Small Walmart Haul: Rimmel, L'oreal, Sally Hansen & Garnier

My friend and I went to Walmart when she was in town last weekend because we like to walk around and look at everything together (you know, so we can find all those things we don't need but have to buy...)

{Makeup}

I have been wanting to try the new Scandaleyes retro glam mascara from Rimmel after hearing one of my favorite beauty gurus on Youtube talk about it so much. Then I also picked up a new L'oreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense because my other one was old and drying up. I love this liquid liner. No matter what new ones I try out I always go back to this kind.

{nail polish}

I needed a new top coat and got my old favorite Sally Hansen Insta-Dri. It is really super shiny and dries so fast.

{skincare}

I'm so excited about this! I got a bottle of the new Garnier clean+ Nourishing Cleansing Oil. I tried a large sample of a cleansing oil last year (I think the brand was DCH or DHC... something like that) and I absolutely loved it. It removed my makeup so nicely and made my skin feel so soft and clean but not dry so when I heard Garnier was coming out with drugstore priced cleansing oil I knew I had to try it. Plus, I got a coupon for $1.00 off in this month's Glamour magazine so how could I resist... right!?

{CANDY!}

We felt it necessary to buy candy so I got a bag of mini Reese's Eggs in white and milk chocolate. They are amazing. I love them. I love the holiday edition Reese's. The fun shapes make them taste better. I swear.

That's all I picked up on this trip. Just a few new fun things and repurchased a few favorites. 

Hope you enjoyed!

xoxo

Manicure Must-Haves && fun extras!

 

Pre-Painting Prep!

 

 

First I remove whatever polish I'm wearing. I really like this Cutex brand remover!

Next I file, trim, and smooth my nails. I love my Sally Hansen clippers & buffer block.

I love this cuticle oil: OPI Avoplex Nail & Cuticle Replenishing Oil. I've had this for several years and it is still going strong. It has a really nice subtle scent and makes my cuticles so soft!

Occasionally I put my cuticle back and have recently fallen in love with these cuticle pushers from e.l.f. They come in a 2 pack for $1.00 and they are really nice quality!

 

Base Coat

 

 

I have two base coats I really love. The one I've used the longest is the OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener. The newest base coat I've fallen in love with is by Orly and it is their Bonder Rubberized Basecoat. These are both great options to use prior to applying color to your nails.

 

Quick Dry High Shine top coats

('cuz why use anything else ?!)

 

 

I've tried many over the years and these are my favorites for the price that dry quick and deliver a really high shine. Both are from Sally Hansen: Dries Instantly and Insta-Dri. Insta-Dri is a bit shinier but the product dries up quicker in the bottle so I feel like Dries Instantly is a better deal because you don't lose out on any product going goopy in the bottle!

 

Polish Maintenance

 

 

Speaking of polish going goopy. When you have a lot of polish or even just a few bottles that aren't getting used up quickly then I recommend a bottle of Nail Polish Thinner. I got this as Sally Beauty Supply for a few dollars and it has saved many a bottle of nail polish. It is normal for an unused polish to get goopy and hard to work with over time but squeeze a few drops of this in bottle, shake it up, and voila! Nail polish saved!

 

Extras & Embellishments

 

 

I love to decorate my nails after painting them. I like doing glitter accent nails or using the Sally Hansen Real Nail Polish strips but I've also come to love rhinestones and stickers. The full nail stickers can be worn alone or over a color and so many brands make them now. Sally Hansen like I mentioned and also Sinful Colors, Essie, NCLA, Sephora, L'Oreal... the list goes on and on.

 

 

These gold glitter strips are the newest addition to my collection. I ordered them online from either Groopdealz or Jane... I don't remember. But they make such a cute embellishment to a manicure and how can you go wrong with anything glittery and chevron... right?!

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed,

what are you nail polish basics and favorite ways to embellish a manicure?

 

 

xoxo

Products I've Used Up!

For the last several months I have been saving the products I used up so I could share them on here as a sort of mini-review extravaganza!

