Not Makeup Post: Amazon Prime Nutrition & Wellness Box

This isn't makeup related, but it is box related! Amazon occasionally has "free after credit" boxes available for Prime members. I have snatched up all of the Luxury Beauty boxes in the past. This time, I grabbed a Nutrition & Wellness box. This cost $14.99, but you get that back in credit as soon as it ships. The samples are always worth more than the cost of the box. That plus the credit makes these deals too good to pass up! I typically use my credit to buy a box of Vega bars. Here is what I got this time:

I have not gotten to everything in this box yet, but almost everything has been awesome for far. Except the Acure Power Meal that tasted like total ass! 

Ulta Platinum GWP Bag

I recently achieved Ulta Platinum status and blew my points on a massive order. This allowed me to get this 28 piece gift bag for free. And this thing is MASSIVE.

Also, I love the holographic material. I don't like it as much as my Tarte unicorn skin bag, but it is still fun. I don't even hate the tassel.

There is so much going on in here. I think the $268 value estimate is definitely accurate.

My favorites so far include the Becca highlighter, a Tarteist lip paint, Stila lippy, and an ABH stick foundation. The foundation is too dark for me, of course, but I think I can use it as a cream contour.
 

Travel Beauty - Malta 2017

I like to travel. A lot. When I am driving somewhere, I will just basically empty my working makeup drawer and toss everything in my car. When I fly somewhere, things get trickier. I do not like to check my luggage because switching flights internationally does not always mean you will get you bag at your final destination (looking at you, Air Malta). So besides the limited space in my carry on, I have to follow the 3 oz or less rule to get through security. Not that this is too much of an issue with my sample hoarder lifestyle.

After taking so many trips over the last few years, I have learned a lot. Here are some things I would recommend based on my personal experience.

Save those small samples and foil packets;

Yes, even perfume cards from magazines. They take up virtually no space. Foil packets are also space savers. I have a "travel basket" in my bathroom closet where I immediately dump these samples into when I receive them. Then, when I comes time to pack, I raid this basket. I don't pay much attention to what I put in the basket at the time, so it is usually pretty fun to dig around.

Have a very simple routine:

The lighting in most European hotel bathrooms is crap. I stick with a base that is easy and mostly good proof. Sunscreen, BB cream, and a little powder foundation. I'm currently in love with this Maybelline BB cream I got on clearance at Dollar General. BH Costmetics ties with NYX for my favorite powder foundation. Both are very affordable.

Have something on your person for sweat/oil control:

My skin sucks. It's extra oily and freaks out over just about anything. Changes in temperature and humidity especially. I keep translucent or mattifying powder in all of my bags so I can blot away or touch up on the go. I usually just travel wth cheap makeup, but this Too Faced powder got to go on this trip because there's not a lot left. The Cover Girl was a Dollar General clearance find.

Too Faced stayed in my backpack while Cover Girl I kept in my purse. I really like the "poof" applicator.

Bring multitaskers:

I bring this Urban Decay Naked Flushed trio everywhere. It's three products in one and has a nice big mirror.

I am also in love with this NYX brow pencil. The product twists up and is super fine, so it's easy to draw on and get a more natural look. The other end is a spoolie to comb everything out.

Limit yourself to a look or two:

I brought this cheapo cardboard Ulta palette with me. It limited my choices and made my routine quicker. Plus, I wouldn't cry if something happened to it. I actually ended up falling in love with this little guy. I'm not a blue eyeshadow fan at all, but the Seaside color was a surprisingly nice duo chrome.

Make your hair routine easy:

I cut six inches off of my hair in preparation for this trip. European hotels do not typically have blow dryers, and my styling tools are not compatible with the electrical situation outside of the US. I brought this air dry cream so I could just let my hair do its thing in the Mediterranean breeze every day. It actually worked out very well.

If there's an expensive product I can't live without, see if there is a travel size available:

For me this is my HG brow gel from Anastasia Beverly Hills. All other brow gels fail super hard compared to this one.

