Empties #2 February 2015

          I am so proud of how many candles I used up! I have another Cinnamon Crisp that I am working on and a larger Vintage Linen Kicking around somewhere. I want to use up some old candles before I start on the three new ones I just bought. 

          I used up two shampoos that have been kicking around for quite some time. The Garnier Fructis Clean Mint Fresh and the Marc Anthony regularly and it did give me a bit of volume without leaving a bunch of junk behind. When my hair did feel weighed down I used the Frutis shampoo and it gently removed all the yuckies. I will buy both again when I need shampoo.

          Actually Beast just mentioned he wants a shampoo that rinses clean and doesn't leave build up so I recommended the Garnier. That is how you save money on shampoo, people. 

          This hair dye is my new favourite thing. I used to box dye my hair all the time until it got so fucked up that I needed professional intervention. Since then I've been getting it done at the salon. Since my hair has gotten quite long it's gotten foolishly expensive so I figured I'd give the box another try and Target had this on sale. This is amazing stuff, so easy it is like falling off a log. You just squish the foam all over and it doesn't drip, covers everything and has more than enough product in it. My hair was nipple length (because that's how normal people measure hair length) last time I used it and I had some left over when my hair was fully saturated. I will go back to dying my own hair and only use this brand. 

          I finally used up this Dove Dry Shampoo, I don't use dry shampoo often but I like to have it around for times that I use too much product, miss some conditioner in my rinse or want to run errands with out showering first. I've tried a few different kinds and I have liked this one best and it is pretty cheap. 

          Two whole body scrubs, all gone. The first is one of my absolute favorite scrubs, Bath and Body Works Stress Relief with eucalyptus and spearmint. Amazing. I swear you use this and you are just like "Ok. This I nice, I'm kinda relaxed."  Use the whole collection and it's equivalent to a bottle of wine without the headache the next day. The scent is just exactly how a body scrub should smell. The little bits are different sizes and possibly walnut, it lathers nicely from a cream. Love. Love. Love. 

          The second is also from Bath and Body Works, the Artisan Collection in Lemon Pomegranate Cream. Also a great scrub as it has pretty much the same texture. The smell was pleasant, it was natural and fresh smelling. I find a lot of lemon scents smell chemically but this just smells like lemons and pomegranate. 

          The is a Buff Lip Scub I got in a Maven box from Julep. I hate dry skin on my lips, I am constantly wiping at my lips so this was a cool product to try out. I enjoyed it when I was using it but I won't buy it. I mean who really needs that?

          I know these two were in my products I want to use up post, I really tried to focus on these ones and tada! 

          The Pür Big Look Mascara was something I got from an Ipsy bag and I really enjoyed it. I wish I had taken a photo of the brush because it has a separate little group of bristles at the end that are just phenomenal at grabbing little baby lashes and lashes in the corners of your eyes. This mascara was not only waterproof but apocalypse proof, I walked to work in a rain and snow storm and no running whatsoever. 

         The other item I used up is Maybelline's Fit Me Shine-Free Foundation. I got this forever ago and found it wasn't the best foundation for my oily skin so it disappeared into my collection. I started using it again for light coverage when running errands or going to the gym, then I found it worked pretty well as a light summer foundation when combined with BB cream. I would not buy this full price but if it was on a decent sale I would snatch it up. 

          This loose tea came in a Little Life Box and was my favorite thing. So delicious, it was like drinking dessert. It was only ten grams but I got quite a few cups out of it. I am keeping this package on my desk so that the next time I can justify spending the money I will order more. So good. 

That's all for now but I am on a rampage of using up products so I hope it will not be too long before I post another bunch of things I've used up. 

Thanks for reading!

A. 

Click here for my last Products I Want to Use Up post

My Nighttime Beauty Routine

           While you are sleeping is a perfect time to work in some extra hair and skin care. I would be a dirty liar if I said I followed the routine religiously but I do my best and I does make a difference.

