Empties #7: Products I've Used Up + Mini Review

More empties! I am doing really well with using up products, especially some that I know are going to expire or that I don't really care for. By the time I end up posting this, I will already have a few more empties to go into the next post! I may be able to do one of these a month at this rate.

Then I accidentally overwrote the bottom part of the post and I don't feel like doing it again because no one is going to read it anyway.

Bath & Body Works Candles in Honolulu Sun, Hawaiian Hibiscus, and Georgia Peach: I loved all of these scents, but I have to admit that I'm really sick of Honolulu Sun. I had the soap and hand sanitizer in addition to the candle, so I was happy to see this one go. I have a ton of candle backups, so there are more to be burned other than these ones. Would I repurchase? Right now, I'm done with all these scents. I wasn't a huge fan of the Hawaiian Hibiscus because I thought it would be the same as the hand sanitizer that I liked. 

Missha Creamy Latte Chocolate Cleansing Foam: I've talked about this cleanser before and my love for it. It just smells so good. I don't think you need an expensive cleanser because most of them clean the same, but it is nice to have a cleanser that you like to use. I still have a strawberry one that I haven't opened, but I will be using that soon! Would I repurchase? Probably during a sale where I can buy a few things, but I have plenty of cleansers that I'm rotating through right now. 

Anosa Tea Tree Herbal Toner: Before I rediscovered Benton and found Paula's Choice, I was a huge fan of Anosa toners. This is one of the two toners that I had and this was my favorite because I was big into tea tree products. Would I repurchase? Not anytime soon because I prefer Paula's Choice skincare, which is easier to find in the states.

Mizon Snail Repair Eye Cream: I had this eye cream forever. It's a huge jar for something that is just an eye cream. I have some face creams that are in jars of similar size. This was honestly nothing special to me, but I did like it at first. Would I repurchase? No. I have plenty of other eye creams that I would rather use.

Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer: I really liked this for a thicker nighttime moisturizer. I do like Clinique as a brand, but I find them more on the pricey side. I kept using this to use it up because it was almost gone, but I definitely prefer this in the winter when my skin is drier. Would I repurchase? Probably when it gets cooler out again but I would more than likely try to get it on sale.

It's Skin Power 10 CO Effector: This Korean brand makes one of the favorite serums. I really like these for the day because they aren't too heavy. I started with the VC Effector and decided to try a couple others. This one was heavily scented for some reason, so I didn't care for this one as much. Would I repurchase? I definitely prefer the VC Effector to this one and I wouldn't buy this one again.

Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream: I wanted to try this because I really loved the Concentrated Ginseng Renewing cream for the face. I like that the eye cream came in a tube because eye cream in pots are usually terrible to use because it gets difficult to apply. The full

Skin79 Super Plus BB Cream: I think this is the saddest empty. Because of the packaging, I didn't even realize I was running out until the last pump. I really like the whole line of Skin79's BB Creams, but this one might be my favorite because it's so low maintenance. Would I repurchase? I definitely will be buying another, but I have so many BB Creams that I want to use up one or two before I indulgence in this.

MAC Skin Base Visage: I'm really surprised that this primer lasted as long as it did. It is also housed in similar packaging as the Skin79 BB Cream, so I never knew how much was left. I had a love/hate relationship with this primer, but it was ultimately just okay and I did think it was overpriced. Would I repurchase? No. I'm over this primer and on to other ones. I have a couple different ones on my list to get.

Maybelline The Falsies Volume Express Mascara: This mascara is probably one of my favorites from the drugstore, but this one had just been hanging around in my makeup bag begging to be thrown away. I really like the spoon brush on this mascara. Would I repurchase? Probably at some point.

Inglot Matte Gel Eyeliner in #85: I really loved this gel eyeliner, but I found that it got old and dried up. I can't tell you how many years I've been holding on to this sucker. Probably at least four. I felt that it was time to get rid of it. Would I repurchase? Probably not. I like the black one, but I don't use the colors too often.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer: I finally finished the last of this primer and I managed to also lose the cap. I used to use this all the time back when it was the only other primer I owned. I have a few others that I've been reaching for, but I do really like this one. Would I repurchase? Not any time soon, but only because I have a backup full size and a trial size that I got in an Ipsy bag. I think I'm all set for now!

Alpha Hydrox AHA Souffle: I feel like it's been a bit since this has appeared in my empties. I've moved on to Paula's Choice for my acids, but I do want to work through my back ups of this. I did like it when I used it, but I prefer the Paula's Choice line. Would I repurchase? Not anymore.

Bath & Body Works Beautiful Day Fragrance Mist: This was a nice scent, but I got sick of it pretty quickly. I don't think it's something that I would buy again and I'm glad I didn't get this scent in any other forms. Would I repurchase? Nope.

Monthly Favorites | May & June

I know I'm really late on this post, so I'll make it quick. This is just a generalized round up of products I've used through May and June, so I did condense it a bit. It's already almost August, so I wanted to get this out of the way!

