Swatches & Review : Sephora Favorites EXTRAVAGANT EYES ||| Holiday 2016

Today, I am talking about Sephora Favorites set in “Extravagant Eyes”! There are currently a ton of Sephora Favorites set, a ton of them! (Check all sets here)! Holiday “Shopping” season is already here and all beauty cosmetics brands has started to release their holiday gift sets!

I am a HUGE fan of Sephora Favorites sets. I prefer them over them over sets from Specific brands and I have purchased quite a lot of these sets over time. These especially are worth every penny if you have just started shopping at Sephora. :-) You can check all the reviews I have done on past Sephora Favorites set here!

This set right here is an incredible deal! Before we dive more into the products here is a little price breakdown-

This kit is retails at 42 USD!!

Here are the products:

Full Size Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Midnight Cowboy:  This is such a fan favorite for an easy, super  glam-glittery look. I am heading off to an elaborate, colorful Indian wedding, and I was looking to buy this individually. It was out of stock everywhere, so this was the reason for which I decided to get the whole set. First of all, it is so damn easy to apply. The thin brush like applicator is so handy to draw a thin liner and it is also easy to layer over eyeshadow. I have not used any glitter glue with this but it stayed very nicely. I did see some fallouts during the application and throughout. But it is something that I kind of overlook because this glitter is so pretty. Also I have to very, very careful while removing, it is little bit difficult to remove in its entirety. I can still see glitters on my under eye area. But all things considered, I really LOVE this product.

Full Size Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Plum: I got one of these from last year’s Birchbox Luxe List Value set (reviewed here) and I absolutely enjoy wearing it. I have not mastered the courage to purchase this at a regular price so this was a perfect justification for me. It is a beautiful deep burgundy-plum shade in a satiny finish. It is quite opaque but if you apply and blend you may need to go back and use 2-3 layers to get a really even coverage all-over-the lid. But it is such a smooth formula. It does not tug on my lids and the color is super pretty.

Full Size NARS Dual Intensity Eye Shadow in Himalia: As I confessed on one of my previous post here, I already have this shade from last year’s Sephora Favorites Superstars set (reviewed here) but I still got this set, :-) I will probably give it this new one to my sister. I love this shade; it does not get enough love from me because I typically grab a palette when I am in a rush in the mornings! But it still an awesome everyday-glam shade. Every time I use this, I cannot help but realize how instantly it can make my whole look very sophisticated. It is a great formula; very even, opaque with great blendability and staying power.

Full-size Huda Beauty Lashes in Samantha #7: I have never worn a false lash! I have had my inhibitions but I am slowly building up the courage. But I am sure, if you are a regular false-lash wearer, you will love this.

Apart from this full size products, you get 4 other eye products in decent sample sizes. 

Milk Makeup Eye Pigment in Silent Disco: Almost a similar shade like “Plum” from Laura Mercier, it looks different on hand swatch but on the eyes, it appears similar. It is a very deep plum but has a lot of beautiful, subtle sparkle in it. I love this shade. But the formula is a bit liquid-y so I have to be careful while applying. It can move a bit if I use too much force with my application. It also sets a bit quickly, so I have to act fast to blend it out. I am not super proud of the look pictured here; I have certainly done better blending in my life :-) But it is not entirely the products’ fault as I could hardly manage 15-20 mins for my makeup! Life can get very busy sometimes.

Marc Jacobs Beauty O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara in Blacquer: My previous experience with Marc Jacobs Mascara was not great! So I was not really expecting a lot from this. But it surprised me. It is a very nice formula, consistency wise – not too dry or not too wet. I am always a natural-lash type of girl so this is perfect for me. Enough volume for me, little bit of lengthening without any smudginess. The best thing is that it very easy to remove at the end of the day. I want nothing else from my mascara.

Smashbox Cosmetics 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer: I am so very sure that I have gotten this primer before as Gift with Purchase or something but I don’t recollect trying it. Because I already had packed away my beloved MAC Paint Pot for my India trip, I was using it for the last few days. The formula is much thinner and sheer to apply, so if you are looking for something that will conceal the veins or redness on your eyelids, this might not be the best. But as a primer, it has been very good to me. On the day I had this makeup on, my eyeshadows and glitters lasted from around noon to 12 at night. On an average day, I can still see my eyeshadows after a long day.

