empties #23

I finally filled up the little bin I use to collect my empties. Beyond basic skin care, I haven't been using a ton of products as I only really wear powder and mascara now on a daily basis. As usual, I try to label the non-cruelty free items, but I'm only human so always check!

Aura Cacia Organic Motivating Yoga Mist // I got this from a friend who no longer used it, and I didn't use it much either so I decluttered it. 

e.l.f. Gentle Peeling Exfoliant* // I love this product. It's affordable and it works really well. I stopped using scrubs once I found chemical exfoliants!

Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream // not cruelty free // I got this as a free birthday gift from Sephora. I liked it, but I wouldn't purchase it because they're not CF.

Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay Flash Perfection Exfoliating Treatment* // This came in an Ipsy bag. It was a pretty good scrub that worked. Like I said earlier, I prefer chemical exfoliants, but I'd buy this.

Skinfood Lettuce & Cucumber Watery Cream // not cruelty free // I picked this up at Marshall's thinking it was a different brand, and Skinfood isn't cruelty free. It was a decent moisturizer, though.

The Naked Bee Hand & Body Lotion* in Orange Blossom Honey // This brand is made not far from where my mom lives in Tennessee and they have great products! The lotion is moisturizing but not greasy. I'd definitely get this again.

Simply Shea Hand & Body Lotion in Warm Vanilla Sugar // I got a few samples of Simply Soothing's new lines, and their lotion is really nice. It's thick but absorbs quickly. Get 15% off with my code KATELYNCARTER! (Their bug spray is 1000% worth it.)

Mary Kay Satin Body Silkening Shea Lotion // not cruelty free // This was a Christmas gift. I liked the scent of this lotion and it had a nice texture.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask // not cruelty free // This was part of the Sephora birthday gift, too. I liked the consistency of it, but wouldn't get it again because it's not CF.

Sun Bum SPF 50 Sunscreen* // Sun Bum is my absolute favorite sunscreen, and it smells like bananas. This can was over half full, but expired, so I tossed it. Always check the dates on your sunscreen!

e.l.f. Concealer Stick // This is old. They don't even make this style packaging anymore. It was a little too light for me so I decluttered it.

Sweet and Shimmer Peppermint Hand Lotion // cruelty free status unknown // I can't seem to find any info on this brand, so I don't know if it's cruelty free or not. I got it as an office gift and kept it on my desk. It was a decent little hand lotion.

Trader Joe's Vanilla Pumpkin Candle // I love picking up Trader Joe's candles. They're cheap and smell nice. I'll continue picking them up.

111Skin Y Theorem Repair Serum // Another Ipsy sample. I liked it, but there's no way I'm spending $350 on a skin care product.

Pacifica Hairvana Leave-On Detangling Conditioner // Pacifica is easily my favorite brand. I liked this conditioner! It didn't weigh my hair down and it did help with tangles.

e.l.f. Prime & Stay Finishing Powder // I like these little powders but their packaging is terrible. I've never had one not snap at the hinge! However, for $3, I'll keep getting them. They have decent coverage and it's usually what I wear on an average day.

Pacifica Aromapower in Hardcore Happy // I liked this, but I'd like to try a different scent from Pacifica.

Ulta Youthful Glow Foundation Serum Drops // I cannot match foundation to save my life. My skin tone range is wildly different from winter to summer because of baseball, so it's a wild ride finding foundation. I didn't really like the way this applied, so I don't think I'd try it again. I'll stick with creams.

Ulta Double Duty Primer & Foundation in Classic Ivory // I got this on clearance, so it may have been nearing its shelf life. It was a thicker consistency and I found it setlled in my pores, so I wouldn't try it again.

Ulta Ultamate Lashes Mascara // I liked the brush and formula for this. It was buildable but not clumpy and I'd definitely pick it up again.

Calvin Klein Euphoria // not cruelty free // I got this for Christmas when I was like...16. Yeah, I don't use a lot of perfume, but finally finished it up. It's not cruelty free, so I replaced it with a brand that is.

ecotools Makeup Brush Cleansing Cloths // I didn't use these often because I thought they might damage the bristles on my brushes and then they dried out on me. I'll stick with my brush shampoo and brush cleaner*.

Ulta Age Defying Matcha Green Tea Mask // I've really gotten into skincare lately and I've started using up the plethora of masks I've been given or picked up. This one was soothing and I liked it. 

Neutrogena Collagen Kiss Lip Mask // not cruelty free // This was from an Ipsy box, I think? I have chronic dry lips, so I thought this might help. It didn't, and it was kind of a pain to use because my lips were a little too big for it and it wouldn't fit right. Plus it's not cruelty free.

Bath & Body Works Lump of Coal Sheet Mask // not cruelty free // I don't really like sheet masks but will use them if they're given to me. This one was alright, but not CF.

Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes // It's not often that I get wipes, but these were good. Not too wet and didn't leave a residue. I take my makeup off with them before using a cleanser. I'd get these again!

