Hi everyone! The past few weeks I did a bit of makeup shopping, and I wanted to share with you what I purchased. I'm trying to be good right now because the Sephora VIB sale is coming up next weekend for Rouge members, and I have a feeling I'll be splurging a bit. I plan on doing a wishlist for the event that should be up hopefully by tomorrow or Monday/Tuesday, so stay tuned! Anyway, lets see what goodies I have this time!
Starting off with the things from Big Lots, the first product I found is Body Raves Fresher Than Green Detoxifying Wipes. These are said to be infused with Aloe and Cucumber with Green Tea and they remove makeup, dirt, oil and environmental toxins. I snagged these up because they were only $2 and you get a whopping 60 wipes in a package. That's an incredible deal and if I end up not liking these on my face, they'll be fine for swatches.
The next two products I was so excited to see and they're the Maybelline Eyestudio quads in Sapphire Stylist and Spirited Seas. The packaging for Sapphire Stylist says it was limited edition, but I have no idea what collection it's from, and Spirited Seas says "New", but it was probably discontinued for whatever reason. The price of these were incredible so brace yourselves. They were only $2.20 each! I couldn't believe it! In the drugstore, these quads are around $10, so just over $2 for each was amazing, and no one stuck their grubby hands in them either!
The last two products I found were shades from the discontinued Maybelline Color Whispers line. I found the shades Lust For Blush and Coral Ambition. I absolutely adored this line when it came out because the formula feels like a very hydrating gel. I have about 3 or 4 other shades, so I'm excited to have these in my collection now! Lust For Blush was $3.50 and Coral Ambition was $3.
Next up is a couple things from an online order at Sephora. I was browsing Instagram a little while ago (I'm @Skinstuffbykaty there if you want to follow me!) and someone had posted about the Make Up For Ever Metal Palette being an awesome dupe for the Z Palette, at a much better price. Z Palettes are typically over $20, and this baby was just $14! I had also gotten a 10% off code to use on this purchase, so that brought the price of it down to $12.60. It was out of stock when I initially went to look it up, but I signed up to be notified when it came back, so I snagged one right away once I got the email. This palette is freaking fantastic! Seriously, it holds so much more product than the Z Palette and the price is incredible. The only downside is that it is heavy because the entire palette is metal. That doesn't bother me, and I'm officially converted. I've even switched my Makeup Geek shadows over to this already. I highly recommend picking one of these up!
The next product I picked up is the Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in the infamous shade Lolita. The liquid lipstick version is always sold out, but for some reason, this lipstick looks like a prettier color to me. I have yet to try this as I want to review it, but I have to say, this smells like a vanilla cupcake, and that makes me very happy.
I had cashed in 250 of my Beauty Insider points for the Bite Beauty Lip Lab Trio in Kir Royal. This was October's Limited Edition trio, and I knew I had to have it since it's a beautiful burgundy/berry/fuchsia color. I love Bite Beauty more everytime I try other products from them, and I'm slowly building up my collection.
Last up is Ulta! I had received a 20% off coupon in the mail a couple weeks ago for Platinum members, and it was good on EVERYTHING! There were just a few exclusions, like Dermalogica, Lancome, the Benefit Brow Bar and one or two others. I had my eye on the Too Faced Star Dust Palette by Vegas Nay, but kept telling myself I didn't need it and had so many colors like what's in the palette, in my collection. As I kept seeing rave reviews on blogs and YouTube, I had to check it out for myself. This truly is such a stunning palette in person! While I probably have many similar shades already, I got sucked in. It also comes with deluxe sizes of Better Than Sex Mascara, Shadow Insurance, and a Glamour Dust Glitter Pigment. I figured since I got 20% off, why the heck not?! #TreatYoSelf
Anastasia Beverly Hills is one of those brands that everyone and their dog talks about, but I really haven't tried much. I do love her clear brow gel, and I also have the Tamanna eyeshadow palette. I've never tried her famous brow wiz and I have not a care in the world for her liquid lipsticks or glosses. However, after seeing pictures and swatches of this Self Made Palette on Instagram, I knew it had to be mine. Do I need another palette? Not at all, but I feel like she has some really nice eyeshadows for an amazing price. This retails for $35 and with the 20% off, it came down to just $28 before tax. Not too shabby for 14 different shades in one palette!
The last product I picked up is the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream 3 piece set that has the shades Monte Carlo, Copenhagen, and Transylvania and retails for $11.99. I saw this set online but with different shades, and in-store they had three different sets. I was drawn more towards this one as I'm trying to broaden my dark lip horizon. I haven't tried Monte Carlo or Copenhagen yet, but Transylvania is just such a gorgeous color, yet it's kinda difficult to work with. It goes on a bit patchy and you have to layer it to get it to look nice. I also feel like I maybe need to invest in a lip liner for shades like this. I still feel like the set is worth it, and the price is great. The Soft Matte Lip Creams retail for either $5.99 or $6.99 individually, so it's like you get one free in this set. Also, with the 20% off coupon I had, it really wasn't bad at all.
That's everything! I feel really happy with this haul honestly since I got things I had been wanting for a little while now. Is there anything you've purchased recently?
