December Empties and Reviews

Happy Thursday, loves!  I hope you are having a great week so far!  Today we will be going over the last Monthly Empties of 2016.  Each of these products will be accompanied by a mini review, and recommendation on whether or not I would repurchase.  Now, let’s dive into December’s Empties!

MAKEUP

E.L.F. Makeup Mist & Set:  I have gone through numerous bottles of these as this is my favorite drugstore makeup setting spray, ever!  This mist extends the longevity of my makeup while smoothing out my skin when I’ve over-powdered.  This was also in my November’s empties and I am sure this won’t be the last time you see it.

Wet n Wild Photo Focus Setting Spray:  I picked this up to see how it would stack up the my beloved ELF Mist and Set.  The nozzle dispenses a more even spray than the ELF one, which can be a hit or miss.  It does a good job of smoothing out powdered skin, but I don’t see a huge difference between this and the ELF one.  While this packaging is cute, the ELF Mist is more sleek and travel friendly so I won’t be repurchasing.

Wet n Wild H20 Proof Liquid Eye Liner:  This is my holy grail liquid eyeliner, from drugstore to high-end!  The handle and pointed brush are very easy to maneuver and to create the perfect wing.  The formula glides on so smoothly, dries to a matte, pitch-black finish, and stays on until you wash it off.  I haven’t touched my gel eyeliner since!  I have backups upon backups of these.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara:  I received this deluxe sample sized as a gift with purchase and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.  The smaller brush grabs those shorter, hard-to-reach lashes, elongating and lengthening them.  The formula is pitch black, dries quickly, and doesn’t smudge or irritate my eyes.  This is one of my top 5 favorite mascaras of all time.

NYX HD Photogenic Concealer in Glow:  This is one of my favorite concealers, and such a steal for under $5!  This comes in a wide range of shades so you’ll be sure to find your perfect color match.  Glow works perfectly with my current golden-medium skintone.  It provides medium, but buildable to full coverage, covers dark circles, and brightens the under-eyes at the same time.  I love this and also have backups in different shades for when I am more tanned.

Makeup Geek Blush in Romance:  I’m saddened to include this in my empties because it had shattered in my Z Palette during my last flight :'(  This was my first Makeup Geek Blush and kick-started my obsession with their stellar formula.  The formula is so smooth, creamy, blendable, and pigmented.  Romance was a stunning peachy pink shade with beautiful peach shimmer that looks gorgeous on every skintone.

ELF Lip Exfoliator:  This is another ELF Holy Grail product I keep repurchasing.  I love the convenient lipstick bullet packaging of the lip scrub as opposed to standard jars where there is the hassle of scooping the product out with your fingers.  This original shade was Clear, which has a brown sugar flavor, but I can’t wait to try their new flavors available.

Mario Badescu Lip Wax:  I added this $5 lip balm on a whim to an online order to get free shipping, but was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it.  This minty lip wax is creamy and feels so luxurious, drenching the lips in moisture.  I keep this next to my nightstand as an overnight treatment and wake up to smooth, moisturized lips.  I love this and highly recommend.

SKINCARE

Ariul Spa Water 24 Hours Moisturizing Cream:  I received this moisturizer in a Memebox, a box of curated Korean Skincare based on your skin type.  I don’t love the strong floral scent, but it did do a great job of moisturizing the skin, creating an even base for makeup application.  I liked it, but I did not fall in love with it so I will not be repurchasing.

Botanical Farm Black Soybean Milk Pudding Sleeping Pack:  This was another product from a Memebox.  This promised whitening and anti-wrinkle properties which I cannot attest to as I did not see a huge difference in faded acne scars.  It smelled really good and felt very lightweight on skin, while providing moisture overnight.  I enjoyed the product, but would not repurchase.

Farmacy Hydrating Coconut Gel Mask:  I LOVE sheet masks for a pick-me-up, when my skin needs some extra TLC.  My skin had been so dry and dull from the dry, cold air and the flu I have been fighting the past week.  I tested this brightening mask before bedtime and was blown away by how smooth, plump, and bright my skin looked the next morning.  I have a three pack of these gel masks from a Boxycharm and can’t wait to use up the rest.

HAIRCARE

Project Beauty Hairgurt Hair Masque:   This masque from a Boxycharm smelled INCREDIBLE, like watermelon Jolly Ranchers.  It made my mouth water every time I used it.  However, this felt very lightweight for a masque.  I enjoyed the product, but as I have relatively dry hair, I prefer a more a deep conditioning treatment and would not repurchase.

Whew!  We made it through the last Empties of 2016!  Thank you so much for reading and hope to see you in my next blogpost 🙂

Have you tried any of these products?  What are your December Empties?

XO,

Mary Dee

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