october empties, makeup graveyard, and a favorite!

hi guys!! i've got quite a lot going on this month too. sadly several of these became empty like literally on the 1st. lol, oh well whatever. i did include a few makeup graveyard products..because as i said last month, i was doing a closet clean out (btw that got halted because life got crazy, and i haven't gotten back to it, lol). i also included a sneaky favorite into the bottom of this post, because it was most convenient to tack it onto this post. anyway, here ya go! ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. simple cleansing wipes
2. kat von d tattoo liner in trooper
3. parian spirit/sephora citrus brush cleaner
4. clinique clarifying lotion 3
5. maybelline fit me matte+poreless foundation in 120
6. lorac porefection primer
7. smashbox photo finish primer
8. sonia kashuk eye makeup remover
9. rimmel stay matte powder in translucent
10. tree hut sugar scrub in passion fruit & guava
11. tony moly mud sheet mask -- this one was a weird but great one. this is a sheet mask with like a mud mask in it..? this mask comes with a top and bottom sheet, with lining on both sides to keep it from sticking to itself. then you leave it on for "40 minutes" until it dries...yeah that took about an hour for it to fully dry (excluding the top/bottom seam). either way, i enjoyed the feeling it gave during and after using. while it was drying, it felt a bit tight on my skin. and afterward, my skin felt a lot clearer and..nice? lol i'm not sure, but i'm interested in getting more of these.
    repurchase? yes
12. equate makeup remover (compare to neutrogena) -- these burned my eyes! i'd say they work and they're very similar to the neutrogena ones, but i won't be getting these again unless there's an emergency. one of the reasons i picked this up was because it had 10 sheets in it, as opposed to the standard 7 in minis.
    repurchase? no
13. sigma F80 -- this brush needs retiring.. the bristles are starting to pull out in weird lengths, and i already accidentally pulled out the whole bundle of bristles and glued it back in months ago.
    repurchase? nah, get a lamora flat top kabuki from amazon ($10 vs $25)!
14. formula 10.0.6 down to the pore nose strips -- i enjoyed using these, they had a bit of a scent to them--maybe the tea tree? but i feel like they worked near the same as the biore strips, which are way cheaper.
    repurchase? maybe, they're kind of expensive relatively speaking
15. clairol hair food moisture hair mask with honey apricot fragrance -- this was a nice hair mask, my biggest issue is the squeeze tube format. i mean, yes i guess i could have put it into some other container or cut the tube or something.....but i wasn't that dedicated to this product. i think i got this in a target beauty box eons and eons ago.
    repurchase? nah
16. pureology colour fanatic multi-tasking hair beautifier -- the scent of this was kinda meh, and i'm not 100% sure if i feel like this did much for me.
    repurchase? nah
17. cetaphil moisturizing cream -- this was a very nice moisturizer, i liked the texture and thickness of it, and it worked its way in very nicely. didn't feel oily or greasy and it was unscented. really enjoyed using it.
    repurchase? maybe
18. meiji strawberry chocorooms -- i'm so sad that these are like $4 at the 5 below store. just saying. these are so freaking good. think pocky but smaller and way more cream. mmmmmm!
    repurchase? ZOMG!
19. bumble and bumble don't blow it -- i don't really feel like this did anything special to my hair. and i found myself kind of going out of my way to remember to use it.
    repurchase? nah

makeup graveyard:

1. maybelline color tattoos

favorite: so i didn't feel the need to photograph it because that'd be silly, but i don't have any new favorites this month aside from this perfume sample i got in september..? it's ysl black opium. omg it smells so good. i'm not huge into florals but this is a warm floral..and i suck at describing scents. anyway, give it a try the next time you're at a perfume store!

october hauls

hi guys! you might notice a bit of a theme in some of the items i got this month. we're went on a cruise! so i got a bunch of minis of oldies but goodies! ~Lin-chan ^.~
ulta: tree hut sugar scrubs, soap and glory clean on me & happy pamper mini set, zoya remove+ mini, body shop tea tree oil (new larger bottle), tony moly i'm real refreshing sheet mask & intense care snail hydro-gel mask, freebie bag for spending a ton of the monies -- i'm surprised there's two full sized prestige products in here: tarte tarteist double take eyeliner & buxom full on lip polish in dolly.

