Winter 2016 Empties

*Affiliate links/PR Samples used

Hello beauties! It's time yet again to take out the trash. I've got a boat load of empty products that I need to say goodbye to, and we're going to chat a little bit about each one. Perhaps its just the die hard beauty enthusiast in me, but I love watching and filming empties videos. Sure it's a lot of fun to hear about what's new and trendy, but sometimes I wonder how much of a person's enthusiasm for a product is based on the hype. And that's why empties are awesome. By the time you're ready to throw something away, your opinion is much less likely to be biased by newness. If someone finishes an entire bottle of something and loved it so much that they already have a backup on standby, I'm going to take that recommendation pretty seriously.

In the end, we all work hard for our money, and if we're going to invest some of it into beauty products, we don't want them to suck. And that's why I'm here doing what I'm doing. I'm willing to take one for the team, to risk the occasional fail so that you don't have to. What kind of friend would I be if I wasn't? So if you want to find out my most honest, tried-and-true opinions on some beauty goodness, keep on reading!

Summer 2016 Empties

Hey friends! As a fair warning, today's video is a long one. So go grab yourself a snack, maybe a cup of tea, and get cozy, cause you're gonna be here for a while. It's been three months since my last empties post and I've got a giant bin full of beauty trash to share. If you're relatively new to the beauty blogging scene, you may be giving me a strange look right now. Girl, why the heck are you hoarding a bunch of empty bottles and packages? And the reason is not because I've got some kind of strange obsession with beautiful packaging (although let's be serious, those are the hardest products to chuck). Anything I've completely used up is something I'm sure to have a pretty solid opinion on, and I want to let you guys know whether or not I thought it was repurchase worthy, or if I think there are better options out there to recommend.

Sound like a good time? Beautiful.

March 2016 Empties

Holy empties Batman! I don't think I realized I had accumulated so much beauty trash until I did a thorough clean out of my room today and added a few more things to the bin. Needless to say, it became very apparent that today's video was going to be an empties one. Speaking of which, I think I'm going to try and get into a regular routine of filming and uploading a video every Sunday. I'd love to make it more frequent, but I think that'll be an ambitious enough goal for right now. If you've got any specific requests for videos you'd like to see, definitely post a comment or tweet me and let me know what they are!

But anyway, let's not get derailed here people. We've got a lot of beauty products to chat about!

Get Your Chocolate Fix (Minus the Calories)

Valentine's Day is around the corner, and regardless of how you might be feeling about the holiday, I think there is one thing many of us can agree on - a love for all things chocolate is always worth celebrating. If you #treatyoself to a giant box of chocolates and don't feel like sharing with anyone, I will not judge! You indulge. You deserve it. But if you're craving a bit of cocoa infused goodness and don't want to totally infringe on your New Year's healthy eating resolutions, I've got a solution for you! Why not opt for one of these glorious, chocolate scented beauty products instead? Not only are they crazy decadent, but they'll definitely last longer than a candy bar!

Best of 2015 Beauty: Skincare, Hair, Nails and More

And we're back with part two of my favorite beauty products of 2015! Today we're going to chat about all things non-makeup related - from haircare to skincare, to perfume and nail polish. Throughout the year I tried A LOT of makeup, so I could very comfortably pick a favorite from each product type, but when it comes to skincare and such I tend to experiment a little less. So, rather than try and come up with a favorite for each category (best hairspray, best serum, etc.) I just decided to round up my absolute best discoveries from the last year. Perhaps some of these products will have your mutual love, or maybe you'll find something new to try in 2016!

December 2015 Empties

Hello there everyone and happy Monday! It's time yet again to rummage through my beauty trash before it leaves my hands forever. I haven't filmed one of these videos in a few months so there was A LOT to talk about. There's some good stuff in here though (and a few duds you want to avoid), so grab yourself a cup of tea or hot cocoa, get comfy, and be prepared to here all the deets!

Skincare Week: A Full Face Routine for Under $100

As sad as it is to say, it's finally time to wrap up skincare week. I've chatted about a lot of products, as well as some thoughts on my own skincare journey, and I thought I would leave you all with this: taking great care of your skin doesn't have to cost a fortune. While there are a lot of amazing luxury skincare products on the market, creating an entire routine out of them can easily set you back hundreds of dollars. And let's be real, how many of us can justify that kind of spending? Yes, above all else I think your skin is worth investing in, and if you want to spend $60 on an anti-aging serum I'll be the last one to judge. But if you're living on a budget, those kinds of splurges may just not be feasible.

Fortunately, with a little bit of shopping savvy, you can still put together a kick ass skincare regimen without breaking the bank. I've honestly been blown away by some of the products I've seen in the aisles of Target and CVS and truly believe that cost is not always indicative of quality. And that's why I wanted to create today's post. For less than the cost of a single bottle of Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil, you can buy these 8 products, covering every single important skincare base from cleansing and moisturizing, to sun protection and dealing with the occasional pimple. And if that alone doesn't entice you, I also made it my mission to pick products that utilized high quality, natural ingredients and would be suitable for just about any skin type. Sounds too good to be true? Just you wait and see.

