July Favorites

"Favorites" posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) "rediscovered" items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month."

Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Foot Cream
I'm assuming this is because of the weather and I stay in heels the majority of the time, but lately, my feet are just in poor shape  Sometimes the skin on my feet just hurts... like the way badly chapped lips feel.  I have a few higher-priced foot creams that I loved but recently aren't working for me anymore.  I saw this at the drugstore for $5 and decided to give it a try.  I haven't seen a drastic improvement, but it is working.  It has seven penetrating moisturizers to heal dry, rough, and cracked heels.  It smells nice, kind of like Fruit Loops cereal. The best part is it isn't greasy. So I slather this on before bed and my satin sheets aren't harmed.

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
I've been an Urban Decay Potion Primer user for three years.  I tried one or two other eye primers but never ventured too far from Urban Decay.  Although the old Urban Decay wand tube packaging was completely wasteful and made no sense, I missed the wand applicator for mornings when I was in a hurry.  My love for NARS blushes and the wand packaging were the only reasons I purchased this.  Come to find out, I like it even better than Urban Decay.  It feels nicer, dries faster, and eye shadow still stays on all day long.  But unfortunately, compared to Urban Decay, it's less product with a higher price tag.

OPI Matte Nail Envy Nail Strengthener
My nails have always been pretty strong but occasionally, they peel.  I've been eying this product for awhile and finally decided to purchase it.  I've noticed such a difference, my nails are almost rock hard.

and a random favorite:
Conair Compact Fabric Steamer
I finally invested in a steamer.  When I say invested, I mean I spent the same cost of one dry cleaning bill. Half of my closet is hand wash only, which means wrinkles galore and most pieces can't be ironed.  I wear my silk shirts and other delicate fabrics much more often now.  I won't have to have items dry cleaned as frequently.  This steamer has also been useful for blankets, curtains, and even carpet cleaning. 



fruit loops & steamers,
-Kaitlyn

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Drugstore: Hit or Miss

I've picked up quite a few drugstore items recently. Some products I love and repurchase over and over and some weren't so great.

Drugstore BOGO half off sales, combined with spend $10 get $4 back, and/or X off your total purchase coupons make products really affordable (sometimes free.) Also, don't forget CVS's 100% beauty guarantee, you can return the product even after it's been tested.

Almay Oil Free Makeup Eraser Sticks  Hit. I've purchased these over and over again.  They're great at fixing eye makeup mishaps.  Especially on the run.

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush  Hit. Good color payoff.  Blends great.  Makes a good base for powder blushes as well. 

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment  Hit. It's one of the better undereye concealers I've tried.  Great for nose redness, too.

Maybelline Volum Express the Mega Plush Mascara  Hit. It's a nice formula, a "new gel mousse formula" lashes don't clump at all. At first, I noticed it smudging mid-day.  But I kept using it (letting it completely dry in-between coats) and it seems to be holding up better.  I've had multiple comments on my lashes and people wanting to know what mascara I used. It may work best with a lash primer.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Night Calming Cleansing Towelettes  Hit. These are the only makeup wipes I use anymore.  They get the bulk of makeup off, (I still use a separate eye makeup remover and toner, too.)  The wipes leave my skin really refreshed.

Revlon Colorstay Under Eye Concealer  Miss. It just dissolved right into lines, making under eye bags look even worse.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain  Hit. These are definitely going to be the next big thing (like Revlon Lip Butters) it's a stain, but it goes on very smooth and feels pretty moisturizing compared to usual stains.

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain  Miss. This was so awful. This product is only for you if you have perfect (never dry/chapped) lips. The product went into every line making application nowhere close to being even.

Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara  Miss.  Cool idea in theory, but the mascara didn't do much, layering the night wand on top of day turned into a clumpy mess.

long lashes,
-Kaitlyn

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June Favorites

"Favorites" posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) "rediscovered" items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month."

Because of moving, purchasing beauty products was really the last thing on my mind this month. I picked up a few from the drugstore but the majority were all very much disliked and I ended up returning them.  On the cosmetics end, this month's favorites are lacking:

Bath & Body Works Sleep Aromatherapy Products in Lavender and Chamomile 
My new apartment kind of has a smell to it. That someone-lived-here-before-you smell mixed with cleaning supplies, a fresh coat of paint, and curtains that I can't get the plastic smell out of.  I did more cleaning and then just decided to mask it with aromatherapy.  I've been loving the  Lavender and Chamomile candles and wallflowers. My apartment smells good and I'm on a regular sleep pattern.  I also picked up the Body Wash/Foam Bath, and it's wonderful as well.

Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Honey
Following the Lip Butters, Revlon came out with another amazing lip product.  These are similar to Clinique Chubby Sticks but half the cost.  (A little pricey for a drugstore lip product, but worth it to pick up a color or two.)  The stain lasts all day and is pretty moisturizing.  Unlike most lip stains, this one actually goes on even.

OPI Nail Lacquer in Fiji Weejee Fawn
This has been in my collection for awhile. I've worn it most of the month.  It's a pretty, sheer, frost nude that goes with just about anything.


"things that go with nothing kind of go with everything",
-Kaitlyn



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Bronzed

The warm weather and pale skin means one thing: bronzer!

Here's a face of the day with mostly older products:

Products Used:
Eyes:
-Maybelline Tattoo Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze (base)
-Stila Smokey Eye Sample Card
-Clinique High Definition Mascara
-L'Oreal Carbon Black Liner

Face:
-Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette
-NARS Laguna Bronzer
-Stila Kitten (sample card) as Highlight

Lips:
-NYX Lip Liner in Mauve
-Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle

bronze & shimmer,
-Kaitlyn


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May Favorites

"Favorites" posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) "rediscovered" items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month."

 My favorites are up a little late this time around. With moving and being without a laptop and internet, it was impossible to post. Because of the move, I didn't spend much time or money on beauty this month, but still managed to pick up a few things at work and shopped my stash...

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel
I received a mini sample of this and loved it. When my Cover Girl Clear Mascara (my usual, cheap, wanna-be brow gel) was used up I decided I wanted this in full size. I really like this, with just one sweep all brow hairs were in place.  By the way, you can (accidently) sleep with this on and still have brows in place the next morning, which explains the staying power for itself.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Deauville*
This was the first shade that caught my eye (mentioned in a previous post.) It really should have been my first Chanel lipstick but co-workers previously talked me out of this shade and into another. Luckily, I was gifted this color and am so happy to have it. It's been my go-to shade every day this month.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Dragon
The perfect red. I have worn this all month as well. It has a high-gloss finish.  Plus, it doesn't peel off like most polishes do; it's actually a little hard to get this off. 

Organix Repairing Awapuhi Ginger Shampoo & Instant Recovery Mask
I purchased these forever ago when they were on sale and just threw them under my bathroom counter when packing to move I rediscovered them. I have only used them a few times but the scent is amazing (lingers for a few hours) and the mask made my hair really shiny and soft.

moved in,
-Kaitlyn

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