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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Roloxin Lift Instant Skin Smoothing Masque

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

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.

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.

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,

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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,

Sephora Loves List

Today, I am going through my loves list and ITS MY BIRTHDAY TODAY. I am printing my whole Loves List in this post. I will be telling you what I am removing, what is staying, and which items I want to purchase for my birthday that I really want. I usually indulge a bit for my birthday month and I recently accumulated points to spend on my credit card and I received a rebate in the mail. I usually spend about $100 to $200 on myself for my birthday. I know that I got a tattoo earlier this year that I said was a birthday gift to myself, but I spoil myself. It’s the only time of year besides Black Friday where I really indulge myself. Otherwise, I put everything I have into my son. So, I put myself on a self-induced low buy every year and it’s good for my collection. I want to move a ton of makeup out this year.

Too Faced Bronzed Peach Melting Powder Bronzer – Peaches and Cream Collection
COLOR: Toasted Peach – soft bronze .44 oz/ 12.5 g
WAS $30.00 NOW $10.00

I am SUPER EXCITED about this one. I already put it in my cart. It is 1/3 of the price and something that I have had my eye on. Do I need it? No, I do not. I am a big fan of a bronzy glow though and I am allowing myself a $50 Sephora purchase for my birthday to get my free birthday gift. I would love to own something by Too Faced and I use bronzer. I know that this will be used. I do have two other cream bronzer/contours but they are in my Smashbox palette that is REALLY bulky and I always forget to pull it out. I will need to put it in my Summer Project Pan. I need to decide if I like the creams or if I only like the powders. I need to use up the creams if I like them.

BECCA Iconics: Prime, Brighten and Glow Trio
WAS $40.00 NOW $30.00
($70.00 value)

I have tried the primer before. I am a big fan of BECCA highlighters and I really want to try the under eye corrector. Having said this, this will not be going into my basket for my birthday. I just bought a BECCA limited edition kit at Marshalls, I just got an undereye corrector in my FITFABFUN, and I have a full sized primer that needs to be used up. I don’t need to go out and purchase this kit, but I do like it and will keep it on my loves list until it goes out of stock.

BECCA Glow Essentials Kit
WAS $39.00 NOW $29.00
($68.00 value)

Again, this is another BECCA set with two primers, a mini highlighter, and a mini lip gloss. I don’t need this, but it is staying on my Loves List because it is an incredible value.

Ciaté London Glitter Storm Eyeshadow Palette
WAS $42.00 NOW $30.00

This palette is small and absolutely stunning. All of these colors would be usable on my hooded eyes. I added it to my basket to buy for now. This is something that I really want. I don’t have a ton of eye shadow and I plan to be panning a good chunk of it this year. I have been wearing a pretty full face of makeup minus foundation everyday. I have been enjoying doing my eye shadow and throwing on mascara. I would get a ton of use out of this, but I don’t need it. It make not be purchased this time around, but I will keep it on my Loves List for sure.

Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask Set
SIZE 2.7 oz/ 80 mL + Free Eye Mask
WAS $45.00 NOW $39.00

I just got a sleeping mask in my FITFABFUN Spring box, so this will be staying on my Love’s List. I really want to try these sleeping masks from this brand though. Has anyone tried them? I love luxury skincare, because I want to put good ingredients on my skin. I only invest in items like these though. I don’t buy high end toner water. lol. I usually spend a bit more on treatments and masks.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask Set

SIZE 2.7 oz/ 80 mL + Free Eye Mask
WAS $45.00 NOW $39.00

The same goes for this kit as well. It is staying on my Love’s List for one rainy day. REALLY dying to get one of these bad boys though.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Highlighting Fluid
SIZE 0.21 oz/ 6 g
COLOR: Skywalk – pale iridescent blue
WAS $28.00 NOW $14.00

I added this one to my cart as well and keeping it on my Love’s List. Do I need it? No, I have a few liquid highlighters to use, but this one is unique in that it is blue. I could truly use it as a highlight instead of an all over face glow for the ones that I have that have literally no pigmentation. It is also half off and discontinued. I may not get another change to buy this.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Eyeshadow Palette
$42.00

These are all colors that I would wear as well. I am keeping it on my Love’s List for when I move out most of my collection of eye shadows. It’s a big palette, but all these colors work for me. I am looking forward to getting this probably next year!

