Empties | 2015 Vol. 01

So I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I've only used up 11 products within the first 4 months of the year... and some of the products on the list aren't even fully used up.  Let me go crawl into a corner and hide my shame while you guys read through my empties and how I felt about them.

I went and separated the products into smaller categories for body, skincare and random.

Body products:

• The Body Shop Glazed Apple Shower Gel.  I got this in a set around the holiday time and I have to say, I really like the scent of this.  It's been a while since I used this but I don't remember if it lathered up as well as the shower gels from BBW.  I'm currently finishing up a shower gel from the Body Shop and I feel like I have to use quite a bit of product for it to lather up nicely on my loofa.
  Repurchase?  If I find them on sale or have some discount.
• Bath and Body Works Pink Chiffon Shower Gel.  This is by far one of my favorite scent from BBW.  Surprisingly it's one of the newer-to-me-scent as this is the first product I have that is in Pink Chiffon line.  I really enjoyed it and have already went back and claimed a few more free travel size shower gels in this scent.  I really like the fact that it lathers up so easily and it just smells really good.
  Repurchase? Already have a few more of these travel size in this scent too!
• Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea Shower Gel.  This was a sample size from who knows how long ago (notice the super old packaging?).  I was cleaning my house one day and stumbled upon this so  I decided to use it up.  Sweet Pea is definitely not my favorite scent from BBW, actually I forgot what it smelled like and had to stop by my local BBW to make sure the scent hasn't gone bad.  It lathered up pretty nicely and the scent lingered for a little while after I get out of the shower.
  Repurchase? Yes but not this scent.
• Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea Bubble Bath.  I found this in my house the same time I found the complementing shower gel.  Since I don't take bubble baths, I was going to use this as a shower gel (and I thought I was being clever about this).  Unfortunately I noticed that there were weird lumps floating on top which I can only assume is mold or some other gross thing growing in it.  I decided not to risk it and just toss it out.
  Repurchase? Most likely not since I don't take baths.

Skincare products:

• Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil.  This little travel size will last FOREVER!  I literally only use 2 drops for my whole face and that is plenty already!  I didn't enjoy it at first because I was using 4-5 drops and had the greasiest face by the time I was heading to bed.  Slowly I started to use less and less and I noticed that 2 drops is perfect for my whole face!  I am currently trying to find the right combo for my skincare products but whenever I feel like something isn't working and is breaking me out, I revert back to using only this oil on my face until my skin calms down.
  Repurchase?  Already have!  I have another mini travel size I'm currently using right now and a HUGE super size one! 
• Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light.  This is one of the item that I didn't finish using up.  Unfortunately the packaging broke while I had this in a makeup bag.  One day I noticed that the top of the dropper, the black squishy part, came off the bottle.  I was trying to save this until I another way to use the products by wrapping it up in the saran wrap.  Unfortunately the product got contaminated.   Luckily I saw the contamination before I actually put it on my face!
  Repurchase?  Already have and will start using that one once I get through some products I'm currently using.
• Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment.  This was my first ever eye cream and honestly I had no idea what to look for in eye cream, and I still don't really.  It was nice and absorbed into the skin under my eye pretty quickly.  This little container lasted a while for me because I didn't use it every day, like I should.
  Repurchase?  Probably one day in the future if I see this on sale in the future... 
• L'oreal Youth Code Serum Intense.  This is a sample size that came in a small trial kit I purchased from CVS during one of their semi-annual clearance sales.  I don't think I have the packaging anymore so I don't remember what the claims of the products are, but that doesn't matter since this broke me out.  I tried it on two  different occasions to make sure that this serum was what was breaking me out and both times, my suspicions were confirmed.  I still have a cleanser and a moisturizer from the set and I'm on the fence about using them currently since this serum broke me out.  Maybe I'll brave it out one day and try them and hope for the best.
  Repurchase? No thank you!

