March 2016 Ipsy Bag: Hello Spring

Hi everyone! I just got my Ipsy bag in the mail today, so I figured I'd take pictures while I still had enough light and share what I got! I was excited for my bag this month after looking at sneak peeks of what I would be receiving. So lets see what I got!

*Ipsy link is an affiliate code*

The theme this month is Hello Spring, and the bag I received is pretty, but not something I'd normally go for. I heard there were different colors to the bags being sent out, and mine is just meh. I'll probably end up giving it away. 

The first product I got is the Vera Mona Lotus Eyeshadow in the shade Clover. I'm sorry I didn't think to open it up and show the color, but it's a very pretty, shimmery peachy coral shade. It seems like a perfect color for Spring, and I can't wait to play with it!

Next up is the Marc Anthony Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco 3 Day Smooth Perfect Blow Dry Smoothing Cream. Dear lord, is that a mouthful! Anyway, I feel like I've gotten Marc Anthony products in the last few bags, so I'm a bit over it, but I will give this a go. It seems like I can use this as maybe a leave-in conditioner, so hopefully I'll like it. 

I was so excited to find out I would be receiving a NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick, and three different shades were sent out. I ended up with the ridiculous shade Pink Lust. I got so excited, I had to try it on right when I opened the bag, and I hate to report that I so don't like this at all! I look like a cartoon character with this on, and it's dry and flaky. It could be user error on my part, and I may have put on too much. I'll play around with this and report back. 

I had heard of the brand Me me me very briefly in the past, but had never tried anything from them. Getting brushes in my Ipsy bags always makes me happy, and I got their Loose Powder Brush. I don't know if it's just me, but this brush seems awfully small to be a powder brush. I'd probably use it for highlighting or setting concealer under my eyes. It is a very soft brush, and I'm happy to add it to my ever growing brush collection. 

The last product I received is the Pixi Beauty Blush Duo in Rose Gold. I've tried a few products from the Pixi brand and haven't been let down much. This duo looks so freaking beautiful and perfect for my skin tone. I haven't swatched it yet, but I cannot wait to play with it! 

That's everything I got! Other than the NYX product being a possible dud, I'm very happy once again with everything. If you want your own Ipsy glam bag, I'd love it if you used my referral link here! every month you receive 5 deluxe sized, and at times full sized products, for just $10 a month, plus shipping for some. These bags are usually pretty amazing, and I learn about new brands I had never heard of before. 

If you're already subscribed to Ipsy, what did you get in your bag?

Review: Valentia Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum

*Disclosure* I received this product to review thanks to Valentia and Tomoson. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!

Hi guys! I'm back with yet another product review from the brand Valentia. This time, I got to try out their Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum. You all know my love for serums, so I couldn't wait to give this a go!

According to Valentia, this serum will:

- Renew texture & tone
- Deeply moisturize
- Minimize fine lines
- Increase elasticity
- Brighten & Plumps Fine Lines
- Evens Hyperpigmentation

These are the key ingredients:

- Wakame Bioferment (Seaweed): Increases skin oxygen consumption to detoxify and boost antioxidant defense.
- Gotu Kola: Lessens the appearance of scars and increases skin firmness.
- Lactic Acid: A natural Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) that increases skin cell turnover, for healthier renewed skin.
- Licorice: Lightens unwanted pigmentation and corrects skin discoloration.
- Argan Oil: Naturally rich in Vitamin E, this oil reduced water loss and protects skin's resiliency and elasticity.  

Now that I've been using this for a little while, I can say that my skin has gotten a little better. I'm still struggling with occasional dryness due to the weather change, but I've noticed the texture of my skin feeling much smoother. Lactic Acid is probably my favorite AHA as it's more gentle on the skin compared to Glycolic Acid, yet it's still effective. I only use this serum at night, since that's when I feel my skincare gets better use. It sinks into my skin very fast, which I really like, then I apply my moisturizer on top.

You can find this serum on Amazon here, for only $35. That's a great price considering you only need at most two pumps for your entire face and neck. 

What serums do you like to use?

Ulta HAUL! Revlon, Makeup Revolution, Lancome & More!

