I'm back! An Update and Sayonara Products

Long time, no post femmes! 

After a 2 month or so hiatus, I am back from the blogging grave. I apologize for my extended and unannounced absence. Life, as it tends to do, threw me a few curve balls that necessitated I put this blog on the back burner. Without getting too personal, my life has been changing radically in a handful of ways: Alex and I broke up after nearly 3 years of dating; my family members experienced an array of medical emergencies; and I finished my first semester in a PhD program, completed my finals and received straight A's (whoop!), and started my second term last week; and someone I know found my blog, so I have started to slowly come out of the blogging closet. Phew! Some of these events are sad news, but overall my life is moving in a positive direction and I am excited to get back to blogging more consistently!

While away, my cosmetics addiction has petered off a great deal and I actually have hauled very few items. In fact, the only recent acquisitions I can think of are a few Revlon Lip Butters. My daily routine has simplified a lot, and I have been more and more confident in sporting a natural look. Not only has it encouraged me to embrace my skin as it is , but it also saves me time in the mornings! But no worries, the vanity busts open for nights out, and I have been particularly obsessed with red lips lately. 

This is not the most exciting first post back from the dead, but here are the products that I have depleted in the past few months. It feels good to clean out the inventory and focus more on the products I use most and love.

 John Frieda Sheer Blonde Shampoo & Conditioner (for darker blondes)

St. Ives Green Tea Cleanser

Korres Fig Showergel

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle

Biore Deep Cleansing Strips

Garnier Fructis  Leave In Conditioning Cream

Victoria's Secret Island Escape Body Mist

Yes to Tomatoes Moisturizer

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin

blinc Mascara

Benefit BadGal Plum

Loreal Voluminous Millions of Lashes

elf Eyelash Curler

Seche Vite Top Coat

Sally Hansen Double Duty Base & Top Coat

 alba Passion Fruit Nectar Lip Balm

Look forward to new FOTDs. OOTDs, reviews, tutorials, and discussions coming soon! And thanks for being so patient with me!

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Posted in Sayonara Products

October Sayonara Products

This month I finished up a whopping fifteen products; more impressive than that,eleven are cosmetic items! I have mentioned in other posts that I have really buckled down on makeup spending, buying only the products that I need, have thoroughly research, and/or have been really craving for a long time. As such, I am hauling less and focusing on and using up what I already have more! Here are the products that I said goodbye to this past month:

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer in Medium Light

As far as drugstore concealers go, this is one of the best that I have found. It is really creamy, has nice coverage, and lasts all day when set with powder. It works best on blemishes but this wouldn't be my first pick for dark circles- it tended to cake up a little and crease under the eyes, and doesn't have the peachy undertones to really cancel out the blue. I have a few other concealers to use up, but I would consider purchasing it again.

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original, minis x2

I received both of these mini PPs in palettes and have bee amazed by how long they have lasted me! UDPP is the only primer I have ever used or tried, and I haven't felt the need to look elsewhere because it does what it is supposed to do- make shadows more vibrant, prevent creasing, and prolong wear time. I replaced these two empties with a full-sized version in Eden, as seen in my recent Sephora Haul.

EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm

Remember when everyone was raving about these? There is a lot to love here- all natural, organic, fun and unique packaging, tasty flavors. I wouldn't say this lip balm provided the most hydration to my lips, but it certainly got the job done! I used this until the sphere was flat, and then using a toothpick I dug out the rest of the product and mixed it with sugar to make a lip sugar scrub.

Almay Makeup Erase Sticks

My mom gave these to me to throw in my purse, but I found that these were most helpful in the mornings to clean up residual eye makeup that transferred to my lower lash line. The stick of the q-tip is filled with makeup remover, and when you snap one of the cotton buds off the liquid saturates the other end. These were nice to have, but not an essential for me. 

Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel

This is just plain ol' witch hazel in a convenient squirt bottle. After washing my face I would load a cotton pad up with witch hazel and clean off any residual makeup, especially in my hairline. This did the trick, and it also did a decent job of shrinking my pores. I'll buy witch hazel again, but to save a few pennies I will just get the generic bottle.

Bath & Body Works Midnight Pomegranate EDT

I picked this up in one of my mad hunts to find my signature scent, and it just didn't work out. Although I always received compliments when I wore it, I personally found it too sweet and fruity.

Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Press Powder in Buff

I kept this in my purse to touch up throughout the day, and it was fine for a quick blot. However, as a setting powder this was pretty low performing- my skin was shiny within a few short hours, and reapplication lends itself to looking cakey.

