Empties #4 April 2015

          This empties post is a lot of bath products and not a lot of makeup items. I have become rather obsessed with organizing, reorganizing and using up my huge stash of bath/shower products. They are just so much easier to use up than makeup. Alrighty, here we go:

          Like I said, a lot of bath products. 

Vanilla Bean Bubble Bath from Bath and Body Works

           I was not a huge fan of this scent, it just didn't smell like the usual vanilla scent. It was not unpleasant but I just found it too strong I guess. 

French Lavender Sea Salt Body Scrub by Thymes Essentials 

           I already have another in the shower, I really loved this but the last couple times I used it I noticed it's really stung my legs. If you have dry skin I would not recommend this to you. I will try another scrub once the one in my shower runs out.

I Love Raspberry and Blackberry Bubble Bath and Shower Gel

            I bought this such a long time ago from Shoppers, probably about two years ago. It smelled great, was a fine bubble bath and body wash, my only wish is that the scent would stay on my skin after leaving the shower. 

Peony Pomegranate Blush Bath Salts, The Macbeth Collection by Margaret Joesphs 

           This was one of the items in a set that was on sale at Shoppers, I did not include it in a haul because some of it went to the gift pile. The bath salts were nothing to write home about, pretty cheap really but they smelled amazing. They smelled like a sweet, floral perfume. I am sitting here smelling the empty container. 

Fruit Frappe Grapefruit with Gooseberry Exfoliating Shower Gel by Upper Canada Soap and Shea Butter and Caramel Body Polish by Nirvana Spa

          These were both good products but didn't send me offer the moon, I like my exfoliants to remove at least two layers of skin so they were just too gentle. They both smelled great and were good body washes though. 

          I also used up some hair products. 

Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Volume Hairspray by Marc Anthony 

         I got this from Ipsy and I did like it, I found it was better for when I was wearing my hair down to keep it straight and frizz free. I know I sound like a broken record but it also smelled great. 

Precision Foam Colour in Brilliant Brunette by John Frieda 

          Does anyone else feel like there is an actual Marc Anthony and an actual John Frieda and they are in a huge hair care feud? No. Just me? Ok, moving on. This is the easiest home hair colour I have ever used, the foam is thick and there was more than enough to cover all my hair. Really easy to use, no drips and great results. 

450 Blow Out Blow Dry Spray by Sexy Hair

          Another item I got from Ipsy and I loved this. It just leaves your hair feeling soft, shiney, protected and it really seems like my hair dried faster. I think I will go online to order more because I can not find it in stores around here. I would also like to order the beach spray from the Healthy Sexy Hair line.

Rosemary Mint Cleansing Conditioner by Renpure Solutions 

           While I was using this I really enjoyed it but I have switched back to regular shampoo after Target closed and I couldn't find it anywhere else. I was having such a hard time with my hair, it was falling out more than usual, it was always limp and I couldn't do anything to it without it getting greasy and this product fixed all of that. Also if you are looking for a dupe of the Wen Cleansing Conditioner this is far cheaper, under ten bucks. I still reccomend this it just became inconvenient for me to keep using it. 

Malibu Heat Beach Waves Hair Mist from Bath and Body Works

          This was the first beach spray I tried and one of the best. I got this from BBW a few years ago but have not seen it there again. It gives beach waves without crunchiness or making my hair stiff plus it smells like coconut and pineapples. If I saw this at BBW again I would buy a couple bottles. 

          Some face/skin care products I used up, a couple of which I have been trying to use up for quite a while. 

Vitamins E, A & D Moisturizing Cream from GNC

            Go buy this. Seriously, such a good hand cream. I bought this because my hands were so dry this winter and this healed them completely. I used half the first tube before I read the directions and they suggest using it as a facial moisturizer and primer. Turns out this is the best primer I have used and you can buy three tubes for under 5 bucks. I have them everywhere, it is quite a thick formula with an almost glycerin feel to it which I do not normally like but this just makes my skin feel so good. It just feels like you are healing dry spots and doing something good for your skin. 

Mary Kay TimeWise Microdermabrasion Step One

            My office-mates mother in law used to be a Mary Kay lady and had a whole bunch of samples to hand off to us, bless her. This was one of the best things. We got this and the lotion that is Step Two. I love microdermabrasion products, it just feel so good to scrub all the gunk off your face and out of your pores. This formula was so thick and full of fine little exfoliants and fragrance free. I loved this but the collection is rather pricey and I don't want to get a Mary Kay last because that would mean talking to someone new. 

