Recent Empties - Life Update

Hey y'all!  So I know I've been MIA for longer than usual, but today I have a post. My empties bag was starting to overflow and I decided to just go ahead & take care of it. It's going to be a long one, so lets just go basic and get right to it.

 Vidal Sassoon Salonist - 5/45 Medium Intense Red - This was given to me by a friend, and honestly I used it so long ago that I don't remember how I liked it.  However, I do remember that this came with its own mixing bowl and brush, rather than a bottle, so it was easier for me to apply.  I actually kept the brush because it's pretty darn good.

Degree MotionSense DrySpray - The one I have is in the Fresh Energy scent, which is really difficult to describe.  I think I got this from a Target Beauty Box. It worked, ok for me.  Application was easy, but I didn't find that it worked that well at keeping odor away. Then again, deodorant is one of those many beauty/personal care products that is personable. What one person likes, another may not.

Gillette Hydrator Body Wash - The hubs got this in his Christmas stocking this past year and even though he's not a HUGE body was fan, he liked it.  I think I used it more than he did though.  However, we have already repurchased it because we can both use it & there's no longer 2 separate bottles taking up space in the shower. My skin feels totally moisturized after using it and the scent isn't overpowering at all.

Softsoap Body Butter Coconut Quench - This was in my stocking this past Christmas & I used it up quickly. I didn't find it to be that moisturizing and the scent was very light. I still prefer the Suave Coconut body wash to this one. I don't think I'd repurchase.

Garnier Curl Sculpt Cream Gel - This is one of my Holy Grail hair products for curly hair. And the link I posted is for Amazon Prime members only, and you can sign up for a 30 day free trial HERE, which is a pretty darn good deal for this product. In fact, I think I pay more in store for this so I'm going to order from Amazon next time. I've purchased this over & over again. It can make your curls feel a little crunchy, but you can usually scrunch that out. It makes 2nd day curls even better.

 L'Oreal Chroma in Sangria - I believe this is a newer haircolor range under L'Oreal available at Sally's.  I like it so much. I think this is what I actually have on my hair right now, and it's sort of a dark red with a little bit of violet.  Perfect for fall.

Secret Scent Expressions - Coconut Splash - If you couldn't tell by now, I have a thing for coconut scented body stuff.  Secret is the only deodorant that seems to work for me, though their clinical strength works even better.  So I tend to stick with Secret.

Febreze Air Effects - Apple Delish - This was from last fall, and I'm not sure if it returned this fall or not.  The kiddo picked this one out for his living areas and I think he used it way more than I use mine....and I go overboard.  It smells so apple-y and yummy.  I have a backup for him too.  If you're into apple scents, these Febreze ones rock.

Eyebrow Pencils - I have two, one is from Wet N Wild & the other is from NYX.  Neither of them are a good color match and tend to oxidize or pull too orange. So I haven't finished these up, but they're going in the trash.

Beauty Secrets Nail Polish Thinner - A few times a year I go through my polish stash and see how the consistency of each one is.  If they look thick, I put some of this in there.  I only use this on polishes though.  For my top coat, Seche Vite, I use Seche Restore. I've already repurchased and like to always have this on hand.

Lipsyl Lip Balm - I like this product, and this was sadly the last tube I had in my stash.  It worked well for hydrating my lips but I hated the way you had to push the product up in the tube.  Sometimes it wouldn't work right. I found the best deals on this at Walgreens a while back, so check there if you're interested.

Ion Absolute Perfection Booster(step 1) & Color Sealer(step2) - I'd heard these 2 products were a dupe for Olaplex. I've never had an Olaplex treatment or used their products, so I can't attest to that.  Step 1 is a small bottle that you can get 2 uses out of, it mixes in with your color.  Step 2 is the after treatment.  I like both of them & have already repurchased, and will do so again.  My hair doesn't feel horrible after color treatments anymore.

Eyelight Cream - I think I got, and did a review on this a while back.  It's a nice feeling eye cream, though I really didn't notice much of a difference with continued use.  I hated getting product under my nails too.  I'm still unsure about eye creams in general though too.  So IDK.

Clinique Moisture Surge - I'm afraid to actually admit how long I've had this.  So long, that it actually went bad and I'm having to toss about 1/3 of this.  Since I have oily skin I didn't use it often, but when I got a sunburn this stuff was amazeballz.  I would gently wash my face and apply this stuff and my skin would drink it up.  I would reapply as needed and my face never peeled.  So, if you have dry skin check this out.

Essa Vita-C-Whip - My skin loves a vitamin C serum that I'd been using so I got this to try since it has even more good skin ingredients in it.  I actually hate using moisturizer, but I stayed consistent with this and my skin loved it.  In fact, I actually used every drop of this rather quickly.  It's a glass bottle with a pump so I didn't have to worry about product getting under my nails.  It's free of parabens, sulfates, and pthalates as well and isn't tested on animals.  Definitely plan to repurchase.

 Coconut Milk Body Scrub - I really dislike exfoliating, because of the mess....but I got this to use before fake tanning this past summer, which I never did because I'm a slacker.  As I've said I'm addicted to coconut scents.  This was only slightly coconut-y, but very moisturizing.  It was a mess, but not too bad.  I would definitely buy this again.

OPI Nail Envy - This is another product that I honestly don't remember when I purchased it. I do know that I rarely used it.  Because I was blogging so much, for a while, I almost never had polish on my nails unless I was swatching.  Because if I did something nice, I wanted to wear it for a while...and that was the only time I'd use this.  I used up about 3/4 of the bottle, but again wasn't consistent enough to know if I was actually getting the benefits of this product.  I know some people swear by it, and others hate it.  During a recent clean-up of my collection I noticed that this had thickened and glooped up so I am tossing it.  I would reuse the bottle, but lets be honest I just don't want to clean it out.

China Glaze Matte Magic - I love being able to have a matte look when I want to, but I didn't use this enough to use it up before it started turning gloopy.  So, this gets tossed. It is a small, tiny bottle, so I don't feel bad about not using it before it went bad. 

 I've mentioned before on my blog that I live with depression and anxiety, and have off & on for years.  Well, the past few years it's been steadily getting worse, so I am getting help. I've left my blog here because I just haven't really felt inspired to do ANYTHING.  In fact, I've got a few nail posts to edit pictures for and draft, but that's about it.  I plan to just blog whenever, without any schedule. If I post, I post, if I don't, I don't.  I think the pressure I was feeling to blog was kinda self imposed and it just didn't make me happy anymore.  I hated doing my nails, because I wasn't able to wear the polishes for long.  If I did something cute I had to take it off a few days later to swatch something else. Editing pictures became a chore and would take forever because I was focused on other things.  So, other than that, IDK what to say other than I am alive....and I do still post some on instagram. 

Recent Empties - Make-Up & Polish

Hey y'all!  Today I have the last of my empties that I've been collecting since November.  Well, at least the last of the HUGE full basket that I had. Some of these are things I've finished, some are things that have just a little bit left, some are things that have dried out, or are too old.

