review: influenster target dry spray voxbox

 

hi guys! this took me forever and a day to throw together, but here we go! at the end of january, i received another influenster* voxbox containing two dry deodorant sprays from dove. and now i'm finally making my review of them! ~Lindsay-chan ^.~
dove [women's] dry spray in cool essentials

1. this is actually my second dove spray deodorant, the first being the "beauty finish" one, which i purchased on the idea that i liked the solid deodorant of that scent and never tried spray deodorant before, so why not give it a shot? and i wasn't super happy with it, partially because the scent wasn't the same. the deodorant lasted well throughout the day, but....
2. the major issue i have, which i'm not sure if this is for all aerosol body sprays or just the dove spray deodorants -- is that i'm having major reactions to the aerosol-ness of them. like i can't even be in the same room i used it in until it airs out. the aerosol-y smell it leaves makes it difficult to breathe or just makes me want to gag. does that make sense..? probably not, but that's been my problem while using both of my dove spray deodorants and teh paul using his. even putting clothes on and then spraying it on under clothing did not help. it alleviated some of the gag-reflex issue, but i still had to close off any rooms we used it in until the smell dissipated.
3. which brings us to the "cool essentials" flavor. i didn't have any issues with the scent, i thought that it was nice and fresh. it did not make me think of cucumbers as the photo kind of implies. it did last very well throughout the day (the scent and keeping me dry), but i can't say for sure that this will hold up well in the summer months, especially in louisiana heat and humidity. but for the cooler months, it's not too bad.
4. repurchase? no

dove men+care dry spray in extra fresh

1. on one of the occasions that target offered men's 'beauty' boxes, they included dove men's "clean comfort" dry spray. teh paul was reluctant to use it at first, but eventually it grew on him to the point where he repurchased another to take on his italy trip last summer, and later the solid version of this scent. 
2. the "extra fresh" scent, i'm not as much of a fan of. i feel like the scent fades super fast and it's not anything special. he's ok with either of these scents--i guess because he's a guy and doesn't really care, and 'yay free deodorant', so he hasn't really said much about this one.
3. repurchase? maybe, but more likely the clean comfort scent

#trydry #target

disclosure: I WAS NOT COMPENSATED FOR THIS POST, HOWEVER I DID RECEIVE A SAMPLE FOR MY REVIEW. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN AND NOT INFLUENCED IN ANY WAY. ---- and not only that, i purchased a men's and woman's dove spray deodorant for us to try prior to receiving these.

*Affiliate Link.

target's second october beauty box

this month, target did not just one, but two beauty boxes! the first was all loreal products, and this one is the typical hodgepodge for $10. ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. skinfix ultra rich body butter (1oz--mini, ret. $17.99 for 8oz [$2.25]) -- man is this stuff thick! it feels nice and it is 'unscented'. the scent it does have is pretty similar to their hand cream.
   repurchase? maybe
2. hello supermint toothpaste (.75oz--mini, ret. $4.49 for 5oz [$0.67]) -- this smells really good! i'm interested in trying it out.
   repurchase? maybe 
3. olly beauty vitamins (2 gummies--sample, ret. $13.99 for 60 [$0.46]) -- these are grapefruit flavored, and taste pretty good. not quite like the real thing, but not super artificial either.
   repurchase? probably not
4. acure moroccan argan oil + stem cell triple repair shampoo & conditioner (1oz each--minis, ret. $9.99 for 8oz (each) [$2.50]) -- maybe i'm crazy, but the shampoo smells like almonds to me, and the conditioner smells like argan oil..which is what they both contain. so i'm not sure why the shampoo smells like almonds to me...but yeah. we'll have to see about these.
5. repurchase? maybe
6. goody slideproof flat silicone lined elastics (3 bands--mini, ret. $4.79 for 17 [$0.85]) -- yay more hair ties!
   repurchase? maybe
7. covergirl intensify me eyeliner in intense black (.03oz--full size, ret. $6.99) -- i'm planning to give this away. i didn't like the first one i got (see influenster review).
   repurchase? no
8. revlon colorstay ultimate suede lipstick in muse (.09oz--full size, ret. $8.59) -- this is so not my color. it'll probably work better with people who have darker skintones than i do. but it is a pretty color, a nice blue-toned pink, with a slight bit of blue shimmer. formula-wise, it's kind of meh. it goes on sheer but layers up, and can get on your teeth pretty easily.
   repurchase? probably not
9. roc retinol correction deep wrinkle night cream (1oz--full size, ret. $20.49) -- i haven't decided if i even want to open this yet or not. i'm not totally sure about keeping this one....
   repurchase? probably not
10. s.w. basics certified organic body scrub (sample, ret. $24.49 for 3oz) -- we'll have to try this out an see.
    repurchase? probably not
11. $3 off $15 purchase coupon

