Sephora Holidy VIB Gift Card Haul!

So I received the annual Sephora VIB Gift Card ($15 off a $50 purchase) and had another $5 gift card through the Wrapp App and decided to get a few goodies. Here is what I got:

Soap and Glory Cream & Soaper Duo
Sephora Collection Snag-Free Hair Elastics in Clear
Sephora Collection Microfiber Headband
Boscia Pink Peppermint Blotting Linens
Too Faced Flatbuki
The Lasting Impression It Kit
3 Samples

Pretty balanced haul if I do say so myself. Have any of you tried these products? What did you get with your VIB gift card? Comment below with your list, or link and let me know! I'd love to check out your haul too!

Birthday Haul! (Sephora and Fossil)

Got some Sephora giftcards for my birthday and I thought you guys would enjoy seeing a haul! Sephora was also doing an awesome promo code to get a bag of sample with your purchase so that is what the pile of stuff on the right side of the picture is. I am excited to try out the In the Glow set! I know that I have said in the past that I am not a huge bronzer and blush girl, but I think it might be because I never really had a lot of options. If this doesn't give me enough options for me to get a full opinion I don't know what would! Haha. Oh yeah, I also had some VIB points saved up so I got a mini bottle of Miss Dior! So cute and smells amazing! I also needed $5 to get free shipping so I added the Soap and Glory body wash. I love the Righteous Butter and the Hand Food so I thought this was the next best thing to try!

The other fabulous thing I got for my birthday was a this beautiful Fossil wallet/clutch and I LOVE it!!! It is just what I was looking for for my nights out on the town. I think it just screams my name, don't you?

So what do you guys think of my haul? Do you have any of the same things? Get anything good for Black Friday? I didn't go out this year hence this Birthday Haul post instead. Let me know in a comment below! :)

**some affiliate links may be used**

Products I've Hit Pan On

I don't know if it's normal, but I have phases where I am almost obsessed with looking at other people's "Products I've Hit Pan On" videos and blog posts. When I was using my Stila Kitten Eyeshadow this morning I saw the glimmer of pan, and was inspired to make my own products I've hit pan on video. I know I have plenty of empties posts, but I haven't had enough "panned" products to really justify making a post until now! Yippie! I am so proud of myself :) Here is a list of all the products:
1. Inglot Pearl 402 Shadow
2. Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Powder Foundation in Translucent Light
3. Stila Eye Shadow In Kitten
4. SEPHORA COLLECTION Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Peach Beige (Deluxe Sample Size)
5. Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette - Beethoven Shadow in Tequila

Have you hit pan on anything recently? Comment below and let me know! :)

**some affiliate links may be used**

My Go To Work Makeup

Ever wonder what I like to wear in the professional setting? Well here are my most reached for makeup items when I want a quick, easy, and professional looking makeup look!

1. Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets
2. Laura Mercier Mineral Powder Foundation
3. Sephora Classic Mineral Powder Brush
4. Tarte Clean Slate 360 Creaseless 12-Hour Smoothing Eye Primer
5. theBalm Shady Lady Shadow in Luscious Lani
6. Tarina Tarantino Eye Dream Highlight Duo in Moon Opal/Iris Plum
7. Inglot Eyeshadow Palette with Pearl 422, 402, and Matte 390 (Hauled HERE)
8. Blinc Mascara

**some affiliate links may be used**

Mid-July Empties

1. Dial Naturals Hand Soap in Tangerine & Guava
Words cannot describe how amazing this smells! It is the perfect summer fruity smell, I LOVE it! I am considering buying the body wash form when I am in the market for body wash! Buy this again? Heck yes I am! I love it!


2. Gillette Satin Care with a Touch of Olay Shave Gel with Shea Butter
Meh. Can I for one say that I think it is weird that this product comes out blue? When I first used it I thought "wait... it's blue... is Gillette sure they teamed up with Olay, because it seems like the teamed up with Dawn!" because it even kinda smells kitchen soapy! Haha. But, all in all, this shave gel is ok. I did feel like it moisturized but it was amazing or anything. Something about the blue-ness makes me hesitate though. I don't think I will buy this again, if only because I think I like the texture of shave lotions rather than shave gels. The bottle did seem to last for a really long time and it's cheap! So I am resort to this product again if I find myself in super budget land.


3. Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips Ultra
These are a great staple, and what girl doesn't love a good pore stripe or face mask right? I love the whole pore stripe concept, and probably would love these like I used to, but having used the Boscia Pore Purifying Black Strips last year and LOVING those, it's hard to go back to the drugstore version. I do love the new Biore rewards system though! (I know, I'm such a sucker for coupons, rewards, and freebies!). Buy again? Quite likely since the Boscia ones are SO expensive and I can't justify it right now. Plus, hello rewards points!

4. & 5. Tresenne Split Remedy Shampoo & Conditioner.
See my review of this product in my previous empties post here as my opinion hasn't really changed with further use.

6. Sephora Brand Snag-Free Hair Elastics
I love these. I love the matchbook packaging (though would be awesome if it was half sized). I love the black color. All around fabulous! Re-buy? Definitely! Any time soon? Perhaps. But might try out the drugstore Goody Brand ones just to see how they compare because I imagine they are super similar and the you get way more of them in the Goody package. However I LOVE that the Sephora ones are only $3.50! A STEAL right? :P


7. Bodycology Wild Poppy Nourishing Body Cream Sample
I got this sample for free via the Bodycology facebook page and I am so happy I did! I LOVE this new scent! Someone take me to a Target now, I want this in my life! I am staring down my full Nivea lotion because that is what is preventing me from running out and buying this body cream right now! Haha. Added bonus, the sample came with a coupon too!


8. Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Detoxifying Scrub
I liked this but I wouldn't say it is anything special. The texture kind reminded me of the Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri-Pure Daily Exfoliating Gel Cleanser of my past, but otherwise I am not dying because this product is out of my life. I like the idea of a daily scrub though. I've been using a lot of gel and cream cleansers without scrubs recently, and I think I need a little more scrub in my life! haha. Considering trying out the other Aveeno daily scrub for brightening though!


9. Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Gel

To bad I didn't get this sample sooner, I could have included it in my Simple Skincare Overview Post. I got this sample a while ago when CVS was giving them out for free when Simple first launched in the US. I found myself quite enjoying this simple (har har) wash. It really is a no frills gel wash, but that is what I liked about it. I imagine my feeling is kinda like why people like cetaphil. It just is what it is, and nothing more, and that's all we really want from it. It washed without drying, and it never stung or anything. Buy again? Perhaps. Though I am not interested in trying out their Moisturizing face wash because it might be just the kind of thing I'll love even more! Anyone try that one yet? What about the scrub? (Maybe I need to just buy every product! haha. I feel like I've reviewed about half of them by now!)

10. Comodynes Urban Cosmetics Self-Tanning Intensive & Uniform Color Towelette

I got this (along with a second one that I have not used yet) in my June birchbox and was excited to try it because I've never used a tanning towelette before. I gotta say, I really like the concept of it! The only thing holding me back from loving it is the fact that it had that faux-tan smell the next day, and I did have one issue of blotchiness but I do think that that was my own dang fault, haha. I found this to be super even, and it did actually last a good long time! Even as it was fading I didn't have issues with streaking or anything. The blotch that I had was from washing my hands after application and I think I had dripped some water on my leg or something. Also, I love that it said to moisturized before application because I really think that is what happened it too look so great and natural on me! The one toweltte covered both of my legs evenly. At first glance I thought one leg tanned less than the other, but once it fully set they were exactly the same! I totally understand the hype of these now! I would love if this brand made a less "intensive" version. Then I would want to do my whole body!

11. Mario Badescu Skin Care Drying Mask Sample

I quite liked this mask! I loved the weird drying feeling it has after you wash it off. I smells weird though so definitely not something for prior to date night, etc. Buy the full size? Not sure given the price. Loved the sample though! Mario Badescu is awesome about samples. I got six for free just for filling out a survey thing. You should try it out!

12. Mario Badescu Skin Care Strawberry Face Scrub

LOVED! This scrub! I loved that it wasn't that scrubby. All that makes it scrubby is strawberry seeds which is a nice light scrubbing feeling. The smell is amazing too. I think I really will buy this in the full size! Or maybe try out the Kiwi one!

Purge 11: Look at it all!

I am so proud if this purge post! Look at all the amazing things I have used :) This is very encouraging in my quest to be smarter about my purchases as the end of a product buying ban due to multiples is starting to feel closer! I though my hair products would never end, and here is another one down! Yay!

