Birchbox | December Unboxing

This is going to be a brief post because I was pretty disappointed in Birchbox this month. Usually I can find a use for most things in my box, but this month was mostly haircare.

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre - I'll probably use this at some point, but I've been holding off because the sample is just so damn small. This is a priming moisturizer, so it is something I'd use.

Lord & Berry Paillettes Glitter Eye Pencil in Black - This is so tiny! I get that, because it's an $18 pencil for a full size, but this is just a nub. I have used this eye liner and I do actually like it.

Manna Kadar Lip Locked in All of Me - At first, I was annoyed that I was given another lip gloss. I'm not really into lip glosses. I actually really like this color and it turns out that this is actually a lip stain.

Number 4 Hair Care Shampoo and Conditioner - I don't really need shampoo, but I guess this would be good for travel. I also hate foil packets of things like conditioner, so I don't know what I'm going to do with that.

Rusk Texture Spray - Sure. More hairspray. I guess I might use this when I finish growing out my hair a bit more, but I wish I could have gotten something else instead.

Short and sweet this month. I liked the baby eyeliner and the mini lip stain. I might like the moisturizer, but I don't want to like it because then I'll want to buy it!

Ipsy | December Unbagging

After last month, I was less than excited to get my December Ipsy bag. Even though Jessica cancelled, I decided to keep my subscription because I didn't have Ipsy as long as she did. Well, I was actually thrilled with my bag this month! It even beat out Birchbox, which I definitely wasn't impressed with this time around.

Nourish Organic Renewing Eye Cream: I think I've made it clear that I'm mildly obsessed with skin care products, so I like getting new ones to try out. I'm a little on the fence about this one because it takes a lot of smoothing this out to get your skin to absorb it. 

NYX Butter Lip Balm in Parfait: This is one of my favorite things that I've gotten in one of these subscriptions. I'm pretty sure this is only $3, but I know I wouldn't have purchased this on my own. I really like the color and the moisture. I've worn this to bed and I don't even need or want a tint then.

Bumble and Bumble BB Repair Blow Dry: I actually needed something like this for the rare ocassions that I blow dry my hair now that I'm in constant pony tail mode. It's winter, so I don't want to go out or to bed with wet or damp hair. I'll try this out soon.

Cailyn Cosmetics Just Mineral Eye Polish: I actually really like this. I already tried this out and wore it to work once. The color is pretty nice and I like the formulation.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara: I have a larger trial version of this mascara, but I definitely appreciate getting another one! I'm going to add this to my mascara stash because I've accumulated quite a few mascaras lately. Props to Ipsy for actually giving out a higher end brand that I know.

Inglot Matte Lipstick Swatches

Inglot was having a 20% off sale during Thanksgiving weekend, so I picked up some matte lipsticks. I've been eyeing Inglot's mattes for quite some time, but unlike MAC, they actually have sales..so I waited. 

You'll notice in the swatches that these lipsticks look really dry. They are. They're super dry and similar to MAC's retro matte formula. I use a light lip balm under these before wearing any of the colors. They have a tendency to drag without a little added moisture. All in all, I'm glad I snagged these at 20% off and I've already worn half of the colors. 

Matte 408, Matte 409, Matte 421

Matte 408, Matte 409, Matte 421

You can definitely see how jacked up these swatches look. I love these colors though, so I'm fine with working with a dry formula. Like I said, as long as I have a bit of lip balm on, these apply smoothly.

Because the formula is  so dry and matte, they're really long lasting. That's the big selling point for me with matte lipsticks.

Matte 423, Matte 424, Matte 426

My favorite color is 426. It's such a great reddish purple color and the staying powder on this lipstick is no joke. I also like 423 and 424, but those are more my summer colors.

This batch applied nicer than the other three colors, but I can't think of why. I promise that all six lipsticks are really pigmented, it's just that they don't apply well on the skin. I'll see if I can put a little balm on my arm when doing my monthly lip swatches and see if that makes a difference.

Like I said before, I don't mind the stiffer, drier mattes because they hang around on my lips a lot longer than the creamy mattes.

These lipsticks for me are a win and I might pick up other colors in the future, but I will wait for another Inglot sale.

Beauty and Skincare Haul | Korea | Japan | Taiwan

I've been hoarding a few of these products for a couple months now. The top picture of items is from one order from SaSa, where the bottom ones are sort of a mish mash of things from KoreaDepart and eBay. I thought I had more, but it's possible that those are just sample sizes that were included or the fact that I have a Missha haul I want to do separately because there's so much Missha.

As many of these items are still in the packaging, I can't really say whether or not I like them. Mostly this post serves as a show and tell and I'll try to do a hauled it but how was it type post like I say I'm always going to do.

This is my recent SaSa haul. Out of all the online retailers, SaSa is my favorite. In addition to the Korean brands they carry, they also have brands from China, Japan, and Taiwan. Most of the time they offer free shipping to the states over $29, which isn't difficult to spend. I decided to try out a bunch of new things during this haul. I've never used anything from these brands before.

I picked up two items from Mentholatum from their Acnes line. I use the cleanser at night. It smells really nice and it isn't too foamy. I just wish the tube was a little bigger. I feel like I'm going to run out quick! I also got a moisturizer which has an SPF of 15. I've been using this when I work in the afternoon and will probably only see 20 minutes of light instead of wasting my SPF 35 moisturizer.

From Shiseido I purchased a cleanser called Perfect Whip which seemed to have pretty solid reviews online. I've only used it once because I'm hooked on my Missha cleanser, which I'll talk about in a different post. I also purchased an eyelash curler because my Missha one was starting to get a little loose and creaky around the hinges. I love this thing. It took a little getting used to the different shape, but I'm convinced it's the best curler I've used so far.

