I hope you’ve had as fun a weekend as I did. It seems like non-stop events and get-togethers since the middle of last week! And today my aunt is coming to visit for a day or two, so I’m dashing off this post. I hope I’ll be able to get one up for Thursday but if I don’t you’ll know why.
Giveaway Winner
First things first: congratulations to Mary W. the winner of our Laurmé Lemon Tart Exfoliating Mask giveaway! Woo hoo! I know she’ll love this yummy and effective facial mask.
And just a reminder for those of you who were eager to try the Lemon Tart Mask or any of the other fab Laurmé skincare products: till July 31, you can get 10% off your purchase at Laurmé with the code: NSDB10. Take advantage of this great offer!
Thank you to all who entered, subscribed, tweeted, followed, and commented. I really appreciate it! Please stay tuned because another giveaway is coming soon – I just have to write it up 😛
Beauty Empties
Although I don’t have as many empties from the month of June as some of the previous months, they’re mostly full size products. So I still feel like I accomplished something! As usual, I used up mostly skincare products.
Beauty Tools
- PUR Contour Blending Sponge: When PUR sent me their Water Foundation to try out a while back, they sent along their blending sponge as an applicator. I love the big flat slanted side, and I wouldn’t ever buy an all-purpose blending sponge without that feature. Also, I like the black color. I wash my sponges after every use and occasionally throw it in the microwave, so I got this sponge to last for a looooooong time. Now it has a hole in it so it’s time to say good-bye. Repurchase? If I didn’t have a bag full of blending sponges from Beauty Junkees waiting for me, I would. I love the sturdy texture of the latex PUR contour blending sponge, and at some point, I’ll buy another. (They no longer have the black color but that’s OK) I really recommend this sponge! $12
- CVS Nail Polish Corrector Pen: I discovered this corrector pen in a drawer in my bathroom. I bought it a couple of years ago to clean up polish mistakes. Somehow enough of the fluid never made it to the felt slant tip of the pen, and I thought it was quite ineffective. I don’t know why I hadn’t thrown it out. Now it’s completely dried out, so into recycling it goes. I just checked the reviews, and every reviewer complained that it was dried out. Repurchase? No. Don’t buy this. $3.99
Skincare
- Coola Face Classic Sunscreen SPF 30 Unscented: I think that this sunscreen for the face is my favorite with one caveat: it’s made with chemical sunscreen including avobenzone that many people like to avoid. Nevertheless, the lotion is lightweight and non-greasy. This is my second full-size tube. Repurchase? Not now. I have several facial sunscreen right now, some of which are made with physical rather than chemical sunscreen. Even though I don’t like the consistency as much as I like this one, I will use them up. If you don’t mind chemical sunscreens, I recommend this one. I think it’s the best of its kind plus it’s filled with organic and natural ingredients and loaded with anti-oxidants to protect your skin from free radicals. $32
- Farmhouse Fresh Organics Island Elixir Shea Butter Hand Cream: This is the first product I’ve tried from delightful FHF’s new organics product line. Not surprisingly, it’s wonderful! The Island Elixir scent is pina colada which I love. The texture of the cream is rich with shea butter, and it forms a protective coating while it nourishes dry hands and cuticles. Repurchase? At some point I will, most likely in the winter when I need a more hydrating hand cream like this. In the meantime, I’m using FHF hand cream with their regular “natural” line in the great scent called Fluffy Bunny.
