Beauty, Collection

Skincare Backstock Collection 2019

I am doing an updated skincare backstock update for 2019. This is all skincare not currently in rotation. I do have a bunch of skin care out, don’t you worry. This bin contains face masks that have been in and out of rotation, but masks tend to last longer. They are in backstock until I get some older ones used up first and then, I’ll add these ones back in. Back stock is anything that is not currently in my skincare rotation. I need to keep myself accountable with what I have and use that up before deciding to buy new skincare. There are only a couple of categories that I have only one item in use of. I am allowing myself to purchase anything that doesn’t have a replacement in backstock. I have three backstock bins that I am hoping to consolidate into two by the end of the year. Without further ado, these are all of the products waiting to be cycled into rotation.

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CLINIQUE Pep-Start Daily UV Protector

This will be added shortly to my summer project pan, because it needs to be used up this year. I don’t like this sunscreen as it makes my oily skin oiler. It has some sort of emollient in it that leaves a greasy residue that never absorbs all the way into my skin. It might be made for drier skin types. It is slightly tinted. I am confident that I will be able to use this up during the summer as long as I wear it everyday.

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ELF Daily Hydration Moisturizer

I plan on pulling this one in when I am done with my mattifying moisturizer, which I feel doesn’t do much. I bought two moisturizers when I previously did an ELF haul. I feel good having a backup for a daily moisturizer. I haven’t found my holy grail yet. I think I will try PIXI or a brand from Sephora unless this one blows me away.

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Beauty 360 Brightening Radiance Facial Mask

I haven’t even opened this one yet, so it will remain unopened for the rest of this year more than likely. I have other masks opened in backstock and I will go through those before this one. I am excited to try this one. If it is a sleeping mask, it might get opened this year. This is the only sleeping mask that I have in backstock at the moment. I don’t need to buy masks for a looooong time. I am well stocked with every kind.

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SOO AE Donkey Milk Sleeping Mask

So, this is just a sachet packet. I will probably use it up this year, when I want to take a break from sheet masks and do something a little different. Right now, I have two sleeping masks open though. This won’t be utilized for a while. I am looking forward to trying it out though. I love what masks do for my skin. I have oily skin, but if I keep it hydrated, it tends to be more combination. Also, as I am getting closer to my 28th year, my face seems to be getting drier. I am taking that as a good sign. I would love to be combo instead of an oil slick in my t-zone.

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Too Cool For School Egg Mousse Soap Facial Cleanser

I started using this, but then decided to work on my deluxe size cleansers. They were piling up! I am down to my last two deluxe sized cleansers, so I will be picking this back up again sometime this year. After, I want to move on to cleansing balms, because I love the moisture that it gives my skin after getting all the makeup and junk off. I used to be a fun of foaming cleansers, but I find them really drying nowadays.

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VS Let’s Glow Sheet Mask

I have one last sheet mask from VS. It’s a brightening mask, which I usually use in the morning, so I am waiting for the right time to use this one. I enjoy sheet masks a ton. I usually do one every Saturday night, but sometimes, I’m just way too tired to mask. I try to at least do one every month for a tiny bit of me time.

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Drunk Elephant Beste No 9 Jelly Cleanser

I was told that this smells like cantaloupe. I haven’t opened it yet, so I have no clue. lol. I plan on using this next after I use up my current cleanser, which isn’t too far away. I really do not need a backstock of any product. I would much rather order a new one when I’m almost done with my current one. I am working towards the goal of having 1 backstock bin for when I do order and add on items to meet the minimum free shipping. This was part of my free birthday gift, so I feel good about having it in backstock. IT’s everything that I deliberately bought that I feel bad about.

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The Ordinary Alpha Lipoic Acid 5%

I totally forgot that I had this serum in my collection. I don’t feel like I need a serum until I’m 30 and it’ll be an anti-aging one. I am using up all in my collection and not repurchasing until then. I no longer support the brand and just want to use what I have up at this point. This isn’t a serum that you can use everyday either. You can only use it a few times a week, so it will take forever for me to use up.

