Category: Beauty

December Empties with Heather Marie!

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Everyone please welcome back Heather Marie, my awesome sister and amazing blog contributor. This month, she is sharing her December Empties.

(Note: This post is not sponsored, and all products were purchased myself. No affiliate codes are present either. As always, my opinions are my own.)

A little about Heather:

 

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“My name is Heather Gooss and I’m a cook, a card crafter, a painter, an amateur pianist, a skilled movie watcher, and a book lover. Professionally, I’m almost done with my degree in applied mathematics and am working part time. I also own a bath bomb business, called ReeRee’s Bath and Body!”

Lancome Eye Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover (Sample Size)

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I found this to work better than drug store make up removers. But I still had to wipe a few times to get all my mascara off. Note that I was using a waterproof mascara. It has a very slick texture and a little went a very long way. Overall, I would purchase this again. But next time I think I’ll try something else, just to explore.

Rating: Meh, It’s Okay…

Lancome Hypnose Drama Instant Full Volume Mascara, Sample Size

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I love this mascara. It applies very smoothly and covers evenly. I felt like it made my lashes look longer and fuller. It is a very intense black. This mascara lasted all day, but was not perfectly waterproof. If I cried, it would smear just a little. Overall, I will definitely purchase this again!

Rating: A Beauty Must-Have!

Lancome Cis Booster XL Vitamin-Infused Mascara Primer, Sample Size

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I felt like I went through my sample size really fast. I felt like it helped my mascara go on smoother and helped my lashes look longer. I would buy this again, but I might also try another brand’s version first.

Rating: Meh, It’s Okay…

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Waterproof Eyeliner

I bought this because I have an oily complexion and this often makes my eyeliner smear. I found that, although this eyeliner is waterproof, it is not oil proof. So it did smear pretty badly throughout the day. However, the marker tip made it easy to apply and the color was great. I feel like this would be a great option for someone without an oily complexion.

Rating: Meh, It’s Okay…

L’Oreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte 24 Hour Foundation

I love, love, loved this foundation! It applied very nicely, gave great medium coverage and lasted all day! It was great at making sure I didn’t look too oily. It also did not move around too much on my face throughout the day. I am a convert and I won’t buy anything else in the future!

Rating: A Beauty Must-Have!

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – Radiance

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This primer has a very subtle shimmer to it that makes gives a nice glow. It applied well and a little went a long way. I think it helped keep my foundation in place and helped it apply more smoothly. It worked well for my oily complexion. I would buy this again but I might try something else in between my next purchase.

Rating: Meh, It’s Okay…

 

That’s it for today’s Empties with Heather Marie! Stay tuned until next month!

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November Beauty Buys

Published on by danabuchmiller1 Comment

I am starting a new beauty review series, called Monthly Beauty Buys. Today’s November Beauty Buys features hair care, body wash and a couple of cosmetics.

(Note: This post is not sponsored, and all products were purchased myself. No affiliate codes are present either. As always, my opinions are my own.)

Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures Shampoo & Conditioner

Where: Walmart, $3.47 each

I have been using this duo for a week. So far, I love it! My hair is bouncy and shiny again. My scalp seems more balanced too – I can go a second day without my hair throwing a greasy fit. Since shampoos can be tricky, I will let you know what I think in a future empties post, once I finish it up.

 

Suave Essentials Milk & Honey Splash Body Wash

Where: Walmart, $1.88

I forgot how much I love Suave body wash! The price is great, and they smell fantastic. (As you can see, I am on a bit of a honey kick lately. ☺️) The one thing I will say is that the formula is very thin. I recommend using a washcloth or a loofah to make this body wash last longer.

 

L.A. Colors Contour Stick in Light

Where: Dollar Tree, $1

This was a surprise find! I chucked this little beauty in my shopping basket, not expecting much from it. I was surprised to find that it worked perfect as an under-eye concealer. In fact, it works better than my L’Oréal True Match Concealer (shade: n1)! I plan to go back and stock up on a few more.