approximate product value: ~$42.80

target october beauty box

hi guys! today i got this month's target beauty box in the mail! this box is loreal themed. it's kind of a bummer that there's only 3 multi-use products included in this box, along with two foil-packette samples and two tester-type items. but hey, it was only $5, so i can't complain too much! ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. voluminous original mascara in blackest black (8ml--full size, ret. $5.89) -- i'm interested in trying this out. a long time ago, i tried the solid gold tube version of this mascara and i really enjoyed it.
   repurchase? maybe
2. elnett satin hair spray (2.2oz--mini, ret. $6) -- i gave away the last can of this that i got because i can't get over the [baby?] powdery scent it has.
    repurchase? no
3. advanced haircare total repair 5 shampoo (1.7oz--mini, ret. $5.99 for 25.4oz [$0.40]) -- this has a really pleasant scent! it's reminiscent of some variation of pantene...i tried too many, so i don't remember which. i'm excited to try!
   repurchase? maybe
4. advanced haircare smooth intense shampoo, pre-conditioner, and straightening conditioner (.34oz each--sample packette, ret. $5.99 for 25.4oz each (shampoo & conditioner), $5.99 for 6.8oz (pre-conditioner) [$0.46]) -- yall know i like my straight hair! i'm interested! i'm not so sure about the pre-conditioner thing.. that's adding extra steps to the routine and i'm lazy.
   repurchase? maybe
5. revitalift volume filler re-volumizing serum ($20.19 for .5oz) & cream sample packettes ($19.99 for 1.7oz) -- meh, i'll try this. "it's never too early to start using anti-aging products". why not.
   repurchase? nah
6. true match swatch card -- this is such a neat idea. it's a bunch of stickers that you can put on your face to figure out what shade you are. i pulled off all of the light sets and tried them on, and i think i'm N1, but that seems too light....so i'll probably compare bottles side by side whenever i decide to try this foundation out.
7. age perfect cell renewal tester thingy -- this was weird. it's a sticker that you put on the back of your hand and then determine whether your skin "needs increasing levels of renewal". i am always hard on my hands and almost never moisturizing them, so yes as i expected, on their scale i need this product. lol. no.
8. $5 off $20 loreal purchase coupon

