Empties | #41

I thought I'd just recently done an empties post, but I peeked in my bin to throw something out, and lo and behold it was plum full and it's been a month! Somehow it filled up rather quickly, and it's that time once again. Without further ado... my empties for you, with mini reviews and purchase recommendations for your reading pleasure.

• Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream (would repurchase) - I used this extra-potent moisturizing cream on my hands at night because it is rather thick and greasy. It always made my hands feel brand new, especially during the cold and dry winter months. See full review here.

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 foundation (would repurchase) - I've talked this to death. It's my holy grail foundation and I've never found anything quite like it. I've always got a bottle or two on back up for when I run out. This is probably my 20th bottle, and it won't be my last. 

• LaVanila Vanilla Passion Fruit deodorant (would repurchase) - LaVanila is my favorite natural deodorant brand. I enjoyed the scent of this and would certainly get it again. 

• Korres Hand Cream in Bergamot Pear - This was a nice hand cream. It smelled fruity and moisturized nicely. 

• Ken Paves Volumizing Shampoo (would purchase) - I really enjoyed this sample. It felt luxurious, and was reminiscent of Aveda shampoo and conditioners that I've used in the past. I'd definitely get this in the future.

• Kiehl's Daily Reviving Concentrate (would not purchase) - I wasn't a big fan of this face oil. It sat on top of my face and didn't do a lot.

• Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream (would purchase) - This was a nice, basic moisturizer. It felt good on my skin, didn't have much of a smell, and didn't break me out. I believe this is ridiculously expensive, but I'd consider it in the future.

• Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam (would repurchase) - This is one foamy cleanser. It foams up like crazy but it left my skin feeling clean and refreshed. 

• Nubian Heritage Abyssinian Oil & Chia Seed Body Cleansing Smoothie (would repurchase) - This was great. It doesn't foam up, it feels more like a light lotion. It smells amazing and it lingers. It's not super hydrating, but I could skip lotion and my skin wouldn't be completely desert-like. I haven't seen these around, but I picked this up at TJ Maxx and I'd definitely pick up more if I saw them again.

• Suave Smoothing lotion (would not repurchase) - The only good thing about this is the nice, light smell. It wasn't very hydrating and felt like it just sat on top of my skin.

• Tarte Lights Camera Lashes mascara (would not repurchase) - I know these samples are pretty inconsistent, unfortunately, and this one was awful. It was so dry and flaky I could hardly use it. I used it a couple times and then threw it away.

• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner (would not repurchase) - I'm one of the few people who is not gaga for the Kat Von D tattoo liners. This is a brush-tip liner that dries to a satin finish. It's not that it's bad, I just think there are better liners for cheaper.

• Milani Clear Brow Shaping Gel (would repurchase) - I've purchased this brow gel time and time again. This particular gel is clear so it's perfect if you just need to control the brows you have, or want to lock your brow powder in place. 

• Clinique Bottom Lash mascara (would repurchase) - I'd totally get it if you told me I was crazy for buying a mascara solely for my bottom lashes, but I SWEAR by this stuff. It won't flake all over your face, and the small brush makes it easy to apply without smudging it everywhere. This is a new holy grail product of mine.

• Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara (would repurchase) - I really enjoyed this mascara. It gave me volume and length and didn't flake all over my face.

• Hask Charcoal Purifying Shampoo (would repurchase) - I really like Hask shampoos and conditioners. They've sent me a variety of different ones to try, and this Charcoal line is one of my favorites, mostly because it smells heavenly. Full review here.

• Brandless Mouthwash (would not repurchase) - Brandless is a super cool website where everything is $3 because they aren't making you pay for the brand. I tried a variety of kitchen products and I also grabbed the mouthwash. Unfortunately I wasn't a fan of this in the least. It tasted weird and made my teeth feel chalky.

• First Aid Beauty Blemish Patrol Pads (would repurchase) - I liked these. They didn't completely keep my skin under control, but they helped shorten the time of my break outs and they felt nice on my skin. 

• Befine Night Cream (would not repurchase) - I wasn't a fan of this night cream. It smelled nice, kind of like cocoa, but I think it contributed to breakouts on my skin and it wasn't moisturizing enough for my taste.

• Pur-lisse Gentle Soy Milk Cleanser (would repurchase) - This cleanser is very gentle, and I'd definitely recommend it if you have sensitive skin. I really liked it and would definitely consider buying a full-size bottle.

