Empties & Extras #3

Hello glamour girlies!!

It's time for another edition of Extras & Empties. I have to say that I haven't really been collecting any Extras lately. I usually end up having a bunch when I buy sets, but I've been buying more individual items lately. There's no particular reason behind that. I'll be linking my very first Empties & Extras post where I go through ALL of the makeup and skincare extras that are hiding in my drawer. It hasn't changed much.

For empties, I've got a lot hiding in my drawer and I want to get rid of them and get some space back haha. Most of them are skincare items again, but I do have a few makeup and even fragrance items. You'll have to read on to see what I've used up and if I recommend it or not. Let me know if you want me to only show my makeup empties, as I feel that the skincare ones are getting a little repetitive because, let's face it, I've been using the same stuff for ages. Comment below what you think.

Also, let me know if you like these kinds of posts. I always thought they were interesting, seeing what people used the most and seeing the extras they've been stockpiling.


Now time for today's topic!


Extras & Empties #3

The Empties

Body Shop

Seaweed Pore Perfector X 2

A few months ago I tweaked my skincare routine. I took out some Tea Tree products I thought weren't working or could react with my skin better, and opted for the Seaweed line, which I heard could be used in conjunction with the Tea Tree line. I'm not sure if these pore minimizing products actually work. I'm going to have to say that I'm not really sure on this one. I can't tell if it's a combination of all my skincare products helping my skin not if this particular product is helping and how much. Will I buy it again? I have a few stored up, but I don't think I will buy anymore when they are done. I'm trying to find a skincare routine that is better than the one I currently have.

Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion X 2

This is one product that I'm absolutely sure helps my skin. I've been using it since I was a teenager. You can see the difference the next morning. It helps for scaring, redness, acne, pimples, you name it. It clears my entire face. This is one product I'll always recommend because it's fantastic. This will help your skin so so much. I'll always continue to buy these.

Tee Tree Skin Clearing Toner

The toner is pretty good I'd say. Obviously I haven't noticed anything obvious, but it does help to cleanse the last bits of makeup off my face that I've somehow missed. A girl always needs a good toner to help restore her face's pH balance back to normal. I'd recommend this product. Currently, I'm trying out a couple different toners just to see, though I have quite a few of these in my drawer. Hoarder much.

Tea Tree Face Mask

I've been using this mask for a little while now and it's been pretty helpful in clearing up my skin. It's a green mask that you wash off after 15 mins. It cools your face as well and I always notice that my skin looks a lot clearer the next day after using this. I would definitely recommend this mask to a friend. You know I hoard my skincare, but I have been trying out Boscia's skincare stuff lately so more on that later.

Seaweed Mattifying Moisture Lotion SPF 15

I recently switched from the Tea Tree Lotion to the Seaweed Lotion because the tea tree one was making my cheeks just a little bit too dry. I switched to this and it's pretty good. My cheeks aren't as dry anymore so it seems to be hydrating my skin pretty well. The only thing I don't like is how it goes on white. It mooshes with the rest of my skincare products and looks all weird and uneven after that whole mess of products. I would recommend this product to a friend.

Coconut Body Scrub X 2

I love the Body Shop's coconut scrub. I can feel it getting all the dirt off my skin, so the dirt doesn't flake off my skin after the shower anymore. I can get really clean! Not to mention the smell of this scrub is amazing and it leaves me smelling great. I deeply recommend this product for a good ol' deep cleaning of your skin.

Sephora

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Perfect Iron Spray

I recently tried Alterna's Heat Protecting Spray. This is the first heat protectant I've ever used. It seems pretty good, but that can be partly due to the amazing hair straightener I bought, T3 Singlepass, which is also supposed to be nice on the hair. It keeps it from frizzing out or anything weird like that while I'm straightening it. After straightening, my hair is all sleek and soft and just beautiful. Whether it's this or the straightener, something somewhere is working. I recommend this product and I also recommend people to use a heat protectant before styling their hair, as it protects it from damage due to heat.

Makeup Forever HD Powder

This is the best setting powder I've ever used. They make an awesome powder and it goes especially great with their HD Kabuki brush. It does an excellent job of setting your makeup and preparing it for blush/bronzer time. It helps to create a flawless face. I use this everyday (unless I'm testing or switching it up) because I love it. I would def def def recommend this powder!

