September 2018 Empties

Hey guys! Catching up on my empties posts, so here is everything I used up in September. 

Bonapiel Beauty & Youth Serum - It smelled a bit too strong for my liking, but made my skin feel nice.Would not repurchase.

The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner - You all know my love for this toner, and I only have a couple left. I will not be repurchasing, unfortunately. This is just too plain considering the price. 

2 Cane + Austin Miracle Pad - This was super intense, but it was effective in making my skin soft and glowy. Maybe would repurchase. 

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion - This was very light, yet really hydrating. I tend to like Aveeno products, but likely won't repurchase. 

Bath & Body Works Black Cherry Merlot Hand Soap - Love this scent, but you all know I'm using up my stash and moving along to something a bit better quality. Will not repurchase. 

Maple Holistics Tea Tree Shampoo - I surprisingly liked this! It made my scalp feel nice, but I did need extra conditioner as it dried my hair out a bit. Will not repurchase. 

Dove Men Clean Comfort Antiperspirant - I actually used this since my husband didn't like spray deodorants. It smelled a bit overpowering but did its job. Will not repurchase. 

Young Living Super B - I LOVE this b complex vitamin! I've actually used up more than this but forget to save the bottles. I'm slowly moving towards using all Young Living products in general, and have switched over all supplements completely. Will definitely repurchase!

Triple Paste - For my daughter's tushy. This was great stuff. It's got no scent, and takes away rashes quickly. I've found a Young Living product I like better, so I will not repurchase this. 

Crest Pro Health Advanced toothpaste - I did not like this at all. The scrubbing bits in it didn't help my teeth feel cleaner and the taste didn't last either. Will not repurchase. 

Products used up: 11

Total for the year: 124 

Next post will be October's empties, and I'm so, so close to hitting my goal! I'm tempted to up my goal a bit to 165 products used, but if I don't hit that goal, it's not a huge deal. It feels good regardless getting rid of all these products and making room for better quality products :)

August 2018 Empties

Hey guys, long time no see! Life has been busy the last couple months, and blogging hasn't been a main priority. I'm sorry for that, and hope to pick back up! I haven't shared my empty products lately, so today I will share what I used from from August. September and October empties will be posted separate. I'm going to start making these posts a little shorter, and basically say whether or not I liked it, and if I'd repurchase.

I'll start off with some skincare I finished. I really enjoyed the Belif Bergamot Herbal Extract Toner. It helped my oily skin feel less oily, and I felt my skin was prepped well before serums. Would repurchase.

I finished up two deluxe sizes of the Bliss Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15. This moisturizer is alright, just a basic everyday moisturizer. There was nothing special to it, but it didn't make me feel greasy, which was nice. Would not repurchase.

I had a small sample from a brand called ASAP and it was their Gentle Cleansing Gel. I actually really liked this! I felt it cleansed my skin nicely and didn't leave it feeling tight or dry. Would repurchase. The Lancer The Method: Cleanse cleanser on the other hand left my skin feeling so dry, I had to use so much more moisturizer. It cleans well, but definitely isn't something I would buy myself. Would not repurchase.

Last up is some body and hair care. I had gotten the Softsoap Eternal Bloom body wash as a PR sample a while ago. I like the smell of these soaps, but I feel like they dry out my skin a little too much, and I end up using more moisturizer than I want to. Would not repurchase. 

Bath & Body Works hand soaps are nearly gone in my stash, and I used up the Cozy Vanilla Cream scent. Liked the scent, but will not repurchase. 

I used up two products from Perlier, the Shea Butter Ultra Rich Moisturizing Shower Cream and the Honey Nurturing Body Balm. Both felt nice on my skin, but I would not repurchase. 

The Simply Clean Berry Whip Shower Sugar Scrub was a gift a couple years ago. I didn't like this. It smelled fake and had very few scrubbing bits. Would not repurchase. 

Lastly is the derma E Scalp Relief Conditioner. I loved how this made my scalp feel, but it didn't do much for my hair. Would not repurchase. 

Products used up: 11
Total for the year: 113

I feel like I'm doing well! I honestly haven't worn much makeup so I don't for-see using any up by the end of the year, unless something is old and I throw it away. I definitely think I'll be hitting my goal of 150 products used up by the end if December!

What have you used up recently?

July 2018 Empties

I know I'm super behind on the blog, and I realized I forgot to share the products I used up in July. Oops! There aren't many, so this will be a quick post. August so far is going so much better with using stuff up, and I'll try to get that post up asap. 

This is sort of a mish-mash of products. I finally used up another can of Batiste Dry Shampoo in the Sassy & Daring Wild scent. I didn't mind this scent too much, but it was slightly overpowering. I honestly don't use as much dry shampoo as I used to because I don't leave the house much, so I don't mind if my hair's a bit dirty. 

I used to love the Bath & Body Works hand soaps, but now I just want them all gone! I did enjoy the Boardwalk Vanilla Cone scent, and I have only 3 unopened bottles left to use, then I'll be making my own hand soap with my Young Living essential oils. 

I really liked the DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew. It felt awesome on my skin and left it feeling soft and smooth. I probably won't repurchase as I'm making the slow switch to Young Living skincare products. 