Hey guys! So, I made a promise to myself that I would go on a no-buy at the start of 2016. I wanted to go three months without buying a single beauty product. Aside from buying shampoo that my husband and I ran out of, and my Ipsy bags that I get every month, I hadn't bought myself anything beauty related since December 26th, 2015. I was incredibly proud of myself for going a whopping 72 days without buying anything! On day 73 however (March 8th), I was tempted by an email I had gotten from Ulta a couple days prior saying that Platinum members received 3X the points, as well as free shipping on every order. Since I'm a cheapskate lately, I decided to place a few separate orders to be able to utilize the $3.50 off of $10 coupon code, and get the most bang for my buck. I spent much less than I thought I would, because a few things were out of stock that I originally wanted. Now that I've rambled enough, here are the products I purchased!

Makeup Revolution is one of those UK brands that I always hear pretty decent things about. My local Ulta doesn't carry the brand, but they have them online. I wanted to try out one of their eyeshadow palettes because they're only $10 ($6.50 with the coupon!), and all of the ones I saw online were really pretty, so it was a tough decision. I decided to go with the Run Boy Run palette as it seemed the most wearable to me. It definitely has more of a Fall vibe to it, but I love the color selection, and I also appreciate that the very bottom row is all matte shades. 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Catrice brand is from Germany. I always heard Tati of Glam Life Guru on YouTube talk about how much she loved this brand, and when they were finally available at Ulta, I wanted to try something. The line is very inexpensive, and I picked up the Prime and Fine Smoothing Refiner and the Liquid Metal Eyeshadow in What Do You Sea? I was a littler nervous to buy the eyeshadow because alot of people who bought them online, received them broken. Luckily, mine was spared, and I cannot wait to try it out! I didn't really need another face primer, but anything that says it will help smooth pores, I'm all about that life. 

I've heard many different things about the newer L'Oreal Colour Riche Eyeshadow singles. Some people have loved them, others not so much. They're super inexpensive, and they were buy 2, get 1 free (I was also able to use the $3.50 off coupon!), so I figured it wasn't a huge hit to my wallet if I didn't like them. I picked up the shades 208 Violet Beaute, 203 Cafe Au Lait, and 204 Quartz Fume. Cafe Au Lait looks like the perfect matte transition shade, and I think Violet Beaute is a stunning deep purple with little flecks of shimmer. 

The last few bits are lippies! Revlon was also buy 2, get one free and I had been really wanting to try their Ultra HD Matte Lipcolors. There are people who say that these don't completely dry down matte, but honestly, I'm cool with that because I don't want my lips to dry out real bad the way other matte liquid lip products cause. I decided on the shades Addiction, Obsession, and Devotion. I can't wait to try out Obsession for the Spring/Summer! Devotion seems like a great everyday color and Addiction seems like a beautiful berry shade for Fall. 

The last lip product I got is from Lancome and it's their Color Design Matte Lip Crayon in the shade 320 Partner in Crime. I didn't plan on purchasing a high-end product, but any Lancome purchase was 5X the points. So on top of the 3X the points for Platinum members, this product alone gave me nearly 175 points. I couldn't say no to that, so in my shopping cart it went. I adore the beautiful fuchsia color this is, and I think it'll be great for Summer. 

Overall, I'm very happy with what I purchased! I ended up gaining a ton of points from everything, and I'm hoarding those for something special I want to buy later on. I know I keep saying it, but I'm very proud of myself that I didn't spend nearly as much as I thought I was going to. I'm going to continue trying to not buy as many products as I have in the past, as I'm trying to really just declutter my life and use up what I have, and that includes skincare, bodycare, makeup, etc. 

On that note, are you doing any kind of spending ban? Have you broken it at all? Also, let me know if you'd like reviews on anything here! I'm trying to get together products that I've had for a while that still need testing out and reviewing. 

The One Product That Changed My Hair

*Post contains affiliate links and product mentioned was provided*

Hey guys, and happy Wednesday! I have a post today talking about one product that has done so much for my hair, and I also noticed results after just one use!

Quite a while ago, I was sent two bottles of the Radha Beauty Fractionated Coconut Oil. I had no idea how to use it, so it sat in my closet of beauty products for months. One day, I noticed what bad shape my hair was in. It was dry, I had so many split ends, and it was breaking all the time. Granted, I do need a haircut because it has been a while, but I need the time and money to be able to get one. I always hear amazing things about how good coconut oil is for your hair, especially virgin coconut oil. After doing research and seeing how expensive virgin coconut oil is, I remembered I had this fractionated coconut oil in my stash. 