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Friday, October 30, 2015
Review: Lorac Mega Pro Palette 2
Hey guys! Sorry it's been a while since my last post! Having a pulmonary embolism and being on blood thinners is no joke, and the medicine I'm on makes my joints hurt and I feel exhausted all the time. Today is a good day though, and I'm going to be reviewing the Lorac Mega Pro 2 palette, which is surprisingly still available here!
Here is some info on the palette from Ulta:
Only at ULTA!
GO PRO with the LORAC Mega PRO Palette 2! Created by celebrity makeup artist Carol Shaw, this limited edition PRO artistry palette is the sequel to their original, best-selling Mega PRO Palette. Double the size of the original PRO Palette, the Mega PRO Palette 2 is loaded with 16 shimmer and 16 matte eye shadows to add to your collection of PRO shadows. Lorac's velvety-smooth shadows are infused with soothing botanicals and are ultra-pigmented to perform wet or dry so you can shade, shadow, line and define your eyes, just like a PRO!
This palette is said to be a $205 value for $59.
- Porcelain (matte)
- Custard (matte)
- Tawny (matte)
- Burlap (matte)
- Melon (matte)
- Tangerine (matte)
- Saddle (matte)
- Forest (matte)
- Bisque (matte)
- Lavender (matte)
- Purple (matte)
- Sorbet (matte)
- Goji (matte)
- Cabernet (matte)
- Ash (matte)
- Black (matte)
- Sugar (shimmer)
- Chiffon (shimmer)
- Prosecco (shimmer)
- Soft Plum (shimmer)
- Cinnamon (shimmer)
- Sandstone (shimmer)
- Gunmetal (shimmer)
- Blue Quartz (shimmer)
- Moonlight (shimmer)
- Seashell (shimmer)
- Peony (shimmer)
- Dark Sienna (shimmer)
- Penny (shimmer)
- Olivine (shimmer)
- Gold Leaf (shimmer)
- Black Ivy (shimmer)
Overall, I'm pretty impressed with this year's Mega Pro 2 palette from Lorac. I have the one from last year as well, and the only difference I can tell between the two, minus the color selection, is the amount of each pan is smaller in this second one. The first one has 0.62 ounces of product in each pan, this one has 0.45 ounces of product in each pan. The actual sizes of the pans look identical to one another, this one probably has more shallow pans. That's kind of a bummer because I'm pretty certain that this one is the same price as last year's. The only color that is a repeat is Black, which is in the Mega Pro from last year, as well as the original Pro 1 and 2 palettes. I personally feel the color selection is great! Compared to last year's, this palette is more cool toned, which I'm definitely a fan of. Each shade is incredibly pigmented, and I only had a difficult time swatching just a few. I also feel like the Blue Quartz shade isn't as pigmented as I think it should be.
I honestly wish I had only gotten this palette and skipped out on Urban Decay's Vice 4. I was so disappointed in that, mainly because the majority of the shades have too much glittery fallout. I haven't noticed any fallout with this palette, even with the shades being so buttery soft.
Have you bought this palette, or no? If so/not, what do you think about it?
Here is some info on the palette from Ulta:
Only at ULTA!
GO PRO with the LORAC Mega PRO Palette 2! Created by celebrity makeup artist Carol Shaw, this limited edition PRO artistry palette is the sequel to their original, best-selling Mega PRO Palette. Double the size of the original PRO Palette, the Mega PRO Palette 2 is loaded with 16 shimmer and 16 matte eye shadows to add to your collection of PRO shadows. Lorac's velvety-smooth shadows are infused with soothing botanicals and are ultra-pigmented to perform wet or dry so you can shade, shadow, line and define your eyes, just like a PRO!
This palette is said to be a $205 value for $59.
First row of colors |
- Custard (matte)
- Tawny (matte)
- Burlap (matte)
- Melon (matte)
- Tangerine (matte)
- Saddle (matte)
- Forest (matte)
Second row of colors |
- Lavender (matte)
- Purple (matte)
- Sorbet (matte)
- Goji (matte)
- Cabernet (matte)
- Ash (matte)
- Black (matte)
Third row of colors |
- Chiffon (shimmer)
- Prosecco (shimmer)
- Soft Plum (shimmer)
- Cinnamon (shimmer)
- Sandstone (shimmer)
- Gunmetal (shimmer)
- Blue Quartz (shimmer)
Fourth row of colors |
- Seashell (shimmer)
- Peony (shimmer)
- Dark Sienna (shimmer)
- Penny (shimmer)
- Olivine (shimmer)
- Gold Leaf (shimmer)
- Black Ivy (shimmer)
Overall, I'm pretty impressed with this year's Mega Pro 2 palette from Lorac. I have the one from last year as well, and the only difference I can tell between the two, minus the color selection, is the amount of each pan is smaller in this second one. The first one has 0.62 ounces of product in each pan, this one has 0.45 ounces of product in each pan. The actual sizes of the pans look identical to one another, this one probably has more shallow pans. That's kind of a bummer because I'm pretty certain that this one is the same price as last year's. The only color that is a repeat is Black, which is in the Mega Pro from last year, as well as the original Pro 1 and 2 palettes. I personally feel the color selection is great! Compared to last year's, this palette is more cool toned, which I'm definitely a fan of. Each shade is incredibly pigmented, and I only had a difficult time swatching just a few. I also feel like the Blue Quartz shade isn't as pigmented as I think it should be.