Garden Botanika Lash Primer: I absolutely LOVED this. Sadly I don't wear makeup enough to have it off, so I have to toss it because it's old. I just looked and don't even see it on their website anymore either. :(

Maybelline Dream Lumi Highlighting Concealer - Ivory: This was just ok for me. The color was what I needed, but it was slightly too thin for me. It's better than the Instant Age Rewind, but didn't give me the lasting power and coverage that I needed. I did finish it off though.

Mally Volumizing Mascara: I honestly don't even remember what I thought about this, but had to toss it because it was old and dried out. :/

Scotch Tape: Between Christmas and nail art, I finished off 2 rolls of tape. I don't think they were full, but that's 2 less I have lying around and taking up space!

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer - Fair:  I picked this up a while ago after seeing so many people on YouTube talk about it. I had to force myself to use as much as I did before finally deciding to toss it.  I have the shade Fair, which is lighter than my skin tone, but it's way too pink for me.  My skin tone is neutral, but leans a little more yellow than pink & this made me look almost sickly.  It was a little too thin, and didn't work well with my oily skin.  Even when I set it with powder.  I have thought about trying the neutralizer shade, but I think the concealers I'm using now are way better.

Cocoa Pink Perfume Dram - Yellow Flip Flops:  I picked this up, with some others I think last spring when they had a sale.  It's a great way to try their scents before you buy larger sizes or other bath/body products with said scents in them.  This one is amazing & smells like banana's, but not fake banana's.

Nutra Nail Speed Dry Top Coat:  I don't even know why I bought this originally.  I think I was trying to find (what I thought was) a cheaper alternative to Seche Vite. but it wasn't. I used it on my toes and it worked ok, but it did get gloopy after a while. So it's getting tossed.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge:  I absolutely LOVE this. I know some folks swear by the beauty blender, but I don't wear make-up enough to justify spending that much money for it.  I've also seen some people say this doesn't last as long for them, but it lasted at least a good year for me before it started breaking apart.

SinfulShine w/Gel Tech - Wisp & Devious: I wasn't happy with these polishes, and I honestly don't remember why, but I used a lot of them up when I made some polish ornaments. There's not much left so I'm just tossing them.

Milani Liquid Eye Eyeliner: I love all the other Milani products that I own, but this was a HUGE fail for me. It never set, even when shadow was applied over it, and smudged like crazy. I don't know if it's just because I have oily lids, but this would crease or smudge all over the place.  I had to force myself to finish it off as much as I did & I'm finally throwing it out. I just can't deal with it anymore.

BBW Pocketbac - Donuts About You: This is from my stash of the old style hand sanitizers from Bath & Body Works. I hate that they changed the design. This smelled ok, wasn't too happy once I finally opened it. I still have a few more to finish off.

Josie Maran Argan Oil: I'm really afraid to admit how long I've had this product. I got it in a set and gave it a try, but didn't like it. I felt like it made my oily skin even worse. I finished this off by putting it on the ends of my hair. I didn't notice a huge difference, but I finished it.

NYC Extra Shiny Top Coat: I've had this since before I knew about quick dry top coats. I haven't used it in a while & when going through my stash noticed that it was starting to yellow, so it's going in the trash.

Skindinavia Primer Spray & Finishing Spray: I like these, though they're not my absolute favorites. They do the job well. However there are more alternatives now, especially in the drugstore, that weren't available before.

OPI Avojuice - Jasmine: I know some people LOVE this, but I'm not that big of a fan.  There are way better, in my opinion, lotions out there that do just as good of a job for less money.

YES To Cucumbers & Blueberries Face Towelettes: I think I got these little travel packets from the BFF. I didn't find them irritating to my skin, but they barely removed any makeup. I also noticed that they dried out super fast, even when sealed correctly.


What make-up products are you loving lately?

Recent Empties - Bath & Body Stuff

Hey y'all!  So today I have a few bath, body, and skincare product empties to share my thoughts on.  Lets get right to it.

Up & Up Women's Shave Gel:  This was just "meh".  It served its purpose.  It takes a lot for a shaving cream or gel to impress me though, so I can't hate on it too much.

Suave Creamy Tropical Coconut Body Wash:  Year round, coconut is one of my favorite scents.  Especially in the shower. This works just as great to me as some of the more expensive options at just a fraction of the cost.  In fact, I'm currently using another coconut scented body wash and I'm not in love with it like I am with this.

Olay Pore Minimizing Cleanser Scrub & Olay Out Of This Swirled: I found Out Of This Swirled first and fell in love, then I had a difficult time finding it again so I switched to the blue one. NOW I'm not able to find either of them. I think it's because they both contained little spheres. Either way, these were so great for my skin. The spheres weren't uncomfortable or huge, it cleaned my skin perfectly and washed off cleanly.  I'm finishing up something a friend gave me now, and I'll be on the hunt for a replacement for these.

Secret Scent Expressions Cocoa Butter Kiss:  The light cocoa butter scent, and lasting power of this are perfection for me. I prefer this over the other scent options but find it more difficult to locate.

Degree Motion Sense Invisible Solid: For me, this is just horrible. I can't even get through the day without feeling like its not working...and forget if I happen to do something to make me sweat. it does nothing for me, and IDK why I even try straying away from Secret. I think it's because I try to go the cheaper route then remember why I hate it so much.

Caress Love Forever Body Wash: I think this came in a Target Beauty Box. I know I see lots of people saying that it's their absolute favorite, but I just didn't feel that impressed by it. Didn't really love the scent either. Meh.

Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over: I discovered this around the same time as the face wash & instantly fell in love. It was perfect for my super oily skin, and didn't bother my skin either. Unfortunately, it's becoming just as difficult to find so I'm going to have to search for a substitute. :(

Clinique Spot Healing Gel: I'm honestly afraid to say how long this was sitting in my bathroom drawer. It's amazing, but there are drugstore options out there that are just as great. So glad I was able to get rid of this finally without feeling like I was throwing money away.

Burt's Bees Milk & Honey Body Lotion: This felt like a thin lotion to me.  I don't even remember how I got this sample, but I wasn't impressed by it. I used this up by keeping it on my nail desk to moisturize between swatches. I will say a little did go a long way with this though, so it did take me a while to finish it up.


What's your favorite shower gel/body wash? Favorite scent?

Recent Empties - Hair Stuff

Hey y'all!  So here's another post of empties I've collected since my last post.  Since I don't wash my hair but maybe twice a week it takes me a while to go through these.

L'Oreal Curve It Elastic Curl Mousse and Curl Taming Cream: I am totally obsessed with both of these products.  They work just as great individually as they do together.  I also love some of the other L'Oreal Advance Haircare products, so give them a try if you're thinking about them.  These both make my curls look great for days without being heavy or sticky.  I've tried other things from the drugstore and keep going back to these.

