Recent Purchases

Eve Lom muslin cloths set of 3- I recently purchased the Emma Hardie cleansing balm, and because I didn't get the cleansing system, it didn't come with muslin cloths. So, I used some birchbox points and picked these up. They are really big, and pretty soft. I've been enjoying them.
Beautyblender- and while I was shopping on birchbox, I picked this up. I've been wanting to try this for a while and decided to finally just bite the bullet. I haven't tried it yet, but I am really excited to give it a try. The pack came with the soap, I probably should have gotten the pack of 2 instead, but hindsight is 20/20.

Dior hydrating concealer - really love this! Of course, my justification was finishing up my Balm and Maybelline concealers- obviously means picking up this one. It is very light, but does a good job concealing, doesn't settle into lines too much.
Clarins instant light in 005- this is one of the new shades that Clarins came out with this spring. I love these, and especially the new colors are much more pigmented. This is a really pretty peachy pink color, and has the same texture and amazing quality of the original colors.
Armani eyes to kill eyeshadows in #6, #15, #27- because clearly I have a problem, once I swatched one of these, there was no way that I could only buy one!!! They are amazing- smooth, pigmented, complex colors, waterproof. They really are fool proof. I am in love- and have another one on the way.

Until next month- when Sephora is having their VIB sale- yikes.

March Empties 2013

Another month, more garbage- get on it.

Sarah Mcnamara Miracle Skin Transformer FACE- This is supposed to hydrate, prime, enhance, mattify, and protect (spf20). I had tried the BODY version and thought it was terrible- transferred like crazy. However, I was pretty impressed by this, evened out your skin tone and left it really smooth. I would think about buying the full size of this.
Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil- wasn't expecting much from this, and am SO impressed! I use this as a makeup remover, I use 2 pumps and rub it onto dry skin- then wet my hands and work the product in more. When I rinse it all off, my skin is not greasy at all, just really clean- and just MELTS your makeup away. Bought the full size already.
Ren Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask- LOVE this mask. The texture is pretty sticky, I would say that is the only bad thing. It smells citrusy but not overpowering, I leave it on for about 15 minutes and when I take it off my face is glowing. I love the REN brand and have been using them for years, I already have the full size of this.  REN has no petrochemicals, sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrance and colors, TEAs, DEAs, silicones, etc. Such an amazing brand.
Evologie blemish serum and cream- I got these 2 samples in my glossy box. The smell is horrendous, very chemical/ doctor type of smell, but the products aren't bad. I would say they don't work if you don't use them combined though. I was only using the serum, and it didn't do anything, but when I introduced the cream- I noticed some spots starting to get lighter and any active breakout started to dry up. I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase these, but they were OK.
Ahava Essential Day Moisturizer- Typical ahava smell and performance- mediocre. It was not amazing, nor was it terrible. Will not purchase.
Lancome la vie est belle- was not into this perfume at all, forced myself to put it on twice- did not enjoy it. The notes are iris, patchouli, and gourmand, which sounds like it would be something up my alley. But, it's not.
Ojon rare blend oil- I've been interested in oil since it released. It is a hair oil that has 3 colors a pink, white and yellow. You shake up the oil and it makes a pinky color and apply it to wet hair on your roots. I was hoping for much more, while I think the product is beautiful- I didn't notice much results from this.

Bath and Body Works Frosted Cranberry candle- really love this scent, burned well, and had a good scent pay off. I bought a back up.
REN clearcalm 3 clarifying clay cleanser- I don't even know why I bought this particular cleanser because it is for blemish prone skin, which my skin isn't really. So it isn't the cleansers fault that it didn't work amazing on me. It worked well enough- but if I were going to purchase another REN cleanser, it would be one that suited my skintype.
OSEA ocean cleansing mud- I would use this about once a week, it is a very strong cleanser. It is a brown mud and slightly stings a little when applying. However, I do love this stuff- and all natural. I haven't purchased from OSEA in a while, but I think I am missing some products- so I will have to do that!
Soap and Glory Hand Food- I ended up getting this free with an online Sephora purchase. The smell was nice, the product was OK. It didn't do anything crazy for my hands, but it is priced well. I still prefer my Caudalie hand cream better, which you can get in sets for a really good price.
Bath and Body works Tangerines hand soap- This was given to me at Christmas, I don't do anti bacterial soaps, and definitely not the ones with all kinds of chemicals in them. I used it up- won't repurchase. But the smell is really nice.
Schick Intuition razor- This is one of those razors that has the soap/lotion around the razor, so you don't need to use shaving cream. Great in theory- terrible in practice. The lotion is not nourishing, and all it does is clog up the razor. Makes shaving last 10 times longer- hated it.

