February 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.

makeup nyx and colour pop products

Colour Pop Lumière Lippie Stick & Pencil
NARS Anna has been on my wishlist for the longest time, but I still can't justify spending so much on a lipstick. Lumière was supposed to be an exact color dupe, so I decided to try it out first. I'm extremely happy with the shade... a purplish-my-lips-but-better color. I'm a little bummed the pencil isn't twistable. Like most matte products, the Lippie Stick formula is slightly drying. I've been wearing either/both of these most of the month. Nonetheless, I still want to get my hands on NARS Anna.

InterDesign Vanity Organizer 
I was aimlessly shopping in TJ Maxx and found this vanity organizer for under $5! My old acrylic tray tray wouldn't fit in my new Ikea Alex drawers, so I've been wanting a new storage solution. I tried making my own dividers and using plastic drawer dividers... neither worked that well. I'm so happy I found this! It has two medium-sized compartments and three small round compartments - excellent for mascaras and concealers. The textured rain design on the bottom is nice a touch; everything in my drawer stays in place now:

makeup organizer

NYX HD Concealer in Fair
My old concealers were no longer matching my pale winter skin... I purchased five concealers this month. This NYX one was by far my favorite. (I returned the other four.) It has a hint of orange to combat dark circles, it hides all blemishes, and it doesn't cake.

NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Brunette
I FINALLY discovered a cheaper dupe for Anastasia Brow Wiz. (Hallelujah!) This NYX pencil is identical to Anatasia... the packaging, the shape, the brush, the size. (The main difference is the cost: Anastasia retails for $21 while NYX retails for $9.99.) The NYX shade range is a little wonky; I originally purchased Chocolate (way too red) and exchanged it for Brunette. The NYX formula is slightly less waxy - which I actually like more, it's easier to blend.

affordable dupes,
-Kaitlyn

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January 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.

swell bottles, beauty favorites

Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara* 
I mentioned this product last month in my favorites. I'm still really liking this mascara - especially layered with the Revlon mascara mentioned below. Disclosure: I received this product complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.

Revlon Ultimate All-in-One Mascara 
I received this in a Target Beauty Box. At first, I thought this mascara was weird. The mascara brush is comparable to many bottom lash mascaras. The tiny rubber brush actually helps to coat every single lash. I'll apply this all over my lashes, then top it with Marc Jacobs at the base for more volume. It almost looks like I'm wearing false lashes.

S'well Bottle (17oz)
I've been wanting a S'well bottle for the longest time. While drinking lots of water and not using plastic bottles is super important, I just couldn't justify spending nearly $40 on a water bottle. My sister gave me this for Christmas; I'm so glad she did. I've been using it daily. It's very sleek and easy to carry. The best part - ice water really DOES stay cold for a day. (Even without the lid on!) I love waking up in the middle night and still having ice water on my nightstand.

Urban Decay Naked Palettes 2 + 3
Both of these palettes have been long-time favorites. Recently, I've started gravitating towards the more purplish-shades: YDK and Busted from Naked 2. From the Naked 3, I've really been liking the orange shade: Trick. While all of the shades are on the neutral shade, the hint of purple/orange really makes my green eyes pop more.

big lashes & ice cold water,
-Kaitlyn

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Empties #16

I started #100daysofempties as my 2015 New Year's Resolution. While it's not my 2016 New Year's Resolution, I still plan to keep posting my empties. I don't enjoy hoarding trash, but I do enjoy seeing a picture of everything I finished up. Here are all of the products I finished in December & January:

beauty empties

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Dark Brown
Brow Wiz in caramel was my old HG, I received this shade in a gift set and I think I like dark brows a bit better. I really like this product but I seem to fly through them. $21 for .003 oz every 2 months isn't that economical. I recently purchased the NYX Dupe - which is half the cost.

Bath & Body Works Vampire Blood Pocketbac Hand Gel
This is my favorite scent of hand sanitizer. It comes around every Halloween and I usually stock up! I've already started a new bottle.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara
(deluxe sample) I like this mascara; it provides lots of volume. It's really good for layering with other mascaras.

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter
(travel size) I really liked the scent of this. This body butter was very moisturizing, but I just prefer coconut oil.

Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk
(travel size, Birchbox sample) I really love all Caudalie products but this one was just okay. There was nothing special about this face wash, unfortunately.

CVS Cotton Swabs (200 ct)
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar Soap
I'm not sure if Dove reformulated or I purchased the wrong soap this time around. The box doesn't state 'unscented' like the old one - but everything else on the packaging was the same. This soap has a weird smell from the ingredients; it's no longer truly unscented.

Eucerin Aquaphor Lip Repair
This was one of my old favorites. This tube is a few years old, so I'm finally tossing it. I'll repurchase another in the future.

Hada Labo Tokyo Anti-Aging Facial Mask
(Target Beauty Box) I like sheet masks for convenience. I didn't like this one - it left my skin feeling very sticky and dry instead of moisturized and refreshed.

Gilette Venus + Olay Razor Cartridge (2)
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Gold Bond Healing Aloe Cream 
(travel size, Pinch Me Box) I primarily used this as a foot cream. It was decent, I didn't notice a major improvement in my skin.

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
(travel size, Birchbox) I didn't really care for this dry shampoo. It left residue, smelled funny, and made my hair feel even more oily at the end of the day.

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara
(deluxe sample) This mascara wasn't anything special on its own. I liked layering it over other mascaras - like Benefit's They're Real! or using it for touch-ups.

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter in Fair
I think this is supposed to be a dupe for YSL's Touche Eclat. I'm not a fan of liquid highlighters, but I decided to give this a try. It didn't cover my blemishes well, nor did it add very much glow to my face. I used about half of this product and finally decided to toss it. I plan to stick to cream and powder highlighters.

Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara
I thought this was going to be a dupe for Benefit's Gimme Brow. Unfortunately, I was wrong. While the concept is similar - the brush on the Maybelline one is HUGE. It's a mascara wand - it's not good for people with thin brows - me. I only used about half of this.

Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara
This was the worst mascara I've purchased in a while. I totally fell for ads and commercials. This mascara was so messy and heavy. I only used it for a few weeks - not. a. fan.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla
I really liked this concealer at the beginning. Towards the end, I noticed it settling into my pores and creasing. I think I'm going to stick with drugstore concealers.

Nature's Way Organic Coconut Oil (16oz)
It took me nearly two years to finish this POUND of coconut oil. I primarily used this as a body lotion. After I got out of the shower, I would put a tablespoon or two into my hand, let it melt, then slather it on my entire body. It helped a lot with shaving bumps. It made my skin feel so smooth and moisturized, and the oil gave my skin a nice sheen. I already repurchased another tub!

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes (25ct) (2)
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Parlor Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray 
(travel size, Birchbox) I really liked this at first. I quit using it for awhile, then went back to it. While it did add texture, it made my hair feel more dried out than moisturized.

Pure Silk Raspberry Mist Shave Cream 
(travel size, Walmart Beauty Box) Not a fan. I prefer shaving gels. This cream was anything but moisturizing - it left me with major shaving bumps and razor burn.

Stella by Stella McCartney Eau de Parfum (3.3oz)
This is my HG perfume. I use a few sprays daily. (I hoarded the smallest amount for awhile. I received a new bottle for Christmas - so I finally finished this one up.) It took me nearly two years to finish this bottle!

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

Zoya Remove+ Nail Polish Remover (32oz)
I FINALLY finished nearly a LITER of nail polish remover. This stuff is awesome at easily getting every speck of nail polish off. Plus, it doesn't have that awful acetone/nail polish remover smell. I purchased this over two years ago and would refill my big flipper bottle. I imagine I'll repurchase this again.

candles

Candles
I finished up lots of candles over the past two months. I really like Christmas scents so I was burning a candle or wax melt constantly.

Bath & Body Works Alpine Cheer 3-Wick Candle
This scent was my favorite out of the list below. I went back to purchase more and they were already out of stock. I hope they bring it back next year!

Bath & Body Works Evergreen 3-Wick Candle (2)
This scent was my second favorite. It smelled like a forest of Christmas trees.

Bath & Body Works Fresh Balsam 3-Wick Candle
This scent was just okay, I liked it much better in the jar than burning.

Bath & Body Works Party Dress 3-Wick Candle
Meh. I didn't really care for this scent. It smelled lovely in the jar. While burning, it smelled totally different and kind of gave me a headache,

Better Homes & Gardens Soft Cashmere Amber Wax Cubes (6ct)
This is one of my favorites - if you're a shea fan, grab these! It smells very clean and girly.

Better Homes & Gardens Warm Rustic Woods Wax Cubes (6ct)
I really like this scent. I've purchased a few more wax melts and received a candle as a gift.

Thymes Frasier Fir Votive
This was a gift. I really liked this scent. For the price, the throw and the burn time wasn't that amazing. I'd recommend Trapp's White Fir candle over this.

