Hey guys! Once again, it's time to show you my trash. I didn't finish using a crazy amount of products, but I'm happy with what I did use up.
The first product I used up is the Herbal Essences Color Me Happy Dry Shampoo. Technically, I didn't use this completely up, because after about 3 uses, the nozzle completely broke on me and sprays out like a stream of water. Also, this stuff is just awful, so part of me is happy it broke. Everytime I used this, it would just make my hair feel sticky and grosser than it was before I used it. Don't buy it, ever. I've finally decided to never again stray from my beloved Batiste.
Next up are some Multi For Her Vitamins from Nature Made. Nothing fancy, just an everyday vitamin that's got the essential vitamins I need on a daily basis. I like the Nature Made brand and they're always on sale at Walgreen's for typically buy 1, get 1 free.
Part of me wishes I would've saved The Body Shop Brazil Nut Shower Cream for Winter. It's incredibly hydrating and made my skin feel super soft. These shower creams are awesome too, and perfect for Winter when my skin gets drier than the Sahara desert.
I used up probably my all-time favorite toothpaste from Tom's, their maximum strength Sensitive toothpaste. This stuff is amazing! I'm sure I've mentioned in previous posts that my teeth and gums are extremely sensitive, and most times I HAVE to use a sensitive toothpaste, otherwise it's hard to even drink cold water. I adore this toothpaste, as weird as it sounds. It just makes my mouth feel good, and the soothing mint flavor is nice.
The Dior Addict It-Lash Mascara was so dried up I could only partially get one eye done and had to switch to a different mascara. I wish this wasn't so dried out because I love the plastic bristles on the wand. Spiky bristles like that give insane definition to my lashes, which I'm a huge fan of.
I used up the Aquafina Flavor Splash lip balm very early on in August. I liked this balm, but it sucks how quickly I went through it. Honestly, I probably used it up in maybe 3 weeks. I do like how hydrated this made my lips feel and I used it every night before bed.
I used up the Amara Organics Vitamin C Serum, which I wrote a full review on here. I really did enjoy this serum alot. I used it in the morning under my moisturizer, and I felt that it brightened up my skin making it look alot less dull.
I loved how the Ole Henriksen Grease Relief Face Tonic made my skin less oily. I didn't love how this stuff smelled though. It's very strongly scented of Robitussin. You know, the cough medicine. It's so bizarre, and because of that, I highly doubt I'd buy it again.
The Korres Pomegranate Cream-Gel was just alright. It didn't make my skin feel oily nor did it cause any breakouts. It was just a meh product in my opinion.
I used up the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask in one use, and it's an interesting one. It's one of those masks that dries and you peel it off your face. I liked it because it pulled out some of my baby hairs that I have all over and it also seemed to brighten up my skin. However, this hurts like a mofo when removing, and you have to use alot of it to get the thick, opaque layer that's needed to get results.
The L'Occitane Hand Cream in the regular shea scent is phenomenal! I know I've talked about this before so I won't ramble on, but it's hydrating, smells fresh and clean, and doesn't leave my hands feeling greasy after I apply it.
What did you use up last month?
Hi everyone! I say this pretty much every month, but the year is just flying by. The past couple months have been not so great personally, but they're going by fast, which I'm happy about. It's September now, which means I get to celebrate my 2 year wedding anniversary soon, and there are only 3 more months until my birthday! I didn't wear too much makeup in August, but I do have a few favorites to share with you all.
My first favorite is the Olay Sensitive Body Wash. This stuff is fantastic! Even though the bottle says it's unscented, it still has a very light, clean scent. It's lovely and makes my skin feel soft and clean. I originally bought this for my husband, but I've stolen it from him (not really though, I'm not that mean).
Next up is the Zamian Super Gold Cacao Pack or mask here in the states. I had gotten this in a Memebox, and only used it a small handful of times in the past. I pulled this out again, and instantly fell in love. First off, it smells like hot chocolate with maybe some rum mixed in. It's delicious smelling, but it makes my skin glow and feel like a baby's bum. Apparently, it's got gold powders in it as well, which makes it seem pretty fancy.
The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Lip Butter is a product I started using literally a week before the end of August, so I might be cheating. I've talked about these lip butters before and it's no surprise I like them. This particular one is so incredibly hydrating, and it smells like lemon meringue pie! This is also one of the rare lip butters that don't leave a white cast on my lips, so that's a big plus.
