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.

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.

Favorites and Flops: October 2014

I've already delayed this post long enough, so forget rounding all of the items up to get a picture. Not worth the effort. However, I will say that I had way more favorites than flops this month, and it's exciting!

Favorites:

Hands of Hope: Philosophy
This stuff is amazing. It helps my cuticles, and my always-appearing hangnails. I forget to use it sometimes, but when I don't use it, I can tell! My mom gave me this stuff last Christmas, and I finally started to use it. It is the bee's knees.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
I got this in a Smashbox Starter Kit with Birchbox points, and I love it. I will eventually purchase the full size, when I'm not poor and broke and on a Project Pan makeup hiatus. My birthday is now less than a month away, so who knows what's in store?

It's a 10 Miracle Leave in Product
I am going to cry a river of tears when my sample of this runs out. I found out they sell it at my local grocery store (by that I mean, the one a tenth of a mile from my apartment) which is both good and bad. Good, in that the price MAY be more reasonable than at Ulta. Bad, in that it's so accessible and tempting. But this sample has lasted me an age, and to be honest, a huge-ass bottle will probably last me a century.

Neutrogena Moisturesmooth Color Stick in Juicy Peach
This. Stuff. Smells. Fantastic. My co-worker passed it on to me (and it's part of my Project Pan), and I just love it. It smells great, and it looks great on me. It keeps my lips hydrated better than Chapstick does, which says a LOT about this product. I will definitely, definitely repurchase this.

Benefit "They're Real" Mascara
This mascara is great! I'm hashtag-blessed with long lashes as it is, but these make them look a lot better! It doesn't flake, it has good coverage, and it doesn't smudge easily. I highly recommend it. Unfortunately, I only have a sample size, but I'll dish out a little cash for this someday, after I run out of the eleventy-billion mascaras I now have.

Coastal Scents Go Palette - Beijing
This palette came in my first Boxycharm box and it is BEAUTIFUL. The colors are so useful, and some of them are a little more bold than I would normally wear, which is fun! I always reach for the plum purples and some of the browns in it. This palette has been my go-to for eyeshadow lately, and I absolutely love it!


Flops:

NCLA Nail Polish: Model Behavior
This also came in my first Boxycharm box. It was this beautiful grey-brownish color in the bottle. One coat didn't cover my nails, but the second coat took it from that pretty color to a jet black color. I was so disappointed. It also chipped really, really easily. I think I had it on for a day, even with a crazy good topcoat and base coat, and it was a dud immediately. I gave it away; I was really disappointed.

Mereadesso Moisturizer
This isn't the worst "flop" to ever flop. It just happens to break my face out sometimes, along my jawline. I don't know if I'm allergic to something in it, or what. But it makes my face really soft and smooth. I'm trying to determine if it's the different skin care routine I use it with (I leave it at my boyfriend's place; it's a resealable sample) that causes the breakout or the lotion itself. But either way, it's slightly disappointing.

Be a Bombshell Mascara
First of all, this stuff SMELLED. I mean, I know mascara has a smell, but this smelled god-awful. It was brand new, so I knew it wasn't bad. But, after a few hours, it started flaking on me and it was almost dry from the start. I don't know if I just got a dud, or what, but this mascara was disappointing and frustrating. I don't know what about the Be a Bombshell brand sticks in my head as "quality", but I was really let down by this product.


Now that November is almost over, too, I may as well get on making that list...

Empties | September 2014!

So apparently I have a ton of empties for the month and had no idea? Let me get right into it, because I have a lot to talk about!

Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream
I'll spare you a third raving about this from me. I said it in my favorites, I said it in my Birchbox unboxing for the month... it's great. I love it. I have a backup. I will continue to love it forever.

MAC Zoom Lash Mascara (Sample)
Reggie gave me a sample of this years ago, and I remember loving it, so I purchased one off Yerdle for 50 credits and $2 shipping. Thank God, because this mascara ended up being the WORST. It's because it was made in 2008 and was probably used before. The person swindled me, and I've learned my lesson about mascaras without checking up on the person's reputability first. I'm just glad my red, itchy, watery eyes are no more.

