September 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. Here are my belated September favorites -

Caudalie beauty favorites

Caudalie Skincare
I've been loving all things Caudalie lately. All of their skincare products feel and smell amazing!

NYX Stay Matte Not Flat Powder Foundation
My Revlon pressed powder broke. I heard a few YouTubers raving about this NYX powder. I decided to give it a try - so far, I'm really impressed. It gets rid of shine and sets concealer really nicely. It doesn't leave a powdery or cakey look.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette
The Naked 2 Palette is by far my favorite. In September, I've been gravitating towards the Naked 3 Palette - this palette really screams 'it's fall' to me. Most of the colors really make my green eyes pop, too!

powders & palettes,
-Kaitlyn

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Empties #14

Does hoarding trash ever stop feeling weird? Here are all of the products I finished in August and September:

beauty empties

ACT Advanced Care Mouthwash in Clean Mint 
(This was sent to me for free.) I've never tried ACT mouthwash before. I'm not sure why. I've always gravitated towards Listerine or Scope. This mouthwash was excellent, it didn't feel like a war was happening in my mouth, like the other mouthwashes. I'll definitely repurchase this in the future.

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel 
I've had this for over a year. While it wasn't completely empty, it was no longer clear. I liked this a lot but I don't feel like it's worth the price. Lately, I prefer tinted gels.

Bath & Body Works Love & Sunshine Shower Gel 
(travel size, GWP)  I don't really remember this scent; I don't remember liking or hating it. Like all Bath & Body Works shower gels, it lathered good and also made a good bubble bath.

Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/Medium
(This was sent to me for free.) I really liked this. It's pricey for such a little tube. I recently purchased Maybelline's similar product. I might purchase the Benefit one.

Clairol Hair Food Moisture Mask with Honey Apricot Fragrance 
(Target Beauty Box) I hated this. The scent was awful. I don't like food-scented products to begin with; this reeked of imitation honey. It was decent on the ends of my hair. Overall, it made my hair feel weighed down and my scalp have product build-up. I used about half of the bottle; I just can't make myself finish it.

Clear Complete Care Shampoo 
(travel size, Walmart Beauty Box) I've purchased this shampoo in full-size multiple times in the past. I really like it. It smells good, lathers good, and leaves my hair feeling clean. I might repurchase it again.

Clinique Clarifying Lotion
I purchased this over a year and have used it almost daily since. I asked for the big bottle - I had no idea there were three sizes; I wanted the medium bottle. While this was a better value, working with it full was nearly impossible. I ended up decanting the product to use it. I have - finally - finished all 13.5 ounces of this. This is really effective. While it was my holy grail toner, I'm a little tired of it I'm looking for something new.

Clinique Take the Day off Makeup Remover
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Dove Go Fresh Revitalizing Body Wash (mandarin scent)
(travel size, Walmart Beauty Box) I've used a few of these now. I like the scent and the lather. I actually just purchased the full size in the plain scent.

Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar Soap (2)
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant 
(sample size) I really, really like this product. However, I do not like the full-size price tag. I've been gravitating towards gift sets and beauty boxes that have a sample of this product. It's an excellent exfoliant.

Joico K-Pak Shampoo 
(travel size) While the K-Pak Conditioner is my holy grail, the shampoo is just okay. I like it, but probably won't purchase the full size again.

L'Oreal Oleo Therapy Oil Infused Shampoo & Conditioner 
(travel size, Target Beauty Box) One of these bottles went MIA before the photo (aka probably accidentally in the trash.) I liked this scent. The smell and lather were pleasant. There was no product buildup left behind. I might repurchase these.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
I didn't like this mascara, my lashes felt and looked really limp and heavy throughout the day.

Mirenesse Curl Mascara 
(Birchbox sample) This mascara was just okay, it gave a more natural look - rather than the false-lashes look. I won't be purchasing the full size.

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.

Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunscreen SPF 85
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Nivea Touch of Happiness Body Wash 
(travel size) This was my holy grail body wash in high school, I'm just not liking it anymore.

Oribe Cote d'Azur Perfume Sample
I thought this would smell like all of the amazing Oribe hair products. Unfortunately, it didn't. The scent was still pleasant. It sort of reminded me of Marc Jacob's Daisy - light and fresh. I won't purchase the full size.

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray 
(purse size) This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder in Fair 
I've had this powder for over a year. I hit pan, then the powder cracked, then one of the hinges broke off. While it's not empty, I think it had a good life. This was effective for concealer-setting and mattifying. I recently purchased the NYX Stay Matte powder; I like it a lot better.

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Lotion 
(travel size) I love the way Soap & Glory products smell. I've been through a few tubs of the Righteous Body Butter - I like it a whole lot better than the lotion. The lotion just wasn't moisturizing enough for me.

Swisspers Cotton Rounds (100 ct) (2)
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator 
(deluxe size) This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Venus Sensitive Skin Disposable Razor 
I'm not a fan of these; I'm just trying to get through the package to go back to the Venus + Olay razors.

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Perfume Sample 
I have a love-hate relationship with this perfume. It smells excellent but doesn't work with my body chemistry. I typically just spray it on my clothes or around the house. I have a few samples on hand. I probably won't purchase the full size.

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow in Creme Brulee 
This eyeshadow was horrible. I typically like Wet n Wild products but this was entirely too chalky to work with. It's not empty, but I'm tossing it.

Candles:

candles

Better Homes and Gardens Tranquil Garden Spa Scented Wax Cubes 
(value pack, 12 count) This is becoming my staple scent. I'm looking forward to when this scent comes in candle form, too!

Glade Cashmere Woods Large Jar Candle 
This is my favorite Glade scent. I'm so glad they make large candles now. It's definitely a great value!

Luminescence Fresh Linen Candle 
This was a Dollar Tree find; I thought it would be a dupe for Fluffy Towels. It smelled nice in the jar; however, while burning, it had little to no scent.

Method Scented Beach Sage Soy Candle 
I wanted to try some of the Method candles for the longest time. Beach Sage is my favorite Method scent. I finally decided just to purchase this during the last Target Method sale. For $6 and little burn time, it's not the best value. The scent was nearly nonexistent while burning. The Method Beach Sage Surface Cleaner smelled stronger than this. I will not be repurchasing Method candles.

Yankee Candle Fluffy Towels Medium Jar Candle
Yankee Candle Fluffy Towels Votive
This is my favorite Yankee scent; I won't continue to rave.

Yankee Candle Coastal Waters Tart 
Yankee Candle Harbor Breeze Tart 
Yankee Candle Meadow Showers Tart 
All three of these run together in my head. They're all clean and fresh scents. I liked all of them, but no more than my current favorites.

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August 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

Alpha Hydrox Extra Strength Deep Therapy Foot Cream
My feet have been so dry lately. My lips and feet have always been problem areas for me. I was looking for a new foot cream that would really help; this cream had great reviews. It contains 12% glycolic acid, so it really penetrates and exfoliates. I've been using this nightly most of the month and my feet have definitely improved.

Mr. Robot
I marathoned the television series Mr. Robot this month and I really enjoyed it. If you're a fan of the movie Fight Club and shows about technology and mental disorders, definitely check Mr. Robot out! The show has 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Ocean Water
I visited the beach for a vacation at the end of August. Ocean salt water does so much good for your skin. After just one day there, my skin felt lighter, softer, and refreshed. Ocean water is more or less a natural exfoliant; my dry patches and blemishes completely disappeared. Not to mention, I had natural beach waves all week - with no product required!

OPI Push & Shove 
Purchasing this polish was sort of an accident. I was on the hunt for silver craft paint, and ended up purchasing this on eBay for $6. I was intrigued - a polish that required a mandatory base coat and no top coat. (Plus, who isn't a Gwen Stefani fan?) It promised "one night of wear" - which was somewhat off-putting. This polish only lasted two days before flaking off badly. I feel like OPI could've improved the formula a bit more. The color was so awesome - I felt like I had mirrors/reflectors for finger nails. This polish is good for occasions, but it can't handle normal use of your hands.

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
I raved about this spray in the past. I started a second bottle this month. In my opinion, it's basically an all-in-one product - dry shampoo, texturizing spray, light hair spray, and hair refresher. It smells so amazing. The only negative is the price - $42 for a full-size bottle. I'm saving Birchbox points!

mirror nails & beach waves,
-Kaitlyn

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Review: YSL Touche Eclat Blur Perfector & Primer*

I was beyond excited to find a YSL package in my PO box a few weeks ago. High-end/luxury products just aren't in my budget, so getting the opportunity to test new products from YSL was exciting! Both of the products - the primer and perfector - promise to extend the life of your make-up. Over the course of a week weeks, I tested both products.

YSL

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Primer
The full size is 1 oz and retails for $52. (I received a deluxe/trial size .33 oz.) 

I was a little worried when I saw the gold flakes in this primer. A glitter face is the last thing I want to 'blur' my imperfections and be under my makeup. Surprisingly, you do not see the gold flakes when applied. This primer feels heavy and really silky at first. It takes a few minutes to really sink in and dry/mattify. When I was in a hurry, I found this annoying. It did make my skin feel good and soft. It also made some of my pores less noticeable. Unfortunately, I didn't notice my makeup staying on any longer. (I'm in the southern heat, I'm not sure if that's why.)

YSL Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Perfector

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Perfector
The full size is 0.33 oz and retails for $55. (I received a full size.)
The packaging is beautiful. The compact feels sturdy and snaps together nicely. The perfector comes with a cloth/velour sponge. The sponge doesn't fit in the compact, nor is there storage space for the sponge. I found this annoying - how am I supposed to store and travel with the sponge while protecting it? The balm is slightly sticky but silky at the same time - the sponge left cloth partials/lint in the balm - I also found this annoying and decided just to apply it with my fingers. The balm is a tinted rose color. I was a little worried at first since my skin is more yellow-toned. Luckily, it goes on clear; there's no color pay off.