If you click the picture to make it bigger, you can see that I have a pan of Makeup Geek Starry Eyed Eyeshadow. This is one of the foiled shadows, and boy is this beautiful! It's so shiny and pigmented and makes for a great lid color, and if you have fair skin like I do, you can maybe get away with using this as a cheek highlight, but very lightly of course.
The last product is the Kat Von D Everlasting Face Shaper Blush in the shade Bellisima. This is a pretty pink-y coral shade that has a tiny bit of a sheen and looks so pretty on my fair skin. This little sample size was most likely a point perk from Sephora, but now it makes me want to get more of these blushes.
What were some of your favorites in August?
Hi everyone! I received my Ipsy bag yesterday, and I'm happy for once that it's a bit earlier than previous times. The theme this month is Prep School, since school is starting again soon for alot of people.
The actual bag is alright. It's got a hounds-tooth pattern, which I'm not a huge fan of. It also feels like it's made of plastic and it has some texture to it as well.
The first product I received is the Swissco soft Touch Slant Tweezers. Out of all the products they sent out, I got flipping tweezers! The last time I got a Swissco product in an Ipsy bag was December of 2014 and it was an eyelash curler. Didn't need that either.
The next product is the Starlooks Luxe Longwear Eyeliner Pen. I very rarely wear eyeliner, and if I do, it's usually the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper. This eyeliner seems smudgy when I apply it on my hand and rub it after it dries, so I don't have the highest hopes for this. I'll still try it just to see how it works.
Next up we have the Beauty Without Cruelty Leave-in Conditioner. This will definitely be put to use as I haven't done a whole lot with my hair recently, and I can tell it's suffering. I think it smells wonderful too, very herbal scented. I'm a fan of scents like that though, but I can see it being too much for some people.
Next is the Hikari Lip Gloss in the shade Salsa, which is a classic red. I was hoping I would get the intense red mauve shade called Merlot. I always feel like I can't pull off the classic bright red shades as I need something more cool based for my skintone. I'll give it a go and see if I end up liking it. The only thing that's really turning me off is the scent of this. Right when I take the wand out, the smell of chemicals wafts into my nostrils, and it's not pleasant.
The last product is the City Color HD Powder. I already have so many powders in my stash, but I'm curious to try this as it promises a matte finish and preventing shine. An oily girl like myself might appreciate something like this, as long as it works!
That's everything I received this month! Overall, I just feel a bit meh about it. I'm not overly excited about anything really, but am curious to try the powder and leave-in conditioner.
If you want to sign up for Ipsy, you can do so here via my referral link! It only costs $10 a month, plus shipping for some, and you typically get 5 deluxe sized products to try. Occasionally, there will be a full size product too!
If you're already subscribed, what did you receive this month?
Hi everyone! August was great in the using up products department, so this may be a longer than usual post. Lets check out what I used up.
I'll start with the more random products first. I used up a Bath & Body Works handsoap in the scent Candy Cane Bliss. I absolutely love this stuff man! I kinda have a thing for peppermint and this smells like a straight up candy cane. Love it and will repurchase if it comes out again this year!
I also used up a Lady Speed Stick deodorant in the scent Shower Fresh. I liked the scent of this and I feel like it did the job well. I bought this I think for only $1 but I honestly don't remember where.
I used up one of my favorite toothpastes, the Crest Sensi-Relief. I'm sure I've mentioned in the past, but I have super sensitive teeth and gums so I'm always on the hunt for a toothpaste that's good with sensitivity but also affordable. I think this tube retails for around $4 or so, but I wait til I can find a coupon to use. Definitely will repurchase.
A couple more random products, I used up the Philosophy Happy Birthday, Beautiful! shower gel. Loved this since it did smell just like a vanilla birthday cake. I featured this in my July favorites and I'm really hoping they have a scent like this that's permanent because I'd stock up on this stuff!