- sephora: i needed to return something that i accidentally bought, so i got an anastasia beverly hills shadow in warm taupe.
- sephora jcp: last month, they had a mascara set with several minis and a voucher for a full-size from that set. i'm planning on giving the minis away as gifts, but i couldn't pass that deal up! got myself a benefit roller lash.
- ulta: travel size clinique dramatically different moisturizing gel
- target: covergirl lashblast volume waterproof mascara in very black -- this used to be my favorite mascara when i first started college, and this is like my first new tube since then! also, loreal pure-clay mask.
- walmart: they're stepping up their sheet mask game in the drugstore! got a couple of yes to ones and a soo ae one. also got equate makeup remover wipes (travel) and a bag of the epsom salt from last month's beauty box.
- bbb: simple makeup remover wipes mini -- because i can't decide which one i'm taking with me on this vacation....
- 5 below: totally random, but i had to inclue them.. pocky & chocorooms. never had chocorooms before, but they were a bad decision. gone in just a couple hours!

warm taupe, dolly, tarteiest liner

sooo... we got a gopro! we went on a cruise and thought this would be perfect for our underwater adventures! (vacation post to come, need to spend some time sorting out photos and footage)
on the ship, they have a ton of shops, and one of the deals they were advertising was a clinique ddm lotion/gel double pack for $40 (ret. $26 ea), and i was like soooold! that's a better deal than saturday's ulta & the upcoming sephora 20% off sales! also, i'm not sure if it's on every cruise line (probably though), but they sell gold chains by the inch. so you can buy custom length bracelets and necklaces and a variety of different chains, gold, silver, and i got this rose gold with rhinestones. it's super pretty, and i kept eyeing it the whole week!
one of the excursions we went on had a gift shop, and we got this super cute obsidian turtle! i'm not sure the name of the dark sparkly stone on the edge of the shell (blue goldestone? i've always loved red goldstone!), but the top is abalone shell. i kind of wish he were bigger, but the larger ones he was selling were like 2-3 times more expensive than what he wanted for this small one.

walmart: soo ae tea tree sheet masks, wet n wild eyeshadow brush & waterproof liner, essential tools makeup brush cleaner

bbw: got another no purchase necessary free travel size coupon in the mail, so i picked up another mini of endless weekend, which is really nice!

h-mart (houston): green tea pejoy, green apple & kiwi melon sodas -- these are the best. they're in a plastic bottle..thing..with a metal can lid. very interesting. anyway, if you see these, be sure to try the apple, because it's the best!

erin condren hourly life planner - my october

hi guys! i'm a lil late on this one, but i just got back in town yesterday from my vacation...and i've been busy today doing errands and stuff. anyway, here's my october! ~Lin-chan ^.~

monthly calendar spread: another great montly spread from That's The Plan! can you guys guess that i went a little crazy with this upcoming vacation?! (other planner stickers mentioned in my september/october sticker haul post)

week 1: so i got promoted again... it was kind of weird.. my manager pulled me aside for one of those quarterly meeting things, but instead was like: we're giving you a xx% raise. yes it was a double digit percentage. jaw dropping. then a few days after it took into effect, i found out that i'm now a dev 3. wut. ok!

week 2: so it took me a while to think about it... but i've got like half a pack of return address labels from the wedding. yes that long ago. anyway, those are stickers, like duh. so i decided to make a few.

week 3

week 4: so there's a bunch of question marks behind my order from planning faith. needless to say, i made an order on labor day, and due to lots of postal mishaps and her 1-2 week processing time, i wasn't sure when the hell i'd get my package.

week 5: i think this needs more stickers..... i'll eventually make a vacation post regarding our trip and how it went and all..but let's just say planners are for planning things. and plans can change. ;)

notes page: i put my giganto travel/packing list sticker from Sweet Kawaii Design! it's a bit weird that it doesn't perfectly cover all of the lines on the page, but i'll live!

planner sticker haul - september & october

hi guys! i went sticker crazy the past two months! i wanted to get a 'perfect' spreads for my upcoming vacation weeks! so i gots a lot of stuffs! unfortunately one of my labor day orders didn't arrive in time for me to post this in september, so i went ahead and waited for this month's orders to arrive. ~Lin-chan ^.~
again, here's the link to my etsy list of purchased planner stuff

