May Empties | #26

I'm not kidding you when I say these last few months have been the speediest of my entire life, I think! I can hardly believe that May is over and we're now on our way in to June. Slooooow down, time! The month was fast, but I still managed to use up a good chunk of stuff. Let's take a peek through it  and I'll let you know what's worth your time to try.

• Yes to Coconut Ultra Hydrating Creme Cleanser (would repurchase) - This is a nice, gentle cleanser. It didn't irritate my skin and it kept it soft and smooth. Full review here. 

• Michael Todd Kaolin Clay Detoxifying Facial Mask (would not repurchase) - I've had this for a while now, and it's not gone, but I honestly hate using it because it smells so awful. I have plenty of charcoal masks that work better and don't smell disgusting, so I'll stick to those instead. I typically love everything in the Michael Todd brand family, but this just didn't do it for me. 

• ROC Daily Resurfacing Disks (would not repurchase) - These were just OK. They were super-fragranced, so if you're like me and don't enjoy products with synthetic fragrance up the wazoo, stay away. It cleaned my face fine, but I didn't notice any line reduction in my skin or any fabulous results. 

• Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara (would repurchase) - I loved this mascara so much it made it in to a recent favorites post. It makes my lashes look full without being clumpy or unnatural. I already have backups of this in my stash. 

• Covergirl Clump Crusher water resistant mascara (would repurchase) - Do note, the packaging on this says "water resistant" - it is NOT waterproof. It's a good option, but not what I'd reach for if I need some serious water protection. 

• Benefit Stay Don't Stray Primer (would not repurchase) - This primer is just OK. Most days it couldn't withstand my oily eyelids and I'd be creasy-looking come 5 PM. I used it up, I won't buy it again.

• Benefit Ooh La Lift Under Eye Brightener (would repurchase) - I really like this little brightener. I think it helps my concealer go on better. It's not a miracle product, but I enjoyed using it. 

• Tarte Clean Slate Poreless Primer (would not repurchase) - I wasn't a huge fan of this face primer. It didn't make my skin look flawless like other primers I've tried, and I can't really say it kept my makeup on longer or better. 

• Tree Hut Shea Moisturizing Lotion in Passion Fruit & Guava (would repurchase) - I snagged this on clearance a while back and I really liked it! It had a very subtle fragrance that wouldn't overpower any perfume I wanted to wear. It moisturizes without feeling greasy and the price is quite cheap considering the big bottle size! 

• Soap & Glory Rich & Foamous Body Wash (would repurchase) - Oh my gosh, I LOVED this body wash. It had a creamy consistency and a delicious warm almond scent. This would be a perfect wintertime body wash. I was sad to use it up! 

• Origins Ginger Body Wash & Body Scrub (would repurchase) - I love love love the smell of Origins' Ginger line, and while I enjoyed the body wash, the scrub was just not scrubby enough for me. I'll get the body wash again, but I won't get the scrub again. 

• Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes (would repurchase) - I don't know, I feel like I had these for too long so they were drier and weren't as rave-worthy as I remember them being. I'd still buy them again because I used to love them. I must've just got a bad batch. 

• HASK Purifying Deep Conditioner (would repurchase) - This was nice, smelled great, and made my hair soft. Full review here. 

• Up & Up Cosmetic Wedges (would repurchase) - I love using these wedges to put on my foundation. I always buy latex free because I despise that scent. 

• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - There's always a pack of these in my monthly empties. I love them, and use them for everything from removing nail polish to applying toner on my face. My Costco carries  them in a mega pack which is the best deal around. 

• Matrix Miracle Extender (would repurchase) - This was a pretty good dry shampoo. It's not cheap, but it did the trick. I can't say I'd spend $16 on it (they sent me this bottle) when I like my $6 bottle of Batiste, but if I found it for cheap, I'd pick it up again. 

• MAC Fix+ (would repurchase) - I love this facial water to set my makeup and give me a little sheen. It helps my makeup look less powdery and more natural and dewy. I already have another bottle ready to go. 

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation (would not repurchase) - This got a really wonky smell before it was even finished, a tell-tale sign that it's time to let this go. I was not a fan of this foundation as much as I wanted to love it. It made me look way too oily and it didn't last all day on my face the way my beloved Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation does. 