Redken quick dry 18 hairspray- apparently on the can it says that this was limited edition- so I have no idea if you can purchase this still or not. It lasted me a while and worked pretty well. Didn't leave my hair too stiff and was pretty manageable but still held curls.
Maybelline Insant Age Rewind Concealer in Light- when I first got this I hated it, then I started to like it, then I hated it again. I really loathe the packaging of this- twist up into this sponge tip applicator and who knows how much product is still in the tube that I can't get to. It does an OK job of covering dark circles. I might repurchase to leave in my purse- for the price- its OK.
Lancome artliner in black- one of my all time favorite liquid liners. It is felt tip and really easy to glide on- doesn't skip around and leaves a really black line. Will repurchase this at some point.
Buxom lash mascara- the brush on this is a large plastic bristled brush. The size of the brush is a little daunting, and it gave OK length, but I didn't notice any real volume. Wasn't a big fan of this- will not repurchase.
Stila glamoureyes mascara- the wand on this was very short- which was a little awkward to use. The brush was bristled, pretty ordinary. The results were ok, a bit clumpy though. However, I'm pretty sure this was making my lashes break or fall out, all I know is that after using this my lashes started to look like HELL! They are finally looking normal again after stopping using this about 3 weeks ago, so no- will NOT repurchase this! 

My Skincare Lineup

Not until I started sorting through my products to put in this post, did I realize how much CRAP I actually use for skincare. I guess when it's all sorted and pretty in my bathroom it doesn't look like that much stuff (tell that to my boyfriend). Overall, I am pretty satisfied with my routine right now. I am still getting clogged pores on my chin and think that I need to introduce a BHA to my lineup, something with salicylic acid. So I am thinking the Jack Black resurfacing pads and also picking up some manuka honey to make masks with. This is mostly the backbone of my skincare, but I do sample other products and once I finish something could switch it up. FYI: I have Dry/Combo skin

Morning Routine:

Caudalie Cleansing Water- I had been using this for several years as a makeup remover (which it does pretty well), but recently I switched and made this my cleanser/toner in the AM. I am way too lazy in the morning, and need to keep things as simple as possible. You just put some on a cotton pad and wash away any residue from the night, leaves your skin feeling soft and nourished without having to rinse and dry my face. Pretty sure this will stay in my lineup for a long time.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir- I use this after my "cleanser", I spray it on my hands and then pat it onto my face (learned that trick of Lisa Eldridge). I love the smell and hydration that this gives my skin, but other than that- haven't noticed a huge difference. This product is ridiculously expensive, and contains alcohol- so when I use this up I will be switching to the regular Caudalie Grape Water spray, which hopefully will achieve the same thing that I love from this product. 

Bliss Best of skintensions- I had this for a while and just started using it. It is a pretty straightforward moisturizer- not greasy and SPF 15 with UVA/UVB protection. This is no longer available, they discontinued it- I enjoy it, but doesn't break my heart that I won't be able to repurchase it.

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Sunscreen- I use this in the summer time as my SPF, it is very water resistant and doesn't clog my pores, or leave my skin greasy. Like this stuff A LOT! SPF 55+ and UVA/UVB protection for face. I have light/medium skin, but with no SPF I will burn, burn, burn.

Night-time Routine:

Josie Maran Cleansing Oil- I just purchased the full sized, but was using a sample up and fell in love. You apply this oil to dry skin and massage through, and it really just melts all of your makeup off. Rinse it with water and your skin is super clean.

Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm- This had gotten such rave reviews by bloggers that I HAD to get my hands on it- and thankfully a 15% sale on feelunique.com, I snatched this thing up- and don't regret it for a second. Rub it into your skin and then wipe off with a muslin cloth- love it.

Mario Badescu Glocolic Acid Toner- I repurchased this toner, but now I am having remorse. While I think it's a good toner- I am not amazed by it, but for the price- I think it is a good toner. It cleans excess dirt/makeup that wasn't cleansed- and "tingles"  but doesn't burn.

Caudalie SOS serum- one pump of this onto my skin and it immediately hydrates and plumps my skin. I really enjoy this serum- very moisturizing and hydrating my dehydrated skin.