Pantene Pro-V Overnight Miracle  $8.00

          This is supposed to repair six months worth of damage in one use, I do not know if that happened but my hair is definitely softer, smoother and easier to deal with. It does not feel sticky or leave a mess on your pillow. It washes out easily without leaving any build up whatsoever. I just rub this in from mid length down, brush it through and loosely tye it back. Such a simple thing to help heal your hair.

Julep Night Shift Sleeping Mask  $34.00/$27.20 Maven Price

          I got this in a box from Julep (I will link that post below) and while it is pricey it is a good product. It soaks into my skin overnight and the next morning I it does not feel overly greasy. When I rinse it off my skin feels very moisturized, refreshed and smooth. Why no use your night time to wear a mask? I was concerned that I would look like I had a bunch of goop on my face or that it wold make a mess but neither of these things happened.

Deep Steep Dry Oil Body Spritzer in Lavender Chamomile $14 ($7.99 at Winners)

          I saw this at Winners and originally thought it was just a body spray. I am currently obsessed with lavender  so I picked it up. I did not think I would like an oil moisturizer but it is lovely, it takes a little bit to soak in but it smells lovely and is a very relaxing scent. It moisturizes for HOURS. I am willing to pay full price to repurchase once I have used it all up.

K&N Body Butter in Candy Cane

          I got this in a Madame Ladybug box (link below) and hate it as a Body Butter, it makes a decent lip conditioner so I use it at night so I can use it all up. I wont be repurchasing this and I might not even use it all up.

Links:

Julep Maven Box

Madame Ladybug

Thanks for reading!

        

Ipsy February 2015

          The theme for this month is Ipsy Love. Makes sense for Valentine's Day. The bag is really cute too. Let's get into it:

All the available items.

    My Bag

          I love the bag, grey and pink? So cute. I got:

JOYA Composition No. 1 Parfum Oil

         The sample size is a lot smaller than I thought it would be but I do like that it is a roll on instead of a spray. Perfume samples with a sprayer last maybe four times but this, while tiny, will last a while. I do like the scent, it reminds me of lemon with a little bit of jasmine. A very fresh, different smell. I love it.

Rob Scheppy for 'Tini Beauty Eyeshadow in Pearl Fizz

          I was not really looking forward to this item but it looks so good on. A nice color to use a a brow highlight, it really brightens up my eyes and has turned out to be one of my favorite products from this bag.

BLUSH Cheek Powder

          Another product I was not over the moon about but it is GORGEOUS. So bright and blendable and just perfect. 

CARGO Cosmetics Mini Lip Gloss

         I am always up for a new pink lip gloss but this does not work for me at all. Cream pink does not look good on me at all. I was disappointing that this product did not work for me.

Blush, eyeshadow and lip gloss swatches

Luxie Beauty Large Angled Face Brush 504

         When I saw this on one of the sneak peaks sent in an email before the first to people who have unsubscribed I went in to change my quiz in hopes I would get this and TADA. It is such a soft brush, picks up just the right amount of powder. Love it. Not to mention it is super cute pink and will match my Too Faced brush set. 

         Overall this bag was pretty good for me. I like it better than the last bag. I would have preferred one of the City Color lip products over the CARGO gloss I got but everything else I like and will use.


If you want to give ipsy a try for $14.95USD shipping included: http://www.ipsy.com/r/1hni?sid=ipsypoints&cid=general

Thanks for reading!

A

Products I Want to Use Up - February 2015

          I have so many candles and I just bought three of the new scents from Bath and Body Works so I am forcing myself to use these ones up before I start burning the new ones regularly. From right to left I have Pumpkin Spice, Bergamont Woods, Fireside, Clean Linen, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin. I have the Pumpkin Spice on a candle warmer now but I think the scent is mostly gone as it does not seem to be putting out much of a scent. Maybe I am just used to the wonderful candles from Bath and Body Works. The Fireside candle is amazing and I may put it aside for next fall/winter so I can fall completely in love with it again. I really want to use up my fall/winter scents before I pull out the spring/summer candles so I do not have to store them. Not that winter is showing any signs of easing as we have a blizzard on the way in a couple days.