Infusium Miracle Therapy Leave-In Treatment with Moringa Oil: I was not a fan of this at all.  I honestly don't even remember when/how I got it.  No matter how little of this I applied to my ends, it seemed like I spread it all over my head.  I love other Infusium products, just not this.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle: This has been my holy grail deep conditioner treatment for ages. In fact, I've had this one for a while because I once had a ton of coupons and they were on sale, making them around $1 each. So while I still have a few of these to go through, I have a new holy grail now.....this is still great, but I like the newer product better...and I'll have that for you at a later time. :D

Clairol Flare Hair Color in Twilight(2VV) and Burgundy(5VVR): I don't even remember when I used these last, but the reds in the Clairol Flare line are my latest favorites.

Clairol Flare 20 volume Cream Developer:  This is a sample size that I think I got for free when I purchased a few boxes of color. It's ok, not as great as the Ion for sensitive scalp though, IMO.


So, that's my latest hair empties.  What hair stuff are you loving?

Recent Empties - Randomness + Update

Hey y'all!  I know, I know...I've been MIA for a while.  In fact, the last time I did a blog post was around Christmas...and the last time I had an empties post was November.  For that, I apologize. Life has a way of taking over and shifting your focus at times.  I actually thought about quitting the blog all together, but decided against that because it does make me happy.  I'm just not going to be so hard on myself to be consistent with it.  I have enough stress from other things, I don't need to put more on myself.

That being said, other things in life have also happened and you'll find about those soon enough.  So lets get to the topic of this post.  I have a HUGE fabric basket full of empties, so I'm breaking them up into separate posts.

This is mostly random stuff from around the house that I've managed to toss into the basket.

Method Natural Surface Cleaner - Sunset Beach:  This was sadly a limited edition scent from last year.  I got mine at Target. I had one bottle of this and loved it so much that when I saw it on clearance I grabbed the rest...and this was my last bottle.  I love this brand, and actually need to go get some more when I run out of my current cleaning stash.

Mrs Meyers Clean Day Multi-Surface Cleanser in Basil: This was just a "meh" product for me.  It's only saving grace was that I was OBSESSED with the scent. Basil is one of my fav's, yeah I know I'm weird.  The cleanser itself seemed to leave a film on surfaces, so I wasn't impressed, but I did finish it up.

Now - Rhodiola: Suggested to me by a friend, this is one of the 3 daily herbal supplements that I take to help with my anxiety and depression. For me, it works...and I can definitely tell when I don't take them.

Swanson Ashwagandha Extract: This was another herbal supplement suggested by a friend, and again this helps with my anxiety and depression.

Spring Valley L-Theanine:  When I started taking the other 2 supplements I had been taking a melatonin blend at night. When I ran out of that I started noticing a difference, that the Ashwagandha and Rhodiola didn't seem to be working as well....that's when I realized that the melatonin I'd switched to was just straight up, no blend. I quickly got some L-Theanine and the 3 combined help me a LOT.  I think this bottle came from Wal-Mart(it's the only one of the 3 that I've seen available in drugstores), but Amazon has it as well.

Mainstays Peach & Mango Wax Cubes:  This is by far my FAVORITE scent. It's a summer scent available at Wal-Mart and is, to me, even better than the $12+ peach candles at BBW. I've had this in candle form too, but I prefer to go even cheaper with these since they're at most $2 & I can use them in my electric warmer without worrying about a flame.  I think I'm now down to one pack of this scent so I need to go get more.


So, that's it for now...be sure to keep an eye out for more posts to come soon.  I already have several ready to go. :D

Recent Empties

Hey y'all!  While I'm working on getting caught back up on blogging, I needed a break, I thought I'd go ahead & share some recent empties.  I've been holding on to these for a few months, so it's not all things I used since my last empties post.

I've got a TON of things to go over in this post. So lets get right to it, shall we!

Q-tips - Of course these have various uses in my house.  I prefer the brand name swabs to the store brand, which most of them seem flimsy.

Softsoap Pampered Hands - This is in the tangerine scent & it's a foaming hand soap.  I don't know that it "pampered" my hands, but it did small great and citrusy. 

Castor Oil  - After researching the oil cleansing method, I grabbed a bottle of this to use in my blend.  I'm not practicing the OCM daily, only when I wear make-up, but this helps for my skin type.

Lint Free Remover Wipes - I tend to purchase these off of eBay for a decent price and they last FOREVER to take my polish off.  They take up very little space and actually do a pretty good job.  I will continue to purchase these OVER and OVER.

Sweet Almond Oil - I also got this for the OCM, but ended up using it in my DIY hair detangler to amp up the smell.  This oil has TONS of uses.

Garnier Curl Sculpting Cream Gel - This is one of my favorite inexpensive curly hair products. If I use too much, it does get a little "crunchy", but it's easy to scrunch that crunch away.  Using this alone makes my curls look soft and defined.

Suave Keratin Infused Dry Shampoo - Honestly, this wasn't one of my favorites....but I used it up.  Each person prefers something different for their hair, but this just wasn't my cup of tea.

Shea Moisture Shampoo - I received this Superfruit 10-in-1 in a Target Beauty Box.  The sample was much larger than I was expecting, but I don't think I was able to fully form an opinion on it without being able to use more of the product along with the conditioner.  It smelled amazing though, so I'd probably give it a try.

Bare Minerals Brush Shampoo - Sadly, I've had this FOREVER.  I used to use it a LOT, that was until I actually learned how to CLEAN my brushes.  It worked well, but now I've moved on to something else. 

Argan Oil Hair Mask - I reviewed this last year, and you can see that review HERE.  I liked it as well, but I'm working on finishing up some of the stuff in my stock-pile before moving on to anything else.


Now for the rest of the items....I'm not a professional, this is just what works for me.  Depression, anxiety, and insomnia are something I've lived with for years.  Last year, I went through a LOT and was in a very dark place.  Thankfully a friend suggested some supplements and these have helped TREMENDOUSLY.

Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, and L-Theanine.  Melatonin is also there, but now that I'm on a routine I only use it as needed. 

My energy levels have increased, I'm slowly losing weight, and I could tell a difference just after the first few days of taking these.  I will continue to use these as long as I feel I need them.  Some of them are hard to find, but most herbal shops and GNC carry them...but I'm now ordering it all online. 

So that's what I've finished up lately.  What about you?

Recent Empties - Makeup

Hey y'all, I'm alive!!!  So, I thought I had already typed this up and posted it....but apparently not. DOH!  I have a TON of recent empties in my basket and decided to go ahead and do the makeup empties separately from the rest.

Shockingly I have a decent amount of makeup that I've finished which is rare because I usually only wear it on weekends.

