.

• B&BW Cranberry Pear Bellini candle (would not repurchase) - I don't really care for this scent. It's not bad, but just not anything I need.

• Old Factory Candle in Roasted Chestnut (would repurchase) - I loved the smell of this. A full review can be found here. 

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

Summer Lovin' - FOTD

It FINALLY feels like summer here in Minnesota - kind of sad, considering it's July 21... but we've just been graced with some 80+ degree weather for the last few days and I am absolutely loving it. All this sunshine and warm weather had me feeling so good that I decided to sport some dressed up eyes just for the heck of it. Here's how you get the look:

On my face, I began by moisturizing. See my current skincare routine for the products I use to do just that. For foundation, I used a cosmetic sponge to apply the Revlon ColorStay foundation; I'm the lightest shade, #110 Ivory. I set it using my go-to Rimmel Stay Matte powder. For a pop of color on my cheeks, I used a blush that's been featured many times on this blog, Physician's Formula Multi-Colored Blush in Blushing Nude. 

I filled in and set my eyebrows using the Wet n Wild eyebrow pencil in Taupe and the Maybelline Great Lash in clear. On my lips I'm wearing a NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in the shade Nude Peach Fuzz, an awesome pigmented cream that is more like a liquid lipstick. Because this look is more dramatic for me than normal, a nude lip color is a nice choice so the attention stays on the eyes.

For my eyes, I started by using the Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin, a shimmering champagne color. To define the crease, I used my all-time favorite NYX single in True Taupe with a fluffy blending brush. Any matte brown that is just a couple shades darker than your skin tone will do. 

I then pulled out my Sephora Primal Instincts palette seen above to do the real work. Using the lighter shimmery purple shade called Tea Rose (top, right) I filled in the outside of my crease and then pulled it in along my lid. To really define the outside of the crease, I then used the jewel-toned shimmery purple called Plum. I pulled this slightly around the top of the lid for a bit of definition. To brighten up the middle and inner corner of my lid, I used a rosy champagne color (top, left) called Apricot. And wa-lah! That's all for the eyeshadow.

Because my eyes always need a pop of eyeliner to look complete, I used a brown liquid Covergirl liner (unnamed) and went over it with the Sigma eyeshadow base in Strike, a shimmery burgundy brick color. To complete the look I used a couple coats of Eyeko's Black Magic mascara. 


This look is super easy to replicate, and you definitely don't need to use the exact same colors I did to achieve something awfully similar. If you recreate this look, send me a link! I'd love to see!

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation | Review

The Rimmel Stay Matte powder has long been a holy grail product of mine. You've seen it in a number of my empties posts, and those are just a couple of the many I've used up in my lifetime. When Rimmel came out with a Stay Matte foundation, I knew I had to try it out and see if it, too, would be a HG for me. 

Right off the bat, I noticed you get a bit more product than is typical with most foundations - 1.6 oz ($4.99) instead of the normal 1 oz. That's nice, considering the price is uber cheap. The consistency is that of a whipped cream. It comes out in a thick glob, but doesn't feel overly heavy on the skin once applied. Once applied, this foundation provides medium to full coverage.

I've applied this foundation three different ways: a dry makeup sponge, a brush and a wet beauty blender. When using a dry makeup sponge (my favorite way  to apply most foundations) I like to pat the foundation on in small circular pats. This foundation did not apply easily or well with this method. I quit halfway through trying as it just didn't transfer well or look good on the skin this way. Using a wet beauty blender, application was easy, but I felt like it just sat on my skin without sinking in very well. My favorite way to apply the Rimmel Stay Matte foundation was with a brush, specifically my Sigma F80 kabuki brush. This allowed for smooth, blendable coverage.

My gripe with this foundation is that it's patchy and settles in to my skin in odd places. It's best seen  in the image above; you can really see the foundation has settled in to the pores on my nose. (Foundation applied with a brush in above image) I am oily in my T-zone, and I can easily rub the foundation off as I get more oily throughout the day, even when I set it with the Stay Matte powder. I do have some uneven redness on my face as well, and the redness around my nose starts to show through within 1-2 hours. With the smudging and patchiness of this foundation, I get maybe 3 decent hours of wear, and from there it's all down hill.

I like the Rimmel Stay Matte foundation if I'm only planning to wear it for a night out. If I'm looking for all day coverage, this just doesn't cut it. It sits on my skin, gets cakey in my t-zone and wipes off after a few hours of wear. This doesn't work for me, as I have oily skin, and I think if you had dry skin this would cling to your dry patches.  

