lucky bandit | RVA based lifestyle blog

Monday, March 23, 2020

empties #21

Another post about my trash! It's been a while, so I've used up a lot. I recycled all I can through TerracycleI've labeled what I can find that isn't cruelty free, but always do your own research!
Murad Essentials-C Cleanser// This was a good cleanser! Light and refreshing. I'd buy it again.

Pacifica Cactus Water Micellar Cleanser // I love Pacifica products and this one didn't disappoint. If I hadn't had some makeup removers given to me by my mom, I'd definitely buy this one again.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion* // This is the best eyeshadow primer I've tried thus far. I'll keep buying this.

NYX XXL Lush Lashes Mascara // I liked this mascara. It didn't flake and I could build it nicely. I'd repurchase!

Nourish California Mango Extreme Body Creme // cruelty free status unknown // When I bought this I could find the brand and verify, but I can't any longer. It was a very hydrating lotion!

Shea Moisture Coconut Water Vegan Lip Balm // You'll see two different tubes of this in this post. BOTH tubes stopped distributing lip balm! After a couple uses it just clogged up and no more would come out, so I bought the second tube shown. Same thing. I liked what I could actually use, but I'll skip this from now on due to the packaging.

Skinfood Pineapple Peeling Gel // not cruelty free // I bought this on a whim and it worked really well, though not only is it discontinued, it's also not cf. Luckily, I found the elf Gentle Peeling Exfoliant and it works just as well and it's cheaper.

Vaseline Lip Therapy in Cocoa Butter // not cruelty free // My lips have been chronically chapped for a few months and I tried almost every lip balm I could get my hands on. Unfortunately, this was the one that actually helped. Even though it's not cf, I'm going to keep buying it because my lips are so bad.

Tresemme Volumizing Dry Shampoo // not cruelty free // I got this in a Christmas basket. It wasn't a bad dry shampoo! I'd buy it again if Tresemme went cf.

Desert Essence Lip Rescue Ultra Rescue Shea Butter* // This lip balm helped for a while and I'd definitely suggest this for mildly chapped lips. I had an extreme case, but it helped me in the beginning! I'd buy it again.
Pacifica Cactus Revive Face Wash // Slightly drying, but I still liked it. I'd try it again on sale, but I'd opt for a different Pacifica face wash next time.

Pacifica Hawaiian Ruby Guava Body Butter // This came in a set that my mom gave me. This is my favorite body butter scent and I'd 100% get it again!

Mary Kay Satin Body Wash // not cruelty free // This lathered really well and smelled nice, but I don't buy from MLMs.

Nip+Fab Smooth Viper Venom Micro Blur Fix // I'm so, so, so sad this was discontinued. I've had this tube for a couple years now and I used it almost daily as a primer. It was AMAZING as a primer. Controlled oil, makeup didn't budge. I've sadly run out and I can't find it anywhere.

elf Acne Fighting Gel // I tried valiantly to use this up, but it just didn't work well enough for me to keep using it.

Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Toothpaste* // I liked this! I grabbed it for a trip. It was minty and my teeth felt clean. I'd repurchase.
Covergirl Clean Matte BB Creamin Light/Medium // Covergirl finally went cruelty free. This is my second tube of this. This is very close to my color and it's worked very well for me. I'd definitely rebuy!

Clean & Clear Lemon Zesty Scrub // not cruelty free // I got this for Christmas and I love getting scrubs! It's not cf but it did it's job!

Biore Charcoal Micellar Water // not cruelty free // This came in a subscription box. It was okay. It was less micellar water and more just makeup remover, but it worked. I wouldn't buy it.

elf Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter Duo // Good grief, I've had this for what feels like ten years. It didn't blend well and I never used the highlighter because it was like spreading glitter on my face. I wouldn't repurchase.

LA Girl Pro Face Powderin Classic Ivory GPP60Z // This powder was great, blended well, covered well, until it fell down the sink side four inches and decided to shatter. I'd buy this again! I just wish it came without the pouf, which was added waste for me.
 None of these samples are cruelty free, so I wouldn't repurchase any or really go into detail.
Some more samples! I don't think I'd repurchase any of these, either. I do want to note that the Clinique sample could possibly be the worst packaged sample of all time.
I've already cleaned these wands to be sent for Wands for Wildlife in October!

Doucce Mascara // cruelty free status unknown // I got this in an Ipsy box and I literally spent the entire time I used this thinking I had Marc Jacobs mascara for some reason?? I have no idea why. It was a decent mascara and I'd buy it again if I could verify if it was cruelty free.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara* // This is my favorite mascara, hands down. Would definitely repurchase.
Makeup Wipe Haul //  LA Fresh* (the wipes on the right) ARE cruelty free!

So there's another few months! I've decided that 2020 is the year I pare down my products, so I only buy after I've used something up. We'll see how it goes.


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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.*



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frugal bandit blog | my poshmark closet | shop leggings | shop my mercari
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.*

Monday, January 13, 2020

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.*

Friday, December 13, 2019

how to stay on top of your book collection

Being a bookworm is usually a positive thing - well-read, vocabulary is expanded, get to go on adventures while sitting on the couch... However, I am also a clutter bug. This is the current state of my coffee table - packed with books, magazines, and catalogs.

I tend to buy books secondhand, bring them home, then let them sit where they get put down until I'm ready to read them. Now that we live in a one-bedroom apartment, this isn't acceptable. Here are some ways to tackle and stay on top of your reading material!

Control what you do have // Assign a designated spot for magazines, catalogs, and books and only keep them in that spot without expanding it. Put away the new books you bring in, whether it's a bookshelf, a corner of the closet, or in a decorative box. I have some stacked and holding cosmetic organizers on my vanity.

Switch to eBooks // I know, I know. The feel of a physical book can't beat an eBook. But they take up so much less space and it's easy to always have a book on hand (especially when it's dark and you can't read via light!).

Avoid the book section // I'm always afraid of missing out on a book on my TBR for cheap at the thrift store, so I tend to buy more than I can feasibly read for our space constraints. I remedy this by not even looking at the book section when I thrift, and avoiding pricey retail bookstores.

Institute a 'read 2 before buying 1' rule // Instead of just not buying anything, vow to finish and get rid of two books before buying one. Drop off those books at the thrift store, sell them, or gift them to someone and then go get only one to replace them.

Read, read, read // Not carving out time to read can make those books sit there. I sometimes feel that reading isn't "productive" enough, so I bypass it. Reading is productive, as long as you aren't ignoring glaring tasks that need to be done. Take the time to sit and enjoy a book for a while!

How do you handle your books?

my currently-reading shelf:
Katelyn Carter's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (currently-reading shelf)
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