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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April Empties

I was able to use up my Nexxus Pro-Mend Split End Mender and I would not repurchase this. I didn’t notice a difference in my hair at all. I’d rather use something that helps with strength and detangling. My hair gets knots easily, because of how long it is getting. When my hair was at my collar bone, it was very rare to get a single knot in it. I am tempted to do a big chop at the end of the summer to start my hair afresh without all the bleach damage. I also know that my natural hair is light enough to use the brand SPLAT on it for fun colors. I know that purple works specifically on it, because I did that back in 2013 and it was fairly easy to use.

I am decluttering my Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in 45 Orchid Hush. I actually hit major pan and had intentions on using it up. The formula has changed however and it is super crumbly. I don’t enjoy it anymore, so I am throwing it out. This is the oldest bit of makeup out of my collection and I feel like I got my money’s worth. It just would have been nice to have used it up. I am not a fan of cream blushes in general. I’d rather use powder on my oily skin, but I did enjoy the just bitten color it gave my cheeks. Now, I can move onto the cream blush stain in my project pan.

I finished up my sample of the MAC Strobe Cream in Pinklite. I really enjoyed this luminous primer and I would purchase this once I am out of my current primer and run out of liquid highlighters to mix in with my lotion that give me the same effect. It does the perfect job of primer the skin, giving me moisture, and a glow that does not emphasize texture or bother my oily skin. It just gives me a nice lit from within glow that I am all about. I am a matte girl through and through, but there is just something about healthy glowy skin (NOT DEWY) that has been calling to my lately. It looks more youthful than a matte look. I’ve been reserving my matte look for long work days in the office and special occasions where I want my makeup to last. Otherwise, I have been rocking a healthy glow instead of a matte complexion.

I also had another sample that I used up of the Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover. I really enjoyed this bi-layer makeup remover that I used on my entire face. I would get another sample as a point perk, because it was really nice. If Sephora was cruelty free, I would purchase a full bottle for them too. I highly recommend it for removing all types of makeup efficiently.

Martin bought me this to makeup for me having to go coffee free for a few days and then, his Keurig was broken so I couldn’t even use it! LOL. We got a used Keurig from my mom, so we did manage to use up this Starbucks Breakfast Blend in Medium Roast. I really enjoyed the simplicity of popping in a cup and having a good cup of coffee and the fact that someone else thought of me. I have been eyeing their specialty packs on Amazon like the caramel and the mocha coffees. Seriously considering buying a Nepresso machine and keeping it in our room.

Used up another deodorant because you know, priorities. I still love this brand of deodorant, but I am currently using Secret. I went back to a full strength aluminum deodorant, but I will be going back to this one. It was just sold out at Walmart when I needed deodorant.

Last but not least, I was able to use up my MAC Cleanse Off Oil. It is just a baby sample, but another item out leaves room in my collection. May is my birthday month, so I have a ton of items coming into my collection this month from makeup to skincare. So, even tiny samples I am happy to be out of my collection. I really love cleanse off oils and balms. Once I finish off my full sized cleanser, I will replace it with an oil or a balm. I am more partial to a balm personally, because I feel like it gives my skin an added boost of moisture.

I was able to move out 7 items out of my collection, abide one was a declutter but I had MOSTLY used that one up as well before the texture changed. I writing this post on May 2nd and I feel like I will have maybe ten empties this month. I am mostly working on full sized items, but I do have a few samples and items that already have progress in them. I am trying to work through all of my opened products this year. I will only open a new product if I don’t have something like that opened. Next year, I plan on doing another inventory count and sticking with it. I just had/have so much going on this year that it just fell behind.

With Love,

New Project Pan: 2019 Seasonal Focused

So, I am starting this late, but I am doing seasonal project pans this year! I still have until June 21st, which is the first day of summer. Since I am starting it late, I have chosen my items accordingly for my Spring Project Pan. I am starting out with 5 items that I want to use up/hit pan on. If I finish something up, I can rotate something else in to try to get to 5 by the first day of Summer. These will be more manageable for me than trying to do a year long project with 20 items at the moment, when I have a lot of other projects going on and not to mention work, Dean, college, and a new relationship to boot. I thought that I would update this at the end of every month. So, end of April, end of May, and the finale of the project in June.

I chose 5 items to use up by June 21 st. One or two items might be ambitious, but I think that I can do it. I want to use up my MAC Prep + Prime Fix + in Lavender, DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom in the 0.5 oz container, PIXI Sheer Check Gel in No 2 Sun Kissed, Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Au Naturel, and Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Lipgloss in 312 Sugar Sugar.

I have about a 1/4 of this bottle left and I would like to move on to the coconut scented one for the summer. This is a primer spray, so I use it after I put on my face cream but before I start putting on any makeup. I usually will put a second primer on top of this one after it dries. I believe it seals in moisture as my other primers tend to be drying for my oily skin. I believe that as long as I use it, this one might be finished by the second update that will be at the end of May.