Sephora Collection Waterproof Contour Eye Pencil 12 HR Wear in Black Lace #01: It is said to be waterproof and I believe it is. It was very easy to apply. The formula is very creamy; it glides on my lashes very comfortably. It stayed for at least 7-9 hrs. before starting to fade. I have really liked it. But yeah, it is a basic black eyeliner, nothing extraordinary about it.

So, as you can see, apart from the lashes I have been really enjoying all of the rest of the products. I will try to be brave and try out the lashes sometime soon! One concern I always have with this type of value sets are the shades for the products included. Often time, it is geared towards the lighter skin tones. But this set is actually quite impartial, shade wise. These are universal shades – you can easily wear the glitter liner, the eyeshadow shades are very flattering on every skin tone, NARS eyeshadow also can be used for various purpose on various skin tone. If you don’t have any of these products I cannot recommend this enough!

Go pick it up and create some Extravagant looks!!!

By the time this goes live, I will be headed back home for brief vacation! :-)! So excited!!

Love

~Arrru

Play! by Sephora ::: September 2016!!!

Yep, third week of the month and it is time to share my thoughts on September’s Play by Sephora box! Right off the bet I can say that it is a better box than last month’s (reviewed here)! Typically, I try/wear as many products I can from the box and then post my views. However, I will be out of town for the rest of the month and I sincerely don’t have time to test all these before I leave. I have two of these products that I already use in my routine!

Let’s start with the products that I have previously enjoyed!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel: well, Anastasia is the original Brow Queen, there is just no denying that! Her browwiz is my Holy Grail brow product. This clear gel is the only other product I have tried from her range and I am equally amazed. I have average somewhat of a fuller, unruly brow but on a day-to-day basis I am very low key regarding my brow routine. If need be, I have no hesitation stepping out of the house without doing my brows. However, when I put of full face on and when I know I am going to be outside for most of the day, I top my eyebrows with this after shaping them with the browwiz. It feels a bit cooling and is easy to apply! the brush is very decently petit and it is easier to control! It gives your brows on proper hold that is not uncomfortably stiff for the entire the day. I am almost running out of the one that I have so I am glad I got this.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper: Another product that I already have and use. I took a bit of time to get accustomed to the brush tip. I am felt-tip eyeliner type of a girl and at first I had hard time gaining control of the tip. It seems much more stiff than my beloved Stila Stay All Day Waterproof liner. But I have started to like this liner. I typically wear it when I don’t want to draw a wing eyeliner & just want a little something on my lash-line.

Allow me to vent a little bit here – I am getting a little annoyed with some of the repeat offender products! I am pretty sure I have three or four Kat Von D Trooper lying around somewhere in my vanity and I have not bought a single one myself other than the ones I got in value sets. Sephora seems to put the same few products in all their value kits, or reward perks or Gift with Purchases. I hoped they will spare Sephora Play boxes from this. Products like They’re Real Mascara from Benefit Cosmetics, Kat Von D Trooper - I can see in at least 60% value sets! The new Extravagant Eyes has Full Size NARS Himalia eyeshadow that also included in last years “Sephora Favorites Superstars” set (reviewed here). If you love these products, its great but its gets really inconvenient for frequent shoppers or VIB Rouges like me!

Alright, onto the next products-

Dr Jart Water Drop Hydrating Moisturizer: I am actually very excited about this. I always browse the products from this brand but has not tried any. It comes in a beautiful package that definitely helps me find enthusiasm to try out the product and be sincere about my skin’s moisturizer needs. I am definitely trying this as soon as the weather becomes chillier.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Night Cap Overnight Protector: Last month there were no hair product and I actually liked that. I don’t really enjoy trying out hair products. BUT, for some reason I feel a little bit interest in this brand. I hoped this will be a great product, I used it last night before going to sleep and it DID nothing!

