What I have used up lately....

I have not been on target with my monthly empties reviews but I have been somewhat keeping track of my empty products; so here are the products that I have recently depleted:

SheaMoisture Moisture Retention Shampoo - This has been my holy grail shampoo for years. I have one bottle remaining and when I am done with it I plan to try other cleansers, just because I am bored with this one and I wonder if there are better cleansers for my hair. I have reviewed this product in a previous Monthly Empties post. I typically purchase SheaMoisture products at Target or Walgreen's.

Curl Junkie Beauticurls Argan and Olive Daily Hair Conditioner - This is one of my favorite instant conditioners. I love to use it in the summer to co-wash and I also use it to help detangle my hair. It makes my hair super soft and moisturized. I have one more bottle remaining and I will probably repurchase when that bottle is complete. This conditioner has been on my holy grail list for years. I usually order this product from aveyou.com but it is also available on curljunkie.com.

Qhemet Biologics Amla and Olive Heavy Cream (AOHC) - I have been using this leave-in hair cream for about four years. I have another jar on deck but I rarely use this product. When I first went natural it was one of the only products that kept my hair moisturized, but it is very heavy so you only need a little, thus one jar has lasted me forever. This product does not mix well with other stylers, and since I have primarily worn twist-outs over the years, it is rare that I have the opportunity to use this product. It also does not work well alone for loose styles, as it does not help my hair with definition (which the product is not intended to do such, so this is not a complaint, just an explanation of usage). I enjoy using this product when I am preparing my hair for a long-term protective style because I know that I can depend on AOHC to keep my hair soft and moisturized. I would recommend this product to anyone who has trouble with moisture retention.

 

Claudie's Hair Revitalizer Renew Protein Conditioner - This is one of my favorite protein conditioners. It helps to strengthen my hair and restore elasticity, especially when I over-moisturize my hair. I have very fine strands and my hair is prone to reduced elasticity, so I apply this product and sit under my heating cap or dryer for about 30 minutes, and then follow with a deep conditioner. It seems to work instantly as I immediately see results when handling my hair (my hair feels less fragile when wet). I typically use this product once per month, and I recommend Renew Protein to anyone who fears a more aggressive treatment or anyone who is more ingredient conscious as this product is handmade. I purchase this product at claudieshairrevitalizer.com and the owner  provides excellent customer service. I plan to repurchase this product soon.

Claudie's Hair Revitalizer Hair Gel - This is my holy grail gel. No other gel has worked as well for me as this one. I usually wear this gel when I wear my hair pulled back in a bun or ponytail, and I can wear it everyday without it building up in my hair or causing my edges to feel stiff. I will repurchase this product soon, as I have been giving my hair a break from ponytails and I have also been trying to use up all of the hair products that I have been hoarding. This product is also available on Claudieshairrevitalizer.com.

Boscia Makeup Breakup Cleansing Oil - I love the way that this product removes makeup. I typically use it before my regular cleanser on days that I wear makeup. I have featured this product in a past monthly favorites post. I am still trying to develop a regular skincare routine that I love so I am trying other makeup removers and have not repurchased this one yet. I purchased this cleansing oil at Sephora and it is also available at Sephora.com.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser - I love this cleanser. It is very gentle and I can use it morning and night without fear that it will over-dry my skin. I have combination to oily skin and a lot of the cleansers for oily skin are too aggressive and drying for my sensitive skin. Fresh Soy cleanser is recommended for all skin types and safe for eyes. I plan to repurchase this cleanser. Soy Fresh cleanser is available at Sephora.

Shi Naturals Creamy Leave-In - this leave-in conditioner really helped to keep my hair soft and moisturized when I was struggling with chronic thirsty hair during the spring. It is creamy and water-based and easily absorbs into my fine strands. I plan to repurchase this leave-in after I use several more. This product is available on Etsy.

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads - the purpose of these pads are to exfoliate, tone, and brighten. I used them after my cleanser and they helped with oil-control. I noticed that my skin would be far less oily during the day when using this product. Though I suffered no harsh side effects during use, lately I have been fearful of over-drying my skin as this product contains glycolic acid, so I have not repurchased the FAB pads. However, these pads are available at Sephora.