• CoverGirl Clump Crusher by Lashblast - This mascara is the waterproof version in Very Black.  I was recently noticing black smears under my eyes and figured that it was whatever mascara I was using.  I switched over to this one and have already bought another one.  It doesn't smear, it's easy to remove, and my lashes look great.  I need to actually go through my container of mascara's and remove those that no longer work well for me, but this will continue to be a staple for me.
• Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion - This isn't technically empty, but I've just had it for so long I felt that it was time to get rid of it.  I didn't feel that it worked well enough for my super oily skin, so I wasn't reaching for it.  The eye primer though is amazeballz.
•  Revlon Colorstay Blemish Concealer -  This may not look empty, but without removing the stopper in the tube, I can't get any more product out.  I'd do that, but this is way past it's time so I'm moving on to something newer.  The shade is in Light and I felt it was perfect for me.  It does have salicylic acid in it, so I wouldn't suggest using it as an under eye concealer....even though that's how I used it and didn't notice any irritation. 
• Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer & Highlighter - The shade I have is 125 Fair.  When I purchased it, I was a little scared.  Normally "fair" means shades are more pink...but this wasn't.  It's more neutral/yellow, and the lightest shade available.  Though I'm not sure if it's still available since I've had this for a year or so.  It's great, long lasting, and the brush applicator is amazing.  Sadly, it's difficult to get product out once it starts getting more empty.  
• Sally Hansen Miracle Cure Strengthener - This is OLD....I honestly can't even remember when I bought it, or how it worked on my nails.  To finish it off, I ended up using it on my toes because I'd already found one to use on my nails. I would re-use the bottle, but it's kinda difficult to see through....but if you're looking for a low cost option, this is pretty good.
• Wet N Wild Black Creme - This is the black that I use for practically everything....unless I'm using acrylic paint(which is easier to correct mistakes with).  It's easily a one coater, and under $1.  In fact, sometimes you can grab it for $0.69. I couldn't believe that I actually made it through this bottle.  It doesn't look empty, but trust me it is.  The little bit left in the bottle is actually dried on the sides.  
• ELF Concealer Brush - I've used these brushes for years....but lately I've found better options for clean-up around the nails.  These aren't bad for the price, but I've noticed in the past few years that the brushes are so inconsistent that they don't last nearly as long as they used to.  If you're on a tight budget, these are great though....especially when ELF has 50% off sales.  
• Lypsyl Lip Balm - I snagged a few tubes of this a while ago at Walgreens when they were on sale....I don't remember the exact price, but I think it was under $2 each.  I actually prefer Softlips, but this is pretty darn good and I know tons of people who LOVE it.  Thankfully I have some more tubes to go through before I can say that I'm obsessed.

So, that's it for now.  I can't say enough how much it actually feels to finish things up, even if I don't like something.

What beauty/make-up related stuff have you finished up lately?  

Recent Empties

Hey y'all!!!  I haven't been finishing that many product's monthly, so today is a recent empties post.  I'm still working on using everything up before starting on something new, but I'm not rushing.  SO, here's what we've got.

I already have reviews up for most of these and will, as usual, include a link to each of them where applicable.

Reviva Labs Glycolic Acid Oily Skin Day Moisturizer - I really liked this, but felt it was more, for me, a nighttime moisturizer.  It is, as it says, light....but I tended to use it more on non-makeup days.

Softlips Cube - This is in the Pomegranate Blueberry scent. I think I got this in a VoxBox or something.  I liked how it has SPF, and works really well...making my lips feel soft and smooth.  However, the fact that once it gets kinda even with the cube there's still product in the packaging.  The only way to get it out is to use your fingers and I HATE doing that.  Especially when I'm out and on the go & don't always have hand sanitizer on me.  Great product, horrible packaging.

Lifetherapy Bodywash - These can be used as body wash and/or hand soap.  They're perfect to try the different scents out, for stocking stuffers, for travel, and various other things.  I really LOVED these and of course my fav is the Escape scent.

got 2b Smooth Operator - This product has been a multi-tasker for me.  I don't remember which YTer I saw suggest it, but I love it.  I've actually this for a while & use it for straight and curly hair.  For those days I want to straighten my hair, I use just a little of this plus a heat protectant spray.  For curly days when I don't want to do a lot, I just add a little bit of this and let it air dry.  Thankfully I think I already own a backup of this.

Garnier Fructis Curl Shaping Spray Gel - When I bought this I already had the cream gel and loved it.  This, not so much.  The packaging is great, and I LOVE that it has a fine mist sprayer.  What I didn't like was that it seemed to take forever to get any product onto the hair.  So I'd spray it into my hands then scrunch into the hair while wet.  It dried more crunchy, and was just ok in my opinion.  The cream is way better, I think.  Because I love the sprayer on this I've cleaned it out already and mixed up my detangler concoction in the bottle.


That's it for recent empties.  Until next time!

April Empties

Hey y'all!  I know the last empties post I did was a few months worth, and I almost just combined April with May, but I wanted to go ahead and empty my bag out & get back into the monthly swing of things again.

So without further ado, lets get right to it.

Clairol Flare Hair Color - 4VVR Ultraviolet - I previously used the 6RR Blaze and LOVED it, but when I went to get another tube, Sally's was out.  I happened to have the kiddo with me & he picked this one.  I actually like it and it gives that fall/winter darker red shade that's awesome.  I'll definitely be putting this on my list to use again & in early April I mixed it with the L'Oreal color above & REALLY loved it.  If you saw my recent Schwarzkopf review that was the result of mixing the two shades.

L'Oreal Excellence HiColor - Red - I've been using this off & on for a few years now.  I absolutely LOVE the results it gives, but now I'm finding those same results in other brands.  As stated above I mixed this with the Clairol 50/50 the last time I colored my hair to finish both tubes and it's still awesome.  If you like that Rhianna red, this is what I'd suggest.

OWN Lifting Eye Cream - I did a review on this a WHILE ago.  I didn't start using it religiously until about a year ago when I was going through a LOT of personal stuff and noticed that from not using it, my eyes were looking bad.  It's light and works well for my sensitive area without feeling heavy.  Plus it lasted a LONG time.  I'm currently using something else, but if you don't like heavy eye creams give this one a try.

Dead Sea Cosmetics Cuticle Oil - I finally finished this off and was SUPER glad.  I got this in a kit from a mall kiosk and didn't really appreciate oils until I started blogging.  I wasn't a HUGE fan of this, but I ended up using it on my nails before removing polish during swatch-fests.

ELF Clear Brow & Lash Mascara - This stuff lasts for ages.  I can't remember when I bought it, but I did get it to help keep my brows in place after filling them in.  I mean, for a few bucks you can't beat it.  Once one end was empty I swapped them so I could continue using the brush meant for brows.  The only difference in the wand/brushes on this is the one for lashes is completely cut off on the end and the one for brows is kinda pointed.  The shape of them seems to be the same on both.

ELF Essential Concealer Brush x2 - I have a love/hate relationship with these.  I love how well they work for clean-up around the nails.  WHEN they work that is.  They're kind of hit & miss.  I've had to start inspecting them before purchasing to make sure the hairs are longer & just recently noticed that clamping down on the ferule helps hold them in place a little better.  Sometimes these will last for months & other times just a few days/weeks.  Though for $1 I can't really complain too much.

Bath & Body Works Pocketbac x2 - The 2 I finished are I Love Cake(Buttercream) and Fresh Market Apple.  I seem to always(well almost always) have these in my empties posts because I love them.  Out of those two scents my fav would be the apple.  I stock up on these a few times a year & have them scattered throughout my house and purse.


So that's what I finished up this month.  I'm so close to finishing some other stuff that I am forcing myself to finish up soon.  I like getting old stuff out of the way to make room for the new. 

