lucky bandit | RVA based lifestyle blog: beauty
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts

Thursday, May 11, 2017

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.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

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.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

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.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

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.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

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:

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

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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Wednesday, April 26, 2017

mini Sephora haul

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

This is a super small Sephora haul because I'm still trying to use up the massive amount of beauty products I have, but I couldn't pass up the birthday gift and a points redemption! I chose the Tarte set, which includes the Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint* in Birthday Suit and the Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush* in Paaarty. I'm not a huge blush fan, but my face does look better with it so I thought I'd start somewhere.

Since I'd racked up some points, I redeemed some for the drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1* dry shampoo. I don't wash my hair every day and it normally handles that well, but I've wanted to start using a dry shampoo for a little boost, so I snagged this one.

This will probably be the last of the beauty supplies I buy for a while, but at least it was a fun, frugal haul. ♥

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Friday, March 17, 2017

empties #12

I haven't used up a ton of stuff lately, so I waited a bit to make another empties post. I've been slowly working on older products, so a lot of these won't be purchased again.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

V05 Tea Therapy Conditioner in Healthful Green Tea // I got maybe four uses out of this whole bottle because the formula for this conditioner was so watery. Would not recommend.

Chapstick in Aloha Coconut // This is the second lip balm I've ever finished in my life. It felt like it just sat on my lips, though, and it's not cruelty free.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation Sample // EL isn't cruelty free and this shade didn't work on my face, but I got it from a friend so I used it up. Would not repurchase.

B&BW Body Cream in Sweet Pea // It wasn't half bad and it was creamy, but B&BW isn't cruelty free.

Dial NutriSkin Lotion // Meh. It was alright, but not cruelty free.

Eucerin Intensive Repair Hand Creme // This was a bit greasy and not cruelty free. Pass.

Pantene Volume Shampoo // This stripped my hair of oils and didn't provide any volume. I won't be getting a full size.

Neutrogena Conditioner // This was a hotel bottle and a decent conditioner, but Neutrogena isn't cruelty free.

Knock off Beauty Blender // I snagged a cheap little blender at Marshall's and I really wanted to get on this trend, but I prefer brushes. I haven't reached for this in months and I'm tired of it taking up space, so I'm tossing it. For what it was it was a decent blender, it's just not for me!

Montagne Jeunesse Fruit Smooth Mask in Raspberry & Mango* // cruelty free & vegan // I love these masks! I picked up a couple on clearance at And That! and I've been going through them slowly. Highly recommend and I'll be picking up more!

Juice Organics Pompeptide Facial Moisturizer // cruelty free & vegan // My all time favorite moisturizer and guess what? It's been discontinued. I'm so sad. I have one more bottle of this and then I'll have to find a new one.

Toadiliy Mini Basil, Sage & Mint Bath Bomb // cruelty free & vegan // I picked this up in a haul from Toadily Candles, and I liked it! I'd get more.

Not Pictured:
Pure Silk Shave Cream // It's shave cream. I'm still working through my coupon stockpile, but I wouldn't repurchase.

Noxzema Triple Blade Disposable Razors // No, no, no. Terrible, horrible razors. I bought them on a whim when I wasn't going home and these things were terrible.

Colgate Totale Advanced Pro Shield Mouthwash in Spearmint Surge // Finally, the last of my non-cruelty free mouthwash has been used up. I'm just glad to see it go.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

I've really been trying to clear out my candle stock. The candle on the left is a Febreze candle leftover from Thanksgiving, and the one on the right is a candle I picked up specifically to reuse the jar for makeup brushes. I don't think I'd buy either again, but I got some neat glasses out of it.

That's it for another month!

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Saturday, January 21, 2017

empties #11

After the TWO empties posts in December, my little empties basket is pretty bare. But here they are!

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Clinque Rinse-off Foaming Cleanser // Another nail polish remover-esque cleanser. This one was much more bearable than the previous two, but I wouldn't buy this again.

Aveeno Skin Relief Gentle Scent Body Wash in Nourishing Coconut // This was a mild body wash that was fairly decent, but Aveeno isn't cruelty free, unfortunately, so I won't be getting a full size.