Random products:

• Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Lotion.  I purchased these during college because they had these at our little on-campus "grocery" store.  I had extra money on my meal plan so I purchased three of them.  Sadly this is only the first one I've finished and the only reason I went through it is because I have it next to me at work.  Honestly, the product is ok; it absorbs into my skin at a decent rate and alleviates my dry hands for a few hours.  It is softly scented that should not bother many people.
  Repurchase?  After I get through my remaining two, I don't think I'll be repurchasing these.  I like to try out different hand creams.
• Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant in Light and Fresh Scent.  This is my favorite deodorant I've used so far; well that statement would be more meaningful if I've actually used up many other deodorant.  But honestly where I live, it rarely gets above 70 degrees so most days I don't wear deodorant.  I only put on deodorant when I know I'll be sweating during that day or something.  I love how fresh it smells and when you sweat, you only smell the freshness of the deodorant!
  Repurchase?  Definitely! 
• CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine in Citrusmint.  I've used this as an overnight lip treatment for many years now and have gone through multiple tubes of it.  I've also recommended it to my sister and she is now on her second tube of it.  I will admit that this is on the thicker side and will leave your lips super shiny when you use it, but holy cow I love that it stays on my lips throughout the night and I can wipe if off with a wet towel in the morning to remove the product and to gently exfoliate my lips!
  Repurchase?  Definitely!  Except might be in the Ultra Shine flavor instead of the Citrusmint flavor.

So these are my shameful, measly 11 products that I've used up within the first four months of the year.  I will say these next 4 months might have more empties because I already have four empties and have a few more that I'm finishing up!  Fingers crossed I get through more things!

What are some of the products you've gone through and would repurchase in a heartbeat?

Wish List | May 2015

If you know me at all, you will know that I love target.  I visit Target at least once a week and I feel like I should have my own personal princess parking spot at all the Target because I spend so much money there.  Just recently I've been really into skincare, and more specifically Asian skincare.  I was really excited to to see that Target started selling Laneige products not too long ago and I've noticed Target started selling other Asian skincare products exclusively online.  So it's definitely natural for me to dedicate a whole wish list to the skincare products that Target sells exclusively online.

Laneige Multiberry Yogurt Peeling Gel - $22 | I don't know what it is about me, but I want to try all the different skincare products that I can get my hands on.  I have Laneige's sleeping mask at home and have tried it a couple of times, and have some other sample size products from their hydration line.  Unfortunately they don't sell their Multiberry line in store so I've definitely have been lusting over this for a few months now!

Mizon Bee Venom Calming Fresh Cream - $40 | This is brand spanking new to me!  I was browsing Target's website the other week and saw what looked like a Mizon product on their beauty front page and got excited.  I typed in "Mizon" in their search bar and was surprised to find a bunch of Mizon products on there!  Mizon is a pretty well known Korean brand, at least I think so, and I've never seen this particular product in any of the asian websites that I would go to to purchase Korean skincare products.  Unfortunately, $40 is a bit steep even if it's something I really want to try.  For now, I'll just keep an eye out for the product and hope there'll be a sale on the website or something.

Laneige Multiberry Yogurt Repairing Mask - $25 | Out of everything on this list, I think I'm most excited about this one!  For some reason, I love the idea of masks and getting my hands on all the different ones in the market.  I think this will definitely be mine sooner or later, just need to get through some of the products I currently have to feel comfortable buying this.

Hada Labo Tokyo Introductory Kit - $20.49 | I believe Hada Labo is a popular Japanese product, correct me if I'm wrong.  I'm not too familiar with Japanese brands but I have heard of this brand and I thought you can only get it at Ulta.  Luckily Target sells some of their full size products, along with this introductory set and another set.  I thought this set would be a great introduction into the Hada Labo brand!

Are there any online exclusive products from Target that you've been wanting to get your hands on?

2015 Birthday Gifts | Ulta & Sephora

In my opinion, one of the perks of having a birthday early in the year is that you get the free gifts from Sephora and Ulta before everyone else!  Unfortunately if you're anything like me, you go and get your gifts but forget about them because you've tucked them away somewhere, to save them for pictures to blog about in the near future... So... These are my birthday gifts from Ulta and Sephora!

Unfortunately, the gift from Ulta is not the same for everyone.  People with birthdays from January to March of 2015 will receive this little palette from Ulta.  And everyone else will receive other gifts.  I heard the gift for April to June is an Urban Decay eyeliner or something.  I wish they gave everyone the same gift like last year... but I guess you can't always have what you want.

