May 2016 Empties

Welcome to the beginning of June, which means it is empties time! To watch the video click the video below! I split this post into two categories: makeup, beauty! Enjoy! 

Makeup Empties

1. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk (Not Repurchase)- I am so excited to have this finished! While it was a fun color, I prefer to have a neutral base for my eyeshadows.  
  

2. Liplicious If the Tiara Fits (Not Repurchase)- I am excited that I was able to finish this! I have been working on it for months and I am glad to say good bye!   

3. E.L.F. Blush in Candid Coral (Might Repurchase)- This blush was really powdery and started to break off and kick up lots of powder as I used it. I am glad I used it up when I did because it clearly needed to go.  

4. E.L.F. Concealer in Fair (Not Repurchase)- This was not a very great concealer. It didn't cover many things up and it oxidized pretty bad during the day. 

5. Cynthia Rowley Brightening Illuminator (Not Repurchase)- I received this from Birchbox and while I liked it, it wasn't my favorite. I mixed it with my foundations but it made them turn a little too pink for me. 

6. Au Naturals Trio Sampler (Not Repurchase)- I received this from Birchbox and besides the samples being quiet small the product was not good. It was very greasy and hard to get out of the container.

7. L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara in Blackest Black (Not Repurchase)- This mascara gave GREAT volume, but it came at being very clumpy and I prefer more length then clumpy volume.

8. Tea Tree Pore Minimizing Primer (Not Repurchase)- It did okay keeping my makeup on, but I need a primer that works on brightening my face because pores aren't something I currently struggle with. 

9. C.O. Bigelow Menthe Lip Shine (Not Repurchase)- I decided to finish this up because I realized I had two of them. I do really like this as a lip gloss but it is not moisturizing. I want my makeup collection to shrink and to do that I am going to want/need multi-tasking products and this is not one of them. 

Beauty Empties 

10. Bodycology Sweet Seduction (Not Repurchase)- While this lotion was great I am trying to move to more natural lotions. I have some other ones to get through first but I would recommend this lotion if you want a cheap alternative to Bath and Body Works. 

11. Perricone MD (Not Repurchase)- I believe I got this at Sephora. I used it up and was glad it had SPF in it, but I didn't notice anything great so I will not purchase the full size. 

12. Botanics Eye Cream (Not Repurchase)- This was an okay eye cream. I have one eye cream left, after that I will not be purchasing eye cream and I will just use face moisturizer for that area. 

13. Marcelle 3 in 1 Micellar Solution (Not Repurchase)- I received this in my Birchbox and really loved it! I will not being purchasing the full size because the Simple Micellar Water is cheaper and works just as well. 

14. Clinique Happy (Might Repurchase)- I really liked the scent of this! I might repurchase it. I plan on once all my other scents are gone going to into a store and deciding which perfume I would like. 

15. Garnier Fructis Full and Plush (Might Repurchase)- I really liked this Conditioner,  I want to try some more natural hair products. Leave your recommendations below! I would repurchase this though it really did volumize my hair. 

And those were my May Empties!  By the end of 2015, I want to have 300 products. I had 102 products in January thru April. Now, in May there were 15 for a total of 117 products which is pretty great! 

Let me know if you have ever tried more natural shampoo! Have a wonderful day!

~Annelise

First Impressions: Royal Apothic Cuppa Cuppa Firming Tea Treatment Mask

I am going to start reviewing some of the products I received in my Birchbox through out the month. I always have so much to say in my reviews a month later! Today we are going to do a first impressions on the Royal Apothic Cuppa Cuppa Firming Tea Treatment Mask, I received this in my December Birchbox and can't wait to try it out.  

Before
Brand: Royal Apothic I had never heard of this brand before receiving this in my birchbox. On the brand's website its says "The idea for Royal Apothic was born in a London bookstore, where designer and cosmetics veteran Sean O’Mara discovered an old apothecary manual tucked amid the dusty tomes. Inspired by the fragrances and formulas within, he developed a line of bath and body products that are as evocative to the senses as they are effective on skin." 

Product: This product is clay based. It is has black, green and white tea and other great things for your skin! It looked a little weird, but I like it when masks have color so I know exactly where the product is going.

My Face: The last two weeks I have had a lot of projects and finals. As a result, my face has been freaking out, it needed a good mask! I also washed my face with the Aveeno ultra-calming cleanser before I applied this mask.

During
Feeling: The product texture was like a mouse but when you put it on your face you could feel the sand like particles gently exfoliating your skin. At first like most masks you can move your face but after 10 minutes (you can take it off after 8, but I like leaving masks on a little longer) you can't move it. I liked this mask because even though it did get hard it didn't feel like it was pulling my skin which I liked. 

After  
Effects: I felt the cooling long after I washed my face! It made my skin feel so soft. I love it! My skin also feels firmer and looks a little brighter!
Price: $58
Overall, I love this product. Even though this is a little pricey it is defiently one of the face masks I am going to consider buying when I use up the face mask I already have. I was planning on using my Birchbox points, so the price is a little less of a big deal.  What is your favorite face mask? Have a wonderful day! 

~Annelise

March Birchbox Review

Birchbox is a box I receive each month, I always do a unboxing haul and then a review to see how the products were and if I would purchase them. Enjoy!

1. Air Repair by Rescue Balm (Won't Purchase)- This product is suppose to be a multi-use product that repairs dry skin. I used it on my lips and it was too oily and it isn't super moisturizing either when I used it on my elbows. I did use it on my cuticles before I painted my nails and it did help, however I have another product that I like better for that. 

2. Tinted Matte SPF 30 for Face by Coola (Repurchase)- I love this stuff! I like that it has SPF 30 but it still makes your face look so good. It is similar to a BB cream in the fact that is hides your flaws and evens your skin! I would definitely recommend it!  

3. Go Be Lovely Lavish Hand Creme by Illume (Might Purchase)- The smell of this product is amazing! I got mine in the scent Thai Lily which is bali mango, Asiatic lily and teakwood. This hand cream is moisturizing, however it's not the most moisturizing hand cream. It smells amazing and mositurzies well enough that I might have to purchase this product! 

4. Argon Oil7 7 in 1 Non-Foaming Shampoo by Nelson J. Beverly Hills (Not Repurchase)- I wanted to love this shampoo, it smells amazing (citrus mint). It did make my hair soft, but it also seemed to make my hair greasy. It also had tiny blue beads in the shampoo and I found a few in my hair, which I didn't like. My hair is picky, but this shampoo is not for me. 

This picture was taken when I first got my box and before I had tried them

5. Tea Pouches by Might Leaf- I love tea, so I was happy to  get this in my birchbox! I liked the Chamomile Citrus and the Green Tea Tropical a lot and the organic early grey was okay. I am not usually a fan of black "bitter teas, but it was okay not my favorite. 

This picture was taken before I tried it

6. Dark Chocolate Cherry Tango by Ghiradelli-  This was a fun surprise in my Birchbox. I am not a huge fan of dark chocolate but this was good, I liked the hint of cherry! I am not sure if there were a display of Ghiradelli chocolates if I would pick this one, especially if white or milk chocolate was an option 

Thanks for reading! Have a fabulous day!  

~Annelise

February Favorites!

I can't believe February has passed! I feel like the weeks and days go by so slowly, but the months are flying by! Am I the only one who feels like this? Let me know below! In the process of trying to use things up, I haven't bought very many things, so there are not a ton of favorites, but the are rediscovered loves! 

1. John Freida Frizz-Ease Leave in Conditioner- I love this stuff (clearly it's in my favorites) but it is seriously the best! If you have hair that is fine, frizzy, and easily tangled this stuff is for you! It is light-weight and doesn't cause my hair to get greasy, a wonderful thing!  

2. Bath and Body Works Glowing Body Scrub in Sweet Pea- My body has been so dry with the winter weather we have been having, this stuff is perfect for a little exfoliating. I add it in with my normal body wash for just a little exfoliation and it is wonderful for exfoliating my skin and not tearing it apart. It smells good, Sweet Pea is a fruity floral scent. 

3. 100% pure Fruit Pigmented Strawberry Blush- This blush is so pigmented and beautiful. It also came in wonderful packaging, but the blush broke so I keep it in a Pyrex container now. This blush is 100% natural, 100% vegan, gluten free and it is colored with fruit and vegetable pigments instead of minerals or synthetic dyes. I would definitely check out this blush, they have all kinds of other colors.

