November Empties!

Hello dolls,

Here are the products I was loving and leaving this month.

Love Them!

Clarisonic Acne Daily Clarifying Cleanser

Love it! This in conjunction with my Clarisonic has helped my skin immensely. Way less breakouts and they heal faster. It has also helped even my skin tone and brightened my skin. 

The Cleansing and Brush set is available at Sephora for $47.

Lancome Visionnaire

This is a great serum. I use this immediately after toning, and it has helped my pores and skin texture. It is not a heavy serum, so it doesn't aggravate my acne prone skin, or worsen my oily skin.

A 1 oz bottle is available at Lancome for $79, and Lancome is currently having their friends and family sale, so you can receive 20% off if you use the code "FRIENDS" at checkout.

Lush Sympathy for the Skin

The name alone makes this a product I love. 

This is a lightweight vanilla banana pudding smelling lotion. Smells amazing. Very hydrating. Plus, Lush is a fair trade supporting, natural ingredient having, animal testing fighting company that is one I love to support.  

8.4 oz will last forever and cost $26.95 at Lush. If you keep 5 of those black tubs, you can return them to Lush for a free Fresh Face Mask. ( Cupcake is my favorite)

Batiste Dry Shampoo

Batiste is the only dry shampoo I like. It leaves my oily root hair feeling and looking refreshed after a skipped shampoo day. Plus, the blonde color blends much better into my hair then the white this might be dandruff look traditional dry shampoo has. It's available in a variety of colors, and has also been touted as a quick touch up for those who need a root color touch up. 

A Hint of Color Batiste is available for $8.99 at Ulta.

Dove Advanced Hair Series Oxygen Moisture Conditioner

I have fine limp hair, and this is a great moisturizing conditioner for my dry ends, but doesn't weigh my hair down. I do feel like my hair is more volumized after using it, and less frizzy. 

If you grab this now at Target for $4.99, plus three other select hair care items, you will receive a $5 Target gift card.

TonyMoly Red Appletox Honey Cream

 I know some beauties don't care for this face cream because it has a sticky consistency. The honey is good for acne prone skin because it has anti-bacterial properties. I only use this once or twice a week, and apply it in a patting motion.

You can buy it from Memebox where it is on sale currently for $5 instead of $12. If you buy through that link you will also receive $5 dollars off your order automatically. Also, using the code EPICSTEAL30 gives you free shipping on orders over $30.

Lancome Cils Booster XL

This is my favorite mascara primer. It lengthens lashes to an extreme amount, and makes the pumped up and a beautiful frame for your eyes. I curl, then apply the primer, then curl again and finally apply the mascara I'm using. 

It's $24.50 at Lancome, and qualifies for the "FRIENDS" code for 20% off your order.

Lioele C.A.D Oxygen Pore Cream

This face moisturizer has a unique gel cream texture that feels light weight on my oily skin and doesn't clog pores or cause breakouts. It has witch hazel in it which helps tighten pores and oxygen to help brighten dull complexions. I use this after toning and essence. It can also be used at night.

It is on sale at Beauteque for $26.39, down from $32.99.

iAdora Rose Milk Bath

This was amazing! Smelled like real roses and had actual rose petals in it, instead of those depressing brown blobs that come in many rose bath products. This was enough for a long and luxurious soak that was super relaxing. 

The full size is available at iAdora for $36.

Leave Them

PureDerm Nose Pore Strips Choco Cacao

This came in Memebox Cacao box. They smell amazing. However, I didn't find them effective, and they left brown residue all over my nose. Brown noser alert!! 

Origins Clear Improvement  Mask

A cult classic. I hate it. Does nothing for my skin. Doesn't improve acne or reduce oil and tighten pores. In fact, I think the only thing it is good for is getting stuck in my eyebrows and hairline.

Yes to Tomatoes Clean Skin Blemish Clearing Facial Towelettes

These felt like sandpaper, and yet didn't sand off any blemishes. Ineffective at removing all makeup as well. 