OnceMoreWithLove: munchkins cruise vacation, beach, and mexico travel sheets

TheCoffeeMonsterzCO: last summer & sparks fly mini kits; halloween & xmas countdowns (for next year), emoti heads part 1-4, happy mail emotis, and sephora emotis
-- i love how she has the coffee bean 'punch card' system! each sheet has a coffee bean sticker and collect enough to fill the card and you get a free sampler on the next purchase. my card has 21 spots, so 17 left to go!
-- coupon code: THANKYOU15 for 15% off $25

MurdockTalks: by the sea washi & date covers

-- coupon code: THANKYOU15 for 15% off
SweetKawaiiDesign: kawaii packing list sticker
-- coupon code: THANKYOU for 10% off

PlanningFaith: sea sirens & mermaids mini kits --- omg these took eternity and a half to arrive. i ordered these labor day, and didn't get them until near the end of october due to a ton of mailing and weather related issues. bleh! but i'm glad they finally came in!

Oh Hello Stationery Co: beach countdown stickers, under the sea mini kit, and woodland creatures; meet blobby, blobby has anxiety, chrismas blobby, and green payday sticker sheets
-- coupon code for their site: free5 for $5 off $10

aHappyBlueTree: halloween full boxes and flag/character sheet
-- coupon code: THANKYOU10 for 10% off 

My Newest Addiction: happy hallo wine ($2 tuesday!) & fall foliage decorative boxes and mini kit
-- coupon code: IGFRIENDS10 for 10% off $15

That's the Plan: january monthly kit and white christmas decorative boxes & bottom washi sheets
-- coupon code: BACKAGAIN for 15% off $15

My Queen Bee Designs: watercolor weekend banners, rose gold floral mini kit, watercolor birthday mini kit, baseball washi strips; free darling, after midnight, and little wings bottom washi sheets (left); and an oops grab bag (right). she also threw in a near perfect baby it's cold outside penguin sheet!
-- coupon code: FALLINLOVE for 30% off

notd: essie penny talk

hi guys! i decided to go to the nail salon today because i've been super busy and lazy when i get home. so today, i got essie's penny talk on the nails, and it's pretteh. might buy in the future, but haven't decided yet... anyway, here ya go! ~Lin-chan ^.~

october 2016: sephora play!

hi guys! i didn't get to post yesterday, but here's this month's sephora play box!! (theme: the cool cut) ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. belif true cream aqua bomb (.33oz--mini, $38 for 1.68oz [$7.46]) -- yay! love this stuff!
   repurchase? yushhhhh
2. skin inc pure revival peel (.17oz--mini, ret. $55 for 2oz [$4.68]) -- i got a sample of this in an ipsy bag and i still haven't finished it off yet. i keep it in a cabinet and keep forgetting about it... i do like this product and recommend it!
   repurchase? maybe
3. blinc mascara amplified in black (.1oz--mini, ret. $26 for .3oz [$8.67]) -- i've had so many samples of mascaras from this brand, and i never get around to using them. hopefully i can try this one out, the whole tubing mascara thing sounds cool.
   repurchase? probably not
4. smashbox always on matte liquid lipstick in driver's seat (??--mini, ret. $24 for .13oz [$???]) -- it's funny to me how shades like this probably look good on me, but because i know what it looks like up close, i hate it? hate is actually a pretty strong word. this is a mlbb shade that leans coral on me. and maybe it's just that corals/oranges and my skintone aren't my favorite.
   repurchase? probably other shades 
5. christophe robin regenerating mask with rare prickly pear seed oil (1.7oz--mini, ret. $71 for 8.33oz [$14.49]) -- holy shit is this stuff expensive. i thought that the macadamia oil ones (which are really good) were expensive at $30ish. i think i'll at least try this but this scent is awful. i don't want my hair smelling like weird + baby powder. no thanks.
   repurchase? probably not
6. ysl mon paris (sample, ret. $70 for 1oz) -- this is a really nice fruity floral with a hint of powderiness. i'm not sure i'd like to walk around smelling like this, but it's a good one.
   repurchase? no
7. 'coupon' for an extra 50 points on the next in-store purchase

approximate product value: ~$40?