approximate product value: ~$13

target fall beauty box

hi! omg guys, the postman took three freaking days to deliver this to me. tuesday 8am: out for delivery. 9pm: status not updated (it really said this on the tracker). wednesday 8am: out for delivery. 5pm: delivered, at front door----at a time when i was home, and i checked the doorstep and the mailbox..and nothing. thursday ~430pm, apartment office doesn't have it. 5pm: text message from apartment office to pick up packages. seriously, wtf usps.
anyway despite my better judgment, i decided to go ahead and get this box. it was only $5 and it seems to be catered more toward curly haired people. but that's ok because it's still really cheap to try out some new stuff! ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. jane carter revitalizing leave-in conditioner (2oz--mini, ret. $8.99 for 8oz [$2.25]) -- i don't know how i feel about this one.... it's a super liquidy "conditioner" and the scent is very chemical but they tried to cover it up with some kind of floral..? all's i know is that i'm not sure i want my hair smelling like this, and potential migraines.
   repurchase? no
2. curls creme brulee whipped curl cream (2oz--mini, ret. $10.99 for 8oz [$2.75]) -- i'm going to pass this off to a friend. smells like vanilla cake frosting.
    repurchase? nah
3. dove quench absolute cream serum (3.3oz--full size, ret. $5.99) -- this smells really nice, like a light and bearable floral scent. i think i'm going to pass this off to a friend. it says it's for curly, coarse hair--neither of which i have. and it's supposed to help with frizz control, which i already have a few things for that anyway.
   repurchase? nah
4. sheamoisture jamaican black caster oil (3.2oz--mini, ret. $10.99 for 8oz [$4.40]) -- this smells really nice. you can definitely smell the shea butter, and maybe the sweetness is the peppermint?? but it doesn't seem like it....very vanilla-like. i'll have to update you guys on this one later. it essentially says it's good for all hair types, dyed & heat styled.
   repurchase? maybe
5. aquaphor healing ointment (.25oz--mini, ret. $6.99 for 3.5oz [$0.50]) -- i've never used aquaphor before. anyway, as the name suggests, it is an ointment-y consistency. think triple antibiotic ointment (neosporin, for you people who don't know). anyway, it feels like an ointment too??? it has no scent, and it gives the skin a greasy look (not feel)..just like ointments do? i feel like i'm beating the ointment aspect over the head here..........
   repurchase? undecided
6. colgate optic white platinum express white toothpaste in fresh mint (.75oz--mini, ret. $3.99 for 3oz [$1.00]) -- we'll have to see about this. i'm probably not going to notice much of a difference because i've been using crest 3D white pretty much since it's gone to market.
   repurchase? maybe no. i don't like the taste.
7. $3 off $15 coupon
8. 20% off $125 dermstore.com purchase, code: fallbeauty (exp. 10/30/15)

approximate product value: ~$17

target [summer?] beauty box

hi guys! target came out with another beauty box, already! this one didn't have a name or theme...something about warmer weather....but anyway... this time it was $7. ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. crest 3D whitestrips 1hr express (1 treatment, ret. $49.99 for 4 treatments [$12.50]) -- i tried white strips a long time ago when they first started coming out..and they're ok. getting your teeth actually whitened at your dentist is probably better and more effective. (luckily i have a lot of family in dentistry, mom's a hygienist, grandpa's a retired dentist, and my uncle took over grandpa's practice-----so i tend to get a lot of services or products free....)
   repurchase? probably not
2. fekkai pre-soleil hair mist (1.7oz--mini, ret. $19.99 for 5oz [$6.80]) -- has a slightly citrus but also oily type scent to it. always interested in trying out new hair stuff!
   repurchase? maybe
3. clairol hair food moisturizing mask (6.3oz--full size, ret. $11.99) -- i'm always on the hunt for new deep conditioners. a ways back in a previous target box, they were giving these out but i got that hair thickening spray instead..bleh. anyway this has a really nice fruity scent!
   repurchase? maybe
4. covergirl super sizer mascara in very black (full size, ret. $5.99) -- i'm still working on the one i got in my influenster box, so i'll probably pass this one off to a friend.
   repurchase? yes
5. olay active botanicals moisturizing toner (.6oz--mini, ret. $14.99 for 5oz [$1.80]) -- i'm interested in trying this out. it has a slightly herbal scent.
   repurchase? maybe
6. olay active botanicals day lotion (.6oz--mini, ret. $14.99 for 2.5oz [$3.60]) -- i'm interested in trying this out too. it has a clean type of scent.
   repurchase? maybe
7. card with product info & $3 off $15 beauty purchase coupon at target
8. dermstore.com coupon: 20% off harry josh pro tools, code: welovehair (exp. 9/30/15)

approximate product value: ~$42.68

target back to college beauty boxes

hi guys! sorry this is a bit late! i sent these to the in-laws' because of the move! anyway, here ya go. these were $5 each. the theme was back to college, and the boxes were "head of the class" and "honor roll". ~Lin-chan ^.~

honor roll box ($5)

1. bathery delicate pouf (ret. $1.99) -- it's a shower pouf...what else is there to say?
   repurchase? probably, i always use these.
2. john frieda luxurious volume 7-day treatment (1oz--mini, ret. $8.99 for 4oz [$2.25]) -- i got a free sample of this from the target sample page a couple months back..haven't used it. i might pass it to a friend and try the other one.
   repurchase? probably not
3. covergirl outlast all day primer (1oz--full size, ret. $9.79) -- i've been eyeing this primer, but didn't want to shell out $10 at the drugstore for it...thankfully it was included here so i don't have to, and i do have a lot of primers in my stash to go through still......... it has the watery lotion-y type texture and doesn't have the silicone-y slip that i like, but we'll see how it performs.
   repurchase? maybe
4. nyx butter gloss in strawberry parfait (full size, ret. $4.99) -- i think i'll give this one away. this isn't a me color.
   repurchase? not this shade
5. goody ouchless elastics (3 elastics, (price varies) ret. about $4.59 for 37 count [$0.37]) -- more hair ties!
   repurchase? maybe
6. burt's bees white tea facial wipes (10 wipes--mini, ret. $5.99 for 30 wipes [$2]) -- got these in one of the boxes around christmas time, and i thought that these were only ok....
   repurchase? nah
7. olay white strawberry body wash (3oz--mini, ret. $4.99 for 23.6oz [$0.63]) -- this has a really nice scent. it says it's strawberry and mint..but i think it leans more strawberries and cream with a hint of something extra. this is something else i've been eyeing, but i don't need to buy more body wash right now..
   repurchase? maybe
8. card with product info & $3 off $15 beauty purchase coupon at target

approximate product value: ~$22.02

head of the class box ($5)

1. hollywood fashion tape (6 strips--mini, ret. $8.89 for 36 strips [$1.48]) -- i already love this brand of fashion tape. it works so well and lasts pretty much all day--or at least long enough for your event. they also have hem tape, which i'm interested in trying to see how well that holds up. if you adhere them to your skin for prolonged periods of time, you might get irritation (i did).
   repurchase? probably, i always keep these on hand.
2. wet n wild max volume plus mascara in amp'd black (full size, ret. $4.99) -- always interested in a new mascara!
   repurchase? maybe
3. herbal essences wild naturals dry oil spray (2.8oz--full size, ret. $5.99) -- it has a very nice fruity-floral-y scent. can't wait to try it!
   repurchase? maybe
4. bathery luxury pumice stone (ret. $1.99) -- it's a pumice stone..what else should i say..? the blue part is more of a foamy thingie..
   repurchase? probably not, since they last forever and i have some in use already
5. goody ouchless elastics (3 elastics, (price varies) ret. about $4.59 for 37 count [$0.37]) -- more hair ties!
   repurchase? maybe
6. yes to cucumbers facial wipes (10 wipes--mini, ret. $2.99) -- i haven't tried anything yes to yet, and i've been wanting to try these. tried one out, and they take off makeup pretty well, but aren't super great on stubborn eye makeup. slightly burns the eyes a bit, but has a cooling effect on the skin. smells like cucumbers!
   repurchase? maybe
7. card with product info & $3 off $15 beauty purchase coupon at target

approximate product value: ~$17.81

target summer 2015 beauty box & impressions

hi guys! it's time for the target summer beauty box! i also got the "father's day" box for teh paul, but he wasn't super thrilled about it..... it was $7 for the beauty box, and $5 for the dad's box. ~Lin-chan ^.~

father's day box ($5)

1. axe styling messy look gel (.65oz--mini, ret. $6.99 for 6oz [$0.76])
2. axe styling spiked up extra hold gel (.65oz--mini, ret. $6.29 for 6oz [$0.68])
3. gillette proglide flexball razor (1 handle & 1 razor cartridge--full size, ret. $10.99)
4. dove men+care oxygen charge shampoo (1.8oz--mini, ret. $5.99 for 25.4oz [$0.42])
5. orabrush tongue cleaner (full size, ret. $4.49)

approximate product value: ~$17.34

gladiolus

spring beauty box ($7)

1. olay regenerist luminous dark circle correcting hydraswirl eye cream (.5oz--full size, ret. $23.99) -- i don't really have dark circles..yet, but i'm still interested in eye creams!
   repurchase? maybe
2. revlon hd lipstick in gladiolus (1.5oz--full size, ret. $7.99) -- this is actually really pretty sheered out. as mentioned before, i'm not a huge fan of the packaging of these, but the formula's pretty good.
   repurchase? probably not
3. sinful colors nail polish in energetic red (3.2oz--full size, ret. $1.99) -- such a bright red-coral! this isn't really a me color, so i'll probably pass this off.
   repurchase? other colors
4. cutex advanced revival nail polish remover pads (3 pads--mini, ret. $3.99 for 10 pads [$1.20]) -- i'm not huge into polish remover pads. maybe if i traveled more or something, but i don't really really have a use for these.
   repurchase? probably not
5. fekkai brilliant glossing cream (2oz--mini, ret. $19.99 for 4oz [$10]) -- i have one of these from something or somewhere else before..and i never got around to using it....so now i've got 2!
   repurchase? probably not
6. card with product info & $3 off $15 beauty purchase coupon at target

approximate product value: ~$45.17

target spring 2015 beauty box & impressions

hi guys! earlier this week, target had their spring beauty box on sale and i gots one! woot. it came super fast too, got it today! the good thing about this set is that i've already tried and love most of the items in here, and the price i paid was right. $5 is the cost of the lippie alone! ~Lin-chan ^.~

yes. i has dj pusheen shirt. lippie: rose redefined

1. loreal infallible pro spray & set setting spray (3.4oz--full size, ret. $13.29) -- i paid the full $16 or so at a drugstore when it first came out and i love it. now, i've been trying to use up all of my minis before throwing it into my travel makeup bag (since i have a huge skindinavia i use daily). now i has another one for practically free. i think yes.
   repurchase? at this rate, i won't need to! but, YES
2. tresemme tres two hairspray (1.5oz--mini, ret. $1.47) -- i got a mini of this a long time ago in ipsy or some other beauty box. anyway, i still haven't finished that can either. but yall know i have a love-hate relationship with hairspray--mostly i don't use them because of the added step... and when i was in dance, my mom would give me a helmet-head... anyway, this is probably my favorite hairspray, it holds really well and doesn't feel crunchy.
   repurchase? yes
3. sheamoisture superfruit shampoo (3.2oz--mini, ret. $10.99 for 13oz [$2.71]) -- has a really nice fruity scent, i'm excited to try this!
   repurchase? maybe
4. neutrogena hydroboost gel cream (.25oz--mini, ret. $17.99 for 1.7oz [$2.65]) -- has a very liquidy, gel-like texture and it absorbs relatively fast. it has a slight scent but it's what i would consider an "unscented" product scent. leaves the skin feeling soft and hydrated (to the touch). i'm interested in seeing how this works out with my skin.
   repurchase? maybe
5. maybelline color color elixir lippie in rose redefined (.17oz--full size, ret. $5.49) -- this is hilarious. so i was hoping to get a new color, but i got the exact shade that i purchased a while back. oh well, i think i'll pass this off because i know it's great and i don't really need a backup right now. these are more like a liquid lipstick but with a balmy, glossy texture. they do wear off pretty easily, but they're very nice looking otherwise. these do have a light rose scent to them.
   repurchase? yes
6. card with product info & $3 off $15 beauty purchase coupon at target
7. card advertising dermstore.com; 20% off and free shipping and a complimentary gift with code: springbeauty (exp. 6/4/15)

approximate product value: ~$25.61

target cyber monday beauty box sale: impressions

hi all! for cyber monday, target was offering three beauty boxes for $5 and $10, so i went ahead and bought all three. teh paul thought it was stupid that i even got him one. but $5, that's half of the price of that razor, why wouldn't i get one? ~Lin-chan ^.~

for him box ($5)

1. axe peace shower gel (1.69oz--mini, ret. $3.99 for 16oz [$0.42])
2. gillette proglide flexball razor (1 handle & 1 razor cartridge--full size, ret. $10.99)
3. proraso shaving cream (.35oz--mini, ret. $10 for 5.2oz [$0.67])
4. neutrogena men invigorating face wash  (.5oz--mini, ret. $4.99 for 5.1oz [$0.49])
5. dove men+care dry deodorant spray in clean comfort (3.8oz--full size, ret. $5.49)
6. old spice swagger shampoo/conditioner (1.7oz--mini, ret. $3.99 for 12oz [$0.57])

approximate product value: ~$18.63

naturals box ($5)

1. soapbox argan shampoo (2oz--mini, ret. $7.99 for travel set of 4 [$1.99]) -- has a very normal shampoo scent to it. it's a little thinner in consistency to like pantene or something.
• the back of the bottle says that "every soapbox purchase is a donation to a child in need" and to see their website for details: soapboxsoap.com 
2. skinfix hand repair cream (1oz--mini, ret. $14.99 for 2oz [$7.99]) -- has a very neutral, "unscented" type scent. it's very thick but it feels pretty good once it's rubbed in.
3. burt’s bees facial wipes (10 wipes--mini, ret. $5.99 for 30 wipes [$2]) -- these smell pretty interesting, maybe it's the white tea? it definitely removed dirt and oil from my face but it left my face feeling slightly sticky afterward.....
4. sheamoisture coconut hibiscus smoothie (3.2oz--mini, ret. $3.99) -- this has a very thick texture and i'm not sure if i can really detect the hibiscus scent, but it is definitely coconut plus something.
5. borghese age defying facial scrub (1oz--mini, ret. $16 for 4.2oz [$3.81]) -- i can't pinpoint what this smells like exactly. it's slightly chemically, but there's something else too..... it has an apricot scrub type color and texture.
6. acure organics facial cleanser (1oz--mini, ret. $9.99 for 4oz [$2.50]) -- has a very strong minty smell to it. and it looks like a dark charcoal scrub.

approximate product value: ~$22.28

for her box ($10)

1. pixi endless silky eye pen in black noir (.03oz--mini, ret. $12 for .04oz [$9]) -- swatching this pencil was pretty interesting. it did not want to come off. like wut. and it didn't smear when i rubbed it. so i'm pretty excited to try this out.
2. revlon hd lacquer in hd tourmaline (.2oz--full size, ret. $7.99) -- has a very sweet scent to it. it's very pigmented, which i'm very surprised about.. but this color. omg it is so lindsay, lemme tell ya.
3. clairol hair food thickening solution or hair food moisturizing mask (3.2oz--full size, ret. $11.99) -- i'm not sure about this stuff. it smells like rubbing alcohol, not "infused with kiwi fragrance"
4. l'oreal butterfly intenza mascara in black (full size, ret. $7.99) -- super excited to try this. i did like the original butterfly mascara..on my right eye....but now that they fixed the wand, i can enjoy it on both eyes!
5. covergirl eye enhancers kit in daring nudes (full size  ret. $5.99) -- while this set has really nice shades in it, i do not recommend anyone buying it. the second shade is the only one that isn't super patchy and it is the most pigmented of the four.
6. chapstick 3-n-1 total hydration lip care in sweet peach (full size, ret. $2.99) -- this scent is >w< i love it. despite the appearance of the packaging, this is actually a clear lip balm, not tinted. it's very soft and comfy. i likes it a lot.
7. laneige water sleeping mask (20ml--mini, ret. $23 for 80ml [$5.75]) -- it's a very thin, cooling gel-like mask. i think you can use it basically as a moisturizer. has a very fresh/water-like/lightly floral scent.
8. boots no7 protect & perfect advanced serum (.1oz--mini, ret. $29.99 for 1oz [$3]) -- i'll have to get back to yall on this one. it's a foil packette.

approximate product value: ~$42.71

daring nudes quad, black noir pencil, tourmaline gloss

this is my lol. wtf did i do to my lips face.

target fall 2014 beauty box & impressions

hi all! this came in on saturday but i didn't get a chance to retrieve it from the apartment office until today. target's third beauty box was $7 this time around! (previously $5/ea.) anyway here's what i gots. ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. loreal elnett extra strong hold hairspray (2.2 oz--mini, ret. $6.69) -- again with hairsprays, this is something i'll have to get back to you guys about in the far future. i'm not a huge hairspray person so we'll have to see. has a powdery-type scent.
   repurchase? dunno yet
2. fekkai professional blowout hair refresher dry shampoo (1.7 oz--mini, ret. $7.99) -- try all the dry shampoos! i'm actually kinda backlogged on dry shampoos right now; i've been taking showers mostly in the mornings and letting my hair air dry while i'm at work/school. this smells really freaking good. like it smells like a normal liquid shampoo.
   repurchase? dunno yet
3. laneige bb cushion sampler packette (ret. $34 for .5oz) -- i got this in an ipsy bag a while back and while it's nice and good...it's so expensive and weird to apply.
   repurchase? no, will pass this off to a friend to try
4. nyx jumbo eye pencil in milk (.18 oz--full size, ret. $4.49) -- i'm still iffy on milk. i mean these jumbo eye pencils are great and all but i personally never really reach for them.
   repurchase? nah, will pass off to a friend
5. loreal color riche extraordinaire lipstick in nude ballet (.18 fl oz--full size, ret. $8.99) -- i've been wanting to try one of these. i was kinda iffy when they first came out. and i'm still iffy. this shade, while it looks ok on me is probably not super flattering on most people. the wand picks up too much product and its almost globbed on and it gets uneven if you purse your lips. it also isn't all that pigmented, so it's pretty sheer looking. annnnd i'm also not a fan of the rose scent in this....
   repurchase? no
6. card with product info & $3 off $15 beauty purchase coupon at target
7. card advertising dermstore.com; 20% off and free shipping and a complimentary gift with code: lovebeauty (exp. 12/31/14)