I did buy a curler from Shu Uemura, but I haven't tried that out just yet. It was the most expensive item from this haul, though, so I'm not going to let it go to waste. Thankfully, it isn't something that's going to go bad if I don't open it.

Something new that I've never tried even from American brands are oil blotting sheets. I purchased these from two different brands, Hakugen and Katani. I've used the Katani ones a couple times and I like them. I don't really see a huge different between these papers and using a napkin, but I guess these are supposed to just take off the oil and not the makeup. I do notice that when I blot with a napkin that I can see my powder products, which isn't the case with these. I've yet to use the Hakugen sheets because I feel like I'm going to love those and they're no longer for sale at SaSa so I can't repurchase them. I have to add that the Katani ones have little pandas on the sheets and I think that's a cute added bonus.

I purchased more sheet masks from My Beauty Diary that I haven't used yet. I don't know why, but I've sort of fallen off the sheet mask train and the only explanation I have for that is that I generally wear sheet masks for a minimum of 20 minutes and I don't have time for that when I'm getting home at midnight. 

From Sulwhasoo, I have an sample size of the Ginseng eye cream. I haven't tried this yet because I've been using other eye creams that I bought around the same time. I'm sure if this is anything like the Ginseng face cream that costs approximately two thousand dollars, I'll love it. (Complete exaggeration. The face cream is $220 and the the eye cream is $180)

I picked up two Nature Republic eye creams. One is tagged as wrinkle improvement and the other is brightening. I've been using the wrinkle improvement one and I like that one. I've used the brightening one a few times, but I'm committed to using up a few things and not having 15 eye creams open at the same time. 

At one point, I was obsessed with my Tony Moly Latte Art Milk-Cacao Pore Pack. Some time between using up my last container and purchasing this one, I started using the Queen Helene mask. It isn't that I like that one better, but I haven't touched this new one just yet.

My Innisfree Pink Beam Mineral Pact was featured in one of my favorites post. I really love this little guy, but I haven't been setting my under eyes because they tend to get drier in the winter. This gives a nice gleam on my cheeks but isn't as intense under my eyes.

Last in this bunch is my Skinfood Black Raspberry eye cream. This was also in a favorites post. I really like the scent of this cream and also how moisturizing it is. I've been using this off and on since purchasing and it's already half gone!

These two guys are just hopping on for the ride because I just received these in the mail. I don't know how long it will be until I do another Asian or Korean haul, so I thought I'd just toss these in this post.

I've been missing my Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder. I really didn't know how much I actually loved this until I ran out of it! Nothing compares to this powder. I'm psyched it came in the mail so quickly since I ordered it on December 1st. 

I'm almost out of my Mizon ampoule that I use daily, so I thought I'd try something new. I probably have less than a week of uses left in my Mizon one, so I'm glad this arrived even quicker than my Innisfree powder. I got this It's Skin ampoule in the brightening formula with vitamin C because your skin gets dull in the winter. This ampoule seems really nice and thick, so I can't wait to try it out.

Mentholatum - Japan

My Beauty Diary - Taiwan

Hakugen - Japan

Katani - Japan

Innisfree - Korea

Nature Republic - Korea

Shiseido - Japan

Shu Uemura - Japan

Skinfood - Korea

Sulwhasoo - Korea

Tony Moly - Korea

It's Skin - Korea

Lips of the Month | November

Another month has come and gone, so here are my monthly lipstick swatches. It has taken so long to get this post up because I lost a couple lipsticks and then after not finding just one, I gave up and just swatched what I had.

I wore a lot of red and pink this month and I was really feeling purple for some reason as well. I've finally worn all my Kat Von D minis (except for that dreadful nude) and broke into my Tarte lipsticks.

I also thought my lighting was really good while I was doing these swatches, but nothing looks vibrant and I definitely don't feel like swatching more than 20 lipsticks for the second time.

Copenhagen, Prague, Heartless, All Fired Up, Adora, Angel

From top: Copenhagen, Prague, Heartless, All Fired Up, Adora, Angel

Copenhagen: NYX Matte Lip Cream. This thing would not quit. In such a good way. I wore this for a 12 hour shift at work and didn't touch it up once. I love the color and the staying power was beyond fantastic. I think this might just be my favorite NYX Matte Lip Cream, which is saying a lot because I have so many of them now.

Prague: NYX Matte Lip Cream. I also really liked this color, but it didn't stay quite as long on my lips as Copenhagen did. I really like the formula on these though and all the colors stick around for the most part.

Heartless: Amplified formula. Limited edition from the MAC Venomous Villains collection. I like this color mainly for the packaging and not because it's a unique color. At this point, I have so many reds that none of them are really unique.

All Fired Up: Matte formula. I love matte lipsticks, and this is probably one of my favorite colors. It's a pink red, which I really like right now.

Adora: Kat Von D Iridescent formula. I liked this less than I thought I would, but I think that's only because it screams Christmas and I wish I had waited to wear it. I like the liquid version of this better because it stays put longer.

Angel: NYX Matte lipstick. I honestly didn't like this color at all. It clung to my lips even though they weren't dry and the color doesn't look as nice on my lips as it does on my arm. It just isn't my color.

Good Kisser, San Paulo, Cannes, Prepare For Pleasure, Morocco, Damn Glamorous

From top: Good Kisser, San Paulo, Cannes, Prepare For Pleasure, Morocco, Damn Glamorous

Good Kisser: Matte formula. Limited edition from the Novel Romance collection. This is just your basic matte pink, but I really like the color and the matte formula is my favorite right now.

