RECENT BEAUTY EMPTIES !!!!

So I collected some of my beauty  empties............

The most effective way to get through this seems to be by category so lets begin with one of my favorite things to purchase: 

 CLEANSERS

1. URBAN SKIN RX Even tone cleansing bar- This I loved so much that I immediately purchased back ups. So its a solid cleanser meant to even out the skin, but can also be left on the skin for up to 3 min as a mask.  It comes with a sponge for application however I used my clarisonic with it. I used it as a night time cleanser and  found that it did brighten and even out the skin. 
2. GLOW RECIPE blueberry bounce gentle cleanser- This was just okay..its an overpriced cleanser that was supposed to brighten. It worked okay at cleansing but didn't brighten, I also had an issue with this jelly like formula sliding out of my hand (not cool considering the price). I might have repurchased it in the future but I recently discovered that they not only changed the packaging but added fragrance so thats the end of that. 
3. GARNIER  SKINACTIVE  micellar cleansing water- I hated this at first, its watery and didn't seem to remove makeup well. Took me a while but I figured out how to make it work for me, I found that this gentle cleanser was great in the morning. Its scent free cheap and easy to find I would buy it again.

                                                                      MASKS

1. CLINIQUE acne solutions oil control cleansing mask- I like this and have repurchased it. Its simply a salicylic and kaolin mask thats fragrance free and decently priced. This only needs to be on for 5 minutes so  I used as an in shower face mask. 
2. PAULAS CHOICE pore clarifying charcoal gel mask- its no secret I love paula's choice so when she came out with a new mask for oily skin I had to try it. I like it I wouldn't say it was better than her " skin balancing oil absorbing mask " but its good. What I enjoyed most about this was that it didn't get stiff in the tube and applied easily. This is however a relatively thin clay mask took needs building up to get that opaque mud mask look. I'd buy it again.
3. ORIGINS clear improvement active charcoal mask- This one is a classic that I repurchased multiple times. I really do enjoy using it and will continue to buy it.

                                                     TREATMENTS AND TONERS

1. PAULA'S CHOICE skin resurfacing 2% bha liquid- this I've used an repurchased many  times, its a salicylic acid toner which is good for acne prone skin. Although many other brands too carry salicylic toners paula's is the only i've found that was alcohol  and fragrance free.  I used this if I had a break out or felt one coming.
2. PAULA'S CHOICE skin balancing pore reducing toner- This is one of my favorite toners I consistently repurchase, its has antioxidants and caramides and is also fragrance free.  This won't leave your skin feeling tight and can be used daily at anytime. 
3. DRUNK ELEPHANT framboos glycol night serum- I liked this but I'm not 100% sold on it. Its a glycol treatment meant to brighten and even out the skin.  It seemed to work okay  but its just so expensive and this is coming from someone who loves high end.  I dabble between this and the glytone rejuvenating lotion (which is cheaper and goes as high as 20%) ...I  guess I wish DE would offer discounts.

SUPPLEMENTS AND MISC

1. EMERGEN C immune plus chewables- I love this , they taste great and keep me from getting sick. It contains vitamins C,D,E,B6,  and ZINC. At about $12 they are a bit pricey  get mine at target .
2. RAINBOW LIGHT women's one multivitamin supplement- I like these...I know i'm not the best eater so I try to make up for it by taking supplements and this is currently my brand of choice. This rainbow light brand is vegetarian and gluten free, however they are hard to find I've only been able to find them online. 
3. MAC prep and prime fix plus- I love fix plus, I have tried something else I also love but fix plus is the original bae. I pretty much only wear powder foundation so I used this to rid myself of that cakey look.  I can use it in the summer and winter months despite having ridiculously oily skin. 

 

BODY
                                                     

1. NUBIAN HERITAGE Indian hemp and Hatian vertiver 24 hr natural deodorant- I liked this..it smelled nice and worked okay in the winter. I couldn't use this as a summer deodorant because it isn't an antiperspirant and wont keep me dry . I used this mostly for days when i wouldn't be out long or stayed in. 
2. SUMMER'S EVE cleansing wash- Ive used this for years and will continue to do so. I have no adverse reaction using this and feel extra clean when I use it. Summer's eve isn't expensive and is easy to find, I always get this pink one.
3. SKINTIMATE skin therapy shaving cream- I always get this and still love it. The scents aren't offensive, they don't irritate my skin,and are cheap.  

SEPHORA HAUL!!!!!!

Well it is kinda late...as you know Sephora had somewhat of a surprise sale. As a rouge I was able to partake in 20% discount so I picked up some things. (I didn't like that the coupon only applied once online and unlimited instore, I'm much more of an online shopper). Here's what I got.

OLAPLEX No4 bond maintenance shampoo
OLAPLEX No5 bond maintenance conditioner
OLAPLEX No3 hair perfecter
SHISEIDO facial cotton
BOSCIA black charcoal blotting linens (x3)
YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE spirulina + microlage kale spinach age prevention superfood mask
ALGENIST liquid collagen lip
VITAL PROTEINS collagen peptides
FOUR SIGMATIC mushroom coffee mix

                                                          

FIRST AID BEAUTY skin rescue acne clearing charcoal cleanser with probiotics 

CLARISONIC deep pro brush heads

PAT MCGRATH LABS Matte trance lipstick in "venus in furs"

I can tell you right now I cannot wait for another sale I absolutely love the pat mcgrath lipstick formula and that first aid beauty cleanser is amazing .

COLOURPOP NEWBIE

Okay so I finally took the plunge and got a few Colourpop items. I've been seeing their items specifically the lip products everywhere and needed to try them out for myself. The price is great so I figured it was worth getting a few. The Ultra Matte Lip sticks (which are currently extremely popular) are $6, while the Lippie Stix are $5.  I got 4 liquid lipsticks and one matte Lippie stix.


They come in nice packaging considering the price point. I'm a bit of a high end snob and much of that has to do with the poor packaging that some of the cheaper cosmetics come in. There are a few things I will note though, the liquid lipsticks can get messy since a lot of product comes out when you pull it out so be careful not to tip over the tube while its open. Im not sure if they apply the stickers with the names right before packing them but one of mine has no label at the bottom.



The 4 I got in that exact order:    Bumble, Chilly Chilli, Beeper, and Lychee.

They are nice they swatched nice and applied nice. On the lips the liquid lipsticks pick up any and every wrinkle on your lips.
Chilly Chilli gets awkwardly dark in the center of my lips once dried so I had to put a lighter shade of lipstick in the center of that one and voila got this.


This is the "MATTE Lippie stix" in Peppermint
Now I do like this lipstick but I do not think its at all matte, its a lot like the Mac amplifieds. Its pigmented but moisturizing so its great but just not matte.

Im satisfied with my purchase so much so that I'm planning to get a few more. I don't see myself getting the eyeshadows/blushes though but I think I'll try a few of their eyeliners.  Oh yea they don't ship right away, you can expect them to actually ship them within days after you place your order it comes from California.

RECENT EMPTIES!!!!

Theres this thing some bloggers and vloggers do where they show beauty and bath products they've recently finished. In showing these items they also include mini reviews SO I decided I wanted do a post. I have finished more products but to keep this post short and sweet I saved just a few that way I can give you my opinions on them.

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1) NIVEA IN SHOWER BODY LOTION- I got the one for very dry skin and honestly I didn't think it was all that special. I loved the scent but I didn't feel moisturized after using it. I even added oil and glycerin into the bottle but still didn't think it worked well.

2) OLAY QUENCH PLUS FIRMING BODY LOTION- I actually loved this lotion, can't say I noticed firming though.  It was a light feeling moisturizer but did leave my skin hydrated and even had a slight shimmer to it. I would absolutely re purchase but unfortunately its discontinued. 

3) TRADER JOES ORGANIC COCONUT OIL- love this and have purchased it over and over again. I love coconut oil for my skin and hair and specifically love getting the trader joe's brand because its the cheapest organic one I've found. Its a light oil that leaves a beautiful sheen yet doesn't have a strong scent.  I can add it to moisturizers without it changing the scent, and its light texture makes it a  go to everyday hair moisturizer. 

4) ALPHA HYDROX  SILK WRAP BODY LOTION- This was my first time trying this lotion and I liked it. its a glycolic acid based moisturizer, which was supposed to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth and I found that it did. I also thought it was quite moisturizing for something containing an AHA. I used it up rather quickly because  I liked it so much and will get another bottle. (beware if you have sensitive skin since it contains an acid)

5) GNC WOMAN'S ULTRA MEGA ENERGY & METABOLISM supplements- I loved these when I first got them. They are decent supplements with tons of great minerals and vitamins all in two caplets. After while I cringed when I took them because of the scent. I don't know if I will get them again because  I hate the smell so much. 

6) PAULA'S CHOICE SUNCARE extra care non-greasy sunscreen- I loved this for a while, its a great  unscented straight to the point sunscreen. This one has SPF 50 its broad spectrum and can be used on face and body. However i will admit it does leave me shiny I will continue to repurchase regardless.

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1) WOMEN'S ROGAINE- I purchased this when I was experiencing extreme shedding. I wasn't sure of what to expect but I think it was a mostly positive experience. It does work to rebuild areas that do normally have hair. The only draw back is that it made my scalp really dry and flaky, I would repurchase.

2) COPPERTONE CLEARLY SHEER FOR SUNNY DAYS- This has an SPF of 30, I used this sunscreen on my body all summer long. I didn't experience any negative reaction despite this being scented.  It worked out well I wasn't left with a white caste and the smell subsided after I had it on. I would purchase it if I wanted a sunscreen other than my usual (probably won't happen anytime soon).

3) COPPERTONE SUNSCREEN CONTINUOUS SPRAY- This has an SPF of 50 and it was quite oily plus it had a high alcohol content, because of this I pretty much only used this on my legs and feet. It also had fragrance. I liked the convenience of it because it was really easy to spray on and did leave a nice sheen. I don't know if I would repurchase but if I did it would only be in the summer specifically for my legs. 

4) PAULA'S CHOICE CLEAR ANTI REDNESS EXFOLIATING SOLUTION- This was a toner that contained salicylic acid which is why I bought it. I used it for acne of and on whenever I had a breakout or thought I felt one coming. It doesn't eliminate pimples but does help. I will repurchase. 

5) LADY SPEED STICK- I bought this in a two pack right before summer began because I knew I'd need something stronger than a natural deodorant during the warm months. I thought it worked just fine and I have no complaints. I am tired of the scent now but I still have another one to go through. Its a cheaper deodorant that works so yes I would repurchase. 

6) PAULA'S CHOICE REDNESS RELIEF TREATMENT- I bought this to use after shaving my under arms and inner thighs. I don't know if it made a huge difference in that regard but I did enjoy using it as a facial toner. I probably will repurchase just don't know when.

HEAD & SHOULDERS MOISTURE CARE REVIEW

SO as a member of BuzzAgent I received the new  Head & Shoulders Moisture Care  line to try and I must say I am over all completely satisfied with the performance. Prior to trying this line I used another very popular blue dandruff  shampoo and this one has it beat. Pyrithione zinc is the active ingredient in the wash and conditioner and it worked well to keep my itchiness and dandruff at bay.  It not only left my hair feeling clean and soft but it smelled great, days after washing my hair I still had that freshly washed hair smell. 

