EMPTIES! A Beauty Post…

Hello Everyone! My FAVORITE YouTube videos are called “Empties” videos. Usually some Beauty Guru will go through a month’s worth of empty products that she’s used up and tell you all about why she did or did not like them plus whether or not she intends to repurchase. Because this is a blog I will try to eventually organize certain products by brand or category, but for now, I’m just going to go through some of my “empties,” and put them in this post. The titles will be links to where you can purchase 🙂

Here’s a picture of my empties box:

Empties!

Let’s try to get through these one at a time, shall we?

1. Pantene Pro-V Expert Collection Age Defy Rejuvenating Hydration Masque.

Pantene Age Defy

I got this on sale half-price at my local Walgreens. I loved it after using it a couple of times so I already have a back up. It makes my hair very manageable and completely removes tangles. I usually put it on in the shower and keep it on for 5 minutes while I do other things. After rinsing, my hair is soft and silky. Love this product!

5 STARS! *****

Repurchase: Yes

2. Williams-Sonoma Hand Soap: Basil With Essential Oils

Williams-Sonoma Hand Soap Basil

I got this as a gift from my mother-in-law. I really don’t like it. I am pretty allergic to it and every time I use it I can’t help but to sneeze. I used it all, but I am glad I’m done with it. Yes, she reads this blog. Yes, I told her I wasn’t a fan. It’s fine, as soap, and it lathers well and everything, but the smell gets to me. There are too many good hand soaps out there to settle for this one. Also: I just learned, it has been discontinued. Fantastic 🙂 But hey, if you really want it- you can get it on eBay. You can always get whatever you want on eBay.

2 Stars **

Repurchase: No

3. Pond’s Cleansing and Makeup Removing Towelettes. 

Pond's Cleansing and Makeup Removing Wipes

I couldn’t find a good link to these exact wipes anywhere. I have a feeling Pond’s has changed the packaging, but hey, you can buy them at Future Shop! LOL! I also think they’re available at Pharmaprix and Shopper’s Drug Mart. I really liked these wipes. I really didn’t know how good I had it with these until I got some bad ones- we’ll get to those in a minute! These smell very pretty. They have a clean/ moisturizer scent. I found them to be moisturizing and the soap on them was not harsh on my skin. They were adequately moist when I opened the package and didn’t dry out too much. Also: they work! They remove makeup very effectively. I would use them on my face, and (in order to avoid getting soap in my eyes) I would switch to an eye makeup remover and cotton pads for the rest. I really enjoyed these and if they were still available, I would repurchase. Unfortunately, I can’t, but I will be very open to trying other Pond’s makeup removing products in the future.

4 Stars ****

Repurchase: No

UPDATE!!! While rifling through my beauty supplies I found TWO MORE packs of these! So happy! They must have been on sale so I bought three. Yea! Now to find a replacement for when I run out of these…

4. Absolute! Make-Up Cleansing Tissues by Nicka K Cosmetics

Nicka K Pomegranate Makeup Removal Wipes
Nicka K Pomegranate Makeup Removal Wipes

First off let me say that I am happy that I did not have to pay for these. I got them in an Ipsy bag. These were absolutely horrific. And I don’t believe I’m exaggerating. First: They were relatively dry when I opened the package. That was fine, I thought, so I just moistened them before use. The “use” part really got to me though. They were rough- I think they are made from unprocessed bark, or maybe sandpaper. I don’t have sensitive skin, but these were just way too rough. They didn’t remove my makeup either. They just don’t work. Anyways, I can say one good thing: they smelled pleasant. I’ve read other reviews, however, that said that they found the scent too strong. I thought it was bearable. I used them to remove makeup on my hand after swatching things and playing with my makeup, but they were useless otherwise.

1 Star *

Repurchase: No

5. Secret Outlast & Olay Smooth Solid Antiperspirant/ Deodorant

Secret Outlast

Let me just say that this is not a true solid deodorant, and the “smooth” part of it makes it almost a thick lotion consistency. I tried this because it was on sale and I needed deodorant. One good thing about it is that it smells nice, but I won’t be buying more for two reasons. The first being that I now believe that the ‘moisturizer’ in this is gimmicky, and secondly, I feel like I use way more because the moisturizer causes it to be thinner in application overall. So, personally, I suppose I just prefer the solid, and after I go through this last one, I’ll be sticking to the plain boring “baby powder” scent original secret, unless y’all have any suggestions. Yes, I just asked the internet for deodorant suggestions.

