Aveeno Active Naturals Nourish + Strengthen Shampoo and Conditioner

Image courtesy of Google

Okay, it's time to come clean about something. I. . . never used Aveeno before. Gasp! Shock and awe! Trust me, I've wanted to, but I never had the extra cash to get their products, and always settle for something cheaper, or on sale. When I was offered free samples of their new shampoo, I snatched that up so fast it was ridiculous.

The samples I got were a generous amount, and lasted me for a good three days. Now, while I've not been pining over this particular products (the tinted moisturizer and brightening facial scrub call my name every time I'm at the drug store), I can't look a gift horse in the mouth.

After the three days I used this product, my hair did feel stronger, and better than it is with my current shampoo. There was MUCH less breakage, and I could actually comb my fingers through my hair without fear of ripping a chunk of it out.

The one downside I found was that it didn't smell much like anything to me. I love my fruity shampoos -- Kiwi and Lime, anyone? -- and found that the lack of scent, while nice for some, was a bit of a downer for me. Coupled with my very mild smelling body wash, I left the shower those three days smelling like. . . well, like clean. You know what smell I'm talking about. Where it doesn't have a particularly strong scent, but it doesn't smell bad at all? No? Just me? Alright then.

I'm positive that if my hair gets really bad one day, as I do dye it often, and don't use the best dye in the world, this will somehow make it home with me, come hail and high water.

Would I repurchase it? ;; Yes.

 Where you can buy it ;; Your local drugstore
Normal Price ;; $7 each

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.

Avon Bubble Delight Bubble Bath in Soft Pink

Image courtesy of Avon

What day of trying to relax and pampering yourself would be complete without a nice, long bubble bath?

When my sister came home with us from Fort Wayne to Columbus for a couple days, she brought with her the tiny bubble bath she'd gotten from an aunt of ours. On accident, or on purpose -- she knew I wanted it -- it got left behind, and after a text, I got the a-okay to use it!

Let's start with the smell. It smelled. . . really kind of gross. Like flowers dipped in chemicals and alcohol. Not pleasant at all. It faded quickly, though, so it was easy enough to overlook. I will admit to squirting in some of their body wash for added scent, though it's not very pleasing either.

The bubbles, though! SO MANY BUBBLES. I couldn't fill the tub past half way for fear they'd start to spill out. Not that I minded very much, I don't usually fill the tub to full.

I would have loved to soak in this some more, but alas, my kitten was screaming at the door and I only got perhaps twenty minutes tops. Not something I would buy for myself -- I'd like a pretty smelling bubble bath, please -- but it did the job, and helped calm me down for even that mere twenty minutes.

NOTE : Soft Pink appears to have been discontinued. Not that I really care, as I hated the scent, but that just shows me that my aunt hoarded them and probably threw them into the bag last minute. What a shame.

Would I repurchase it? ;; No.

 Where you can buy it ;; Avon
Normal Price ;; Discontinued

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Avon Products, Inc.

Freeman Feeling Beautiful Facial Peel-Off Mask in Cucumber

Image courtesy of Google.

So today, I discovered I had a phobia. A stupid one, but a phobia none the less. I have a phobia of tongue piercings. I hate them with every fiber of my being. They look gross in my personal opinion, and make me cringe at the thought of getting one. I cannot look at someone that has one while they talk.  I mean no offense to anyone, but I find them utterly repulsive, and the idea of them makes me shake like a leaf and get ill to my stomach.

A friend of mine got one, and so far my only thoughts are 'take it out, take it out, take it out for the love of all that is good remove it and throw it away'. But, I can't say that, and that would also be extremely selfish of me. I'm trying to be supportive, but I've told them that I won't look at them while they speak, and that if they ask for advice, one of my two answers will be to remove it. I'm at the point where I'm willing to say, 'you remove yours and I'll remove mine' because I know my monroe bothers them.

 And that's monumental, as I've had my monroe going on three years, and love it to pieces. ( I literally fought my last job, a sub shop that's is supposedly extremely fast with deliveries, tooth and nail to keep it as we're not allowed any piercings. I kept a retainer in, even though they said not to. I also had to have the back surgically cut out as the piercer tightened it too much and made it so that the lip HEALED around the back).

I've literally been shaking for two days because these past two days have been complaints about their piercing. Anger, fear, depression, PMS. So, I've tried pampering myself. I haven't had time for a face mask what with the holidays this past week, and I decided today would be a good day to pamper myself.

I mentioned having this mask a while back, and have finally decided to review it. I've been using it usually at least once a week, and until today, when I actually had time to sit with it on my face and think, or in other words 'try to get my mind off of the problem at hand'.

It has a strong 'so natural it's unnatural' scent, chemical and cloying. Not NEARLY as bad as that awful Que Bella mask, as I don't think anything could be that terrible, but still it doesn't smell like roses, as the saying goes. It's easy enough to overlook though, and the scent fades within seconds of the finished application.

It is a tad difficult to get it to apply evenly, as it is a gel and tends to go one way when you want it to go another. But once it does apply, it's nice and cooling. It feels wonderful on my skin.

The best part, in my humble opinion, is peeling it off. I am one of those disgusting people that peels EVERYTHING. Nail polish, paint, and yes, sunburn. Though I haven't recently. I find this is a safer, less nasty alternative. I can't get it to peel in one giant sheet, but one day I will!

Once it's removed and I've rinsed my face, my face has a nice, dewy glow to it, and doesn't feel dry or tight. Win on your part, Freeman. I'm definitely willing to try their other masks, and actually look forward to it.