Before I get into the results I had, you're probably wondering what the heck is the difference between virgin coconut oil and fractionated coconut oil. I wondered the same, and did even more research. 

Virgin coconut oil is used for cooking and is in skincare and haircare products, as well as for medicinal uses. It's more oily than fractionated coconut oil, and with continued use, can really clog your pores. It solidifies when cool. 

Fractionated Coconut oil has had the long chain triglycerides removed, which is what makes virgin coconut oil more oily. Fractionated coconut oil is better for use in skincare than virgin. It's not usually used in cooking like virgin coconut oil is, but can still be used in that manner. It makes a great carrier oil for use with essential oils, and never solidifies.

So, knowing that information, I figured I'd use the fractionated coconut oil as a hair mask one night before I took a shower and washed my hair. I applied it all over my hair, concentrating it more on the ends, but I also gave myself a nice scalp massage while applying it. I combed it through my hair and put it up in a bun for an hour. After washing and conditioning my hair like normal, as well as applying a leave-in conditioner, right away I noticed how my hair felt. My Tangle Teezer combed through my hair nicely, and my wet hair just felt softer, as weird as that sounds. I shower at night, so I went to bed, curious to see what my hair would look like in the morning. 

Despite having bedhead, I can't explain to you how soft my hair felt! I even had my husband touch my hair, I was that impressed. I took a look at my split ends, and they weren't gone, but I could hardly see them! Since coloring my hair a dark brown, my split ends are more visible, but doing this trick has helped immensely. 

I don't wash my hair often, maybe 2-3 times a week. I don't use the fractionated coconut oil as a mask before every hair washing either, probably every other. I feel like it's even helping to keep the color from fading as well, which is pretty awesome. My hair is completely changed, and now that I've done this trick multiple times, I will keep repurchasing fractionated coconut oil. It's a heck of alot cheaper than virgin coconut oil, and if some accidentally gets on my skin, it won't break me out (and hasn't so far, either). I'm hoping in the long run this helps to prevent my hair from breaking so much as well. 

I will most likely keep purchasing the Radha Beauty Fractionated Coconut Oil, since it's only $11.95 on Amazon, and you don't need alot of product to get the job done. If you have split end issues like I do, I highly recommend using this as a hair mask before doing your normal hair care routine. If I can see a difference, especially after just the first use, I'm sure you will too!

Are there any tips you have to help with split ends?

SPRING BLOG SALE!

Hey guys! I'm making an effort to go through my makeup and hopefully sell a bunch, because my collection has gotten a little overwhelming and some bills have popped up that I need to pay soon, but don't have the money. Please check out what I have up for sale! :)

Here are a few things to know for this blog sale:
- 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 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 $5.00. 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 

- SOLDUrban Decay The Feminine Eyeshadow Palette: Some colors not used, others less than 5 times $12
- Urban Decay Get Baked eyeshadow palette: Used about 5 times $8

- Wet n Wild Trio in Hard Being the It Girl (limited edition): Never used, still sealed $2
- Maybelline Color Explosion Luminizing Eyeshadow in Amethyst Ablazed $3 

- Tarte Pin Up Girl Amazonian Clay Blush Palette: This is the blush palette from Holiday 2014. Blushes have never been used $25

- SOLDPhysician's Formula Nude Wear Glowing Nude Blush in Rose: Used 5 times $5
- City Color Be Matte Blush in Fresh Melon: Swatched but never used $2.50

- e.l.f. Eyeshadow Duo (no shade name): Never used $1
- Milani Baked Eyeshadow in Green Fortune: Used twice $3 
- Maybelline Color Tattoo in the color Seashore Frosts: Brand new, sealed $4
- L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in With A Twist: Used twice $3  

- Top row nail polishes: SOLDNicole by OPI Roughles On What Grounds? $3, Nailtini Millionare $3, Essie Lux Effect top coat Set in Stone $3, Models Own (Color not on bottle) $2
  - Bottom row nail polishes: SOLDRevlon Colorstay in Spanish Moss $1.50, SOLDPinky Pie Nail Polish $1.50, Circus by Andrea's Choice in Tightrope $3, Nails Inc Fenchurch Street$3