Davines OI Shampoo (Sample - Not pictured)
The shampoo worked okay. It made my hair feel clean. I don't have much to say about it other than "it was a shampoo", so I probably won't repurchase.

Davines OI Conditioner (Sample - not pictured)
The conditioner did make my hair feel very soft. However, the full size of this product is too rich for my blood. Thanks but no thanks. The sample packet gave me three good uses, and I will remember them fondly.

La Fresh Oil Free Makeup Remover Wipes (Sample)
These worked well on everything except waterproof mascara and eyeliner. Granted, I guess that's the purpose of waterproof mascara and eyeliner. But, I wiped my face down with these and it got all of my foundation, eyeshadow, lipstick, etc off. When I would look at a cloth after using it, it was filthy. So again, it did its job. Was I blown away by these? Not really. Would I repurchase? I'd consider it. I'm sure there's a comparable brand out there. Makeup wipes aren't something I've found a Holy Grail Brand for yet, so I'll keep an open mind.

K6 Skincare Clean Antioxidant Facial Cleanser (Sample - not pictured)
Things I like about this product: no stinging if it accidentally gets in your eyes. Vegan. Cruelty-free. Doesn't have a crazy smell. Cleans well. Many uses out of the sample. Things I didn't like about this product: pretty much everything else. Honestly, I prefer a cleanser to lather a little bit. Just so I know where I'm cleaning and where I've missed. I also think it was a little drying for my skin. It wasn't anything too crazy, but it was drying. I probably wouldn't repurchase, since I already have two cleansers I love that work great for me.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
This is one of two of my go-to cleansers. It lathers well, makes my face feel moisturized and clean, and doesn't get stingy all up in my eyeballs. It cleans my face well and I love using it with my Clarisonic. It's $38, which is really, really steep, but it lasts forever and works so well that I would seriously consider repurchasing.

Bath & Body Works Mango Mandarin Bubble Bath
I decided to take a bubble bath one night and finished this sucker off. It bubbled quite nicely and smelled incredible. It was after a long and stressful day and I was so pleased to just fill the tub up with the mango-y smell and relax. This didn't smell too citrus-y, but just enough to perk up my senses just a little.

Cover Girl Exact Eyelights Mascara
By the end of the day, there was some major flakeage with this product. My mom gets me one of these every Christmas, and I'm always 'meh' about it. What's with the exact eyelights deal? It's just... mascara. Black mascara that doesn't do anything to wow people with my beautiful chocolate brown eyes or anything. It's plain old black mascara and I wasn't blown away by it.

Secret Outlast Gel Antipersperant
I usually prefer gel deodorant, but I prefer the deodorant I got in my VoxBox better when it comes to controlling my sweaty self. I felt clean with this. It did its job wonderfully. I have a backup and would repurchase it. I think maybe it's just a situational use instead of every single day? Maybe when I go to work or class, this will work, but when I take a Pure Barre class, the other one will work? Who knows.

Philosophy Miracle Worker Anti Aging Moisturizer for Blemish Prone Skin (Sample)
This worked really well. It made my skin feel really really soft. I got 3-4 uses out of the tiny package. Would I repurchase? Probably not. It's too expensive for me. But if someone gave it to me as a gift, I'd be incredibly thrilled to use it again.

Makeup Forever Artist Shadow (Sample)
I like this brand a lot from what I was able to try. The shadows stayed on all day and the colors were beautiful. I like that it told me how to apply it to get a pretty look.  I hope I get the opportunity to try more shadows from this brand because I really enjoyed them!

Bikini Zone Anti-Bumps Shave Gel
This stuff paired with the after shave lotion stuff is awesome. I prefer it as opposed to shaving cream or similar for that area. I rarely get bumps when I use this and a really good razor and I would definitely repurchase, since it's a reasonable price and works well.