Aquafina Flavorsplash Hydrating Lip Balm in Color Me Kiwi // My first ever finished lip balm! I've had this little tube for forever. It wasn't as hydrating as the name leads you to believe, but it was decent. I'm not even sure if these are made anymore, but I'll stick with my Hurraw balms.

Up & Up Nighttime Sleep Aid // I have a tendency to not be able to fall asleep, so I use over the counter sleep aids sometimes. This is a fairly decent one, but I have more vegan melatonin on the way that I'll probably stick to.

The Body Shop Satsuma Body Polish* // cruelty free // I really liked this little tube of body polish! It was creamy but exfoliating. Unfortunately, I missed a honey ingredient, but I'll definitely be trying others!

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Eucrein Skin Calming Daily Moisturizing Creme // This was a cheap coupon purchase forever ago and I'm slowly working my way through tons of lotion. After a few uses this made by skin itch, so it was destined for the empties bin.

The Honest Company Face + Body Lotion // cruelty free & vegan // Meh. This was a run-of-the-mill lotion, nothing spectacular.

The Body Shop Poppy Seed Scrub in Smoked Poppy // cruelty free & vegan // I enjoyed using this scrub and it lasted a long while. I can't seem to find this anywhere, so I think it's been discontinued, unfortunately. I'd definitely buy it again if I saw it!

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Soapbox Bar Soap in Lavender // cruelty free & vegan // I'm not usually a bar soap fan, but this stuff is fantastic. I recommend Soapbox to everyone who wants a cruelty free and vegan option that's pretty easily found. I picked this up at Marshall's for only $1.99, so I plan to pick them up every time I see them! This bar is great for evening showers because the lavender is noticeable. It lathers well and doesn't leave my skin dry.

That wraps up another month!

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Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Toadily Candles & Soaps haul

While out visiting my mother for our Christmas, we stopped in downtown Morristown and I picked up a few things at Toadily Candles & Soap, an adorable little shop with a penny tiled entryway and a giant toad in store!

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

All of their candles were half off, so I snagged a Toadily Cantaloupe jarred candle. It smells amazing!

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

I couldn't decide on a full-size bath bomb, so I picked up a couple small samples to try, in Basil, Sage, and Mint and Just Peachy, along with an aromatherapy shower tab in Wake Up and Start the Day.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

While at the register I spied their Pure Vegan lip balm and since I'm a total sucker for lip balm, I brought home one of those, too!

If you're in the area or just love bath products, Toadily is cruelty free and lots of products are vegan. Check them out!

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Saturday, January 07, 2017

Pacifica cruelty free & vegan stocking stuffers

My mom is brilliant at paying attentions to things I talk, blog, and text about and in turn saving those little tidbits throughout the year. She picked up these two stocking stuffers for me from Pacifica and they're perfect!

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

I haven't yet tried the body butters Pacifica offers, but the Indian Coconut Nectar is my favorite scent they offer. Of course I can always use makeup wipes, and being cruelty free and vegan don't hurt! I've tried their Super Detox wipes and they worked well, so I'm looking forward to these.

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Wednesday, December 21, 2016

empties #10

Another month of digging through my trash! Here's what I used up this month. As always, I'm still working through old products that aren't cruelty free or vegan from my couponing days, and I'm human so sometimes I miss an ingredient.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Petalfresh Pomegranate Rejuvenating Facial Wipes // cruelty free and vegan // I like to pick these wipes up at Ross or Marshall's to get the bulk of my makeup off before I cleanse. They weren't excellent for eye makeup, but they did the job. I'd get them again.

Jojoba Farms Jojoba Treatment Conditioner // cruelty free // I really liked this conditioner. It lasted me a while and was really rich, but didn't weigh my hair down. If I saw this again I'd pick it up, pending the verification of a few ingredients.

Dove Men +Care Fortifying Shampoo & Conditioner 2 in 1 // Sigh. This was a freebie with a men's body wash I got for a super low price forever ago with coupons. My father and brother both have super short hair, so they don't use shampoo, so I just used this up so it didn't go to waste. I treated it as just a shampoo, and it was fine. I wouldn't get it again.

