March Monthly Favorites

I know. I know. I haven't posted in forever. But that's okay. This is the monthly favorites post and one of the only posts a month to even matter. I think I may need to post some recent buys and I will have an empties post coming up soon.

Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner: Oldie but a goodie. This is my favorite toner and I'm already halfway through this bottle. I think because I've been using only this toner that I might start using some others that are almost gone so that I can get rid of some things before we move.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater: I've had this kicking around for a few months and I've used it off and on. I had been using Fix+, but I like this to take away the powdery look on my face and it's much less expensive than the MAC one. The only thing I don't care for is the strong smell, but it does go away.

Clinique Acne Solutions All-Over Clearing Treatment: I've been mixing this with my Benton Snail Bee Steam Cream that should have probably been in this post, but was forgotten. I think the benzoyl peroxide in this helps keep my skin clearer than salicylic acid.

Skinfood Milk Shake Point Makeup Remover: This is a dual phase makeup remover that I end up using daily. When I ran out of my Missha cleansing oil, I opened a new one that doesn't take off my mascara and also burns my eyes. What I've ended up doing is not even using the cleansing oil and I've just been using one cotton pad of this to take off all my makeup. I'm sadly almost out of this and may have to just try another different cleansing oil. 

Missha Super Aqua Fresh Cleansing Milk: This is not the cleansing oil I was just talking about, but it's the same thing. It doesn't take off my eye makeup at night, but it's a great waterless cleanser for the morning. I used this when my skin was really dry and I didn't want to strip it with soap. I also use this as a hand cleanser when my hands are dry since it is like a lotion.

Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser: I've been using this cleanser off and on since I bought it in the summer, but I really liked it this month. I felt like I had been wearing more makeup and this cleanser really deep cleans and chemically exfoliates. I try not to use it more than 2 or 3 times a week because I don't want my skin to get irritated.

Skin79 Super Plus BB Creams in Green and VIP Gold: I should have included my beautyblender again this month, but I took pictures quickly and forgot. I just want to reiterate that I'm super surprised that these are still around. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do when these both run out, so I'm not complaining. I feel like nothing else blends like these BB Creams, but I know I'm going to fall back on my Face & Body foundation in a month or so. I've also been loving the green one under my eyes because it's a lot lighter and blends really nicely under my eyes.

MAC Skin Base Visage: I keep thinking this is also going to run out. I'm waiting for my skin to be ready for a silicon based primer and have been using this for a couple months now. I really like it, so I'm not complaining. I've been putting this on immediately after my moisturizer and then waiting for everything to dry down a bit and I've been pleased with those results. 

L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara: This mascara has been so good to me that I haven't even touched the YSL mascara I received from Influenster. I love the brush and the mascara keeps a curl without being crunchy and isn't too difficult to remove at the end of the night. I know I need to move on once I run out, but I'll definitely repurchase this at some point and see if it contends with the MUFE mascara I also loved.

theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer: I wanted to branch out on highlighters this month because I had only been using this one and the Bobbi Brown for as long as I can remember, but this sits in the front of my organizer. I really like this highlighter for when I'm feeling a strong golden look. I even wish it was a little less pigmented sometimes.

MAC Lightscapade: This is an all time favorite highlighter of mine. I had been using a lot of pink blushes, as you'll see in the next images, and this gives a beautiful pink iridescent glow. I have talked about this before, but I love it. This is the original release of Lightscapade, which gives more of a pink iridescence than the newer releases that come off more beige.

Darac Beauty Sifted Blur Complexion Perfector: I hadn't used this in a couple months and then I used it with my beautyblender to set my under eye concealer. In just a couple weeks, I hit that pan in the middle and now I'm considering purchasing a backup because the brand doesn't exist anymore. I've been setting my entire face with this powder and a damp beauty blender and it is perfection. 

MAC Golden Bronzer: I've been using Golden instead of Aphrodite's Shell because I wanted to branch out a bit and this has more apparent shimmer. You can kind of tell from the pan that the rings are starting to show, so I may end up hitting the pan on this bronzer soon. I've only ever done that with face powder and this is in limited edition packaging, so I don't know how I feel about it.

Vincent Longo La Riviera Sun Face and Body Bronzer in Beauty Sin: I was really enjoying this bronzer this month because I was trying to use other products. I don't know if this is going to be my summer color because of how light it is, but I do like how it blends and I already have a dip in the pan.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Achiote: I really love the color of this blush. It's really effortless and just a dab is all you need. The color blends really nicely into bronzer. I love all of my Tarte blushes, but I actually think this one is my favorite.