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray

I always thought that setting sprays were a sham for some odd reason. No clue why, just always thought it was weird. One day at Sephora I saw they were selling these minis (yeah the old ones!) for 12$ so I figured why not. I wanted to give it a try after reading about the different setting sprays by different brands. This one seemed to be a good one. And wow am I ever happy I bought it. Setting sprays actually do work and they help your makeup to last longer. I find that I don't smudge my cheeks by the end of the day (I always rest my hand on my chin/one side of my face) when using this. I'm pretty darn impressed and I always remind myself to use this if I'm having a long day. I would totally recommend this to you, and especially to someone that has long 10 hour days who still wants to look fabulous at the end of the day.

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum

Ahh I finally finished a perfume bottle. Finally. This is my very first empty perfume bottle!!!! I've reached a milestone!!! OMG CELEBRATE!!!! I traded in my high school signature scent  for Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle in my early 20's. Even in my high school days, I loved this perfume. But honestly who would buy their teenage kid such an expensive thing as Chanel? Back then I always thought that Chanel was like, unbelievably expensive. Like a thousand times more expensive that Givenchy. Hah (In case you were wondering, my first signature scent, my high school one, was Givenchy's Hot Couture). I always loved the smell of Coco Mademoiselle, so I finally got it as a gift from my dad, who was on a business trip and passed by the Duty Free Shop. The Eau de Parfum has a very different smell than the Eau de Toilette so do be careful when buying and smell them both. Personally, I do not like the smell of the Eau de Toilette. I really really do not like it. The Eau de Parfum, on the other hand, smells soooo wonderful. I would definitely recommend this perfume to a friend, it's a classic!!

The Extras

As I said, all my extras are honestly all the same stuff I posted in my very first Empties & Extras post. I honestly haven't been hoarding anymore stuff, I only have like 2 new things, which isn't much to show off, since they're both minies anyway. Take a look at my first post for all the stuff I'm hoarding. 

Empties & Extras #1



Thanks for reading and again, I hope you enjoyed today's post and looking into my garbage! haha. I hope it was cool to take a look at my used up products. There's certainly a pattern, as I keep using the same products over and over again. What are your holy grail products that you use up time after time again? Let me know what they are!

In the very near future I will show you my new Too Faced Christmas 2013 item!! Gahhh so stoked about getting it. I also prepared that French Manicure post, finally! I was going to do it tonight but I got class in the morning and it's seriously getting late, so maybe double post tomorrow.

Steph xo.

Empties and Extras #2

Hello dolls!!

Here's another edition of Empties & Extras. I have to say that I have a ton of skincare extras because I use skincare products like the apocalypse is tomorrow. As a teenager, I never really suffered from acne. The most I got was an occasional pimple, sometimes twice at one time. But now in my early twenties, my pimples are bad. I know it's not the worst case of acne out there, but it's the worst it's been for me. So I use skin products like they're going to be discontinued soon. So a lot of empties are skincare products. The rest, obviousy, are makeup. I was getting a little tired and fed up at the amount of containers I'm hoarding so I'm doing this post. For future posts I might wait until I have more makeup empties so that it's more interesting. Let me know if you found this post boring and want more makeup empties. The only reason I initially included skincare and other empties was because I didn't think I'd have enough empties to do a post more often than every 6 months.

As for the Extras part.... well, there aren't really any. Well there's nothing new, to be precise. So I'll leave a link at the bottom to the previous Empties and Extras post so you can see all my extras. I honestly haven't bought anything or received anything that is an extra to what I already have. An Extra, to me, is a product that I have a double or triple or whatever that I'm storing until the opened one is empty. I also count samples as Extras too.



I was going to do the Fashion look from the Too Faced Natural Eye palette but I was tired and fell asleep and woke up with smudged makeup haha! So I'll do it soon for you guys. Sucks cuz I really tried to use products that I don't normally use, and it looked great. The day before that, I went out for supper with my bffl Lisa. Again, no pictures, but we looked hot in our dresses! We went to Deville Dinnerbar, and I gotta hand it to them, the drinks and food was pretty good! They make a pretty good spin off of the classic Long Island Iced Tea. I tried a bellini for the first time in my life, and I didn't like it. I almost wanted to steal my friend's drink because she had ordered the Long Island Iced Tea because she liked mine so much. Her first drink was the Litchee Martini, exact name I don't remember. We had a great time and exchanged birthday gifts. Our birthdays were a while ago, mine in April and hers in May, but we were busy and hadn't been able to see each other. I got her the Nails Inc Bling It On Rebel nail set, which you can see here. She got me the David's Tea Summer Tea Set and ahhh I'm so happy. My favorite teas are dessert teas and fruity teas so I definitely loved the set. Plus I had wanted some more Tropicalia and I can't wait to try the other teas. Yum!