Now this may be a strange product, but it's the Udderly Smooth Udder Cream. I used to use this alot when I was younger as a hand cream because it's got a good consistency that melts right into the skin but it's incredibly hydrating. I found this bottle and I think I have another one hiding in my stash, but it rekindled my love again. When I was at Walgreen's the other day, I actually saw a two pack of these things! I could only get them in Amish Country at a local store and would stock up when my mom and I would go. If you live in Pennsylvania, Amish country is in the middle-ish of the state, so like Lancaster/Harrisburg/Hershey area. It would take about 2 hours to get there but it was worth it.
Now for lots of skincare! The first product I finished up is the Clarisonic Gentle Hydro Cleanser. I featured this in my June favorites, and now that I've completely used it up, I wish I would've saved this for the winter time. It's a thicker cream cleanser that doesn't foam up at all, which makes for a good makeup remover. However, I did notice that as the Summer went on, it started feeling a bit heavy on my oily skin. I only used it at night and it is wonderful when used with the Clarisonic, but I feel like I would've gotten better use out of it when it's really cold outside. Oh well, live and learn! Would I repurchase? Maybe, I have so many other cleansers to use up before I think of repurchasing anything.
This bottle of Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for combination skin lasted me ages! And by ages, I was using this when my husband and I were dating and I would stay over at his house. we've been together a little over 4 years now and married almost 1 if that says anything. I'd only use this at night but once in a rare while, mostly in winter, I'd use it during the day if my skin felt dry. This is a great basic moisturizer and lasts forever, so you definitely get your money's worth!
I used up a Clarisonic brush head in the deep pore version. Clarsonic recommends you change out the brush heads every 3 months, but I assume that means with daily use. I use my Clarisonic at most three times a week, so I stretch that out a little. After every use I always wash it well, so I feel I can get away with changing them out less often. I like this brush head surprisingly. It's not harsh on my skin which is great and I do feel like my skin is alot cleaner when I use my Clarisonic. I have so many backups of brush heads, it's pretty nuts.
Next we have the Philosophy Take a Deep Breath Oil-Free Energizing Oxygen Gel Cream Moisturizer. I'm pretty sure this is one of my favorite moisturizers I've ever tried! Honestly, it's got the best texture for oily skin, doesn't feel heavy, and it still feels hydrating. If I didn't have a million moisturizers to go through, I'd go out and buy multiples of this stuff, that's how good it is. I don't think I have a full size jar of this, but this sample size lasted quite a while, about a good 3 weeks I'd say.
I used up the Clinique Spot Healing Gel pretty quickly. I must've had alot of breakouts or something, but this tube did not last long at all. I think it helped heal any blemishes I had, but the spot treatment I'm currently using blows this out of the water.
I actually never got to use the Skin Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Cream. When I ran out of a different eye cream, I went to use this and it was just a ball of goo and wasn't useable at all. I cleaned out the jar and I'll probably reuse it for something else.
Last skincare product is the Lancome High Resolution Eye Refill-3X. This is a sample size that came in a gift with purchase set. I didn't really care for it much, it kinda burned a little and didn't feel very hydrating. I looked it up online and the full size jar of this costs a whopping $64! I couldn't justify buying an eye cream that expensive, but hey, someone else may love this.
Now for the makeup! Basically it's all mascara and one eyeshadow primer. The first mascara I used up is the Covergirl Natureluxe Mousse Mascara. I talked about this in my May favorites and I pretty much loved this stuff. It made my lashes look so nice and I'm really sad it's discontinued.
The next mascara I used up is the Clinique High Impact Mascara. I really liked this too! It gave me decent length but was great in the volume department. I might repurchase this after I use up my mascara hoard.
Next up is the Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes mascara. I thought this was alright. It clumped up a bit which I had to go back with a lash comb to remove but it gave me some nice length. I'm pretty sure I already have a full size of this to use up, which I'm kinda upset about since I didn't like it. I may just use it in conjunction with a different mascara.
Now I tried to use the Duwop Lash Venom, but when I opened it, the brush was flattened to the wand! I tried my hardest to make it useable but I figured it was just too dried up to use. It's a shame because I was really looking forward to trying this out.
I was using the Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara for almost a week when I noticed it wasn't really that great. It was giving me those little balls of mascara at the tips of my lashes and they were hard to get rid of. Unfortunately, in the trash it goes!
The one lone eye primer I have is the Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer. I used this for quite a while then it started to dry out on me and wasn't useable. It was alright while it lasted. It didn't really make my shadow last long, but it did make the colors pop. I'm pretty loyal to my Urban Decay Primer Potion but I do have a lot of primers to use up!