San Paulo: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream. I like this color of the lip cream just as much as the others. Most of the lip creams are longer lasting than some lipsticks, so I really like wearing these for longer days so I don't have to apply so often.

Cannes: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream. This is a pink brown neutral color and I really like the way this makes my lips look. I wouldn't wear this all the time, but I did like this for a low maintenance lip color.

Prepare for Pleasure: Cremesheen formula. Limited edition from the Divine Night collection. This is a nice red because it is a little different than the other ones that I have. It's a nice shimmery red, but it doesn't transfer badly.

Morocco: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream. This is a really nice orange that leans more on the red side. I love this color and I am such a fan of the soft matte lip cream formula. Probably one of my favorites from NYX.

Damn Glamorous: Matte formula. From the Matte Lip collection that may or may not be limited edition any more. I really like the color and the formula, even though it isn't as matte as the other MAC ones that I own. This transfers off a bit more than some of my other colors.

Ibiza, Wonderchilde, Full Fuchsia, Up The Amp, Kanga Rouge, Vegas Volt

From top: Ibiza, Wonderchilde, Full Fuchsia, Up the Amp, Kanga Rouge, Vegas Volt

Ibiza: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream. I really love this color and of course, I love the formula. I don't know how many times I can say that NYX now makes some of my favorite lip products.

Wonderchilde: Kat Von D Iridescent formula. Unlike Adora, I actually liked this lipstick more than I anticipated. The purple looks way better on my lips because it blends into my natural lip color better than my arm.

Full Fuchsia: Amplified formula. I guess I'm just not into pinks this month because I liked this, but it didn't really get me excited. This is just a color that I'll probably wear when I feel brighter.

Up The Amp: Amplified formula. I guess this color is okay. I thought I would like this better than I really do and I'm reminded of it every time I wear this color. I just wish it was a little deeper of a shade.

Kanga Rouge: Amplified formula. Limited edition from the Dame Edna collection. Another red that I own mostly because it was limited edition. I actually really like this color red though. The formula is nice and soft and I think it's one of my favorite MAC reds that isn't actually matte.

Vegas Volt: Amplified formula. I was actually kind of disappointed in this lipstick when I wore it. Maybe it's because of the weather and I wasn't feeling something quite so bright? I don't know. But the lipstick felt thicker than I thought it usually does.

Merry Berry, Naked Paris, Violetta, Salon Rouge, Amsterdam

From top: Merry Berry, Naked Paris, Violetta, Salon Rouge, Amsterdam

Merry Berry: Tarte Amazonian Butter formula. I actually loved this lipstick. It was a sheerer, glittery color, but it was great. I really like the scent of these Tarte lipsticks and I'm glad I finally started wearing them. I did have to apply over the original color, but that's because they aren't as long lasting.

Naked Paris: Lustre formula. Ugh. I hate this color so much. It migrated all over the place. I hardly ever have issues with lipstick on my teeth, but this wouldn't leave me alone. Plus I feel like the color was gone from my lips instantly. I liked the Tarte color the day before much better, and this was glittery too.

Violetta: Amplified formula. Limited edition from the Venomous Villains collection. This is one of my favorite purple lipsticks, but it can get out of control quickly. It's one of those colors that you can definitely go heavy handed on and it doesn't look that great with too many layers.

Salon Rouge: Matte formula. Limited edition from the Heirloom Mix collection. I'm not kidding when I say this was my favorite lipstick that I wore all month. I waited way too long to wear this color and I'm so happy with it. I have to say that this is my perfect darker red shade and I wish I had more colors like it, but for now I'm glad I bought this lipstick.

Amsterdam: NYX Matte Lip Cream. I thought this color was going to be darker, but I did really like it. This is definitely not the first red I will be reaching for, but it was nice to wear and the matte lip creams are pretty comfortable to have on for a long time.


Roundup!

MAC lipsticks: 12
Amplified: 6
Matte: 4
Cremesheen: 1
Lustre: 1

NYX: 8
Matte Lipstick: 1
Matte Lip Cream: 7

Kat Von D: 2

Tarte: 1

Cocoa Pink Early Black Friday Haul

I think I've mentioned it before but, when it comes to Indie companies, Cocoa Pink is one of my favorites. I try not to shop with them too often only because the cost of shipping gets high since they're shipping heavy containers. That's why I like to get them during a sale.

My orders from Cocoa Pink are always packaged nicely. There was also a layer of packing peanuts on top, but I had to get rid of those in order to even take this picture. It just goes to show how much care is taken when they ship orders.

You'll also notice three small sample size products. I've always had a couple tossed into my orders when I get my package. This time I got a shampoo sample, a scrub sample, and a lotion sample.

When I order, I mainly stick to the Coco Mango Body Butters. Another thing I like to buy is conditioner. I received a sample of the Junket Creme Conditioner last time I ordered, so I knew I needed to pick up a full size. The Shine Sweetie is another conditioner they offer and that was my favorite before using the Junket Creme Conditioner.

Cocoa Pink does make other lotions, one of which being the Voluptuous Body Butter, but I prefer the Coco Mango Body Butter over those. They also offer a Goat's Milk Lotion and a Whipped Body Butter.

Here are the scent descriptions from Cocoa Pink's website:

Apple Popcorn Balls – Buttery melted caramel squares coat crimson gala apple slices and warm gobs of melted marshmallow drizzled over hot kettle corn make this delicious fall treat.

Caramel Popcorn Balls - Melted marshmallow buttery caramel popcorn balls, a delicious Halloween treat sure to evoke memories of childhood.

Fear of Ghosts (Phasmophobia) - Glowing marshmallow orbs and smoky vanilla spectral mists swirl aimlessly around an old bonfire in the Crisp October night air – Fresh vanilla puffed marshmallows, toasted marshmallows, hints of bonfire smoke among scattered sharp grains of white rice to ward unwelcome spirits away.

