So it's time for another blog sale! I've been going through my collection like crazy lately, throwing away old stuff, giving alot away, and I have a bunch that I'm hoping to sell now! I'll be adding alot more as time goes on, so keep checking back! Please take a look and read over the rules of this sale :)
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If interested in any of the products, please send me an email to
skinstuffbykaty@yahoo.com with your PayPal email address and what
products you're interested in, or leave a comment down below and I will
email you - I'm only accepting payments through PayPal via the friends/family option, so be sure you have a PayPal account. - If you have any questions about these products, let me know below in the comments or send me an email - I will only ship within the continental US -
If anything below has been used or swatched, I'll make a note of it and
sanitize it with an alcohol based cleaning spray before I ship it out - No refunds will be accepted and I'm not responsible if something gets damaged while in transit - Shipping starts at $4.50.Any additional item will be an extra 25 cents each added on - Items that are a pending sale will be marked next to the item - Sold items will be crossed off the list, but may still be pictured
- MAC Satin Blush in Peony Petal: Used twice $15 - Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Ethereal Glow: Never used $25
- MAC Pro Longwear Eye Shadow in Plush: I believe these shadows are discontinued. Used less than 5 times $15 - MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Warm Thunder: Limited Edition. Used less than 5 times $15
- Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette in Native: Bronzer and blush have only been used once, highlighter never used $15
- Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case: All eyeshadows minus the first dark gray color have been used once. Blushes and highlighter have never been used. Originally came with a lip pencil and eyeliner, but I lost those a while ago $18
- SOLDHourglass Ambient Lighting Palette: Comes with Dim Light, Incandescent Light and Radiant Light. Each color has only been used twice $30
- Tarte Pin Up Girl Amazonian Clay Blush Palette: This is the blush palette from Holiday 2014. Blushes have never been used $25
*Disclosure* Product mentioned was provided for review. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always.
Hey everyone! I'm really excited to be doing this review today of the Exuviance Gentle Cleansing Creme, as it's really been treating my skin very well.
Here is a little bit of information about the product:
This gentle, soap-free formulation was created for even the most sensitive of skin to dissolve makeup and impurities and help improve skin’s texture. Formulated with Gluconolactone (a Polyhydroxy Acid), this cleanser provides anti-aging benefits without irritation and has been both Dermatologist and allergy tested.
The benefits:
This comfort-rich cleanser gently removes makeup, surface oils and impurities without altering the skin's natural moisture balance. The soothing creme formulation is blended with an anti-aging Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA), along with skin conditioners and nourishing botanicals to soften and soothe while improving the skin's texture. This dermatologist developed soap-free cleanser is highly moisturizing and ideal for dry or sensitive skin. It's also wonderful as a makeup remover and can be rinsed or tissued off for a clean, refreshed complexion. Dye-Free. Paba-Free. Dermatologist and allergy tested.
The directions say to moisten hands and face. Dispense product onto fingertips and massage onto face and neck using an upward circular motion. Tissue off or rinse thoroughly with warm water, and pat dry. This can be used morning and night.
I've been using this at night and it's probably one of the most effective cleansers that removes my makeup that I've ever tried. Seriously, it takes everything off like a dream, and it rinses off nicely as well. I absolutely love using this in conjunction with my Clarisonic as it really gives me that deep clean that I sometimes need. It's a very creamy consistency that doesn't foam up at all, which I surprisingly really enjoy. This makes my skin feel soft and hydrated, and not tight or dry. I also really like the scent too. To me, it smells like coconut, but I don't see an ingredient in the product that would make it smell that way. It's kind of weird, but I'm not complaining!
This product costs $32 and you can find it here on the Neostrata website. Also, be sure to check out their Twitter page here!
Hi everyone! I received my Ipsy bag a little early this month, yesterday actually, so that was a pleasant surprise! The theme this time is called The Dreamers.
Now if you know me, you know how much I love my tie-dye! I'm a hippy at heart. I love the style of the bag, but I do wish it was maybe a different color scheme.