Would I repurchase it? ;; Yes.

 Where you can buy it ;; Your local drugstore.
Normal Price ;; $4 - $6

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with pH Beauty Labs, INC.

Kirkland Signature by Borghese Hydra Gloss in Sparkle

Image courtesy of eBay

So, I've decided to clean out my room for the New Years, and found this in one of my drawers. I've had this forever and never touched it, and for good reason.

I've never used Costco makeup. I've never wanted to use Costco makeup. My grandmother buys the multipacks and distributes one throughout each of the girl stockings. Two or three years ago, I got stuck with this.

It looks like a shimmery pale pink, it's really just a clear shimmer. It's sticky at first, then watery, and smells medicinal. I wore this for maybe five minutes today before saying 'okay I can't do this' and furiously wiped it off my lips. It might be the fact that I've had it for years, but it's a disappointing gloss that's going straight to the garbage. Sorry, Costco.

Would I repurchase it? ;; No

 Where you can buy it ;;  Costco
Normal Price ;; $12

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Borghese.

L'Oreal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream in Fair

Image Courtesy of Google.

So, with the weather, stress, and just all around nastiness, I'm finding that my skin is breaking out much more easily, and the pressed powder alone just isn't doing it for me. I'm not a fan of foundation, as I can never find a shade light enough for me, and my sister says the B.B. Cream she had provided just enough coverage for her similar problem, so I decided to give one a shot.

I hear a lot of mixed reviews about B.B. Creams. You either love or hate them. This being my first B.B. cream, I can't say I'm for or against them. But it seems to be working in their favor.

I picked this up, not really expecting much. It wasn't the brand my sister used, they were sold out of the lightest shade of that, and this was the only one they actually had in Fair. Kind of sucks that I didn't get a real choice, but oh well. Beggars can't be choosers.

I decided to swatch it last night, though I didn't take a photo of it, and woah. I wasn't actually expecting what came out. First off, it came out white with these weird little grey beads. It was one of those self-adjusting formulas! I've never owned one before, so I squealed like a little kid on Christmas. It took a bit of rubbing and blending before it changed colors, and on my hand, it fit perfectly.

On my face? It turned a little yellow, but nothing my pressed powder couldn't fix. It covered up all of my imperfections, but it looked a bit fake. I think it's going to take some experimenting to get this to look right, and hopefully I figure it out soon.

It says it's a 4-in-1, so let's take a look at what it actually accomplished, shall we?
Primes - Check
Perfects - No
Hydrates - Check
Corrects - Check

So far, it does three out of four of the promised things. My face didn't look perfect, as it turned yellow, but so far it's doing what it says. Not going to say yes to it quite yet, as today was my first time around with it, but it's worth checking out to see if it does everything for you!

Would I repurchase it? ;; Maybe

 Where you can buy it ;;  Your local drugstore
Normal Price ;; $8 - $12

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with L'Oreal Paris INC.

Cosplay Makeup Test ; Prussia v.1

Just a quick test. I bought the two-in-one mascara solely to use the white end. Testing it out minus wig and contacts.
I'm not sure if I like the mascara. It makes my lashes really long, like, girly long for a guy, and doesn't cover the roots. It leaves a lot of black showing.

Note to self ; Use less shadow on the lower lid, if not a lighter shade.

L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream in Fair | Rimmel London Stay Matte in Transparent | Maybelline Instant Age Rewind in 10 Fair | Milani Runway Eyes Fashion Shadow in 03 Couture in Purples | L'Oreal Paris Double Extend in Step 1 | Wet n Wild Coverall in 801 | Burt's Bees Rejuvinating Lip Balm | Covergifl Cheekers Blush in 130 Iced Cappuccino | Ben Nye Hair Color in HG-1 Silver Grey

Covergirl Lipslicks Tinted Lip Balm in Daring

Image courtesy of Google.

Hope everyone had a Happy Christmas! Sorry it's been so long, life has been hectic recently what with the holidays and family issues. I finally got a few new products yesterday, since I didn't get any for Christmas. Bummer! I did get a ton of candles though, which makes me happy. Anyways, on to the review.

So, I'm trying to expand my lip colour spectrum. What better way to start with a color called 'Daring'? Well, almost anything, actually.

The Lipslicks seem to act more as a balm than a color. The pigmentation is very low, and it takes swipe after swipe after swipe to get it to show up on my lips. Where as it appears as a dark raspberry on the package and the balm itself, it turns up as a sheer shine with none of the promised pigment. After about ten swipes, the color started to show, but it also felt very heavy.

It is moisturizing, I'll give it that. And it's quite glossy. My only real complaint, besides the color, is the very floral taste and scent. If you so much as get any of it in your mouth, everything seems to taste like it. It only lasts 2-4 hours on me, but I don't mind too much.

Would I repurchase it? ;; No

 Where you can buy it ;;  Your local drugstore
Normal Price ;; $6 - $8

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Procter & Gamble.

One Natural Shea Butter Lip Balm in Berry Delicious

Remember those One products I was raving about? The scrumptious smelling sugar scrub and humongous face mask freebie? Guess what. I got another freebie. That's right, my free lip balm (with proof of purchase and online survey ) came in! You can only imagine how excited I was when I got the mail before work today and saw this along with my Aveeno shampoo samples come in.