Fear Of Witches (Wiccaphobia) – Warm baked bread fresh from the oven, gentle wisps of bonfire smoke drifting through the frigid autumn air and smooth buttery caramel sprinkled with coarse black sea salt is your best bet in keeping them at bay.

Pumpkin Caramel Latte - frothy pumpkin latte with gooey caramel sauce and whipped cream with nutmeg sprinkled on top.

Smashed Pumpkins - The scent of decorated pumpkins and Jack o Lanterns strewn about smashed to pieces by mischievous children on Hallows Eve: Raw pumpkin flesh, pumpkin pulp, fresh crimson apples dripping with warm caramel, steaming hot buttered rum and sticky melted marshmallows. 

Toffee Apple Crunch - The aroma of granny smith apples with creamy, buttery caramel; dipped in crunchy toffee chips.

Witches Delight - Brimming with the true olfactory essence of the fall season! Soft buttery vanilla cookies dusted with orange and black sugar, fresh cranberries, blood orange oil, dark brown sugar, Turkish mocha whipped with shards of bitter almond, roasted hazelnuts tempered with a cool blast of iced vanilla.

The scents of my free samples per the site:

Cherry Cola Float - A frosted glass filled with ice cold cherry cola with waves of sliced wild black cherries and vanilla bean ice cream.

Midnight Hag - Tart Blackberries, Vanilla Bean Noel, and a splash of Spiritueuse Double Vanilla. 

Maple Bacon Cupcake - I am addicted to the food network’s cupcake wars, so I wanted to create my own version of this usual but tasty treat. Yummy mapley bacon cupcakes topped with buttercream frosting & bacon crumbles.

As you might be able to tell, I prefer sweet foodie scents when it comes to lotions. Cocoa Pink makes some of my favorite scents. Many of these I wouldn't wear as perfume, but I really like them as a lotion scent. I'm also a huge fan of their conditioners and I use those as a deep conditioning treatment in the shower. 

There are other scents I wanted to order, as I had yet to try some of the espresso and coffee based scents, but I couldn't spend like $70 on lotions and I think seven tubs of body butter will last me a long time.

November Monthly Favorites

I feel like my favorites this month consists of mostly cheek products and skincare. There's also a few repeats from previous months. This month also flew by and I think that's because I posted my favorites so late last month.

ElishaCoy Vita Capsule Cleanser - I love using this with my Clarisonic. You can see from the way the sun is shining through the bottle that it's almost gone. I really like this cleanser. It was one of my first cleansers I ordered when I starting using Korean beauty and skin care products.

Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule - My skin starts getting drier when it gets cold out, so I make sure to add an ampoule to my day and night routine. This is between a liquid and a gel that is similar to like an argan oil meant for your face. I just pat it into my face and it absorbs quickly. I really like this one, but I have a different one coming in the mail to replace this one when it runs out.

Secret Key Multi Cell Night Repair Ampoule - This is my night ampoule. I really like this, but it pales in comparison to my Missha ampoule that I'm going to start using again when I finish this one. I just like that it leaves my skin feeling moisturized at night after using it. 

Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser - I got this in my Ipsy bag last month and it's basically the only thing I've used from that bag. I really liked using this in the morning because it made my skin tingle. I wouldn't buy it though because I'm sure it's pricey. It was nice while it lasted though.

Nature Republic Herb Dressing Gold Honey Cleansing Cream - I usually stop using makeup wipes in the winter because I need the extra moisture. This is basically a cold cream where your makeup dissolves but it leaves it feeling moisturized.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer - I somehow overlooked this last month. This is the only face primer that I've used for the last two months. I really love this and I'm sorry I didn't jump on the bandwagon sooner.

MAC Face and Body Foundation in N1 - I think you're tired of reading about how much I love this foundation. I've already repurchased because I'm almost out. I haven't been using anything else, but I just started mixing in my Supergoop! CC Cream.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser - This is another product that keeps going strong! I tried to use other concealers under my eyes, but nothing compared. I'm addicted.

Beauty Blender Sponge - I'm a convert. I love this sponge so much more than I ever liked my Real Techniques one. This is just perfect and the only way I apply my foundation now. I can ever get past the price because I bought two of the pairs for 20% and I'll probably get the mini ones with my Sephora gift card.

Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder - This is the only translucent powder I've used to set my makeup and I hadn't realized how much I loved it until it was almost gone. Now I have to use something else while I wait for another container of this to come from Korea.

Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Body Cream in Pumpkin Latte & Marshmallow - I jumped on the pumpkin train late, so I'm really glad to have picked this up. I wasn't even going to buy lotion when I went to get some fall candles. I use this at night mostly because the tube is too big to carry around. I'd even consider buying other scents in this formula.

MAC Studio Sculpt Powder in Light - Still loving this to initially set my makeup so my foundation doesn't move around under my blush and bronzer. It just looks so natural. If I'm not doing a full face, I just set my foundation with this and I'm good to go.

Noir Eyeliner in Black - This is just perfect and I love it. Best black eyeliner I've ever used! Enough said.

Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara - I wanted to hate this mascara. The brush is huge and I'm sure it costs $35 for a full tube. Probably not that much, but close. I don't even want to look it up. But I love this mascara. And I hate that I love it because...it's expensive.

Darac Beauty Sifted Blur Complexion Perfector - It took me a little while to like this powder, but now I use it all the time. I mainly use this powder to blend out my blush and contour because it's a very finely milled powder that doesn't seem to add any extra color.

