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."

TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter
This has been on my lust-list for quite some time; I finally decided to purchase it last month. I'm really impressed with the pigmentation & staying power. The packaging is super cute and a great touch, too.

Clarisonic Mia 2
I never understood all of the Clarisonic hype but when I was offered a major discount, I decided to finally jump on the bandwagon. I've used this every other day for the past few weeks. I can already tell a difference in my skin.

Real Techniques Blush Brush
It was finally time to retire my 5-year-old Mary Kay angled blush brush after it began shedding continuously. I was surprised by the high quality but low price tag of this new blush brush. I plan to check out some of the other Real Techniques brushes.

Zoya Sooki Nail Polish
(Calling all True Blood fans!) Zoya is becoming one of my favorite brands of nail polish and I keep adding more to my collection. I purchased this at the end of April, but it has been my go-to color all of May.

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April 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. 

Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for lids, lashes, & lips
I'll admit, this was a long-time favorite that I just got tired of paying for. (A little pricey at $18.00.) I've been using drugstore removers for the past few months; most of the time, I was still waking up with mascara on after I thought I had gotten it all off the night before. This remover truly does get everything off easily... no surprise raccoon eyes the next morning!

Maybelline Chic Naturals Expert Wear Peal Eyeshadow in Champagne Fizz
I needed a new lighter (paler) highlight shade. This caught my eye at CVS, a complete impulse buy, and luckily, it works great. It's slightly chalky compared to some of my higher-end shadows, but it gets the job done especially for the price (around $4.00.) It looks great on the brow bone area.

Olay Wet Cleansing Cloths
I've been a fan of Olay wipes for the past few months. I saw these at my local dollar store (3 for $1.00) and I grabbed a few packs. These do a great job at getting all of the makeup off without leaving a sticky feeling behind. I've been loving these since they're individually wrapped. These are great to keep in your purse for last minute sleepovers or when you have those I-need-my-makeup-off-now moments after a long day.

Oscar Blandi pronto invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray
Every dry shampoo I have tried in the past has a left a white residue behind. I received this with my Birchbox points awhile back, but I promised myself I would finish all my other dry shampoos before I started to use this one. This is my favorite one, simply for the fact that it is clear - great for us dark-haired girls! Not a huge fan of the scent... something lemony. But overall, it's still a good product.

Victoria's Secret Love my Body Nearly Nude Body Wash in White Tea & Sage
I purchased this during the semi-annual sale, but I didn't start using it until the beginning of the month. It smells amazing and has a great texture. The scent isn't overpowering, so you can still layer it with your other products. It makes a decent bubble bath, too!

lemon hair and no raccoon eyes,
-Kaitlyn

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Haul: Chic Week

a small Sephora Haul & First Impressions

If you didn't know, Sephora's Chic Week is currently going on. (April 12 - April 21) During this time, everything at Sephora is 15% off both online and in-stores. Sephora usually only offers discounts twice a year, so it's a great time to try out new products or stock up on favorites. Luckily, I also had a gift card - so it combined with the sale allowed me to mark off a lot of my wishlist for a small out-of-pocket cost. I purchased:

Caudalie Beauty Elixir
This has been on my wishlist for so long. Most everyone in the beauty community has raved about this product. I always put off purchasing it because of the high price tag and I never really understood the concept.  But so far, so good - I like the herbal scent and the refreshing feel it leaves behind.

Soap & Glory Flake Away Body Polish
Remember my last Chic Week haul?  (It was my first time trying Soap & Glory products.) Once I got past the overwhelming smell and childish packing, I really liked the products.  I used all of them up and I've made a few repurchases since.  I decided to try something new.  I've only used this body polish once; I enjoyed the signature Soap & Glory scent and the fact that the product is coarse but not abrasive.  However, I didn't see or feel much of a difference in my skin with the first use.

Soap & Glory Hand Food Hand Cream
I've purchased the full-size tube twice.  This time around, I wanted a small tube to keep in my purse.  This really is a great, reasonably-priced hand cream that is worth the hype.

Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in DEA
I purchased this once before but never got to use it.  (It broke/melted in the mail, so I ended up returning it... I should've taken that as a sign.) Some of my drugstore concealers work equally as well, if not better.

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Travel Duo Fragrance Set
I'm so weird and picky when it comes to perfumes.  Every time I visit a beauty or department store, I would always "test" this perfume.  I've always liked it, but I didn't completely love it.  Regardless, I finally purchased my own little bottle.  This set was the best value .75oz of perfume for $35. (The .68oz spray is $50!) I still really like the perfume but I'm afraid it doesn't work with my body chemistry.  It smells great when I spray it on in the morning - a floral scent with a touch of herbs.  But by the end of the night, the perfume smells like a cheap, musty, vanilla scent.

All in all, I'm happy I finally marked off the majority of my high-end beauty wishlist. I'm going to try out these products for another week or two; I might end up returning a few or they may make it to my April Favorites ~ stay tuned!

hauls & herbal sprays,
-Kaitlyn

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