I've always hated EOS lip balms, and still do, ha! This one was alright, but I don't remember the scent. I know it had coconut mik in it, so maybe it was a strawberry coconut. Either way, I'll never buy EOS lip balms ever again. 

My last of the Philosophy hand creams are finished! I LOVE the Fresh Cream scent, and am tempted to buy more, but likely won't. 

Lastly, is my daughter Olivia's products. As I've been learning more about body products, especially for babies, I'm just wanting to get rid of everything I have for her. I did use up the Head-to-Toe Wash, but am throwing out about half a bottle full of the Baby Lotion. I also used up a sample size of the Dr. Smith's Diaper Rash Ointment. I don't think it did much honestly, and have found a much better and safer option through Young Living for her. 

Products used up: 8
Total for the year: 102

I'm finally over the 100 mark! I have a feeling I may actually be able to surpass my goal of using up 150 products, and that makes me feel so amazing! I've been on this journey of decluttering and switching over to a more healthy wellness lifestyle, hence all the mentions of Young Living. Let me know if you would like to learn more about Young Living! You can email me at skinstuffbykaty@yahoo.com

What products have you used up recently? 

July Young Living Essential Rewards

I've had my ER (Essential Rewards) order now for almost a week, and am so excited to share with you all what I got this month!

I'm so excited for this month because I finally was able to purchase the Ningxia Red ER kit. It comes with 4 bottles of Ningxia Red, plus a box of 30, 2 ounce packs for $187. It's by far the most cost efficient way to buy Ningxia Red. If you don't know what Ningxia Red is, it's basically Young Living's anti-oxidant drink. All you need to drink is 2-4 ounces daily (I drink just 2 ounces, and my daughter drinks 1 ounce) to get your daily dose of amazing health benefits. I also got the Super B supplement to help me with my energy levels, because I so need it with my almost 2 year old daughter. 

The essential oils I got were Rosemary, Elemi, Kidscents SleepyIze, and Valerian. Both the SleepyIze and Valerian are going to be used to hopefully help with sleeping better. I got Rosemary because I wanted to make this hair spray for my daughter called Mermaid Spray, to help her hair grow in faster and thicker. I've heard that Elemi is very similar to Frankincense, and I'm almost out of Frank because I use it so much. It's just so expensive, and Elemi costs much less, so I figured I'd give it a try!

Everything else pictured was FREE! Seriously, because I made a 300pv (basically $300) purchase, I got 4 oils and a spray all for free. LavaDerm is a great spray for if you get a little too crispy being out in the sun, or just need to cool down. The 4 oils are Lavender Vitality, Valor, Geranium, and Aroma Life. Lavender Vitality I hear is amazing mixed into lemonade. I cannot live without Valor! It's the oil that helps give me courage and feel more positive, so I'm glad it was a freebie this month. Geranium is good for the skin, and Aroma Life has a few different uses. It's said to be good for circulation, muscle tension, and skin and hair support. 

The other oil pictured in front of the little blue bag is called Loyalty. Now this is an oil you're not supposed to receive until you've been on ER for 12 consecutive months. I've only been on for 3 months. I did contact customer service and to make a long story short, I get to keep it since it was their mistake!

That is everything I got this month! Guys, I cannot explain to you how much Young Living has changed our lives. These oils help us sleep, calm me down, and keep me sane (well, as sane as I can be taking care of a special needs child!). And oils are just the tip of the iceberg! They have SO many wellness products, and we have slowly been changing over to all things Young Living. If you have any questions for me at all about these or other products Young Living has, feel free to email me at skinstuffbykaty@yahoo.com. If you've been wanting to sign up with YL and would like to make the jump in getting your Premium Starter Kit, you can sign up here! Shoot me an email after so I can add you to our education groups on Facebook, if you have FB, and send you a little welcome package. I cannot wait to have you start your oily journey :)

My $5 Ulta haul

A couple months ago, I placed an order with Ulta during a sale. I also had enough points saved up to cash in for $125 worth of product. I was so excited I had these points to use, hence the reason for an only $5 haul. Even though I've had these products in my collection for a little while now, I still wanted to share with everyone what I bought!

I pretty much loathe cleaning my makeup brushes, and I had been wanting one of those silicone mats to hopefully help speed up the brush cleaning process. I picked up the J.Cat Beauty Silicone Makeup Brush Cleaner with high hopes. I also picked up the Japonesque Makeup Brush Cleanser, which is something I use for spot cleaning in between deep cleans. 

The Ulta Beauty line of products were on sale, and I wanted to try out some of their Juice Infused Lip Oils. I got the scents Sweet Rose, Coconut, and Cranberry + Pomegranate. They smell so amazing, but definitely have an icky taste. 

Next up is some skincare. You all know that I've fallen in love with sheet masks, and I saw the Biobelle Botanic Fiber Sheet Mask Diary for a really good price. It comes with a set of 6 different face masks that look so cute! I haven't tried any out yet, but I'm pretty excited for them. 

Korean skincare is something I need to check out more, so I picked up the Goodal Phytowash Yerba Mate Cleansing Foam. This seems like it will be very nice for my awkward skin I've had lately. 

