May Empties

I feel really good about the amount of products that I was able to push out this month. It even out the amount of products that I have brought in. I really have been concentrating on using up samples, deluxe sizes, and almost empty products this month. I am sure there will be just as many empties in June as well from my May efforts. I don’t want to have a crazy backstock of items. I don’t want to have to keep 3 bins in my closet to hold all of my items (hair, body, skin care). I want to hold everything in just one backup storage bin. If by the end of the year I can have two bins, I will be a very happy girl. I think this is more realistic at this point in time. I keep my makeup totally separate, but I would like to have one empty drawer out of my jewelry case for my everyday jewelry to be accessible. I have larger makeup items on top where jewelry is stored, so I’d like to have an empty drawer for that purpose. If I use up enough makeup, I can make this happen. Fingers crossed!

1.DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom

I used up this perfume in my project pan. It was the first item in the project that I was able to use up. I enjoyed this Spring scent, but I am more interested in buying a different Be Delicious perfume than repurchasing this one. I would not repurchase this one, because the scent wasn’t apple-y enough for me and too floral. Glad to have a perfume out of my collection. That is the second perfume used up this year, so I am a happy girl right now. Hopefully, I’ll be able to move out two more by the end of the year and keep up the pace.

2. Smashbox Primerizer Sample

I have no opinion on this product. It was a nice primer to use up, but I notice nothing from foil packets. I’m not interested in trying this primer, though.

3. Sumita Jaipur Gold Contrast Eye Pencil

This came in a subscription box, but has since dried out. It looks great on the back of my hand, but I cannot press it hard enough into my eye lid for the same pigmentation. I am not going to kill my eyeballs for the sake of using up an eye liner that I didn’t even buy myself, so I am happily decluttering this one.

4. Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara

Chunky and clumpy lashes. I just hate that type of look on me. I have naturally long dark eye lashes, so I am just looking for darkening and volume. It was too clumpy to salvage it. I even tried using my lash brush to brush out some of the clumps and I had mascara bits all over my face from brushing out the clumps. I’m glad to be decluttering, because I don’t enjoy using it. The short stubby bristles on the wand are not great for lengthening and gives really chunky lashes.

5 – 7. Moda Oval Makeup Brushes

I hate these with a passion. I don’t like them. I prefer traditional brushes. The only one that was good is the biggest one, but with a flimsy wand, I quickly grew tired of it. Now, I have the ELF blending brush and couldn’t be happier with it.

8. Benefit High Beam Cream Highlighter

I scraped out every last bit that I could. I even cut the tube in half. I enjoyed this by adding it into my moisturizer for a healthy glow. It was perfect for that. I am enjoying using up my cream highlighters in this way. I would rather use a glowy primer when I am done with my cream highlighters though. I still keep a pink cream highlighter in my collection though in case I use a pore filling primer. It would be good to use on no makeup days for a glowy look. Yeah, I think I’ll always have a pink cream highlighter on hand, but that is all the cream highlighter that I need. I will not repurchase this. It was too frosty for what I want to use it for and it is not cruelty free.

9. HIGH Expectation Cannabis Facial Oil Sample

This sample lasted me a week of nightly use leaving me very pleasantly surprised. It sinks in faster than other oils and smells like fruity pebbles. I like other oils that sink in faster and do more for my skin than just hydrate AKA the Sunday Riley UFO oil. I still did enjoy this sample, but I mostly buy main stream brands and I’ve never heard of this one before. Oh and the fact that its cannabis doesn’t bother me in the slightest. LOL.

 

 

10. MAC PREP + PRIME FIX + MINI in Lavender

I don’t see these as a necessary step in my routine if I am already using primer. I feel like I need a pore filling primer or a mattifying one that does something for my skin rather than this one that just adds moisture. This might be nice for dry skin, but I don’t see the point for my skin. I will gladly use my minis up and buy this on sale again, because it is very refreshing and nice. I wouldn’t buy it full price. I’d rather spend money on a setting spray that will lock my makeup in place. I really enjoy the experience of using this though. I can see drier skin types loving this spray.

11. Johnson’s Bedtime Baby Moisture Wash

I bought this for $1 or $1.50 when a Walmart I lived near was clearancing this line out to redo their baby section. I used this as a nighttime bubble bath for Dean. I got a ton of use out of it and it did have a very soothing scent. I would not purchase this full price, but I would buy it on sale again. I usually buy Dr. Teals or the Walmart brand bubble bath. I am not gonna lie, I used this a few times as well. It made quite a few baths and lots of bubbles. Even though technically its not a bubble bath, we used it as such and it performed great.

12. Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream Sample

This was enough for 2 uses on the face. It was nice enough, but I really have no opinion of it. I would need a deluxe size to really comment on it.

13. Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter Unscented

I only used up one of the samples. I’ve had it before. I wouldn’t purchase it. It takes a long time to sink into the skin, so it’s kinda a hassle to use. It was enough for almost 2 full body uses.

14. Magic Bath Crackles

This was enough for 2 baths. Dean ignored it for the most part. It was worth a shot.

15. Crayola Color Bath Dropz

These continue to be a repurchase for us. Dean loves different colors in his bath water. It makes bath time a fun experience for him. They just change the color of the bath water, so there isn’t much to review about it. It doesn’t stain the tub or his skin, so its a winner in my book.

16. Not Your Mother’s Way To Grow Long & Strong Shampoo

I really enjoyed this shampoo. I liked the fragrance and it lathered nicely. I don’t know if it did anything to make my hair grow longer, but I would buy another shampoo from this brand again. It is a great cruelty free drugstore option. I wasn’t blown away by this shampoo, but it is a solid shampoo with good ingredients. I’m not too fussy when it comes to shampoo, but I do like them to clean my hair. I always shampooed my hair twice with this as I felt that once wasn’t enough to strip out all the oil in my hair. I wouldn’t mind repurchasing this again, but I’d rather try another shampoo by the brand.

17. ROLOXIN LIFT INSTANT SKIN SMOOTHING MASK

I am decluttering this to my mom.

18. Mr. Bubble Bubble Bath

My mom put this is Dean’s easter basket and we used it up once our bath was fixed. In a few baths, we finished this bad boy off and I ordered some bubble bath at Walmart. Dean loves bubbles in his tub and I do like it as well when I indulge in a bath.

I am very proud of how much stuff I was able to use up on my birthday month! I am happy that I used up 18 products this month with 8 being full sized, 4 deluxe, and 6 samples. I don’t expect much coming into my collection in June besides maybe another VS bra or something since I do have another $10 gift card. Nothing beauty wise though, so these numbers have put me in a good spot to cut down on my collection while adding to it. I am very happy and proud of what I have been able to accomplish this month. Hopefully, June is just as good of a month. I can see quite a few products hanging by a hair in my collection, so I’m going to take that as a good sign.

With Love,

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Birthday Hauling: Sephora

I did a little Sephora haul for my birthday and I spent $57 USD and some change. I was very frugal as I usually spend $100 at Sephora alone for my birthday. I organized everything by samples, free gift with purchase, birthday gift, and purchases from low to high. I am brimming with excitement over everything that I have picked up. I have swatched everything out and it is so beautiful. Everything is exactly how I thought it would be. I read so many reviews and do a lot of research before I pick anything up at Sephora. It is an expensive place to shop and I want to end up with something that I will more than likely love instead of return.

High Expectations Cannabis Facial Oil

This is wierd, but I am just going to put it in my bathroom with my skincare to use up the sample this month.

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream

I am excited to have another sample of Drunk Elephant and I will put this in with my skin care to use up this month. I don’t want these samples building up again.

Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter in Unscented and Honeysuckle Vanilla

These are always nice to try and I already know that I love this sample. I am putting it in my bathroom to use up immediately.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask

I am happy to have snagged a baby size of this to try as it is on my Sephora Love’s List to buy (and the Avocado one). I am putting this baby size in my bathroom immediately as well, because I have been dying to try it. I do have another sleeping mask open, but this is more of a gel and does something different than my other one. It smells like a watermelon jolly rancher, but also a bit fresh in the after note. I am sure that I will be out of this baby soon enough. It is a third of an ounce, so enough to make a decision if I want to purchase a full size or not.

 

Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser & Protini Polypeptide Cream Duo

This was the birthday gift that I picked this year, because I do not support Kat Von D. I still would have picked this up though, because I have been dying to try Drunk Elephant products. I even added a kit to my Love’s List since my declutter post. I am putting the cream immediately into my bathroom as I need a gentle night time cream for after treatments and harsh masks. The cleanser will be put away as I am using something else at the moment as my night time cleanser. I only use a cleansing wipe or water in the morning after a thorough night routine.

 

 

 

Too Faced Bronzed Peach Melting Powder Bronzer in Toasted Peach

I paid $10 for 12.5 grams of bronzer, which I feel is a steal. I only paid a third of the original price making this essentially drug store. The packaging is super adorable and it smells lightly of peach. I don’t find the scent too strong and I really like it. It contains a nice mirror and the bronzer isn’t shimmery. It is glowy, but I don’t feel like it is too much. Even though I have oily skin, I have been into glowy skin and makeup looks lately rather than my matte go to. The bronzer isn’t too brown or orange on me and blends out to be very light. I can be light handed and also build this bronzer up. It is the perfect color for my light skin and it will still match me in the summer since I can build up the color. The cream to powder formula is really nice as well. I like to dab with my fingers and buff out with a buffing brush. It’s perfect.

 

 

Urban Decay Naked Skin Highlighting Fluid in Skywalk

I paid $14 which is half priced for this beautiful light blue highlighter. I have heard good things about it being used as an under eye corrector for dark circles that brightens up the area and makes them disappear. This is for sure opaque and a lovely highlighter. You can have it look straight up purple/blue on the skin or blend it in for a diffused lit from within look. It is very thin and lightweight. I can see why it was made in the Naked line. Right now, I just got an under eye corrector in a FITFABFUN box, so I will wait on using this as an under eye corrector. I will be using it as a pretty highlight though. I have been dying to get one in this shade. Blue/purple highlights look really nice on my skin tone and really brighten up my face. Put on my cupid’s bow, it makes me teeth look whiter as well. Overall, I am really happy with this already and I’m sad that it’s being discontinued. I love this cream highlighter and I don’t usually like creams/liquids. It really has to be something special for me to not put it in a project pan.

 

 

Ciate London Glitter Storm Palette

I paid $30 and saved $10 off the original price of the palette. I wasn’t going to get a palette originally, but those glitters?!!!! They stole my heart and swatched out, they still look lovely. These are one finger swipe swatched btw. I wanted to see how opaque they were. I like to build up my eye shadow. These have amazing pigmentation. The glitters have a nice eye shadow base to them and I love them all. My favorite glitter would have to be Firestorm, which is the red/pink one. None of the colors are too dark for my hooded eyes. The packaging of the palette is pretty to look at and very weighted. It feels expensive like a $30 palette. The only color I don’t get in this palette if Whirlwind which is the matte peachy shade. It’s a sore thumb. They could have done a soft rose or a cream and it would have looked a lot better. Still using every shade though. I am so excited! This palette is very me, which is why I bought it. This palette will motivate me to use up my project pan items, so I can bring this out and play with it.

I am so happy with my Sephora purchase! Not one product disappointed me right out of the gate that I purchased. I am looking forward to playing around with all of my new makeup. Hopefully, I move out some project pan items in order to do so. Keep my motivation up. I tend to lose motivation around products. I might switch it up and do a monthly makeup rotation instead……let’s see how I do with the first project.

With Love,

August 200 Pan

I am super duper late with this posting and my September 200 Pan post will be posting up pretty soon after this one. I just have been super busy with life that I have let certain posts slip through the cracks. I am trying to be better about it, but no promises. I’m trying to put together some review posts. Once again, my basket to review is filling up and I’d like to get on that before it gets too crazy. I’m pretty disappointed in what I was able to use up in August, but looking at my September pile, I don’t feel guilty about letting August get away from me. I was able to do so much in September. Part of my August, I was cleaning, organizing, and donating. In September, I continued to do this, but also school started up again with new classes, my interview happened, and I went through my makeup collection.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Yup, my pictures are still crappy from my phone. I am hoping to get a new camera soon in October, because I miss taking pictures of my son.

MAKEUP:

I got rid of two samples that were too dark and one that was bad after I opened it. It feels good to get rid of the clutter.

SKINCARE:

We are finally getting into some empties that I can add to my yearly total. In July, we left off on 96/200 and now, we are up to 98/200 in this category. I am not counting the BareMinerals samples, but I am counting the Sunday Riley UFO oil and the Supergoop! Sunscreen Serum. I am glad to have both out of my collection. I think I will buy the Juno oil next by Sunday Riley. That 0.5 oz bottle lasted over 3 months of constant use. Before that, I used it for a year with a couple times of week usage. I think a brand new bottle would last around 5-6 months of constant every night use. So, the $40 price tag isn’t too hard for me. For 4 months, that’s $10 a month for a really great oil. The sunscreen serum was nice and I would consider repurchasing as it is better than regular sunscreen. There was no white cast and makeup/moisturizer went great on top of it.

Hair Care:

Now, we are at 99/200 with the Wella Color Charm Toner. I redid my gray hair in September, but I toned it on the last few days of August to get out any yellow tones for a truer gray. It’s a bright natural gray. It shifts from grey to purple to brown like chrome. Once my gray fades out and I’m back with bleached blonde hair, I want to do a more blue gray like my Hilary Duff came back after having her son, which now she is pregnant with a girl, super excited! Anyway, I would use this Wella Toner again, except since I’m going less gray I would choose a different tone of toner. I am thinking the T10 for a pale blonde instead of ash. The sample conditioner I use to shave my legs with.

Body Care:

And here we are 100/200 with this body care item that I used on Dean to keep his skin moisturized. This Target Up & Up baby ointment is the equivalent to Vaseline. I will not be repurchasing. It was a chore waiting for this to dry on him and he has slippery skin when trying to get him into clothes after a bath. I don’t even think it took away his dry patches on his arms and legs. It wasn’t worth the effort.

There you have it for August! I hit the halfway mark two months after the halfway mark of the year. I am looking forward to showing you all my September results which are very impressive. I am looking to keep the same momentum into October, but the one reason why September was so good is that I decluttered stuff from my makeup collection. Still, I feel proud of myself and I cannot wait to show you guys what I am talking about. I think by then, I will have a good camera. I think I’m getting it around the time that this post is going up. I’ll keep you updated.

With Love,

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.

OleHenriksen Invigorating Night Treatment

Great Value Cappucino French Vanilla

Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil Face

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

 

Yes, I Am Just Happy To See You

Heya Aspiring Gurus!

I bought a few essentials at Kmart recently and I thought that I would share what I bought with all of you. I feel like I shop a lot around the same time. Does anyone else do this? Am I normal when it comes to the frequency of shopping?

Just Because Daily Essentials Everyday Facial Wipes, 20 ct for 1 USD

I bought three packages of these face wipes. My Kmart has not stocked these since February, so I was excited to see them on the shelves again. These face wipes are the best value for your money, but they are also great quality face wipes. They are SOAKED in solution and super soft cloth wipes. I keep open packets in my fridge to keep them moist for a longer period of time. I find that these work really well on eye makeup as well as face makeup. A lazy girl’s must have product is face wipes.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil For The Face, 1 fl oz for 10.99 USD

I bought this oil and I am super excited about this one. I loved the sample packet, so I thought that I would bite the bullet ad purchase it. Hopefully, it will bring me great results. It is very hydrating and I plan to use it as a ightly moisturizer. I get a little sensitivity near my nostrils with retinol, but that hasn’t happened yet with using this product. If it does get sensitive, I can always add a little bit of cortizone cream to soothe it. This might be my holy grail night time moisturizer. (NOTE: The reason why I did not buy my Garnier Moisture Rescue Gel this summer was that my local Kmart did not carry the product. I will look for it again next summer, but it looks like it could have been discontinued.)

With Love,

Selena Hannah xoxoxo

First Impressions: Palmer’s

For Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula With Vitamin E Skin Therapy Oil For The Face

What it is: A facial oil that helps improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, uneven skin tone, and aging skin.

Key Ingredients: There are so many good for you oils in this serum-like facial oil like rose hip, sweet almond, sesame, grape seed, coconut, macadamia, apricot, argan, camelina, and sunflower oil. It also contains retinol, Vitamin C, and cetesomate-E complex. I do not see anything bad in the list of ingredients.

How it feels/smells/looks: It is a clear, watery oil that is very moisturizing but greasy. It smells very strongly of rose hip, so if you are not a fan of roses, you will not like this fragrance. It is very smooth and velvety. I love the feel of it on my face. You only need a little bit to moisturize your whole face and it really makes my skin glow.

Why I like it: I love it, because every time that I use it, it actually seems to be improving the look of my face. It seems to be helping my acne and the scaring that came from it. I really need to buy the full-sized version of this serum/oil. It really seems to be a miracle worker for my skin type. I can only really recommend trying this product out for yourself and seeing how it reacts to your skin. The site is always giving out samples, so it shouldn’t be too hard to snag one up. There really isn’t more that I can say about the product, because I really have to try it for an extended period of time. All I can tell you is that every time I used this product it made my acne disappear and scars appeared less red.