The first products I received are two sheet masks from Purlisse. One is a Blue Lotus + White Tea, and the other is Blue Lotus + Seaweed. I was never really the biggest fan of sheet masks, but Purlisse is a brand I really do like, so I'm definitely going to use these and see how I get on with them.
Next up is the Crown Brush C427 Duo Fiber Blush Brush. Now I'm not usually into Crown Brush for some reason, but this brush is incredibly soft, and I love how there are little dips in the handles for your fingers. It's so cool, and you can also use this for foundation or highlighter as well. I got a brush similar to this last month too, so I'm pretty overloaded in the brush department.
I hardly ever use eyeliner, so the Starlooks Luxe Longwear Eye Pencil in Jet probably won't be used much. I'll give it a go and see if it's nice for tightlining or something.
I love Tarte Lip products, so I was pleased to see a mini LipSurgence Lip Creme in Wonder in my bag! It's a cute little sample and the color is very pretty, so that will definitely get use.
The last product I received is by Trust Fund Beauty, and it's their That Glo Tho Face Highlighter. Honestly, I'll probably never use this because it's a champagne-y gold color, it's a cream, and I just am not a fan of highlighters in general.
I hate to say this, but this might be my last Ipsy bag. I've been with Ipsy since pretty much the beginning, and there are only so many sample products I can use without getting totally bored. While I've loved Ipsy, I think it's just my time to say goodbye. I might give it just one more month, but if I do, then that one will definitely be my last one, for sure. While I'm still deciding what to do, here is my referral link to sign up for your own Ipsy bag. You get 5 deluxe size products, sometimes full size too, for just $10 a month, plus shipping for some. It is a great deal, and some months are better than others, but I love getting products I had never heard of, or learning about indie brands that aren't as mainstream.
If you're already an Ipsy subscriber, what did you get in your bag?
Hey guys! I'm so sorry I've been MIA for a few days! I haven't been feeling so great lately and really just needed to rest. Today, I have a haul to share with you of some products I've picked up within the last few weeks or so. I haven't really done much beauty shopping lately because I am trying to use up what I already have, but I wanted to treat myself a little bit!
First up is Ulta. I had placed an online order during their 21 Days of Beauty, where I picked up the Philosophy Purity Made Simple Wipes and the Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in the shade Something About Berry. Each of those products were 50% off, and since I'm a Platinum member, I also received free shipping, as well as a good amount of points because Philosophy was 5X the points during that time! I've used the Philosophy wipes before and remember liking them, but I can't remember if I was wowed by them. They were only $7.50, so no real loss if I end up not liking them much. I had also been wanting to try one of the Too Faced Sweethearts blushes, but always thought they were a bit too expensive. They were only $15 at the 50% off sale price, so I ran with it. I have yet to try it, but will report back with a review! I had gone into my local Ulta after not being in that store since October of 2015, because I had a 20% off coupon for Platinum members sent to me. I wanted to check out some skincare, so off to the store I went. I've really enjoyed being sent a bunch of goodies from Pur Cosmetics before, so I wanted to look into their skincare to see if I liked any of it. I picked up their In The Clear Clarifying Cleanser and the Soak It Up Intense Hydrating Moisturizer. A rep from the brand was there, so she was testing out a bunch of things on me to help me with my choices. The cleanser seems like it'll be great for use in the Summer as it's very cooling, and the moisturizer seems nice and light feeling, but still very hydrating at the same time. I've heard so many amazing things about the Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads, and have been very curious to try them myself. Unfortunately, I didn't look at the ingredients while in-store, and there's denatured alcohol in them. I'm trying to stay away from products that contain alcohol, and now for personal reasons (which I might mention later), I'm also staying away from Glycolic Acid. I will be returning this since I have yet to break the seal and open it.