- PCA Skin Ideal Complex Revitalizing Eye Gel: This is the third tube of PCA Skin Revitalizing Eye Gel that I’ve finished up. This clear gel is great for preventing milia from forming under eyes. I think the gel is also responsible for tightening up the loose skin above my crease. The only downside is the price. It’s expensive, though I try to buy it at Dermstore.com during their frequent sales. Repurchase: I already have a tube waiting in the wings. Also, I’m so excited that PCA Skin recently contacted me and asked me to review some more of their skincare products. Yippee! $85
- SOO AE Luminous Hydration Nature Collagen Essence Mask, Green Tea: I got this tencel fiber sheet mask in one of my subscription bags. It was a very nice, cooling mask that fit well enough. My skin felt nicely hydrated afterwards. Repurchase? It was a perfectly lovely mask, but I seem to have a million other sheet masks on hand. $15
- Reverie Farms Organic Bar Soap, Citrus Fusion: A lovely natural bar soap made with organic ingredients from Reverie Farms, a farm outside of Dallas that raises very cute goats. I believe this is a goat’s milk soap. It had a light but lovely scent, made great lather and was not at all drying. Repurchase? Again not now. I have a million bars of handmade soap waiting for me. But this is a very nice, high quality soap. $6
- Nature Island Botanicals Bar Soap: Speaking of bar soap, I divide Daphne’s huge bars of handmade soap into two smaller bars, and I just used up one of the two. Repurchase? I am using the second half now. I have a couple of more bars of her soap in my stash. But when she comes to the Gloucester craft fair in August, I’ll get more. She also sells on Etsy. Her soap is irresistible! $10
Makeup
- Smashbox Always Sharp 3D Eye Pencil, shade 3D Billionaire: Have you ever used up an eye pencil? Well now I have! In fact, I was shocked that it seemed used up, and I kept turning and turning it but nothing more is coming up. I have other colors from this “always sharp” line, but Billionaire, a green that’s the color of money, is one I purchased separately. I loooooooove this color. I use it to line my lower lashline because it’s not as harsh as black. Repurchase? I will. What a dope I am for forgetting to buy it with the Ulta 20% off coupon I just used! Damn. $21
So this is it for me! What’s the last beauty product you used up?
I have been using up a lot of skincare recently, mainly because I don’t want to bring them over to the new place. If you don’t mind me asking, why do you microwave your blending sponge? And for how long?
Shireen L. Platt recently posted…THE OLD VS NEW Edition: Ecotools Powder Brushes
I microwave my blending sponge like I sometimes do a regular sponge (that I also sometimes run through the dishwasher). It kills bacteria 🙂
Nice job, Allison! It’s always so satisfying finishing up full-size products!
Lola Seicento recently posted…Boxwalla Wandering Wood Nymph’s Sun-Kissed Alchemy Beauty Box | Unveiling and Review #Boxwalla #EarthwiseBeauty
Absolutely! I’m making room for more. Thank you, Helen xo
As far as using up products, I use up tons of skincare. My latest was a cleanser from Osmosis. I love the way you do these use up posts.
Stacie Hamilton recently posted…Meet Jodi, The Newest Contributor to My Blog
I still haven’t had a chance to try Osmosis skincare but I loved the makeup I tried. Feels so good to make progress clearing things out!
I’ve never used up an eye pencil – I don’t think I ever will! Well done!
CosmetopiaDigest recently posted…Beauty Products Emptied in June 2017
The beauty blender deff was much ready to be tossed.
That eye cream sounds amazinf!
Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted…Brighten Your Smile Rembrandt Whitening Toothpaste!
I’m using a PCA Hyaluronic Acid Serum and seeing why the brand is so good. I’d love to try the eye cream too. I did have some empties but I didn’t move them and have basically forgotten what they were!
MarciaF recently posted…Get Zestfully Clean with our Zest Fruitboost Shower Gel Giveaway!!
PCA is a top line, I use it when I get chemical peels and it is so restorative and great on sensitive skin, noting that eye gel you used!
Norah recently posted…Summer Skincare Tips Featuring La Bella Beauty
That’s great to hear that PCA passes muster with you, Norah. I’m eager to try more from the brand. I think you’d like the eye gel!
The Coola is possibly my favorite but I agree with your caveat. If I could find another that worked as well, I’d replace it
I’m forcing myself to use other sunscreens that I have right now, but I do love that Coola. I saw on the Ulta website that Coola makes a mineral sunscreen. I’m going to look for a tester and try it out!
Good on you for finishing a pencil liner- that takes commitment!
Bailey recently posted…Loosely Based | Translucent Powder Roundup
I was shocked that it was used up, Bailey! I was thinking that maybe Smashbox doesn’t give that much liner in the twist up container??
I like the Smashbox pencils.
Phyrra recently posted…Easy Hairstyles – Quick & Easy Beachy Waves Hair Tutorial
I hear nothing but rave reviews about FHF, it’s a brand I definitely want to try!
Julie recently posted…ColourPop Yes, Please Eyeshadow Palette Review + Giveaway
I know you will love FHF when you get to try it!