May 2012 Empties and goodbye!

I'm leaving for Costa Rica and Nicaragua for tomorrow and I won't be back until the middle of July! No posts until then, sorry! On to the empties:

•  Bath and Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom body mist
• Up&Up Smoothing Shave Gel
• The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla body scrub
• Bath and Body Works Passion Flower Wallflower

•  Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo sample (from Birchbox)
• Sephora Flawless Moisturizing Lotion SPF 15
• Pantene Beautiful Lengths Smoothing Creme
• Pantene shampoo (travel size)
• Nivea Express Hydration lotion (travel size)
• Nivea Kiss of Smoothness lip balm
• Benefit BADgal lash (dried up)
• Garnier Ultra-Lift sample

• St. Ives Fresh Skin warming scrub
• Bath and Body Works Fresh Picked Strawberries Deep Cleansing Hand Soap
• L'Occitane gentle milk soap
• TRESemme Split Remedy shampoo and conditioner samples

Travel Beauty Items

Hey guys,

Long time, no real post. My last day of school was on May 9th, and with the exception of the wedding on May 11th, all I have been doing is working and prepping for my journey to Costa Rica and Nicaragua. This whole "travel-to-foreign-countries-to-do-research" thing really stresses me out because I honestly have no experience with this kind of thing. I'm SO TIRED of spending money and buying things that I have to have. I am just a student after all, and I don't get much financial support from my parents so money has been a little tight. I have it all pretty much figured out now, but I'm still worrying about everything.
One part of this adventure that I have really enjoyed, however, is buying the "beauty" products I will be needing in the jungle. I have SO MUCH STUFF already, but of course it all smells like fruit and flowers and other things mosquitoes and other bugs like. I had to buy everything unscented/plain scented because I don't want to raise the risk of getting bitten by mosquitoes. Additionally, I have bought enough DEET to repel an elephant.
Here's the lot of it:

Group Picture

Sun Protection

• Two bottles of Bullfrog SuperBlock SPF 50
• one giant bottle of Equate SPF 50
• small thing of slightly-expired CVS brand SPF 70 "face lotion" that I plan on using on my body. 

Face Products

• Two ChapStick LipSHIELD365 SPF 50+ lip balms
• Bioré Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser (I don't have to use a toner after this)
• Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 50
• one toothbrush
• Crest Baking Soda & Peroxide toothpaste

Body Products

• Equate Mild Exfoliating body wash (compare to Dove Gentle Exfoliating body wash)
• CVS Dry Skin Therapy soothing cream (compare to Eucerin Calming Creme)
• Aquaphor Healing Ointment
• Degree NaturEffects Absorbent Sea Salt deodorant
• Schick silk razors
• L'Occitane shea butter hand cream

Hair Products

• Suave Kids 2-in-1 Shampoo in Surf's Up 
• Garnier Fructis Style Pure Clean Smoothing Cream
• Goody Slide-Proof head bands
• Goody mini hair brush
• Goody Ouchless elastics
• Not pictured, but there will be a fair amount of bobby pins coming with me.

Yeah. It really is a shame that EVERYTHING I already had except the Garnier Smoothing Cream was scented like something. Also, you'll notice there is absolutely no makeup here. I figured howler monkeys will not care if I wear mascara or not, and why put makeup on if I'm just going to be wet all day? Now, to get everything to fit into my bags...

What are you guys planning for this summer and what beauty products are you bringing with you?

Huge Haul

I went home on Thursday for my cousin's wedding. The bride was beautiful and I am so happy for them!  Besides going to the wedding, I also went shopping with my boyfriend and got my make-up done for the wedding at the MAC counter in Nordstrom (I was a guest book attendant at the wedding). I went a little wild with coupons and whatnot...

•  Dial Hello Kitty bar soap and body wash Finally found these! I've been looking for these for a while. They smell amazing!
• Suave Kids 2-in-1 Shampoo in Surf's Up I needed a non-fruity 2-in-1 for CR and Nic.)
• Pantene Ice Shine shampoo I had a coupon that got me this for free
• Olay Soothing Cucumber massaging body bar and body wash The body bar was included for free and this was on clearance...AND I had a dollar off coupon
• Herbal Essences Split End Protector I am hoping this works the same as the previous products in this kind of bottle.