 

Wet ‘N Wild Photofocus Foundation in Shell Ivory

Where: Walmart, $4.68

I bought this foundation mainly because I was being cheap. But, I was pleasantly surprised! It stays all day, and has good coverage. I also love that it isn’t too cakey, drying — or shiny.

I might try the fair-warm shade next time, instead of the fair-neutral. Although my skin is neutral toned, this formula leans a little too cool for my complexion.

That said, I think I found a new favorite!

 

L’Oréal Infallible Liquid Lipstick in Candy Man

Where: Walnart, $7.94

First off, this lipstick smells like chocolate pudding and brownies, which is ah-mazing!

Secondly, this is my all-time favorite formula for liquid lipstick. It stays on all day, and only slightly fades through meals. It isn’t drying, and looks fantastic.

You can read my in-depth review on the L’Oréal Infallible Liquid Lipstick.

 

That’s it for my November Beauty Buys post. Let me know if you have any products you would like me to try!

November Empties with Dana Maye!

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Here is my latest empty post! This month’s beauty products center around hair and skincare.

(Note: This post is not sponsored, and all products were purchased myself. No affiliate codes are present either. As always, my opinions are my own.)


Empty #1: Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo & Conditioner

Where: Walmart, $5.97 each

I decided to try out a sulfate-free, silicone-free, paraben-free, plant-derived shampoo. This one is all of that and more. Instead of the primary ingredient being water, it is aloe vera juice, and so on.

For the first week, my hair seemed to love it. But after that, my hair began to lose its shine. My hair also became brittle, and began to break quite a bit, which was disappointing.

I haven’t tried any of the other shampoo and conditioner duos in this line, and I don’t intend to. I am trying a different shampoo & conditioner from the Garnier Fructis Whole Blends line. You can read about it in my November Buys post.

Rating: Bottom of the Waste Basket!

Empty # 2: L’Oréal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation in 103 Natural Buff

Where: Walmart, $8.97

I loved this foundation. It lasted all day on me, which was exactly what I was looking for. I loved the even, flawless coverage, and that it was light enough for my freckles to still peek through. Without primer, I found it a tiny bit drying. With primer, it gave me the perfect demi-matte skin that I prefer.

Tip: I bought this foundation two shades too dark, so I used bronzer on my neck until I was able to finish it up.

I am a big fan of L’Oreal products, so I’m not surprised this one was a big hit for me. I will definitely buy  this foundation again, just not now. This month, as I am trying to save money, I bought the Wet ‘N Wild Photo Focus foundation. You can read more about it in my November Buys post.

Rating: A Beauty Must-Have!

Empties #3: Wet ‘N Wild Photofocus Matte Finish Setting Spray

Where: Walmart, $4.68

I love setting sprays. They are so helpful in keeping makeup looking fresh all day long. This one in particular helped keep my eye shadow (especially glitter eye shadow) looking flawless all day. The mist isn’t as fine as I wanted, but that only affected the experience of using the spray, not its performance. It kept my eye shadow, blush and contour on, which is what matters.

I do have to say that when looking at price-per-ounce, the L’Oreal Infallible Setting Spray is the same price. So, next time I buy a setting spray, I will try the L’Oreal version. That said, this is a great setting spray -and is the perfect size for travel!

Verdict: A (Cheap) Beauty Musthave!

Empty #4: OleHenriksen Truth Facial Water

Where: T.J. Maxx, $12

This spray smelled refreshing and lovely, but made no difference on my skin what so ever. Since, this is a Sephora-level skincare brand, I was hoping that it would at least help my skin look a little more refreshed and quenched. Sadly, it only made my face look wet.  This mist was very harsh too, which made using it a little jarring. It did smell good, and didn’t burn my skin, which is a plus…

I will definitely try a difference facial water spray next time.