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The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution 10-Minute Exfoliating Facial

This is an exfoliating peel face mask, which is unique in my collection. I am not a fan of physical exfoliation on the skin, but I love chemical exfoliates which are gentler on the skin. I am currently using a peeling gel in the shower, so I would not add this in until I use that one up. This is only meant to be on the skin for 10 minutes at the most, so it is great to apply in the shower once I have conditioner in my hair. I can apply this “mask”, clean my body, and then rinse. I would use this 2 to 3x a week at most, because my skin is on the oilier side, I feel like it can benefit from more frequent sloughing of dead skin cells. If your skin is normal or combo, I would suggest 1 to 2x a week. This is unopened and will stay in backstock until I finish my current peeling gel.

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The Ordinary Retinol 1%

I totally forgot that I had this. I am actually taking this out of backstock and putting it in my current skincare collection in the bathroom. I put this away during the winter, because it was too drying on my skin. Now, it is getting warmer and summer out. I am pulling it back out to use at night and I am going to try to use it all up this summer. I use this at night. I usually alternate between using a sleeping mask and an oil. Now, I will alternate with this as well at night. Even in the summer, I cannot use this daily and I can only use it 3x a week at most. It has 2/3rds to 1/2 left, so I think I might be able to do it.

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Roloxin Lift Instant Skin Smoothing Masque

I am decluttering this to my mom to use, because I do not have wrinkles that need filling.

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MJCARE Sheet Masks Variety

I have 8 more of these sheet masks left that I want to use up. I enjoy wearing sheet masks and I try to do them once every week or so. It’s hard sometimes to try to find the time to mask. I have been reserving them for Saturday nights after a clay mask while doing my homework that is due on Sundays. Sheet masks aren’t a necessary in my skincare routine, but I do enjoy using them. They are very indulgent, but I usually snag them when they are on sale for a dollar or two.

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ELF Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths

I have three packets in storage and one currently in use. These were $5 for a 2 pack with a total of 40 wipes, which I thought were a good idea. They are moist and effective at taking off makeup and cleaning your face at the end of the night. I sometimes use this in the morning instead of my micellar water. I like to have these one hand for lazy nights when I am too tired to wash my face and do the whole big routine. I won’t need more for quite some time.

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The Sharing Co Sheet Masks

Again, I have more sheet masks. I love sheet masks though. Seeing all of these is making me kick myself in the butt that I need to mask more often or at least commit to once a week. I cannot wait to use these up and enjoy them.

Valentia Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask

I received this in PR and have used about half of the jar. I put it away for now to work on my oldest clay mask first. This is a good mask, but it is very messy. This is one that I reserve for when I know that I’ll be taking a shower to rinse it off. I have a few other clay masks that I need to use up before this one. It gives great results, but it is just a really messy removal process that is a pain in the butt. I am good with masks for a while though. I am glad to have so many to choose from, but my back stock is excessive.

L’Oreal Pure-Clay Mask

Again, another clay mask. This one only has a few uses left in it, so I will probably use this one up next after I use up the one that I am currently using. I really like this mask and find that it reduces oil production for a few days. It is not cruelty free though, so I will not be repurchasing this. My best friend bought me this for my birthday and I really appreciate it. I love this mask and I would accept it again as a gift anytime. I am sure that this will be featured in an empties post somewhere in the near future.

Valentia Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask

Another half way used up face mask. This one is a hydration mask that I am received in PR. This is very similar to a sheet mask as its made to hydrate and plump the face. I really enjoy this mask, but it requires rinsing. I would much rather use a sheet mask or a sleeping mask than get another one of these hydration rinse off masks. I will use it up, but I would not purchase a product like this.

Freeman Avocado & Oatmeal Clay Mask

This mask is almost used up as well. I use this 5 minute mask in the shower. Once I use up all my “shower” face products, I would get another Freeman’s 5 minute face masks to keep in my shower to deep clean my face. With the steam and warm water, they penetrate deep, work fast, and I see results. I thoroughly recommend these masks. Ideally, I still want a “shower” mask, a regular clay mask, sleeping mask, and sheet masks in my collection. I currently have too many. I probably have enough to last to the end of this year.

It is surprising to me that I have 21 face masks including sheet and jar masks. This post does not include the two masks that I just got from my best friend for my birthday, but they will be included in my inventory counts spreadsheet. I need to start masking more than once a week. This is the inspiration that I need to enjoy what I have instead of trying to hoard them. I don’t need to. I have a life where I can buy whatever I want within reason. If I use up all my masks, I can buy new ones. I could even buy a $30 one. I’m not gonna restrict myself, but I want to use up what I have. Otherwise, it’s wasteful. I’m not going to go out and buy a nail polish when I have over 40 at home.

With Love,

Selena

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Beauty, Empties

May Empties

I may be late sharing my empties, but I never knew how much I had to share in a month until I cut down my schedule to about 15 posts a month. I’ve been having to switch around the format of my posts and so this one is coming up later in the month than what I like. I basically sit down two Sundays a month now and write posts. I now have two Sundays a month free for classes. I only work on my blog for about 4 hours a month. That only includes writing the posts, not taking the pictures and coming up with the ideas. I am happy with this new pace of my blog. It makes it so I can be a well-rounded person and have time for everything that I want to have time for. It is nice to know that when life gets hectic, I generally have a week or two already planned out on my blog.

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You hear about these every month, so I am cutting out the drinks that I purchase without fail every month. You know that I love them or else I wouldn’t have featured them for over a year here on my blog.

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1 Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo

2 Hair Teasing Brush

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  1. MJCARE Sea Weed Sheet Mask

  2. Alba Botanical Acne Dote Deep Clean Astringent

  3. Borghese Clay Cleanser

  4. GlamGlow Super Clean Cleanser

  5. Philosophy Purity Face Mask

  6. Clinique Pep Start Eye Cream

  7. Derma E Hydrating Day Creme

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  1. VS Coconut Mango 2-in-1 Wash & Scrub
  2. Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter

  3. Equate Pain Relieving Cream

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  1. Dr. Brandt BB Cream
  2. ELF Color Correcting Powder

  3. Buxom Plumping Lip Gloss

  4. YSL Black Opium Perfume

    1. Perfume Sample Cards

19. Physician’s Formula Cushion BB Cream

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  1. 719 Walnut Avenue Honeysuckle Jasmine Hand Soap
  2. Fresh Breath Brushing Gel

  3. Equate Cotton Rounds 100 ct

    1. PaperMate Ink Joy Blue
      1. B&BW Mini Candles
  4. Avon Mini Emery Board

Well, I had a lot more empties than I had originally thought. I cannot wait to do my progress update on my 200 pan goal. I have been working on my pictures and I hope you can tell a difference. I think it looks more professional and I have added a bit of brightness to the pictures themselves by staging some lightening. Since I have a bit more time, I thought that I would put more effort into the picture taking themselves. I have a feeling that my empties will be slowing down, because I am running out of mini things. I still have a whole bunch of samples that I need to get through though. I hope you enjoyed looking through my trash today. Reviews are to come. 🙂

With Love,

Selena

Beauty

May Birchbox

I know that I am really late with my May Birchbox, but better late than never right? I could blame the baby, but I was also a bit lazy as well. I have a three day weekend, so you can look forward to at least two posts today and one tomorrow. I’m hoping to write more than three posts, but you never know. Raising a child is hard work and time consuming. Right now, he is sitting in his pink bubba seat. So cute how he loves to watch me type on my laptop. Anyways, here is my May Birchbox.

I love the pastel color scheme and the fact that I received a box that I really love. There is variety in this box: a hair product, two face product, a makeup product, and a body product as well. This box is about protecting and having clear, luminous skin.

Body Peel

Real Chemistry Luminous 3-Minute Peel for Body, 0.5 fl oz for about $3.50

I have tried this product for the face and I wasn’t really impressed with it. It’s a good product, just nothing exciting or special about it. This foil packet probably has two uses in it. I plan on using this only on my arms…and maybe my legs. It has 1 to 2 uses depending upon what you use it on. It is enough to see if you like the product and I enjoy trying out products from different brands. I wish it would have been something different from this brand, since I already tried this one for the face.

Dry Shampoo

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo, 0.75 oz for about $4 USD

I could always use another dry shampoo and I use this almost on a daily basis now. So, you will probably be seeing more dry shampoo empties in the future. This is a nice sized sample to try. I love the scent of this product and it is the perfect size to throw into my purse to touch up my hair throughout the day at work or out and about. In fact, it is going in my purse right now. It is a basic staple and can double as deodorant in a pinch, especially with this scent.

ModelCo Lip Lacquer in Viva, 0.05 fl oz for about $5 USD

This is the perfect pinky-nude and it is not very opaque. It has some color to it, but it isn’t a liquid lipstick, but has more pigment than a lip gloss. It is the perfect nude for my lips and I will be getting a lot of use out of this gloss. It is something that I can just throw on and not have to worry about a perfect application. I am satisfied with this formula and color.

Face mask

Kalos Skincare Triple Threat Detox Masque, 0.5 oz for about $12 USD

Since taking this picture, I have tried this mask. It seems to be a moisturizing mask that removes impurities from the skin. I like this mask, but I wouldn’t go out and buy it. It has a warming sensation due to the cayenne pepper in it. It’s an okay mask, but nothing really special about it. I enjoyed trying it out and it seems to have 5 uses in it.

Moisturizer

COOLA SPF 50 Sport in Mango, 10 ml for about $2 USD

It smells like mangoes and coconuts! It is the perfect summertime scent. I cannot wait to try this out. It is a decent sized sample and I should use SPF everyday, but I don’t. I need to get better at that. Time to start now, I guess.

I look forward to trying everything I received and I am happy that everything seems to be a decent size as well. May was a winning month for Birchbox.

With Love,

Selena

Beauty, Empties, Evening skincare routine, First Impressions, Food, Morning Skincare Routine, My Life

February Empties

Heya Aspiring Gurus!

I cannot believe that I only have a handful of empties this month. It seemed like a lot of things were close to being used up, but I guess not. Maybe, I’ll just have a massive empties next month. I’m getting my hair done next month as an early birthday present to myself which is exciting! I don’t get my hair done that often, so whenever I do, I get very excited. I dye my hair about once or twice a year. Last year, I didn’t dye my hair. I got highlights and low lights done in September of 2014 and that was the last time dye touched my head. So, my hair is a virgin again. Danielle couldn’t believe my hair was that dark. She’d never seen my virgin hair and she’s known me for 10 years. Anyways, only 5 empties this month.

Treatment gel

OleHenriksen Invigorating Night Treatment

Cappuccino mix

Great Value Cappucino French Vanilla

moisturizer

Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil Face

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Johnson’s Baby Head-To-Toe Wash

Well, that is all of my empties! Hopefully, there will be more next time. I’ll definitely share my hair experience with all of you when it happens, which is March 26th!

What are you guys loving and used up lately?

With Love <3
Selena

 

Reviews

Poor Night Moisture

Product: Biore Hard Days Night Overnight Face Moisturizer-1.7 oz

2 Stars

This is supposed to moisturize your skin on your face, but it does not. It slicks on well and smells like the usual biore product. It does not have a purfume smell and I was really looking forward to that. In the morning, my face would be dry and not moisturized at all. It banishes shine, but it does not moisturize. It is better as a day cream than a night repairing serum.