The Color Institute Lip Glossies Peppermint

Terrible, gloopy gloss. No color, too oily. And how does yellow equal peppermint?

Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm

Did nothing for my dark circles, which is what I need an eye cream to do. Not for me.

Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey

Too unisex for me.

Nude Advanced Renewal Age-Defying Skincare Eye Complex

Again, didn't help with under eye circles, which is my primary need in an eye cream.

Lioele V-Line Waterdrop Sleeping Pack

I see that a lot of love for this on MUT, but it doesn't do anything for me. Too thin, and I neither feel nor see any difference in my skin the next morning.

Dermadoctor wrinkle Revenge Lift and Replenish Serum

I don't have visible wrinkles yet (knock on wood) but I didn't see any other improvements in skin texture, clarity, pores or otherwise, so I wouldn't purchase full size.

Lioele Secret Pore Rich Balm

Too thick for me and made my skin breakout.

Clinique Step 3 Moisturize 

Clinique has great cosmetics, but their skincare does nothing for me, which is odd since they are more known for the skincare portion of their line. This moisturizer is just another disappointment from Clinique's skincare for me.

Dot by Marc Jacobs

I had a vial of this, and I wasn't impressed with the lasting power of this.

What are your loves and leaves this winter?

XOXO 

CC

September Empties! All 5 of them ;)

So this month I was bad and busted into so many new things that I didn't go through a lot of products. :/ And the ones I did were deluxe sizes and minis, etc. So nothing exciting, but I like to journal my thoughts on what I like and what I didn't, and if it helps someone out, then yay!

The Good!

Yu Choo By Me Steam Silk Hair Pack-
My first hair pack! I had never used any before, and Memebox had a great sale in their Memeshop on these, so I grabbed a set.  You use it on damp hair. You cover all your hair with essence coated cap, and massage your scalp through the cap to get the essence all over your hair. You leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes, I did 15, and then rinse off with warm water. This made my hair feel so soft afterwards. I kept touching my hair all day. Love it, will look to doing a hair pack/mask weekly.

You can get them here! On sale for $15 for 3 masks. You can use my coupon, UIZV, to get $5 off any purchase, as well as click through my affiliate links below to get an automatic $5 off, or $10 off an order of $150.

Garnier Hydra Recharge Conditioner!

Part of my PinchMe sample box. (Anyone else been disappointed with the last two PinchMe boxes? So disappointing). This conditioner is very lightweight and moisturizing. It also smells amazing, very fruity, like kiwis and berries. 

The full size is $2.99 at Target, here and in stores. Target is currently at 2.5% on ebates. (Ebates is free money for shopping. If you aren't using it, what's wrong with you!!! Sign up here!)

The Bad! There are more bad than good this time :(

On a Clear Day Acne Treatment from Philosophy

This treatment felt sticky and didn't sink in well. Didn't help heal blemishes either. The Clean and Clear version is better and cheaper. And the Mario Badescu Healing Powder is the best.

Herbalism from Lush

A rare miss from Lush. I love Lush for having cruelty free, effective, mostly natural and great smelling products. But this one is a pass. As a face cleanser, it didn't make my skin less oily. As a body wash, it didn't leave me feeling clean, or help my skin in any other way, aka help the occasional body blemish. Plus, on a personal level, I am not a fan of the smell, it's too green and mossy for me, which should be apparent from the description as a herbal wash.

Bath Fizzer

This was some no name brand thing I had laying around. It was supposed to have rose scent and petals, but it just left little dirty dried out specks of stuff floating in my bath. Not appetizing at all. Plus, no good rose smell or skin softening benefits. 

Fresh Life Eau de Parfum

Now perfume is something that is personal and individualized, so what works or doesn't work me is not going to be the same thing for everyone.  I was getting too much of the grass, leaves, cucumber and moss smell. I don't like very green scents, so this smell doesn't appeal to me. I didn't really get the citrus notes that Fresh lists.