october 2016 ipsy bag!

hi guys! i'm super excited about my october IPSY BAG*! (theme: black magic) which has a lot of stuff to try! since i got this bag on friday, i decided to test everything out on saturday! ~Lin-chan ^.~

here's my impressions:

1. makeup forever ultra hd invisible cover foundation in Y225 (5ml--mini, ret. $43 for 1.01oz [$7.20]) -- i actually already had a sample of this foundation prior, in this shade and it's ok. it's a bit too light for my skin, but the right tone. nothing a little bronzer can't fix. but i'm not sure i'd buy the full size though considering the cost and that i have an inexpensive drugstore foundation that i already like!
• likelihood to repurchase: maybe
2. kokie cosmetics nail polish in heavenly (16ml--full size, ret. $6) -- i like how this has a slightly wider, pinched brush. it made application a lot easier than most polishes. the only issue i have is the color, which i don't think goes very well with my skintone. it's not death like some in the past, but it's still like that pastel lilac not good on my asian, yellow-white skintone.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably not
3. pure brazilian leave in miracle (1oz--mini, ret. $6) -- this stuff was only ok. i sprayed it a few times into damp hair and brushed it through. my hair didn't really feel anything special from using it, and the scent was a bit weird but bearable and didn't linger.
• likelihood to repurchase: no
4. essence cosmetics superfine eyeliner pen waterproof  (.3oz--full size, ret. $2.99) -- this is a nice black liner. the felt tip is super long and stiff. and that's about as much positive things i can say about it. now the negative, it burned and irritated my skin when i was applying it and for maybe a minute or two afterward. a couple hours later, my eyes watered and it somewhat gracefully came off... BUT THIS LINER IS SUPPOSED TO BE WATERPROOF. tears, water. sooo different.
• likelihood to repurchase: NO
5. teeez cosmetics eve's ready to wear lipstick in romantic red (3.5g--full size, ret. $22) -- this is a very nice formula. super comfortable on the lips and stains a bit. i'm not totally into the shade, but it's pretty nice. looove the retro photos on the packaging, super cute!
• likelihood to repurchase: other shades
6. halloween themed ipsy bag -- the drawings on here are super cute!
7. card with company info/discount codes (some codes are case sensitive)
1. kokiecosmetics.com: 25% off purchase, code: IPSY25 (exp. 11/30/16)
2. purebrazilian.com: 20% off purchase, code: pure20 (exp. 11/30/16)
3. essencemakeup.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsyessence20 (exp. 11/30/16)
4. beautebasics.com: 30% off purchase, code: bbipsy30 (exp. 11/30/16)
5. thebalm.com: 20% off purchase, code: IPSY20 (exp. 11/30/16)
6. trustfundbeauty.com: 40% off purchase, code: IPSYGLAM (exp. 11/30/16)
7. joshikpolish.com: 20% off purchase + free shipping, code: ipsy20 (exp. 11/30/16)
8. katvondbeauty.com: gift with $50+ purchase, code: ipsy2016 (exp. 11/30/16)
9. purlisse.com: 30% off purchase, code: ipsylipsy30 (exp. 11/30/16)
10. dermelect.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsyrapid20 (exp. 11/30/16)
11. trestique.com: 30% off $40+ purchase, code: IPSYFALLFUN30 (exp. 11/30/16)
12. zjashop.com: 20% off purchase + free shipping, code: ipsyfall16 (exp. 11/30/16)
13. pachology.com: Free gift is available while supplies last, and is a Limited Edition Touch of Lace ILLUMINATE 5 Minute FlashMasque and a 5 Minute Hydrogel Lip Renewal Patch. Free Shipping is valid only on orders $30+ with code.,  code: LACEANDLIPS(exp. 11/30/16)
14. adesseny.com: 20% off purchase, code: IPSY20 (exp. 11/30/16)
15. tacha.com: 15% off full size pure one step camellia cleansing oil, code: ipsy15 (exp. 11/30/16)
16. cosmoholic.com: buy one get one free + free shipping, code: ipsybogo (exp. 11/30/16)
17. modelcocosmetics.com: 20% off purchase + free shipping at $49, code: IPSY20 (exp. 12/31/16)
18. befine.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 10/31/16)
19. noyah.com: 25% off purchase, code: noyahIPSY (exp. 11/30/16)
20. nudestix.com: 15% off your first purchase + a surprise, code: ipsyoct (exp. 10/30/16)
21. vintagecosmetics.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20 (exp. 11/30/16)
22. indicosmetics.com: 25% off purchase, code: ipsy25 (exp. 11/30/16)
23. cvs.com: 30% off Promise Organic purchase, code: promise30 (exp. 11/30/16)
24. esteelauder.com/ipsy: 20% off purchase (exp. 11/30/16)

approximate product value: ~$44

*Affiliate Link.

