January Empties & Mini-Reviews

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Finishing Powder: This is the jumbo size of Bye Bye Pores and it took me foreeevvverrr to finish. Not that I minded; it's one of the very best finishing powders I've ever used. After I used this up, I tried using some Dermablend Setting Powder I had sitting around from before I used BBP and there's just no comparison. BBP is so finely milled and mattifying, yet it never looks powdery or heavy. It keeps shine down all day and smooths out the skin flawlessly. I went out and bought another container of BBP after only a few days with the Dermablend.

Urban Decay Primer Potion: Holy shit, I finished an eye primer! Yes, it's a mini that probably came with a palette, but even one these seems like a lifetime supply! This is my HG shadow primer.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment: This is a nice lip balm but honestly with how much hype it gets (not to mention how pricey it is), I expected more. It's not bad at all, but I didn't think it was anything to write home about. I prefer the Jack Black lip balms any day.

Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Top Coat: I've written of my love for Gel Lab many times. You can read my full review HERE. The review is on the old formula but I've tried the new Gel Lab Pro and it's even more fantastic!

Pur Minerals Big Blink Mascara: I've gone through a couple tubes of this now and I think it's woefully underrated. It reminds me a lot of Benefit They're Real. You get very nice volume from Big Blink, without any clumping. Plus it has argan oil in it to help condition your lashes.

Urban Decay Subversion Mascara Primer: I had to force myself to get rid of this, because I've been continuing to use it way past its prime. This is one of the best mascara primers I've tried so far. I can totally see a difference in how thick my lashes look when I use it and it really helps you get the most "oomph" out of your favorite mascara. My only complaint is I wish it went on black instead of white, but otherwise this is some good stuff!

Philosophy Purity Made Simple (2 deluxe sample sizes): Another Nailed HG! You can read my full review HERE.

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Dark Brown: Seriously, how many HG products did I run out of this month?! I love Brow Wiz because of how much control the fine tip gives you and the amount of "give" with this pencil is just right--not so stiff that it feels waxy it not so creamy that you apply too much. I also appreciate the included spookiest on the other end. (There's usually scrap over it but I lost mine somewhere.) The hype for this product is SO well-deserved. I already had a back-up ready and waiting in the wings so I wouldn't have to go without my Brow Wiz!

Tony Moly I'm Real Avocado Sheet Mask: I've purchased this mask a few times now and I think it may be my favorite of the I'm Real line. I'm a big fan of sheet masks in general for how handy they are as a travel buddy or a quick fix. This is great for when your skin is dehydrated or dull-looking. It provides a nice dose of hydration and nourishment to help put your complexion back on the right track.

First Aid Beauty Vitamin Hydrating Mist: If you're a fan of facial mists and you haven't tried this one yet, definitely give it a look. I loved how refreshing it felt on my skin and the citrus smell is to die for! I used it primarily as a makeup setting spray and it looks so pretty and dewy over makeup. I wish they made larger sizes of this because I went through the 2 oz bottle pretty quickly.

No7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes: I only keep face wipes around in case of a night where I'm absolutely too tired to do my whole skincare routine. I'm acne-prone and my skin does NOT appreciate it when it's denied all its usual washes and serums and creams. These No7 wipes are some of the only ones that don't irritate my sensitive skin. (The Neutrogena, Yes To Cucumbers and elf ones all made my face  burn, especially the Neutrogena.) I try to use these very, very sparingly so the last few wipes are usually sort of dried up by the time I get to them, which is a little annoying. But I like that these don't enrage my skin like so many other wipes. I recently got a Make Up Eraser and I'm seriously impressed with it so I think that'll be filling my "face wipe" role for the foreseeable future, otherwise I'd get another pack of these.

Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Bubble Bath: I love baths. I love vanilla-scented things. It's pretty self-explanatory why I got this. I love the Bath & Body Works bubble baths. They're strongly fragranced and produce tons of long-lasting bubbles.

Simple Micellar Water: Meh. I wanted to try this after reading so many positive blog reviews. I thought it'd be a good alternative to using face wipes, but it actually took way longer to remove all my makeup and didn't make my face feel any cleaner than the wipes. It would take several cotton large pads saturated with Micellar water to do what one wipe did. I wouldn't mind that if it made my skin feel more thoroughly cleansed, but it didn't. I resorted to using this as an eye makeup remover so that I wouldn't waste this whole bottle and while it worked adequately well for that, I was disappointed by this product overall.

Tony Moly Angel Glow Ring Hair Mask: This mask contains both a cream solution to put on your hair and a hair cap to put on over the mask. It's supposed to make your hair soft and shiny. I'll get to whether or not it did that in a second, but before I go any further, HOLY SHIT THIS BURNS. I am a bleach blonde so I've got a pretty high threshold for stuff irritating my scalp, but a few minutes after I put the cap on, I started to notice a weird tingling sensation. This quickly developed into a full-on burning feel, to the point that I had to rinse the mask out sooner than I would have liked. I was not prepared for how intense it felt and I have no idea if my reaction is a normal one, but I was not about to risk a chemical burn on my scalp. That said, my hair looked and felt ridiculously silky after this mask, but I would be too scared to ever try it again.

Wow, that's one looooonnnggg empties post! So I won't drag it on any longer. :) If you've tried any of the products I finished this month, I'd love to hear your thoughts on them!

December Empties & Mini Reviews

Another month, another set of empties! I hope you all are enjoying this addition to Nailed, because I'm having a lot of fun keeping track of my empties. I started blogging about them in an attempt to motivate me to finish more of the products in my ridiculously huge stash and I feel like it's really working. I've already surprised myself with how much I've been able to get through! Here's what I finished up this past month!

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser: This is desert island, HG, must-have... Whatever you want to call it, I just NEED this fantastic makeup remover in my life no matter what! You can read my full review HERE for more details on Purity's awesomeness.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: I've really come around on this. At first I thought it was kinda clumpy but I got the hang of it after a while and quickly became obsessed with the volume this mascara gives! I feel like the formula performs better after it dries up a teensy bit in the tube. It's a little too "wet" before that and would gum up my lashes. This mini came with my Stardust Palette and I found it completely dried out waaaayyy quicker than my full-sized tube did. I would definitely re-purchase a full-sized one again.

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara: Delivers everything it promises: length, lift and definition--even with my straight, stubby lashes. It is strictly a lengthening mascara though, so you'll need to layer a more volumizing mascara over top if you want more dramatic lashes. Makes a fantastic partner for Better Than Sex.

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus: It's hard to draw too many conclusions from a sample size, but overall I enjoyed my trial run with this serum. It's got a nice, smooth texture that makes my skin feel soft and supple, plus I love that it can be used for both face and eyes.

