I cannot believe that August is already over and that I already have another batch of empties to show you. Madness I tell you!

Skincare

Only one skincare item this month actually and that’s another tube of CeraVe Skin Renewing Cream Serum. This has been my daytime moisturizer for just about the last year I think. It’s light and sinks into my skin but it’s still very moisturizing. It’s pricey for a drugstore moisturizer and it doesn’t last as long as I would like but it’s working really well for me.

Number of times I’ve purchased: 5+ maybe? I’ve actually lost track.

Would I repurchase: I already have!

Lotions and Body Butters

Lush Dream Cream – This is a really good lotion. My skin looked great while using this! That being said, I loathe the scent of this lotion. It’s supposed to be lavender (I’m not a big fan of lavender anyway so take that into account) but it’s like the most stale awful dusty lavender I’ve ever smelled. Luckily it doesn’t linger more than just a couple of minutes. The second point against this lotion is that it’s really quite expensive when it comes down to it! $28.00!! But the formula was SO good.

Number of times I’ve purchased: 1

Would I repurchase: Maybe

Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butter: Sanctum – Sanctum is from the summer scent catalogue and is still available on their website. I really enjoy the pumpkin butter lotion, it’s very rich and moisturizing and while it’s a tad greasy for a while it does eventually sink in after about 15 minutes. The scents vary in strength and Sanctum is on the softer side with a smaller sillage. To me this smells like 1998. Cucumber Melon was THE scent to wear and Sanctum is really similar. It’s quite nice! If you’re unsure of whether or not you’ll like a particular scent or the formula, they offer a small size (pictured above actually) that is only 2oz for $2.00. The 2 oz. was good for about 5 full body applications for me so it gives you a good chance to check it out before springing for a full size at a whopping $6.00 🙂

Number of times I’ve purchased: This is my second pumpkin butter but the first jar of this scent.

Would I repurchase: Pumpkin Butter: Yes, Sanctum: not this go around. I really liked it a lot but there are other scents that I like more/want to try. I do recommend it though if you like that melon fragrance!

Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butter: Narcosa – Another scent from the summer catalogue and this one is magical. It’s so dang good! When I first apply it, it smells a bit like every head shop you’ve ever walked into but within about a minute it settles into this lovely fresh clean floral scent with a hint of super high end clothing shop. It’s an odd scent description I know, but I really love it. The sillage on this is HUGE. My whole house smells like Narcossa when I use this. Side note though, The Boy really loves this, he came home and commented four times that the house smells amazing and I should keep using whatever I used to make it smell so good. Boys, amiright? So with that in mind, I asked HoG if they would do a custom refresher spray for me in Narcossa and they said yes! Very good customer service (they were a little slow to answer my email in the first place but a pleasure to deal with once they did get back to me).

Number of times purchased: Third pumpkin butter and first Narcosa.

Would I repurchase: Yes!

Hand Cream and Sanitizer

Bath and Body Works Crisp Apples Pocket Bac: I really enjoyed this scent. It smelled very appley. I generally get the 5 for $6 and that will last me a good long time. I think I just opened the last pocket back that I got last fall.

Number of times purchased: I’ve been buying the Pocket Bac’s for years and I couldn’t begin to imagine how many I’ve gone through.

Would I repurchase this scent: Absolutely.

Gold Bond Hand Sanitizer Moisturizer: I don’t know why hand sanitizer moisturizer isn’t EVERYWHERE. This is genius! I kept this on my desk at work and it was great. It has a very clean scent, sinks in quickly, moisturizes very well and makes me feel better about office lurgees.

(I can’t seem to find this product on the Gold Bond website or the Target website, hopefully it hasn’t been discontinued! I think I bought mine at Walmart. I CAN find it on this slightly sketchy site that I’ve never heard of so there’s that.)

Number of times purchased: First

Would I repurchase: Yes!

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: This was just ok. It does a good job of moisturizing but it leaves your hands greasy and takes ages to sink in. I had it at the office and it was definitely not ideal.

Number of times purchased: This was part of some gift bag or point perk at Sephora but this is the only tube I’ve tried of this product.

Would I repurchase: No

Hair Care

Bed Head TIGI Colour Goddess Conditioner: As far as how this product makes my hair feel, it isn’t really anything special. I used it as a cleansing conditioner because it feels like it has a lot of detergent in it and isn’t all that moisturizing. HOWEVER…it smells amazing. Like caramel cookies. It’s delicious. Don’t eat your conditioner.

