Week 11+12 Empties

Just a few things...  

With all the different shampoo and conditioner claims out there, sometimes you just need some moisture.  Well probably more than not.  This Nexxus duo helped my hair out a lot.  Therappe ultimate Moisture Shampoo and Humetress Ultimate Moisture Conditioner.  I do have a back up of these 2 that I will rotate through.  My hair likes to be surprised every other shampoo.  I stocked up when there was a $5 coupon floating around and Walgreens was having a $10 RR with $20 purchase.  

Crabtree and Evelyn La Source Relaxing Bath Tablets.  Ahh...  La Source is my favorite scent from Crabtree and Evelyn, well maybe the Avocado, Olive and Basil line is a close second.  I purchased 2 boxes off these fizzing bath tablets at a Burke Outlet here in town for $6.99 each.  

Avalon Organics Vitamin C Renewal Balancing Tonor.  This is a strange product.  Smells nice, feels a bit tacky on the skin when it dries down.  What makes it so strange is 5-10 minutes after applying it, my entire face turns hot and red like a sunburn.  Not irritating, well I guess this is a major irritation.  It's like a major red hot flush or flash really.  And then it goes away.  I thought that it was my skin getting used to it for the first couple of days of use but it continues for 3-4 months while I used this.  I probably won't repurchase this but I do like the cleanser in this line.  I have one in the waiting actually...

Bath and Body works Aromatherapy energy.  I love the orange scent of this.  It reminds me of my sister -in-law.  She kept a small bottle of it in the guest bathroom and I would always use it.  It took me about 10+ years to purchase my own!  I was lucky to grab this I believe Black Friday weekend for $4 a bottle.  I wish I bought more.  I grabbed other flavors but should have really stocked up at that price.  They are normally $15 for the 8oz tube.  

Suave Advanced Therapy. Good stuff.  Smells nice too.  I don't have severely dry skin nor do I want it so I always lather up!

Just the Basics moisturize shave cream with aloe.  I mentioned this before in another empties post.  I tried to use this again and it still didn't work out.  I did not get immediate razor burn but it was still irritated and I just let my little one play with this bottle like the first one.  3 year olds love to play with shaving cream!

Bare essentials Buxom Lash.  This is a great mascara and it's awesome on the lower lashes.  The wand is huge so you wouldn't think that would be a good option but I can do my lower lashes perfectly with this mascara.  The reason being is that the brush doesn't deposit a ton of product and the formula is a little on the dry side.  I have tried the Clinique bottom lash with the teenie tiny brush but it just deposits a ton of product and clumps up my lashes.  I would love to repurchase this one.

CVS Exfoliating cotton rounds.  I haven't finished them yet, I just emptied this package to put the rounds I a glass jar in the bathroom.  I think the exfoliating side is just a tad too harsh.  I've just been using the regular side.  I had an allergic reaction this week so I've been trying to be as gentle as possible.  I haven't pinpointed the product, it must have been a combination but I do know that the exfoliating side is just a little too rough this week.

Epielle Deep Cleansing Nice Strip x2.  I try to do these twice a week.  Some work better than others.  You need a slightly damp nose.  The moisture has to be perfect I have noticed.  Too wet, it takes forever to dry and thr the glue dries to your nose and rips off the pad as you try to remove it.  Too dry, it doesn't adhere to the gunk.  When you get the conditions perfect, your results are really good!  You can find these at Big Lots, 3 for $2.

Mally Evercolor Poreless Face Defender.  This has some major cracks and discoloration.  It's time to pitch.  I've had it over a year now.  Good stuff and it is mostly used up.  I will repurchase.

Palmers Skin Therapy Oil.  This is in a rose hip scent and it's a very light, fast absorbing oil.  I really like it.  The true test of facial oils for me is if I wake up in the morning and my skin looks normal meaning, not oily/greasy/shiny, not flakey dry.  This facial oil passed the night time test.  I will purchase.

Clarins Day Screen.  I'm on the hunt for a high SPF product.  This one was nice but I'm assuming it's out of my price range!

Indie Lee The Moisturizing Oil in Lavendar.  Indie Lee can do no wrong in my book. All her products are lovely.

Paula's Choice Resist C15 Super Booster.  I accidentally dumped this down the sink so I didn't

T really get to try it to the full extent.  Total Bummer!

