Haul and little review (Target, drugstore.com, Walmart, Sephora, Diptyque, French Pharmacy)

Before I left for study abroad round two, (after Spain, I am now back in France, Paris specifically, for another five months) I wanted to stock up on some things that I love from the States or things that would be much more expensive in France. I also got some stuff online for a good deal that I didn't necessarily need (or even bring with me) in France. But hey, it was the holidays, so some things were a little present to myself. I ended up doing some online shopping (from drugstore.com mainly, then Target, some Hautelook, and Sephora) but I went to Walmart last minute to get some things I might need. I also got a ton of vitamins and feminine products (which aren't shown here) because vitamins are hella expensive in Europe, and so are feminine products unfortunately. 

Before I even left the country in June, I had ordered a couple perfumes from Diptyque when they went on Hautelook for a super discount. They got to my house after I left though, so I had to wait until I got back from Spain to sniff them for the first time. I have heard so much about Diptyque from the blogging world, so I was really curious. I made my purchases purely based off the notes, which is pretty risky, but I'm definitely really happy with them. Do Son is straight up tuberose, which I absolutely love. It's really similar to Nasomatto Narcotic Venus or Tocca Florence. Eau Duelle is a really complex one. It's pretty deep, and it does have vanilla. If you don't like vanilla, you don't have to be scared of this one. It's not cloying or anything, and the vanilla really doesn't come out as much. You get more of a cardamom, black tea, smoke kind of scent. I love both of these.

Real Techniques and Eco Tools brushes were on sale at drugstore.com (Real Techniques were only 10 bucks each pack instead of the normal 20), so I got the starter sets because I was pretty curious given all the hype in the blogging community. To be honest, I don't really think the Real Techniques ones are that worth the hype. I wouldn't make the purchase over again if I needed to. In the eye set, the brow and liner brushes are completely pointless, and in the face one, the foundation brush is just a waste of space. The other brushes are okay, but they're no where near Trish McEvoy quality. I do like the Eco Tools brushes I got, and out of all of them, there were only a few I wouldn't really use. I'll have to do a full brush review later though.

I also got some haircare from drugstore.com. I really like the EverSleek range from L'Oréal, but I really wanted to try the EverCrème one for even dryer hair. I also picked up some baby shampoo to deep clean my brushes. For the holidays, my mom got me the Oribe Moisture and Control shampoo and conditioner, which was super nice of her. I've tried them, and I do like them, but they're definitely not worth the price, and they're not as good as Free Your Mane which is more than half the price cheaper and smells better.

I also picked up new Nivea lip balms that were on sale at drugstore.com. I got the matte Nivea for men one for my dad and the Olive Oil and Lemon one for me. The Olive Oil and Lemon one is actually an incredible lip balm. Only thing is though is that it tastes like shampoo. I'm over that now, but the first taste was dreadful and the only thing that would stop me from getting it again. 

I also picked up a couple Covergirl mascaras. Mascara in Europe is ridiculously expensive for some reason, so I wanted to be sure I had enough. This mascara is basically the dupe for Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes. I actually even like it better because it doesn't smudge at all. It's a really nice mascara and very cheap.

I also got the Sonia Kashuk Limited edition eye on neutral matte/shimmer palette form Target. I had heard good things about these shadows, so I wanted to try them. I was really disappointed, however. The shadows are very small in size (I thought they would be bigger), and they have a TON of fallout (it's insane) so I have to apply them with a finger, not a brush. The pigmentation is also lacking. I do like the colors, though, so I did end up bringing this palette with me to France, and I use it every day. I just wouldn't advise buying it, that's all. Sad, because it was expensive.

 I also got this Mango set from Boots (available at Target and drugstore.com). I had already been through one of the Mango shower gels before, so I wanted to repurchase. The shower gel is incredible. It has a nice lather, it's not drying, and it smells amazing, so I'm happy to be using this again. I am absolutely in love with the body butter, too, now. It smells amazing like the shower gel, it's incredibly hydrating, but it's not greasy in the slightest. Stay away from the scrub, however. It's crap. It smells good obviously, but it has a really waxy consistency and is hard to work with. The sugar and salt particles also melt before you can even scrub with them. The residue the scrub leaves is also horrendous. Just stick to the shower gel and the body butter. 

I also got some stuff from Walmart before I left. I picked up a couple deodorants from Dove, because they make my favorite deodorant. Deodorant in Europe is also way too expensive, and I don't like the roller balls that they have here instead of sticks. Dove deodorant is soothing, hydrating, and actually works. I got the Blue Fig scent, which is new I think, and the Plum and Sakura Blossom scent. Both came with a 1 oz Plum and Sakura body spray which is really nice (not pictured). 

I also picked up another Aloe Fresh lotion from Vaseline. This is my third time repurchasing this. I really love it, scent, feel, everything. 

I got the Coverall powder from Wet n Wild. It does not "cover all" though, and it's not the best oil control powder. The packaging would do well with a mirror, too. However, it does have a very natural finish on the skin, which I do like, and it was cheap.

I picked up the Sensitive Skin SPF 60 sunscreen from Neutrogena. I really, really like this. It has a very nice matte finish and isn't at all oily, and it does not leave an obvious white cast. It's also a physical, not chemical, sunscreen. I tried the Neutrogena Helioplex sunscreens before, and they gave me a major rash, so I wanted something more natural.

I got a few travel size products in Spain from Dove and Tresemme, but I forgot to mention them earlier so I thought I'd do it now. The Dove shampoo is really nice, actually, and again, I really like the Dove body washes. Tresemme conditioners are not bad either.

Also, in this picture is my first French pharmacy purchase of 2014, a glass nail file and the pot form of Nuxe Rêve de Miel. Both are incredible. The original Nuxe lip balm is way better than the stick, by the way. 

Back to drugstore.com, I got some tooth care. I picked up my favorite Marvis toothpaste in Jasmin Mint. It's the best tasting toothpaste in the world. I also got some toothbrushes because toothbrushes are really really expensive in Europe.

As much as I love French skincare, I still wanted to get a couple cleansers and a toner before leaving. I picked up the Burt's Bees Radiance Facial Cleanser and the Lumene Radiant Touch Refreshing Foam cleanser. Both are amazing and repurchases actually. They are sulfate free as well and smell incredible, especially the Lumene. I ordered this Clarifying Herbal Astringent from Earth Science to try, and I really like it so far. It's slightly exfoliating, hydrating, and the ingredients list is very nice (especially the zinc in it, which is great for cystic acne).

From Sephora, I picked out this Ren glowy skin set, which has the famous Glyco Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask, the Micropolish Cleanser, and the radiance serum. If I had to do it again, I'd give this a pass and go for the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask. The Ren one is okay, but the effects are not as good as the Tata Harper. It's also only AHA (not BHA like the Tata), so it only exfoliates the surface of the skin and doesn't clear out the pore. I also don't like the smell of any of the products, and the serum makes me really oily (although it does work pretty well with hyperpigmentation). 

Then of course, Sephora always gives samples. They gave me five, which was cool. Two Alien from Thierry Mugler perfume vials, a Versace Eros sample, a sample of a new Clinique primer, and a sample of the Lancôme Visionnaire (which I've already tried and liked, except for the heavy scent). 

I hope you enjoyed! I absolutely love seeing what other people buy, so I thought you all might like this. I'll try to keep you guys updated with how everything works out.