I honestly wish I had only gotten this palette and skipped out on Urban Decay's Vice 4. I was so disappointed in that, mainly because the majority of the shades have too much glittery fallout. I haven't noticed any fallout with this palette, even with the shades being so buttery soft.
Have you bought this palette, or no? If so/not, what do you think about it?
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Review: Christie Brinkley Authentic Skincare Closeup Instant Wrinkle Reducer
*Disclosure* I was given this product to review thanks to iFabbo. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!
Hey everyone! I was given the chance to try out this Christie Brinkley Instant Wrinkle Reducer, and it's got some pretty bold claims. Lets see if this worked for me!
Here is some information, taken from the Christie Brinkley skincare site:
Description:
Get camera ready in a flash! An instant treatment that tightens the look of skin while firming and smoothing the appearance of crow's feet, fine lines, and wrinkles. Use around eyes, mouth and on forehead to erase years from your appearance. Eliminates the appearance of wrinkles by visibly restoring skin to its natural, smooth state instantly! Just a touch to eye, frown and smile lines, and the formula helps eliminate the appearance of wrinkles, so you look years younger in minutes and it will last for hours!
Benefits:
And honestly, I hate this stuff. It made it pretty much impossible to blend anything on my face, and I ended up having to use 3 different concealers to make my skin look somewhat normal. I don't really have wrinkles around my eyes, but I do have what I call a fold of skin underneath each eye (it probably is a wrinkle, but I'm trying to make myself feel better here). I also have one wrinkle across the top of my forehead that's not too noticeable unless you really look for it. It did absolutely nothing for those either. This didn't tighten my skin or smooth anything out. I truly have no idea why this product is so expensive, let alone exist. It does NOTHING! I hate bashing a product I was sent to review, but this is so not worth the $80 price tag. Save your money, and buy a good serum or moisturizer that's got more beneficial ingredients and will do more for your skin in the long run.
If for some reason you want to learn more about this product, you can do so here.
Does this seem like something you would try?
#iFabboMember #brinkleyCLOSEUP
Hey everyone! I was given the chance to try out this Christie Brinkley Instant Wrinkle Reducer, and it's got some pretty bold claims. Lets see if this worked for me!
Here is some information, taken from the Christie Brinkley skincare site:
Description:
Get camera ready in a flash! An instant treatment that tightens the look of skin while firming and smoothing the appearance of crow's feet, fine lines, and wrinkles. Use around eyes, mouth and on forehead to erase years from your appearance. Eliminates the appearance of wrinkles by visibly restoring skin to its natural, smooth state instantly! Just a touch to eye, frown and smile lines, and the formula helps eliminate the appearance of wrinkles, so you look years younger in minutes and it will last for hours!
Benefits:
- Immediate sensation of tighter and smoother-looking skin.
- Potent formula maximizes anti-wrinkle effects.
- Smooth under-eye bags and puffiness.
- Tightens skin on contact and takes years off appearance.
- Lasts for hours and can be reapplied throughout the day.
- Will wash off easily with water and no make-up remover required.
- Breakthrough discovery that tightens skin on contact to take years off appearance.
And honestly, I hate this stuff. It made it pretty much impossible to blend anything on my face, and I ended up having to use 3 different concealers to make my skin look somewhat normal. I don't really have wrinkles around my eyes, but I do have what I call a fold of skin underneath each eye (it probably is a wrinkle, but I'm trying to make myself feel better here). I also have one wrinkle across the top of my forehead that's not too noticeable unless you really look for it. It did absolutely nothing for those either. This didn't tighten my skin or smooth anything out. I truly have no idea why this product is so expensive, let alone exist. It does NOTHING! I hate bashing a product I was sent to review, but this is so not worth the $80 price tag. Save your money, and buy a good serum or moisturizer that's got more beneficial ingredients and will do more for your skin in the long run.
If for some reason you want to learn more about this product, you can do so here.
Does this seem like something you would try?
#iFabboMember #brinkleyCLOSEUP
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Review: Skin Daily Active Hydration Facial Moisturizer
*Disclosure* I was sent this product to review thanks to the brand and Tomoson. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!
Hey everyone! with the colder weather making its way here to Eastern Pennsylvania, my skin can definitely tell it's time for more hydration. I was kindly given the chance to try out this Skin Daily Active Hydration Facial Moisturizer, and now it's time to share my thoughts.
