February Empties - Yes Please or No Thank You!

Hello blogosphere! Oh how I have missed you! Life seems to get in the way or maybe it is binge watching Netflix - either way I missed my quick hit posts of things I enjoy or things I could really pass on. What better way to get back on the horse than to do a little February empties post? I *love* empties blog posts and YT vids. I like to see how things actually worked out vs. hauls when everyone is so hopeful and excited about the pile o' goodies before them. I find I read/watch FAR few hauls than I used to, because unless I know how they worked for people I am less excited to try something. So here are just my few cents on these empties.

I didn't seem to finish a lot in February, but what little I did finish seems to be more around skin care than makeup. So here is the quick 411 of my Yes Please or No Thank you on these products.

  

Makeup(ish) Things

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara - I think this is still my favorite mascara of all time! Of all the expensive ones I own, this humble drugstore diva is my go-to. I like how wet the formula is, I get great buildable length and volume. They last a lonnnnng time! I throw them out before they dry out, but probably after the recommended time frame because I love it so much. (Yes, Please!)

L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Intenza Mascara - I got this in a Target beauty box and I liked it ok. It did a decent job with the volume, but as usual, I had to pair it with something else to get length. It is a more dry formula, which doesn't work as well with my lashes so it isn't my preference. If you like a dry formula that does a good job with volume this is worth trying. (No, Thank you!)

NYX HD Concealer - I love this concealer! I have two backups because I use this all the time. I like it for under the eye and down the nose for highlighting most especially. It works well for a little added coverage for hyper pigmentation or blemishes as well. I purchase it in two colors depending on where I am using it. Thankfully, Ulta often has sales for NYX so it is easy to get a good deal. (Yes, Please!)

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Shine Free Primer - No, just no. I am always on the hunt for a drugstore mattifying primer to love because the only ones I love are high end. Sadly, I am still at a loss for a good one. This one broke me out almost immediately and it did nothing to mattify my skin under my makeup. I would not recommend it for anyone with oily skin. (No, Thank you!)

EOS Coconut Milk Lip Balm - I don't find any of the EOS balms really moisturizing except for this coconut milk one. I don't know why this one is different, but it is somehow - at least for me. For moisturizing I like this one, but NO other scent. However, I highly recommend the EOS products (not the coconut milk) under liquid lipsticks. They seem to have a really good priming function to them (the coconut milk is too moisturizing so it interrupts the long wear property). (Yes, Please!)

Elf Lip Exfoliater - Still my go-to lip scrub. I like the scent/flavor (the original is like caramel, I think)  and I like the lipstick style application - far less messy than tubs and pots. I know people stress over the cleanliness of this scrub in the tube, but I only exfoliate after I wash my face and I spray a little isopropyl alcohol on it every so often to kill germs. (Yes, Please!)

Cleansing Cloths

Let me preface these by saying I do not ever use them for "cleansing" or "moisturizing" directly. I use them to remove makeup and then I wash my face with a liquid face wash and use a separate moisturizer. Sometimes I use them to refresh my face post working out or a morning face refresher if I am not showering immediately. So my expectations are very specific. 

Elf Studio Make-up Remover Cloths - Of the bunch, these are definitely my favorites. They remove mostly all of my makeup without burning my eyes or irritating my skin. I like the level of moisture in them, not too wet and not too dry; however, I do find they can get a little more dry by the end of the package. They have basically no scent, which I appreciate as I have a very sensitive nose. Since I can get them at Target (where I do most of my shopping) they are super convenient for me. I know everyone talks about how cheap they are, but honestly, they aren't that cheap. There are only 20 in a pack, which isn't enough to get me through a full month. I wear makeup pretty much every day so factoring in that I have to use 1.5 packs for one month they come out to being about the same price as a lot of other wipes. (Yes, Please!)

Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Cleansing Cloths - These smell delicious! I love the scent, which is a soft lemony scent and not at all overwhelming or lingering. I think they work decently well for removing makeup, but I don't find it removes all my eye makeup very well so I always have to use a secondary product which is a little annoying. They also seem to sting my eyes - just a little bit, nothing too intense. They are decently saturated and don't dry up before I finish the package. (No, Thank you!)

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes - These remove most of my makeup, including eye makeup - but sadly I hate them. They burn - I MEAN LAVA BURN - my eyes. Unlike any other product, they irritate my eyes. Which bums me out because they remove makeup so well and it is a brand I have liked for years, but no matter how many times I try them they burn my eyes and sting my skin. My skin is a bit pink after I use them, which doesn't happen with any other wipes. Which causes my skin to be irritated when I put on my serum or moisturizer on. I am finished with these, there are too many other ones out there to keep trying to make them work. (No, Thank you!)

So Fresh, So Clean - Hello Sahara Dessert - welcome to my cleansing cloth! These are soooooo dry! I had to moisten them under the faucet to even be able to use them. I thought maybe it was a bad batch, so I bought another one - same issue. Maybe it is just my luck or maybe these just suck. Either way they didn't do a good enough job, once moistened, to warrant my trying again. I think I picked these up at 5 Below. (No, Thank you!)

Skin Care

Skin Food Peach Sake Toner - Love, love, LOVE this toner! It is a Korean product - and I tend to love Korean skincare - this toner is geared to oily, acne prone skin. I have used several bottles of this product, so I can confidently say that, for me, it does what it should: helps reduce breakouts and keeps me matte. It is mild and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin nor does it dry me out at all. The peach scent is light, not overpowering and doesn't linger. This will always be a go-to toner for me (especially now that I can get it on Amazon with free shipping) as long as I have a more oily skin profile. Note: I am more dry in the winter and still find that this products works well, not irritating to cold weather skin changes. (Yes, Please!)

Simple Micellar Water - I have done an entire post on just this product - check it out here - suffice it to say I *really* love it and I will continue to buy it. There are other micellar waters out there and this is my favorite so far. (Yes, Please!)

I am testing out Bioderma now, but that has other properties in it for my oily/acne prone skin so I am not sure it would be a fair comparison. 

Boots Botanics Mattifying Cleansing Mousse and Shine Away MattifyingToner - I really wanted to like these, but sadly I didn't. They weren't bad, but they weren't great either. I don't feel that they did what they claimed to do - my skin was no less oily or any more mattified. My skin was clean and it didn't irritate or break me out, but it didn't *do* anything for my skin either. I didn't finish the toner, because I have used other toners that I love far more and would rather use those than waste more time with this one. In general I didn't feel like these two products accomplished anything, which bummed me out since I have always read great things about Boots products. Everyone's skin is different, so what works for some doesn't work for others - and I was in the others category on these two. (No, Thank you!)

Lather AHA Hand Creme with Evening Primrose - I am torn on this product - I love it and hate it at the same time. Love: super moisturizing, isn't sticky and repairs my winter hands. Hate: the scent and the pot format. I have found that I am just not a rose person, even with a lighter scent like primrose. I also don't like getting lotion in my nails, it annoys me to death. So while I think this product is awesome it just isn't for me, no matter how hard I try. Hopefully, I will be able to find it a good home because it really is a great product. (No, Thank you!)

Hair Products

Healthy Sexy Hair - Soy Tri-Wheat Lean In Conditioner - This is my favorite leave in conditioner. I like the subtle scent (it doesn't linger), it helps my brush get through my mass of long thick hair without any pulling or tearing. My hair is super shiny and soft when I use this and it doesn't *feel* like I have product in my hair. Highly recommend this product! Pretty much everything I have tried by this company is a thumbs up from me. (Yes, Please!)

Macadamia Oil Control Hairspray - I originally tried this from a sale on HauteLook and found that I loved the hold - firm but not crunchy, the shine - it doesn't dull my hair when I spray it on and the scent - it doesn't linger or choke me. Then Ulta put them on clearance so I bought all of them! Sadly, this is my last bottle, but in searching for a link for the blog I found it on Amazon for a great price - it is now IN MY CART! (Yes, Please!)

And more....

Bath and Body Works - Winter Cranberry Foaming Hand Soap - I am only going to include this once since I bought a dozen during the sale after the holidays (and I had a half dozen stashed away from the year before - don't judge me!). This is my all time favorite scent from BB&W. They rename it every year or every couple of years, but thankfully they haven't changed the scent - cranberry with a tiny hint of peach. Perfection! Funny enough one of my cats *loathes* this scent - she runs away after I wash my hands with it - odd duck! (Yes, Please!)

Influenster Wellness Voxbox

I was happily surprised to receive another VoxBox from Influenster last month! There is nothing more exciting than receiving a box filled with free goodies at your doorstop. Life around my house has been true madness and I haven't blogged in forever since time seems to just escape me completely. Sitting down to really think through reviews, write them, edit them and then have someone else read and edit takes way more time than I ever thought possible! Trying to get dinner on the table so I am posting this without an extra read through - scary - so I apologize for any typos!! It would be so much easier to just say I love everything, but I really like to try things out and see if they are actually worth repurchasing.

So let's check out the breakdown of the goodies (I have included links to all the product pages as well):

Olay Active Botanicals Refreshing Gel Cleanser - I am always hesitant on trying new cleansers because my skin is so sensitive and can easily react. Olay is a respected brand, so I was willing to give it a chance. The bottle touts the cleanser to be formulated with "Snow Mushroom" - really? I feel like all of these companies go in search of fun plant names so they can try to ooooo and ahhhhhh us into buying them for the natural properties. I have no idea if snow mushrooms are a magical answer, but according to a little research this particular fungus is used in China & Japan for its anti-aging properties. I do not see any immediate changes in my skin, nor would I expect to. I don't have a ton of fine lines, yet, so I would assume if I used it for awhile I would be a better judge of its effectiveness. It also supposedly helps the skin retain moisture, but since I use a moisturizer aside from this I don't know how effective it is alone. There is little to no scent - which is MUCH appreciated!

Verdict: Either way it is a cleanser, it cleanses. My skin had no reactions that I noticed and it felt soft and clean, with no weird residue like some cleansers can leave. I recommend it if you have normal or sensitive skin.  

Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer - Jergens has been a family favorite for a long time - I think I will always be a fan of the original cherry-almond scent! It reminds me of my dad - he always kept a bottle in the kitchen and would lotion his hands each day. He always knew the best things to use from kitchens to cars and some things never change! 

This particular lotion is different though... and I have to say it weirds me out a little bit. The idea of applying while my skin is still wet is just odd. I don't like the scent at all - too floral - this is the Monoi Oil scent. It is heavy and lingering. It sticks to my towel and competes with my perfume. For that reason I would never re-purchase it. If you don't wear perfume then it shouldn't bother you. I believe there is a coconut one which I would rather try since I love coconut and think it would be great for summer. If it is as strong as this one, then I would wear it in lieu of perfume. The process is odd as it is not natural for me to stand soaking wet slathering on lotion and THEN toweling off.  It is easy to forget since I have been showering and getting ready for a few decades. It would be possible to retrain myself - for the right scent that is. My skin feels SERIOUSLY soft and VERY moisturized! It does what it advertises, but in an odd way. I am also not sure it takes me any less time to put this on vs. other lotion - it just happens in a different order. I was absolutely washing my towels more frequently since the scent was overpowering. I have a super smeller, aromas that bother me are extreme compared to other people. 

Verdict: Yes, extremely moisturizing, easy to use - if in an odd and out of process way for me, Monoi Oil STINKS! Ack! But I don't like floral scents in general, so take that with a grain of salt. I say it is worth a shot for another scent. Coconut is my jam, so I may try that one instead!

Attitude Hair Care - Made in Canada! I don't think I have ever seen that on a product I have purchased. Canadians are so sweet and nice - clearly they have to make something good. Right?! Right!! This is a nice shampoo. It is totally clear, I don't think I have used a shampoo that didn't have some color to it before so this was interesting. I was worried that it wouldn't lather well since I have found a lot of the paraben-free soap products to not lather enough, but this had no issue lathering up. Little to no scent - MUCH appreciated! I have A LOT of hair - a mane, if you will - so this perspective may be different than some people, but I seemed to use more of this than regular shampoo to get it throughout my locks. This isn't necessarily bad, jut means I will go through it faster. I like that they say their motivation is providing safe, toxin free products for the well being of everyone. They talk a good game and this chicky is buying it!

Verdict: Good shampoo. Good company. Good Motivation. Trying something new and pick it up the next time you are in Target.

Attitude Dishwashing Liquid - Oh Canada - I love you! Apple Basil dish detergent?! Yes - YESSSS!! Apple is my favorite scent in my kitchen. I buy it regularly! Now they want to combine that with non-toxic ingredients so I can wash my dishes without worrying about WHAT I am washing them with - YES! 

Verdict:  Clean your dishes with confidence! The scent is awesome, the toxin-free detergent will make you and your dishes happy!