Recent Empties

Hey y'all!  I know it's been a while since I've done an empties post.  In fact, there hasn't been one for the past 3 months.  Today I'm fixing that....and there's a good amount of stuff, so keep reading

I've been really good about making sure I finish things and keeping stuff together.  Though, for some reason I feel like I'm missing a few things.  That being said, at least I've been staying on top of finishing products off.

Herbal Essences Naked Cleansing Conditioner - Thankfully more and more drugstore cleansing conditioners are coming out in the market.  I've been in LOVE with WEN for ages & wanted to give this more affordable option a try.  It's not an absolute dupe, but it's pretty good for the money.  It's sulfate free, which is what you want for curly and color treated hair, and also has a minty scent with a slight bit of rosemary.  I'd probably repurchase, though I do have to occasionally use shampoo to remove product buildup.  I think I may try their new(or at least I'm just seeing it on Amazon) Color Me Happy Cleansing Conditioner. 

Bath & Body Works Candles - The 3-wick candles I purchased about a year ago, maybe less, and the smaller one was a gift from a few years ago.  I finally burned these off as much as I could.  Espresso Bar was kinda blah at first, but after a while the scent seemed to get better.  It smells almost like sitting in a coffee shop, which is one of my favorite smells.  Villa Bergamot is kind of similar to the Black Pepper Bergamot I purchased in the past, all manly and strong.  I love the smell, but after a while it gets a little overwhelming and my sinuses hate me for it.  Merry Cookie is one of my FAVORITE holiday scents that BBW puts out.  It's sugar cookie heaven.  Out of the 3, it's the only one I'd purchase over & over again.  As usual, with these, I'll clean them out and find a use around the house for the jars.  Maybe even find some sort of pinterest crafty project for them.

Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over! - You may have seen my recent review of this product, if not you can see it HERE.  I'm currently on my second tub of it.  It has become my most favorite moisturizer for my super oily skin, especially for daytime.  It's super light and doesn't make me feel or look greasy at all.

em Michelle Phan Waterliner - The shade I have is Royal Amethyst.  I received this in an Ipsy bag, before I cancelled the service(after receiving things with horrid chemical smells that triggered migraines).  It's a beautiful purple shade, but it didn't seem to last too long on my waterline.  I just swatched it again on my hand & it's not budging.  Sadly, the product inside(it twists up) broke off with an inch left and fell right out so it's totally unusable now and is going in the trash.

ELF Eyelash Curler - I've had this little $3 sucker for ages, though I bought it during a 50% off sale.  I recently went to use it and the pad was missing.  I found the pad and it wouldn't stick back on.  So rather than purchase replacement pads I'm just going to go get a new curler.  It's not perfect, but it's not bad for the price.

Cargo Lash Activator Mascara - I don't remember when I got this sample, but I've only used it a few times.  I can't attest to how well it works because I honestly don't remember.  I was recently going through my mascaras, to see if they were still in good shape, and this wasn't.

Secret Outlast Clear Gel - Clinical strength is what works the best for me, but it's SO darn pricy.  I bought a few different ranges within the Secret line and this worked pretty well.  The solids are better, IMO, but this wasn't too shabby.  I would probably repurchase.  Oh, and the powder scent wasn't too much.

ELF Mineral Face Primer - I'm almost afraid to admit how long I've had this(probably about as long as the curler).  I stopped using this shortly after first trying it out because the silicone texture/feel to it seemed to do nothing to help keep my makeup on.  Since actually using foundations for my skin type, rather than whatever I wanted to use, it worked out pretty well.  I don't know that I'd repurchase it, but it's not too bad.  I just prefer other drugstore options for my skin type.

Bath & Body Works Butterfly Flower Shower Gel -This is my favorite scent as of the past few years.  This is the last bottle I have with the old formulation, the newer ones have shea & other good stuff.  It's nice and floral without being too much.  I actually need to get some more soon.

Better Homes And Gardens Wax Cubes - These are available at WalMart & I LOVE them.  The scent I finished up is Warm Apple Cider.  It's perfect for the fall and I was so obsessed that I used only this for months.  I love getting these because they're around $2 and you can pick from a HUGE variety of scents.  I actually have a drawer with a TON of these in it.  I hope they still have this around later in the fall.

Vaseline Spray & Go Total Moisture - This is the 2nd(out of the 3 pack) canister that I've finished up.  I like the product, and the concept, but more for the summer months.  I feel like it's too light to use during the winter when my body is SUPER dry, but I wanted to finish this up.  I hate having to even use lotion, but this made it super easy to apply.  Once I finish the last bottle I don't know that I'd get it again.  Mostly because I have a ton of other products that need to be finished off first, but because I want to try some of the other spray lotions on the market. 

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Spray - This is probably THE oldest product that I've had laying around.  I loved it at first but once I moved on from using JUST Ojon products this kinda got pushed to the back.  So, because it's so old I really can't say how well it works, but I did get to finish it up.  I do like Ojon products though.  :D


So, that's it.  I've got a few other things that are close to being empty & can't wait to finish them off.  I'll try to get back to the monthly posts, but I don't want to say it'll be absolute. 

December Empties - 2014

Hey y'all!  Long time no blog.  I know it's been a while and I keep promising on Facebook that I'm working on posts, but as soon as I start I'm all "meh".  I'm not going to do a resolutions post this year, as I have in years past because I feel like I've been doing pretty well actually with most of the ones I've already made.  I will have a few more posts coming soon and I'm truly working on getting myself motivated and back into the swing of things.  I have a LOT to catch up on. 

So, today's post is all the empties that I had from last month.  Well, not all of them because some were tossed before I could snag them.  I also grabbed a few old skincare products that didn't smell right or were not the same texture, and tossed them. Lets get to it...

Secret Clinical Strength Invisible Solid - I had a sample size in the Completely Clean scent.  Out of all the deodorant's I've tried, the Secret Clinical Strength is by far my favorite.  I'm not a fan of the price tag though.  I was shocked that this was a solid because previously the only ones I'd used were the ones that would twist up out of holes, kinda like the gels.  It took a good while to use this, though I did only use it on weekends when I knew I'd be doing a LOT of moving around.

Dead Sea Cosmetics Hand & Body Lotion - The scent I have this in is Wave.  I think I might have actually done a review of this a LONG time ago.  Even longer ago was when I actually purchased this at a kiosk in the mall.  It's got a nice scent, but I can spend less for much better hand lotion.  I'm just glad that I finally finished this off and can toss it!!!

HairMax Density Revitalizer - I did a review of this HERE.  I really liked this product and the way it made my scalp feel.  I felt like I wasted a lot of it though pouring directly onto my scalp rather than into my hands, then my scalp.

Olay Fresh Effects Out Of This Swirled -   I have a review of this coming soon.  This is a recent find for me & I've already repurchased.  I'll go ahead and tell you now though that this stuff rawks, IMO.