Charcoal & Black Sugar Mask // cruelty free status unknown // I have no idea what brand this is or where I got it, but I liked it a lot. If I could find it again and verify if it was CF, I'd get it again. It was a little hard to apply evenly because of the sugar, but it exfoliated well.

Masque Bar Charcoal Hydro Eye Masks // My under eye bags are insane, but I could actually see a difference after using these. They slid around a bit, but were cooling and I liked them.

Ulta Pollution Defense Pomegranate Mask // An average mask, I'd get it again if it was on sale.

Que Bella Purifying Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Mud Mask // Y'all. I hated this mask. It was like putting paste on my face and I couldn't get it off. I had to pull out a face scrubbie to get it all off, and I missed a small spot in the shower the next morning and it was on my face all day. I've used other masks from them and they were fine, so maybe I just got a bad one.

e.l.f. Sheer Lip Balm // I just don't use this, so I decluttered it. It was a fine sheer lip balm for a little color.

Shea Moisture Vegan Lip Balm // I've tried three of these and I just can't get the things to work. I want to love this balm, but I can never get it out of the tube!

Paula Deen Lip Balm in Peach Cobbler // cruelty free status unknown // I picked this up on a whim a few years ago when we went to the Paula Deen store in Tennessee. It was more a novelty, so I decluttered it.

Blistex Medicated Lip Balm // not cruelty free // In my search for something, anything to help my chronic dry lips, I picked this up. It didn't work so I tossed it. 

Mary Kay Satin Lips Balm // not cruelty free // This is the ONLY thing that works for my terribly dry lips. Yes, it's not cruelty free, but my lips can get so bad they bleed, so I consider this more of a health issue and will continue to get this. It's soothing and moisturizing and not sticky. 

100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream // I got this sample a while ago and I think it really made a difference in my undereyes. I have a few more eye creams to use up, but I'd get the full size of this!

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Foundation Sample // I was trying out some samples and found a set of these and loved the way it blended and settled on my face. I actually ordered a full size of this!

Eco Lips Ecolixir Daily Facial Oil Kakadu Plum Seed Oil // I just don't like facial oils. They're just not for me.

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream // not cruelty free  // It's hard to judge a product like a recovery cream from one sample, but the texture was nice. Too bad they're not CF.

Vichy Mineral 89 Booster // not cruelty free // This was light and I liked it, but Vichy isn't cruelty free. 

There's another month of my trash. 😂 I've been trying to use up a lot of half empty products and declutter things I just don't use anymore. 

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lucky bandit is a for profit blog. I use affiliate links and paid advertisements. I may earn compensation for a click or purchase through a link. Paid (whether via product or monetary) reviews will be noted in the actual post. Though compensation may influence the type of posts, all opinions and reviews will be legitimate and honest.

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three flowers bath co // lip balm haul

While out visiting my mom for Christmas, we went out to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I had never been and honestly it was waaaay too crowded for my taste. I'd give it a shot in the offseason, though. We stopped by Three Flowers Bath Co. and I snagged some lip balm! I have approximately 25,000 lip balms, but I picked these up because the first ingredient is shea butter. I have perpetually chapped lips it seems like, but shea butter helps tremendously. I snagged the Cupcake Frosting, Banana, and Vanilla Mint flavors.

I'm excited to start using these!


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lucky bandit is a for profit blog. I use affiliate links and paid advertisements. I may earn compensation for a click or purchase through a link. Paid (whether via product or monetary) reviews will be noted in the actual post. Though compensation may influence the type of posts, all opinions and reviews will be legitimate and honest.

*All affiliate links will be marked with an asterick.*

review // e.l.f. gentle peeling exfoliant

I recently used up all of my Skinfood Pineapple Peeling Gel and I was looking for something I could pick up locally. I had a 20% off Ulta coupon so I stopped in one day while running errands. I came across the Gentle Peeling Exfoliant from e.l.f. and thought I'd give it a try. At a $10 pricepoint with 20% off I snagged this for a song.

It has a nice creamy texture and it works great! I don't particularly like the residue and bits that seem to always be left behind with scrubs so this works perfectly for me. It takes almost no time at all. I just use it in the shower after I clean my face and it sloughs off dead skin almost instantly. I haven't encountered any redness or irritation and was quite surprised at how much dead skin it removed!

If you're looking for a cheap, easy to find chemical exfoliant, this one is a good bet.


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lucky bandit is a for profit blog. I use affiliate links and paid advertisements. I may earn compensation for a click or purchase through a link. Paid (whether via product or monetary) reviews will be noted in the actual post. Though compensation may influence the type of posts, all opinions and reviews will be legitimate and honest.

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empties #20

Another post about my trash! I've (thankfully) used up a lot of products! I have way too many floating around and I'm happy to get these out of here. I've labeled what I can find that isn't cruelty free, but always do your own research!

Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer // This just seemed like a kind of average moisturizer to me, but I'd likely buy it if I caught it on sale.

Hempz Original Herbal Body Wash LE* // I love love love this product. This packaging is limited edition, but without it I would never have known that their original scent is BANANA! My favorite!