COOLA Full Spectrum 360° Sun Silk Drops SPF 30 1 oz/ 30 mL
$46.00

I am taking this off of my list. I’m not paying $46 for 1 ounce of sunscreen. LOL. What was I thinking?! Not clearly apparently.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Eye-Conic Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette – Coconut Fantasy Collection Fantascene
$49.50

Another one taken off of the Love’s List. I am never going to wear that dark purple shade. I can’t spend $50 and not wear one of the shades. That would just be wasteful to me, even though the rest of the palette is gorgeous.

Tatcha The Pearl Tinted Eye Illuminating Treatment
SIZE 0.4 oz/ 13 mL
COLOR: Moonlight – warm glow for fair-medium skin
$48.00

Another eye treatment that is staying on the Love’s List. I want to try this one eventually. I did just get an eye treatment though, which is why I am not trying this one. Even though it is in a pot, I am still interested in trying this one out.

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter – Coconut Fantasy Collection
SIZE 0.8 oz/ 24 mL
COLOR: Fantasy – warm rose-gold
$44.00

This is staying on the Love’s List. I have been lusting after this for soooo long. I cannot justify it though when I still have a ton of liquid highlighters and I am already buying a different highlighter to boot. It will stay here. Hopefully, I can buy this one next year if all I have left are powders.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette
$42.00

This one is coming off the list as well for that one black shade and possibly the one above it that I will never use. I am only buying palettes that I can use every shade in, unless there is something uniquely special about that palette that I can overlook one shade. This palette is nothing special, pass.

Too Faced Sex On The Peach Complexion Set
$45.00
($85.00 value)

I totally forgot about this being on my list, but I currently have two powders. I am keeping it on my list, but will think about purchasing it once I am down to my last powder. I don’t want to be too much of a hoarder. This will probably be a next year purchase as well unless more powders come into my collection between now and then.

GLOW RECIPE
Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer
SIZE: 2 oz/ 60 mL
$39.00

This is for sure staying on my list. It is reasonably priced for 2 ounces of product; however, I have two tubes of moisturizer right now and cannot justify having this sit around on my shelf. This might be more of a November sale buy this year. I might be picking it up then as long as I am almost out of my daytime moisturizer.

IGK
Foamo Holographic Hair Foam
SIZE 2.4 oz/ 70 mL
COLOR: Moon Rock
$22.00

I totally forgot about this. I put this right into my cart and keeping it on my list as well. This would be nice to put into my blue hair for a fun color shift or a nice play time with a certain little girl in my life. This could be a lot of unicorn fun. Hopefully, it at least gives off a little bit of color, but its okay if not too. Its making fun memories that really count. I will for sure buy this even if it isn’t during my birthday. For sure in time for Halloween though.

STILA
Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow
SIZE 0.153 oz
COLOR: Starlight – shimmering light gold champagne
$24.00

This is coming off of my list. It is really plain and I still have two other minis of these. I would buy this in a mini size, but not in a full size. I don’t want to waste money to have these dry up on me. Maybe once I get used to living here, I’ll see how fast I’ll be going through my makeup. I have already used up a few makeup items, because I have been using it more since the move.

TOO FACED
Chocolate Gold Eyeshadow Palette
$49.00

Again, there is 2 shades that I won’t wear and I don’t think it is that unique of a palette. I am taking this off of my Love’s List. I am happy to see that I am chipping away at my list. Sephora has a ton of great items. It would be nice to keep my list somewhat reasonable.

TARTE
Top #Shelfie Essentials
$36.00

This is a great mini set! Minis are something that I can finish in a reasonable amount of time. This is a great treat yourself gift. I am keeping it on my list, but passing on it for now. I already know that I love this line and want to keep buying minis of it to refresh my skin once in a while.

SOL DE JANEIRO
Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
SIZE: 8.1 oz/ 240 mL
$45.00

This is staying on my list to buy next year. I need to go through my current backstock of body lotions right now. This is a guilty pleasure one that I will indulge in next year though. The scent is too die for and I neeeeed it. I would love it if I could find one of these at Marshalls for even $10 less.

