Ridiculously Large Beauty HAUL! Part 2- The Body Shop, Sephora, Walgreen's, Sally Beauty & Sigma

Hey everyone! This is part 2 of my huge haul, and I really think I did some major damage! I honestly think I'm going to put myself on another spending ban very soon because I really gotta start saving my money! Anyways, this is gonna be a long post, so get some popcorn and lets get onto the goodies!

First up is The Body Shop. They were having a deal online where everything was 40% off, plus I'm a Love Your Body member so I got an extra 10% off, then I had my 4 point gift, which was an extra $15 off my purchase! I got all these lovely things for very good prices with all my deals! The first thing I picked up is the Absinthe Purifying Hand Cream. I wanted to get this because it was a new product that came out and of course I love trying new products! I'm honestly not sure if I like it. I'm obsessed with their Hemp Hand Cream because of how moisturizing it is and how long it lasts, even through numerous hand washings. This hand cream is much lighter and the smell of it isn't that great. It sinks into the skin very fast, but doesn't feel that moisturizing. I'll have to try it out a bit more to give a proper review on it. 

The next thing I got is the Shimmer Cubes Palette 23, which is an eyeshadow quad. I absolutely adore these little palettes! I have another one that I bought when I worked at The Body Shop about 4 years ago, and I still haven't made a dent in it. I seriously think these quads will last for the rest of my life!

I also got another one of their Cocoa Butter Body Butters. They were having a sale where certain body butters were only $10 instead of the usual $20, and this scent is one of my favorites! I have lots of body moisturizers to use up, so I didn't go crazy buying a ton of these body butters.

Then I got two of their new Flavoured Lip Glosses. The one on the left is Coconut, and on the right it Cocoa. I'm sure you all know how much I love coconut and cocoa scented/flavored things, so the purchase of these are totally justified. Plus, they were only $6 with the 40% off, so they weren't a bad deal either!

The last product I got is their Loose Face Powder in the color 01. I'm not entirely sure why I purchased this, but the reviews on the site are amazing. Every review gives this product 5/5 stars saying it's lightweight and gives a matte appearance to the skin, which is what I'll definitely need this Summer! I'm excited to try it out given the good reviews it has!

Now right after I made my last Sephora purchase, I got an email with a 15% off coupon for VIB's. That always happens to me! I always buy something, then right after I get a coupon or some other deal comes out! So of course my head thought that I had to buy more things, and the first thing I got is the Soap & Glory Flake Away Body Scrub. I can't wait to try this! Soap & Glory products are really amazing and I've never tried this particular body scrub before, so I figured I'd try it with the 15% off. I have to say, the smell of it is a bit overpowering, but as long as it doesn't linger very long, I'll be good.

The next thing I got is the Sephora brand Daily Makeup Brush Cleaner. I spot clean my brushes after I use them everytime. I don't know if that's bad for them, but I'm so weird about bacteria and whatnot, so I have to make sure my brushes are clean when I use them. This is my favorite daily brush cleaner. I'm currently using the one from E.L.F. and I don't mind the actual cleaner, but the bottle doesn't spray right, so I had to pour it into one of these containers because it sprays out the liquid better. You'll probably see the E.L.F. bottle in an empties post soon, even though I just used up the Sephora one.

The next product I got is a nail polish. Now I know I've been buying nail polish lately, but I've been getting way more into doing my nails, so I'm experimenting a little. This is from the Sephora X brand in The Pearlescents collection. The color I got is called Privileged and it's the prettiest dark burgundy color! I haven't tried this yet, but the reviews coming in of this nail polish are pretty positive so far!

Then I got a lip balm from the brand TokyoMilk and it's a Femme Fatale Collection Lip Elixer. I got the scent Coco Noir No. 60 which is described as, "Dark Rum, Maraschino Cherry, Sweet Milk and Cocao Bean." This seriously sounds like something I could eat for dessert or make as a drink! There are five other scents as well, but this one stood out the most.

Then I just got the Makeup For Ever High Definition Primer as a 100 point gift. I'm a little disappointed with how small this is for 100 points honestly, but hey, if it works, I'll be happy.

Onto Walgreen's! Now these things weren't bought all at once, I got them on three different shopping trips. The first thing I picked up is the Almay Oil-Free Makeup Remover Towelettes. I'm getting more into removing my makeup with a wipe first instead of just going in with my cleanser and Clarisonic. I haven't tried this particular brand's wipes yet, but Almay is a good brand, so I'm sure I'll like them. 

Then I picked up the Almay Get Up & Grow Mascara in Blackest Black. I've heard Emily from Beauty Broadcast go on and on about how much she likes it, and Almay was on sale, so I figured I'd try it. If Emily likes it, then I'm sure I will too!

Now I said that Almay was on sale. It was buy 1, get one half off, plus if you spent $15, you got like 4,000 points, so I picked up this to get to the $15. I remember my mom mentioning that she likes these Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover Pads, and she's got such sensitive eyes. I have pretty sensitive eyes too, but not like hers, so if she likes these, then I know they're good!

Then I picked up the much talked about Nivea Lip Butters in Caramel Cream Kiss and Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss. They were on sale for only $1.99 each and I haven't tried these yet, so because they were on sale, I decided it was time to jump on the bandwagon. 

I also picked up two Wet N' Wild Megalast Nail Polishes because Wet N' Wild was buy 1, get one half off. These are only $2 to begin with, so I was pretty happy to see a sale on the brand. the Two colors I got are Candy-licious (left) and On a Trip (right). I've heard alot of good things about this nail polish, so I'm excited to try them out!

Then I got two more Wet N' Wild products when I went at a later date because the brand was still buy 1, get one half off. I finally decided to try one of their blushes in Pearlescent Pink, and I also got one of their eyeshadow trios in Silent Treatment. I have one of the eight color palettes, but this is my first trio!