Here is a bit about the product, from Amazon:
ANTI AGING FACIAL MOISTURIZER - Premium formula contains a powerful yet delicate blend of amino acids, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, MSM, rosehip oil, and multiple botanical antioxidants such as palm oil. Ingredients designed to repair, hydrate, and fortify skin cells for immediate moisture retention, and long term skin health. Skin Daily Active Hydration Moisturizer is the perfect "last step" in your daily anti-aging regime
MOISTURIZER WITH HYALURONIC ACID - Hyaluronic acid holds 1000 times its weight in water. Talk about skin hydration! No premium moisturizer would be complete without this "wonder ingredient"
AMINO ACIDS are essential to long term beautiful and more youthful looking (and feeling) skin. Amino acids are quite literally the building blocks that make up all protein, most importantly collagen. The amino acids found in Skin Daily Active Hydration Moisturizer are specifically formulated to give your skin the optimum amino acids needed to hydrate, repair, and regenerate your skin for remarkably younger looking skin
UNSCENTED FOR A REASON - Active Hydration Moisturizer is unscented for a very good reason. Artificial and even natural fragrances in your skincare products could be doing more harm than good. Sound research has shown the fragrance to be among the leading cause in skincare products for sensitizing and allergic reactions among users. The issues don't stop on the skins surface either. The reality is the chemicals in fragrances could be breaking down collagen under the skin with no immediate sign on the skins surface. The best performing skincare are almost always unscented for this very reason
This moisturizer has been pretty amazing for my drier skin lately! One thing I absolutely love is that it's unscented. I mentioned before that my allergies have been going insane, especially with scents, so I definitely appreciate this not having any scent to it. Another thing I love is it has Hyaluronic Acid in it. If you know me, you know I love me some Hyaluronic Acid, whether it's in a moisturizer or serum. Even though I normally have oily skin, especially during the warmer months, it still gets pretty dehydrated, and that ingredient works wonders for me. I also should probably drink more water too! The pump bottle is easy to work with and one full pump is all you need for your entire face and neck. It blends into the skin nicely, but doesn't make me feel greasy. I love using this during the nighttime before bed when the skin can better repair itself. I also feel like you get a ton of product for the price as well. You get 3.4 ounces for just $19.97 here on Amazon. Overall, this is a very nice, lightweight but hydrating, inexpensive moisturizer for pretty much any skin type.
What moisturizer do you like using?
Hey everyone! with the colder weather making its way here to Eastern Pennsylvania, my skin can definitely tell it's time for more hydration. I was kindly given the chance to try out this Skin Daily Active Hydration Facial Moisturizer, and now it's time to share my thoughts.
Here is a bit about the product, from Amazon:
ANTI AGING FACIAL MOISTURIZER - Premium formula contains a powerful yet delicate blend of amino acids, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, MSM, rosehip oil, and multiple botanical antioxidants such as palm oil. Ingredients designed to repair, hydrate, and fortify skin cells for immediate moisture retention, and long term skin health. Skin Daily Active Hydration Moisturizer is the perfect "last step" in your daily anti-aging regime
MOISTURIZER WITH HYALURONIC ACID - Hyaluronic acid holds 1000 times its weight in water. Talk about skin hydration! No premium moisturizer would be complete without this "wonder ingredient"
AMINO ACIDS are essential to long term beautiful and more youthful looking (and feeling) skin. Amino acids are quite literally the building blocks that make up all protein, most importantly collagen. The amino acids found in Skin Daily Active Hydration Moisturizer are specifically formulated to give your skin the optimum amino acids needed to hydrate, repair, and regenerate your skin for remarkably younger looking skin
UNSCENTED FOR A REASON - Active Hydration Moisturizer is unscented for a very good reason. Artificial and even natural fragrances in your skincare products could be doing more harm than good. Sound research has shown the fragrance to be among the leading cause in skincare products for sensitizing and allergic reactions among users. The issues don't stop on the skins surface either. The reality is the chemicals in fragrances could be breaking down collagen under the skin with no immediate sign on the skins surface. The best performing skincare are almost always unscented for this very reason
This moisturizer has been pretty amazing for my drier skin lately! One thing I absolutely love is that it's unscented. I mentioned before that my allergies have been going insane, especially with scents, so I definitely appreciate this not having any scent to it. Another thing I love is it has Hyaluronic Acid in it. If you know me, you know I love me some Hyaluronic Acid, whether it's in a moisturizer or serum. Even though I normally have oily skin, especially during the warmer months, it still gets pretty dehydrated, and that ingredient works wonders for me. I also should probably drink more water too! The pump bottle is easy to work with and one full pump is all you need for your entire face and neck. It blends into the skin nicely, but doesn't make me feel greasy. I love using this during the nighttime before bed when the skin can better repair itself. I also feel like you get a ton of product for the price as well. You get 3.4 ounces for just $19.97 here on Amazon. Overall, this is a very nice, lightweight but hydrating, inexpensive moisturizer for pretty much any skin type.
What moisturizer do you like using?
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
October 2015 Ipsy Bag
Hi guys! I finally received my Ipsy bag for October this past weekend. Seeing which products I was getting beforehand, I was actually pretty excited this month! Until I got my bag in the mail that is. I had redeemed points last month to get a certain product, and they sent me the wrong one!
I'm not a huge fan of the actual bag everything came in. One side is gold, the other is black. The theme this month is Alter Ego.
The first product I received is the Royal & Langnickel Medium Eye Shader Brush. I've never tried anything from this brand before, but the brush I got is incredibly soft, and it's pink! I can never have enough brushes, so I'm really happy to have gotten this.
Next up is the Beauty Without Cruelty Fragrance Free Hand & Body Lotion. This truly is fragrance free, which I'm actually happy about. My allergies have been going nuts lately, and it's being triggered by certain fragrances. This has shea butter, jojoba, and kukui nut oil in it, so it's great for hydration. My sad, dry hands will definitely appreciate this!