TOO FACED
Diamond Light Multi-Use Highlighter
SIZE 0.42 oz/ 12 g
COLOR: Diamond Fire – diamond blue/ diamond pink/ diamond yellow
$36.00

This is a super unique looking highlighter and I would love to add it one day to my collection. I need to move through a few of my highlighters first though. In case you haven’t noticed, highlighters are my weakness. I covet them the most out of any other piece of makeup. I buy tons of lippies, but only have 1 on my wish list. My obsession is highlighters. I will always love them and wear them to death.

SUNDAY RILEY
Space Race Fight Acne, Oil + Pores at Warp Speed Kit
$65.00
($85.00 value)

This is staying on my list and I will probably buy it during the November sale. I have a few acne treatments to go through first, but this line really works for me and is worth the splurge. The oil of that size lasted me a year of use, so I know that it is a great buy as well. I highly recommend this kit if you have oily, acne prone skin. It will change your skin for the better if it is anything like mine.

MARC JACOBS BEAUTY
Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter
SIZE 0.8 oz/ 24 mL
COLOR: 50 Dew You? – golden peach
$44.00

This is just a lighter more wearable shade that I will be buying in the future as well. I am thinking this will be my winter shade for a believable glow in the cold. My favorite brand is Marc Jacobs. He may be expensive, but it is so so worth it.

CAROLINA HERRERA
GOOD GIRL
SIZE 1.7 oz/ 50 mL
$94.00

 

I want to smell this before I purchase this, but it is a pretty bottle to add to my perfume collection. I want to get down to 5 bottles TOPS. I am keeping this on my Love’s List for when my perfume collection dwindles down. I have already used up one perfume bottle this year and I am almost done with another. I still have loads to go before I am down to five however.

TOO FACED
Sweet Peach Creamy Peach Oil Lip Gloss
SIZE 0.14 oz/ 4 mL
COLOR: Papa Don’t Peach – spiced peach
$19.00

I have had this lipgloss on my Love’s List FOREVER. I have been hoping to run into this at Marshalls but no such luck so far. I don’t want to spend $19 on a lip oil when I still have SO MANY lip glosses to get through. This will be staying on my Love’s List until I have used up a good portion of my lip gloss collection or if I need to add a low price item during the November sale to get free shipping.

I have since placed my order, so it will be a surprise in my birthday haul what I ended up picking up including my free birthday gift. I am super excited to be sharing that with all of you later this month or the beginning of next depending upon when I get my hands on all of my orders. I am waiting on my LUSH purchase to see if my tub gets fixed or not. As I write this, it is supposed to be fixed on the 3rd. Fingers crossed for that.

With Love,

FITFABFUN Spring Subscription Box

I decided to try the Spring box of FITFABFUN with a $10 off coupon. I was able to chose 3 things in my box and if I think it is worth the value/money, I will get the annual membership. I like that it has a mixture of beauty, fashion, and lifestyle items. It will feed my beauty addition, but also add a few things our home needs and a few pieces to my wardrobe. If there is anything that I don’t like/need, they would make really good gifts. As long as this month, I get my $40 worth then I will continue the subscription, because it would still be worth it. I am really happy with my 3 picks and it was really easy to sign up for the box. The annual membership, you get to choose more items that go into your box, so I am looking forward to that if I decide to do that. Oh, and this is a quarterly subscription, so the next box that I would get would be in June/July. Plenty of time to decide if I want to get the year plan or just another month. This is something I always wanted to try, but could never afford before.

The Box:

The box is cute as hell and I will be keeping it to collect items for birthday gifts and such. It is the perfect size for things like that to store away in a closet. I can for sure see myself in the future repurposing more of these boxes as they are pretty, sturdy, and generally a good size to have around.

The box has a magazine insert in it that has recipes and articles, but also has the list of everything in the box and the breakdown of the prices as well. I will also be double checking the prices online to let you know how true to scale what they say you are getting in these boxes. The magazine is a nice touch and I will be reading/using it for sure. I like having light reading material sometimes.

Ciate London Extraordinary Translucent Setting Powder, $22

I am pretty darn excited about getting this one! I have a finishing powder, but now I have a setting powder that I can pair with my concealer or foundation if I want to wear those types of products or anything that really needs a setting powder to “set” it. Otherwise, on the day to day, I use my finishing powder to give my skin a soft blurring effect. I will be putting this powder to good use for sure and now, I will not be needing to buy any face powder for a long, long time. It is also a pricey brand that I wouldn’t buy unless on sale at Sephora.