Missha Super Aqua Perfect Water Deep Cleanser: This has been the number one thing that I've been using to take off my makeup at night. I have a feeling this is going to last me a long time because I've been using this for a couple months now. 

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid: I use this after my toner in the morning and it has salicylic acid in it. I just pop a little on a cotton pad and it isn't drying. I prefer chemical exfoliation and this is great and quick.

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum: This is my favorite thing ever and my favorite from the Paula's Choice line so far. I use this in the morning and at night and it doesn't make my skin feel too oily. This has definitely been replacing my Missha Time Revolution Ampoule at night and my It's Skin serum in the morning.

Paula's Choice Resist Super Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30: When I was running out of my Neutrogena sunscreen, I wanted to try something new. At first, I didn't like this one because it has a tint to it. Now that I've gotten used to it, I really like that there is a tint. I can use this by itself on a day off and not feel completely naked faced or it can be used as a primer under makeup since it does dry down a bit. 

Boots No7 Stay Perfect Primer: This was pretty much the only primer I used in May and June. I really like this one and I can blend it in a little better with my beautyblender before applying makeup.

BRTC Jasmine Water BB Cream: I really like this BB Cream in the summer because it's nice and light and I don't have to mix anything in to get a good color or coverage. It's something I want to use up also because I've been hanging onto this for over a year. I think it's the only BRTC BB that matches me.

The Saem Cover Perfection Tip Concealer: I had been using a concealer stick for so long that I forgot how much I liked liquid concealers. This had been on of my favorites a long time ago when I first bought it, but it wasn't bright enough for under my eyes. It actually matches my skin perfectly and it works really well with the BRTC BB Cream.

Benefit High Beam: When I was going bare minimum while we were moving, I would do BB Cream and just add a little of this liquid highlighter on my cheek bones and brow bones. This was easy enough to just dab on with the little brush and blend in with my finger or beautyblender instead of toting a powder and a brush with me.

YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara: I got this in an Influenster Vox Box because no way would I ever pay $32 for a mascara! I really like it, but that is just way too much to be paying for a mascara. I think $20 is probably the absolute maximum I would be willing to spend. I do really like everything about this mascara though. It even smells nice and the packaging is beyond luxurious. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Auburn: This has been my standby brow product since I purchased it. The color is more natural that I was going for before, but I like that it works with my hair and skin tone. It's pretty easy to work with and there is a lot of product in this little jar. I'm a fan.

Marc Jacobs O!Mega Bronze in Tantric: I really like this bronzer for all over bronzing. The color is perfect for my skin and it blends out so nicely. I'm glad I finally sprung for this powder because I wasn't going to buy it due to how expensive Marc Jacobs cosmetics are.

Marc Jacobs #InstaMarc Light Filtering Contour Powder in Dream Filter 20: This is one of those products that I worry about using up because I love it so much and it was so expensive. I love the highlight color to set my under eye concealer and I use it to carve out my contour if I over blend. The contour powder is my perfect shade and it blends so nicely with my NARS Ita brush. It's perfect. I just wish I felt better traveling with it because I worry about something like this breaking my makeup bag. 

MAC Solar Riche: If I wasn't at home and wanted to bronze up a bit, I would use Solar Riche. I used to think this color didn't suit me before I really knew how to use bronzer, but this blends out really nicely. It isn't my favorite MAC bronzer, but I wanted to try something new and I'm a fan.

Sephora Bronzer Powder in Anguilla: I've been loving this for a simple, more natural contour when I don't want to go too dark. Although I really love the Marc Jacobs powder, it tends to look more dramatic. If I'm short on time, I use this to do a light contour because there's a lot of room for error. I don't need to blend it much at all because it's a lighter color.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat: I really like this for a glowy cheek look. This is something I used when I was in a hurry and didn't have time to blend out a more pigmented blush in case I went heavy handed. I think I would definitely try different colors from the line, but they are pricey.

MAC Mighty Aphrodite: I've always loved this blush. I think it was one of the first that I purchased from a MAC limited edition collection, which was Wonder Woman in 2011. I always end up going back to this blush when I don't know what to wear because its just so easy. Definitely an all time favorite.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Lilac Rose: As far as highlighting goes, I use the opalescent strip. It's beautiful mixed with just a touch of the surrounding pinks. I keep thinking that I'll use the other colors as a blush, but I don't. When I swirl my brush lightly in the whole pan, I get a more subtle pink highlight color.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade: This has been a standby highlight ever since I bought it. I love remembering when I got something because then I know how long I've loved it. I got this in my old apartment almost two years ago. This is the original release of this highlight that runs more pink than the beige of the second, third, and permanent releases. When I want something that is just simple and pearlescent, I go for this highlighter.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone: This is a fairly new addition to my collection, so of course I had to use it a bunch after getting it. I've found that I like this more than theBalm's Mary LouManizer because it isn't quite as heavy. I'm really glad I got this on sale though, because $38 is pretty hefty for a highlighter.