Sephora Collection Rouge Shine Lipstick in Love Spell: It is very sheer, kind of a-milky-pink type of shade. I wore it today on its own, it was not unwearable but I am not sure if I am going to wear it again! Very beautiful packaging though!

Tory Burch Jolie Fleur Verte: Fresh, not fruity not florally fragrance. I like it very much, I actually got compliments from my colleagues which is not very common J But I know that she also likes fresh type of smell. I am not sure if this will be popular among everyone!

So there's this month’s Sephora Play Box! Nothing to rave about really! I am getting a little unimpressed with this boxes, 2 more months and then I will probably cancel.

Do you subscribe to Sephora Play?

Love

~Arrru

Sephora Beauty Insider Appreciation Event & Holiday Sets Early Access!!!

Yes, I am a makeup junkie and I bought quite some stuff! I wanted to declare that first before I discuss some of the items I bought from Sephora BeautyInsider Appreciation Event. They are observing this event till 9/17, I hope this blog help you in case you are wondering about this sets!

On 9/10 they hosted a VIB Rouge Event in store and previewed some of their holiday products & value sets. It was a nice event with some good breakfast-y bits (gotta mention those, food is very important), some cool facial and makeup applications. I just picked up one set and bought the rest online. I will also add pictures of some cool GWPs and reward perks I got!

I know that makeup sets are always the most interesting ones, so let’s get started with them:

Laura Mercier Fall In Love Face Illuminator Collection ($58, buy here): I am actually very excited about this product. In fact this is the only makeup  product that intrigued the experimental mind of mine for a prospective blog post. I actually tried these on my hand in store and the powders swatched very nicely but I can see some very, very tiny glitters which is worrying me. But I am very eager to test this out. There are four shades that I can see on Sephora, so I thought I could review that will be helpful in showing all four shades for medium tan skin. :-)

Sephora Favorites Extravagant Eyes ($42, buy here): I am a HUGE fan of Sephora Favorites sets  (check all sets here) and I have purchased quite a lot of them over time. I have a few reviews here! This set right here is an incredible deal! Here is why-

• Full Size Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Midnight Cowboy:  Everybody keeps talking about this and now that I have a glittery, colorful Indian wedding event to attend, I think this is going to be very handy for me. Besides, it is a full-size product and it was out of stock everywhere.
• Full Size Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Plum: I got one of these from last year’s Birchbox Luxe List Value set (reviewed here) and I absolutely enjoy wearing it. I have not mastered the courage to purchase this at a regular price so this was a perfect justification for me. It is a beautiful deep burgundy-plum shade in a satiny finish.
• Full Size NARS Dual Intensity Eye Shadow in Himalia: Okay, I have a confession to make I already have this shade from last year’s Sephora Favorites Superstars set (reviewed here) but I still got this set, :-) I will probably give it to my sister. I love this shade; it does not get enough love because I typically grab a palette when I am in a rush in the mornings! But it still an awesome everyday-glam shade.
• Full-size Huda Beauty Lashes in Samantha #7 : I have never worn a false lashes! I have had my inhibitions but I am slowly building up the courage. But I am sure, if you are a regular false-lash wearer, you will love this.

Apart from this full size products, you get 4 other eye products in decent sample sizes. If you don’t have any of these products, pick this set up :-)

There are 3, actually 4 skincare sets that I am so very excited about.

Drunk Elephant AHA Moment ($96, buy here): Drunk Elephant is a brand that have been getting a lot of hype lately. It is definitely one of the more expensive brands in Sephora. I am reluctantly admitting that I have converted to those people who easily get fooled by "over-Hyped" products. Because Sephora was offering 4X points till 9/17, I hesitantly bought it and now when I see the overall value it is actually not THAT much of a savings. Nonetheless I am very excited to try it and will probably share my experience on the blog. Not quite sure when I will start using this as I have a few serums I want to finish up before. 

Peter Thomas Roth Mask Sampler Kit ($25, buy here): I actually bought this set from PTR but it is available on Sephora so I thought I would include it here. I have been using three of these masks regularly for last 2 years! I love them! And  I never pass up the opportunity to stock up on some travel-size tubes. If you have never tried PTR masks this is great set. I have never tried three of the set and I am very excited to try them.