Estée Lauder Peach Nuance: I love this blush more and more whenever I use it. I feel like I would use it more if I had just ponied up the extra cash to buy this in a compact and not just a loose pan. I never regret wearing this color and the gradient makes it easier to blend. 

NARS Albatross: I hadn't touched this highlight in so long that I almost forgot what it looked like! I was really digging the yellowish sheen it gave me and it was a nice change from pink or gold.

NARS Hungry Heart: This was another highlight I reached for all month that I didn't use for a bit. I was really into glitter for part of the month and this is a really glittery highlighter. I ended up pairing it with glittery blushes because why not be overkill?

NARS Angelika: This is one of the glittery blushes I wore this month and I've talked about this color before. The color itself is really flattering and the glitter doesn't come off really strong, which is why I like pairing it with a glittery highlighter to amp it up.

NARS Super Orgasm: I haven't talked about this blush before because I've barely touched it. For some reason, I didn't think I would like it because of the chunky glitter. The glitter doesn't translate on the skin as much as it looks like it would and the color is a nice peachy pink. I really loved this blush this month, but I think I'm taking a break from the glitter bomb cheeks.

Prada Candy L'eau: I was skeptical about getting Prada Candy, but I really love the L'eau version, which is the EDT. I wore this scent a ton this month and I only ordered it in the beginning of the month. I'm surprised by how much is gone and this is only a 2.7oz bottle. I may need to cool it on this scent and use others. I've been trying to wear them all evenly, but who am I kidding?

Burberry Brit Sheer: Burberry Brit was another scent I saw everyone raving about, but I didn't care for the notes. The Sheer version, however, was another thing. I really love this scent. It's crisp, clean, and fruity without being overkill on the sweet or smelling like laundry. This was another scent I wore a ton this month.

Marc Jacobs Lola: I'm still on the fence, but I might like Lola more than Oh, Lola! and that's saying something. I originally bought Oh, Lola! in the 3.2oz because I thought I would love it. I do like the scent, but I bought Lola in the smaller 1.7oz bottle because I didn't think I would like her as much if at all. I read reviews saying that if you liked Lola, you wouldn't like Oh, Lola!, so that worried me. I ended up buying this smaller bottle used on eBay, like with Oh, Lola! However, I ended up loving Lola and wore it a ton this month.

DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom: I think I may have mentioned it somewhere, but I actually prefer Fresh Blossom to the Red Delicious that I bought a couple months back. I wore this at the end of February and through March. I really like that it has the perfect balance between being sweet and floral and this actually happens to be one of the scents I get complimented on the most at work.

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.

September Monthly Favorites

I have no idea if this is a lot of products for the month because I've never really done a favorites post before, but these are all the things I've loved this month. There are a few more things I wanted to include, but since I just started using them within the last week or so, I didn't think it was fair. If I continue to like those things then they'll definitely be included next month.

First up, I have blushes and bronzers. 

MAC Aphrodite's Shell - I've used this bronzer almost every day this month. This was something I regretted not picking up from the Alluring Aquatic collection...and then I bought it for $10 less on a buy and sell group on facebook. This is by far one of the better bronzers that I've used and I've kind of gotten the hang of bronzing thanks to this.

MAC Sea Me, Hear Me - Once again, something I regretted not buying from Alluring Aquatic and then purchasing elsewhere. I used this the beginning of September and most of August. I love the color and sheen of this blush. It does have to share the spotlight since I have enough blushes to not use the same one every day.

MAC Pink Sprinkles - I bought this Simpsons blush after Sideshow You and ended up using it more than Sideshow You. Even though I did love both the Simpsons blushes, I feel like this one was a better color for the month. I love all my blushes, so it's hard to pick favorites since they can't all be in a post.

Estée Lauder Peach Nuance - Admittedly, I didn't use this too much this month but I love it so much. I loved it the minute I opened the package. Is love at first sight a thing for a blush? I realize I've only owned this for like, 2 weeks, so I'm completely jumping the gun on this one. But it needed to be here. Because it's fabulous.

Sigma F50 Stippling Brush - I'll be frank about this one. I got this brush for free. Sigma sent me it as a free when I ordered three eyeliners that I dislike so much and can only locate the most hated one. I don't own any other Sigma brushes, but I've always wanted to buy some. Anyway, this is the most perfect blush brush in my life. I had been using an angled blush brush, but I decided to go back to this one when using a super pigmented blush. It's great at diffusing out the color so that it's perfect. I want to buy a million or another one, but it's $26 so...no. I'll just wash this a bunch. It doesn't hold color since the hairs are so wispy.