• Desert Essence Blemish Touch Stick (would repurchase) - I picked this up when I found out I was pregnant to help combat hormonal acne without harsh chemicals. It wasn't a miracle but it did help. 

• Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm (would not repurchase) - I wrote about this in a post about overhyped products. I didn't love this, it felt like it just sat on top of my lips without doing anything. For the price and the less than stellar results, I wouldn't buy this again. 

• Weleda Sea Buckthorn Replenishing Body Lotion (would repurchase) - This little sample smelled great and moisturized my hands nicely. It's free of nasty ingredients and works well. I just bought a full size of this the other day, I liked it that much. 

• Tom's Propolis & Myrrh Toothpaste in Peppermint (would not repurchase) - This wasn't my favorite, it wasn't the worst. It's definitely a very natural tasting toothpaste, so if you're looking for that fake, overly minty taste, you won't find it here. It didn't make my mouth feel fresh enough, so I probably wouldn't pick it up again. 

• Shir-Organics Pure Avocado Moisturizer & Pure Coconut Oatmeal Cleanser (would repurchase) - I don't want to give too much away, but look for a full post on these products soon! 

• Lush Love and Light hand cream (would repurchase) - This was a nice hand cream! It's a little on the greasy side, but I loved it in the dry winter months. To me, it smelled like herbal fruit loops, which I found pleasant. 

• Maybelline Fit Me powder (would not repurchase) - This was just an OK powder. It's nothing special and there are definitely powders I like far better than this. 

• Chapstick in Pumpkin Pie (would not repurchase) - I was not a big fan of the scent of this. I used it up because I'm like that, but I prefer other lip balms and definitely like to keep it a bit more natural than Chapstick.

• bareMinerals Marvelous lipstick in Moxie (would repurchase) - This little sample got super soft and broke off, and I am not fussing around with applying it anymore. It's got a gorgeous mauve color  that I loved wearing, perfect for everyday, but it's not worth toying with. 

• Earth Mama Angel Baby Organic Third Trimester Tea (would repurchase) - This stuff is delicious. It tastes like a peppermint tea but it's got other great stuff for mamas in their third trimesters like red raspberry leaf, which helps to tone the uterus and get it ready for birth. I've been drinking this very regularly and I'm hoping it'll help my labor. 

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

February Empties | #23

February wasn't a very exciting month of using things up, and because it was a shorter month, I feel like I don't have much now but I have a WHOLE bunch of stuff that's nearly empty. March will probably be jam packed with goodies. Here's what I used up in February and my two cents on each product. 

• Suave Visible Glow Self-Tanning Body Lotion (would repurchase) - This stuff reeks like tanning lotion, but it gives a really nice color and it builds fast. It's also ridiculously cheap. I didn't quite finish this bottle, it expired before self-tanning season, but I'll definitely get some more for summer.

• glonaturals essentials SPF 30 sunscreen (would repurchase) - This is a Vitacost house brand (Vitacost.com is the best website ever with all sorts of healthy and natural products at a better price than in-store). I like this lotion because it isn't super sticky and it kept me from burning.

• Honest Company SPF 30 Sunscreen (would not repurchase) - This stuff is mega greasy. You will look oiled from head to toe. It's fine for a beach day, but it's not something you want to be covered in if you're just headed out to a ball game or something.

• Davines LOVE Conditioner (would repurchase) - This smelled nice and made my hair feel soft. I do know it's kind of a pricey product, but if I saw it for a good price, I'd snatch it up in a full size.

• Equate Latex-Free Applicator Wedges (would repurchase) - Wedges are still my go-to way to put on foundation. I think they help keep acne at bay because they're one time use only. I'll always have a bag of these in my stash.

• Ken Paves Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner (would repurchase) - These smelled really good, kind of herbal and reminiscent of certain Aveda products. They made my hair so soft and shiny. I'd definitely pick up a full size of these. 

• Clear Eyes Maximum Redness Relief eye drops (would repurchase) - This spilled all over the bottom of my purse, sadly, but they were good while they lasted. I'm prone to red eyes, so I always keep a bottle of these on hand. 

• Milani Brow Shaping Gel (would repurchase) - This is probably one of my top 3 favorite brow gels. I get it on Amazon for under $10 and it lasts me a solid few months and keeps my eyebrows from being wonky. 