It came in another one of their recyclable tins, this time a tiny one. The packaging is so cute. I seriously adore it. And the smell? Oh goodness it's seriously delicious. It smells like strawberries and makes my mouth water.

As for the product itself, it's a tin lip balm, something I'm not the biggest fan of. I don't exactly like having to dip my finger in and apply it that way, since the balms are either too soft and go everywhere or too hard and don't melt at all. Luckily, this one melts, it just takes a little bit to get the right amount of product out. It also tends to go on a bit watery, not unlike another popular brand lip balm I use, but it's still a bit of a let down in application.

It also doesn't seem to last long on my lips. Perhaps because of the season changes and my lips becoming super dried out, but it's still a bit of a disappointment. Not that I can complain, I would gladly open the tin up just to smell it. I'm seriously addicted to the scent of their products! Plus, it leaves my lips nice and glossy.

All in all, a good little lip balm, and for the pretty price tag, I'm willing to swing a couple bucks One's way to purchase it.

Would I repurchase it? ;; Yes

 Where you can buy it ;;  One Bath and Body
Normal Price ;; $2.99

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with One Bath and Body.

Victoria's Secret Hydrating Body Lotion in Pear Glacé

Image courtesy of Google.

I don't shop Victora's Secret often. I go there once in a blue moon when I get the 'free panty' coupon in the mail. I certainly don't go there for beauty products. So when I got a tester of Victoria's Secret lotion in Pear Glacé, I set it in my dresser never to really be touched. Well, it turns out I'm having some issues with the Ulta Smoothies Body Cream, mainly every time I put it on, I either itch, or have no moisturizing effect (the jury is still out as to if I'll bother using this one up or selling it). So, I dug this out to give it a test run.

First off, it comes out super watery. It's sort of the consistency of a melted milkshake, without all the tasty goodness. So I didn't expect it to be hydrating at all. And truthfully, it wasn't. It left another disgusting film on my skin, and made me feel uncomfortable. It was greasy on the hands, and all around unpleasant.

"But it smells good, right?" WRONG. It smells as if someone took a pear, took a bottle of really cheap vodka, put the pear in said vodka, and left it there for a week. Then, they fished the pear out, and rinsed it in some equally cheap alcohol. Do you get my drift? It reeks of alcohol. To the point where my poor, sensitive nose can't stand it, and the scent is causing me a headache.

Suffice to say, I don't think I'll be going back to VS for their body products, even if my little tester had just gone bad.

Would I repurchase it? ;; No.

 Where you can buy it ;; Victoria's Secret
Normal Price ;; $12

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Victoria's Secret.

St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub

Image Courtesy of RealBeauty

So, I'm looking for a face scrub, as well as a new nightly wash to use after my Garnier runs out. Target got me again, and as I was browsing the Travel and Trial Size aisle, I spotted the St. Ives Green Tea Scrub. I figured why not, it's less than a dollar, and if I don't like it, well, I didn't spend that much. So, into my basket it went.

I've used St. Ives before. Their apricot scrub saved my life when I was cosplaying Homestuck, as the grey Ben Nye and sealant I used really stuck to my skin. I've also used a few of their body washes throughout the years, and I've never really been disappointed, although never super impressed at anything BUT the apricot scrub. Seriously, that troll makeup is a pain to remove!

So, I finally got a chance to use it twice, and I have to admit, I'm not all that impressed with this. While I do like the fact that the scrubbing particles are small, they stick to my skin after my first rinse, forcing me to rinse my face again. I also like the smell, as it's relaxing, and not a heavy medicinal scent.

The bad news? In the winter, it's awful, as so far I've found it tends to leave my face, as well as my fingers, extremely dry and tight after use. Moreso than any other face product I've used, which is a bummer, since I like how fine the scrub is.

As for reducing redness, as it says it's supposed to? I haven't seen significant improvement, though I don't have a real redness problem. My cheeks did look a little less pink after using this product versus my daily morning AcneFree use, but that's the only difference I can see. Overall, it's not worth it for me, and I don't think I'll be investing in a full size. Guess it's time to go to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and scour their 'WALL OF TRIAL AND TRAVEL' (and yes, I made that up, but it's seriously a huge wall dedicated to these products!).

Would I repurchase it? ;; No.

 Where you can buy it ;; Your local drugstore
Normal Price ;; $4 - $6

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Unilever.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil

Image courtesy of Google

Alright, I'll admit it. I have hideous stretch marks. I've had them since I was a child. In martial arts, I overstretched my legs too much, and then in show choir, overstretched them more. They weren't as bad then as they were after I went to college and gained the dreaded Freshman Fifteen. They became dark, deep, and stretched down past the back of my knees. It was then I knew I had another job to do -- find something to rid myself of these ugly, confidence lowering stretch marks.

I was using the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretchmarks at first, but wasn't a fan of the texture, or how long it took. Eventually, near the end of my short-lived college career, I stopped using it. I moved back home, didn't touch it, and then moved to Columbus. On a trip to CVS, I found this, and was immediately pulled in.

Despite being a skin oil, it said it was 'non-greasy' and 'fast absorbing'. Too much to hope for, right?

As expected, it was greasy. And it stayed that way for a couple of minutes. It didn't take too long to absorb, but just not fast enough for my tastes. It did smell delicious, which is to be expected of cocoa butter. Plus, it was a pump, which made it easy to get just the right amount of oil and not have it spilling everywhere,

It also did diminish the appearance of my stretch marks. Some of the worst ones are no longer a bright, angry red, instead a light pinkish color that's easy to miss. The ones on the front of my thighs have actually all but disappeared! I'm still working on the ones on the inside of my thighs, but the product works, my stretch marks are fading, and that's what matters.

