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Sunday, February 7, 2016

January Empties - Yay or Nay

Hello Beauties <3

Another month is behind us and that means more beauty products have been used and it's time to talk about the yays and nays of my January empties.

It's a New Year but I can't necessarily say I used or even tried new products this month. I pretty much stuck to old habits, products I use often but I promised myself I was going to use more and more of the samples I have.



Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb - Retail Price $38 for 1.68 oz

Aqua Bomb is an ultra-lightweight, mineral oil-free gel-cream that instantly cools and refreshes skin while providing intensive hydration. This formula contains a blend of apothecary herbs, including antioxidant-rich lady's mantle, which helps neutralize skin-damaging free radicals, improves skin elasticity, and minimizes the appearances of pores. This refreshing cream is formulated to 'burst' when applied, releasing a flood of weightless moisture onto skin, and then absorb completely for a healthy, smooth, supple appearance. This is a great summer time moisturizer.

Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask
Retail Price $63 for a box of 12 packs (each pack contains 2 eye masks)

I love these eye masks, they are so concentrated and practically show visible results instantly. If you are looking for an eye treatment that reduces the appearance of fine lines, brightens your skin, minimizes the look of dark circle, plumps and hydrates the skin, then try these eye masks. Your skin will feel softer and look smoother and healthier. Of course it's a YAY for me. Here is the description:


Pure Retinol Micro-Infusion technology penetrates skin instantly to smooth away the look of wrinkles. The mask conforms to skin to seal in essence and refine texture for 24-hour hydration. It also features Benefiance’s powerful WrinkleResist technology to prevent new wrinkle formation and help treat existing wrinkles. This product addresses three types of eye area wrinkles: corner crinkling, under eye wrinkles, and crow’s feet. Pure Retinol Micro-Infusion Technology delivers ultra small particles of retinol in an essence, providing an easily-absorbed formula with a higher concentration of the active ingredient. Wrinkle-Retouching Sheet is thicker, more adherent, and more flexible. It stays in place on the skin while physically stretching wrinkles and smoothing them out. It holds 20 percent more essence than the previous version. Smoothness-holding polymers in the essence stay on the skin surface for hours after mask removal, maintaining skin’s smoothness. 

Kirkland Signature Daily Facial Towelettes - Retail price $11.99 for 150 count
Included in this box are 4 - 30 count flip top recloseable lid packs and 2 - 15 count resealable travel packs. I absolutely love these makeup wipes from Costco. I use them every night to remove my makeup although I still pour a little makeup remover on them just to help remove my waterproof mascara with ease. I do not like tugging on my eyes and lashes if I don't have to.


Pamper yourself with an effective and complete skin care solution that offers a deep clean and will not irritate your skin. This mild formula has cucumber, chamomile flower extract and aloe and will remove all traces of makeup, dirt and oil leaving your skin glowing and refreshed, No need to rinse your face afterwards. A definite YAY for me. If you couldn't tell from my previous blog posts, I use these daily so they usually show up in my empties.

Besame Cosmetics Translucent Brightening Violet Powder -  Retail price $22 for 0.21 oz  

From their site:  A translucent violet powder that brightens any skin tone. The finely milled formula sets makeup beautifully, leaving a soft, matte finish and a subtle violet fragrance. Wear it alone, over foundation, or around eyes to instantly lighten dark circles.

This finishing powder brightens your face without the shimmer and leaves your skin with a porcelain matte finish. It does not settle into fine lines and no cakey finish (I love cake but I'm glad there's no cake here). I do not have oily skin so I can't say that it diminishes shine but many reviews confirm it controls the oil for hours.


The verdict: Yay! I already re-purchased 2 more of these but will not use them until I finish a few more deluxe sized powders I have from other brands.

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation - Retail Price $40 for 1.7 oz or $65 for 3.0 oz

This is described as a lightweight moisturizer and I definitely agree, I love to use this in the morning because it melts right into my skin and I don't have to wait long before applying makeup. Skin feels fresh, healthy, and bright with this lightweight moisturizer's silky whipped texture that melts into skin. A potent blend of actiwhite™, licorice, and vitamin C help fade dark spots, even skintone, and prevent premature signs of aging while botanical fruit acids gently exfoliate and retexturize. The calming blend of sandalwood, geranium, and chamomile soothes, balances, and purifies the skin to minimize pores while glycerin lightly hydrates. Sugar cane and multifruit AHAs gently exfoliate to refine texture, even tone, and soften the look of fine lines as vitamin C brightens and provides antioxidant protection from environmental aggressors. Vitamin E heals, restores, and nourishes the skin, leaving you with a healthy-looking, smooth, refreshed complexion. Of course this is a YAY for me but because I have so many deluxe size promos left, I won't have to purchase this for awhile. 

