My Top 10 Favorite Drugstore Products

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Hey guys! I don't think I've done a post like this on the blog before, but I wanted to share with you what my favorite products to buy at the drugstore are. The best of the best, in my opinion, and what I can't live without. I have a mix of hair and skincare, but the majority is makeup. 

1. Aquation Gentle Moisturizing Cleanser - I had done a review of this along with a couple other Aquation products, but this cleanser is my favorite out of the bunch. It's amazing at removing makeup at night, it hydrates the skin without making me feel greasy, and it just makes my skin feel so good. I always go in with toner and moisturizer after using this, but I can tell that my skin is absolutely loving this cleanser. 

2. L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation - I had purchased this a while ago after hearing some pretty amazing reviews, but put off trying it for the longest time. I picked up the shade 101 Classic Ivory, which was surprisingly hard for me to find at the time. It's like there wasn't a place in the display for it, but I eventually found it at Walmart. I am beyond impressed with how this foundation applies and how well it keeps my skin shine-free. It sort of reminds me of the Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+ foundation, but much cheaper. 

3. Batiste Dry Shampoo - If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know how much I adore Batiste. I've tried quite a few of their scents, but the Tropical scent pictured is my ultimate favorite. It smells like coconut and the beach, and it's wonderful. It makes my hair feel so much cleaner when I haven't washed it in 3 days, and never builds up to feeling gross like other dry shampoos can. It's the best and there are usually sales going on, which is when I tend to stock up. 

4. Milani Baked Blush - This is probably no surprise, since everyone talks about Milani Baked Blushes, but these are just fantastic! The shade pictured is called Dolce Pink, and it's my favorite one. I wore it on my wedding day and it gives the prettiest shimmery, healthy pink glow to the skin that I can never get enough of. 

5. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - This is an old favorite that I will always go back to when I use up other powders. I have quite a few powders in my collection, but this is most definitely my all-time favorite. It keeps me shine-free and never looks cakey. I usually pick up the Transparent shade, but they do come in a range of colors. 

6. Colourpop Super Shock Shadows - Now you can only buy these on the Colourpop website, but at only $5 for each eyeshadow, they're such a steal! The shade pictured is called La La and it's a pretty coppery bronze shade that looks gorgeous over the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze. If I could buy every shade of these shadows, I totally would. 

7. Wet N Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trios - My love for the WnW eyeshadows trios is massive. I don't own too many, but the ones I have are so gorgeous and the shadows are super pigmented. I have to say though, limited edition trios are not as good as the original ones, and I'm not sure why. Pictured is Silent Treatment, and it's my favorite that I own. They make for such a pretty, cool-toned look that I like to wear for date nights. 

8. NYX Butter Glosses - Again, these are old favorites that I typically use when I have no idea what I want to wear on my lips. There's a huge shade selection, but the one pictured is Cupcake, a bright pink shade that's perfect for Summer. These smell like vanilla and I have quite a collection of these in my lip stash. 

9. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer - You all had to have seen this one coming! This is my all-time favorite concealer ever. Seriously, I always want to kick myself for trying something new, and sometimes more expensive, only to find that this one is still way better. I usually get the Brightener shade, but I have used Fair. I think the Brightener shade works so much better at masking my dark circles, and the Fair shade is good for spot concealing around my face. 

10. Covergirl Mascara - I honestly have yet to open this Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara, but I had to picture something in place of my beloved Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara. I used my one tube up ages ago and haven't repurchased yet, but I miss it terribly. The Super Sizer makes my lashes look fake and I always get complimented when wearing it. It's probably my favorite mascara out of the drugstore that I've ever tried, and I've loved quite a few. 

What are some of your drugstore picks?

July 2016 Favorites

Hey guys! After not doing a favorites post for June I wanted to make it a point to get one up for July. I've started to wear makeup again and taking better care of my skin. I only have a few products to share, so it'll be short and sweet. 

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The first product I have to talk about is by a brand called Aquation. I was kindly sent this Gentle Moisturizing Cleanser, along with a couple other goodies to review and this cleanser has just been so fantastic, I had to talk about it early. I won't get too much into it since I have a review post coming up, but this cleanser removes makeup like a champ, is gentle, and keeps my skin feeling hydrated without being greasy. 

Next up is a product I decided to revisit, the Wet N Wild trio in Walking On Eggshells. I'm trying to make more of an effort to use up products that I've had for a while but rarely used, and this was one of them. I've been so obsessed with the bottom eyelid shade as just an all-over lid color, and it's just stunning. 

My final favorite for July is the Covergirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in the shade 250. The one gripe I have about these is there is no shade name on the packaging, so I have to search it online, and it looks like this one is called Scarlet Twist. This is a gorgeous shade and has just enough pigment to it, yet it's sheer enough to just slap on and go. I adore these balms so much and I'm actually trying to use this up completely as part of a project pan challenge I'm trying out. 