Crest Pro Health Sensitive + Enamel Shield - I've had this in my empties multiple times.  It's my fav toothpaste to use.  It does the job and doesn't burn or hurt.  If you have sensitivities, try this stuff out.


Well, that's it for December.  I can't believe that it's 2015 already!  Hope y'all have had a wonderful start to your new year.

November Empties

Hey y'all.  I know I've been a horribly bad blogger lately.  I have a few reasons for not posting, but that's not what this post is about.  I can't believe that it's already December.  It's cray cray.

No idea why, but it feels like November just flew by.  I have about 3-4 products that are so close to being empty too & I just couldn't finish them up.  That being said, I did finish a lot more this month than I have in the past few months.

Beauty Secrets Pure Acetone - This is the easiest brand for me to get and it's reasonably priced.  I actually had this 16oz. size for a while before finishing it.  I go between it and the 32oz. depending on what is on sale at the time.  Not only do I use this for cleanup, but I sometimes use it to make my own remover mixture.  Though lately, I've just found it easier to buy the pink or blue colored remover at Sally's. 

Bath & Body Works Peach Bellini Hand Soap - The smell of this is pure awesome.  Peach is one of my favorite scents and I was sad when this was finished.  I have one other BBW hand soap that is almost empty and that'll probably be it for me unless I pick some up when they do the semi-annual sale. 

Bath & Body Works Pocketbac - This one was in "I Love Cake Frosting"....yeah was SO not impressed with the scent on this.  It smelled great in the bottle, but not on skin. 

Benefit Porefessional - I have this tiny sample & decided to give it a try recently.  Not sure why, but after a few uses I had to stop.  It's still pretty full, but I started noticing red spots all over my face.  I like how it worked the few times I tried it, but not enough to keep dealing with what looked like a rash.  So it's getting tossed.

Simple Cleansing Wipes - I just feel kinda "meh" about these.  I was using them to clean the oil off of my face before applying makeup, but I don't have that problem anymore.  When I tried using them to clean makeup off at the end of the day I wasn't happy with them.  I know you're not supposed to "avoid direct contact with eyes", but I couldn't even wipe off my brows without the stuff from this migrating into my eyes or making the area burn.  Plus, they dry out pretty fast. 

Bumble & Bumble ColorMinded Styling Balm - If I had purchased this, instead of getting it from a friend, I'd have returned it.  No matter now much, or little, I used it made my hair feel like I hadn't washed any product buildup out of it & just let it get all crunchy.  Smells nice though.

Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray - I love using this.  Especially since sometimes trying to use mostly matte makeup can make you look overly powdery.  This helps take that down a little & makes your makeup last.  I don't know what I'd do without it. 

Clairol Flare Hair Color - The color I used is Blaze 6RR.  I purchased this months ago & finally finished up some other stuff so that I could use this.  You can see the result of this color HERE.  I did this color 3 weeks ago & it still looks amazing.  That could be because I've only used shampoo twice since & have used mostly cleansing conditioners. 

L'Oreal Curve It Curl Taming Cream - At first I didn't really care much for this.  So I put it in the cabinet & went back to it after I finished the balm above.  I really started to like this.  Especially on days where I wanted my hair curly & not all crunchy, but not frizzy either.  It's a really light creamy product & I will probably repurchase after I finish other things in my bathroom.

Herbal Essences Body Wash - This is in "Happy Go Lather".  It was part of a 3 pack that I got around this time last year.  OMG it smells great.  It's rose scented, but not too heavy & it didn't linger all day on my skin.  I would probably repurchase, but I like the coconut one better(not by much though).


So that's it.  I'm hoping to get back into the swing of posting and stuff soon. 

October Empties

Hey y'all!  I honestly can't believe that it's already November.  So much going on this month that I don't even think I'll have a weekend to chill.  I didn't really finish many products this month, but at least I finished some.

I've also forced myself to use up a lot more things so hopefully those will be gone & out of my way soon.

BIC Disposable Razor - I can't remember, because I tossed out the packaging, but I think this is one of THESE.  They're not my favorite, but I happened to snag several packs at ones using coupons when they were on sale.

Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment -   This is the "For hair that never grows past a certain length" treatment.  My hair has been short off & on for the past few years.  I got a wild hair & chopped it off.  Since then, I grow it out to my shoulders and end up chopping it off again.  Last year I had it just below my shoulders & again went short.  I was having problems with all the thinning and such, so I gave up.  I just finally got it to touch my shoulders again & got a trim plus added some layers.  Because I only wash my hair a few times a week, it took a couple of months to use this up...the length being shorter allowed me to use less than I would with longer hair.  I'm not fond of the price, but Ulta does occasionally put these on sale so I can use coupons.  A lot of people complain about the smell, but I love it.  It's not overly strong, but it does last & makes your hair smell great for days.  I love how my hair feels after using this so much that I don't even feel the need for a conditioner after.  If you're sensitive to scents, open it before you buy it to see if you like it.  It's not too heavy either.  I will have to pick up another soon.

Perlier Volcanic Thermal Scrub - You can see my review on this HERE.  I'm so bad about using body scrubs that it took me forever to use this up.  I don't know if I would purchase this based on that fact, but I definitely do recommend it....if you're not sensitive to fragrance.

Febreze Greek Seaside Fabric Refresher - I was recently on the hunt for one of the fall scents & found this instead.  I LOVE Febreze for getting horrible smells out of fabric & it actually works.  Sometimes it may take a few applications over a few days, but it helps.  I have the air freshener scattered throughout my house, but for fabrics this is my go to. 


I can't tell y'all how great it feels getting to the bottom of something, even if you don't like it, and knowing you didn't waste it.  Occasionally I will give something away that I know someone else might like, but I try to use it if I can. 

Did y'all finish up anything good this month?

September Empties

Hey y'all!  Is it October already?  I can't believe it.  The weather is getting cooler and I'm LOVING it right now.  Fall is absolutely my favorite season. 

I didn't really finish much this past month(again), but I did start getting back into the swing of things as far as blogging is concerned.  I've also started making myself use moisturizer and eye cream on my face daily. Well, there were a few things that were tossed without my knowledge because I do remember the kiddo finishing some stuff up.

Equate Mouthwash - This is the store brand at Wal-Mart.  Y'all know how this is used, but I also use it for my foot soaks.  I generally get the larger bottle because of how often we go through it. 

Better Homes Vanilla Sugar Cookie Wax Cubes - I pick these up at WalMart for around $2.  They have a HUGE variety of scents and I find they last WAY longer than buying an expensive candle.  I love the candles, but I can use my electric tart burner without having to worry about an open flame & get the same results.  I have about a dozen different scents because they do last so long & I can't finish them before the season is over.  I think these were actually from last winter.  I want to get a few more warmers to sit around the house.

Bath & Body Works Exotic Coconut Shower Gel - I was lucky enough to get this a few years ago during a semi-annual clearance sale.  Sadly, this is my favorite scent and it's rare that they bring it back for anything. 

Bath & Body Works I Love Cookie Dough PocketBac - This was just "meh" as far as the scent is concerned.  As usual, I get these when they're 5 for $5 so that I can have them scattered throughout the house and in my purse.  I actually need to grab a few out of my stash to toss in my car. 