1. Crest Pro-Health: Sensitive + Enamel Shield

I bought this instead of the one I had been using before (the 3d vivid white one) because I was having slightly tooth sensitivity issues so I thought this might help. I think it helped a little bit but nothing miraculous that I am particularly compelled to buy it again

2. VMV Hypoallergenics - Re-Everything Face-Hand-Body Lotion

For a review of this product see this post.

3. Sephora Advanced Lash Booster Mascara

This mascara was fine, though got a little clumpy and flaky towards the end which made me stop using it. I don't know if I would ever buy it because there are just so many mascaras out there that I want to try. I did like that it gave a little volume along with length and definition though. I can't say it did must "lash boosting" though as it didn't give any "extension" like the tube claimed.

4. Sephora Lip Gloss in Precious Pink

I finally finished the last of my lip gloss trio from WAY back in the day! While this one seemed to be the sparkliest I found that I got used to it and grew to like it, especially when I started using this as a kind of lip balm. I think it can be sticky on its own, but when used inside of the house just for lip balm purposes I found that it was decently hydrating and protecting! Who knew!? Having killed all three of these lip glosses gives me great motivation that I will be able to make great strides in my lip product collection in 2012. I wanna knock out some lip sticks next!

5. Vaseline Intensive Rescue Moisture Locking Lotion

It is finallllly out of my life! I have literally had this for years because I stupidly bought this giant size and then realized I didn't really like it that much! Haha. Luckily living in new england for this semester made it easier to use up because I actually wanted to moisturize, unlike when I live down in the MD/DC area normally and only moisturize post-tanning in the summer really. I wouldn't repurchase this mainly because I didn't like the weird smell it had because it was fragrance free, go figure, haha. I also don't think this was magical at being a lotion just ok/fine but I am not adverse to trying more Vaseline lotions as I think they may have a better formula now? Maybe? We shall see what lotion calls to me after I use up the 2 littler ones I have left to use up.

6. Bath and Body Works Carried Away Shower Gel

I enjoyed this. Bath and Body Works shower gels have a nice lather and I found myself enjoying this scent even though I would never wear it out in the world. It was fun to smell while in the shower because it was sweet but somehow also refreshing. For $10.50 I think it can be an expensive product so I am going to try cheaper body washes and shower gels before considering going back to B&BW, but I know that I do like the product and would love getting it as a gift.

7. Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave in Split End Protector

I didn't really like this at all and found myself using it as a regular conditioner near the end just so I could have this out of my life. It was too heavy as a leave in conditioner, though I did enjoy the smell. I wouldn't repurchase this because of it's heavy/stickiness, but I'm not turned off by the who line in the brand. I think I wouldn't mind trying a hair mask version of this if it existed in the US.

8. Skintimate Shave Gel in Strawberry Tangerine Twist

I loved the smell of this and I loved how it left my legs moisturized after use! I used thing because Elle Fowler on Youtube talked about it because she is a sponsor of this product. I love the smell because it reminds me of orange jello with fresh strawberries in it (how I like to make my own jello!), and I never knew that a shave gel could make such a difference in shaving! Out of cheapness, I haven't bought a shave gel in years, which probably sounds crazy now that I type it out, but it made sense at the time, haha. Now that I can see how moisturizing they can be (the hyper dry legs that I would get after shaving without shave gel would always bother me because I don't always have time or the patience to moisturize after showering). I'm not sure what shave gel I am going to use next, maybe another one from this brand but in a different scent, or  maybe a different brand, we shall see. But I am super glad that Elle Fowler was sponsored by this brand because I just love it! Haha

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.

Free Haul!

Here is a small haul for you guys! Don't worry. I didn't break my spending ban because I got all this stuff free as either gifts, or a gift from a store for my birthday :)

1. Vera Bradly Large Cosmetic Bag in Happy Snails. Normally $29.00, got it free because Smyth Jewelers sent me a $25 of a $25 purchase voucher for my birthday, yippie! And then today, and today only, was the Vera Bradly "trunk show" at Smyth Jewelers (which I didn't even know til I got there) so it was 20% off! Cha-ching!

2. Vera Bradly Tape Measure in Tea Garden. Normally $7.50, got it free because I was one of the first 75 customers to make a VB purchase so I got it free!