NARS Ita Kabuki Brush - This brush seriously changed my makeup life. No matter what brush I used, I could never contour. The NARS Ita makes it so easy to contour that I can't imagine not having this brush. I'm glad I got it for a discount because I definitely don't think anyone should pay $55 for a brush. 

Vincent Longo La Riviera Sun Face and Body Bronzer in Beauty Sin - This has really been the only bronzer I've been using all over my face. I don't think contouring is for an every day face, so when it's early I just bronze up my face with this because it isn't super dark.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Achiote - I didn't think I was going to get much use out of this blush because I thought it was a summer color, but I was wrong. I found myself reaching for this blush almost as much as my NARS palettes this month.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer - I've been using this to contour a lot, but I noticed that it was really patchy on me today and I had to do some clean up before leaving the house. I guess you could say I have a love hate relationship with this bronzer because it makes my contour look really nice...but only on one side of my face.

Deep Throat (top) Final Cut (bottom) Laguna (Right)

NARS Blushes in Deep Throat and Final Cut: I've been reaching for this palette a lot this month too, and these are the two blushes that have gotten the most use. Deep Throat is also in another NARS palette that I use and I know I've dipped into that one as well.

NARS Laguna Bronzer - When I wasn't using Hoola to contour, I was using Laguna. The main reason I even bought this palette was for the jumbo size of Laguna, even though I already had two smaller Lagunas in other palettes.

Albatross

Devotee

Hungry Heart Duo II

NARS Highlighters in Albatross, Devotee, and Hungry Heart Duo II - I'm lumping these together as one because I've used them equally for the most part. I'll swatch them all in my NARS palette post because I know they all look similar, but they're different. I think I used Devotee and Albatross the most but mostly because I didn't have Hungry Heart as long as those two.

Orgasm

Angelika

 NARS Blushes in Orgasm and Angelika - My Joie De Vivre palette came with both of these blushes and I received that one first. I thought I was going to hate the sparkle in Angelika, but it's very minor and most of it comes off the brush before application. Orgasm is supposedly a cult favorite and it's a good thing I like it because I have three pans of it thanks to my palette addiction.

I know there are others that I used this month, so I'll just lump NARS blushes into a category of their own. 

Subscription Addiction | November Boxycharm

This was the most underwhelming Boxycharm I've received, and still, it's worth the money. I was 'meh' about some things, but some things were really, really nice to have.

Product #1: MicaBeauty eye primer
So, this alone is worth over $40. For an eye primer. That's pretty awesome. I'm not saying I use it all day erry day, but $40 is not cheap! I have a Smashbox eye primer that I use often, so I'll probably wait until that's gone to try this one, but I'm excited to have it.

Product #2: OFRA cosmetics pressed blush
I'm really excited to have this. I haven't used it yet, but I've been looking for a good quality blush for awhile now. So this will be the first thing I reach for!

Product #3: Tarina Tarantino Eyelicity Glitter Liner
I don't know how I feel about this. On one hand, I like that it was included. On the other... I don't do glitter? I mean, I'm just not sure. I'll probably give it a shot and see. I know that mine is a white or clear color, so maybe it's just going to be something I use as a tube of glitter for when I feel like walking around looking like I made it rain at JoAnn's.

Product #4: Kevin.Murphy.Color.Bug
This is basically hair chalk. The frustrating thing about this is that it's gold. My hair is strawberry blonde. There is no way that this will show up in my hair at all. Not for me. It's cool for someone... that someone just doesn't happen to be me.

Product #5: Bellapierre shimmer powder
I'm excited that they gave us a loose shadow and an eye primer. They go hand in hand! But I'm also really excited to try this eyeshadow. I'm sure it will be better than the cheek/lip stain I got from them a few months back. I've heard a lot of good things about Bellapierre, so... hopefully it lives up to expectations.

As you can see, this box wasn't super-amazing, but it wasn't terrible. The value alone was worth the $21. Even if I just got that eye primer, I'd be happy. Not all of this was for me, but that's okay. This is probably tied with Birchbox for my favorite box right now.

Subscription Addiction | November Birchbox Included CHOCOLATE.

This box came with chocolate. And it came much earlier than last month's box. So that means it's a good one. I don't have much else to say, so let's get into it!

Product #1: Chuao Chocolatier Assorted ChocoPod
The one I got was PERFECT. It was the potato chip covered in chocolate, and it was the perfect mix of sweet and salty. I'd get a bunch of these in a heartbeat. So, so good. It was a nice little bonus to get.

Product #2: Folle de Joie Eau de parfum
Birchbox has listened to me so far and hasn't sent me more than a couple of perfume samples. However, I haven't liked either of them. This included. It was heavy and floral. I just don't do heavy and floral. The boyfriend wasn't a fan, either. And while I'm a strong, independent woman who doesn't care what her partner thinks of her perfume, I would like for my boyfriend not to hate my scent.

Product #3: ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick
This is a very pretty nude shade. I don't know if it's something I'll wear, since it's legitimately nude. But it's so pretty. I may mix it with something else, or try it. We'll see. But it is really nice!

Product #4: Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner
I was okay with this. It wasn't super-amazing but it did make my skin feel soft and it felt like I got some of the gunk out. I will say that my main complaint is the color... that sounds dumb, but it's a clear gel when it comes out of the tube. I had trouble figuring out where I'd already put the product. When it turned blue, it was patchy, and I knew I missed spots. I did like the product, though, and after all the hype, it's nice to have.

Product #5: Supergoop Daily Correct CC Cream
Reggie speaks highly of this, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet. I just started using my it Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye, and I really like it. Apparently when I wear too much makeup I look "weird" (very technical term used by my boyfriend), so I'm using this kind of stuff only for special occasions.