Softlips in Jack Frosting - I think is the 2nd one of these that I've finished up & that includes EVER in my life time.  Sadly, I only have a few left.  The scent of this is like a sugar cookie & so yummy.

Ion hair color in Jet Black 1V-1.2  - I honestly only used this just to get it out from under my sink.  I picked it up a while back to do something different with my hair which didn't turn out how I'd planned.  Thankfully this time, when I mixed it with a red, it turned out pretty nice.  I don't know that I'd pick it up again though.  I do like the Ion brand though & repurchase it all the time.

All of this being said, it still makes me feel good to see myself actually stick with something, even if I don't like it, and finish it up. 

August Empties & Trash

Hey y'all!  It's that time again.  I know I'm kinda late, and I haven't really been posting much lately....but as usual I've been busy with personal stuff and have been feeling "meh" a LOT lately.

As you'll notice I added "trash" into the title of this post.  I've been randomly going through some of my make-up and getting rid of stuff that is either absolutely horrible or old and dried up.  I previously destashed some products, which are perfectly fine but just weren't me...and they're in a bag that I need to find something to do with.  I have some eyeshadow palettes that I'm thinking of selling as they don't get the love they need, but I'm trying to figure out where to do that.

I technically only finished 4 products this month.....

Pantene Natural Hair Defining Curls Styling Custard - After trying and reviewing some products a while back for natural or Ethnic hair and LOVING my results I decided to give it a try on my own naturally curly hair.  I bought this a WHILE ago when my hair started getting closer to my shoulders and I was wearing it curly more often than not.  This has the feel of a lightweight curling cream.  The smell is similar to that of the one you associate with Pantene products.  I liked this, BUT if I used too much I noticed that my hair got that crunchy feel to it.  I would run a small amount through my wet hair and either let it air dry or use a dryer...both pretty much gave the same result.  It smoothed it down a little, but didn't give me a ton of hold.  I would possibly try this again, but I'm not 100% on it.

Got2B Kinkier Curling Mousse - I've had this for a while.  I honestly had to force myself to use it.  I'm 100% in love with the Powder'Ful volumizing powder & decided to give this a try.  I think I picked this up during a sale at one of the drugstores when they had a coupon out, but can't remember.  Anywho...the reason I am not a huge fan of this is because as usual...no matter how much or little I use...I end up with crunchy hair with this.  No matter what I do.  I mean, yeah it works...it gives me curls, but it doesn't "gloss".  I think I've found a few products that actually work better for me, so I'm glad to be rid of this.

Aussie Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner - This is one of those drugstore products that I've used off & on for ages.  I love the tropical Aussie smell and how light this product is.  It also works wonderfully in allowing my brush to glide through my hair.  I will always use this....even though I'm currently using one that I kinda threw together.  Not to mention I always reuse the bottles for stuff around the house. 

HYD for Men Shave Cream - You can see my review on this HERE.  This lasted a long time and I absolutely LOVE the smell of it.  Like a creamsicle.  I'm sad that this has been completely emptied out.  If you're into paying for quality shaving products I highly suggest it. 


I recently went through my Eyeliner stuff and tossed out ones that are either tough to work with or dried up.  The L'Oreal HIP cream eyeliner in black is pretty much dry.  I picked it up at Dollar Tree or something and got a few uses out of it....but honestly I don't really use cream products that much, so it had to go.  There's a few Wet N Wild liners that came with the Holiday palettes they released in 2010 that aren't all that pigmented and kinda drag, so they get tossed.  There's a Milani and a few Essence liquid liners that are starting to dry out and change texture....so they're gone too.

So that's all I had for August.  I did just finish something up for this month already & I'm making myself remember to use moisturizer daily so that maybe I can get rid of some of the stuff I have lying around. 

What have you finished up lately that you're loving?

July Empties

Hey y'all!  Wow, I can't believe it's almost August already.  Summer is almost over, the kiddo will be back to school soon, and College Football starts later this month.

I actually finished a few more products than what I have here, but this is what I was able to save.

Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Hair Color in 6RR - This color is called Runway Red.  I had to get a lot of brassiness out of my hair which I think was the result of using my Loreal HiLights red colors.  While I was doing that, I grabbed this because it was different than what I'd been doing, which is darker more purple/reds.  I put this on and my hair looked Hayley Williams orange, it kinda freaked me out.  However, as I let it sit then washed it out, it did turn more orangey/red.  It's bright and I haven't had my hair this color in a while, but I like it.  My only problem was that it took FOREVER to mix.  The tube with the color in it split in several different places and it took about 20 minutes just to get the color out of the tube.  I might give it another try, but not sure on that yet.

Excedrin Tension Headache - I've had migraines for years, different types and different triggers.  I try to stay away from many of my triggers as much as I can.  Whenever I get a tension migraine, I take one of these along with a soda & put my heat wrap on my shoulders.  This is the only OTC medicine that seems to help.  I need to repurchase this big time.

BBW PocketBac - This one is in Rockin' Cotton and has the cutest "Mommy" tattoo design on it.  I really love these.  I have them all over my house, in my purse, everywhere.  They're easy to stock up on when they have 5 for $5 sales.  I have a bucket full of them because I tend to grab a few about once or twice a year.  The scent on this one wasn't too bad either.

Victoria's Secret Pink perfume - I absolutely LOVE this scent.  They had one ages ago, I think it was Island Passion, that I absolutely fell in love with.  Unfortunately, they discontinued it and I couldn't find a VS scent that I liked.....until this.  It's fresh and floral and yummy.  As long as they make this, I will continue to purchase it.  Thankfully, I still have another smaller bottle like this one that I'm working on as well as the body spray.

Secret Scent Expressions Deodorant - This is in Diva La Daisy.  I haven't used any Secret deodorant's other than the clinical ones in a few years.  I decided to give this a go.  It's lightly floral, but not lingering, and actually works pretty well.  I did notice a few times that it left marks on black clothing but not too often.  I'm trying out another Secret product right now, but I would purchase this again. 

Pantene Natural Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner - A while back I wanted to try a few different products specified for naturally curly hair.  I normally wouldn't try Pantene products, because they kill my hair, but heard good things about this.  It works pretty well, but I did find that I had to clarify more often while using it.  There's no way that I could use just this and nothing else.  I probably wouldn't repurchase.

WEN Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner - I tried WEN ages ago and loved it.  However, I don't like the price.  I received 2 bottles of this for Christmas & earlier this month finally finished up one bottle.  I think I actually started using it in late January though, but that is a good amount of time to last.  It makes my hair super soft, tingles a little leaving my scalp feeling amazing, and doesn't weigh my hair down at all.  I can even use a little bit just on the ends as a leave in with nothing else in my hair and zero frizz.  Right now I'm trying another alternative, but I still have the other bottle to use up.  I will always recommend this if you can afford it.

CocoaPink Ends w/Argan Benefits - You can see my review of this HERE.  I am absolutely 100% in love with this product and would recommend it to everyone I know.  It's a multi-tasker and OMG it smells amazing.  

