Vacation Empties! (13 Things!)

So like a good Blogger I managed to have some empties while on vacation! Check em out!

1. Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF 12

See my previous posts here, and here where I discuss this product.

2. Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Butter Mini

I got this at Sephora when I had some store credit because everyone on Youtube that I watch from England loves Soap & Glory and raves on and one about the scent. I decided to give this a go since it is only like $5 and a girl always needs body butter. I concur that the smell is AMAZING! And this body butter is the right amount of rich moisturization! Would I buy the full size though? Not sure, because it is so expensive, but I am definitely interested in trying out other Soap & Glory products and am not below putting the full size body butter on my Christmas list, haha.

3. Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy La Fleur Sample

I got this sample in my August Birchbox and I loooove it! I have sampled the classic Viva La Juicy before in my January Birchbox. I am vaguely contemplating buying the full sized bottle of the La Fleur through Birchbox when I have enough rewards points for it. It is like the regular Viva La Juicy but with more floral notes, while also retaining the classic Viva La Juicy scent! Perfection! <3

4. Boscia Black Mask Sample

I liked this mask, and found it to be quite similar to the White Mask which I had used before vacation and LOVED. I liked this Black one and the application and process is the same as the white one, but when I peeled it off it didn't feel as refreshing or brightening as the White one. It is possible that this feeling is all in my head and that the Black & White masks really are the same, just different colors, but I know I would buy the White one before the Black one.

5. Caudalie Beauty Elixer

I previously reviewed this product in a post dedicated all to itself!

6. CVS Brand Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50

This sunblock was ok. I loved that I got it for free through a CVS coupon, and that it was SPF 50, but otherwise, there is nothing amazing about this sunblock. The smell is a little off, kinda like old bananas (ewwy!). However, the staying power was really nice, and if I remember correctly, the price point is pretty fabulous. If I was on a tight budget or got tired of frou frou sunscreens, this one is just fine. Buy full sized? Maybe after I've tried all the Branded kinds.

7. Hawaiian Tropic Sensitive Stick Sunscreen SPF 50

I bought this back in December when I made my first extended stay in FL after an incident where I managed to sunburn my eyes due to all my other sunscreens making my eyes burn upon application and causing me to never apply enough around my eyes. Not a cute look I must say, so out of desperation I bought this face stick sunscreen so my face would stop stinging from other blocks, and so I would stop burning. I also figured that extra SPF on my face would be good to prevent acne scars from getting darker. This product was a win win in both categories! It never stung my face, and it never let me down. The only off thing is, because I apply this product thickly, when I am at the beach sand tends to get stuck in the sunblock and then kinda just stay there all day, even when my face is dry. So, maybe not the best choice for a date, but given that I was always at the beach by myself, I didn't mind, haha. Re-buy? Definitely will be next summer! (Or this winter if I end up in Florida again and need face block sooner).

8. Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF 30 

I have previously discussed this product in a post dedicated entirely to it! Check it out: here.

***Please note that I got this product for free through Influenster, but was not obligated to write a review***

9. Sally Hansen Nails & Cuticles Hand Cream

Let me preface by saying that I have always been marginally interested in trying this product because I kepy seeing coupons for it on Coupons.com, but just never got around to trying it, so was thrilled when I finally got the chance too! I also loved the timing of it, because I had used the Caudalie Vinotherapie Hand and Nail Cream a few months ago. I found the Sally Hansen to be kinda like the cooler younger sister of the Caudalie cream. It has a very similar smell, but to me the Sally Hansen is better and smells more fruity rather than Pez-y. I also loved the resulted. It wasn't that heavy, but I always felt moisturized afterwards. I found myself looking forward to using this product nightly because I loved the smell and the feeling of it! I don't know if it had any kind of long term preventative effect because I wash my hands so often, but I know it always helped when my hands were dry! Will I buy the full size? I think I definitely will after I use up the 3 or so hand cream samples I have managed to get for free recently (2 L'Occitane ones even! Woo hoo coupons! ).