I had a few other foil packets that I finished up or some that I had opened a couple of weeks ago, didn't finish and since they were open and exposed, I pitched them.  Like I mentioned earlier about my allergic reaction, I will be switching things up.

I've never had one before but basically my skin was slightly red and bumpy one morning and by that afternoon it had become hot, itchy and spread down to my neck.  Rut ro!

Right now it's Cetaphil cleanser and avocado oil.  Things calmed down quickly (2 days) but I need to add an SPF to the mix and one of the products in question is the only SPF I have right now!  

We will get more into that later!

Hope you had a great weekend!

Week 9 Results!

What I started with:

 

What I ended the week with:

 

Foundation:  Still just loving Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 in 825 Buff Beige.  I think it is just the perfect color for me.  Just the tiniest bit pink, I mean tiny. 

 

BB/CC/DD Cream:  I really liked the Kiehl's BB Cream.  It has an SPF 50 and smells like it does but overall the coverage and color is nice.  I think it will be just a touch too moisturizing for me in the summer though. Maybe they will come out with a CC cream next.  I just love Kiehl's. 

 

Lumene Time Freeze CC is a really nice product.  I can wear it on it's own, it has a semi-matte finish.  The only fault, I need the SPF a little higher than 20 if I am going to wear this in the sun.  The Derma Doctor DD cream was way too dark for me.

 

Moisturizer: I started out with a bare face and spritz a little Urban Decay b6 Vitamin Infused Complexion spray.  Then I followed up with Origins Plantscription.  This is very moisturizing which was needed this past week.  Just the tiniest amount is needed for my skin.  I mostly just used the Lumene CC Cream as my moisturizer.

 

Primer:  Again my Lumene CC Cream was an all-in-one but I also used Clarins Instant Smooth in my t-zone. 



 

Mask: Julep Mask Noir.  I can't get past how messy this stuff is.  It is thick, very black and just doesn't want to rinse off your hands after applying it.  I have seen people use a brush when applying masks but the product is super thick, I don't know how I would be able to wash off the brush.  I do like that it mostly peels off in one sheet.

 

Hair:  I feel like I have this thinning of my hair going on in my crown.  I'm pretty sure my hair has always been like that because a very long time ago someone mentioned it but every once in a while it bothers me so I will pick up some Nioxin products when I see them at Marshall's.  I use the scalp renew infrequently at best.  I have never seen any noticeable results.  Most likely because I don't really have a thinning problem, just think I do.  But I figure I'm taking care of my scalp and my hair is really healthy.  I just got a hair cut and that helps too!  4 inches gone! 

 

I've really gotten into using a heat protectant this past year.  I usually just let my hair air dry but when I do blow it dry or curl it, I will spray some on.  I think when I first tried them years ago they would feel filmy.  The "modern" heat protectants feel so light they are virtually undetectable.  This one by TONI&GUY is like that.  Good Stuff. I have a full size of Tresemme in the red bottle that I have been working on forever and tons of prep sprays from Bumble&Bumble which I always pick up when they have free shipping. 

 

I have been using this L'OREAL OleoTherapy Hair Expertise since December.  I picked it up from Ulta.  I thought it was on sale and I had a coupon.  Turns out the shelf was mismarked or the sign sale hadn't been taken off.  I have forgotten how much it was but way more than I would have paid.  Ulta is always like that for me though.  My bill is always way higher than my mental calculations of what it should be!  That being said, whatever I paid, well worth it.  This product is lovely and my hair looks really nice.  Sure it's the hair cut, but before the hair cut, I had all kinds of dry, split ends, it was a stringy mess.  This hair oil helped to conceal all of that.  Lovely product and I've barely made a dent using it every day for almost 4 months.

 

Exfoliant: Glo-Therapeutics Refresh Facial Polish has a nice fresh citrus mint scent that is perfect to wake up to in the morning.  I really like it.  It has a small but dense grit so it's gentle but effective.  This is officially in my top 3.

 

Makeup: The AVON and mark. palettes were really nice.  I picked them up from an Outlet catalog months ago and this is my first time using them.  I wore them on their own and layered over Maybelline Color Tattoos in 25 Bad to the Bronze and 55 Inked in Pink.