OUAI Leave In Conditioner, $26

I was just talking with my boyfriend, Martin, that I recently finished up my current leave-in that was doing nothing for me and switched to using my expensive Moroccan oil and the wonders it was doing to my hair keeping it knot free. I am going to immediately start using this instead of my expensive oil and see how it compares. If it doesn’t hold up, I want to finish it up and go back to what works for me. I am willing to try new things, but my hair oil (even though expensive) does the job of detangling, moisturizing, and keeping it tangle free when I don’t wash my hair for days. I am excited to try a prestigious brand from this box. Already, this box is equal to what I paid for and I am very happy. I will give you the grand total at the bottom of this post.

Manna Kadar Champagne Body Scrub, $24

This is a huge and generous body scrub tub. It isn’t very pricey when you consider that VS sells their 8 oz tubs for almost the same price and you are getting more than double the amount in there. I will be setting this aside for when I finish my other two body scrubs from VS. I like to use a body scrub before shaving my legs and about once a week to keep my skin soft and smooth. It’s actually a “secret” of mine. It really works to give yourself baby soft skin and to keep your skin in its best condition. The best part? Most of these scrubs with oils hydrate the skin and seal in moisture. This means you don’t have to put lotion on your skin when you get out of the shower. I love skipping a step when I can, because time is a precious commodity.

Unplug Meditation Aromatherapy Diffuser, $55

We just used this last night and I am in love. It changes colors, so it is a pretty cool nightlight. I love the essential oil included. It is a sweet orange scent that is very uplifting. I filled it when we were settling into our room for the night and it diffused until we fell asleep. Don’t know how many hours it works for, but it was very nice. Only con is that it needs to be plugged into a USB port which is a pain. I will buy a USB charger/battery thing, so it can run on its own. Currently, I hook it up to my laptop at night. It isn’t ideal since I tend to knock things over and I don’t want to get water anywhere near my laptop.

Eleven By Venus Jump Rope, $15

Not sure that this jump rope is worth $15, but I will be keeping it as part of my exercise routine indoors that I need to get back to. May is a brand new month, my birthday month, the perfect month to get back to exercising again. This will be nice to rotate into my routine and get some good cardio going. I will be keeping this at my desk, which is in a corner of our living room where I will be keeping my exercise equipment/supplies as I collect them. I like having the extra space over here (next to a cement ledge), because it sort of extends the top part of my desk. I didn’t care for this item, but I will put it to good use and will use it.

Korres Wild Rose Vitamin C Brightening Sleeping Facial, $48

I thought this was a face mask, but it is more like an overnight treatment face cream? I am excited to try Korres, another high end brand that I have always wanted to try before. I will set this in my bathroom to alternate which my night time face oil, since one of the serums that I do use at night is more compatible with a cream than an oil. This will be a good pairing with that. This seems EXTREMELY STRONGLY of roses which I LOVE but may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I feel so fancy! I can say without a doubt that I am keeping the subscription right now. Not sure that I can afford to swing the annual membership for a bit, but I will as soon as I am able. That’s like paying for 3 1/2 instead or 4 boxes. Even saving $20 makes a difference, plus with the upgrade, you get to chose two more products in your box instead of 3.

Giadzy Copper Plated Measuring Spoons, $15

One can never have too many measuring spoons when cooking and these are a super nice pair and SO SHINY! I am reserving these for my dry ingredients, since these don’t separate. I am excited to have a plastic set for wet and a nice sturdy pair for dry. You really do need two pairs, because yesterday I had to use a TBS of oil and then a TBS of sugar. I had to wash and dry in between cooking. A second pair will just make things so much easier while cooking.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Needles No More No More Baggage Eye De-Puffing Gel, $42

I have a major problem with dark circles under my eyes (Genes) and my eyes are always a bit puffy in the morning. I am currently using a roller ball by ELF for $3 that I am enjoying for depuffing but it does nothing for my dark circles. I am excited to give this a try once I finish up my ELF morning treatment. This will be put in back stock until then, but at least I know that I don’t need to buy any day eye cream/gel anytime soon. My evening eye cream is getting low though. I have a few things on my list to get for my birthday that I limited myself to 4 stores: Lush, MAC, Sephora, and ELF.