Pacifica Hawaiian Banana Lip Balm* // Y'all, this stuff melts so fast. Since it's not in a traditional balm tube, it'll melt to the sides of the container and quickly become ruined. Not o fear, I had a spare.

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Dry Shampoo* // I enjoyed this dry shampoo and would definitely buy it again. No white residue, and it lasted forever! 

Lacura Hydrating Facial Cleanser // I picked this up at Aldi. I really liked it and would definitely buy it again.

Sun Bum Cocobalm* // This died a hot car death. We LOVE Sun Bum, so I'll definitely repurchase.

Sugar and Spruce (formerly Ladyburg) Charcoal Mask // I got this years ago from a local shop in the city where I used to work. It was a nice mask, but it stung my eyes a bit.

Pixi Glow Tonic* // I received this in an ipsy* bag. I'm terrible about using toner regularly, so I didn't feel like I got the most out of this. I'd pick it up if I found it on sale.

B&BW Creamy Pumpkin Hand Sanitizer // not cruelty free // I've had this for a while, if you couldn't tell by the old packaging.

Templespa Quietude Calming Mist // cruelty free status unknown // I just sprayed this when he was gone to use it up, haha.

Mary Kay Paint the Sky Body Wash // not cruelty free // I received this as a Christmas gift. It lathered nicely and didn't dry my skin out, but isn't cruelty free.

B&BW White Citrus Oil Mist // not cruelty free // I worked so hard to use this up. I've had it for years. It was okay, I just don't like how oil feels on my skin.

Hello Activated Charcoal Toothpaste // I got this in a Walmart Beauty Box. NOPE. NOPE. NOPE. I got SO TIRED of wiping down my sink twice a day because this toothpaste was black. It did it's job as a toothpaste, but I don't need to see it all over the sink every day. And then DAMN if I didn't get ANOTHER in a later box.

B&BW Forever Red Fine Fragrance Mist // not cruelty free // Another product I've had for years. This lived in my car as a refresher. I'm glad to see it go and will not be replacing it.

Suave Deodorant in Tropical Paradise // not cruelty free // This may be the one item that I routinely buy that's not cruelty free. It's the only deodorant that seems to work for me, and my mom has used it for years as well.

Difeel Hand Moisturizer in Jasmine // This was a nice hand cream, but the container broke near the threading and would leak lotion out of the side. I probably won't pick up another.

Essence All About Matt! Powder // I've purchased two of these over time and both have had the lid of the container separate from the pan. I will not buy another for this reason. It's decent powder, though!

Sally Beauty Eyeshadow Single in Espresso // not cruelty free // This is another item I've had for years. I picked it up really cheaply before I went CF, and it was a nice color. I won't be replacing, though.

Covergirl Perfect Point Plus Eye Pencil in Espresso // I believe I received this in a box or something before Covergirl went CF, but of course now they are, so I would likely purchase this again. This one just fell apart on me.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Perfume Sample // not cruelty free // It's perfume. Meh.

Guerlain Perfume Sample // not cruelty free // I'm really not a fan of getting perfume samples.

 

Samples! I liked the Burt's Bees towelettes* and the Moisturizing Lip Mask*. They were refreshing. The 100% Pure Kelp & Mint Shampoo* was a great sample and left a nice tingle on my scalp. I won't be repurchasing the Aromatherapy Shower Tablets* as they didn't really do much, and the it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser* didn't wow me. The Olay Daily Facials (not cruelty free) is a nice concept, but messy, and the Olay Deep Hydrating Eye Gel (not cruelty free) wasn't impressive. I liked the Farmacy Green Clean Cleanser*, but the packaging of the sample wasn't great and it's kind of pricey for me. The worst thing in this photo, though, was the Clinique Fresh Pressed Overnight Booster (not cruelty free). The packaging required you to break it and mix the product similarly to a freaking glowstick, and I didn't have the hand strength to get enough product out of the stupid pod to put on my face.

LA Fresh is cruelty free, but the four packets in front are not cruelty free.

I love reading empties posts, so send me yours! ♥

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lucky bandit is a for profit blog. I use affiliate links and paid advertisements. I may earn compensation for a click or purchase through a link. Paid (whether via product or monetary) reviews will be noted in the actual post. Though compensation may influence the type of posts, all opinions and reviews will be legitimate and honest.

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unboxing // ipsy march 2019

Woooo, this post is late. I've been so busy I just got around to photographing March's Ipsy box. Here we go!

The bag this month is cute, but not something I'd use. It says 'and she went off to change the world', which was fitting for National Women's History Month.

Trissola Intense Hydrating Mask // link // This mask claims to hydrate and improve manageability. I don't really have a moisture issue with my hair, but if I did this looks promising! I'll likely gift this. I can't really confirm if it's cruelty free or not, either.

First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer // link // Y'all. If this does what it claims, I will be a loyal patron for life. I love products that eliminate other products, and this is supposed to moisturize while minimizing fine lines and pores as a primer. I love First Aid Beauty! They're cruelty free and their Ultra Repair Cream does wonders for my eczema.

