Tag Archives: scents

May26

Face Mask Festivities: SpaLife Brightening Sheet Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: SpaLife Brightening Sheet Mask Edition

Hiii everyone! While in the shower the other day, I remembered that a friend of mine gave me a Target gift card when I was moving into my apartment. I was so happy that I remembered this but was also SO annoyed because I had been to Target at least three times since moving. Smh.

But, it’s better late than never for using the gift card so I made a Target run and purchased a few essentials as well as a sheet face mask to push me slightly above the gift card limit. I have never used a sheet mask before so I thought that I would give it a try as a little treat to myself. I went with a brightening mask made with papaya by SpaLife and it was about three dollars per mask. I can’t say that it was my favorite face mask experience but I didn’t hate it. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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^^^ Hahaha, ahhhh that picture kills me! 😀

Because my skin type is as normal as it gets, I always go for masks that are either brightening or hydrating. And, with summer coming in hot, I thought that my skin could use some brightening for a more radiant appearance in the bright sun. I have also been really tired lately so my skin has been looking and feeling pretty lackluster. Needless to say, a brightening mask was just what the doctor ordered.

When I took the sheet mask out of the package, it was absolutely dripping with the papaya serum. I was a little surprised by this because the mask was inexpensive. I wasn’t expecting it to be bone dry but I also wasn’t expecting it to be jam packed with papaya goodness, either. This mask smelled really good, too. I caught a whiff of papaya as soon as I opened the packet and it lingered for the duration of having the mask on.

I left the mask on for about twelve minutes and then it fell off while I was in the shower. The mask wasn’t uncomfortable by any means but I didn’t like that you essentially just had to sit there with the mask on to avoid it falling off. This is why I prefer your standard face mask from a jar or tube so that you can continue going about your business until it’s time to wash it off.

Although the mask came off prematurely, I can say that I definitely saw some results from it. I had literally no expectations for this mask so maybe that’s why I was more keen to pick up on any differences in my skin. But, my under eye circles seemed less prevalent, my skin looked brighter, and it felt insanely smooth so I was very happy about all of that.

I can’t say that I would go out of my way to use a sheet mask again because I enjoy normal face masks so much but I’m glad that I tried it. And, if you haven’t tried one before, then you should go to Target and grab a SpaLife mask. It was inexpensive and an overall pleasant experience for what it was!

How do you feel about sheet masks? What is your favorite face mask to use? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct12

Bath & Body Works October Freebie

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Bath & Body Works October Freebie

Hi there! Just when I think that Bath & Body Works has finally caught onto my tricks of only coming in to cash in my freebie coupons, they send me another freebie coupon. Lol, it has been a while, but I stopped in earlier this week to pick up my free item, which happened to be really nice. Normally, they only offer a free travel sized shower gel or lotion but, this time, they offered a free hand cream with lots of scents to pick from. Check it out:

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During past trips to B&BW, I have been less than impressed with their packaging. What used to be vibrant and sweet turned minimal and blah, so it was nice to see that they went back to their roots with the imagery on this cream bottle. Perfectly purse sized, this cream is amazing for the on the go gal, especially since cold weather and cracked hands is fast approaching. The scent is delicious, too! Fizzy champagne with the bite of tart apples makes for a delightful autumn scent and also makes me thirsty for a glass of bubbly ASAFP!

What is your favorite fall scent? Which store offers the best freebies? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb1

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Swatch In Overachiever

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bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Swatch In Overachiever

Hiiii! This past week, my sister gifted me with some hand me down makeup to try out. Some I liked, others I didn’t, and some were so pretty that I had to keep just to do swatches on even if it didn’t necessarily work for me. I have never been a big lip gloss kind of girl. I remember being in my early teens and opting for lipstick instead of the gloss that all of my peers were smearing on their lips. I am not sure how I feel about trying it now, but I did have to put this bareMinerals lip gloss on my blog for prettiness’s sake. Take a look:

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^^^ The first heart is with the flash off and the second one is with the flash on.

First of all, this lip gloss smells SO. GOOD. It has this really creamy, pepperminty scent to it and I freaking love it. Second of all, I liked that this gloss wasn’t sticky because I feel like so many tend to be. The swatch on my hand wiped off cleanly with a dry towel and left no residue at all. I was impressed!

And, finally, let’s talk about the color. Initially, I feared that this shade would be too purpley for me if I ever chose to give it a try. In the container, it looks like a really deep plum. Therefore, I would be looking like a living dead girl within the first application. So, I was pretty surprised to see that on my hand the shade seemed to have a base that was more brown than anything. The purple tint really only came from the glitter thrown into the mix. And that glitter only seemed to pop compliments of my bright camera flash. I think that I might be able to work with that.