I'm so excited to have received the it Cosmetics Hello Lashes 5-in-1 Mascara! I love it Cosmetics as a brand, but have never tried this mascara. I've heard good and bad things about it, but I'm excited to give it a try!
Next is the Nourish Organic Pure Hydrating Argan Face Serum. I've gotten this brand before in previous Ipsy bags, but honestly haven't tried them yet. This is said to be for normal to dry skin, and my skin is already drying out with the colder weather we've been having. This will probably be put to use in the coming months!
The last product I received is theBalm Cosmetics Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in the shade Committed, which is a pinky nude color. I was super excited to try out this little sample, and it doesn't disappoint. I tried it right when I got this bag in the mail, and I love the color and how it applies. It is pretty drying though, but I typically expect that from liquid lipsticks.
Now, the product they sent me for redeeming my points is the BellaPierre Gel Eyeliner in the shade Ebony. While this is a decent eyeliner, it's not what I had redeemed my points for! I had to go back and check what I did originally get because I know I didn't pick this, and I was pretty confused. What I had redeemed them for was a blending brush from Luxie Beauty. I got one of those in a previous Ipsy bag, and absolutely love it. When I saw it was available for 500 points, I snagged one. I don't know what happened, but I got a little mad seeing an eyeliner instead of the brush I wanted. I already emailed them about it, and they did say I'll get a replacement, but who knows if it will be the brush I wanted. I've never had this issue before!
Anyway, that's everything in this month's bag! Despite being sent the wrong product for redeeming my points, I'm happy with the products this month. I was on the verge of cancelling honestly, but I'll give it a few more months. If you want to get Ipsy bags for yourself, you can sign up here! It costs $10 a month, plus shipping for some, and you get 4-5 deluxe sized samples of beauty products!
I'm not a huge fan of the actual bag everything came in. One side is gold, the other is black. The theme this month is Alter Ego.
The first product I received is the Royal & Langnickel Medium Eye Shader Brush. I've never tried anything from this brand before, but the brush I got is incredibly soft, and it's pink! I can never have enough brushes, so I'm really happy to have gotten this.
Next up is the Beauty Without Cruelty Fragrance Free Hand & Body Lotion. This truly is fragrance free, which I'm actually happy about. My allergies have been going nuts lately, and it's being triggered by certain fragrances. This has shea butter, jojoba, and kukui nut oil in it, so it's great for hydration. My sad, dry hands will definitely appreciate this!
I'm so excited to have received the it Cosmetics Hello Lashes 5-in-1 Mascara! I love it Cosmetics as a brand, but have never tried this mascara. I've heard good and bad things about it, but I'm excited to give it a try!
Next is the Nourish Organic Pure Hydrating Argan Face Serum. I've gotten this brand before in previous Ipsy bags, but honestly haven't tried them yet. This is said to be for normal to dry skin, and my skin is already drying out with the colder weather we've been having. This will probably be put to use in the coming months!
The last product I received is theBalm Cosmetics Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in the shade Committed, which is a pinky nude color. I was super excited to try out this little sample, and it doesn't disappoint. I tried it right when I got this bag in the mail, and I love the color and how it applies. It is pretty drying though, but I typically expect that from liquid lipsticks.
Now, the product they sent me for redeeming my points is the BellaPierre Gel Eyeliner in the shade Ebony. While this is a decent eyeliner, it's not what I had redeemed my points for! I had to go back and check what I did originally get because I know I didn't pick this, and I was pretty confused. What I had redeemed them for was a blending brush from Luxie Beauty. I got one of those in a previous Ipsy bag, and absolutely love it. When I saw it was available for 500 points, I snagged one. I don't know what happened, but I got a little mad seeing an eyeliner instead of the brush I wanted. I already emailed them about it, and they did say I'll get a replacement, but who knows if it will be the brush I wanted. I've never had this issue before!
Anyway, that's everything in this month's bag! Despite being sent the wrong product for redeeming my points, I'm happy with the products this month. I was on the verge of cancelling honestly, but I'll give it a few more months. If you want to get Ipsy bags for yourself, you can sign up here! It costs $10 a month, plus shipping for some, and you get 4-5 deluxe sized samples of beauty products!
*Ipsy link is a referral code. I get points to redeem for product, if you use my link to sign up!*
Friday, October 16, 2015
September 2015 Empties
Hey guys! This is my first real post in a while. I didn't get a chance to show you all the products I used up last month, so without further ado, here they are!
The first product I used up was a joint effort between myself and my husband. We both really enjoyed the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo. It cleans my hair well and actually does make it shiny. Does it work for my husband's curly afro? Not at all with making it shiny, but he says it gets the job done.
Next up is a Tom's Whole Care Toothpaste in the Spearmint flavor. I didn't care much for this honestly. I'm in love with their Sensitive toothpaste and it's always sold out when I need another one. I would only repurchase the Sensitive version.
Using up body scrubs can take a while for me. I honestly wasn't much of a fan of The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub. I adore the scent, but it doesn't have enough scrubby action to it to make that much of a difference.
I used up a ton of skincare, which I'm really happy about! Of course it wouldn't be an empties without The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner. I always go on and on about how much I love this stuff. Best toner of life.
