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empties

Baby Empties

I thought it would be fun to do a baby empties post with all the products I have used on Zoe lately. Honestly, there is so much out there on the market for kids. Factor in sensitive skin, eczema and other things…and it becomes overwhelming. We have tried so many different things in the past 21 months, that I feel we have finally gotten the perfect routine down for minimum issues. Either that, or Zoe has outgrown some of her sensitivities.

Shea Moisture Baby Nighttime Soothing Shampoo & Bath Milk in Manuka Honey & Provence Lavender

I have been using this stuff as shampoo for Zoe for most of her life. It smells amazing (so much so that Zoe’s end of the year book last year had a comment about how the teachers will always remember Zoe smelling of yummy lavender) and is gentle on her sensitive scalp.

Honest Lavender Baby Wash and Lotion

I used up both of these, but probably wont buy them again. They were fine, but Zoe’s eczema was still an issue when I used these products. I felt like the lotion wasn’t moisturizing enough.

Burt’s Bee Baby Oil

Ever since adding this to Zoe’s baths at night, we haven’t had any issues with her skin getting too dry. It has helped (along with switching her body wash and using lotion) to clear up pretty much all of her eczema as well. This is my third or forth bottle of the stuff. I basically purchase it in bulk from Amazon now.

Aquaphor Healing Baby Ointment

As you can see, there are two empty bottles of this stuff in the picture….and I have probably used five or six more of them before that. This stuff was recommended by our doctor and is literally the only thing that works on Zoe’s skin. It makes her so soft and clears up any issues we have pretty much over night. I use this in the evenings, and a lighter lotion in the mornings before she gets dressed. If we have a flare up of any kind, we use this a few times per day. I cannot recommend this enough!!

Baby Dove Tip to Toe Wash

After not being super happy with Honest and a few other washes, I decided to try Dove and am SO GLAD that I did!!! I have already repurchased this stuff. Since adding the oil to her bath and then changing to this wash a few weeks later….we have had ZERO eczema flare ups. This stuff smells incredible and makes Zoe’s skin so so soft. Definitely our holy grail now.

Vicks Vapor Pads 

I forgot to put the box in the picture above, but these things are serious!! Anytime Zoe gets stuffy, I place this in her room each night for a few days. The whole house ends up smelling like it (so you know it is working) and it works so well to help her breath. I only use one pad at a time, even though there are two slots in the plug in. They are strong enough you don’t need two at a time. This is the plugin we use with it. 

September 19, 2018 by
beauty, empties

Drug Store Empties

My empties bin is out of control again! I decided to grab several of the drug store priced items for this post, and will save the higher end and baby stuff for their own posts coming soon. Let’s jump in, shall we?

EVA NYC Freshen Up Dry Shampoo

I am a huge Living Proof dry shampoo fan. It is something that works really well for me. I had gotten this bottle in a voxbox and was actually quite impressed! For half the price, I felt it was almost as good as Living Proof, and you can find this brand at Target or Ulta.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Cream Cleanser

I have expressed my love for Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser over and over. It is my absolute favorite cleanser ever. The thing is, I hated spending that much money on something that basically gets washed down the drain every night. I would much rather spend more money on a moisturizer or serum. Well, I have searched high and low and have decided after my second bottle that this Neutrogena wash is as close as I can get for a fraction of the cost. It is a cream based cleanser, so it is soothing and not drying on my skin…but has the acne fighting ingredients that the Murad cleanser has too. In fact, several ingredients are similar. You can’t beat the price of this, and it has a pleasant scent.

No7 Beautiful Skin Age Defense Cleanser

This stuff was alright. There was really nothing special about it, and it is a little pricey for a drugstore cleanser. I probably wouldn’t purchase this again.

Garnier SkinActive Soothing Cleansing Milk

This stuff smells amazing, and it feels good when you are putting it on your skin. But that is where the good stuff ends. I was trying to use this as a makeup remover, and it just wasn’t happening. It made my foundation look like it was water proof or something. It was very strange. I just feel like it wasn’t doing anything for me, and as you can see, it was impossible to get the last bit out of the bottle too. Good riddance. I will not be purchasing this again.

Ivory Free & Gentle Body Wash

I got the Pear and Sandalwood scent, which I forgot how much I hate pear. So while we used this body wash and it was fine…I would much rather prefer another scent in it. Just personal preference.

Ganier SkinActive Micellar Water

I used about five or six bottles of this in a row. It worked alright, but I went through about 5-6 cotton rounds every night with it as well, and that just seems wasteful. I like Boscia Makeup Breakup Cleansing Oil a lot better, so I purchased that during the Sephora sale this weekend.

Have you used any of these? Discovered anything new lately that you love?

September 5, 2018 by
empties, recommendations, reviews

Empties

Here is my last empty post from the huge clean out I did earlier this month. That was one full bag! These are mostly from Sephora, with a Body Shop and B&B Works product thrown in! A few holy grail products, and a few that leave something to be desired.