Product #6: Perlier Revitalizing Body Butter
I haven't tried this yet. I know. I've got like 68 body butters I'm working my way through. I don't hate having it, though.

My favorite product this month was the chips. Give me all of the chocolate covered potato chips you have. No, you misunderstand. I said ALL of them.

Ipsy | November Unbagging

I haven't really been impressed with Ipsy, but I haven't had enough bags to really axe it just yet. Jessica cancelled her subscription after three bags, so I figured I'd give it one more month and see if there are any redeeming products.

The one thing I hate about Ipsy is that there isn't a card to tell you what the products are and how much they cost like Birchbox does. In order to do these posts I have to look online and see what items where in my bag. I did look at the other samples and saw things I would have liked instead of these items, such as: Laura Mercier powder and fan brush, GlamGlow Powermud, IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye, and the Tarte Maracujua Oil.

Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Volume Shine Hairspray: I haven't used hairspray in I can't tell you how long. However, I already had a hairspray that worked just fine. I don't understand their brands. Marc Anthony? Like Jennifer Lopez's husband Marc Anthony? The singer? He makes hairspray? Sure. Maybe I'll try it after my hair grows out past the ponytail only stage.

Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Eye Base in Submissive: This is actually the only thing I've used from my Ipsy bag. This is sort of like a paint pot, but it isn't as good. The color is nice, but it's sheer. All I do is rub my finger in the product and smooth it over my eyelid. It has so so staying power and isn't something I would purchase for myself.

Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in Ultra Orchid: Can I just say thank GOD I didn't get this in the olive color that Jessica received in two different boxes? Thank God. I haven't even unwrapped this because I wasn't feeling like using a second eyeliner, but I'm sure this will be just okay. If it does suck, I'm sure I'll mention it again.

TEMPTU S/B Highlighter in Pink Pearl: I've only heard of Temptu through YouTube back when xSparkage used an airbrush machine. I think Jessica also received one of these a couple months ago, but I don't know if she used it. I'm not a huge liquid highlighter fan. I even have a Benefit Highbeam that I always consider using but just don't. The color looks exactly like my MAC Strobe Cream, so I will consider actually using it at some point.

Love & Beauty by Forever 21 Crème Lipstick in Berry: Sure. At least it isn't a sample size lipstick? The color is actually something I would actually wear, but I haven't done more than open it to see what it looks like. Maybe it's the fact that it's a Forever 21 lipstick? I don't know.

Anyway, this month was okay and the most irritating this was the fact that the goddamn hairspray was sticking out of my bag! Jesus Christ, Ipsy. How does something like this even happen? The bag wasn't even half sealed. I'm surprised this even made it to my mailbox with the hairspray intact.

Birchbox | November Unboxing

Okay, yes. I'm behind when it comes to subscription boxes this month. I don't know why. I think it's because I wasn't all that jazzed with either of them this month. Anyway...

Eyeko Eye Stick in Satin Taupe: I will probably never use this. I tried it on my eyelids and it was just okay. Meh.

Fekkai PrX Reparatives Intense Fortifying Masque: I'm actually surprised that I haven't used this. I think it was the first item that I was excited about in the box. I think it's because after I took the pictures, the box shifted to my table. I'm going to try using the masque at some point this week.

Perlier Absolite Comfort Body Butter - White Almond: I was carrying this cream around in my bag until I tossed everything back in the box to take this picture. I like that it has a soft almond smell that isn't too strong. I was considering getting a full size with my 20% coupon, but I like the sample packaging better and have so many creams anyway.

Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream SPF 40 in Fair to Light: I love this CC Cream. The sample is maddeningly small, though. I decided I was going to purchase the full size because I had a coupon to use on the Birchbox site and I wanted something that played well with my MAC Face and Body Foundation, which this does. I've only used it a handful of times, but this has been a home run for me.

Tocca Eau de Parfum - Florence: This isn't really my cup of tea, but if I just use one spray it isn't too much. I feel like if I spray it on my pants that it doesn't linger around too heavily so I don't have to feel like I'm wearing too much. Perfume samples just aren't my favorite because I'm really picky when it comes to scents.

The wins for this month were definitely the Supergoop! CC Cream, the Perlier Almond cream, and the Fekkai masque that I need to use. It was also nice to get the bonus of the chocolate almond butter, but I don't know what I'm going to do with that, to be honest.

Review and Swatches | Geek Chic Cosmetics - "Big Damn Heroes" Collection

From Top to Bottom: Little Albatross, Ambassador, Very Fine Hat, Inevitable Betrayal, Captain Tightpants

Yes, I've had these for years. No, I don't care, because damn, they're still relevant, and damn, they're still pretty. It's so hard not to buy literally everything on Geek Chic Cosmetics, but I have to stop myself. First, because I don't have the money to buy things, but second, because THEY'RE ALL SO FREAKING PRETTY. I purchased these five samples a few years ago and I use them every now and then, and they're still hanging around. So, that's definitely a plus. For $1.25, that's a huge win.

Second, I'm not huge on glitter, normally. But these colors are beautiful. I use Captain Tightpants quite often, and I used Ambassador combined with Captain Tightpants the other day. I also love LOVE LOVE Little Albatross. I haven't used it in FOREVER, but look at that beautiful color. I will also say the pigmentation on these is great. Yeah, I didn't quite swatch them evenly, but the swatches are true to color in real life generally. I like that there are some dark colors and some bright colors, and most of them are usable every day.

I will add that these shadows are cruelty free, gluten-free, and vegan. Which is also a plus. I'm really trying to incorporate more cruelty free products into my routine, and it's nice to know that these geeky-fun shadows fit that description.