Burberry Britt Sheer: This has been a nice citrusy mist for the beginning of summer. As you can see, I've made a pretty decent dent in this fragrance. I really love how simple this is for warmer weather. It isn't too heavy in the warm weather, so I don't know how it will be when it gets colder. I can't imagine this will be my go-to in the winter.

Escada Born In Paradise: This may be my top favorite out of everything right now. It's a perfect summery mix of pineapple and coconut without smelling like I bathed in a Piña Colada. I really like my other Escada, which is Moon Sparkle, but now I want other more recent Escada releases because of this one. I feel like they will all be pretty similar though and there are a few other perfumes I want before adding on other sweet ones at the end of the summer.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Sunshine: I was torn between getting this perfume, two other limited edition versions, and the original. I ended up smelling the original and not liking it enough to wear. Then I couldn't find a good enough deal on the other one that I wanted, which was Daisy Eau So Fresh Delight. I found this on eBay for a good price for a discontinued limited edition without the box. I love the scent and I love the bottle. This is going to be one of those scents that I wear in the day during spring and summer and worry about using up.

Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia: This was my first Gucci perfume and I'm really happy with it. There were a lot of choices in the Gucci Flora line, but I finally decided on this one because I liked the notes and got a sample. I love the beautiful simplicity of the bottle and scent is so nice and light, but sweet at the same time. I feel like I have a lot of spring/summer floral fruity perfumes, but that's what I like. 

Vera Wang Princess: This is actually one of the perfumes in my collection that I can definitely wear in the winter. Princess has always been a favorite of mine, even if it is considered an immature scent. I still really like it and regardless of how sweet is smells, I still get compliments on it at work. I know when certain people at work like how I smell that I've found a good bottle.

Bath & Body Works Sweet Magnolia & Clementine Fine Fragrance Mist: I generally only choose body mists over perfume for when I want to smell nice but don't want to waste expensive perfume. I pop one of these in my gym bag or spray my work clothes so that I don't smell like old food all the time. This is a newer purchase, but I did have a scrub in this scent that I really liked in my past empties.

Bath & Body Works White Citrus Fragrance Mist: This is a nice refreshing scent that I had been using in my gym bag before buying the larger sizes. I really love how sharp and citrus this one is and I may eventually get the larger size, but last time I did that I got sick of the scent soon after.

Bath & Body Works Kauai Lei Flower Aloe Gel Lotion: I love this size for my purse, apron, and behind the bar. This is my favorite scent from the Hawaii line and I even have a backup for this little lotion that I may need crack into. I don't believe the aloe gel formula will be moisturizing enough to use alone in the winter, but I think I'll still prefer this size.

Bath & Body Works Maui Mango Surf Crushed Coconut Body Scrub: I prefer this formulation of scrub to the other one that I had. This lasts a little longer and the granules scrub better than the beads from the other one. I'm glad I decided to get all the Hawaii scents in this scrub when they were buy 3 get 3 free and I'll have plenty of scrubs to get me through the summer and probably the fall until the winter scents come out.

Sephora and Beauty.com Haul

Most of this stuff I bought before I moved and I've already included a couple in my May and June favorites, which I've yet to post. I'm just trying to catch up on things since moving and it wasn't happening. I'm going to try posting more, but no promises as I feel like I'm running out of things to talk about other than empties. I should actually probably do a project pan because there are quite a few things I'm trying to work through and finish up, mainly because of expiration dates. 

I'm going to breeze through this post in a "hey look what I bought!" manner.

Paula's Choice Skincare: I'm going to go through a skincare routine post soon since I've overhauled my skincare. I've had to replace most of my Korean products with American products because I really can't get a ridiculous amount of packages at this address. 

Since I'm a huge advocate of good toners and not ones that strip the skin, I stocked up on repairing toners. I really like all three of these and I would probably continue to repurchase them all. 

I also bought the 2% BHA for morning exfoliation and the 8% AHA for evening exfoliation. 

Paula's Choice Skincare: I also am replacing my retinols with Paula's Choice. I have this first one to use at night and the pink squeeze tube for every day. This is actually what will replace my Missha night ampoule. 

I also have the 10% AHA that I rotate with the 8% AHA so my skin doesn't get too irritated. 

I use two different Paula's Choice suncreens, one with a tint and one without. The tinted one dries down to more of a matte finish and I prefer that one when I don't have a lot of time to get ready and need to put on foundation immediately or when I don't want to wear makeup to leave the house for a bit.

Estée Lauder Bronzed Goddess: Holy hell this bronzer is huge. I really like it and I had this in my April favorites which just tells you how long I've had this stuff ready for a post.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone: This is a super pigmented highlighter that I absolutely love. I got this on sale or I wouldn't have paid $38 for it, but I love it.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat: Also something else from April favorites. This is such a nice highlighting blush.

Marc Jacobs! I'm not going into a lot of detail because I want to eventually do a post for these, but I bought these two lemmings due the Sephora sale. The top is the Instamarc contour and highlight compact. It's my favorite thing ever. I love setting my undereyes with the first powder and the contour powder is the perfect color.

The bottom one is the Tantric O!Mega Bronzer. This is also a great color, but I reach for this less because I tend to contour with the top compact.

