A Brief Hiatus

I know I've been missing for the past several weeks. It's not like I don't have things to write; I have at least 3-5 posts I need to get out. But this month has been nuts.  First I was on a trip (vacation/work), and since then I've been managing a family medical emergency.

Hopefully things will calm down soon and I can get back to a regular blog schedule.

Until then...

Empties - January 2016

Empties January 2016

Sorry for the delay... I've been traveling and never got my usual photos finished.  I want to get this out for you, because February is already shaping up to be a huge month for empties.  But before that, we have to take care of January.  Here you go!

Makeup

Avon Mini Wash-Off Waterproof Mascara (no longer sold) – Full size.  I have had this in my travel toiletries bag for forever, and it’s time to get rid of it.  I was never a huge fan of this product from the Mark line, either the formula or the brush.  Repurchase: No.

Chella Eyebrow Color in Tantalizing Taupe – Full size from Ipsy.  I was pleasantly surprised by this super skinny pencil.  It was the first eyebrow pencil that I consistently used and it made me realize how easy to use they could be.  Purchase: Yes.

Eyeko London Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Black – Full size from Birchbox.  This was the first black liquid liner that I was able to get to consistently work well for me.  Since then, I’ve found others I like better, but I probably wouldn’t turn this away if it came my way again.  Purchase: No.

It Cosmetics Hello Lashes 5-in-1 Clinically Proven Mascara – Sample from QVC (received in a set/kit).  This is a great mascara!  Purchase: Yes (already have more).

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer – Rippy packet from Sephora.  This is OK, but I like others better.  Purchase: No (will use up others I have).

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara – Sample from Ipsy.  Consistently great mascara.  It is a wet formula, so I usually like it best after about 2 weeks of use.  Purchase: Yes (already have more).

Face Care

Acure Day Cream – Sample from Ipsy.  Love this moisturizer.  It is light but moisturizing, and wears well under makeup.  I am so glad I keep getting samples of this brand’s products.  Purchase: Yes (already have more).

Algenist Firming & Lifting Eye Gel – Sample from QVC (received in a set/kit).  I was so pleasantly surprised by this eye cream.  Unlike so many, it actually made a visible difference!  I just wish it wasn’t so expensive.  Purchase: Maybe.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner Blackhead Extractor Mask – Sample from Ipsy.  This mask didn’t seem to do anything for me.  Purchase: No.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes – Full size.  HG product.  I make sure to always have a stock of these at home.  Repurchase: Yes (already have).

Simple Cleansing Micellar Water – Full size.  So far, this is my favorite micellar water I’ve tried.  I even included it in my January Favorites.  (FYI: Not as big a fan of the micellar water wipes so far.)  Repurchase: Yes.

Supergoop City Sunscreen Serum – Sample from Birchbox.  I like that this is a serum, but otherwise not a fan.  Purchase: No.

The Skin Lounge Pearl Brightening Facial Mask – Full size (1 of 3 from set).  Gentle sheet mask, although I couldn’t tell if it made any real difference.  It felt nice, though.  Purchase: Maybe.

Skincare

BBW Shower Gel in Japanese Cherry Blossom – Full size.  This was your typical BBW shower gel.  Good soap with an average amount needed to wash your body and a nice scent.  Repurchase: Product: Already have, Scent: Yes.

Das Boom Industries Everything Wash in Bay Rum, Smoke & Dirt – Sample from Build Your Own Birchbox. Per the hubby, "Whisky Tango Foxtrot!  I mean, what were they thinking by making a soap that actually smells like smoke, rum, and dirt.  Sure, those are manly smells, but as a former smoker, I find smelling like cigarettes to be awful.  This was totally not the right idea.  As far as soaps go, it wasn't a very powerful soap (i.e. it didn't clean off Sharpie well, etc.).  Purchase: No.

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentre – Sample from Birchbox.  This is a super rich cream, but it didn’t keep me feeling moisturized.  Purchase: No.

Harvey Prince Hello Liquid Loofah Exfoliating Shower Gel – Sample from Birchbox (received in a kit).  This product is mis-named.  With “loofah” and “exfoliating” in the name, I was expecting this to be a scrub with actual scrubby particles in it.  Alas, that’s not the case here.  I don’t see how this is any different than a shower gel.  Purchase: No.