What were some of your favorite products in July?

April 2016 Empties

Hi everyone! It's time again to share with you the products I used up for the month of April. I feel like I didn't do very well, and have plenty of products on their last legs that could've gotten used up earlier, but I haven't been wearing much makeup, or even taking that great care of my skin lately. 

I'll start off with a few skincare bits. Of course it wouldn't be an empties here without a bottle of The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner. You all know how much I love this stuff, but the price of it has gone up so much in the last few years, that I'm actually considering trying something else once I use up what's in my stash. 

Next up is the Radha Beauty Miracle Retinol Moisturizer. Not quite sure how this is a miracle, since it dried out my skin and didn't do much for me. I always had to put another moisturizer on top of this because it gave no hydration whatsoever. 

I'm not sure if I mentioned it here or not, but I used to really love the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask. It moisturized my lips like no other and kept them soft and supple without having to reapply. I put it away for a while and came back to it again sometime last month. However, it started making my lips go completely numb about 10-15 minutes after applying it, and it wouldn't go away. It was so bizarre, and then I finally realized that the first ingredient is Lanolin, which is derived from wool. Wool makes me breakout in hives, so I figured I had an allergic reaction to this lip mask. In the trash it goes, because I'm not chancing something more serious happening. 

I had the biggest gripe with the Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator when I first received it in a previous Ipsy bag. The container wasn't even a quarter of the way filled with product and I thought I'd hardly get any use from it. Well, I did end up getting quite a few uses out of this and I'm very pleased with how well this works. It just makes my skin so dang soft and beautiful. I doubt I'd buy a full size, but this was nice while it lasted. 

Lastly for skincare, I have two deluxe sized samples of Ole Henriksen products. One is the Truth Serum Collagen Booster, which was freaking fantastic and is probably one of the best serums I've tried. The second is the Invigorating Night Gel, which I didn't care for. It did make my skin feel better, but also stung quite a bit upon application and I didn't like that, so in the trash it goes. 

Next up is a bit of makeup and a random product. I used up two of my all-time favorite mascaras, Tarte Gifted and Covergirl The Super Sizer. These two are probably my picks for favorite high-end (along with Too Faced Better Than Sex) and low-end. Once I use up what I have in my collection, I will be purchasing these two again!

I decided to just get rid of the Be A Bombshell Lip Balm in French Kiss. This felt very dried out and the color is a baby pink that looks awful on the lips. I already have so many lip balms to go through, so this won't be missed. 

Lastly is the Berry Twinkle Pocket Bac from Bath & Body Works. I loved this while I had it, and one day I found it hiding in a purse and it smelled awful and was incredibly runny. I dumped out what was left in the trash, which wasn't alot really, so now I can use a different one. 

Lastly, I have some random bath, body and health care stuff to share. My husband and I both used up the Sound Body Dandruff Shampoo. I get these bottles at Big Lots for just a few dollars and it's exactly like Head & Shoulders, just much less expensive. We already have another in our shower. 

You all know I have to use sensitive toothpaste due to my incredibly sensitive teeth and gums. This is the Topcare (Wegmans store brand) Extra Whitening Sensitive Toothpaste, and I don't really care for this much. I don't notice any difference in sensitivity and the taste is a little odd as well. 

I finally used up the Bath & Body Works Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin foaming hand soap that's been in our bathroom for ages. I love these hand soaps, but they're really expensive even when there's a sale, so once I go through my stash, I'll look elsewhere for less expensive soaps. 

And lastly we have the final Bath & Body Works Shower Gel I had in my stash, which was Orange Sapphire. While this one smelled amazing, it did nothing for me. These shower gels make me itch and make my skin super dry. Plus they're really expensive for what they are. So glad to have these gone and I'll never repurchase. 

Number of products used up: 14
Total for the year: 66

I'm still doing good so far, and we're only in the 5th month of the year. I'm really hoping I can use up a ton more products. I think I'm making a goal of using up 250 products for the entire year. Last year I used up 177 products, so I have some work to do y'all!

What are some products you used up?

March 2016 Empties

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?

YouTube Video: March 2016 Favorites!

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.

Products mentioned in the video:

- Exuviance Gentle Cleansing Creme
- Ole Henriksen Balancing Cucumber Face Mist
- Valentia Royal Rose Hydrating Serum
- Kognac Sponge
- Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
- Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara
- Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in Devotion
- Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Palette

What were some of your favorite products? 

February 2016 Favorites

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Hey guys! Another month has passed, and it's time for monthly favorites. I haven't worn much makeup to be honest, because I was trying to focus on my skin. I've been battling a few breakouts, dehydration, and just overall blah-ness with my skin this past month. I have a few things to talk about, so lets see what I loved!