Sephora Bronzers: I tossed these in my cart just because. I don't really like the top one, but I've used it for all over bronzing. The bottom one I thought was too light, but since it's matte, I've used it as a contour powder.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks in Beige and Lilac Rose: I cheated a little. I picked up Beige at Nordstrom Lilac Rose at the CCO, but I'm lumping these into the haul because I bought them at the same time. I love my Copper Diamond Shimmer Brick so much that I knew I needed more. I got a 20% discount on the Beige Shimmer Brick and the Lilac Rose one was a limited edition and I got a good deal from the CCO so I needed it. I'll use the top two strips in the Beige one or mix all the colors together, but to highlight with the Lilac Rose one, I tend to stay around the second strip.

Boots No7 Stay Perfect Primer and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer: These were both on sale, so I figured I'd give them a go. At the time, I was running out of my MAC primer and the Smashbox primer was too drying for me, so I needed a backup plan. Both of these are good, but I don't think they'll bring me into the winter. I was really excited for the Hourglass primer, but I don't love it the way I thought I would. Good thing I didn't spring for the huge expensive size!

One last quick thing I forgot! I finally bought an Anastasia Dipbrow! This matches my hair better than my MAC brow gel creme, and I got it on sale. This has been my only brow product since purchasing it. I only wish the Auburn shade was a little redder, but it still matches better than the Blonde one from MAC.

Empties #6 | Products I've Used Up + Mini Review

Lots of big empties! I know I have three hand sanitizers that I used up recently, but I think they got lost in my move. I did pack up these empty things so I could take pictures and then throw everything away. I am on a mission to use up a bunch of products, so I'm sure I'll start doing a project pan style clean out.

I also feel like I'm sick of talking about empties so I'm going to attempt to make this short and sweet.

Bath & Body Works Sweet Magnolia & Clementine Shea & Fruit Body Scrub: I tend to use scrubs in the shower more often than soap or regular body wash. As I showed in my haul, I bought a ton of scrubs. I really like spring and summer scents, so I tend to hoard those so I can use them in the winter. I think I prefer the crushed coconut body scrubs that I'm using right now, but this was nice. I'm not sure if the beads are the kind that never break down though. Would I repurchase? I wish they made a candle in this scent. I'm thinking of getting this scent in the lotion during the next sale though.

Bath & Body Works Forever Sunshine Triple Moisture Body Lotion: I used this up pretty quickly because I try to use lotion when I get out of the shower. I liked the scent and I like how quickly Bath & Body Works lotions absorb because then I don't feel wet or sticky after putting on lotion. Would I repurchase? Not in this scent. There's a few different ones I want to buy instead.

Skinfood Milk Shake Point Eye Makeup Remover: When I stopped using the Missha cleansing oil that took off all my makeup, I needed to use a separate remover. I really like this one. It didn't sting my eyes and got everything off. Would I repurchase? Not anytime soon. I really like this, but it's something I generally have to order from Korea and I'm using a Missha cleansing water that does remove my mascara.

Secret Key Snail+EGF Repairing Toner: I don't think I've ever talked about this toner before because there was never a lot left in this bottle. This is one of my favorite Korean toners and I was sad that it was almost gone, so I never used it again. I was on a mission to finish up some products and this only had a few more uses in it, so I sadly killed it. Would I repurchase? Someday. I still want to use up a bunch of things and I have to order this from Korea.

Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture with SPF 35: I used this every day for almost a year. I'm surprised this moisturizer lasted so long. It's nothing special, just a moisturizer with SPF. I liked it, but I'm not sure I would want to go through another one. Would I repurchase? I get bored using the same things all the time, which is why I have a million things. I have a Paula's Choice SPF moisturizer that I'm currently using and I don't think I need another.

Etude House AC Clinic Daily Acne Foam Cleanser: This was one of my favorite cleansers that I kept with only a handful of uses in the bottle. This only took about a week or so to finish up. I really liked using this again. Would I repurchase? Definitely! But after I use up some other cleansers. I think I have ten or so to finish.

Philosophy Purity: I hated this. I know this cleanser gets rave reviews online, but it isn't pure and it smells. I'm so glad I didn't purchase the large size of this cleanser when I bought the baby bottle on sale. I ended up using the rest of it to wash my brushes and it didn't even work that well for that. Would I repurchase? Absolutely never.

Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator Ampoule: This lasted a crazy long time. I bought this in November during one of the Black Friday sales. I didn't think my other ones lasted quite as long, but I won't complain. This isn't exactly a cheap item. Thankfully I had a backup that I finally cracked into or I would need to reorder. Would I repurchase? Definitely, but I'll wait until the next 30% or 40% off sale.

Cocoa Pink Junkett Creme Conditioner in Caramel Popcorn Balls: This took forever to finish, which isn't a bad thing. The conditioner I'm currently using will probably take less time because my hair is longer now. I was using this conditioner when my hair was a lot shorter. Would I repurchase? I'm beyond sick of this scent now, which is great because I have a lotion in this scent. I also recently purchased two more of the Junkett in different scents, so I won't need to buy any in a long time.