Next up is Sally Beauty! I had only been to a Sally beauty once before, but it was one that wasn't close to my home. I wanted to go to the one near me and see if it was any better because when I went to the one farther from me, I wasn't impressed. I have to say I'm impressed now! The first item I picked up is Hair Chemist Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Masque. I bought this because for some reason my hair is so incredibly dry lately and I need something to make it soft and healthy again. I really hope this does the trick. 

I was really excited to see that all their nail polishes were buy 2, get one free! You could mix and match between brands but I stuck with China Glaze. I only have one nail polish from this brand so I wanted to try out more. I picked up one of their Fast Forward Top Coats, and the colors I got are Love's a Beach and Seduce Me. I wanted the infamous Flip Flop Fantasy, but that slot was totally empty and I didn't bother asking if there were more hiding somewhere. I love the bright neon pink color of Love's a Beach. I may use that very soon!

My final purchase was from Sigma! This is my first ever experience with Sigma, and I'm already super impressed! I picked up and E35 Tapered Blending Brush, which you can see I've already used (and love!). Then I got the P88 Precision Flat Angled Brush, which I was so excited to try! I've been looking for a good brush to blend the concealer under my eyes, and this brush is AMAZING!! I've already used it a handful of times and I love how it works. I plan on doing a separate review post of this, that's how much I love it! The last brush I bought is an E55 Eye Shading Brush. Every beauty guru I watch has one of these and likes them, so I wanted to give it a try. When you spent $35, you got a free gift. I wasn't sure what to expect for the gift, but I received and E05 Eyeliner brush. I haven't used this yet, as I've been using the angled eyeliner brush from Sephora, but I'm sure once I use it, I'll like it! This is probably my most exciting purchase since it's my first ever Sigma purchase. I want to get some of their palettes in the future and definitely more brushes!

Phew! If you guys made it this far, I seriously love you! I'm sorry this was such a long post, but I was so excited with everything so I had to share! I know I said above that I'm going to be putting myself on another spending ban very soon, and I definitely will be! Seriously, I bought all this stuff within the past month and I know that's bad considering I have a part 1 to this haul! I'll keep everyone updated on when I start the ban...

Has anyone done some beauty hauling lately?

Review: Colgate Optic White Regimen

*Disclosure* I received the Colgate Optic White regimen complimentary from Influenster. All opinions are 100% honest and my own!

Hi guys! Today I'm going to be reviewing the Colgate Optic White regimen that was kindly sent to me from Influenster. I received these products in the Sugar & Spice VoxBox about a month and a half ago. Here's my review on these products!

First off, as you can see, the toothbrush is still in the packaging because I have to use a super soft bristled toothbrush and this one is soft. I know you probably are thinking there's not much of a difference, but for my teeth, there is. I have the most sensitive teeth on the planet so I don't want to chance it and hurt my teeth or gums. I'm giving this toothbrush to my fiance.

I probably should've pictured this differently but I'll start with the toothpaste. I have to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of this stuff. Using it is fine, it foams up really well and it feels like it gets in between my teeth nicely to clean them out. However, the taste of this stuff is pretty nasty is my opinion. Even though it's sparkling mint flavor, it tastes more like chemicals. I truly don't have a problem with how this cleans my teeth at all, but I seriously can't get past the taste. The tube contains 4 ounces of product and it retails for $2.99.

Now for the mouthwash. I can't even begin to explain how much I dislike this product! Again, I have no problem with how this performs. I can feel it getting in between my teeth like the toothpaste does, but the taste is even worse than the toothpaste. It says it's sparkling fresh mint, but it tastes very acidic and it burns my mouth a bit. An 8 ounce bottle of this retails for $2.99.

I can't really tell if this regimen actually helps with whitening because I haven't used it consistently enough due to how much I dislike the flavor. I also have a prescription toothpaste that I have to use at night, so if this regimen works better when used morning and night, then I can't be a very good judge. Honestly, spend your money on a different toothpaste and mouthwash. I typically don't mind Colgate products, but these were a dud in my opinion. 

I'm still very appreciative that Influenster sent me these products in the Sugar & Spice VoxBox, but these particular products just weren't my cup of tea! I love the Dickinson's witch hazel wipes though, and I'm currently uploading a video of my review on them as I write this!

Have any of you tried this regimen?

Sunday Social!

Hey everyone! This is my second week linking up with Sunday Social, so lets get on to this week's questions!

1. What is your shopping weakness?
Anything beauty related! Seriously, once my 3 month no-buy was over, I went crazy with the product buying. I always see things I want, but not necessarily need (well, at least in my mind I need them!)

2. What is your food weakness?
I'm a self proclaimed chocaholic :)

3. What is your go to movie to watch when nothing is on?
Hmmm, I like alot of movies but my all-time favorite is The Nightmare Before Christmas

4. What is your go to breakfast food?
Eggs! I have eggs and toast for breakfast pretty much every morning. I go between bacon and scrapple whenever I make breakfast

5. Do you drink coffee? If so, how do you take it?
Yes, I have one cup every morning. Sometimes if I have a day off work I won't have one but of course then I get a headache. I take my coffee with half&half and sugar :)

Review: Batiste Dry Shampoo-Tropical

*Disclaimer: I was sent Batiste Dry Shampoo complimentary for review purposes. All opinions are 100% honest and my own!

Hey everyone! This post is an exciting one because I was given a great opportunity to try out Batiste Dry Shampoo! I was contacted shortly after posting my review of the Suave Dry Shampoo, and I really couldn't believe that I was given this amazing chance to try out one of the most popular dry shampoos!

After a couple emails back and forth, I was asked which scent I wanted to try and I went right for the Tropical scent which smells like coconuts! If you know me in real life, you know how obsessed I am with coconuts. I got the 6.73 fluid ounce bottle which retails for $7.99, but there's also a smaller 1.6 fluid ounce for $3.99 which is perfect for travel. There's also a giant 13.46 fluid ounce bottle which I had to look up the price for, and it costs $12.99. 

I purposely didn't wash my hair the night before because I wanted to see how this worked for me. Once I started getting ready for my day, I followed the directions as recommended on the bottle and brushed my hair. All I could really think was, "Wow! This stuff actually worked!" Honestly, I couldn't believe it. My hair wasn't greasy anymore, and it made my hair FEEL less dirty as well. That's something the Suave Dry Shampoo didn't do! It was really amazing. It also volumized my hair but I always wear my hair in a ponytail because I have cowlicks out the wazoo on my head. If I wore my hair down, it would look lumpy in certain places and flat in the others. 

Batiste is the #1 most successful British dry shampoo brand in the UK and I can now see why! I didn't think a dry shampoo could ever take the greasy feel out of my hair, but I'm completely sold on this product. Definitely check out their website because it gives you tons of information on the brand, how to use it and where to buy it. Even though this dry shampoo is more expensive than the Suave, it's completely worth it me.

I really am so thankful and appreciative for getting the chance to try out Batiste and review it for you guys. This might sound like an over-the-top review and whatnot, but I truly feel that this dry shampoo has been a life changing product for me. I will repurchase this again and again!

Have any of you tried Batiste?

Ridiculously Large Beauty HAUL! Part 1- Sephora, Ulta, Walmart & Hot Topic

Hey guys! I'm gonna admit right now, I've been so bad with buying beauty products! Ever since my spending ban ended April 1st, I gotta say I've gone a little insane. Hence the reason I have to split this haul into two parts. Partially because there's so much stuff, and I'm still waiting on some orders to arrive at my house!

First up is Sephora! After I placed the order online which I did a haul post here, I went to the mall the next weekend with my fiance and his friend. I sent them off to do their boy stuff while I went and did my girl stuff. After they went their own way, I hightailed it to the Sephora inside JC Penny and had some fun! It put a bit of a dent in my wallet, but it was so worth it!

The first thing I picked up was the Too Faced Boudoir Eyes Palette. I had my eyes on this baby since it came out! Once I saw it in person, I knew I had to have it in my collection (not that I really need anymore eyeshadow palettes!). The shadows are really soft and blend easily and I absolutely love the packaging! I also really love how the packaging is alot smaller compared to the other Too Faced palettes. This one is probably about half the size of an old one. 

I've already played with this a bit, and I tend not to stick with the color combinations they have for day, classic and night. You can definitely mix and match the colors to how you want! I'll most likely be doing a full review on this palette eventually where I'll have swatches and everything. So far I'm really liking this palette!

Now I really can't believe I bought the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette. I swore up and down that I didn't want or need it. However, once I walked into the store and laid my eyes on it, I'm pretty sure I heard angels singing. I don't know how Urban Decay sucks me in the way they do, but I fall for pretty much every palette that comes out from them! I can do a full review of this for you guys if you want, but I know there are already a million different reviews on it.

The last thing I bought from Sephora is the Sephora Collection Pro Bent Liner Brush #23. I wanted to get myself a liner brush like this because I'm trying to get into using gel eyeliner more, and I didn't really have a good brush to apply it with. I've already used this a couple times and I actually really love it! Now I'm not a pro in the gel eyeliner area, but this helped me create a straight line (or as straight as I could manage) and it didn't look too shabby. I'm not gonna try doing winged eyeliner quite yet, but once I master using gel liner normally, then I'll venture my way into cat eyes! 

I went to Ulta because I had one of those coupons for $3.50 off of a $10 purchase. I picked up the Freeman Facial Clay Mask Avocado & Oatmeal, and I wanted to get this because I want to try out a bunch of different treatments before I get married so I can get my skin in the best shape possible. This seems like a really nice mask because oatmeal is known to be very soothing yet they clay really helps to draw out oil and impurities in the skin, so I definitely can't wait to try this!

Then I picked up another one of the Maybelline Color Whispers in the color Berry Ready. I absolutely love the other one I bought so I had to get another one. 

I also went to Walmart because I had more coupons to use up, and I gotta admit, the prices for cosmetics there are insanely amazing! Seriously, the Covergirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balms I picked up are a good $3 less than at Ulta or any drugstore. Anyways, I had a coupon for $3 off when you purchase two Covergirl products and I had yet to try these Jumbo Gloss Balms. The color on the top is called 220 Haute Pink Twist and the one on the bottom is 215 Watermelon Twist. One thing that's really annoying is that the packaging doesn't have the color name on it, just the number, so I had to keep the wrapper to the Watermelon Twist so I can remember the name of it. I absolutely love these little guys! I haven't tried Haute Pink Twist yet, but the Watermelon Twist is such a beautiful color. It's very moisturizing and you can make it look sheer on your lips or you can build up the color how you want. 

I had another coupon for Sally Hansen Hard As Nails nail polish for buy one, get one free so I picked up the colors Mighty Mango (left) and Love Rocks (right). I honestly have never tried Sally Hansen nail polishes from what I can remember, but the buy one, get one free coupon sucked me in. I'm hoping they're nice.

Finally, I went to Hot Topic. I bought this adorable nail polish the same day I bought the stuff from Sephora. There's no brand to this nail polish, but Pinkie Pie's little face screamed buy me! So I did, and I think this is just so darn cute! I love how the lid is sparkly and the color of the nail polish looks nice as well. This was on sale for $3.50 so even if the formula of the polish sucks, I won't really care. Pinkie Pie is just so cute!

So that's part 1 of my pretty big haul! I'm still waiting for some things to get delivered to my house, so once I have everything, part 2 will be up! I might have to put myself on another spending ban...

Have you done any beauty shopping lately?

Review: Own Skin Health Firming Silk Concentrate

*Disclosure* I received this product complimentary from iFabbo for review purposes. All opinions are 100% honest and my own!

Hey everyone! I'm back today with another product review that iFabbo sent me, and it's the Own Firming Silk Concentrate. 

First off, forgive me for not posting a picture of the box it came in, I think I threw it away by mistake! Now, this description is quoted from the Own website, and it says, "The naturally derived and patented CLA formula in Own Anti-Aging Firming Silk Concentrate works with your body to treat all three layers of skin through a power-packed serum that's proven to absorb easily without leaving residue. Own Firming Silk Concentrate works with your own body's chemistry to reactivate healthy processes and rebuild the skin's structure for brighter, taut, and genuinely younger-looking skin." Man, doesn't that sound all scientific and whatnot? Now I know in my post about the eye cream from this brand I mentioned that I don't have wrinkles, so I can't really be a good judge on whether or not this helps with wrinkles. I can only say how my skin felt after using it and if I noticed anything positive from it.

I also wanted to mention that the website says this product has a retinol-free formula, does not cause irritation, redness or flakiness, it's dermatologist tested, fragrance free, paraben free and sulfate free. All of those are a big yay, especially the fragrance free part! I've been really sensitive with scents lately with my allergies and all, so I'm happy this doesn't have an offending smell.

 Now for the review! The first thing i noticed with this product is how runny it is. To me, it's not a typical serum where it feels more like a gel. It's almost like an oil/water mixture, but it is so light on the skin! Seriously, it feels incredibly light and silky but it does provide moisture, which is what I need right now. My skin is still freaking out on me with the weather change, so this has been a big help. I've been using this at night after I cleanse and tone, before moisturizing. It's got a dropper where you dispense the product on your hand and you only need 4 drops for your whole face and neck. I know I've mentioned this before, but I always do to my neck what I do on my face. It's also not greasy-feeling at all, which is a big plus for me. Once I wake up in the morning, I notice that my skin feels really soft and actually looks really healthy and glow-y. I've also noticed, and it may be just me, but it seems to make my pores look smaller! I'm not sure how it does that but I definitely notice a difference when I've used this the night before. I've only been using this for a couple weeks now, but I can't wait to see what the long term effects are on my skin! I haven't had any issues with breakouts either, so it's safe to say this is having a positive effect on my skin so far!

That's my review! Like I said, I really can't wait to see what my skin looks like after another month or so of using this! I also wish I could've gotten a picture of what the actual product looks like. It's just so runny and didn't show up at all on camera. It just looked like water on my hand. 

I hope everyone likes this review! Comment below if you've tried this product before, or what you think about it!

Get To Know Me: The Beauty Blogger Tag!

Hi everyone! I got home from work a little bit ago and came across this tag on emilynoel83's blog and Blushing Antics! I haven't really done a tag post in a while so to pass the time before I get to bed, I figured I'd do something fun! So here are the questions!

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
It's definitely not straight, and it's definitely not curly like my fiance's hair. It's got some decent wave to it.

2. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?
I haven't dyed my hair in I don't know how long! It's probably been about a year or so. I typically do it myself, but when I was younger I used to go to a salon and get highlights. I'm thinking about dyeing my hair again sometime soon.

3. Do you wear the same style everyday, or do you change it?
I basically wear my hair in a ponytail most days. If it's a rare day when I shower in the morning instead of at night, I may wear it down that day.

4. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?
I've gone a few times to get my nails done, but I typically do mani's at home, if I wear nail polish at all. I hate to admit, but I honestly just pick off my toenails when they get too long. For some reason, I can't stand nail clippers. I know that's probably strange, but whatever. I definitely will get a mani/pedi before my wedding though!

5. How often do you change your nail polish? 
I try to change it every week, but with my work schedule and being lazy on days off, it's probably more like every other week. 

6. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just the summer?
If I go get a pedicure, I'll wear polish. Otherwise I'm just too lazy to care honestly. I'm not one of those people who has to have the perfect toenails and whatnot.

7. How long does it take for you to put on makeup?
I'd say about 20 minutes if I'm doing a full face of makeup. When I don't do a full face, it's probably just 10.

8. What do you do first? Face or eyes?
This question can go back to question 7. If I do a full face, I do my face first. When I don't put on face makeup, I do my eyes. This is a weird question for me, since I'm weird with how I do my makeup!

9. Do you collect makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?
I'm definitely a collector now! It's amazing how my collection has grown over the years. My very first job was working at The Body Shop, and that's really when my love of makeup blossomed. It's just grown and grown ever since!

10. How often do you wear false eyelashes?
I've honestly never worn falsies! I'm scared to try them

11. Do you do a full face of makeup everyday?
So I pretty much answered this question on number 7! The answer is definitely no

12. Do you wear makeup when you're home alone or with family?
I usually don't wear makeup on my days off work, but I do sometimes. Of course if I have some family event to go to, I'll be wearing makeup, but on casual days at home, probably not.

13. Will you leave the house without makeup?
Absolutely! I don't feel the need to cover my face every single day. Even when I'm working, sometimes I'll just do some eye makeup, blush and lip gloss. I've even gone to work completely barefaced! 

14. How many high-end products do you have?
Quite a few honestly. When I was younger and started noticing makeup, my mom always had bareMinerals so that brand was really my first experience with makeup. I'd use her makeup to see what it looked like, and I honestly didn't think much of it, probably because I was horrendously terrible at doing my makeup! Now that I'm 24, I've gotten way more experience and branched out to different brands. I definitely have more high-end than drugstore though.

15. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you're getting dressed?
Both. Sometimes I plan it the night before if I have to open, but if I have a mid-shift or I'm closing, I'll pick out my outfit in the morning.

16. How often do you change your handbag?
This is a sad question because I'm obsessed with Coach bags and have quite a few of them. Yet, I haven't switched out my current bag in almost a year! This will probably make me switch out my handbag now.

17. What time do you wake up and go to sleep?
This is a hard question because I don't have a normal job! Retail hours are so strange. If I'm opening, I'll set my alarm for around 6:30 and get up around 7 or so. If I have a mid-shift, depending on when my hours are, I'll set my alarm for 8 or 9. And if I'm closing, I still set my alarm for around 9 or so. I'm so used to waking up so early though, so no matter when my alarm goes off when I have to go in later, I'm usually awake between 7:30 and 8:30. Going to bed also depends on when my schedule is. Usually I go to bed around 10 if I have to open or have a mid. If I'm closing, I go to bed around 11 or so. I'm off tomorrow, so I don't have a bedtime! I still wish I had a normal job! :(

18. How often or when do you workout?
Um, I'm a fatty and I don't like working out! That's bad, I know...

19. Left handed or right handed?
Lefty!

20. How tall are you?
About 5'6

21. Do you speak any foreign languages?
I took French back in middle school, but that's the extent of it!

22. How many pets do you have?
Well, where my fiance and I live, we can't have pets. At my parent's house, I have two mini dachshunds. At my fiance's dad's house he has a german shepard/collie mix, and at his mom's house, he has two pekingese!

23. How often are you on Blogger?
I go on everyday! I don't blog everyday even though I wish I could.

24. Do you read comments posted on blogs?
I do. I like reading what other people have to say about a post. I'm always checking my comments also!

25. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?
Not usually. I kinda keep a mental note in my head, but that usually doesn't work. I tend to just buy what catches my eye!

26. How did you come up with your blog name?
It's not that interesting of a story, but when I was younger I just always said I liked skin stuff. When I officially wanted to start my blog, it just went through my head to call it Skin Stuff by Katy.

27. What kind of camera do you use for your photographs?
It's an old Canon Power Shot. It still gets the job done for what I'm doing, but I do want to upgrade it eventually!

28. How often do you clean your house?
Ha! Cleaning? What's cleaning? Just kidding. I really only clean when it starts bothering me that it's so messy.

29. What's your favorite color?
Pink!

30. Do you swear?
Honestly? Yes, alot actually. Again, that's bad, I know...

31. What are you going to do with the rest of your day?
Well since it's pretty late right now, I think I'm just going to wash my face and get to bed! 

Sheesh! That was a long, but very fun tag! I tag anyone who's interested in doing this!

April 2013 Ipsy Bag

Hey guys! Yesterday I received my Ipsy bag in the mail. I was really excited for this month because the theme was Pretty in Pink! Pink is my favorite color so I really couldn't wait to see what I got. Once I was able to see on the site what products we were getting, I kinda got a tad bit disappointed because the whole bag consists of this or that products, whether it be the actual product, or color of the product. Anyways, let's see what this month's bag brought me!

The actual bag itself is pretty cute. I'm not the hugest fan of white because it gets dirty too fast, but I love the pink at the top! I forgot to take a picture of the inside, but there are thick pink and white stripes and it says Ipsy...beauty by you, on some of the white stripes.

Onto the actual products! The first product was a this or that product. You either get this MicaBeauty Mineral eyeshadow in the color Earth, or you got a Two Cosmetics Duo Eyeshadow in the color Heartache. I was honestly hoping for the duo, only because I have so many mineral eyeshadows, it's getting overwhelming! The Mica eyeshadow isn't a bad color, but when I swatched it on my hand, it felt very chalky and flaked off my hand a bit. I'll be showing a swatch of this at the end of the post!

The next thing I got is the Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal, which is a nourishing styling treatment. Now you either got this product or the Big Sexy Hair Powder Play, which is basically a volumizing powder. I'm happy I got the Soy Renewal. I don't really care for volumizing products, and the soy renewal is made with Morrocan Argan Oil, so that's exciting to me!

Now this Sation Nail Lacquer came in one of two colors. You either get this color, Love At First Byte which is a light peachy pink, or Of Corset I'll Call you which is a romantic lavender-rose. I was really hoping for Of Corset I'll Call You! I prefer purple-y pinks rather than peachy pinks. I'll see how I can make this color work for me.

This last product, a Be A Bombshell blush, came in one of two colors as well. You either got this color called Sweet Cheeks which is a medium rose pink with shimmer, or Beach Please which is a bright matte pink. I was actually hoping to get Beach Please not only because the name of it is really funny, but I don't think I have a bright matte pink blush in my collection! Swatching the one I got, I'm actually pleased with it and I feel like I can get use out of it this Spring and Summer. 

Swatch of blush on left, eyeshadow on right

That's everything I got in my bag! Overall, I'm happy with it, but not super happy because I didn't really get the colors I wanted. Oh well, for a $10 monthly subscription service, this really isn't too shabby. Especially because the blush is full sized and I believe the eyeshadow is as well!

What did you get in your Ipsy Bag? If you don't subscribe to Ipsy, what do you think of the products?

My Spring Beauty Must-Haves!

Hi everyone! It's such a beautiful day outside today and it makes me so happy that the weather is finally getting nicer and warmer. Since it's so nice out, it got me thinking about what my must-haves for Spring are. I do have a few skincare and makeup items that I love and want to share, so here they are!

Starting off with skincare, I need a good cleanser that's going to help clean my skin and not make it oily. I can already tell that my skin is getting oilier and oilier as the days go on. A cleanser that I'll be using this Spring once it stays warm outside is this Clean & Clear Morning Burst Shine Control Facial Cleanser. This cleanser will help clean my skin and leave it shine free. It's also supposed to help you with waking up, which I definitely need in the morning!

Next, it's important for me to stop using my heavier Winter moisturizer, and start using one that's oil-free and light. I can't wait to start using the Philosophy Hope in a Jar Oil-Free Moisturizer for normal to oily skin. I've heard some good things about this moisturizer, and it came in a Philosophy skincare kit, so this will be the perfect moisturizer to transition into Spring with!

Lastly, it's super important to be using more sunblock! It's always important to wear sunblock everyday, but if you don't use it everyday, get in the habit of doing so. It's one of the main things that'll help slow down aging, and I know everyone wants to have young looking, beautiful skin no matter what your age. I know I've talked about this Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock with SPF 55 before, and yes, this is still my all time favorite sunblock ever!

Now onto makeup! I've already mentioned that I don't wear the typical liquid foundation. I only use tinted moisturizers and BB creams. This Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15 will be perfect for the days I want some coverage on my skin, but don't want it to look heavy and caky. I also like this tinted moisturizer because I get the lightest shade, fair, and it's absolutely perfect for my skin! I'm so pale no matter what season it is. I never tan and I'm always slathered in sunblock if I'm going to the beach or I'm going to be out in the sun for long periods of time. I know this will continue to be my shade through Summer.

My next must-have is a makeup setting spray. I'm currently using the Urban Decay De-Slick, which is the oil control one, but if you have dry skin, there are other setting sprays meant for your skin. I just like this because it does help to control my oil longer than normal. I know I'll still get greasy throughout my day, but this helps to keep shine away for a bit longer than usual. I'll use this before I put on tinted moisturizer or BB cream, then after, before I put on powder products. I found that helps my skin out a little more. 

Next up is a lip balm with SPF. I'm currently using the On10 Cherry Chocolate Dr. Pepper lip balm that has SPF 15 in it. Can I just take a minute and tell you how amazing this stuff smells?! Seriously, it's like heaven. Anyways, any lip balm with SPF will do. No one wants sunburn on their lips!

Finally, I think it's fun to change up eyeshadows a bit, so having bright and fun colors to play with is always nice! I love this palette from Tarte that my mom got for me I wanna say around 3 years ago. It's the Flower Child palette, and I don't believe it's available anymore, but I love this palette! There's one matte shadow and the rest are and shimmer, you have your neutrals, which everyone needs, but then you have your pop of color that can be light and fun, or a bit more smokey for nighttime. There are a bunch of different looks you can create with this, but hey, fun and bright shadows will do! You don't need this specific palette :)

Last but not least, I figured I'd show some fun nail polishes that are nice for Spring! The first one is by Nails Inc, and the color is called Notting Hill Gate. This mini polish came in a set of Neutrals and Neons, and I absolutely love this bright neon pink color! It probably doesn't show up that well on camera, but in person it's literally bright neon pink. It's amazing. Next up is a minty color from Color Club called Blue-Ming. I received this in a Birchbox a while back and I think it's a beautiful color for Spring. My last nail polish is from Butter London and it's Primrose Hill Picnic. I think this color is gorgeous! It looks really pretty on the nails, and is still a bright pink color, but to me it has a hint of purple undertones to it, which I think softens it a bit, but still makes it stand out. I'm getting in the habit more of painting my nails and these three colors stood out the most to me for this time of year.

Those are my Spring beauty must-haves! I seriously can't wait until the weather stays this nice all the time! I love the Spring months, and this means I'm a few months closer to getting married! Eeek! So exciting!

What are your must-haves for Spring?

Review: Own Skin Health Lifting Eye Cream

*Disclosure* I was sent this product complimentary from iFabbo for review purposes. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.

Hey everyone! I have another review for you guys of a product that was sent to me, and it's the Own Skin Health Lifting Eye Cream! I recently got endorsed by iFabbo, which is really, really amazing and I'm so happy to get the chance to review this product. Also, who doesn't love a good eye cream?

The Own website says that this eye cream "is formulated to lift and smooth wrinkles while brightening skin with clinically proven CLA technology. CLA technology lifts and firms, restores and hydrates so your eyes can look as good as you feel." I feel like those are some bold claims honestly. I also don't have wrinkles around my eyes either so I can't really say if it does reduce the look of wrinkles.

According to the back of the box here, in as early as 8 weeks, Own Anti-Aging products have been clinically proven to boost collagen for firmer and fuller looking skin, enhance cell turnover for a more even skin tone and improve skin's moirsure barrier for softer and smoother skin. Sounds amazing, right? Like I said before, I don't have wrinkles so I may not be the best judge on this, but I can really only say how it felt around my eyes and anything I noticed result-wise.

Onto my review! I've been using this eye cream only at night for about the past week and a half. You can use it in the morning as well, but I already have a good eye cream that I use in the morning. When I first put it around my eyes, I noticed how light and smooth this felt. I personally love how light this is for an anti-aging eye cream. I always think anti-aging eye creams need to be thick for some reason. Anyways, I dabbed this all around my eyes, not just underneath and to the sides. I always go over my eyelids a bit because they need hydration as well. Once I let it settle a bit, I just lightly touched underneath my eyes and was very impressed with how soft and hydrated that area felt.

The amount of product I have on my hand here is plenty for both eyes. All I do is squeeze this amount out onto one of my ring fingers and press both of my ring fingers together, then dab gently under and around my eyes. Any more product is a total waste. After I was done admiring how soft it was under my eyes, I went to bed. When I woke up in the morning, I obviously didn't notice a different in how my skin looked, but it still felt really soft and hydrated. Currently, I'm not too concerned with hardcore anti-aging results with my eyes, I just want the hydration factor since I'm still having issues with dryness. This weird weather is making my skin finicky. Overall, I'm really enjoying this eye cream! I'm sure over time, I'll start noticing some more results.

I also want to mention that Own Skin Health has an offer for my readers here! With promo code CLAIFABBO1 you can get 30% off your first purchase at Own products! 

So there's my review! Again, I'm so happy I got a chance to try out this nice eye cream. I think it's a good eye cream of you want something hydrating but not heavy, which is what I love! I hope you all enjoyed this post and let me know in the comments of you've tried out this eye cream before :)

Post Spending Ban Sephora Haul!

As most of you probably know, I started my three month spending ban January 1st, which ran until April 1st. I think I did very well until the last few weeks. I bought quite a few beauty products from Walgreen's, Ulta and Walmart but I still didn't spend a ton of money because I had coupons and things were on sale. I'm glad I was able to hold out from purchasing anything from Sephora for that long, but holy schmoly was it hard! Anyways, once I was finished work on April 1st, I came home and placed a Sephora order because I had two gift cards to use up and I wanted to show you guys what I got! 

The first thing I got is the Kat Von D Lock N' Load Makeup Setting Mist. I have about a third of the Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray left so I wanted to get another setting spray to try out. I like the Urban Decay one but this one was a few bucks cheaper. I like Kat Von D's eyeshadow palettes, but have never tried this particular product before, so I'm hoping I like it!

The next thing I got is the Ole Henriksen Walnut Complexion Scrub. Ole Henriksen products are so amazing, but pretty expensive. Since I had a gift card I figured I'd give this scrub a try. I'm trying to get my skin in really good shape before my wedding in September, so I'm hoping this helps me out a bit.

Then I got the Soap & Glory A Great Kisser Lip Moisture Balm. I'm really excited to try this because I love Soap & Glory products, but I honestly don't think I've mentioned any on my blog before! Their skincare is nice and I have yet to try that hand cream of theirs that everyone and their mother raves about. This lip balm will probably be what I'll use at night before bed.

Now these next products I used points for, aside from the blue First Aid Beauty box. That's a deluxe sample of their Dual Repair Face Cream where you just had to input a code to receive. The main thing I'm excited for here is the Ole Henriksen Trans4mational Skincare set. This was a 500 point perk and I was so happy it was still there when I placed my order because I had my eye on this set for ages. This is a good little set for travel or if you want to test out this brand's products. The Algenist Regenerative Anti-Aging Lotion was a 100 point perk and I just wanted to try it out and see how my skin likes it. I'm 24 so I should start thinking about some anti-aging products for my skin, because I don't want wrinkles!

These last few things are the sample packets they always send you with online orders. Not sure if you guys are interested in seeing what samples I got, but I figured I'd show them anyways. I got two Fresh samples, one was the Soy Face Cleanser and the second one was the Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream. I hear good things about this brand but I know the products are really expensive so when Sephora has Fresh samples, I try and snag them. The next sample is First Aid Beauty's Face Cleanser. I haven't tried this before but I heard it can sting the eyes, so I'll try it and see what happens. The last sample is Philosophy Full of Promise face cream. Again, this is anti-aging and seems really moisturizing, so I'll probably try it out at night when I don't care about being greasy. 

Well that's everything! I'm super happy with my purchase and can't wait to try everything out! I'm also really happy that I had $60 worth of gift cards to use so I only had to spend a few bucks of my own money. I'll probably be doing a little more Sephora shopping soon!

Have you tried any of these products? If so, what do you think?

Review: O'Keefe's for Healthy Feet & Working Hands

*Disclosure* I received these products complimentary for review purposes. All opinions are 100% honest and my own!

Hey everyone! I was contacted a little while ago to try out O'Keefe's for Healthy Feet cream and the Working Hands cream. I was really excited and happy to try them out as my feet and especially my hands, were pretty dry.

I'll give you guys a little info on the brand to start. Originally, these products were designed for the hands and feet of ranchers and contractors. It makes sense to me, because they use their hands for everything and I'm sure their feet need some love too. These products are now gaining popularity with women and people in the beauty industry because they're really effective in relieving dry, cracked hands and feet. Each jar retails for $7.99 and you can buy them on their website, or in stores. I did a zip code look-up to see where I can find them and Bed, Bath & Beyond, Rite Aid, Target and different hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowe's come up. They're also in craft stores! You can also buy the jars online separately, or in bundles to get free shipping. A spending minimum of $20 is required to get free shipping. The products are made in the USA, and they don't test on animals (yay!)! These products are also fragrance free.

Once I received these, The first one I tried was the foot cream after my showers at night. When I opened up the jar, the first thing I thought was it looked like frosting! You know, like cake frosting. Weird, I know, but once I put some on I noticed right away how soothing it felt. I also have to note, you only need a little bit because a little product goes a long way. I was even told so in the note that was sent in the package! If it feels greasy, you've applied too much. I must've put on the right amount, which is about the size of about two peas, because it wasn't greasy at all. I still put socks on afterwards to help lock in the moisture, although it's not necessary. I also get these weird dry patches on my ankles that other foot lotions don't help with. This cream does! I couldn't believe it once I took my socks off in the morning to see how my feet and ankles looked. I'm not showing a picture of my feet because honestly, who wants to see a picture of my feet?!

Now it took me a little longer to try out the hand cream, only because I love my hemp hand cream from The Body Shop so much, and I have tons of hand creams to use up! Then I was thinking, I have to try this so I can give you all a good, honest review. When I opened up this jar, I didn't think it looked like frosting (womp womp). It looks more like less lumpy cottage cheese in my opinion. Again, I used about a two pea sized amount and rubbed my hands together. It wasn't greasy at all but I still felt something on my hands, like it wasn't sinking in right away. I did read that they add paraffin to it to help seal the product in, which was probably what I was feeling. I'm ok with that because the feeling didn't last too long. I also love that this lasts through about two or three hand washings. I know I've said before that I work in retail, so I'm always washing my hands so I don't get sick and whatnot. After using this hand cream in the morning, then going to work and going about my normal day, I still felt like my hands were soft and just felt good. I absolutely hate having dry, cracked hands, so this came in handy!

So there you have it! I'm so happy and appreciative to have gotten a chance to try these products. I had never heard of this brand before, but I'm pretty sure I'll be buying more of these now that I know I can go right down the street to buy them! I really hope you liked reading this post, and if you want to learn more about these products, definitely check out their website. There's tons of useful information and testimonials.

March 2013 Empties!

Hi guys! I feel like I went through a ton of products this past March! I had to actually categorize the pictures I took so everything didn't look so jumbled. First I'll show my skincare empties, then haircare, and lastly a mish-mash of things!

The first skincare product I used up was the Clean Scene Craving for Clean Cleanser. I did a full review on this in the beginning of January, which you can read here if you like. Back then, I had been using it for maybe two or three weeks, so this bottle lasted me for about three and a half months, which isn't too bad. I was only using this at night, so that's probably why. I really liked this cleanser because it made my skin feel clean without feeling tight and dry afterwards.

Next, I used up another one of my amazing The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner. I know I've talked about this a zillion times, so I won't go into just how amazing this stuff is. Pick up a bottle, I promise you'll like it!

Then I used up The Body Shop Aloe Protective Serum. I'm pretty sure I've talked about this in the past as well, but I mixed this in with my morning moisturizer to give my skin a bit of extra hydration. I'll probably always buy backups of this along with the Aloe Toner, unless something more awesome comes along. Those two products are pretty much Holy Grail products to me.

Lastly for skincare, I used up The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion. Pretty sure I've mentioned this before, but this is a great moisturizer that helps prevent breakouts. I mixed the Aloe Serum in with this because it is very drying in the Winter, but in the Summer, it's fine by itself. I know I always have a ton of Body Shop products and you're probably getting tired of seeing them, but I do have a ton of products to go through partly because I used to work there, so I'd always buy alot because of the discount, and I just love the products! I always stock up when there's a sale, so I do apologize if you're getting tired of hearing me talk about The Body Shop!

Next up is haircare! I have finally used up the Garnier Fructis Length & Strength Fortifying Conditioner. I can't even tell you how long I've had this, but it's definitely longer than when I moved out of my parents house, which was last July! I really loved this conditioner. It made my hair feel soft, and made it less tangle-y. I don't really think it helped with my hair being stronger as I let it grow out. I still have tons of split ends and my hair still breaks very easily. I'm not sure if it's genetics or what because I don't blow dry my hair at all and I very rarely use a flat iron on it. I might just need a good old fashioned haircut!

Next I used up The Body Shop Rainforest Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner for dry hair. These were honestly nothing special. The shampoo gave me bad dandruff and the conditioner is probably the least moisturizing conditioner I've ever tried. It did absolutely nothing for my hair whatsoever. Trying to get a comb through my hair after using this was terrible, it would always snag, and I'd have to use extra leave-in conditioner to help get the tangles out. Not fun.

Lastly I used up the Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Spray. I did a full review here, so I won't go into great detail about it. This dry shampoo wasn't bad at all, but it wasn't amazing either. In my review I did say that it took away the oily look I had but didn't take away the oily feel, which is why I'm still looking for a dry shampoo that does both. Shortly after posting my review of this dry shampoo, I was contacted to try out another brand's dry shampoo, so I'm super excited to try it and do a review on it. Stay tuned for it! I'll probably post it in the next few weeks!

Finally the miscellaneous products. I used up The Body Shop Shea Shower Cream, and I can't say enough good things about this! It's so creamy and hydrating, but still foams up nicely when you use a loofah or washcloth. The smell is very nice and light as well, not overpowering at all. The Body Shop's Shower Creams are pretty pricey so in the future, this will be a splurge purchase for me!

Next I used up two hand creams. The first one is Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream. I had this in my purse for ages, and finally it's gone. This isn't so special in my opinion. It took away the dryness I had, but not for very long. The bottle even says it lasts through hand washings, but for me, it didn't at all. My skin was dry and flaky again afterwards. The second hand cream is a different story. It's The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector. This is the small tube they have, there is a larger one. I honestly can't remember if I've ever talked about this before, but this is probably the most amazing hand cream I've ever tried! For some reason I don't even think I put this in a monthly favorites post. Shame on me, I'll have to do a review on this, because it truly is amazing. This lasts through hand washings, and it's amazing if you have to wash your hands alot at work. I have alot of hand creams for backups, so I won't repurchase for a while, but once my very last one is used up, this is what I'm repurchasing!

The last two things I used up are lip balms. The first one is Auquafina Flavor Splash lip balm in the raspberry flavor. This wasn't that great. It didn't moisturize my lips enough, and I went through this tube in like two weeks. The second lip balm is the e.l.f. Therapeutic Conditioning Balm in the strawberry creme scent. The product is definitely not as good as the name makes it out to be. It was like the Aquafina lip balm in my opinion. This smelled amazing though, and that's the only thing I really only liked about it.

So that's everything I used up! I really think I used up a ton of stuff and I'm sorry if this post was long! If you made it to the end, I love you :)

What all did you use up recently?