The ones that weren't pictured were at my boyfriend's place, but believe me, I used them. I had a lot more empties than I thought I did! A lot of products I used up this month were 'meh' products, or products someone had given to me as a gift that I wasn't thrilled with. There were some good ones in there, though, so it will be interesting to see what October has in store in regards to empties!

Empties! Products I've Used Up + Review

I've been hoarding my trash for the past month or so and today I decided to clean. I really just wanted to ditch this empty containers and packets, so I figured it was time to do this post. All of these products are skin care because those are easier to for me to finish up than makeup items. Also included are some sample packets because I'm finally starting to crack into extras that Ulta and Nordstrom send when you make an order.

Haus of Gloi Lassi Pumpkin Butter: Haus of Gloi is an indie bath and body company from which I own many, many body butters. I've been starting to use up some body butters because it doesn't make sense to have so many. This is one of their spring scents, but I have so many autumn scents that I'm sure I'll have more of these in my next empties. Being a butter, this is on the heavier side so I prefer to use this type of lotion when it starts getting colder. Definitely one of my three favorite brands for lotion. Would I repurchase? Not this scent. I have a 4oz jar waiting for me! But this type of lotion, yes!

Cocoa Pink Voluptuous Body Butter in Pineapple Cilantro: Another of my favorite indie bath and body companies that makes some of my favorite lotions. I have this formula and the Coco Mango formula, which I've found that I prefer. I used this up sometime in the beginning of September when I really wanted a fresh scent. I'm trying to hold out on a sale to stock up on autumn geared scents because shipping is so expensive. I really love these lotions. Would I repurchase? Eh. I like to try different scents, so I probably won't. I'll also probably purchase all my fall scents in the Coco Mango formula.

Paintbox Soapworks Clean Slate Emulsifying Facial Scrub: I included this in my September monthly favorites, which was my new jar. Since a little goes a long way with this scrub and I only use it two to three times a week, I don't exactly plow through this product. I really love that it is the perfect combination of scrubiness and moisture without being overkill. Definitely one of my go to products. Would I repurchase? Yes, and I already have! 

Baviphat Paprika Moisture Hand Cream: This is my cute little bell pepper container up in the picture and it used to be a lotion. Baviphat is one of my favorite Korean brands. This lotion smelled so good, but it wasn't exactly as moisturizing as I hoped it would be. I'll probably depot some scrub or lotion into this cute container for when I travel. Would I repurchase? Nah. I have what I wanted, which is the cute packaging.

Tony Moly Peach Hand Cream: Tony Moly is also one of my favorite Korean brands. This hand cream definitely not even met, but exceeded my expectations. It was one of my first Tony Moly products and I was so in love. This little peach container is adorable and I definitely will reuse it and put like shampoo in it for travel since it's big enough for that. It actually smells like a real peach and it really moisturising. Would I repurchase? I already had a backup waiting for me!

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge: I was getting my trash together when I realized I couldn't remember the last time I changed out my sponge. I do try to toss this every month or so because I don't want bacteria to collect. I also wash this every other time I use it, but the sponge just isn't as good after a certain period of time. I really love this for my foundation and I don't even use a brush anymore for foundation. Would I repurchase? I already have two backups and I try to buy them two at a time just in case they're out of stock.

Roc Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream: I use retinol every night just because. It's easier to prevent than cure, I guess. I've just been using retinol for years. This just happened to be the one I was using and then forgot about and I figured I should use it up because I didn't want to waste it. It's comparable to everything else I've used, but nothing I would do cartwheels over. Would I repurchase? Maybe. It depends. I try to switch around retinols because I don't want my skin to get too accustomed to one concentration.

Alpha Hydrox AHA Souffle 12% Glycholic Acid: I use this every morning and night after toner, so it's no surprise that this is here. AHA supports cell turnover and works hand and hand with retinol. It's a chemical exfoliant. This is the only brand I've ever used and I think I'll stick with it. Would I repurchase? I'm already using another tube and I'd probably get even another one at some point.