Coco Shea Honey Moisturizing Body Wash

I picked this up at Bath & Body Works as a free item with purchase and was in love! The scent is wonderful, and it is more moisturizing than their regular line of body washes. I tend to grab more natural washes at Target, since I don’t like buying six items at a time just to get a good deal…but I did enjoy this and would get it again on sale or as a free item when I am picking up candles or something else there.

Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser

This has been a holy grail cleanser for me for quite some time now. (Obviously a repurchase since there are two in my empties bin!) If you suffer from adult acne, you should really give this a try! My skin is sensitive and combination. I have fine lines but also have trouble spots that will break out in about two seconds if I stare at it the wrong way in the mirror. This cleanses your skin and treats it with salicylic acid without drying you out.

Belif – The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb

I know that there is a cult following for Belif, but I don’t get all the hype. This just wasn’t moisturizing enough for me. It was fine and didn’t cause any skin issues…but it also wasn’t doing anything for me either. At this price, there are so many better options out there!

Caudalie – Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet

I really liked this moisturizer when I was pregnant and my skin was going insane. Now? I would rather use something else. This moisturizer is fine, it just isn’t enough most days for me. It says that it deeply hydrates, but the Clinique Moisture Surge Intense does a better job. I think if you are looking for a moisturizer, this is one to consider if you have combination skin. I don’t really have anything bad to say about it, but it isn’t my favorite either. Does that make sense? LOL.

Body Shop Vitamin E Hand & Nail Treatment

I am a big fan of The Body Shop Vitamin E line, and have been for years. It has a light rose/vitamin e scent and the moisturized feeling lasts on my skin for a long time after application. I have the hand cream and the big tub of body butter on  hand at all times. Especially in the winter.

Clinique Moisture Surge Intense 

This has been my holy grail moisturizer for awhile now. My skin feels so good and smooth when I use this and my makeup goes on better. As you can see, I have used two containers since my last empties post.  Obviously a repurchase for me!

Have you tried any of these?

June 8, 2018 by
beauty, empties

Makeup Empties

I gathered all my makeup empties for one post. This is a good mix of higher end and drugstore brands. A few holy grails, and a few major fails.

Urban Decay All Night Setting Spray

This is my third bottle of this stuff. I really like it and it is the best setting spray I have used. It does exactly what it says it is going to, and it holds up to the horrid heat and humidity we have here in the south. I will say, I saw that Glam Glow has a setting spray that I want to try, has anyone used it yet? I want to know if I should stray from this favorite or not??? I am sure I will repurchase this again at some point.

Essence Lash Princess

I know I am in the minority on this, but I hate this mascara. For the price and all the hype it gets, I was soooooo excited to try it!!! So many people compared this to Better Than Sex and I am here to tell you it is not. It flaked on me and smeared throughout the day. I really had to work with it to get it to look good. I would just rather pay for the real thing. Such a disappointment.

Mally Volumizing Mascara

I hated this mascara. It is a high end price and it sucks pretty bad! There are so many mascaras out there, please don’t waste your money on this. It was too wet when I first opened it, I had to put on numerous coats to see anything and it dried out pretty quickly. Just no.

Maybelline Volum’ Express The Falsies Mascara

This is one of my go-to drugstore mascaras. For the price, it works pretty good and doesn’t smear. I tend to grab this or Loreal’s Voluminous.

Clinique Chubby Lash

I actually really loved this one!!! I received it in a Clinique gift with some other items and didn’t expect much from it. After a use or two I was hooked and it became one of my favorite mascaras to use. My ultimate favorite is Too Faced Better Than Sex, but this is a close second.

Make Up For Ever Smoky

This was just ok for me. There was nothing special about it and not worth the high end price.

Clinique Acne Solutions Foundation

I picked this up in Fresh Alabaster. The color was good, I would say this is medium coverage. I think this was a little too dry for my skin. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it. Perhaps if you have oily skin, this would be a great option for your. It tended to cling to my dry patches. For the price, it is great. Much cheaper than the other  high end brands.

Estee Lauder Double Wear

This is my holy grail foundation that you will find in my collection at any given time. This has the best coverage and is true full coverage. The color is a perfect match for my skin, which is so hard for some reason for me. I wear the 1N2 ECRU. I definitely feel like using a make up sponge like the beauty blender or real techniques version is the best application. Every now and then I will stray and try something new, but this is my absolute favorite. The only other one that compares for me is the Lancome Teint Idole which is up next.

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra

This is the only foundation I have found that comes even close to the coverage and match of Double Wear for me. I wear the color 230 Buff (W). This is another full coverage foundation that applies best with beauty blender type sponge for me. This is just a couple dollars more than Estee Lauder, but sometimes Lancome wins for me because of gift with purchase. If you are looking for a full coverage foundation and have a hard time matching in other brands, give this or the Double Wear a chance. And let me tell you, these both hold up to Alabama humidity. And that is saying something!!! It is a steam bucket down here most of the year. 