Sephora Favorites Soko to Tokyo ($42, buy here): Tatcha Dewy Mist, Caolion Premium Blackhead Steam Pore Pack and belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb- so many different and very popular products to try from unique and relatively new brand!  It is an excellent deal, cost wise. This are the products that I am saving to use once the brutal winter kicks in! I will surely keep you posted. 

Sephora Favorites Scouted by Sephora ($44, buy here): The Herbivore, Jurlique Mist and the Tata Harper mask drawn me to this set. I have high hopes for this. Also, if I like the Drunk Elephant serum, I would have a travel-size to use :-)

Like I said, Sephora is currently offering 2X points for Beauty Insider, 3X for VIBs and 4X for VIB Rouge members. This offer is still available till 17^th. Check the website to see if you want something while this offer!! If you are making a purchase of $25 or more, never forget the Gift with Purchases (You can check them here). Also use Ebates, I never shop without Ebates (my referral link is here if you are interested) :-)

Happy Shopping, every one :-)

Love,

~Arrru

ESSIE Gel Couture in GALA-VANTING with Top Coat ::: Review & Swatches

I don’t want to be one of those annoying bloggers who keeps oversharing past, present and future personal events :-) But I might be quickly turning out to be one.

Speaking of oversharing, my sister is getting married next month. I could not be with her to participate in all the fun pre-wedding shopping activities (believe me, Indian wedding are all about the shoppings! wink wink) but I have been doing my own shopping here on her behalf. We were looking for a deep maroon/burgundy shade which will go with all her colorful dresses and henna on her hands :-)

After browsing a bit, I finally decided on “GALA-VANTING” from Essie. This is one of the shades from their relatively new “Gel Couture” line. As found in Ulta’s website – “Essie Gel Couture provides up to 14 days of color and shine in unique, couture-inspired shades. No lamp required. Easy removal.”

Price: They have a huge array of shades that retails at a regular price of $11.50 for 0.46 oz. of products. There is also a Top Coat. I found this set for $18.50 at Kohl’s Store and I thought it was a good deal. There are a few shades that can be found in these sets.

Shade: Gala Vanting is not a unique shade. It is deep maroon-y kind of red which is absolutely perfect for Fall and Winter (or any other season really|) It is a very nice shade but I am sure every nail polish brand has a similar shade :-)

Application & Packaging: It was easy; the brush is pretty decent and average but I don’t have any complaint. I also like the twisty-looking bottle. A little difficult to store as it takes a bit more space but it still looks good :-)

One layer gave me somewhat of a sheer application so I did need 2 layers to get a nice, deep and even application. If I want to make it look more “vampy-er” I would another coat. The top coat offers a lot of shine so the overall look definitely mimics that of a Gel Polish. I personally have never tried Gel Manicure so I can’t really compare it for that claim.

Wear Time/Performance:  The very second day, it chipped off at the very tip of my fingernails. After that though, I did not really experience any other major chipping in the first 7 days. The shine started to wear off around 7^th to 10^th days. I was really impressed by that. I included a picture of my nails on the 13^th days. I hardly wear the same polish for 2 weeks so for me so 7 days of wear was more than enough.

On 2nd day

On 13th Day

I love the color and I love the overall look. Do I think if it is worth $11.50? Not really sure. :-) I t definitely lasts a bit more than their regular polishes so may be that justifies the price. I am happy that I got this shade and I am 100% sure that my sister will love this :-)

Love,

~Arrru

Tarte Cosmetics "Wild Animal Tarteist PRO Custom Magnetic Palette"

Before the Monday madness begins, I have a super quick look at something interesting today! It is the "Wild Animal Tarteist PRO Custom Magnetic Palette" from Tarte Cosmetics. It is a limited-edition palette that Tarte released few days back. It is currently available for purchase on Ulta,com and Tarte Website. 

Packaging: Incredible. :-) It is in leopard print and is made of very sturdy plastic. It really feels well built. Also, it has got a nice, big mirror which will come in very handy. The lid flips back to all the way up to 360 degrees. It is magnetic so Makeup Geek or Tarte blushes can be used very easily.

