5 Out: July

I wasn’t sure how to name these review posts. I knew that I want to title them 5 Out, but I didn’t know beyond that. I think that I will just name them with whatever month that we are currently in. Even though, these are items that I finished in May. It takes me awhile before I get around to blogging about them, but I am going to be better about it for sure. I have 5 more items waiting to be written about and I will do that right after this post. You might see two if these posts in July then, but they will be named the same.

Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo

I liked this dry shampoo, but I would not repurchase it. I don’t think it absorbed enough oil in my hair. It still was a bit oily. If I sprayed a ton, it did leave a bit of a white cast, but you couldn’t really tell with my grey hair. It does not leave your hair feeling gritty and it does provide some volume. I think there are other dry shampoos that do a better job on oil hair. I have oily roots and this did a 50% job on day 2/3 hair. I need to find something affordable to work on my hair. The only dry shampoo I have found that works is Amika Perk Up. That stuff is amazing!

Victoria Secret’s PINK Coconut Mango 2-in-1 Wash & Scrub

The scent on this is to die for, but I will not be repurchasing. Somewhere along the way, VS has become non-cruelty free. I will continue to buy bras and such from them on sale, but no more beauty products. This was a great scrub, perfect for summer. It was very gritty like sand on the beach. It was like a beach in a bottle. I really enjoyed this scrub, but it is not as good as Tree Hut scrubs. Hopefully, I can get my hands on them at Marshall’s soon. You can always get VS on promotion, so never buy them full price like B&BW. It is not worth it.

Alba Botanica Acnedote Deep clean Astringent

Alcohol is the second ingredient, so I will not be repurchasing for that reason. It stung my skin if I used it after a drying mask. It was effective against acne, but there are less harsh things that work just as well. If this brand makes an alcohol free toner, I would buy it. I like to use a toner that also doubles as a morning cleanser or micellar water. It also had a strong smell that irritated my eyes and made them sensitive. I like that the ingredients are 100% vegetarian and that it contains no “bad” ingredients, except for the alcohol.

Dr. Brandt BB Cream Self-Adjusting Flawless Coverage SPF 30

I am decluttering this BB cream. It is not self-adjusting. It comes out super orange and muddy. I cannot wear this at all. I don’t know why I have this around still and it for sure went bad. It was a good idea if you have a medium skin tone or are tan. I will not purchase from Dr. Brandt, since he is not CF. I have never found a BB cream that matches my skin tone. When I think I am medium, I’m light. When I think I’m light, I’m fair. It is just a bit of a guessing game with most brands.

ELF Tone Correcting Powder in Cool

I am super sad that they discontinued the warm powder. I loved this powder. The only drawback is that the cool makes me overly pale and ghostly. I have warm yellow undertones, so it doesn’t really suit my skin tone. The only other negative is that the powder kept on getting hard pan on the blue and yellow side until I repressed it. The powder is finely milled and kept my skin oil free all day. I didn’t notice any benefit from the color correction, but I have yellow undertones. So, a purple color would have suited me better for a brightening effect. Overall, a great powder for 3 dollars.

Do you like this new review style? I think it works for my blog and makes my review posts more interesting. It does take awhile for me to write these posts, because I have to take the time to review each item. I hand write all of my reviews first before they appear on my blog. I like to get my feelings out on paper first before typing them up and adding a few bits and pieces that I forgot to mention. Even though I do online college, I still take notes in my notebooks. There is just something about putting ink to page that speaks to me and helps me remember. But maybe that is just the writer that is talking in me.

With Love,

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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.

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.

1 Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo

2 Hair Teasing Brush

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

1. VS Coconut Mango 2-in-1 Wash & Scrub

2. Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter

3. Equate Pain Relieving Cream

1. Dr. Brandt BB Cream

2. ELF Color Correcting Powder

3. Buxom Plumping Lip Gloss

4. YSL Black Opium Perfume

5. 1. Perfume Sample Cards

19. Physician’s Formula Cushion BB Cream

1. 719 Walnut Avenue Honeysuckle Jasmine Hand Soap

2. Fresh Breath Brushing Gel

3. Equate Cotton Rounds 100 ct

4. 1. PaperMate Ink Joy Blue
5. 1. 1. B&BW Mini Candles

6. 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,

September Empties

I have not counted my empties beforehand so it will be a complete surprise to see how many products I have used up this month. I am happy to have finish at least one full sized item this month that I can remember and I am really proud of myself. It was a big 2 oz night time face cream that I didn’t particularly enjoy. So, even if I only finished up like 20 things, I feel like I have accomplished so much more. Let’s get into seeing what I used up this month instead of continuing this long intro.