Algenist Firming and Lifting Cream: This moisturizer is rich without feeling greasy or heavy. Lack of volume isn't really a concern of mine (I have a super round face) so I can't comment on it it really lifted or plumped my skin, but I did enjoy the feel of it. A good choice for the winter months. I've used several other Algenist products (I got this one as a gift with purchase) and have liked them quite a bit, especially the Complete Eye Renewal Balm.

Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation in Light 44: This stuff will cover anything! I've repurchased it several times because I love the full, flawless coverage it gives and how long it wears. I had a little trouble with the texture when I first used it, because it is quite thick and it dries fast, but applying with a Beauty Blender made a huge difference and helped me fall completely in love with this foundation. I don't recommend it for dry skin, as it's extremely matte, but if you have oily skin and want/need serious coverage, give this a try! I always get a lot of compliments on my skin when I wear it, which makes this acne-prone girl feel good!

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in NW15: Another favorite foundation. I wish it had slightly more coverage (just my preference), but I adore the longevity and smooth finish of the formula. I'd describe it as a medium-buildable foundation, so you can layer it to full coverage if desired. 

IT Cosmetics Brow Power: I used this pencil exclusively until I discovered the magic of Anastasia Brow Wiz. It's still a fantastic product, but I've come to prefer the skinny tip and more precise application of Brow Wiz to the wider, oval-shaped stick of Brow Power. This is a great pencil for filling brows--it'll even fill in and stick to areas where you have hair--but the wider tip makes it a little trickier to shape your brows. I'm a big fan of the IT line in general and find most of their products to be excellent quality and this one is no exception; I just found something I like better for me.

Jack Black Lip Balm in Natural Mint: No, this line has no relation to the actor. They do make a fantastic lip balm though! This is one of the very few I've tried where I feel like my lips are being nourished and hydrated, not just covered in gel that will leave my lips feeling parched again in a few hours. The mint gives it a very cooling, soothing feel on the lips too.

Redken All Soft Heavy Cream: A great conditioning treatment for dry, brittle hair. I like to do a mask of this and Redken Extreme mixed together to help keep my hair healthy after bleaching it.

Elizabeth and Janes Nirvana Black Dry Shampoo: I knew I'd love the scent of this, because Nirvana Black is one of my very favorite perfumes, but I didn't expect it to be such an amazing dry shampoo too! Really de-gunks and de-greases. Why don't more fragrance brands make dry shampoos? It's a pretty clever idea. The scent is a woodsy mix of sandalwood and vanilla--very sensual yet cozy too. 

Bath & Body Works PocketBac in Heirloom Pear: I always have one of these clipped on my purse. This one smells like pears... Yep. That's pretty much it.

So there you have it: December is in the books! I'm off to a pretty slow start with January empties so far, so I don't think I'll finish quite as many products as I did this past month.

What was your favorite product you recently finished? I'm always looking for new recommendations, so feel free to let me know in the comments section! :)

November Empties & Mini-Reviews

Lush Herbalism Cleanser: Lots of Lush empties for me this month! This is my HG cleanser and I've gone through many containers of it by now. I did a full write-up on it HERE.

Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo: This is one of the best dry shampoos I've tried--shame it's so pricey. It does an excellent job of de-gunking your hair and adds great volume too. I go through dry shampoo super fast, so I stock up on this when it's on sale.

Lush Charity Pot Hand and Body Lotion: A nice rich (but not too greasy) body lotion. I bought this on a whim, because I liked that 100% of the selling price goes to various charities supported by Lush, and wound up really enjoying it. I used it for quite a while and then suddenly my boyfriend decided he hated the smell. It just smells like cocoa butter to me, so I told him he'd have to live with it. :p

Lush D'Fluff Strawberry Shaving Soap: This is a creamy soap that creates a light, conditioning lather for shaving. I will definitely purchase another pot of this! A little goes a long way, but without gumming up your razor. Plus it has a delicious strawberry scent!

Lush Yummy Mummy Body Conditioner: The concept of limited edition skincare is always a frustrating one for me. I don't mind it as much with color products, because it takes me forever to use up a lipstick or eyeshadow. I get that Lush has to make room for new goodies each season, but it sucks when you fall in love with a skincare product that's no longer available! Lush's body conditioners are like an in-shower body lotion. You leave them on for a minute or two, then rinse and enjoy your ultra soft skin! This one has organic cocoa butter and almond oil, making it super rich and creamy. The scent is divine! It smells like strawberries and honey to me. I absolutely adored this product and I hope Lush brings it back next spring!

Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion for Dry Skin: I was using this a ton until I fell head over heels for Yummy Mummy, then finished it off after Yummy Mummy was done. It's formulated with shea butter and that's the only real scent it has to it. It's not as rich or as fragrant as Yummy Mummy, but I still enjoyed it and will likely re-purchase.

Mally Volumizing Mascara: I have a tendency to hang on to mascaras way too long and I finally had to force myself to chuck this one, because it was getting super dry and past its prime. This is easily the blackest mascara I've ever used. I love how thick and dark it makes my lashes. I suggest layering this over a lengthening mascara if you have short, stubby lashes like me, because it really gives more thickness than length.

Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Extra Radiance Renewer: I've tried quite a few brightening serums and this is one of the best! I've always felt I have a naturally dull complexion and after a couple weeks of using this, I noticed my skin seemed more vibrant and glowing. Clinique recommends wearing their serums over a moisturizer and while that's the opposite of everything I've been taught, I followed the directions and it definitely worked! I'll have to get another bottle of this!

Mario Badescu  Facial Spray With Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater: I can't live without a good facial mist, especially in the wintertime! I'm a big fan of the Mario Badescu line in general. They make wonderful products and I love the philosophy behind the line where they don't spend money on advertising and excess packaging, so they can provide high-quality ingredients at a budget-friendly price point. Almost all of their skincare products are less than $30! I was turned on to this spray by a co-worker who swore by it as a setting spray and it works great as a post-skincare mist too! It feels very soothing and refreshing on the skin.

October Empties & Mini-Reviews

Phew! I had a really productive month for empties! I actually found that having this post to do really helped motivate me to work through products, which is good because I have a lot of beauty-related stuff at home! So hopefully you guys are enjoying these posts too. :) We have a ton of ground to cover, so let's get to it!

Lush Oatifix Mask: This just might be my new favorite Lush mask! I adore Cupcake, but this one is amazing! Look for a full review shortly, but my quick take is it really helps soften, smooth and soothe skin. Plus it smells ridiculously yummy, since it contains bananas, vanilla and ground almonds! I am always so tempted to have a little bite, but I'm sure it wouldn't taste anywhere near as good as it smells. :p

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser: My HG makeup remover! I've gone through at least half a dozen bottles of this and always have a back-up on standby. Read my full review HERE.