          I have had this L'Oreal toner for YEARS, I rarely use toner just because I an lazy. I think I can use this up fairly quickly if I actually remember to use it. The toner is a good product, my skin does feel clearer and smoother after using it. 

          I want to use the Tea Tree Foaming Cleanser because I have two bottles that are almost empty. I do like this cleanser but I have not been using it much as I have fallen head over heels for the Charcoal Cleanser from Biore. I use the Tea Tree Cleanser once a week or if my skin breaks out heavily as it is a good product to use to clear up blemishes however it is a little drying for dry winter skin. Because I was so impressed by the cleanser I bought the Tea Tree Gel for blemishes. I do not like it at all. I do not find it does anything for me at all. I am sure it is slightly beneficial so I will use it up but I will not repurchase. 

          Something else I have a foolish amount of is perfume. I do not think I will really "use up" the Bath and Body Works products, they are more so a product I want to focus on. Each scent is lovely and I do not want them to go bad. The White Citrus is a clean, fresh scent that is almost masculine but still flirty enough to be feminine. The Merry Marshmallow is a lovely holiday scent, sweet and light. One of my favorite winter scents. I do not know how much progress I will make as I can not wear scents to work but we will see. The little sample I got from Sephora (I think) and is the Dolce perfume from Dolce and Gabbana. It smells so sophisticated, I wish I had somewhere fancy to wear it but for now it works great with my jammies.

          Here we have a couple moisturizers. The first is a sample from Cailyn Cosmetics and I love their lip colours. This is the Water Drops Cream and is a very light, quick absorbing face cream. At first I though it would not take too long to use as it is a little sample tube but has lasted much longer than I first thought it would.

          The Julep Rock Star Hand Cream was in my last products to use up post and I have not really made any progress. It is a lovely cream, Julep has a long complicated  description of why it is the be all end all of hand creams. I like the scent but it is rather strong and perfumey so I do not bring it with me so I forget I have it sometimes.

          This GOSH lipstick in Cappuccino was the very first nude lip colour I ever bought and likely one of the first lipsticks I had ever bought; which is kind of gross but I am over it. It is a nice colour and so creamy and moisturizing. I only stopped using it because I moved on to other colours and it got buried in my collection.

           The little pot is a sample from K&N Body Butter that I got from Madame Ladybug. This is a terrible body butter, it is oily and grainy at the same time. I washed my hands immediately after I put it on. This makes an excellent lip conditioner though, I can't decide if is that is gross or not but that is what I am using it for. It is Candy Cane scented and instantly makes dry winter lips feel conditioned and smooth. 

          I am pretty sure I have mentioned the Elizabeth Mott It's So Big mascara before. It is my everyday mascara and is just so lovely. You can use one layer for your everyday look or put a couple more coats for extra length and thickness. I have a back up and this one is getting close to its expiry date.

          This Protein BB Cream is from an Ipsy bag and while it did not transform my hair into a magical mane it is a a solid hair product. I use it to fight frizz and I find it helps keep style when I wear it straight.

           This is just a simple hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works. I am not a fan of the scent and I have others that I prefer so this got pushed to the back. It was in my last products to use up post, not much progress and I am not overly optimistic I will make much progress before my next post.

Thanks for reading!

A.

       

Julep Maven Box February 2015

         I have been skipping my Julep boxes just because I have so much nail polish already and it is more money than I want to spend on something I wont use. Each box is 19.99 USD and shipping is free. There also upgrades to your box for different prices. The box I got was The Maven's Choice which was an additional $5 on top of the regular price so it ended up being $24.99 USD. There have been a lot of changes since I signed up in 2013 and I haven't really kept up on all of them. I know that I can skip as many boxes as I want so I just keep skipping every month unless something catches my eye. I am not sure if this option is still available, I know for a while it was not available for new Mavens. There are different tiers for subscriptions now as well. I will link the website in case you want to check it out. 