Lessons will be learned:

On this trip, I learned that any and all eyeliner can and will betray you while traveling. Liquid pens will start skipping. Pencils will break and you won't have a sharpener. I thought I was being safe by bringing some twist ups. One broke and the other decided it was too dry to work any longer. Next time I am going to have to try a pot and a brush I guess.

Travel Empties - Malta Edition

I just got back from Malta where I mostly managed to look ~okay~ despite the fact that every hotel I stayed at had the worst lighting ever and it was hot as shit outside. Not that any of that stopped me from attempting to wear makeup or black clothes every day.

I also cut six inches off of my hair before this trip because I did not want to deal with that shit every day. Or any day really.

Anyway, here are a few things I went through:

You know those paper perfume samples that fall out of you Ulta catalog? Don't toss those! I brought my stash along and it was nice to not only have a new scent every day, and to save some space while packing!

I was very disappointed with this Tarte Guard sunscreen sample. I got two small pumps out of it before it died.

The Ulta warming charcoal cleanser was weird. I don't know how or why, but it legitimately got HOT as I squeezed it out of the package and rubbed it on my face. I also got two uses out of this package, and it was warm both times. So that doesn't mean whatever voodoo is in here dies off as soon as it's opened. Strange, but I like charcoal products for my icky oily skin and this was nice to have on hand.

More perfume cards, and a Tarte bronzer/blush card. I got two uses out of the bronzer on this card, and four out of the blush. It doesn't look empty because the card is printed the same colors are the products. I liked the bronzer, and I already own this color of Tarte's blush, Glisten.

The other foil packet was some Elizabeth Arden face serum that was awesome. I slapped on the entire packet before bed one night and woke up with super hydrated skin.

I will be doing another post later on more details of my travel beauty routine and tips.

October/November Empties

So much product murder over the last couple of months! I showed my husband this pile to justify all of my Black Friday/Cyber Monday purchases. Not that I need justification. I bought all of these with my own monies.

Body and hygiene type stuff:

Rituals Happy Buddha Shower Foam
Origin: Pretty sure it was an Allure quarterly box.
Price: $15.00 on the Rituals website
Opinion: This product smelled amazing! It was very strange to use though. It cam rocketing out of the can as a very thin gel, which foamed up almost instantly with no provocation.
Repurchase?: Eff no, not for $15! It did not last long at all. I can find another much cheaper way to smell good after I shower.

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste
Origin: Allure quarterly box
Price: $5.96 for a 2 pack at Wal-Mart
Opinion: It was toothpaste. I am not picky about toothpaste.
Repurchase?: Not any time soon. I have several other tubes of toothpaste to use up first.

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter
Origin: Ulta sample pack
Price: $15.00 at Ulta for a 10.1 oz tub
Opinion: This body butter is everything I look for in a body butter. Not greasy. Soaks in nicely. Not too smelly. The hubby really liked it as well.
Repurchase?: More than likely. $15 for a huge tub is not bad.

Bells Brewing lip balm
Origin: Bells tap takeover giveaway
Price: N/A
Opinion: This was nice and smooth and hydrating. It had a fresh minty smell.
Repurchase?: I doubt I would be able to find it again, but I will drink more Bells beer for sure.

Some random body serum
Origin: possibly Vegan Cuts 
Price: no idea
Opinion: This smelled nice but was a bit sticky
Repurchase?: nah

Chapstick Total Hydration Coconut
Origin: Allure quarterly box
Price: $2.99 at Walgreen's
Opinion: This was a total flood of moisture on my lips. It didn't even feel like it could possibly come from a solid stick. I loved the coconut flavor as well!
Repurchase?: Yes, but I am currently working on another variety.

Face stuff:

Aubrey Organics Everyday Basics Daily Skin Moisturizer
Origin: I'm going to have to go with another Allure quarterly box (I swear they are not paying me for this review)
Price: $8.99 on Amazon
Opinion: This was a nice, thick "night time" moisturizer for me, but it had one major downfall. It reeked strongly of my most hated food, celery.
Repurchase?: Absolutely not! Celery is the worst.

Real Chemistry Luminous 3 Minute Peel
Origin: a sample from somewhere, most likely Ulta
Price: $48.00 of 1.7 fl oz (OUCH!!!!)
Opinion: In no way did this product "wow" me.
Repurchase?: Absolutely not. Way too much money.