I really didn't have plans to buy anything from the Sephora VIB sale. In all honesty, I haven't shopped at Sephora, online or in-store, since the middle of December! Like I said above, I'm really trying to limit my purchases this year to buying mainly what I need, not just what I want. So, I limited myself to the NARS Pencil Sharpener, because the sharpeners I have just didn't cut it anymore, and the beautyblender Two.BB.Clean that comes with two regular sized original Beauty Blenders, as well as a 5 ounce Liquid Blender Cleanser. You all know my love for the Beauty Blender and I just adore their Liquid Cleanser as well, so for $40 minus the 15% discount, you really couldn't beat that. I finally had a reason to redeem some of my points, so I redeemed 100 points on the Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover, which is my all-time favorite, but it's freaking expensive. They also had a pretty great 500 point gift of Ole Henriksen products called Glow For it, which includes deluxe sizes of their African Red Tea Cleanser, Truth Sugar Glow Polishing Mask, Truth Collagen Booster (LOVE!), and Pure Truth Youth Activating Oil. I've been really into Ole Henriksen products lately, and this kit definitely seemed worth the 500 points. Did you buy anything from the Sephora VIB sale?
*Disclosure* Product mentioned was provided for review. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!
Hey guys! A couple months ago I was contacted by a brand called Chuda, and was asked to try out their new Healing Hydrating Cream. Since my skin was freaking out and didn't know whether it wanted to be oily or dry, I decided to give it a go.
Here is some info on the moisturizer, from the Chuda website:
A first-ever formula rooted in the centuries-old, skin-healing Remedea Compound™
and boosted by the most scientifically advanced, medical grade actives,
Chuda™ Healing Hydrating Cream deeply hydrates and rapidly heals dry,
damaged and compromised skin.
Chuda’s fast-acting, highly concentrated formula works two ways: Upon
application, an invisible healing dome blankets the skin’s surface,
creating the perfect environment for skin to properly hydrate and heal.
Simultaneously, skin receives a highly active, concentrated cocktail of
the ideal nutrients needed to help stimulate repair. In time, skin is
restored to its healthiest state—smooth, soft, supple, hydrated and
radiant.
Some of the active ingredients are:
- Cross Linked Sodium Hyaluronate: This attracts and binds up to 5,000 times its weight in water, which is five times greater than traditional Hyaluronic Acid - Dromecius Oil: This delivers a high concentration of essential fatty acids without the typical irritation of plant-based sources - Allantoin: This supports wound healing by stimulating the growth of healthy new tissue - Palmitoyl Tripeptide: This penetrates the skin more effectively and stimulates a more rapid rebuild of collagen - Vitamins: This has stabilized forms of vitamins B, C and D to provide maximum antioxidant protection and promote skin repair and renewal
This is probably one of the most thick and hydrating face creams I've ever tried! It's this off-white, creamy moisturizer that truly is very thick and can take quite a bit of work to blend into the skin. I was willing to work with it though, because my skin was in bad shape. I've only been using this at night, as it is very greasy feeling and just too much for daytime use. If you have the driest of dry skin, you can definitely use this during the day and be fine. Since I've been using this cream, I have noticed my skin feels and looks alot more hydrated, and during the day, it's more balanced. I have been breaking out lately, but I blame that on the weather. Seriously though, it's gone from really nice warm weather to snow right now. It's nuts, and it's making my skin crazy. Anyway, since I don't have wrinkles, I can't say whether or not this cream will help with them. Their website has a bunch of before and after pictures of the results people have had, and they are quite remarkable. I hate to say how much this cream is, but for the full 1.7 ounce size, it's going to cost you $150. Yes, $150! That's crazy to me, and as of now, it's the most expensive skincare product I've gotten to try, or even bought myself. The science behind this product seems very promising, and I have yet to have a negative reaction to this. The owner behind the company seems incredible too with everything she's achieved in her career and how she came out with this product. Again, you can check out the website and see everything that has to do with this cream. Would you try this moisturizer? What do you think of it?
*Disclosure* Product featured was provided for review. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!