Ren T-Zone Control Cleansing Gel - I received this gel in gratis from work. It is a gentle, antibacterial facial cleansing gel for combination to oily skin. This cleanser did not produce any negative side effects but there are other cleansers that I favor, thus I do not plan to repurchase this cleasing gel. This product is available at Sephora.

Ren Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel - I also received this product in gratis at work. I like that it brightens and makes the eye area appear less puffy. I recommend this gel to clients who are primarily concerned about under-eye bags and dry under-eye areas. I would repurchase this gel, but at this time I am testing out other eye creams. This product is available at Sephora.

Tarte Maracuja C-brighter eye treatment - I purchased this product in a set with maracuja oil. I did not use it consistently enough to see a difference. I plan to try it again before making a definite conclusion because I did find it to be moisturizing to my under-eye area. I purchased this product at Sephora.

NARS Sheer Matte Foundation in Macao - this was my holy grail foundation for years! It matches my complexion very well during the summer and it does not oxidize during wear, plus I love the natural finish that it provides. The product is a sheer to medium coverage, and as I have become more of a full-coverage girl I do not plan to repurchase in the near future. I still love the product and I still use it on clients. I purchased this product at Sephora.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer - I love this primer! It was really there for me this summer when our store was undergoing renovations and the air conditioner wasn't working properly in this humid, Houston heat. I would start to sweat at work and my makeup stayed put because this primer repels water, thus making your makeup sweat-proof and humidity-proof. I have an additional small jar of this product remaining and at this time I plan to purchase a full-size bottle in the future. The Hourglass brand is exclusive to Sephora.

Algenist Genius Anti-Aging cream - this is one of my favorite moisturizers that truly hydrates without leaving behind a sticky film or extra oils. I have raved about this product in a previous monthly favorites post and months later I still love it. I finished a small jar of this product but I plan to repurchase in the future. Algenist is available at Sephora.

 

Almay Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Pads - I typically use the Almay oil-free pads and purchased these unintentionally. The waterproof pads work really well to remove lip stains, but sense my eyes are sensitive I prefer the oil-free variety for eye makeup removal. I usually buy these pads at Target but they can be found at any drugstore where Almay is sold.

IntensivEye Makeup Remover Wipes - I randomly found these pads in Marshall's one day and decided to give them a try. At the discounted rate, they are about $3 more in price point in comparison to the Almay pads, and they do not do anything special. I prefer the Almay brand over these pads and I do not plan to repurchase.

 

 

MAC Pro longwear concealer NW40 - this concealer is a staple for me in my personal makeup stash. It is often described as the best concealer in the industry - as it is full coverage, long-wearing and crease-proof. I have tried other concealers that receive equally rave reviews and found that they do not measure up to my beloved pro longwear. I repurchased this product the day that I realized that the bottle was coming to an end. This product is available on the Mac Cosmetics website as well as Mac counters. 

 

MAC Brush cleanser - I have featured this brush cleaner in a previous empties post. I have already repurchased this cleanser as it is one of my favorites. There is a new brush cleanser that I have had the opportunity to try at work, that I also plan to purchase to compare to MAC's cleanser. MAC's brush cleanser is available on the MAC website and at MAC counters.

 

Josie Maran bear naked wipes - I love these wipes because they do not irritate my skin! I have expressed in an earlier post about how my skin reacts with  severe dryness to most facial wipes. These wipes are great for removing makeup before I wash my face, as well as removing oils on days when I don't wear makeup or on days when I don't leave home. I have already repurchased this product from Sephora.

 

Croc Clips - I had a box of croc clips that lasted me for a few years. The final clip broke during the month of March and I repurchased two new boxes. I prefer the safari print edition. These clips hold large sections of my thick natural hair and they do not snag my hair at all. I purchased these clips at Sally's Beauty Supply. Sephora also makes similar clips that I plan to try.