Mizon Returning Starfish Cream: I loved this cream. It was my holy grail moisturizer this winter because my skin was so dry. I loved being able to slather this all over my face before going to bed. I used to apply a sleeping pack, which is a Korean style night moisturizer, but I didn't need to use any this winter. Would I repurchase? Definitely, but not until the cold weather because I don't need that much moisture now that it is so hot out.

I'm going to be super brief with my sample packets except for a few. 

Holika Holika Pig Nose Clear Black Head Strips: It's a blackhead strip. You wet it, it dries, it rips crap out of your nose. Great. Would I repurchase? Nope. I have plenty of these and others.

Holika Holika Aqua Fantasy Cream: I really love this, but the full jar is pricey, so I bought like 25 samples. I was using this on a daily basis and then we moved. I had more than three packets, but I don't know where those went. Would I repurchase? Nah. I have other things I use, and the jar is expensive. I don't want a ton of samples hanging around anymore.

Sephora Age Defy Under Eye Cream: This was nice. Then I forgot the packet was open and it completely dried out. Would I repurchase? If it were on sale and I was looking for an eye cream, maybe.

Laura Geller Spackle Bronze Tinted Primer: I didn't really care for this. It was okay. Would I repurchase? I would probably never buy a full size of this and I have plenty of other primers.

Nesura Deep Pore Charcoal Nose Strip: I actually liked this one. The only downside is that the strip is black and sometimes leaves black gunk around my nose after I peel it off. Would I repurchase? I have plenty of nose strips. 

Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisture Cream: This was really thick and nice, but it had a weird added fragrance smell. I don't think this is something I would want on my face all the time. Would I repurchase? Nope, but I'd use another sample.

Innisfree Apple Juicy Liquid Foaming Cleanser: I have a ton of cleanser samples, but I never use them because I have so many full size cleansers to work through. I had to stay overnight at Shaun's sister's apartment with him and didn't want to drag a full bottle with me, so this was good for two face washes. I like the smell of the Apple Juicy line, since I have a cleansing cream as well, so this was really nice. Would I repurchase? This is one that I would consider after I use up a bunch of other cleansers. 

L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara: I talked about this in a recent favorites post. I really liked this mascara, mainly for the brush. It's possible that this is my favorite drugstore mascara. Would I repurchase? I have a lot of samples left to use up, but I will definitely be buying another one of these. There's also another version I might want to try too.

Shiseido Facial Cotton: I love these. I didn't think it was possible to love cotton squares, but these are fantastic. The ones I used to buy from the drugstore would pill up and leave cotton particles all over my face while toning or using something like a liquid exfoliater These cotton squares are perfect and end up costing less than the drugstore ones. I think there's 165 in a package for $10 and I usually buy a 30 or 60 pack of drugstore ones for $3 or so. Would I repurchase? Ha. That's a trick question. I'm currently into a new bag of cotton and then have another backup. I can get these at Sephora or online at Nordstrom where they're on sale from time to time.

Bath & Body Works Candles in Oceanside, Mango Dragon Fruit, Caribbean Escape, Love and Sunshine, Watermelon Lemonade, and Cherry Blossom Sangria: Bath & Body Works are the only candles I burn because they smell so good. The trick is to buy them when they're 2 for $24 or 50% off. I would never buy one of these candles for $23 a piece. That's too expensive. I tend to rotate them so that they all burn up at the same time. Would I repurchase? I currently have 8 candles that I'm working through right now, but it's time for the Semi-Annual sale where most of them are between $11 and $12 each, so I'll definitely be a buying a few more before the sale ends.

Subscription Addiction | May 2015 Boxycharm

I assure you, I wasn't being lazy on this one. My Boxycharm ended up in my city, then was mis-delivered to another city entirely, then finally re-routed to the city I live in. I didn't get it until way late in May. ANYWAY. Here's what was inside:

Product #1: Bodyography Brow Trio
I don't usually use brow powder, but I like this. I'll be able to mix colors to get what I want, and as a redhead, it will be nice to get the correct mix. It's something that's cool to have, I guess? I wasn't blown away by it when I opened it up, but I think the idea of it has grown on me.

Product #2: Bodyography Brow Brush
I like the occasional beauty tool in a box, so this was pretty nice to have. I will definitely use this in combination with the trio. It's also going to be nice to tame brows, and the brush itself is a great value. So. Good to have.

Product #3: ModelCo Bronzer
This is a really really nice bronzer, but it looks a little dark for my light skin tone. I haven't swatched it or anything, for fear of it being too dark and then I went and swatched it... but it does look a little dark. I'm curious how it will look. Everyone seems to really enjoy it as a product, but I'm not sure about it.

Product #4: Lauren B. Beauty Nail Polish
The color of this nail polish is one I would quite literally never ever wear. It's like a sea foam lime greenish color. It seems like it could be fun for summer or as an accent nail or something, perhaps layered with a clear Jamberry wrap, but honestly? It isn't a color I would ever ever wear. Ever. The red one I saw in videos is much more wearable and it would be something I would most definitely try. But this one? Nope. Nah.