Hey guys! I'm so excited to bring you this review today of The Body Shop Lightening Shade Adjusting Drops. I had received a very lovely PR package with these as well as the Darkening Drops, and I was so incredibly happy to finally be able to test them out!
Here is a product description of the drops from The Body Shop website:
Transform an "almost right" shade into your perfect one in just one drop
with The Body Shop's Shade Adjusting Drops. Lightening drop lightens
and neutralizes yellowness, while the darkening drop darkens while
keeping natural depth.
I have not tried the Darkening Drops as they're waaaayyy too dark for me to use with anything. I have the worst time finding foundations, because I'm super fair, but also super cool toned. In nearly every brand I've tried, the lightest foundation shade is either still too dark, or too yellow/orange. When I heard The Body Shop was coming out with a product to help us pale girls make that "almost right" shade of foundation perfect, I practically squealed with excitement! I really did though, my husband thinks I'm nuts...
Anyway, once I received this in the mail, I tried it with one of my favorite foundations, the Clinique Stay Matte Foundation. I actually own the second to lightest shade, but only because the lady color-matching me didn't know what she was doing, so I ended up with a foundation that's slightly too dark, and slightly too yellow. I used one drop of the Lightening drops, and low and behold, I finally got my perfect shade! Seriously, this is honestly a lifesaver, and I can now use the foundations that I stayed away from using!
It's a little hard to tell in the picture, but these Lightening Drops have a neutral to pink undertone, which helps to neutralize any yellowness. The product dispenses from a dropper type lid, which can be tricky to work with, but it provides the perfect amount of product. You only get 0.5 fluid ounces of product for $20, which is a bit pricey, but since you only need 1, maybe 2 drops, it's not awful. Plus, I don't wear foundation every single day, so I see this lasting a while. It also does not change the consistency of the foundation you're using, so if you like the formula of a certain foundation, don't worry about it applying differently!
If you're super pale like I am, and have a difficult time finding the right foundation shade, I highly recommend giving this a try. I can't say enough how thankful I am that I was given the chance to try these Shade Adjusting Drops out. You can purchase these at The Body Shop online, or in-store. Have you tried out either the Lightening or Darkening Drops? Let me know if you like them or not!
Hey guys! Back in February, I started doing a pan that palette challenge, where I wanted to start panning theBalm's Nude'tude palette. I tried my hardest to use the palette every chance I got, and it was fun for a while seeing what I could do with it.
To start, here are the pictures before I started the challenge:
You can see I did get a little use out of it before the challenge, but not alot. This was a palette that I just didn't care for much, but I did end up falling in love with it!
Here are the pictures after a little over a month and a half of use:
So, it's safe to say I didn't make much progress. I do think I made a good dent into the shades Sassy and Sultry, but only because Sassy was pretty much a highlight and Sultry is the only transition shade. Selfish also got a decent amount of use.
I don't know if the whole panning thing is for me honestly, especially with palettes. I just have so many in my collection, and I do get bored easily using the same thing over and over (hooray for short attention spans!).
I have to hand it to all the professional panners out there, it's not easy! While I think I'm going to give up this pan that palette challenge, I do definitely want to start rotating the palettes that are in my collection right now, instead of just letting them sit and collect dust. I just started doing the 100 Days of Makeup challenge on my Instagram, where I do a makeup look everyday for 100 days. That doesn't always include a full face, it can also be just an eye look, or a lip look I particularly enjoy. I've been getting alot more use out of the makeup I have lately, and I'm close to finishing up a bunch of products too, and that makes me very happy since I'm in decluttering mode.
*Disclosure* Product mentioned was provided for review. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always
Hey guys! If you didn't know, mascara is probably one of my favorite things to apply in my makeup routine. I had received a surprise package from Pur Cosmetics that included their new Fully Charged Magnetic Mascara. I thought it had an interesting concept to it, and I was pretty excited to try something new!
According to the Pur website:
Opposites attract with this anti-aging mascara that has a magnetic
polymer matrix that wraps a positively charged elastic veil around each
lash to instantly lift, separate and define each lash for long-lasting
performance.
For application, they say:
Begin by placing the brush wand at the base of lashes then hold for a
few seconds to set. Wiggle the wand in a back and forth motion and
repeat to build. Use the wand vertically to apply to the lower lash
line.
The packaging on this mascara is pretty darn nice, and has that matte black Nars packaging feel to it. The brush looks all too familiar to me, and very much reminds me of the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. Bristles go every which way, and alot of product seems to collect at the very end of the wand, but I just remove that on the mascara tube. I have to note the scent of this, and maybe it's just my tube, but it smells a little too chemically for my liking. I also have to mention that the sixth ingredient in this is Alcohol Denat. Why?! Why is there alcohol in this?! Since using this mascara, I've noticed my natural lashes seem a little more drier than usual, and I'm pretty sure it's because of the alcohol. Anyway, here are some before and after pictures:
My poor lashes are practically non-existent and have a tiny bit of curl, but otherwise they're fairly straight and very light in color.
I gotta give it to this mascara, after just one coat, my lashes are more curled, and much more dark and separated. I feel like I can get away with just one coat of this. When I apply two coats, that's where I start to get clumping. I hate to compare this to Too Faced Better Than Sex again, but I think this performs like it with how it applies and looks after one coat. One thing that really bugs be about Fully Charged is that it makes my eyes itch like crazy! I'm not sure what's in this mascara that causes that effect, but it annoys me and in turn, it breaks down fast. I end up with smudges and flakes after just a few hours of wear, which is a shame because I really do love the initial application. Removal is very easy and comes off with makeup remover just fine. Keep in mind that I have very sensitive eyes in general, and allergy season is starting. I'm just disappointed that Fully Charged makes my eyes itch, when I don't usually have that problem. I'm honestly not sure what having a magnetic polymer matrix does in this mascara, but I don't notice anything spectacular because of it. Overall, I would recommend this mascara if you don't have sensitive eyes and want a good amount of length, and also don't mind having alcohol near your eyeballs. I don't notice much volume, and again, Too Faced Better Than Sex provides both. The cost of Fully Charged is only $22 and you can find it at Ulta, the Pur website, and other online retailers. Have you tried this mascara?
Hey guys! March was pretty insane with using up products, and I'm so proud of myself! I know that probably is odd, but using up what I have makes me feel good, as well as getting rid of products that don't work well. So grab a snack or something, because this might get long, but I'll try to not ramble on as much!
I'll start off with a few makeup products. The Korres Mattifying Primer was really an odd consistency, and I don't find it kept my skin more matte than normal.
The L'Oreal Magic BB Cream in Fair is just god awful! It starts out white, then is said to adjust to the shade name. I'm not sure how the shade is fair, but I looked like an Oompa Loompa, not even joking. Even mixing it with a lighter foundation or The Body Shop Lightening Drops didn't work. In the trash these go!
I initially liked the Covergirl Plumpify Mascara, which I reviewed here. Over time, I realized just how ridiculously large the brush is, and I would constantly stab myself in the eye no matter how careful I was. The consistency also started to change a bit, so I'm just throwing it out at this point.
I'm also throwing out The Body Shop Nature's Minerals Foundation in the shade 01. I've had this container since I worked at The Body Shop, which was almost 7 years ago by now. It's old, I don't like the shade for my fair skin, and it doesn't blend well.
It's also time to say goodbye to the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. I'm going to be honest here, and I may get some flack for it, but I freaking hated this sponge with a passion! It is so not like a Beauty Blender no matter how much people try to say otherwise. It breaks apart easily and makes foundation and concealer look awful on my skin. Bye Felicia!
Now for a few random empties. I used up my last big bottle of the Crest Pro-Health Mouthwash. I really liked this as it didn't burn my mouth, but I'm over it now. I'm on the hunt for a nice mouthwash that is alcohol free, so if you know of a good one, please let me know!
There's not much to say about Batiste Dry Shampoo, except I love it and would marry it if I could. This is the best dry shampoo I've ever used and have backups of backups in my stash.
The Korres Yoghurt After-Sun Cooling Gel is said to be used after being in the sun too long and having some irritation. Since I'm a cave-dweller, I used this as a hand cream instead, and was happy with the results I got.
You all know my love for The Body Shop Lip Butters, as well as their Body Butters. I used up the Sweet Lemon Lip Butter finally, and a mini size of the Cocoa Butter Body Butter. Their lip butters are fantastic to use before bed, and I think everyone loves their body butters.
Now for some candles! I decided to start including these in my empties posts/videos, and last month I used up three. The first one is by a brand called Aroma-MIX and it's in the scent Holiday Cookies. This candle was a gift from an old co-worker, so I'm not sure where you can get them. I will definitely be keeping the container though, as I like to use them for makeup brush storage.
Then I have two from Bath & Body Works. The first one is Peach Cilantro Twist, which smelled like a fancy drink, and the second one is Cinnamon Caramel Swirl, which made me want to bake and eat lots of junk food. Both are lovely, but B&BW candles are just so darn expensive, so once I use up my stash, I won't continue buying them, unless there's an awesome sale going.
Now for some skincare! I was obsessed with Paula's Choice products many years ago before the line blew up and they started sponsoring bloggers and YouTubers. Their Hydralight Healthy Skin Refreshing Toner for normal, oily and combination skin is just incredible. All of the products I've tried from her line never disappoint and there are products for every type of skin.
I received the Nourish Organic Moisturizing Cream Face Cleanser in a previous Ipsy bag, and it was a very generous deluxe sample. I got about 2-3 weeks of nightly use from this, and I ended up really liking it. Even though it was moisturizing, I felt like it cleansed my skin nicely, and it worked well with my Clarisonic.
I used the Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque after using deep cleaning masks, and it was just alright. It's a gel consistency that sinks into the skin pretty fast, and you can use it as an overnight mask. It didn't wow me, and since Dermalogica products are so expensive, I will never buy the full size.
I finally finished up the Amara Organics Retinol Serum, which I did a review on here. Now that it's used up, I feel it's just a meh product, and nothing you should rush out and buy. There are more effective retinol products on the market for around the same price.
I completely adored the Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer. I also reviewed this here, and I think this is one of the best moisturizers I've ever used. It's a gel/cream formula, but it was hydrating enough for when it was freeing cold outside. I was thinking I would need to switch to something heavier eventually, but this was fantastic. It smells like an orange field too, so it was great for in the morning.
Lastly, I have some baby and foil packet samples. The Sephora Instant Moisturizer isn't that great honestly, and there was only enough in here for two mornings of use.
I was so pleasantly surprised by the Phyto-C Velvet Gel. I've had this in my stash for ages, and I don't even know where I got it from. It just made my skin feel so soft and plump, and I got over a weeks worth of use from using it morning and night, underneath moisturizer.
I hate saying this, but I thoroughly enjoyed the Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exoliating Treatment. It made my skin look and feel brand new after only the one use, and it's tempting me to buy the full size, which is an ungodly price. The only thing I didn't like was the smell. It smells like grass and looks like it too.
I've already used up a packet of the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil and loved it. This stuff removes every last trace of makeup on your face and rinses off incredibly well.
Number of products used up: 23 Total for the year: 52
I'm already doing great this year with empties! Like I've said before, 2016 is the year of using up and decluttering for me, and not just for my beauty collection. I'm wanting to declutter everything in my house and just get rid of the stuff my husband and I no longer use or need. Using up 52 beauty products in just 3 months really puts things into perspective with how much stuff I actually own. What are some products you've used up recently?
Hey guys! I decided to film March's beauty favorites this time around, so I hope you take a look at what I was loving last month! Be sure to give the video a thumbs up while you're there, and subscribe if you want :) I've used some affiliate links below if you wanted to check out any of the products.
