Ipsy Glam Bag | October 2015

This month's Ipsy Glam Bag is a hit for me! There's a product I've always wanted (the highlight), and multiple brands that I love to try (Nourish Organic, Tarte). Ipsy bags come once a month for just $10/month and rarely am I disappointed in the selection of samples (and often, full sized products). Every month the goodies come in a cute keepsake bag, perfect to use while travelling. To get your own Ipsy bag, sign up here. 

This month, I received:

• Nourish Organic Pure Hydrating Argan Face Serum: Designed to hydrate and smooth the skin, while improving tone. Formulated with Apricot Kernel Oil, Moroccan Argan Oil, and Rosehip Oil. I really like the Nourish Organic brand, and I look forward to trying this sample. 

• Coastal Scents Xpress Line Cosmetic Pencil: This eyeliner pencil is black, and claims to have long lasting wear and a pack of pigmentation. I'm not super in to eyeliner pencils, and this pencil wasn't creamy enough for my taste.

• Ayres Pampas Sunrise Hand Cream: This hand cream is made with plant emolliants, shea butter and herbal extracts to moisturize the skin. The smell is comprised of lemongrass, mandarin, bergamot, patchouli and spearmint. 

• Tarte Deluxe LipSurgence Skintuitive Lipgloss in Energy: Crafted to smooth fine lines and hydrate the lips, it also creates a personalized shade of pink on the lips. It's not sticky at all, which I like in a lipgloss. Color is very light. 

• theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer: A honey-hued highlight that adds a burst of luminescence to the face. Can be used as an eye shadow or highlight. Love this shade - it's gorgeous and would work for any skin tone! 

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

Michael Todd | Intensive Cream Lip Treatment

It's no secret - ya'll know I'm a big Michael Todd fan. (Didn't know? See what I mean here and here) Their all natural products agree with my skin and have been long standing favorites of mine. I know there's a lot of YouTube + beauty blog hype about Michael Todd, but I can promise you it's all legit. Full disclosure: Michael Todd sends me a lot of products to try, but nearly all of what they've sent me, I've also bought myself (even before it was sent to me).

Anyway, today I'm talking about the Michael Todd Intensive Cream Lip Treatment, a product totally new to me. The main goal of this lippie? To ward off signs of anti-aging on your lips. Seems kind of crazy, right? But hey, who wants wrinkly, indented lips that don't hold lipstick?! Not me.

The ingredients in the product are good, and all vegan! The key ingredients are what's worth looking at more extensively. Soluble collagen: a protein naturally found in the skin, plumps and smooths the appearance of fine lines in the skin. Hyaluronic Acid: Naturally occurring molecule, attracts water to the skin's surface to plump with the body's own moisture. Actimp: peptide blend extracted from the White Lupine Flower, restores elasticity and firmness, proven to increase collagen production by 95% in 10 days. Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice: Soothes, heals, and has anti-inflammatory properties. 

This is a very slippery, thin lip cream that smells citrusy and feels wet on the lips. It's not intensely hydrating and doesn't last too long on my lips. For that reason, I like to put it on when I'm getting ready in the morning just for something slippery on my lips.

I use this, obviously, for preventative measures, as I don't have super wrinkled lips just yet. If you do have lined, aged lips, take a look at the before/after pictures on the Michael Todd website, and you'll have this thing in your cart in no time. 

Is this product essential in your skincare routine? No. Is it the best lippie I've ever used? No. Is it something I'll repurchase? Probably not. But it IS something targeted at a certain crowd with a specific skincare need - and if you fit that target, this is right up your alley. Natural, vegan anti-aging skincare that works is hard to come by, but Michael Todd knows how to make a quality product that fits the bill. 

The Michael Todd Intensive Cream Lip Treatment ($48 for 0.5 oz) can be purchased online at michaeltoddusa.com. 


Have you used anu anti-aging lip products before? Let me know what you've tried! 

StriVectin Advanced Retinol Pore Refiner

No one wants large, in your face (no pun intended) pores. I think most people strive for "baby skin", poreless, smooth, perfect skin. If you're lucky enough to be born with it -- GOOD FOR YOU. Ha ha ha... I kid, but really. Most of us have to put in a little effort to have flawless skin. And that is where StriVectin Advanced Retinal Pore Refiner comes in. 

The Advanced Retinol Pore Refiner is a lightweight moisturizer that utilizes retinol to minimize pores and other anti-aging ingredients that keep skin looking young. One thing I really like about this product is that it's a very gentle retinol - you don't have to worry about your skin drying out and flaking. 