On the first few days of testing, I used on this on my bare skin - it made my skin feel good and soft and somewhat evened out my skin tone. However, it didn't 'blur' redness. Next, I tried it under my makeup (concealer and powder) - that was a poor decision... my makeup looked flakey. It made my dry skin look drier. Next, I used it over my makeup - as a setting powder. I blotted it all over with my fingers; I noticed fine lines that I never really notice. The best use I found for the Blur Perfector is using it as a brow gel to keep my brows in place. While that's not what's made for, I found it being the most effective for this task. I do not like heavy brow gels; this balm has just enough of the sticky feeling to keep hairs in place.

Bottom Line: After seeing so many raving reviews, I'm really sad to say these products just didn't work with my normal-to-dry skin and current, minimal, makeup routine. I didn't notice a major difference in my skin while using these products. While they're good ideas and somewhat effective, I do not think the price tag matches the results. The primer is potentially worth looking into. In my opinion, the blur perfector is an unneeded extra step. I will not purchase these in the future.

Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.

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Empties #13

Here's all of the products and candles I've finished in the month of July:

beauty empties

Acqua Di Goila EDP
(sample) I've always liked this scent in the store. I received a sample of this perfume and started wearing it daily. It's a good summer scent - very clean and fresh. Although I'm not sure I like it enough to purchase the full-size.

The Body Shop Shea Shower Cream
(gift set/travel size) This was effective and smelled nice, but there are definitely better shower products out there.

Camille Beckman Tuscan Honey Hand Cream
(Birchbox sample) I received this in my Birchbox a long time ago. It was effective, the scent was too strong for me personally. I ended up finishing it as a night-time foot cream.

Derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub
(beauty bag sample) Firstly, this sample package annoyed me - it looked and felt like a large sample. Like you were getting a lot of product. I hit pan in no time... the shallow part of the container was only as deep as the lid. You received more plastic than product. As for the product itself, it was nice - a creamy scrub with a light scent. I prefer Vasanti or Dr. Brandt over this.

Dr. Jart+ Dermaclear Mirco Water
(Birchbox sample) This is probably my least favorite micellar water I've ever tried. It took so much product to get so little makeup off. Simple and Bioderma were a lot more effective (using way less product) than this.

Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash
(beauty box/travel size) I've used up a few of these so far. This has been favorite body wash sample to date. It smells like soap and Shocktarts combined. The lather is excellent. It's moisturizing enough for shaving. I plan on purchasing the full size.

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

Josie Maran Argan Infinity Intensive Creamy Oil
(gift set/sample) I wasn't a fan of this. It was incredibly oily and I didn't feel moisturized after it sunk in.

La Roche-Posay Rosaliac AR Intense Serum
(beauty box sample) This sample packaging also annoyed me. It looked like a smaller deluxe-sample. However, it only had 2 mL of product (less than foil packets do) plus lots of air and plastic. The packaging stated it was for a single use, but I used it for a few nights. I didn't notice any difference in my skin.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser
(Birchbox sample) This was effective and made my skin look and feel good. I already repurchased more of the muslin cloths. I might purchase the cleanser, too!

LUSH Mint Julips Lip Scrub
This product is sort-of gimmicky. While I did enjoy using it, and it was somewhat effective, I'm not sure I'll repurchase it. I used about half of it the jar and realized it expired a long time ago.

Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara
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.

Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunscreen (SPF 30)
I really like all Neutrogena sunscreens - they're light/non-greasy and don't have a strong sunscreen smell. I've already repurchased more!

Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme
(Walmart beauty box sample) This smelled like an old-lady cold cream. It was somewhat effective.

Noxzema Mini Razor
I used to really like these razors for areas prone to nicks or irritation. I haven't seen these razors in-store in a long time, so I ordered some online. These are a lot different than the old ones... the guard is different - larger - making it impossible to effectively grab/cut hair. It won't cut your skin - but it also won't cut the hair. I will not be repurchasing these.

Olay Sensitive Body Wash
(beauty box/travel size) This didn't lather or smell great.

Oribe Signature Shampoo & Conditioner
(gift set/travel size) I'm obsessed with Oribe styling products, so naturally, I wanted to try out the shampoo and conditioner. I ended up cashing in some Birchbox points for a gift set. While this set did make my hair smell excellent, I didn't notice any difference in my hair. Neither product was extremely moisturizing. For the high price tag, I expected a lot more.

Prescriptives False Eyelashes Mascara
(Birchbox sample) I heard good things about this mascara, so I was really excited to see it in my Birchbox. I didn't like this mascara at all. It wasn't buildable. It didn't leave the 'false eyelashes' look, but more of a natural look instead. Even with my long eyelashes, this mascara didn't seem like much.

Venus Sensitive Skin Disposable Razor
I purchased a package of these on Amazon just because of the price point and good reviews. These razors only have 3 blades - which seems weird for sensitive skin - less blades, more irritation, in my opinion. I'll use all of these up but I'm looking forward to purchasing the Spa Breeze or Venus + Olay ones again.

Yankee Fluffy Towels Medium Jar Candle
This medium jar filled the whole living room with fragrance. It's one of my candle scents! I won't continue to rave.

Yankee Fluffy Towels Votive
Votives are excellent for smaller rooms. One of my candle scents! I won't continue to rave.

Yankee Golden Sands Tart
This scent/throw was really light; I barely smelled it while burning.

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