L'occitane

Empties | Out With The Old #6

2:16 PM

I can't \not\ mention my being away for a long time. I don't really have a good excuse, just the usual reasons that I'm sure we're all aware of. Life got busy, things happened. I got a new computer recently, so things are going to be looking generic and pretty boring while I get all my settings figured out and previous fonts transferred over to this new guy. This OWTO batch is pretty big, since I just kept tossing them in my 'toss' bag instead of actually tossing them.




Let's start with skincare, starting with the Almay Oil Free Eye Makeup Removing Pads - These are nice. I bought these in a pack of two these bottles. I like them, but would not purchase again - they leave sort of a sticky residue on my eyes and don't remove mascara well. I don't really wear mascara that much, mostly eyeliner, and this does the trick with eyeliner, but I wouldn't repurchase.

The Body Shop Shower Gels for Earth Lovers - Fig & Rosemary scent - This was a rather nice shower gel, albiet a very watery texture. This didn't bother me, as it foamed up well and was pretty cleansing. This particular scent didn't smell like either fig nor rosemary to me, and smelled like sage - a scent I love dearly that brings back wonderful memories. It's a sharp, spicey scent and I would certainly repurchase if I ever, ever run out of the millions of other shower gels I have sitting around waiting to be used. 

Boots No7 Melting Gel Cleanser - I was certain I wrote a review on this but now can't find it. I have featured it in a few posts, the most detailed description of it is here. I like this, and it smelled very nice, but I will not be repurchasing. It was just kind of a hassle to use.

H20 Marine Toner - this toner has long been discontinued by the company. I think the full bottle of it costs $18, which is definitely not worth it for this product. It's not bad, but definitely not life changing. I wouldn't repurchase even if it was still out.

Yes to Cucumbers Calming Night Cream - I loved this moisturizer, loved it so much. It was thick and moisturizing, but sunk in very quickly. It smelled nice and soothing, and always left my skin happy and satisfied. I would definitely repurchase, and probably will. 

Mary Kay Timewise Firming Eye Cream - this little bottle cost $30!! I got it as a present and luckily did not pay that much, and I definitely do not recommend. It took far too long to sink in and did literally nothing for my skin; didn't moisturize or plump up the area. The pump, while a nice touch, was also very difficult to control. If you pumped out all the way you'd probably get enough product for your entire face. That being said, there's a lot of product in the bottle, considering how little you really need to cover your eye area. 

Meishoku Organic Rose Moisture Cream - this was a light moisturizer that smelled lovely and rosey. I liked it and would recommend; if I get the chance to buy this again I will, but I didn't love it enough to go out of my way to purchase it.

C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve - this is my favorite lip product of all time. It's the only one that really seems to work for me, giving me deep, long lasting moisture. I have repurchased since then and will probably never leave this lip balm.


Mary Kay Suncreen SPF 50 - this was a weird, thick cream that never seemed to sink in and would leave my limbs feeling oily and strange. Would not repurchase.

Yes to Cucumbers Daily Calming Moisturizer SPF 30 - oh my god, the things I could say about this. Bad things, to clarify. It was a thick, white paste that took so much effort to spread in; it smelled like cardboard, always left me ghostly white, and didn't sit well/feel good on my skin. I suppose one could argue that this is more of a sunscreen than a moisturizer, but I'd rather just stick with my Coola sunscreen. I will not be repurchasing.

LO'ocitane Shea Butter Hand Cream - Personally I don't like the scent of shea butter, as it smells too much like diaper ointment to me. This is a really thick hand cream that does deeply moisturize, but the scent just bothered me too much. It also separated into a strange oil/cream mixture towards the end. Will not repurchase. 


Be warned, most of this makeup is old and disliked, hence why I'm tossing most of them. The four lip products (Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm, NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss, Elizabeth Arden lipstick) are all products I just don't use anymore, so why keep them around? They're all fine, but just fine. 

NYX HD Concealer - This bottle is half empty, and I still can't make up my mind about it. It's very high coverage, but accentuates any flaws on your skin. So while you could definitely use it to cover up some bumpy, discolored skin (like my chin and nose), it would bring attention to the uneven skin texture and cling desperately to any dry patches of skin. It's also too thick to use under the eyes. I will not be repurchasing.

Sonia Kashuk Liquid Light Concealers - these are my favorite liquid concealers! As the name implies, they have a light texture that is comfortable to wear. The coverage isn't incredible, but the concealers are luminizing and will bounce light from any trouble spots. I have already repurchase both these shades, as they're perfect for my undereyes and on my scars. 

NYX Eyeshadow Base - NYX has several versions of this; this is the nude shade. There's also a white color and one to help with glitter, and a liquid HD primer that I happen to love. A lot of people say that this product works excellently for them, but it just didn't cooperate with me. It would crease and ruin any eyeshadow I was wearing on top of it. I really liked the texture though, and the price was definitely agreeable. While I myself wouldn't repurchase, I encourage anyone with $5 to spare to try it out. 

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr whatever it's called - this product is old as hell, and I've never really used it. Time to go! 

Victoria's Secret Volume Plump Mascara - I think this was part of a BOGO deal or something; I didn't expect to like it but I really did! It lasted all day without smudging and always removed easily. It accentuated my lashes and I would repurchase.

NYX Gel Liner and Smudger - this liner is old and drying out. I really liked it, except that it dried out way too fast! But the creaminess and opaqueness of the product definitely warrant a repurchase. 

That's all for today, thanks for reading!

lipstick

No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick | Review

8:08 PM

Hi guys! I'm currently taking a break from my homework to write this. Today's post is a review on the No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick.


What is it: a lipstick!
Where: Target stores and online
Price: $9.99
Anything else: Boots does not test on animals.

Boots is one of those brands that never fail to catch my eye. They've just got so many lines, I could slowly read them all for hours. I got this lipstick a while back, but accidentally picked up this shade instead of the one I wanted (Pink Angel). Oh well.

Boots says that this "No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick will ensure your pout packs a punch! Available in 8 trendy shades, this long-lasting lip color has been designed to stay in place for up to 8 hours, giving an intense color-rich finish in just one coat." I have mine in the color Raspberry.

Would you look at that packaging? So pretty. It comes in a sleek and shiny lipstick tube that can attract fingertips and dirt, but only to a little extent. The packaging for the line is all the same, hence why I grabbed this one instead of the one I wanted. The cap snaps on securly, which is satisfying.


Raspberry is a dark pinky-plum color. It's quite close to red, although it looks plain dark pink on my swatch. Your lip pigmentation will boost it to a darker color. The lipstick is pretty pigmented, with a very creamy and non-drying texture. Although it's not quite a matte finish, there's no shine or reflecting light properties. This lipstick is by no means hydrating, but like mentioned before, is not at all drying. It lasts okay. There is a bit of transfer when drinking and eating, but it's not going to disappear if you're just talking. The claim is that this will last eight hours, which is preposterous. It lasts around three or four.

Overall, I think this lipstick is okay. Is it worth the $10? No, but it's not a bad lipstick.

Thanks for reading! What's your favorite lipstick?

elf

Recently Loving #4

4:42 PM


(Sorry for the photoshop job - I reeeeeally don't want to take pictures today, plus the lighting is weird in my room right now!)

I found this at TJ Maxx just as I was starting to contemplate purchasing one of these facial sprays. There haven't been any drugstore releases and I was going to go out and purchase an $18 bottle until I found this gem for $3. I am in love. I spray this on my face (or body) whenever my skin is feeling a little dull and needs a refreshing pick-me-up. It also works very well as a makeup finishing spray. The spray nozzle itself is very good as well, the spray is fine and consistent.

I was beginning to think I would never find another moisturizer other than the infamous Nivea Soft, which contains things like mineral oil and petrolatum. When I stumbled upon it, I remembered I really liked the Oasis Mist and decided to try it - after all, it was oil free, not tested on animals, and the packaging was lovely. I have to say that I adore this. The gel texture is amazing. It feels soothing and refreshing, and the smallest dab can cover my entire face and neck. It hydrates my normal/dry skin amazingly well and I quite like the scent of it! The only problem I have with it is that it's unhygienic and no SPF - but both of those aren't a big issue.

I've had very mixed feelings about this product. While I like the product itself, the claims are just ridiculous and that really puts me off. Anyways, it's nice and light, perfect for a no-makeup makeup look. It's also very convenient, very nice for quickly slapping it on and running out the door. I'm enjoying it lately mainly because it's really easy to apply. I dab a bit on the inner corners of my eyes, by the crops of my nose, on my chin and bridge of nose, and I can blend as I make the mad dash out my door and to the car. Although most of the coverage fades away after just a few hours, the concealer never creases or gets cakey.

This nifty little palette is something I use on a regular basis without really thinking about how nice it is. It's a cream concealer with a very creamy (duh) consistency that has medium coverage, is very blendable, and not at all drying. It contains a green toned concealer so you can cover up any red spots with ease, and two shades so you can mix your custom shade. Very handy, quick, and a lovely product in general.

Seriously, this brush is amazing! It's a small stipple brush, as the name would suggest. Why use a small one, you ask? Well, it allows you to have more control and reach areas you wouldn't be able to reach with a larger one (like around the nose and under the eyes). I wouldn't recommend for foundation simply because it would take too long, but you could do it. It's a very multipurpose brush - I can use with liquid, cream, or powder products! I use it buff and blend out my undereye concealer, which gives a very natural but beautiful finish. Fair warning though, stipple brushes give light, airbrushed coverage. This one does so as well. Anyways, it looks sleek, doesn't shed, and dries quickly!

This brow pencil is a savior when I'm in a hurry. It's a hard, waxy pencil, which means that I can skip out on brow gel because not only will the color last all day, the wax base of the pencil will tame my brows to an extent. It's also got a spoolie on one end for quick brushing. Like I said, savior!

This is a very very VERY thick cream. I wouldn't recommend using this on your face, but I find that it's great for moisturizing my neck. I often forget to moisturize my neck, because it's too high for my body butter but too low for my face moisturizer (what terrible reasoning). Lately I've been slathering this on my neck after my shower and I've found that my neck feels... tighter. It's hard to explain.

Triple Threat Facials
I've been LOVING VDM's Triple Threat Facials! I did a post on some products that I've been using for these facials - basically you exfoliate, then deep cleanse, and finally hydrate. I find that after one of these bad boys my skin just feels amazing.

Misc favorites now!!


Little Alchemy
This is an app on the Google Chrome store, but now that I think about it is it available on the Apple store? Update: I just checked and it isssssss. Anyways, this is a cute little game where you start out with four basic elements: earth, air, fire, and water, and you have to make more elements. For example, if you combine fire and earth together you'd get lava, see?



Supernatural
Oh dear lord, please don't get me started on this. I crammed eight years worth of 45 minute episodes into six weeks. What an amazing show. Very suspenseful and each season has an amazing plot. The actors, writers, and directors are amazing. I highly encourage you to watch... Wait, don't. It's so painful... 


Thanks for reading! What have you been loving?

garner

Everyday Makeup Routine

4:33 PM

I wear very little makeup on a daily basis. After all, I really see no reason to get dolled up. I'm getting up early in the morning to go sit with a bunch of other children who also get up early in the morning just to stare at an adult who asks us to answer questions. You can see that I really care how I look during school (sarcasm, for you slow ones). However, I do wear some makeup everyday and since I really enjoy reading these types of posts, I thought I'd write one too.


So usually, I use five products, but on some days I feel like dolling up I toss some more into the mashup. The first thing I do is fill in and define my eyebrows. I like using powder for a more natural look. Who wants to look like they have drawn on eyebrows for school, anyways? I pull out my trusty Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral palette for this purchase. Then I set my brows with brow gel, the No7 Lash and Brow Perfector being my card of choice. After brows, I move onto concealer. I use two different concealers, a light coverage liquid for my undereyes to brighten, and a heavier cream on my chin and around my nose to conceal imperfections. I like the Garnier Anti-Dark Circle Roller for my undereyes and the Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette for my face. After that step, I slap on some color on my lips and I'm good to go. I always have a billion colors floating around in my bag, the one I'm using most at the moment is the Sonia Kashuk Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balm in Hint of Pink.

Now for the more complicated days, I'll add a little more to the mix. Sometimes I'll throw on a little eyeshadow. I prefer matte ones because there's no fallout and they look more natural. The eyeshadow look I go for is a contoured eye, I put a darker shade on the outer edges of my eye and into my crease. Once again, I love the Eye on Neutral Palette. Then I apply liquid liner, very close to my lashline. This just makes my lashes appear more defined. My favorite is the Physician's Formula Eye Booster, the nib is so fine and precise. I love applying liner to my lower lashline and smudging it out, so I'll grab a brown liner and do just that. I love the NYX Slide On in Brown Perfection. I almost never wear mascara (only because I hate the hassle of removing it), but when I do, it's usually the No7 Exquisite Curl, sometimes the Elizabeth Arden Ceramide.

Thanks for reading! What's your everyday makeup routine?

burt's bees

Skincare Products That I've Been Using Lately #1

4:58 PM

I hesitate to make a proper skincare routine because for the most part, the routine is the same as the last one I posted a few months back. The products have almost all changed, but the routine and order is still the same. But I do enjoy reading skincare posts, so I thought perhaps I'd do a series on the skincare I've been using, with mini reviews. I'll update it every couple months when a few of the products have changed. Let me know what you think of the idea!


If I'm wearing makeup that day, before I even start my skincare routine I will remove my makeup. If I'm wearing mascara or face makeup (other than concealer), I'll take it off with a good massage of coconut oil and a washcloth. But more often then not, I'll just have my brows filled in and a tiny bit of concealer on. If that's the case, I'll simply take it off with my cleansing water, the Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water. It's no game changer, but it does the job and it does the job well.

For a few months I would switch between cleansers daily, which is all good and fun, but then I discovered a cleanser that I really enjoyed - so much that I couldn't bear to leave it for just one day, so much that I use it both morning and night. It's the Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash (review here). Very gentle but powerful, this cleanser washes away all dirt, makeup, and impurities. The refreshing scent is also very lovely.

Quick mention about that pink thing! I love these things. They're basically little silicone face brushes that gently exfoliate and help you get a deeper clean. Mine is from Sephora. I squeeze cleanser onto it and massage my face.

I exfoliate every other day - I should probably wait to do it once a week, but I really like the scent of my St. Ives Green Tea Scrub and I enjoy the way it makes my skin feel, smooth like a baby's butt. This scrub doesn't actually do anything for acne, but it's gentle on the skin while buffing away dead skin cells.

After removal, cleansing, and exfoliating, I must tone. A lot of people say toners are unnecessary, but I really like them! I find that they make my skin feel a lot smoother and happier (toners balance skin's pH level, if you didn't know). I'm using two at the moment, although one isn't labeled as one. Said toner is the H2O+ Oasis Mist, a hydrating facial mist that I use pretty much whenever I feel like it. This alcohol-free concoction works well as a toner, a facial spray, a setting spray, or a pick-me-up. In case you haven't noticed yet, I love it. The other toner I use after cleansing - but only at night. It's the Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner. I'm pretty partial to this product, this bottle is a repurchase - but only because the I really like the smell of it. It's a nice toner, but I could do with a new one. Sometimes I apply the toner with a cotton round, but usually I rub between my palms and press into my skin because I like the way it feels.

My favorite part of my skincare routine is probably putting on eye cream. Don't ask me why, I have no idea. For some reason, I find it extremely satisfying. The eye cream I'm using right now is the Burt's Bees Sensitive Eye Crean, which I like but probably won't repurchase. It's light and hydrating and the texture is very nice, but I'm on the lookout for anti-aging creams so I can prevent future wrinkles and fine lines, and this eye cream doesn't contain many anti-aging ingredients.

I don't have a lot of active acne, but I do have small bumps under the skin that annoy me to no end. I also have blackheads and my chin is forever breaking out. I need a spot treatment. The one I'm using right now is the No7 Rapid Spot Rescue. Originally, I really liked the product, saying it really did reduce the spot in two hours like the claim said, but my opinion has since changed. I don't dislike it, but I feel that this treatment is only a temporary fix. Not to say that's a bad thing, I would just rather have something deal with the spots for good.

This moisturizer is something that's new to me - you might have seen it in my recent haul. It's the H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment. This can be used a moisturizer or a mask, I've been using it as the former. I absolutely adore it so far. I have to use it for a lot longer to see if my skin will have a bad reaction, but I really love it in this early stage. The gel formula is really cooling and nice, it smells lovely, and it really hydrates my skin. The smallest bit also goes the longest way!

Whew! That ended up being a lot longer than I anticipated. Thanks for getting to the bottom of this rather long post! What skincare products do you use?

eyebrows

No7 Beautiful Eyebrow Pencil | Review

9:41 PM

Hi, guys! I've been using a new brow product lately and I thought I'd share my thoughts on it with a review. Read on to find out what I thought of the No7 Beautiful Eyebrow Pencil!


What it is: a brow pencil
Where it is: Target stores and online
How much: $7
Anything else: Boots products are not tested on animals

So basically this is a brow pencil. It's available in three shades, mine is in the brown color. The other two shades are black and blond. Boots claims that this pencil "helps shape and define brows without smudging of flaking." Not very many claims, Boots!


I really like the packaging of this product. It has a spoolie on one end, and the pencil itself on the other. I don't understand why some brow pencils don't have spoolies, I really don't. It just makes life more convenient and easy. Anyways, this pencil isn't retractable, so it must be sharpened. This can waste product, but it's also more hygienic as you get untouched product every time you sharpen it.


The texture of this pencil is fairly hard. The color is a little dull, which is what I prefer in a brow product. Brown is a dark brown. Because this pencil is pretty hard, it's difficult to overfill your brows, which I think is great. Even if you do overfill, you can use the attached spoolie to blend everything out, quick and easy. It lasts all day and doesn't require any sort of touching up. It lives up to its claims... although there are only two. It doesn't smudge or flake away.

I really like this product! It's a basic brow pencil that functions very nicely. I recommend to anyone looking into another brow pencil! Have you tried this product? What do you think?

eyeliner

No7 Stay Perfect Amazing Eyes Pencil Review

12:14 PM

Hey guys, I hope you're having a good day. Today I have a review, and it's on the No7 Stay Perfect Amazing Eyes Pencil.



What it is - a traditional pencil eyeliner
Where you can get it - Target stores, or online
For how much - $7
Anything else - Boots products are "tested on people"

Claims - "No7 Stay Perfect Amazing Eyes Pencil is a long wearing and silky smooth pencil for amazing colour and definition."

Boots is a brand that has always appealed to me, with their different lines and bright displays at Target I'm always tempted to pick up some products. A few weeks ago I bought myself the Amazing Eyes eyeliner in Brown. I honestly have no idea how many shades are available, I don't see it on the website.

So let's talk packaging, it's in a pencil form (must be sharpened, some product will be wasted) with a little smudger sponge on one end. I think it's really handy and those types of pencils can be a little hard to find sometimes. However, the sponge on this pencil is really unnecessary because the pencil won't blend. When they say stay, they really mean stay. The wood of the pencil can also be sharp and poke my eyelid sometimes.


So more on the formula itself - it's crap. This pencil gives off little color payoff. It's also super hard and tugs on the eyelids. The only way to make this pencil apply easier is to warm it up by holding it in a flame for a quick second. And even then, it's not that great. However, it does wear alright. It doesn't smudge or disappear.

Topmost was swatched once, middle several times in one line, bottom several times

Bottom line: I do not like this. It has a good idea with the sponge on one end, but the pencil pulls on the eyelid and has little color payoff.

Thank you for reading! Have you tried this pencil? What'd you think?

Beauty

Everyday makeup!

7:27 PM

Hey there. Thought I'd show you my everyday makeup routine, if I'm even wearing makeup.


I always start with my undereye concealer. The one I'm currently using is the Garnier Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller, and I'm not sure what shade this is as there was only one color when I purchased it. I roll onto my dark ring and draw a triangular shape from there to the tip of my nostril and blend out with my off-brand beauty blender.

Then I dot the Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Beige evenly all over my face and blend out with my fingers, or my off brand beauty blender.

Following that, I dab some L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Crayon Concealer in Light/Medium W4-5 on any acne, scars, or hyperpigmentation on my face and blend out with my fingers.

The next step is is to add a light wash of color onto my eyelids. I've been really loving the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Inked in Pink, it's part of the Metals line, which may or may not be made permanent.

Then I sweep the No7 Maximum Volume Mascara onto my lashes. Crap mascara for volume, length, or definition (meaning all you really want in a mascara) but good for a natural look.

The last step is to dab the Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm in Rosy Red onto my lips for a natural red lip. Read my review of this product here.

That's it. I have a pretty simple routine. Thanks for reading!

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Hi there, I'm Emily. It's nice to meet you. I'm a beauty blogger who also happens to be very interested in photography/film. Chat with me, let's be friends!