september empties & makeup graveyard

hi guys!! i've got quite a few things used up this month! enjoy! ~Lin-chan ^.~
sidenote: totally random and idk if this is really where i wanted to have this but i'm doing it anyway... i think i'm doing away with my separate makeup bag for traveling. like for the past several years, i just kept my ok but not favorite things in my overnight bag, without rotating anything in it aside from super special occasions. now that i'm working full time, i've been going back home less frequently than before, i'm using the products in there less and less. so they're going bad without me realizing it. so i think i'll just stick to 'the good stuff' for forever and ever for now. on that vein.. i'm currently going through another closet clean-out process that may be documented in next month's empties post, given stuff isn't lookin so good anymore.

1. simple cleansing wipes
2. kat von d tattoo liner in trooper
3. the body shop tea tree oil
4. smashbox photo finish primer x2
5. tree hut mango sugar scrub
6. tree hut honey almond body wash
7. simple eye makeup remover -- while this is a good product, i only got maybe 20 uses out of the whole bottle, where i feel like the sonia kashuk lasts a lot longer for the price and amount you get. also, if you over saturate your cotton pad and get it in your eyes...it burns. using a 'normal' amount was no problem.
   repurchase? nah
8. pantene original fresh dry shampoo -- this was a really nice dry shampoo. i enjoyed the scent and it didn't leave my hair white or anything. the thing that sucks is me and my usage. since i've been irregularly using dry shampoo lately, the nozzle got clogged and i can't use this up any longer. and it's got maybe 1/4 left in it or so, which sucks. but i'll just get mini's from now on i think.
   repurchase? nah
9. village naturals therapy aches+pains muscle relief bath soak -- i didn't put it in just before turning off water (i.e. it went in early on) and i probably should have waited. it made me very relaxed and had a nice scent, but because i poured it in too early, the scent didn't linger very long. not super sure how i feel about the menthol scent but otherwise i enjoyed using this.
   repurchase? maybe
10. tarte pack your bags eye patches -- got a set of these as a sample from sephora. didn't feel like much of anything was happening. no cooling sensation, no depuffing feeling... nothing. i don't recommend these.
    repurchase? no
11. tony moly pureness 100 propoliss sheet mask (skin soothing) -- you know what's sad... i didn't take note of my feelings on this product and i don't remember my thoughts on it. so i'm going to say maybe it wasn't memorable enough for me to remember.
    repurchase? nah
12. dove purely pampering nourishing body wash in sweet cream with peony -- i really like the dove body washes, but i'm not sure i'd ever want to commit to a full size. the moisturizing factor in them is really nice, but some of the scent choices are strange. this one is ok, the peony didn't really bother me too much, but it was just kind meh.
    repurchase? nah
13. nyc metro girl makeup brush cleaner in unscented -- i really enjoyed using this brush soap. the only complaint is the packaging. once i got close to the end and was able to get the bar out of the jar, things were great for cleaning my brushes, but the jar itself is too narrow for my powder brushes. i really liked the scent this had, i thought i ordered unscented, but there was a slight fragrance to it.. but it was nice.
    repurchase? maybe

makeup graveyard:

1. vaseline rosy lips lip balm -- when i first got this, i was using this non-stop. i loved the feel of the vaseline, and the tint this gave. i wasn't super keen on the scent but it faded fairly quickly. but it's just really old, kinda gross, and i don't want to keep it any longer.
   repurchase? maybe
2. essence i heart crazy extreme volume mascara -- this is a really nice mascara. it had many of the things i look for in mascaras - lift, volume, length. there's actually still a good bit left in here, but it's kind of starting to get goopy and i don't really want to use it anymore.
   repurchase? maybe