 

1. Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes

You can probably guess that I'm a fan of these {see four empty packages above}. They are only $4.00 from Walmart, they don't make my skin feel dry, and they don't have a strong fragrance. I haven't strayed from these makeup remover wipes since I first started using them and have no desire of trying any other kind.

 

2. YesToCucumbers Daily Calming Moisturizer

3. Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner

 

I had repurchased this moisturizer several times. It didn't leave my skin feeling greasy. It had a nice smell. It didn't break me out. The only thing I didn't like about it and what made me stop buying it was the $15.00 price tag. If it didn't cost so much I would still be using it today.

 

I had also purchased this toner more than once but am not using it anymore. I switched to a more gentle Mario Badescu toner because this Neutrogena toner was too harsh and was drying out my skin without healing the breakouts. This toner was okay for usage once or twice a week but more than that and it dries out my skin.

 

4. Studio35 Eye Makeup Remover (generic brand from Walgreens)

5. Equate Eye Makeup Remover (generic brand from Walmart)

 

I absolutely love the studio35 eye makeup remover and have used it since high school. I loved it so much because it took off all of my eye makeup quickly and without irritating my eyes or leaving any residue behind. However, I recently started using my first waterproof mascara and had to stop using the studio35 remover because no matter how long I left the cotton pad on my lashes it would not take off the mascara. Once a week or so I still wear a regular mascara and then I get to use my studio35 makeup remover {and totally love it}. So if you don't wear waterproof mascara then I recommend this remover but if you do then I would steer clear.

 

Because of the aforementioned waterproof mascara I started using this Equate eye makeup remover and I hate it. Absolutely hate it. But it is a necessary evil because I need to wear waterproof mascara to keep it from flaking and smudging all over my face. If you can avoid this stuff then do because most nights it irritates my eyes and leaves behind a horrible oily residue. The only redeeming quality is that after much soaking of the lashes and gentle scrubbing it will take off the waterproof mascara.

 

6. Dove gofresh anti-perspirant deodorant in Cucumber Green Tea

7. Aveeno Clear Complexion Cream Cleanser

8. Proactive Refining Mask

 

I have used this deodorant in this scent for a long time and even when I switch to a different kind I tend to always go back to this one. I really love the smell and does a decent job at keeping my armpits from sweating. Otherwise, nothing else really stands out. I don't agree with its claim that it last 48 hours. I mean come on... two days? Pssh.

 

I first decided to try this facial cleanser because it is a cream and I was looking for something that wouldn't dry out my skin while still treating my acne. I won't be re-purchasing this face wash because although it didn't dry out my skin it didn't treat the acne either. The exfoliating beads didn't do much for actual exfoliation. Even when I switched to a different daily cleanser I still kept this in the shower and it was good for removing my face makeup. So if you're not concerned with treating breakouts then this makes a nice gentle cream cleanser.

 

This Proactive mask was a free sample but had enough product to last me several uses. It is meant to be used on damp skin so I would put it on in the shower and by the time I got out my skin felt so soft. It never left me with that tight/dry feeling which is common after a mask. I don't know how much a full size costs but if it was reasonable I would definitely get another bottle!

 

9. Head and Shoulders Itchy Scalp Care

10. Herbal Essences Color Me Happy Conditioner

 

I have an oily scalp that is also prone to itchiness and dandruff. I use this shampoo to help combat that unfortunate combination. I find it does treat my hair woes and I have repurchased this several times and plan to continue using it.

 

This conditioner was nothing special. The smell was nice. My hair felt fine but there wasn't anything noteworthy about it. I'm not against using this product in the future but I'd rather find something that I love.

 

11. Nair Face Wax Strips

 

I did a post on these about a year ago and I am still repurchasing and using these today. I wax my own eyebrows and also occasionally use them to wax my upper lip. They are affordable, quick, and mess free. If you're interested in some facial hair removal then I recommend trying these strips.

