Finish 7 by Spring Finale!

Finish 7 by Spring didn't turn out as well as I had hoped in the makeup department, but I did go through quite a few products.  They are all spread out in front of me, sorted in their categories.  I kept a brown paper shopping bag in my bathroom for empties and it's time for me to get everything into the recycling bin!

Let's start with skincare.  I had talked about the Isomers line in my last update post.  I am really liking this line.  I have been using it every night with noticeable results.  My face is more even toned, smoother, firmer.  Everything has changed about my skin appearance from using this product line.  I've read some reviews, they are not exactly positive but I'm going with the results that I see in my skin.  Big changes.  I expected to finish up these bottles in 3 months but I over estimated how fast I would finish them.  I think that I have 1 month to go.

 

I did finish OleHenricksen visual truth eye cream and I finished up another L'OREAL Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Eye Cream.  I really liked the L'OREAL.  I will consider repurchasing in the future.  I have another sample eye cream currently in the works and I was planning on buying the Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream next after using up some sample foil packets of course!

I finished N7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing water which I love and is no longer sold at Target.  I purchased a cleansing oil for its replacement which I will talk about in my updated skincare routine which will be coming up next.  I really like cleansing waters but cleansing oils really dissolve all of my makeup.  I use cleansing waters and cleansing oils as makeup removers and always follow both up with a cleanser.

Also in the skincare category, I have several other empties.  Korres Pomengranate Grenade Cleansing and makeup wipes were a holy grail for me last year.  I've gotten away from wipes but they are still good in a pinch.  Botanics Hot a Cloth Cleansing balm was next for me used up.  This is very thick stuff.  My water does not get hot enough from the tap to use this most effectively.   When I did have time to use this, I would massage it on to the skin for a minute or two and add some rice flour to exfoliate.  I would gently wipe away with warm face cloth and follow up with a cleanser.  My skin felt very nice after using.  I would need to use a separate eye makeup remover.  I really like using the cleaning oil right now as it is one step, not 2.

Additionally, I finished up a Cetaphil cleanser, Josie Maran Argan oil light and a Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial.  I finished up 2 masks.  Boscia Luminizing black mask, which wow, this pulls off everything.  I broke a capillary under my eye, which is my fault, do not apply on any delicate skin.  Luckily, it wasn't permanent and took only a couple days to reabsorb.  Maybe as I am aging, my skin is becoming thinner and more delicate.  I did not notice any crazy changes or benefits from using this product.  This sample size has enough for 3 uses.  I do enjoy peel off masks but I'm not sure if this will be a repurchase for me.  I also finished a sample of Origins Clear Improvement.  This has active charcoal which my deep pores really need.  I enjoy sample sizes so that I can mix them up often.

 

I'm throwing in 2 Body Shop Lip butters in Mango and coconut.  The mango one has dried out and the coconut one leaves an uncomfortable filmy feeling on my lips that I just can't handle.  Currently I am using a lip balm from Kiehl's.  When that is finished, I am going to try the Dior Creme De Rose.  I don't want to feel a film.  I've become quite particular.  Back in the day, plain cherry Chapstick was good enough for years.  Maybe I should try it out again...

On to makeup...  I have come to the conclusion that I will never finish an eye shadow palette or a color tattoo.  I'm okay with that fact.  I will continue to use them until they expire and I feel that is quite good enough for me. I like variety, I cannot do the same eye look every day for months on end.  Maybe I don't pile it on enough.  Summers are tough on eyeshadow in NC humidity.  My smokey eye days are numbered...  However, I did finish a couple of things.  AVON Glimmersticks Chromes in mocha flash, Milani Easybrow in Natural Taupe and Physicians formula Concealer Twins.  The Milani doesn't have a ton of product, the Concealer Twin dried out and I always finish up AVON Glimmersticks.  They stay put on my oily skin and in the heat and humidity of North Carolina Summers.  Glimmersticks are winners.

I'm also pitching 3 foundations this go around.  I've added a couple foundations to my collection in the last couple of months (oops, I'm like a chameleon, so frustrating) and it's time to say bye bye to Revlon Colorstay Whipped.  I believe these are 3-4 years old, Sand Beige is newer actually which I may keep.  I have 150 Buff, 200 Sand Beige and 240 Natural Beige.  I use Buff in the center of my face and Sand Beige around the perimeter and outer cheeks.  Natural Beige was always too pink for me.  It's a good foundation but I could never quite get it right every time I used it.  It liked a certain moisturizer and my skin needed to be freshly exfoliated or this foundation would stick to every dry patch or it would just find them.  I have oily, combination skin and this would also slip off or catch in different areas of the face with certain primers.  Bottom line, I need quick effortless blending for my everyday use.  I liked to use this for special events at night where I knew my photo would be taken.  I've replaced the Colorstay Whipped with a higher end foundation which I will talk about soon!