Neutrogena Body Lotion & Shampoo // These were hotel bottles. You know that feeling when you use a bar soap that makes your skin feel tight and dry? That's what this shampoo made my hair feel like. The body lotion was your average run-of-the-mill lotion. I wouldn't buy either of these.

Not Pictured:
Dial 7 Day Moisturizing Lotion // I didn't see how it did any better than any other lotion. I wouldn't get this again.

Crest Pro Health Complete Mouthwash in Clean Mint // It's mouthwash. Sometimes it would leave a purple residue in my mouth. Gross. I won't get it again.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

L. A. Colors Nail Polish Remover Pads // cruelty free and vegan // I think in my last empties post with these in it I said I wouldn't buy anymore after this tub was used up, but I did anyway. Oops. They're fairly decent and convenient, and only $1! They do leave a bit of a residue, so I use them before I shower.

Gucci Bamboo Eau De Parfum Sample // Meh. I wouldn't buy this in full size.

Estee Lauder Foundation Sample in Beige 2C // I received, from a friend, three Estee Lauder foundation samples since she didn't like them, so I've been slowing using them up. This isn't the ideal color for me, so I use it sparingly and blend it a lot. The coverage is decent, but I wouldn't buy a whole bottle, especially since EL isn't cruelty free.

B&BW PocketBac in Snow Kissed Berry // This smelled great, but B&BW isn't cruelty free, so I won't be purchasing again.

Estee Lauder Makeup Brush // I'm not sure what kind of brush this is, but I used it for powder. The bristles had started to get manky, so I'm setting it free. I've replaced it with an EcoTools brush, so I won't be getting another.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara // cruelty free and vegan // I absolutely love this mascara. The brush is fantastic, the formula is perfect. I just really, really, really hope that Too Faced remains cruelty free after being bought by Estee Lauder.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Covergirl The Super Sizer Fibers Mascara // I received this in an Influenster VoxBox. The brush looks weird, but it works pretty well. The formula starts off REALLY wet, but works a lot better once it dries out a bit. I wouldn't purchase this, though.

That's it for this month! What have you tried lately?

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Monday, December 19, 2016

mini haul from tn

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

While out in Tennessee, we may have done a lot of shopping, but most of it was for gift giving. However, I did pick up some clothes I'd had on my "to find" list and a few odds and ends.

Did you know if you sign up for the Eddie Bauer Adventure Rewards they send you a $10 certificate every so often that you can use on anything? We stopped by the outlets and everything in the store was half off, so I scored two Stasher Totes for only $2 and some change. I love little collapsible bags I can put in my purse, so I'm glad we stopped there.

We stopped by Ulta and while I had a few gifts in mind, I picked up Tree Hut's Passion Fruit and Guava Shea Sugar Scrub. I'm a sucker for anything passion fruit and I've really gotten into scrubs lately. My e.l.f. powder is panned so I thought I'd try the Essence All About Matt! Fixing Compact Powder for a change. I've already cracked it open and I like it so far.

The In Vitamin Activated Charcoal Tooth Powder is something I've wanted to try but didn't want to order, so I snatched it up at a hefty discount at TJ Maxx. I'm going to give it a shot.

I'm excited to try all of these!


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Friday, December 09, 2016

empties #9

This month I had a lot of empties, so there's going to be two posts! I'm still rolling through my non-CF and vegan items, but the pile is getting smaller and smaller as I replace them with cruelty free and vegan options.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Botanical Choice Nose Pore Strips // These didn't do a whole lot of anything. I wouldn't get them again.

Clinque Liquid Facial Soap Mild // This was a decent cleanser, but it smelled terrible and chemical-y. Not only is Clinique expensive, but not cruelty free. No dice.

Clarisonic Deep Pore Detoxifying Clay Mask // My mom gave me this little sample and while it was a decent mask, Clarisonic isn't cruelty free. It took me a while to use this up, so a full size would probably dry out on me. I wouldn't buy a full size.

Generic Nail Block // A dollar store purchase. It did the job, and I have another in my nail box now.

e.l.f. BB Cream in Fair // cruelty free & vegan // This has a lot of product left in it, but the nozzle broke and I didn't want to take the time to get it all out since this was nearing the end of it's shelf life. Sometimes this can make my face greasy, but once I use up the other bottle of this that I have, I'll probably get another.

Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub // I found another bottle of this stupid stuff in my stash. I don't like it. It's hard to wash off and doesn't have much exfoiliating power. I used it as a hand scrub and I'm glad it's gone. I definitely won't be getting any more.

B&BW Endless Weekend Body Lotion // I found this little bottle when I cleaned out a purse. It was a decent lotion and smelled nice. B&BW isn't cruelty free, so I say so long.

e.l.f. Daily Brush Cleaner // cruelty free & vegan // This wasn't much more effective than my vinegar and warm water DIY brush cleaner. I had to use a lot of this to clean my brushes. I don't think I'll pick it up again.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Sally Hansen Insta Dry Polish in Mint Sprint // I liked this color, but as you can see it spoiled on me.

Clinque Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam // First off, this smelled like nail polish remover. Ew. It foamed well and the consistency was nice, but as above, Clinique isn't cruelty free and I didn't like the smell.

Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Creme // A decent little sample, but nothing special.

Colgate MaxFresh Toothpaste // After grabbing this in a super pinch, I wish I hadn't. Coming from natural toothpastes to this was terrible. Waaaaay too much fake mint taste. I'll stick with my natural pastes.

Alba Botanica Even Advanced Sea Moss Moisturizer // cruelty free & vegan // I loved this! It was light but moisturizing, and I think it evened my complexion a bit. I'll definitely be repurchasing.

A lot of "no's" as I slowly weed out the bad products, but I'm happy to have more items out of my life. ♥

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Monday, November 21, 2016

empties #8

Another round of empties! I've been really striving to use up products since we've been going to look at houses and I don't want to pack all of this stuff!

empties lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

OKAY Deep Moisturizing Coconut Oil Leave In Conditioner // I didn't see how this really made my hair any softer or more moisturized AND I missed the ingredient honey shoved down in the corner. I won't pick this up again.

Kleancolor Nail Lacquer in 247 Peacock-A-Boo // cruelty free & vegan // This was a party favor at a baby shower I attended. I never got around to using it because blue isn't a go-to color for me. I might pick this brand up again if I saw it somewhere, but I really need to work through my current stash of polishes first.

Covergirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm in 230 Coral // This was a decent little balm that packed a lot of color behind it, but Covergirl isn't cruelty free and sadly this died a slow, melting death in my car. I won't be replacing it.

Burt's Bees Coconut & Pear Lip Balm // cruelty free // This smelled really good and Burt's Bees has great balms, but they're not vegan. This also died a slow, melting death in my car, so I can't even finish it. I won't be buying another.

Colgate Total in Clean Mint // It's toothpaste. It's not cruelty free. Sorry, Colgate.

The Merry Hempsters Vegan Hemp Balm in Spearmint // cruelty free & vegan //I was very sad when this became a casualty of the summer heat in my car. (Do you see a trend? I left a whole cup of lip care in my cup holder.) This was a great lip balm I ordered from iHerb (use the code TNZ430 and get $5 off!). I'll be adding this to my next order.

e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation in Porcelain // cruelty free & vegan // This is a cheap foundation that I routinely pick up. I'll be replacing this once I go through a couple other bottles in my stash.

tarte Deep Dive Cleansing Gel // cruelty free & vegan // Full review here. I'd definitely buy this in a full size.

Beautique Long Wear Automatic Eye Liner in French Roast // I had this eyeliner for a while and I loved it. It was a cheap Sally Beauty pick up that I snagged at a discount with my Beauty Club card. I used it until the little pieces kept falling out and I finally got around to sticking it in my empties bin. Sadly, they're not vegan in the slightest, so I won't be getting any more.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Stila HUGE Extreme Lash Mascara // I received this in a palette for Christmas. This was a great mascara. I dare say I'd even compare it to Better Than Sex, volumizing wise. However, I will not be purchasing a full size because Stila tests on animals, so I can't recommend it. Sorry, Stila, Too Faced still gets my mascara money.

empties lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Classic Flannel Candle // I picked this candle up at Walmart last fall. It was a nice scent, but I don't shop at Walmart anymore, so I won't be getting it again.

