Empties #1

Isn't it so annoying when all of your products run out at once? It recently happened to me, so instead of getting mad about it I thought I'd share my empties with you!


First I ran out of my Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum. I used this all summer long and absolutely loved it. It felt so light, yet so hydrating and soothing. It definitely helped solve my dehydrated skin issues - I noticed a lot of my breakouts went away when I first started using this. I'll definitely be saving up for another bottle, but luckily for now I have a sample size hanging around from a Sephora 500-point perk!

I also ran out of my favorite cleanser and moisturizer, the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser and Ultra Repair Cream. I loved both of these - the cleanser really does feel like it's cleaning your skin, but without stripping it. This has a gentle froth rather than foam, so it's much better and doesn't throw your skin out of balance. I've really been missing the cleanser from my routine, but just can't justify the price. I've been using something kind of similar from Simple (here if you're interested) that does the job just fine for less money. On the other hand, I've already got two other bottles of the Ultra Repair Cream on backup. I've spoken about this before, but it really did help my skin's dehydration problem. It feels super calming as well, probably due to the oatmeal it contains, so when I had a reaction to a facemask over the summer, I alternated slathering this and the Origins Drink-Up mask on, and I really think this made a difference.

The next four empties were all samples. I got a sample of the Nude Skincare Advanced Renewal Serum as a Sephora 100-point perk right before I really got into skincare, so it was the first serum I ever used. It took me so long to get through this tiny sample because once I discovered others (for example, the Caudalie one) I just didn't like it as much. It was lovely, but it left my skin slightly tacky for a little too long. I think it's just not suited to my skin's needs, but it would be a great serum for others.

I also got a sample of the Living Proof Instant Texture Mist. I'm on the fence with this one - I didn't really like that it's a wet spray. It did give me tons of texture, but to the point where my hair felt gritty and not so touchable. I think I'll pass on buying the full size.

My last Birchbox came with a sample of the Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips inside. Always up for trying a new lip balm, I used it up right away. It was actually really good - it was super thick, so I used it at night and could still feel it on my lips in the morning. I'm not sure if I liked it better than my Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask, so I'll consider buying the full size when the Bite lip mask runs out.

The last empty product I have is the Clinique All About Eyes eye cream - it came in a gift set I got last Christmas. I loved this and used it every morning and night, so I'm surprised it lasted me so long. I'm not sure it lived up to its claims of reducing dark circles, but it definitely helped to depuff in the mornings. It also left my undereyes feeling silky smooth, making my concealer glide right on. I'm going through other samples of eye cream right now, but this is definitely one I'd consider repurchasing.

Have you finished any products lately?

Lipliner: I'm Officially Converted

I'll admit that I used to think lipliner was completely unnecessary. Even throughout wearing stage makeup in performances of The Nutcracker for 8 years, I would always skip the liner and end up with red lipstick running down my face halfway through Waltz of the Flowers. (I always skipped filling in my eyebrows, too - I know, I was naive!)

Fast forward to this fall when the popularity of lip liner exploded. Suddenly everyone was talking about its uses not only to keep your lipstick from bleeding outside of your lips, but to fill in your entire lips with it for a lip color that would stay put. And apparently you could subtly enhance your lips, making them look fuller.

The first lipliner I really fell in love with was MAC's Lip Pencil in Whirl. This subtle browny-pink nude shade is perfect for that subtle enhancement I mentioned before. While I don't necessarily overdraw my lips, I do like to subtly even out any inconsistencies. Since the color of the lips naturally fades out towards the edges, lining the natural line of the lips and filling them in actually makes my lips appear larger. I've taken to using this neutral shade to line my lips no matter what I plan on putting on top.

Since falling in love with Whirl I've started to slowly collect different colors. After Whirl, I set my sights on Soar by MAC, similar to Whirl but with more pink/mauve. Unfortunately it's always sold out, but I've found what seems pretty similar in the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Lip Pencil in Rush - a pink-mauve shade with a tiny hint of brown, but with some subtle shimmer. This doesn't appear as chunky glitter on the lips, but rather subtly enhances the shape and softly plumps the lips.  Another great natural color is the Rimmel Exaggerate Full Colour Lipliner in Eastend Snob. It's much more pink with almost none of the brown of my other options.

So far I've only fallen in love with the natural, lip-enhancing shades, but I'd love to try out some bolder colors as a long-lasting option. So any suggestions of your favorites are welcome!

November Favorites

Yet again, another month has flown by and we have found ourselves in the midst of the Christmas season. Although most of my routines stayed the same this month, I was reaching for a few new items over and over.

My most-anticipated purchase was probably the Stella by Stella McCartney rollerball. I had been looking for this for ages after reading about the notes and thinking it would be perfect for me. This has notes of rose, peony, mandarin, and amber, and it's the perfect year-round scent. It has the fresh, floral scent of a spring fragrance and the warm notes of the amber to carry it through the winter. I haven't worn any other perfume since buying this, and if I had a signature scent I think this would be it. I'd love to get one of the full size bottles because they're so beautifully designed, but the rollerball is so convenient to travel with.

Although I've been wearing the perfume all month, I haven't really been able to smell it - I've caught two colds in a row, totaling over half of the month that I've been sick! So the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask has been my best friend. I'll spare you having to read yet another glowing (literally) review about this from me, but this has really saved my sickness-induced dehydrated skin and helps disguise the fact that I'm actually sick.

Another highly-anticipated purchase was the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in the shade Vanilla. It isn't as creamy as the drugstore liquid concealer I used to use, but this means it sticks around much longer. Whereas the drugstore option fades away only about a quarter of the way through my workday, the Nars offering lasts at least until dinnertime on me without needing a touchup. It doesn't cling to dry patches and covers anything that needs covering beautifully with such a natural finish.  I'm so glad I finally got around to buying this (thank you Sephora VIB sale), and I'm sure my wallet will be weeping over and over as I don't think I could go back to my drugstore option.

My last favorite of the month is a new favorite eye duo - the products alone are favorites, but together they're even better. After watching a Vivianna Does Makeup video where she used a MAC eyeshadow in Sable, I just had to go out and buy it. Soon after I got home, I realized it was a very similar color to the By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock - a purple/bronze/taupe color. Since the By Terry eyeshadow is a cream product that never ever budges once set, I've been using it all over the lid and blended up into the crease as a base and layering the MAC shadow over the top. The Sable eyeshadow is a great color to use on its own because as you blend it out, it changes to a different color - perfect for a quick, easy, and natural smoky eye. I always use my trusty MAC 217 brush to do the blending (it really does do all the work for you). I wore this combination on Thanksgiving and will definitely be busting it out again and again - it's a perfect color for the holiday season.

What were you loving in November?