Verdict: Bottom of the Waste Basket

 

Empty #5: Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel

Where: Sephora, free luxury sample (Full Size: $58)

I absolutely loved this hydration gel. It was the perfect moisturizer! I loved applying it underneath makeup, because it didn’t cause my foundation and primer to slide, or look too cakey or oily. Over the time of using it, my combination skin looked more balanced.

Due to the price, it will probably be a while before I buy it, but I do definitely think it is worth the cost. Perhaps as a birthday splurge.

Verdict: A (Luxury) Beauty Musthave! 

 

Empty #6: Phoera Liquid Eyeshadow in 101 Cream

Where: Wish.com, $3

This metallic liquid eye shadow is meant to be a knock-off of the Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow liquid eye shadow. I have tried both, and this one is nowhere near the Stila version. That said, it is still very pretty. If applied with an eye shadow primer, it lasts a long time, and the glitter is beautiful, if a little chunky. I was worried that being so cheap, it would sting my sensitive eyes, but it was actually very gentle.

I am trying out another wish.com liquid eye shadow, which you can learn more about in my November Buys post.

Verdict: A (Cheap) Beauty Musthave!

 

That’s it for now!

Dana Maye

Beauty Hack: An Easy Way to Remove Makeup

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beauty blender

Removing mascara is one of my pet peeves and most annoying parts of the day. I have tried makeup wipes, cotton balls, cotton pads, Q-tips, and microfiber clothes. I also have tried micellar water, cold cream and practically every liquid makeup remover on the market. I still would have to deal with a fine line of mascara smudge into my lower eyelids, giving me a not-so-chic raccoon look. Makeup is supposed to help me feel more beautiful, not less! On top of that, I constantly dumped the makeup remover into my eyes, causing them to burn and sting.

I finally discovered a great beauty hack when I ran out of cotton balls. I decided to try my Beauty Blender, which worked amazing. It has both the ability to release makeup remover, while absorbing pesky makeup. I love the rounded bottom for overall removal of makeup from the eyelid and face. I love the tip for removing mascara from the eyelashes, and eyeliner/mascara from around the lower lash line.

It works better than anything else I have tried! I prefer to use it with Clinique’s Take the Day Off cleansing balm. For liquid makeup remover, I prefer the Klorane Floral Water Makeup Remover.

Why not give this beauty hack a try? 🙂

My New Favorite Bath Bombs: ReeRee’s Bath and Body

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(Listed Above: Lime bath bomb, Sweet Orange shower melt, Unicorn bath bomb, Lavender shower melt, Mermaid Tail shower melt, and Grapefruit shower melt)

Bath bombs are one of my favorite ways to relax and unwind. I love the way they add swirls of color and glitter to the bath, the serene spa-inspired scents and how soft my skin feels afterward.

I am excited to share my new favorite bath bomb brand -ReeRee’s Bath and Body! This indie beauty brand was engineered by my amazing sister, Heather Gooss. I have always admired her creative abilities and the way she infuses perfection and passion into her work.

So far I have tried the Mermaid Tail bath bomb. It smells so good -like the smell of ocean waves and cotton towels. I love the epsom salt in the bath bombs, and the gentle sea foam green the water changes to.

I can’t wait to try everything else! I am especially excited about the lime bath bomb. ❤

If you want to try a splash of awesomeness, you can purchase these as well as other bath bombs and shower melts at ReeRee’s Bath and Body Etsy shop. You can also follow Heather on Instagram, @reereegooss.

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Wild Field Soaps

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wildfieldsoaps

I just got back from a fantastic road trip! I went ruby mining and gold panning, and spent time with my family in Virginia. During my travels, I came across a farmer’s market in Franklin, North Carolina with a lovely soap shop!

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The name of the shop is Wild Field Soaps, and the owner is very sweet. She was easy to talk to and clearly has a strong passion for soap making. I love her emphasis on high quality, environment friendly ingredients. I bought a bar of the Mermaid Mojito soap, and can’t get enough of it! It smells beautiful and is so gentle on my skin. ❤

I also got samples of her Down to Earth, Dirty Mimosa and Lavender Bergamot soaps, which I can’t wait to try.