PÜR Afterglow Mini Highlighting Skin Perfecting Powder // link // I was excited about this until I realized that it won't stick to my palette*. If you're going to send something like this, put it in real packaging or put it in a pan that sticks to magnetic palettes! I do like powder products like this, so hopefully I can get past the packaging.

IBY Beauty Eyeshadow in Headliner // link // I was delighted to get this little eyeshadow! IBY is cruelty free and I had just finished up my office go to single shadow. The shade is right up my alley and it blended nicely when I swatched it.

tarte Maneater Voluptuous Mascara // link // At one point I was down to half a tube of mascara and now it seems like I have fifty. I haven't tried this, though, but I've wanted to. I like the brush and that tarte is cruelty free.

Overall I'm pretty happy with this bag (with the exception of that bad packaging by Pur). I still have April's to photograph, but I have decided to drop to receiving them every other month so I can continue to use up some older products.

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lucky bandit is a for profit blog. I use affiliate links and paid advertisements. I may earn compensation for a click or purchase through a link. Paid (whether via product or monetary) reviews will be noted in the actual post. Though compensation may influence the type of posts, all opinions and reviews will be legitimate and honest.

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empties #19

It's taken me a little to gather up some empties and then I realized that I had a bunch. But here we go! As usual, I'll only be labeling the products that are not cruelty free, but always double check as I can make mistakes.

Soapbox Argan Oil Shampoo // This is the older packaging, so it's really really old. It still worked nicely up until I finally used it up, though! I like that Soapbox donates a bar of soap every time something is purchased, so I'd definitely get this again.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub // not cruelty free // I got this for Christmas. I know this is bad for your face, but it exfoliates so well. Since it's not cf I won't pick it up myself, but I'm always thankful for gifts like this.

e.lf. Hydrating Face Primer* // You get a tiny amount of product in these little containers, but they're cheap and work fairly well. I pick them up when I see them at Marshall's and TJMaxx.

Skin & Co Roma Anti-Aging Serum // cruelty free status unknown // I think I got this in a Walmart beauty box or with an Ulta order. This little sample was nice, but I didn't see how it did much for my skin.

Greenman Gardens CBD Oil // cruelty free // This was my first foray into cbd oil. I'd get this again.

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA // I didn't really like the cakey consistency of this moisturizer, but it did it's job. I'm not sure I'd get it again, though.

Some hotel samples picked up.This year I've told him to only pick up the brand name items like Paul Mitchell, since they're cruelty free.

e.l.f. BB Cream* // I don't remember which shade I picked up of this, likely the lightest. I loved using this for a quick face on days I'm running behind because it blends easily and doesn't oxidize quickly.

Estee Lauder Eyeshadow Single in Cinnamon // not cruelty free // This was one of my favorite shades that I've probably held on to for years. I dropped it on the sink and it split right before panning it, so I pushed the pieces back in and used it until it was powder. I have yet to find a true dupe for this and the color has been discontinued (even though I wouldn't buy it because it's not cruelty free), but I'll keep searching.

Revlon Colorstay Shadow Stick in Atomic // not cruelty free // I've had this for WAY too long. I tried using it up, even slapping it on as a primer (which actually worked well?), but I just got sick of it and threw it in my empties box. The taupe side was a nice shimmery shade, and the other side was a sage green that didn't really work for me. Revlon isn't cruelty free, so I won't rebuy.

B&BW Body Mist in Paris Amour // not cruelty free // I received this for Christmas years ago. I used in my car as a little refresher.

B&BW Hand Cream in Witch Please // not cruelty free // This was a gift and I kept this on my desk and it was a nice hand cream.

J.Lo Miami Glow Perfume // cruelty free status unknown // I've had this bottle for years and I love this scent. I'd totally get it again if I could find out if J.Lo's line was cruelty free.

Estee Lauder Pleasures Perfume // not cruelty free // I wore this to use it up because I've had this one even longer than the Miami Glow. I got a lot of compliments on it, but sadly EL isn't cruelty free.

Samples! I've received so many of these lately it seems like. I'll just run through them quickly. I liked the 100% Pure Kelp & Mint Shampoo*, but those packets were so hard to open. I keep getting the Clinique (not cruelty free) moisturizers and don't really care for them but don't want to waste them. I liked the Ulta Makeup Remover Wipes* and would repurchase. I think the Nivea Aloe Vera Lotion (not cruelty free) sample came from a magazine and it was mediocre, and the Olay Daily Facials Wipe (not cruelty free) worked well but tests on animals. The Sephora Cleansing Cream (not cruelty free) came in an order and was just okay. The big hit here, though, was the Bliss Makeup Melt*, which worked SO WELL with removing my eye makeup! I'm definitely going to order some of that.

So there's another pile of my trash. What have you used up lately?


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lucky bandit is a for profit blog. I use affiliate links and paid advertisements. I may earn compensation for a click or purchase through a link. Paid (whether via product or monetary) reviews will be noted in the actual post. Though compensation may influence the type of posts, all opinions and reviews will be legitimate and honest.

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review // Maple Holistics Silk18 shampoo

**I was compensated for this post by receiving a free product to review from Maple Holistics. This review is my own honest opinion.

I recently received a bottle of Maple Holistics' Silk18 Shampoo and was so excited to try it out! I've received product from them before and really liked the tea tree shampoo, so when they contacted me about their Silk18, I jumped at the chance.

This shampoo is said to achieve stronger, smoother, more luscious hair with the help of 18 silk amino acids and oils such as argan and jojoba. It's cruelty free and paraben and sulfate free.

I have straight, fine hair that knots easily. I haven't colored it in almost a decade, but deal with breakage some so while Silk18 is recommended for damaged hair, which I don't really have, I could always use a boost. And I felt a difference after just one use! My hair felt silkier and didn't knot as easily. I thought it did a nice job on my scalp, too, since I have constant itchiness and flaking (ugh, gross). It soothed the skin and even helped the eczema in my hairline a bit. I'll definitely be adding this one to my repeat buy list!


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lucky bandit is a for profit blog. I use affiliate links and paid advertisements. I may earn compensation for a click or purchase through a link. Paid (whether via product or monetary) reviews will be noted in the actual post. Though compensation may influence the type of posts, all opinions and reviews will be legitimate and honest.

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unboxing // ipsy february 2019

I recently signed up for Ipsy, a monthly beauty subscription service. You fill out a beauty quiz, let them know what you'd like to receive, and they send you five products for you to try out and review. I'm always late to everything and wasn't really a fan of subs, but I've realized I tend to buy the same things over and over, so I thought it would be a great way to branch out. Ipsy is not an exclusively cruelty free service, so I'm going to do my best to research and try to see what is cruelty free. It seems like this month's was entirely cruelty free (with the exception of my free gift of the Clinique). As always, check for yourself as I'm human. :)

Here's what I received in February's bag!

Ipsy Pink Pouch with Lip Print // I don't really need any more makeup bags, so this will likely be gifted to someone.

Meech N Mia Pressed Eyeshadow in Taupe // cruelty free // I was hoping for the taupe shade, but now that I have it I'm not sure how well it'll fit into my collection. It swatched a little purple, but that may just be me. I'm going to give it a shot, though!

Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay Flash Perfection Exfoliating Treatment // cruelty free // I'm all about some skin care and I've heard good things about this.

Pixi by Petra Glow Tonic // cruelty free // I've been wanting to try this so badly and I'm so glad I got a sample! I'm going to use this up in place of my normal toner and see how it works.

Kokie Cosmetics Be Bright Illuminating Concealer in Light // cruelty free // I really like the striped top and doe foot applicator. Hopefully it doesn't come out too light for me.

Belle En Argent Auteur Creme Lip Color in I'll Bring Dessert // cruelty free // This color is great! The formula seemed to apply smoothly when I swatched it.

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey // not cruelty free // This was a free gift for signing up. It's not cruelty free so I'm not going to replace it once I use it up, but it's a nice color for the office.


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lucky bandit is a for profit blog. I use affiliate links and paid advertisements. I may earn compensation for a click or purchase through a link. Paid (whether via product or monetary) reviews will be noted in the actual post. Though compensation may influence the type of posts, all opinions and reviews will be legitimate and honest.

*All affiliate links will be marked with an asterick.*

marshall's mini cruelty free haul

I stopped at Marshall's one day after work to pick up another dog bed for Tucker and perused the cosmetics aisle for a bit. Stores like Marshall's can have some really awesome finds, but you have to be careful and make sure the beauty products haven't been opened or swatched (because ew). I lucked out and picked up this Too Faced Melted Latex liquid lipstick in Hopeless Romantic for $5.99 and a Pacifica Cactus Revive Milk to Foam Face Wash for $4.99.

This lipstick is a gorgeous color and from how it performed on my arm, it has staying power. I had to use a lip color remover* to get it off completely after smearing it all over the place. It'll be a nice muted color for the office. I think the Latex line might be phasing out and the cleanser is discontinued, so snag the lipstick while you can!

Found anything good lately? ♥


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lucky bandit is a for profit blog. I use affiliate links and paid advertisements. I may earn compensation for a click or purchase through a link. Paid (whether via product or monetary) reviews will be noted in the actual post. Though compensation may influence the type of posts, all opinions and reviews will be legitimate and honest.

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pacifica // crystal punk holographic mineral lip gloss

I found one! It's Pacifica's Crystal Punk Holographic Mineral Lip Gloss*. The one I ordered is called Cosmos and it's a sheer silver/blue top coat like gloss. Cosmos isn't the only color available, there's also the pinkish Spaced Out and a peachy Halo. Of course it's Pacifica brand, so it's cruelty free and 100% vegan. The great thing about this gloss is that is has a couple oils as ingredients; safflower, rose seed, and jojoba!

I'm excited to work this into my regular makeup routine!