2. International Delight Coffee Creamer

4. Gerber Lil’ Beanies

5. Swiss Miss Hot Milk Chocolate

6. Hawaiian Tropic Broad Spectrum SPF 30

7. LW Home Banana Smoothie Candle

8. Biore Charcoal Nose Strip

9. Derma E Hydrating Night Cream

10. Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil SPF 08

10. Softsoap Body Scrub Coconut Butter

11. 3 in 1 Body Wash, Shampoo & Conditioner Strawberry & Banana

12. Medicell Labs Advanced Moisture Eye Mask Duo

14. MJCARE Snail Face Mask

15. B&BW Hello Sugar! Shimmer Body Lotion

16. Eau Thermale Avene Theramal Spring Water

17. Makeup Forever Loose Face Powder

18. Jergens Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer

19. OUAI Rose Hair & Body Oil

20. Crayola Bathtub Fingerpaint Soap in Robin’s Egg Blue

21. Temptu Pink Pearl Highlighter

22. Marc Jabos Daisy Perfume Sample

23. Hair Tie

24. SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair Sunscreen

24 products empty isn’t a bad number to end the month with. I already have four or five empties in my basket right now and I’m sure I’ll have more soon. It seems like some things are running out all at once, but I have backups. I’m hoping that October brings a solid 20 product month as well. I’m usually very happy with using up 20 products a month. I know that may seem like a lot to other people, but I have a ton of deluxe and sample sizes that need to be used up. I’m forever adding to the collection with my Sephora and Walmart beauty boxes. I’m getting there though. I don’t have quite as big of a stash as I used to.

With Love,

Lemony Fresh

For Sanitas Lemon Cream Scrub

I thought this scrub was okay, but it wasn’t impressed by it. I kept this in my shower. It has a pleasant lemon scent and is made with wholesome ingredients. I will not be purchasing. I will be picking up my St. Ives Apricot Scrub, which is my favorite of all time and I enjoy using it in and out of the shower. I highly recommend the St. Ives scrubs. This lemon scrub has a microdermabrasion texture to it that was very finely milled. So, I did enjoy that part of the product. I wish it wasn’t so expensive, because it really doesn’t feel like an expensive product. It doesn’t do much for my skin, but if it was cheaper…

With Love,

❤ Selena Hannah ❤

Lavender of the Valley

For Earth’s Enrichments Lavender of the Valley Sugar Scrub (not pictured)

My dad used this up for me, because I could not stand the very strong scent of lavender. I could not get pass the scent and the product itself is very rough. It was a very oily scrub as well, which I actually did like about it. I used this a few times as a foot scrub, but that lavender scent stuck around after. I don’t mind a sweet lavender or a soft smelling one, but this was overpowering with a hint of eucalyptus. I think that is what really carried the strong scent. I will not be repurchasing. I love my Tree Hut scrubs and would rather use that than this. I liked that this product is all natural and organic. If I liked the scrub, I might have looked into getting a different sent, but it was so rough on my pregnant sensitive skin.

With Love,

❤ Selena Hannah ❤

May Empties

I have a whole lot of empties this month that my basket was overflowing. I had to photograph everything and start this post in mid-May. That is how many empties I have this month. I actually even cut May a few days short. I’m writing this on May 28th, because the basket filled up good again. It’s close enough to the end of May and it will just give a little bit of a boost to June. Although, I don’t have anything really close to being empty yet, which is why I just decided to do my count today.