So let's get onto my makeup empties!

Empties

from the Body Shop:


Coconut Body Scrub - 1 x 300mL container and 1 x 200mL container

Coconut Body Butter (1)

Tea Tree Face Mask (1)

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion (1)

Tea Tree Blackhead Exfoliating Wash (1)

Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion (2)

Vitamin E Moisture Serum (1)

Seaweed Pore Perfector (1)

I know, I go through skincare products like the apocalypse is coming tomorrow and I have to have a perfect face so that I might find the perfect man to protect me from an incoming horde of zombies. I really, really, really like my skincare products. Ever since my face started going haywire and producing more pimples than it did when I was a teenager, I've been trying to fix this problem. So far, the pimples always seem to win. But this regimen is helping a lot and I get less pimples, they're less noticeable, and my skin is better. I highly recommend these products, they work for me, and I hope they work for you too. I've repurchased all of these products. Every single last one. And I use them daily. So yes, I strongly recommend these products and I will be repurchasing them unless something way better comes along. The only one I'm not currently using is the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion because the lady working at The Body Shop recommended the Seaweed Mattifying Moisture Lotion instead. She said it would help my cheeks and not be as drying as the Tea Tree. So I'm giving it a try.


other stuff:


Clean and Clear Acne Wash (1)

Softlips in French Vanilla (1)

I use Clean and Clear Acne Wash for two purposes: the first is actually what it's made for, as an acne wash, and the second is to remove my makeup. I've been using this since I was a teenager, and I always go back to it. I've already repurchased this product and I do recommend it for both reasons. Now, for Softlips, it has got to be greatest lip chap/lip balm/ whatever you call it these days EVER! I use it all the time when my lips get chapped and I'm trying to get into the routine of putting it on at night before I go to bed. You can see how much it's been loved, the label has completely rubbed off. I've already repurchased this as well as another product from Softlips called "Nourish" (I think?) and I always keep one in my purse. I definitely recommend them.


and finally, from Sephora:


Benefit High Beam (1, mini)

Too Faced Primed and Poreless (1)

MUFE HD Foundation in 110 (1)

Oh Benefit High Beam, how I love thee! This is the greatest highlighter I've used, and I've tried quite a few. It's the perfect color for me and it's something I would DEF recommend to light to medium toned girls that want a nice highlight. I've repurchased this and I even have another mini. Love love love it. Too Faced Primed and Poreless is also another product that I love. I use this all the time to prime my face before foundation and it's really great. It makes your skin nice and smooth and my foundation goes on so easily, and I use less foundation because of it. This is the only face primer that I use and I will continue to repurchase this. I already have a new one that I'm using. I recommend this to someone that is looking for a good pore refining face primer. The last makeup empty is MUFE HD Foundation. I love this foundation. This is my second empty container since first buying this product last fall. The color matches perfectly to my skin and you can choose what kind of coverage you want, from medium to full. I like the way it feels on my skin and the way it goes on and blends into my skin. I knew right away that this was my holy grail foundation. I have repurchased this and I recommend this to everyone! They have a huge range of shades and I'm sure that you will find a good match to your skin color.

Extras

I really haven't bought or received any extras compared to what I already had. Obviously, I won't have the same amount, but I do store extras of the products I love, especially skincare because I use that stuff a lot. I don't want this to be repetitive so I'm not going through everything again, but if you want to see my old extras, then check out my first Empties & Extras #1 post.



I hope this was an interesting post as I am quite curious myself when it comes to seeing other people's most used products. I hope this helped people on their quest to find their own holy grail products that they will want to use up til it's empty!

Thanks for reading, as always, and I hope this was entertaining even though skincare practically took over! But don't worry, I'll be back to doing makeup looks tomorrow. I'm still working on doing that Dupe List for Too Faced Loves Sephora palette. Trust me, there are a lot. Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

Steph xo.

