Week 8 Empties!

Quite a few empties this week.  Progress...

I will mention the most memorable. 

I loved the Philosophy lip gloss in the silver pot.  It was the perfect pale pink color and plumped the lips.  I loved the packaging.  It was small, sleek and had a nice mirror on the inside. If I can find this again, I will definitely repurchase.  This was $3 at Big Lots last year.

I finished both the Freeman Beauty eclos cleanser and hydraPrimer.  Both of these came in a Klout perk gift.  I still have the pot of PM moisturizer which I love as well.  I have seen this kit at Rite Aid just under $30 I believe.

Donna Karan Cashmere Mist deodorant.  A have turned a few members of my family onto this gem.  I will have to repurchase for the summer.  If you haven't tried this yet and have tried everything, give this one a go.  You won't be disappointed.  It wasn't my favorite scent at first but I don't even smell it anymore.

I poured the rest of my Urban Decay deSlick into a smaller travel size one to save space. 

I mostly used the Pantene Beautiful Lengths conditioner to shave my legs but my daughter really liked it because it made her hair very soft.  In fact she liked the combination of the Avalon Organics Peppermint shampoo and this conditioner as her "ultimate combo."  She is so cute.  I found both Avalon peppermint shampoo and conditioner to not have enough moisture for my hair.  I did like the peppermint smell.

The VO5 shower oil was not as moisturizing as I remember the hot oil treatments back in the day but I also have dryer color treated hair.  Just not enough moisture for me.  I have another one in the shower right now.

Benefit Eye Potent Eye Cream is a nice eye cream.  I only had enough to try for a week but I think it might be worth purchasing a full size.

40 Carrots Papaya Mask is definitely in my top 10 of all time favorite masks.  I will be looking at repurchasing this one for sure.

I thought that the Murad Cleansing wipe was very thorough and leaves a fresh, cooling tingle...  I will repurchase.

Week 7: Weekly Skincare/Makeup Box

This is what I have been using so far this week and its already flying by!

Foundation/CC cream:  A little more than half-way through the Bourjois Healthy Mix.  It's going on more than 2 years old I believe.  This is in 52, Vanilla. Love this foundation. I also picked up AVON's new Ideal Flawless CC Cream. I must say that I am already impressed.  As far as coverage, not much, but I am hard pressed to believe it actually has an SPF of 50.  It is light, absolutely no greasiness.  It has a matte finish and dries pretty quickly, no tackiness at all.  And there is absolutely, positively no smell at all.  No hint of perfumes, sunscreen, nothing.  So far so good!

Primer:  Even though I put one in my box every week, I use them once of twice.  So I will just use the CC cream as my primer, as is its intended purpose anyway! I did throw in Too Faced Primed and Poreless just in case.  :)  I will continue using UD Eyeshadow Potion this week as well as the last 2 weeks!  The  Boost-it Complexion Enhancer kind of acts as a primer, so I will throw it in the mix as well.

Eye Cream:  I thought my Estee Lauder Serum was dunzo but I actually can get a little more out so I will continue to finish up that and also I have Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel to try out.

Serum/Moisturizer:  I had some success with facial oils last week when my skin took a turn so I will continue that this week.  My face just responds better to facial oils.  Creams and lotions can be clogging for me. I have had L'OREAL Age Perfect Glow Renewal sample kicking around.  I also have one more foil packet of Lancôme DreamTone left over.  I'm not sure if I am supposed to be using 3 as it says "Dark" but the last 2 didn't really seem to have any color so I will just slap it on and see!  I also included fresh Umbrian Clay Mattifying Serum this week.  It's supposed to be in the 70's this weekend.  I've had no issues with oil at all this winter.  I have been wondering if my skin has changed, but there has also been zero humidity. 

Body Moisturizer:  I have a few body lotions hanging around including these foil packets.  Time to use them up this week.  I'm getting low on my last tub of Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter.  I need to finish up everything before I repurchase!  Discipline.

Treatment: Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution:  I have a spot that keeps popping up on my forehead which I first noticed 2 days after my 30th birthday.  I would like to call it a freckle...  I will see if this can finally wipe it out!

Cleanser:  I'm nearly at the end of eclos am + pm skin prep Cleanser.  Its a nice cleanser.  I think it will last another week and a half.  I also have a sample Murad Cleansing wipe to try out this week too.

Exfoliant:  One more packet of Wei Pomegranate buffing beads, which is more like a gritty powder and a packet can be used twice!  Good stuff but I have rice powder that works just as well that I can mix in with my cleansers.  But these are in a very convenient packet. 

Mask: 40 Carrots Carrot + Papaya Facial Mask.  This is one of those items that I wish I had the foresight to grab two of when I picked it up at Marshall's.  I really like this mask. 