1.2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Gerber Lil’ Beanies

10. Nickelodeon Paw Patrol 3-in-1 in Blueberry Bark

11. Tresemme Curl Moisturizing Shampoo

12. 13. International Delight Coffee Creamer

14. 15. Softsoap Coconut Butter Body Scrub

16. Mott’s Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks

17. Jimmy Dean Stuffed Hash Browns in Bacon & Veggies

18. Parent’s Choice Toddler Cookies in Banana

19. Bath & Body Works Dancing Waters Body Lotion

20. Ecowix Candle in Ocean Breeze

21. The Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask

22. Lush Snow Fairy Body Wash

23. Hydro Silk Sensitive Care Razor Head 4 pack

24. New England EyeOpener Coffee Blend

25. Cover Girl Loose Powder in Translucent Fair

26. Marc Anthony Beach Spray

27. Nicole by OPI Roughles Nail Polish in On What Grounds?

28. Teething Toothbrush

29. Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Paw Patrol Themed

30. Wen Sweet Almond Mint Styling Creme

31. Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap

32. Equate Acetaminophen

33. Nuk Tooth & Gum Cleanser

34. Cotton Rounds 100 ct

35. Scented Secrets Vanilla Sugar Body Lotion

36. Clarisonic Acne Brush Head

37. Maybelline Dream Velvet Gel-Whipped Foundation

38. Avene Intensive Cream

39. 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream

40. BareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Moxie

41. Goodie Hair Tie

42. Versace Eros Perfume Sample

43. Stilla Lip Glaze in Sparkling Grape

44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. Paper Mate Ink Joy Pens and Sharpie

I think 51 empties is enough for one month. I’m happy ending it here early. This was such a heavy month. I look forward to seeing what I can accomplish next month. You’ll be seeing plenty of reviews for the next few months to come. I’m behind in my product reviews. I have so many prewritten on paper for my blog. I probably have 50 reviews right now, waiting to be featured. I continue to write them throughout the month as well on paper. I tend to review around 40 items a month on paper, but there is not that many days in a month. Naturally, I got behind. I hope you don’t mind seeing reviews 5 days a week and my more unique posts on the weekends/holidays.

With Love ❤

Sephora Play May Box #264

I am happy to share my Sephora Play box with you today. I received box #264 and I really loved what is in my box this month. Like last month, there is one product that I won’t be using but will be selling. I love that there are different boxes and my best friend and I have never received the same box. It has to be personalized in some way, otherwise the odds of us always getting a different box would be slim to none.

Theme: The Rising Stars

I enjoyed the bag this month and I will be using it on beach trips. I think that the brands and items in the box fit with the theme this month. They are all great brands that have been getting a lot of attention lately. Although, they could have done without another highlight, since there were three glowy/highlighter items in the March box.

Nude Stix Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Greystone

I will be selling this color, because this color is way too dark and not a color that I would wear. It is also not a summer color. I think that Sephora should have offered a lighter, more nude color or matched the colors to what subscribers selected as their skin tone. I only tried it on for swatching purposes only. Sephora’s site doesn’t list how much product is in the full size, so I am guessing that this is a quarter of the full size for $6. I’m not excited about this one and I am setting it aside for selling purposes.

Grande Lips Hydrating Lip Plumper

This has a sweet, sugar cookie scent that I love. I will be using this after I use up my current night time treatment balm. I love the luxe packaging and the gold accents. I had a hard time sticking the big doe foot applicator back into the tube. The struggle is real people. I am happy to give this product a try. It is $6.75 approximately for a quarter of the full size. I look forward to using this when I can and see if I get any results from it.

TreStique Mini Highlight Stick

Another highlighter. I mean, it is pretty and I will use it. I just wish that they could have chosen a different product, since they have been sending so many highlighters lately. I’m guessing that this is a quarter of the full size as well, so it is around $8.50. I like cream highlighter, especially on a nude face with no other makeup. It gives a nice glow that doesn’t look greasy or too glittery. The product fell out of the tube when I first opened it. I was able to put it back in, but I almost lost this one.

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser

I am so excited that I got a Sunday Riley product! It is a nice size to try the product out and this makes the whole box worth it to me. It is $11 for this 1 oz size. That actually makes it worth thew box cost as well! AH! I’m so excited to try out this cleanser. I cannot believe that I have only been subscribed for three months and have already received a product that makes me absolutely happy. It took a year of being subscribed to Birchbox to get there. I love Sephora and I’m so glad that they launched this box.

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purfying Scrub For Hair

I always enjoy a good clarifying shampoo. This is that plus a scrub for the scalp. I am intrigued by this product and I am putting this in my shower immediately. This is 1.35 oz of product for $6.63. All of the products this month have been a great value. I don’t know anything about this brand, but I want to try this scrub out.

I give this box 4 stars. I took off one star for the dark colored lipstick, but I really love everything else. The value of this box was $38.88. This is almost four times the value than what I paid for it. I am excited for everything, but the lip product.

Perfume Sample

This is such a fresh, beachy scent. I really love this and I am considering making this my summer scent. You have to try this next time that you are at Sephora for sure.

With Love ❤

6 Before Summer Update #1

I am happy to report that I finished 1 of the original six and I finished the replacement that I added in as well. So far, I have finished two products out of the project. I am 1/3 done with my project. I just have to finish four more or reach the end date to call it quits. I finished off two face masks in my project. I replaced them with a sheet mask that I haven’t used yet. I find it hard to use up a sheet mask, but I have many and I need to use them up. I cannot wait to show you my progress!

I finished off the Lush Cup O’ Coffee scrub and The Body Shop Tea Tree Face mask. I have replaced them with the Tony Moley I’m Real Red Wine Sheet Mask. I’m hoping to use this up this weekend at some point and if I do, I’m going to replace it with another sheet mask. After that, I’ll probably throw in my Proactive sulfur mask. I’m happy to be moving through my masks, since I got three new ones for my birthday!

I have so much progress with my Wen Sweet Almond Mint Volumizing Treatment Spray. I just use it like hair spray. It doesn’t do much for my hair and I don’t care for the crunchy, flaky mess the day after I use this. I’ll be happy when I finish this up for sure. Then I can move onto my mouse from either Tresseme or Big Sexy Hair.

I didn’t use it for the first two weeks, because I forgot to. I’ve been using it everyday since. The progress is slow going as a deodorant. This powder fluffs up a lot when you use it. I really had to work to settle the product for a good measuring picture. I like to use a couple of shakefulls underneath my arm pits before I go in with an aluminum deodorant. I use this on its own when I’m at home, but if I’m going to work or out, I layer them up. I’m trying to use this up, because I didn’t like it in my hair. I think it does a better job as a deodorant. I also use this on my sweaty feet to dry them up and I’m enjoying it for that way as well. Maybe, I can get through it faster this summer.

I think we are all surprised about this progress and I wanted to show the “window” to prove it. This is 4 grams of eye shadow that I only use on the weekends, but I am moving pretty fast through this. I’m thinking creams are just easier to use up than powders. I’m about half way through this tube. Not sure I can really use up all of it by then end of this project, but I think I’ll have most of it used up by then. I’m not into metallic purple, so I put a layer of nude powder eye shadow on top of this and it softens the look. I’ve been enjoying using this and making it into a more neutral eye look.

The right is my progress. I’m a little less than half way through the perfume. I am moving to an easier way to view how much I have left in the container, because I think it’s easier to see. I used this perfume every single day and I love it a lot. I’ll be sad when it’s done, but I want the original Be Delicious perfume. This is a great Spring scent that I will be putting away for next year if I don’t finish it before the finale.

As you can see, I have worn down the dome shape to the product. This is almost 6 grams of blush, so I don’t think I’ll be finishing it. I enjoy using it during the work week for a nice glow, but it isn’t my favorite. It tends to be blotchy and not easy to blend out evenly no matter what I use whether a brush or sponge. I’ll be happy when it’s gone and I won’t be repurchasing. I like the color enough to use it, but the formula is splotchy.

That’s it for my update. Hopefully, I’ll be able to use up four more products to call this project a success. I have high hopes for this one!

With Love ❤

Walmart Beauty Box Spring 2017

This is my first season getting the Walmart Beauty Box, which is a quarterly subscription for $5 a box or $20 a year. You are only paying for shipping and nothing for the actual products inside. Let’s face it though. Companies give out samples for free, why do we pay for them? I’m glad that with Walmart I am only paying shipping and everything in this season’s box is worth the money that I paid. I didn’t get any makeup samples, which I am not mad at. I actually like getting more of the other stuff like skin care and hair care more than makeup. Please tell me that I’m not the only one?