         

           I decided to get this box because I already have the Almond Nude lip colour in the Plush Pout Crayon and I wanted to try the pink. Also the Night Mask sounded interesting so I figured I would actually get this box. 

         The Night Shift Mask is $34 or $27.50 if you are a Maven, already the cost of the box right here. According to the website it reaches deep to stimulate cell turnover and renewal, has a clinically proven peptide blend that works to retexturize your skin and  sodium hyaluronate works with botanical extracts (including the Power Cell Complex that sounds like Julep just totally made up) to deliver maximum moisture. I have only used it once but I will continue to use it even if it only gets me to remove my makeup before bed. I did notice my skin was soft and fresh in the morning and even though I only used it the once I think with repeated use it could really be beneficial. 

         This is the Orbital Eyeshadow in Earthshine which is $14.40 and it does not seem to have a Maven price. Originally I was not excited for this item simply because I have so many eyeshadows already but I tried it out and it makes for the perfect crease shade. It is described as "tree bark with chrome pearlescence" so points for that fucked up description Julep. I certainly would not pay even close to $14.40 for this but I will use it often, it works quite well with a lot of the shadows in my Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. 

           Next is the Plush Pout Crayon in Aurora Pink. $16 Maven or Not. This is described as a "Full coverage lip crayon with a moisturizing treatment core in the middle" I don't know if I would call this full coverage but I do like it. I wear it a little more sheer than the photos on the website just because I feel like it I put it on too thick it settles into the lines on my lips. It feels like a lip balm to put on and apparently also has the "Power Cell Complex" in it with age defying, skin boosting, ultra hydrating ingredients. "Rosehip seed oil delivers essential nutrients to sooth and repair. Malvaceae Lipid Extract improves barrier function so skin retains moisture. Green coffee bean oil invigorates skin and promotes cell turnover." Well ok then Julep. It's pretty, it's pink and I don't need a mirror to put it on. Done. I wouldn't buy it at $16 but the boxes it comes in I always consider. 

        Included in every box was this Hartleigh nail polish, a holographic glitter top coat. Priced at $14.00 or $11.29 if you are a Maven. There was also a little note from Jane Park the founder of Julep saying thank you for being a Maven. I don't usually like these kind of top coats because I find it hard to get the glitter and little hearts even but this is a cute touch for Valentine's Day. Again wouldn't pay that price for it. Not even close. 

        So the value of this box comes out to $78.40 or $69.10 if you are a Maven. Julep products are certainly a little pricey but I have found some great products in the past. I love the pencil eyeliner, the Ta Da quick dry drops, the Mint Condition pedicure cream, the Gylcolic hand scrub and the Rock Star hand cream. Julep is certainly not for someone on a budget.  

Check it out for yourself: www.julep.com 

Want to sign up? Feel free to use my link ;)  https://www.julep.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/307362/

Thanks for reading!

A.

Madame Ladybug vs. Bonjour Jolie

          Here is how the boxes compare:

                                                                      Madame Ladybug         Bonjour Jolie    

                    Cost                                                          $25                         $16                

                    Shipping                                                   $14                         $8.50             

                    Number of boxes offered                            3                              1                 

                    Pamphlet/card                                 paper pamphlet              Card                 

                    Feminine items                                          30                             25                

                    Snacks                                                        6                              3                 

                   Tea bags and drinks                                    4                             5                  

                   Bonus item value                                      $3.25                     $4.75                

                   Surprise gift value                                   $16.95                     $30                  

                   Advil                                                          Yes                      upon request    

                   Bath and body items                              1 sample                3 samples           

 Madame Ladybug won in the following categories:

• Number of boxes offered
• snacks

         
 Bonjour Jolie won in the following categories:

• Cost 
• Shipping
• pamphlet/card
• teas and drinks
• bonus item value
• surprise gift value
• bath and body items

         I am calling the feminine items a tie because while Madame Ladybug provides 5 more each has excellent selection and Bonjour Jolie offers the sealed box.