 

 

The mark. drama case opens up in 2 directions revealing liners and eyeshadows.  All the shadows are decently pigmented and I came up with some really nice eye looks this week.  I didn't use the blue or orange in the mark. but I used all the shadows in the AVON Q922 muse quad.

 

In addition to the Balm trio I used Physicians Formula Happy Booster in Translucent as a highlight.  I can't use this all over because it is quite sparkly.  I forgot how dark Bahama Mama was but it blends out really well when used with a light hand and worked out perfectly.

 

So that was my Week 9 products! 

 

One of these weeks I will give you all a tour of my bathroom so you can see where I store everything currently!





Week 11: Weekly Skincare/Makeup Box

Week 11!!! 

 

And Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

 

 

 

This is what I have picked out for this week's weekly skincare/makeup box.  I couldn't decide on an eye palette so we will see what I come up with at the end of the week!

Foundation: Decided to use Revlon ColorStay Whipped which I haven't used in forever.  I love this foundation.  I have it in 3 shades.  150 Buff and 200 Sand Beige work the best for me.  This foundation is very skin-like but can build up fast if you don't sheer it out.  I prefer the beauty blender with this foundation, well with mostly every foundation and BB cream for that matter!

CC Cream:  I have been saving this Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream sample for a while now because I think I'm going to love this CC cream and will want to buy it.  But since I already have 2 other CC creams in rotation, I need to wait!

SPF:  I have about 2 drops of Clarins SPF 40.  Need to finish this off.  It literally (I love using this word!) has rained every day for the last week it seems.  Actually, I think it was sunny on Saturday.  I save this for the days I know I will be outside in the sun.  It's currently rainy and 37 degrees.  Brr!!!

Primers:  Lancôme La Base Pro, Algenist with Alguronic Acid, Smashbox Photo Finish and L'OREAL Magic Lumi for mixing with ColorStay.

Treatments:  I have L'OREAL Youth Code Texture Perfector Serum Concentrate, Kiehl's Cleary Collective Dark Spot Treatment, Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid (Bzz Agent Campaign), Hydroatone Instant Effect 90 Second Anti-Wrinkle Results.  Also Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster which I have a couple drops left.  I dropped this liquid gold in my sink last week, losing most of it.  Bummer.

Eyes: Benefit Stay Don't Stray for eyeshadow/concealer primer, Shea Terra Argan & Green Coffee Around-Eye Beauty Serum for night and Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye gel for day.  I'm trying a new Lash Conditioner and Primer by AVON and I also included LashEm which I always forget to use.  :)  I think this will be the last week for Buxom.  It's really drying out.  Still like it for my bottom lashes though!

Moisturizer:  Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil, Peter Thomas Roth Oilless Oil Squalane Oil and Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil.

Makeup:  Ahh!!!  I didn't pick anything out yet.  We will see what I come up with!  I'm thinking a little something from Flower by Drew Barrymore is in order this week to bring out the sun...  :)

Hope you have a great week!

Week 9: Weekly Skincare/Makeup Box!

March is in full swing and we already have a winter advisory starting at 4pm EST!  Ice and sleet are on the way.  In like a lion, out like a lamb?

I officially started training for a 5k and of course I pulled a hammy.  First time EVER.  Ouch.  Definitely a sign that my age is creeping up on me.  In all seriousness, it's a bit sore after a very diligent stretch.  Hopefully we will be back at it in a couple of days.

I have a lot of fun stuff in this week's box so let's get started!

Foundation:  I really liked the CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous in Buff Beige and Lumene CC cream in light combo from last week.  As much as I want to use stuff up, I'm not going to keep things that do not work.

BB/CC/DD Cream:  In addition to Lumene, I have Kiehl's Skin Tone Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream, Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream, Supergoop! CC Cream (which I have on right now and dare I say I love it!) and DERMAdoctor DD Cream.  I got my B, C, D's covered this week!

Primer:  I have a couple foil packet samples to try of Smashbox.  The regular Photo Finish and the Green Photo Finish with Blemish Control.  I have a larger Photo Finish that I have used before as well.  Algenist Pore Corrector Anti-Aging Primer is in the stash as well. If I finish these, I have Clarins Instant Smooth for back up.  For eyes I have Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and Benefit Stay Don't Stray in light/medium.  I also like to use this under my eyes to help with concealer.