Philosophy Homemade Honey Buns: I love Philosophy's shower gels. I always have either a Lush or Philosophy one in my shower. They have such a rich, creamy lather and come in lots of great scents! I prefer the food ones, myself. I believe this was a Christmas scent of Philosophy's last year? It smells like honey and warm dough with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Sadly it doesn't appear to be returning this year.

Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo: This is my absolute favorite dry shampoo. A co-worker recommended it to me after I told her I felt dry shampoo did nothing for me. I've never found one that de-greases hair as well as this and it's got a nice scent to it as well. I try to stock up when it goes on sale, because otherwise it costs like $22 and I tend to go through dry shampoo very fast. If you feel like dry shampoo hasn't worked for you in the past, definitely try this one!

It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Lite: I love It's a 10! I use this every day before I blow dry as a detangler and heat protectant. It's great for eliminating frizz too and is absolutely weightless on my hair. I only bought the Lite because I found it on crazy low clearance (I think I got a two-pack for like seven bucks?) but normally I use the original in the blue bottle. 

Exuviance Brightening Bionic Eye Cream: I swear there is like a portal to Narnia or something inside this bottle, because I'd been using this eye cream forever, yet it never seemed to run out--not that I'm complaining, mind you, I love it! This has Vitamin K for treating dark circles. When I use this regularly, I need little to no undereye concealer. Awesome stuff!

Lush Marilyn Hair Treatment: I've really been meaning to do a full review on this, because it's one of my very favorite hair products from Lush. I'm bleach blonde (naturally brunette) and sometimes I need a little help between color appointments. That's where Marilyn comes in! This is a natural brightening mask that uses linseed oil and chamomile infusion to brighten and condition blonde hair. The packaging mentions that Mediterranean women have been laying out in the sun with chamomile in their hair for ages to help lighten their locks, so I like to follow their example and lie outside with a good book while I let Marilyn soak a while. It gives my blonde a nice boost that lasts a few days, plus it leaves my hair feeling super smooth and silky! This product and AG Sterling Silver Purple Shampoo are my must-haves for blondes!

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: I have to admit that the first couple times I tried this, I hated it. It was really clumpy on me. But then after I had it set to the side for a while, I decided to go back to it and it seemed like the formula had dried down a bit (in a good way) to where it was more manageable to use. While I think the naughty name is a big part of why this mascara is so popular, it is really good. For extra impact, I like layering it over a lengthening mascara like Benefit Roller Lash.

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base: Urban Decay's Primer Potion is my HG, but this comes real close! The only thing I don't like is the tube-style container. I feel like you waste so much product with these! Although this is "empty," I'm sure there's a lot more still in the tube that I just can't reach with the wand applicator.

Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner in 03 Eternal: This isn't so much an empty as it is completely dried up. I went to use this and found it was all gummy and the brush is completely splayed and hardened to a point beyond saving. Bummer. I remember liking this but I wouldn't repurchase based on how quickly it went bad. I also bought this in a blue shade at the same time and that one still looks fine.

TonyMoly I'm Real Avocado Mask Sheet: Face masks are one of my favorite ways to relax and I love that the TonyMoly ones are becoming more easily accessible in the US! TonyMoly is one of the brands at the forefront of the Asian beauty trend and they make some fantastic masks. The avocado one is for nourishing and brightening skin. I dunno if it really brightened all that much, but it definitely made my skin feel soft, hydrated and supple. I'm super oily most of the year, but we're getting into the short time where I'm a bit more dry. So I needed an extra dose of moisture to help keep my skin feeling smooth and this did the trick! I would buy one of these again next time I'm looking for a little beauty treat.

Dr Teal's Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution: This stuff is my jam! I work a job where I'm on my feet all day, so I get sore legs and feet a lot. I love popping a couple scoops of this into a hot bath to help soothe my muscles. It really works and a huge bag is only about five bucks.

Up & Up Nail Polish Remover Dip-It: I need to write a full review on this because it's fantastic. I bought it after reading a review on Nouveau Cheap and now I'm on my third one! One of these puppies will only set you back three bucks at Target. This isn't like those remover tubs that have the worthless sponge inside. Instead, it's got little plastic bristles, almost like a mascara wand. You just dip one finger into the acetone at a time, rub your nail against the bristles a few times and then you're done! I love how fast and mess-free it is, plus it's great at removing glitter. The mixture inside the tub is pure acetone, so it's drying by nature, but that's my only gripe.

 Pixi Skintreats Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner: I'll admit I bought this after hearing so much hype about it online. And I will say that the product itself is wonderful. It's an alcohol-free toner with glycolic acid (fantastic anti-ager with resurfacing abilities), witch hazel and aloe vera. I loved the way it made my skin feel and it did seem to help brighten my complexion. But my one beef with this product is the container is so small! I go through toner pretty fast and this 3.4 oz bottle only lasted me a little over a month. It cost $15, which isn't a terrible price by any means, but I can buy an 8 oz bottle of Mario Badescu Glycolic Toner for the same price and it will last me a lot longer.  Still, it's a great product and worth checking out if you don't mind the small size.

Boscia Balancing Facial Tonic: This is a skincare prep spray with lavender, jojoba oil and willow herb. I like the actual product a lot--it's super refreshing and feels very calming on the skin--but the delivery system needs a little tweaking. The spritzer releases more of a direct spray than a fine mist, so you have to be careful not to hold it too close to your face, otherwise you'll get doused. Other than that, this is lovely! I've used it as both a facial mist with my skincare and setting spray with my makeup and it works wonderfully both ways!

Review: Lush Ayesha Fresh Face Mask

It's been a while since I've done a Lush review on here, but you guys seemed to like them--especially the Fresh Face Mask ones--so I figured I'd pick that series back up with a review on Ayesha, Lush's tightening and brightening face mask. Ayesha is formulated with Fullers Earth (cleansing), asparagus (enzymatic), kiwi (rich in Vitamin C), Witch Hazel (anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory) and rose absolute (moisturizing).

The selling point of this mask is probably the Vitamin C. Vitamin C is the "BLT' of skincare--it brightens, lightens and tightens! My skin did seem visibly brightened after using Ayesha. I can't say it really felt tighter, but it was smooth and supple. The brightening effect is temporary, so I'd say the best way to use this mask is to pop it on as part of your beauty routine right before a big event.

A lot of reviews I've seen online mention hating how this smells, but I honestly didn't mind it. One of the ingredients is patchouli oil, which I find to be a love it or hate it scent, but Ayesha mostly just smells like kiwi to me. 

This mask is targeted for those with mature or dry skin. Since I don't fall into either of those categories, my experience with Ayesha was just okay. I liked the temporary brightening, but this wasn't a favorite overall. It's not bad, just not ideal for me!