***Please note that I got this product for free through Influenster, but was not obligated to write a review***

10. Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 55

I really liked the sunblock. I turned to its aid when a SPF 15 was just not cutting it for me after long days at the beach and I was getting burned. I had this in my stash after a super coupon-a-palooza in late june/early july (think CVS Aveeno Coupon, Manufacturer Coupon, CVS coupon for $ off a certain $ amount purchase, and maybe even the product also being on sale, it was a magnificent moment in couponing history) and never was super excited about it because I though: "SPF 55? How can I get a tan with that?" And let me tell you, being preventative about sun burn obsessively and slowly tanning over an entire morning & afternoon, is way better than say a limiting hour of tanning with SPF 15. More beach time! And I think, more product use allowing moisturization! I won't lie, this sunblock was thick, and didn't have any special smell or anything, but it worked, it was reliable, it didn't sting, and it wasn't greasy! Would I buy again? I'm not super motivated enough to buy it full price, but if I stumble upon an amazing deal like I did with this tube, I think I will. The only thing holding me back is the price given the 4 oz size, because it only lasted me a full days of use (Though please note that I am a known product over user, and the day before I used this product I got a sunburn so was even more obsessive about application and so may have been even more of a product over user, so maybe it would last you longer?).

11. Sun Sum SPF 15 Continuous Spray Sunscreen
I have used up a bottle of this before and reviewed it here. I still love it, and I actually got this bottle for free from the Sun Bum guys when I visited their office down in Cocoa Beach! I mentioned on facebook that I was excited to buy Sun Bum sunblock while down for vacation and then messaged me saying I should drop by their office, and while I was there they gave me free swag! I wasn't even expecting anything! Thanks Dustin & Dustin! Sun Bum forever! Do you Trust The Bum(Tm)? Cuz I sure do!
***I got this product for free from the company, but only because the guys there are super cool. Absolutely no obligations what so ever to talk about the product because they don't even know I have a blog!***

12. Proxi Skincare Body Wash in Cucumber & Green Tea
Can I just say, I love the weird smell of this product? Because I do. I love it. It reminds me of freshly cleaned pool locker rooms. It must be the fresh smell of the hydrogen peroxide that the brand is based around, along with the cucumber and green tea (though the tea smell is super faint). Whatever it is, I love the vaguely clorine-y smell! It makes me think clean, and the product delivers a fabulous and foamy clean! Would I buy this? Yes I definitely will! I have some coupons for the product, so now I just need to hunt them down in Baltimore! (Sold in certain grocery stores, just not ones I normally shop at so haven't actually seen it for sale with my own eyes, but I know it is actually sold in certain stores).
***I got this product for free through Klout, but had no obligation to do a review***

13. Alba Botanica Natural Very Emollient Foam Shave in Sea Mist
I bought this semi on a whim when I was doing a secret shopping job at a natural food store. I didn't really need any groceries so I decided to get some natural beauty products, and one of the ones that called to me was this foam shave. I love that it is a non-aerosol shaving foam!!! I also love the mist because it is kind of masculine so it leans unisex! Normally I like a fun smelling shaving cream, but for some reason I really grew to love this scent! I also loved the application. Something about the non-aerosol made it easier to get the right thickness of product on my legs, etc. When ever I use gel creams I always feel like I have WAY too much product during my shave and that I'm not getting as close of a shave as a result. With this Alba foam shave I never had that problem. It has enough of a foam to do it's job without getting in its own way. It also found that this product was non-drying and kind of moisturizing, which is always nice with shaving products. Will I buy it again? Yes, and yes! There is another scent of this product that I saw when I bought this one, so I would love to try that next, the next time I come across this product (everyone needs an excuse to go to Whole Foods right?) . I would also love to try other non-aerosol shaving creams & foams, but so far this is the only one I know about.

So what do you think? Have you guys tried any of these products and had similar or completely different experiences? Wanna know more about a product and think I should do a post devoted entirely to it? Comments, concerns, questions? Comment below and let me know!