Pura Body Naturals Murumuru milk - I featured a full review of this product in a past monthly favorites post. This leave-in conditioner helped combat my chronic dryness this past winter. I recently finished a bottle of this leave-in and I have additional bottles of this product on deck, thus I do not have a need to repurchase at this time. 

 

I have used up quite a bit over the last couple of months and I have purchased less than I have used. I used up far more than I was able to post but I edited this list in hopes of not boring you to tears! Thank you for reading my blog and feel free to leave questions and feedback below. If you have tried any of these products I would love to hear your thoughts!

January Favorites - Products & Client Edition

Hello readers! It has not been very long since I posted my December favorites and I am already overdue for January favorites. I have been getting awesome feedback from a lot of you and I really appreciate the support. If you have additional questions and you do not feel comfortable leaving a comment below please feel free to email me at jarfullofglam@yahoo.com and if you follow me on social media (Twitter: @chanelgloss and Instagram: @chaneldior1913) feel free to send me a message there as well. Here is a list of things that I loved during the month of January:

Mac eye kohl in smolder - this is a multi-purpose product for me. I used it as a lipstick (see pic below) and I found that it was a great substitute if u were unable to get the limited edition Mac hautecore (matte black) lipstick. I also used this eye kohl in my waterline and it applies very smoothly yet intense. This is one of my fave black liners from MAC thus far and I have tried several! I purchased this product at maccosmetics.com.

Urban Decay pore perfecting primer - this primer helped my makeup go on smoothly over my large pores. And best of all it did not irritate my sensitive skin! I have tried the very popular Benefit Porefessional primer and it dried out and irritated my skin so I am always nervous about primers. Most people look for primers to control oil but this formula is not for oil-control. I have noticed that a lot of women use a pore reducing primer coupled with an oil control primer to meet their needs. Another option would be to use a mattifying setting spray which controls oil. Look out for my upcoming post about primers if you are interested in finding other options. I purchased this product at Nordstrom Rack but it is available anywhere that Urban Decay is sold. 

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Sebastian lip tar - this is a beautiful, unique color. It was released in OCC's fall 2013 collection. Like all OCC lip tars, this product can be mixed with other lip tars to create beautiful hues. This was the perfect nude lip for me! This lip tar is versatile enough to wear both during the day or for a night out. I purchased this product at lecosmetique.com but it can be purchased anywhere OCC products are sold (including Sephora). Below I am wearing this lip tar with MAC Cork liner, and you can also see more pics on my Naked 1 FOTD post. 

Mac Constructivist paint pot - this was my everyday lid color during the month of January. I love that you can wear this color alone or you can wear it as a base under your shadows. It's pigmented, long-wearing and lasts all day. There is no need to apply a primer when using paint pots as they do not crease and they are long-wearing. I usually apply the constructivist paint pot to my lid and use a basic transition color (I usually use my ELF bronzing powder in Turks and Caicos as a transition shade in order to save time in my everyday beauty routine). I can also use this as a base for a chocolate smokey eye or even a neutral day look. I purchased this product a couple of years ago at the Mac counter. It is a permanent item and is still available. Here is a pic of me wearing constructivist and Turks and Caicos (my camera has been creating a halo effect around my head and makes my hair look dead so my hair is cropped out of this pic).

Lorac Pro palette - this is the palette that I reached for nearly everyday during the month of January. It's the perfect neutral palette. I can't believe I overlooked this palette for so long. I haven't been able to really do a thorough comparison of my naked palettes because I've been wearing this everyday. If you are a minimalist and looking for just one palette that is worth the money and that you can use everyday this is the one that I would recommend. I like this palette over the naked palettes because it has everything that you need regardless of your skin tone. It features a row of 8 shimmery shadows and a row of 8 matte shadows, making it possible to create day or night looks. There is also a transition color for every complexion, which is rare in a palette. The shadows are pigmented and creamy, thus they apply easily with minimal blending. I also recommend this palette for ladies with mature skin since the creamy formula is less likely to settle into wrinkles when a primer is applied. I purchased my palette at Ulta but you can also find it on Lorac's website. 