Not Soap, Radio Joy Inducing Bubbles for Bath or Shower – Sample from Birchbox.  Decent shower gel, but I was misled by the phrasing on the bottle; I thought it would smell like lemons and it didn’t.  The hubby really liked this one.  Purchase: Maybe.

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Moisturizer – Travel size (received in kit).  I have really like everything from the kit that this came from, and this was no exception.  Purchase: Yes (already have more).

Fragrance

Clean Skin – Sample from Birchbox.  Of the ones I’ve tried, this is my favorite Clean fragrance.  Purchase: Maybe (already have more).

J by Jennifer Aniston Eau de Parfum – Sample Card from Walmart Beauty Box.  Not bad, but not really my type of fragrance.  Purchase: No.

My Burberry Eau de Parfum – Sample-size gift.  I’m glad a tried a sample of this, because my memory of it was much different.  Purchase: No.

Hair Care

12 Benefits Instant Healthy Hair Treatment – Sample from Birchbox.  I was surprised to find out that this was not a liquid.  I kept using it until it wouldn’t spray anymore, but I think if it was a different format I might have gotten a few more uses out of it.  It worked OK as a leave-in conditioner, but nothing to rave over.  Purchase: No.

Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Repairing Conditioner – Rippy packets from Ulta.  I’m so glad I keep getting Carol’s Daughter shampoo and conditioner samples, because they work well and smell amazing!  I may actually have to eventually but some.  Purchase: Maybe.

Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper Ultimate Hold with Frizz Control Gel – Rippy packet from Birchbox.  The curls this gave me were a lot softer than those I get with most other gels I use.  I just don’t usually use gel that much these days.  Purchase: No.

Hair & Body Therapeutics Renew Conditioner – Hotel sample.  Not my favorite.  Purchase: No.

Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo – Full size.  I tend to wash my hair every day, so I don’t use a ton of dry shampoo.  It took me forever to get through this can.  I don’t think this was the greatest, but I don’t have a lot to compare it to.  I will say it left a white cast which was not pretty.  Repurchase: No.

Pantene Pro-V Conditioner – Hotel sample.  Standard Pantene.  Purchase: No.

Pantene Pro-V Smooth Vitality Shampoo and Conditioner – Hotel samples.  Standard Pantene.  Purchase: No.

Purity Basics Condition Conditioner – Hotel sample.  Not the best conditioner.  Purchase: No.

Temple Spa Good Hair Day Frequent Use Shampoo – Samples from Birchbox and a hotel (x2).  OK but not my favorite.  Purchase: No.

Temple Spa In Good Condition Hair Conditioner – Sample from Birchbox.  OK but not my favorite.  Purchase: No.

Toiletries and Other

AirWick Life Scents Multi-Layered Fragrance in Turquoise Oasis – Full size.  We use this as our bathroom air freshener.  This scent is OK.  Repurchase: Maybe.

BBW PocketBac in Brazil Pineapple Punch and Lush Bamboo Waterfall – Full size.  Pocketbac is HG, but I don’t need these scents again.  Repurchase: Product Yes, Scents No.

CareLine Alcohol Free Mouthwash Blue – Hospital sample.  Mild mint mouthwash with a slight cinnamon taste.  I don’t feel like this works as well as it should.  Purchase: No.

Giveups

Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging Eye Treatment – Sample from Walmart Beauty Box.  This made the skin around my eyes burn.  Purchase: No.

Paula’s Choice Suncare Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 15 for Face & Body (similar here) – Rippy packet from a care package.  This smelled like petroleum.  Normally I try things for several days in case it was just a bad first impression, but I couldn’t bear putting this back on my face again.  Purchase: No.

So, from the looks of it, I had a pretty good month for makeup, so-so with everything else.  Were you able to finish anything you've been working on for a while?

(Sorry about the pictures this time.  I just didn't get them done before I left for a trip, and I wanted to get this out to you.  Hopefully I'll be better next month! J )

Favorites - January 2016

I bounced around through a lot of products in January and honestly, most were either just OK or not that great.  But the ones that stood out were fantastic!  It’s a short list this month, but all are products I can’t live without right now.

• BareMinerals Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara in Intense Black – This mascara does AMAZING things for my lashes!  I swear, it looks like I’m wearing falsies every time I put it on.  I’ve been keeping this at my desk, and there are many times I skip the mascara I have with me and wait until I’m at my desk just to use this one.
• Cargo Water Resistant Blush in Bali – I have been loving this blush this month.  I rediscovered it in my stash looking for waterproof and water resistant makeup in preparation for an upcoming trip, and I’ve been using it absolutely every day.  It’s a great peachy-pink color that isn’t overwhelming but is buildable.  That works out great because I’m not overly confident with powder blush (I’m primarily a cream blush person), which means there’s a lower chance of me overapplying.
• ColourPop Matte Lippie Stix in Lumiere – I love this MLBB matte lipstick.  It’s not too drying and stays on for a good long time (although not through a meal).
• Dr. Denese HydroShield Ultra Moisturizing Face Serum – My skin looks amazing when I use this super hydrating serum with retinol.  Don't be put off because it's an oil; once fully absorbed it's matte.  I had been hesitant to use it since receiving in a QVC Favorites kit, but now I wish I had started sooner.
• LOC Vibrant Matte Lipstick in Glam Life – I have a few dark hot pink/berry shirts that I could not figure out a good lip color to wear with them. Applying this as a lip stain by putting a little bit on then blending in with my finger gives the perfect amount of color in the right shade family without being overpowering or clashing. Most important- no feathering.
• Mary Kay Day Solution Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 35 – I didn't know how good this was until I didn't have it anymore.  By trying to use up my stash, I’ve also been trying out other face sunscreens.  Some were OK, but none have come close to this one.  I really like the serum formula, because then I can choose my moisturizer as needed without affecting my makeup.
• Simple Micellar Water – Again, I didn't know just how great this was until I used something else.  Now, whenever I overhear someone talking about micellar water, I always recommend this.  I’m trying out the wipes now and not quite sure how I feel about them, but I love the water.  I find it very versatile, and have no problem using it on my eyes when I have my contacts in.  It doesn’t remove makeup the best, but it does work nicely as an intermediate step or a quick cleaning.

What products stood out for you this month?

Hospital Visitor Must-Haves

I have spent a lot of time in hospital rooms over the last 4 years.  Too much time.  But in that time, I have learned some tricks to make your time as a visitor a little easier, even if it is one of the hardest times of your life.  

Here are my top 5...

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!  The air in hospital rooms, regardless of the temperature, is incredibly dry.  Add onto that the repeated hand washing and sanitizing and, depending on which hospital unit you’re visiting, other special precautions such as masks and gloves, and your skin will be screaming out for moisture.  I carry a good hand cream and usually a body butter, although sometimes I reach for whatever lotion is closest.  I also carry Aquaphor for when my hands get really chapped or cracked.  

Don’t forget your lips.  Again, depending on the hospital unit you’re visiting, you may not be able to drink in the patient’s room.  You also may have to wear a mask for part of all of your stay depending on the situation.  Make sure to have at least one good lip balm with you, and drink water as often as you can.

Bring your own hand sanitizer.  Hand sanitizer is usually readily available in hospitals, but I have found that it can be very harsh and dry my hands out faster than anything.  (I’ve also learned the hard way not to lick my fingers after using it.)  In my experience, the BBW PocketBac sanitizer works just as well yet doesn’t dry me out nearly as much.

If you’re a critical member of a tenuous patient’s support system, keep a hospital bag packed for yourself.  There will be a future post with my recommendations for this, but in general be prepared for at least one overnight at all times.  Again, I learned this one the hard way.  Don’t forget the deodorant - everyone around you will thank you!

Be able to keep yourself entertained.  The patient is in the hospital for a reason, and may not be able to visit with you in the way you expect.  Remember, you are there to visit with them; it is not their job to entertain you!

Birchbox - January 2016

This month’s Birchbox came with stickers!  The idea was to decorate the outside of the lid with your goals for the year, but none of them really seemed to fit well for me this year.  But I love stickers (I have since I was a kid, but doesn’t every kid? J ) so I know they won’t go to waste.

On to the products:

• Whish Almond Body Butter - Sample size
• IPKN Flash Cream Radiant Primer - Sample size
• LA Fresh Eco-Beauty Instant Body Soother - Sample size of full size wipe
• Cargo Swimmables Shadow Stick in Sea Shell (looking forward to putting this one to the test on my vacation soon) - Full size (at least the size available in kits)
• Ciate Mini Paint Pot in Glametal - Sample size
• Shiseido Ultimune Eye Power Infusing Eye Concentrate - Sample size

Overall, this isn’t a bad month for Birchbox.  I know I’ll get some good use out of the eyeshadow, and the nail polish is a great color for winter.  I’ve had good luck with Eco-Beauty products in the past, so I have high hopes for this one, and hear great things about the other brands.  Of course, you’ll get some mini reviews from me in my empties posts if not before.

Have you tried any of these products before?  Do you get Birchbox?  If so, what did you think of yours this month?

If you haven’t tried Birchbox yet, check them out here. (my referral link)

Ipsy - January 2016

I LOVE my Ipsy bag this month!  I think it is so adorable!  

Ipsy focused on eyes this month, right down to the pattern on the bag.  Besides the bag itself, I’m a big fan of what came in it, too.  I can't believe how many full size products there are!

Included products:

• Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths - Travel size package of full size cloths
• Ofra Eyebrow Pencil in Universal - Full size
• Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Curl Mascara - Full size
• The Balm Mr. Write (Now) Eyeliner Pencil in Jac B. Bronze - Full size
• J. Cat Beauty Blinkle Shimmer Eyeshadow in Tangerine Light - Full size (I believe)

Ofra Eyebrow Pencil

The Balm Mr. Write Now

 

Aside from lip products, eye products are a close second.  I wear eyeliner every day I put makeup on (which is almost every day), and that is almost always accompanied by mascara.

Jelly Pong Pong
Fairy Lashes Curl Mascara

J. Cat Beauty Blinkle

Do you get Ipsy?  What did you think of your bag this month?  What are your favorite eye products?

If you don't know about Ipsy yet, check it out here. (my referral link)

Refresh and Renewal Target Beauty Boxes (January 2016)

Target has been on their game recently with their Beauty Boxes.  Even though they don’t have a subscription service, they have been putting them out on a more regular basis.  Each box is usually less than $10 and has around 7 products, often including one or two full-size ones.

In January, Target released 2 boxes, focused on the New Year: the Refresh box and the Renewal box.  Each was $7, and each contained at least one full-size product of $5-$6, making the box completely worth purchasing.  Additionally, shipping is free, and you get your 5% discount with your red card if you have one.  (Even though the boxes are no longer available, I linked to each of the pages below because they list each of the products and have links to their individual Target pages)

Here’s what was in each box:

Refresh:

• Acure Day Cream (travel/sample size)
• John Frieda Frizz Ease Keraflex Hair Spray (travel size)
• Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion in Almond Oil (travel size)
• Clear Scalp Therapy 2 in 1 Complete Care Anti-Dandruff Daily Shampoo and Conditioner (travel size)
• Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Total Care Nourishing Daily Conditioner (travel size)
• Simple Micellar Wipes (full-size)
• Marlowe Extra Moisturizing Lotion (sample size)
• Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Pads (sample size)
• Scunci Braided Elastic Bands (full size bands, sample size pack)

Renewal:

• Caress Love Forever Body Wash (travel size)
• Attitude 2-in-1 Shampoo (rippy packet)
• Laneige BB Cream (sample with 3 colors)
• Scunci No Slip Grip Braided Headwrap (full size)
• Degree Women Fresh Energy Dry Spray (full size)
• Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer (travel size)
• Attitude Volume & Shine Shampoo (rippy packet)
• Revlon Ultimate All-In-One Mascara (full size)
• Hada Labo Tokyo Anti-Aging Facial Mask (full size mask, single packet)

Based on the number of full-size products included, the Renewal box is a better value.  I’ll definitely be trying out the mascara, and have liked everything I’ve tried so far from Hada Labo.  The kiddo will be trying out the Wet Skin Moisturizer since we’re in the depths of swim season.

However, I LOVE Acure Day Cream and was on the verge of purchasing this for myself before the box arrived.  Also, I have been interested in the micellar wipes since I am a huge fan of the Simple Micellar Water and use wipes every night.  I’ll also definitely use the hair ties included in the Refresh box, whereas, I’m not as sure I’ll use the headwrap.

Either way, these are both great boxes.

Were you able to grab these?  Did you get the same products or did they substitute something?  I think they wound up changing my Clear shampoos for others in the brand since they don’t match exactly what was listed on the enclosed card.  Which do you think is the better value?  Which has more products you would use?

Because this isn't a subscription service, it can sometimes be hard to know when these go on sale.  You can try stalking the Target Beauty Box page, but the most helpful thing I've found has been following the blog Nouveau Cheap.  G. gives great advice and tips about drugstore beauty finds, and I've found some great things through her!