Paula's Choice is a line that seems to be getting more attention these days. I've been using Paula's Choice products for many years, and have quite enjoyed everything I've tried. The Hydralight Healthy Skin Refreshing Toner is absolutely incredible for my skin these days! Because it's been so fussy lately, I've been trying everything to help it calm down, and this toner makes my skin breathe a sigh of relief. Seriously, it's hydrating, but doesn't make me oily, and it helps to get rid of any extra dirt left on my skin. I'm glad that Paula's Choice is getting noticed more, because it's a great brand. 

You're probably thinking why I have theBalm Nude'tude Palette in my favorites. If you read my Pan That Palette post, you know I'm trying to use this as much as possible because I was never a fan of it. Well, now that I'm making it a point to use this more, I've kinda fallen for it. I knew that would happen! It's definitely got its good points, but it's still not my favorite palette of life, so I'm gonna continue my quest in using this baby up!

Next up is the Shiseido Ibuki Gentle Cleanser. I reviewed this along with a few other skincare products here, and this was by far my favorite out of what I reviewed. I love how squeaky clean this makes my skin feel, but it doesn't make it dry and parched. I definitely can't use this everyday though, otherwise I will dry out. Using it 2-3 times a week keeps my skin feeling clean and fresh, and I'm very tempted to buy a full size, even though it's very expensive. 

My last favorite is the Covergirl Oh Sugar! Balm in the shade Taffy. I received this in an Influenster box, and I freakin' love this stuff! I compared this to the Fresh balms that are over $20, and there are many people who say they don't compare. If you ask me, I say they're quite comparable, and they're a heck of alot less money than the Fresh balms. Oh Sugar! smells like Fruit Loops, the color is sheer, but build-able, and it's one of those products you can put on and not have to think about. I love it, and want more. 

Those are the few favorites I have this month! Let me know in the comments what you were loving last month!

Review: Covergirl Oh Sugar! Vitamin Infused Balm

*Disclosure* I received product mentioned courtesy of Covergirl and Influenster. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!

According to their website, Covergirl says:

Treat your lips with colorlicious oh sugar! Vitamin infused lip balm.  With the help of grapeseed oil, avocado butter, and Vitamins C & E, it's only natural that this delicious smelling lip treatment leaves your lips soft and nourished with a hint of sheer color.  Protect and repair lips with any of the 10 scented shades.

Each of these balms cost $7.99, but may vary depending on where you purchase. 

I received the shade 4 Taffy, and for me, it's pretty much my perfect my lips, but better shade. I would describe it as a pink-y mauve shade. I love how it applies; it's very lightweight and comfortable on the lips. The scent reminds me of Fruity Pebbles, and I'm sure not complaining about that! I love fruity scents, and if I'm being bold here, this product definitely reminds me of the Fresh lip balms that cost over $20. This feels almost identical to the ones I've tried with it being so smooth and hydrating. I'm honestly impressed. 

It is pretty sheer as you can see, and I did three swipes in the picture above. I personally am a big fan of these, and the color selection they have is pretty nice too. I'm very tempted to buy different colors, but I'm on a no-buy right now, and to be honest, I really don't need anymore lip products. 

I feel these are a great product, especially since they remind me of the Fresh lip balms. The only difference I can tell is these do not have an SPF in them. Otherwise, the texture and feel are nearly the same. Lasting power isn't that great, but it is a balm, not a lipstick. For the price point, I'd say pick up some if you've been wanting to try the Fresh balms, but don't like their price tag!

Have you tried the CovergirlOh Sugar! Balms yet? what do you think of them?

January 2016 Favorites

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Hi everyone! It's February now, and to be honest, I hope this month just flies by. Anyway, I have a few favorite products to share with you that have stood out to me whenever I use them. 

The first product I have to talk about is the Valentia Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask. I've done a full review of this here, but I just have to say how amazing this mask is! After I use a detoxifying mask, I use a hydrating one, and this was my go-to. It looks like I'm spreading banana on my face, but it leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft, plump and moisturized. There is a bit of a tingle that goes away after a few minutes, but it's not bothersome. If I'm being honest, I think this mask gives the Glamglow hydrating mask a run for its money. It does virtually the same thing, is a heck of alot cheaper, but the scents are different, which I feel the Glamglow wins on that. This one smells kinda strange, whereas the Glamglow smells like coconuts and the beach. 

Next up is an old favorite, Covergirl 3-in-1 Foundation in the shade 805 Ivory. I know I put this in my November favorites, but guys, this foundation is truly amazing. I have yet to come across a drugstore foundation that is just as good as this one. The only downside at the moment is that this is the lightest shade available, and I'm so pale right now that it's just a hair too dark, but I make it work. This foundation just blends so nicely, provides a solid medium coverage, and lasts on my typically oily skin. 

Another Covergirl product that has my attention is their Plumpify Mascara. I have a review of this here, and I feel that it makes my lashes look pretty darn good after just one coat. Once I start doing two coats is where I get a bit of clumping, but it's nothing a spoolie can't take care of. The brush is pretty massive, so it took a bit getting used to applying it, but once I got the hang of it, I feel like my lashes look longer and it keeps a curl all day. 

Something that I've been meaning to put in my favorites for the last few months, but keep forgetting, is the Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush. I don't think you can buy this separately, only in a set, but it's incredible! Now, I don't actually use this for applying foundation. Believe it or not, I hate using brushes for foundation. I use this brush to apply my face masks. Seriously, this is life changing for me! I think I saw someone on YouTube use a smaller foundation brush to apply a mask, and then it popped in my head that I had this brush that I never used before. So I used it, and found it applies the perfect amount to my skin without me using my fingers and wasting a whole bunch of product. I'm sure there are other brushes out there similar to this one, but I highly recommend buying the set this is in if you're curious about using it to apply face masks. 

My last favorite is the Derma E Firming DMAE Eye Lift. I have a review here, and I've been loving what this does for the skin around my eyes. The longer I use this, the more I notice that my eyes just feel better. It's helped so much with the tiny dehydration lines I've been getting, my eyes look brighter and the skin feels alot softer. I don't have wrinkles around my eyes, but I honestly think this eye cream may help with them with continued use. If I can see results after using this, then I think you may too!

Those are my favorites for January! What products were you enjoying last month?

Review: Covergirl Plumpify Mascara

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

Hey guys! Today I'm bringing you a review of a new mascara that I was chosen by Influenster to try out, and it's the Covergirl Plumpify mascara. I was pretty excited to give this a go because I'm always on the hunt for the perfect mascara!

On Covergirl's website, they say:

Our Plumpify blastPRO Mascara plumpifies your lashes with 50x volume boost for full lashes! This volumizing mascara has a specialized, double-action brush that vertically lifts lashes from their roots, guaranteeing plumping without the clumping — A whole new look in lashes, plumpified! 

This brush is probably the most interesting brush I've come across in a mascara. It's got rubber bristles, it's very thick and spiraled, and has a spiky balled tip that's said to be good for those hard-to-reach lashes. It kinda reminded of the Benefit They're Real! Mascara, and I hate that mascara with a passion, so I went in a bit nervous trying this out. 

I posted this picture on my Instagram about a week ago showing the difference with and without using the Plumpify Mascara. After just one coat, it's safe to say that I got decent length and curl, but a 50x volume boost? Eh, I don't think so. I'm happy with the volume this did give me, but I don't see 50x the volume. Maybe in length I got that much. Also, if I go in with more than one coat, I do start to get just a bit of clumping, but nothing major.

Overall, this isn't a bad mascara. it's a bit tough to work with at first because the brush really is massive and a bit scary with the rubber bristles, but once you get the hang of it, it's not bad. I like the amount of length I get, and I really appreciate the curling power I got as well. I should mention that in the picture above, I did not curl my lashes beforehand. This only smudged a little bit on me after about 6-7 hours, but by that time, I was ready to wash my face and go to bed. 

The retail price of this mascara is $10.49, depending on where you buy it. I find that to be a little on the pricey side, considering my favorite mascara by Covergirl, the Supersizer, is just under $6 at my Walmart. That being said, I do recommend this mascara if you're not afraid of the rather large brush, and want more length and curl than volume. Remember though, everyone's lashes are different, so you may have a totally different experience that I had!

What do you think of this mascara?

My Top 15 Favorite Beauty Products of 2015

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Hey everyone! I know this post is probably a bit late for most of you, but I still wanted to share with you all my 15 favorite beauty products of 2015. They're in no kind of order and I loved everything pretty much equally. 

First, I have to talk about eyeshadows. My favorite palette of 2015 has got to be the Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Palette. Every color is amazing, and you get warm, cool and neutral toned matte shadows in one palette. It's a hooded eyed person's dream, and even though I'm more of a neutral/cool lover, I do appreciate the warm shades as well. I did a review of this here if you wanted to check it out! I had to also give some love to Make Up Geek Eyeshadow singles. For just $6 each, these shadows are such amazing quality, and they may be all you really need if you're just getting started in makeup. All of the ones I have are shown in the picture, but I definitely need to add more to my collection. They're pigmented, buttery smooth, and blend onto the eyes nicely. 

Next up is the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay. I did a review here, and I have to say, this mask is probably my favorite mask that makes my pores look invisible. You can mix it with either water or apple cider vinegar (it works better with ACV for me personally), and you leave it on for up to 20 minutes depending on how sensitive your skin is. I do get redness from this mask, but since I use it at night, it doesn't bother me. This is a miracle worker if I feel like my pores are super clogged and nothing else is helping them. You need this if you have pores that clog easily, and it's super cheap as well. 

Oh Batiste Dry Shampoo, how I love thee! Honestly guys, I will never buy another brand of dry shampoo as long as I live. I've gotten others in the past that don't work nearly as well as Batiste does, and everytime I've strayed, I've been disappointed. Batiste is my one true love in keeping my hair feeling and looking clean, even if I've gone about 4 days without washing it. I also did a review of this here quite a long time ago.  

Who can live without a Beauty Blender? I can't! I honestly don't know where I was or what I did before this little pink egg-shaped sponge came into my life. This has changed my foundation/concealer routine in so many positive ways that when I I try to use a brush or even my fingers, it just doesn't work! There is something truly special about this sponge, and completely worth the $20 price tag. Any dupes out there are not the same, including the Real Techniques sponge. I used to like that, but they've changed the texture of it and it's awful. 

If I ever have issues with removing my makeup, Bioderma always comes to my rescue. Yes, this seems like just regular water in a fancy bottle, but there is magic in this water! It removes every last bit of makeup from my eyes and face without irritation. I've said this before, but no makeup remover has ever done what Bioderma does for me. It's incredible and it's surprisingly not that expensive. I purchased mine off of the Beautylish website, but you can also find it on Amazon. I did a review of this here! 

You all are probably so tired of me talking about The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner, but this is still my all-time favorite toner, and I have yet to find something better. There are under 10 ingredients in this, feels great on my skin, and preps it well for serums and moisturizers. I always have backups of backups in my stash. 

The Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder was something I had been wanting to try for well over a year. Every beauty YouTuber raves about it, so I gave in and splurged. They must've been on to something because this is an amazing setting powder! I have oily skin and for some reason it helps keep me more matte, and it's a wonderful setting powder for under the eyes. I feel like this is just such a versatile powder that anyone can use, whether you have oily, dry or combo skin. You get a ton of product as well, so I feel it's worth the price. 

The Tangle Teezer was another product that I had heard about for quite a few years. I felt it was completely overpriced for a hair brush, but fell into the hype anyway. The first time I used it after I had washed my hair is when I knew what the hype was about. I have very fine hair that gets knotty and tangled very easily, that sometimes even combs would snag my hair. The Tangle Teezer just glides right through and gets all the tangles out without hurting. My husband was even interested after I kept telling him how amazing it was and he started using mine to brush out his beard. I ended up buying his own, and he absolutely loves it. Even though I have fine hair, I do feel like people with thick hair can use it was well.

You all know how much of a lip balm freak I am, and my all-time favorite has to be the Lip Butters from The Body Shop. You only need the tiniest amount to make your lips feel soft and moisturized, and one little jar lasts for ages. I love this Sweet Lemon scent that I'm currently using, but my favorites have to be the Shea and Coconut scents.They do leave a little bit of a white cast on your lips, but I only use these at night as my lips dry and crack the worst at that time. 

Every product I try from Bite Beauty, I fall more in love with the brand. The product pictured is the Luminous Creme Lipstick Duo in the shades Date and Fig. These duos are only around during the holiday's I believe, but they do have many single shades available. If I could've, I probably would've put every Bite Beauty product I own in this post, and I know you have things to do rather than sitting on my blog all day. The Luminous Creme formula is just incredible. It feels nice on the lips, and it's just a good quality lipstick. These duos don't cost much either, just $12 or $14. 

I have two mascaras that practically blew my mind this year. A little while ago, I was given the chance to try out the Covergirl Super Sizer Mascara. I used to really like the mascara in the orange tube, but hadn't used much from the brand in many years. Trying this mascara has changed my opinion on the Covergirl brand, and now I'm tempted to go out and buy a ton of their makeup. This mascara gives me amazing volume and length, and it looks good all day long. It's probably my current favorite drugstore mascara. I do have a review on this here. I also had to put the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara in my favorites. If you want volumized lashes that look fake, this is your mascara. I get a bit of length from this, but the volume I get is like nothing I've ever gotten from a mascara before. I used up a full sized tube around the end of 2015, so this is a deluxe size that came with the Stardust palette. For a high end mascara, this is definitely my favorite, and there is a review here!

Another lip product that was a surprising favorite is the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks. I have a few of these now and the shade pictured above is Outlaw. I was so on the fence with wanting to try liquid lipsticks because my lips are already dry, and I always heard that liquid lipsticks were very drying. While I don't feel like this is hydrating by any means, it's not as drying as I thought it was going to be. The colors available are so gorgeous, highly pigmented, and they stay on and don't budge once they're set. I definitely see myself picking up a few more colors in this line. 

The last product I have pictured is an Airbrush Blending Crease Brush by it Cosmetics. Again, I'd put the whole entire brush line in this post if I could, because they're that good. I don't think I've ever felt softer brushes before. I have quite a few different it Cosmetics brushes, but this crease brush is my favorite. It applies and blends out shadows like a dream, and I find myself playing with these brushes because of how soft they are. Seriously, go to an Ulta and have a feel for yourself. I promise you won't be disappointed! 

Those were my favorites from 2015! Let me know in a comment what some of your favorites were in the last year. I'll need some inspiration when my spending ban is over ;)

November 2015 Favorites

Hey guys! I can't believe it's already December. I know everyone and their dog says how fast time flies, but this year really flew by for me. I have a few favorite products to share with you from the past month, so lets see what I was loving!

The first product that I've been loving is my Philosophy Lip Shine in the Peppermint Bark scent. I adore these lip shines because the scents they have are just incredible, but they don't taste that great. This particular scent just smells so amazing and gets me in more of the holiday spirit. It also makes my lips look and feel more hydrated and plump. 

Next up we have the Caolion Premium Hot & Cool Pore Pack Duo. This dual phase mask is probably one of the best masks I've tried for my skin. I want to do a full review of this, but it makes my skin look so calm and clear, and my blackheads are almost nonexistent after I use this!

Next up is the First Aid Beauty Daily Face Cream. I've been using this at night, and I have to say, this makes my skin feel so much more hydrated when I wake up in the morning. Occasionally I wake up with a few dry flakes on my skin, but not when I use this! It's soothing and hydrating, but not so hydrating to where I look like a greasy mess.

A rediscovered favorite is the Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation in the shade 805. This foundation is just incredible. It's actually light enough for my super fair skin, it helps to keep my oils at bay, and it also gives pretty nice coverage. I wore this foundation when I got married, and it lasted threw tears, laughing and just everything that day. When I run out of other foundations I have, I will no doubt repurchase this. 

My last favorite of November is the Pur Cosmetics Eye Polish in the shade Suede. I was very kindly sent the entire 6 shades that are available, but this shade in particular is just so beautiful. It's got some gold shimmer flecks all throughout, which made my hazel eyes pop. I do have one sort of downer with this, and that is I have to layer a shadow on top of these to help prevent creasing. If I wear them on their own, I get creasing within a couple hours, and that's with using a primer underneath. Other than that, I highly recommend trying these out. I do have a full review of the range here.   

What have you been loving this past month? 

*Post contains affiliate links*

Fall Inspired Makeup feat. Colourpop La La

Hey everyone! As promised in my last post, which was a review of the Colourpop Shadow in La La, I'm bringing you a full makeup look inspired by the changing season. Fall is probably my favorite time of year. The weather is perfect, the leaves are pretty, and I always feel it's the time for a life change. Here is the look I did!

Face
-Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Smoothing Primer
-Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+ Foundation in shade #15
-Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser
-Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
-Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
-Essence Silky Touch Blush in shade 10 Adorable
-Pixi beauty Bronzer in shade Subtly Suntouched
-Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop

Lips
-Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in shades in Fig and Date
-Juice Beauty Lip Gloss in shade Pink (It's not very pink, more mauve-y)

Eyes
-Lorac Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer
-Urban Decay Naked Palette: Naked in crease, Toasted in outer Corner and smudged on lower lash line
-Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in shade La La all over lid
-Clinique Quickliner For Eyes Intense in shade Intense Black Honey, smudged on upper and lower lashline
-Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara and Covergirl The Supersizer Mascara

Overall, I really, really love how this look turned out! I was considering going dark with the lip, but I decided to go neutral as I wanted the eyes to be sort of the focus. By the way, I'm LOVING the Mat Velvet+ foundation! Expect a review in the coming weeks.

Do you have a certain makeup look you like for Fall?

Ulta & Sephora Haul

Hey everyone! Last week there was a 20% off coupon for Platinum members at Ulta, and right now through August 9th at Sephora, it's Beauty Insider Appreciation Week. I'm a VIB Rouge so we get 4X points, while VIB gets 3X and BI gets 2X. I just wanted to share what I picked up!

Starting off with Ulta, I first picked up the Lorac Pro Matte eye shadow palette. This is fairly new and it came out along with a Shimmer palette as well. The matte shades in this palette are beautiful. I don't have a picture of them right now, but I will do a review of this. The shades are very neutral and perfect for day or night. 

Next up is the Covergirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in the shade 250 Scarlet Twist. This shade was on clearance so it was really inexpensive, and I absolutely love the color. It gives you that look like you just ate a red Popsicle. Really gorgeous and I'm glad I found one that wasn't tampered with!

The last product from Ulta is one of the it Brushes for Ulta from It Cosmetics and it's their 112 Airbrush Precision Shadow. I've already used this, and it doesn't disappoint one bit. I'm in love with the it brushes and want pretty much every one they have. They're not a bad price either, so when Ulta has these 20% off sales, I'm going to treat myself to one. 

Now for the few bits from Sephora. I have heard so many things about the infamous Tangle Teezer and thought it was time to finally try it. It's $20 which seems pretty darn expensive for a hair brush to me. I have already tried it on my dry hair, and it seemed to go well. I'm excited to try it out after I wash my hair, since I've heard it's really good for getting knots and tangles out. I have fine but very tangled hair, so hopefully this lives up to its $20 price tag. 