Kate Spade iPhone 5 case - I bought quite a few phone cases in December but this pink and cream case is the one that I absolutely loved during the month of January. It is a rubber-like case that is very easy to clean (stains just smudge right off of it) and it works to protect my phone from damage.  I found this case at Nordstrom Rack and it was less than $20. It was priced between $16.97 and $19.97 as I can not recall the specific sticker price. It is easy to find inexpensive Kate Spade tech accessories at stores like Nordstrom Rack, Marshall's, and TJ Maxx. 

Snyder's chocolate covered pretzels - I know it is totally random for me to post a food product on here but everyone eats and everyone loves a good snack! If you like chocolate and pretzels and enjoy the taste of sweet combined with slightly salty you will probably enjoy these. They are especially good for a grocery store novelty item (you know the type of quality that you usually find at chain retailers) and I would totally serve them to guests. I found these pretzels at Target around Christmas and saw them in stores in January but when I went to look for them for a Valentine's Day event they were nowhere to be found! I am not sure if they were limited edition but if you see them in stores they are worth a try. 

 

 

H&M leggings - I bought a few pairs of these leggings at H&M before the season began. I paid $12.95 per pair. I have lived in these this month! I slept in them, wore them to the grocery store or to run errands, and I even worked out in a pair of these. They are opaque so your undies don't show through and they conceal cellulite so no need to be self-conscious about imperfections when wearing these. They are generously sized so most people are able to size down in these. They are long enough so there isn't an awkward space between the leggings and the tops of the shoes, even if you are fairly tall (I am about 5ft6''). They are large enough - once again you can absolutely size down in these - I don't have to worry about losing my pants as I walk because these fit very well. I have washed and dried these 100 times just in the month of January alone and they have never shrunk or faded. H&M has everyone's size so I think these are worth a try for everyone as I have not seen this type of quality in leggings at this price point. I am not a "leggings type of girl" as in you won't catch me wearing them to an event (though I plan to experiment with ways to make them look more tasteful) but these are essential to every wardrobe!

 

 

I decided to include my client favorite with this post because I didn't do many freelance jobs in January but here is one of my favorites:

We used NARS Sheer Matte foundation in Macao to even out her complexion and MAC Nightmoth and Rebel are on the lips. 

Have you guys tried any of these products? I would love to hear your thoughts. Let me know in the comments section below. 

FOTD - featuring Urban Decay Ocho Loco 2

Hello JFOG readers! I hope you all enjoyed your holidays and I would like to wish everyone a happy new year! This FOTD (Face of the Day) post is way late! I resolve to do better in 2014! I wore this look on my way out one night last month. I decided to feature the Urban Decay Ocho loco liners. The look was really easy and quick. These liners have become my go-to product when I want to look glam but I'm on a time budget. I am in love with these liners. This look lasted all night even though I was dancing and sweating and wiping my face, the liners did not budge until I washed my face. They are also easy to remove with a normal face washing routine. Ocho Loco is a limited edition Urban Decay set featuring 8 full-size liners. I purchased the set at Sephora back in November. It is sold out on the Sephora website, but if you are interested you may be able to find it in some Sephora stores or on the Ulta website. I featured the set in my monthly favorites for November, so you can have a look at the colors by clicking on that post.

Products used:
Primed face w/ benefit Porefessional
Groomed brows w/ MAC Penultimate & MAC Pro Concealer in NW40
Used MAC Indianwood paint pot on eyelid
Contoured eyed w/ Mac texture and cross cultural
Created colored wing w/ UD Deep End layered over UD Mars
Lined waterline w/ UD Perversion
Lined under eye w/ UD Deep End and ultraviolet
Foundation: Nars sheer matte - Macao
Passionately Tempting blush
Mac Shape the future MSF as highlight and contour
Lips: Mac Night moth liner and Rebel lipstick

 

 

Please feel free to leave questions or comments below. For additional information, you may also email me at jarfullofglam@yahoo.com.