The last two products are palettes. I'm a huge fan of NARS blushes, and when I saw the Wanted I Cheek Palette, I knew I had to have it. They have a Wanted II palette, but those colors seemed way too dark for my fair skin. 

You all know my obession for eyeshadow palettes runs strong, and I had been lusting after the BH Cosmetics Zodiac Palette since it came out. With the discount and my points, this baby was practically free!

That's everything I purchased! I was so excited to finally have enough points to make this entire order cost practically nothing. Ulta's rewards system is incredible and totally worth it if you like to shop for beauty products. 

Have you had any impressive shopping trips lately?

June 2018 Empties

June was an amazing month with using up products! I feel so proud of myself, and I'm excited to share what I was able to use up last month.

 I'll start off with the few skincare samples I used up. I have 3 packet samples: the Derma E Vitamin C Brightening Clay Mask, The Body Shop Drops of Youth Concentrate, and a Cane + Austin Miracle Pad +. I actually loved all three of these samples! Derma E makes great skincare, you all know I love The Body Shop products, and Cane + Austin is a new to me brand. 

I have 2 deluxes samples of moisturizer/sunscreen. The Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Lotion was a bit thick, but it sunk into my skin fine. The Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion was not good. I used it 3 times and had to get rid of the rest. It smelled very strongly of perfume and made my skin look ghostly white. 

Next up is some hair and body care. I ended up getting rid of the Rusk Sensories Brilliance Color Protector. I just knew I wasn't going to use it and it's been in my closet for years. 

I finally used up the Arvazallia Restorative Conditioner. I thought this was okay. I used up the shampoo a couple months ago, and wasn't a fan of the duo. It made my hair feel nice for maybe a day, then it was greasy after that. 

I know a lot of people don't care for Pantene products, but I loved the Anti-Breakage Shampoo! It made my hair feel so soft and clean, and I might end up repurchasing at some point. 

I used up a shower cream and body cream duo from Perlier in the White Almond scent. I adore the scent, and of the two, the shower cream was my favorite. 

Next up is some random stuff. I had one wipe left of the Epielle Green Tea Cleansing tissues, but it was all dried up and not usable. 

I wasn't a fan of the L.A. Colors lip balm in the shade Boom. The tint was too much, so I just used it right before bed. 

I decluttered the Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer. It's very old and it was time to get rid of it. 

I also ended up getting rid of the Skin Food Cacao Hand Balm. I did not like how this just sat on my skin and didn't really provide much hydration. 

I'm on a quest to use up or get rid of all my candles. Now that I diffuse Young Living essential oils, I find myself not liking candles anymore.

I used up the two hand soaps I had in the kitchen and bathroom: Bath & Body Works Tuscan Vineyard, and Green Goo Lemongrass Zinger. Loved both scents, but once I use up all the handsoaps I have, I'll be making my own. 

Lastly is my daughter's empties! Mountain Falls is Amazon's brand, and their Baby Night-time Bath soap is awesome. It's not very expensive and smells like lavender. The mini Johnson's baby shampoo is what I use to clean my makeup brushes, or clean out my daughter's Nose Frida. The Boudreaux's Butt Paste was alright, but I discovered Young Living's diaper cream, and it's fantastic!

Products used up: 20
Total for the year: 94

Like I had said above, I'm so incredibly happy to have used up this many products. My goal for the year was to use up 150 products, and I just might exceed that! I'm really excited to see how the rest of the year pans out.

My Top 5 Masks for Oily & Blackhead Prone Skin

If you're a regular reader of the blog, you know I typically have very oily skin that is prone to blackheads. My skin changes a bit when cooler weather comes along to a little more dry, yet the blackheads are there no matter what. I have a few of my favorite masks to share with you that help to keep oil and blackheads under control, and I hope they can help you as well!

I'm not putting these in any order, because I love them all equally, but if you want some serious oil and blackhead control, the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is seriously amazing! It's just this powder that you can add either water or apple cider vinegar to, and make a mask out of it. I tend to use apple cider vinegar, and it does leave my skin a bit red for a while, so if you have sensitive skin, use water instead. I get this from Amazon, and it's super inexpensive, and will last ages.

Another favorite, though expensive, is the Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment. I much prefer this mask to their Youthmud mask, since it makes my skin feel so incredibly soft and look nearly poreless. This is a deluxe sample, but the 1.7 ounce is $59. They now have a 3.5 ounce for $79 as well. 

A mask that I've loved for years is the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. Charcoal is amazing at clearing out pores, and feels less harsh to me than other ingredients used to fight acne and oil. 

Paula's Choice is a brand I absolutely adored way before it became popular. Their Skin Balancing Oil Absorbing Mask is incredible at making my skin feel super clean, pores are minimized, and it doesn't irritate my skin like other purifying masks can. 

The last mask that is great for my skin is the Caudalie Instant Detox Mask. I don't know what it is about this mask, but my skin just loves it. It's got Lactic Acid, which was great when I was pregnant, and it cleared up my skin and made it really soft. It does leave some redness, but it goes away after about an hour. 

Do you have any favorite masks?