MAC Face and Body Foundation in N1 - Let me first say this: I have not used another foundation since buying this. I've tried mixing it with other foundations and BB Creams, but I haven't used anything else. It's not heavy on the skin and it gives a nice, natural finish. Everything else I've use makes my face look like I have makeup on and it breaks up at some point during the day. I've currently been mixing in Illamasqua Skin Base, but I can't consider that I favorite since I've only used it three times. The only downside to this foundation is that I think I'm going to plow through it. It's on the watery side so I have to use a bit more to cover my face. But you get 1.7oz and the standard foundation is usually 1oz, so I think that will balance out.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser - This is the pink brightening shade. Sometimes I'll use this alone and other times I'll dab it over another under eye concealer. I don't think it really covers up, but it does a good job concealing darkness and brightening. It doesn't settle in my eye creases and if I'm feeling brave, I don't have to set it with powder. I also like the foam applicator. It's supposed to be antimicrobial and I prefer this to the brush style clicky pens. 

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer - This is what foundation dreams are made of. I also have a Maybelline version of this primer, but I feel like this is just better. The Maybelline one will pill up on my skin a little bit if I use it too close to when I applied moisturizer, but this one doesn't. I'll probably buy another or a larger size when I run out, but it seems like it's going to last a long time. I just love that it makes my face feel smooth and that smoothness translates into my foundation also feeling smooth.

Tony Moly Panda's Dream Goodbye Dark Eye Corrector - This isn't a concealer, although I thought it was when I purchased it online. It's a white lotion based primer, similar to the feeling of MAC's Prep+Prime. I do like using this under my eyes for a little more slip and moisture during the under eye concealer process. I feel like my concealer holds up better when I use this.

Innisfree Mineral Stick Concealer - This is something I rediscovered when I was going through my makeup organizer. I was starting to fall in love with MAC's Studio Finish concealer when I found this and I like it better. It's a perfect match for my skin and it covers dark spots really well. It's also less messy than a liquid concealer or a cream concealer. I also love this to carve out my uneven bottom lip when I wear a dark lipstick. 

It's Skin Babyface Soft Bright Eye Stick - This is another concealer I rediscovered by accident. I was rushing to pull my Innisfree stick from the organizer I have my concealers standing it and this one came out instead. I didn't really have time to look for the other one, so I just used this. It also covers up dark spots well and I think it's neck and neck with my Innisfree one because I can also use this to brighten. It isn't straight pink like the Maybelline, but it's just pink enough to match my skin.

MAC Dirty Blonde Brow Gelcreme - This is basically the only thing that I put on my brows every day. I'll comb my brows into shape with a spoolie, apply this with light strokes with my 208 or 266, and then comb out the extra product. Sometimes I'll top this with a red powder if my hair is really bright or with a tinted brow gel if I just need a little more hold. This is excellent. I'm surprised I hated it at first, but now I'm in love.

Baviphat White Grape Lifting Yogurt Cleansing Foam - I was going through a box of skincare when I rediscovered this cleanser. I really like using this with my Clarisonic because it's nice and creamy. I'll sometimes mix this with a light salicylic cleanser, but I mostly just use it on its own. I'm sad that it's almost gone, but I have so many cleansers I need to use up that I can't repurchase right now.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion - This is seriously my knight and shining armor. I just dab this on any breakouts I have at night and they're usually reduced in the morning. The only downside is that this is pink, like calamine lotion, so it's definitely not discrete at all. It also isn't a miracle worker, but it does help. 

Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer - I've used this every night since getting it and I love how moisturizing it is. I'm also wondering if this is what cleared my skin up this month since I haven't really been using any acne products, but I don't think that's what the purpose of this moisturizer is.

Paintbox Soapworks Clean Slate Emulsifying Facial Scrub - I only use this in the shower a couple times a week because it's a little rough and I don't like taking it off with a washcloth because of the sugar grains. It's basically a polish for your face and it leaves my skin nice and soft after I use it. It also has really great ingredients like tea tree, and I love tea tree.

Anosa Tea Tree Herbal Toner - Speaking of tea tree, here's another. I use toner twice a day and I prefer and recommend Asian style toners. American toners are drying and strip your skin. These toners just add that little bit of extra moisture and don't dry out my skin.