         Madame Ladybug won hands down in the snack department, both in quantity and quality. The 6 does not even include the little chocolates and caramels also included. The overall winner, however, was Bonjour Jolie. They had a much more professional appearance and high valued items. Not to mention the price and shipping was much more reasonable by the time you pay to have Madame Ladybug shipped to Canada it just is not worth it.

To check out the boxes I received:

Madame Ladybug December 2015

Bonjour Jolie January 2015

Company websites:

madameladybug.com

bonjourjolie.com

Thanks for reading!

A.

Bonjour Jolie - January 2015

          I first saw this period box on Ashley Elizabeth's YouTube channel and decided to give it a try. The box costs $16 and shipping to Canada is $8.50. You can make requests when ordering and change your preferences when needed if you subscribe. I also ordered a period box from Madame Ladybug. I will link that post below and put up a comparison post as well. Here we go:

            This box includes:

• 25 feminine items
• feminine wipes
• bath and body pampering items
• specialty teas and drinks
• Artisan confections
• a special gift
• Advil if you need it

         At opening the package looks really well put together, nice and neat. 

          The blue package is all your requested period supplies. They have quite a variety to choose from. You can mix and match or you can pick a sealed box which is a really nice feature in case you do not want people handling your hygiene products. You can pick up to 25 items. 

          To explain all the other items you get this little card with a description and price for each item. 

           The next bag is the Pampering Bag. I got two feminine wipes, a life saving heat pad, two packets of Advil (if you requested it) a bath gel, lotion and hand sanitizer all from Bath and Body Works. The lotion is in Coconut Lime Verbena and is not a very strong smelling lotion but rather a fresh smelling sort of lime scent. The bath gel is in White Citrus and I actually have the body spray in this scent and love it. Again just a light fresh scent. The hand sanitizer is Vanilla Berry Sorbet and smells heavenly. I used it as a perfume the first couple days after I got it. Once I use up some body washes I already have I will be looking for this scent in some bath products. Not counting the heating pad, wipes or Advil this bag has a value of $4.75. 

          The oh so important snack bag is next. It is worth about $4.50. There were more Sunkist snacks originally but I opened this at a friends house and they disappeared as I was laying everything on the counter for photos. I think there were five to begin with. The Caramello bar didn't last long either, I've never seen this bar before but it is pretty much a Caramilk bar therefore it is delicious. The Chocolate Almond and Sea Salt granola bar had me a little hesitant but it was also yummy and actually quite filling. Last thing was the tea. I love that there were so many, not an expensive item but I liked getting to try five different flavours without having to buy whole boxes. Even the flavours I didn't think I would like (mixed citrus, mixed berry) were great. My least favorite was the mixed berry and the best was the Rooibos and Cinnamon. 

          The last bag is the Special Gift item. It is a Blue Swarovski Crystal Pendant Necklace from New Zealand. The website for which is radiancejewellries.co.nz. This is valued at $30 so that is over the cost of the box plus the shipping to Canada. 

           I am really glad I ordered this box, not just for the fact that I don't need to go buy period supplies anytime soon.  I have worn the necklace quite a few times, the pampering items get lots of use and all the snacks are long gone. The packaging and card looked professional and neat. Having descriptions and prices for each item was a plus. The heating pad and wipes were not on the card but from the videos I have seen it looks like they include those every month. If the heating pad comes every month that is a huge selling point for me. Those things are not cheap but can save a life on those terrible crampy days. The little bags everything comes in also can be reused for so many things. I am going to use them for Christmas presents and other gift bags. 

         As for subscribing to this I don't know that I would, simply because I don't need that much in terms of period supplies but it is something I would certainly consider getting as a little treat now and again. I was impressed by this box.

Links:

Ashley Elizabeth's YouTube Channel

bonjourjolie.com

Madame Ladybug December 2015

Thanks for reading!

A.