3. Philosophy 3 in 1 in Vanilla Birthday Cake. Free because it is the Sephora  Beauty Insider birthday gift this year.

4. Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream samples in #13 and #15. Free because a super nice associate at Sephora said I could have samples. Yay! I have always wanted to try these but $22 is expensive and I didn't realize you could ask for samples of cream eye shadows until I saw this youtube video.

6. Two adorable Neiman Marcus Polo Shirts. Normally $75.00 each, free for me because my Grandmother sent them to me! She bought them for herself and then decided she didn't like them because the sleeves are cap sleeves which are, apparently, not her style. Normally my Grandmother's fashion is outrageous and NOT my style at all, but miraculously these are ADORABLE and fit me perfectly! Super Cha-ching!!

Purge 5

1. Secret Smooth Effects Deodorant in Smooth Powder
Hated the smell! I usually get the wildflower one but when I was out of deodorant this was the only scent they had! I like that it is a "conditioning solid" so it isn't the normal stick. This kind dispenses like gel deodorants. Didn't really have many white streaks problems except when I put on shirts right after applying this, then I got the classic white streak on the bottom of my shirt. My next deodorant that I am using is a Mineral Solid, so its supposed to help with your odors better some how. It isn't natural in any way because it still has aluminum. If anyone has any tips for deodorants that don't give you white streaks when putting on shirts I would love the recommendation!

2. Blistex Five Star Lip Protection SPF 30
Hated this! Hated every second of the damn thing! I bought this because it sounded amazing, but it turned out to be just aweful. It made my lips look pale and gross, if my lips were actually chapped this made it sting,  it went on thick in a bad way, and the smell annoyed me. Won't repurchase, ever.

3. Living Proof Straight Styling Spray
I LOVE THIS! If I didn't have so many hair products to work though, I'd go out and buy this right now! This is the smaller size, but when I re-buy I will be going all out for the big one without regrets! This spray, while not making my hair pin straight (which I don't want anyway), make blow drying so much easier because I got the look of a full straight style without having to use a round brush. SCORE! It does smell awful when you are using it and can make you cough, but I love it so much it is so worth it. (Hopefully inhaling it isn't giving me cancer or something though...) Plus, even for a little bottle this lasted me quite a while (a few months).

4. Sephora Lip Gloss in Bronzed Beauty
See this previous post for a review of this product

5. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Fast Absorbing Hand Cream
Kinda greasy for something that is supposed to be "fast absorbing." I also feel that it didn't really moisturize that well. I used a different version of this hand cream before and didn't have any problems so maybe I'll try that other one again some time after I used up the giant bottle of lotion I am working through.

6. Bath and Body Works Secret Wonderland Bubble Bath
I love B&B bubble baths because they are always the right amount of bubbles and scent. Wish they were a little cheaper, but I'm willing to deal with the price. I did enjoy this scent even though it isn't one I would normally reach for based on description alone, but I'm glad I bought it. Probably won't be in the market for bubble bath for a while but when I am, I'll likely turn to B&B works, and maybe this scent (though Country Chic is pretty amazing!)

7. Burberry Body Eau de Parfum Sample
For something that got a lot of marketing, this is rather generic and ordinary smelling to me. It kinda smells like a cliche "adult" perfume with no real personality to it. It was nice, but didn't have remarkable staying power and, really I just expected more out of it. Won't repurchase, won't even repurchase a dupe. Did appreciate that it was a spray vial though!

8. Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner Sample
Hated this. Made my hair feel dirty and just gross after using. Maybe I used to much of the product due to the influence of the size of the sample, but I also didn't notice anything different moisture-wise even with possible over-use of the product. Won't buy, and makes me think less of Ouidad

9. L'Occitane Pivoine Flora Eau De Parfum Sample
What can I say, I love peony perfume and this is practically straight up peony so of course I loved it. I dunno if I'll buy the product if only because I have 1/3 of my Victoria's Secret Girl's Night body spray left as well as a back up one. Maybe when I used that up, and if L'Occitane's perfume is still on the market, I will buy it. I would LOVE receiving it as a gift though! I know there is just the loveliest bar of soap made with this perfume too.

10. L'Occitane Pivoine Flora Eau De Parfum Sample
Eh. It was nice. Maybe it was because this sample was pretty dried out by the time I used it (have had it sitting around in my drawers for quite some time), but it didn't wow me. But I also did like it. If I came across this product in a set, or in another form like soap or lotion I think I would enjoy it more. But, as a perfume I don't think I'd buy it.