3 Stars ***

Repurchase: No

That’s it for this round. I think I’ll try to do one of these posts with 5 items per week, eventually I’ll organize these by product category and it’ll be a little review showdown post for each category.

What To Do If You Accidentally Buy Fake Lululemon

I was inspired to write this post by a reader who commented on my post about How To Spot Fake Lululemon. The focus of that post is self-evident. However, once you determine that you’ve purchased an inauthentic product, what are you to do? First, it depends on the venue from which you’ve purchased the product, so I will try to address resolution options based on venue of purchase.

On eBay:
If you’ve purchased a fake Lululemon product on eBay, you may choose to contact the seller for a return or simply open a case. You are covered under eBay’s policy and should be eligible for a refund. *note: you may be responsible for return shipping*

Facebook Groups:
If you purchased a fake Lululemon garment on any Facebook group, and you’ve read my post on The Difference Between Paying as Gift or as Goods on PayPal, and you took my advice and paid as goods, you are eligible under PayPal’s policies for a refund. If you paid as gift, you are technically not eligible but you may want to try anyways, as I have heard of cases where a refund was granted regardless of the fact that the article was paid for as “gift” or “friends and family.” If you paid as EMT (Email Money Transfer), an option available to Canadians, I don’t believe there is any recourse, financially, for you. Legally, you may contact the authorities. I have heard of serial sellers of fake Lululemon goods facing prosecution, however, I never heard of any of the money being returned.

Which brings me to the next venue of purchase,

Locally:

As above, legal recourse may be an option. Paying in cash is the least safe option and I can’t think of any ways you might retrieve it. I have purchased locally before with my PayPal app, and I recommend that to others. Even if you have to pay as “gift,” at the request of the seller, it’s safer to avoid carrying cash, in my opinion.

I’ve mentioned before in other posts, if someone sells fakes, please make it known to whichever community within which you made the purchase that that seller is a danger. Let the Facebook group admins know, give negative feedback on eBay, call the authorities if you have the person’s name or phone number.

I hope this post has been helpful, please let me know if I’ve missed anything and enjoy my related posts that can be found by clicking the embedded links!

Thanks for reading!

Race Your Pace 1/2 Zip Review

I stopped in my local store the other day and picked this top up. I really like the fit and would call it true to size. First I’ll address what I’ve heard on the Lulu boards which is that the Rulu is thinner than past versions. I have to agree, but this does not prevent me from enjoying this top. It is just as soft as past versions, which I love, so, even though it’s thinner that is not as important to me as the fact that it is so soft and feels nice against the skin. I’ve also read in the reviews online that the seams are itchy. I guess they could be, based on the way that they’re finished, but they honestly have not been bothering me.

The things I like about this top are things I typically enjoy about all Lulu tops, and if you read my review on the Race With Grace Half Zips, then you’ll know that for me, it’s all about the details. So, first, I liked the fact that it was a half-zip. I tried on the Race Your Pace top, (the basic pullover, not the half zip), and I did not like the fit, and the neck hole was too big (the straps of my Flow Y Bra showed). Of course, Lulu always includes a zipper garage, which I like, however, these new 2-way zippers on the half-zips to quote let you “catch a breeze mid-stride” seriously make no sense. No one will ever use this. I went easier on this 2-way zipper feature in my “Race With Grace” review, but having experience with it now, I can be more definitive about the fact that I definitely won’t ever use this feature.

I like the little reflective details on the forearms, and the cuffins with the “cold hands,” “warm heart” inscription written in reflective material. And of course, there’s a small pocket near the left-hand side towards the back that is well concealed through a teeny tiny zipper. It’s strange that I will rarely; if ever, use this pocket, yet I hold no contempt towards it as I do towards the ridiculous two-way zipper.

So, I guess to summarize, this is a great light-weight fall top with a few cute details and one ridiculous one. It is true to size and the Rulu is soft as ever, though slightly thinner.

I hope this review helps if you’re thinking about buying this.

What do you think about this top? True to size? Will you use the two-way zipper? Let me know in the comments below!