What have you used up lately?
Hey everyone, and happy September! Honestly, this year is going by so darn fast! My wedding anniversary is this month and it seems like yesterday I was posting about it coming up. It's really amazing how time flies! Anyway, August was pretty good product wise for me. I have a decent amount of favorites to share with you all, so here we go!
The first product I've been loving is the Philosophy Purity Made Simple Facial Cleansing Gel & Eye Makeup Remover. This stuff is amazing! I really like the original cleanser that everyone and their mother talks about, but this stuff is the bomb for oily skin. It's basically a thick gel formula but it lathers up nicely so it feels like it's really cleaning your skin. It's also amazing when used with a Clarisonic. They sell this huge bottle at Sephora for only $21, which to me is amazing because you only need the tiniest bit. This will last a long while since I only use it at night!
Next up we have the Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment. I had ran out of the spot treatment I was using and thought I had samples of something else to use, but I really didn't. I couldn't wait so when I was grocery shopping I took a peek down the skincare aisle and saw this. It was on sale and I actually had a coupon so this was only a little under $5. I'm pleased to say that this stuff really does work! I use it in the morning and as the day goes on, I do notice that the breakouts I have aren't as red and puffy. This is definitely a keeper in my book!
Now I know the Lorac Pro 2 Palette was in my favorites for July, but it's just so amazing that I had to include it again for August. This palette is just so beautiful, it's quickly becoming one of my favorite palettes, ever. Go and buy it!
Then we have The Body Shop Satsuma Shower Gel. Now I'm pretty sure I've either talked about this or the body butter in the same scent before, but I'll say it again, this stuff smells amazing! when you're in the shower, it truly feels like you're in a field of oranges and the smell just fills the bathroom. I remember I had taken a shower one night and my husband came home from work, stopped dead in his tracks and asked what smelled so good. I hadn't cooked anything so I said it was probably my shower gel. He said it smelled like orange peels were strewn throughout the house and it was wonderful. He loves oranges so he was happy!
Next up is two lip glosses from the Bite Beauty Deconstructed Rose library I hauled a little while back from Sephora. I had originally gotten this because of FleurdeForce saying she loved it. The Sephora I went to only had one of these left, and it was a limited edition product so I don't think you can get it anymore. The two particular colors I have shown here are numbers five and six. Six is actually on the left and five is on the right. These glosses are a bit sticky but the color selection totally makes up for that!
My last favorite is a sample size of the Sephora Atomic Volume Maximum Volume Mascara. I'm pretty sure this came in a kit of some sort, but I'm really impressed with this little guy! It does give me more volume than I'm used to, which is nice, but it still looks natural on my lashes. I just looked on the website, and I don't know if they renamed this or discontinued it, but I can't find the exact mascara on there :(
What were you loving in August?
Hey guys! So I received my Ipsy bag on Friday but only got a chance today to write up what I got. When I was able to check my glam room and see what I would be getting, I was pretty excited! Once I actually got my bag in the mail, I was a little let down. The theme this month is called Beauty Schooled.
First off, I don't like the look of the bag. I don't like the color orange and when I got it, it was so smushed that I was afraid something may have broken inside. Onto the products.
I first received the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner. I love receiving things that will help with my pores. Having oily, acne prone skin, products like this are amazing. I do have another sample of this but I have yet to try it.
Next I received a Coastal Scents Forever Blush Sample Duo. I was first happy to see I would be getting this in my bag. Once I received it, I couldn't believe how small it was. I don't know how I'll be able to use this normally. I do have a comparison picture coming up shortly.
Next up we have the Absolute Lip Balm in the Green Apple scent. A grape scent was also sent out and I probably would've preferred that, but this doesn't smell too offensive. I was never a fan of green apple stuff, even with candy. The color of it is pretty though so I'll give it a try.
Then we have a Lord & Berry Silk Kajal Kohl Eye Pencil in a black color. Again, such a tiny sample that for me, it will be difficult to use. Reminds me of free samples they give you from Sephora when you place an order online.
Lastly we have the Urban Decay Perversion Mascara. This is the only product I'm super excited to use. I love Urban Decay as a brand so getting to try their new mascara is nice.