• Dr. Brandt Pores No More pore refiner (would not repurchase) - I've been trying to make my way through the tons of mini primer samples I have, and I started with this one. It does a good job of making your skin look flawless, but I just don't *need* to have it on hand so I wouldn't buy it if I saw it.

• Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste (would repurchase) - I've got a million of these little travel sizes. I like this toothpaste, and I'd purchase it in a full size.

• Up & Up Eye Makeup Remover (would repurchase) - This stuff works awesome to get tricky waterproof eye makeup off easily. It's cheaper than name brands but works exactly the same. 

• Weleda Oat Replenishing Treatment (would repurchase) - This smelled amazing, very herbal and sort of Aveda-like. It's super thick, like spreading lotion in to your hair, but it leaves hair soft and conditioned. A nice option for a more natural deep conditioner.

• Kiss My Face Triple Action Toothpaste (would not repurchase) - I wasn't a big fan of this toothpaste. It didn't foam up well and it never left my mouth feeling particularly clean. 

• Bella Organics Iced Lemonade deodorant creme (would repurchase) - I did a review on Bella Organics deodorants back in the day, and I ended up buying a 3 pack of the full sizes when they were on Zulily this past summer. I like these natural deodorants a lot. Read the full review for more info. 

• Sephora Organic Cotton facial pads (would not repurchase) - These are overpriced and are far too flimsy. I didn't enjoy using these up and I won't buy them again. 

• Q-Tips Precision Tips (would repurchase) - I loooove these Q-tips. The ends are finer so you can easily remove any messed up eyeliner (what I use them for) or  nail polish. They work great.

• Skinfix Ultra Rich Body Butter (would not repurchase) - I used this on my hands at night before bed. I had realllly dry hands through much of this winter and even this stuff couldn't really save them. It would work if you need medium-intense hydration, but it won't give you mega hydration. 

• Lush Let the Good Times Roll cleanser (would repurchase) - This cleanser for face or body, I used it for face, smells like a cookie and has nice natural grit to exfoliate the skin. My husband wasn't a fan, but I definitely am. 

• Flowerbomb perfume (would repurchase) - I have a full size of this but I used this little mini up. This is the perfume I wore on my wedding day, so it has all sorts of good nostalgia tied to it. 

• Marchesa Parfum Dextase (would not repurchase) - This was wayyyy to much for me. It's strong on the hydrangea/floral notes and just isn't my style.

• Thierry Mugler Alien Perfume (would repurchase) - I love this scent so much. It's warm and inviting and really good for the colder months. I got a rollerball size for Christmas so I don't have to keep hoarding these mini samples anymore. 

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

Out with the old, in with the new! | Empties #4

Since my last empties post in December, I've been using things up like mad and I can't stand to see this bag of trash in my room for a second longer! If you're unfamiliar with "empties" posts, I show you what I've used up and give a brief review on each product. By the time I've used something up entirely, I've got a pretty good idea of what I like and don't like and I know if I'd repurchase it. Plus, these are some of my favorite posts from others to read so I enjoy writing them just as much! Let's dive in....

• epielle Green Tea Cleansing Tissues (repurchased) - I get these at Big Lots, primarily for spot cleaning brushes and wiping swatches off my arms/hands. They do a good job. I've already repurchased another version of the epielle tissues.

• Pond's Evening Soothe Wet Cleansing Towelettes (would repurchase) - These are in my top 3 favorites for cleansing cloths, and you probably recognize these from past empties posts. These cloths are quilted, smell amazing and do a great job scrubbing my makeup off.

• Alba Botanica Hawaiian 3-in-1 Clean Towelettes (would not repurchase) - This was the first time I've ever tried anything from Alba Botanica, and sadly these wipes just didn't do it for me. They weren't wet enough for my taste and I just didn't feel like they got rid of all my makeup well enough. 

• Oscar Blandi Daily Leave-In Detangler (would not repurchase) - I feel like it took me forever to get through this bottle. I wasn't a big fan. It smelled faintly of pickle juice, and was just okay at getting tangles out of my tangle-prone hair. 

• Batiste Dry Shampoo in Floral & Flirty Blush (would repurchase) - I really like Batiste dry shampoos. I come back to them again and again because there always seems to be a new scent I haven't tried. This had an okay floral scent and did the job of soaking up excess oil in my hair.

• Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturizing   Conditioner (would repurchase) - This was nice. It wasn't anything special, and it definitely isn't my favorite out of the Herbal Essences line, but it was good. 

• Clear Damage & Color Repair Nourishing Shampoo (would repurchase) - Holy cow, this took me FOREVER to get through (as shampoos always do). This had a creamy consistency which I liked and foamed up really well. I have lots of other shampoos to go through first, but I would repurchase it in the future.

• Essence I Heart Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara (would repurchase) - I loved this stuff! It gave me awesome length and tons of volume without being clumpy. It's also mega cheap, which you can't beat! I did experience some flaking during the day, but minimal enough that it didn't bug me. I can't wait to get more of this stuff!

• Covergirl Clump Crusher by Lashblast Mascara (would repurchase) - Another mascara I totally loved. It made my Best of Beauty for 2013, so you know it's good stuff! Lengthening, volumizing and never clumpy, this is where it's at for drugstore mascara.

• L'Oreal Shocking Extensions Waterproof Telescopic Mascara (would not repurchase) - While I normally love the Telescopic line, I didn't like this waterproof version. It didn't apply as smoothly as the normal formula, unfortunately. I'd stick to the normal formula in the future.

• Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara (repurchased) - I think the tube I got was dried out because this was not usable. I know people rave about this mascara, and I can't believe the formula I got is the same one others rave about. I tried to use it a couple times, but I couldn't stand it. I got a couple more of these for Christmas so I'll be keen to find out if the formula is different. 

• Olay Anti-Wrinkle Nutrients Night Renewal Cream (would repurchase) - This night cream was nice. It hydrated my skin and smelled pleasant. I have another night cream I'm using now, but I would probably give this a shot again in the future.

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation (repurchased) - I won't even go on about this. You know I love it. For an in-depth review, click here. 

• Aquaphor Healing Ointment (would repurchase) - I used this for dry skin patches and lip balm and I love it. Nothing heals dry skin and chapped lips like Aquaphor. I've got a big tub of this to get through yet, but I will definitely repurchase in the future.

• Kiss My Face Ultra Moisturizer (would repurchase) - I used this lotion for my hands as it was too thick for use on my face, but it was nice. It has no fragrance so I never had to worry about it competing with my perfume. Nice and simple, I liked it.

• Grand Central Beauty S.M.A.R.T. Skin Perfecting Polisher (would not repurchase) - I got this little sample in a past Birchbox. I didn't notice this doing anything for my skin at all. I can't say I enjoyed using it.

• Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel in Peach Poppy (would repurchase) - There's always one of these in my empties! Peach Poppy smelled really nice, and the packaging is super cute. I liked this a lot!

• Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion (would not repurchase) - I kept this little guy in my purse for use on the go. I didn't think it was anything special and I just wanted to get through it.

• Boots Brazil Nut Body Wash (would repurchase) - This smelled AMAZING. I don't like to eat brazil nuts, but I sure loved using this scent of body wash! I've got more body wash to use for now, but this will be making a comeback in my stash at some point.

• The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Creamy Body Wash (would not repurchase) - I thought this was going to smell much better than it actually did. I don't know if it was just old (purchased it from TJ Maxx) or if that's actually how The Body Shop's Cocoa Butter line smells, but I wasn't a fan.

• Bath & Body Works Festive Vanilla Fig Body Lotion (would repurchase) - I didn't use this up entirely, but it's been in my stash for far too long and needs to be thrown out. It smelled really nice and hydrated well.

• Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat (repurchased) - This is my holy grail top coat. I've gone through a few of these, and I'm already working my way through another. It leaves your nails shiny and dries super fast. A+!

• Chapstick in Green Apple (would repurchase) - I got sent a bunch of these quite a ways back, and I have to say I like it! It smells just like you'd imagine it would and does a good job of hydrating my lips. I've still got a couple more of these left to use up.

• Weleda Pampering Body Lotion in Wild Rose (would not repurchase) - I got this sample in a past Birchbox (grrr tear-open samples!) and remembered to use this the other day. I didn't really like this smell, and I typically like rose scents. This just didn't do it for me.

• fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream (would repurchase) - I don't even remember where I got this, but I really liked it. The smell wasn't my favorite, but it moisturized well.