Gigundo Empties Post

I am SO proud of this empties post because it is so well rounded, and because I found a lot of things that I loved. Hope you enjoy! :)

1. Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash
I used up this body wash because it was sitting around my parents house not being used since it used to be my sisters but she moved out and moved far away, never to return to use this body wash, haha. So, I figured I should give it a good home in my loofa and see whats up with it since my sister ALWAYS gets this body wash. The verdict? It's ok. I didn't notice anything spectacular about it moisturizing and soothing itchy skin, but I think that is because I don't really suffer from that problem like my sister does. It smells kinda funky, but I didn't hate it so much that if I did need to use this for itchiness reasons, I could deal with it. Would I buy it? Probably not, unless my sister convinced me I needed it for hypothetical dry skin of the future.

2. Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup Sample in Nude.
I got this little sample at CVS when this makeup first came out. I always love a free sample, and have always wanted to try a Colorstay line foundation. While this sample was suuuper tiny and only really covered my cheeks (and just barely that, haha), I did find myself liking it. It didn't break me out, and I like the way it felt when I put it on. I didn't notice anything about my cheeks looking different later in the day than the rest of my face where I had used the Vitalumere Aqua, which is good! While this is a pricier drug store foundation, around $12 I think, I am considering buying it after I run out of my Chanel, because they felt so similar going on. I just hope I can get a good color match in the lighter shades below nude!

3. Kat Von D Autograph Liner in Love Metal
I honestly bought this in like 2008 or something, and because of that fact I think it is time to toss it. While it still applies nicely, it burns like I-don't-know-what if you get it in your eyes, which is probably due to its age. I am pretty sure it was this product that got me really into gunmetal as my favorite color, so it is bittersweet to see this go, especially since it is still about half full. Buy again? Perhaps if I really had a need for a colored liquid liner like this. I honestly have no idea how I used up as much as I did since I hardly wore it haha. Def love the Kat Von D line, and will be checking out more of her stuff in the future :)


4. Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner in Distortion
Same story with this as the Kat Von D, though this one was purchased after the Kat Von D, just still ancient, haha. I love love LOVE the color and the way it applies, and I never really had much of a eye-burning problem with this liner as the other one, but sometimes it could get a little itchy in its old age. Buy again? I think I would if I could snag it at a bargain. While I never used it enough to really justify buying it again, I wouldn't mind having it again because I always found that it came in handy for costume events or a glitzy going out look. Hautelook I'm look at you to bring this back into my life! Haha.

5. Sun Bum Chapstick
So sad to see this go! You might remember my mini haul of this back when I was on vacation in December. I have been using it off and on since then, so that's probably why this lasted me so long. I LOVE this chapstick, and will definitely be buying it again when I get the chance! Whats not to love? The formula is light and greasy in a good way, it has 30+ SPF, so perfect for sun worshiping, it tastes and smells like juicy fruit... it has an awesome money head on the top of the cap; it really is perfection, haha. The only down side is that the label that goes around the tube gets easily scuffed up (but the monkey on the top is quite safe, secure, and un-scuffed, which is the important thing, obviously).

6. Pure Coconut Oil
I bought this giant thing last summer at a vitamin store and have never regretted the purchase. I love the stuff, and it has so many uses! My personal favorite use is to add a dollop to your bubble bath to turn it into a moisturizing bath! But it is also great for hair masks (though can be a little messy so be careful), and body moisturizing. Buy it again? I might if I come across a smaller container, because this thing just looked crazy on my counter, haha, but definitely will still be seeking out products that contain coconut oil.

7. Aveeno Positivey Smooth Shave Gel
I bought this slightly on a whim when I just wanted to try a new shave gel because I had gotten bored with all the other choices that are out there. For some reason the idea of it letting me shave less often just hooked me, and once I smelled it I was definitely sold; it smells kinda like play-doh in all the best ways :P I don't think it actually did anything to let me shave less often though. It did perform well in all its shaving gel duties, and it never stung, or gave me razor burn. I also love the packaging because its matte and just has a nice feel to it. It also has a rust proof bottom, which is definitely true because it never rusted even in the slightest during the time ti lived in my shower. Buy it again? Yep definitely, just gonna try out a fun summer scented one next I think.

8. Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray
It's the classic heat tamer spray. It does its job, it sprays nicely (though I always pour it in a small travel sprayer when I use it because I just find that is easier), and it smells nice. I have nothing too passionate to say about it either way though. This was my second bottle I have used up in my life so I think I am going to try out a new brand's heat protector next just to try something new, but this will always be a go to steady in my life. Plus its super cheap! Always a bonus!

9. Redkin Nature's Rescue Radient Sea Spray
I bought this back in Janurary after remembering that a Youtube guru I watch loved it last summer so I decided to give it ago. I do love the scent that it gives your hair, and I do think it can last quite a bit in your hair. My favorite is when I spray it in my hair after a shower before bed, and then when I ruffle my hair in the morning it smells super fresh. I do think it is pretty expensive for a product that is a hair perfume. It was fun while it lasted but I don't think I would ever buy it again. I would love getting it as a gift or something though. I wonder if I can dupe it with a cheaper body spray or something and just spray that in my hair? Suggestions? Comment below, haha. :P

10. ELF Makeup Mist & Set
I honestly can't remember why I bought this, but I remember being on a mission to get it at Target and felt very victorious when I got it, haha. I don't think it really makes your makeup last longer but it was great for what I used it for: to spray on after applying power to get ride of that "powdery" look since I tend to use too much power just to use up the powder on my Kill It Quest faster, haha. It has a strange smell but it doesn't last after it dries, so it's a whatever point. At $3 this is fabulous, and I love the size of it. Buy it again? Definitely will at that price, especially if I have more "powdery"ness issues in the future.

11. L'Oreal EverCreme Intense Nourishing Shampoo
I bought this with low expectations because I had heard mixed reviews about it on the internet but was feeling compelled to try it for myself, and I also needed a few dollars for a CVS bonusbuck deal if I recall and this was the perfect amount to reach the threshold, haha. I am glad I did it though because I learned that I quite like this shampoo. While it does have some derrivative sulfate-like ingredients, and you can tell by how it does lather up a bit, I do think it is better for your hair because it doesn't really strip it of much, but in a good way. Some people have complained that their hair didn't feel clean after using this, but I always shampooed twice, and didn't use the accompanying conditioner, so maybe that was a key to my success? It also has a nice kind of cinnamon-y smell. Buy it again? Yep, I think I would, just have other things to explore first.

12. Dove Nourishing Oil Care Daily Treatment Conditioner
When I bought this I wanted to try out the Dove Daily Treatment Conditioner, as well as their new Nourishing Oil line so when I saw that both things were put together in one product I was sold, and I loved every second of this conditioner! Firstly, I never knew Dove smelled this fantastic! Where has Dove been all my life!? No more wasting my time with Herbal Essences, the smell of Dove is just so divine in comparison! Secondly, I think this performed rather well! While my hair wasn't magically changed, I think it did improve my hair, and it was always a pleasant experience to use. Buy again? Definitely. I think I might try the non-nourishing oil version of the daily treatment, as well as just the Nourishing Oil line actual oil and see how that works for my hair. If that isn't as good, that I am definitely returning this baby!

13. Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Conditioner
I was STOKED when I got this in my May Birchbox because I have been stalking this line for years at Sephora but just never had tried it til now. It always sounded like a product I would love, but I learned that I'm glad I didn't buy the full size all those times I considered it. The smell of this product is just something I can't work with. I can't even describe the scent, but I just know that I don't like it, and I don't care how magical the results might be. I used this twice (though really one and a half), because that's how many uses I could get out of it, and didn't notice any magical difference. I wouldn't doubt that maybe longer use of this product could convince me of its great ways, but the smell... I just wouldn't be able to get past it to use up a whole full sized bottle (kind of very similar to the issue I had with the equally hyped Joico conditioner I tried). Buy full sized? Obviously not.

Purge 10

1. (Not Pictured) Incoco Nail Polish Applique in Sparkly Blue
For review of this click here.
The only change from that review is that when I returned to my appliques a week or two later to do the second mancure I found that the stickers were dry and unable to be used. Learned my lesson: must seal the little envelope it came in in order to preserve the stickers' stickiness. Bummer that I didn't know that before because I was looking forward to more sparky blue nails. Guess there is always my Zoya blue sparkles


2. (Not Pictured) Sun Bum SPF 15+ Continuous Spray Sunscreen
For more info on this product check out my previous post.
Loved this stuff. Lovely subtle smell (which is a nice break after the strong Banana Boat smell of my other sunblock). Effective for tanning. LOVE the packaging. Will repurchase when I am in the market for sun screen again and I am either down in Coco Beach or are desperate enough to order it online.


