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. 

beauty favorites, green makeup

I've been having some skin issues lately - mostly just dryness/redness and I'm not sure why. In April, I was all about skincare and wore minimal makeup not to cause any more irritation.

CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
I've been using this for about a month now and I really like it. The consistency is like a lotion, gel, and serum all in one. It dries pretty fast. I apply it before bed and wake up with moisturized skin.

Dr. Lipp Nipple Balm for Lips
I got this about a year ago with my Birchbox points. I rarely used it just because I didn't care for the consistency (very sticky) or scent. My lips have also been dry/flaky/red lately, so I was looking for a fix. I read many people raving about Lanolin on Reddit. As I was about to head to the store to pick some up, I remembered I had this. It has provided a lot of relief for my irritated lips - more so than any other product.

ELF HD Lifting Concealer
I'm not a huge fan of foundation, so I just wear concealer. When face redness kicks in, I need more coverage. I got this months ago but really haven't started using it until recently. Since green and red are opposites, this product camouflages my red spots nicely. Best of all, I'm using less concealer and I still don't have to mess with foundation.

Paula's Choice Resist Moisture Renewal Oil Booster
I received this in my Birchbox. I've barely made a dent in the sample and I've been using it nearly all month. I just use a drop or two on super dry areas before bed. In the morning, face redness and irritation is much more manageable.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Color Correcting Adjust 
I've used this for a year or two. I've really been liking it in combination with the ELF HD lifting concealer. I like the silky consistency of this primer. It helps my powder products to stay on all day long.

green makeup,
-Kaitlyn

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Empties #10

Onto another round of empties! See more information on the #100daysofempties challenge on one of my previous posts: Empties #7. Unfortunately, 100 days has passed but I'm still determined to finish up 100 products!

beauty empties

Empties:
Benefit They're Real! Mascara*
I discussed this mascara in last month's favorites. I really liked this towards the end when it dried up a bit. However, I always toss mascara after three months. I will repurchase this in the future.

Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash
(travel size) This smelled like SweeTarts mixed with soap. I generally don't like food scents, but I found this scent refreshing. The formula was moisturizing. I might repurchase this in the future.

Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

eos Medicated Lip Balm Tangerine
This is probably my favorite eos scent. The scent/flavor was nice - very citrus. This lip balm felt nice immediately after applying, but I didn't notice it really treating my lips. I probably won't repurchase this.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
So, so many people raved about this product - both in the online beauty community and people I know in real life. I finally decided to try it out. It's a little pricey but it was effective. However, I prefer coconut oil over this.

Giovanni 2Chic Shampoo
(travel size) I liked the scent of this - very coconut-ish. Unfortunately, I didn't find it extremely moisturizing.

Maybelline Define-a-Brow Pencil
I read this was a 'dupe' for Anastasia's Brow Wiz. After purchasing, I realized it's a third of the size of Brow Wiz for a third of the cost. I'll probably just with Anastasia. Not to mention, with Anastasia, you get a spoolie instead of a comb.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Boosters Facial Cleanser
(sample size) This smelled nice and was effective - I found it just okay.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes
(7 ct) This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes
(25 ct) This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Nivea A Kiss of Mint & Minerals Lip Balm
I liked the scent but I didn't find it super effective.

Paula's Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum
(Birchbox sample) I really liked this, especially on my red/dry spots around my nose. After using it nightly for just a few days, I noticed less redness. I might purchase the full size.

Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish in Mini Kitten Heels
(Birchbox sample) This is probably one of my most-used Birchbox samples. I received this in my Birchbox years ago and have used it monthly since. It's not completely empty but it has thickened up so much I can't work with it anymore. I might repurchase this in the future.

Schwarzkopf essence Ultime Omega Repair & Moisture Shampoo
(travel size) I found this pretty drying, I didn't care for the formula or scent.

Schwarzkopf essence Ultime Omega Repair & Moisture Conditioner
(travel size) This was more moisturizing than the conditioner, but I didn't care for the scent.

Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant
(travel size) This was my old HG deodorant. I've switched to clear/roll-on to avoid stains on my clothes.

Skintimate Dry Skin Moisturizing Shave Gel
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Simple Cleansing Micellar Water
This was super effective and gentle. I liked Bioderma a little bit better. But for the cost and availability, this is a good option.

Swisspers Cotton Rounds
(100 ct) This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator
(Birchbox sample) I got my hands on a few more samples from a beauty swap. In the past, I said I would purchase the full-size, I'm sure I still will!

candles

Candles:
Bath & Body Works Rio Red Guava
(3-wick Candle) I liked this scent but it didn't burn properly towards the end.

Better Homes and Gardens Tranquil Garden Spa Wax Cubes
(6) This is my new favorite wax melt scents; it smelled so clean and refreshing.

Glade Poppy Grove Candle
I didn't really care for this scent. It smelled nice at the store, but was ended up being too floral for me. When burning, you could barely smell anything. I like candles/melts to make the whole room smell pleasant.

Yankee Candles Beach Walk Votive
This and Fluffy Towels are my favorite Yankee scents. I've been through so many of these.

Totals:
#100daysofempties totals: I've completed 84 products in 125 days.
#oneemptyonedollar totals: $16.33 remains in my beauty budget.

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Sephora Favorites: Skinstant Radiance

Calling all high-end skincare lovers, RUN to your local Sephora inside of JCPenney! One of my favorite things is to try out new high-end skincare. I don't have the budget to spend $40-$100 on one single skincare item, like a lot of companies charge. I always end up going for these value sets or beauty boxes that feature an assortment of skincare products. After trying them out, I can decide if it really is a miracle product and worth the high price tag.

Sephora Favorites

Nouveau Cheap posted about this value set on Tuesday. I have been loving all of my other Sephora Favorites sets and knew I had to have this one. Not to mention, yesterday also launches the Beauty Insider 10% off sale with code "BILOVE". (Yes, I'm on a no-buy but I always hoard my Christmas gift cards for the April sale.)

I believe this set is available only in-store at Sephora inside of JCPenney; you can not purchase it online.

sephora favorites

The Skinstant Radiance Set has 11 skincare samples and a makeup bag. The set says it's a $110 value, I had a difficult time believing that, so I did my own calculations:
  • bareMinerals Mineralixirs 5-Oil Blend (0.1 oz.) - $2.94 value
  • Boscia Tsubaki Oil-Infused Exfoliating Powder (0.35 oz.) - $5.97 value 
  • Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF45 (0.17 oz.) - $4.42 value
  • First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser (1.0 oz.) - (1.0oz retails for $5.50 at Sephora)
  • GLAMGLOW Powermud Dualcleanse Treatment (0.5 oz.) - (0.5oz retails for $19 at Sephora)
  • Josie Maran Argan Infinity Intensive Creamy Oil (0.16 oz.) - $2.04 value
  • Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser (1.0 oz.) - $5.34 value
  • Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel (0.1 oz.) - $4.20 value
  • Peter Thomas Roth Rose Stem Cell Bio-Repair Cleansing Gel (3.3 oz.) - $14.75 value
  • Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Lotion (1.7 oz.) - $1.50 value
  • St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Lotion (2.85 oz.) - $14.96 value
  • Sephora makeup bag - unknown value
I didn't triple check my math and I could've possibly made an error; according to my calculations, the product value comes out to $80.62. I guess Sephora put a $29.38 value on the makeup bag? (Someone please correct me if you see an error.)

Either way, $35 (plus 10-15% off) for $80+ worth of product and a makeup bag is an awesome deal! I'm super pleased and happy with this purchase. I haven't tried any of these exact products; I'll get to try out new skincare for months!

HE skincare junkie,
-Kaitlyn

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March 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.
benefit cosmetics

Benefit Rollerlash Mascara*
(sample size) I have been loving this mascara since day one. It gives the illusion of curled lashes without the lash curl curler. While I'm not a fan of the lash curler to begin with, this mascara does make my lashes feel more curled and voluminous.

mascara eyelashes

Benefit They're Real! Mascara*
(pictured above) This mascara has been one of my favorites for awhile. In the past, I've only ever tried the sample size. This full-size tube is creeping up on the three-month mark and I'm starting like this mascara even more dried out a bit. I feel like it's even more thickening with the drier consistency.

Benefit Gimme Brow Tinted Brow Gel*
I have been pretty lazy when it comes to makeup lately. (It's been pretty humid lately, makeup just feels so thick.) Filling in my brows with a pencil has been the least of my worries. On days that I still want a more polished look, I've been loving this tinted brow gel. I've never used a tinted brow gel before, so I'm not sure how it compares to other brands. It's definitely easy to apply and provides good results.

Benefit obsessed,
-Kaitlyn

Disclaimer: I received all of these products for free (through promotions and giveaways); this does not influence my opinion in anyway.

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Blogiversary Giveaway 2015 (CLOSED)

4/28: Congrats, Kara! Thank you all for entering. This giveaway is now closed.

I can not believe my blog turns FIVE this month! As a thank you to current followers/subscribers and welcoming new ones, I'm holding my annual Blogiversary Giveaway!


Prizes
One lucky winner will receive:
• Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette
• $10 Starbucks Gift Card
• Deluxe lip products:
------ The Balm Read my Lips Lipgloss in Bam!
------ The Balm Stainaic Lip & Cheek Stain
------ bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Speak Your Mind
------ Marc Jacobs Beauty Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl in Kissability
• a few more surprises!

Rules & Terms
• This is open to all followers and subscribers, both old and new.
• This giveaway is open to the USA only.
• Ages 18 and older can enter.
• Applicant must follow/subscribe to this blog and complete the Rafflecopter widget. Additional entries are available across social media platforms; these are not mandatory but will better your chances of winning.
• The giveaway will close April 27, 2015 at 11:59 pm (Central Time)
• Winner will be chosen through rafflecopter.com and contacted on April 28, 2015 via email. Winner has two days to reply with their mailing address or another winner will be chosen. Winner will be announced on this blog post once their address has been received.
• Social media accounts must be public at the time of drawing.
• Accounts created for the sole purpose of giveaways and/or those who give false entry information will be disqualified.
• This giveaway is not sponsored or affiliated with any mentioned social media platforms, companies, or brands. All prizes are new and were purchased with my own money; the prize package is valued at approximately $60.

How to Enter
To enter, please complete the Rafflecopter form below. (GIVEAWAY CLOSED) You must Follow or Subscribe to this blog. Additional entries are given for blogging about this giveaway, following me on Twitter, tweeting about this giveaway, following me on Instagram, and reposting the giveaway picture on Instagram.

Good luck!
-Kaitlyn

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