February Empties

February was much better than January in terms of finishing products. Here is a list of products that I emptied during the month of February:

MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in Dark - I LOVE this product! This is my holy grail powder. I use this alone on days when I do not want to wear foundation and need just a little "face lift" and I also use it to set my foundation. You can use this powder as a bronzer or for contouring your eyes, nose, cheeks, or the perimeter of your face. It can also be used as a blush depending on your complexion and which shade you use. I sometimes use the Deep Dark shade for contouring. One shade covers a multitude of complexions. For instance, I can use the Deep Dark skinfinish on most people that wear MAC shade NW45 or darker. This is a mineral product so it is great for sensitive skin and it does not irritate my skin. I have used this product for years and this is a powder that I plan to always keep in both my personal collection and MUA kit. This product is available at MAC counters and on the MAC website.

MAC Zoomlash mascara - I received a sample sized package of this mascara with a past MAC purchase and I primarily used it on my bottom lashes. This mascara goes on easily and it does not clump. I have used other mascaras that have given me more length but this product definitely has great lengthening properties. I have not yet repurchased this product but I plan to in the future.

MAC Brow Set Clear Brow Gel - I have had this product for a while and it was time to throw it away. I started using it after I attended a MAC Cosmetics Style session where brows were featured and we were shown how to fill in our brows. I like using brow set for clients with thicker brows as it helps to tame curlier brow hairs. It is also great to set brows as a finishing touch to provide a natural appearance. I feel that I could have gotten similar results with a clear mascara so I will not repurchase the clear brow set in the future but I plan to try one of MAC's colored brow sets. 

MAC Spiked Brow Pencil - I have repurchased this brow pencil several times. Spiked is a staple in my kit and in my personal makeup stash. This pencil is easy to use to define/fill in brows and it is the perfect color for dark brows and deeper complexions. I have back up brow pencils so I am never without this product. It is also available at MAC counters and on the website.

Aubrey Organics Herbal Complexion Mist - I featured this product in a recent monthly favorite post and I still love it. I haven't repurchased it yet because I read that it is now only available online. I plan to repurchase soon, as I am currently missing it in my skincare routine. I found this product at The Vitamin Shoppe.

As I Am Naturally Coconut Co-wash - this product is in my current monthly favorites post for this month and I absolutely love it for cleansing my hair. I have already repurchased a second jar. 

SheScentIt Okra Hair Repair Reconstructor - this product is described as a breakage control conditioner. It is a blend of aloe vera juice, okra, protein, and oils. Okra contains protein, nutrients, and fiber, which our hair needs in order to retain length. Some people make DIY okra masques for hair and skin but I absolutely love this masque from SheScentIt. This reconstructor is recommended for weekly use to help revitalize damaged hair. It is also recommended that you apply this conditioner to clean, damp hair and allow it to remain on your hair for 10-30 minutes. You can use it under the dryer with heat for extra conditioning. After rinsing, you should follow with a moisturizing conditioner to bring balance to your hair since this is a light protein treatment. In the past, I used this product once per month in addition to using a heavy protein treatment once per month on an alternate week. I stopped using it for a while because I wore weave for a large part of 2013. I have never had problems with breakage until this winter but in the past I used this reconstructor to help my hair remain strong. I have used this product for years, I believe that it works and it leaves my hair feeling soft yet strong. I have additional bottles remaining so I do not have a need to repurchase this product but I consider it a staple in my hair product arsenal and I would recommend it to all hair types (natural or relaxed). This product is available for purchase at SheScentIt.com.

BeeMine Bee Hold Curly Butter - I reviewed this product in a recent post. As mentioned in the review it is not my favorite curl butter and although I do have a second jar, I do not plan to repurchase at this time. 

Hairveda Sitrinillah - this product used to be my holy grail deep conditioner. During a past Hairveda sale I bought about 8 jars at once. I was obsessed! This product still works well to condition and moisturize my hair, but I have other deep conditioners that I favor at this time. Sitrinillah can be used as a deep conditioner, an instant rinse-out conditioner, or a leave-in conditioner. It smells great (smells like an orange creamsicle), the consistency is thick and rich, and it leaves my hair hydrated. I have a few jars remaining so I do not have a need to repurchase this product at this time. This deep conditioner can be purchased at Hairveda.com. 