3. Veet Fast Acting Cream Hair Remover
I like the product over all, minus the funky amonia/veet smell, but it is effective. Just wish it didn't take some much product to get results. I may purchase this again, just gotta think about whether it is cost effective or really works better/long than just regular shaving. I did like that it was moisturizing though!

4. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle
I love the packaging! The product is fine, though feels a lot lighter than I thought it would, oh well. It does the job. I treated it like a regular conditioner rather than a deep conditioner. I will probably buy this again at some point. Maybe I can find a way to use this dispenser for other hair products....


5. The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Body Scrub
I liked this scrub but not for what I thought it would do. It ended up being the middle child of the La Rocca scrub I tried, and the Bath and Body Works one I loved this summer. It left a bit of a greasy layer after scrubbing, but was more olive oily feeling rather than petroleum jelly feeling like the La Rocca was. I think I would have LOVED this product had it been lighter like the Bath and Body Works one, but I did like using this body shop one on my legs because then if I forgot to moisturize after showering, I was still good to go! Haha. Loved the scent, may check out other Body Shop products, but not sure because of the crazy pricing, may just stick to Bath and Body Works. 

6. Sephora Brand Lip Gloss in Rosy Glow
Another lip product down! Just one more left in the trio! Woo hoo! I now have confidence in my ability to use up lip products (if only I had more confidence in using up eye shadow... -____-). I found myself really liking this product, which is odd because I don't really like lip gloss to begin with. I liked that it was rather thin, which let me be ok with wearing it on its own without lip balm under neither. After a few times having to do this out of desperation of my chapped lips and not having lip balm on me, I found that this lip gloss is decently moisturizing, when I thought it would make my chapped lips worse, bonus! I am quite sure I liked this more than the Bronzed Beauty color I used up first, so we'll see how I like it compared to the final one in Precious Pink. I am guessing that Rosy Glow is going to win because Precious Pink is seeming to be more gloopy and sticky unlike the others, and Precious Pink is pretty much a non-color and is just glitter. But maybe they get thinner as you use them? I have a vague recollection that Rosy Glow started out thinner than how it ended.

Vacation Sunblock Haul

So I had to buy new sunblock because I used up the one I was using before by Banana Boat. This conveniently happened the day before I decided to drive down to Cocoa Beach, FL and have a surf lesson so I decided to just buy a new one when I got there. I meant to buy something that the beloved Ron Jon but I actually am glad that I decided to wait until I checked out the Cocoa Beach Surf Company's store because I found this brand Sun Bum there that wasn't at Ron Jon! I will admit that what drew me to the products were the awesome monkeys. I didn't even plan to buy the chapstick but when I saw the chapstick by the register and saw that the monkey face was on the cap of the chapstick, I had to have it so I bought it to. What I came to realize later (while reading the product labels while sunbathing) was that the sunblock (but not the chapstick) is Paraben free AND is a local product made at Cocoa Beach, FL! I am a sucker for local brands, and I just find it hilarious that even without consciously doing it I was able to buy a local branded sunblock. Now that I know it is a local brand, I will be sure to buy more if it the next time I am in Cocoa Beach!

Mini Review: I like this Sun Bum block better than the Banana Boat Dry Oil block I was using before, both are SPF 15, which I use when I tan so I don't burn. Sun Bum feels lighter on the skin and doesn't have the obnoxious banana coconut smell that Banana Boat has (though I do enjoy that scent ever now at then). It has, perhaps, a subtle scent but I have never noticed it. Also, I like that this product looks less oily on your skin. The BB Dry Oil is a LOT less oily looking that their regular block that isn't the "Dry Oil" tanning type, but is still oily compared to Sun Bum. The chapstick is nice because it has spf 30 in it! I also enjoy its strange juicy fruit-like flavor, haha. It is almost a oily application though because it goes on lightly, almost like how pure coconut oil feels.

What about you guys? Have you ever heard of or used Sun Bum products? Have any cool local-to-you favorites that I should try if I ever pass through your town? Comment bellow and let me know!