Cover Girl Professional Natural Lash Mascara in Clear

I used this to set my brows, and it served me just fine! However, I have found another affordable clear mascara (Maybelline Great Lash) that has a smaller brush that is easier to tame my brows with, so I won't be repurchasing.

NARS Orgasm Illuminator

As a highlight and gel blush, I personally found this product pretty pointless. The gel was too thin, and once applied the pretty pinky gold shimmers were all but blended away. However, I did like this mixed with my foundation. I typically opt for matte finishes because they control oil better, but for a little luminosity I liked to mix this in. I did purchase a full size of this in Copacabana after falling in love with the color and reading that the formula was thicker than Orgasm's. Updates on that soon!

Estée Lauder Double Matte Foundation in Cool Dusk

While researching Double Wear the SA provided me a sample with Double Matte as well. In short, this was a let down: though it gives excellent coverage, it fails to control oil, it looks mask-like, and leaves you white cast in photos. Read the full review here.

Sephora Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer in Medium Peach

On its own, this is not a superior product. It is a little oily and provided almost zero coverage. However, I liked to mix this with my Revlon ColorStay for a more natural finish. I recently replaced this with Tart'es Amazonian Clay Tinted Moisturizer, which I am loving so far so expect a review soon!

philosophy vanilla birthday cake shower gel

This was my birthday gift from Sephora, and it really did smell like cake! I enjoyed this while it lasted, but I don't want to smell like cake all the time. 

LORAC Perfect Lit Oil Free Luminizing Powder in Spotlight

This little deluxe sample lasted me almost a full year, and I vacillated between love and ambivalence. At times I wouldn't think it wasn't anything special, but in comparison to other, lower-end highlighters I can tell how soft, smooth, and natural it applies to the skin. No big shimmers here, just a nice lit from within glow. 

 

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner Pencil in Zero

This liner is among many bloggers' favorites, and I enjoyed it, too. Zero is very black, and the formula is incredibly creamy and easy to apply yet sets quickly and is long lasting. The only problem I had with this is that it didn't last on my waterline as long as I expected. I would repurchase this, put the price is pretty steep. I am testing out the Milani LIQUIF EYE Metallic Eyeliner Pencil in Black to see how it compares.

Phew! That's a lot!

What did you finish up this past month?

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Posted in Almay , Bath and Body Works , Cover Girl , EOS , Estee Lauder , Lorac , NARS , philosophy , Physicians Formula , Revlon , Sayonara Products , Skin Care , Urban Decay

September Sayonara Products

As I say goodbye to September, I also bid 10 emptied products farewell! And *drum roll please* three of them are makeup items! Here is what I finished up this month:

Yes to Tomatoes Volumizing Shampoo

Read the full review here. This is the best natural shampoo I have found yet, but I apparently didn't love it enough to repurchase because I am still on the hunt for my HG hair care products.

Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser

I was excited that a mainstream brand like Neutrogena was releasing more natural products, but this was really just ho-hum for me. It got my skin clean, but it didn't offer a lot in the way of oil and acne fighting. Also, it had an odd medicinal, herbal smell that I wasn't too fond of.

Yes to Cucumbers Calming Facial Mask

This is the second tub of this I have used up, and I actually quite like it. The jars are a bit small and a bit expensive, but it is a natural product and smells just like cucumbers. Read my full review here.

Batiste Dry Shampoo

As a busy graduate student, sometime showering just doesn't take priority over finishing my bajillion pages of reading. On those days, a blast of Batiste keeps me looking fresh. I cant be without this stuff.

Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser

This cleanser contains glycolic acid, which is supposed to exfoliate the skin and breaks up gunk in your pores, and is only meant to be used twice a week. Though I did find that my skin was a bit smoother and brighter after using this, I didn't see much improvement with my blackheads. Not bad, but not worth the price tag either.

ELF HD Powder

This was my HG setting powder over the summer, and made it on to many of my favorites lists. The finely milled, silky white powder controlled oil like no other on my skin and delivered an airbrush finish. I will certainly repurchase this.

Yes to Carrots Eye Contour Cream

Just your run of the mill eye cream here. I wasn't impressed with it, so I ended up using it was an eye makeup remover just to finish up the tub.

Too Faced Glamour Gloss in Pillow Talk

Pillow talk is a natural looking gloss with very subtle mauve undertones, and the formula is slightly plumping. I did find it a bit thick and sticky though. I enjoyed it while this deluxe sample lasted, but not enough to invest in a full sized tube.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation (deluxe sample)

Read my full review here. To use this up, I mixed with with tinted moisturizer to create a more natural finish foundation. The combo offered the coverage, staying power, and oil control I needed without looking like I was wearing a mask. However, I am looking for a foundation that can deliver all of those benifits without me having to make a cosmetic cocktail every time I do my makeup.

TRESemme Non-Aerosol Hair Spray

After I finished up a big can of hairspray, this little travel bottle was all I had around so I just used it up. It did its job, but I don't have anything to rave about. 

What did you finish up in September?

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Posted in Batiste , E.L.F. , Estee Lauder , Mario Badescu , Neutrogena , Sayonara Products , Too Faced , TRESemme , Yes to Carrots , Yes to Cucumbers , Yes to Tomatoes

August Sayonara Products

 By the end of each month, I am astonished by how many products I finish up and it always seems that I run out of everything at once. On one hand, empty bottles assure me that I am actually using the products I spend my hard earned cash on; on the other, it can be a little overwhelming to need to replenish my stash of products all at once. I said sayonara to a whopping thirteen products this month!

 Yes to Tomatoes Daily Volumizing Conditioner

Of all of the natural conditioners I have tried, this one is by far my favorite (read my full review here). However, I wouldn't say it is a miracle product. In fact, I was seduced back to the dark side, at least temporarily, and picked up non-natural shampoo and conditioner (from the John Frieda Sheer Blonde line, which made my August favorites list). I am still on the hunt for a superior natural shampoo and conditioner- suggestions?

Macadamia Healing Oil Healing Oil Treatment

This small 1oz. bottle lasted me about 3 months- while I didn't use it daily at first, I really started to fall in love with this product just as it was getting low. It smells divine and keeps my hair hydrated and frizz-free. I am not sure I want to invest in the full sized, $25 bottle just yet, so I am on the hunt for a cheaper alternative. I am curious about VO5 Miracle Concentrate. Or should I bust out some cash and try out the classic Moroccan Oil? What do you all suggest?

 

 Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara

There are things I really like about this product: I can layer and layer and layer this mascara without it getting clumpy, it doesn't flake, and it offers nice length and respectable volume. However, it doesn't hold a curl very well and can leaves my lashes a bit heavy and stick like if I apply too many coats. I just opened a backup of this that I need to move through, but I don't think I will repurchase after that.

Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black

As of now, this is my HG mascara although I am still curious to try others. Voluminous Carbon Black offers incredible volume, but the formula is a bit finicky- one coat too many can leave you with clumpier lashes than the late Tammy Faye Baker. I wish this was a bit more lengthening as well, but I would still buy this again.

Sephora Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer

I have a full sized bottle of this and just wanted to get this little deluxe sample out of the way. On its own, this is a ho-hum tinted moisturizer- but then again, I prefer more coverage and oil control than a tinted moisturizer can typically provide. However, I mix this daily with matte finish full coverage foundation (either Revlon ColorStay or Estee Lauder Double Wear) to achieve a lighter, more natural finish. 

Benefit "That Gal" Brightening Face Primer

 I received this in my Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic kit. "That Gal" is a thick, creamy pink primer that initially made me very hesitant. I assumed a brightening face primer with thick, creamy formula would clash with my oily skin and exacerbate the appearance of shine. However, I really grew to love this primer. It gave me a non-shimmery, lit from within glow that made my matte foundations look more natural, and I never noticed a problem in terms of oil-control. I have a hard time dropping the cash for a full sized bottle of this, but I would consider it in the future.

Josie Maran Bronzing Argan Oil

By now we have all been informed enough times about the miraculous benefits of argan oil, so I figured this product would blow me out of the water. I received this in a Sephora kit in the winter, but couldn't imagine using it any other time of year except the summer. Since I couldn't imagine applying this to my  face, I rubbed this onto my legs when wearing skirts and shorts. It left a nice sheen but nothing that I couldn't achieve with a bit of my standby coconut oil (which smells way better anyway). Once rubbed in, the bronzing effect is not even visible. This one isn't worth the investment for me.

 AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask

As an oily skinned babe I love a good mud mask, but this one didn't wow me. I was really perplexed by the instructions, which insist you wash off the mask only 2 minutes after applying it. I liked that this has a slight exfoliating effect while rinsing it off, but I wouldn't seek this out in the future.

Yes to Cucumbers Facial Hydrating Lotion

This is some good stuff. My partner and I have moved through several bottles of this natural facial lotion- it is gentle enough for his hypersensitive skin and light enough for my oily prone skin. It is incredibly hydrating, quick to soak into the skin, and has a lovely cucumber scent.