Of course, I will always gravitate towards using a red or a nude lipstick but trying a gloss on for size might not be the worst thing. I do know that I liked the consistency of this bareMinerals lip gloss, which is good to have in the back of my mind even if the color isn’t my favorite. Sticky gloss should be left in middle school and will never be gracing Lil Red’s lips any time soon!

Are you a lip gloss or lipstick girl? Who is a fan of bareMinerals products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan15

Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Mini Haul

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Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Mini Haul

Bonjour! Back in the day, I can’t say that I was a huge Bath & Body Works fan, but as the years go on, I find myself eating my words. I stopped into a B&BW the other day, because I noticed that their semi annual sale was on, which is when they bring back their old school favorites – which happen to be some of my favorites! It was actually pretty fun to go into the store and rummage through the huge bins of product that were all marked fifty to seventy-five percent off. And it was even more fun to score three fragrance mists for the price of one. Take a look:

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It should be no surprise that there’s two Champagne Apple & Honey sprays in my mini haul since all apple everything is my favorite. I really like this scent, because it still has the tart bite of a crisp apple but there is definitely some dry, fizzy sweetness added to it thanks to the champagne and a dollop of honey. Can we pop some bubbly now, or?

And, after all of these years, WHO NEVER TOLD ME THAT PEARBERRY SMELLS AMAZING?!?! I lucked out and snagged the last body spray of it and I am so happy, because I freaking love it. It seriously smells like biting into a fresh, juicy pear and all the while there is a huge bowl of strawberries and blackberries to snack on, too. I am always more partial to the fruity fragrances and Pearberry is the perfect summery scent to brighten up a snowy winter day.

I am super happy that I stopped into Bath & Body Works to shop their semi annual sale and I am looking forward to their SA sale in the summer time to hopefully stock up on more Pearberry spray! What is your favorite old school B&BW scent? Who else shopped the SA sale? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec27

December 2017 Finishes

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December 2017 Finishes

Helloooo everyone and welcome to my final finishes post for 2017! Crazy, right? December brought me two of my favorite fruity flavored finishes, so this post is going to be short and sweet. Here’s to health, happiness, and more empties in 2018!

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Would I Use Again?

  • Bath & Body Works Country Apple body spray: YES
  • The Body Shop Vineyard Peach lotion: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Spray: We all know by now that all apple everything is one of my all time favorite scents. I love me some Country Apple fragrance and I use it constantly. I pay about three dollars per bottle when Bath & Body Works brings back their discontinued products and it takes me approximately five months to finish one. I can definitely swing that! This scent is so refreshing – a sweet, crisp apple with just that perfect bit of bite to it. Country Apple brings you fresh from the orchard deliciousness in a bottle!

TBS Lotion: We all know by now that my other all time favorite scent is all peach everything! I got this lotion of my fave scent from The Body Shop for five bucks at TJMaxx and it lasted me five full body uses. It’s not the best cost per use but, hey, sometimes a girl has to throw caution to the wind and pamper herself! The Vineyard Peach scent is divine. It’s so light and sweet but not the overpowering kind of sweet. It’s more the “I just bit into a ripe peach” kind of sweet and it is such a treat.

Although I didn’t finish a ton of products in December, I got to enjoy two of my favorite scents in perfume and lotion form and there is really nothing better than that! Which products did you finish up this month? What is your favorite scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep7

4 Reasons Why Blue Is The Most Soothing Color For Interior Decor

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4 Reasons Why Blue Is The Most Soothing Color For Interior Decor

Some colors are naturally overwhelming to your senses, but blue somehow promotes calm because most people associate blue with something good in their life. There are varying shades of blue and none of them have been noted to give you a headache from exposure. Whereas, too-bright colors, like lemon yellow or neon green, have been known to cause migraines if viewed in large doses.

Blue is a color that is widely associated as soothing and these are the top four reasons why. Incorporate various shades of blue into your decor and get your calm on!

Blue Goes with Nearly Everything in Your Home Decor:

Like your favorite pair of denim jeans that goes with everything in your wardrobe, other shades of blue go with nearly everything in your home decor. You can pick a single shade of blue, then plan an entire room around it. For example, if you deck the walls in cobalt blue, you can add touches of silver in vases, pillows, and frames, to represent the night sky directly after a sunset. Fairy lights optional!