Product #5: The Lip Bar Lipstick
I saw all the YouTube videos of this and I anticipated getting the bright purple shade so many youtubers ended up with, but I actually ended up with a pretty coral color. It's still not for me, but it's much more wearable than a bright-ass purple.

One complaint I have about this box is the wearability/universality of the products. The brow trio is PERFECT in terms of universality. Anyone can use it, for the most part. But, bright green nail polish and bright purple lipstick (even though I got the coral shade) aren't generally wearable. I know they like a little excitement and come creativity other than a pink-nude-red nail polish type color scheme, but that's my main frustration with these things. I can't wear bright purple lipstick to work. Someone can, but I can't. So.

All in all, this box was "meh". Wasn't horrible and wasn't great. But I am grateful to have a couple of the products I got.

Subscription Addiction | Birchbox Backup - April 2015

Product #1: POP Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio - Peach Parfait
I am really excited about this little trio, actually. The colors are pretty and I'm excited to try them. I'm including them in a Shop My Stash thing in the next few days, too. I love the swatches I tried on this - they're sparkly without making me feel like Tinkerbell fairy dust is on my eyes. They're really pigmented and pretty.

Product #2: Real Chemistry Luminous 3 minute Peel
This worked really, really well. I used it and originally I wasn't a fan. But the more I scrubbed, the more dead skin came off. My face is really soft right now and it didn't turn it bright beet red. It didn't break me out and I will definitely invest in a full size of this at some point.

Product #3: Paula's Choice RESIST 25% Vitamin C Spot Treatment
I haven't tried this, but I usually don't use spot treatment as an everyday product. I want to start using up my samples, so maybe this is one I can get in on. I don't know much about it other than to say, I'm kind of 'meh' on this one!

Product #4: Beaver Professional Hydro Nutritive Moisturizing Shampoo
I've never heard of the Beaver brand before. I like getting shampoo and conditioner samples, so we will give it a shot. It's a decent sized sample, too, so I'm pleased to have it and excited to try it. I'm interested in the moisturizing claims of it.

Product #5: Beaver Professional Hydro Nutritive Repairing Conditioner
I really like repairing conditioners because they generally make my hair feel quite soft and they tend to do what they're supposed to do. My hair doesn't feel dry or crunchy with them, generally, and it also doesn't feel oily or weighed down. I haven't tried this yet, just as I haven't tried its shampoo counterpart, but I will give it a shot.

Overall, I think this was a pretty good box. The box itself was gorgeous too, and I kept it to hold some of my stash in!

Perfectly Posh | Haul & Mini-Review

So I recently ordered some items from Perfectly Posh, a Direct Sales website that sells skin care and body/bath items. I was really excited to try this stuff out, especially because I had heard really good things about them.

First and foremost, I want to disclose that I am a Direct Sales person myself. Perfectly Posh doesn't compete with Jamberry in terms of "We sell the same product, so I'm giving this a bad review for the sake of a bad review", but some of the opinions I have of the company and the products come from my experience with Jamberry. I also want to say that I will be including prices on some of these things, because I think it's relevant to share what I paid for it in relation to the size I received. Anyway. ONWARD.

First, I will talk about the party experience. The party was on Facebook, and it was for a friend of mine (and Reggie's) as a fundraiser. This friend had thrown a party with Jamberry as a fundraiser as well, so I thought it was only appropriate to return the favor, especially for the good cause. I also knew it gave me a chance to review some products and to get some fun stuff for myself. So it was a win-win. The consultant at the party was very fun and lively. I will say that she didn't provide much information about the products at all except for bits and pieces in answered questions, and to inform us about a buy 5 get 1 free deal. But she was definitely enthusiastic and fun.

The day of the party comes, and we played a few games. There was an unscramble word game, a "What's your Posh name?" game, and then a scavenger hunt. The Scavenger Hunt, which I won, earned me a free lip balm. After I placed my order, I will say that the consultant never thanked me for my order. She did pitch throwing a party for all of my friends, but in all sincerity, I want my friends to have a different experience. It's like as soon as I pulled out my credit card, the interaction stopped. I don't mean to be entirely critical, but that's where my bias comes in. I try really hard to make my parties fun and engaging for everyone, and I love making a big deal of when people order. I tag them in a Facebook post and compliment their choices. It makes people feel like their money is well-spent, especially if some of it is commission going to the consultant.

Anyway. Here's what I got:

Product #1: Make-Out Magic Sugar Lip Scrub | $14, 0.5 oz
I tried this on my lips and it felt nice. I will say that some parts of it felt scrubbier than others, if that makes any sense whatsoever. It feels good on my lips and it feels moisturizing. It feels like I won't have to reapply after an hour. But I will also say that for a "Lip Scrub", I expected a little more... scrub. Not really a complaint, but I do wish I got more scrub when I dipped my finger in for the first time. It smells really good, though, The website says it's grapefruit vanilla scented. I can smell tiny hints of both of those, but neither is overpowering by any stretch.