approximate product value: ~$28.16

target spring 2014 beauty box & impressions

hi all! target offered a second beauty box for $5 through the actual target website this time. they also didn't keep it a surprise what items we'd receive this time, which was nice too. ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. TONI&GUY casual sea salt texturising spray (2.5oz--mini, ret. $4.99) -- i'm not huge into texturising sprays since they generally dry out your hair, but i'll have to give this a try and update this post later.
   repurchase? probably not
2. covergirl smoochies sizzle gloss in tickled pink (full size, ret. $5.99) -- this gloss is ok, it doesn't last very long and the glitter particles are so large that it's almost like an exfoliant. though this is 'colored' it doesn't appear to do anything really different to my lips, aside from the sparkle. i'm probably going to pass this off to a friend.
   repurchase? no
3. herbal essences naked dry shampoo (1.7oz--mini, ret. $4.99 for 4.9oz [$1.73]) -- i'll have to update on this one too. it appears to go on nearly clear and has a slight citrus scent to it.
   repurchase? maybe--the price is right!
4. l'oreal voluminous butterfly mascara in black (full size, ret. $7.99) -- this mascara is pretty good, the wand is kind of annoying and interesting at the same time. mostly the issue is that you have to be ambidextrous in order to actually apply this mascara the way they intended this wand. i'm probably going to pass this off to a friend.
   repurchase? no
5. jergens bb body cream for light skintones (2oz--mini, ret. $11.99 for 7.5oz [$3.20]) -- i like how this lotion has a very light and pleasant fragrance, i don't however see the point in body bb creams--or at least this one..especially when it went on invisible.......anyway...
   repurchase? no
6. card with product info & $3 off $15 beauty purchase coupon at target
7. dermstore.com/blush.com/hairenvy.com: 20% off and free shipping, code: beauty4U (exp. 6/30/14)

approximate product value: ~$24

target summer 2013 beauty box & impressions

hi guys! i'm still working on the photo migration/link updates but i wanted to get this post up!

hi all! toward the end of april, target style (on facebook) offered a beauty box trial-run for just $5!! so i decided, why not give it a try? the following is a screenshot i took of the facebook page before it was taken down. they were only offering them either for so long or for so many people, don't remember which.

main complaints: the execution of this box. the invoice email said it'd arrive 4-6 weeks after we ordered it. ok, fine. except, i didn't get mine until about two whole months after i placed the order (placed on 4/30). i'm not entirely sure the exact date it arrived, as it went to my apartment's office first and i picked it up today, but that's a bit extreme; arriving nearly a month after the estimated date. that being said, the coupon in the box is expired (6/22) because they didn't give enough time for the boxes to arrive, and the surveymonkey they wanted us to do (as a survey sweepstakes) "ended" june 1st. so it's like wtf guys. and it's not the post office's fault. i went to the target style facebook page and they were saying that they were in the process of mailing them out....MID JUNE. 