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Foaming Cleanser from The Body Shop 

          I actually just used up a second one of these as I had two on the go for whatever reason. It really cleared up my skin but it is very drying as well so I switched to something less intense but I would reccomend this to someone having trouble controlling blemishes and oil.

Skin Genesis Skin Perfecting Toner by L'Oreal 

          I have had this for a disgusting amount of time. It didn't really do much for me. I would not repurchase. 

         I only have two makeup products that I used up and one I am tossing. 

Revlon Photoready BB Cream in Light Pale 

          This item is almost used up but I have had it so long that it has separated and won't mix back up. This was a decent BB Cream, very liquidy and not much for coverage but just sort of smoothed out my complexion. I used this when I was in Jamacia for days when we weren't in the pool all day because it had SPF 30 and I was extremely paranoid about getting sunglasses tan lines. I wouldn't repurchase as it isn't great for oily skin. 

Julep Blank Canvas Mattiying Eye Primer 

          This was an excellent eye primer, it went on smoothly and was just a light beige colour. They should really make eye primers clear so all skin colours and tones could use them eh? I mean most primers are, why not eye primers? Anywho, good product, probably expensive since it's from Julep.

Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder in Porcelain Ivory 

          I love this powder. I use it over my makeup to set my foundation, a necessary step for oily skin, but I have also used it by itself for light coverage. This is a staple in my routine, it doesn't leave my skin looking powdery or overly made up, it just glides on and smooths everything out. Love this, I have repurchased a couple times and will continue to do so. 

On an empties binge? Let me help you out: Empties #3

Thank you for reading!

A.

@dirty_cupcake

Top 5 March 2015

          Here are my Top 5 Products for March 2015:

Deep Steep Dry Oil Body Spritzer

           I did not think I would like an oil moisturizer but it is lovely, it smells lovely and is a very relaxing scent. The lavender and chamomile scent fits into my latest obsession with lavender scents. I use this before bed and unlike most lotions I use before crawling into bed this oil absorbed fast enough that I did not wake up with cat hair stuck all over me. That is enough to make it into a favorites post on its own.

Thymes Essentials French Lavender Sea Salt Body Scrub

              Another product that goes well with the lavender obsession. This is such a lovely, natural smelling and feeling product. It exfoliates and moisturizes really well but not as abrasive of a scrub as I would normally prefer but I really enjoy this. I use this prior to shaving my legs and it makes them so much smoother. 

Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Creme Oil

         I have had other products from this line before and I loved all of them. This is a blow dry creme with argan oil that is supposed to be a lightweight, moisturizing creme ideal for fine or normal hair. I prefer hair products meant for fine hair as they do not weigh my hair down or leave as much buildup. I got this in my March Ipsy bag and it is already a favorite. My hair felt light, moved easily and it smelled lovely.

 John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss For Cool Brunettes

               This is six weekly in-shower treatments meant to boost color and remove red-orange tones in three minutes.After shampooing and conditioning like normal you squeeze all the excess moisture out of your hair and saturate your hair with this gel, leave for three minutes and you have soft, fresh looking hair without any build up or residue. Huge fan, love this. It is perfect for when your colour starts to fade but it is too soon to dye your hair or if you are trying to extend the time between appointments or home dye jobs.

BLUSH Cheek Powder

           This blush is GORGEOUS. So bright and blendable and just perfect. I have used this everyday makeup day since I got it in my February Ipsy bag. It just goes on so smoothly and you can either blend it out for a super natural look or layer it without looking like a cheap hooker.

Thanks for Reading!

A.

Target Haul - March 2015

          As I am sure everyone knows Target Canada is closing. I am so horribly upset about this, I love Target. I was always finding great deals on makeup and home items. Unfortunately I am trying to be a responsible adult and pay off some debt instead of shopping so I am not taking full advantage of the clearance sales. I have been picking up a few things here and there, like items I have wanted to try but did not want to pay full price for. 

          Chesapeake Bay Candle in Lavender, Chamomile and Blue Sage

                I am obsessed with lavender lately. I have so many lavender scents I use before I go to bed, to bathe with and I have been keeping my room heavily scented in lavender. It helps me relax and I fall asleep instantly. I think this candle was 30% off or so. I do not need much incentive to buy candles so I just picked it up. I only started burning it when I started this post. It is a very light scent, at least the lavender does. I like my candles to be strong enough to choke an asthmatic so it is not blowing my mind but it is nice. I have not tried any layer candles and am looking forward to smelling what happens when it gets to the next layer.

          Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream for Combination to Oily Skin

                According to the box it is anti-shine, minimizes the look of pores, evens, hydrates and brightens. I saw this at Walmart and it was maybe $19 and there was no way I was paying that for a BB cream, I just wont. When I went to Target I caved because it was marked down and then 30% off, I got light/medium because I have the complete lack of tan that any respectable Atlantic Canadian woman should. I was worried it would still be too dark but it blends nicely. I have not tried many BB creams because my oily skin just eats it up or it makes me look shiny. I wore this once for errands and around the house. It delivered on the anti-shine and pore minimizing and lasted for hours which is hours longer than most of the BB creams I have tried. I will see how I feel about it over time with more use but at this exact moment I am pretty impressed which kind of sucks because I do not want to pay $20 for a BB cream. 

          Secret Aerosol Antiperspirant in Baby Powder

                This was super cheap, like $2-$3 so I picked some up. Honestly I do not remember to use this in the morning so I do not know how it would stand up to the day. I mostly use it before bed, on my days off around the house or if I am already smelly and do not want to actually shower. Yea, I am a disgusting person. At least I cover up the smell I guess. 

           All About Feet Peppermint Sugar Scrub

                I do not really use foot specific scrubs but this smelled so amazing I could not put it down. It was about $6. I use it on my whole leg before and after shaving, the peppermint and spearmint leaf oil really moisturizes quite well. Not as abrasive as I generally prefer my scrubs but the peppermint oil is amazing. I really did not need this but Beast will get some use out of it too so it will not go to waste for sure.

          Listerine Total Care Mouthwash for Sensitive Teeth

                Its mouthwash. For sensitive teeth. 

          J.R. Watkins Naturals Lotion Devotion Kit

               I have been eyeing this kit since Target opened here. It was 30% off $12.99 and the very last one. It has five 1oz bottles of lotion, Aloe & Green Tea, Lavender, Lemon Cream, and Mango Hand and Body Cream and Peppermint Foot Cream. The foot cream went right to Beast, he will get more use out of it than I. These lotions are all very natural and the natural scent comes out in all of them just under the named scents. I would not typically purchase a lotion in either Lemon Cream and Mango but I love both of them. I can not stop rubbing my hands, the lotion is so thick and moisturizes so intensely. There is a list of like nineteen things that are not in this lotion, all of which I am assuming are bad, the ingredients are all flower extracts and different oils. My only complaint is the packaging, the little bottles just have screw off caps and the lotion is so thick it is impossible to get out. I have the bottles lined up on my desk all upside down and I can hold them upside down without a cap and it still does not come out.

          Clio Necklace

                This is just a $15 statement necklace, nothing fancy. I got it for just over $5, a lot of the outfits I wear to the office in the winter are black sweaters over black tank tops and black leggings so it will help inject some color into my look.

          John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss For Cool Brunettes

               I had not seen this product before which is surprising as I spend a fair amount of time looking at hair products. This is six weekly in-shower treatments meant to boost color and remove red-orange tones in three minutes. I used this right after I bought it and while my hair is not completely dry yet I do think it refreshed my colour somewhat. This product will certainly extend the time I am happy with my hair colour and I am really happy I picked this up for $7. I do not know how much this normally is but I would pay more for it. After shampooing and conditioning like normal you squeeze all the excess moisture out of your hair and saturate your hair with this gel, leave for three minutes and you have soft, fresh looking hair without any build up or residue. Huge fan, love this. I was just rereading the box and it lists which shades of the John Frieda hair dyes along with other major brands this gel works with. My brand is not listed but that is really a neat thing for them to do. I assume there are different colors of this product.

          Thymes Essentials French Lavender Sea Salt Body Scrub

               This is another company I have been eyeing for a while, I seem to be gravitating towards more natural products without any real conscious effort to do so. It goes well with the lavender obsession. This is such a lovely, natural smelling and feeling product. It exfoliates and moisturizes really well but again not as abrasive of a scrub as I would normally prefer but I really enjoy this.

          Scrunci Hair Clip

                I guess this haul is all about dreams coming true because this was ANOTHER item I had been thinking about buying for sometime.It is magic, I twist my hair up and the clips hold it firmly in place without pinching or pulling. This scientific advancement lays flat on your head so you can lay down with it on, as an extremely lazy individual that is so very exciting for me. I am going to wear it at the office tomorrow and I really hope that by the end of the day I still love it rather than taking my hair down as soon as I walk out the door. I guess it is normally about $10, I paid $7 and it is so worth it.

Thanks for reading!

A.

               

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