4. Befine Lip Serum with Chamomile & Beets- I used this serum every morning before I put on my makeup. I love it because my lips have been so dry and cracked this month no matter what I put on them, so in the morning this serum made my lips feel so good and soothed them. My tube is completely gross because it is thrown in with my makeup so I took an image off the internet so you can see what it looks like. 

5. Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Toffee- This product is in my favorites so I like everything about it right? Wrong, I love how it feels on my lips and how moisturizing the product is and that it gives my lips some color and shimmer. I love multi-purpose products. The one thing I don't like about it is the color, I have had this product for awhile but I think I was looking for a nude, but this color is like a nude purple on my lips. I would get another one of these just in a different color because I wear this one all the time at my house (I actually just put some on before I started typing this post). 

6. Nail polishes- I have three nail polishes this month and I have nail posts on all of them so I will the the posts down below. 

Ruby Wing- Kitten Heels












Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - So Much Fawn 










Essie - Chinchilly  (love this color for this time of year. I haven't worn it yet, but maybe soon)

7. Private Selection Acai, Pomegranate & Blueberry Green Tea- I love tea, but when I tried this for the first time I fell in love! That might be a little dramatic but this is my favorite tea that I have ever made. I love all the fruit with the green tea. This tea is a must try! 

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed! Let me know what your favorite product was in February! I hope you are having a great March!  

~Annelise

January 2014 Favorites!

It is the end of the month and that means it is favorites time! Every month on my Beauty Channel, I make a video showing my favorite products of the month. This month is will be live on January 31st. Here, on my blog, I post extra information and pictures then the video. 

The brand & name have worn off!

1. Wet N' Wild Ultimate Sheer Tinted Moisturizer in 181A Beige -- This is a great Tinted Moisturizer, it is has SPF 15, which is great for all year round! In the summer I will wear this all on its own, it doesn't have great coverage but it does even out my skin. Right now though I have been mixing it with a moisturizer and putting that on underneath my foundation/BB cream. I love to layer moisturizers, especially in the winter time!

2.  Revlon Photo Ready Powder-- No matter what I am wearing (tinted moistuizer, BB cream or foundation) I always wear some type of powder. I feel like it sets everything into place and makes it stay for a long time. I loved the Revlon Photo Ready Powder for the long wearing and the matte finish it gave my face. I am always looking to try something new, so let me know your favorite down below. 

3. Elf Highlighter & Concealer-- Most days I don't want to look flawless, I want people to be able to still see my skin, so normally I like light concealers. They hide the redness, but it doesn't look cakey. This is true for the ELF Concealer. The Highlighter is AMAZING it gives your face a glow without being shiny or shimmer. The light hits it and it looks so natural and glowy. I love it! (Hence, why it is in my favorites, right?) And it's only $3!

A swatch of the concealer & highlighter

4. Maybelline Falsies Volume Express Mascara-- Let me start by saying, I never have and don't plan on curling my lashes. I just don't see the need. I have been loving this mascara because if you can see the wand is curves so you can "curl" your lashes and bring them up just by using the wand! I only use it on the top lashes and it gives them a ton of volume.  

5. Beauty Smoothie in Berrylicious-- I always use lotion when I get out of the shower. I take burning hot showers (like the knob all the way over to hot), so when I get out my body needs moisture and maybe even a little cooling. This lotion is great for that because not only does it have the lotion to moisturize there is also gel which cools my body. It feels so nice! The smell is overly sweet, but it doesn't stay on your body long so don't let that stop you!

You can see the layers of lotion & gel

6. Zoya Nail polish in Dove-- I won't spend too much time on this because I made a whole blog post on it, with tons of pictures so go check it out! 

7. STASH Chai Green Tea-- I love tea, especially green tea. This chai green tea is okay, but I know how to make it Great (for me anyways). First, I start with hot water, I then add sugar in there with some additional cold water. After those are all mixed I add the tea bag and it is delicious! I like cold tea better then hot, so that is how I normally make it but this tea is good hot too!  

This tea is also 100 % natural! 

 

Thanks for reading! I hope you have a great day! What was your favorite product you used in January! 

~Annelise