Number of times purchased: 3-4

Would I repurchase: Did I mention it smells like COOKIES?? Caramel ones!?

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Hairspray: Full disclosure: I didn’t buy this. My sister buys a can of this every time she visits me and I FINALLY used one up. When my hair was long I never used hairspray but now that it’s short (and apparently possessed by the spirit of Albert Einsteins Hair) I use a LOT of hairspray. This is a really good one! Garnier Fructis products generally smell very good and this is no exception. It also has a good strong hold that will keep my nutty hair from getting MORE crazy through out the day.

Number of times my sister has purchased this and left it at my house: 2

Would I repurchase: I just did! Also, this is something like $5 which is nice.

Makeup

Wet n Wild Color Icon Bronzer – Reserve Your Cabana: I’m not quite sure in what universe this would actually be a bronzer? That being said, this is a really nice product! I’ve used it as a subtle and lovely highlight (it has a hint of a sheen to it but no glitter or heavy shimmer), I’ve used it as an all over setting powder, I’ve used it as a setting powder over just my cheeks if I want more of a glow, and generally I use it on my neck and chest to keep my sunscreen from settling into weird creases (an idea taken from Tarababyz). It’s a nice soft formula that doesn’t ever look cakey or too over glowy. And it’s $4.00.

Number of times purchased: This is the first time.

Would I repurchase: Yes!

Urban Decay Anti-Aging Primer Potion: I have to be honest, I think the anti-aging claims are pretty dubious here. The second ingredient is talc. And when I did a search on CosDNA, it really doesn’t look like there is anything “anti-aging” about this. It also doesn’t really have anything that would be good for you as far as I can tell. In fact…there are several irritants! That being said, my issue with most eyeshadow primers is that they tend to give a crepey texture to my eyelids and a bizarre appearance to my eyeshadow. This one doesn’t do that so I like it. It works as a good sticky base for loose eyeshadow but if your issue is creasing, this may not be all that helpful. I’ve had a few shadows that don’t crease on their own but DO when applied over UDAAPP.

Number of times purchased: this is my first tube.

Would I repurchase: I have already. If anyone has any eye primers that they love to use with loose eyeshadow that DON’T change the texture of their eyelids, I’m open to suggestions!

Jordana Best Lash Extreme: I heard a rumor a while back that this was being discontinued but that doesn’t seem to be the case. I still see it in Walgreens and it’s still promoted on the Jordana website. And thank goodness because this stuff is great! It doesn’t flake, it doesn’t smudge, it gives a nice voluminous fan of lashes and it’s $4.00. I love it.

Number of times purchased: 10 maybe? A lot.

Would I repurchase: Forever and ever.

Destashing

Safe Harbor Natural Sheer Mineral Sunscreen: I snagged this recently because I keep thinking that I might find a slightly more matte sunscreen than my go to (Banana Boat Kids or Baby, they’re the same). This IS more matte! But holy guacamole is it a pain in the ass to use. It doesn’t EVER sink in. It has an almost waxy texture that leaves streaks of sunscreen on my face. Sometimes I’ll notice them four or five hours later THROUGH my makeup. It smells good and works well enough and I was hanging on to it for beach days but honestly, I love my Banana Boat sunscreen so I’m just throwing this out.

Wen Tea Tree Cleansing Conditioner: This was a gift from a dear friend and a product that I’ve been absolutely dying to try for years. I was so stoked to have this! But then the FDA announced that there had been reports of scalp irritation and hair loss with use of this product. So consider this a PSA, if you have this at home, check out the FDA link before you continue use. It seems that most people don’t have an issue, but permanent alopecea isn’t something I’m looking to add into my life.

That’s it! Thanks for looking through my garbage with me! Have you used any of these products? I would love to hear what you think of them particular if your experiences differed from mine. Speaking of PSA’s though, there’s one out about Lime Crime Velevetines. I’ve never used those and have no experience with them but it’s worth researching if you have them, I’m not certain about the specifics. Now I feel like I’m trash talking but honestly, if it’s under investigation, everyone should be aware. Right?

Tidbits:

• It was a happy non-makeup mail week, I got a bottle of really stunning blue ink (Noodler’s Baystate Blue), a new calligraphy pen holder, nibs and walnut ink. 
• I managed to make it off of Notoriously Morbid’s wait list for the vanishing cabinet!