[not pictured]

1. dr. bronner's peppermint soap (bar)
2. secret clinical deodorant
3. dove advanced care mini deodorant in beauty finish
4. pantene beautiful lengths shampoo -- this was only an ok shampoo. i think my scalp didn't totally agree with it though, because i had slight dandruff with it - but only when i really would scratch at my head.
   repurchase? no
5. benefit dallas blush -- a while back, i showed a hit pan for this blush, and once i got it to a point where it was difficult to pick up on a brush, i decided to scrape it out and press it back in. that was a bad move. the texture of the blush wasn't the same again and i had trouble getting any payoff with it. so meh, i already have a backup, so i tossed it.

september favorites & hit pans

hi guys! i've got another favorites post for ya! plus two hit pans because...well they didn't make it into the empties post.. i messed up when i was taking the photos.. oops. anyway close enough, right..? ~Lin-chan ^.~

favorites:

liner in black, rigel, sweet cheeks

1. it cosmetics no tug gel liner in black -- got this liner in a recent ipsy bag and i love it for the waterline. it's so black and does not tug..as it's name states. i made sure i bought a full size this month when it was on ulta's 21 days of beauty!
2. it cosmetics superhero mascara -- this has been the new go-to mascara since i got it in my ipsy bag. it's basically everything i wanted in a mascara and more - curl, volume, slight separation, super black, doesn't get clumpy by 2 passes on each eye (one eye, then the other, repeat). i'm very impressed with the it cosmetics things i've tried (that were my shade), no complaints!
3. nars rigel -- this is such a pretty shadow!!! i bought this with the money (plus a lil) from when i returned the makeup forever liner, because that's an expensive liner for it not working out on me... anyway, i really love this peachy golden shade!
4. wayne goss #17 brush -- i'm too lazy to check, but i'm almost certain i mentioned this brush before.... so good for getting all over the lid because of the massive size!
5. be a bombshell blush in sweet cheeks -- it's been a while since i got back to this blush. this is actually my second of this blush, the first came in one of my first few ipsy bags. it's such a pretty blue-toned shimmery pink. it's awesome.
6. makeup geek vault palette -- t got me this for my birthday and i actually didn't start using it regularly until pretty recently. i think this is great for the absolute favorites to travel back and forth with and it has a nice sized mirror.
1. contains: makeup geek shadows in baby face, barcelona beach, havoc, ardency inn rose gold, benefit hoola, ofra bliss.

random favorites: 

1. phoenix wright ace attorney: spirit of justice -- i'm almost finished the main story, and i just bought the extra turnabout DLC this week and will start it pretty soon. so far i like it a lot, but there are some aspects that i think are dumb. 
1. for whatever reason, they thought it was necessary to have the divination seance video play during each and every case when you're in khura'in. so long. but, they have a skip button, so it's not as bad. (even the demo had the full length of this cut scene...)
2. some turnabouts are multiple parts. some of them have little summaries if there's going to be more parts. ok i get that. but for whatever reason, they decided to add in this almost epiphany thing where it's like the person's thought process and you have to pick one of two to three answers to 'find the truth' of what happened. really guys... idk. i don't recall this feature being in any of the previous US-released games, and don't really understand why they thought this was necessary.
3. the 4th turnabout was stupidly short, shouldn't have been two parts, and was just a way for them to have you play as a character you've never been, as well as bring back two people that were in previous games...for just like 1 hour or less of gameplay.
4. i haven't looked into the two theater DLC, but it seems kinda weird to buy them for $4 each if it's just a 'theater' video or something........... i did get the costume DLC when it was free, and it's ok. not quite as good as the last game.
2. lever 2000 bar soap -- so random, but not really. teh paul likes using these and we buy them in giant packs from sams, so i decided to steal the very end of one of them and try using it on my makeup brushes. it works. omg. liquid foundation is gone, bristles are white again, it's great!
1. note: tougher liquid foundations like my estee lauder double wear light are still pretty tough to completely remove product and get the bristles white.

hit pans

1. makeup geek baby face -- i just hit pan on this one just last week. such a great skintone shade!
2. makeup geek barcelona beach -- this is still my first one, but here's the current progress on it.