Would I repurchase it? ;; Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Your local drugstore
Normal Price ;; $10.99

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with E.T. Browne Drug Co., Inc.

Ahava Dead Sea Essentials Comforting Vanilla Sugar Salt Scrub ;; The Adventure Pushes Forth!

Image courtesy of eBay

I picked this up at Target the other night because I remembered I was out of my ONE sugar scrub. With the temperatures fluctuating between 'nice' and 'oh dead lord I am freezing my butt off out here', I'm trying to stay on top of these scrubs in hopes of finding one that will help keep my skin baby smooth.

Opening this one up, I liked the way it was sealed. Or, the lack of? I'm not sure how to describe it. It was a plastic poptop that came with a tab for easy removal. No poking holes into a flimsy film top and hoping you don't spill it everywhere.

The first thing I noticed was the gorgeous vanilla scent coming from it! It really was comforting, and it was a pleasant surprise, as I was expecting a heavy mineral smell with maybe a hint of vanilla.

The consistency was a lot like the GuyDeOn scrub - without the mixing of the oils and scrub itself, as it was well incorporated already. It didn't slip off my skin nearly as easily, but I did still have clumps of the stuff at the bottom of my tub before I started the shower.

Overall, it's nice, but not quite as abrasive as I would like it to be. I can't find it on the Ahava website, either, yet at Target they had a NEW sticker on it. Can someone clarify if this really is a new product?

Would I repurchase it? ;; Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Target
Normal Price ;; $10 - $20

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with AHAVA.

Que Bella Self-Heating Clay Mask

Image courtesy of Que Bella Beauty

Just like with being new to the cloth face masks, I am new to any sort of facial mask whatsoever. So, while at Target, I was browsing their stocking stuffers for last minute gifts, and found this. While I do own a bottle of Freeman's Cucumber Peel-Off mask (review coming as soon as I know exactly how I feel about it), I am always up for trying new things. And at only two dollars, I couldn't help myself.

When I initially put it on, the first thing I noticed was the smell. It was downright awful. Truthfully, I almost rinsed it off right away because the smell was making me ill. Kind of like baking cocoa, and food that had been left out much too long. But, being the trooper I am -- that and I would be throwing away money that I actually earned -- I slathered it on my face, gagged a couple of times, and dealt with it.

The second thing was the self-heating element. When I overheat, I feel sick. When I feel sick, my face gets really hot and uncomfortable, and that's what this did at the initial touch. It made me feel like I had a touch of fever or something, which was entirely unpleasant as well. At that point, I just covered my face, and rinsed the rest of it down the drain. I had no intention of using the rest, and it's a one-time-use pouch.

Wearing the mask. I look like my face is melting off, and as you can see, this is one unhappy Gussie.

Both the smell and the heat faded for the most part, though I still caught a whiff of it now and then. It was do-able until I rinsed it off, when the smell came back in full blast, and left me with a very medicinal after-note one it was rinsed off.

I won't deny it left my face feeling lovely and moisturized, but for me, the smell and sensation are just not worth the wait, which is slightly disappointing as it is from Lancashire. Perhaps my love of England leaves me biased.

Would I repurchase it? ;; No.

 Where you can buy it ;; Target
Normal Price ;; $2.04

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with JA Cosmetics Corp.

e.l.f Lotion Wipes in Vanilla Sugar Cookie

Image courtesy of Google

Welp, I did it again. I had to run to Target for some groceries, and found myself in the beauty section. Excuse me while my wallet weeps. No, I didn't buy the most expensive things, or the most glamorous, but I bought a lot, and really probably shouldn't have.

The e.l.f. brand always pulled me in because of the nice, tiny price tags. In fact, most of the things I bought today were e.l.f. This one, in particular, caught my eye.

It looks like face wipes, the kind you use to wash your makeup off, or to clean your face when you are rushing around in the morning. But this isn't what they are. They're lotion wipes. Repeat after me. . . "what".

They're wipes infused with all sorts of skin moisturizing goodies that you use on the body instead of lotion. Now, this delighted my super lazy side. Naturally, at $3 for 15 of these, I had to pick them up. Plus, the scent sounded lovely. Vanilla Sugar Cookie? Yes please.

Now, I tried these out as soon as I got home. I was really excited, but. . . they didn't perform as well as I'd hoped. The lotion itself was very watery, and kind of greasy. It left behind a film on my hands, though not so much everywhere else. The moisturizer is also a bit sticky afterwards, and the feeling lingers.

Good for a quick fix, but not what I would turn to if I were in dire need of proper moisturizing.

Would I repurchase it? ;; Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; e.l.f, your local drugstore
Normal Price ;; $3.00

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with JA Cosmetics Corp.

Mary Kay Satin Lips Lip Mask

Image courtesy of Google

I will admit, when I first started wearing makeup back in the day, I was spoiled. My mum only let me wear Mary Kay, because that was what she swore by at the time. Thing have changed, obviously, and Mary Kay is a very rare thing to have in my makeup bag. However, during the move, I found this, and decided to hold on to it just in case. It's also part of a two-step system, the second being a lip balm, but that was long since lost.

The Satin Lips Lip Mask is, down to the nitty gritty, a lip scrub. It removes the dead skin from you lips, and makes them feel smoother. Now, I use this product for two things only -- when my lips are horribly chapped, and stubborn lip color.