Price: I think this is where it shines! It is only $17 for this palette. That's awesome :-) The Make Up For Ever palettes are cheaper and compatible with this but they don't have mirrors.

Size: I love the size of this. In my mind, it is way better than the Z-palettes. I have two different size of Z-Palettes and even though I like them, I definitely think they are overpriced. For this price, it is definitely  a very good deal. From this picture, you can see I have three Tarte blushes, one Make Up For Ever Eye Shadow and almost 9-10 Makeup Geek Eye Shadows. I bet there is enough space for another 7-10 Eye Shadows. The Z-Palette size that can accommodate similar amount of pans will cost more than $17.

I am very glad that I picked one up and I don't think I have anything else to say. I am going to customize my palette and fill out with a few blushes and eyeshadows that I am going to take with me for my India trip! This is limited -edition palette so if you have been thinking about investing in a Z-palette I say go for this one instead. :-)

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and are getting ready for the week ahead. Mine is going to be very very hectic :-(

Love,

~Arrru

Sample Review & Swatches ::: Buxom Wildly Whipped Lightweight Liquid Lipstick in "Centerfold"

In one of my previous posts about the Hourglass Luminous Light Palette I talked about why I decided to share reviews on Limited Edition products even if they are not available. I also have decided to review “new” products that I have received as sample! I do a lot of online shopping, so I get a quite few GWP (Gift with Purchase) products. Often, it will be something relatively new in the market. Every once in a while I do get complimentary products from Influenster (like this). For the longest time, I did not think about reviewing them mainly because the product would come in deluxe, not-so-sturdy packaging and I assumed without the regular packaging review will look unprofessional! I cannot really offer to buy every single product that every company launches, yet it is super fun to talk about new products. So I finally decided to review newer products eve if I get it in Deluxe or Sample size as Gift with Purchase.

Today I am talking about the Wildly Whipped Liquid Lipstick from Buxom Cosmetics. I was pretty excited about this launch. Buxom is kind of a unique brand; even before all the craze about different formulas (like liquid, metallic and what not) they had some pretty unique lip formulas.  I thought Buxom will be able to put their own spin to this never-dying “liquid lipstick” trend. Last summer, I reviewed 6 shades of the Big, Fat & Sexy lipsticks (see review here & here). My experience with them was 60%-good/40%-bad, so I was a little reluctant to run to the store and buy a full-size. I was very happy to get my hands on this sample to try.

Right of the bet, I have to admit that this is VERY Generous sample. Here are my thoughts:

Packaging: I am so happy to see that the packaging of this is very similar to the actual packaging. It looks gorgeous, sturdy and high end! It has a thin, doe-foot applicator. Works great.

Shade: I got this in the shade “CENTERFOLD”. I absolutely, ABSOLUTELY love this shade. It’s a very light -beige warm nude shade with just a hint of peach. It might be the lightest (/palest) nude in my embarrassingly large lipstick collection that flatters my skin tone. Otherwise, it is almost impossible to find a true nude that does not make me look weird & ghostly. The ones I can wear has to be deeper or has to have some coral or purple mixed in it. I wore this while I was reviewing Makeup geek eyeshadows (reviewed here), and on my Instagram this lipstick got more attention. :-)

Formula: Unfortunately, I did not like the formula 100%. That saddens me because I love the shade so much. The name of the formula itself has the word “whipped” in it and it sure does feel like a whipped, airy mousse. Honestly, it is a little bit weird. It’s thick as well, it does not feel that heavy on the lips but it sure does feel as if there is something on the lips :-( It is not forgiving on dry skin as well. I HAVE to exfoliate before, otherwise it is going to highlights every little line I have on my lips. I know from experience that liquid lipsticks aren’t the BEST when it comes to wrinkly, not-so-young looking lips like mine. There are definitely better products out there. At similar price point, I prefer Kat Von D ones.

Wear-time: It was not consistent. Someday when I don’t indulge in greasy food it lasted a solid 7-8 hrs. But if I have Salad or oily Indian food, it does not survive; not gracefully at least.

Price: A full-size of 0.16 oz. product costs $21. This is average with any other high-end liquid lipsticks. I don’t like the formula so I am not going to purchase a second shade even though there is a shade that I may love.

I will definitely still make this shade work whenever I crave for a pale nude but I am not comfortable in recommending this. If you have nice smooth very healthy lips, it may perform better but I was disappointed. :-(

Love,

-Arrru 

Products I've Used Up/Empties Vol. 7

I have a lot of products to discuss today so I am going to the point - here are all the empty tubes/jars/packetts I have been hoarding. I am very happy to finally blog and throw/recycle all these :-)

PETER THOMAS ROTH Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion: I absolutely love this sunscreen. It was very light on my skin and it did not disturb the makeup over it. It has a pump which is always a blessing. Only problem is that you cannot exactly see how much of it you are using and when you are going to run out. I am currently using a few different sunscreen but PTR is currently offering a sale and so I bought two of 1 oz. tubes :-)

AVEENO protect+hydrate lotion sunscreen (3 oz./$10.99): This is my third tube of Aveeno sunscrre. For last year or two I have been using this religiously as my body sunscrren. This has saved me from sun burn when I had long days working outside as a field engineer and now when I go for my 30 min to 1 hr exercise session in sun. I desperately need to repurchase but I don’t know from where :-(

WHITEGLOW™ Oatmeal & Yogurt Skin Whitening Scrub (100 g/157 Rs.): I don’t have the faintest recollection of why I bought a “Skin Whitening” product. As a women born and brought up in India, I am dead against the “skin Whitening” concept. I must have been looking for a scrub, I like the brand. It was a good scrub. It was almost approaching the expiry date so the last 2/6^th of the tube using on my neck or on my body. I have come across better scrubs and I am not going to repurchase.

ORIGINS Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask (3.4 fl oz./$25): I first tried this over a year ago. I bought the set of 4 pods and I am hooked ever since! I collect mini samples from Sephora whenever possible- I have the full size too. It clears up my pores, tightens my skin and brings a lot of liveliness to my skin! I simply LOVE this mask.

ORIGINS Out Of Trouble™ 10 Minute Mask (3.4 fl oz./$26): It’s a bit stronger than the charcoal mask. I was having horrible breakout a few weeks ago! It is by no means a miracle product but I do feel it has cleared up a lot of my skin trouble. I bought these 4 pod-packette an now I am using a full-size one.

GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD™ Tinglexfoliate Treatment (1.7 oz./$69): Among all the Glamglow products I have tried, this might be the best performing one. I don’t get the hype. They are alright mask, nothing that has blown me over. I keep using the Gift with Purchase ones but I will not repurchase a full-size one.  

NEUTROGENA Body Oil Light Sesame Formula (8.5 oz./$9.99): I have reviewed this product here. This is one of my HOLY-GRAIL products. I cannot do without this oil, especially during the winter! And when winter lasts 8 months in a year, it's a savior :-) I have gone through many, many bottles of these and I am pretty sure I am gonna need many more.

AVEENO Daily Moisturizing Lotion (12 oz./$8.99): I like Aveeno, but this was a painful product to finish up. It is a good moisturizer however it did not have any fragrance to it. But in reality, it actually smelled a bit odd and it was just too boring to finish just huge bottle of odorless moisturizer.

MARIO BADESCU Hyaluronic Eye Cream (0.5 oz./$18): I absolutely LOVE this pproduct. I used to have severe dry skin under my eye. It was bad and then I moved to Chicago which made the situation even worse. I started to use this and it took care of this situation. Now it has become a bit heavy for everyday use. But every time the situation worsens, I resort to this. I will definitely repurchase.

CAUDALIE Vine Body Butter (6.7 oz./$34): This is a luxury product that I through and through enjoyed. It smelled divine; well everything from Caudalie smells damn good. It was a very good moisturizer. Thin consistency & it absorbed quickly. It did not get enough moisturization during nasty Chicago winters but I loved it for all other time of the year. I bought it in a value set, and unless I get another value set I am not spending that much money :-) but I really enjoyed while it lasted. You can also see a tiny little sample of some moisturizer from Caudalie but I could not remember what it was but I am sure I liked it.

FRESH Youth Preserve Face Cream (1.7 oz./$45): A very favorite product from this empties bunch! It’s such a light moisturizing cream. I love the smell, quite different, almost herbal-y but not overwhelmingly so! It’s an expensive product and I often think that my dry skin might need a more thicker moisturizer. But nonetheless using this makes me feel fancy and that’s something I need once in a while :-) This was my second bottle and I will definitely repurchase it.

ORIGINS Ginzeng Energy-boosting Moisturizer (1.7 oz./$27.50): This is my ABSOLUTELY favorite moisturizer. It has a thin gel-like consistency which is PERFECT for my dry skin which has currently become very acne-prone. It also smells very fresh and bit citrus-y. I have a new travel size bottle but I definitely need to repurchase.

PHILOSOPHY When Hope is Not Enough Facial Farming & Ligting Serum (1 oz./$45): Philosophy's "Hope in a jar" line of products are very hyped. I bought a value-set sometime in 2014, and then again in 2015. I think it costs me about $75 (I had a 20% off as well) for three full-size; it was a complete steal. So, this is my second tube and I absolutely enjoyed it. I am definitely interested in repurchasing but I am looking for a deal :-)

Yay, so many makeup empties :-)

BARE MINERALS Marvelous Moxie Lip Gloss in “Party Starter”: Technically this is not an “empty”. The bottle was licking so I transferred to a different lip gloss tube. I love this gloss, it tingles but just a bit. I pair with one of my favorite lipstick from Bite Beauty in Cin Cin. I also layer it over some of my nude lipsticks to add some warmth. I have almost gone through half the tube.

MAYBELLINE 24 hr. Super Stay Concealer in : So, this guy dried out. I bought it about 2-3 years ago when I needed to cover up some kitchen mishaps that left some marks on my neck. It worked great; I liked the way it covered up my burn marks. It was a bit dry so I could not use it on my under eye area. I am not going to repurchase but I liked it because it served the purpose. Plus, it was very affordable. I am not sure if it has been discontinued.

MARC JACOBS Mascara: I think this is a tubing mascara, but I let it sit idle for a long time and I guess it lost its charm. It was a wet formula and removal wasn’t really that easy! I actually did not get to use it thoroughly before I decided to toss it away.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural in N-9: I loved this shade! It was a birthday gift from Sephora and I already have another backup sample. These are actually nice, decently creamy lipsticks that are quite good for everyday wear. They are not matte but they are not overly satin either. They last about 4-5 hrs., but I can easily reapply. I think MUFE has discontinued this formula and has very recently reformulated these to Artist Rouge Lipstick. I have tried that as well and they are nice too.

TARTE 12-hr Amazonian Clay Blush in “Dollface”: This freaking tiny little sample took me 2-3 weeks to finish. It definitely deserve to be legitimate “empty”. I simply LOVE Tarte blushes. They are easy to apply and last the entire day and they are so very pigmented. They are also very forgiving on my porous cheeks :-) this is a very cool-toned baby pink not the most flattering on my skin but I can wear it. I have “Tipsy (reviewed here)” and “Flush (the old one reviewed here)” and I love both; Tipsy is one of my absolute favorite blushes.

O.P.I. Lay Down The Base: I enjoyed this product so much; it is excellent base coat and for the life of me I cannot find it anywhere. I need to repurchase if any of you have any idea where to buy it please let me know.

MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ (3.4 fl oz./$23): This is a VERY popular product from MAC; it is basically a water solution with vitamins, mineral, green tea, chamomile etc. It is supposed to add radiance, be used as a makeup finishing spray (but not as a setting spray)! The smell is so refreshing it immediately makes me feel invigorated; I also do feel it helps in prolonging the wear time of my makeup. I have seen people saying that it is extremely easy to prepare it at home; I am not sure if I would love to try DIY-ing. I have been loving Fix+ and I am currently using a full-size bottle.

MARIO BADESCU Seaweed Cleansing Lotion (8 oz./$15): It was actually nice to incorporate this in my routine. I have many similar products so I don’t need a full-size right now.