•  Covergirl Lash Perfection Needed new mascara, this looked good.
• Covergirl Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer I had wanted this for a LONG time. I had two dollar off manufacturer coupons PLUS a two dollar off two Target coupon...so I got $4 off the two CG items.
• Revlon ColorStay Aqua hydrating powder On clearance for $3.58, had a $2 off coupon, so it was $1.58 in the end. WORTH IT. It feels SO good when you put it on your skin.
• Wet N Wild MegaLast polish in On a Trip This was on sale for one dollar at Walgreens :)

 I went to Bath and Body Works to get a few things for my mom and I also stopped by Victoria's Secret because I had a free panty AND a $10 off anything coupon.
From Bath and Body Works:

• Deep Cleansing hand soap in Fresh Picked Watermelons, Fresh Picked Pears and Paris Amour
• PocketBacs in Fresh Picked Pears and Fresh Picked Peaches
• Swirly sleeve for the hand soap (my boyfriend picked this out for our room next year)

From Victoria's Secret: These were on clearance for $7.50 so I got both for $5 after my coupon!!!

• PINK body butter in Pretty Girl
• PINK body butter in Dream On 

I got the mini body spray as a gift from the bride and groom :)

From MAC, I got two eyeshadows in All That Glitters and Mulch. I decided on All That Glitters and the MAC lady suggested Mulch as a crease color when I asked. I also got a Cremesheen lipstick in Creme Cup, which I wore to the wedding. I also got Fix+ because they used it at noon and my foundation was still on after midnight, after a hot day and a lot of crying. And it smells amazing! These are my first MAC products and so far I am impressed.

I also got my Target Beauty Bag in the mail! The products included were:

• Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes (7 wipes)
• Neutrogena Visibly Bright face wash
• Pantene Color Care Volume shampoo
• Nivea Extended Moisture lotion
• L'Oreal Magic Lumi primer (LOVE this stuff!!)

So...all in all...a pretty awesome/reckless weekend!

May 2012 Birchbox!

• Dior Miss Dior Eau de Parfum I really like perfume samples and this one is a SPRAY sample!!!
• Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo This was a only large foil packet, but I am super excited to try something from Shu Uemura as I have never had the opportunity.
• Miracle Skin Transformer Body SPF 20 in Glow I am not quite sure I have a use for this, but it is definitely something I would not have tried without Birchbox.
• Dior Diorshow Extase mascara woohoo for new mascara samples! Especially ones I have never tried and would never buy on my own.

This wasn't the best Birchbox I have ever received, but I'm still digging it. I like getting things I wouldn't normally pick up, since this is a great new way to try new things without breaking the bank. If you want to sign up, my referral link is on the side :)

April 2012 Empties

 BBW Secret Wonderland Fragrance Mist (travel)
Pantene Flat to Volume Conditioner (travel)
BBW PocketBac Island Margarita
Gud Floral Cherrynova body lotion sample
Sephora Supreme Cleansing Foam (travel)
Garnier Fructis Pure Clean 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner (sample)
Dr. Weil/Origins Mega Bright (sample)
Small bar of soap from a Sheraton
Vichy Purele Thermal Make up Remover (trial)
Dollar Days Makeup remover wipes

Pure Silk Raspberry Mist Shave Cream
The Body Shop Dewberry Lotion
The Body Shop Dewberry Body Wash
Pantene Medium Thick Breakage to Strength shampoo

 got2b Smooth Operator Lustre Lotion

 Secret Scent Expressions So Very Summerberry deodorant (travel)
Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser (travel)
BBW Warm Vanilla Sugar home fragrance oil
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (trial)
Tresemme Fresh Start Refreshing Mist

Tresemme Smooth and Silky Conditioner
BBW PocketBac Fresh Picked Strawberries
Shiseido Pureness Blotting Papers (trial)
Borghese Fango mask (trial)
CVS Advanced makeup removing towelettes

Sephora Instand Depuffing Roll-on gel