As 'lip scrub', which is technically what it is, it's decent. It does remove a majority of the dead, icky skin from my lips. But there's still a lot left over after I rinse it off. It also doesn't remove some of my more stubborn lip colors completely. I don't feel that it's abrasive enough to properly do either, and I prefer abrasive scrubs anyways.

It's not a terrible product, but it's not my favorite.

Would I repurchase it? ;; No.

 Where you can buy it ;; Mary Kay
Normal Price ;; $9.50

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Mary Kay Inc.

Venus Spa Breeze

Image courtesy of Walgreens

So, with the hair removal gel cream gone, it was time to move onto another products, and today was that day. I picked these up on a trip to the drug store last week, and grabbed them because hey, no need for shaving cream. One less thing to worry about.

I had no problems with it. I just ran it under the faucet real fast, and went. It was smooth, and I didn't feel like I needed to add any shaving cream or gel to get it to work. It also smelled wonderful, and left my legs silky smooth.

For a disposable razor, which is the ones I prefer as they tend to be cheaper to replace (sorry, mother nature!), it was very easy to keep hold of. I know I tend to have issues keeping my grip on the handle due to the usually rectangular, odd shapes they come in, but this one was easy to keep a hold of an maneuver.

Would I repurchase it? ;; Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Your local drugstore
Normal Price ;; $7.49

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Procter & Gamble.

Benefit Bella Bamba

Image courtesy of Google.

Let me start off by saying I'm not a big fan of blush. I never really wore it save for show choir. Recently, though, I've taken to wearing a light amount of it every day. And Bella Bamba is perfect for that.

It's sheer, so much so that sometimes, despite my super pale skin, it doesn't show up. I am alright with it when that happens, as well as when it's visible. It gives my cheeks a subtle, healthy glow to them. Best of all, it doesn't look weird or out of place at all. It looks natural.

The only downside to the trial size I got is it's flimsy, and I feel like the top is going to snap off if I use it too much, so I have to handle it with care. Plus it's messy and gets everywhere.

Trial Size

Swatched on bare skin.

Would I repurchase it? ;; Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Benefit Cosmetics
Normal Price ;; $28.00

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Benefit Cosmetics LLC.

Benefit the POREfessional

Image courtesy of Google

Ah, the POREfessional. In my opinion, one of Benefit's most famous products. Another Sexy Little Stowaway I got to try today.

Honestly, I'm not sure what to think about this product. First off, the stuff was IMPOSSIBLE to get out of the tube. I don't know if it's the consistency, or the tube itself, but it took a ton of effort to get it out. In fact, I just unclogged the tube once, and already it's clogged again. So, packaging on my part is an obvious problem.

Then, there's the product itself. It came out looking like a cream primer, something I'm used to. But when I went to apply it, it felt powdery. Now, this might be another Benefit hiccup, but powder? Really? Shouldn't it say 'cream-to-powder' if that were the case? Mind you I have a trial size, so it might on the usual box, but I've not read that anywhere. So, it took a lot of product to get it to cover my face, meaning a lot of effort and troubles to get the stuff out of the tube.

I will say that my pores looked nearly invisible on my cheeks, though not so much on my nose. As for a primer? It felt really odd to wear, and so I ended up taking it off. I'll give it another try one day, but I don't think this one is for me.

Would I repurchase it? ;; No

 Where you can buy it ;; Benefit Cosmetics
Normal Price ;; $30.00

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Benefit Cosmetics LLC.

Ulta Smoothies Body Cream Body Swirl in Butter Cream Cupcake

Image courtesy of Google.

Welp, here it is. Another discontinued Ulta product. It's a shame they discontinued it, really, they had such potential. Plus, they smelled delicious. Appletini? Yes please. Green apple scents are my weakness.

Butter cream cupcake smells just like the name. It smells like you just cracked open a tub of icing. Yum. So I give it points for the initial scent. But it fades. Fast. I put it on before I went to work, and by the time I got there, which is a three minute drive, it was gone!

It's not exactly the most moisturizing formula, either. It lasts for about as long as the scent is there. I will hand it to them, it isn't greasy like some of their other lotions. I thought this one would be because of the shimmer ribbons in it, but it's not.

The packaging, as well, is a huge failure. The pump at the top doesn't allow much of the lotion through it. It takes three huge pumps to get enough to cover my arms, and then usually it requires another to get the spots I missed on it. Too much work for a small amount of lotion.

All in all, it's not really a big wonder it was discontinued. I just liked going to the store and sniffing the testers.

Would I repurchase it? ;; No.

 Where you can buy it ;; Ulta - Discontinued
Normal Price ;; Discontinued

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, INC.

Ulta Hand Lotion in Candy Cane

Image courtesy of eBay.

So, I replaced my old hand cream with this a while back, and I've meant to write a review. The problem is, I'm not really a huge fan of this stuff.

As with a lot of my lotions and things, this was a gift. A stocking stuffer from last Christmas, which is why the above pictures packing, while what mine came in, is actually outdated. I believe the new packaging has a picture of a cartoon penguin on it? I'm not exactly sure.

For me, this hand lotion is really greasy. It leaves my hands feeling utterly disgusting, like I just ate fried food. . . that smells like candy canes. It's moisturizing for a second, but I just can't get over the feeling.

I've actually started using it on my feet after work because something about the smell -- which is heavenly, as I adore minty smells -- just relaxes me.