Next up we have the Purederm Choco Cacao Collagen Mask. This came in a Memebox ages ago, and I finally got around to using it. The only good thing about this is that it smells like chocolate. Otherwise, it did nothing for my skin. I just don't really like sheet masks, and I don't know why I keep trying to.
I had the Juice Beauty Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturizer sitting in my collection for ages. I did a sniff test (it smelled fine) and saw that there was no weird separation, so I used it up. I actually really liked this! It smells nice and blends in the skin nicely too without feeling greasy or leaving a white cast.
I also used up a deluxe sample of the Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion. I had an oily skin kit from the brand in my stash and decided to finally try and use up the products. I used to be obsessed with this moisturizer about 7 or 8 years ago, but now it just doesn't work for my skin. It dried it out pretty bad. My skin must be alot less oily than when I was younger, which is nice!
Another Dermalogica product that came in the kit was the Dermal Clay Cleanser. Again, I used to love this cleanser as it also acted as a quick 3 minute mask to help soak up oils and get rid of blackheads. I also feel that this is just too much for my skin now. The only nice thing I liked about it, is that it feels so refreshing and cooling on a hot Summer day.
I finally used up the InstaNatural Youth Express Eye Gel. I had done a review on this over a year ago here when I was sent the product to try. I really ended up liking this because it made my eye area feel tighter and brighter. I am glad that I was able to use this up, it sure took a while!
The Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant also came in the oily skin kit I mentioned above. This stuff is freakin' fantastic! Seriously, if I could afford the full size, I'd buy in bulk. This product is basically a powder exfoliant that you add water to, creating a paste. You gently rub it into your skin and when you rinse it off, prepare to feel the softest, smoothest skin you've ever felt. Seriously. This is most definitely gentle enough for daily use, even on my sensitive skin. I adore this product!
The last skincare product I was able to use up is the Radha Beauty Vitamin C Serum. I really enjoyed using this when I felt like my skin needed a glow booster. even though I have oily skin in the Summer, I am prone to some dry patches and dullness. This really helped to smooth out my skin and make it look pretty again.
Finally, we have a few makeup products! I used up my beloved Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Concealer in the Brightener shade. This is my all time favorite concealer for my under eyes, and also wherever I feel like I need some brightening. I do have a backup of this, but I don't want to crack it open just yet as I have quite a few concealers to go through first.
I was so sad to use up this sample size Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel. I honestly don't do much to my brows, usually just some gel does it for me, and this stuff is magic. It literally is like hairspray for your brows. It keeps them in place all day and it doesn't flake or wear off. It's amazing.
I technically didn't use up the bareMinerals Round the Clock Waterproof Eyeliner in the shade Midnight. I had gone to use it one day, and while I was sharpening it, the whole eyeliner color just fell right out onto the floor and shattered! I guess it had dried up too much. That's a shame too because I have Urban Decay 24/7 liners that I've had for YEARS, and they're still good and still perform amazing. Oh well, I don't go through liners often, so it's not a huge deal.
I'm so sorry it's taken so long to get this post up. If you read my last post, you know I had a bit of a health setback, and I'm trying to get posts done when I have the energy. Today is a good day so far, so I'm going to try and get a few posts pre-written so I can schedule them for you guys!
What products did you use up last month?
The first product I used up was a joint effort between myself and my husband. We both really enjoyed the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo. It cleans my hair well and actually does make it shiny. Does it work for my husband's curly afro? Not at all with making it shiny, but he says it gets the job done.
Next up is a Tom's Whole Care Toothpaste in the Spearmint flavor. I didn't care much for this honestly. I'm in love with their Sensitive toothpaste and it's always sold out when I need another one. I would only repurchase the Sensitive version.
Using up body scrubs can take a while for me. I honestly wasn't much of a fan of The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub. I adore the scent, but it doesn't have enough scrubby action to it to make that much of a difference.
I used up a ton of skincare, which I'm really happy about! Of course it wouldn't be an empties without The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner. I always go on and on about how much I love this stuff. Best toner of life.
Next up we have the Purederm Choco Cacao Collagen Mask. This came in a Memebox ages ago, and I finally got around to using it. The only good thing about this is that it smells like chocolate. Otherwise, it did nothing for my skin. I just don't really like sheet masks, and I don't know why I keep trying to.
I had the Juice Beauty Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturizer sitting in my collection for ages. I did a sniff test (it smelled fine) and saw that there was no weird separation, so I used it up. I actually really liked this! It smells nice and blends in the skin nicely too without feeling greasy or leaving a white cast.
I also used up a deluxe sample of the Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion. I had an oily skin kit from the brand in my stash and decided to finally try and use up the products. I used to be obsessed with this moisturizer about 7 or 8 years ago, but now it just doesn't work for my skin. It dried it out pretty bad. My skin must be alot less oily than when I was younger, which is nice!
Another Dermalogica product that came in the kit was the Dermal Clay Cleanser. Again, I used to love this cleanser as it also acted as a quick 3 minute mask to help soak up oils and get rid of blackheads. I also feel that this is just too much for my skin now. The only nice thing I liked about it, is that it feels so refreshing and cooling on a hot Summer day.
I finally used up the InstaNatural Youth Express Eye Gel. I had done a review on this over a year ago here when I was sent the product to try. I really ended up liking this because it made my eye area feel tighter and brighter. I am glad that I was able to use this up, it sure took a while!
The Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant also came in the oily skin kit I mentioned above. This stuff is freakin' fantastic! Seriously, if I could afford the full size, I'd buy in bulk. This product is basically a powder exfoliant that you add water to, creating a paste. You gently rub it into your skin and when you rinse it off, prepare to feel the softest, smoothest skin you've ever felt. Seriously. This is most definitely gentle enough for daily use, even on my sensitive skin. I adore this product!
The last skincare product I was able to use up is the Radha Beauty Vitamin C Serum. I really enjoyed using this when I felt like my skin needed a glow booster. even though I have oily skin in the Summer, I am prone to some dry patches and dullness. This really helped to smooth out my skin and make it look pretty again.
Finally, we have a few makeup products! I used up my beloved Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Concealer in the Brightener shade. This is my all time favorite concealer for my under eyes, and also wherever I feel like I need some brightening. I do have a backup of this, but I don't want to crack it open just yet as I have quite a few concealers to go through first.
I was so sad to use up this sample size Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel. I honestly don't do much to my brows, usually just some gel does it for me, and this stuff is magic. It literally is like hairspray for your brows. It keeps them in place all day and it doesn't flake or wear off. It's amazing.
I technically didn't use up the bareMinerals Round the Clock Waterproof Eyeliner in the shade Midnight. I had gone to use it one day, and while I was sharpening it, the whole eyeliner color just fell right out onto the floor and shattered! I guess it had dried up too much. That's a shame too because I have Urban Decay 24/7 liners that I've had for YEARS, and they're still good and still perform amazing. Oh well, I don't go through liners often, so it's not a huge deal.
I'm so sorry it's taken so long to get this post up. If you read my last post, you know I had a bit of a health setback, and I'm trying to get posts done when I have the energy. Today is a good day so far, so I'm going to try and get a few posts pre-written so I can schedule them for you guys!
What products did you use up last month?
*Post contains affiliate links*
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Monday, October 12, 2015
Hospitals Suck...
Hey everyone! It sure has been a while. You might be wondering what the title "Hospitals Suck" is about. Who honestly does like hospitals though?! Unless you're a nurse or doctor, I highly doubt anyone likes being in one. Anyways, early last week I ended up in the emergency room due to horrendous chest pain, back pain, and right shoulder pain that was traveling up my neck. Fast forward about 5 hours, and I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Embolism, which is blood clots in the lungs. Fun, right?! Yeah, not so much. I honestly thought I was having a heart attack. I was admitted to the hospital for a couple days so they could keep an eye on me, and get me started on blood thinners.
You might be wondering, "Katy, how in the hell could you get blood clots in your lung?! You're only 26!" Ah, yes. That was my question too when they told me what was wrong. According to the ER doctor, my birth control pills are what caused it. Birth control in general can cause PE, but mine had estrogen in them, which ups your chances of blood clots. It happens, but it's not common either, so I'm one of the lucky ones! (Not) So I've totally banned myself from taking any form of birth control, ever again. I had initially gone back on birth control after my miscarriage in July and D&C in August upon the recommendation of my doctor. I didn't really want to take it, but she said it was probably for the best.
Here I am, now with Pulmonary Embolism. The clots are in my right lung, hence the horrendous pain on the upper right side of my body. I have to be on blood thinners for pretty much a whole year, can't take any form of birth control (which I'm totally fine with), but I also can't try and get pregnant for the year I'm on the blood thinners either. That's the hardest and saddest part for me. When I had the miscarriage in July, it really took a toll on me, physically, mentally, and emotionally. My husband and I were in no rush to try again really, because he's currently taking an EMT course that runs through February. Ideally, we were going to wait until his course was finished, he had his certification, and got his raise at work. Hearing that it now has to wait just really killed me inside, because I sure as hell am not getting any younger. I turn 27 in December, and while most people probably are thinking, "You're young, you can try again. Stop complaining!", I really just want to start our little family.
If you made it to the end, thank you for sticking around. I'm so sorry for not posting, but this pain I've been feeling has been just awful physically. I can barely sleep, it's so bad. It may take a little bit for me to feel 100% again, but when I get the energy, I'm gonna write up and schedule as many posts as I can to catch up, which I do have quite a few that have certain time frames.
Thanks for sticking around to read my long sob story! Just wanted to update you all while I had the energy.
You might be wondering, "Katy, how in the hell could you get blood clots in your lung?! You're only 26!" Ah, yes. That was my question too when they told me what was wrong. According to the ER doctor, my birth control pills are what caused it. Birth control in general can cause PE, but mine had estrogen in them, which ups your chances of blood clots. It happens, but it's not common either, so I'm one of the lucky ones! (Not) So I've totally banned myself from taking any form of birth control, ever again. I had initially gone back on birth control after my miscarriage in July and D&C in August upon the recommendation of my doctor. I didn't really want to take it, but she said it was probably for the best.
Here I am, now with Pulmonary Embolism. The clots are in my right lung, hence the horrendous pain on the upper right side of my body. I have to be on blood thinners for pretty much a whole year, can't take any form of birth control (which I'm totally fine with), but I also can't try and get pregnant for the year I'm on the blood thinners either. That's the hardest and saddest part for me. When I had the miscarriage in July, it really took a toll on me, physically, mentally, and emotionally. My husband and I were in no rush to try again really, because he's currently taking an EMT course that runs through February. Ideally, we were going to wait until his course was finished, he had his certification, and got his raise at work. Hearing that it now has to wait just really killed me inside, because I sure as hell am not getting any younger. I turn 27 in December, and while most people probably are thinking, "You're young, you can try again. Stop complaining!", I really just want to start our little family.
If you made it to the end, thank you for sticking around. I'm so sorry for not posting, but this pain I've been feeling has been just awful physically. I can barely sleep, it's so bad. It may take a little bit for me to feel 100% again, but when I get the energy, I'm gonna write up and schedule as many posts as I can to catch up, which I do have quite a few that have certain time frames.
Thanks for sticking around to read my long sob story! Just wanted to update you all while I had the energy.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
September 2015 Favorites
Hey guys! Today I'm going to be sharing with you some products I've been loving this past month. I was going to originally film a favorites video, but I didn't like how it turned out, plus I still feel pretty awkward talking to a camera. Anyways, here are the products!
The first product I've been loving is the Proganix Quench Coconut H2O + Electrolytes Conditioner. I do love the shampoo as well, but the conditioner is freakin' amazing! It makes my hair feel like silk, it makes it smell incredible, and I've noticed my hair feels cleaner longer when I use it. Amazing stuff!
Next up is the wondrous Tangle Teezer. I purchased this a little while ago because I've always heard good things. I have pretty fine hair that gets really tangled, especially after I wash it, so I wanted to see what the hype was about. This baby has been a miracle for my hair! I no longer struggle to get those little knots out, and I think it's been really helping to strengthen my hair as well. My husband has even stole this a few times since he's got incredibly thick, curly hair that can turn into dreadlocks if he's not careful, and he said he loves it. I will be buying his own soon!
Jaclyn Hill makes me want to buy EVERYTHING. Seriously, that girl can sell ice to an Eskimo. When I heard that she was collaborating with Becca Cosmetics in bringing out her very own highlight, I was excited for her, but not overly excited to buy it. Then she started using it in her videos and talked about it non-stop. I then had to get it, despite me not really being into highlighters. Champagne Pop is stunning, and surprisingly nice for pale girls like myself. I do have to use a light hand though, otherwise it will look like a stripe of gold on my face. So beautiful, and so worth the price.
Next up is Revlon's lipstick in the shade Cherries in the Snow. I had posted this lipstick in my Favorite Fall Lipsticks post, and this is truly such a stunning red. It's got more of a fuchsia tone to it, which I feel is great for my skin tone. If only I had bought this lipstick sooner, because I think it may be my favorite red ever.
My last favorite is from Ardency Inn, and it's their Modster Manuka Honey Pigment in the shade Hell. I cannot get enough of this shade when I want a darker bronze smokey look! It looks so gorgeous over the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze. I did a review of the two shades I have here, and I kinda bashed them a bit saying that the shade range isn't that unique. while they might not be, this shade gets more beautiful the more I use it. I now want basically every color they make.
What were some of your favorites last month? I'd love to know!
The first product I've been loving is the Proganix Quench Coconut H2O + Electrolytes Conditioner. I do love the shampoo as well, but the conditioner is freakin' amazing! It makes my hair feel like silk, it makes it smell incredible, and I've noticed my hair feels cleaner longer when I use it. Amazing stuff!
Next up is the wondrous Tangle Teezer. I purchased this a little while ago because I've always heard good things. I have pretty fine hair that gets really tangled, especially after I wash it, so I wanted to see what the hype was about. This baby has been a miracle for my hair! I no longer struggle to get those little knots out, and I think it's been really helping to strengthen my hair as well. My husband has even stole this a few times since he's got incredibly thick, curly hair that can turn into dreadlocks if he's not careful, and he said he loves it. I will be buying his own soon!
Jaclyn Hill makes me want to buy EVERYTHING. Seriously, that girl can sell ice to an Eskimo. When I heard that she was collaborating with Becca Cosmetics in bringing out her very own highlight, I was excited for her, but not overly excited to buy it. Then she started using it in her videos and talked about it non-stop. I then had to get it, despite me not really being into highlighters. Champagne Pop is stunning, and surprisingly nice for pale girls like myself. I do have to use a light hand though, otherwise it will look like a stripe of gold on my face. So beautiful, and so worth the price.
Next up is Revlon's lipstick in the shade Cherries in the Snow. I had posted this lipstick in my Favorite Fall Lipsticks post, and this is truly such a stunning red. It's got more of a fuchsia tone to it, which I feel is great for my skin tone. If only I had bought this lipstick sooner, because I think it may be my favorite red ever.
My last favorite is from Ardency Inn, and it's their Modster Manuka Honey Pigment in the shade Hell. I cannot get enough of this shade when I want a darker bronze smokey look! It looks so gorgeous over the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze. I did a review of the two shades I have here, and I kinda bashed them a bit saying that the shade range isn't that unique. while they might not be, this shade gets more beautiful the more I use it. I now want basically every color they make.
What were some of your favorites last month? I'd love to know!
*Some links above are affiliate links*
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