• Acure Facial Toner (would repurchase) - I like the packaging of this toner. The top is a spray nozzle, but it looks like it's more of a lotion bottle. This toner is gentle and the ingredients are great.

• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - Surprise, surprise. I always have a tube of these in my empties. I love these for applying toner, removing eye makeup, cleaning brushes, taking off my nail polish, etc.

• Organyc Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - I ordered these off of Vitacost just to try out an organic cotton round, and I liked them. They're not as great of a price as the Swisspers, but I'd consider ordering them now and then. 

• Elizabeth & James Nirvana White perfume (would repurchase) - I adore this perfume. It smells wonderful and reminds me of really great memories. I've already purchased a full size bottle to replace this. Full review here. 

• Hillary Duff With Love perfume (would repurchase) - I liked this much more than I thought I would. It's warm with notes of amber, but also has a strong "tropical" note. It's not coconut-y but, just has this added note that lightens the amber, woodsy-ness. I liked it! 

• Clinique Moisture Surge moisturizer (would repurchase) - If you have really dry skin, this isn't going to be for you. It's a good base for us normal skin type folks. I used this during the day because I prefer a heavier night cream to do the dirty moisturizing work.

• Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer (would repurchase) - This was a good day time moisturizer. It has added SPF so you can protect your skin from UV rays. It's lightly fragranced and a little oily, but it was fine. Nothing to write home about.

• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Boosters Facial Cleanser (would not repurchase) - I wasn't a big fan of this cleanser. It didn't feel like it did much.

• Caudalie Eye Lifting Balm (would not purchase) - This didn't do much for my undereyes. I'm very particular with my eye creams because I need extra oomph with the fine lines I have, and this didn't do it for me. It's quite pricey, too, so I wouldn't shell out for this. If it worked a miracle, I'd spend the money.

• L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream (would not repurchase) - The smell of this is a bit "old-lady" like and it doesn't soothe the cracks in my knuckles that the Minnesota winter burdens me with. It's also quite greasy. It's not worth the money.

• Nivea A Kiss of Recovery lip balm (would repurchase) - Maybe it's weird, but I adore medicated lip balms. They feel minty and that makes me think it's working, even if it's just a psychological thing. This really did treat my dry lips and get rid of dead skin.

• Chapstick Green Tea Mint lip balm (would not repurchase) - I did not care for this. It felt like it was making my lips more chapped than they were and I wasn't crazy about the scent.

• Smashbox Photo Finish primer (would repurchase) - I honestly can't tell if this contributes to break outs a little but I like the way it makes my skin look (smooth and poreless), so I used this up and I'd consider purchasing it.

• Spongeables Pedi-Scrub Foot Buffer (would repurchase) - Every summer, I love having one of these in my shower. I go for a lot of walks and my wearing sandals 24/7 means I want my feet to be clean and exfoliated. These work great and last me all summer long.

• Cutex Advanced Revival Nail Polish Remover Pads (would repurchase) - I snagged these at the Dollar Tree, and I actually really liked using them. The pads are really durable cotton or wool and one pad gets all 10 of my nails polish-free. 

• Crest Be Inspired toothpaste in Vanilla Mint Spark (would not repurchase) - Typically, I'm all about anything vanilla mint flavored. This was a miss, though. It didn't make my mouth feel clean and I learned that perhaps vanilla mint is not a good toothpaste flavor.

• Listerine Mint Floss (would not repurchase) - This used to be my holy grail floss. It's braided so it's thicker and gets more gunk out of my gums. But I found a new love and this has taken the back seat with no repurchasing in the foreseeable future. 

• B&BW Cheers Mulled Wine candle (would not repurchase) - This is a candle from a couple years ago. It's very fruity and it made my whole house smell nice. It's not my favorite scent to have burning, and I'm done buying candles that aren't soy so I wouldn't get this again.

• B&BW Cranberry Pumpkin candle (would repurchase) - So, I still wouldn't buy B&BW candles in the future, but if you love them you need to pick this scent up. It's scrumptious and smells like the holidays. I adored it.

• DW Candles Honey Pumpkin candle (would not repurchase) - This was fine, very sweet, but nothing to go crazy over. It's also not soy, unfortunately.

• Trader Joe's Vanilla Pumpkin candle (would repurchase) - I LOVE that Trader Joe's is releasing soy candles around the holidays. I think the packaging is adorable, and this scent was nice (quite sweet), too. 

• Yankee Candle Lake Sunset candle (would repurchase) - Another non-soy candle, but it smelled amazing. Something about the smell really made me think of being at a cabin in the summer time. Such a good, nostalgic smell. 

And that's it! Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments!

May Empties | #37

It's that time to dig through my trash! Get your monthly fill of mini reviews all in one convenient place. Let's dig in to what I used up in May...

• Rovectin Conditioning Cleanser (would repurchase) - This is a very basic, gentle, unscented facial cleanser. See full review here.

• Ark Pro Remove One Cleanse (would repurchase) - This is a nice oil cleanser, to be used as a first step to remove makeup. It breaks everything down and doesn't leave a film. See full review here. 

• May Coop Raw Sauce (would not repurchase) - I don't understand the hype around this facial essence. It's essentially a toner made of maple water. It didn't do much of anything for me. It might've hydrated my skin a little, and I'm sure it helped the serums I put on top sink in, but meh... it's pricey and there are toners I like far better. 

• Organic Surge Perfecting Face Polish (would not repurchase) - The ingredients are really good in this face scrub, but it's not scrubby enough for me. It's mostly creamy with a few scrubby pieces mixed in. I love this brand, but I wouldn't get this scrub again.

• Korres Wild Rose Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial (would not repurchase) - This is another brand I love, but I wasn't in love with this product. It had a gross, old lady rose smell, and I didn't notice any results from using it. 

• Olay Cooling White Strawberry & Mint Body Wash (would not repurchase) - This was fine, nothing special. It didn't feel cooling at all on my skin, and the smell was just pleasantly fruity. It's nothing I need to run out and buy again.

• L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil (would repurchase) - Okay, the hype is real around this stuff. It smells amazingly gourmand and sweet, and it works great as a shaving oil. I have a tendency to get itchy legs after I shave, but I never did when I used this. It's expensive, but it's worth it. 

• Molton Brown Bushukan Body Wash (would repurchase) - This had a unique scent, kind of unisex sexy. It lingered on the skin, too. I love Molton Brown body washes - they're fancy and smell amazing - and I have a whole sample set I got for Christmas to continue using up. Yay!

• Benefit That Gal Brightening Primer (would not repurchase) - This is a pink primer aimed at brightening the skin. I didn't really notice it doing anything. It didn't brighten my skin, it didn't extend the wear of my makeup, didn't blur my pores. I wouldn't shell out for a full size.

• Smashbox X Rated mascara (would repurchase) - I really liked this mascara. It gave me lots of volume and length. It had a tendency to get a little clumpy, but I could work with it enough and get a look that wasn't gunky or gross. I probably wouldn't shell out the cash for a full size of this, because I'm a believer in drugstore mascaras, but if I saw it around for a good price, I'd get it again. 

• Flower On your Mark Liquid Eyeliner (would not repurchase) - I don't know if I just got a dud pen, but this SUCKED. The product didn't seem to saturate the felt tip, and it was tough to build up a dark enough line on my lids. No thank you. I tried to use it a few times, and then promptly threw it in my empties bin. 

• Rimmel Wonder Lash Mascara (would not repurchase) - I was intrigued by this ever since it came out a couple years ago, only because I fell for the gimmick that it's formulated with argan oil. Every review I saw had nothing great to say about it, but I still had to try it for myself, and well... yeah, I hated it. It provided color and that's about it. No volume, no length.... a total miss. I ended up using it with the X-Rated mascara above, and then over a lash primer so I could get some volume and length. This isn't worth your money, even though it's cheap. 

• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - You already know, I use at least one of these up per month. I get them in the mega-pack from Costco, and I love them! I use them to remove my eye makeup and apply toner. I think they've changed the packaging already, so in a couple months they'll look a little different when they appear in my empties bin. 

• Pur-Lisse Prevent Blue Lotus + White Tea sheet mask (would not repurchase) - I like sheet masks as a relaxing night time treatment, and I really don't expect much from them, so if they DO provide any sort of bump in my skincare treatments, then great. If not, I'm not that surprised. This did nothing for me, so I wouldn't go out of my way to get it again. 

• Lasting Smiles Organic Lip Balm in Peppermint (would repurchase) - I think I got this in an Ipsy bag ages ago, and they also sell it at Target (or they used to... I've also seen it clearanced out there, so maybe not anymore?). It's a nice lippie. I'd get it again.