Josie Maran Argan Oil- I use about 5 drops onto my hands and work it into my skin- it really sinks in overnight, and when I wake up my skin looks fresh and radiant. Really love this stuff, but don't think the price tag is worth it- you can find 100% argan oil at Whole Foods or Vitacost for much cheaper.

Ole Henriksen Fresh Start Eye Cream- I am not sold on eye creams, as I never really notice a difference, but I know that its something that I should be doing. That being said, this is creamy and sinks in quickly. But I do hate the packaging- it says it contains anti-oxidants, but its in a jar, so everytime I open it and expose it to the air it is exposing the anti-oxidants and weakening them.

Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm- love this stuff! it smells like honey and lemons- its pretty thick, but I am putting it on before bed. If I put this on before makeup- I make sure it is a very thin layer.

Soap and Glory Hand Food- I really like the smell of this, and it does sink in pretty well, but I don't like it more than my Caudalie Hand Cream- and will probably repurchase the Caudalie.

Add ons:

Laura Mercier flawless skin face polish- extremely finely milled exfoliating beads really slough off the dead skin without scratching or damaging the skin. You only need the smallest amount to clean your entire face. I realized that this does have SLS in it, so I won't be repurchasing it.

Sara Happ lip scrub in blood orange- this stuff smells amazing- super fresh and citrusy, but considering the price- doesn't live up to the hype. I will use it up, but I think I'm going to start making my own scrubs.

Origins super spot remover- You just put a dab of this on a blemish at night time and when you wake up, it is noticeably smaller and less irritated. I wouldn't say that it gets rid of it completely, but it does take away redness and irritation, and helps with scarring.

Alpha Hydroxy 10% glycolic cream- About once a week I will put this on at night time. If you have never used something with this much glycolic acid- expect a small tingle, but nothing uncomfortable. It pretty much eats at all of the dead skin on your surface- leaving your skin super fresh and radiant.

Recent Purchases

Apparently my self control is lacking- as I've already gotten some stuff from my Spring Wishlist, even though it's only March. I haven't used any of these products yet, but will probably review some products soon.

Josie Maran Cleansing Oil- I had 2 samples of this products and fell in love. It melts away ALL of your makeup with little to not effort without leaving my skin feeling oily or greasy.

Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Powder- I decided to get this over  Illamasqua Aurora. It is so soft and buttery, a really beautiful champagne sheen.

Stila Convertible Color in Sweet Pea- the newest shade to the range, right now it is only available in Sephora from what I can see. Really pretty mid toned pink- not too much red, and not too bubblegum. I am really excited to use this.

Murad Skin Perfecting Primer Dewy Finish- I have wanted to try this, and since I finished the Smashbox primer, why not replace it with another one. This is slightly tinted and is supposed to leave a dewy finish on the skin.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim- I was debating whether  to get Dim or Diffused, and up until I got to Sephora, I was going to get Diffused. It sold out online before I could order it, so I went in store, and they were also sold out of Diffused. So I started swatching, and while I really liked Diffused- I REALLY loved Dim! I can not WAIT to start trying this out! I have a feeling these powders may be a slippery slope, and I will want them ALL!

100 point perk- Ren clear calm day cream

February 2013 Empties

For the shortest month of year, I am shocked as how much stuff I went through. I didn't even notice that most of this stuff was close to being done. Some I have repurchased, some I could not wait for it to be over, and some I literally couldn't wait- so I threw it out.