According to StriVectin, "Patented NIA-114™ technology nourishes the moisture barrier to provide visible age fighting efficacy as it limits the sensitivity common to Retinol use." .... which is 100% true! I have used other retinols in the past that totally irritated my skin, but I had no such issues with this product.

To use this product, go about your normal skincare routine - wash, tone, and moisturize your face. Save this product for last, to use on top of your moisturizer both day and night. I truly did see a difference in the texture and appearance of my skin. I've always had sightly pores - not horribly large, but definitely noticeable -- but after using this product for a mere two weeks, I was shocked at how flawless my skin looked! It looked like I had used a pore minimizing primer. 

Overall, I really like this product. I actually saw results after a short time of using it, plus it has a nice soft smell (it's fragranced - something to watch out for if you're sensitive to that kind of thing) that I really liked - kind of perfumey. 

You can purchase the StriVectin Advanced Retinol Pore Refiner online at StriVectin.com for $99 (1.7 oz) per bottle. It's also available in stores like Macy's and Ulta. I would highly recommend it if you want a 1-2 punch of pore minimization and anti-aging in one bottle.


What's your favorite pore-minimizing product? Let me know! 

Walmart Beauty Box | Fall 2015

The Fall Walmart Beauty Box finally arrived in my mailbox last week, and I have to say, it's a pretty sweet value for just $5! If you've never seen this subscription, it costs just $5 per box, and it's shipped out once a season (4 boxes per year). It's not the most amazing beauty subscription service I've ever tried, but it does give you a chance to try out drugstore items without spending the money on a full size product first. 

Fall boxes are still available. Sign up to receive yours here. In the meantime, check out what I got in this season's box. Note: items may vary by box.

One thing I don't enjoy receiving are these foil packets, but whatever. Included in this box are samples of the Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer, the Nivea Extended Moisture Lotion, the Biore Self Heating One Minute Mask and the Crest 3D White Brilliance Whitening toothpaste and gel. 

Also included are some travel sized samples of the Aussie Mega Hairspray, the Caress Adore Forever Body Wash and the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer.

Lastly, the box came with the Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara (which came in the Summer box, too.... wah wah!), ACT Advanced Care Mouthwash, Dove Advanced Care deodorant and probably the best item in the whole box -- the Schick Hydro Silk Disposable Razor. 

Overall, I enjoy the Walmart Beauty Boxes. For $5, you totally get what you pay for, and I like having sample sizes for when I travel. I'd recommend it if you like to try out drugstore items! 

Have you signed up? What do you think of the Walmart Beauty Box? Let me know! 

Burnin' Up #8: Empties

With the change to fall weather, any time I'm home for an extended period of time, you can bet there are candles burning. It makes me feel cozy and comfortable, and well - my empties will prove to you that all of the above are true. Here's what I used up recently...

You can see my descent in to fall scents if you look from right to left. Sun Tan is a super old scent from Bath & Body Works that has somehow managed to linger in my stash for ages. You can still buy Sun Tan (with different packaging) during the summer at B&BW, but I've heard that the scent has been reformulated and isn't the same any more. 

Mint Basil is a candle from Target, another one that's been lingering in my stash for quite some time. I love the packaging, but you can see it didn't burn all that well. It did smell nice, very fresh and summery, and I like that it's a soy candle so it burns cleanly. 

Lastly, and most recently, I burned up Citron & Cedarwood from B&BW. I bought this last fall, but it's still available with different packaging. This smells slightly like a manly cologne, which typically isn't my favorite, but I didn't find it to be overwhelming. This had great scent throw, and it was a perfect candle to burn in early fall. 

Other smelly goodies that are used up include two wax melts from Walmart. Lemongrass Verbena was a lemony summer scent that filled up the whole house. It was nice while it lasted, but I wouldn't buy it again. Hot Wassail is a purely autumn scent, smelling like apples and spice. I never used to love scents like this, but this fall I want all the apple spicey scents like this. (Side note: Walmart wax melts are my favorite -- they are jam packed with fragrance and they're super cheap. I highly recommend checking them out if you like to burn wax melts!)

Remember when I said I was going to stop using Wallflowers from B&BW because they're full of nasty chemicals? Yeah... I didn't stop. I'm kind of addicted to how nice they make my house smell. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of the orange ginger scent. Something about it made me think public bathroom -- yuck, no thank you, I will not repurchase. 


What are your favorite home scents? Let me know! 

Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask

Korea is miles ahead of the US skincare market -- I mean, carbonated bubble masks?! That s*** cray - and mark my words, it'll be in the US in no time (it's probably here and I don't even know it). The Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask is  unlike anything I've ever used, and it's a fun experience to slather this all over your face.

