Huge Collective Haul and Reviews

When I was in France, it's needless to say I did some online shopping. Everything was waiting for me when I got back to the US, and I just haven't had the time to post about it.

The first bit of damage was done when I saw that Nouveau Cheap had posted about the sale on Deborah Lippmann on Beauty Brands. I got way too many nail polishes and shower gels. 

The Pacifica shower gels are amazing! I picked up Brazilian Mango Grapefruit, Indian Coconut Nectar, and Island Vanilla. I'm currently using Brazilian Mango Grapefruit, and it's just so refreshing. The lather is incredible (and it's sulphate-free!), it's non-drying, and it works wonders on my KP. I'm happy about this, although I now have enough shower gel to last me a life time (if you saw my London haul, you'll know what I mean). 

Diamonds and Pearls, Believe, Sugar Daddy, Swagga Like Us, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Addicted to Speed topcoat

I then had to pick up five Deborah polishes and a top coat. I got Diamonds and Pearls which is a gold shimmer that looks great over anything, Believe, a pretty silvery-gold, Sugar Daddy, a polish that goes gold to pink to silver. It's super cool. I also picked up Swagga Like Us for when my Chanel Peridot runs out. They're very similar, except the Deborah is a bit more copper, and the formula knocks the Chanel polishes out of the park. I also got Hit Me With Your Best Shot which is a bluish grey that needs about three to four coats to be opaque. I also picked up the Addicted to Speed top coat, which is the shiniest and fastest drying I've used.

I forgot to mention that when I got my Dove deodorants a while back they came with mini Plum and Sakura Blossom body sprays. These smell amazing.

Samples were also given in the beauty brands haul. I tried the Elizabeth and James perfumes, and honestly I didn't like either one. They also threw in some Ahava stuff that could be good. I usually save samples for traveling though, so we'll see how they go later.

I also had some nail tools I ordered off ebay waiting for me. I was inspired to do nail art, but I doubt it's going to happen soon.

Back in my home town I went to Target. I got this mascara which I've reviewed here and returned already (it's awful). I got the ELF primer for a buck. It's fantastic. I picked up the Old Spice deodorant in Pure Sport because my deodorant is running out, and this reminds me of my best friend. I also picked up the NYC Sunny bronzer. It's a bit light and powdery, but I'll just have to work with it more before I decide if I like it or not.

I also went to CVS. I got a couple boxes of Stridex pads which I've already returned because they are HORRIBLE. They just really irritated and dehydrated my skin. The menthol just stung my eyes and my face just felt like the moisture was sucked out of it with a straw. I also got a couple of the CeraVe Hydrating cleansers. I really like that cleanser. It feels like it's repairing the skin, and it's just overall very gentle. You might need a stronger makeup remover with it though. I also picked up the CVS pore strips. They're supposed to be like the Bioré ones, but I didn't like the shape as much. They don't cover as much surface area. 

I also picked up the Juicy Peach and Fresh Papaya shades of the Neutrogena Moisture Smooth Color Sticks. This was love at first application people! I think these are my new obsession. They are so hydrating, they taste good, they're so comfortable, they last well for a balm, and the colors are just very natural and pretty. A++++ Thanks, Emily Noel for the recommendation!

If you're not familiar with Giedre, you should be. I was over at her house (recognize her table, anyone?), and she gave me some things from subscription boxes that she wasn't too keen on. The Strange Beautiful polishes are some of the most pigmented polishes I've ever tried. They chip somewhat fast though. She also gave me the Be a Bombshell mascara from her Ipsy (the mascara that smells gross and no one wanted to use). It's a pretty horrible mascara. It smells bad since it's fragrance free, but it also does nothing for the lashes but tint them black. It smudges, flakes, and clumps slightly. 

Giedre also didn't like the Alex and Ani Scent 7 that came in her Pop Sugar box, however, I love it. It's a very natural, herbal-y smelling body mist. It's uplifting and aromatherapeutic. I spray myself down with this at night or before and after yoga. I love it.

Giedre gave me a shampoo and conditioner that came in her Birchbox. I haven't tried it yet, but I'll pull it out when I travel. She also gave me a mini Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer. It was too dark for her, so it's probably going to be fine for me. I have yet to try it.

Giedre also passed on the It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in plus Keratin. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I can't tell if it's making my hair worse or not. It's not very shiny using it, and I notice more split ends. She likes the regular one better, and that's not the first time I've heard that the Keratin version isn't that great. It might be a bit heavy and creamy, and it does kind of just coat the hair. I prefer oils I guess.

She gave me the Garnier Fructis Triples Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil for hair, body, and face, too. Giedre wasn't a fan because she told me it made her hair greasy. While that's definitely true (it is for pretty much all dry oils), I tried it on my body, and I LOVE it. It's just like the NUXE Huile Prodigeuse that I love (not as good smelling though), except it has better no-mess packaging! Unlike the NUXE, this spray bottle doesn't leak all over. It's just easy. I love this on my body and in my hair in moderation when it's wet. NUXE dupe right here. 

Giedre gave me the Lorac Breakthrough Performance Foundation because it was too dark for her. It's a slight bit light for me, but it'll oxidize, and it's nothing I couldn't work with with a smidge of bronzer. However, the formula's a bit oily for me and emphasizes my pores a bit at first. You can feel the lifting anti-aging ingredients though, which is cool. The foundation also doesn't go on well with a brush. It's very streaky. It looks better when I apply one pump with my hands to the whole face and blend like crazy. I'd say coverage-wise it's about a medium. The packaging is the coolest ever though. You twist it up to get to the air pump. The foundation is slightly hard to remove, but it's nothing coconut oil couldn't tackle. I'm gonna give this a day of wear before deciding whether I like it or not, but for now it is kind of just meh.

I have another work haul coming up soon, so stay tuned....!