Clinque All About Eyes Rich: This was my first high end eye cream and it was sort of on the pricey side. I did like it and I was sad to see it go. I love Clinique as a brand, so it's no wonder that I liked this eye cream. It was very moisturizing, but I don't know if I'd go back to it. Would I repurchase? I have so many eye creams I need to use that I can't even think about buying this again. I do already have another Clinique eye cream and a smaller jar of this one if that's any indication.

Etude House AC Clinic Daily Toner: This is a toner. I liked it. Like every other Korean toner, it's more moisturizing than American ones that strip your skin. I have so many other toners that are comparable, though. This was a sample size one that I got in a set with the cleanser. Would I repurchase? Maybe. I really like the cleanser, so if I can get them together I will.

Philosophy Hope in a Jar: I got this from Nordstom in a sample beauty bag for spending a certain amount of money when there was a more recent MAC collection that I purchased along with some skincare. This was just okay. I liked it more in the beginning. By the last use, I squeezed the tube and some milky liquid shot out, so I'm just calling it empty. It also had one of those strange smells skincare can have sometimes. Would I repurchase? Heck no. For something I wasn't super impressed with, this is wicked expensive. No thanks.

Sulwhasoo Essential Firming Cream: I absolutely love Sulwhasoo products, but they're so expensive. My favorite cream from them is the Ginseng Renewing one that costs a whopping $220 for a 2oz jar! Thankfully, whenever I make any Korean beauty order, sellers throw in a bunch of samples. This is another cream that I like now, which is a double edged sword because I like this one too. This one is only $90 for 2.5oz, but that's still a lot of money! I do have a few more samples of this and it's cheaper to buy the one or two use sample packets on eBay. Would I repurchase? Never the full size unless I hit the lottery, but I'd probably buy one of the sample sets on eBay because you can get 20 packets for cheaper.

Juara Candlenut Body Creme: I got this in my first Birchbox late last month. I'm still not sure what to think about this, especially because it's supposed to be soap and not lotion. I don't feel clean after using it though, so I ended up washing with soap after this. I guess it's moisturizing? I also don't really like the packaging, although I'm sure the full size is packed better. This was in a weird cardboard sample sachet that basically melted in my shower caddy. Would I repurchase? No. And I'm not sure I'd even use my second sample either.

NARS Total Replenishing Eye Cream: This is yet again another sample courtesy of Nordstrom. I really like this eye cream, which I hate to admit. It's $55 for a tube, which I think is ridiculously expensive. I think I'll stick to my combination of Clinique and Korean brands for eye creams. This was my first experience with Nars in general, not just their skincare, so I guess I'm pretty impressed. Would I repurchase? Probably not, unless the price goes down or the packaging changes.

Sephora Instant Moisturizer: I think it's funny that I have this sample from buying a lipstick from someone on Facebook and not directly from Sephora. That said, holy jesus I love this stuff. I even cut the sample packet up to scrape the rest of it out of the foil. It's super moisturizing and it worked so well in conjunction with my Clinique night cream. I actually don't know what I'm going to do without it now that it's gone. This was a huge sample and I got at least a week's worth out of the packet. Would I repurchase? I think I'm going to when I make another Sephora order. When I ordered my Tarte blush palette this past week, I rushed to check out and didn't even think about buying this cream. It's only $22 and I like it, so why not?

My Beauty Diary Chocolate Truffle and Strawberry Yogurt Sheet Masks: This is a brand from Taiwan that I discovered on Sasa when shopping for Korean brands. I bought the Strawberry Yogurt one after using the cleanser and the Chocolate Truffle one because why not? I love sheet masks, but I seriously can't do them when anyone is home because they look so weird and someone likes to make me laugh when I have one on and then I have to readjust the mask. My skin always feels nice and soft after wearing one because there's a lot of serum in these packets. Would I repurchase? I have a few different varieties of masks, including a box that I didn't buy too long ago. I'll definitely buy more, but I won't need to any time soon.

Favorites and Flops: September 2014

I had a few pictures for this post, but they turned out horrible and I don't feel like re-taking them. I'll edit them in later. Although it's not like anyone but Reggie reads this blog anyway, so she probably won't even care that I was too lazy to re-take them. ANYWHOO.