The palette is a really pretty, neutral palette from Ulta's brand in Indie.  It seems like it has 4 shimmer shade and one matte(?) shade.  Unfortunately I don't wear eyeshadows so I haven't gone in to swatch it or anything yet, since I haven't decided if I want to give it to someone else who will actually use the palette.  Moments like this is when I wish I wore eyeshadows since the palette is really pretty and I would love to know how the quality of Ulta brand is compared to other drugstore brands.

One of the things I love about Sephora's birthday gifts is that they are always from the higher end brands.  The first year I got my Beauty Insider birthday gift, the products were from Fresh.  The following year, the gifts were from Benefit, then Makeup Forever.  This year it's from Nars.  

I have personally been wanting to try these lip pencils from Nars so I was super excited at the end of December when Sephora revealed their 2015 Beauty Insider birthday gifts.  The little lip pencil set come in the shades Cruella, which is a matte red shade, and Rikugien, which is nude-y, neutral shade.  I honestly have not tried either but I am quite excited for them.  

In case anyone was wondering how big, or small, these lip pencils are, the above is a picture comparing it to the size of my phone, Samsung Galaxy S5.  They are pretty small but let's be honest, how many of us actually finish that many lip products?  I think it is a nice size to try out the products before purchasing the full size of them!

Have you guys picked up your free gifts from Ulta and Sephora yet?  What do you think will be next year's gifts?

30 Day Spending Ban

Hi, my name is Moe and I am a shopaholic.  I love to buy new things with the intent of trying them out and reviewing them sooner or later on this blog.  I like to think I have my spendings in order, but the truth is that it has gotten out of hand recently.  I honestly don't need to buy any more things, aside for food, for a very long time.  

In my last post, 101 things in 1001 days, two of my goals on there were to go on spending bans.  I figured I would kick start my list by putting myself on a 30 day spending ban.  I picked 30 days for now because there shouldn't be any major sales going on in Sephora or Ulta within those 30 days, and the CVS beauty clearance sale should have started at the end of my spending ban.  

After this spending ban, I will give myself a little break and allow myself to participate in all the drugstore beauty clearance sale, and will put myself right back on the 100 day spending ban.  This one will be a bit trickier since I want to end right before Sephora has their VIB sale.  Apparently I'm timing my spending bans so that I will be able to participate in more sales at the end of it... 

My rules are quite simple.  I will start on May 8, 2015 and will end on June 7, 2015.  During this time, I am not allowed to purchase anything that is not necessary for my survival.  I am allowing myself to purchase two boba drinks but no other additional snacks.  I just need to know I can be strict with my budget to see that I am capable of limiting unnecessary purchases.  

And of course what kind of challenge would it be without any motivations at the end?  After the ban, I will be rewarding myself with a MAC lipstick in Plumful, which is something I've been lusting over for over a year now, and a Tangle Teezer, something I just suddenly have to try.  

On top of my spending ban, I will also be decluttering something every day for the next 30 days.  I will admit, some days the product I will be decluttering might be a packaging to something I've opened ages ago, but that'll still be one less thing in my room.  The decluttering will take place on my instagram, and I will most likely do a round up of things I've decluttered in my finale post for my spending ban. 

So as a recap....

Start Date: Friday, May 8, 2015

End Date: Sunday, June 7, 2015

Not allowed to buy: makeup, skincare, haircare, clothes, shoes, accessories, stationary, snacks, or anything unnecessary for survival

Allowed to buy: 2 boba drinks

I have some hauls in my queue that I haven't gotten around to posting yet.  They will be up after this post, but I will definitely not that those products were purchased before I started my spending ban.  

This will definitely be a challenge for me as I love going to target and walking out with at least something in my hands.  I think my main plan for this challenge is to limit myself from all the temptations and go straight home after work every day.  I will definitely need a lot of luck and would love to hear any helpful tips and tricks from anyone who has gone through any sort of spending ban before.

101 Things in 1001 Days

I decided to do something different and jump on a rather old bandwagon and participate in the 101 things in 1001 days.  For those who are unfamiliar with this, it is basically a mini bucket list of 101 things to be accomplished in 1001 days (~roughly 2.75 years).  My personal list has a bunch of random things and I specifically picked the days so that it would end right before my 28th birthday (eeeek!).  I do hope to blog about most of things I'll accomplish from the list and hope to keep a little diary along the way.  I'll come back and cross off the list every so often with the date that I finished the task, along with a link to a blog post if I decide to write about it.  Without further ado, here is my list.

Start: May 6, 2015

End: January 31, 2018

Blog Related (0/9)

Finish this 101 Things in 1001 Days list (97/101)

Participate in Blogmas

Pre-schedule 1 month worth of posts

Redesign blog

Blog M-F for a month

Host a giveaway

Reach 10 Bloglovin' followers

Reach 25 Bloglovin' followers

Create an "About Me" page

Personal (0/24)

Read 50 books

Read 5 book series

Move out

Use a planner for a year straight

Unplug from technology for 24 hours

Unplug from technology for a weekend

Whiten teeth

Participate in and complete Project 365

Buy a new car

Watch 50 movies from this list

Send someone a care package

Send 5 handwritten letters

Start a recipes book

Make a Pinterest project once a month

Write down 3-Things-I'm-Thankful-For for a year

Trust a stylist's hairstyle recommendation

Try a new hairstyle

Donate hair

Finish Christmas shopping before December 1

Update my resume

Throw a surprise party for someone

Find out my blood type

Unsubscribe from unwanted emails

Find out my foundation shade

Adventures (0/34)

Go on a road trip
Visit Disneyworld
Try Geocaching
Hike all 10 trials on this list
Visit another state
Visit another country
Visit another continent
Go apple picking
Watch a movie at the drive-in
Go horseback riding
Watch SJ Sharks game live
Watch a Warriors game live
Try ice skating
Try skiing
Try snowboarding
Take a hot air balloon ride
Attend a concert
Go to a pumpkin patch
Go to a corn maze
Go on a spontaneous weekend getaway
Go on a cruise
Try 15 new to me restaurants
Have a picnic
Visit Vegas
Attend a show in Vegas
Go on a tandem bike ride date
See falling snow for the first time
Visit Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Prepare a meal using ingredients bought at a farmers' market
Go zip lining
Watch the sun rise
Visit a zoo, an aquarium, and a museum
Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
Walk the new span of the Bay Bridge

Finances (0/7)

Complete 30 days spending ban

Complete 100 days spending ban

Invest in a DSLR camera

Invest in photoshop/other similar program

Deposit $50 for every item completed on this list

Keep track of my expenses for 3 months

Set a weekly budget for a month 

Luxury (0/4)

Get nails done professionally

Treat myself to a massage

Get a facial

Treat my mom to a facial

Skills (0/8)

Learn how to sew

Learn how to crochet

Learn how to drive manual

Learn calligraphy

Take a photography class

Take a cooking class

Learn how to use photoshop/similar program

Take a graphic design class

Fitness/Health (0/11)

Run a mile without stopping
Run a mile under 10 minutes
Run a mile under 8 minutes
Boycott soda for 30 days
No eating out/fast food for a month
Take an exercise class (yoga, pilates, etc)
Take a dance lesson
Complete 30 day ab challenge
Complete 30 day squat challenge
Complete 30 day beach body challenge
Eat breakfast everyday for 3 weeks straight
Floss daily for 30 days

Collective Haul | April 2015

Another month, another haul... Let's go!  I have to say, I did a lot better in April than I did in March.  I'm hoping to do a lot better in May, especially since I'll be doing a 30 day spending ban coming up!  But that's another post for another day in the near future!

For some odd reason, this month I've been buying more nail polishes than I need.  Also I don't know why I've been eyeing a lot of Essie polishes lately either...

First off, body-ish products:

• Bath and Body Works Georgia Peach & Sweet Tea Fragrance Mist travel size 
• L'Occitane hand cream
• Bath and Body Works Georgia Peach & Sweet Tea Shower Gel travel size

Make up items:

• Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte lipstick in Divine Wine
• L'oreal Telescopic Carbon Black mascara
• Essence Lash Princess mascara
• Maybelline Master Conceal concealer

Nail related items:

• EOS hand lotion in Cucumber
• Up&Up Nail Polish Remover Dip-It in Acetone
• Essie nail polish in Ballet Slipper
• Revlon Parfumerie nail polish in China Flower
• Essie nail polish in Plumberry

These are the products I picked up in the month of April.  Although it doesn't seem like much compared to my March 2015 haul, it is still definitely an excess since I didn't need any of these items for survival purposes.

What are some of the products you picked up last month?