That wraps up this month's empties! Have you found any new favorites? Link your empties in the comments!

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Tuesday, November 08, 2016

life lately

Happy Election Day, America! I voted, did you?

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In other news, my boss got some new geckos and they're really sweet. Look at this little guy! They're so soft. This one hung out on my shoulder for a bit while I stocked at work.

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I've gotten more into baths lately, so I've been using up some bath bombs. Here's one from Ladyburg. So if you have any recs, send them my way!

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I've been getting lots of wear out of my new leggings! Here's the print Royal Ruby. They just released faux fur lined and fleece lined prints, so I can't wait to get some shopping done!

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The past week has been pretty weird, as I've had a bout with a nasty sinus/allergy headache, then what appeared to be a virus that kept me out of work yesterday. Sigh. I didn't even get any blogging done yesterday while I was home in bed.

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Friday, October 21, 2016

empties #7

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Wow! Seven whole months of keeping up with my empties. I might've finally stuck with a series here on lb. Haha! I've really been thinning out my products, so I haven't been going through as many, coupled with the fact that I haven't been wearing as much makeup during the hot end of summer days. But here's what I've finished up!

Auromere Ayurvedic Herbal Toothpaste in Licorice // cruelty free & vegan // I'm gonna be honest here - I didn't know this was licorice flavored when I picked it up. However, I liked this toothpaste. I'd been wanting to get away from the fake, minty, flouride-filled toothpastes, so I snagged this at TJMaxx on a visit to my mom's. The licorice flavor wasn't bad and I'll definitely purchase this brand again. (If you use my link, use the code TNZ430 and get $5 off!)

L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Conditioner // I'm still using up these little travel sizes I got for free with coupons forever ago. This is a good conditioner, but L'Oreal isn't cruelty free, so I won't be repurchasing.

Poor Farm Soap Co. Lip Balm // I got this a few years ago at a local festival. It was a decent balm, but it died a summery death melting in the car, then when it solidified again it was grainy, so I'm tossing it. It's not vegan and I can't verify if it's cruelty free or if I'll even see the booth again, so I doubt I'll repurchase.

Tarte Drink of H20 Hydrating Boost Moisturizer // cruelty free & vegan // Here's my full review post of this here. I'd repurchase this.

L.A. Colors Nail Polish Remover Pads in Peach // cruelty free & vegan // I've had these things for YEARS and they stayed moist that whole time and still worked! I have another container of them somewhere in Strawberry, but after that container is used up I probably won't buy these again. They worked well, but left a residue on my hands and feet, so I felt I had to wash after using it.

Juice Organics Brightening Conditioner // cruelty free & vegan // I've never seen a conditioner be both thick and light, but this one was both. It was really creamy and thick, but didn't weigh my hair down. My hair felt healthier and more vibrant after using it. I'd definitely repurchase this one!

Palmer's Eventone Dark Spot Correcting Cleanser // cruelty free // Sadly, I missed a milk ingredient in this bottle after I'd opened it. For shame. It didn't work anyway, so I'm not missing out on a miracle product. My skin felt so soft and silky after using it, but I won't be repurchasing.

Not pictured:

Suave Creamy Cocoa Butter & Shea Body Wash // This was a buy one, get one free coupon deal that I finally used up. Suave body washes lather so well but sadly, they're not cruelty free. I have another bottle of this waiting to be used, but I won't be repurchasing.

Clean & Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Facial Cleanser // This was a hand me down from a friend who didn't want it anymore. It was a decent cleanser, but not a life changer, nor is it cruelty free.

Edge Sensitive Skin Shave Gel // Another freebie from my coupon stockpile. It's shave gel. It works. I won't be buying again after I use up my stash.

Colgate Total Mouthwash in Wintermint Rush // It's mouthwash from my coupon stockpile. I'm not a huge mouthwash fan, but picked it up because it was free a while back. I'd like to try Tom's once I get through the other bottles in my stockpile.



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Saturday, October 15, 2016

cruelty free dupe: pacifica vs. opi

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Now, most dupe posts are for the cost side of things. I'm all for a cheap dupe when it comes to beauty. However, this post is for a different reason - animal testing!

OPI is not cruelty free, as they sell in China. Years ago a friend bought me a bottle of my favorite color: You Don't Know Jacques. I love the brown/grey because it can be worn with anything! However, my bottle is almost to the point of being gunky. Of course I love the color, but I won't buy another bottle since they test on animals.

I went on the hunt for a similar color, but was having trouble finding it. I don't like to buy polish online since I can't see the color in person, so I took off to Ulta. My local store carries quite the selection of Pacifica polishes, so I thought my efforts may be fruitful.

Success! I found Pacifica's Beach Wood to be a wonderful color match AND 100% vegan and cruelty free! Not only that, but Pacifica's brand is a whole dollar cheaper, with no nasty chemicals, animal products, or hurt bunnies. ♥

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Saturday, September 24, 2016

empties #6

empties lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Nail Polish Remover // This was a spur of the moment purchase at Five Below quite a while ago. I don't think I'd buy it again.

Suave Invisible Solid Deodorant // This was my purse deodorant, so it took a while to use up. This did a really good job for me, but sadly it's not cruelty free.

Bath & Body Works Rainforest Leaves Shampoo // I found this in a bin after having it for years. It was a hotel snag. It worked pretty well, but B&BW isn't cruelty free.

Deep Steep Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub in Pineapple Coconut // cruelty free & vegan // I LOVE Deep Steep! This scrub was great and my skin felt moisturized afterward. If you use my link to order, use the code TNZ430 for $5 off!

empties lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Juice Organics Pompeptide Facial Moisturizer // cruelty free & vegan // I love this moisturizer. This is my third tube and I have one waiting to be used. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find it anywhere and I think it's been discontinued, which is so sad. I'll definitely keep searching, though.

Forever Red Shower Gel // When Bath & Body Works first released the Forever Red line in 2012ish, I fell in love with the smell (at that time I had a smidgen left). I bought this and used it for special occasions. I finally finished it. Phew. Sadly, though, as above, B&BW isn't cruelty free.

Oxy Face Wash // Boooo. I didn't like this facewash and couldn't bring myself to finish it. It bleached my towels even after a thorough rinse, and I just couldn't stand to use it anymore. Definitely won't be buying again.

Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub // Simple fooled me a while back and I thought they were cruelty free. Nope. This scrub was weird, too. Not a lot of exfoliating to be had, and it was hard to wash off. I ended up using it as a hand scrub. I will not be repurchasing.

empties lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Lancome La Vie est Belle sample// I'd totally buy it again if Lancome was cruelty free. :(

e.l.f. Poreless Face Primer // cruelty free & vegan // For the price, it's a decent primer. I like the way it applies. I'd buy this again. If you use my link, use the code TNZ430 for $5 off!

What have you tried lately?

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Friday, September 16, 2016

tarte rainforest of the sea samples review

Back in April, I sent out an order to Sephora for a couple items. The Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Make A Splash Skin Savers collection was one of them. Honestly, I just ordered this because it was cruelty free and vegan and I needed something to get my birthday gift and samples, but I had no idea I'd end up loving the products inside!

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

The kit came with the Deep Dive Cleansing Gel, Marine Boosting 4-in-1 Mist, and the Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost Moisturizer. It took me a while to finish them, but I don't like to review something until I've used most of it. One use isn't going to tell me a lot, is it?

I'm still perplexed by the name. Rainforest of the Sea? What? But the packaging and color scheme of this collection is on point. It's relaxing, but eye catching.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Now, onto the products!

The Deep Dive Cleansing Gel was nice. My skin felt fresh when I'd finished using it, but not dried out. It wasn't sticky, felt smooth on my face, and generated a little lather.

Now the Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost Moisturizer? It's got a long name but this stuff is fantastic. A lot of moisturizers I've tried felt like they were just sitting on my skin until they dried, but Drink of H2O soaked in well and my skin felt hydrated. There also weren't any shiny after effects!