• Studio Beauty Calming Mask & Detoxifying Mask (would repurchase) - These little face mask packets are from Walgreens' own beauty line. I liked the Detoxifying Mask more than the Calming Mask, although my husband said it smelled like asian beetles. They were cheap and fun to try, and I got 2-3 uses from each packet.

• Bath & Body Works Candle in Merry Cookie (would repurchase) - This smelled SO good, super sweet like a sugar cookie! I loved the adorable packaging this came in, too.

• Holiday Time Candle in Winter (would not repurchase) - This candle is from Walmart and is part of their "Holiday Time" Christmas collection. The scent throw on this was weak and it burned rather quickly. I wasn't really expecting much from this, and should have listened to my gut that it wasn't worth picking up.

What did you get through this month?

April Birchbox

Today I've got a different sort of post for you. Typically, I write only about various nail polishes that I use; however, while I love nail polish, and reviewing it for you, my love of the beauty industry spans more than the nail polish sector. I try out so many products and have an opinion on most of the items in the cosmetics aisles, and I want to share that with you as well. So, from today on out, I've decided to expand the scope of my blog to include more than just nail polish. Yay!

I figured, what better way to kick this off than to show you my April Birchbox. Let's back up for a second - for those of you who are unfamiliar with Birchbox, it's a monthly subscription service for beauty products. Each month, you get a box filled with 5 or 6 sample products to try out. Full sizes of the products are available on Birchbox.com if you like what you've tried! It's an awesome way to "test-drive" often expensive products before you shell the money out on them. For only $10 a month, you can't beat it! I've been a subscriber since October of 2010, and I've been really happy with it so far.

 If you're interested in signing up, click this link to join: www.birchbox.com?raf=owwcv

This month Birchbox teamed up with Women's Health to create a box designed by their wellness experts, filled with a collection of their favorite products. It came like this: 

Inside my Birchbox are the following items:

Caudalie Divine Oil | Full-size: $9-49

This is a 0.1 oz sample of Caudalie's Divine Oil. This can be used in a number of ways: on the skin, hair, or nails, adding a glow where you need it. It has a floral scent that, in my opinion, is a bit overwhelming. I will most likely use this just as a cuticle oil. The packaging notes that the Divine Oil is ideal for the face, but there is no way I'm putting this oil on my acne-prone skin!

Nexxus Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Elixir | Full-size: $20.99

I was really excited to see this sample, as I love Nexxus products and I'm pretty sure this is a new one! This is an anti-aging elixir that boots shine and cures dry ends, while reducing the odds of age-related breakage. It smells wonderful, and is a nice 0.14 oz sample. 

StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles | Full-size: $65

This is the product I am most excited about from this month's Birchbox. This is an anti-aging cream designed to diminish fine lines and reverse puffy circles. This is also a pretty decent sample size at 0.25 oz. It doesn't have any detectable smell, which is nice. I'm all about preventative anti-aging skin care, so I will certainly be using this sample until it's gone.

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Anti-Shine Mattifier | Full-size: $36

This is an interesting sample. This mattifier zaps shine when you apply it to your T-zone (prior to applying foundation). This little pot is a 0.05 oz sample, and really I'm not a fan of this packaging. I'm not sure if I'll get much use out of this (I'm a little skeptical), but I'll certainly give it a shot. It feels sort of oily on the skin, which is odd for a "mattifying" product.

Weleda Body Lotion | Full-size: $16.50

I always enjoy lotion samples; it's kind of fun to try out something different than the lotions sitting on my vanity every day. These are 0.13 oz samples by Weleda in three distinct fragrances: Wild Rose, Pomegranate, and Sea Buckthorn. I have yet to try these out, but a friend of mine who is also a Birchbox subscriber mentioned that one of these smells like pickle juice - yuck!  I'm certainly not going to spend $16.50 on a pickle-juice scented lotion!

Women's Health One-Year Subscription

A cool little perk in this month's box is a free one-year subscription to Women's Health magazine. Being that I'm a big magazine junkie, I'll gladly take a free subscription! I almost looked past this little goodie, until I watched Eleventh Gorgeous' video for their Birchbox and Ipsy unboxing where they mentioned it - so I have to say a big thanks to them for cluing me in! 

Stay tuned! I'll be doing these Birchbox unboxings monthly and I've got lots of new, fun things up my sleeve! 

** This post contains my referral link. If you click on the link and sign up, I will earn credit towards Birchbox products.

---