otherwise, for the money, this box is great. ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. la roche-posay effaclar duo (.17oz--sample, ret. $37 for 1.35oz) -- i have a tube of this stuff and it's awesome. i don't use it over my whole face as a moisturizer (as it says), but moreso as a spot treatment.
• update: given away for a friend to try and because my tube is still very full
2. fekkai glossing cream (2oz--mini, ret. $23 for 4oz) -- it smells really nice, i don't think i've tried this before. i'm excited to try it but i probably won't buy it since there's other hair products that i like.
3. gillette venus & olay sugarberry scented razor (full size 1 blade, ret. $11) -- the idea is nice and all, but venus replacement blades...or replacement blades in general (male or female) are kinda expensive. i mean, that's how they get you hooked, they give you a razor for free basically, then they're like, ok $20 for 4 refills! and it's like TT_TT lol. anyway, it says it's scented, so that'll be interesting whenever i get around to opening this.
• update: it has the most familiar scent ever, but i can't place it. it works fairly well; it's a bit awkward for me because i haven't used a razor with bars on both sides of the blades before.
4. l'oreal magic bb cream in light (.025oz--sample, ret. $8 for 1oz) -- i was kinda interested in this, i know i had a sample packette of it before (can't remember if i used it or gave it away....) but we'll give it a[nother] try.
• update: light is orange on me. whattttt?
5. sally hansen salon effects nail polish strips in queen of the jungle (full size, ret. $8.50) -- i love these nail strips; they're super easy to use. i'm not huge into the leopard print, but hey, i can find someone who might like them/use them.
6. $3 off $15 beauty purchase coupon -----faillllllll.
7. i like the sturdy box it came in. the target-printed part is actually a slip cover for the box. i'm definitely going to reuse this box, gifting or otherwise.

approximate product value: $35.86

shopping trip/haul day!

hi all! went out and about today, on this glorious paul-free weekend! =P ULL had fall break this past week, so paul's brother wanted to hang out back home, but i didn't feel like going back home...so yeah. pshh, where's our fall break? thanks issac. only two of my classes are canceling because they accounted for it from the start. >.> ~Lin-chan ^.~

got an email the other day about lush's halloween items, so i went to check them out. in addition to these, they had the twilight body wash. but after smelling it, i think i'd rather it in bath bomb form rather than body wash..and the smallest is $10 for 3.3 oz. yikes! i got: (halloween items:) pumpkin soap & calacas shower jelly; rocketeer bath bomb, charity pot lotion, wiccy magic muscles massage bar, and (not pictured) space girl bath bomb. the pumpkin soap smells awesome, i'm tempted to go back and get another one!

so, hopefully you can see this little guy's face! you can kinda see it better on the lush site. it kinda looks like mexican skull art.

went to bath and body works because, of course, i had a coupon and they were having 2 for $20 candles--which, i didn't discover until recently, you can buy odd quantities of candles during this sale at $10 each, as long as you buy the initial 2--so i got 3 leaves candles. then i got some scentportable refills, they were buy 3 get one free--one's in my car already--3 leaves & a farmstand apple. i was sad that they were completely out of leaves wallflowers. i got 3 a few weeks back, put all of them around the apartment and i need more! i'll have to try again later. back to the coupon: i had a 20% off your entire purchase and a free mini candle (eucalyptus mint). all for a total of ~$35 including tax.

after leaving the mall, i went over to target and discovered that they finally got the maybelline limited edition color tattoos and got all four of those. almost no one mentioned anything about there being limited edition great lash mascaras to go along with these! got a few elf products to try; $1 ea: zit zapper, smoothing lip balm in strawberry creme, waterproof eye liner, and $3 ea: brush shampoo, and translucent matifying powder. first impression on the eyeliner: i like how it's a felt tip and it's very stiff, seems easy to control. first impression of the lip balm: it's very soft and smooth, so be careful when applying, gives a slightly frosted pinkness to lips, smells like strawberries. and recently, jlovesmac1--someone so quirky you'll love her or hate her--mentioned eos shaving cream. so for $3.50, why not? i got vanilla bliss, but this store also had sensitive (unscented). eos products are usually found in the cosmetics section, but this was on the actual aisle with shaving products.

shadows: blue on by, ready set green, test my teal, fuscia fever; mascaras: go go green, totally teal, pop of purple; elf eye liner
yes, i swatched the mascaras! lol.

edit: bath and body works is having a 2 for $15 or 3 for $20 on wallflower refill packs (2 bulbs), ends 11/4. 20% off code: rmnoctbbw (end unknown) or free ship @$50: BBWSHIP50 (ends 10/16)

edit: i saw the eos shave cream at bed bath and beyond too!