The Marine Boosting 4-in-1 Mist was a new product type for me. It's supposed to be a moisturizer/primer/setting mist all in one. I was really unsure of how to use this, but I settled with spritzing it on after my toner and before my makeup. It worked well as a primer, and my skin didn't feel dried out. I don't think it'd keep anything in place if I was sweating, but for an average day I was happy with it.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

All three of these items are cruelty free and listed as vegan friendly on Tarte's website. Win!

Overall? I'd definitely buy each of these individually in full sizes. They're all pretty solid products. I'm definitely interested in trying out other items from the Rainforest of the Sea collection.

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Friday, September 09, 2016

DIY three ingredient scalp scrub

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

We all know we're supposed to exfoliate to encourage blood flow and to remove dead skin cells and product buildup. I exfoliate a couple times a week, especially my face. What's one thing I always forget needs exfoliating, too? My scalp! Here's an easy DIY scalp scrub that only has three ingredients!

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

You'll only need three things: coconut oil, coarse salt, and a lemon. Easy peasy.

I mixed about a half cup of coconut oil, 3-4 tablespoons of coarse salt, and the juice of one lemon together in a bowl with a lid. I crushed the salt a bit beforehand to make it easier to manage. Once it's all mixed together, here's a tip: I'd advise to do this in the shower or outside. It gets messy, especially if you have long hair. There was salt all over the place!

Dampen your hair, and just rub it into your scalp as you would a body scrub on your skin. Your scalp can be sensitive, so don't be too rough. I massaged it in for a few minutes, let it sit, then rinsed it out. You'll probably feel the coconut oil still in your hair, so if you want to let it moisturize for a while, leave it and shampoo later. Another plus to this scrub? It can be used as a body scrub! If you mix up a big batch you can do all of your exfoliating in one go.

The recipe can easily be altered to fit your needs. Swap out salt for sugar, or add tea tree oil, essential oils, or swap out coconut oil for something else. Just don't eat it!



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Thursday, September 08, 2016

review: lush sex bomb bath bomb

 lush review lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

I picked up the Sex Bomb bath bomb from Lush a while ago, but I've finally found time to use it!

 lush review lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

This was my first bath bomb from Lush. I had tried other bombs from other places and I was not impressed. I dropped this baby into the tub and it instantly started foaming. Check out that gorgeous magenta!

It was really relaxing and my skin felt moisturized and smooth both during and after the bath. I can't smell, so I can't attest to if the bomb retained any scent, but it fizzed slowly and hung around for a while.

I'd heard complaints of the decorative flower not dissolving, but the one in my bomb was nowhere to be found afterwards, so I had no cleanup as there wasn't any residue left after I drained the water. That was a big plus as other bombs have dyed my tub red!

I'd definitely get another Sex Bomb!

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Friday, September 02, 2016

my latest beauty favorites

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Swissco Ultimate Vent Brush in Large // Hairbrushes have never been a thing of importance to me. They keep my long ass hair from becoming a matted mess, but beyond that? Nah. Growing up I used paddle brushes and there was that one time my cousin got a round brush so tangled in my hair it had to be cut out, but other than that I never put any thought into how I brushed my hair. UNTIL NOW! Swissco's Ultimate Vent Brush is AMAZING! I no longer look at hairbrushes the same.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Pacifica's Indian Coconut Nectar Roll On Perfume  // So good. I feel like I'm on a tropical island when I use this. It comes in a glass vial, so I'm a little hesitant to carry it in my purse, but I love it.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

Hurraw Lip Balm in Grapefruit // I don't like eating grapefruit, but I love them in everything else. Luckily I can get Hurraw at my local Wegman's, and this stuff is awesome. It covers well without being heavy or sticky.

lucky bandit blog katelyn carter

The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion // I have dark spots from acne and this lotion really helps lighten them and even out my complexion. I use it at night after I cleanse and before I moisturize. I can see a difference in a few days and that's awesome compared to the many other dark spot correcting products I've used.

I'd love to know your favorites - leave your links in the comments! ♥

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