Pangea Organics Facial Toner

Love love love this product, but I don't love the price. I received this deluxe sample in a Birchbox and quickly used it all up. It is an amazing organic toner that helps remove any grime my cleanser left behind and preps my skin for my lotion. Also, a quick mist sets makeup and refreshes skin. However a full sized bottle is $28, which means I will be searching for a more affordable option.

fresh Citron de Vigne Eau de Parfum

I have complained here before on how difficult it is to find women's fragrances that are warm and earthy or aren't cloyingly fruity and flowery.  This one is different, and venture I say this may be my "signature scent." It is an alluring citrus scent with notes of wine- yum!

Korres Fig Shower Gel

My partner and I both love the earthy, dark, and slightly sweet scent of this shower gel, and the fact that it is all natural makes me even more excited. I cashed in my Birchbox points before I canceled by subscription and picked up a full sized bottle of this.

Sally Hansen Advanced Hard as Nails

 This got a bit thick towards the end, but overall I love this stuff. I apply it on clean nails underneath a base coat and it keeps my nails incredibly hard and strong. Try it out!

What did you use up in August?

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Posted in Ahava , Benefit , fresh , Josie Maran , Korres , Loreal , Macadamia Natural Oil , Pangea Organics , Revlon , Sally Hansen , Sayonara Products , Sephora , Yes to Cucumbers , Yes to Tomatoes

July Sayonara Products!

Can you believe it is the last day of July? Where is our summer going? As we say goodbye to this month, I am also saying goodbye to a handful of products. Once again, for some empties it is good riddance and for others it is a regretful goodbye (until I repurchase, that is!). Here are the products that I finished up this past month.

Too Faced Lash Injection

I bought this mini from Sephora just to try it out, and I am glad I never invested in a full-sized tube. For me, this mascara was nothing special. The bristle brush is big, fat, and dense, which I like, but it took too much work and too many coats to achieve the length and volume I seek. On top of that, it left my lashes stiff and had an unpleasant flowery scent. Goodbye!

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

Burt's Bees is notorious for making great lip balm. I love that this is all natural and that it leaves my lips tingling a bit. The only thing I wasn't fond of was the tin packaging- next time I will opt for a stick instead for easier, more sanitary application.

fresh Cannabis Santal

As I have mentioned before, I really dislike traditionally feminine and flowery fragrances for myself. Instead, I opt for more earthy and spicy scents, and Cannabis Santal is right up my alley. No, it doesn't smell like what you are thinking of, naughty girls! Cannabis Santal smells like incense but isn't over powering. 

Yes to Carrots Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser 

For intensive exfoliation this is too gentle for me. It is better as a daily cleanser, but as it is cream based it is not best suited for my oily prone skin. I love the natural Yes to brand, and I think this is a good product for someone with very sensitive, or normal to dry skin. For myself, however, I'll pass. See my full review here.

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo

This is the first dry shampoo I have ever tried, and I don't know how I lived without it! This summer essential has been great for sprucing up oily roots and adding volume.

EOS Shave Cream in Vanilla Bliss

Another product I am sad to see go. This shave cream is incredibly moisturizing and smells divine. Plus, EOS is a natural brand! Read my full review here. 

Suave Max Hold Hairspray

This can lasted me more than a year because I don't use much product on my hair. Nothing special, but this hairspray got the job done and was really cheap.

Yes to Tomatoes Facial Hydrating Lotion

Panic struck my heart when I pumped out the last of this lotion! I reviewed it here, but in short, this is the first lotion that I feel was formulated with my skin type and needs in mind. It sinks in quickly, hydrates and balances well, and doesn't leave a greasy residue. Oily prone divas rejoice!

Yes to Blueberries Intensive Repair Serum

This product is part of Yes to's anti-aging line, so this was a preventative product for me. Although I don't yet have wrinkles to tackle, nightly use of this product really improved the condition of my skin. It was more radiant and smooth, and I could tell that it was helping to repair damaged tissue and increasing surface skin cell turn-over.

philosophy purity made simple one-step facial cleanser

I thought I would hate this cleanser, but it wasn't half bad. My skin needs a product that is better at oil control, but I can say that this made my skin baby smooth. Read more on it here. 

Maybelline Define-a-Brow Pencil

At first I was really disappointed in this product; so much so, in fact, that it made it into my May Flunkies list. Although the shade is a great match for my brow color, the pencil crumbles easily and is difficult to keep sharply pointed. Over time, I learned to work with enough to use it up, but I won't be repurchasing.

What did you use up this month?

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Posted in Batiste , Burt's Bees , EOS , fresh , Maybelline , philosophy , Sayonara Products , Suave , Too Faced , Yes to Blueberries , Yes to Carrots , Yes to Tomatoes

June Sayonara Products!

Is it just me, or does it seem like you run out of all of your lotions, facial cleansers, shampoos and so on at once? This June I said so long to a ton of products. For some, it is goodbye forever; for others, I was sad to see them go and will repurchase in the future. Here are the beauty products that I emptied out this past month:

Maybelline Expert Wear Blush in Precious Pink- I have had this blush forever, and once I hit pan I was eager to use it all! Once my blush brush could no longer pick up product trapped in the corners, I literally scraped it clean into a small jar and used up the rest of the product. Overall, this wasn't a horrid blush- a sheer, subtle pink that delivered a nice sheen. I won't repurchase, but I enjoyed it while it lasted.

Cover Girl Line Exact Liquid Eyeliner in Black- This little buddy served me well, but I think I am officially over felt tip liner pens. The felt tip on this one shredded up long before the pen was empty. I used this until it dried up, and I won't repurchase.

Up & Up Eye Makeup Remover- This performed really well, and was a bargain buy at Target. When I ran out I started using coconut oil to remove my eye makeup, which I have really been enjoying. But if I were to go back to a commercial remover, I would certainly consider picking up this one again.

Yes to Carrots Makeup Removing Cleanser- I used this to wash off my makeup before I used another acne-fighting cleanser. Mostly, I used it just to get rid of it. It did a nice job of melting off my face makeup, but took a bit of work to remove eye makeup. This product isn't a total flop, since it did remove my face products nicely and was highly moisturizing, but it certainly is not an essential to my skincare routine. In the future, I'll pass on this.

Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towlettes- Recently I have been seeing a lot of buzzing in the blogging community. For me, these were just ho-hum, but I have never been enamored with makeup removing wipes in general. These worked well enough though, and the travel packs are great to throw into a gym bag.

Yes to Tomatoes Facial Cleaner- Although it doesn't lather much, I did enjoy this cleanser. I miss it more than I thought I might now that it is gone, so I might just repurchase. Read my full review here.

Proactive Renewing Cleanser- Back in the day when I had really problematic skin I hoarded this stuff. With time and a more gentle skincare routine, my skin has balanced out. I am so, so, so happy to be rid of this and to have moved on to all natural skincare products. I know Proactiv is really effective for many people, but I find it too harsh and too chemical-laden for my comfort.

Yes to Cucumbers Daily Calming Moisturizer- I really love this moisturizer. While in the morning I opt for the Yest to Tomatoes moisturizer, at nigh this is my pick and I am so glad I had a backup waiting for when I finished this one! It is soothing and refreshing, smells like cucumbers, and offers phenomenal hydration without leaving a greasy residue.

Yes to Cucumbers Calming Facial Mask- I recently did a full review on this, which you can read here. The short and sweet version is that I really like this! It certainly is not as intense as other clays masks, but it does its job and I love that it is all natural.

LAVANILA The Healthy Body Butter in Vanilla Lavender- I received this generous sample in my first Birchbox, and I completely fell in love with this product (it made it into my April Favorites). Lavender is a sleepy scent for me, so I kept it on my nightstand. This natural moisturizer is super hydrating and soaks into the skin quickly. I haven't purchased a full size bottle of this yet, as it is a bit pricier than your average body butter, but I think it is worth the investment.

Yes to Carrots Moisturizing Body Scrub- I really liked this! At first I thought that it didn't exfoliate well enough, but with continued use I really saw the difference. This is a cream-based product with small, gentle exfoliating particles in it. This was really moisturizing, and although there are many great scrubs out there, I am tempted to pick this natural one up again!

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner- This is my second or third bottle of this, so I can officially say I adore this product. This deep conditioner really makes my hair silky smooth, and I am guilty of using more than once a week. If only it were all natural! Until I find an organic alternative, this one is stickin' around.

Oscar Blandi Olio Di Jasmine Hair Serum- I received this in my June Birchbox. This little sample lasted me at least three applications, so a little goes a long way. It did a nice job of controling frizz, but I wasn't wild about the jasmine scent. I am going to stick with my Macadamia Natural Oil, which is more hydrating, smells better, and less chemical-laden.

Suave Almond & Shea Butter Moisturizing Shampoo- I actually purchased this a few times, and it is a respectable shampoo. No miracles, but does the job. However, I have moved on to mostly natural shampoos and conditions, and have replaced this with the Yes to Tomatoes line.

Phew! I moved through a lot of loot! 

What did you say sayonara to this past month?

Also, remember to always recycle your empty beauty and bath products! Many of us forget that they are recyclable, and simply toss them in the bathroom trash. Once they leave our home, lets make sure they don't stick around in landfills!

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Posted in Sayonara Products