Monthly Empties - January

I did not use up a lot of products during the month of January. It was a vey slow month for me as it was too cold for me to really enjoy life! This has been the longest, coldest winter ever! I am adjusting better this month so I will have a longer list for February. Nonetheless, here is what I used up:

Vaseline Spray & Go - This product was featured in a recent monthly favorites post. I finished this product in January and I have already repurchased another can. I really like this lotion especially for when I am in a hurry to get somewhere. It goes on quickly and dries quickly. If you dispense the product and too much of it comes out you're not stuck for 5 minutes trying to absorb the extra product as you would with creamy formulas. It is very moisturizing on my skin. To give you an idea, my skin does not dry out quickly and I can "get away with" skipping lotion during the warmer months, though I would never do such a thing. I hope that explanation helps you to understand my skin type in case you were wondering about the moisturizing properties of this lotion. I like that the spray does not leave a heavy texture or coated feeling on my skin. It also doesn't display a slick shiny appearance on my skin. If you prefer shinier skin, then you probably would not enjoy this product. Overall, I think this product is worth a try, especially if you've never experienced lotion application from an aerosol can.

Karen's Body Beautiful Luscious Locks Hair Mask - I absolutely love this mask. It is thin in consistency, it does not have a heavy or distinct fragrance, and it leaves my hair super soft and moisturized after using it to deep condition. This mask retails for $25 per 8 oz and I always get it on sale. In the past I was able to get 4 uses out of one jar but now that my hair is longer I am only able to get 3 uses per jar. Whether on sale or purchased at full price I can not justify buying anything that I can only use 3 times, thus at this time I do not plan to repurchase and unfortunately I do not have any back ups of this product in my stash. I have plenty of deep conditioners and I feel that I need to use all of them before I repurchase the more expensive ones.

I discarded the following products before finishing:

ELF blushes - I had 3 blushes from ELF for which I paid $3 each and owned for more than 2 years and never used them. I had the colors pink passion, fuchsia fusion, and blushing rose. These products have more shimmer than I prefer (glitter-like shimmer) and the formula tends to appear chalky when applied to the skin. A lot of people compare these blushes to MAC or NARS because side by side when both products are in their respective containers they look similar, however the performance is not comparable. I do not think that these blushes are dupes for any high-end blush and I would not repurchase another ELF blush in this formula, nor would I recommend these blushes to others. There are other drug store brands that are worth a try, but I do not have a recommendation at this time. 

ELF precision liquid liner - the brush/applicator of this liquid liner is too thick for my preference. The width of the applicator reminds me of that of a standard nail polish brush. The product is very "wet" in formula and does not dry matte. It smudges and it transfers to the top portion of my hooded eyes. If you have trouble applying liquid liner or have hooded eyes, or prefer a matte finish for eye liner I would not recommend this product. I do not plan to repurchase this product.

Bear Fruit Hair Mango Macadamia Conditioner - this product started to collect mold. It is advisable to keep some natural hair products refrigerated and I keep most of mine in a small beverage refrigerator, but I took this one out and took my time about using it and it was molded when I got around to trying to use it so I threw it away. Most products from the BearFruitHair line work well but they are expensive, the company rarely offers sales, and the product comes in these "cute" rectangular bottles that are impossible to use. I have to slice open the bottles and transfer the product to recycled jars from other companies just to be able to use these. I have a few other products from this company but I do not plan to repurchase. The packaging is an absolute deal breaker for me!

That is all for the month of January. I have already started compiling my February empties post so stay tuned for more product reviews. If you have opinions that you would like to express regarding any of these products or if you have additional questions or comments please feel free to leave them below. You can also email me at jarfullofglam@yahoo.com if you have additional inquiries.

December Favorites - Product Edition

Here are my favorite items from the month of December. This post is long overdue and it's almost time for January favorites. I have already started working on that post so that I'm not so behind next month. Nonetheless, enjoy!

Urban Decay Perversion Eyeliner - I purchased this liner as part of the Urban Decay Ocho loco set. I use this one most often. This is the perfect creamy, jet black eye liner. Perversion is pigmented, glides on smoothly and it is easy to use in both your water line and on your eyelid to create a winged liner effect if desired. This is one of the smoothest, most gentle liners that I own. Sometimes I even use Perversion in my crease area to add dimension to an eye look, as it blends easily. This product can be found anywhere that Urban Decay products are sold and it retails at $19 when purchased alone.