If you are struggling to picture your home in a sea of blue but love the idea, then tools like this 3d interior visualizations software can be invaluable. You will work with a team to create a 3D mockup of your design as well as a game plan for making it happen. This is a fantastic way to experiment with colors.

There are Dozens of Shades of Blue:

You could count off two handfuls of blue shades and still not be done naming all of the different kinds of blue. There are dozens to choose from; ergo, you get more to work with when designing your interiors. And who doesn’t love options?! You could wind up with four or five different shades of a similar color just because it makes you feel calm and positive, and your room will look positively fabulous.

Blue is Associated with Good Things in Nature:

From the beautiful blues of the oceans, to the blues of summer skies or velvety nights, the color is often associated with the beauties of nature. And you can design your home with these shades of blue, using nature as your inspiration. When designing a room around your favorite nature scene, use a blue hue as the backdrop, then add onto your palette with other colors from the same scene. For instance, if you love the cerulean of a rainbow, throw in red, yellow, orange, and purple accents around the room to complete the prism look.

Often Times, Blue is Associated with Favorite Scents:

You would be surprised, but most people associate their favorite colors with their favorites scents. When someone closes their eyes and sees green, they might envision forests, fresh-cut grass, and raindrops on flowers. Whereas, when people think of blue, they imagine sea breezes, brisk summer rains, and cold winter nights. From the palest blues to the deepest indigos, the color blue inspires a scent that is as crisp and refreshing as a huge intake of clean, mountain air.

Blue is soothing because it simply is. There are different reasons for different people, but it’s no wonder why it’s such a popular color for home decor. Some people have a natural knack for interior design and choosing colors that “work”. But if that is so not you, you can always pay an hourly rate for the advice of a home renovation contractor. It will be well worth it, once you have your own little slice of zen in your home to unwind in after a stressful day!

Featured Image By: Pantone

Aug11

Face Mask Festivities: The Body Shop’s Himalayan Charcoal Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: The Body Shop’s Himalayan Charcoal Edition

Hi everyone and TGIF! Today we’re going to ring in more Face Mask Festivities by discussing The Body Shop’s Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask. This is one of the first face masks that I ever used and it holds a special place in my heart for that reason and the fact that it eliminates my pesky nose blackheads like no other. Take a look at some pics and let’s chat about this miracle mask further:

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^^^ So this mask admittedly looks pretty gross in the container and on my MUG, for that matter, but gosh darn it is it effective!

With five nose piercings, my honker is a freaking battleground of blackheads that pop up like landmines around my studs. This isn’t the biggest skin care problem one can have, and I realize that, but I know that they’re there and it really bothers me. Not only does my skin care perfectionism cause me to lightweight freak out over blemishes, but I’d prefer for my pierced up nose to stay clean and clear to prevent irritation and infection.

We all know that charcoal is the “it” thing in the skin care world, especially when it comes to drawing blemishes out and giving your pores a deep clean. That’s what made this mask an obvious choice for purchasing. After ONE USE of my TBS mask, there wasn’t a single blackhead left on my nose. Saying that I was ecstatic about this is an extreme understatement. After countless cleansers and scrubs, I found something that literally eliminated the problem within ten minutes. Amazing much?

My favorite thing about this mask is its smell. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that it smells minty, but when you unscrew the container lid you get an instant waft of brisk freshness. Kind of like opening a new pack of gum but without that overpowering peppermint aroma. This mask feels cool on your skin so that combined with such a crisp scent definitely makes for an invigorating experience.

Despite all of the above rave reviews, there are some things that I dislike about this mask. For one, you really have to be careful about washing this mask off quickly. If you go over the ten minute limit even just slightly, the hydration in your skin seems to slip away in double time, leaving your skin feeling brittle and looking flushed. Not fun.

And, for pettiness’ sake, this mask is a big fat pain in the BOOTASH to clean up. I prefer to wash my masks off in the shower and the chunks of charcoal in the mask simply REFUSE to go down the drain. As soon as I shut the water off, there is face mask residue coating my tub, so you have to use a towel to wipe it all off. God forbid you just leave it there (Which I’ve totes done before – #lazygirlproblems), because the mask will dry and it will be a vicious cycle of the mask getting wet and then drying every time you shower. SMH.

Although there are some annoyances with this mask, I do recommend it for those looking for an effective charcoal product. My skin always seems to thank me for using it (If I’m quick enough to wash it off!) and saying bye-bye to blackheads is a blessing in itself!