Estee Lauder Advance Time Zone Age Reversing Eye Cream - Retail Price $58 for 0.50 oz

As the name suggests, this eye cream helps rewind signs of aging. It is described as a rich cream that helps improve visible signs of aging. It reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet, leaving eyes smoother and more radiant. It helps skin boost its natural support structure to dramatically reduce the look of lines and wrinkles. Since it is a thick cream, I suggest using a tiny bit because it doesn't melt in to your skin quickly. I didn't notice any dramatic changes after using this eye cream so it's a NAY for me.

Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatment in Clear - Retail Price $18.50 for 0.20 oz

I love using this immediately after I use the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish scrub. It is a high-shine lip treatment that moisturizes for up to 6 hours, promotes suppleness, and improves lip definition. The high-shine treatment enhances the natural color of the lips while offering essential nourishment. It can be worn alone or on top of your favorite lip product. A definite YAY for me.

Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm - Retail Price $12 for 0.35 oz

I received this in one of my monthly subscription boxes and was instantly intrigued. I use this right before I go to bed and let it work its magic overnight. I was pleasantly surprised when I received this again a few months later in a different subscription box. This daily protection soothes, restores and replenishes even the driest of lips. A tiny bit offers immediate relief with little shine. A generous application creates a gloss for use with or without lipstick. A big YAY for me!

Fresh Rose Face Mask - Retail Price - $62 for 3.3 oz

Upon application, the rose scent immediately hits you, but for me I didn't find it overpowering. It is a hydrating and toning mask that I left on for about 20 minutes (the directions say 10 minutes). The rose flower yields a precious oil brimming with nutrients that naturally soothe the skin and stimulate the senses. Infused with 50 percent pure rosewater and an average of two-and-a-half roses per jar, this unique mask restores radiance and suppleness to all skin types. The addition of cucumber extract and aloe vera reduce inflammation and calm the skin, while green tea helps brighten and protect.  I'm on the fence about this mask, not quite sure if I'd purchase this but I will definitely use the rest of the samples I have.

Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask - Retail Price $58 for 1.0 oz

This powerful Resurfacing Mask works like a traditional peel to provide an instant solution for dull skin without causing downtime or irritation. Formulated to deeply purify and help decongest surface debris and dead skin for a refreshed, revitalized appearance, it minimizes the appearance of pores for smooth, glowing skin. I did notice a slight glow afterwards but my skin felt a little more dry as well. Even after applying my nighttime moisturizer, my skin still felt a little dry so I highly doubt I would purchase this mask.

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation in Sand - Retail Price $39 for 1.0 oz

An oil-free foundation for natural-looking, full coverage and a beautiful, radiant finish. Born This Way masterfully diffuses the line between makeup and skin. For coverage so undetectable, you can’t see the makeup or the imperfections just a natural-looking luminous flawless complexion. The revolutionary formula is infused with a potent combination of coconut water to naturally replenish moisture levels, nature’s resilient alpine rose to brighten the skin’s appearance and promote elasticity and hyaluronic acid for a smoother, more youthful appearance. This has quickly become my everyday foundation during the week. A YAY for me, I already bought a back up. 

Balenciaga B. Eau de Parfum - Retail price $82 for 1 oz  $110 for 1.7 oz  $145 for 2.5 oz

This fragrance is described as sophisticated. sensual and  feminine. It represents a woman unveiling her most essential self. The more she reveals, the more intriguing she becomes. B.BALENCIAGA gives way to a new trend, a green woody fragrance. Fresh and alluring, the fragrance opens with green notes of lily of the valley bell and violet green leaves accord. As B.BALENCIAGA evolves, the iris note reveals a powdery essence before drying down with darker woody notes of cashmeran woods. Inspired by the marriage of old and new, B.BALENCIAGA reflects back on the fashion house’s classic heritage in a modern way. The bottle’s frosted glass has a unique crackle texture, inspired by the marble tiling of Balenciaga’s original 10 Avenue George V Paris salon. The shape commands a six-sided architectural design, while the unique exposed arch of the cap pays homage to the arches found in Balenciaga fashion and accessories.



Stacey <3





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