Mac Indigo liner - I received this liner as a gift from one of my Instagram friends. This eye pencil is perfect for your water line and I love it for everyday looks. When placed in the water line it shows up like a black shimmer, kind of like the Chanel stylo yeux eye pencil in black shimmer. It reminds me of the color navy blue, where you personally know the item is blue but it is not as obvious to others, making it the perfect way to slightly glam up your daily beauty routine.  I believe that this liner is discontinued, however, you can probably find this indigo eye pencil at your local CCO (Cosmetics Company Outlet). 

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - I love this brush for applying cream products. This is the only brush that I use to apply my Mac studio tech foundation, which I wear during the day. It helps me to blend the product seamlessly and it is super soft! If  I did not start building my brush collection with MAC brushes several years ago, I would have began with Real Techniques. These are quality, affordable brushes and I like most of their brushes that I own. Stay tuned for a full post about purchasing makeup brushes.

Elf Mineral Primer - for years Mac's Prep and Prime primer has been my go-to product. I discovered this ELF primer during my November haul and I have been wearing it with nearly every makeup look. It helps to prepare my face for foundation and helps to keep my makeup matte during the day. The product has a clear, serum-like consistency and it feels like a dry powder once applied to the skin. I recommend this product for oily skin types and for those with sensitive skin. I have very sensitive skin and in the past Mac's Prep and Prime was the only primer that I could wear without irritation, until I discovered this one. I am purchasing another bottle of this primer to add to my freelance makeup kit. 

Lorac Pro Front of the Line Liquid Liner - I shared with you guys back in November that I was looking for a liquid liner. I tried a few drug store products but I discovered that they dried out too quickly, had a brush that was difficult to work with, had formulation issues, irritated my eyes or just left much to be desired. This product came in the Lorac set that I purchased at Ulta during the holidays. I absolutely love this liner! Front of the Line is intense, dries matte (I hate wet formula liner), super easy to work with regardless of your eye shape or the size of your eyes. This product is for everyone, however, I specifically recommend this liner for ladies with small eyes, hooded eyes, sensitive eyes, and beginners who are afraid of liquid eye liner. 

Mac Nightmoth lip pencil - I have worn this liner with almost every single lipstick during the autumn/winter season. In the pic below, I paired it with Mac's Smoked Purple lipstick and it was a winning combination! I have used this liner with nearly every color from reds to pinks to purples to nudes. It is one of the most versatile lip pencils in my collection and if you are looking to start or expand your lip liner collection this one is a must have. You can look for dupes as well but Mac liners are the only ones that I prefer. I find that a lot of drugstore liners lack pigmentation and are not as creamy as Mac liners. Your lips are amongst the thinnest skin on your body, so be gentle with them and treat them well. I do not recommend that you cut corners by applying rough products that do not apply easily. I have an upcoming post about where to save and where to splurge when it comes to makeup products, so stay tuned. 

Mac Smoked Purple lipstick - When I posted a picture wearing this lipstick on Facebook and Instagram last month, I received several compliments and questions about where to purchase. This is a Pro product from MAC Cosmetics so it is only available at Mac Pro stores (we do not have a PRO store in Houston) or you can purchase it online at maccosmetics.com. This lip product goes on matte and I found it easy to apply. It is pigmented and it appears the same on your lips just as it appears in the tube, true to color.

Thank you for allowing me to download with you about my favorite products from the month of December! I hope that you found this review helpful. If you have any additional questions or comments please feel free to leave them below. 

November Favorites - Product Edition

Below are the products that I was loving for the month of November. I have divided them into categories so that you can skip reviews that aren't of interest to you.

