Januarry 2022 Empties!

My first empties post for the new year! I can't believe it! I didn't really finish a lot of stuff other than a few face masks and tons of shampoo/conditioner apparently. The funny thing is I went several days where I couldn't even remember the last time I washed my hair.

Most of the items were repurchased stuff but, there were a few noteworthy things. I finished quite a few masks and I did enjoy a few of them. I have a few products from Sweet Chef but, they are mostly moisturizers. I did enjoy this sheet mask and thought it left my skin hydrated. I didn't notice a scent which was disappointing because I usually expect most food-centered mask to have a scent. The Aippo Soothing Expert Soothing Mask had a nice luxurious feeling and my skin felt so hydrated after using. I have always liked the Detoskin brand when I used one of their mask so, I was excited to try their Puer Tea-Time Mask. This one didn't disappoint either. My skin felt and looked so hydrated. I didn't like the
Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Calming Paper Mask at all. Well, more like when I tried to use the mask there was no serum, the entire mask was all dried up! I am not sure if I got an old product or if that's how the mask is but, it ended up going into the trash.

I used to love the brand Sumbody so, I got some of their items. Their soaps are okay, they have a strong clay scent but, I am disappointed on how tiny they are for the prices. I do like they use easy to read ingredients and they are not filled with chemicals. I did like the Lollia Wish Sugared Pastille Perfumed Soap. It had a soft delicate scent but, it didn't last on my skin.

Did you finish anything this month that you liked?

 

January 2022 Haul!

 

I can't believe it's already 2022! Last year went by in a blur and honestly, I can't even remember what I did in 2020 - 2021 other than buying way more makeup/skincare than I used. 

We were having a rather nice and mild winter but, it actually started getting colder just the other day. I am actually glad that I will be staying indoors and I stocked up on some bath salts. I got two bottles of mint eucalyptus salts. I got these from the Dollar Tree, I hope these salts will stay $1 when the price change comes into play. These smell great and are a great affordable everyday treat. I did get two bath bombs from Charmed Aroma that were around $20 each but, they include a piece of jewelry. I had gotten a shark one for my friend on her birthday and she enjoyed it so, I decided to get two try them out. And they smell so amazing, I left one on my counter and it scented the entire room up.

I got a few face masks from Facetory as I been making good progress on depleting my stash and with colder months, my skin needs extra hydration. I got a nail mask from Bling Pop that seems exciting but, I usually don't have much luck with hand masks. I got another mask from Detoskin and Needly. These are two new brands I recently tried. I had loved the other masks I tried from them previously. They are jammed pack with serum and they feel so nice against my skin.

I got a new jar of Needly Daily toner pad. This seems cool because I usually just pat on toner but, I also feels like its wasteful because I am throwing away the pad when it's finished. It also reminds me of the acne pads I would use when I was in high school. I got a new mask from Tbg. in lava and it smells amazing. It reminds me of Toostie Rolls and the jar is so beautifully designed. I got a new serum from Rodial in Pink Diamond. I had another one of their serums but, for the life of me I can't find where I left it. Maybe that should be my hint to stop buying new products ;)

Is there anything new this month you are excited to try?

January 2021 Empties Part 2!

 

 

I am really proud of myself for finishing so many things. I have consistently finished quite a few facial sheet masks and full sized products. I finished three nail polishes which is the most I ever finished in one season! Although, I buy at least 20.... I am little sad that some of these indie brands nail polishes tend to dry up when they are about half way finished.  I noticed a lot of times the brushes don't even met halfway to the bottle so there is a lot of product that can't be used which is very wasteful.

I used to love Black Dahlia Lacquers but, I found that their formulas are a bit chunky and they become dried up after a few uses. This was my first nail polish by LynB Designs and  I loved the cheery yellow color but, when the bottle was half way finished, the formula became unstable and chunky. It completely dried up and the brush that was provided didn't reach the bottom so I could try to use it up.