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empties #16

Another month of digging through my little bin of empties. I like keeping these posts as a catalog of things I've tried. As always, be sure to double check cruelty free and vegan statuses! I do my best but I'm only human. ♥

e.l.f. Acne Fighting Foundation* in Porcelain // cruelty free & vegan // I've purchased this a few times. I've found no evidence that it fights acne, but I don't have a lot to begin with. It's oxidised pretty quickly on me each time, so I won't be repurchasing.

Pacifica Kale Detox Face Wash* // cruelty free & vegan // I love this face wash. See the full review here.

Sephora Outrageous Volume Mascara travel size // I think I picked this up to get my birthday gift because it was cheap. The brush was weird and product got everywhere. I won't get this again.

Milani Ultra Fine Liquid Eyeliner // cruelty free // I've had this little tube since I started my CF journey forever ago. I'm decluttering this as liquid liner just isn't for me, thus I can't really even mini-review it.

Jason Sea Fresh Toothpaste // cruelty free & vegan // I really liked this. Here's the full review.

e.l.f. Eye Enhancing Mascara*  // cruelty free & vegan // I picked this up at Marshall's, so it's older packaging and they've since changed the brush. It was a nice, cheap little mascara that I'd buy again.

Montagne Jeunesse Strawberry Souffle Face Mask // cruelty free & vegan // This was a really creamy mask that I enjoyed. I think the travel sizes work better for me as I always have leftover product when I use the full size.

Albolene Eye Makeup Remover sample // cruelty free & vegan // From the research I did, this appears CF and vegan, however I haven't had a chance to contact the company yet. This was a nice little sample, but I wouldn't buy the full size.

Marc Jacobs Mod Noir sample // Not my style.

e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation* in Porcelain // cruelty free & vegan // This is my go-to foundation. It matches my skin nicely (I think? I still can't match foundation) and sits well on my face all day while not being heavy. I've already picked up another bottle.

got2b POWDERful Volumizing Style Powder // I've had this for what seems like forever. It's a little messy to apply (it is a loose powder after all) but it did work. However, got2b isn't cruelty free so I'm looking for an alternative.

The Body Shop Shower Gel in Smoky Poppy // cruelty free & vegan // I really like scents like this (Smoky Poppy, Peppered Citrus, etc) and this was a nice shower gel. This scent has been discontinued but I'd pick up more shower gel from The Body Shop.

Victoria's Secret Anti-Bacterial Gel in Amber Romance // No, no, no. This was a hand me down from a friend who wouldn't use it. I find most of VS's scents cloying and heavy, and this was no exception.

Pacifica Power of Love Natural Lipstick in Sweet One // I love Pacifica products and the formula for this lipstick is nice and creamy, but the dusty rose color ages me so I'm decluttering it.

Lush Tea Tree Water // cruelty free & vegan // I LOVED this. I used this as a toner and it worked really well with my skin and was easy to use in this spray bottle. Definitely ordering again.

L'Oreal Ever Pure Volume Shampoo // vegan // I received this in a VoxBox. L'Oreal touts their Ever Pure line as being vegan, and it is, ingredients wise. However, L'Oreal isn't cruelty free and I won't be buying a replacement.

Good Things Manuka Honey Body Scrub // cruelty free // I liked this scrub but it wasn't quite harsh enough for my exfoliation tastes. I also completely missed the giant HONEY on the front, so it's not vegan either. I'd pick up a different variety in their scrub line, though.

Pacifica Purify Facial Cleansing Wipes* // cruelty free & vegan // Can you tell I like Pacifica? These smelled amazing and worked well enough that I'd buy them again. They're really handy for traveling.

All of these items are decluttering items.

OPI Nail Lacquer in You Don't Know Jacques // I've always loved this color, but found a cruelty free and vegan dupe for it at a much smaller price point.

e.l.f. Maximum Coverage Concealer in Porcelain // cruelty free & vegan // I tried to make this concealer work. The product itself is nice and applies well, it just settled into the fine lines under my eyes really badly.

e.l.f. Moisturizing Lipstick in Coral Cutie // cruelty free & vegan // Coral lipstick washes me out. Badly. Sad to see this go, but I can't pull it off.

e.l.f. Exact Lash Mascara // cruelty free & vegan // This sounds like a good idea. A tiny little brush where you can put mascara on individual lashes. It's really not a good idea. You can't really get enough mascara on the stiff brush to transfer it to your lashes. A swing and a miss.

e.l.f. Liquid Eyeliner // cruelty free & vegan // Like I said above, liquid eyeliner isn't my thing. More power to you if it's yours, though!

e.l.f. Eyeshadow Palette // This was a complete eye palette for all parts of your eye. The shadows didn't have amazing color pay off and the fallout, oh my goodness. I'm far better off using my Shiro loose eyeshadows with fallout than these that take ten years to build color. Sorry, e.l.f., this didn't work for me.

(Backdrop is an adorable head wrap my mom gave me from Old Navy.)

And there's another post of mini reviews. What have you used up lately? Send me some links in the comments!

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pacifica // kale detox face wash

I've tried a lot of face washes and cleansers and  I can say that I love Pacifica's Kale Detox. I've gotten two travel sizes in sets from my mom, which is where this one came from, and I've got a full size waiting in the wings (also from my mom...she keeps me stocked with Pacifica products).