Smashbox Photofinish More Than Primer Blemish Control

I love Smashbox's eye primer, but their face primers do nothing for me. This one claims to fight acne with salicylic acid, but I noticed no improvement. I also don't think it improved the longevity of my makeup nor smoothed the application process or finish.

Lancome Bienfait UV SPF 50 Sunscreen

Just meh. 

Missha Cleansing Tissue

This felt like wiping my face with a diaper wipe. It had a diaper wipe smell and a diaper wipe texture. It was really ineffective at taking off makeup, there was a ton of product left on my cotton ball after applying toner. The texture was really unappealing, it was rough and overly moist. 

On a blog related note, would you guys like me to list out ingredients? I know some people care, and some people don't. Anything for my readers.

XOXO 

CC

August Empties!

Time for the monthly installment of stuff I actually used up! Very exciting for me, although I should stop buying 12 things for every 1 I finish.

So here's the good, bad and the meh of what I've used this month.

My Beauty Diary Lemon Vit C Mask- Loved it!! It definitely made my skin glow and radiant. 

Boots Coconut and Hibiscus Body Wash-This smelled so great, and was cheap to boot! Not a cheap coconut, like sun tan lotion or Malibu, but a rich tropical smell. Would rebuy.

Origins Zero Oil Toner- This toner made my skin matte and had a nice clean astringent feeling after using it. 

Lancome Visionnarie sample- Love this stuff, will be so sad when my sample packet stash runs out, but I would definitely consider buying full sized. It makes my pores look great, my skin feel smooth.

Lioele Dr. Ampoule Pore Tightening- Samples I got from Beauteque. Love this stuff, it's my favorite ampoule I've tried. Definitely makes my pores look smaller, although not permanently. Would buy full sized.

Angels on Bare Skin Facial Cleanser. This stuff smells amazing. Like, I'm not sure it really did too much for my skin, but it smelled so good I would rebuy anyway. I used it at night, since the scent was very calming and nice to fall asleep to.

Dr. Jart BB Cream. This was the one in the black tube. I am not a big BB cream person, but I did like this one as a base, on which I added more coverage concealer and powder foundation wise. I don't know if I would personally buy it again, because I like TonyMoly BCDation better for a BB Cream, but I like this one and would recommend it. 

Now on to the bad ://

My Beauty Diary Under Eye Care Hydrogel Patch-I love MBD's face masks, but their eye care patches do nothing for me. This one was just meh to me. 

The second MBD eye mask I tried. Dark Circles Intensive Care Eye Mask. Didn't do a thing for my dark circles. It also bothered my lower lash line and lashes. I would only recommend it if you have parched under eye skin.

Glamglow BrightMud Eye Treatment- I know Glamglow is a big hyped product right now, and I do like the White Glamglow, but the Black Glamglow and the BrightMud aren't worth their price tags.  BrightMud is an under eye mask and is supposed to help dark circles. Didn't do that, but it didn't irritate my eyes like the MBD eye patches did. If anyone knows of a good eye mask, let me know in the comments!!

Sally Hansen InstaDri Nail Polish that I don't know the name of because the sticker fell off. Wouldn't rebuy, it was a streaky mess that need 3 or more coats to cover the nail line.

This was part of a gift set I got at a work Secret Santa. Didn't have any smell, floral or not, and didn't effervesce or really add anything to my bath. Wouldn't rebuy.

Wild Cherry Blossom Shampoo and Conditioner from Suave. Yep, this didn't smell like cherry blossoms, which was the only reason I bought it. Wouldn't rebuy.

 Sample of Garnier's new Fructis Marvelous oil. There are 3 different varieties and this one is the Deep Nourish one. It smelled amazing, but left my hair feeling greasy. I would try one of the other varieties, but not this one. If your hair is really really dry, this might be worth a try.

Benefit Eye Cream sample. Didn't improve my eye area, especially under eye circles which are my biggest eye concern. Just meh.

Clean and Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser. This is a tingly cream cleanser. It's a bit thick feeling, and it didn't really help my acne. Just meh.

Anybody find any new loves or loathes this August?

XOXO 

CC