Favorites:

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Hair Mask
I got this in my first Ipsy bag (which I haven't reviewed yet; I will, I swear, I've just been so far behind!), and I was really really impressed with it! It has a very very slight coconut smell to it, and it goes a long way for such a small jar. I've already used it three times and I have maybe two more uses in my original jar. I traded for a backup on eDivv because I loved it so much!

Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream (Acai Grapefruit)
Okay, so it's kind of weird that I love this shaving cream so much. I got it in my Birchbox and I have been so obsessed, I traded for a backup on eDivv for this one, too. First, it's really moisturizing. Compared to my standard Skintimate, it's ridiculously moisturizing. It smells incredible, and it really gets my legs smooth. I found that I didn't get cuts as often, either. I will say that it's tough to figure out if you've missed spots, but paired with a really nice razor? I'll take it. Any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Just Release Me Eye Makeup Remover by Philosophy
So I had some Sephora points I needed to use (from like, years ago. Years, you guys), and I was looking for something to spend a little bit of money on so I could also redeem some points. I didn't have an eye makeup remover, and decided to try this one out. I love Philosophy products, and this was no exception. It works incredibly well. I can fill up 5-6 cotton balls of eye makeup, on both sides, and still be getting eye makeup. When the cotton ball shows up clean, it's a pretty safe bet that my eyes don't have any makeup anymore. It's oil free, which is great, and it's huge for the price. I got mine on sale for $12, but Ulta sells it for $18. Not bad, not bad. I will recommend that if you use it, you should wash your face or take a shower right afterward because it can be a little... oily isn't the right word, but it leaves a residue. A makeup remover wipe would be better for touching up.

Benefit Gimme Brow
I've been getting my brows done at Ulta lately, through the Benefit brow bar. This introduced me to Benefit products, and Benefit gimme brow. I'm strawberry blonde with way, way light eyebrows. I've never done anything with them before other than shaping/waxing, but this is an awesome product. It's teeny tiny, but it will probably last me ages. I only need one dip to swipe both of my eyebrows (it's a mascara like wand for application) and I'm good to go. It's nothing dramatic or fancy, but it fills in my brows at a light spot and I really enjoy it.

Noir Cosmetics Long-Wear Eyeliner
The best eyeliner ever. Hands down. It legitimately stays on all day. It goes on smoothly. I don't feel like I'm poking myself in the eye when I put it on. It's a nice jet black. I don't know what else to say about it besides um, best eyeliner ever.


Flops:

Lush Honey Vanilla Lip Balm
Everything about this is kind of disappointing. My boyfriend hates the smell (that's half of my opinion, if he likes the smell), the texture is strange, and it tastes odd. I'll finish it, because it mildly helps my lips, but I'm disappointed with this purchase.

LAQA & Co Lip Lube
I got this in my Birchbox. The coral color was beautiful and I liked the texture of it! However, it left the worst colored patches on my lips in the dry areas. Maybe I need a lip primer underneath. I did try using a light lip balm underneath and the color wouldn't stick. I guess I just need to find the right combination of products to use with this lip color.

Wet n' Wild H20 Proof Liquid Eyeliner
I will give them this: It was H20 Proof. For sure. It was very hard to manipulate, however, You can read more about my frustrations in the Rosie the Riveter #TBT post, but I won't repurchase this. I will use it up, no doubt, but I won't repurchase it. Ugh.

Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer
So, I have a confession. No, not the Usher style confession. But, I used to be really lax about moisturizing my face. I had dry skin to the extreme, and nothing seemed to make it better, so I just kind of gave up until I found something that worked for my face, which is the Benefit total moisture face cream. The whole Benefit line is much more gentle on my face than this crap was. I'd been using it for a long time, trying not to waste it even though I had something better. So, I took it to my boyfriend's place and used it there. Um, wow. The breakouts. I had a breakout after one day of using this. To be fair, it is on the older side, but for an acne-prevention moisturizer? Sucktastic.