• Sierra Bees Organic Vanilla lip balm (would repurchase) - Sierra Bees is exclusive to iHerb.com and they're ridiculously cheap. I really enjoy these lippies and have more to use up.

• Chloe Roses de Chloe perfume (would repurchase) - This is a Scentbird vial of Roses de Chloe. If you like the Chloe perfume, and you like rose scents that aren't granny-like, you'll enjoy this. It's ultra feminine and sexy. See full review here.

• Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline perfume (would not repurchase) - This perfume is very sharp and fresh. It isn't bad, but it really isn't something I'd want a full size of in my perfume collection. 

• Up & Up Acetone (would repurchase) - I know acetone is pretty much awful for your nails, but I have zero patience when it comes to removing my nail polish and acetone makes things speedy. I'm impartial to brand, it's all the same, so I just grab it wherever I am if I'm in need.

• Deep Steep Fresh Honey hand wash (would repurchase) - I adore the Deep Steep brand, and I really enjoy using their hand soaps. If you love that standard honey scent, you'll be head over heals for this hand soap. The cute packaging is an added bonus. You can also get body wash, lotion and body scrub in this same scent. 

• B&BW Paris Lavender Macaron candle (would not repurchase) - I think this scent was limited edition last spring. It smelled great in the jar but didn't really have much of a scent throw. It's supposed to smell like lavender and sweet cookie, and I suppose that's about right. It's not overly lavender-y though, it's just sort of a sweet floral.

• Yankee Candle Cinnamon Vanilla candle (would repurchase) - This smelled amazing and had a great scent throw. It smells exactly like you'd expect it would. 

• B&BW Spring Blue Skies candle (would repurchase) - This was nice. It's comprised of water and citrus and just has that overall characteristic fresh scent. It's perfect for the warmer months.

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

Play! by Sephora | April 2017

You guys.... was this month's Play! by Sephora bag made for me or what?! They should've told me I'd be featured on this month's bag! ;) In all honesty, I'm keeping this forever and ever because I'm a narcissistic little POS and this graphic speaks to me deeply. 

I can assure you the contents inside of the bag are also quite good, too. For $10, I'm pleased. If you want to sign up, you can do so here (no affiliate link, just the website).

Here's what came in this month's bag...

• Kate Somerville Exfolikate Cleanser - I'm really excited about this little sample because this is a mega-pricey little exfoliating face wash. People swear by it, you could go broke buying it, and I secretly hope I hate it so I don't feel the need to splurge on a full size.

• Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume - I've used up a full size of this in the past, and I do like this perfume. My nose has kind of distorted what I originally loved about this smell after years of wearing it (know what I mean??), so I don't think I'll ever own a big bottle of this again, but it'll be nice to revisit this fresh, floral scent again in small doses. 

• Makeup Forever Aqua XL Eye Pencil in Black - I'm not crazy about pencil eyeliner, but I'll give this a shot. It claims to be creamy and long wearing, both of which I require in any eye liner pencil I touch, but it will remain to be seen once I test this guy out. 

• Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream - This is a hydrating hyaluronic acid cream, with 30% of that active ingredient packed in to this creamy punch. It claims to provide hydration for up to 72 hours, which is no small boast. If that's true, this just might be worth a full size purchase (which'll set you back a whopping $52 for 1.6 oz)

• Smashbox Photo Finish Primer - I've used this before, and I quite like it. It makes my skin appear poreless and it gives a nice, natural looking blur to my skin. It does help slightly with longevity of foundation wear, too. I have so many samples of this stuff I'll never need to shell out for a full size bottle. 

• Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover - Would anyone turn down a travel eye makeup remover? I certainly wouldn't. This stuff comes in handy as heck when traveling. And while I use a cleansing cloth, or oil, to remove my makeup every night, I always start with an eye makeup remover first because I hate smearing eye makeup all over my face. I have high hopes for this stuff, as I've never tried it before. 

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!

Play! by Sephora | October 2016

My one and only beauty subscription box, Play! by Sephora, continues to keep me excited each month. October's box is full of some fun goodies, all of which are available for purchase at Sephora. This subscription costs just $10 a month, but there is a short waiting list (it takes about a month to get off of it), and you get a handful of samples from prestige brands.

If you're interested in subscribing to Play! by Sephora, click here. 

Here's what came in October's box...

• Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Driver's Seat - A lippie that boasts 8 hours of wear time. Driver's Seat is a warm pink color and this sample size is large enough to get lots of use out of.

• Too Cool for School Egg Mellow Cream - A moisturizer infused with collagen for younger looking skin. Good for dry, sensitive, normal and combo skin types. Free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates. 

• Skin Inc. Pure Revival Cream - A non-abrasive peel that sloughs away dead skin for brighter, renewed skin. Safe for blemish prone and sensitive skin. Free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates.

• Nudestix Intense Matte Lip & Cheek Pencil in Belle - A multi-purpose pencil for lips and cheeks. Dries matte for all day wear. Belle is a plum nude color. Free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, gluten, preservatives, cyclomethicones and animal-derived ingredients. 

• Verb Leave-In Mist - A hydrating mist that tames and detangles hair while prepping it for styling. Good for straight, wavy and curly hair. Free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates.

• Tom Ford Orchid Soleil - The newest Tom Ford fragrance, characterized by notes of tuberose petals, black orchid, vanilla, chestnut, and patchouli among others. Warm and floral. 

What product are you most excited about in this month's box? For me, I think it's the Egg Mellow Cream. Let me know yours in the comments!

Play! by Sephora | July 2016

July's Play! by Sephora box arrived at my door, and let me tell you - this box keeps getting better and better! If you haven't heard of this subscription, it's a $10/month box filled with goodies you can find at your local Sephora. It is not customizable to your preferences, but there's something for everyone in every box. You can sign up to get your own box here. 

Here's a look at what came in the July box...

• Citrine by Nest Fragrances - A lovely scent that's perfect for summer. Hints of lotus flower, freesia, lemon blossom and precious woods. This smells so nice! 

• First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay - Good for most skin types, this cleanser helps fight oil, acne and troublesome pores. This is a foaming gel cleanser and it works by drawing impurities out of the skin with powerful antioxidants and red clay. 

• Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Foundation Primer (Pore Minimizing) - This primer helps skin look flawless and pore-free. It blurs imperfections for up to 8 hours. 

• Too Faced Soleil Matte Bronzer - This bronzer smells like chocolate (bonus!) and will give skin a sunkissed glow. The formula is smooth and it blends easily. This is the darker of their two available shades, better for darker skin tones than pale girls like me. 

• Ouai Wave Spray - This is a texture mist that gives hair an effortlessly messy look. It's formulated without parabens or pthalates. Rice protein works to add hold for easy waves without crunch. 

• Beautyblender Blotterazzi - A blotting sponge made of BeautyBlender material, this can be used time and time again. They'll absorb excess oil without smudging makeup. 

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know what you think is worth a full-size purchase! 

May Ipsy Glam Bag

May's Ipsy Glam Bag is here, and oh my goodness, can you see how cute the actual bag is? It's like a little envelope with all sorts of cool buildings of the world on it. Adorable! The contents inside are pretty nifty, too - and cost me just $10! If you don't know, you can get Ipsy at your door for just $10/month and then you can have cute travel bags and fun sample and deluxe sizes beauty goodies all for yourself, too! Click here for more info. 

Here's what came in May's glam bag....

• Hanalei Lip Treatment - This is a balm meant to hydrate and protect the lips. It's formulated with kukui nut from Hawaii. I think the packaging looks super sleek and I'm excited to try this out! 

• Smashbox X-Rated Mascara - This mascara claims to isolate and magnify each lash with its fiber-loaded formula, all while being clump, smudge and flake-proof. 

• SLmissglam  W07 Small Contour Brush - This brush brand is the creation of SLMissGlam, a YouTuber turned brush creator. This brush is really soft and would work well to contour around the nose or very defined cheek bone area, or even as a highlight applicator. 

• Aurora Gel Effect Nail Polish in Old School Pink - Helloooo neon summer nails! This nail polish is meant to give you the shiny, eye-popping gel look without the use of a UV light. 

• Formula 10.0.6 Pores Be Pure Skin-Clarifying Mud Mask - This mask is made with berry boosters (whatever berry boosters are...) and strawberry and rosemary to rid the skin of impurities. Don't be fooled, the ingredients aren't quite as natural as you might believe from that description. 

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

Play! by Sephora | March 2016

I finally got off the waitlist for Play! by Sephora!!!! I'm so excited! Play! is Sephora's $10 monthly beauty subscription. You get deluxe-sized samples from premium brands, and typically something from Sephora's house brand, too - from what I've seen. It comes packaged in a super cute, durable box, and it has a nice magazine-style booklet to explain each product.  Unlike Ipsy or Birchbox, everyone gets the same Play! box every month - it's not customizable to your preferences.