Cuffins
Cuffins
2-Way Zipper
2-Way Zipper

Race Your Pace 1:2 Zip

UPDATE:

In response to a reader comment below (Thanks, Anne!) I decided to post this photo:

Inside-out picture featuring the zipper.
Inside-out picture featuring the zipper.

So, it does seen to be a little “unfinished.” It is not attached (sewn flat) on the sides to the shirt itself. Like I said above, I DO see how it could be itchy, but I love it anyways 🙂

The Body Shop’s NEW Colour Crush Nail Varnish Review

It’s time for the next instalment of Body Shop product reviews. I did my first one a few months ago when they started sending me free stuff to give my opinion on, here. This month I was excited to see that I would be reviewing nail polish. Nail polish is my thing. I love doing my nails and I love having all the unique shades. I like doing amateur nail art and putting stickers on my nails. Before they sent me my colour, which is called: Red My Mind, they had me do a survey to find my “Happy Colour,” which can be found by clicking here. I like my happy colour, it’s bold, like me.

Like I said: I love nail polish:

My nail polish collection
My nail polish collection

I really enjoyed this formula and they can sell people like me on things like: “Formaldehyde & Toluene Free.” They don’t make many claims about this product other than that it comes in 24 “feel-good” shades, is “enriched with Marula oil, 100% vegan, nail-loving” and finally, a claim that is testable that it is “quick-dry” and “high gloss.” I would agree with both of those claims. This formula impressed me and I almost wish that The Body Shop were more boastful. Not only is the formula quick-drying and nice & shiny- it also applies fairly opaquely on the first coat. I put two coats, but mostly out of tradition- in fact I noticed little difference between one and two coats. I also loved the brush. It was thick and easy to maneuver making application simple and intuitive. I can be rather messy sometimes, and I found that my blunders were mitigated while using this brush, so I didn’t get as much on my fingers as normal. Still did though, of course.

The colour is very pretty and I would say a classy, classic red that leans on the coral side. I’m going to enjoy this manicure and I will let y’all know if I end up finding this polish chippy or otherwise less than satisfactory, but for now, I have to say I’m relatively impressed and I will be giving it 5 stars. I think that the $8 price point is very fair, considering the performance and compared to other brands I like such as OPI and China Glaze which cost between 10 and 12 dollars. The other reason I think it’s fair is because The Body Shop often holds 40% off sales, which would bring the price down to a level where I would be tempted to try ALL the shades! I have a ton of nail polish already, but I’m glad to be adding “Red My Mind” to my wall of polish. If you want to buy some you can find it here.

Pretty Polish! Messy application by me :)
Pretty Polish! Messy application by me 🙂

UPDATE: It’s been about 2 days and I only have a slight chip on one of my nails on my dominant hand, so I’d say this stuff is pretty good. Particularly considering that I forgot to put on a top coat.

UPDATE: It’s been 4 days, and it’s pretty chippy. I am not disappointed, since many of my other polishes would have chipped about as much by now, but I wouldn’t call this formula particularly long-lasting. I would say I got an average amount of wear out of this application.

#nailhappiness

Brady Inn, Madison, Georgia Review

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of staying at the Brady Inn in Madison, Georgia. It is situated a short walk away from the downtown area of a place that I would unabashedly compare to the fictional town of “Stepford.” My husband and I took a long walk about town and couldn’t help but notice how polite everyone was and how everyone says “good morning” to each other as they walk by. This quaint town is typical 1950’s idealism at it’s best. The Courthouse and Chamber of Commerce are charming little buildings, and everything is so quintessentially American.

Courthouse from far away
Courthouse from far away
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce

Every storefront decorates their windows- even the financial services and real estate firms! We stopped at a local coffee shop called “Perk Avenue” and got some delicious lattes to take on our walk. They were decorated and ready for the Halloween season- see photo below 🙂

Perk Avenue Coffee Shop- Ready for Halloween!
Perk Avenue Coffee Shop- Ready for Halloween!

We enjoyed our walk, and even took a few other photos about town.

Madison Courthouse. Yes, that's a teddybear on the steps.
Madison Courthouse. Yes, that’s a teddybear on the stairs.