Skincare Week: Masks & Peels for All Your Skin Concerns

Let's be real. Most of our lives are crazy busy. Whether you've got midterms to study for, kids running around, a 10 hour shift to work, or a social calendar with very little wiggle room, a lot of us understand the struggle to find a little me-time. And while the idea of heading off to the spa for a weekly facial might sound glorious, most of us don't have the time or money to indulge in that kind of fantasy. That being said, if you can find 10 minutes in your week to incorporate a face mask or peel into your bedtime skincare routine, both your brain and your body will seriously reap the benefits. Even with an awesome regime of cleansing and moisturizing, sometimes our skin needs a little extra boost of exfoliation, hydration, or nourishment to look and feel its best.

These face masks and peels are some of my personal favorites, and address a number of skin concerns, from dryness to dullness to congestion or hyperpigmentation. Most of them take less than 10 minutes to use and are surprisingly easy to make time for. As a quick aside, some of these masks and peels contain absolutely zero physical exfoliants, while others of them do. If you're currently suffering from active acne, I'd recommend steering clear of any kind of skincare product with physical exfoliants, as they can irritate blemishes and unintentionally spread bacteria, worsening the problem. A mask with a chemical exfoliant (AHAs, glycolic acid, fruit enzymes, etc.) on the other hand, breaks down and removes dead skin and debris in a more gentle way. Just remember that prescription acne treatments can sensitize your skin, and if you're under the care of a dermatologist, you may want to check with them before adding any kind of product like this to your skincare routine!

Skincare Week: Rethink Your Cleansing Game

When it comes to skincare, perhaps the most basic and essential step is washing your face. We all know that dirt, grime, pollutants, and makeup build up on our skin throughout the day, and that letting them sit there (especially while we sleep) can lead to breakouts, congestion, and irritation. That being said, how you go about cleansing can do just as much harm as good. A lot cleansers on the market contain harsh, irritating ingredients that strip your skin of essential moisture and throw it out of balance.

My fellow oily and acne-proned people will understand this struggle, as so many cleansers geared towards our skin type are the worst offenders. If you've ever felt that "squeaky clean" feeling after you've finished washing your face, you know what I mean. Your face feels dry as the Sahara for a few hours, and then the oil returns with a vengeance. It's an endless cycle, perpetuated by tricksy marketing ploys. Oils are not your enemy! Especially if you have oily skin. Your face needs sebum to protect itself from the elements. Sure it can be annoying when you've got way more than is necessary, but your skin will never learn how to regulate itself better if you keep washing all of it away.

These 5 cleansers have completely changed the way I think about washing my face. You'll notice a few common threads between them. They're gentle, suitable for all skin types, and free of irritating ingredients. They're also primarily made of oils, butters, and other nourishing ingredients that might seem totally unsuitable for an oily skinned gal like myself. But since I've made the switch over to gentle, hydrating cleansers, my skin has only been transformed for the better. I've got less breakouts, less congestion, and my skin generally gets less oily throughout the day. Each one of these formulas has its own unique benefits, while still being friendly to any skin type. Hopefully at least one of them piques your curiosity!

LUSH-Tastic Bath Haul

Friends. Have you SEEN all of the new bath time launches at LUSH?! Maybe it's just me being a diehard Lushie/bath enthusiast, but honestly these new bath bombs and bubble bars are truly a spectacle to behold. Between holiday themed wonders, and extra colorful and imaginative additions to their permanent collection, there was no keeping me away from my local LUSH shop. While it was incredibly hard to choose, I ended up taking home these six lovely bath goodies, all of which I've never tried before.

September 2015 Empties

September was apparently a majorly productive month for me, because I've got a TON of empties to share. I've got a little bit of everything - from makeup, to skincare, to hair, even to tea and candles. There were definitely some hits, and also some misses, and I've got no shortage of opinions on either. Since I had SO many things to talk about, I thought it might be fun to film another video for you guys instead of writing up an epic-ly long post. So get cozy, grab yourself a snack, and get ready for some serious beauty ramblings!

September 2015 Favorites

Holy crow...how is it the end of September already?! I feel like I say this every time I'm writing up my monthly favorites post, but man, it seriously feels like August was yesterday. It's been a busy month for me both blog and life wise, which is probably why time just seems to evaporate. In addition to trying a whole bunch of new amazing products, I've also been working hard to get my YouTube channel off the ground. As much as I really enjoy writing and photographing posts to share with you guys, I think videos lend themselves really well to things like tutorials. It's so much easier to actually demonstrate how to contour or blend out an eyeshadow than to try to describe it in writing. If you haven't seen it yet, I posted a fall inspired makeup tutorial last week that you might want to check out as well as an unboxing video of a YSL VoxBox that I just received.

Anyway, on to the real reason you're here! There are so many good products to share this month it's hard to know where to begin. Trying to pick and choose what to show you out of what I've been using was no easy feat, although I think I managed all right. Let's dive on in, shall we?

