Hey beauties, hope all is well. I hauled quite a few stuff during Black Friday, Cyber Monday and around Christmas time. However, I returned most of the things because they either just didn't work for me and/or I didn't like them for one reason or another. The following products are items that I kept and have been using for the past month or so. (All drugstore products mentioned in this post were given to me for free from one of my wonderful friends. The rest were purchased by me, using coupon codes, ebates and gift cards.)
1. L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Waterproof Mascara in 630 Blackest Black around $7 - During the first few uses, it did nothing for my lashes. Still, I continued to use it and now when I apply the mascara, it lengthens and volumizes my lashes with 2 coats. However, it flakes throughout the day and makes the tip of my lashes curl downwards a little bit. Also, it starts to clump when I apply the second coat and I end up having to separate my lashes with my Royal & Langnickel BC515 brush (mini review).
2. Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Waterproof Mascara in 291 Very Black around $6 - It lengthens and volumizes my lashes with 2 coats. However, after 3 weeks of opening, it now clumps my lashes when I apply 2 coats and I end up having to separate my lashes with my Royal & Langnickel BC515 brush.
3. Milani Infinite Liquid Eye Liner in 05 Everlast around $6.99 for 5ml - The formula is goopey. So, I have to wipe off alot of the excess before applying it or else it applies very thick. Also, I wish it was a felt tip applicator because the brush applicator is a little too thick and a little hard to control. I have to be extra careful or else the liner ends up being too thick. Other than that, I love using it because it does not fade or smudge and it's waterproof. Just make sure to wait about a minute to let it dry & set.
4. MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder in NC30 $23 for 12g - I got this at the CCO for $16.75. My Mac foundation shade is NC30/NC35. I always buy a setting powder that is lighter than my skintone (NC25) to set my Dior foundation because the setting powder in NC30 & NC35 oxidizes throughout the day and makes me look orange. However, NC25 is too light when I use it to set my L'oreal True Match foundation. So, I got NC30 and it's a perfect match for me currently when I use it to set that foundation.
5. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler $19 - I regret not getting this sooner. I used to own a Revlon eyelash curler because it's cheap and I thought all eyelash curlers were the same, but I was so wrong. The Shu Uemura eyelash curler curls my lashes effortlessly and it doesn't pinch my skin or break my lashes like the Revlon eyelash curler does.
6. Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream around $20 for 0.5 oz - Although I don't have any wrinkles (yet), I still like wearing this eye cream underneath my eyes before I apply my concealer. The eye cream makes my MAC Pro Longwear concealer apply more smoothly and it doesn't leave a cakey finish. I just have to make sure that I wait for the eye cream to fully absorb into my skin before applying the concealer or else the concealer will slide off throughout the day.
7. Sonia Kashuk Eye Makeup Remover around $9.99 for 4.75 oz - It removes waterproof mascara and eye liner really well, doesn't sting my eye and it doesn't feel greasy when applied with a cotton pad. However, it feels greasy when I touch the product with my bare hands. Also, please keep in mind that it does leave a white residue if you use too much, but this doesn't bother me because I usually wash my face with a facial cleanser afterwards. By the way, it's similar to the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover, except that the Neutrogena one is cheaper. However, I prefer the Sonia Kashuk one because I only need to use 1 cotton pad for each eye in order to remove all my waterproof eye makeup.
8. Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover around $5 for 3.8 oz - The 5.5 oz bottle retails for about $6.50. It's similar to the Sonia Kashuk one. However, it takes 3 cotton pads to remove all my waterproof eye makeup. I recommend it for those who are on a beauty budget because it still gets the job done.
9. Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion Toner $12.50 6.7 oz - I got this because it's gentle and it doesn't dry or sting my face. It also removes any makeup that my facial cleanser missed. However, it has a thin gel consistency and alot of the product gets absorbed into the cotton pad, which is wasteful. Also, pieces of cotton from the cotton pad get stuck to my face when I apply too much of the toner. (I use Market Spa Cotton Rounds and Swisspers 100% Cotton Facial Cleansing Pads.)
10. Lancome Bienfait Aqua Vital Lotion $45 for 1.7 oz - It has a watery consistency and feels very light. It quickly absorbs into my skin and my skin feels and looks moisturized after I apply it. However, when I apply any brand of liquid foundation, I can see some minor flaking, which is due to the fact that I use a facial cleanser that contains 2% salicylic acid. (Salicylic acid exfoliates the skin and can be drying.) Therefore, I need a heavier moisturizer when I'm wearing foundation. However, the Lancome moisturizer is moisturizing enough if I don't wear foundation over it.
11. Japonesque Professional Eye Detailer Brush Medium $19 - It is made from soft, natural bristles and is very similar to the MAC 239 brush (full review), except that the Japonesque brush is a little bit firmer, thicker and longer. The brush tip is thin enough to apply eyeshadow on the lower lash line and it does not feel prickly whatsoever. I actually prefer the Japonesque brush over the MAC 239 because it's easier to clean, it dries fast and it's less expensive. Compared to the Royal & Langnickel BC410 brush (mini review), the Japonesque brush is smaller, but not too small for packing on eyeshadow onto my lids. It is also great for applying highlight under the brows.
12. Japonesque Professional Eye Detailer Brush Small $13.50 - It's made from soft, natural bristles and it's significantly smaller and thinner than the medium Japonesque Professional Eye Detailer brush. The small version offers better precision and is great for detail work. It also doesn't irritate my lower lash line. If I had to choose either the small or medium version, I would choose the medium version because it's more versatile.
13. Burberry No. 10 Definition Liner Brush $32 - It is made from soft, squirrel hair. The brush tip is thin and it does not scratch or irritate my lower lash line. However, it's also a little bit flimsy and it's hard to control when I apply eyeshadow on my lower lash line. I still prefer my Japonesque detail brushes for lower lash line application. (The Coastal Scents C138 brush (full review) is pictured for size comparison.)
Hope you all enjoyed my haul. =)
Have you tried any of the products that I have mentioned above?
What have you bought during the holiday sales?
*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.