I been doing a lot of scrubs lately and I am not crazy over the dp Hue ACV salt scrub. It was kind of underwhelming and it didn't lather. Although, I like that I wasn't stuck with bits of salt in my hair after washing. I loved the Pistache body butter, it left my skin so soft and hydrated without the greasy feeling. It was such a treat to apply, I found myself applying it throughout the day and it left my skin feeling amazing and delicately scented.

Here is everything I finished -

Burt's Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk Bath

23 Years Old Seaweed Silky Mask

Huangjisoo Tea-Tree Soothing Mask

Dewytree Cica 100 Mask

Aroh This Mask Pack Brightens Your Skin in a Twinkle

Facetory Be Bright Be You

Pistache Skincare Pistachio Oil Pistacho Body Butter

Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing Patches

Facetory Everday Olive Squalane

Facetory Sun Bae Soothing Mask

HaruHaru Maqui Berry AntiOxidant Wonder Mask

Feelxo Firming Camellia Mask Floral Skincare Recipe

Cosmetea Black Tea Nourishing Moisture Mask

Grace & Stella Anti-Wrinkle Face Mask

Black Dahlia Lacquer - Moonlight Daisy

Doctor Babor Derma Cellular Collagen Booster Cream

Golden Door Soothing Cleansing Foam

LYNB Designs Nail Polish - Trying Very Hard Not to Connect With People Right Now

Julep Nail Polish - Hana

Dove Dermacare Scalp Anti-Dandruff 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner

BBW Love Luxury Bath

Generation Clay Urban Defence Purifying Pink Clay Mask

Ode Orchard Alchemy Antioxidant Face Oil

Glamglow GravityMud Firming Treatment

OUAI Scalp & Body Scrub

Sunday Riley Luna Retional Oil

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

H2O+ Hydration Sensitive Gel Cream Moisturizer

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm AGE Smart

dp Hue ACV Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Scrub

January 2021 Haul Part 2!

 

 

Ahhh, January is almost done and gone! I can't believe how fast the days go but, when I am working the hours and minutes move by so slowly. I been trying to keep my makeup spending to a minimum but, honestly, I have no self control. I have no idea why I buy so many palettes and use the same one over and over. I really can't refuse a good sale. I am trying not to buy everything on sale but, limiting myself to only a few sale items so that I can have more in my spending account for the "good" end of the year sales.

I bought a boatload of new facial masks. I got this oatmeal mask from Purenskin that I am really excited to try. I have tried a basic oatmeal mask and it really soothe my skin. I hoping this one has similar or even better results. I got a few Facetory branded masks from their new lines and I am really excited to try them. I got the chamomile and artemisia ones that look pretty awesome.

I got two new bar soaps that I found from TJ Maxx. I got one Peony scent and another Bourbon and Pine scent that has a nice winter-y scent. I love trying new bar soaps because it can make an ordinary moment more special.

I got a few more lip products that I am excited to try them...at home. I got the beloved Ruby Woo MAC lipstick that heard has a cult following. I love lip products and the color red. I got a new Juice Beauty lip product in Gwyneth and NYX lip oil in Sheer Blush. I heard of people liking both of these products and I can't wait  to try them.

I got a few new Korean facial care products that I am excited to try. I got this clay ampoule cleasner by Lala Chuu that looks interesting.  The cream version of the Facetory's Artemisia line and a few facial oils from Keep Cool, Pixi beauty and Akar Skin.

Did you get anything new that you are excited to try?