Makeup:  the Balm and the Beautiful!  I have never used the cream blushes with this palette but I will try this week.  This palette has it all, blues, greens, pinks, neutrals.  Good stuff.  I also temporarily lost my L'OREAL Voluminous Lash Out Butterfly Mascara so I had to open up a Boxum sample last week.  Wow.  I will use it again this week.  On the fence about which I like better, but I would probably go with the one that is least expensive...  However, using the Boxum on my lower lashes is EFFORTLESS.  That might be the deciding factor.  Physicians Formula Powder Palette in Creamy Natural is the powder I will try to reach for this week as well.

So that is what I have going on this week!

What are you trying out this week?

Week 2 Empties!

I got through a couple of products this week so here's a look at this week's trash!

Just a few things and samples from this past week.  Eslor is a brand that I am going to look further into.  I really liked using the range this past week. 

I stretched the Eve Lom Rescue Mask into 2 applications.  Love that stuff!  I will definitely be purchasing a full size.  It's a couple of dollars cheaper than Glam Glow and it has the same smell and feel to it.

I felt like it is time to toss the Konjac Facial sponge.   That is the shriveled green thing in the photo.  Konjac sponge is from the root of a plant that grows in Korea and has been used in Japanese skincare for over a 1,000 years. Boscia has one in their range of products for $18 at Sephora. 

From the Sephora website:  "It is naturally alkaline and balances the acidity of the skin’s impurities and oils while being enriched with protein, carbohydrate, iron, phosphorus, copper, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and folic acid. Gentle enough for the most sensitive skin types, this naturally deep-cleansing, pH balanced sponge can be used throughout the face, neck, and even the very delicate undereye area."
I grabbed mine off of Amazon back in October for $6.99 and there are a lot of sellers so just search for Konjac sponge.  It takes a few weeks to get here.  Mine is of the green variety.  The Boscia one is white, they also come in black.  It came sealed in plastic and wet.  I found it a bit odd because it wasn't what I expected but really liked using it to cleanse my face.  They last about 3 months and mine started to have a different scent so I knew it was time to pitch.  I kept it wet basically hanging in the shower and rinsed it thoroughly after using.  I used it every other day or so in between using my Clarisonic.  I will be ordering another tout de suite.  In fact, I just did!  Still $6.99! :)

I have one more packet of AVON makeup cleansing wipes.  These really and truly take off the makeup.  They are pretty amazing.  I do notice they leave my face with a "funny" feeling, I'm not sure what ingredients have changed.  I don't notice it if I used them often but when I go back to using them for a night, the feeling is really noticeable.  It's more than just cooling, almost numbing.  Its a little eerie.  I should probably check the ingredients and figure out what it causing it!  But they work amazing.  The towel is just the right amount of thickness to moisture content.  Right now I have a packet of yes to Grapefruit Correct & Repair Brightening Facial Towelettes.  We will see how they compare...

Almay Oil Free Gentle eye makeup remover is just that.  It works well.  I still like my Rimmel or Boost No 7 cleansing water.  But this one is definitely one that I know works and can buy in a pinch.

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser is another trusted cleanser.  I was reading somewhere (really need to find that article) that oily skin should avoid foaming cleansers so I used this mostly for my back and chest when I was in the shower.  It cleanses well, doesn't seem to over dry.  I will repurchase.

Erno Laszlo Shake-It in Neutral is a product that I did a ton of research on prior to purchasing.  There really aren't a lot of reviews out there.  I couldn't figure out what color to order and finally decided on Neutral as I read it was almost universally flattering on lighter skin tones and I agree.  In the summer when I might be at my darkest, this is a touch pink.  It matches me well now.  I used this sporadically over the past year and a half.  Quick description; it's an alcohol based toner with pigment.  The pigment sinks to the bottom of the square plastic bottle so you have to shake it to incorporate the pigment into the liquid.   So I would take a cotton wool and dab it on my face over my makeup when my skin needed a refresher.  It dries within a few seconds and you can take a brush and buff the left over powder into the skin. I also tried it over moisturizer and before foundation. 

This is obviously a product for the serious oily.  It would "normalize" my skin for a little while but my skin would resume it's normal oiliness as it does with every product I try within 2-3 hours depending upon the humidity. (Remember that I live in coastal Southern NC and the humidity is brutal 10-11 months a year.  Might be a slight exaggeration...  ) 

I have a version by Shiseido without the pigment but it is their Pureness anti-shine refreshing lotion.  I dab it on with a cotton wool and it leaves your skin feeling, well refreshed and it has a pleasant scent. It also has a translucent powder and a toner that is salicylic based.  I feel better about dabbing salicylic acid on the face than alcohol however.

So there are my empties for this past week!  Thanks for snooping in my trash.  ;)

Week 1 Beauty Box Results

Tremendous success!  :)

A few things crept into the box during the week which of course I will share as well as my empties.  Weekly empties will probably work out much nicer.  I have 2 paper grocery bags of empties (garbage/recyclables) in my closet that is too daunting to even take a photo of.  Starting fresh for 2014!

Here's what I started the week out with:

Here is what I ended out the week with:

Foundation: I used CoverGirl outlast stay fabulous in 825, Buff Beige which is a perfect color match.  For some reason I felt it was too dark.  And now that my skin has "normalized" during the colder winter we have been experiencing in the South (shorts & t-shirts today though!), it just lasts and lasts. 
BB/CC/DD Cream: Super+ Beblesh Balm from Skin79.  I love this BB cream.  It can be a bit light, especially in the summer for me.  It was definitely a perfect base for the CoverGirl Outlast.  Kate Sommerville CC Cream in Light/Medium is too dark but works well if used sparingly as my moisturizer.  I will finish this up next week.
Primer: I used Revlon PhotoReady for a couple of days.  I mostly used the Skin79 for my primer.  Revlon doesn't fill in my pores and I didn't like the way Outlast wore over it.  Too Faced Primed and Poreless worked much better at filling in my pores and smoothing out the surface of my skin.  I used L'OREAL Magic LUMI as a cheekbone highlight.  I forgot how much I like this.
Moisturizer: I really liked the Juice Beauty Nutrient Moisturizer.  It feels substantial but absorbs quickly and is non-greasy.  I would like to purchase a full size of this someday.  I finished the Argan Cream from Babor Cosmetics.  It is super rich and perfect for dry skin ladies.  It's lovely on the hands and cuticles...  :)
SPF: CoverGirl was SPF 20, Skin79 BB cream SPF50+ PA+++
Eye cream: Arbonne Corrective Eye Cream sample followed by MAD Skincare Eye Defense Shielding Serum.  Maybe I should have reversed the 2 but the MAD Skincare eye serum felt a bit silicone-y and felt it was appropriate on top to seal in the Arbonne.  :)  I still have plenty left for next week.
Serum and/or treatment: Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion used exclusively day and night on face and neck.  I still have leftover for next week!  Didn't touch the Guerlain L'Or.  Save for next week?
Cleanser: Juice Beauty Cleansing milk has a strange scent. Strange meaning I don't think I could wash my face with it every night. I also finished up a 30mL sample of Philosophy purity one step-facial cleanser which is nice and I appreciate all the samples I've used in the past.  I also used Neutrogena ultra gentle daily cleanser.  It's a foamer, which I've read that I need to stay away from but cannot remember the details.  I will have to look that up again.  But it wasn't over-drying.  I like it.  I will be using up the rest next week.
Mask: Eve Lom Rescue Mask... Oh baby.  I love, love, love this!!!  It's reminiscent of the infamous, ultra expensive Glam Glow but I think it works a lot better.  I used up a full size of Glam Glow and was left with a sore wallet and dumb founded as to why everyone loves it.  I was left with super, oily skin the day after using it.  Like blotting every 30 minutes oily.  Maybe I need to try the white tub version but Eve Lom just blew it out of the water for me.  I really felt and saw tighter pores, smooth, bright skin and no rebound oiliness.  I will buy a full size of this.  And I think it s few dollars cheaper.
Some type of exfoliant:  I used my Clarisonic and the new Garnier Clean  Balancing Daily Exfoliator Grapefruit + Pomegranate.  It smells wonderful.  I will save the Wei Pomegranate beads for another week.
Some type of palette, eyeshadow, blush, etc.  This week was theBalm Nude'tude palette.  Also a staple in my daily routine, Urban Decay Naked Basics palette.  For blushes I used Revlon Matte in Rose Rapture, and Milani Powder Blush in #201 Luminous.  Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze also made an appearance this week.  I paired this with Tarte skinny smolderEYES in Sunstone Bronze.  Really liked the combination.  I also used the dual Julep Kajal Eye Glider in brown shimmer and carbon black.  I really like this liner.  I reach for it often.  It's nice and soft, smudges readily, sets and stays mostly put.  For setting powder I used Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder.  Mostly under the eyes.  I haven't felt the need to powder up lately.  That will change quickly when the humidity returns... Stila Convertible color dual lip & cheek cream is lovely.  I'm not sure what shade this is but from looking at the website it looks close to Lillium?  I just used it on the lips so far and I really like the color.  I topped it off with a Philosophy lip gloss which I love.  And of course L'OREAL Lashout Butterfly Mascara.  You already know how much I love it!

Extras:  I finished up Rita Hazan Root Concealer in Light Brown.  This is awesome for extending the time in between coloring. Totally covers grays and helps blend in overgrown roots.  I can last even through a washing if you don't scrub!  I have about 4-5 inches of growth (grays oh my!) It's long over due for a cut and color update.  I haven't had a hair cut since last June!  I haven't dyed my hair in months either.  I really missed my natural hair color!

Oh and I broke out the old Lashem eye lash serum so I can work on that.  If I throw it in the box I use it!  This lash serum works pretty well.  I see results fairly quickly too many times after picking this up after an extended time for it to be a coincidence.  I think it really works.  For concealers I used Maybelline Fit Me this week in Fair and Light and Physicians Formula Concealer Twins in Light as well as my Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Bisque.

Ah, the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge might be the very reason I fell back in love with CoverGirl Outlast.  This sponge is better than the Beauty Blender in my opinion.  It is just a tad softer but it blends beautifully.  And I like the shape so much better.  It fits the contours of the face perfectly.  I found with the Beauty Blender it took a couple tries to get the technique right, this incarnation is much user friendly and easier to hold.  And can we talk about the price difference for a minute?  RT Miracle Complexion Sponge is a mere $6.  You can pick up 2 on a BOGO 50% sale at Ulta for $9.  SOLD!  Total no brainer.

First week was rather successful sticking to the plan.  There were a couple products that I skipped but I will just add to next week's box which I need to get ready!

What did you use up this week?

Week 1 Box: Weekly Skincare/Makeup Box

One of my "resolutions" or things I had been thinking about to improve my organization this year is to rotate my makeup products and use up samples.  I've accumulated a lot of samples, a ton really in December so in an effort to use and review them more efficiently, I've come up with this solution.  Surely this is not a unique concept but I've finally got it together enough to try it out...  Hopefully it works for me!

Monthly sample subscription boxes (namely Birchbox and TestTube) have been cancelled for the time being as well.

Each week's box will contain different items in the following categories either in full size, sample form or both:

Foundation
BB/CC/DD Cream
Primer
Moisturizer
SPF
Eye cream
Serum and/or treatment
Cleanser 
Mask
Some type of exfoliant
Some type of palette, eyeshadow, blush, etc.

A foil sample packet of eye cream should last me the entire week.  Other foil sample packets 2-3 days, deluxe sized samples 4-5 days.  I will use my regular cleansers, moisturizers and spf products in between or as I use up the sample products.  Also I get to utilize some empty GlossyBoxes that of course I have been saving like a hoarder.  :) 

Reviews will hopefully be on Sunday or Monday and then I will introduce the new week's sample and makeup products.  Good plan?  Yes, I think so too!  :)

I'm going to go easy for my first week and see what I finish up and gauge what I will need for next week.  Eventually, I will add blushes and lip products as well.  But this is what I have started off with for this week, the first full week of January! 

I've only used the back row so far but let's dive in!

Foundation: CoverGirl Outlast 3 in 1 foundation Buff Beige is a bit dark for me.  I have a lighter foundation to mix with it for the winter. 
BB/CC/DD Cream: Kate Sommerville CC Cream
Primer: Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer/Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Moisturizer: Juice Beauty Nutrient, Babor Argan Cream
SPF: CC Cream is 50+++, Outlast 20 spf
Eye cream: Arbonne Corrective Eye Cream, MAD Skincare Eye Defense Shielding Lotion
Serum and/or treatment: Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion/ Guerlain L'or Radiance Concentrate
Cleanser: Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk
Mask: Eve Lom Rescue Mask
Exfoliant: Wei Pomegranate Buffing Beads
Palette: theBalm Nude'tude

Anyone else drowning in samples or is it just me?  ;)

Murad Eye Lift Illuminator

I actually tried this one morning when I did wake up with puffy eyes.  I have found when I eat salty foods at night I usually wake up puffy the next morning.  Murad's claim is that the Eye Left Illuminator will "increase firmness by 50% in 15 minutes."  Well I can honestly say it did what it claimed.  I didn't set a timer but by the time I left the house that morning, my eyes were de-puffed and less tired looking. 

The violet color of the formula left my undereye area quite white.  I used the illuminator as a base and followed up with my e.l.f. concealer.  But at $35 a punch, not sure if I can justify the price since I have a few other products in my possession that perform equally.  The sample itself lasted 5 days, the full size 0.06 fl. oz might last me a few months.  You only need a quick dab under the eye. 

However, when I do finish up those other products, I may come back to Murad.  I would also like to try their Skin Perfecting Primer.  Anything that says it can reduce pores, even skin tone and give me a matte finish, I'm all for it!