Moisturizer:  If I need a separate one, I included Origins Plantscription SPF 25.  But I think with all the BB, CC and DD creams, I should be covered in the hydration department.  I also have Jack Black Epic Moisture MP 10 Nourishing Oil for the evening to try out.

SPF:  All the BB/CC/DD creams I should be covered, but I included La Roche-Posay 50 since I will be out a lot running this week.  And it will be a staple from here on out! 

Eye Cream:  Estee Lauder is still hanging tough as well as Ole Henriksen.

Serum and/or treatment:  Ole Henriksen Firming and Sculpting Serum, Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Skin Tone Correcting Serum, and Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster.  Urban Decay b6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray kind of smells like hair spray.  Hmm...

Cleanser:  I opened up a Neutrogena Facial Bar over the weekend so that's at the sink.  In the shower I have my Biore Charcoal Cleanser.

Mask: Julep Mask Noir.  I want to finish it this week.  I might be able to squeeze out a couple more applications.  Thick stuff!

Exfoliant:  glo-therapeutics Refresh Facial Polish Facial Scrub.

Makeup:  I'm going to use Boxum Lash, the Balm Bahama Mama as bronzer, Sexy Mama translucent powder, and Hot Mama!  primarily as a blush this week.  I had had this AVON true color eyeshadow quad in muse for a while now and mark drama case which is a eyeshadow and eyeliner palette.  The drama case is unique.  I pull it apart from the side to reveal 6 eyeshadows.  When you pull it apart from the top and bottom, you find 4 eyeliner shadows.  Interesting...

Hair: Toni&Guy Prep Heat Protection Mist

Hands:  My hands are really dry and my cuticles are all torn up so I included Camille Beckman Frecnh Vanilla Glycerine Hand Therapy to help out.

Body:  These will be a single application I'm sure...  100% Pure Coconut Nourishing Body Cream.  I will probably end up finishing my Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter as well this week.

So that's what I have going on for Week #9!  Hopefully I can get through everything.  :)

Week 2 Beauty Box Results

Like last week, a few extra products made an appearance into this week's box.

Let's check it out!


Here's what I started with:

And here's what I ended up with:

Cleanser, Mask, Exfoliant: I really liked the Eslor Introductory Collection sampler packet.  They were generously sized and lasted 3 days!  The Soothing Cream was thicker but absorbed quickly and was non-greasy which is everything that I look for in a winter moisturizer.  The scrub was a bit chunky to my liking, I much prefer smaller granules but it smelled of almond and smoothed my skin nicely.  As well as the mask.  It wasn't overly drying and smoothed everything out.  Like I've said in the last post, I really like using skincare from the same line.  Mixing and matching, which unfortunately I do often, can be detrimental to sensitive skin type so do so cautiously!

Another skincare line that made it into the box was Olay Professional PROx Clear.  I bought this set over the summer on vacation at Walgreens on clearance for $11.  There were 2.  Hindsight, I should have bought both but I had never tried the system before and it's still going strong.  But I usually break this out a couple times a week just to clear out my skin and to make sure its staying clear.  The line boasts Salicylic acid which my skin prefers and responds favorably to.  I do not get the same results from benzoyl peroxide.  This set comes with a cleanser, treatment and a light weight lotion which has a slight silicone feel to it. 

Treatment: In the past few weeks I have been using my ANEW Rejuvenate Glycolic Facial Treatment.  They have reformulated and repackaged this product as of late so this is the old version in blue.  This product works really well.  I use it as a treatment but I wash it off after a couple of hours.  On mornings where I don't have to leave the house immediately, I will wipe my face with a cleansing wipe and then smooth on this treatment.  I then wash it off 1-2 hours later. It has lost it's strong perfumey scent which is a good thing but that also tells me that the product is probably starting to lose its vitality and it might be time to pitch.  I've had it for a very long time.  I've been following this out of the shower or after cleansing with Omojo fine line defense halobios serum.  I also picked this up at Walgreens on clearance during the same trip I picked up the Olay PROx clear set.  I really like light weight serums as they absorb quickly and I cannot feel them on my skin.

Since I've been out of my beloved Caudalie Beauty Elixir and not sure I am going to repurchase because of the alcohol content to be honest...  I had picked up Heritage Store Rosewater a while back and have been testing this out as a finishing spray.  I usually use Urban Decay De Slick but lately I haven't needed anything oil controlling just something to take the powdery look away.  The directions on the bottle do not indicate that this is to be used on the face, but it feels and smells really nice.  Also combined with the following products, it has become this week's complexion dream team.