This carbonated mask serves a dual purpose - it can be used to remove makeup (wouldn't suggest it myself) and to cleanse the pores. It's formulated with charcoal powder which helps clear gunk out of your pores. This mask also helps refine pores and control excess sebum (the grosses word ever which just means the oily crap that builds up in your pores and contributes to break outs). 

To use, apply a thin layer over dry skin. Wait for 5 minutes until the mask starts to bubble, then rinse off. 

I like this mask. It's different than anything I've ever tried and it doesn't strip my skin of necessary moisture or oils. I have to admit, the bubbles make my face itch like crazy so I spend the last couple minutes sitting on my hands so I don't itch my face off.

I think this would make a fun gift for the skincare junkie or beauty lover in your life, and especially fun to take out if you have kiddos to have a spa night with. It costs $14 on the Memebox website and you'll get many many uses out of it! Let me know what you think if you try it out! 

September Empties

Wow, I don't know where the month of September went, but here we are again - empties time! It felt like I ran out of everything all at once, and it shocked me how much I'd gone through in just a month's time. Check out what I used up, and find out what items are worth a repurchase!

• GK Hair Hair Taming System Leave-In Spray (would not repurchase) - I got this ages ago in an Allure Beauty Box, and finally pulled it out of my backup stash to use up. This was a really light weight leave-in spray that wasn't anything special. It wasn't bad, it wasn't good, and I wouldn't bother getting it again. 

• Nexxus Hydra-Light Weightless Moisture Shampoo (would repurchase) - Nothing much to say about this shampoo. It was nice and worked well, it wasn't overly moisturizing, but it was fine.

• Organic Surge Pure & Clean Face Wash (would repurchase) - This was a gentle basic cleanser that has great ingredients. It smells like lemons and does a nice job of cleansing without stripping skin of it's natural moisture.

• Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub (would repurchase) - This is a nice scrub. I did a whole review of this product here. 

• Pure Organic Facial Elixir (would repurchase) - This was a nice toner, but it's kind of spendy. Full review here. 

• Skin Daily Rose Water (would repurchase) - Full review here. 

• Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel (would repurchase) - This was a limited edition shower gel around the holidays last year and I loved every last drop of this stuff. If you love the amazing Rose Jam scent (rose, vanilla and lemon), you'd be in love with the shower gel too! 

• Lumene Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover (would repurchase) - I liked this eye makeup remover. It did work to get all my eye makeup off and didn't leave anything behind. It wasn't my favorite, but I'd buy it again. 

• Covergirl 3-in-1 Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation (would repurchase) - You already know.... my favorite foundation ever. See full review here.

• Flower Extreme Measures Mascara (would not repurchase) - This was just an OK mascara. The brush was bigger than I liked, so it would get all over my eyes when applying. It didn't do anything spectacular for my lashes.

• Shiseido Facial Cotton (would repurchase) - I never understood the hype about fancy cotton pads until trying these. I love these cotton pads, and when the Sephora VIB sale rolls around, I'm going to stock up on these again. 

• Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes (would repurchase) - I got this sample in a Walmart Beauty Box, and I enjoyed using them. They did a great job of getting all my makeup off, they didn't irritate my eyes, and they were plenty wet. 

• Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste (would not repurchase) - This is the worst toothpaste ever. It doesn't foam up at all, it doesn't freshen breath, it does literally nothing. I prefer natural toothpaste anyway, but suffered through this because it came in a pack of toothbrushes I bought.

• Sensodyne Fresh Impact toothpaste (would repurchase) - We have a zillion samples of this toothpaste because it was handed out at our state fair. It's nice, I like it. What more is there to say?

• Carmex Lip Balm (would repurchase) - I love Carmex. I used this before bed and my lips were smooth and soft when I woke up.

• Miyu Hydrate Mi Beauty Essence (would repurchase) - I used this as a setting spray, and I enjoyed it. It smells faintly of roses and gave my makeup a natural finish. Read full review here.

• Tom's Naturally Dry Antiperspirant Deodorant in Natural Powder (would repurchase) - I haven't liked other Tom's deodorants I've tried, but this was really awesome. It kept me dry and smelled nice. Be warned though, it does have aluminum in it, so technically it's not as natural as they claim. 

• Juicy Couture Couture La La perfume (would not repurchase) - A fruitier version of the famed Viva La Juicy, this perfume is nice. I'm so sick of all the Juicy Couture perfumes, but I did enjoy this little sample. 

And that's it! What did you use up this month? Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!