Kale Detox is a smooth gel face wash that is a cheery green but has some great cleansing power. It smells very earthy and, well, kale like. I'm one of those people that scrubs their eye makeup off with cleanser, which this does nicely, without drying out my skin or irritating around my eyes.

At ten dollars for five ounces, the price isn't bad at all. I've found this in person at Target and Ulta, so it's pretty readily available, along with being available at several online retailers.

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mini e.l.f. haul

Last week I took advantage of e.l.f.'s one day offering of free shipping and picked up the Moisturizing Foundation Stick in Ivory and the All Over Cover Stick in Apricot Beige. I've been growing more bored with my cream foundations, so I thought I'd try something new.

This was my first time trying a stick foundation and I have to say I expected it to be a lot drier. This foundation spread well, is buildable, and clearly has moisturizing tendencies. The cover stick was creamy and I think it'll work well on my undereyes.

Have you tried anything from e.l.f. lately? If not, join the Beauty Squad and use this  $5 coupon*!

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maple holistics // tea tree shampoo

**I was compensated for this post by receiving a free product to review from Maple Holistics. This review is my own honest opinion.

Recently I was contacted by Maple Holistics to see if I was interested in trying their Tea Tree Shampoo. Not only is Maple Holistics cruelty free, this product is vegan, paraben free, GMO free, and gluten free. The ingredients list for the Tea Tree Shampoo was short and to the point. I've been wanting to try a tea tree line as I have eczema and an itchy scalp, so I jumped at the chance.

The Tea Tree Shampoo combines jojoba, tea tree, rosemary, and lavender to combat dandruff, regulate oil secretions, and clear away blemishes on the scalp. You simply wet your hair with warm water, apply the shampoo and let it sit for a few minutes after massaging it into your scalp, then rinse with cool water.

I don't wash my hair every day, so I've used this shampoo twice since receiving it. I'm impressed already - I've noticed my scalp being significantly less itchy and my eczema spots are less red and noticeable! My hair felt softer and smoother after one shampoo, unlike many shampoos that leave my hair with that straw like feeling. I've definitely found my scalp to be responding well to this and I believe I may have found a new go to shampoo.

Try it for yourself here or try a sample of their other products here!

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empties #14

Since it's been summer, I haven't been using many products up. I hardly wear makeup unless it's planned, so my makeup has just been sitting there. Sorry, pretty things.

Dove Advanced Care Deodorant  // I didn't care for this. It didn't work for me.

Theraneem Naturals Skin Lotion in Neem Therape* // cruelty free & vegan // This lotion helped with my eczema and was pretty rich. I'm going to add a full size to my next iHerb order.

Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera* // cruelty free & vegan // It's aloe vera. I don't know why I even had this bottle, but I'd buy this brand again if I needed it.

Alba Botanica Body in the Buff Firming Scrub in Espresso* // cruelty free & vegan // This scrub was great and the coffee was a great plus. It wasn't oily like some sugar scrubs, and it rinsed out of the tub fairly well. My skin felt a lot softer after using it.

Simple Pleasures Hand Soap in Summer Peach // I didn't think I'd ever finish this. This was a $1 purchase at Joann Fabrics when I thought I was out, but I'll be replacing this with something cruelty free.

Good Things Fresh Start Creamy Cleanser // cruelty free & vegan // I grabbed this on a whim at Marshall's one day because the ingredients looked decent. It was an alright cleanser. I'm beginning to think that cream cleansers aren't my thing, though, but if I found this at a cheap enough price I'd pick it up as a backup.

e.l.f. Volumizing Mascara* // cruelty free & vegan // This is the cheapest mascara e.l.f. offers. I pick them up religiously to use as a base coat for my other mascaras. It's a decent product, doesn't get all over my eyelids and doesn't flake.

Madre Labs Rose Petal Witch Hazel // cruelty free & vegan // I used this as a toner and really liked it. Sadly, it's been discontinued.

e.l.f. Pressed Powder in Buff* (similar) // cruelty free & vegan // I didn't like this and it broke all to pieces, as e.l.f. powders seem to do when I have them. I wouldn't repurchase.

Avalon Organics Bath & Shower Gel* in Grapefruit and Geranium // cruelty free & vegan // This bottle lasted forever and I really liked it. I got a few compliments on the smell, too! They've since changed their packaging and this scent has been discontinued, but I'd try some of their others.

Vegan True Melatonin* // vegan // This is my go to melatonin. Definitely already in my iHerb cart.

Not Pictured:

Gilette Fusion Hydra Gel Shaving Gel // I'm still using up shaving cream from my years of couponing. I won't buy it again, but it's been nice having a supply of shave gel.

Up & Up Biotin plus Keratin // I suppose these worked, but I picked up a different brand.

Dial NutriSkin Lotion // A decent lotion from the coupon stash, I won't pick it up again.

Jergens Ultra Healing Hand Moisturizer // Meh. I still have like six of these that I'm using up. I'll be glad when they're gone.