While Rimmel's Stay Matte powder reigns as my holy grail drugstore powder, the Stay Matte foundation is nowhere near close to a holy grail foundation. (but if you're curious what holds the title as HG foundation - see this post) 

Have you tried this foundation? Let me know what you thought!

Empties #5

There is something so satisfying about finishing products, and I especially feel sated when I've filled my bag and I've got enough stuff worthy of a blog post. That time is here... let's dig through my trash.

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation - You already know, this is my holy grail foundation. This is the third or fourth bottle I've gone through and believe me, I've got back ups on hand. See my full review here. Would I repurchase? Yes, already have.
• Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - Another holy grail product. I've been using this powder for years and there's just nothing like it for the same price. Would I repurchase? Yes, already have.
• Julep Boho Glam Lengthening Mascara - I received this way back in a Julep mystery box, but I absolutely hated this. It was feathery and hard to apply and there was no way it lengthened my lashes. I used this for my bottom lashes for a bit, but had to throw it out without using it up. Would I repurchase? No.

• OPI Start to Finish Base Coat, Top Coat & Strengthener - I didn't care for this multi-coat polish. It dried slow and didn't strengthen my nails at all. Would I repurchase? No.
• Ralph Lauren Big Pony #4 Perfume - This perfume smells amazing. It's fruity and floral with top notes of cherry and amber. I really like this, but I don't need another perfume in my collection at this moment. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline Perfume - This smelled alright, but it wasn't something I couldn't live without. Would I repurchase? No.
• Urban Decay Eden Eyeshadow Primer Potion - This sample came with my Naked 3 palette. The packaging claims this packet had a week's worth of product, but I got much more than that. Eden is a creamy nude base that holds eyeshadow on all day. I didn't love this primer, but I didn't hate it. My makeup stayed on using this, but I didn't care for the consistency. Would I repurchase? No.

• Neutrogena Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes in Pink Grapefruit - I really liked these wipes. They're formulated for acne-prone skin and I really do think they helped keep my skin clear. I use these wipes as a makeup remover, and follow up with a facial cleanser. I would never use this type of makeup wipe as my sole cleanser. Would I repurchase? Yes, already have. 
• Yes to Cucumbers Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes - I love these towelettes, and I've repurchased them a few times now. They're soothing and smell nice and do a good job of cleansing my face of all makeup. Would I repurchase? Yes, already have. 

• Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray - This is the first heat tamer spray I can ever remember purchasing. It does an okay job, but it's not my favorite. I was happy to get through this. Would I repurchase? No. 
• Yes to Carrots Pampering Conditioner - I LOVED this! It made my hair so soft, and it smelled sort of powdery and clean. I love that it's a natural conditioner and it performed really well! Would I repurchase? Yes, already have.
• HerStyler Argan Oil Hair Mask - I won't go on about this, as I've done a full review here, but this was a really nice mask. I enjoyed it, but am sad how fast it went. Would I repurchase? Yes.

• Pecksniff's England Luxury Salt Scrub in Ginger Flower & Patchouli - Ouch, my first salt scrub. I'd never realized I had so many cuts in my fingers until using this scrub. It was painful and made my skin burn. The scent became overbearing, and I couldn't wait to use it up. The only good thing was that this scrub had oil in it so it left my skin silky smooth. Would I repurchase? No. 
• Lush Buche De Noel Facial Cleanser - You can read more about this cleanser here, but I will say that I really enjoyed using this. It smelled so delicious I could have taken a bite, but I refrained. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Almay Lash Care Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Pads - I got these for a couponing deal at Walgreens and paid under $2 for them. I didn't have high hopes, but they were okay. I had to use one pad per eye but they still left residue around my eyes so I had to use another makeup wipe to remove all of my makeup. I didn't notice anything fantastic happening to my lashes as this product would seem to suggest. Would I repurchase? No. 

• Clarisonic Acne Brush Heads - I really like these acne brush heads. They scrub deep without irritating my skin and my face feels refreshed and smooth after using these.Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Reach Soft Woven Mint Floss - This is my absolute favorite kind of floss. The braided texture gets all the ickyness out of my teeth in a way that regular floss just can't compete with. Would I repurchase? Yes, already have.
• Better Homes & Gardens Wax Cubes in Warm Vanilla Creme - These wax cubes make my house smell so delicious. I loved the scent of vanilla floating through my home, especially in the fall. I was sad to see these go! Would I repurchase? Yes.

• Dove ClearTone deodorant - FINALLY, I've used up the last of this three pack I bought. (I don't know what I was thinking - I just can't make that kind of commitment to one type of product!) I liked this, it was soothing and gentle on my pits, but I certainly didn't notice it "evening out" my skin tone in my armpits, and I'm not quite sure why I'd care if it did! Would I repurchase? Yes.
• B&BW PocketBacs in Pink Berry Citrus and Lucky - Both of these smelled nice. I use them prior to applying my makeup to make sure my hands are free of any nasty bacteria. Would I repurchase? Yes.

• Yankee Candle in Green Tea - This smelled really great, and actually the "green tea" scent was quite on point. The scent filled the room, and I enjoyed using it up. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Sugar Blossom candle - Sadly, this didn't have the greatest scent throw. It smelled great if you stuck your face in the candle, but it just didn't fill up the room. Would I repurchase? No.
• B&BW Candle in Party Dress - This had a nice, musky perfume scent and I believe it was part of Bath & Body Works Christmas/New Year's collection. I got it for Christmas and really liked it! Would I repurchase? Yes.

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

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick | Review & Swatch

Lippies are my thing. I've got more than I care to admit, so when offered the chance to try a shade from the new Moisture Renew line from Rimmel, I jumped at the chance. I am always on the hunt for a lipstick that not only looks great and has lasting power, but one that moisturizes too. The Rimmel Moisture Renew line promises vivid color with a burst of moisture. The color you'll see here is As You Want Victoria, just one of 18 total shades in the line.

The Rimmel website describes this line as such:

Lips so cared for, true colour is maximised! Maximised, radiant colour. Innovative formula with 3 super Moisturisers. Lips feel up to 70% more hydrated and up to 60% smoother! SPF 20, Vitamins A, C and E for protected lips.

The Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick goes on like a dream. It's super creamy, and mega-pigmented with just one run over the lips. It's so smooth and feels nourishing, but only for a short time. As it wears it does not keep the lips hydrated for much longer than a few minutes. 

The pigmentation is the real gem of this lipstick. I am able to get 4+ hours of wear, even through drinking and eating (although there is some transfer). 

For just over $5 at most drugstores, you really should give these a go if you're in the market for a new lippie. I really enjoy using it and I will definitely look to get more in the future.

Birthday Haul!

I mentioned in Friday's post that my husband and I celebrated my birthday shopping all over the place. We had a blast - I'm lucky to have a husband who enjoys shopping as much as I do. I found some goodies, and I allowed myself to splurge on myself as a birthday treat. I thought I'd share with you all what I picked up. The above shows some purchases I made, as well as some gifts!

• Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation - I've heard lots about this foundation, and as an avid lover of the Stay Matte Powder, I had to give this a go. I've tried it a couple times so far, and you'll hear more from me about this in a future post.

• Dior Creme De Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm - Ya'll know I was lusting after this in February, and my sweet husband gifted this to me for my birthday. It's everything I thought it would be and more! I'm in love.  

• It's a 10 Miracle Leave In plus Keratin - I got this sample for free for spending over $20 at Ulta. I've never used anything from It's a 10 so I'm excited to try it!

• Mario Badescu Drying Lotion - I get the occasional zit, and I've heard this little bottle is all you need to zap any unfortunate spot. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm glad to have it in my army of acne-fighting products.

• The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter - I've never tried any cleansing balms before, and this gem was half off so had to throw it in the bag.

• China Glaze: It's a Trap-Eze - It's not like me to grab a nail polish that isn't in the clearance aisle, but this one spoke to me! It has a milky base with multicolored glitter and it just looks awesome.

• RoC Daily Resurfacing Disks - I don't know what possessed me to grab these off the shelf, but I did and I'm excited to use them.

• Calvin Klein ck one mascara - This was my free Ulta birthday gift. This normally retails for $18, which is a pretty generous giveaway!

• Freeman Pineapple Facial Enzyme Mask - I'm a sucker for anything pineapple scented, and this mask smells SO good. I love facial masks, and I love pineapple... win win!

• Lush Prince shaving cream - I think this is actually geared toward men, but I wanted to try it out on my legs. It smells really earthy and nice.

• Lush Yuzu and Cocoa Bubble Bar - This smells divine. I take baths regularly so I treated myself to a new bubble bar.

I also got some lippies, too! My favorite!!! Lipsticks are listed left to right.

• Revlon Jungle Peach lipstick - This is one of the limited edition Legacy lipsticks, and unfortunately it doesn't look very good on me. It looks much more orange when on my lips. :(

• NYX Butter Gloss in Sugar Cookie - I am obsessed with these butter glosses. They're really hydrating and have great color pay off. Sugar Cookie is a really pretty hot pink shade, and I believe it's one of the new shades recently released.

• Revlon Snow Peach lipstick - Another Legacy lipstick and I absolutely LOVE this color. It's going to be great for summer. Swatches to come!

• NYX Butter Gloss in Angel Food Cake - This is another one of the new butter gloss shades. This is a my lips but better color, perfect for a neutral lip.

• NYX Butter Lipstick in Sweet Tart - I can't escape reviews of these everywhere. I finally picked one up and I really like it! 

• essence Stay With Me Long Lasting lipgloss in My Favorite Milkshake - I picked this up on a whim, and it's excellent!

• NYX Matte Lipstick in Street Cred - Another bright pink lipstick. I love a good matte lipstick, and this is completely shine-free. 

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

Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquers

I'm a bit late to the game with this post, as the internet has been buzzing about these lip lacquers since they made their appearance in the UK as the Apocolips lacquers. (Which I still call them on accident all the time! Why they changed a good thing, I have no idea!) I don't know what took me so long, but as I perused the aisles of Shopko about a month ago, these lip lacquers caught my eye and I couldn't resist temptation any longer. 

These definitely live up to the hype. These lippies are creamy, mega-pigmented and absolutely beautiful on the lips. 

One of the coolest things about the Show Off Lip Lacquers is the unique doe-foot applicator. As you can see, there's a little divet where gloss pools. This makes it easy to get complete coverage with just a once-over.

The staying power isn't the greatest;I get about 2-3 hours before experiencing some fading and caking on the lips. They're hydrating for the first hour or so, for the time that they still feel glossy on the lip. Once you hit hours 2 and on, my lips do start to feel a bit dry - but I'm known for being reliant on chapstick. You may find these keep your lips thoroughly hydrated.

The only thing that peeves me slightly about these is the smell. It has the classic old lady lipstick smell, which is just a bummer. These would be so much more delightful if they smelled of vanilla, or basically anything but old lady lipstick smell. 

Here are the shades I have:

Product: 5/5

Pigmentation: 5/5

Texture: 5/5

Packaging:  5/5

These are a hit! I can look past the shorter wear time and old lady smell because of how comfortable these are on the lips, and the sheer beauty of the pigmentation and colors. I love these. I want to own every color in the line because they are that fantastic. I would highly recommend you try these out for yourself! Love love love!

Rimmel Colour Rush Lip Crayon | Viva Violet

Have I just been oblivious to these "new" lip crayons from Rimmel for the last couple months, or are these truly new to the drugstore? I don't honestly know! I've seen bloggers from the UK mentioning these as of this fall, but I didn't see any American bloggers talking about them, so I'm going to assume they are new!

Anyway, I saw these in Walmart not too long ago and thought I ought to give these a try. I like Rimmel a lot, and their lipsticks are generally pretty nice. So naturally, I put one in my cart. The shade I picked up is number 300, Viva Violet, a gorgeous orchid pink.

These Colour Rush lip crayons are super easy to apply, they go on nice and smooth and they provide really nice color coverage. The scent is nearly identical to a MAC lipstick, sort of vanilla scented. These don't claim to stain your lips, but merely claim to be "long lasting". I got a solid 2-3 hours of wear, even with drinking and eating, but there was definite color transfer on to my coffee mug. After 3 hours, the color wasn't looking so great and it was time to reapply. I found these to be lightly hydrating and comfortable to wear, not drying or cakey in the slightest.

Product: 4/5

Pigmentation: 4/5

Texture: 5/5

Packaging:  5/5

I really like this new lip crayon from Rimmel. I want to see what other colors they have and pick a few more up, because I believe these were under $6 (cheap!). They smell great, apply smoothly and look beautiful on the lips! These are best to wear when you have time to reapply and aren't looking for a super long wearing lipstick. Rimmel Colour Rush Lip Crayons are Glazed Over approved!