Personal Care:

Nivea Hand cream - I love this product! This month was my first time trying it, after passing it at Target several times. I have since bought several, as they are only 92cents. I keep these in my handbag, as they allow for discreetly applying lotion in a public setting if necessary. I can keep the container in my purse and scoop out a bit and rub my hands together and go unnoticed. There is nothing worse than being in church or in a professional setting and seeing/hearing someone squeeze lotion from a tube, or having the lotion squirt somewhere that it doesn't belong, or worse having the tube squeeze open in your purse. These little containers are both convenient and they work to keep my hands super soft during this harsh cold weather, or after I wash my hands in public with a drying soap product.

Nivea Lip butter - this lip butter smells so good and it helps to keep my lips hydrated. I apply this at night or when I am going somewhere and I am not wearing makeup. I have bought other scents that I have not used yet. The only con is that you apply this product with your fingers so you do have to make sure that you are applying with freshly washed/sanitized hands.

Vaseline Spray & go Moisturizer - I am embarrassed to say that I bought this product because I saw an advertisement where the lady got dressed so fast thanks to the spray n go lotion! I struggle with getting dressed quickly so I totally fell for that ad! I studied marketing in undergrad (my minor) so I knew that Vaseline was appealing to my flaws (procrastination) but my interest was peaked, nonetheless. I purchased the product with a coupon. It sprays a light application, which I quickly rub in and go on about my business. It does eliminate the time that I would usually spend sitting on my bed daydreaming while applying lotion, as I stand and spray this product away from my bed, so as not to risk ruining my linens. (Or my sheets, I can be so country at times). If you have ever used Off bug repellent spray, then that is similar to the consistency in which the product sprays. It helps to keep my skin moisturized and the product has lasted longer than I anticipated, so it is worth the price (about $6).

Aubrey Organics Herbal Complexion Mist - I have had this product forever, but during the month of November, I started to use it more frequently after experiencing skin irritation on my face from a primer. I spritz this to moisturize my face before applying my makeup or to refresh my skin after using a facial cleanser. It contains natural ingredients such as mineral water, aloe vera, and vitamins, A, C, and E. It reminds me of a toner, and I also compare it to MAC's Fix Plus. It smells really good...well it smells pleasant....and it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and refreshed. I once used it to soothe my irritated freshly shaved skin after I could not find my aloe vera gel, and it worked! I purchased this product at Vitamin Shoppe for about $7 and it has lasted me a while.

Cosmetics:

Urban Decay Ocho Loco 2 - these liners were an impulse buy at Sephora. I went to the store to purchase the UD Vice palette and the associate talked me into these. I love them and I am so glad that I purchased them. This is my first time trying UD liners and they are everything! They are very pigmented, and they glide on easily - hence you are able to use them on your eyelids for a smooth look. (It is difficult to use the average eye pencil on your lids in order to create a winged line). This set is limited edition, so I recommend grabbing it before they are gone forever. I love the colors! I created a look last month using the liners, for which I will post details in another post.

 

ELF Cosmetics Lip exfoliator - I use this at night just before bedtime. It helps to keep my lips smooth and to erase color deposits that I may not have been able to remove with eye makeup remover pads. This product was only $3 and definitely worth a try.

 Mac studio tech - Prior to using this product on a client last month, I had tried every single MAC foundation except this one! I am not sure why I slept on this formula, but I love this product for everyday makeup wear. It offers light to medium coverage (buildable coverage) and results in a more natural application (if applied correctly). I use the shade NW43.


MAC MSF (Perfectly Poised and Scene to be scene) - These can be worn as both blush, highlighters, or all over to provide a luminous glow (results vary pending your complexion and desired outcome). I love these. They are limited edition and sold out in most places.

 

MUFE lipstick no. 15 - this is a very beautiful and unique purple. I have a more detailed post coming up comparing it to other purple lip colors in my collection. The product has a creamy texture, a bit of sheen, it is highly pigmented and iridescence in appearance.

 

Elf Cosmetics Bronzer (Turks and Caicos) - I love this! I am going to add it to my MUA kit. It is an awesome contour shade. I have not used the highlight shade yet. I like this better than my Cover Girl Queen Ebony bronzer, and this product was only $3, whereas CG is around $6.

 

Fashion:

Jeffrey Campbell flats - I purchased these flats during the Nordstrom half-yearly sale. I am not sure of the regular price but I snagged these for $65. They are comfy and I have worn them once with jeans, yet they are fancy enough to wear with a dress or skirt. I will feature these in an upcoming blog post.

Asos Clutch - this was my very first accessory from Asos. I see bloggers post about shoes and other accessories that they picked up from the UK retailer, but I go straight to the clothing and promptly check out. I decided to browse the accessories section and found this clutch on sale. It goes with tons of items and it is great quality for the price. It is a faux leather material. I believe it was $24.

 

 

 

 I love monthly favorite posts on blogs and YouTube so this post was fun to create. What are some of the products that you are currently loving? Questions and comments/responses are welcomed below.

Adventures in Couponing

I have always admired those people who have a super-organized binder full of coupons that hold up the checkout line at Target. Annoying but admirable! I like the idea of couponing but I have never actually taken my coupons to the store and in the past if I did take them to the store I would forget to use them. No more passive couponing! I am learning the game and I enjoy it. I do not buy processed foods for my home and there won't ever be a coupon for fresh produce, so I scour the Sunday paper for savings on cosmetics and healthy/beauty/household items.

My first couponing adventure was a trip to Target.

 

Here are my savings:
Saved $1 on Spray and go moisturizer (I used a 50cent manufacturers coupon and a 50cent Target coupon that I printed from Target's website.) - paid $4.99
Saved $2 on Almay eye makeup remover - paid $2.99
Saved $1 on Rimmel Scandal Eyes mascara - paid $3.99
Saved $4 on L'Oreal Excess mascara (I had a mfg coupon for $2 off and a Target coupon for $2 off) - paid $3.99
Total savings: $8.00


My next couponing adventure was at Ulta.

I had a coupon for $3.50 off of a $10 purchase. I have wanted to try the Real Technique brushes and I saw that they were on sale (BOGO 50% OFF). I purchased the set for $17.99 and a single brush was 50% off of $8.99, plus I received $3.50 off. If I did not purchase anything else my total spent would have been less than $20 for 5 quality brushes!
Total savings: $8.00


The best haul this month came from Elf cosmetics.

 

I love ELF brushes! Especially for my client makeup kit. I was bored one night and decided to log on to ELF's site and I saw that they were having a 36% off sale that was ending in 45 minutes from the time that I logged on. I quickly filled up my cart but decided to edit it to ensure that I received free shipping on my order of $35 or more. I ran out of time during editing and the coupon code expired. My spirit was broken! But let me tell you how God works! I googled ELF coupon codes and found a 50% off code! Won't He do it?! My total was $35 for 23 items including brushes, lip exfoliators, brush cleaner, sealant, primer, setting mist, and a blush/bronzer duo. Most of these products are not easy to find in stores and I have seen positive reviews for these items. I was too excited. I got free shipping! Shipping would have been about $12 for these items as ELF was not offering flat rate shipping.
Total Savings: Approximately $47

 

 

 

Couponing Tips:
Get organized - Try sites like krazycouponlady.com to show you which coupons you should use at which stores in order to get the greatest savings. I print the list of items that I plan to buy and use binder clips to clip my coupons to the print-out.

Check store coupon policies - some stores double/triple manufacturer coupons so be sure to check each store's policy. Stores like Target also offer store coupons on their site so look out for those, as you can use store coupons in addition to a manufacturers coupon on individual items to score greater savings.

Check Expiration Dates - I am not going to embarrass myself by telling you guys that I had a coupon for $3 off of two or more Nivea lip butters and went to CVS to use it on their deal of 3/$10, thinking that I was going to get three butters for $7 and got up to the counter and my coupon was expired! I walked out empty-handed because the butters are $1 less at Ulta and if the coupon were valid I would have saved more at Ulta by getting three butters for $6. In real life, what is $1? But in couponing, you really don't NEED most of this stuff so $1 is all of the difference in the world!

Only buy items that you really want to try or that you actually use - I am experimenting with drug strore mascaras so I am benefitting from cosmetic coupons and I always look for coupons pertaining to my preferred brand of toilet paper/contact lens solution/household cleaners. You have to buy these items anyway so you may as well save on them!

Do any of you coupon? Do you have any advice or tips for couponing? Feedback is welcomed in the  comments section. Additionally feel free to leave questions below.