- BH Cosmetics 120 Color Eyeshadow Palette Third Edition: A few colors used once or twice, otherwise none of the colors have been touched $15
- SOLDBH Cosmetics 120 Color Eyeshadow Palette Ultra Shimmer: A few colors used once or twice, otherwise none of the colors have been touched. I don't think they sell this palette anymore because I can't find it online $15

- SOLDbareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 8.0 in The Star Treatment: a few colors used once, otherwise they are untouched $12
- Sephora Natural Instincts Eyeshadow Palette: a few colors used once, otherwise they are untouched $12

- 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

- Urban Decay Ammo Eyeshadow Palette: Brand new, never used $15
- Stila Artful Eye Collector's Edition Vol. III: All colors swatched, a few used once or twice
- Too Faced Eye Love Eyeshadow Collection: Half of the colors used a few times, others not touched $6

- e.l.f. 32 Color Eyeshadow Palette in Warm: A few colors have been used once, otherwise the rest are untouched $5
- Tarte Flower Child by Tina Turnbow Natural Eye Palette: Most of the shades used a few times, one side of dual eyeliner used once $15 

- Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette in Native: Bronzer and blush have only been used once, highlighter never used $15

- Wet n Wild Going in the Wild 8 Pan Eyeshadow Palette: Seal is broken, but shadows were never swatched or used $4
- Wet n Wild Flirting at the After Party 8 Pan Eyeshadow Palette: Definer shade on left side used once, otherwise the rest of the shadows haven't been touched $3 

- Kevyn Aucoin The Creamy Glow in Tresbelle: Cream blush, brand new, never swatched or used. Described as a deep peach color $15
- (SOLD)BeccaXJaclynHill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop: Swatched and used under 5 times $20

Like I said above, if you're interested in anything, please send me an email to skinstuffbykaty@yahoo.com. Thanks for taking a look!

Review: Azure Naturals Ultimate Vitamin C Line

*Disclosure* Products reviewed were provided thanks to Tomoson. All opinions are 100% honest and my own, like always!

Hi everyone! You all know how much I love skincare, especially if it's got Vitamin C in it. Lately, my skin has been responding very well to Vitamin C, and I was given the chance to try out Azure Naturals Vitamin C line which included the Sweet Orange Organic Facial Cleanser, Sweet Orange Organic Facial Toner, Skin Repair Serum and Sweet Orange Infused Organic Moisturizer.

The Vitamin C Cleanser is said refine skin's texture, reduce wrinkles and help protect skin from environmental elements. Directions say apply to skin with a light, circular massaging motion avoiding contact with eyes. Rinse with warm water, and follow up with Vitamin C Toner, Vitamin C Serum, and Vitamin C Moisturizer. 

The Vitamin C Toner is said to refresh and brighten skin, reduce inflammation and even fight acne. Directions say to apply after cleansing by spraying directly over the entire face, neck and decollete, but can also be sprayed onto fingertips or a cotton pad and applied using upward strokes. 

The Vitamin C Serum just says it can be used morning and night on all skin types. Directions say to apply a small amount to entire face and neck area, and then follow with moisturizer. 

The Vitamin C Moisturizer is said to help fight acne and hydrate your skin, while reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Directions say to apply after cleansing, toning, and any other corrective serums or exfoliating treatments. This can be used around the eyes, on the neck and decollete, and can be worn under makeup. 

Alright, while I've been really enjoying using this Vitamin C line every morning, I do think it's not quite enough for the colder months, and will be better to use in the Spring/Summer. My skin has been very fussy lately with not knowing if it's dry, oily or combo, and most days, I don't get enough hydration from this line. That being said, my favorite product from the line is the Serum. It sinks right into the skin and smells like citrus. The whole line actually has varying smells of orange to them, which I quite like to help perk me up in the morning. The cleanser is sulfate free so it doesn't get very foamy, but it does seem to clean the skin nicely. I tried to cleanse with this at night, and it doesn't remove makeup very well, and also stings the eyes if you get it too close. I love the smell of the toner, but I highly recommend only spraying it on a cotton pad, then applying it to your face. Spraying directly on the skin made my eyes feel like I was bathing them in acid. The moisturizer is nice too. It's very lightweight, but not enough to help my skin in the very cold months. In the late Spring, early Summer, I think this will be perfect as it sinks in quick. 

Coming from someone who typically has pretty oily skin (minus the freakout it has during Winter), I think this is a nice line of products. If you have dry skin, I don't think it will be hydrating enough for you. For right now, I'm going to continue using the serum in the mornings underneath my moisturizer, and save the other products for warmer weather when my skin will cooperate with me more!

The cleanser and toner both cost $15.88, the serum costs $16.88, and the moisturizer costs $18.88. They are all on Amazon, and are Prime eligible!

What do you think of this line?

February 2016 Empties

Hey guys! So I finally decided to start up my YouTube channel again, and I filmed my empties for February. If you're interested in checking out the video, hopefully you can click on the video above, but if not, click here! Also, while you're there, remember to give the video a thumbs up and subscribe!

Products mentioned in the video:

- Bath & Body Works 3-wick Candles in Strawberry Rhubarb Marmalade and Mahogany Teakwood. Loved the Strawberry Rhubarb Marmalade, but not a fan of the Mahogany Teakwood. My husband loves it though, so we usually pick one up for him

- Bath & Body Works Coconut Body Lotion: I don't like B&BW body products so I'm glad this is gone. 

- Bath & Body Works Anti-bacterial Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Spice Kissed Pumpkin: I'm finally realizing how expensive these hand soaps are even when they're on sale. I'm trying to use up my stash of the ones I have, and then I'm finding something cheaper.

- Masque-Ology Pore Minimizing Sheet Mask: I don't know why I keep trying sheet masks. I'm always disappointed in them because they never work for me. This was in my box of samples to use, and you all know I hate wasting product. 

- Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser: I love this cleanser so much more now that I'm older, but when I was a teenager I hated it! This is a great cleanser that I can use to remove every bit of makeup, even from my eyes. 

- Freeman Facial Clay Mask Mint & Lemon: I love how these masks are so inexpensive, yet effective. They last forever too, so you get your money's worth!

- Epielle Deep Cleansing Nose Strips: These work just the same as the Biore ones, so for $2 for this box, I'll keep repurchasing this brand instead. 

- Divas Never Age Hyaluronic Acid Serum: I reviewed this here, and while it did hydrate my skin, the smell of it is very overwhelming. I still used it up because like I said, I hate wasting product. 

- Amara Organics Hyaluronic Acid Serum: I reviewed this here almost a year ago, and finally used it up. This is so much better scent-wise than the Divas Never Age serum. My skin loves hyaluronic acid, so this serum is one I would consider purchasing again. 

- Bliss Naked Body Butter: This was a birthday gift from Sephora ages ago. I like this alot because it was super hydrating, but has zero scent so it doesn't interfere with perfumes or other body products. 

- Regenepure Hair & Scalp Treatment: I initially liked this at first, but now that the bottle is gone, I don't care for it. It did help with dandruff and feels cooling when using, but it doesn't help with hair loss or anything. I reviewed this back in August 2015 here.  

- Ecru Acacia Protein BB Cream: This is a BB cream for your hair, and I freaking loved this! It made my hair soft and manageable, and was just amazing. I'm tempted to buy a full size, but have a hoard of hair products to use up. 

- Garnier Fructis Fortifying Deep Conditioner: Loved this stuff so much and I'm sad it's gone. I don't think they make this product anymore either. 

- Garnier Olia Brilliant Color in 4.0 Dark Brown: Love Garnier hair color, and the Olia line is fantastic. I received this from Crowdtap and love the color they sent me. 

- Colgate Cavity Protection Toothpaste: Just a regular toothpaste that my husband and I used up. I used this at night because I have a different toothpaste I use during the day for my sensitive teeth and gums. 

- The Body Shop Black Velvet Apricot Frosted Shimmer Lotion: I had gotten this back when I worked at The Body Shop many years ago. I don't care much for shimmery lotions, and I'm sure this has gone bad by now. 

- Sephora Daily Makeup Brush Cleaner: My favorite brush cleaner to use when I spot clean my eye brushes. It's a bit expensive, but I love it. 

Number of products used up: 18 
Total for the year: 29

What were some products you used up last month? I'd love to know!