Product #2: Calm Down! Oatmeal & Banana Face Mask | $16, 2 oz
Admittedly, when I opened up the box and saw this, I was disappointed in the size. The Body Shop sells face masks that are about 3.5 oz for this price or a little under, so I was expecting a little bigger. However, it smells incredible. I left it on my face for about 7-8 minutes, since the instructions said between 5-10 minutes. It started tingling a little toward the end, but nothing super intense, and no burning or itching. When it started to tingle, I rinsed. It was tough to rinse off. It reminded me of when I bake and I get frosting all over my hands, and how hard that is to wash off. It took a good minute and a half-two minutes to rinse. And I will say I was a little disappointed that I got out of the shower, sat around for a few minutes, and my face was in desperate need of moisturizer. I probably wouldn't repurchase this, given the size and the price as well as how 'meh' I am about it other than the smell.

Product #3: Wakey! Wakey! Skin Stick | $13, 0.5 oz
This is definitely interesting. It smells like peppermint, which is interestingly nice. I thought the smell of peppermint would turn me off, but I did enjoy it. I tried rubbing it on my forehead, and it didn't seem to do much. Granted, I didn't apply it as liberally as the instructions say, but it didn't get rid of my dull headache. The website claimed this was great for energy, tension, and headaches. So tomorrow morning when I drag my sorry butt out of bed at 6:30 AM, I'll give it another fair shot.

Product #4: Good Morning, Beautiful! Big Bath Chunk Bar | 7 oz, $9
The price on this is really good compared to the price on the other things. The bar is substantial, and it seems like it would last a long time. Apparently you can use this from head to toe, which means you can also use it as a shampoo? I think I read that somewhere. I don't quite think I would go that far with it, but it's nice to have a big hunk of soap that smells pretty good. The scent on this one is supposed to be lemon and green tea. The lemon isn't super strong, which is nice. When I used it, I could only really smell the lemon. It does lather up really well and it seems like it would last a long time.

Product #5: I've Been Set Up Makeup Setting Mist | 4 oz, $13
I will freely admit that I bought this 1) because I didn't have a makeup setting spray, and 2) because the website said it smelled like chocolate. When I open it up and take a whiff, it smells strongly of mint. Which is fine, but where is my chocolate? I can't speak to how well this works in setting makeup, because I just took my makeup off, as you can tell by the fact that I said I tried the oatmeal mask in the shower. But I will try it tomorrow and see.

Product #6: The Healer Shea Butter in a Tin | 0.6 oz, $10
I haven't tried this yet, mainly because it's a remedy butter for burns, bites, dry skin, etc. But knowing me and the amount of random bug bites and sunburns I get, this will be handy to have around. I really do want to give it an honest shot before I review it. We will see.

Product #7: Scrumptious Sunshine Lip Balm | 0.08 oz, $4
I won this in a party game, so I didn't pay $4 for this. I would pay $4, though. It smells like oranges, and it's not an off putting orange. The lip balm itself is hydrating, not too sticky, and easy to apply. The smell is not overpowering and it's about the size of a drugstore lip balm or similar item.

Product #8: Walk on the Beach Pedicure Grade Sand Scrub | Free Sample, 0.15 oz
This was a sample included in my order. It was really nice to open my package up and see this! I love samples and I love trying new things, especially a foot scrub! It says it's a beachy scent, which is white frangipani, jasmine, and plum. I opened it up and I was dying to figure out whether I could smell the plum; I've never owned a beauty product that smelled like plum before! I will say that I was so excited that it was a SCRUB. It had sandy stuff in it and I SCRUBBED my feet. It smelled amazing! I could definitely smell the jasmine. I would probably purchase a full size of this if it were easier to get a hold of.

I will also say that the shipping is pretty hefty. $8 shipping is kind of bonkers, especially if you're just getting a couple of things. Yeah, $8 shipping for all of those items seems legit. But if you're getting one face scrub or one soap, $8 is insane, Granted, if you spend $100, you get free shipping, but I couldn't justify spending $20 more to save $8. I'm sorry. I'm not sure how new Perfectly Posh is as a company, but they may want to look into getting their shipping costs down. Even Amazon ships for less than that, and they're notorious for shipping things in absurdly, comically large packages.

So, overall I was pleased with some aspects of my purchase and not so pleased with others. I may try more items from Perfectly Posh in the future, but I will be sure to maximize my purchases to make it worth the shipping cost. I do want to try some more of the lip balms, and the chunk bars. Maybe even some of the masks. I've heard good and bad things about the Stripper and the Sea Witch, but considering their warnings for sensitive skin possessors, I figured it would be best to pass for me.

Subscription Addiction | Birchbox Backup - March 2015

Product #1: Embryolisse Lait creme concentre
This is a nice face lotion. It's not drying, but I wouldn't call it super moisturizing, either. It says it's for all skin types, which makes it a problem. My skin is way way dry. I need the crazy moisturizing and hydrating products. That's the only way I can really keep up with my skin. But, this does its job and I keep it at boyfriend's place so I can moisturize after the shower. I was just glad to get rid of that Mereadesso cream that I used for forever.