So there you have it, the newest issue of Face Mask Festivities: The Body Shop’s Himalayan Charcoal Edition! Be sure to tune in on Sunday as I wrap this mini series up. What is your favorite product from The Body Shop? What is your favorite face mask to use? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug2

How To Create An Aromatic Atmosphere In Your Home

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How To Create An Aromatic Atmosphere In Your Home

There’s a lot that can be determined about a home based solely on the smell of it. You can tell if kids are present or not, if the owner likes to bake in their spare time, how often they clean, and what products they are partial to to get it smelling the way that they want. Our sense of smell is a powerful tool. It lets us know if something is bad or good, but also helps to take us back in time to a nostalgic point that we associate with certain scents, bringing back memories that we want to indulge ourselves in or would otherwise wish to forget. So, in essence, it’s quite an important thing to get right in your home; to help us feel safe, to feel comfortable, and happy with where we live.

Eliminate The Bad Odors: It can be particularly hard to pinpoint a scent if you don’t know where it’s coming from. A lot of offensive odors aren’t immediately obvious to us because they’ve had to take time to develop to get to what you’re smelling – so they often aren’t within our sight or a place that we can easily reach. One prime example is a toilet; a lot of odors are stopped within a plumbing trap, but if it’s defective or there is something else wrong in the system, then it can be hard to get to the source of the problem; there is more information about different types of plumbing traps at http://theplumbinginfo.com/plumbing-traps/ to give you more of an idea as to what can be done to solve the problem.

Just fixing this one issue could completely get rid of the smell that was causing the disruption to your home. This is just one example, so try and think outside of the box when it comes to narrowing down where a smell is coming from, especially when there are pipes involved. Always hire a professional to come and deal with the problem at hand so as not to create more work for yourself.

Focus On Your Favorites: Think of your favorite scent; the one that makes you happy but would also appeal to others who are visiting your home. It’s this that you need to aim for and spread around your house. It’s available to do in a lot of different forms; candles, wax melts, air fresheners, and so much more, so there really is no excuse not to have some on hand to give you that extra boost. There are a good selection of different smells for you to peruse at https://yankeecandle.com that aren’t just limited to candles, so you don’t have to worry about the safety aspects of ensuring that a flame is correctly put out in order to get your home smelling amazing.

If you don’t have a favorite scent, shop around! There are countless stores and products to take an olfactory tour of to help you determine the perfect scent for your house. If you’d like a more personalized experience for that must have scent, you can find a scentsy consultant to bring that boutique feel. Your consultant will be able to pinpoint the fragrances you like and find a product to match.

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Candles are a must!

Consider Your Hygiene: Unpleasant smells are more likely to jump out at you than nice ones, but often our noses are trained to accept them if we don’t deal with it straight away. It may take a good time away from our home to realize that that’s what our abode actually smells like to other people, so it’s always important to keep on top of a good cleaning routine in order to ensure that you are keeping the space that you live in not just smelling good, but hygienic for you. There are certain things around the house which trap odors within the fibers, such as carpets, rugs, and curtains, so it’s imperative that you are keeping on top of the cleaning of these items. That way, you are ensuring that you are removing any staleness that may be clinging on as well as caring for your fabrics.

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Lather up!

Mental Health: There are certain scents that have been proven to relieve stress and anxiety that you may be feeling. It’s been long said that lavender helps you to relax and drift off to sleep more easily, so why aren’t we using this knowledge in other rooms of our home? Vanilla candles are the most common scented ones that you can buy, and these have been cited to help put us in a better mood and even combat some pain signals that are being sent around our body. There’s never been a more important reason to get your home smelling nice and fresh, if it’s impacting your health directly!

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Beach scents are also very popular!

Focusing on the scent of your home will make for breathing easy for your family and guests!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May19

Bath & Body Works May Freebie

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Bath & Body Works May Freebie

Hi everyone and TGIF! This past Wednesday, I went to the mall so that I could pick up a birthday gift for my brother and while I was there, I figured that I would grab my freebie from Bath & Body Works, too. I also thought that it would be a nice break for the people who work at the one that I usually go to, considering I always just get my free item and leave (smh!). For this freebie, I restocked a shower gel that I had just given to a friend as part of her birthday gift in one of my favorite scents. Check it out:

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My best friend gifted me with the lotion of French Lavender & Honey a while back and ever since then, I’ve been hooked. It seriously smells SO. GOOD. I legit can’t get enough of this scent, which is glaringly obvious because I feel like I write about it constantly! These past few months of freebies, I have taken to getting shower gels instead of lotions. I honest to god have a lotion hoard that could keep a family of ten moisturized for the year, so it didn’t make much sense to continue adding to this stockpile just for me!