Overall, the town is just gorgeous and everyone is so friendly. We did a little shopping and stopped at Pure Bliss Spa to pick up some mascara as I had forgotten my makeup. We received friendly service everywhere we went. I wish we had spent longer walking around, but when we weren’t busy visiting with family, we stayed at the Brady Inn. The Brady Inn was a wonderful place to stay. The owners were so welcoming, explained everything when we arrived at which point we were also served with the check. I fully support that practice, it reduces misunderstandings and increases transparency in billing. In case you’re curious, it was about $160 per night, as quoted on their website.

As I was saying, Peter met us at the door and explained everything. He gave us the keys to the front and back doors, which are locked promptly at 6pm, and showed us where the thermostat was in case we got hot or cold. There’s a dry erase board that tells you what time breakfast is and a beverage area which includes complimentary wine, beer, sodas, bottled water, coffee, tea, and various snacks as well. It was well organized and intuitive- a place for everything, and everything in its place.

The Brady Inn itself is historic and charming. The house is decorated with antique furnishings and photos and art from the period. I took a few photos of the Inn itself and more are available online and on the website. Here’s a photo I took of the front entrance:

Brady Inn Entrance

We stayed in the Patrick Brady Guestroom. The Brady room itself is comfortable and features plenty of natural light if you like. If not, you can close the plantation shutters and close the curtains for darkness. The bed is a very comfortable antique and I felt like a queen sleeping on it. The bathroom is small, but functional. The only complaint I would put forth is the loose faucet, but it didn’t impair the function of the bath, nor did it inconvenience me- I just try to provide honest accounts of things. It’s also worth noting that shampoo, conditioner, soap and a hairdryer were all provided. I can’t provide reviews because I brought my own soaps, but the hairdryer was in good working order.

Here are some pictures of the room:

The bed in our room is flanked on both sides by windows.
The bed in our room is flanked on both sides by windows.
This desk is located near the front of the room in the righthand corner.
This desk is located near the front of the room in the righthand corner.

The breakfast was wonderful. I woke up about a half hour late both days and I was still served breakfast. I think the general rule is that if there are still other people eating, it’s not so big a deal to make breakfast for the new people. The first day we had a small peach & raspberry jam concoction with some fresh cream, served warm. Next we had some grits and a ham, cheese & egg casserole. The grits were pretty good, but they’re not really my thing. The casserole was delicious and I ate the whole thing. The next day we had a cinnamon spiced fruit cup, also served hot. It was good, I love fruit, so I enjoyed it. Then we were served stuffed french toast. It was served with real maple syrup and had cream cheese inside it. It was accompanied by a side of eggs and bacon. Yummy! Overall, the breakfast service was very professional as well. We were served coffee, tea, orange juice and water- I took in as much as I could. Everything was wonderful.

If you’re only staying two days, they don’t bother to change the sheets unless you ask, but they do offer new towels- which I did need. The checkout process, considering that we paid upon arrival was simple and we simply handed the keys back to the owner. I hope this review was helpful and that you too enjoy the small town atmosphere that is Madison, Georgia and that you too get a chance to enjoy the Brady Inn.

The Return of Bhakti Yoga Shorts

I am so excited to see the return of the Bhakti Yoga Shorts this year. I really would love to know why Lululemon released these last year in the fall/winter season and again this year in the same, without a summer release, but I am still very excited to see their return to the shelves. I was worried that perhaps they were not popular enough to warrant another release when they were not released this summer, but alas, Lululemon has decided to keep them a fall/winter item (for some reason). I mentioned these in my fit review about the Bhakti line here, and I said that I would be wearing them on vacation and on hot summer days. Indeed I wore them for almost the entirety of my Caribbean cruise, as well as on hot summer nights. It was a mild summer compared to last year, but I found myself wearing them in July and August nonetheless.

Bhakti Yoga Shorts
Bhakti Yoga Shorts

Bhakti Yoga Shorts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured above are two pairs from last year. They’re back this year in Heathered Black & Inky Floral Soot Black/ Heathered Black. I hope we get some colours! We only got 4 last year, Petal Pop (waistband, black otherwise), Baroque Blue, Fresh Teal (also waistband only) and Black. I hope we get some more colours- I got the black ones and the blue ones, and I don’t need more black. I would die for some purple ones! What do you think of the Bhakti Yoga Shorts? Have you tried them? What do you think of the new run? Let me know in the comments below!

Heathered Black Bhakti Yoga Short Heathered Black: Inky Floral Soot Black Bhakti Yoga Short