June 2015 Favorites

It's been another whirlwind of a month! I feel like June was especially crazy, as work had been particularly stressful and my time and energy for blogging was much less than usual. Fortunately I had a wonderfully relaxing week of vacation that got me back up on my feet and feeling recharged. I've got at least 12 posts in the drafting stages (including a delicious recipe for blueberry lemon cheesecake bars), so get ready for July to be full of amazing things!

Anyway, back to the real reason you're here. I've got a lovely little collection of makeup, skincare and other goodies that I've been using non stop this month to share with you.

Beach Day (Minus the Getaway)

Summer is FINALLY, officially here! The hot, sunny days. The warm, breezy nights. I absolutely adore this time of year, and fully intend on savoring every moment from now until the leaves start turning. I wish that I could constantly be adventuring in the outdoors or lounging on the beach, but my 8-5 job makes that pretty difficult. Fortunately, whenever I'm feeling the pangs of being landlocked, I can turn to my beauty stash for a little mental escape. A sunkissed glow, tousled waves, and sweetly perfumed skin are easily recreated at home with these beautiful, beach inspired products.

Spring 2015 Lush Haul

You know what is the best cure-all for a bad day? Taking a trip to LUSH. A magical land of bath bombs and bubble bars, the LUSH shop is a cheery, heavenly-scented place to visit, and always seems to brighten my mood. Amidst the insanity that has been my life as per late, I was totally in need of of retreating to said happy place, and (to the surprise of no one) also decided to splurge on a few new pampering products.

Makeup Remover 101: Find Your Perfect Formula

Whether you're the kind of gal that sports a smokey-eye on the regular, or a makeup minimalist, one thing remains the same for all of us. We all should be going to bed with a fresh, clean face. When it comes to bidding your lipstick and eyeliner adieu at the end of the day, there are quite a few options on the market for getting the job done. However, not all makeup removers are created equal, and some will inevitably be doomed to failure if used in the wrong situation. Need help figuring out what kind of formula belongs in your cabinet? Check out these four makeup removers and when I like to use them!

Say I Love You to You With a Rose Scented Retreat

Valentine's Day.

It can be a touchy subject.

For those happily involved in relationships it may be something you're eagerly anticipating as a time to celebrate each other. But for the lonely-hearted, the recently single, the long distance lovers, or anyone without someone to snuggle with that night, the thought of said holiday might be hitting a sore spot. I've been there, and I know how much it sucks. And while it's tempting to mope around or wear black or post depressing statuses on Facebook, you deserve better than that. Valentine's Day should be a celebration of love, and not just towards a significant other. One of the people you should first and foremost be loving and taking care of is yourself, so I say, regardless of your relationship status, make some time next Saturday to show yourself some love and appreciation!

Here's my guide for an hour of rose inspired, ultra pampering me-time. Whatever you do in your day to day life, I'm sure you work hard and you've earned it! I personally am a fan of the sweet and floral scent of roses, but you can easily take these product ideas and trade in something suits your nose better.

Bed Time Bliss: My Winter 2015 Night Time Skincare Routine

Winter evenings render me basically useless, especially in comparison to evenings at any other time of the year. By the time I get home from work it's dark, it's cold, and I usually only have enough energy left for couch related activities. Then again, there's something to be said for the quiet coziness of a winter night. I make a lot more time for restfulness and pampering and general me-time. Whether it be snuggling up on the couch with the boyfriend for a West Wing marathon, drinking a cup of tea while I peruse my favorite blogs, or escaping into the pages of a good book while I soak away in the tub, I'm always able to find some way to enjoy staying cooped up indoors.

One of the things I also make a little more time for in the winter is my bedtime skincare routine. The cold, dry air wreaks havoc on my face, so I like to prep it as best I can for sleepy time restoration. It also is pretty darn relaxing to take 20 minutes at the end of the day to cover your face in lovely smelling lotions and potions. In honor of my favorite bedtime ritual, here's a closer look at all of the products I've been loving lately for my night time skincare.

Empties: Starting Fresh for a New Year

2015! I'm not always this invigorated by the prospect of a new year, but this one has got me rearing and ready to go. There is so much I want to accomplish, both on the blog and off, and I can't wait to get started. One of the things I'm hoping to do in the coming months is to make a huge dent in my beauty stash by using up half finished and neglected products, while writing up reviews and tutorials about them along the way. Some time last year I realized that I've never written an empties post (despite the fact that I love reading and watching that kind of stuff from other bloggers) and decided it was about time that I start hoarding away my unused products. In the spirit of the new year (and also hoping to make this a more regular thing) I'm emptying out the bag and starting fresh for 2015! So join me as I say adieu to the products of 2014 with a few final thoughts on my end of the year empties.

Holiday Gifting 2014 - Bathtime Bliss from LUSH

If there's one thing LUSH does right, it's bath products. It's probably been a good ten years since I first heard about their miraculous bath bombs, which totally redefined my standards for what I consider good enough to throw in my tub. They also have amazing seasonal collections, of which Christmas time is certainly no exception. Here's a closer look at all of the wonderous, limited edition holiday bath products LUSH has created for is this year. It's hard to not want them all!