 These were the three items I tried from the line:

                                               

•      Heres a pic of the 7 product benefits on the back of both the shampoo and conditioner:

The Head & Shoulders Moisture Care  2-in-1 shampoo is also part conditioner and  is infused with vitamin E,  Almond oil and coconut essence. The fusion of the two left my hair clean but it wasn't at all dry feeling. I have Locs (also known as dreadlocks) and its hard to find a shampoo that will foam up upon first wash while cleaning it and this performed well.

The Head & Shoulders Moisture Care Co-Wash is the conditioner also contains vitamin E, Almond oil and coconut essence and can be used after washing for more manageable moisturized hair. Since I don't have loose hair my area of focus was on how soft if would make my hair feel and this did leave my hair soft and moisturized. Side note although it says co-wash the directions do suggest that it be used after washing so I would consider this a legit conditioner and not a co wash conditioner. 

The Head & Shoulders Moisture Care Scalp soother I'm a bit on the fence about, its formulated with peppermint oil and vitamin E and gives a really cooling effect on the scalp. Its supposed to give itching relief and moisture in between washes.  I don't know if it really added moisture since it contains alcohol. I found that it felt great on a dirty scalp and the peppermint did sooth itching. However on  freshly washed scalp it felt painfully cooling and came off as too harsh. This one I would say needs to be used with caution. 

 Heres a pic of my dirty hair before washing:

Heres after a washing session using the new Head & Shoulders Moisture Care line:

You can get these practically anywhere there at drugstores, target and various online stores with prices ranging from 4 to 7 dollars so its a steal. 

**Although I did receive these products as samples to try from bzzAgent my opinions are absolutely my own and honest ones.

Coppertone Clearly Sheer

The dreamiest sunscreen just kidding but really a nice one you may just want to take a look at. Summer is approaching and although you should be wearing sunscreen all year round a lot of of us go on this massive hunt to find one around this time. Well I'm here to tell you about the Coppertone Clearly Sheer. I'm a BzzAgent and I received free product and coupons this product to try.

Now I've tried many sunscreens I have specific things I always look for such as fast absorbing I really cannot pull of the ghostly look), won't break me out, will work under makeup, and doesn't have a strong smell. Pretty much I want everything in the Coppertone Clearly Sheer  description:

"Absorbs in seconds for a clean and light feel

Moisturizing formula helps leave helps leave you skin soft and smooth 

Won't clog pores or cause breakouts (clinically tested on acne prone skin)

Matte finish is perfect for use under makeup"

It has as standard white color but absorbs really nicely which can be difficult to find when you are a women of color. There was no white cast and it felt nice and smooth, I've taken three pictures  to show now nicely it blended in

 HOW IT FIRST LOOKS

STARTED BLENDING IT IN

VOILA BLENDED FULLY

See no white cast isn't that great... I will however admit I don't love the smell, it isn't AT ALL offensive in any way but I prefer fragrance free skincare products but I didn't have any adverse reactions with this.

MARY KAY

So as you know I am an Influenster member and as such get the opportunity to  try new and exciting products. Well recently I was sent a complimentary box from Mary Kay with some interesting products to try out. They were in this pretty pink and black box and look at the greeting ...

Cute huh! Anyway one of the products in this box was the Mary Kay cream eye color in the color "violet storm"

Prior to receiving this product I had never tried a cream color and felt a little skeptical about how the color would adhere to the skin but found myself impressed with how it swatched

It feels smooth almost like a "balmified"(completely made up word) eyeshadow

so I tried it out on my eye to see if this color would translate similarly and heres how it went..

I applied the cream eyeshadow without putting on any primer and  it looked pretty good. I even felt like it was pretty enough to wear alone with a simple winged liner. The application was simple all I did was sweep the color across the lid. This color was vibrant enough to be worn alone but could also be used as a base.

I havent heard much about Mary Kay prior to receiving VoxBox and was pleasantly surprised by how the products performed.  From Makeup to skincare Mary Kay has a wide selection of products and I encourage you to try them out for yourself http://www.marykay.com/

**btw I received these products for reviewing purposes and I'm completely honest about my how I feel about them