Interested in a new beauty subscription? Get your name on the Play! waitlist here.

Here's what came in the March box:

• Replica Beach Walk perfume sample: You'd never ever guess, but this is an uber-beachy scent. It smells like a day at the beach - sunscreen, coconut, surf and sand. If you like Bobbi Brown Beach or Bronze Goddess, you'll love this scent, too. 

• Murad Invisible Perfecting Shield: This is a silky sunscreen with SPF 30 for protection from the elements. It also functions as a primer and moisturizer.

• Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil: I got a sample of this in my February Ipsy, but have yet to try it. This oil claims to sink in quickly to add radiance and make skin appear smoother and camera-ready. I have to admit, I'm a little nervous to try this for fear of an uber-oily face!

• Fresh Soy Face Cleanser: This gentle cleanser is ideal for sensitive skin. I've used samples of this in the past and I really like it. It's expensive in a full size, so I'm excited to have another mini bottle.

• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner: I was surprised to find that this liner had a way different brush than the ones I bashed in my overrated products post. This formula is mega-waterproof and very black. I'm excited to give this a go since it seems better than the others I've used in the past.

• Sephora The Perfectionist Airbrush Sponge: Here's Sephora's take on the BeautyBlender. The interesting shape is supposed to help get in to small facial curves for an even makeup application. I already tried this out and I can't say I'm a fan. It seems to soak up all my foundation without applying it to my face and the shape isn't very convenient. The BeautyBlender still holds the title as best beauty sponge in my book.

Overeall, I'm excited about this box. I can't wait to see what I receive in the upcoming months. Have you signed up? Let me know how you like it! 

February Ipsy Glam Bag

February's Ipsy Glam bag was a doozy - with tons of value and deluxe sized samples, I have to say I was impressed! Ipsy Glam Bags cost just $10/month and if you like to try beauty products out before you buy them, this subscription is for you. If you want to sign up, click here (affiliate link - I'll get points if you want to use my link). Here's a detailed look at what came in February's bag:

• Margaret Dabbs London Mini Crystal Nail File - I've always wanted a crystal nail file (weird, I know) so I was really excited about seeing this in my bag! Crystal nail files are supposed to give a smoother finish to your nails, hopefully preventing future splitting. 

• Trust Fund Beauty nail polish in I'm Kind of a Big Deal - Trust Fund Beauty's polish is vegan and cruelty free. This pink shade is really pretty and you get a whole full sized bottle! Great value! 

• Seraphine Botanicals Carrot + Rose Hydrating Cream - This moisturizer smells delicious, like a Starburst! It's formulated with glycerin for hydration, and is free of parabens, and is vegan and cruelty free. I think the packaging is adorable, too! 

• Naked Cosmetics Mica Pigment in Sierra Nevada - Naked Cosmetics are made from 100% oxidized Mica, and they don't contain any unnatural fillers like talc, oil or wax. They're also non-comedogenic, so they won't clog your pores.

• Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil - This is a brand new product, and marketed as the first ever primer oil. It's formulated with 15 essential and lipid-rich plant oils. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm definitely intrigued. 

What did you get in your Ipsy glam bag? Let me know! 

November Ipsy Glam Bag 2015

My Ipsy bag came at the very last second this month, hence the late post! But it was worth the wait because it came with some fun goodies! For those of you unaware of Ipsy, it's a monthly beauty subscription that costs just $10! It's my favorite subscription and I recommend it to anyone who likes to experiment with products before splurging on the full price. If you're interested in signing up or learning more, click here. 

November's theme is "Beauty Blast" and it came with the following...

• China Glaze Nail Polish in Soft Sienna Silks - This is a full sized nail polish, which typically retails for $8 (nearly the entire cost of the bag itself! great value!). This is a beautiful sparkly reddish-brown color that's perfect for fall and winter. 

• tre'Stique Mini Matte Lip Crayon in Chile Red - I enjoy getting lip colors in my Ipsy bags, and this seems like a bright color suitable for the holiday. It's formulated with Vitamin E and Monoi Tahiti Butter for moisture and antioxidant properties.

• Crown Brush Oval Concealer Brush #C224 - Rarely do I use concealer brushes, but I am a fan of Crown Brush. This is a synthetic bristle brush, perfect for applying cream eyeshadows or concealer (of course!).

• Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara - I've never tried this mascara, so I'm looking forward to using it. It's meant to be volumizing and lengthening. 

• Coolway Strong Hold Spray - This brand is totally new to me. This is just a travel sized hair spray. It claims to fight humidity and  make big hair without frizz.

What did you get in your Ipsy bag this month? Let me know! 

June Ipsy Glam Bag

This month's Ipsy bag is the BOMB diggity. All this for just $10! And it showed up conveniently at my door. You can sign up for a monthly Ipsy subscription at this link. This is hands down my favorite beauty subscription service out there - well worth the $10 per month. This month I received the following goodies:

LaVanila Healthy Body Butter in Pure Vanilla - I love LaVanila products because they're natural, they smell amazing and they actually work. This is the first lotion I've tried of theirs and it has their classic vanilla scent, which smells like vanilla musk.

IT Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil in Universal Taupe - I definitely don't think this brow pencil is a universal color, but it does work OK for me. It is a bit darker brown than I like for my brows but I love that this is a good sized sample and it has a spoolie on one end. 

tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in Kona Coffee - This shadow crayon is a highly pigmented dark matte brown. You could use this to line your eyes, or blend it out for all-over color.

J.Cat Beauty Liptitude Hydrating Lip Stain in Bead - This is an awesome product. The color is great, the stain is creamy and it's just overall a beautiful lip product! Plus, it's full sized! 

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer - I can't tell you how many Smashbox primer samples I have, but I enjoy them so I can't complain too much. They really do help your foundation last and your skin look flawless. 


Have you tried any of these samples? What came in YOUR ipsy bag? Let me know!

Ipsy | October 2014

You guys.... HOW AMAZING IS THIS IPSY BAG?! Seriously, I was shocked by the awesomeness! I'll preface this post by saying, Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription service that costs just $10/month. Yes, only $10! Click any of the hyperlinks in this post to start receiving your very own Ipsy bag.

Here's what I got this month:

ROGUE by Rihanna Eau de Parfum (o.5 oz) - I have two other Rihanna perfumes which I adore, and I was so excited to receive Rogue, which I did not yet have in my collection. This is a warm floral scent that is very feminine. Love love love - and what an awesome sample size this is!

Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser - Love the packaging of this product, and how adorable is the brand name? This has a sweet scent, and is 100% natural and is free of parabens and pthalates. That's my kind of face wash.

Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer - I believe this is a fairly new formulation of the popular Smashbox primer line (correct me if I'm wrong). It claims to visibly reduce pores, mattify shine and control oil and is supposedly sweat & humidity resistant. 

Starlooks Lip Gloss in Guilty Pleasure - Talk about a beautiful "my lips but better" color! I tried this on and was pleasantly surprised at what a pretty pinky-nude this is. It also smells like vanilla, which is a definite plus!

MicaBeauty Mineral Eyeshadow in Harliquin - (no, I didn't spell Harlequin wrong, that's how it's spelled on the packaging!) This is such a gorgeous color! It is a shimmering grey-green that would really make a statement as a smokey eye color. 


What does your Ipsy bag look like this month? Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments!

Sephora Love | Roseville

Back in my interning days in college, I worked with an awesome gal named Natalie. Natalie now works for the Sephora in Rosedale Mall in Roseville, Minnesota. This used to be my local Sephora and I miss it SO much! The ladies there, especially Natalie, will take good care of you - so you know who to talk to on your next visit! Natalie and the girls there sent me some skin care goodies that I can't wait to try out, and I had to share with you! Let me know if you've given any of these products a try before!  Thank you, Natalie!!!! This is like one big awesome Sephora Birchbox! 

Amore Pacific Vitalizing Masque | Nude ProGenius treatment oil | Caudalie Vine Body Butter | Caudalie Broad Spectrum SPF15 Radiance Day Fluid | Caudalie Purifying Mask | Caudalie Intense Moisture Rescue Cream | Caudalie The Eye Cream | Murad Clarifying Wipes | Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture | Murad Acne & Wrinkle Reducer | Origins GinZing refreshing eye cream | fresh Black Tea Age-Delay cream | fresh Rose Face Mask | fresh Seaberry Moisturizing face oil | fresh Soy Face Cleanser | Rosa Centifolia Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser | Dr Dennis Gross alpha beta peel original formula | First Aid Beauty face cleanser | Clarisonic Acne Daily Clarifying Cleanser | Josie Maran Argan Infinity Cream | GlamGlow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment | GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment | Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer