Review: Caudalie Instant Detox Mask

Hello everyone! It's been a few days since my last post, and I'm sorry for that! I haven't been feeling too well lately and have just been downright exhausted. I'm trying my best to write up as many blog posts as I can, but it's proving difficult when I can only seem to manage taking pictures before I poop out again. Anyways, today's post is my review on the Caudalie Instant Detox Mask, which has been getting quite a bit of hype since it came out. 

Here is some info on the product taken from Sephora:

What it is:
A detoxifying mask that draws out accumulated toxins from clogged pores to revitalize and invigorate the complexion.

What it is formulated to do:
True rehab for the skin, this Instant Detox Mask brings life to dull, tired skin. It clears the pores of impurities and toxins, purifies from pollution, and invigorates lackluster skin. Great to use before a night out or after a stressful week, it is enriched with grape marc to detoxify, pink clay and coffee to clarify, and papaya enzymes for a boost of immediate radiance.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Phthalates

What else you need to know:
This product does not contain animal ingredients and is not tested on animals. Formulated without phenoxyethanol, mineral oils, and sodium laureth sulfate, it is non-photo sensitizing, noncomedogenic, and for all skin types.

Research results:
In a clinical test conducted under dermatological control over 21 days with 21 volunteers:
- 100% saw purified skin
- 100% saw a detox effect
- 95% saw tightened pores
- 90% saw refined skin texture  

I'm not really sure what to say about this mask, other than it's completely changed my skin. For the better! When you apply it and wait for it to dry, you can literally feel it pulling all the gunk out of your pores. This mask makes my skin glow like no other, my pores are significantly shrunk, and my skin just feels better overall. It costs $39 for 2.5 ounces, which is a bit pricey, but it's worth every penny to me. You don't even need to use alot of the product to get the job done. The vast majority of reviews on the Sephora site are positive, and if you have skin like mine (oily, acne-prone, large pores, sensitive) you would like it. Even with my skin being sensitive, this does not irritate me at all. There is a slight tingly sensation when it's applied, but it goes away after a minute or two. 

I can't recommend this mask enough! Definitely give it a try if you feel your skin needs a good deep clean.

Have you tried this mask yet? If so, what do you think of it?

Also, remember to check out my Summer Blog Sale!

Review: Oz Naturals Ancient Orient Rice Enzyme Dermafoliant

*Disclosure* I received this product complimentary from Oz Naturals and BrandBacker for review. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!

Hello everyone! I was given the opportunity to try out this Oz Naturals Rice Exfoliant, and I was really excited because it reminded me of another product by a different brand. I was curious to compare the two, and it's safe to say they're different!

Here is some info on the product:

OZ Naturals FACE SCRUB EXFOLIANT utilizes bamboo to gently exfoliate skin and unclog pores without irritation, drying or stripping.
FINALLY A FACIAL SCRUB THAT contains lactic acid and alpha lipoic acid to further help the exfoliation process by breaking down and removing dead skin cells, revealing the glow of healthy skin beneath, and assists in reducing fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of premature aging from sun damage.
ANOTHER KEY INGREDIENT, green tea extract, is rich in antioxidants and helps to prevent collagen breakdown as well as tone and protect the skin from the damaging effect of free radicals.
THE PRO-VITAMIN B5 IN OUR scrub is readily absorbed by the skin and penetrates deep down, retaining moisture and relieving dry, irritated skin, and Alpha Lipoic Acid provides anti-inflammatory effects reducing redness and blotchiness, shrinking pore size and imparting a healthy radiance to the skin
SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES, our bamboo exfoliant is all natural and free of harmful ingredients.

The twist top opener is kind of annoying because I end up getting the powder everywhere. Despite that, the scrubbing grains are pretty nice for exfoliation. They're a bit rough, but if you're gentle, it's fine. I'm confused with rice being in the name of the product because I'm not quite sure which ingredient contains it, it could be the sucrose, but I'm not 100% sure. The directions say to take a nickel size amount and add some water to make a paste, then gently rub into skin in circular motions, and leave on for 5 minutes. After I rinse it off, my skin is pretty darn soft and I notice my serums and moisturizers that I put on after sink in alot better. When I first received this, I thought it would be like the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, but this is more abrasive than that one is. 

This exfoliator costs $24.95 on Amazon, and I do find that to be a fair price, but I personalyl would not purchase this myself. 

Would you try this exfoliant? What exfoliator do you like?

June 2015 Ipsy Bag

Hi guys! I finally have received my Ipsy bag this month, after realizing how late it was getting. At first I wasn't really paying attention because alot is going on at the moment, but then others were posting what they got in their bags. I received mine yesterday, which is fairly late for me, but at least it didn't get lost in transit! Anyways, lets see what I got this month, as I have mixed feelings about it.

The theme this month is called Swim into Beauty, so to me that means these products will be waterproof/good for Summertime use when everyone sweats more. I really actually like the bag everything came in. It's really soft and has a waterproof feel to it. It's got a bright neon orange zipper, which I could do without since I'm not the biggest fan of orange. I see myself carrying this around with me if I ever go swimming or for travel. 

The first product I got is a trio of BioRepublic Skincare Sheet Masks in the scents Green Tea Detox, Cucumber Breeze, and Aloe Rescue. I haven't had luck with sheet masks in the past, but I will try these and see how they are. I'm trying to revamp my skincare and be more aware of the ingredients in products I'm using, and these seem to pass my test. 

The next product is the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I've gotten a ton of these samples before, and I can't quite remember if I ever got one in an Ipsy bag. Ipsy promises to give you new products with each bag without any repeats, but if this one is a repeat for me, it's ok because I can always use a good primer. 

Next up is the J. Cat beauty Liptitude Hydrating Lip Stain, and I have no idea what the shade name is because the two colors they sent out look so similar, and the name is nowhere on the packaging. In any case, it's a pretty color and smells minty, which I do enjoy. 

The next product is the Ofra Eyeliner in the shade Turquoise. This is a pretty color but when I was swatching it, it felt pretty dry so I'm not sure if I will get use out of it. 

The last product I got is the tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in the shade Kona Coffee. This is a gorgeous dark brown color and it swatches beautifully. I'm pretty excited to use this as a base underneath different eyeshadows. 

Swatches of lip stain, eyeliner and eyeshadow crayon

That's everything this month! Overall, I do have mixed feeling about this bag. I like the eye crayon, lip stain shade, and the Smashbox primer, but I'm waiting for that one bag where I absolutely love everything!

If you want to subscribe to Ipsy, feel free to use my referral link here. You get a cute bag with 4-5 deluxe sized samples, sometimes full size, for only $10 a month, plus shipping for some.

If you're already subscribed, what did you get this month?

Review: L'Oreal La Palette Nude 2

Hi guys! Today I'm going to finally be giving my review on the L'Oreal La Palette Nude 2. I was so excited to see a palette type product enter the drugstore, and my taste leaned more towards this second one.

Here is a description of the palette taken from the L'Oreal site:

Inspired by makeup designers 'Must Have' palettes, the La Palette Nude offers everything you need to master the art of nude eyeshadow. Makeup Designer Nude looks curated exclusively for each palette with step by step instructions and live tutorials. 10 highly pigmented shades range from light to dark to flatter every skin tone in 3 shadow finishes: shimmery satin, buttery matte & lustrous sheen.

Eye-designer brush & mirror for effortless application 

This palette retails for $19.99, but I have seen them at Walmart for around $15. I had purchased mine at Ulta when there was no sale, but I had a 20% off coupon, so that brought it down to about $15.

The palette is made from plastic and has a sturdy snap closure. The mirror at the top is kinda small for my liking, but it's still usable. I absolutely love how the back of the palette has different shadow combos you can use, since it can be helpful for people just starting out in makeup. The shades are labeled 1-10, but I wish they had names. 

Swatches of shades 1-5. I love this half of the palette because you can create simple, everyday looks. Shades 1, 2 and 5 are shimmery, while 3 and 4 are matte.

Swatches of shades 6-10. These shades can be used for more smoky, nighttime looks. The only shimmery shade in this section is shade 7, the rest are matte. 

What I really appreciate with this palette is the amount of matte shades there are! Out of the 10 shades, there are 6 mattes, which I find pretty awesome. A few of the shades were chalky while I was swatching them, but for me, they applied to the eyes nicely. With a primer, they last a good 5 to 6 hours before I notice any creasing or fading. With a base over primer, they last all day long, no joke! I find them to blend alright, they can get muddy if you're not careful, but I end up with a pretty look still. I somehow misplaced the brush that came with it, but I won't miss it if it's totally lost. I find the $20 price point to be a bit high but if you wait for a sale and use coupons, you can get it fairly cheap. One review I read, this girl got hers for under $8! Compared to the first one, this one seems way more cool toned, and I'm a big fan of purples which is why I chose it. I'm happy with the way it performs for me and I do think it's a nice palette. Do you need this? If you have a ton of palettes like I do, probably not, but I like it, find it to be a decent drugstore palette, and have reached for it alot.

Have you tried this palette, or the first one? What do you think of it?

Review: Adovia Dead Sea Salt Scrub

*Disclosure* This product was provided for review courtesy of Adovia and BrandBacker. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!

Here is some info on the product, taken from Amazon:

THE SEA SALT BODY SCRUB: Made with Real Dead Sea Salt - 100% Pure and Genuine for an infusion of 21 Minerals Essential to Proper Skin Function. Great Exfoliator and Moisturizer.
THE BENEFITS: Fine Grain Dead Sea Salts Exfoliate the Top Layer of Dead Skin Cells to Reveal a New Younger Looking Layer of Radiant Skin. Deeply Moisturizing Oils Infuse Skin With Luxurious Hydration that Lasts All Day
Works Great in The Shower or Bath - Also a Great Hand Exfoliator to use in the Sink or Foot Scrub 

I find this scrub to be super effective at exfoliating the skin. I used it on my arms and those nasty, red bumps on the tops of my arms were pretty much gone after using this. The oils in this scrub don't seem to mix very well in the container. I constantly have to shake it up before using. It's also pretty messy and makes my bath tub pretty slick. Despite that, the oils leave my skin incredibly soft and smooth, and the salt particles aren't too abrasive where they hurt, they're just right for a good exfoliation. The Ocean Breeze scent smells like a spa, even a bit overwhelming to be honest. This would also be great to use before shaving your legs as well. 

For only $14.95 on Amazon, I find that to be a fair price for what you're getting here.

You can also read more about this product here!

Does this scrub seem like something you would like?

My Tips On Getting the Ultimate Summer Glow!

Hey everyone! with Summer coming up pretty fast, you want your skin to be in the best shape possible. You'll want to wear more dresses and shorts, and probably less makeup as well. Today I wanted to share some of my tips for gorgeous, glowing Summer skin!

You're probably thinking it's odd that I'm showing a bottle of lemon juice, but lemon is great for your skin! You can make you're own face scrub by using a bit of lemon juice with baking soda, or bits of salt as a body scrub. My favorite way of using lemon juice is by adding it to my water. I always buy cases of bottled water at the grocery store, but usually don't drink alot because of the bland taste. Lemons are said to be high in Vitamin C, B-complex Vitamins, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, and Fiber. You probably get better effects when you buy lemons and squeeze them yourself, but who has the time for that? Lemon has so many different benefits such as aiding in digestion, boosting your immune system, helping fight viral infections, and it helps keep your skin blemish free! Everyone wants blemish free skin, right?

My next tip is taking a fish oil supplement, or eating salmon. My husband is not a fan of salmon (or fish in general), but once in a while I'll get some for myself. Salmon, especially wild caught instead of farm-raised, is a miracle for your skin and general health because of the Omega-3 fatty acids it contains. It helps maintain brain health, can protect skin from sunburn, helps reduce depression, and protects your body against Free Radicals. Since I don't usually have salmon in my fridge, I turn to these Nature Made Fish Oil capsules which have 360 mg of Omega-3's. If I had it my way, I'd be eating salmon about 3-4 times a week, but it can be expensive. For healthy recipes, you can check out Aloha, which can help you make good-for-you, but yummy meals!

My last tip is adding skincare products with Vitamin C into your routine. My favorite way to get vitamin C in is through serums. My two favorites have been the Radha Beauty Vitamin C Serum, and the Amara Organics Vitamin C Serum. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that slows the rate of free radical damage. Free radicals are molecules that damage collagen and cause dryness, fine lines and wrinkles. I know no body wants that! Because Vitamin C helps boost collagen in your skin over time, it will help to plump up your skin making it look more even, hydrated, and less wrinkled. If you're acne prone like myself, when you add Vitamin C to your skincare, you may break out a bit at first. Stick with it though, it goes away!

Since I started using these tips myself, I have noticed a big improvement in my skin. I can especially tell the difference with the lemon water because it's helping to get nasty stuff out of my system (aka, going to the bathroom alot) and my skin looks healthier and just feels better overall.

What are some of your tips for healthy, glowing skin? I would love to know!

Makeup & Body Care HAUL! Clinique + The Body Shop

Hello everyone! I went out to the mall a few days ago, and to my old job to use up some of my discount that's left. I also went to The Body Shop because they have their Summer Sale going on where alot of their products are up to 75% off, so of course I had to pick up a few things!

I'll start off with the Clinique products. I'm sure I mentioned before, but I worked at Macy's. I still had some of my discount left to use up, so I went to the Clinique counter there and got all 3 of these products for just under $30. I picked up two of the Pop Lip Colour + Primers, the first shade being Fab Pop and the second shade being Punch Pop. I've been hearing so many rave reviews about these and the shades I got are so pretty and they seemed to swatch in the store nicely. I will do reviews on these as I use them more. 

I had also heard really good things about the Cheek Pop Blush Pops, so I went with the color Pink Pop. This color swatched beautifully, but I have yet to try it out. I will definitely report back on this one as well!

I love when The Body Shop has their sales where certain products are heavily discounted, but that usually means they will be discontinued. I first picked up their Chocomania Sugar Body Scrub. This stuff smells heavenly, and I do have one of their body butters in the same scent somewhere in my stash. The body butter was also discounted, so I have a feeling they're getting rid of this line. *Sadface*

I was also surprised to see their deep Sleep Dreamy Body Mist on clearance. I used to use this stuff back when I worked at The Body Shop years and years ago. I actually used this as a pillow spray at night to help me sleep. I absolutely loved how this smelled, and it really did help me to fall asleep and stay asleep, which I have problems with quite frequently. I may actually go back and pick up another one of these as a backup for when I really need it. 

The last product I got was their Brazil Nut Body Butter. Now if my brain is remembering correctly, they got rid of the Brazil nut line a few years ago, but brought it back due to popular demand. As far as I know, I had never even tried this scent, but I always was a fan of how it smelled. It's very nutty and also smells like shea butter. It smells amazing, so I'm glad I got my hands on this if they do end up discontinuing it. 

With the sales plus my Love Your Body discount, I only spent just under $27 for everything, which isn't bad at all. The Body Butters alone cost $20 normally. 

Is there anything you've picked up lately? Are you purchasing anything from The Body Shop's sale?

Review: MicaBeauty Eye Primer

Hey everyone! Today I'm going to be reviewing the Mica Beauty Eye Primer that I received in a previous Ipsy bag. I love eyeshadow primers, so I was pretty excited to try it!

Taken from the Mica beauty website:

Use MicaBeauty Eye Primer to seal in Eye Shadows and Foundation, enhancing your all-day look. Go from shimmer to matte in just seconds. This waterproof formula provides the perfect foundation for a long lasting, smudge proof look that is designed for your active lifestyle. MicaBeauty Eye Primer helps even out skin tone as well as extends and intensifies your mineral eye shadows, without creasing, smearing, or fading.

Now even though the description says it's to be used with mineral shadows, I figured it would just be like any other primer/base that can be used with any eyeshadow. The product feels nice to the touch, it's soft and a bit creamy, but once applied to the lid, it feels very dry and goes on a bit patchy for me. I do like that it's a skin-tone shade, so it does help with any discoloration or redness on the lids. I do notice I have to set this with a powder first before I apply any shadows or my brush will stick to one spot. I notice my shadows look more vibrant while applying them to my lids, but that's really where it ends for me. This did absolutely nothing in terms of making my shadows last. I had creasing within just a couple hours. I tried using less of this product, applying it with a brush instead of fingers, everything I could. The only way that I can seem to get this to work is if I apply a Maybelline Color Tattoo over the top of this, then my shadow lasts all day. However, that just isn't very practical for if I'm in a rush. 

I couldn't believe the price tag of this product, a whopping $44.95 for 8 grams of product. This pot is 4 grams so that's about $22.50. There is no way I would EVER pay that much for a primer/base, especially since it doesn't work for me. $45?! Come on, that's just ridiculous! There are much better primers out there for alot less money. 

Have you tried this product before?

Review: Too Faced Sugar Pop Eye Palette

Hi guys! Today I'm going to be reviewing the Too Faced Sugar Pop Palette. I was one the fence alot with this and at first didn't want it. I eventually caved back in April during the Sephora VIB sale. 

Here is some info on the palette, taken from Sephora:

What it is:
A colorful palette of nine shimmer and glitter eye shadows in vanilla, chocolate, and candy-inspired hues.

What it does:
Put eyes in the spotlight with this colorful palette of nine enticing, shimmer and glitter shadows in vanilla, chocolate, and candy-inspired hues. Create limitless, irresistible eye looks with this French macaroon-inspired palette that features exclusive, rich pure pigmented eye shadows that impart lids with rich color. Perfectly blendable, these silky-smooth formulas blend on effortlessly for an airbrushed effect. Plus, this palette includes step-by-step Instructions in Too Faced’s signature Glamour Guide, with three must-try eye looks.  

The colors are beautiful and perfect for Spring and Summer. Underneath the guide booklet is a small but useable mirror. I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of it! It's got a magnetic closure, but it's not very strong, so I personally would be wary of traveling with it.

Swatches of the first row, Sweet & Spicy:

- Rock Candy is a matte base with glitter throughout light, creamy peach shade
- Macaron is a darker more intense shimmery peach shade
- Malted Milk Ball is a shimmery medium brown shade

Swatches of the second row, Sugar Plums:

- Strawberry Ice is an almost matte, satin like finish cool toned light pink leaning a little into a lilac shade
- Sugared Violet is a beautiful shimmery blue/purple shade
- Blackberry is a matte dark purple, almost brown shade

Swatches of the third row, Candy Coated:

- Peach Fuzz is a matte base with glitter, light peach shade
- Bubblegum is also a matte base with glitter, hot pink shade
- Blue Raspberry is a satin finish, almost a seafoam blue shade

Overall, I'm a big fan of this palette. I find the shades to be pigmented, but not too pigmented to where you can't control them. They swatch pretty evenly and apply on the eye well. I always use a primer so I can't say how they apply without one. With a primer, they do last quite a while on my eyes, about 6 or 7 hours before I notice any creasing or fading. The shades that have a matte base with glitter are interesting. The glitter particles don't show up on my skin at all, which is kinda odd. I'm usually not one for a ton of color, but I really have been enjoying this palette! You can make some pretty neutral looks too, which is more up my alley. I like that they give you a little guide for looks, but I like having fun mixing the color scheme.

This palette costs $36, and you can find it at Sephora, Ulta and the Too Faced website.

Have you tried this palette? What do you think of it?

Review: StriVectin Repair & Protect Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 50

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

Hey everyone! When I was contacted to try out the new StriVectin Repair & Protect Moisturizer, I was so excited! I have heard of the brand before, but held off buying anything because their products are kinda expensive. I put this to the test for a few weeks, and now it's time to give my thoughts. 

Taken from the StriVectin website:

Repair & Protect Moisturizer is a lightweight, wrinkle fighting daily moisturizer with broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen that reduces visible signs of aging, neutralizes free radicals and helps prevent UV damage. The formula combines next generation antioxidant technology and patented NIA-114™ to enhance skin’s innate defenses and boost its age fighting abilities.

This nourishing anti-aging cream is scientifically proven to help reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles by improving skin texture and elasticity as it defends against UV damage with broad spectrum SPF 30. Helps skin retain natural moisture with ingredients that maintain optimal hydration regardless of climate.  

After 4 weeks of use: 

- 93% agreed skin was more nourished
- 93% agreed skin was smoother
- 83% agreed skin felt healthy/radiant 

Reading the claims and what it's all about, I was definitely intrigued and excited to try this out. I love that this has an SPF of 30, so it's great for if you're going to be out in the sun and it also says that it quickly absorbs into the skin without leaving behind the heavy, sticky feeling often associated with with high SPF moisturizers. It also says it's dermatologist tested, clinically tested, paraben free and non-comedogenic. 

The thick, white moisturizer definitely feels heavy and hydrating at first touch, but once applied into the skin, it does feel very light and it sinks in quite well. This does make a good base for makeup and my makeup did apply nicely after using this. My concern with my skin, is that it's so oily in the hotter months that thick moisturizers like this can make it even more oily, but I gave it a good shot before I wrote it off completely. 

Unfortunately, this broke me out alot and made my skin so oily after just a couple of hours. I thought maybe it was a fluke and stopped using this for a few days. In those days I didn't use this moisturizer, my skin cleared up and wasn't as oily. I went back to using this, and low and behold, I started breaking out and my skin became a greasy mess again. I'm so sad that happened to me, but I have a feeling this might work better for me once Winter comes, as my skin has been getting much drier at that time. If you have super oily skin like I do, I would stay away from this. I can see this being an amazing moisturizer if you have very dry/dry, and maybe combination skin. 

This moisturizer costs a whopping $89 and you can find it on the StriVectin website, and in my area, I can get it at Ulta, Macys and BonTon. You can input your location on their site to see where it's sold. 

Have you tried this moisturizer? If you have/haven't, what do you think of it?

Sephora HAUL!

Hi guys! I'm not sure if I mentioned in a previous post, but a couple weeks ago, before my last day of work, my husband took me out shopping. He said I should treat myself a little before I left work since I most likely won't be buying anything for a while (it's not like I really need anything, but ya know, I'm hopelessly addicted). I went to a few different stores that day, but did some damage in Sephora, as usual, and of course I have to show you what I got! I also may have made an online order as well...

Alright, this is the stuff I bought in-store. Yeah, it's alot, but it's all products I've wanted to try for a while! The first product is the Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud Purifying Black Mask. I've already tried this, and I definitely plan on reviewing it, because it's simply amazing! Expensive, but totally worth it. This mask is supposedly purifying, refining, decongesting and hydrating, so it's great for a bunch of skin types. Keep your eyes peeled in the coming weeks for a review. 

Next up is the Bobbi Brown Corrector in the shade Porcelain Bisque. I've never tried anything from Bobbi Brown, but have been dying to try something of hers for years. As you may have heard me talk about before, I have really bad dark circles under my eyes thanks to genetics. Of course not being able to sleep well most of the time doesn't help either, so I always need help in covering them up. I'm so excited to be able to finally try this out!

I also purchased the Boscia Charcoal Pore-Minimizing Hydrogel Mask, which I already reviewed here. I bought this because I read about them online and thought they looked interesting, so I had to try it out that night. To shorten up the review, I just wasn't a fan, but I did like that a sheet type mask finally fit my face right! 

I also decided to pick up the much talked about Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder. I hear about this so much on YouTube and wanted to know what the fuss is about. I have yet to try it, and I will do a review on it if you would like one!

The last two products I picked up in store are from Make Up For Ever. The first one is the Step 1 Skin Equalizer Smoothing Primer, which I have heard pretty good things about. The second one is the Mat Velvet+ Matifying Foundation in the shade 15. I was so torn on shades 15 and 20 and I wished there was something in between. I ended up going with the lightest shade which I can probably darken a bit with setting powder or mix it with something else. 

This is the online order! I actually did 3 separate orders because there were some really good coupon codes for deluxe sized samples, and you can only do 1 code per order. Not to rant, but being a VIB Rouge, I wish they let us do more than one code because obviously we spend enough money, but doing separate orders is kinda annoying. Anyways, the products I purchased are the Tarte Limited Edition Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette V1, the Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in the shade Quickie and the Caudalie Instant Detox Mask. I wanted the Tarte palette because there were a ton of Tarte items on the sale page and this was only $26. The Urban Decay blush just seemed like such an interesting color, but I have yet to try it. The Caudalie Mask has gotten a ton of awesome reviews, and I always love a good mask. 

Now for the samples, I got the Belif The True Cream - Aqua Bomb, a Make up For Ever Artist Plexi-Gloss in the shade 202 (a 100 point perk), a L'Occitane Divine Youth Oil, an Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask (one of my all-time favs!), an Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum with Willowherb and a Fresh Sugar Lip Polish.

Well that was a good haul if you ask me! It's pretty obvious now that I don't need anything else beauty wise, so until I find myself another job, the hauls are going to be at a minimum (if there are any at all!). If there is anything specific here you want to see a full review on, please let me know!

Is there anything recently you picked up?

May 2015 Empties

Hey everyone! May was an awesome month with using up products. I think this was the most products I've ever used up in a whole month, which makes me pretty darn excited. Anyways, get a snack or a drink since this may be a long post. 

I tried putting the products together in categories, so first up is the skincare. I used up the Adeline Anti-Aging Moisturizer. I did a full review of this here, and since using it up completely, I'm a bit indifferent on it. I liked it, but wasn't wowed by it. It smelled really nice, kinda like peppermint, and it just seemed like a regular moisturizer.

Next up is the Boscia Charcoal Pore-Minimizing Hydrogel Mask. I also did a review of this here, and it just didn't work for me. I hear so many good reviews of these masks, So I'm not sure what the deal is. The only thing I liked is that it actually fit my face well, otherwise it's just a meh product.

I always say this, but it's never an empties post for me if I don't have The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner in it. Absolutely love this stuff and it will probably always be my favorite toner of all time. 

I had used the bareMinerals bareVitamins Skin Rev-er Upper a long time ago as a treatment under moisturizer. When I found it in my stash, it wasn't as good as I remembered it being. It used to make my skin feel and look nice, but this bottle didn't really do much for me. I'm honestly not sure if this product is still around, but I highly doubt I'd buy it again if it was available. 

I was a pretty big fan of the Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Cleanser with White Tea. It lasted me quite a while too because you need the tiniest bit to get a good foam. This cleanses well, but the only gripe I had is it burned like Hell around my eyes. 

I've loved the Clinique Moisture Surge for years, and this one is their Extended Thirst Relief version. I only used this at night and it made my skin feel amazingly soft and hydrated. This product in its full size is pretty expensive, but I may consider buying it once I use up what I have in my stash.

I didn't actually get to use the Philosophy Hope in a Jar Moisturizer because when I open it, it smelled awful and was yellow. Just nasty, so in the trash it goes!

I'm also throwing out the Valentia Organic Rosehip Oil. I did a full review of this, and I'm not a fan. I did like how it made my skin look and feel, but I can't get past the smell of it. I'm not sure if I got a bad batch, but it smelled rotten to me. 

Now for some health/body products. I have finally used up the Perlier Limone Italian Sorbet Body Water. I had done a review of this ages ago here and found it so interesting. It's not necessarily a moisturizer, it's like a gel that crackles on your skin and it's so refreshing to use after a really hot day and a nice shower. I'm not sure if I would buy it for myself, but it's such an interesting product that I might consider it. 

Another Perlier product I used up is the Volcanic Stones Thermal Scrub. I reviewed this here, and at the time, I did like it. Now that it's used up, I love how this smells, it's like a spa, but the scrubbing particles kinda hurt my skin. 

I finished up a Natrol Biotin 10,000 mcg tablet bottle. I take one of these every morning to help with my hair, skin and nails. My nails are always nice, but I don't think this works for my hair. I keep using it in hopes it will eventually. 

I used up the Wegmans Topcare brand of Sensitive Toothpaste. I liked this alot and it only costs about $3. Much better price than other sensitive toothpastes around. 

Now for a few random makeup type products. I'm actually sad to have used up the Skindinavia Bridal Makeup Finish Spray. I bought this for my wedding back in September 2013. I loved it back then and I loved it til I used it all up. I'm not very picky with setting sprays and can kinda use whatever and be happy, but there are sentimental reasons to this one!

I hadn't used this Bare Escentuals Rare Minerals Skin revival Night Treatment since I was probably a teenager. I remember using it and thinking it never really did anything. It was a powder that you put all over your skin at night and it was supposed to help with skin turnover and large pores. Since it is so old, I don't want to chance it so it's getting thrown away.

I reviewed these Dermalogica Precleanse wipes here and I didn't really care for them. At first I wasn't using them correctly, and found out that I had to wet these after an initial use to remove the rest of my makeup. I'm not a fan of these and mainly used them for rubbing off swatches. 

Last few products! I used up the Suave Keratin Infusion Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner, but not at the same time. I always use up shampoo first for some reason, and a couple weeks later, I used up this conditioner. I'm a big fan of suave hair products because they make my hair feel so soft and healthy. 

The last product is the Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial foaming hand soap in the scent Creamy Pumpkin. I love their hand soaps so much and always stock up during a sale. This scent was really nice, kinda like pumpkin pie but without the cinnamon. 

Well, that's everything I used up! Not too shabby if you ask me, and if you made it til the end, you're awesome and I love you :)

How many/what products did you use up in May?

May 2015 Favorites

Hi everyone! I'm sorry again for the lack of posts, but life got in the way a bit. I officially was finished work on the 30th, so my plan is to post as much as I can here. I'm hoping to do 4-5 posts a week until I can get into a set routine. Anyways, today I'm going to be sharing my favorites for May. There aren't too many, but the few I have, I've really been loving.

I know I talked about Bioderma in a previous favorites, but it really is amazing! It gets off all my makeup without leaving any traces behind, and it's so incredibly gentle on my skin. I have sensitive eyes and even with eye makeup removers that say they won't burn or sting, they still do for me. Bioderma does not and it's just an amazing product. I want to do a full review on this at some point. 

Next up is The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser. This stuff is amazing at filling in your pores before makeup, and it's helped a ton with keeping my oily skin pretty calm. I would never use this as just a moisturizer, but it's an excellent primer.

I won the Belif Moisturizing and Firming Eye Cream in an Instagram giveaway, and I've been so impressed. It's very thick and moisturizing, but it doesn't leave a greasy feeling around my eyes. When I consistently use this, my eyes start looking so much better. I have a few different eye products I'm rotating through, but this one is probably my favorite nighttime eye cream. 

I put off trying the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask for ages and bought it quite a bit ago. I was having an issue with my lips in May, I think I may have had an allergic reaction to something, but nothing was making it go away. I was getting frustrated until I remembered I had this. This stuff cleared it up in a couple days and made my lips look and feel so much better. 

My last favorite is the Pop Pouty Pop Crayon in the shade Coral Crush. This came in a previous Ipsy bag and I would pull it out occasionally then switch to something else. In May, this was basically all I used. It's such a pretty color too, and I always got a ton of compliments while wearing it. It's definitely a good Spring/Summer shade.

What were some of your favorites in May?