And there's another month of digging through my trash. Hurrah!

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empties #13 & some decluttering

It's been a while since I've rounded up all of my empties, but here's another go with some mini reviews. I've included some decluttered items that I'm just not going to end up finishing. I never realized just how many non cruelty free and non vegan products I had until I started using them up and replacing them with kinder products.



Suave Invisible Solid Deodorant in Powder // I don't know where these things keep coming from, but I'm still going through them. Haha.

Yes to Tomatoes Acne Control Gel Cleanser // cruelty free & vegan // This worked really well when I first got it, my face cleared up, and then I just used it occasionally as a cleanser. I'd get this again to control redness and blemishes, if I needed it. I believe this has been discontinued, but they have tons of good looking cleansers in the Tomatoes line.

Biore Baking Soda Acne Scrub // This was an alright cleanser sample, but Biore isn't cruelty free.

KenetMD Shampoo & Conditioner // These were hotel bottles from when I met my mom halfway for a girl's night. The conditioner was pretty nice, but the shampoo made my hair a little dry. I can't find any cruelty free status for them, though.

Carmex Pomegranate Lip Balm // I've had this tube for forever and finally finished it. Carmex isn't vegan or cruelty free, unfortunately.

Victoria's Secret Pink Body Mist // This little bottle is sooo old. VS isn't cruelty free, so even though the scent was nice, I won't repurchase.

Secret Body Spray in Citrus Breeze // I got this little bottle in my stocking for Christmas, and I liked it, but it's not cruelty free.

Dial NutriSkin Replenishing Lotion // Finally finished up the last of these that I got free forever ago with coupons. I won't get this again.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter* // cruelty free // I liked this lotion, but sometimes it was just too thick, and I can't verify if it's vegan or not.

Ulta Mattifying Balm* // cruelty free & vegan // When I first bought this I wasn't sure how to use it, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. I really like this stuff! It could also double as a primer and worked nicely at mattifying. I'm definitely getting this again!

Mary Kay Foundation Primer Sunscreen // This was a decent primer. However, MK isn't cruelty free.

Estee Lauder Foundation Sample in Pure Beige 2C // EL isn't cruelty free and this sample that I got from a friend wasn't a good color match, so I'm glad to be rid of it.



NatureMade Magnesium Supplements // These may not be vegan and I now have a different actually vegan supplement now.

Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash // I got this little sample and got quite a few uses out of it, but unfortunately, Dove isn't cruelty free.

Up & Up Biotin Supplements // Another supplement that I'm not sure is vegan, but I believe it is? I need to do some more research on these supplements.

Bynature Textured Waves Sea Salt Spray in Coconut // This spray isn't bad! I like it. It has an odd smell, but it works well. I just need to contact the company for CF status.

Aveeno Gentle Scent Lotion in Nourishing Coconut // Another little sample I used up to get it out of here. A decent lotion, but Aveeno tests on animals. :(

Charcoal Sculpting Mask // This mask came in a cup that you added water to, and it made SO MUCH MASK. I spread it on way too thickly and still could've had four more masks out of the cup, but had no way to preserve the rest of the mix. I wouldn't buy this again.

The Beer Soap Co. Blue Ribbon Bar Soap // cruelty free & vegan // Beer soap? Yup! My boss gave me this bar that's made with PBR. It's a pretty nice soap and I might order a couple different things, like the American Hops or the Karma Deodorant.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Facial Moisturizer // cruelty free // I've been looking for a new moisturizer, so when I got this sample I was thinking it might work, but it burned when I put it on. Sad face.



L'Oreal Voluminous Primer in White Primer & Original Mascara in Blackest Black // I did not like either of these products. I got them in an Influenster VoxBox. The formula got better as it dried out a bit, but it was globby and cakey and just bad. Do not recommend.



Glade candles & Dollar General Candle // More things I decluttered that were sitting around the house for forever. I wouldn't get any of these again.

Now on to my decluttering items:



Here's some items that I just didn't like enough to finish. I hate throwing out product, but I know I won't finish these and they're just taking up space in my super small bathroom. I won't be getting any of these again.

Rimmel 60 Seconds Polish in Hot Black to Go // I've had this for years and it made my nails look funny and it's separated, so it goes.

Estee Lauder Mirror // I don't generally use compacts while out and about, so I'm tossing this.

Covergirl Makeup Remover // Hate, hate, hate, double hate, loathe entirely. This was greasy as all get out, required a lot to remove simple mascara, and gave me blurry eye if it got into my eyes.

Julep Polish in Helen 2339 // cruelty free & vegan // This separated and I couldn't get it to mix again.

Milani Color Statement Polish in Cupcake Icing // cruelty free // I liked this polish! It just separated on me.

Revlon Colorstay Eye Shadow Mini Palette in Nude Elements // These shadows didn't transfer color well and the colors were wonky. The darkest color was more of a purple than a neutral color.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Polish in Gone Grey // Another that separated.

That was quite the group of products. What have you used up lately?

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