My Skincare and Shower Routine

Hello everyone!!

Today's post is a bit different, in that it doesn't really contain any makeup. I'm going to go over my current skincare routine and my shower routine and show you the products that I use and the frequency at which I use them. I wasn't in the mood to photograph all this stuff plus half of it is wet cuz I just took a shower. So these images are from the brand's site. And yes, I do have all the products I'm mentioning in my bathroom. Yes I use them everyday.

Since I was on the Body's Shop's website to grab some photos for this, I decided to do their little skincare quiz. And you know what's funny? They gave me almost ALL the Tea Tree products!! And the Camomile Eye Makeup Remover!!! Haha that's hilarious. These are the products that I use everyday!


The Morning Routine

I don't really have much of a morning routine, since I'm always in a rush, so I just wash off last night's creams and do my makeup, get dressed, and go. Grab a coffee and snack on the way to school/work. That's a typical morning for me. I'm trying to slowly develop a morning routine.

I don't use a moisturizer before putting on makeup. I only use a primer. I know, I should be moisturizing all the goddamn time but I just don't. I need to find a moisturizer that doesn't have a smell, because tea tree and seaweed smell!! (you'll understand once you've read the rest of this post). So leave a comment and tell me what you use as your pre-makeup moisturizer.

For makeup primers, I usually use Too Faced's Shadow Insurance for my eyes and Too Faced's Primed and Poreless for my face.


The Shower Routine (I shower at night)

Pre-shower:

Makeup Remover:
Clean and Clear Continuous Control Acne Wash

Eye Makeup Remover:
Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

The Shower:

Shampoo:
L'Oreal Nutri-Shimmer Shampoo

Conditioner:
L'Oreal Nutri-Shimmer Conditioner

Body Wash:
Body Shop Coconut Shower Cream

Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath

Philosophy Coconut Frosting Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath

Body Scrub:
Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub

Body Butter:
Body Shop Coconut Body Butter

Face Blackhead Scrub:
Body Shop Tea Tree Blackhead Exfoliating Wash

Face Cleanser:
Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Foaming Cleanser

Out of Shower:

Toner:
Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner

Face Mask (once a week):
Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask

Serum:
Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Serum

Moisturizer:
Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion 

but I will be switching (once I have finished the bottle) to:

Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Moisture Lotion SPF 15

Night Cream:
Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion

On nights I don't shower:

Makeup Remover/Cleanser:
Clean and Clear Continuous Control Acne Wash

Eye Makeup Remover:
Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

Toner:
Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner

Serum:
Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Serum

Moisturizer: (might be switching, as noted above)
Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion

Night Cream:
Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion

Hand Cream:
Body Shop Coconut Body Butter

Body Shop Coconut Milk Body Lotion

So as you can see, I do most of my skincare routine at night. The lady at The Body Shop told me to try out the Seaweed Moisturizer instead of the Tea Tree Moisturizer because my cheeks are always dry and patchy, while I have an oily T. I have combo skin, obviously. Ever since I started using this regimen, my pimples and oil have gone away. They may not be 100% gone on any given day, but they are much much better than before I started this regimen. These specific products may not work for you personally, as we all have different skin, I'm just telling you what has worked for me to give you an idea of the different types of skincare products that are out there. Until a couple of weeks ago, I didn't even know what a toner was. Seriously.

And oh, does anyone know a good finger/nail cream?? My nails are weak and dying.

For shampoo/conditioner, I want to try L'Oreal's one for damaged hair. The white/red bottle. Can't remember the exact name right now ughh. But you know the one. I keep putting off my haircut and my ends are so damaged it's crazy. I've used the Nutri-Shimmer Detangling Spray but I don't find it works great on my fine hair.

I love Philosophy but because of the stupid language laws here, there was a squabble over the language on the labels and Philosophy wasn't sold here for a long long time. I think it was at least over a year. It sucked. But now we just just got Philosophy back last month and I'm hoping that my Sephora eventually gets their full line.

So what do you think of my skincare products? Leave a comment telling me what you think of the products I use and if I'm missing some subcategory in this skincare madness, let me know. If there's any great products out there, let me know!!

Hope you enjoyed this post, look out for more, and it's back to the makeup tomorrow!!

Steph xo.

And in case you missed my Top5 in virtually everything, here are the links for

EYES

FACE

LIPS

Enjoy!