A single pot costs $6.95 and you can get about six to eight masks per pot, depending on how thickly you apply them, so it really is a great value. The masks need to be refrigerated because they contain fresh ingredients with no preservatives, so the only place you can buy them is in-store. The masks have a shelf life of three weeks, but personally I just treat them like food: So long as you store them properly and check for changes in scent and consistency, you can get away with using them a bit longer than the official shelf life.  

If you're curious to learn more about all of the different Fresh Face Masks, check out my other reviews too: Cupcake, Love Lettuce, BB Seaweed, Catastrophe Cosmetic and Cosmetic Warrior. 

September Empties & Mini-Reviews

I thought it would be fun to start sharing my thoughts on each month's used up products with you guys! I'm a huge makeup and skin junkie in addition to my polish addiction (I'm just a beauty freak in genral, really) and while I hardly ever finish a bottle of polish, I go through other products on a fairly regular basis. Plus I figured doing this type of post would help motivate me to work through more of my massive beauty stash.

This is one of those months where a ton of things ran out at once--11 in all! Most of it's skincare, but there's some makeup too. Read on to see my thoughts on each product...

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye in Light: This is THE best under eye concealer! It's super pigmented and wears all day. You need the absolute smallest amount you can squeeze out of the tube, since a little bit goes a loooooonnngggg way. This little tube lasted me over a year! I've already got another one ready and waiting.

MAC Prolongwear Foundation in NW20: Another all-time favorite product. I love the wear time on this and the coverage is great too. I'd classify it as medium buildable. It feels very lightweight on and doesn't cake or crack. If you have oily skin, definitely check this out!

Bath and Body Works Hand Sanitizer in I Love Cinnamon Buns: It's true, I do! I always keep one of these little guys clipped on my purse. Great for when you're on the go.

Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara: I like the volume this gives, but it is super hard to get off. My go-to makeup remover, Philosophy Purity, can remove ANYTHING (ever notoriously tough mascaras like Benefit They're Real) but it can't get Big Fatty off without giving me some serious raccoon eyes. I believe UD has recently discontinued Big Fatty now that Perversion Mascara is out.

Peter Thomas Roth Unwrinkle Turbo: I'm currently using a prescription retinoid on my face for post-acne marks, but I was having a bad reaction to it only on my forehead for some reason, where it'd get really red and flaky. I don't have any acne marks on my forehead, but I wanted to use the retinoid in that area to help with brow "11's" that were starting to show up. Unwrinkle was a great alternative--no irritation (peptides and hyaluronic acid are the main active component rather than retinoid) and I did see a decrease in the width and depth of the 11 lines. This little guy lasted a surprisingly long time, too! The big bottle is pretty expensive, so I won't be investing, but I liked this and am glad I tried a mini of it.

Bare Minerals Well-Cared For Brush Conditioning Shampoo: My go-to makeup brush cleaner. I use a Sonia Kashuk brush spray when I need to be quick, then use this shampoo for deep cleaning. It works great with both synthetic and natural bristle brushes. It's also got conditioner built right in, so it leaves your brushes smooth and soft afterwards.

Lush Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion: I got this as part of a set. Dream Cream is designed for sore and sensitive skin. It has calming ingredients like oatmeal, lavender and rose water. I have KP on my upper arms and this felt nice and soothing on that, but overall there are other Lush lotions I like better...

Lush Sympathy For The Skin Hand and Body Lotion: For instance, this lotion! It smells super scrumptious! The dominant notes are vanilla and banana, but like a real banana, not a fake banana Runts-type smell. The texture is rich without feeling greasy. The only thing I didn't like is that, as you can see, the lettering on the packaging kinda disintegrated over time, so it would come off on my hands whenever I used it.

Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant: This is like a reset button for your skin. When I have days where my makeup isn't setting quite right or my skin looks tired, I know it's time to bust out this stuff! It's pretty intense, so I use it sparingly and only massage it very, very lightly against the skin. If you were to rub it in like your normal face scrub, you'd probably take a layer of your face off.

Lush Cupcake Fresh Face Mask: Probably my all-around favorite Lush mask, although I haven't tried the newest ones. It smells like chocolate and gets all the gunk out of my face--what's not to love? I've bought this a couple times now. You can read my full review HERE.

Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Base Coat (not pictured): I've gone through several bottles of Gel Lab and I'm still crazy in love with it. I'm curious to try the re-formulated version, Gel Lab Pro, as I've only used the original. If you want to learn more about Gel Lab, I did a full review on it HERE.

Hope you guys enjoyed my first attempt at an empties post! Is this something you'd like to see more of? What products did you finish this past month?

Review: Dr.'s Remedy Nails And Skin Vitamins

Last week, I showed you all some polishes from the brand Dr's Remedy and today, I've got something else to share with you from them that's a little different from what I normally talk about here on Nailed: nails and skin vitamins! I'm always looking for ways to improve my nail care routine, so I was really excited to try these! I'm sure most of us have heard biotin touted as great supplement for brittle nails and hair. These daily vitamins have not only 1000% of the daily recommended value of biotin, but a ton of other potentially skin and nail-aiding ingredients.

Before we get started, I want to note that obviously, I'm not a doctor or medical professional, so you should talk to yours before you start this or any other type of multivitamin regiment to make sure it's right for you and your body. We all have different needs and reactions when it comes to supplements. This review is just me sharing my personal experience. Your individual results may vary. Okay? Okay! :)

That being said, let's get to it! Here's a complete list of everything you get in these tablets:

So as you can see, you get a ton of potentially beneficial ingredients here other than just biotin. Of course the best way to get these ingredients into your system is through a healthy diet with lots of fruits and veggies, but a good multivitamin can certainly help fill in the gaps with what you're not getting in your regular diet.

Let's walk through a quick "highlight reel" of some of the ingredients here. You've got Vitamins C, E and Selenium, which can help protect your skin against sun damage. Vitamin C is also said to help fight against hair loss and assist in skin's collagen production. Vitamin A helps repair tissue damage and is a recognized anti-aging nutrient. B vitamins help with circulation, to ensure your skin tissues are receiving enough oxygen. They are believed to help prevent acne, as well as impart skin with a healthy glow. 

Each bottle contains 90 pills and retails for $20. As an aside, the packaging is really professional. I like that the bottle came safety-sealed, with both a plastic wrap around the outer cap as well as a protective cover over the actual bottle opening.

The instructions say to take 3 per day, preferably with meals. I'm bad about remembering to take pills, so I just take all three at once each day. They're standard-sized tablets, so it's not like they're huge horse pills that are difficult to swallow. They have an herbal scent, but no discernible taste going down.