 

12. Colgate Optic White toothpaste

 

My husband and I love this toothpaste. Our teeth feel very clean after using and we like the taste and whitening effects.

 

13. Nailtiques Non-Acetone nail polish remover

14.Garnier Nutriste Skin Renew Anti-puff eye roller

 

I ordered this nail polish remover online. It took off everything but glitter polish. I bought it because it was acetone free. I am currently using up a bottle of pure acetone and can't wait to be able to order this kind again. The only downside was that it costs $6.00 a bottle which seems like a lot for nail polish remover. I justified the purchase because of how hard it is to find a good non-acetone remover from the drugstore.

 

This roller ball was a big fat fail on my part. I bought this a few years ago when the product first came out. I thought it was for treating under-eye circles. I was wrong. It is for puffy eyes. I don't have puffy eyes. I used it up to use it up and saw no results, for obvious reasons.

 

15. Covergirl Lashblast Volume

16. Maybelline The Falsies Volume Express (one in black drama the other in water resistant) 

 

Covergirl Lashblast Volume is my favorite mascara. I am currently using this same kind but in the waterproof formula. Normally I don't like the plastic bristle wands but I find this one makes my lashes look thicker and helps keep them curled and voluminous.

 

I tried the falsies mascara because of all the hype it gets on YouTube. I won't be buying it anymore. It flaked every time I wore it. I would have flakes all over the under eye area and sometimes even in my eyes. I know some people love it but it just does not work for me.

 

17. Revlon Colorstay 24 Hrs foundation for Combination/Oily Skin

 

Yes, you guessed it, I love this foundation as well. I switched to this kind because my last foundation was a slipping, sliding, oily mess all over my face. I heard a lot about this on YouTube from others with oily skin so I decided to give it a shot. I apply it with a damp makeup sponge (like a knock off beauty blender) and have loved it from the first application. It applies smoothly to the skin and is very long lasting. One of the things that really sealed the deal is that it doesn't feel like I have makeup on. Previously, my face makeup always felt too heavy and cakey.

 

18. Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

 

I am currently using my third bottle of this top coat. I bought it while searching for a cheaper alternative to the cult favorite SecheVite top coat. I had tried one bottle of the SV top coat and while I found it to be the best top coat I've ever used it was way too expensive and the bottle dried out way before it was empty {curse you quick dry}. This SH top coat is a very close dupe in my opinion even down to the bottle drying up before it was empty {see second picture above}. Luckily this one is only half the cost of the SV so I'm only losing half as much money, right!?!? I think the bottle drying out and getting goopy is a necessary evil of a quick dry product. I can't really expect it to dry quickly on my nails but not when the lid is off. Anyways, it dries very fast, leaves a very shiny finish to my nails, and keeps me from smudging my nails when I'm too impatient to let them dry before using my hands.

 

19. Sally Hansen Hard as Nails base coat

20. NYC In a Minute Quick Dry nail polish in Radio City Rose

 

I have flimsy nails that are prone to flaking and breaking so I always use this base coat. I have used it several times and already repurchased a new bottle.

 

You probably don't believe me that the polish above is used up. However, as has been established earlier, quick dry nail polishes dries quickly, even in the bottle. I love this color and I've already repurchased a new one but this was too used up and goopy to be finished.

 

21. Nivea A Kiss of Milk and Honey lip balm

22. L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Rose Elixir

 

I honestly don't love the Nivea lip balms very much. They are okay if your lips aren't actually dry or chapped and you just want to add some shine but when I was looking for actual relief from or treatment of dry chapped lips this stuff did not deliver.

 

I really like this L'Oreal Balm but had the same problem as the one before. It is more of an "add shine" lip balm than an actual "treat your lip problems" kind of product. It added a nice sheer rose color to my lips and the product smelled pleasant. One thing that annoyed me was that it still had a lot of product left when I reached the point where it stopped twisting up any further so I had to use something to dig out the rest of the balm.

 

23. L'oreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense liquid eyeliner

24. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner

 

I love this L'Oreal liner. I find the felt tip pen very easy to use and don't find the product to smudge or transfer on my lid throughout the day. I have repurchased this several times.

