I've decided to revamp my monthly favorites posts to include products that wowed me (loves), as well as those that didn't (lemons). We all have goodies we reach for again and again
AND those we're not quite so taken with, so I wanted my monthly round-up to reflect that. Here are my August Loves & Lemons! Cheers to a swingin' September!
CVS Pharmacy 100% Acetone Nail Polish Remover with Built-in Brush, $3.99 USD: YOU GUYS. If you wear nail polish, you NEED this. I've used "tub" polish removers before that contained a sponge and this completely blows them out of the water. The flexible plastic bristles make removing polish an absolute
breeze. It cuts removal time down to a few seconds, and eliminates the need for cotton balls or pads. Even glitter polish comes off MUCH faster. I have a few extra potent polishes that are a pain to remove because the color bleeds all over the cuticle and under the nail. This little tub has completely solved that problem. I dip my finger in, twist it against the bristles a few times, and VOILA: a perfectly clean nail with no trace of color bleeding. I will keep this tub forever and refill it with acetone when it starts getting low.
Lumene Time Freeze CC Cream, $14.99 USD:
Review here. This formula just continues to impress me. I honestly think it out-performs my high-end foundations. When I want a flawless finish with a fuss-free application, this is the tube I reach for.
St. Ives Even & Bright Pink Lemon & Madarin Orange Scrub, $4.29 USD: Amazing. This lightly-scented citrus scrub contains plenty of natural exfoliant power to remove dead skin on the face and body. I've also used it on my scalp to remove flakes and it works like a charm! Special thanks to
Stephanie Eva for recommending it to me!
Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer in #165 Lust For Lilac, $3.99 USD: Love, love, love this color! 2-coat coverage = happiness. Whenever I wear this polish, my nails just look so...cheerful!
*
Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes, $29.00 USD: When
Chelsea Bustamante contacted me to ask if I'd be interested in trying the 3D Lashes, I was ecstatic! I'd already seen favorable reviews from
Jennifer of JennySueMakeup and several other bloggers I follow, as well as the amazing before and after pictures blowing up Instagram. Does it work? OH BOY, DOES IT EVER! I have very fine, sparse lashes and I was blown away from the first time I used the Younique.
My full review with several before and after shots will be posted Thursday morning! This is currently the most impressive product I've discovered this year.
*Product sent for review; my strong opinions of love toward it are my own. :)
nügg Soothing Face Mask, $2.99 USD: While I think the idea of a single-use mask is wonderful, I just didn't find this one did much for my skin. The formula was smooth and white and reminded me of hair conditioner. There was definitely enough product in the tub for 2 masks, but no way to really re-seal it to keep the mask fresh for the second use.
The Body Shop Banana Conditioner, $8.00 for 250 ml: The corresponding shampoo I like; this, not so much. It's very thick and smells like the artificial banana scent used in Laffy Taffy. I applied it to my hair as I normally do and had a hard time getting my Tangle Teezer through it afterwards. After using most other conditioners, my brush slides right through. I continued to use it until it was about half full, hoping my experience would improve with continued use, but it didn't. I ended up discarding the other half of the bottle because my hair needed a more hydrating formula. If you read reviews at the product page I linked above, people rave about this and buy back ups, so clearly it works great for a lot of people.
What were your loves & lemons of August?
Lust for lilac is an exact dupe for my favorite polish ever, color club wicker park. Something about this color just makes me so happy! I also didn't like the body shop banana conditioner. I think I need something a little bit more hydrating for my hair and I didn't mind the shampoo I just think there's better things on the market.
ReplyDeleteI think I need to try that nail polish remover, although I'm not a fan of acetone, I think you sold me! LOL!
ReplyDeleteLoving that polish on you, so pretty!
xo
Hi Lily! Ya know, you could buy the CVS remover, pour out the acetone and re-fill it with the polish remover of your choice. Then you'd still get the awesomeness of the bristles sans acetone! And thank you! I love the polish, too. It's going on my toes tomorrow! :)
ReplyDeleteI have seen Wicker Park swatched before and thought, "Oooh!" It is such a happy color, I love it! And yes - the Banana conditioner was nowhere near as hydrating as I'd hoped. I also wanted my hair to smell like bananas afterwards and it didn't! :/
ReplyDeleteOh that remover does look genius! I haven't used acetone on my nails for a long time though (or at least so the labels would have me believe). I wonder if my nails are too weak for that! Can't wait to read about the mascara!
ReplyDeleteAw, shame about the banana conditioner! I tried a sample of the shampoo once and I remember liking that one. And as for nail polish removers like that, YESH, love them! I have a similar one from Bourjois and I seriously don't know how I ever lived without it.
ReplyDeleteThat nail polish remover looks interesting! I wonder if we have something similar here...
ReplyDeleteHOW DO YOU DO IT. You take something meant for something and turn it into a multi-purpose amazement!! Hahah, I woulda never thunk to use the St. Ives scrub on my scalp, what the heck. Girl you in the wrong profession. I'm so glad you "love" the stuff. I am still using it, can't get enough of that tangerine/lemon/orange/candy scent!
ReplyDeleteAnd I do love that nail polish color! It's fun and I almost bought a lipstick in that shade. Imagine the two together, hahaha, that's a party!