Colgate Enamel Health Mouthwash - My husband is obsessed with mouthwash. He loves the stuff! It figures into his routine a couple of times a day. Maybe this is one of the reasons the dentist says he has the Cadillac of teeth! Haha! I on the other hand do not use it but so often as it immediately precedes coffee and I have to have loyalties in life and pretty much everything fails when placed next to coffee. This is alcohol free and indicates that it helps to fight cavities. I haven't had a cavity in over a decade and my husband has only had 2 in over two decades. So we are pretty lucky on the cavity front. So basically does it taste good and does it freshen breath?? It's mouthwash - of course it does! Haha! 

Verdict: It's mouthwash - it is pretty straightforward, minty, strong and good for a kissable mouth! Two thumbs up for kissable mouths - Colgate can help you get there!

Urgent RX Ache and Pain Relief To-Go - I am a big fan of products like this. I used one like it many years ago, thanks to a friend, and it was very helpful! I haven't been able to find it in awhile so I am guessing it was discontinued. I don't often use medication like this, I try to limit my intake for only desperate times/measures, so I have not had an opportunity to use it. However, I am happy that it is small and easily kept in my wallet for any emergency when I may need it. I don't look forward to using it since that means I will be all ouchy and stuff, but I am grateful to have something within reach that will hopefully fast acting and easy to use in any situation!

Verdict: TBD... However, I see on their website they have several varieties so I think I may try the allergy version or the upset stomach (I have the weakest stomach of life!!) since those are more likely things I would use a little more often instead of pain reliever. 

Yaye: Group Fitness Motivation and Connection - I did not download this app and test it out. I feel like there are already so many fitness apps out there that connect people already. I have two on my phone and, in all fairness, I don't use those as often as I should so trying another one is just not something I have time for or interest in. 

Here is an overview - per their website: 

"It’s getting harder to be active these days. You’re busy and it’s not so easy to exercise as much as you’d like. You wish you had the motivation, the energy to get moving.

Maybe if you were meeting your sister or your best friend you’d make it to the gym. You wouldn’t want to let them down. And it’s way more fun when you’re together.

Your sister can’t always be there with you. And your best friend might live on the other side of the country. But you can still get moving with them. And benefit from their energy, motivation and fun.

Yaye bring families and friends together to get fit and healthy, wherever, whenever."

Cleansing Water - What huh?

One of my favorite YouTuber's MrsLolaLynn recently reviewed this Micellar Cleansing Water from Simple Skincare on her channel. I was intrigued, so I added it to my "to-buy" list that I keep on my phone. On a whirlwind shopping trip with my bestie, I saw it on the shelf in Walmart and remembered I wanted to try it and at $6 I snatched it up and hoped for the best. 

Though intrigued, I was also skeptical - cleansing water? Um, I'm already using the stuff I pay for out of the tap to cleanse. Right? The ingredient list is definitely more than water. "Triple Purified Water: Our purest possible water to minimize potential for irritation from particles or contaminants that can irritate skin. Vitamin B3: Known to restore, soften and smooth skin. It's especially great for those with dry skin. Vitamin C: A water soluble antioxidant vitamin for skin. Hexylene Glycol: Helps dissolve makeup and kindly conditions the skin".  Ok. So what do those things do? "Made with triple purified water and skin-loving ingredients, Simple Micellar Cleansing Water gently removes make-up while instantly hydrating the skin, no rinse required." Interesting. Sounds good - let's do this! (OK, honestly, I did more research than just looking at their site; but for a lay-person like myself it seems as though these ingredients will be alright with my sensitive skin so I wanted to give it a try.)

Fast forward - 6 weeks later. I am very surprised to find that this cleansing water seems to actually provide visible results for me. Now, to clarify, I do NOT use this for makeup removal. It doesn't seem to work that successfully for straight removal for me; however, after I wash my face I use this product on a cotton pad to remove any residual product and then I use my coveted Peach Sake Toner. I was honestly surprised to find that there was residual makeup/oil AFTER having washed my face. With this extra level of cleansing I also believe my toner is working even better, which makes my pores and overall skin happy. I also like this product for refreshing my skin post work-out, yard work or anytime my skin has perspired or needs a bit of cleaning and renewing from the day's activities. It makes my skin feel clean and wonderful and definitely hydrated without feeling any residual product or texture on my face. 

This has definitely become a holy grail for my skin and I plan to find a small travel sized bottle to put some of the water in to make it more conducive for traveling since this bottle is too large for my usual cosmetic case.

My rating scale for anything is always simple (no pun intended) - "Yes, Please! or NO! Thank you." and this definitely falls into the "Yes, Please!" category. I will absolutely repurchase this and tell everyone I know to purchase it - ASAP!