I've been told that the formula has changed in the past year, but unless I try it out first, I wouldn't repurchase this for anyone.

Would I repurchase it? ;; No.

 Where you can buy it ;; Ulta
Normal Price ;; $7.00

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, INC.

Veet Fast Acting Gel Cream Hair Removal with Essential Oils and Velvet Rose Scent

Image courtesy of Allure

Well, I just used up my bottle after two months? Three? I don't know. But I decided to post a couple of reviews to keep you over while I'm gone the next couple of days.

So, I was at CVS, my haunt of choice haha, going to get razors when a thing of beauty popped out at me. A sale. Insert the Hallelujah chorus right there. I'm lazy by nature. I mean, I'm the laziest person you will ever meet, hands down. So any chance to sit around and do nothing and have a product cut time in half for me is a good chance I'll take.

So, I picked it up. I've been using it ever since. The first time, I hadn't shaved in a good two weeks. Disgusting, right? So the cream didn't work as well as it should. I left it on for the max 6 minutes, and ended up having to do a quick shave afterwards. But I wasn't going to just let it sit in my bathroom.

The second time I used it, which was a week after and when hair started to rear it's ugly head again, it worked as it should. I left it on for three minutes, checked a spot, and was good to go.

Now, I didn't use the bladeless razor they give you. I used a wet washcloth and removed it by rubbing circles to rid myself of the hair and cream. I found that quicker and more effective.

The downside is the smell. Now, maybe I'm just not used to hair removal cream smells, but it wasn't very good. Bearable, but next time I'll definitely try for a lighter scented one, or even unscented if they offer it.

Would I repurchase it? ;; Maybe

 Where you can buy it ;; Your local drugstore.
Normal Price ;; $10.99

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with RBI.

What's in my Travel Bag this time?

The contents of my bag. Some brands aren't exact.

So, this week, I'll be up in Michigan. It's not a super exciting trip, nor is it supposed to be. So, keeping it vague, this is what I'll be taking with me for the next two days.

Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo. Of course I have to take this. Just in case I don't have time to take a proper shower.

Herbal Essence shampoo and conditioner. It's not my favorite, so this is a chance to use it up and not have to worry about it anymore.

Dove Style+Care hairspray. To keep my hair from flying everywhere. We will be outside for one day, after all.

Dove VisibleCare bodywash. I managed to acquire a travel size of this a while back, and it's actually filled with Olay Silk Whimsey, soooo. Yeah.

CVS Cleansing Towelettes. They're literally a Pond's ripoff, the ones I have, so I plastered on the closest thing I could find.    

Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Foaming Cleanser. Speaks for itself. 

Clean and Clear Moisturizer and Astringent. Again, an obvious choice. Also trying to use these up to move on to better products.

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S  Thirst Quenching Serum. If you've ever been to Michigan you know it's cold, and not the nicest to your skin.

Crest Pro Heath toothpaste. Travel size I got with my toothbrush travel kit when I went back to Fort Wayne one time.

Jergens Crema in Deep Conditioning Oatmeal. I don't do well in cold weather, and neither does my skin, so I'm bringing a little extra help this time.

Bath and Body Works Body Lotion in Rio Rumberry travel size. I have a couple of these guys, so another good way to get rid of them is taking them on trips.

Tissues. I'm going to need them, so I'm bringing a travel pack with me.

It's hard to say if I'll even really wear my makeup during this trip, but it never hurts to bring it with me ;;

   Rimmel London Stay Matte.    

Benefit "that gal" Face Brightening Primer

Benefit BADgal lash Mascara

Burt's Bees Rejuvinating Lip Balm with Acai Berry

Wet n Wild Natural Blends Lip Shimmer in Berry  

Benefit "that gal" Face Brightening Primer

Image courtesy of Sephora

I once again dove into the realm of face primers in every day use. Since I got two in my Sexy Little Stowaways kit, I might as well use them. I tried this today, and was tempted to not even wear my foundation-powder. Gasp! However, my better judgement got to me, and I wore foundation with it like a good little girl getting ready for work.

Needless to say, my makeup stayed all through work and until I took it off. It looked great, felt great, and once my face clears up again, this is something I could wear all by itself. It doesn't take much product at all to cover my fact, and there were a couple of spots where there was too much. Those areas did feel a bit greasy, but I just dabbed the excess off and was good to go.

Pre-blended.

Partially blended. That little amount was too much for my hand.

I'm looking forward to trying their other primer, here's crossing my fingers that the rest of my Benefit cosmetics experience is as good as the previous ones.

Would I repurchase it? ;;Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Benefit Cosmetics
Normal Price ;; $29.00

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Benefit Cosmetics LLC.

Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder

Image courtesy of Google.

We interrupt your regularly irregular scheduled Benefit reviews to bring you Gussie's review of her new foundation of choice; Rimmel London Stay Matte in 001 Transparent.

"Transparent?!" you say? Yes. I am literally that pale. Transparent is about the only shade that really fits my skin tone. And fit it to a Tea (get it? London? Tea? I'm terrible.) it does. It's like my skin, only not shiny and gorgeous.

Now, it's not technically a foundation, but I've found that foundation makes me look overly made up, so I reserve actual foundations for special occasions and cosplay. So this is actually something that usually goes over foundation, but it works for me.

I've always liked Rimmel London products. Maybe because I'm partial to England. Or maybe it's the Union Jack pattern some of their eyeshadows come in. I've never had a Rimmel product fail me. So I was pleased that this product followed up with all the others.