Nivea Touch Of Waterlily Shower Gel - Thankfully I think this was the last of the Nivea shower gels from my stockpile.  I like the smell, but absolutely HATE the packaging on this.  It's a pain to open so most times I wouldn't completely press the lid down on it.  I didn't find it super moisturizing to warrant a repurchase.  If the packaging were better, I'd buy it for the smell alone. 

That wraps up the products I used up last month.  While I thought I'd finished more, it was still a pretty decent amount. 

June Empties

Hey y'all.  It's hard to believe that we're already halfway through 2014 isn't it?  Today I have my empties from the past month....which again isn't really much.  There were a few things I thought I'd finish up, but just didn't quite make it.  So they'll be up next month.

Jordana Fabu Liner Liquid Eye Liner - This is in 01 Black.  I picked this up a few months ago, tested it out once I got home, then put it up.  I just went to use it about a week or so ago and while it still has plenty of liquid...it just wasn't that great.  It's got a felt tip, and applied wonderfully the first time.  This time I used, as usual, the very tip and it was splotchy....it looked like I put black ink down then rubbed my finger to clean it up.  I couldn't do a thin line....but if I layed it down with most of the tip it would do a perfectly opaque thick black line.  Thick lines aren't great for my lids, so I'm tossing this.  I have another that I'll probably toss into my pile of stuff to give a friend. 

Paddle/Point Applicators - These are those q-tips that are pointed on one end and flat/round on the other.  A LOT of people recommend them for polish clean up, but I found they didn't really work that well for me.  I actually bought these a few years ago at Big Lots and grabbed several containers since they were, as you can see, so cheap.  I actually just ended up using these for cleaning up goofs of mascara or whatever around my eyes.  I broke the case when opening so I can't refill it....but it's working great as a palette for nail polish or acrylic paint.  I think I have a few packs left, need to find them, but I don't think I'd repurchase.

Suave Professionals Deep Conditioning Shine Mask - I can't remember if this was a gift or something from a giveaway, but it took me a while to use this up.  It has moroccan oil, which is supposed to be great for the hair, but I think this was turning my hair brassy.  I think this would work great for those of you with darker colored hair.  I did like how my hair felt after, just didn't like it turning orange over time. 

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Body Wash - This was the 2nd body wash by Herbal Essences that I used from the 3pack I got at Christmas.  So far, my favorite.  While I didn't feel that this was "hydrating" at all, I absolutely LOVED the smell.  I'm totally obsessed with the smell of coconuts, especially during the summer.  So this was perfect for that.  I don't mind having to make sure I use lotion after showering.  I would definitely repurchase this.

Ion Color Brilliance Brights in Purple - I got this ages ago at Sally's, and let it sit under my sink.  A while back I decided to mix it in with some red.  Liked the results, then I did my hair half red & half black, used this over it, and loved it.  The last time I "colored" my hair, I mixed the last half of this with a different brand of red semi-permanent color and it was a burgundy shade that I loved.  I wish this was a perm shade that you could mix with developer...but it's not too bad.  I didn't lighten my hair prior to using it, so I don't know what type of results it would have over lighter hair. 


I have also been going through my stash of makeup and other beauty products getting rid of old old old stuff.  Some things I kept around because I thought I could force myself to use them.  Like, I had this really old air freshener spray that was baby powder scented.....it was at least 6 years old.  It was time to go.  They just ended up sitting around forever taking up space.  I went through my lip products and tossed out anything that had changed in color and/or smell.  I still have more to go through though and will hopefully be doing that during the next few weeks.

May Empties & Life Update

Hey y'all!  I don't have many empties for the past month, as it's been a stressful and emotional one.  I'm not going to go too much into it at this time, because I'm still a little raw inside, but I will open up more at a later date. On top of that, I have come down with a horrible cold that has sucked all of the energy out of me. 

Now to the point of this post....my empties for the month of May.

Suave Naturals Shampoo - This is in the tropical coconut scent & is what the kiddo uses.  We both LOVE the smell of it and it's inexpensive.  Which is especially great since he still hasn't grasped that he doesn't have to pour half a bottle on his head while in the shower. 

BBW Ocean Citrus Hand Soap - I love Bath & Body Works soaps, but wasn't too big on this scent.  It wasn't bad, but it just wasn't me. 

Pledge Multi Surface - This is in the Lavender & Peach Blossom scent.  I have already repurchased this in another scent, but it's not as great.  This product is wonderful for cleaning, though I tend to only use it on my wood surfaces with a microfiber cloth.  Smells great, cleans, and shines....yeah I'll keep buying it.

Seche Vite - This isn't completely empty, but almost.  Somehow a few bits of debris got stuck in the top coat, towards the end.  I love this top coat and have backups galore. 



Now I must go eat then lie back down and finish editing some posts for the remainder of this week.  I'm hoping that I can get back into the swing of things soon as I have LOTS of stuff to share. 

April Empties

Hey y'all.  Today I have my empties post for the past month.  It isn't really a lot, because I've totally been slacking on using just one thing up.  That and I've not been focused at all.  So, I'll just get right to it. 

Stages Of Beauty Harmony Toner - If you click on the link, it will take you to my review.  I will admit that after a few months of use, I really forgot about it and it sat for a while.  I'd use it off and on, but really only when I felt I needed it.  I would definitely suggest trying out this brand though as I did actually love the product.  I'm the worlds worst at skincare and using stuff daily. 

Pond's Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Cream - This was given to me to try since it didn't work well for the use of the person who gave it to me.  I gave it a few tries, but really couldn't make myself use it at all.  It's still practically full.  I have no idea what is in it, but it makes my face BURN like crazy no matter how long I wait, after cleansing, to apply it.  If you have sensitive skin, I wouldn't recommend this.  THOUGH, I did just apply a little on some dry skin on my foot with no burning results, so I might keep it around for my hands or feet.  It does have a light-medium powdery smell if you're sensitive to that as well. 

Matrix Biolage Exquisite Oil Shampoo - I received this little sample bottle with an Ulta order that I placed a while back.  Because this isn't really good for my naturally curly and colored hair, I decided to use it as the occasional clarifying conditioner.  It did a great job at removing buildup and cleaning my hair.  It also stripped the color, but I expected that.  Of course, it has one of those amazing salon scents that I stinking LOVE.  I really need to find a "hair perfume" that smells like these salon products.  I would use it multiple times a day.

Herbal Essences Body Burst Body Wash - I believe that Santa left this with my stocking this past Christmas.  It was actually in a multi-pack with 2 other scents.  This one, Body Burst, is the citrus fragrance.  I loved the smell and it was a little energizing, BUT it did dry my skin out a tiny bit.  That is ok though because I can, and usually always need to, moisturize after. 

Equate Icebert Blue Mouthrinse - This is the Wal-Mart version of Listerine.  Besides using it for its intended purpose, I use this for my listerine foot soaks.  It's mouthwash, what can I really say that you don't already know(or should)?


That's all folks.  I'm hoping that I'll have more products next month. :D