FRESH Rose Floral Toner (8.5 oz./$40): I actually like it very much. It felt mike a stronger type of a tonic. It’s quite expensive I do think there are similar-performing products that are much more affordable.

CAUDALIE Beauty Elixir (1 fl oz./$18): Everybody loves Caudalie Beauty Elixir! And I do too! I have written a whole long blogpost on some of the Caudalie product here. I love its strong but very refreshing smell! And I love, love the thin and stylish bottle. It comes with a hefty price for a skincare spray; so I don’t use it on an everyday basis though. I feel fancy whenever I use it and we sure do deserve to feel fancy from time to time…I already have a back-up for it :-)

MACADAMIA PROFESSIONAL Nourishing Moisture Masque Packette (1 oz./$6): I think I got this as a sample with some purchase. I was able to use this packette for lmost 3 times. I was completely blown away after the first use and I convinced myself that I need to buy the full size. It is excellent as a deep moisturizing hair mask after shampooing.

BUMBLE & BUMBLE Don’t Blow it (2 oz./$15): I got in a Sephora play box (reviewed here). It is meant to add texture on air-dried hair. Because I typically air-dry my hair this was perfect. It was one of the products that can be deemed unnecessary but it sure DOES help. I use it as a conditioning cream after washing off, it sure makes my hair appear softer and easier to handle. It was a tiny little sample and it just lasted for 2 usages. I enjoyed it but not really need a full size right now.

PARACHUTE Coconut Oil: HOLY GRAIL! Nothing else to say. I have been using it for as long as I can remember and I probably would use for the rest of my life. I apply mainly as an overnight hair mask before washing the next day. On peak winter, when my skin gets really dry and flaky, I do use it on my legs and hands before going to sleep.

IT'S A 10 Miracle leave-in Plus Keratin (10 oz, $39.96): I absolutely love this leave-in conditioner! It’s been much more than a year since my last hair-straightening treatment and hence my original hereditary crazy waves are coming back! May be because of that its effect has not been as mind-blowing as before. But it still does a great job in managing my uncontrollable wavy hair and makes them look smooth and presentable. I will continue to use it.

L'ORÉAL Oleo Therapy Deep Recovery Mask (8.5 oz./$8.99): This is almost similar as the Macademia one. The later just feels a bit luxe and a little bit more effective. But yes, this is another hair mask that is really, really worth the price.

SCHWARZKOPF BC HAIRTHERAPY Q10 Plus Time Restore Shampoo (8.5 oz./$20): I got my hair chemically smoothened few years back and my hair stylist suggested this line and I have been using it ever since! I like the “smooth shine” ones but Ulta does not carry that particular version for some reason. I typically buy 21L bottles when Ulta has their 21 Days Hair Event! It is not the greatest product out there but it has been decent for my hair.

MAYBELLINE Clean Express Waterproof Makeup Remover (4 fl oz./$5-7): Now that I have tried a few makeup remover liquids, I think that I like this one the best. It says oil free, but it surely leaves some oil behind. It removes waterproof makeup VERY nicely if I let it set for 1 min at least and it does not hurt my eyes. It is kind of difficult to find it everywhere, so whenever I see it, I buy it in bulk.

NEUTROGENA Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes (25 wipes/$4-6): Now that I have tried a few makeup remover wipes, I think these are my favorite (I recently have found better ones though)! They are effective and are able to remove face makeup to a good extent without being “too harsh”. I have stopped using wipes for my eyes at all, but when I did, it did work well enough for simple eye-looks! I buy them in bulk from Costco :-).

OLAY Clean & Mild Makeup Remover Cloths (20 ct./$1.24): I liked it and can see myself buying these again.

Cotton Pads: Okay, for cotton balls I buy from Ulta. I don’t like the round pads from Ulta and I prefer them from Sephora. There is nothing more to discuss, ha ha!

BIOTRUE & RE-NU Contact Lens Solution: For past year or two, I have been wearing my contact lenses almost every day. So I go through these solutions like water. It’s good that Costco has deals for this. I buy whichever brand is available on Costco :-)

Love,

~Arrru