I'm hoping October will bring more enjoyable favorites and less flops. But September was my first full month of makeup addiction, so I'm sure I'll have many more to post come November!

Ten Products I Regret Buying

Everyone inevitably buys a few things they let sit around and collect dust. As someone who likes to try new products on a regular basis, I have plenty of things kicking around that I either regret purchasing or dutifully use and will definitely not repurchase.

These aren't in any particular order, so I'll try to follow the way they're arranged in the photo.

Kuan Yuan Lian Acne Deep Sodium Salicylic Milk - Okay, this isn't necessarily the worst thing I've ever bought, but it doesn't really work and the actual product is extremely watery. I've used more than half of this and I'm definitely not buying it again. I already have a fairly decent acne product line from Etude House that I prefer. 

MAC Prep+Prime Skin Base Visage - I've used this plenty, but I really don't think a lotion based primer with subtle glitter is worth $30 because...THIRTY DOLLARS. Why did I buy this again? I don't even know if I want to finish it off because I'm really loving my new Smashbox primer.

Holika Holika Wine Therapy Sleeping Pack in Red Wine - I originally thought the packaging for this was cute, because it's a wine barrel. There is another type of this sleeping pack made with white wine for acne prone skin, which I'm sure I would have liked better. I bid on both through eBay and ended up with this version. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's like smearing grape jelly on your face. Do not like. Will not finish. Won't even try the white wine one, which is lotion and not a gel.

Philosophy Purity Cleanser - I bought the very small bottle of this to try out when Nordstrom was having a site wide beauty sale. So many people talk about this cleanser so I thought I'd give it a shot. It's an all right cleanser. It gets the job done, but I wouldn't be interested in a larger size. The small 3oz was $10 before my discount and the next size up is 8oz at $23! I have more than enough cleansers to last past the new year so I don't need to buy this one again.  

Lioele Water Drop Sleeping Pack - This is one of those products that will probably get used but won't be repurchased. I'm not even kidding when I say it was one of my first Korean skincare products. It was great when I bought it and the water drop effect was really cool, but it isn't as moisturizing as my other night creams. I only use this when I'm staying somewhere overnight and don't want my face to be a greasy mess when I wake up. 

Inglot Lip Palette - Don't get me wrong, I love Inglot as a brand and I also really like the lipsticks I own from them, but I seriously never use the THREE lip palettes that I own. It has nothing to do with the colors or formula, I just prefer a lipSTICK to a lip palette. I don't like using a brush and touching up lips with an entire palette is just a pain. I'm actually sad about this one because I do like the colors I own and these were pretty spendy.

Milani Shadow Eyez Pencil in Champagne Toast - I hate this. I used it once and couldn't get even color on my lid. I figured this would be more travel friendly than a pot of cream eye shadow, but it didn't work for me. The color that did get on my lid never set and I had to take it off. I like other Milani products, but I won't be trying this in any other colors.

Sigma Eyeliner in Focus - I could not get this to show up on my eye no matter what. Maybe it's because it's a lighter shade, but it swatched great on my hand. It also dragged when I tried to apply it to my lower lash line and was gone almost immediately. I have another color in this formula and I don't hate it as much as this one.

MAC Beauty Powder in Shell Pearl - I have a decent amount of MAC products, so it seems appropriate to not like them all. There's a few I've sold and plan on selling, and this is the next one in the pile. It's just not my color and it's way too shimmery for my cheeks. 

But that's only NINE, you say?

Never fear, I also regret buying pretty much every lip product I own from Covergirl and Revlon. It's honestly not that I hate these, it's just that I never wear them. I guess I hate the Covergirl ones more because they've dried out a bit and now slide out of the twisty tubes, whereas the Revlon ones don't. I've never had good luck with Covergirl products in general so this doesn't surprise me. I also don't wear lip gloss anymore, so it seems silly to own so much of it. I think since I only wear lipstick when I'm working that I'll try wearing lip gloss when I'm not. I just hate trashing products that I've spent money on. 

That's it. I'm sure a favorite post at the end of the month with redeem some of these brands listed here.