Not sure if this is a good comparison picture, but I didn't really have anything else. I have been told by numerous people that I have really small hands. My wedding rings are a size 5 if that helps too, and they sometimes slide around. Granted, my husband's hands are huge compared to mine, but he's a big dude. I'm just amazed that these tiny ass samples were sent out. Like I said above, these remind me of the free samples they send out with online orders. Pretty disappointed.
Overall, I am not too happy with Ipsy this month. Some months are so amazing and then we have months like this where they all seem like free samples that I paid $10 for.
Anyway, I do like Ipsy but I'm hoping next month is way better than this. I've received some awesome bags in the past, so if you want to subscribe, sign up here!
If you're already signed up, what did you think of your bag?
Be prepared guys, this past month I went through a ton of products! I honestly don't know how I did it but when I looked in my empties bag, it was practically full! Before I ramble on too much, lets see what I used up!
Starting off with hair care and body care, I used up the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo. Now I won't take full credit for using all of this as my fiance was the main person to use it, I just helped him use it up since he started using something new! I probably finished off the last quarter of the bottle. This shampoo smells amazing, as does all Garnier shampoos and conditioners do, but it made my hair feel dry. I felt like I had to load up on the conditioner after using this stuff. I won't repurchase.
I used up another set of The Body Shop Banana Shampoo and Conditioner. I've talked about this numerous times and did a review post as well raving about them. I still like these, but I think I got bored of using them to be honest. They're still very nice, but I probably won't repurchase for a while, mostly because of the price. Luckily, these were the last bottles I had of these in my closet so I can move on to something else!
Now for body care, I used up the Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash. I liked using this when I got breakouts on my back and chest (nasty, I know). I honestly don't know how well this works because body washes aren't on your skin long enough to have any effect so the ingredients go down the drain before they're given a chance to work. It also smells very chemically as well, which I'm not a big fan of. I probably won't repurchase this.
The last body product I used up is the Philosophy Pineapple Coconut Shower Gel. I've talked about these a ton as well, and everyone knows how much I love Philosophy shower gels. This stuff smelled amazing and made my skin feel soft and clean. I will always love these shower gels!
I used up a decent amount of skincare as well! The first product I used up is The Body Shop Seaweed Pore Perfector. I had this little bottle for ages and just always forgot to use it. I decided to finally use it up because it was just sitting in my bathroom. I don't really know how to describe this stuff. I guess it's basically a treatment gel to shrink your pores, but this did nothing to shrink mine. My pores are like craters anyways, so it's hard to find a product to help reduce them. I definitely will not repurchase this.
Next, I used up the Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleansing Cloths. I did a review on these as well so I won't go too much into detail about them. I generally did like these for removing my makeup, but the new packaging has 15 wipes less than the package I had so it's not that good of a deal anymore. Not going to repurchase because there are too many great drugstore options.
I also used up one of the wonderful The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toners. Again, I've talked about this product a bazillion times and still love it as much I have before. Will always repurchase!
Finally for skincare, I used up the Bliss No Zit Sherlock Purifying Cleanser & Toner. I used this cleanser at night and it was alright, but I felt like it burned my skin when I used it most times. I'm not sure why as I can't really tell from the ingredients what would irritate me. I know I won't repurchase this.
Now for a few miscellaneous products. I used up a Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Foaming Hand Soap in the Black Cherry Merlot scent. This stuff smelled absolutely amazing! I actually enjoyed washing my hands with this stuff. I have tons of the B&BW handsoaps so I won't repurchase for a while.
Next I used up The Body Shop Skin Primer Matte It. I don't feel like this mattified my skin at all and it didn't help my makeup last either. I have difficulty finding a good face primer for my oily skin, so I'm still on the hunt!
The last product I used up is an On10 Lip Balm in a Cherry Chocolate scent. I'm not picky with lip balms and I did like this. It's got an SPF of 15 which is great for daytime use and it smelled awesome. I have so many lip balms as a backup so I don't need to repurchase any for a very long while!
Phew! If you made it til the end, you're so awesome! I'm incredibly happy I was able to use up this much. I even re-organized my closet with all my beauty stuff and was shocked to see some space! I have stuff in my bedroom though that will fill those spaces ;)
Remember my giveaway is still going for 5 more days! If you're in the US you can enter, so check it out if you haven't yet!