Wild Field Soaps can be found at the Franklin NC Farmer’s Market

Hours: Saturday 8 am-12 pm.
Address: 200 Block E Palmer Street in Franklin, NC 28734

You can check out the Wild Field Soaps facebook page to learn more!

Tuesdays With Heather Marie: Empties Review!

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heather and me

Hello everyone!

I am excited to announce that I have a new blog post series in the making. Once a month, I will feature a guest post from Heather Marie! She will give reviews on beauty, fashion and other budget friendly products. Heather Marie is a wiz at finding great deals, and pretty much awesome all around. I promise I’m not biased -even if she is my little sister. 🙂

 

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For today’s post, Heather will be giving reviews on 5 beauty empties. In case you don’t know, an “empty” is a review on a completely finished product. Instead of a review at the initial buy, she can give you a much better picture of how that lipstick or skin care works.

Without further ado, let’s welcome Heather Marie!

 

A little about Heather:

 

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“My name is Heather Gooss and I’m a cook, a card crafter, a painter, an amateur pianist, a skilled movie watcher, and a book lover. Professionally, I’m almost done with my degree in applied mathematics and am working part time. While I’m not sure where I’m going in life right now, I’m sure I’ll enjoy the ride!”

Empty #1: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

 

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I bought this lotion with a coupon that made it free! I didn’t think much of it at first; I just bought it because it was free. However, the more I used it, the more I liked it. It is a very creamy lotion that feels very hydrating and luxurious. It is not greasy and has no real scent. I like to put it on before bed and allow it to soak in overnight. It makes a big different for my dry, cracked hands. I definitely plan to buy Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion again!

Rating: A Beauty Must-Have!

 

Empty #2: Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

 

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I was given this travel size skinny serum and have added it to my morning routine. I have medium to loose curls and normal hair, aka not fine nor thick. I think it helps with my hair not being too frizzy. However, I am not satisfied with using it alone. I use it in conjunction with a curl defining cream and hair spray. Since adding it to my routine, I feel like my hair stays styled longer. I will probably try an alternative when I replace this one.

Rating: Meh, It’s Okay…

 

 

Empty #3 Alba Botanica Hawaiian 3-in-1 Cleansing Towlettes in Deep Pore Purifying Pineapple Enzyme

 

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I like using make removing/cleansing wipes each night to clean my face. I tried these because they were a dollar cheaper than my normal wipes (mentioned in the next review.) They cost $5.29 at a Walgreens in Washington State. I thought these were okay, but not ideal. I have very oily skin, so I thought they would be okay. But, they were more drying than I’d like. They removed my makeup but I had to rub a little harder than I have to with other wipes. I also noticed that I was getting a little more acne with them. I’m not sure if they wipes weren’t cleaning my face enough or if they solution on the wipes was irritating my skin or otherwise causing the acne. Either way, that was a bummer. Overall, I do not plan to buy these again.

Rating: Bottom of the Waste Basket! 

 

 

Empty #4: Shea Moisture African Black Soap Clarifying Facial Wipes with Tea Tree Oil & Calendula

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These are by far my favorite face wipes! Again, I have very oily skin, and these clean me right up. I love how well they remove my makeup, which is a definite plus. They have a more greasy feel to them, however they do not give me acne. In fact, I’ve seen an improvement since I started using them. They have no real scent to them. Overall, having a simple routine for the evening helps me be more consistent with my skin care, and these are perfect. I will definitely buy the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Facial Wipes again!

Rating: A Beauty Must-Have!

 

And there you have it! 4 Fantastic Empty Reviews! We’ll see Heather Marie again in September!

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Note: Just so you know, this post includes affiliate links.   This helps me to find more hidden deals and review more fantastic beauty products! As always, I only link to beauty items that rate a Beauty Must-Have. Thanks for your support!