I tried out 3 different brands of cotton rounds/squares.  Out of this round, I believe the Ulta Premium Round Cotton pads won in terms of quality but Target cotton rounds win in the price category.  I have about 5 squares of the CVS premium cotton squares left.  They work well but just a touch linty.  This is not something I want to spend a lot of money on but I also do not want to be left with cotton bits sticky to my face because ultimately they end up in my eyes.  I'm sure I will be in Target soon to pick up a new package.  I have seen a review on the White Cloud Cotton Squares on Amazon but since I am using the cleansing oil, it dissolves nearly all of my eye makeup so a separate remover is unnecessary.  Maybe I can hold off for a while...  Actually, I need cotton for toner! 

Now on to Bodycare!

This is a huge category for me every time I do empties so I will just stick to the highlights...

 

Nivea In Shower Body Lotion in Shea Butter.  I really love this stuff.  Olay has a similar one thst my husband gave me for Christmas years ago.  I never found it again.  It does make things slippery in the shower when it builds up, meaning if you use this every day and skip a week of cleaning, it's going to be slippery.  However, every other day, cleaning of the shower once a week, I haven't had any problems.  I enjoyed using this during the cold winter months that we have been having down here in NC.

Victoria Secret Pear Glacé is my all time favorite scent.  Takes me way back to my undergraduate years where I think I made one bottle last about a year.  $12 was so expensive back then.  Maybe it was more back then actually.  $17 seems to be the price I remember.  Hmm...  But anywho, I bought this a couple of years ago and was saving it for who knows what.  I will repurchase.

c Booth Nourishing Bath and Body Wash.  I bought a lotion and 2 other body washes on a sale at Ulta and used a coupon and rewards.  Bought all for for under $10.  There is nothing truly remarkable about this body wash that can be doubled as a bath.  It smells nice, feels good.  There are no parabens, sulfates, mineral oil or petrolatum in this product which I can appreciate as some of those do have some conclusive and inconclusive studies pointing out their effectiveness, ineffectiveness, toxicity to the body...  It's all too confusing really and opinions run high.  After looking briefly at the ingredient list, this product from c Booth doesn't seem too natural.  I have 3 more products to go from this line...  

And 3 bars of soap.  I guess that means I use about a bar of soap a month. I grabbed the men's care because it was on sale.  I usually stick with Dove.  A huge club pack of the pink bars were on sale last week at the commissary so I have 12 to try out during the next year.

Hair!

I left this one wide open.  I have a ton of samples and fixing my hair in the morning usually consists of brushing and possibly curling.  It just takes so darn long to dry my hair! I did just recently invest a brand spanking new Hot Tools Limited Editions Precious Metals in Titanium as my trusty old Revlon 1.5 spring finally sprung on the clamp.  I've had it for a few years, 2-3.  It never held a curl but smoothed things out so it worked.  The Hot Tools works a little better and the curls lasts for a couple of days.  Not perfect like those YouTube hair wizards, but good enough for my imperfect being.

 

I did finish lots of shampoo and conditioners, so like bar soap, I finish approximately 1 shampoo and 1 conditioner every month.  Mental note... I have 2, maybe 3 pumps of the L'OREAL OleoTherapy Perfecting Oil Essence.  This product is really nice to use on the ends of the hair.  It doesn't weigh down or add any grease.  It really extended my last haircut for at least 5 months.  And that was one of the best haircuts I have had down here in NC.  Finding a hair stylist that I can trust has been such a challenge down here.  I usually ask for the long layers, pointing out exactly where I want them to start, I don't dare ask for fringe, occasionally I want angles in the front starting an inch above my shoulders.  I specifically ask for no triangle point, I want my hair level in the back.  Once have I found someone who listened.  I just went back to her again and boom, all wrong.  Luckily, I'm a huge fan of piling my hair on top of my head in a bun...

I really enjoy using the Bumble and Bumble line and I still have a ton of sample and travel sizes to use.  But I use the Tonic on my scalp and the Prep Spray after every hair washing which is usually every other day.  I also enjoy using Aveda products and have a few more samples as well.  So need for me to buy any hair products for quite a while.