The theme of this season’s box is Trendsetter, which looking at the items in the box, I don’t get it. Are these that popular or unique of items? I’m still happy with it and the box is really sturdy. I’m going to reuse it for something. I’m not going to throw it out. I just don’t get the theme of the box.

The paper is so pretty! I want to do something with it. I am saving that for sure. Also, today is my 25th birthday, so this is like a little birthday treat to me. 🙂

Dove Advanced Care Cool Essentials 48H Deodorant

I have used this before and I really like it. I’m trying to use more natural deodorants, but I’m not going to waste this. I will use it, especially since my degree Woman’s spray irritates my underarms if I use it every day. I’ve been putting down my Lush powder deodorant first and then spraying the Degree on top. I like to put my natural deodorant underneath my remaining aluminium deodorants. This little guy goes for $1.02.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Luminous Hydration Facial Oil

I have tried the original version of this dry oil and I remember loving it. It was around $20 for 1 fl oz, which is cheaper than the more luxury oils on the market. I feel like it moisturized my skin well. I’m curious to see what is the difference with the luminous version. You only need about three drops of oil to cover your whole face or at least mine. I can see this lasting a week or two. I’m going to use a baby syringe I have lying around to drop it onto my face. Approximate value is $0.33.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Facial Moisturizer

I haven’t tried their moisturizer, so this will be a nice sample to try out. I feel like you can get a few days out of this packet if you used it night and day. I think I’ll get a week of nightly use. Approximate value is $0.90.

Colgate Optic White Radiant Toothpaste

I am really excited to try this toothpaste. I have been seeing it all over Youtube and I heard that it’s a really great whitening toothpaste. I have a toothpaste mini that I am currently working on, but when that one is done, I will take this one out on a test drive to see if it is worth the money. I don’t like to spend a ton on toothpaste, so if I like it, I’ll wait for a coupon to go with it before I buy it. I’m sad there is no coupon and just an insert. Approximate value $1.74

Biore Baking Soda Acne Scrub

I’m weary of these gimmicky products from Biore. The charcoal one wasn’t very good. I hope this one is better. I will use it in my shower once I have finished my Kate Summerville scrub. I like to use scrubs in my shower, since they can be a bit messy at the sink. I look forward to trying this one out and it is a decent size. Approximate value $1.47

John Frieda Frizz Ease Daily Nourishment Moisturizing Conditioner

I love the John Frieda Frizz Ease line, especially the serum. Once I finish off my current conditioner, I will be using this guy up. I like usually like my shampoo and conditioner to match, but I have a couple of shampoos with no matching conditioner. Usually, I run out of the shampoo before the conditioner. LOL. I think I also accidentally bought two shampoos one time instead of a matching set. Opps! Approximate value $0.97

Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultra Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner

I enjoy a matching set, so I am glad that I have this to try out when I am out of my shampoo and conditioner and want a mini but not a foil packet. I am so lazy when it comes to foil packets. Anyways, I’ve never tried this brand, but I’m not too picky when it comes to my hair. As long as the shampoo lathers and the conditioner doesn’t weigh my hair down, I will repurchase. I don’t ask for very much. Approximate value $1.37 for both

Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation

This is just a little foil packet, so it will go rather quickly. I’m guessing at 2 to 3 uses. Hopefully, it is a decent color match. Approximate value $0.25.

Totaling up this box, it was worth $8.05, which is $3.05 more than what I paid for it. I think usually Walmart boxes are at least $5 to $10 every season. This season seems to be on the higher side and I will use everything that was sent. That is not always the case with every box, but this one scored very well for me. I would give it 3 stars, because nothing really wowed me but I will use everything that I got.

With Love ❤

The Ocean Scrub

For Lush Ocean Salt Face & Body Scrub

The face mask is the same size as the Ocean Salt that I bought. I never used this on my body. I only used this on my face and I used it like a mask. I applied this to wet skin and let it sit for 10 minutes to really work on my acne and hydrate my skin with that avocado oil. I then massaged it off with water. It stung y face a tiny bit, but left my face feeling really soft and smooth. By the next morning, any acne would be greatly diminished. I need to repurchase this product, but I probably won’t until the unboxing day sale and stock up on a bunch of stuff. I am also keeping this clean, empty black pot, because when you bring back 5 black pots to Lush, they will give you a free, fresh face mask.

With Love ❤