Laneige Water Bank Serum
Origin: since it is Laneige, most likely a Target beauty box
Price: $35.00 for 60 ml at Target
Opinion: This was nice, but then again, I have never met a serum I did not like.
Repurchase?: Not right now. I have lots of other little serum samples hoarded at the moment. The price is also a bit high for me.

Lotus Moon Hydro-Therapy Eye Serum
Origin: probably Vegan Cuts
Price: $28.00 at Lotus Moon
Opinion: I loved rolling this under my eyes at night! It was cooling and soothing. It soaked in nicely too.
Repurchase?: I would say "yes" because it lasted FOR-EV-ER, but no because I didn't really see much of a difference in my eye bags. I did love applying it though.

Makeup items:

NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray
Origin: Ulta (I order it because my Target always seems to be sold out)
Price: $7.99 at Ulta
Opinion: This is my favorite setting spray ever, and it's super affordable! I go through a bottle every couple of months. I got sprayed in the face with a hose at work the other day (don't ask, my job is dumb) and my makeup didn't budge one bit!
Repurchase?: I've already went through most of another bottle and I just bought an additional bottle.

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
Origin: sample size from somewhere, Ulta or Sephora
Price: $22.00 at Urban Decay
Opinion: My HG mascara!!
Repurchase?: I have two more samples hoarded and I hope I never have to actually buy one. I am sure that day will come some day though.

Chella Eyebrow Defining Gel
Origin: I am going to have to go with Ipsy
Price: $18.00 at Chella
Opinion: I honestly do not understand the Chella hype. This barely had any hold and it got gooey super fast. I have had another tube of this in the past and it did (or didn't do) the same things.
Repurchase?: Pass.

Makeup Forever Mat Velvet+ Mattifying Foundation

Origin: Sephora - the actual store!

Price: $39.00

Opinion: When I got my second job, which requires makeup, I actually went in to Sephora to buy my first tube of foundation. I asked for the best foundation for oil skin. The girl who helped me, who was also an oily Jillian, swore by this product and I can see why.
Repurchase?: Maybe eventually. I have recently found a much cheaper Ulta foundation that I like that does a pretty good job controlling oil.  
Laura Geller Tinted Spackle

Origin: sample with a purchase from Laura Geller website

Price: $32.00 for a full size

Opinion: They aren't joking when the say "spackle". This went on smooth, dried down quickly, and left my skin nice and smooth without being tight. My foundation went on evenly over it and stayed put all day.

Repurchase?: Eventually. I have been burning through small primer samples in search of my HG. I believe this is it though.

Benefit The Pore-fessional License to Blot

Origin: most likely came with an Ulta or Sephora purchase

Price: $20.00 on the Benefit website

Opinion: I liked this a lot. I put it on my T-zone before applying primer and foundation and it did a decent job of keeping the greasies at bay.

Repurchase?: Not for the price. I would rather just splurge on a primer that controls oil and more.

Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer

Origin: Sample from who knows where. I am always swimming in Smashbox primer samples.

Price: $39.00 on the Smashbox website

Opinion: This was my first time trying this variety of Smashbox primer. It was not as slippery as their regular clear Photo Finish primer. I feel that it did an okay job filling in my pores and it did help a little with oil control. I just wasn't super impressed or anything. 

Repurchase?: Nope. I will be saving my money for the Laura Geller Spackle.

The Balm "Put a Lid on It" Eyelid Primer

Origin: I believe I picked this up at Kohl's

Price: $18.00 at The Balm

Opinion: This was the first eyeshadow primer I ever used. I got a sample in Birchbox years ago when I was very new to makeup and my eyeshadow addiction started almost immediately after I discovered this was how I could keep shadow on my greasy lids all day!

Repurchase?: As much as I enjoy this, I have recently converted to Urban Decay's Original Primer Potion. If UD ever goes to 100% deer foot applicator on their primers I will go back to The Balm though.

Ulta Mineral Setting Powder

Origin: Ulta free-with-purchase beauty bag.