When I started taking these, my boyfriend asked how quickly I would see results and I told him that I honestly I had no idea. So I was shocked when I saw some positive changes after only a few days! The first thing I noticed was that my complexion seemed visibly brighter. It looked healthy and a little more radiant than it normally does. I'm not sure it's dramatic enough that anyone else would notice it, but I saw a difference, so that counts for something! :)

My nails weren't exactly unhealthy to begin with, so if you're trying to come back from a fungus or particularly damaged nails, it might take you longer to notice any results.  But my nails felt thicker and stronger after a week or so. I tend to fidget with my nails a lot when my hands are idle. Lately I've been keeping them pretty long and I've noticed that when I press down on my nails, they don't flex as much as they did before, if that makes sense. 

As I've mentioned on here a couple times, I'm in the middle of a big move. There were countless times during the move-out process when I'd hit my hand on something or get it caught. Instantly I'd think, "Ugh, there goes my long nails!" But then I'd look down and even if my manicure hadn't always made it through the scuffle, my nails themselves were no worse for wear! I honestly think that's a direct result of the biotin. 

In addition to feeling stronger, my nails also look better. We've all got that one problem nail, right? For me, that's my right index finger. It's gotten a lot healthier now that I stick to a daily routine of using nail cream, but it still likes to peel or flake every now and then. After I started taking these biotin pills, all of my nails--including my little problem child--are smoother and more hydrated.

Overall, I was super happy with the results I saw! There really isn't anything I didn't like, except that eventually I'm going to run out! When I do, I could easily see myself purchasing another bottle.

You can purchase these vitamins from Dr.'s Remedy's website.

Disclosure: This product was sent for my honest review. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

Review: Lush Life's A Beach Body Scrub

It's been a while since I've done a Lush review on here, but I thought it'd be fun to chat about their newest product: Life's A Beach Body Scrub! A cool thing to note about this item is that 100% of the purchase price is donated to organizations working to protect waterways from microbead pollution--y'know, those little plastic buggers that are in so many face and body scrubs.

Life's A Beach is an environmentally-friendly blend of sand and sea salt, topped off with a scrumptious vanilla-caramel scent.

At first, it was a little odd to wrap my head around how to use this--I mean, it's literally sand--but I've found using only a small amount of product goes a long way and also helps to minimize any messiness. Everything went down the drain easily, so I wasn't dealing with any clogs or sand all over the shower.

I really like how smooth and soft this makes my skin feel, no after-shower lotion needed! This is a scrub that exfoliates well without feeling overly coarse or rough. The sea salt gives it some extra grit, but it's not too intense. If you've tried Lush's Ocean Salt (which I also love), Life's A Beach is considerably gentler. It's perfect to use before shaving. The light vanilla scent is a nice bonus as well. It's noticeable when you sniff closely but not potent enough that it'll interfere with the scent of your favorite lotion or perfume afterwards.

Overall, I wouldn't say this is an absolute must-have, but it is a nice skin indulgence for summer. It's a fun little extra to pop in your bag on vacation--or to bring the beach to you! A 3.3 oz pot will only set you back $6.95, so the price is right and I like that the purchase price goes completely to charity.  But this is limited edition, so if you want it, snap it up fast!

Have you tried Life's A Beach? What are some of your favorite tips or products for soft skin?

Review: Deborah Lippmann Rich Girl Hand Cream

 
I hate the feeling of dry hands--absolutely hate it. But it's tough for me to find hand creams that offer adequate moisture without leaving behind a thick, greasy residue. So today I thought I'd talk about one of my favorites: Deborah Lippmann Rich Girl.

Rich Girl is formulated with shea butter, avocado oil and jojoba oil for hydration, as well as antioxidant-rich grapefruit and algae extracts. But perhaps one of the most noteworthy aspects of Rich Girl is the fact that it has an SPF of 25. We all know the importance of wearing sunscreen on our face, but it's easy to forget about your hands and how frequently we expose them to the sun too--even incidental exposure like the sunlight coming through the car window as you're driving. Most hand creams don't have any SPF and so I love that Rich Girl does!

Another unique thing about Rich Girl is the cap. Rather than a traditional flip cap, Rich Girl has a twist top, so you can easily open it up without ruining your manicure. It's a pretty ingenious concept for us nail gals, but the execution leaves a bit to be desired. Any time you twist the top back to the closed position, it pushes a little more product out. You can just take this into account when you're determining how much cream to dispense initially, but it's still an annoying--and potentially wasteful--design flaw. And really, on principle, a hand cream that costs as much as Rich Girl does shouldn't have any packaging problems.

There is a light floral scent to this cream. I don't find it unpleasant or overpowering, but I would personally prefer if it was unscented. On a day-to-day basis, I am usually wearing perfume and/or body lotion that has its own scent and I don't want my hand cream to mask or alter whatever fragrance I already have on. As I mentioned, the fragrance is not heavy, so it's not a deal breaker for me, but it's worth noting.

But those issues aside, Rich Girl does get a lot right. As the name implies, it is a very luxurious cream. But rich doesn't have to mean greasy. While just a little dab of Rich Girl will go a long way, (A pearl-sized amount is typically about all I use at a time) my skin drinks it right up. At first it always looks like the cream isn't going to sink in as I spread it across my hands, but then it just melts away, leaving my hands feeling luxuriously smooth, supple and protected. It makes a fantastic cuticle cream as well, so this really is a treat for all of your hands.

Rich Girl comes in a 3 oz size for $28. The asking price may be high, but that tube will last you a surprisingly long time. You need such a small amount of product and it hydrates for hours. She ain't cheap, but Rich Girl delivers!

Review: Essie Feet In The Clouds Leg & Foot Creme

Over the past two weeks or so, I've been sharing my thoughts about the different items from the new Essie Spa Collection, a series of at-home manicure and pedicure treatments that's sold only at Target stores. (If you missed my reviews of the Nourishing Treatment Oil and Exfoliating Foot Scrub, you can read them HERE and HERE.) Today we'll be taking a look at the Feet In The Clouds Leg & Foot Creme!

This lotion contains royal jelly extract and shea butter to moisturize and nourish the skin. It has the same light, citrus-y scent to it that the other Essie Spa products do. Feet In The Clouds truly is more of a creme than a lotion, with a creamy, luxurious texture to it that feels thick and rich but never greasy or heavy. You'd be able to slip into some sandals shortly after applying this creme to your feet, without worrying about your feet sliding out of your shoes. Your skin is left feeling soft, smooth and protected.

As the name mentions, you can also use this creme on your legs--or really, anywhere you'd like a little extra moisture. I tried it as a post-shaving treatment and it worked fabulously! My legs felt super smooth to the touch and they had a nice healthy sheen to them too.

I'm extremely impressed by the whole Spa Collection and I really, really hope Essie will expand it as time goes on! The products are wonderful quality at affordable price points. I definitely want to check out the one item I didn't get from this line, the hand cream, because I am so happy with what I've already purchased.