I was browsing the sale page online, like I normally do, and came across their store brand Blending Eye Shadow brush. I personally can never have enough blending brushes and this was on clearance for $11. I already either have this exact brush in my collection that's a few years old, or something very similar to it, and I love it. Sephora brand brushes are surprisingly pretty good, except for their brushes in holiday sets. I bought a set Christmas of 2014 and I don't like them. The bristles are so scratchy and irritating no matter what I do. 

If you spend $25, there's a coupon code to get a deluxe sample of something that's "on trend" at Sephora right now. I chose the YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer. It's a decent size that seems like it has a good amount of product, but the only issue I have is the scent. It's very floral smelling and a bit overpowering. Oh well, I'll try it out and see how it is.

Is there anything you've picked up recently?

Review: Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara & Intensify Me! Liquid Liner

*Disclosure* I am a Brand Ambassador for Covergirl and was sent these products for review purposes. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!

Hello everyone! I'm so excited to be a Brand Ambassador for Covergirl, and have some new products to share with you. They came out with The Super Sizer Mascara and the Intensify Me! Liquid Liner. Lets see if I liked the products!

Here is a description of the mascara taken from the Covergirl website:

The Super Sizer by LashBlast Mascara gives you 400% more corner-to-corner volume for full, fanned out lashes. Our amazing Lash Styler transforms even small lashes— just twirl as you apply it to your lashes for an instantly Super Sized lash look. Opthalmologically tested, suitable for those who wear contact lenses.  

This comes in Black/Brown, Black and Very Black (which is what I received)

These are my lashes with just one coat of the mascara. I like how it lengthens my lashes and it's good with separation. The wand is definitely interesting with it being thin on the inside and getting wider and more fanned out at the end of the wand. The wand is super flexible, which for me makes it easier getting to the base of my lashes. Some people don't like flexible wands, but I personally do. The concept of having to twirl the wand as you move it up your lashes can be pretty difficult to get used to. I can be really clumsy, and a few times ended up with mascara on my eyebrows trying to twirl the wand. Once I got the hang of it, I really liked the end result. It doesn't clump up easily, and I haven't noticed any smudging or flaking throughout the day when I wear this. This isn't waterproof, but it does come in a waterproof version. I do find it easy to remove at the end of the day with just a cleanser and some water. The website says this costs $6.85 but prices vary depending on where you buy it.

Here is a description of the eyeliner from the Covergirl website:

Get the control of a pencil with the intensity of a liquid eyeliner for beautifully defined eyes every time. Our all-new paddle-shaped tip gives you two looks in one—thick and dramatic or thin and elegant. The intense black formula glides on smoothly and dries quickly for instant drama. Clinically tested, suitable for sensitive eyes.

This looks like it only comes in one shade, Intense Black. 

I have to be honest, I do not like this eyeliner! It could just be me because I still am not good at applying eyeliner, but this is just too darn difficult for me to use. I get the concept of the paddle shape and how you can use it either way, but I could never get a straight line, and forget doing any kind of wing. It looked like a little kid put on my eyeliner. The only thing I really did like is how pigmented it was and it's really long lasting as well. There was no flaking or smudging, and I never ended up with liner on my eyelids, which I can have problems with due to my eyelids being so oily. This costs $8, but again, prices vary depending on where you buy this.

Overall, I'm a fan of the mascara, but I say pass on the eyeliner. I do like how the mascara makes my lashes look, but I just can't get used to the liner!

Will you give this eyeliner or mascara a try?

February 2015 Empties

Hi guys! Today I'm going to be showing you all what I used up in February. I know I keep beating a dead horse, but with being so sick last month, I'm really surprised with all the products I have. Some of it is just really old stuff that had to go, but that still counts!

Starting off with vitamins/supplements, I first used up the Life & Food Garcinia Cambogia Supreme supplement, which I did a review on here. This was supposed to be a dietary supplement for weight loss and improving your mood. It didn't help at all with weight, but that was expected, and I did notice a bit of improvement with my mood. I also had a bit more energy but nothing to write home about. I wouldn't buy this for myself.

Next up we have the Nature Made Vitamin D3. I take these supplements because I'm a vampire and hate the sun (not really, but you get the point), and I always hear the sun is a great source of Vitamin D. Since I am super pale and burn very easily, I do try to avoid being outside when it's sunny as much as possible, so that's why I take these vitamins. I currently have a huge bottle of these right now that I probably won't go through for a while. 

Then we have the InstaNatural Phytoceramides Youthful Skin Formula, which I also have a review on here. In all honesty, I did notice a difference in my skin while taking these. It felt softer and more youthful. Even though I'm only 26, I did notice a big difference. This Winter has been horrible to my skin, so I've been doing all I can to it to keep it soft, hydrated and flake free. These really were pretty awesome. Would I buy myself though? Not sure really. The skincare routine I have right now has been working pretty well for me lately. 