 

This Kat Von D liner was amazing! I only had a sample size but I wish it didn't cost so much or I would buy a full size in a heartbeat. The color was such an opaque black and the formula was very long lasting. It is also a felt tip liner {which I find to be the easiest kind of liquid eye liner to apply}.

 

25. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

26. The Porefessional PRO balm

 

These are both sample size foundation primers that I had purchased from Sephora in their Value Sets. I like those because they allow me to try many high-end products without the high price tag. I loved both of these primers. I think the Smashbox is the better of the two at keeping my foundation on longer. But both were excellent for minimizing the appearance of large pores and creating a smooth surface on the skin. The Benefit primer also smelled magnificent. But if I was able to buy one full size I would go with the Smashbox primer.

 

27. NYC Smooch Proof 16Hr Lip Stain in Champagne Pink

 

I really enjoy using lip stains. This gave a nice bright pink color. I didn't feel like it dried out my lips nor did it fade and leave a funny ring around the edge of my lips (like some stains). I believe it was almost $5.00 which seems like a bit much from NYC but if I felt like buying another stain from the drugstore I wouldn't be against trying another from this same line.

 

28. DKNY Women Perfume by Donna Karan

 

Now I realize finishing a little baby perfume sample is no great feat however, I fell so in love with this scent that if ever I could buy a high end perfume this would be it. It smells so fresh and I could smell it for hours after applying it. I'm just so obsessed. It is my dream perfume. If you're ever at a perfume counter I recommend giving it a little spritz! 

 

Whew! *wipes sweat off brow*

 

We made it through my tote of empty bottles that I've had sitting around for months! I'm so happy to throw it all away. I love reading these posts and watching these videos on YouTube. It is a great way to get a real opinion on a product instead of sometimes first impression when they first buy a product. Plus it is a good motivation to make sure I'm not wasting products!

 

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. 

I am already starting to collect empty products in my brown bin again for the next time!

 

xoxo

Collective Haul: Neutrogena, L'Oreal, Dove, Rimmel, CoverGirl (with swatches)

Hey everyone,

I have a few random goodies to share that I have picked up from trips to Walmart, Walgreens, and Rite Aid over the last little while. I was getting ready to take the pictures for this post when my husband asked if I wanted to come to the farm with him. I didn't want to just sit there whilst on the farm so I packed up all the things for this post and a few others and decided I would give photos in natural night a shot. I have got to say that, aside from the flies, it was quite an enjoyable experience!

got2b Kinkier Curling mousse and L'Oreal Hydrafresh Toner

I had a coupon for $2.00 OFF any got2b hair styling product and chose this curling mousse because I am always on the hunt for a good curling product that is going to give me that beachy-wave look. My hair has a slight wave to it naturally but it needs a little something to help hold the wave. I have used this once and I love it! My hair went a little flat in some places but after curling a few random pieces the overall look was very pretty. I'm quite pleased with it!

The toner is a whole different story. I was looking for a replacement for the toner that came with my Mario Badescu samples. Turns out there are zero options at Walmart when it comes to hydrating toners. I want to purchase the full size Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Lotion so very badly. Maybe I just need to look harder for a non-alcohol toner from the drugstore. I have gotten off topic, this L'oreal toner is okay but I think it is slightly irritating to my skin. I am going to use it until I find a replacement but I'm not thrilled with this product.

Cotton Rounds and Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth deodorant in Wild Rose

I don't like cotton balls and only buy the rounds now. I use them for makeup and nail polish removal.

I'm very excited to start using this deodorant because the Secret deo I have just about finished up is awful. It irritates my skin so bad and makes my armpits itch constantly. Now let me tell you something, itching your armpit in public is never a good thing and is always so hard to disguise. I chose this Dove deodorant in hopes it would help soothe my under arms.

