Empty Products! Spring 2013

Happy March everyone! I'm so glad that March is finally here. The weather is slowly starting to get warmer, and soon this snow will be gone! I cannot wait!

I wanted to share some products that I have finally used up within the past month or so. I forgot to hold onto the products last time so I could take a photo, so this time, I remembered to start a stash. I've numbered them to make it a little easier to tell you about my thoughts with each one.

1. Soap and Glory Great Shakes Hand Cream - I have to say that this is one of my favourite hand/body creams on the market. In the USA, I have seen one called Hand Food, which has the same texture and smell as this one. This smells like their Righteous Body Butter, and soaks into the hands quickly. I will continue to purchase this once I get through some of my other creams and lotions.

2. Bath and Body Works Twisted Peppermint Shower Gel - This is a staple! I absolutely go crazy for this scent, and have 2 backups of this. Every year I stock up before they sell out, and use them throughout the year. If you haven't smelled this before, you are missing out. It is the classic mix of peppermint candy canes and vanilla. I wish it was a scent they would keep all year. 

I'll skip to #8, since it is the Triple Moisture Body Cream in the same scent. They work so well together. You can see that the packaging is different due to the Shower Gel having a 2011 label on it, vs. the 2012 label on the body cream. This made the best lotion for back massages, due to the peppermint tingle on the skin. So amazing.

3. Cake Desserted Island Hand Cream - This is the mini version that I received in a gift pack. I kept this guy in the purse, and blew through this within a month. It is amazing at hydrating my hands, but I'm not a huge fan of the scent. It has a mild pineapple/coconut scent that just doesn't cut it. I prefer it's mango scented counterpart that is in my bag right now. I'm sure it'll be featured in my next empties post.

4. The Body Shop Lip Butter in Pink Grapefruit - It took me almost a year to get through a tub of this, and I used it almost every night before bed. The lip butters are a product that I always go back to, and prefer them over my Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments. I think it's because I get tired of the lemon scent of the Fresh ones, and feel that the Body Shop butters give me that extra bit of hydration. I just love them. I'm currently using the mango one at the moment... can you see a trend?

5. Lush A Breath Of Fresh Air Toner - I bought this in the states while shopping in Buffalo, and it was just okay. I really enjoy my Tea Tree toner, as I feel that it helps with my greasy skin, but this didn't really do anything for me. 

6. Sephora Collection Instant Refreshing Toner - another product that was just okay. It was a great pick-me-up spray when I felt my skin needed a boost throughout the day, but this isn't something I would buy again. In fact, I think it's discontinued on Sephora's website. 

And last, but not least:

7. Zoya Remove+ Nail Polish Remover - Holy Grail! I used to use whatever was the cheapest at the drugstore, and my nails would peel and break. Now, I don't seem to have that problem, after splurging on this stuff, and I love it! I bought another bottle like this one, and have also purchased the gigantic one to refill the pump bottle. I feel like this stuff takes off anything with a few swipes - including glitter polish. This is something I will continue to repurchased again and again.

And there you have it. Now I can finally pitch these guys to the recycling bin, and start a new batch for empties. I'm really looking forward to using up some more products, along with some more makeup.

I am also doing some spring cleaning of my makeup collection, and have gone through my stash. I've thrown out quite a bit of stuff that has been hanging around way too long, and am excited to keep on downsizing to the things that I really love. WHOOHOO!

Marc's Birthday Weekend

Marc and I just got back from a fabulous weekend away in Niagara Falls. We spent 2 nights at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel which is attached to the Fallsview Casino. We also spent an afternoon shopping in the states, and I was very proud of myself. I picked up two makeup products that I have been lusting for. One of them isn't available in Canada, and the other was such a good deal, I couldn't pass it up.

The first one I grabbed is the L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Amber Rush. I would describe it as a very warm, antiqued rose gold colour. We are very lucky in Canada to have a great selection of the Infallible eyeshadows, however, this is the colour we are definitely missing out on. 

I haven't played with it much yet, but I know I am going to love it. It reminds me a bit of MAC's Woodwinked eyeshadow, but I find this is lighter, and is every so slightly on the pink side. Plus, it has an amazing sheen. It's like metallic love.

I also grabbed Revlon's Coral Reef Super Lustrous Lipgloss. I have never been a lip gloss gal, only because of the lasting power, and that they didn't have enough pop. I always associated lip gloss with sheer colour, and while working at Sephora, I always wanted that extra oomph that a gloss wasn't giving me. Now, I've realized that they are great for my new office setting. 

I've never tried these Revlon glosses before, and I am seriously a fan! I love that it's not sticky, and has a buttery smoothness on the lips. I also really like the lasting power it gives as well. I will be buying more down the road for sure.

I also found some great clothing at Target for my spring wardrobe, and purchased a fragrance from Sephora that I will be doing a post on as well! Definitely stay tuned!

Thanks again to my fiance as well. He made it such a great weekend, and I really loved how much time we got to spend together. I hope he had an amazing birthday, and enjoyed the weekend as much as I did. xo

Project 10 Pan - Update #3

Sorry I've been MIA lately. It's been a whirlwind with my new job lately, and I have been house sitting for a few weeks now as well. Today is Family Day, and since I'm lucky enough to get an extra day off for the weekend, I decided to take some time and give you an update on my P10P. 

I'm not going to lie, I've completely failed. I've bought a few makeup items such as lipgloss, but I definitely haven't been shopping like I used to. It's become more about using up everything else, and adding bits to my collection that are unique, and that I am actually using along with my other products. 