It keeps my skin shine-free for hours without touch-up needed. And I needed something to keep my skin matte, especially at work. I'm running around, and the kitchen can get hot, so as a server, seeing you sweaty and shiny is not attractive, and not good for tips. So this does the trick, and lasts all through my shift up until I wash it off.

Would I repurchase it? ;;Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Your local drugstore
Normal Price ;; $4.99

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Coty, INC.

Benefit Watt's Up!

Image courtesy of Sephora.

Benefit Watt's Up! is a cute little freebie I was tossed in because of the mix up when I got my brows done. It's an all-over face highlighter. I usually don't use highlighters, but due to recent events, I haven't gotten much sleep, and my skin is definitely taking a hit because of this.

This here is kind of a lifesaver right now.

Now, the website says it's usually used for cheeks and brow bone, but me? I dab a little of this on the inner corner of my eyes to make myself look more awake. And it works. I look more awake, and best of all, it looks natural. I guess I don't have much to say on this, because it's a winner in my book.

The only thing I have a problem with is I'm so afraid of breaking the stick because it's so small, but I can't help that since it's a trial size.

Would I repurchase it? ;;Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Benefit Cosmetics
Normal Price ;; $30.00

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Benefit Cosmetics LLC.

Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream

Image courtesy of Ulta.

Another Benefit product. That Sexy Little Stowaways is definitely paying off so far. Of the six items I've used from it (two that I've reviewed -- three counting this, the other three to come tonight and tomorrow), I'm so far loving at least five of them.

Now, according to the Benefit website, It's Potent! ;;
"fades dark circles & helps smooth fine lines for brighter, younger-looking eyes. Contains a peptide complex known to help restore elasticity & firmness, a blend of hydrating botanical extracts including apple extract, known to help boost collagen, & loquat extract, known to help protect the skin from free radical damage."

Now, unpopular opinion time, I love my dark circles. Weird? Yes. I've literally had them since birth. Yes, I was born with raccoon eyes. It's a prominent genetic skin condition -- if you could call it that -- on my father's side of the family. He has them, I have them, my little sister has them. From a young age (read;; emo stage) I learned to embrace them, so why would I want to fade them away?

Most people would LOVE that. Now, I've noticed no fading (phew!), but I firmly believe that's because they can't be faded. At least mine can't. They're permanent. I have, however, noticed diminishing lines below and at the outer corner of my eyes. Which is good. I had really bad lines for a 19 year old because of my internet addiction and poor eyesight.

It's moisturizing, effective for what I want it to do, and it comes in the cutest little packaging. I mean, I adore it. I think Benefit wins the 'most amazing packaging' award in the history of beauty products, hand down. False corkscrew top? Adorable. Glass jar? Favorite. So far, Benefit's It's Potent! is a winner.

Would I repurchase it? ;;Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Benefit Cosmetics
Normal Price ;; $32.00

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Benefit Cosmetics LLC.

ONE Natural Sugar Scrub in Sun Drenched Lemon ;; The Adventure Continues!

Image courtesy of Google.

So, the last week flew by, and finally it was time to try this thing of beauty. Well, I'd used it on my feet a couple of times, but it was time to use it on my arms and legs.

I adore the scent of lemons. Maybe it's just because I find it to be a clean, crisp scent. Immediately, when I opened it, I fell in love with the smell. I could sit there with my nose to the container all day. But, I had work, and if I sat there all day, I would get nothing done.

The scrub itself is nice. It's fully mixed, so none of the oils sit on top while the sugar scrub settles to the bottom. There was no mixing I had to do, which is a plus from my lazy side.

It was very abrasive, which I enjoy in my scrubs. I felt like it worked well, and best of all, most of it DIDN'T end up on the bottom of my tub because it would fall off of my skin. It all stayed. There was no deadly gauntlet in my tub, or risk of falling. Once it all rinsed off, it also revealed very smooth, soft skin. Another plus. Also, once it's empty, I'm going to reuse the tin as a tiny storage container. Yay recycling.

I'm still going to explore other body scrubs, but this one is getting a giant gold star from me.

Would I repurchase it? ;; Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Target, Ulta, One Bath and Body
Normal Price ;; $9.99 - $10.99

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with One Bath and Body.

Benefit Cha Cha Tint

Image courtesy of Google. The full-size bottle of Cha Cha Tint. And true, more orangey color my webcam can't pick up.

I apologize for my face. It was a long day at work.

So this was also in my Sexy Little Stowaways kit. It's a lip and cheek tint, but truthfully, I doubt I'd ever use it for my cheeks. I don't know why, but the idea of putting this on my cheeks is slightly terrifying. It's a tint, so what if I put it on wrong? Then I would look just plain dumb. So, I stick with it on my lips.

Cha Cha Tint is described as "mango tinted lip and cheek stain". Mango, huh? Well, I have to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of the fruit, or the orange color associated with it. Now, I'm not too good with lip stains. The only one I had previously was the Revlon Just Bitten in Frenzy, and I only used that for cosplay makeup. But, I decided to give this a try.

The tint on my hand.

The Cha Cha tint comes out more of a orangey-coral. It wasn't the bright orange shade I was expecting, though it does have an orange sheen to it. The formula is smooth, non-sticky, though it is a bit drying without any balm on before or after.

The tint on my lips. Bad quality, sorry.

Overall, it's a nice color, something I've been wearing daily by itself or under my two other daily lip colors. By itself, or coupled with another, the Cha Cha Tint is very pretty, and something I would consider purchasing by itself.