What did you use up in August?
Hi everyone! It's the end of another month, which means it's favorites time! It also means that I'll be getting married in three weeks. Three weeks?! Where did that time go?! It's seriously going by fast, but anyways, lets get on to what I've been loving this past month. It's not a whole bunch since I haven't experimented too much lately, but these products are really great!
First up, we have the limited edition Wet N' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Collection in Going in the Wild. Now I only used this one time, and I used the purples on the left hand side, but boy oh boy, are they beautiful! I followed the look exactly how the colors are to be used and it looked so nice, I even got some compliments when I went to work. Great little palette if you can get your hands on it!
My next favorite is the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder. This is a mini size I bought that also came with a little brush for $15. The brush that came with it is alright, but I use a Real Techniques Contour Brush with this. I'm surprised with how much I like this! I wanted to just get the small size because this is my very first use of a bronzer ever, so I wasn't sure if I'd like it. I've been using this just to contour my cheekbones with, and it's surprisingly easy to work with and blends well. It also helps that it smells like cocoa! I'll probably buy a full size of this when I run out of this little one.
Then we have the Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation in the color Light 42. I wanted to try this for potentially wearing it for my wedding. I bought the lightest shade online figuring it would be fine since I'm usually paler than whatever the lightest shade is in any brand. Imagine my surprise when I used this and it's actually lighter than my skin! Miracle of miracles, I'm not as pale as I thought! Anyways, I used it by itself at first and it matches my neck as long I blend well. Next time I tried this I mixed it with a different foundation that matches my skin alright but is a bit dark by itself. It was perfect. I think this is a great foundation. It lasts for a very long time on my oily skin, but I do notice it gets a bit spotty by the end of my work day. I'm used to that though. This covers imperfections very well also. If you want to try this, I recommend testing it in store. I blindly bought it online without testing it first but I'm okay with it honestly. I can wear it by itself, but it looks better when I mix it with a darker foundation or if I use the Too Faced bronzer above.
This last product is my star favorite of the month. This is that little beauty sponge that every beauty blogger/vlogger and their mother and dog talk about, and that is the Beauty Blender. Sorry this is so dirty, but it's been very loved, plus that Kat Von D foundation stains like a mother. Anyways, I always heard great reviews of it but I didn't want to give into the hype. Since I'm using my wedding as an excuse to buy new things, I gave in to see what it was all about. I kid you not, the first time I used this, it was love. The heavens opened up and angels were singing. I finally believe the hype and can confirm that this is truly amazing! This little baby makes my foundation look completely flawless and it covers up imperfections beautifully. The pointed tip makes it easy to get into the corners of the eyes and around the nose. Before I use this, I wet it first and squeeze it out in a towel and let it dry for about 15 minutes. I should also mention, I bought the double pack of these because it was a better deal. I'm glad I did because I will keep buying these for probably the rest of my life.
That's everything! I know I didn't have many products this month, but these are all very loved products and I couldn't be happier. I think I may be done buying makeup for quite a while. I've purchased alot lately and I think I can make a decision on what to wear for my wedding!
Remember I still have my giveaway going if you haven't checked it out! There is still one more week left to enter, so good luck if you do enter or if you already have :)
What were some of your favorites this past month?
Hey guys! I was so happy when I went to my parent's house yesterday and saw my Ipsy bag there! I hadn't even gotten a tracking code or anything until today and I saw that it was actually delivered on the 10th! I don't think I've ever gotten an Ipsy bag so early in the month before. Anyways, this month's theme is Glamour Academy. I'm guessing they named it that because it's almost back to school time. I'm incredibly happy with this month's bag, so lets see what I got!
The bag everything came in is cute, but I'm not the biggest fan of the crest. I love the purple with gold together though. It's a decent size too for traveling purposes.
Now for the actual products! When I found out we were getting a Michael Todd product, I was over the moon! I've been wanting to try Michael Todd products for a while now, and I received the Pumpkin Nutrient-Rich Facial Mask. We could've also received the Jojoba Charcoal Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub. I would've been happy with either one, but I love masks a little more personally.
The next product I received is a Noya Lip Balm in a Cherry flavor. The other product I could've received is an Urban Decay Lipstick. Honestly, I much prefer lip balms over lipsticks anyway, so I'm very happy.