Product #2: Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle
I like this product. It isn't my holy grail status product, but it works and I like it. It smells good and it does its job. It was a decent sample size, as well. I've seen a lot from the Beauty Protector brand, and I've heard only good things. So I will continue to use it and see how it goes.

Product #3: Mirenesse Glossy Kiss in Angel Kiss
So this is a deep purple. Not even kidding; it's a deep wine-y purple color. I don't want to swatch it because I know I can't use it, and I want to pass it on to someone who can. Here's the problem. I know that many people can get away with using tons of shades, whether they're everyday wearable or not. The problem is that I'm in education. My principal wouldn't be thrilled with a counselor with purple lips. 

Product #4: Harvey Prince Sincerely
You know how much I love my Harvey Prince! This is an interesting scent - it's a bit spicier, so to speak, than Hello. But I really do like it. I haven't found a Harvey Prince scent I hate yet, so this is a good way to continue on that road.

Product #5: Jelly Pong Pong GLOW GETTER Highlighter
So this is strange. I thought it was a nail polish. It's in a nail polish packaging, like one of those old Bon Bons nail polishes I bought with my allowance in the 90s. I'm not sure how I feel about the product itself though. I just don't know if I would use it.

So this was a 'meh' box for me. I think I'm being picky, but I also think... if something's not wearable or usable, why not be a little bummed?

Subscription Addiction | Boxycharm Backup - April 2015

This is the Boxycharm I have been most excited about in FOREVER. So thanks for that, Boxycharm.

April 2015 Boxycharm: April Bloom

Product #1: Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette
I love the Coastal Scents Revealed Palette, and while the Revealed 2 Palette has several very similar colors, I really do love this palette too. One thing that I appreciate about the Revealed palettes is how many colors there are, and how wearable they are. They aren't bright tangerine, or neon green, or anything strange. I haven't had a chance to try these out yet, but I will soon.

Product #2: OFRA Derma Mineral Powder
I don't know about this one, guys. It's so pink and sparkly, that it's just not for me at first glance. But I will for sure give it a shot. I do need to branch out, and this is an incredible value and I've heard really good things about this product anyway.

Product #3: Vincent Longo Duo Lip Pencil in Lavender Lite/Grape
This went up on eDivv for sure. While the purples are gorgeous, I don't wear purple lipstick. That's the thing about this - if the colors were different, I would definitely give them a shot. But the colors are either purple or bright Barbie pink and I can't get away with those types of colors.

Product #4: Coolway Smoothing Lotion
This is another one of those "Not really useful to me" products. Sure, I'm glad to have this, but it's not something I oohed and ahhhed over when I opened it. I'll give it a shot and see how it works. Can't hurt to try.

Product #5: Harvey Prince Mini Roller Fragrance in Signature
At first this was really disappointing because as much as I love Harvey Prince, I didn't need a third backup of "Hello". But this apparently is the signature scent. So that's a lot better. It smells good and it's in a rollerball size, which means it didn't show up half empty.

Huge Bath & Body Works Haul

I recently hauled a bunch of items from Bath & Body Works. I had a couple coupons, a gift card, and a $10 off voucher from PayPal. There are actually a couple things missing because this is a collective haul. There's three candles that I didn't want to fish out and three body mists that are hanging out in various purses. 

We're moving back in with Shaun's mom at the end of the month, so I wanted to buy some soaps since they were 5 for $18 on sale. She's the kind of person that dilutes hand soap to make it last longer and I'd rather just bring my own. This was also part one of the hand sanitizer haul.

I like to keep hand sanitizer in my apron at work so my hands are always clean, but I also keep one in my bathroom because I touch my phone a lot during my night time routine and pop a little on so my hands aren't germy when I touch my face. I think I'm actually missing a couple in this picture because when I took it, there was one in my purse and one that was already empty.

I've been trying to use lotion every time I shower, so I've already killed one of these and another is almost gone. I don't think I'll have trouble finishing these up and there are a couple other scents I'm considering because I got a coupon for the semi-annual sale. 

These are little mini lotions that I keep in my purse and my apron. They smell really good and they have aloe in them. The lotion also absorbs quickly so I don't have to worry about having sticky hands at work.

I bought some mini fragrance mists for my purse, mainly to spray all over the place after I go to the gym. I've also been keeping one in the bathroom and I sometimes take them in my purse just in case. I'm missing the Maui and Kauai one that I bought after smelling those lotions.

I went a little ham on scrubs for some reason, but they were buy 3 get 3 free and I realized how fast I was plowing through the first one I bought. I definitely don't regret buying so many because they will definitely get used. I can use a good summer scent all year round, but winter scents are a different story.

Last but not least, my candles. There's also three more from a past order. I have plenty of candles, but there's still more scents that I want. I burn candles in my place all the time and I recently finished up five candles, so there's room for more!