ONYX Professional 100% Pure Acetone

Hands down best nail polish remover ever! I don't know why it took me so long to try pure acetone. It takes off my nail polish almost instantly. You stick your finger in the bristles, soak it for a second, twist and move your finger a little and when you pull your finger out the nail is completely clean. The only thing you need to be careful of is that you have lotion near by to moisturize each finger after you are done with it because this stuff is SUPER drying. Once I've moisturized, my fingers are fine and the dryness doesn't come back.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Hydrating Cleansing Towelettes

I finally gave up on those awful Equate brand exfoliating makeup remover wipes. I went with something that said hydrating since the Equate wipes were doing the exact opposite. These ones are bit more frangrancy than I would like, I wish they had no smell. But it is a very fresh scent which is tolerable. The wipes are huge and I think I could cut them in half and still feel like I was using a full size wipe.

Rimmel Lasting Finish PRO in Sunset Orange and Black Satin

This is my favorite brand of nail polish. I love the wide, flat brush and how glossy and smooth the polish applies. I couldn't resist this bright coral shade. Now I can finally throw away my 3 year old WnW Wild Shine coral nail polish that is so old and clumpy, I would put glitter polish over top just so I could still wear the color but blame the bumps on the glitter. The black is self explanatory, I love a super glossy black manicure. I think it always looks classy.

Covergirl Naturluxe gloss balm in Tulip and Clay

I was at Rite Aid a week or two ago when these were BOGO 1/2 Off, plus I had a coupon for $2.00 off (2) Natureluxe products. Needless to say, I got these for a good deal. They are ridiculously sheer, so I am going to just call them lipstick shaped chapstick. I haven't used them enough to know if they actually provide any long term moisture or if they are just glossy on the lips but so far I really like them.

I hope you enjoyed my little random haul.

I think my two favorite products are the acetone and the curling mousse.

xoxo

EOTD: Wet 'n' Wild Coloricon in Vanity and Lust

I just have a quick EOTD to show you. I wanted to do a look that didn't use any of my everyday eye shadows. I haven't used my 6-pan coloricon palettes as much as I thought I would so I reached for two of them.

Here is the finished look...

This is what I used...

WnW Coloricon palette in Vanity and in Lust

Rimmel Sexy Curves in Extreme Black

Rimmel Extra Super Lash in Black

Too Faced Lash Injection in Black

Maybelline Define-A-Brow in Light Blonde

E.l.f. Clear Brow mascara

L'Oreal HIP Kohl eyeliner in Navy

Pixi Eye Bright primer

{Yes I used three mascaras. I used the Too Faced first to thicken my lashes, Sexy Curves to comb through & separate my lashes, and then Super Lash on my bottom lashes.}

Here is how I used the eyeshadows

1. Shimmery cream color in my inner corner/inner third

2. Shimmery gold color on the middle of my lid

3. Matte purple on the outer third of my lid

4. Shimmery charcoal teal in the crease and outer "V"

I really like the combination of these colors together and while it is not something I would wear every day, it's still subtle enough that I wouldn't consider it dramatic.

Hope you enjoyed!

xoxo

March Favorites

With the end of the month comes my list of favorite and most reached for products. I got into quite the routine with my makeup this past month and had to do zero thinking when it came time for this post because it was obvious what I have been loving.

Face

 -Maybelline Dream Mousse concealer in Fair Light 0-1

This is my favorite concealer for cancelling out the redness of blemishes and any blotchy spots.

-L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base

I don't use this all over my face, I just focus it where my pores are most noticeable (apples of my cheek, nose, and chin) and I also smooth it over blemishes to reduce any flakey skin (this stuff is super moisturizing), and ensure my makeup can last all day and keep those things covered.

-CoverGirl Fresh Complexion pocket powder foundation in Ivory (605)

This gives a lot of coverage and keeps my face matte all day.

-e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation in Porcelain

This is my absolute favorite foundation (aside from the smell) because of its thick consistency (I can't stand thin watery foundations) and it's the perfect shade for my skin. It works great at cancelling the redness from my skin tone. I also love that it comes it with a pump which makes application much easier.

-Physicians Formula Healthy Wear SPF 50 bronzer in Light

I know in my CVS haul I wasn't sure how well this would work as a bronzer because it is so light but I actually came to love this and used it every day for a tiny bit of contouring on the cheeks and color to my temples and jawline. It's so natural and sheer that application is fool proof and I don't have to worry about turning into an oompa loompa.

-Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Sheer Highlighting blush in Fresh

Another product I didn't have high hopes for when I got home from CVS but it's subtle and gives such a healthy pink glow to the skin.

-e.l.f. Golden Bronzer

This is a product I re-discovered this month as my cheek highlighter. I had been using a more pigmented and shimmery highlight but with my subtle bronzer and blush I was craving a simple highlight to my cheekbones.

Brows

-Maybelline Define-A-Brow in Light Blonde

I somehow ended up with a random little bald patch in one of my brows this month and I have no clue how it got there. This brow pencil has been my best friend and filling that in.

-e.l.f. Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara in Crystal

If you can tell from the picture above, I have completely used up the side that is open and will be opening the other side with my next application. I'm obsessed with this brow gel and I can't imagine using anything else. It keeps my brows tamed all day.

Eyes

-Wet n Wild Ultimate Expressions eye shadow palette in Sand Castle

I found myself reaching for this palette almost everyday of March. The colors are gorgeously pigmented and blend so well together. Whenever I see looks done using the Naked palette or the TooFaced  Natural Eye palette I think of my good ol' WnW palette, the colors seem quite similar.

-e.l.f. mineral eyeshadow primer

Although I got 2 higher end eye shadow primers in the month of March I still found myself reaching for my e.l.f. primer, perhaps out of habit but it's such an awesome primer that it's a great habit to have!

-e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Ash and Mineral Eye Liner in Black

I used this liner combo almost every single day of the month. I line my upper lash line with the mineral liner and then top it off with the waterproof liner. Then the mineral liner on my waterline and a tiny bit of the waterproof liner on my lower lash line that I smudged out with my finger before it set. I don't know why I decided to do this but I have been loving the combination of the two liners.

Lips

-Jane Auguceuticals lipstick in Oasis

I wasn't real thrilled with this lip stick when I first got it because I thought it was too frosty. I was so wrong. It's such a nice light pink.

-e.l.f. Mineral Lipgloss in Au Naturale

Every day that I wore my Jane lipstick I layered this gloss over top. It gives me such a nice light pink/nude/natural lip.

My lips became a dry, cracked, horrible mess at the beginning of March and I have spent the last few weeks trying to combat these awful symptoms. I'm not cured yet, I think I need stronger products or something... I don't really know what to do. But here is what has been helping.

-Carmex Original Moisturizing lip balm

This has definitely made the biggest difference on my lips, especially at the corners of my lips where they are cracking really bad :( I really kind of hate the smell of Carmex but I'm suffering through for the sake of lips.

-Neutrogena Lip Boost Intense Moisture Therapy

I switch off using my Carmex and this. Again, I really don't like the smell but it is super moisturizing so I slather it on at the corners of my lips in hopes my lip issues will subside and then disappear!

-Nivea Kiss of Smoothness lip balm

I love this lip balm. I find it ridiculously moisturizing and it's my favorite for all over my lips. I layer this on my lips and then would put either Carmex or Neutrogena at the corners.

-EOS lip balm in Honeysuckle Honeydew

I used this much like my Nivea lip balm especially when I was craving something that smelled yummy. It is also very moisturizing and worked great in combination with my Carmex or Neutrogena.

Skin Care

-Clean&Clear Morning Burst Facial Scrub

I bought this on a whim from the travel size section at Walmart. I've realized my St. Ives Apricot scrub is too harsh but I hate the feeling of my skin when I don't exfoliate so I thought I would buy a more gentle scrub. I think it's helping my skin a lot.

Hair

-Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo is my hair's best friend. This works great at absorbing oil and adding volume and lift to my roots.

Happy April!

xoxo