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.

makeup + Grab & Go Pony Tube

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet
This has been the best moisturizer I've tried to date. It's pricey at $39, but I think it's well worth it - especially if you spend Birchbox points on it. This moisturizer feels and smells so amazing. It's great on my normal-to-dry skin.

L. Erickson Grab & Go Pony Tube 
These ponytail holders are like acceptable (modern day) scrunchies. They keep my thick hair in-place without damaging my hair or leaving major creases. I received my first one in my Birchbox nearly a year ago. I panicked whenever it became a cat toy and decided to finally own more than one.

MAC Whirl Matte Lipstick
I've been eyeing this MAC lipstick for awhile. I gave one away in April, and I got one for myself to celebrate my blog turning six! This brown/mauve/my-lips-but-better shade would work on all skin types. I like applying a light sweep - it's build-able, too! I love the feel and smell of MAC lipsticks. It's been awhile since I've had a fresh tube!

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm
This is an excellent night time lip balm. This balm is very thick - but in a good way. It has a pleasant orange scent. I've already finished one pot in my last empties post. I decided to go ahead and purchase another. My first pot was $19, I'm happy to see the lowered the price to $15. (You can get this 20% off during beauty.com's upcoming Friends & Family sale.)

modern day scrunchies and orange lips,
-Kaitlyn

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Blogiversary Giveaway 2016 (CLOSED)

4/25/16 Update: Congrats, Maryum! Thank you all for entering. This giveaway is now closed.

My blog turns six this month! As a thank you to current followers/subscribers and welcoming new ones, I'm holding my annual Blogiversary Giveaway!

giveaway

Prizes
One lucky winner will receive:
• $15 Sephora Gift Card
• MAC Matte Lipstick in Whirl
• Tony Moly Skin Purifying Sheet Mask
• Tony Moly Radiance Sheet Mask
• Wet n Wild Foundation Brush
• Wet n Wild Large Eyeshadow Brush
• Wet n Wild Powder Brush
• some mystery/surprise deluxe samples

Rules & Terms
• This is open to all followers and subscribers, both old and new.
• This giveaway is open internationally.
• Ages 18 and older can enter.
• Applicant must follow/subscribe to this blog and complete the Rafflecopter form. Additional entries are available across social media platforms; these are not mandatory but will better your chances of winning.
• The giveaway will close April 24, 2016 at 11:59 pm (Central Time)
• Winner will be chosen through rafflecopter.com and contacted on April 25, 2016 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. Those who immediately unfollow after the contest will be blocked and ineligible for future giveaways.
• This giveaway is not sponsored, affiliated with, or endorsed by 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 $65.

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, tagging two friends on Instagram, and reposting the giveaway picture on Instagram.
Good luck!
-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.

Spring always motivates me to try more new products and take even better care of my skin. I discovered a few great products this month:

beauty favorites

ELF Shape & Stay Wax Brow Pencil
I purchased this on a total whim. I've been using brow gels for the past few years; I've never tried a wax pencil... I was missing out. This twist-up wax pencil is an excellent product for only $2. I'll brush my brows, run the wax pencil over them, then fill them in. I've noticed I'm using a lot less brow product now, too. This wax pencil doesn't necessary glue your brows like the gel; it comfortably keeps them in place.

Jordana Easyliner for Lips in Honey Dip
Rock'n'Rose was my HG shade. I grabbed the shade Honey Dip during a Cyber Monday sale. I've been wearing this lip liner all month. It's slightly more natural looking than Rock'n'Rose. All of the Jordana liners are great for under $3. I really like how they're retractable, some higher-end liners still don't have that feature.

Nivea Invisible Roll on Deodorant
(WHY are Nivea deodorants not sold in the USA? I feel a little weird ordering deodorant online.) I really like the Pearl & Beauty deodorant. I decided to try out this one. Clinical deodorants work best for me but I'm really tired of them ruining all of my clothes. I switched to roll-on a few months ago, I find I have to apply it a few times a day but my clothes are in excellent shape - I guess it's a trade-off. This Invisible Black & White Deodorant smells a lot like fresh laundry/Woolite, which I'm definitely a fan of. I don't agree with the 48-hour claim, but I think it's a nice product.

Wet n Wild 1 Step Gel Nail Polish
I've turned into a nail polish snob... I've always thought drugstore nail polishes weren't all that. I prefer to purchase Zoya or OPI. Some Youtubers were raving about these 1 step gel polishes. I was intrigued and decided to give them a try. I purchased Left Marooned and Power Outage for 40% off at Rite Aid. After using them only twice, I really like them. They last just as long as my OPI/Zoya polishes.

Yes to Coconut Body Scrub
I've been on a coconut product kick lately. This scrub is meant to be used on dry skin. (This was a new concept to me; my past scrubs required water.) This scrub is very scratchy in a good way. It rinses away and doesn't leave any residue in the bath tub. My skin was left feeling so clean, soft, and refreshed.

wax pencils & Woolite deodorant,
-Kaitlyn

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Empties #17

Bimonthly empties are becoming my posting pattern. It's nice not having the pressure of trying to finish products on a timeline, like last year. Here are all of the products I finished in February and March:

beauty empties

Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks
These are an unnecessary product, but they're very convenient for eyeliner and mascara mishaps. I usually stock up on these when they're on super-sale.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Caramel
This was my old HG, I then switched to the dark brown shade. I'm currently using the NYX brow pencil - which is just a fraction of the price. Brow Wiz is an excellent product; I just go through them way too quickly.

Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil
(Sephora sample vial) I wasn't a fan of this. I didn't notice any difference in my hair.

Derma E Hydrating Scrub
(Birchbox sample)  I didn't care for this scent to use the scrub on my face. I primarily used it as a body scrub. It was nice, but I probably won't purchase the full size.

Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash
I'm really growing fond of this body wash; I immediately repurchased another large bottle.

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.

ELF Eyelash & Brow Wand Spoolie Brush
This $1 brush is awesome at taming brow hairs. The spoolie eventually just has too much product buildup on it. For only $1, I don't mind replacing it every few months.

Gillette 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 
(PINCHme Box sample) I've used a few of these samples; this lotion is effective, but better ones are out there.

L'Oreal Mythic Oil Hair Mask 
(Birchbox sample) I really liked this hair mask. It smelled nice and made my hair really soft and manageable. This is an excellent mid-range mask.

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara
I really liked this mascara. It was easy to work with and provided a lot of volume. I didn't care for the packaging - it was way too chunky. I'm typically a drugstore mascara girl, but I might repurchase this in the future. (Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.) 

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair
At first, I thought this concealer was great and possibly even a NARS dupe. Halfway through the tube, the undertones just became too pink for me.

N Spa Coconut Rich Body Butter 
(Walmart Beauty Box sample) This body butter was rich and smelled great; it was really moisturizing. I liked it but I still prefer the body butters from The Body Shop.

NARS Audacious Mascara 
(Sephora sample) I didn't care for this mascara. It wasn't anything special on its own. I would sometimes layer it with other mascaras.

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 Pearl & Beauty Deodorant
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm
I think this is the most expensive lip balm I've ever purchased... I used every last drop. I really liked using this product at night. I definitely saw some improvement in my lips. I plan to repurchase another in the near future.

Olay Wet Cleansing Cloth (1 ct)
This makeup wipe was very effective. The single packets are great for one or two-day travels.

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid 
(Birchbox sample) I didn't notice any difference in my skin while using this, I found it left too much product residue.

Peter Thomas Roth Oilless Oil Squalane 
(BeautifiedYou sag Sample) This oil was really nice. It didn't leave an oily residue behind but it did make my face feel moisturized. I might repurchase this in the future.

Revlon Ultimate All-in-One Mascara 
(Target Beauty Box) The mascara was a little weird at first, but it definitely grew on me. I liked it after it dried up a bit. I'm curious to try the other mascaras in this line.

Secret Clinical Strength Invisible Solid Deodorant 
(travel size) This was my old HG deodorant, it's effective at blocking sweat but it stained so many of my clothes.

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

candles

Candles
Better Homes & Gardens Warm Rustic Woods Candle and Better Homes & Gardens Warm Rustic Woods Wax Cubes (6 ct)
I really like this scent. The wax cubes are awesome and make my whole house smell great. The throw on the candle just wasn't there; I could barely smell it.

Better Homes & Gardens Tranquil Garden Spa Wax Cubes (12 ct)
This is one of my favorite scents; I won't continue to rave.

Glade Spread Cheer (Amber & Bergamot) Candle
This candle was a Target exclusive and came out for Christmas. I really liked this scent; it wasn't that Christmas-smelling to me. I went back to purchase more a few days after Christmas and they were already sold/transferred out.

Yankee Candle Line Dried Cotton Tart
I liked this tart in the package but while burning it just wasn't that strong.

Yankee Candle Tahitian Tiare Flower Tart
I really like this scent. I'll probably purchase more tarts and candles in the future. The scent is very similar to the Dove Body Wash mentioned above.

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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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