I think the mini shower gels are great and I can’t wait to use them for travel purposes this summer. The shower gels also make a wonderful addition to a gift that you’re giving, especially if you match the scent of the gel and lotion together. That’s what I did for my friend’s birthday this past week and it added ten extra dollars value to the gift that I didn’t pay a dime for. Sounds like a sweet deal to me!

So there you have it, my May Bath & Body Works Freebie! Who else is guilty of gifting bath and body care items for your girlfriends? What is your favorite B&BW scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr26

April 2017 Finishes

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April 2017 Finishes

Helloooooo everyone and happy Hump Day!! This month has brought me many wonderful finishes, which has been fun because April has been a pretty blah month for yours truly. As most of you know by now, I refuse to not finish things that I start when it comes to beauty products, so it’s always nice when the “must finish” items are pleasant to use! Take a look at this month’s empties and let’s discuss:

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Would I Use Again?

  • Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake body wash: MAYBE
  • Fashion Fair Santorini Getaway body butter: YES
  • Design Line Fiji Therapy styling oil: YES
  • The Body Shop Nutriganics eye cream: YES
  • Arad moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not:

Philosophy Body Wash: Okay, you guys know how I feel about Philosophy bath and body products because I’ve said it time and time again: Had I not been gifted with the products, I would never buy them for myself. My ex boyfriend got me the Vanilla Birthday Cake body wash for Christmas and it was nice and it smelled good but SO many other shower gels are nice and smell good for a fraction of the cost. Granted, I’m sure he got the gel at TJs or Marshall’s, but still. All things considered, this sixteen ounce bottle of body wash lasted me for three months, which is impressive. It lathered well and left my skin feeling hydrated, but it is not something that I plan on using again in the future unless it shows up underneath my Christmas tree!

Fashion Fair Body Butter: This body butter is actually another Christmas gift from my ex and I freaking LOVED it. For starters, the Santorini Getaway scent was so freaking delightful. It was citrus-y without being overpowering. Imagine the richest, creamiest lotion ever that smells like freshly whipped cream and add the lightest splash of citrus and you would have this Fashion Fair body butter. YUM.

Not only did it smell divine but it absorbed and moisturized SO WELL. The texture was nowhere near as thick as a body butter from, say, The Body Shop but it was definitely thicker than your average cream. Even so, this lotion absorbed into my skin instantly and without leaving any type of residue behind. All that was left after applying this lotion was the gentlest touch of summer citrus and I would one hundred and fifty percent use this product again. I completed this body butter after about six uses.

Design Line Styling Oil: I have been using the Design Line Fiji styling oil in my hair for ages. The only reason why it never appears on my Finishes posts is because my mom will always swap out my almost finished bottles with a new one without telling me! Then, by the time I think of it, she has already used and thrown away the remnants of my half used bottle.

Anyways, I LOVE THIS PRODUCT. As you guys know, I don’t wash my hair. End of story. Point blank. Period. And you would think that if I’m putting styling oil in my hair almost every day, my hair would get super greasy. Right? WRONG. Not only does this oil have the perfect touch of a tropical scent but it is such a light to the touch product and it leaves my hair feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated with every use. I use it almost daily before I flat iron my hair and my locks are all the better for it. It takes me about four to five months to finish a bottle of Design Line Fiji styling oil and at thirteen bucks a pop, it is worth every penny.

TBS Eye Cream: Oh, my Nutriganics eye cream. A product that I truly could not live without. I have been using the Nutriganics eye cream from The Body Shop for literal years now and the thin and sensitive skin around my eyes thanks me for it daily. Not once since using this product have I been concerned about fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes because a strict and set in stone for ages regimen of applying this product ceases all worries for me. The areas around my eyes looks bright and youthful and I can’t ever see myself not using my Nutriganics eye cream on a daily basis. It takes me about five months to finish a bottle of this cream, which is also a fantastic value!

Arad Moisturizer: I bought this product from TJMaxx compliments of a gift card from one of my beloved Special Olympics students. I have to say that it was nothing special but I would use it again if the opportunity arises. This moisturizer smelled great because it is made with coconut extract, which made putting it on in the morning really nice. It also absorbed well and my makeup laid nicely over top of it. However, I will always be partial to my much loved and used Vitamin E moisturizer from The Body Shop, so anything else kind of pales in comparison! It took me about one month to finish this moisturizer.

Overall, April was a very successful month in terms of my product finishes. I enjoyed using all of my empties and I can definitely see myself (almost) using all of them in the future!

So there you have it, my April 2017 Finishes! Which beauty products did you use up this month? Has anyone used any of the products on my empties list before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah