The All Natural September Empties

This is only my second empties post, but I'm quite stoked! I'm really not good at using stuff up, so when I do I feel like I've accomplished something... That's weird, right? I also translate that into being allowed to buy more... Another way to feed this girl's beauty appetite.

You'll notice since my Inaugural Empties post that the detoxing of my beauty routine has come quite along! Since I've started blogging, my husband has been curious and slightly bewildered at why I have a special place in the bathroom cabinet for "trash." Ha! 

Let's begin straightaway...

Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash - 5oz. ($11)

My Target doesn't carry this, but while on vacation in Florida I found this pleasant smelling cleanser. It has a strong (but not overwhelming), summery coconut scent - delightful! Pacifica is known for strong fragrances. It didn't foam up a great deal, but well enough. The charming packaging has a matte finish and is very pliable for squeezing out all the product. If it weren't for the remaining makeup after a wash (maybe it not foaming up a good deal has something to do with that), I'd give it a ten! However, I would have to wash my face twice. It's an issue I discussed in my last post on another natural face wash. Seems it's my new mission to solve this frustrating problem...

I love that it's free of sulfates, petroleum, parabens, SLS, and phthalates. It's also loaded with antioxidants, coconut water, and sea algae. 

So, I probably won't purchase again... Next I'm going to try the Willa Start Fresh Foaming Facewash with Birchbox; and I'll let you know how that goes.

Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer in Fair - 1.7oz. ($36)

I'm a huge (HUMONGOUS, rather) Tarte fan, so I was sad when I didn't love this BB cream. I should have expected the light coverage, as it's called a "tinted moisturizer"; but I still wished for more. Being typically oily, I should've gone with something more matte. That's hard to find in natural makeup, though. Even with my Beauty Blender I found it a bit streaky, not setting into my skin all the way. I also didn't find it corrected any red spots, either. It worked tolerably well, but considering the price, I am still on a mission for something better. I'm currently using Yes To Grapefruit's CC Cream and, though light coverage, am happier with it. I used my Birchbox points and got it for only $5 + free shipping! Boom!

It is nice that it has SPF 20. And, as always, the packaging is fun. LOVE the wood cap, and that it's free of parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, SLS, and synthetic fragrance.

Giovanni Brazilian Keratin & Argan Oil Blow Out Styling Mist - 4 oz. ($9)

I try to not wash/dry my hair but 3 days a week. I have very fine hair, and tangles plague me after showers. So, I thought I'd get a blow-out and detangling spray to help remedy that. I've been using about 6 drops of pure argan oil in my hair after every shower for a while now. When I used this in lieu of that I didn't see a big benefit. I would then combine them and still have a lot of breakage. 

It does claim that it defends hair from heat, moiturizes for silky, voluminous bounce, detangles and banishes frizz. I'm, thankfully, not a frizzy headed gal, but I do need some volume and detangling. I didn't notice a significant amount of either.

I am going to try for a straight-up detangler next (while continuing the argan oil from the ears down).

Klorane Extra-Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk - 50ml. - ($18 for full size 3.2oz.)

I received this sample size in my May Birchbox, and it took me eons to finish it. Not because I didn't like it... I'm just not typically a fan of aerosol dry shampoos. They always clog up on me, so I can't use it all up. Or, if they don't clog up, they run out quickly. I'd rather my money go further with powder versions that don't clog and last longer. 

This did work well, smelling clean and perfume-ish. If you've become a legit oil slick, this won't cut it. It's a super fine mist. That's when you'll need a powder to get the job done. It comes out white, but not so white you can't blend it in easily. I have dark brown hair and had no issues with that. 

Blum Naturals Daily Cleansing & Makeup Remover Towelettes, Normal Skin - 30 count ($7)

I paid $3.99 for these at TJ Maxx, so I got a good deal. The best way to describe the smell is "sweet powdery cucumber." Super odd, I know. I'm glad, because I don't typically like cucumber scents; this one keeps from smelling like vegetation and adds a sweetness to it. In regards to washing my face, they did the job just like they should. 

At first, I was in love with the dispenser, because some brands only have a flap that re-sticks down and doesn't always stick. I prefer these with a lid that clasps to keep them from drying out. After about half way through, the edges started peeling up on this one. I had to store it face down with something on top of it to make sure it stayed as air tight as possible.

My guess is I bought an old package on discount and the glue had begun to break down. When you peel it back, it looks like hot glue and doesn't go all the way around. Other than that, I loved these. Maybe I'll buy a newer package not on discount and see if they do the same.

If you like empties posts, check out my Instagram! I do some mean #beautyempties, #travelsizethursday and #samplesizesaturday (or Sunday) IGing!

And be watching out for the giveaway I'm getting together for y'all! So far I can tell you it'll involve two brand-new Julep polishes!

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January 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag!

Being a newbie beauty blogger I stumbled upon the world of beauty subscriptions a la Ipsy & Birchbox, etc while reading blogs and discussing it on forums. After reading lots of reviews and thoughts I decided to go with Birchbox, but was excited when I found Ipsy... It jumped up even higher on my list when I realized there was no waiting list (like Birchbox).

I've seen pix of Glossybox & Birchbox packaging, and they go all out! But Ipsy takes a minimalist approach with a bright pink bubble package. It's fun and simple! When you pull out all the goodies you won't find tissue paper or anything else other than one simple card with fun graphics and a sweet saying - perfectly pretty for a cork board or picture frame. On the back it lists the discount you'll find on each brand when you log into your account on Ipsy.com.

Gotta itemize it all!

• Pacifica Tuscan Orange Blood Body Butter - 2.5 fl oz - Retail $7
• Martini Nail Laquer in Frappe - Retail around $11-13
• Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil - .17 fl oz - worth about $4 based on Retail of .5 oz
• London SOHO Beauty crease brush - Retail $9
• Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray - 1.5 oz - Retail $12
• Black Ipsy makeup bag with stars on a white background - Priceless? Remember those MC commercials? Ha!

If you add all that business up, we've got an estimated value of about $42 on the low end. That's a great bargain, if you ask me!

I was excited to see the Pacifica body butter in Tuscan Blood Orange fall out of this glam bag. I'm a big fan of buying beauty products at Whole Foods (Whole Body), and I've seen this brand there many times. (I also adore Sephora and know they carry a few fragrances). It smells very fruity and citrus-y. I'm normally not a big fan of fruit scents in my body products but this is a sophisticated, rich smell. The shea & mango butters and chamomile help mute the sweet orange, rounding it all out & taking it from what one remembers as Lipsmackers (90's kids unite!) to L'Occitane. Of course I LOVE love LOVE that there are no parabens, no propylene glycol and no SLS. It's also made in the USA! While writing this post I started with a big dollop and still have silky hands (an hour later) without having ever felt greasy!

The nail Laquer wasn't the most exciting item, but its a good neutral. Here is a swatch with one coat - very sheer with a slight peachy undertone. After learning more about Nailtini I started to get excited. I like to buy Essie polishes (I mean... who doesn't?), because it does not have formaldehyde, and I was excited to learn this brand also prides it self on limiting toxic ingredients! Again, more natural and made in the USA!

Josie Maran's argan oil is actually one of my *Beauty Library* items, so I was stoked to find a mini bottle of it I can now use for travel or to toss in my bag. It's not scented and has a slight natural smell. What's fun is the packaging says it's cold pressed to maintain nutrients AND that the smell changes depending on the batch. So... your smell may not be my smell. :) It has many uses, but I mainly use it after I shave to prevent razor burn. I also use it in my wet hair before drying and as a facial moisturizer. I love that even the mini size has a dropper as part of the topper.

A makeup brush! How can you go wrong with that? I'm a big fan of tools and see them as an investment. I already have a great crease brush from Merle Norman but its not as fluffy (is that a proper MUA word?) as this one. I'm curious to see how well it focuses on the crease. It almost seems big enough to be a blending brush. But it retails $9 usually, so my $10 seems like a great deal!

I've used Big Sexy Hair's root volume spray before and it was so-so, so I'm curious to see how this hairspray works to volumize... I've never had a love affair with any hairspray. (The longest relationship I've ever had is with Rusk W8less, and it's because it smells delightful). We just don't mesh, generally, so we shall see...

I have so many makeup bags! That's perhaps one of my least favorite things about the Ipsy Glam Bags. Maybe if it was cute I would feel differently, but it's solid black on the outside - pretty underwhelming. I read on Sephora's Beauty Talk where someone had the idea to donate them to women's shelters with product you don't want. I just might do that!

So, what do you fellow beauty babes think about this January 2013 Ipsy versus other subscriptions you've received? What do you do with all the bags? Was it worth $10 + shipping? (I think so!...)


If you want an in detail review of one or more of these products let me know so I can write one just for you once I get to use it a good bit.

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