That is everything that came in my box. So, I paid $42 with shipping and the value of this box was…..$247. I definitely feel like I got my moneys worth from this box and will use everything. I had nothing set aside for gifts, because I know that I will use everything. This was a very nice surprise! On future calculations, whatever I set aside for gifts will have a box total and a usage total of what I will actually use. I am very happy with my first box and I am looking forward to the Summer box in June/July.

With Love,

Walmart Fall Beauty Box 2017

The Fall box was so late and the Winter boxes were supposed to start mailing out on Dec 21st. I haven’t heard anything about the Winter boxes, but I’m guessing that those will be very late and out of season as well. If the boxes don’t get better next year with the customization added to it, I will probably cancel. I hate that it’s a season behind and the fact that I was charged for almost a whole month before it shipped. It’s annoying.

At only $5 a box and $20 a year, I can’t really complain, but then again, I can. I paid $5 for something that didn’t ship out to me until almost a month after I was charged. I always keep these boxes, but then, I have NOTHING to put in them. I will save this box, because it is purple. I’m sure I’ll be recycling it in a few months when it is still empty. lol.

Tresemme Tres Two Spray Extra Hold Hairspray, 1.5 oz for $2.17

I needed some hairspray since I am totally out. Right now, I am using a gel that is like a hairspray. I have to say that I like hairspray better than gel, especially when it is a lighter hold hairspray. Although this is an extreme hold, I’m still happy to have a mini hairspray around. I just hate the little dandruff like pieces it leaves in my hair after brushing my hair. I have to wash my hair after using this, so I tend to use something like this on the night that I wash my hair.

Hello Extra Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste, 0.85 oz for $4.43

I was surprised to see just how expensive this brand is. My toothpaste is on it’s last legs, so this came just in time to try. If I see results, I would keep buying, because the name brand ones just aren’t working that well. The mini is almost the same price as the big one, so at least I know that it would be $5 for a big tube. I would spend that if it worked. Plus, a full sized toothpaste lasts like 6 months for just me using it.

Plackers Micro Mint Dental Flossers for $0.97

I already have a big pack of these at home. It is by far the easiest way to floss my teeth, especially with the metal bar in my mouth. This travel pack is nice to have in my bag at work, so I can floss after having my lunch if I feel like there is food stuck in my teeth. I can also easily refill it with more flossers from the big bag at home. This is really nice to have around instead of a roll of floss. I don’t need a mirror with these to floss my teeth.

Gold Bond Ultimate Radiance Renewal Cream Oil, 0.75 oz for $0.97

I put this in Dean’s pile for his dry skin. We are almost out of his Aveno, so he needs something else for the dry skin on his legs. I usually put Johnson baby lotion from head to toe and then put Aveno or this Gold Bond on his dry and rashy parts. He gets heat rash a lot and he has bumpy dry skin. I do this routine every night before bed and clean clothes. Keeping him out of sweaty clothes helps, but he has very dry Winter skin. He wasn’t nearly this bumpy and rashy in the summer.

Body Fantasies in Tropical Wish & Cozy Cotton

Perfume samples are “eh” to me, but I will use them. I appreciate that these have caps, so you can take them on the go with you. I’ll throw these in my sample bag for now. I like that this box has tons of coupons and although I won’t use this one, it’s nice to have.

Shea Moisture Curl & Shine Shampoo & Curl Enhancing Smoothie foil packets

My hair isn’t thick, so I will be passing these on. I think this will be too heavy for my thin hair. If something is too heavy, it makes my hair look greasy the day after washing. The conditioner is very generous compared to the shampoo, which is very nice.

Soo Ae Donkey Milk Sleeping Mask for $0.50

My local store have these masks for 50 cents currently. I went by current my store prices for the price of my box. I love getting sheet masks in my box. I have used the sheet mask from the summer box and I really liked it. I look forward to having the time to use up this mask as well. I’m curious…..oh….wait, this isn’t a sheet mask, but an overnight mask! I am pleasantly surprised! I haven’t tried a sleeping mask yet. I’m very excited! I’ll use this when my skin is feeling extra dry. Perfect for the Winter months.

My box had plenty of samples and coupons. The box overall feels more put together than my previous two boxes. The value of my box was $9.07 which is $4.07 more than I paid for, which is good enough for me. I am looking forward to a customized Winter box in the coming month or so.

With Love,