Oh and two boxes of dye.  I am having a really hard time finding this hair dye.  In fact, it's difficult to find any semi-permanent/washout hair dye.  I use the same color 21 every time I color my hair but I like that it rinses out because there will come a day when I am sick of dying my hair and will embrace those greys...  Well not anytime soon but I really want all the length of my permanent hair dying days to eventually grow out and be cut off so I will be left with semi "natural" hair after those "28 washes.".  I've tried some semi-permanent colors at Sally's but this Clairol Natural Instinct just has that perfect color.  It's just dark enough and it gives a little warmth. Is this being discontinued?  I can only find it a Ulta.  These were the last two boxes on the shelf, different packaging to boot.  Eeek! 

So a ton of stuff is headed to the recycling bin!  I think I covered most things exhaustively.  Bottom line, I use a lot of products and have a lot of empties in 3 months.  My bathroom cabinet is still full of products but this was a good jump start.  I will continue using and not purchasing or realistically, continue using and purchasing less...  Which I have been good at.  Currently I have only 1 replacement shampoo and conditioner for the set that is almost empty in the shower.  Still have a ton of lotions and potions...
 

"5 by Cinco de Mayo" is the next tag so I will pick out 5 products in each category.  I might skip makeup.  5 products is not happening for me!  Not a pessimist, but a realist.  Actually I can think of 2 products that are nearing the end so maybe this go around I will get lucky in the makeup empty department.  We shall see!

More on that later!

My 3-minute, 5-minute and 10-minute face!

I'm a busy mom of 5 (2 are fur babies!), currently a member of two PTAs, multiple committees, Girl Scout Troop leader, youth basketball coach, avid runner... Getting everyone out of the house on time has become a perfected art form.  Depending on how much or how less time I have in the morning, these are my go to products I reach for to get out the door quickly but still looking put together.  The idea is to not look scary...  :)

Skincare is minimal but still essential so I quickly wash my face with Avalon Organics Vitamin C cleanser or if my skin is acting reactive, I use Cetaphil.  My nighttime routine more than makes up for my morning haste.  Three to ten splashes of water to rinse and then I am on to toner which is currently and usually Witch Hazel.  I follow up with Olay complete all day moisturizer with SPF 15 and an eye cream du jour.  Puffy eyes get hit with Clinique all about eyes serum de-puffing eye massage STAT.  One minute is down.

I slap on Mayebelline dark circle eraser in light under my eyes, around my nose, dot on my chin and a line on the forehead.  I just recently purchased this at Ulta (BOGO 50% off and $3.50 off $10 coupon!) This product has a really nice finish.  I then dot some Lumene CC cream on my cheeks, upper forehead, chin, and nose.  Over the summer I was using CoverGirl ready, set gorgeous in 115 buff beige but it is just a little too dark for me right now. Both the Lumene and CoverGirl have good coverage and look very natural on the skin.  

 

I lightly mist my Real Techniques face brush with a rose water spray and blend the dots on my face in light circular motions or I used the Real Tecniques blending sponge.  Of course I have two rose water facial sprays that I rotate in between, Heritage Store Rosewater and Mario Badescu.  Heritage is typically used for my brushes, MB for a setting spray but when I am in a hurry, it's whatever I grab first!  Curling my eyelashes is essential so while I am blending my face, I am warming my Shiseido eyelash curler in my other hand.  2 minutes down.

Quickly pumping my eyelash curler on each set of lashes, I grab my blush brush and tap it into mark. just blushing in cameo.  This acts as a blush and bronzer combo for my skin tone, warming up the cheeks and around the face.  And then put a layer of mascara.  I take my time with this step, maybe 30 seconds.  Cleaning up mascara messes will take even more time so I slow a bit down for this step.  Three minutes done and I am out the door.

Now with 5 minutes, same steps as above but I will set everything with a powder, especially under the eyes with Tarte translucent powder.  I also sweep on a little NARS Translucent Light Reflecting Setting Powder all over the face and then add some bronzer.  Currently, I am trying to use up NYC Sunny. 

On to the eyes, I will swipe on a L'OREAL Infallable on the lids, most often Bronzed Taupe and line with Julep Kajal Eye Glider dual ended with brown shimmer and carbon black.  With 5 minutes, I work on my brows...  I'm loving Tarte Amazionian clay waterproof brow mousse in rich brown and the brush that comes in the set.

10 minutes allows for a semi-full eye look (I get in time trouble here most days) winged liner, Bobbi Brown corrector under my Mayeblline dark circle concealer, and I take a minute to buff in Laura Mercier mineral powder over a light coat of foundation.  Buffing this mineral powder into the skin is an important step for a flawless finish so I take my time.  I set everything with a makeup setting spray usually Mario Badescu as my skin has been a little dry but I also use one from AVON that worked amazing over the summer.

Oh and lips are done on the fly in the car!  Just a swipe of gloss, whatever is hanging out in my bag at the time.

Most days I have between 3 and 5 minutes to get ready and my makeup usually has to last all day, 8-10 hours, so these my products are my tried and true!

Current Skincare Routine

One major thing my skin likes is consistency.  I can mix in a few samples here and there, but I learned that it is not something I can do every single day.  That being said, I cannot use the same products months on end.  My skin doesn't like that either.  Or I just haven't found the right mix of products to use forever.  But what fun would that be if I never tried another product?

Let's start with my morning routine...

I start off with a cotton round soaked in Boots N7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Water to remove my skincare from the night before and any residual eye makeup that might have migrated under my eyes.

I then go in with some Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and massage that all over my face, neck and décolletage.  I take a warm Muslim or face cloth and gently wipe off the cleanser and then I do my rinsing.  I hold my head over the sink and splash my face several times until I no longer feel any remaining cleansing. 

To ensure no remaining cleanser remains and to further balance the pH of my skin, I soak a cotton pad with witch hazel and go over my face, neck and décolletage.

After tonor, I follow up with Alpha Hydrox Oil-Free 10% Glycolic AHA Anti-Wrinkle Treatment on my face, neck and décolletage.  If I am having an active breakout, I will use Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid with Salicyclic Acid instead.  I soak and cotton pad, concentrate the product on my face and use the rest of my neck and décolletage.

For eye cream, I use Olay Regenerating eye lifting serum most mornings.  If I'm feeling puffy, I tap on Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift eye gel.

The final step is sunscreen.  Currently I use Doctor T's Supergoop City Sunscreen Serum with SPF 30. I'm running out of this product but (of course) I have 2 backups.  My first backup is Olay Professional ProX even skin tone Anti-Oxidant Sunscreen in SPF 35.  It is heavier than the Supergoop but I still like it.  

I also have Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer in SPF 50.  Super greasy though.  If I am using Cetaphil, after my Witch Hazel step, I go in with a cotton pad with Milk of Magnesia and press it on my t-tone.  I'm not convinced of MoM's oil controlling magic, but I keep trying it out anyway especially with heavy high SPF moisturizers.

Regardless of the sunscreen I use, I apply it in my face, neck and décolletage every day.

My skin is now ready for primer and foundation!

Now on to my evening routine...

I start off with removing my eye makeup with a cotton pad soaked in Nuance by Salma Hayek Cumcumber & Rosewater Dual Phase Makeup Remover.  Dual Phase means that it must be shaken to mix both layers.  Since I have been using L'OREAL lash out butterfly mascara in waterproof, I might have to go in with jojoba oil to break it down further.  It's seriously budge proof which I like because it holds my curl in the pool and at the beach.  :)

Next step I use 2 pumps of Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and I massage into my face, neck and décolletage but really concentrate and message the product into my face and t-zone for about 3-5 minutes.  I either use a Muslim cloth or a face cloth and wipe off the product and then steam my face, neck and décolletage for another 2-3 minutes.

For my second cleanse I am using a Neutrogena facial bar which I lather up, briefly massage on my face and then I go in with my cleansing brush on my face, neck and décolletage.  I have to be super careful not to get the Neutrogena in my eyes.  It burns like crazy!  If my skin is having a freak out as in allergic reaction, I will use Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser day and night, followed by Witch Hazel.  

For tonor, my absolute favorite is Korres Pomegranate Tonor (see above) which I initially bought 2 bottles from Marshall's and have been looking for more ever since.  This stuff finds more dirt even after both my cleanses.  

 

Same step as above, after toning...  Alpha Hydrox Oil-Free 10% Glycolic AHA Anti-Wrinkle Treatment on my face and neck.  If I am having an active breakout (not allergic reaction) I will use Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid with Salicyclic Acid instead.  The only difference here is that I have Studio Beauty 35 Alpha Hydroxy Face Cream 8% AHA of 70% Solution on my décolletage to use it up.  I had this way before the Alpha Hydrox which I just recently found at TJ Maxx. 

For eye cream at night, I'm using Ole Henriksen visual truth eye creme.  I picked this up on clearance at TJ Maxx and I really like it so far.  Nothing earth shattering, but it provides adequate moisture.

My night moisturizer changes every couple of days depending in what my skin needs.  I have been using Olay Professional ProX Brightening Renewal cream which came in a set with the Even Skin Tone Anti-Oxidant Sunscreen with SPF 35.  I bought this set on clearance at CVS for $11 so I'm assuming it is discontinued.  I really like it and I will start the search for a back up.  If I need a little more moisture or if I do a clay mask, I will use Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial.

I do mix in some oils here and there.  I will do a separate post.  But same cleansing routine and treatment but I will use an oil instead of a moisturizer.

Now that I have all the products lined up in front of me, it's a lot of product!

The following products are nearing the end:

Supergoop City Sunscreen Serum

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser

Aura Cacia Organics Jojoba Oil

Nuance Dual Phase Makeup Remover

Studio Beauty 35 Alpha Hydroxy Face Cream 

Olay Regenerating eye lifting serum

Items I will always repurchase:

Supergoop City Sunscreen Serum

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser

Witch Hazel

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Alpha Hydrox Oil-Free 10% Glycolic AHA Anti-Wrinkle Treatment

Korres Pomegranate Cleanser

Items I bought on clearance that I will try to find again: 

Boots N7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Water has been repurchased several times at Target and have not seen it since the last one I bought on clearance. 

Olay Professional ProX even skin tone set was bought at CVS on clearance and I believe before that I saw it at Walmart on clearance. 

It's a lot but it is working and my skin looks and feels really nice.  I'm really liking this routine but as I mentioned above, a few items are almost finished so I will need to adjust slightly.

Coming up soon will be posts on the oils that are currently in rotation a couple times a week and also my cleansing masks and cloth masks that I use a couple times a week as well.  So be in the look out for those!

Hope you are well!

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 8 Results!

Week 8's result box is packed...

Here is what I started with:

Foundation: I had a tough week in the foundation department.  One thing that I learned, I can no longer apply with my fingers.  My skin only likes a beauty blender or equivalent and this week it was the Real Techniques one and it works excellent.  It's just more forgiving, blurring, helps disquise flakiness...  Especially with CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous. What a perfect foundation for me.  I have 825 Buff Beige.  There is a slight pinkiness to it but overall it is the best match for my skin tone other than Dr Jartt and Garnier BB Cream.  Stay Fabulous just gives me that perfect finish and passes the car mirror check!  All week long I checked and my face was orange.  Mortifying!  And there was nothing I could do about it since I had already left the house. 
 

The ones that didn't work out, L'OREAL True Match LUMI and regular. W1-2 and W3 are just too pink. They look artificial on me.  I know that they work well for a lot of others though.  I just wish I could find the right shade.  And since I have CoverGirl Stay Fabulous that I know looks perfect, it's time to let this foundation baggage go.  I'm going to send LUMI to my sister.  Her complexion is more fair and more pink.

I also used my faithful Skin 79 BB cream and Lumene CC Cream in Light either alone or as bases.  I finished up the eclos HydraPriner this week.  I really like this product.  It controls oil and fills in pores without settling in them. 

Moisturizer: I'm still have congestion issues. I broke out the big guns...  My Olay Professional Pro-X Clear. Which I think is losing potency because my go to system did nothing for my skin this week. Usually 2-3 days is all I need.  Ahh and I just looked at the expiration on the tube 04/2013.  OOPS!!! Bye Bye Olay, you have been good to me.

I also had oily, dry and normal skin this week... yay...  So when trying to find that perfect moisturizer for everything I was dealing with, I grabbed Nuance AM/PM anti-Aging Super Lotion. It is very moisturizing for me so I learned to use this at night.  It smells nice, slight citrus/botanical.  I love that Nuance is a CVS exclusive product and it qualifies for the spend $30 get $5 ECB!

Primer: I started off with Revlon and ended with Rimmel Stay Matte which was thicker than I expected but worked really well.  The true test will be during a hot and humid day.  

Treatment:  Seventh Generation Clearing with Tea Tree oil.  Not sure if this is doing anything but things are not getting worse either.  Rapid Lash...  I used this a few times. Lashes are looking great!

Cleanser:  I finished up the eclos and used Biore and a new Neutrogena Facial Bar that I opened up at the end of the week.

Mask: I finished my 40 carrots, sadly.  I will be looking for another at Marshall's. But not this month, I will explain later!  I have one more use of my Julep Mask Noir. 

Eye Cream:  I tried and finished Benefit eye potent.  Nice eye cream. No major improvements in a week's time but my concealer looked better this week than last week. I was about to throw them all away.  What a difference an eye cream makes!  

Concealers:  Bobbi Brown Corrector Light Bisque, Maybelline Fit Me in Light and Fair, Physicians Formula Conceal RX.  And yes, some mornings this week, I used a combination of them all!  lol

Makeup:  This week I used my MAC Gold-Go-Lightly which I have used a ton and it still barely has a dip. My favorite mascara is still L'Oreal Lash Out Butterfly.  It makes your lashes look amazing.  Julep Kajal Eye Glider is one of my go to eyeliners.  This does run on me slightly, I just have to make sure I set it if I want to wear it long term.  But I like the tone of the brown is perfect for me.  Not to red, not to green...  Kind of addicted to the Baby Lips Dr. Rescue.  I'm not sure if it does anything for my lips as far as moisturizing, but I like the subtle color and it is quick and easy to apply.  I also used Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Standout and to tone it down a bit, I topped it off with AVON Glazewear Shine Lip Gloss in Iced Pink.  This is my second Iced Pink.  It's one of my favorites.

Urban Decay Naked 3 and Naked Basics was used this week on my eyes.  You know my love for Urban Decay and it continues...

Also pictured is my mark Blush Palette in a MAC palette.  I also have all my mark single eyeshadows in a MAC palette as well.  I like how they are all in one place. 

Oh and a Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze.  My favorite Tattoo!

Lots of empties this week so look out for that next!

Week 7 Beauty Box Results!

 Week 7 Results!  This is what I used last week.  I didn't try all the samples that I had originally put in the box so off they went into week 8.  I don't know about you, but these weeks are really flying by!

Original line up:

 Results:

Foundation/CC cream:  I used Bourjois Healthy Mix, AVON's new Ideal Flawless CC Cream and
Lumene CC cream this past week.  I used the CC cream under Bourjois.  Not sure why, Bourjois has pretty good coverage on its own.  The CC cream provides enough moisture for me lately and since I haven't had any oiliness issues, I'm going to stick to the CC cream.  Lumene has a bit more coverage than AVON's CC cream. But they all worked really nice and was happy with the results.


Primer:  CC creams!

Eye Cream:  Still scraping out product out of Estee Lauder Serum bottle and I tried the Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel this week.  Sinks in nicely and has a fun cooling effect.  I usually keep an eye gel (when I have one) in the fridge for some serious morning cooling action.  This one is going in!

Serum/Moisturizer:  The L'OREAL Age Perfect Glow Renewal has a very strong perfumey scent.  I don't mind it but noticed that I could still smell on my face it the next morning.  I used Seventh Generation Boosts Clearing with tea tree this week to battle out my congestion issues.  I saw some improvement so I will continue to use on my t-zone.  I bought this at Walgreens on a super sale last summer (store sale and high dollar coupon).  I haven't seen the line since.  I also used Korres Greek Yoghurt Adavanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial to help combat some dryness a couple nights this week.  Works nicely.  

Treatment: Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution:  No noticeable results after week 1!

Cleanser:  I used a combination of eclos and Biore charcoal cleanser and even mixed the two a couple of times.  The Biore has a tiny bit of grit in the formulation.  Subtle exfoliator.  I hadn't noticed it before.  

Mask: 40 Carrots Carrot + Papaya Facial Mask.  I used this twice and I think I have one more use. This is a great product.  I will be on the look out for it at Marshall's.  Fingers crossed!

Makeup:  the Balm and the Beautiful is a wonderful palette but I needed some matte neutrals for blending and grabbed the ever so trusty Naked Basics. Physicians Formula Powder Palette in Creamy Natural is a nice powder that leaves the skin very silky.  Nice formula.  The Buxom took a turn this week and it is already drying out.  boo hiss!  This was really nice straight from the tube.  I wonder if a full size lasts longer?  NYC Sunny is always a nice bronzer to warm up the face.  Very inexpensive too! I finally found my larger eye pencil sharpener and was able to use my UD 24/7 glide-on shadow pencils. I have JuJu in the box.  Love this color.  I've been trying out the green end of the Physicians Formula Concealer twins around my nose that can get quite red.  Works pretty good under concealer.  On its own it blends out a grayish color on my skin so I need to cover it up.

Kind of a boring week...  It was a busy week so I was autopilot trying to get out the door in a timely fashion!  It's always a battle. 

And I kind of have a new full blown obsession that has been consuming my spare time as well.  I should have something coming in the mail today...  Hopefully I will be able to share soon!

Next up is what I have been using this week!  Week 8!

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?