Marie Claire January 2015

Hang Photos Like a Pro

1. Know your freebies - when buying from a dealer or gallery, make sure to ask if the price includes the frame. For a lot of first-time buyers, it does.
2. Defray costs - hit up Ikea for budget frames, or join Michaels mailing list and wait for coupons, which can custom framing prices nearly in half.
3. Use your accents - if your room has a bold accent color, try matching the frame to that. Got a neutral palette? Match the color of the floor.
4. Separate lights and dark - lights frames help a space look bigger. Darker ones draw attention to the fact that a room is small.
5. Master the salon - when collaging a bold or colorful work with less eye catching ones, don’t hang the focal piece in the middle. Use the pinwheel technique: disperse artwork loosely around the center of the wall. And use frames of a single hue.
6. Tame the mix - if salon style chaos isn’t your thing, try hanging art of different sizes and mixed media [a mask, an etching, a painting, a photo, etc] in a grid a bold but restrained effect.

Benefits of Meditation

1. Improved concentration - experienced meditators’ brain show more activity in the areas that control attention and focus than those of people who don’t meditate.
2. Weight control - in preliminary studies, meditators who practice “mindful eating” (focusing attention on the sensory experience of a meal) were able to control overeating more successfully than non-meditators.
3. Better memory - meditators have denser gray matter in the hippocampus (which is connected to memory and learning)
4. Less uneasiness - after analyzing nearly 19,000 studies on meditation. Researchers found that mindfulness practices ease anxiety.
5. Decreased stress - studies has found that meditation can reduce the expression of genes linked to inflammation and stress.

Women’s Health January/February 2014

Hydrating Facial

Bring a pot of water to boil. Add chamomile, lavender, rose, or green tea, then remove from the stove. Cool until the steam feels comfortable, and sit for a few minutes with your face a foot from the water with a towel over your head. Steam opens your pores to dislodge dirt and dead skin.

Harper’s Bazaar December 2013/January 2014

Have $57K burning a hole in your pocket? Guerlain’s Bespoke Fragrance service includes consultations with the brand’s master perfumer in Paris and yields a five year supply of your personal scent, housed in a Baccarat crystal bottle.

How to wear Gold - metallic makeup can flatter everyone as long as it is applied correctly. Use it sparingly so you don’t draw attention to fine lines. Add a hint of gold shadow to the center of your lids, or top your lipstick with a swipe of gold gloss. It makes your lips look fuller.

EveryDay with Rachael Ray January/February 2014

Home juicing how to -

1. Wash ingredients; remove stems and peel citrus. Thin-skinned fruits and vegetables, like apples or cucumber, don’t need to be peeled.

2. Halve large fruits and vegetable so they’ll fit into the juicer’s tube.

3. Turn the juicer on and feed ingredients into the tube one at a time. Juice hard vegetables at a high speed and softer fruits at a low speed. Pour into a glass and drink it up.

No juicer? No problem - run firm ingredients through a food processor fitted with a grating disk. Transfer to a bowl, remove the disk and insert the standard blade. Puree the ingredients for 5 minutes, then press through a fine mesh strainer.

3 Questions for a Butcher

How long does meat stay fresh?  A good rule of thumb is to cook or freeze fresh meat within two days of buying it. You can also extend its life by cooking it - cooked meats will keep three to four additional days in the refrigerator.

How can I serve steak without breaking the bank? Your best option is to look for affordable cuts like top sirloin steak, which is lean and tender much like the prized tenderloin. You can also try tri-tip, a flavorful sirloin cut. It’s often sold as a larger roast, but you can ask to have it cut into smaller individual steaks. Like the top sirloin, it’s about half the cost of a strip steak.

Any butcher’s tricks shoppers should ask for?  If you’re buying a less expensive, less tender cut of meat, such as London broil or eye round steak, ask your butcher to run it through the tenderizer once, even if it’s thick - the machine separates the muscles, which allows rubs or marinades to permeate and helps the meat cook evenly and quickly.

How to pick the perfect avocado

The best guacamole is made with creamy fleshed hass avocadoes at the peak of ripeness.

1. Look for a forest green fruit. Darker skin means riper flesh.

2. Cradle it in the palm in your hand and gently squeeze. Guac-ready fruit will give slightly.

3. Flick off the stem. If it pops off easily and what’s underneath is bright green, you are good to go. Brown means it is overripe.