The TopCare Gentle Dandruff Shampoo is the Wegmans brand version of Head & Shoulders. It's exactly the same thing! Seriously, it looks the same, smells the same, and feels the same. Plus, it's way cheaper. This bottle is only about $3 but they often have sales and coupons, so I got this bottle for I believe under $1. I only used this occasionally when I had an itchy scalp, and this will be what I purchase for the rest of my life for dandruff. 

I used up the Colgate Sensitive toothpaste, and to me, this was good but it wasn't anything special. It didn't do anything great, but my teeth didn't feel sensitive while using this, so it did its job. I'm currently using a store brand sensitive toothpaste that I think is pretty darn good, and it's cheaper too!

I finally used up the Bausch & Lomb Advanced Eye Relief. I had been using this for ages, but it was great stuff and was super inexpensive too. I have gone back to my trusty Similasan eye drops which are more expensive, but they're just my favorite and it's hard to stray away from them. 

I used up quite a bit of skincare stuff and I used up the Philosophy Spiced Gingerbread Cookie hand cream. Holy crap does this smell just amazing! It literally is a spiced gingerbread cookie in a tube and it was surprisingly really nice. It was hydrating and kept my hands feeling good even after washing them a few times. The scent also lingered, which to me was a big plus. This came in a holiday kit Christmas 2013 I think.

I used up the InstaNatural Moroccan Rose Water, which I did a review of here, along with their Skin Clearing Serum. I'm still using the serum and that's about half way gone. This rose water was amazing. I put some on a cotton pad mixed with my Aloe toner from The Body Shop and it just made my skin feel extra hydrated. I'm kinda sad this is gone, but I may repurchase once I go through my stash a little. 

I used up the Boscia Pore Purifying Black Strip, which is just a strip you put on a wet nose, wait for it to dry, and gently take it off. I have to say, I find these more satisfying to take off than the Biore pore strips I always used. Since this is a dark strip, you can see all the gunk better, and boy was there alot of nastiness that came out of my pores. I loved it, but these are expensive. This particular one came in a 500 point perk from Sephora with a bunch of Boscia products. 

I got a sample of the GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment in a skincare sampler pack, and I truly didn't find this to be as amazing as everyone says. I didn't like the Youthmud mask they have either, and this one is a bit better, but it's not life changing. The hydrating mask they have is phenomenal and I will always repurchase that. I don't know why people love this particular one so much. 

I also used up the Korres Wild Rose Moisturizer. I used up another baby sample I had and didn't like it. I still don't like it, but used it up because I hate wasting product unless I have a bad reaction. This just wasn't my cup of tea. It doesn't really sink into the skin well, and the rose scent is a bit overpowering. 

Finishing up a makeup product is really hard, but I'm pleased to be able to get rid of a few things! I first used up the Korres Vitamin E Face Primer. I loved this because it felt more like a moisturizer than a silicone based primer, which I desperately needed. I feel like it did make concealer/foundation go on better, but it didn't really do much for longevity. 

I had to throw out the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in the Eden version. I'm not sure where this sample came from, probably with a palette, but this stuff is just not good at all! I was shocked because I love the original Primer Potion, but this made my shadows crease within just a few hours. I even tried to keep using it by setting it with powder, using the tiniest amount possible and everything I could think of. Nothing worked, and my shadows still creased. After about 10 uses, I decided I had to just get rid of it. 

I also had to get rid of the Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Eye Concealer. This was discontinued, but I loved how it had an eye cream type product mixed into the concealer shade. When I first used it, it was great. As time went on, it wasn't applying evenly and it would eventually make my under eyes look dry and cake-y. I hadn't even made a good dent in this, but it has to go.

I'm also so sad to be getting rid of the Urban Decay Sustainable Shadow Box Palette. I had mentioned in a post over a year ago that I think this was my first ever Urban Decay palette, so there is a bit of nostalgia associated with this. I used it a ton back in the day, but the screw on the side broke off on the bottom, so the lid comes off, and the palette itself has been unglued so it's just falling apart. Part of me wants to keep it for the nostalgia reason, but the logical part of my brain says throw it away. I haven't even used it in I don't know how long. If you could let me know in the comments what you think I should do with this, please do as I really am on the fence with throwing it out :/

Now I bought this Profusion Sultry & Neutrals palette over 2 years ago and only used it maybe twice. I was going through my palettes, pulled this one out, swatched it and was immediately horrified at how bad the quality is. Seriously, this stuff is not pigmented at all! It was only $5, which is a great price, but with Wet n' Wild being around the same price but better quality, it's just sad. In the trash it goes! I wouldn't even give this to a friend it's so bad.

What did you use up in February?