I haven't officially used up anything else that was from the original items of my P10P, but I do have a post coming soon that will show some other empties, which is exciting. For now though, here is my progress:

 I have to say that I still can't believe that this guy is still going. He's almost 3 years old, and really should be thrown out, but I am still determined to finish it. I've finally hit pan on the middle colour, and have a funny feeling I will be calling quits once the lightest colour runs out. It still seems to be the best colour for my brows right now. 

 MAC's Brulee eyeshadow is still going as well. I haven't been reaching for this one as much as I should. My NARS Abyssinia seems to be used more than this one, so I need to focus on this colour again and finally use it up.

I'm getting near of the end of this EOS balm as well. Another week or two and she should be finished.

I'm now over half way through this Maybelline concealer -whoohoo!

Unfortunately, there is one product that bit the dust before it was fully used up - you guessed it - my Benefit Hoola Bronzer. I worked my way to hitting the edge of the pan, and from there it started to crumble and break away from the sides. I tried to save it, however most of the time the chunks got stuck in my Sigma F20 brush that I use for my bronzer, and I wore most of it. Needless to say, I finally was fed up, and chucked it. I've now started to use Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, and let me tell you, it's amazing. I think I'm more addicted to the smell, but it's also a great colour for fair skin.

I also wanted to show you another product that I'm close to using up as well, which is very similar to the MAC Studio Fix powder I had before:

This is Sephora Mattifying Foundation in the colour R20, which is one that I only can get away with in the winter months. Since I'm so close to being done this as well, I thought that I would add it to this since it's a makeup item, and most of my empties I still have to blog about are skincare related. So, this is something else I plan to finish up, and will be one less thing sitting in my makeup drawer. So excited!

So, that's all for my P10P so far! I'm getting much better at using things up while house sitting, since I didn't bring my entire collection, and can focus on products that don't get enough love.

Hope everyone is doing well, and I'll try to post again soon once we're back home, and I can show all of my empties. :)

Project 10 Pan - Update #2

I've officially come to the conclusion that I completely suck at doing a Project Pan. The point of doing this was to use up my products, and I seem to be failing. I am using them, just not on a regular basis. Here are some pictures to show you the progress.

I FINALLY did use up my MAC Studio Fix Powder. I felt like this bad boy lasted forever. It's definitely a product I love, and will probably repurchase when I use up some other products.

I think my MAC Brulee eyeshadow was used the most out of everything. Slowly but surely I'm chipping away.

This isn't a very good photo, but here is my Hoola Bronzer from Benefit. I've realized that I don't love this bronzer, and that's why I haven't dipped into this one as much as I'd like. I prefer NARS Laguna, and Too Faced Chocolate Soleil to this.

Hello dirtbag! Look at how dirty this is! Ha! I`m almost done as well with this Anastasia Brow Kit - only because the middle colour, and dark colour are just too much for me. I was mixing the lightest and middle colour together just to use it up, but on its own, it`s just a little too bold for my liking. I swear this thing won`t die.

I`m getting so close with my EOS lip balm in sweet mint as well. Love this stuff, and have a backup when it is finished.

I don`t know if I mentioned this before or not, but my NARS eyeshadow primer is finished, as well as my another Sephora Mattifying Primer. I`m also about 1/2 way through my Maybelline concealer (which I forgot to take a picture of).

I think now that I will be working again I will start to be wearing more makeup, so I will be using more products up and getting through my stash. I haven't done much of a purge yet, only because I'm being a suck about giving up some more stuff. I think once I get into a groove of the products I reach for the most during my morning routine, I will go back and re-evaluate. 

On a side note, I cannot get over the amazing weather we are having this weekend. Yesterday, Marc and I took my dad to London for his birthday and we actually sat outside and had lunch... in January. It was fantastic. I'm already over winter, and cannot wait for Spring!

Happy Belated Holidays, and an Update.

It's now a few days into 2013, and now that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is officially over, I can now spend sometime giving you an update.

First of all, I hope everyone had a great holiday this year. I was so fortunate to have the time off this year to spend it with family as much as possible. I got some wonderful gifts, ate way too much bad food, and now have a horrendous cold to nurse. I'm doing my best to recoup before starting my new job in a little over a week, so I've had a lot of time to relax, and reflect on 2012. It was definitely a wonderful year, and am looking forward to all of the wonderful things that 2013 has to bring.

I am still working away on my P10P , and have used up a few more things. I will definitely be doing an update in the next few weeks as to where I'm at. I've also decided that I am ready for another purge of items that I just need to let go of. Today, I spent sometime looking at my skincare items, and was able to take out some more products to give to family and friends. I seem to have a harder time giving away my makeup, however it is necessary. I have so many wonderful products, but I hardly reach for any of them. I keep making the excuse that I will use them at some point, but that never seems to happen. 

Over the Christmas season, I had a few items in mind that I was going to make an effort to use such as NARS lipstick in Red Lizard. I have yet to wear it, and its been in my possession since the summer. Maybe that is a hint - time to rethink my stash. I now will be working in an office, and it might not be considered appropriate. Same goes with some very fun, bright eyeshadows that I own. I've got a week until I start working, so I now have a project. Again, there will be an update once I get everything in order, and have the final count of products to give away.

Anywho, that is just a little recap of whats been going on. I hope everyone is doing well, and I will continue to post more regularly on here again. :)