Would I repurchase it? ;;Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Benefit Cosmetics
Normal Price ;; $29.00

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Benefit Cosmetics LLC.

Benefit BADgal lash Mascara

So, this baby was in the Sexy Little Stowaways kit I bought yesterday, and I wanted to review it. Reviews galore today, huh? Maybe because I got so many new products to try. Or maybe it's to distract myself from the bad things that happened this weekend.

Now, as opposed to They're Real!, BADgal has a wand I'm NOT afraid will poke my eyeball out. Like I said before, it's an irrational fear, but one none the less.

There was no pulling or uncomfortable tugging with BADgal, which is good right now, as my eyes are kind of hurting from tears and lack of sleep. There was also absolutely no clumping with BADgal, which is always a plus. I did have a small problem with clumping using They're Real!, but that just might be my inexperience with plastic wands? It wouldn't surprise me, honestly.

BADgal didn't get my lashes nearly as long, but they were nice, defined, and looked like my lashes but better, instead of false lashes. Which, truthfully, I prefer some days, as I prefer a natural face look as opposed to dramatic. At least on me, I look like a kid playing with makeup when I go for the more dramatic makeup look!

You can kind of see them? Ugh, I need a camera.

Overall, BADgal is my preference to They're Real!, and I would love to put this in my mascara staples. Plus, it's cheaper than They're Real!, and we all know how I am with money.

Would I repurchase it? ;;Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Benefit Cosmetics
Normal Price ;; $19.00

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Benefit Cosmetics LLC.

Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Spray

This is my second time venturing into the realm of dry shampoos. I did once before when I purchased a Tresemme products that came with a little trial size of their dry shampoo. Truthfully, I hated it, but it was super useful on those long bus trips to the New York and Florida competitions. (Yes, I had that thing for two years, and that was the only two times I used it. Surprisingly, because my hair was so long at that time, two uses was all it had! That and some other girls stole it. )

Now, though, I've learned my hair is sometimes TOO smooth to properly do anything with. Whether it be oils or the fact it gets too clean too fast, my hair is a pain the the bottom. So, I've read up on Dry Shampoos on some of the beauty blogs I frequent, and they convinced me to try them.

After a use. My hair was soft, pretty, and manageable.  Yay.

So far, I'm loving the Suave Professionals dry shampoo spray. It leaves my hair soft, clean, and easy to manage. The only problem I have with it is it's REALLY difficult to remove all of the powdery residue. I end up having to go through it with my brush, and then follow through with my teasing comb.

Fortunately, the residue that I feel, you can't see. Which is good, considering my hair is black. I expect to look in the mirror and see white powder in my hair, but no, all I see is clean, shiny hair. I plan to explore other brands, but for a drugstore brand, this is a good one. Especially since I got mine 50% off. Ehehe.

Would I repurchase it? ;;Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Your local drugstore
Normal Price ;; $3.49

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Unilever.

Make Up For Ever HD Primer

Still in my PJs. It's been a rough day, so forgive the bedhead.

Alright, this was one of my goodies from Sephora, and it's about time I reviewed it, huh? Well, until recently, I didn't have a foundation I liked! The only foundation I actually had before picking up some Rimmel London Stay Matte pressed powder was a bloody awful can of Maybelline Dream Nude Air Foam, which I only really use during conventions for the fact that it is lightweight. Now I have something to cover the imperfections that foundation leaves behind.

But I digress, this post is about the primer, not my foundation troubles.

The primer itself isn't bad. It's a bit watery for my tastes, but once it dries, it feels fine. It also holds the makeup really well. To test that, I've kind of rubbed at my face to see if it will come off. Zip. Nada. Nothing. Not a single spec of my  powder has moved.

So, it does it's job, but what else does it do? It felt very hydrating, which is good because my skin felt overly dry today. But, when on by itself, I didn't see any 'microperfecting', which is promised on the package.

See? 'Microperfecting Primer'.

Perhaps that is with longterm use? I'm not sure, but short term, it doesn't do it. My pores were still visible, and so was my -- unfortunate -- stress acne and bumps. Luckily, you don't get to see those in the photos.

As a primer, I like it, but I haven't used primers in forever, so my journey begins here. As of now, I give this a thumbs up.

Would I repurchase it? ;;Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Sephora
Normal Price ;; $34.00

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Make Up Forever.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara

Yep, one of the things I had to buy in order for my brow wax to actually be free. It was either this, or nail files -- and I bought a new file last night. Besides, I'd heard so many things about this little mascara, so I wanted to try it out for myself.

Let me start off by saying I'm not a fan of the plastic brushes. I'm always afraid that on the off chance I hit my eye, I'll hurt it really badly. Call it an irrational fear, I just don't like pointy things coming at my eyeball, thank you very much. So I was a bit scared when applying this mascara.

It goes on my lashes a bit weird. It tugs at them, and it's not painful, but it is a weird feeling. But once it's coated, they're LONG. I mean, they're fake-lash long. So, check mark for living up to your name, Benefit.

Benefit They're Real! on the left, Maybelline Great Lash on the Right.

So far, I'm liking the mascara. I do have a sample of BADgal lash, so we'll see which one I like more. All in all, a good mascara, though on the pricey side.

Would I repurchase it? ;;Yes

 Where you can buy it ;; Benefit Cosmetics
Normal Price ;; $23.00

This review is independent and in no way shape or form affiliated with Benefit Cosmetics LLC.