Haul | MAC, Lush, Ulta

I'm so excited that this week is spring break. It'll be nice to have some time to myself and cross a bunch of things off the checklist. After work today, I ran errands and picked up a few necessaries (ignore my excitement about the gummy vitamins! I hate taking daily vitamins, hoping these will be easier) - while I was out, I found a few fun things as well.

Marc Anthony Instantly Thick

My favorite shampoo from years ago was one by Marc Anthony- it came in a pink bottle. I don't remember exactly what it was, but I LOVED everything about it. It smelled great, made my hair look fantastic, and was pretty inexpensive. I think they've discontinued it though, I can't find it anywhere! Ulta was having a buy one get one half off sale, so I figured I'd try this one. (It took all my efforts not to buy cartloads of drugstore make up too, as much of those were buy one get one half off as well)

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

Just a repurchase of my favorite mask! It's minty, green, and cheap ($4!) and the bottle is 8oz- it'll last forever. It's great for oily, acne prone skin, and is not irritating. I wouldn't recommend this if you have dry skin though.

Lush Sweet Lips Lip Scrub

I've heard so many good things about this lip scrub. It's taken me a while to shell out the $10 for this, but hopefully it'll be worth it. I've been using the lip scrub from the Body Shop, but it wasn't doing it for me. It was so soft it would break, and didn't properly exfoliate either. High hopes for Sweet Lips! It smells amazing.

MAC Brush Cleanser

Fix +

I strolled into MAC to pick up a bottle of brush cleanser, and tossed in a travel sized Fix+. I've never tried this make up setting spray, so we'll see how it goes. I also wanted to get the Woodwinked eyeshadow, but it wasn't on display. I took it as a sign that it wasn't meant to be. siiiigh.

Ponds Luminous Clean

I've always been a huge fan of Ponds. The line was introduced to me by my mom, who always had a tub of the cold cream on her vanity. I came across the new Luminous Clean line and picked up two items. The Cream Cleanser "draws out trapped impurities and make up to brighten dull skin". I purchased the day lotion to replace the Ponds Clarant B3 I just ran out of. The Day lotion has SPF 15 and doesn't smell like sunscreen! Both products have a light rose scent. So far so good. The Luminous Clean line also includes an exfoliating cleanser and cleansing towelettes, all at super affordable prices of around $6.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

Elizabeth Arden is another favorite of my mom's, so I figured I'd give it a try. Upon sampling the product when I got home, It's an orange petroleum-ish cream that reminds me a bit of Vaseline and Aquaphor, except the Eight Hour Cream gets completely absorbed! So far, I'm not a fan of the scent, reminds me of cardboad. Hopefully I'll get over the scent, I've heard it's a wonderful product. 

Have you tried any of these products?

What's In My Skincare Bag - To Go

For the last six days or so I've been at my boyfriend's place to get away from the storm, and I thought it would be a nice opportunity for a what's-in-my-bag post with a little bit about each product. Of course I didn't bring everything, just a few of the "essentials".

What's in my skincare bag

Drugstore

• No. 7 Quick Thinking Wipes - These trusty wipes are fragrance free and effectively removes all my make up- even eye make up! 30 wipes/package. These are available at Boots, Ulta, and I think Target

• TRESemme Split Remedy Shampoo & Conditioner - These samples were sent to me a few weeks ago to try, I've only used it twice so I can't really comment, but so far it's just a regular shampoo/conditioner. It does the job. 

• Simple Revitalizing Eye Roller - vitamins and nutrients for your under eye area. I haven't seen a difference using this product, but the application feels great.

• Queen Helene Cocoa Butter Hand and Body Lotion - an old favorite. I've been using this since i was about 15. Moisturizing, and smells great, and super cheap too! 2 fl oz/ $1.50

• Neutrogena Oil Free Grapefruit Acne Wash - 2% salicylic acid to clear breakouts.

• Q tips.

Lush

• Lush Happy Hippy - citrusy, refreshing shower gel. Size is perfect for travel! $10.

The Body Shop

• The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion - A very light, yet moisturizing night cream, suitable for blemished skin. Makes my skin look better over time.

• Tea Tree Oil- Not that exciting, but a great staple! I use it on blemishes. Never drying. $9/The Body Shop. Or any health food store really. 

• The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream - for combination/ oily skin. I have combination skin, and I use this every morning (sometimes at night too), and it's great. Moisturizing enough, but never oily, even when I pile it on. It absorbs readily too. 1.7 oz/$16.50

Sephora/ High(er) end

• Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator - Great exfoliator! Small exfoliants so it isn't abrasive.

• Caudalie Beauty Elixir - A refreshing spray for the face, I use this in the morning and before bed, and anytime throughout the day. A must have! 1 fl oz/$18. 
• I purchased these two in a set that includes both, a hand cream, and a foaming face cleanser. The total for all four products is the same as just the exfoliator! Caudalie Favorites set.

• Bliss High Intensity hand cream - with macadamia oil and grapeseed extract. It's not my favorite hand moisturizer, but it does the job. It smells a tad bit like some of the Caudalie products- probably because of the grape component of the ingredients. 1 fl oz/$8 at Ulta and Sephora.

• Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Correction Pads - I use one pad every night after cleansing and right before moisturizing. It has 10% glycolic acid, and 2% salicylic acid to combat breakouts. The box says that it's anti aging and pore minimizing as well. I recently purchased the PTR Gentle Correction Pads, with less salicylic acid in it (0.5%), and didn't see much of a difference, so I'm trying out this one. It's my attempt to find a cheaper alternative for my all time favorite Cane & Austin Acne pads ($60/60 pads). These PTR Max Complexion pads are $36/60 pads, available at Sephora and Ulta.

• Kate Somerville Exfolikate Acne - This has 0.5% salicylic acid and is a gentle exfoliator for the face. Skin feels great after using it. Suggested use 1-2 times per week, since it can be drying. I got this in a kit, but the original sizing is a bit larger. Available at Nordstrom & Sephora.

• Murad Acne Spot Treatment - with 3% sulfur to dry up spots. This is a recent purchase, so I haven't used much of it yet. 

• Bag was a gift with purchase from Clinique a few years ago.

• SAI-SEI Mineral Invigorate Body Scrub - Fantastic body scrub, smells just like a spa. A very refreshing smell- almost like Bath and Body Works' cucumber melon, but much better and a little lighter. The exfoliants are rather fine, so it's not super abrasive. This Japanese skincare line is great. I purchased this in a pack that came with a shower gel and body creme, 2.5-3.3fl oz each, for $35. Great value! Available at SpaceNK.