Price: $14.00 at Ulta

Opinion: I fell in love with this immediately! The texture and the smell of all things are fabulous! This mini sample was messy as hell so I ordered the full size very quickly. It is massive so I am hoping it stays in the container better when I dip in my brush.

Repurchase?: Already did. I'm waiting to use up a Tarte and a Swedish Minerals sample before I open it. I have been going through an absurd amount of setting powder lately.

Hair items:

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment
Origin: I am guessing this was a Sephora sample
Price: $15.00 for 2 oz at Sephora
Opinion: This was my first encounter with this brand and they aren't joking when they say "perfect hair day". A light coat of this on my damp hair gave me a fantastic blow out without the frizzies.
Repurchase?: No. I don't go through very much hair styling product because I only heat style my hair 2-3 times per month. By the time I run out of something, I typically have another sample on hand.

Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask
Origin: possibly an Ulta sample
Price: $14.99 for 16.9 oz at Ulta
Opinion: I luuuurve me some hair masks and this was way up there in my opinion. It smelled fabulous, was not too heavy, and made my hair silky soft.
Repurchase?: HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS WAS SO CHEAP?? *adds to Ulta basket*

Octavio Molina Aceite de Argan
Origin: Ipsy
Price: $32.00  on the brand website
Opinion: This was a decent argan oil. It was not too thick and got the job done.
Repurchase?: Nah. I got plenty of argan oil right now. Plus, I feel like my beloved Hask products do just as well (if not better) and are a much better price point.

Marc Anthony Hydrating Coconut Oil & Shea Butter Conditioner
Origin: Ulta sample
Price: $7.99 for 8.4 oz at Ulta
Opinion: This was way too thick for my fine hair. I used it up by mixing it into my regular conditioner a little bit at a time.
Repurchase?: No.

Kardashian Beauty Black Seed Dry Oil
Origin: sample from I don't remember
Price: $9.48 for 3 oz on Amazon
Opinion: I liked this way too much. The consistency, the texture, the smell, the way it made my hair feel...
Repurchase?: Nope. I don't support celebu-tards.

Now on to the "naughty" product pile:

Benefit Ka-Brow! Eyebrow Cream-Gel Color
Origin: Ulta sample
Price: $24.00 on the Benefit website
Opinion: I had such high hopes for this, and maybe it was just the size of the sample, but this SUCKED. I could barely dig any product out of the little glass bottom piece with the very soft brush. It was also the wrong color for me. What little I could get out just smeared all over since the brush was so weak. Maybe the full sized product is better, but I hated this sample.
Repurchase?: NOPE. I will stick to my NYX brow products.

Burt's Bees Lipstick in Magenta Rush
Origin: Allure quarterly box
Price: $9.00 at Burt's Bees
Opinion: I loved this lipstick hard. It was moisturizing, the color was flattering, and it stayed on forever. THEN ONE DAY I reached for it in my purse to slap on before my second job and it had betrayed me. There were hard lumps in the bullet that scraped my lips and moved the color around. I tried wiping off the bullet off to no avail. I even tried removing a large chunk hoping to start anew. Nothing worked. This product was no impossible to apply. You can see what I mean on the swatch below.
Repurchase?: Sadly, no. And I now mistrust all Burt's Bees lip products.

Be a Bombshell Lip Crayon
Origin: Ipsy
Price: $5.00 on the brand website

Opinion: I liked this product at first. The color was very flattering on me, but it always felt very dry. The application had a lot of drag too. I never really reached for this, and I recently discovered that it had gotten very dry and crystallized. I have about a bazillion other lippies begging for attention, so I tossed it.
Repurchase?: Pass

Rimmel The Only One Lipstick
Origin: Allure quarterly box
Price: $6.99 at Target
Opinion: This was a beautiful color and highly moisturizing formula, but it feathered terrible on my lips. Especially at the corners. Lip liner did not help - it still got all over my face in a "wanna know how I got these scars?" sort of way.
Repurchase?: Big nope.

Swatches of Benefit Ka-Brow!, chunky Burt's Bees lipstick, Be a Bombshell lip crayon, and Rimmel lipstick.