A perfume is always ambitious, but considering there is only a little bit left, I think I can manage to use it up as long as I remember to apply it everyday. It is a long lasting perfume, but gone by bedtime. I could apply first thing in the morning and before bed to get the most use out of it. I love the way this smells, but I am tired of this floral. I want the green apple version of this so bad. I for sure will buy more DKNY perfumes and the apple scents tend to learn more summery/spring for me rather than fall. This perfume is for sure a Spring perfume, hence why it’s in this project.

Another ambitious one. I have 1/3 of this tube left and again, this is pretty old in my collection. I think I can finish it off, if I use it without fail every day. This may be one that I end up not finishing, but I bet that I can make a ton of progress on it. The thing is you don’t need very much to get a lovely bitten look to the cheeks. I apply with my fingers and then buff out with a kabuki blush to get rid of any harsh lines. I would love to use this up before it goes bad. I have another potted cream blush to use up after this one and that one is better suited for summer with its Popsicle red shade.

Not much left to this nude cream eye shadow stick. It is quick and easy for a very neutral look. This makes it really easy for me to wear eye shadow. I just apply to my finger and then to my eye lid. I have hooded eyes, so I tend to do a one to two eye shadow look. I know that in the future I want to buy more cream eye shadow sticks and small/mini powder eye shadow palettes. I don’t want big bulky eye shadow palettes anymore. They aren’t for me. Thank god, I only have 1 to work through. I like the credit card sized palettes or the little Too Faced ones. Perfect size for me, when I’m not really into eye shadow. Cream eye shadow though has me second guessing not being into eye shadow.

I threw in a lip gloss, because I can plow through a lip product easy. This one even has windows, so I know there is already good progress done to it. This shade is way too sickly nude on my lips, so I wear it around the house. I love the formula and the minty tingle. It is a very good lip gloss that I would want in more shades when I can justify buying more lip products. If I move more out, I’m closer to buying more. This is how I am choosing to look at it. I have no doubts of using this one up.

There you have it! The five makeup items that I want to move out of my collection by the first day of Summer. I am eyeing a few other bits for what I want to use up in the Summer. One of them, I know will be a hair care item that has stuck around for way too long. I will for sure be going for a Summer seasonal vibe like I did for Spring. I picked out neutrals with flush cheeks and Spring scents.

Anyone else doing a Seasonal project pan?

With Love,

What D Got Me For Christmas

I am so happy to be sharing with all of you the goodies that D got me for Christmas this year. We just traded our gifts in Feb and I am just getting around to posting all of the new goodies that I got. I haven’t touched any of these things yet, because I was waiting to have time to put up this post. As soon as I am done, I am putting on my new MAC lipglass, because I feel like having a purple lip today. I’m feeling dramatic. One a side note, don’t be alarmed, but I deleted a lot of old photos from my blog. I had reached my 3.0 GB limit and now, I’m back down to 1.4 GB or roughly 40% of usage. Now, I have room to grow again!

Russell Stover Assorted Chocolates

I couldn’t wait on these. I took a photo of an empty box. They were delicious!

Assorted Samples

I love trying out new stuff, so samples are right up my alley. I’m in the market for a new foundation, so hopefully, one of these items work out for me. I only have two summer BB creams right now and they are too dark for my Winter skin color.

Mystic Tan Self Tanner

I’ve never tried a self tanner before, besides the Sally Hansen legs. I’m curious to see how this works. I’m going to try this during the summer months, once I get a tiny bit of tan going on to even it out. I have an in ground pool now, so I’ll be spending a lot of time outside in my bathing suit. It would be awkward to self tan now, when my skin gets no exposure to sunlight whatsoever and I haven’t been on vacation.

VersaSpa Face Moisturizing Gradual Tanner

Since this has gradual in the name, I might give it a shot now to give my skin a healthy glow. I don’t want to look tan, but sunkissed. I love using bronzer for a sunkissed look, if this gives me that, I can skip bronzer in the morning. Anything to cut out a morning step I love. I’ll give this a shot and will report back with my thoughts on it in an empties video.

Forever By Judy Blume

I loved Judy Blume books growing up and this will be my first time reading one of her adult books. I’m really looking forward to reading this one by the pool or whenever I can find time to actually read. It’s been hard with working full time, taking a class, blogging, and most importantly, taking care of my son and keeping house. I just never seem to find the time. I want to try to read two books a month again. I am like three to four books behind this year, but I am going to try to catch up and make an effort. I will definitely read this one this year.

Sarah Dessen Saint Anything

Let me start of by saying that I have a love, hate relationship with Sarah Dessen books. I love them, because I get wrapped up in her story telling. I hate them, because they tend to follow the same plot line in every book. I love the predictability, but hate it at the same time. If I want a sweet, sad story, I’ll read one of her books and I know it’ll end happily. I look forward to reading this book, when I need a little pick me up. I’m happy to own another one of her books. I tend to reread her books a lot.

Hard Candy Nail Color in Sky 1123

I have been DYING for a Hard Candy nail polish. I remember when they used to be a high end product and carried in places like Sephora. Now Soap & Glory can be found at CVS? I need to get my hands on that next. Anyways, I love this shade. It has a cool duo chrome quality to it and I cannot wait to paint this onto my nails. I already picked out my nail color for  this week, so maybe, I’ll wear this next weekend.

Shoot For The Stars Starry Night Bath Bomb

I love Lush and I think it is obvious. I’m excited to have another bath bomb to try out and it smells very calming. It will be perfect on a night after I put Dean to bed to relax in a hot bath. Something, I rarely get to enjoy these days.

Lush Shooting Stars Night In! Soap

D thinks that this smells lemony and I think it smells more on the lavender side. Either way, this seems like it is going to be a creamy soap, which is the type of soap that I enjoy the most. The lavender is faint in this, so I do enjoy the scent. I’m trying to use up my shower jelly right now, so I’m going to hold off on using this one. As soon as I use up the jelly, I will be using this. Or if I get sick of that scent and need a change. But honestly, who gets sick of The Comforter scent? It is also covered in glitter. My fate is sealed.

MAC In Extreme Dimension #D Black Lash Mascara

Not much to say about this, since I have to wait to finish my Benefit Roller Lash Deluxe Sample before I can try this one out. I’m excited to have a mini sample though. You can never have too many tubes of mascara. I never seem to buy any because I always get them in subscription boxes. I think I’m down to five now. I’m up to  with this bad boy.

Ulta Tinted Lip Balm in Lollipop

This is such a pretty sheer pink. I have the swatches at the bottom of the page and this color is the top swatch on the right large picture. I can see this being very flattering on the lips, since it is sheer and won’t compete with your natural pigmentation. I love easy balms to throw on at work that I don’t have to worry about. This will be used at work, once I get through an office friendly gloss that I’m working on from B&BW.

PBJ Smoothie Stick Creamy Lip Crayon in Raisin the Roof

I can see using this one at work as well. I love that this is more on the purple/mauve side of the spectrum and it will par perfectly under the MAC Lipglass that D gave me as well. This color is more on the matte side, which I enjoy a matte lip as much as the next girl. I know I won’t be disappointed with this color and I might have to repurchase it when I use it up.

MAC Trolls Collection Lipglass in Glitter Grunge

I love the cute packaging that MAC always come up with. This glitter purple is pretty pigmented as well, which I love. I’m not a fan of dark colors, but if it’s purple with glitter, I am all over that. I’m all about that life. It’s the bottom swatch and it is gorgeous! I am so happy to own this color. I don’t want to use it up anytime soon, because the packaging is so cute! I really wanted to get some of the SELENA collection, but it was always sold out and I only really wanted one of the powders anyways.

That is what I got for Christmas from D. I am so lucky to have a best friend like her!

With Love,

MAC Cosmetics

Heya Aspiring Gurus!

I made my first MAC purchase as a reward for having a baby! MAC is expensive, but not as expensive as other brands. I had a positive buying experience online, so I can see myself buying more online. I bought this shade online and it arrived on the third day. I ordered it on Sunday and it was delivered yesterday. I wasn’t expecting it until Friday! What a surprise! This is what I saw:

I was so happy that it arrived! I had to take care of Dean, because I had just come home from work. Once I had him settled in, I opened the box.

There was a lot of tissue paper, but I pulled this out of all that black!

I chose the free gift wrap option, because I wanted to see the type of pride that went into presenting the product and the presentation was amazing! For paying 18 USD for a lipstick, MAC made me feel special, which is what I want a company to do. It just shows respect.

My products were nicely nestled inside of the box.

I chose the Cleansing Oil for my free product sample. It’s a fifth of an ounce, so enough for a couple of uses. If I like it, I would purchase the full size. I need something nourishing to take off my face base that isn’t a pain. Plus, some of them come scented!

I love how this lipstick tube is in the shape of a bullet. I love it! I bought  a Matte Lipstick in the shade Kinda Sexy. Online, it is described as a “neutral pinky rose”.

I have to say that it looks more coral to me. It looks like a neutral coral pink. On me, it is definitely this color and the lipstick smells like vanilla cupcakes when you take a quick sniff. If you sit there and smell it, you can smell that cosmetic lipstick smell lurking underneath. I love the scent though.

As you can see, the color is neutral and looks natural on the lips. I’m wearing a glossy balm underneath it, so if it looks a little shiny, that’s why. It looks coral to me. Correct me if I’m wrong. It is a bit lighter than my natural lip color (I’m not wearing lip liner. That’s my natural color.). I really do love the color or else I wouldn’t have kept it. I wanted something natural and this fits the bill. I like that it’s matte for when I want it to be and doesn’t look drying on the lips.

That’s the full amount of product. It will take me awhile to finish this, but I look forward to buying more. This is a quality brand. Maybe, I’ll get Velvet Teddy next….???

Suggestions anyone???

With Love <3