My wish list for this company keeps getting bigger. I saw recently that they have sets inspired by Guardians of the Galaxy, Harry Potter, The Princess Bride, The Hunger Games, Doctor Who, and Game of Thrones. They also have a Walking Dead collection. Ages ago, I also bought the 8-bit D&D collection, which is no longer for sale.

The only thing, again, is that I wish they weren't all so damn GLITTERY. But, I will say that the glitter has never been a problem for me. It's not like I have glitter on my eyelashes or anything by the end of the day.

So overall, I'm really pleased with these! I hope to buy more from GCC in the future; it's just that I'm broker than broke, unfortunately. But, when I make some money, you bet I'll go on a spending spree!

Recent Collective Haul - October/November

I have some things that I've purchased over the last month or so that have collected enough to do a haul post. I just want to preface this post by saying that I definitely went overboard with the NARS blush palettes. I set out to purchase one of the past three, the one pictured here, and the brand new one, also pictured here. But I did end up buying the other two past palettes because I got them for a good deal on facebook. Those aren't pictured because I think I'll do just a post comparing all my NARS blush palettes and I had already taken the pictures for this post.

I'm also probably not going to go into great detail because a few things are going to be included in my favorites post and I'm planning on doing a hauled it but how was it? type post.

I've been blush crazy lately, so that's why all the blush. These are also the last two bronzers that I plan on buying, because unlike blush, they're all pretty much the same. I found that the Estée Lauder one is a bit too dark and orange toned for the winter, so that is getting pushed aside. The Vincent Longo bronzer is perfect for the winter because it isn't too dark and bronze, which is what I'm looking for.

This is the NARS blush palette from Nordstrom, the Joie De Vivre limited edition from a couple years back. I originally wanted the Guy Bourdin one more, last year's release, but found this one first. I will seriously never need to buy a full size NARS blush or bronzer with all these palettes.

These are my Tarte blushes in Fearless, the purple one, and Achiote, the top one. I haven't really worn Fearless because it's so dark. Maybe soon!

I got these two Sigma brushes for a fantastic deal on facebook. I rotate my F50 blush brushes now and I really like this F30 powder brush to blend out my blush and bronzer.

I picked up two more NYX matte lipsticks in Pure Red and Whipped Caviar and got free shipping on Ulta by finally buying this Urban Decay sharpener everyone raves about.

I also bought one lipstick from MAC's holiday collection in Salon Rouge. I haven't worn it or the NYX lipsticks yet.

Everyone keeps comparing the Mario Badescu Rose Water spray to MAC Fix+, so I decided to give it a go. I haven't used a spray since the summer though, so this might sit for a while longer.

I stopped into Bath and Body Works for the first time in ages and bought these two lotions, which I've been using all month. I would consider purchasing other scents, but I have a Cocoa Pink haul to do and I bought six or seven body butters so I definitely don't need any more of those.

I bought two heads for my Clarisonic because I needed to change those out. One is for normal skin and the other is acne prone skin and I've been rotating them.

I also bought another Alpha Hydrox AHA Souffle because it was half off on Ulta and I knew I'd need another one at some point.

Little Clinique haul included here. Nordstrom was doing 10% off a ton off high end brands either early November or late October and I thought that was the perfect time to buy a full size of the Moisture Surge. I should have bought that Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick I was lusting over, but that was $40 and I decided to spend wisely and get some Clinique Acne Solutions instead because my skin had been freaking out.

I still want that Shimmer Brick.

The Repairwear Laser minis were a gift with purchase and I have yet to use those.

These goodies are my latest. I talked about the Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask in my favorites last month and I recently bought the scrub because I liked the mask so much.

I bought another Smashbox Photofinish Primer because I'm almost out of my mini. It was on sale for 20% during Beauty.com's friends and family sale.

I also picked up that NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette because I found it new for almost $20 off the original price on Facebook. I was going back and forth about getting it, but who was I kidding? I was going to kick myself for not getting it at $50 and wanting to pay like $80 in a few months.

Then also from Beauty.com, I finally bought the NARS Ita brush! I've wanted this for the longest time, but didn't want to pay the $50 for it. So I waited for a 20% off sale and nabbed it.

Then probably one of the most exciting things I've hauled this month: beautyblender! I've always wanted to try a Beauty Blender, but I had bought a few Real Techniques sponges that I enjoyed for a while. My last order had some really weird sponges in there though and it jacked up my makeup to the point where I spent more time fixing it then actually applying it. So I decided to spend the money on the real deal. I do prefer beautyblender to Real Techniques, but I wouldn't pay the full price! I liked getting 20% off so that they were only $23 for the pair.


Whew. That's it for now! I have a couple separate hauls I wanted to do because it's a bunch of things from one brand. I'm sure the random couple things I buy until next month will collect enough to do another post eventually. After all, cyber Monday is soon and I'd rather buy things at 20% off, especially when I'm going to buy them anyway.

Empties #2! Products I've Used Up + Review

I've been hoarding my trash for way too long and I have even more empties than last time. I've been working through quite a few of these for some time now and I'm surprised it took me so long to finish off some of these products. Again, most of the products I have are skincare because it's easier to plow through those than a blush or powder.

Tony Moly Latte Art Milk-Cacao Pore Pack: I think this was actually one of my first Korean skincare purchases. As you can see, it's a cup! The little spoon sticking out of the top is actually a spatula and this smells so so good. It's one of those hardening masks and it makes your pores look smaller. Would I repurchase? I actually already had a backup ready and waiting that I haven't cracked into yet because I bought the Queen Helene mask.