Foundation, CC cream: Bourjois Healthy mix in 52 is just slightly too dark right now.  So I decided to mix it with L'OREAL True Match Lumi in W1-2, top this off with a setting powder which I had a sample of Meow Cosmetics Purrrfect 1-Sleek in Sphynx and a spritz of the Rosewater and BAM!  This is complexion heaven.  I was left with a gorgeous, poreless, healthy sheen.  I used Kate Somerville IllumiKate CC cream as a moisturizer underneath so I will try to replicate this again and do a separate blog post if I still feel strongly about this combination of products!

Another foundation that made it into the mix this week is Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation.  Not sure why they put "liquid" into the description mix because this is seriously thick stuff.  But if you want a super matte face, I would consider trying this one out.  I only used it once but I see this being in heavy rotation as soon as the humidity returns.  It's been in the 30's and 40's here!  Yowsers!

Primer: I used both the Too Faced Primed and Poreless and Clarins Instant Smooth when I remembered!  I've been trying to use up my Mally Beauty Poreless Face Defender which I have hit serious pan on. I use this over foundation or as a touch up after blotting.  I recently picked up the new CoverGirl truMAGIC Skin Perfector and I will be comparing the two soon for you!

Eye Cream: I'm still using the Arbonne Corrective eye cream sample.  I think I will be finishing it up this week. And I think I have one more use of the MAD Skincare from Week 1.

Eyeshadow & blush: In addition to WnW Comfort palette, I used my favorite L'OREAL Infalliable in Bronzed Taupe.  Its just so easy to sweep it across the lid, blend it out into the crease and wing out some liquid liner and call it a day.  I love the "definer" shade on the left side of the Comfort palette as a liner.  In addition to my mark by AVON blush palette which is not pictured, I used MAC Crew a lot this week.

Like last week, I will just dump the products I didn't use into this week's box.

I didn't get to the Benefit eye cream, Lancôme Dream tone, Guerlain L'Or, Nip + Fab Viper Venom,  and Weleda Iris Hydrating Day Cream.

I have a weekly empties post coming up shortly!

What did you use up this week?  Have you tried the new Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation yet?

Week 2 Box: Weekly Skincare/Makeup Box

Round 2!

Here is my Week 2 skincare/makeup box:

 

Foundation:  Bourjois Healthy Mix in 52.  This might be too dark.  We'll see!  I'm hopeful that I can finish this foundation by the end of the year.  I'm not sure if I have ever finished a foundation before it went bad/expired/separated.  I finished my Rachel K CC cream at the end of last year which was pretty exciting.  They have a new formulation that I want to try but I want to finish up my Dr. Jart BB cream first oh and then my Skin79, and then Pond's Luminous and then Garnier...  It's endless!  :)

Primer: For eyes, Jesse's Girl and for face, Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
Moisturizer: Weleda Iris Hydrating Day Cream and Josie Maran Argan Oil
Exfoliant: Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel

Eye Cream, SPF: Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream and Clarins UV Plus Multi-perfection SPF40

BB/CC/DD Cream: I'm not sure what this is...  It comes in multiple shades, called a tone corrector so I'm going with a CC cream. 

Another treatment: Nip+Fab  Viper Venom Wrinkle Fix with wrinkle blur technology.  Sounds promising!

 

Cleanser, Mask, Moisturizer:  I'm excited about trying this Eslor packet.  I really like using a skincare regimen from the same brand.  I feel like their ingredients coincide with each other/work together and there is no competition among the ingredients.  I worry that some of the products I use in conjunction cancel each other out when you are layering serum, moisturizer, SPF, primer.  So complicated...

This week I will have a cleanser, scrub, mask and cream from the same range.  Nice and tidy.

 

Makeup Category: Wet N Wild Comfort Zone.  Cult Classic.  It has seen better days and side note, this palette is not suitable in a Alex drawer that is opened frequently.  It jostles about and the soft shadows just crumble unfortunately.  No tears here though, I have a back up.  ;)  I haven't used this in forever.

 

I had a couple things from last week that are worthy of using up so I will add them to this week's box as well!

Any new products that you are trying out this week?  Do share!