Not too many samples, but I was relatively happy with them.
Kate Somerville Exfolikate- this gets so much hype, and people really seem to like it. I think it was decent, but definitely not worth the $60 price tag that comes with it. This cleanser is a swamp green and smells like the ocean (much like another product I tried). The texture is slightly grainy, but not harsh on the skin. It does leave your skin feeling soft, but I didn't really think it was THAT great.
Lancer Natural Sea Mineral Polish- I really loved this stuff. It had the same smell as the Kate Somerville, the texture was a little finer, but it worked much better. I felt like it left my skin feeling cleaner and softer. I still have a tube of my Laura Mercier flawless face (which I love and have been neglecting using samples), but I really enjoyed this and would consider buying it.
Kiehls Rosa Artica Eye Balm- this was a sample that would not quit! This is probably one of the thickest eye creams I have ever used, and not creamy- it seemed more waxy. It was difficult to get to sink into the skin- since it seemed to move around a lot. Didn't enjoy this- and didn't even finish this sample.
Estee lauder Daywear sheer tint release Moisturizer- this was pretty good, but if you have fair skin I would stay away. It is not a very sheer tint, its a pretty pigmented wash of color. When I first put it on I didn't read the small print that it was a sheer tint, so after I put it on I was so confused because my face looked really tan- not glowy or even, TAN! If that is what you like, go for it. If you like a sheerer tint I would go with the Origins vitazing. Oh! and it smells fruity... not my thing, but again if you're into it.
Le Metier de Beaute replenishing daily solution- this came in my much anticipated manrepeller glossybox. It has an spf 30 and the texture is nice, smell isn't overpowering, decent moisture to skin. But seriously, $225 no fucking way.
Bobbi Brown BB cream in Medium- I was really excited when I got this sample with a Nordstrom purchase, but then when I saw that it was in medium- excitement was gone. On a whim I decided to try it one day, and the color wasn't that far off- surprisingly. I really liked the texture, and the way it evened out my skin- it has an spf of 35, and once summer comes- I am definitely going to pick this up- but probably in fair ( for whatever reason their fair shade is darker than their light shade?? they also have it in extra light! for very fair complexions- which is difficult to come by in a BB cream)

Ojon Instant Restorative Hair serum- this was a very light, fluid serum and really hydrated my hair. It was nice but I am not running to Sephora to pick it up.
Sensodyne- I accidentally purchased the regular instead of the pronamel- woops! This is supposed to be extra whitening- it's not.
The Balm Time Balm concealer- this is my 3rd pot of this- really good concealer- terrible packaging. It has anti-aging properties in it, but not sure how effective they are when exposed to sunlight like this??? I still have some stuck at the bottom, but again terrible packing, it is a pain in the ass to get out and I have a ton of other concealers to get through. It is super creamy (everything you THINK the Bobbi Brown creamy concealer will be), good coverage, and minimal creasing. Since they discontinued selling The Balm at Sephora, it is a little difficult to get your hands on, but it does occasionally show up on Hautelook- so sign up if you are interested.
Issey Miyake Pleats Please- this was a nice scent- very floral. pretty, but not a must buy.
Caudalie hand and nail cream- I love Caudalie, there really isn't anything that I have tried that I haven't liked. This hand cream is really amazing, and when I am done with the ones that I have, I will be repurchasing this. Great clean scent, sinks in immediately, not greasy, nourishing- perfect!
Caudalie lip conditioner- again a really good product. Really great packaging- I hate putting my finger into tubs of lip balm- same clean scent.
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara- I had the full size of this, and this was left in my purse for those days you are out and forgot to put makeup on and now your boyfriend wants to go out for dinner. It was nice, I am not sure if this had gone bad, but from the beginning it always made my lash line burn. The full size never did- but I do really like this mascara.

Bath and Body Works candle in Snowed In- I actually really enjoyed this scent- it was juniper and sage. Not a typical fruity, vanilla candle that everyone seems to go crazy for there. Would buy this again next fall/winter.
Body Shop Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo- the smell was a bit much- it was a STRONG ginger smell. It actually stung my scalp when I would apply it, so I only used it a few times before handing it off to the boyfriend to finish up. He loved the smell, and didn't complain about the product. It contains both SLS and a ton of parabens, I will not repurchase for me, or him.
Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub- I really like the texture of this scrub and the way it left my skin feel, but the smell is SO strong! Its extremely sweet smelling (not my thing), sickly sweet, I couldn't use it for a while because I really detested the smell. After a while, it grew on me a bit, but I still wouldn't repurchase this scent.
Lush Ro's Argan body conditioner- I wanted to really like this stuff, but I really just didn't. I found the scent to be too strong, didn't overly condition my skin, but it did leave my skin feeling greasy and had a film on it. I only used this at night because of the film it leaves, hoping it would sink in over night, and it did- but I just didn't like the feeling of it on my skin. As lazy as I am with body lotion, I would still prefer it to this.
Mario Badescu Glocolic Toner- already repurchased this- has a nice citrus/ grapefruit smell. A very straightforward, no frills toner.
Schwarzkopf Bonacure Amino Cell Rebuild Shampoo and Conditioner- this is directed towards dry and damaged hair, but has SLS in it (drying). I found this to really strip my hair of my color and moisture. The conditioner was probably the thinnest and least moisturizing conditioner I have ever used. These were terrible, and I couldn't wait until they were gone. Literally, I couldn't wait because these are about 75% done, but I was completely over them.