Woodwick Poplar & Pine
This was also a gift. This was my first wood wick candle. Unfortunately, the crackling sound was a cat-magnet. The flame on this was so high, even with trimming. I liked the scent but just prefer normal wicks

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2015 Beauty Favorites

Happy 2016! I'm excited to bring you my annual favorites for a SIXTH year! It was neat to look back on my favorites from 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 then compare them with the products I've used (or continued using) this year.

(The products marked with - means it is a type of product that I do not use, or I just didn't find a miracle product for the year.)

These are all products I have used continuously throughout the year. I have repurchased most of these or I will in the future. I have recommended them to friends and family, and I recommend them to you.

beauty favorites

Makeup
Blush: NARS Orgasm
Bronzer: Benefit Cosmetics Hoola
Brush: Sigma F35 Tapered Highlighter
Concealer: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer Treatment
Eyebrows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Dark Brown
Eyelash Curler: -
Eyeliner: NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Rue Bonaparte
Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette
Eyeshadow Primer/Base: ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer
Foundation: -
Highlight: BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Moonstone
Lipgloss: Lipstick Queen Hello Sailor
Lipstick: Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer in Comet
Lip Liner: Jordana Easyliner for Lips in Rock 'n Rose
Mascara: Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express
Powder: NYX Stay Matte Not Flat Powder
Tool: Beautyblender

High-End Brand: NARS
Drugstore Brand: Maybelline

Body
Bath Product: LUSH Sex Bomb Bath Bomb
Body Exfoliator: LUSH Ocean Salt Facial & Body Scrub
Body Lotion: Coconut Oil
Cuticle Cream: -
Nail polish: OPI Coca-Cola Red
Top Coat Polish: Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
Nail Tool: Glass Nail Files
Nail Polish Remover: Zoya Remove Plus
Fake Tanner: -
Foot Cream: Coconut Oil
Hand Cream: Caudalie Hand & Nail Cream
Perfume: Stella by Stella McCartney
Shower Gel: Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash
Soap: Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar
Teeth Whitening: Plus White 5 Minute Maximum Whitening Speed Gel

Haircare
Conditioner: Joico K-Pak
Electrical: Clairol Hot Rollers
Hair Dye: -
Hairspray: -
Hair Oil: Moroccanoil Treatment
Dry Shampoo: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
Mask: Macadamia Deep Repair Masque
Miracle Product: It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Spray
Shampoo: Clear Scalp and Hair Shampoo
Tool: The Wet Brush

Skincare
Exfoliator: LUSH Ocean Salt Facial & Body Scrub
Eye Product: -
Cleanser/ Bioderma & Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes
Facial Mask: -
Lip Treatment: NUXE Rêve de Miel
Moisturizer: Origins Vitazing
Toner: Clinique Clarifying Lotion

here's to the best,
-Kaitlyn

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December 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. I feel like I'm cheating a bit, I had two of these products only half the month of December but they quickly became my daily go-tos.
beauty favorites

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Fresh 
I tried the original formula of Batiste years ago; I didn't really care for it. I decided to try Batiste again, and I'm glad I did. I purchased the scents Sassy (which really reminds me of Tyler Candle's Diva fragrance) and Fresh. Both leave the same results but I like the way Fresh smells a whole lot better. The scent is like fresh laundry mixed with a hint of salon. It's weird - but I like it. The spray comes out and immediately leaves a white residue but I just rub it in or brush it out. This dry shampoo absorbs oil super quick and adds texture. I typically wash my hair every three days; with this product, I've been pushing four or five days.

Bioderma Sensibio H2O w/ Pump
I tried a sample of Bioderma towards the beginning of the year. I really liked it but just didn't want to pay that much for makeup remover. (I tried the Simple Micellar Water, which was effective - but no where near as good. Recently, the Garnier Micellar Water is all over the place. I haven't tried that Brand yet - but I plan to.) Beautylish had a Black Friday deal on Bioderma - buy two get one free + free shipping. So I finally pulled the trigger. (Side note: it arrived in the cutest packaging with a hand written letter.) It has a pump! Pumps make all the difference in the world late at night when you're feeling extra lazy/tired but must take off your makeup. Best of all, it's fragrance-free. Bioderma is so effective at removing every bit of eye makeup - even stubborn mascara. Occasionally, I also use this as a toner.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara*
I'm not going to lie, I'm a drugstore mascara girl at heart. I enjoy sampling high-end mascaras from time to time; this was no exception. This mascara provides a TON of volume. I really like applying a thick layer, letting it dry, combing it with a metal lash comb, then applying another thin layer - it looks like I'm wearing false lashes. (I don't have the time or patience for those.) The mascara doesn't flake or clump and it comes off pretty easy with micellar water. Disclosure: I received this product complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.

laundry hair & major lashes,
-Kaitlyn

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