My Beauty Diary Aloe Amino Acid Cleanser: I bought this cleanser thinking it was just like the Strawberry Yogurt one from the same brand. It is similar, but it lacks the exfoliating property that the Strawberry Yogurt one has. It was moisturising and I did like using this, but it fell to the back burner most of the time because it wasn't my favorite. Would I repurchase? Nah. I'll buy the Strawberry Yogurt one over and over. I'm already on my second tub of that and I prefer it hands down to the Aloe one.

Baviphat White Grape Lifting Yogurt Cleansing Foam: I raved about this in my favorites post, so I feel like there's not a whole lot more to say about this cleanser. It's creamy and it foams up nicely and I really liked pairing it with my Clarisonic. Would I repurchase? I absolutely will in the future, if I can find it. I had to buy this from a Korean seller on eBay and I'm taking a break from eBay for right now. I also just bought a bunch of cleansers and I want to use them up first.

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel: I got this in a gift with purchase package from Nordstrom a few months ago. I took this with me on vacation because I didn't want to bring a large cleanser like my Baviphat one. I liked this, but it really threw me off that it doesn't foam or anything. It also doesn't remove makeup. Would I repurchase? I have two other Mario Badescu cleansers that I like better and I've recently purchased other cleansers, so I probably wouldn't repurchase.

Etude House Collagen Moistfull Enriched Cream: This came in the Collagen Moistfull set with a few other pieces that I've yet to use up. I did like the texture of this cream and it was easy to use it up. This was just something that I would put on my face at night when I had time to add other products into my routine. Would I repurchase? I don't think I'll get a full size because it's on the pricey side. I might consider getting another set after I use up the rest of the products.

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Relief: I also talked about this in my past favorites post. I use this as my last moisturizer in the morning and it helps everything else sink into my skin and doesn't leave me greasy, so I can put on primer quickly if I need to get ready. Would I repurchase? I recently bought the 2oz size when Nordstrom had a bunch of products 10% off. I'll probably never need to buy this again.

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron Honey & Coriander Ultra Moisturising Hand Therapy: This was another thing I got in a gift with purchase from Nordstrom. It was also the lotion that got me to buy a six scent variety box of the Hand Therapy lotions. These are nice and small and fit in my makeup bag and are also moisturising. Would I repurchase? I have six more tubes, just not in this scent, so I won't be buying anymore in the near future, but I would consider it.

Cocoa Pink Junket Creme Conditioner in Vanille Apricot: I got this conditioner in my last Cocoa Pink order and it was before we moved, so it got lost in a box. I was so excited to find this and use it finally. This is probably one of the best deep conditioners that I've ever used. The scent was nice, but it wasn't something I would personally pick out. Would I repurchase? I just bought a full size during the Cocoa Pink sale in a fall scent. I can't wait to finally get my order and use it!

Paintbox Soapworks Little Paper Umbrellas Hand & Body Lotion: I've had this little lotion for over a year. I made it a small goal to start using up some of my half empty lotions so I can buy more. This was a summer scent and I really love it. I have this scent in a scrub that I can start using when I'm done with the one that's in my shower. This is the smaller size for the lotion, so it's nice for travel. I wish I got my other scents in this size because it's so difficult to use up a big lotion. Would I repurchase? Probably, if the scent comes back again next year. I won't be buying any lotions any time soon because I have all the winter scents I need.

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser: I got this in my October Birchbox and it was such a tiny sample that I used it up after three times. I liked it, but it smelled too lemony so I felt like I was washing my face with lemon scented Damn kitchen soap. It was nice and scrubby, though. Would I repurchase? Maybe, but I think it was like $30, so I think that's a general deal breaker. Too much for a scrub when I love my Paintbox Soapworks one.

Epically Epic Soap Co. Mango Lychee Lip Balm: I've also been trying to work through my huge collection of lip balms. I really like the Epically Epic balms because they're so creamy and moisturizing. This scent is really nice too. Would I repurchase? No. I have too many lip balms and I can't buy any more! I have four or five more Epically Epic ones to use up first anyway!

MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash: I bought this in I think June, so this really needed to retire. I pretty much stopped using it in October when I realized how old this mascara was. This was seriously a great mascara and I really liked it, despite the fact that I don't usually like MAC mascaras. Would I repurchase? Not any time soon because I have I think four or five mascara samples I need to go through first. But I would consider it.

Fresh Black Tea Age Delay Cream: I don't remember much about this cream other than I was sad to see it go and ever sadder to see how much money it cost for a full size. Would I repurchase? Probably not. It's too much money for something I'm not sure I'll completely love.

NARS Radiance Enhancing Pro-Prime Light Optimizing Primer: I like NARS products, but I'm not too sure about this primer. It isn't the texture I prefer in a primer. I definitely like the Smashbox one better because it's a silicone based primer. Would I repurchase? No. Too much money for a primer and I don't like the texture.

Inglot Under Makeup Base: I found this while cleaning up some makeup things and remembered that I really liked it once upon a time. I ended up using it twice and not liking it as much as I thought, but that could be because this sample has been hanging around for a long time. Would I repurchase? I don't think so. I like the Smashbox one best right now, so I think I'll stick with it.

Caudalíe Vinoperfect Radiance Serum Complexion Correcting: I got this in my September Birchbox, I think. This was such a tiny sample, but it ended up lasting a decent amount of time. I did like it, but I didn't have enough in the sample to see if it really made a difference. Would I repurchase? Nope! This costs like $50, maybe more. I already have serums that I like so I can't warrant the purchase.

Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Retinol Wrinkle Corrector: This has been hanging around since the last Missha holiday sale. It was almost gone when I rediscovered it while I waiting for my normal retinol to come in the mail. I do like it, but it was such a pain to get out of the tube from the get-go. Would I repurchase? Probably not. It was a pain to get out of the tube and I already have a retinol that I usually use nightly.