The next product is the Pixi Beauty Lash Booster Mascara in Blackest Black. I'm a bit tired of mascara samples now, but I'm still going to try this and see how I like it.
Next up is the MicaBeauty Eyeshadow in Bronze. I think this is such a beautiful color and it's super pigmented. I can't wait to try this over the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze. I think that's gonna look gorgeous!
The last product I received is the Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream. I was excited about this until I read some reviews. I read that it was shimmery, looks orange and doesn't blend well. Now I'm on the fence about this product. I'm not sure if this product was an either/or product, but looking at what else I could've received, I wish I got the NYX blush instead.
Overall, I'm very pleased with this bag. Ipsy continues to be my favorite subscription service (and only subscription service I get!) and I don't see myself cancelling anytime soon! If you would like to sign up for Ipsy, feel free to use my referral link here. I don't get paid through this link, just an extra product in next month's bag if I get two people to sign up! :)
Also, please check out my giveaway for my one year blogiversary! It's running for 23 more days, so there's plenty of time to enter! It is for US residents only, so I apologize to my readers overseas :(
So I figured I'll do an August 2012 favorites blog since I don't have access to a video camera to post on YouTube (maybe in the future sometime). I absolutely love watching those videos and reading about who loves what. So lets get started.
The first favorite I have is a nail polish by Zoya called Lotus. This is a tiny bottle but that's because I recieved it in a Birchbox. I LOVE this color! Here's a description from the Zoya website describing the color (because I'm terrible at describing colors): "Zoya Nail Polish in Lotus is a very soft, dusty blue-toned amethyst
purple with colorful shimmer that reflects pink, red and gold. A dreamy
smoky shade for purple lovers that looks both soft and luminous." I pretty much agree with this description except for the dusty blue part. I just don't see it. It's such a beautiful purple color and the shimmery particles show up very nicely but it's not over the top. I used two coats of this and it turned out very opaque and lasted for quite a few days for me before it chipped.
My next favorite is the Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel Shadow in Bad to the Bronze. Yes, I know I'm late with saying how wonderful this is, but I just recently purchased this within the last couple months and it really is incredible. I use this underneath my eye shadows especially when I'm using either of the Urban Decay Naked palettes. I have to use an eye shadow primer first as well because I have super oily eyelids and my eye shadow looks amazing all day. I can't wait to try out some of the new colors they have for Fall.
Next, I have a blush from The Body Shop and the back of the package just says 04 cheek colour, so it doesn't have a name, just a number. To me, this blush reminds me a bit of Nars' Orgasm, just a little bit lighter and with a tad bit more sparkle but again, not over the top. This was usually my go-to blush pretty much everyday in August, aside from a few days when I'd use the Nars or some other brand. I've also had this blush for almost 3 years and I still haven't hit pan on it. I know you're probably thinking eewww gross! But, it hasn't changed color, it doesn't smell funny, and plus, powder formulations of any makeup tend to last a while as long as it's stored properly.
My next favorite is a lip balm by a brand called on10. This container came in a package of I believe 9 lip balms and I got it from Sephora a couple years ago. The flavor I have pictured is lime and it has an SPF of 15 which is really good especially when you're going to be outside in the sun. I've been using this for I wanna say almost 2 months and it's almost empty. This lip balm is amazing too. It makes your lips so soft and moisturized, and it smells wonderful! I still have some flavors left as I'm a lip balm freak and have way more than necessary.
My final favorite is The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner. I am totally obsessed with this stuff. The bottle pictured is still full because I just opened a new one last week sometime, but I've been using this toner all through Summer. I will have to put it away by the end of September because it really helps control oil production and keeps skin matte, which will actually be too drying for me once Fall rolls around. The only downside to this product is that the second ingredient is Alcohol Denat. which is basically plain alcohol and is very drying to the skin. I will say though, I haven't had any issues with this over-drying my skin or irritation so I do recommend it if you're super oily and have acne-prone skin like I do. Just remember to use a moisturizer after using this, or you probably will have super dry skin.
So that's everything for August! I'll definitely be doing a September favorites and I hope this gave you a good idea of a few things I like. Bye everyone! Thanks so much for checking out my blog!