Have you tried anything from the Essie Spa line yet? I'd love to hear what you think of it!

Review: Essie So Sole Good Foot Scrub

Essie recently released a new collection of skin products called Essie Spa. (If you missed my review of the Nourishing Treatment Oil from this collection, you can check it out HERE.) Today we'll be taking a look at the Essie Spa item I was most excited to try: the So Sole Good Exfoliating Foot Scrub!

Although Essie has labelled this as a pedicure product, like I mentioned in my review for the Nourishing Treatment Oil, I don't see why you couldn't use this on your arms, legs, etc.

This is a nice, thick scrub that feels very dense. There are tons of little round microbeads in it to slough away dead skin, leaving your feet clean and smooth. You don't need a ton of product to get the job done. I used an amount about the size of a half dollar piece for each foot. I started by scrubbing it on dry feet for a while, then added a little water afterwards and continued scrubbing. The scrub foams up a bit when you add water to it and the little beads gradually dissolve.

My feet didn't feel rough or dry at all after I rinsed off the scrub. In fact, they felt nicely hydrated and soft, even more so after I followed up with the Nourishing Treatment Oil. Like the oil, the scrub has a light, citrus-y scent to it that I didn't find cloying or overpowering.

So far I am very impressed by the Essie Spa Collection overall and I really enjoyed this scrub! It did a great job resurfacing my skin and feels very luxurious for the price ($10.99 at Target). If you have some serious calluses or severely dry, cracked skin on your feet, I don't think So Sole Good would quite do the job, but if you want a nice scrub to resurface and refresh your feet, give this one a try!

Review: Essie Swept Off My Feet Nourishing Treatment Oil

I told you guys last week how thrilled I was to spot the new Essie Spa Collection at my local Target. The collection has four new items, three of which I purchased. Today I'll be sharing my thoughts on the first one, Swept Off My Feet Nourishing Treatment Oil.

This oil promises to protect and hydrate skin, leaving it soft, supple and healthy. While this is marketed as a pedicure product (and that's how I tested it), you could really use it anywhere you have dry, rough skin. While the Essie Spa Collection is exclusive to Target, I did notice Nordstrom sells an Essie massage oil with the same name and what appear to be the same ingredients, so this can apparently work as a massage oil too! (I should note too that the Nordstrom version is a whopping $40 for an 8 oz bottle, while the Target version is $10.99 for a 5.75 oz bottle. Bargain!)

So what exactly is in this stuff? Let's take a look at some of the key ingredients and what they do!

First up you have pro-Vitamin E, to help protect your skin. Then you have apricot oil. Apricot oil has a lipid content similar to your own skin's, allowing it to penetrate easily and start healing your skin quickly. Next up is Passion flower oil, said to have soothing properties. And last but not least is rose musk oil to hydrate and repair.

This is an extremely rich oil, so a little bit goes a lonnnngggg way! Even a dime-sized amount was almost too much to slather on one foot. It felt a little great going on and it took a couple minutes to soak in, but it didn't leave a residue behind afterwards. There is a light, fruity scent to it (smells like apricots or oranges to me) but it is not overpowering or fake-smelling.

I was really impressed how much smoother and softer my skin felt once the oil soaked in! It did a fantastic job of hydrating my feet and I could feel the hydrating and smoothing benefits both immediately and long-term. I gave myself a pedicure using this, the So Sole Good Exfoliating Scrub and the Feet In The Clouds Leg & Foot Creme (reviews coming up for the other two products!) a few days ago and my feet still feel extremely smooth and supple! 

I was very pleased with how quickly and effectively Swept Off My Feet worked! Whether you're getting your feet into sandal-ready shape or you've got some stray patches of dry skin you want to get rid of, give this a shot! 

Have you tried anything from the Essie Spa Collection yet?

Review: Butter London Rock Off Glycolic Callus Peel

Now that we're FINALLY on the verge of sandal weather, I figured it was time to try and whip my feet back into shape! My feet don't get extremely dry or cracked, but they can get a little rough and I do develop calluses on my heels and big toes. With it's promises to make hard skin simply "melt away," Butter London's Rock Off Glycolic Callus Peel sounded like just the thing I needed! I was really excited and chrious to try this, but I've used it a couple times now and well...the results were less than spectacular.

The premise is a pretty ingenius one: a roll-on Glycolic peel that you just apply to the areas you want to target, let it soak for a few minutes, then just buff the hard skin away with a file. The applicator tip is just like what you'd find on a perfume rollerball, so it's really easy to apply the peel liquid right where you want it.

Once it's on, you let the liquid soak for 3-5 minutes, then file away. I had visions of all the hard skin practically molting off my feet, leaving behind baby soft skin, but that didn't exactly happen. While I did see some dead skin coming off with the file, my calluses weren't going anywhere and my feet only felt marginally smoother afterwards. It didn't seem to be penetrating into the deeper layers of my skin at all, like it was just sitting on top. I didn't really notice any difference between applying the peel and them filing versus just using the file alone. I've tried this peel several times now, hoping to somehow achieve better results, but I was always left feeling underwhelmed.

So overall, I unfortunately was not too impressed with this. Rock Off is normally priced at $30 and while I got it on sale for half off, I still don't think it's worth that price. I say save your money and skip this.

Have you tried Rock Off before? What were your results like? I'm holding on to hope that there is some kind if weird trick with this product that I am just not getting!

New Product Sighting: Essie Spa Collection

I was extremely excited to spot Essie's new foot and hand care line, Essie Spa, at my local Target over the weekend! It was news to me that Essie was even releasing such a thing, but I've been wanting to pick up some new pedi products, so this was perfect timing! The collection, which is exclusive to Target, features four products and I snapped some quick phone pics of them to share with you guys!

 So Sole Good Exfoliating Foot Scrub, $10.99

 Feet In The Clouds Leg & Foot Creme, $10.99

 Swept Off My Feet Nourishing Treatment Oil, $10.99

Many Many Mani Intensive Hand Lotion, $8.49

The three items in tubes all contain 4 oz of product, while Swept Off My Feet is 5.75 oz. So they're nicely sized, but not so big that you'd have trouble travelling with them.

I picked up all three of the pedi products, so keep an eye out for full reviews on those! I passed on Many Many Mani for now, because I'm currently using (and loving!) Lush Handy Gurugu as my hand cream. But I wouldn't be opposed to trying it in the future if I wind up liking the pedi products!

Have you seen the Essie Spa line at your Target yet? Which of these new goodies excites you most? Personally I can't wait to try the foot scrub!

Review: Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser

Today I'll be sharing some thoughts on my all-time favorite make-up remover, Philosophy's Purity Made Simple! I've used it for a little over two years now and it's become an absolutely essential part of my skincare routine. If you want a cleanser that will melt away even the most stubborn long-wearing make-up, without leaving behind harsh irritation and that yucky stripped feeling, then I think you'll love Purity as much as I do!

I do not have the kind of skin where I can get away with just using a wipe to take all of my make-up off. I am oily and breakout prone so a lot of times, if I use a wipe to take my make-up off, my complexion will be paying for it the next day. I only keep a small stash of wipes on hand in case I have a night where I am so absolutely burnt out that I can't muster the energy to do my regular skincare routine. (The No. 7 Quick Thinking Wipes are my favorite! While I still reserve them for only very occasional use, they don't mess with my skin as much as other wipes I've tried.) But using Purity is almost just as fast as using a wipe, except my skin feels a lot cleaner afterwards with Purity!

You don't need much product to do your whole face. a 16 oz bottle lasted me about a year and that was with near-daily use! Typically all I use is a quarter-sized amount of cleanser. Then I rub it across my damp face for about 30 seconds and rinse. Super quick and easy!

What I love most about Purity is how it effortlessly melts off my make-up without irritating my skin. This stuff will take off anything--full-coverage foundation, waterproof mascara, liquid eyeliner, long-wear lip color, you name it. But it won't leave your skin feeling stripped afterwards! In fact, my skin usually feels nice and smooth.

The only thing I'm not 100% thrilled about with Purity is the smell. It's difficult to describe but it's kind of...medicinal. I've heard others say they love it because it smells "clean" but I find the scent sorta blah. When it works this good though, I'm willing to put up with a less-than-stellar scent.

I should note too that Purity comes in both a cream and gel. While this review focuses solely on the cream version, I've used the gel before and it does an equally fabulous job of removing make-up. However, I find sometimes it can leave my skin feeling a little tight. So I personally prefer the cream, but if you're the type that likes a "squeaky clean" feel and you've got rather oily skin, the gel might be for you. I don't think one is necessarily "better" than the other; it's just a matter of which version is right for your skin.

All told, I love, love, LOVE Purity and keep several bottles on hand so I can take it with me when I travel and to ensure that I never run out. I even keep an extra tube at my parents' house so I never have to worry about forgetting my Purity when I visit. I start to see a negative difference in the clarity of my complexion after only a day or two without it!

Have you tried Purity? Love it or not so much? Let me know in the comments!

Review: Lush Angels On Bare Skin

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After my HG, Herbalism, my next-favorite Lush cleanser is the wonderful Angels On Bare Skin. This gentle cleanser helps calm and soothe even the most sensitive skin and will leave your face feeling smooth, clean and super soft!

Angels On Bare Skin contains ground almonds (exfoliating and toning), kaolin clay (deep cleansing), lavender oil (antiseptic and soothing), rose absolute (soothing and moisturizing), chamomile blue oil (anti-inflammatory) and lavender flowers (exfoliation).

This cleanser's primary benefit is to help reduce inflammation and irritation and I've found it does a beautiful job of that on my skin. The antiseptic properties found in the lavender oil also make this a suitable cleanser for someone with occasional or mild acne (if you're looking to try a Lush cleanser and acne is your biggest skin concern, I would suggest checking out Herbalism first) and it's also a very balancing cleanser the helps keep you skin's oil production in check without completely drying you out. While Herbalism is my go-to, I like to keep some Angels On Bare Skin around when I feel like switching it up every once in a while or for when my skin can start to feel a bit dry in the winter time.

I should mention that since they come in a solid form, Lush's cleansers are different from most. To use it, break off a small piece and enclose it in a loose fist. Then run your hand under the faucet for a few seconds. Open your hand and begin rubbing the cleanser until the consistency is like a milky paste. Then massage it into your face for as long as desired, rinse and you're done! It's extremely easy to use but might take a little getting used to the first couple times.

On the skin, this cleanser feels very softening and lightly hydrating. You can notice some of the granules in the cleanser helping to gently resurface your skin, but they never feel rough or like they're tearing at your skin. You can also mix in more or less water to create the consistency that's perfect for your skin, depending on how creamy or gritty you like your cleanser to be! Like most of Lush's cleansers, Angels On Bare Skin won't remove make-up, so you'll need to pre-cleanse with another product first. (I love Philosophy's Purity Made Simple for this. I'm on my fourth or fifth bottle now!)

Have you ever used Angels on Bare Skin? If so, I'd love to hear what you thought of it!

Review: Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask

Hope you all had a fun weekend! I have been nursing a bitch of a head cold today, so I'm about to curl up with some tea and Captain America comics before calling it a night. Good thing I have the day off tomorrow so I can hopefully catch some extra sleep.


Anywho, I'm gradually working my way through Lush's entire Fresh Face Mask line and sharing my impressions on each mask. So I'm excited to talk about one of my very favorites today: the blueberry bliss that is Catastrophe Cosmetic! All of the Fresh Face Masks are geared toward a specific set of concerns and Catastrophe Cosmetic is Lush's soothing, balancing mask for skin that's prone to irritation and blemishes.

Catastrophe Cosmetic contains calamine (soothing), talc (cleansing), Irish moss gel (softens skin) and, as you might have inferred from the picture, fresh blueberries (rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals). It's gentler mask but that doesn't mean it's not effective. I like to think of it as a chill pill for your skin. When you're struggling with chapped skin, redness or impending breakouts, Catastrophe Cosmetic helps soothe and restore you skin to a balanced state, without agitating it any further.

There's no burning or tingling sensation that you sometimes experience with other deep cleansing masks, so it's a nice mask for wintertime when I need to baby my combination skin to keep it from veering into dry, flaky territory but it's also very refreshing in warmer weather too. Once I remove the mask, my skin feels clean, soft and supple. If you've found other acne spot treatments or masks tend to dry your skin out, give this one a shot. It's not so harsh that it'll make your face feel tight but it's not so mild that it feels like it didn't do anything.

I love how Catastrophe Cosmetic soothes and clears my skin, plus the smell is absolutely amazing--assuming you enjoy blueberries, of course. It smells like real blueberries instead of some fake fruit scent like blueberry Runts. I always crave fruit after I use this, which I suppose isn't a bad thing.

If you're new to Lush face masks, Catastrophe Cosmetic is a fabulous mask to start with, because it's nice and mild, plus it has ingredients that will potentially benefit all skin types. Whether you're dry, oily or somewhere in between, this mask will sort your skin out and bring it right back where it needs to be!

A single pot costs $6.95 and you can get about six to eight masks per pot, depending on how thickly you apply them, so it really is a great value. The masks need to be refrigerated because they contain fresh ingredients with no preservatives, so the only place you can buy them is in-store. They have a shelf life of three weeks, but personally I just treat them like food: So long as you store them properly and check for changes in scent and consistency, you can get away with using them a bit longer than the official shelf life. Or, as my friend Ash has suggested, you can also try freezing them!

If you're curious to learn more about all of the different Fresh Face Masks, check out my other reviews too: Cupcake, Love Lettuce, BB Seaweed and Cosmetic Warrior.

Review: Lush Cosmetic Warrior Fresh Face Mask

Continuing with my series on Lush's Fresh Face Masks, today we'll be checking out Cosmetic Warrior! Cosmetic Warrior is Lush's mask for oily, acne-prone skin. Lush designed this mask to fight blemishes, without stripping or disrupting skin's natural balance. It contains kaolin (deep cleansing), fresh green grapes (cleansing and cooling), free range eggs (contains Vitamin A to regulate sebum production), garlic (antiseptic), cornstarch (absorbs oil) and tea tree oil (antiseptic).

 Please pardon the terribly awkward hand pose above. I have no idea why I was holding the container like that, but it makes my hand look deformed.

One thing that has to be said about Cosmetic Warrior is that it stinks--literally. If you have a sensitive sniffer, this may not be the mask for you. It contains garlic and you know how potent that stuff smells. It's not the worst thing I've ever smelt, but I certainly don't salivate over the aroma like I do with the Cupcake mask. Cosmetic Warrior doesn't smell as much once I've put it on (or maybe I've just gotten used to the scent at that point) but I try to hold my breath a bit while I'm applying it so that I don't catch a big ol' whiff of garlic.The smell also doesn't linger after you wash the mask off, which is appreciated!

Smelliness aside, this mask works. If you need a reset button for oil and acne, then this is it. It de-greases and de-gunks like a champ! I like to think of this as an acne intervention. When I can tell things are about to take a turn for the worst, I bring out the big guns and let Cosmetic Warrior show blemishes who's boss. It's excellent for calming my skin down and reducing zits, without making my face feel dry or tight afterwards. It really takes the initial inflammation out of breakouts and zaps problem areas back into shape.

If this mask had a more pleasant aroma to it, I might give it the edge over Cupcake as my favorite Fresh Face Mask so far, but seeing as Cupcake is a great de-greaser and deep cleanser that also happens to smell like ooey-gooey chocolate-y goodness, it's kept the top spot for me!

A single Fresh Face Mask pot costs $6.95 and you can get about six to eight masks per pot, depending on how thickly you apply them, so it really is a great value. The masks need to be refrigerated because they contain fresh ingredients with no preservatives, so the only place you can buy them is in-store. The masks have a shelf life of three weeks and normally, I just use them until they start to look or smell "off," but since this particular mask contains eggs, I wouldn't mess around with the expiration date. 

Review: Lush Grease Lightning

Lush's Herbalism cleanser continues to work wonders on my oily, acne-prone skin, so I decided to check out another one of their acne products: Grease Lightning. Grease Lightning is an acne spot treatment that contains seaweed gel (keep skin from drying out completely), aloe vera (soothing), seawater (antiseptic), grape juice (cooling and calming), herb infusions (antibacterial properties), witch hazel (astringent and anti-inflammatory) and tea tree oil (antiseptic).

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The product itself is a clear gel dispensed via a pump, to keep everything nice and sanitary. A single pump goes a long way, especially if you use toner on your skin beforehand. I've used Grease Lightning as a spot treatment and as a general preventative measure in areas where I am typically most prone to breakouts (chin and mouth area) and it works like a charm both ways! I use this product once a day--although sometimes twice a day if I'm fighting a particularly stubborn breakout--before bed, as the last step of my nightly skin routine.

I've used benzoyl peroxide spot treatments before and let me tell you, my skin does not like them. I get red, flaky and unbearably itchy around the entire area I used the spot treatment. The itchiness can last up to 24 hours after I first applied the spot treatment and it's one of the main reasons I moved away from benzoyl perozide-based products and opted to try out gentler, more natural alternatives. Grease Lightning doesn't cause any redness or irritation on my skin, which I love! I experience some dryness and tightness in the area where I dabbed some gel on (to be expected), but this is only temporary and does not leave behind any lasting dryness or flaking. Everything feels completely balanced and normal by the time I wake up in the morning. I appreciate that this product is tough on acne, but not on the rest of my skin!

I very rarely get big, cystic pimples (especially since I started using Herbalism), but when I do, Grease Lightning zaps them away quickly. A while ago, I woke up early one morning and could feel one of those swollen, under-skin bastards of a zit starting to emerge on my upper cheek. I dabbled on some Grease Lightning and, since I wasn't feeling well, went back to sleep for a few more hours. When I woke up, the zit already looked and felt a lot better. The zit never surfaced and was completely gone in a day or so! With smaller zits like whiteheads, which is what I struggle with the most, Grease Lightning gets rid of them very quickly--usually by the next morning if I put some on before bed.

If you haven't seen results with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid spot treatments or if you're in need of a spot treatment that won't completely dry out your skin, you might want to give Grease Lightning a try! It's become one of the key products in my nightly routine and, along with Herbalism, has really helped keep my acne under control and my skin looking clear!

Review: Lush Handy Gurugu Hand Cream

There are few feelings I hate more than when my hands are all dried out. Maybe it's a weird quirk of mine, but when my hands get really dry, it bothers me to the point of distraction. I struggle with dry hands year-round (I work at a place where I have to wash/sanitize my hands pretty frequently) and with fall just around the corner, they're only going to get drier from here! Enter Lush Handy Gurugu Hand Cream to save the day--and my hands!

Handy Gurugu contains a huge variety of butters: shea butter, pumpkinseed butter, cashew butter, almond butter and peanut butter. It also has softening almond oil, soothing and moisturizing rose water and antiseptic lemon juice. Handy Gurugu was designed to be Lush's richest, most intensely nourishing hand cream and a little bit definitely goes a long way. Just a little dab spreads all the way across both my hands, making them feel soft, moisturized and protected--all without the leftover grease and residue that I encounter with some hand creams. The texture is very smooth and creamy with hydration that is both instantaneous and long-lasting.

The 100g pot it comes in may not seem like much at first, but it should last you a good while, because it doesn't take much product to feel the benefits of Handy Gurugu! I usually put this cream on before bed and the container is a perfect for keeping on the nightstand or you could pop it in your purse too.

The only thing I'm not 100% crazy about is the smell. It's sort of rose-scented with a powdery touch to it, which I find a little grandma-ish. I really love how moisturizing and luxurious it feels on my hands though, so I can live with the scent. It's not awful, just not my favorite, especially with so many other yummy Lush scents out there. :)

This is one of the nicest, most effective hand creams I've tried (The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector is another favorite). I love Handy Gurugu and will definitely re-order once I run out!