Interesting concept about the nugg, but unfortunate you can't reseal it. And that it did nothing for your skin..! and OH MY GURL NAWH. Banana Laffy Taffy, for my hair?? No thanks! It's really too bad that you can't keep the pair going (shampoo AND conditioner soul products).
I loved the "lemons" in your post. It works just as the favorites do for me, except in reverse; I now know what to avoid!! Please do another lemon for September!!
Much Love,
-Bumpin Joe
I gotta get that Lumene CC Cream! Gonna look for it this week here because it sounds amazing! I didn't mind that mask, but yeah it's kind of like conditioner I agree LOL.
ReplyDeleteI want that CC cream, why do we not get it here??! I love all St Ives scrubs, cheap and cheerful!
ReplyDeleteLust for Lilac is gorgeous <33
ReplyDeleteI had the St. Ives cleanser for a while and it was quite good! I only got rid of it because I had like 10 cleansers and sadly don't have 10 faces. :( The nail polish remover doesn't dry out the skin every time you dip??
ReplyDeleteLove the format of this post Kristen! Waiting to see the review of the 3d lash mascara! Sounds exciting. I've used a canadian version of that nail polish remover tub and youre right it *IS* amazing!!
ReplyDeleteWhat What?? I got a shout out about the Younique- Holla!!! Thanks lady!! It does work, almost too well if that's possible?? And holy 1991, I used to have a nail polish remover tub with brush and loved it - how have I forgotten they still make those until now?? I got annoyed just last night using cotton rounds I buy like every other week bc I change my polish every 3 days- seriously. Those Maybelline ColorShow nail polishes are the bomb, I have the Blue Bombshell and it rocks.
ReplyDeleteThe remover pot with the brush is pretty genius - such a simple idea that works wonders. If acetone isn't your jam and you find something similar in Belgium, you could always drain the acetone and replace it with your favorite polish remover formula! It would work just as well! :)
ReplyDeleteThe shampoo was pretty enjoyable. And yes, never again will I be messing around with polish remover and cotton balls! The brush pot contraption is where it's at! :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely look around, I'm sure you do. It has seriously changed how I feel about wearing nail polish now that removal isn't such a pain in the rear!
ReplyDelete"Bumpin Joe"!!! LOL! I can't! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you, love! I do think I'm in the wrong profession, but so far no one has offered to pay me FT to write about scalp scrubs! DARN IT. ;)
Thank you for enjoying the lemons portion of the post! I've been thinking about adding the not-so-favorites portion for awhile now because there's usually one or two things that I end up not liking very much. I LOVE it when people share what they weren't huge fans of. It's always interesting to see what doesn't work for people, as much as what does! And yes, yes y'all - there will definitely be September lemons, LOL! I already have two candidates...! (-____-) -"totes lemons"
Much love and paninis!
K-Rock
Ha ha! I wondered what you were going ot think of the mask once I saw you'd picked it up on your instagram feed! I SO hope you pick up the Lumene CC cream!! It has become such a love for me!
ReplyDeleteLOL yes!! St. Ives scrubs are cheap and cheerful - great description! I think most of us grew up with a tub/tube of their apricot scrub in our showers!
ReplyDeleteI know, girl! Such a fun color. It's definitely my new fave. I think it'll be great in the winter, too, for a drab season pick-me-up!
ReplyDeleteHa ha! So sad about not having 10 faces for 10 cleansers, lol! you are hilarity. The polish remover does dry out my skin a little bit but nothing horrendous. I love acetone b/c it removes polish SO much faster than non-acetone. So even though it's more drying, you're spending less time "soaking in it", so to speak. I could always pour regular remover into this genius pot if I wasn't such a big fan of acetone, lol!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dee! I'm so glad you liked the new format! I always enjoy hearing about the hits and misses from others, so I figured why not share mine? Happy Sunday! :)
ReplyDeleteHOLLA indeed! You managed to get the most clump-free Younique application I've seen and it just looked SO impeccable. It's like you're a makeup artist or something! - LOL! ;) Oh girl, you NEED a pot remover with this built-in brush if you change your polish regularly. You will REJOCE at the ease of this thing! All 10 finger nails are done in about 60 seconds. Mundane task made easier/faster? CHECK! =o)
ReplyDeleteOh, this type of remover pot is a game changer! I agree, removing polish can feel like such a chore. This completely removes that stigma so you're free to easily and quickly change up your polish! Love it! And thank you for liking the loves & lemons idea! It's always fun to see both sides of the spectrum! XOXO :)
ReplyDeleteI've looked for it but all I see is the BB Cream! I'm going to check on the trip back up to Canada-one of them has to have it!
ReplyDeleteThose arseclowns better present you with a Time Freeze CC if they know what's good for 'em! BB is so not the same oat bag. It's coverage and excellent finish you want! My fingers remain crossed that somewhere, a CVS employee is spiffing up a box of CC Cream with your name on it AS WE SPEAK! :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried those products but I might try a few like the BS conditioner. SmashinBeauty
ReplyDeleteIt will probably work nicely for someone who needs lighter hydration! Sadly my hair is recovering from being bleached so it needs ALL OF THE moistures, lol!
ReplyDelete