Wet n Wild Cushion Highlighter

So I grabbed this at Walgreens one day when I was picking up a few things. The color of this is absolutely GORGEOUS!!! I love love love it. However, that is where my love for this baby ends. The packaging ruins the product for me. They did a piss poor job on the packaging. It is such a pain to open and close. The little applicator sits on top of cheap peace of plastic that separates it from the highlighter cushion. The lid never screws on properly and therefore left the product to dry out way too quickly for me. I know I only paid $5.99 for it, but when you are using high end products and then you grab this thing…you just get angry lol. If you are looking for a cheap option to dive in to the world of highlighters, like I said, this is absolutely gorgeous on. But it isn’t worth it in my opinion to deal with the crap packaging.

Rimmel BB Cream

For a BB cream that you can grab at a drugstore for under $10, this stuff is amazing. The coverage is closer to medium and the color light works just fine for me skin tone. This is a 9 in 1 and has some benefits and some SPF too. My absolute favorite to use is the Lancome Skin Feels Good Hydrating Skin Tint Healthy Glow SPF 23. But if you are looking for more affordable option, this would be the way to go.

Real Techniques Sponge

I will admit, I have spent $20 on the Beauty Blender. It was when it first came out and one of the Sephora girls used it on me and I was blown away by the application. But spending $20 on a makeup sponge that needs to be replaced every three months makes me want to blow something up. No thanks. You can grab a two pack of the Real Technique sponges for $10 or less and get the same. exact. results. I am all about you get what you pay for when it comes to most things. But let me tell you, RT stepped up their game big time when they made this product. As you can see in the picture, I cut open my RT sponge (the orange one) and another knock off beauty blender I bought at Nordrstrom Rack for $2.99, and they both do not completely absorb your make up. Which is what the real Beauty Blender claims they are good for. Save you money and go with RT!

Have you used any of these? Let me know what some of your recent favorite finds are!

May 31, 2018 by
empties, recommendations

Target Beauty Empties

My empties bin is overflowing right now. I was able to take three sets of pictures for three separate posts. First up, I am going to share my Target empties. I will have a high end one and a makeup one coming up soon!

Garnier® SKINACTIVE Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Makeup Remover & Cleanser

As you can see, I used three bottles of this stuff since the last empties. For the price, it is excellent at removing makeup. Works really well for eye make up too. I like using Boscia Cleansing Oil and Cliniques Cleansing Balm. But again, I prefer the price of the Garnier for the same results.

up & up Eye Makeup Remover

I feel like this is good as any of the drugstore eye make up removers for less money, so I continue to purchase this on the regular. I prefer Clinique or Lancome over this, but don’t feel like paying so much for it. I try to get them in free gifts for purchase, and grab this one when I am out of everything else.

Vaseline Rosy Lip Therapy

I have been using this stuff for years. You wont find better results for your money. It goes on smooth, lasts for a long time and smells amazing. I have a few of them stashed around the house. Added  bonus: it gives you the slightest bit of color!

Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo

I actually picked this up at Walgreens, but they have it at Target too. I like this shampoo alright. I have used it off and on for years. There is nothing all that special about it. It works well for color treated hair and smells nice, but again, so do a lot of others out there.

OGX® Fade-Defying + Orchid Oil Shampoo

I have used a few bottles of this shampoo. I enjoy it alright for the price, but it isn’t as moisturizing as I would like it to be. I tend to switch this out with something more high end a few days a week to balance it out. It smells amazing and lasts a long time.

Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-IN-1 Primer

I had received this sample size in a Influenster box, but am purchasing the full size one at Target. For the price, it does a lot and detangles like magic. It says it detangles, nourishes, strengthens, softens, cuts drying time, adds shine, reduces frizz, and protects against thermal, environmental and uv damage. Argan oil feeds hair with vitamins and nutrients, while sunflower seed oil repairs, nourishes and protects. Hair is left smooth, manageable and shiny. I really love the smell of it too. Pretty packaging never hurt anyone either.

Method Body Wash Pure Peace

I absolutely love this body wash! Probably one of my most recent favorites. This stuff smells amazing and is Aluminum-free, dye-free, paraben-free, triclosan-free, and phthalate-free. It is made with rose water and I really liked how my skin felt afterwards. Again, it wins on packaging as well.

Raw Sugar Body Wash Raw Coconut + Mango

Another one with beautiful packaging. You can feel good about this purchase because 25% of Raw Sugar’s bottle packaging is made out of post-consumer recycled materials, and bottle caps are sustainably-sourced natural bamboo. As part of the Raw Sugar Initiative-a fresh bar of soap is donated to a family in need for every product sold. This stuff smells amazing and is Ethyl alcohol-free, aluminum-free, DMDM Hydantoin-free, hypoallergenic, lanolin-free, dye-free, gluten-free, non-toxic, paraben-free, Petroleum-free, sodium lauryl sulfate-free, Talcum-free, Sulfate-free, artificial color-free, mineral oil-free, propylene glycol-free, vegan, phthalate-free, fluoride-free, contains coconut milk, animal by-product-free, formaldehyde donor-free, certified organic, formaldehyde-free, contains coconut oil, propylparaben-free, butylparaben-free, nonylphenol ethoxylate free, contains naturally derived ingredients, diethanolamine-free. You really cant go wrong. I have been switching it up with this one and the Method one above.

Have you tried any of these? What are you loving lately?

May 22, 2018 by