Tiiva Naturals Coffee and Cupaucu Moisturizing Deep Conditoner - I tossed this conditioner before I finished using it. I had only used this product about three times and it was still 80% full when I realized that it had to go. I noticed breakage after using this product and I have never experienced breakage in the 5 years that I have been relaxer-free. I don't know if the breakage was because my hair had been dry due to the weather or if it was because of this conditioner but either way I could not chance it! This product did not soak into my strands like most deep conditioners and my hair did not feel anywhere near moisturized after allowing this product to remain on my hair for an extended period of time. I had to follow up with Hairveda Sitrinillah after using this product just to combat the dryness. It goes without saying but I would not repurchase this product.  

Have you guys used any of the products that I finished this month? I would love to hear your feedback! Feel free to comment below or email me at jarfullofglam@yahoo.com. You can also find me on Instagram - Chaneldior1913 or on Twitter @ChanelGloss

February Favorites

After dragging all winter I declared that February would be the month that I "got my life" and it came into fruition for me! I used quite a bit of items and fell in love with some. Below is a list of items that I absolutely adored during the month of February:

Cosmetics:
 

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector pressed (Topaz) - this powder luminizer gives me everlasting life!! I use this to highlight my cheek bones. It is the most beautiful shade of golden bronze that I have ever seen! The pigmentation and opacity are unlike any other that I have ever seen in a highlighter. A lot of highlighters can come off as unnatural in appearance, powdery, too shimmery/glittery, or chalky or even show up as splotchy on the skin - not this one! It applys easily and evenly - provides more of a glow than a shimmer and it gives a natural "good skin glow". It can even be worn alone without foundation as it adheres to the skin effortlessly and does not highlight imperfections. I bought this product on an impulse one Saturday in January when I went to JC Penney and stopped to browse in Sephora. This location was sold out of nearly everything! I wanted to purchase Nars Albatross highlighter and since they were sold out the associate recommended the Becca highlighter. After the associate swept the shimmering powder across my cheekbones I could not stop turning my head from side to side admiring the instant glow that I received from the product! You could not dare to tell me that I was not the brown skin J. Lo! The associate sold the last box to me so I can only assume that it is pretty popular and that I have been sleep on the Becca brand as I had not heard of it prior to that visit.  The product retails for $38, the most I have ever paid for a highlighter in life, but it is worth every penny, and we all deserve a luxury item or ten in our lives. Becca shimmering skin perfector is available at Sephora (in stores and online) and on the Becca cosmetics website. 

I am wearing the skin perfector with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Dark so that you can see how it wears on nearly naked skin. (These photos are a little blurry because I had to replace my camera in February but I tried to capture it in different lighting with the bottom shown indoors with natural lighting as the only source of light). 

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Black Metal Dahlia - I wore this lipstick in a couple of photos on social media during February and there were quite a few questions. I did not anticipate that anyone would be "checking for" this lip stain, as a picture does not do it much justice. It is a bold, shimmery, deep shade of red/burgundy. It subtly reflects shimmer for just a touch of glam. It can be worn day or night and a liner is not required but I like to wear it with Mac's Vino lip pencil. I bought this product back in December from lecosmetique.com but it is available in Sephora stores, on the Sephora website and wherever OCC lip tars are sold. I am wearing it below with MAC Vino liner. 

Mac Pure Zen Lipstick - I got this product from a blog sale back in 2013. The packaging is from MAC's 2012 Marilyn Monroe collection, however Pure Zen is a permanent shade. I had never worn this lipstick prior to February but I have been into nude colored lips lately so I decided to give it a try. This peachy shade can be worn in all seasons. In the pic below I paired it with MAC Nightmoth liner to create an autumn/winter look. During the summer I would pair it with MAC Cork liner to give it an easy summer vibe. It shows up more mauve when paired with Nightmoth as you will observe below. Nonetheless, I am absolutely loving peach lip colors right now! They are "brown-girl friendly", meaning that they work on a wide range of skin tones from fair to deep, so I would recommend that you check a peach lip stain at your favorite local counter. Look for peach lip colors to show up more often in my favorites - you guys will quickly learn that I can't just like something - I have to become obsessed! You can find Pure Zen at MAC counters or on the MAC Cosmetics website (in traditional MAC packaging). 

Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette - I have had this palette since November and I used it for the first time in February and I fell in love! Although this palette does not contain a lot of matte shades, it is possible to create both day and night looks. You can also create fun, dramatic looks as well. Urban Decay Vice 2 contains tons of colors that I did not already have in my collection and the possibilities are endless. I bought this palette at Sephora during the holidays and I recently saw that it is still for sale at some Sephora stores as well as Ulta. I used the Vice 2 palette to create the look below

Lorac Special Effects Mascara - I purchased this mascara at Nordstrom Rack for $10. It has a primer side and a lengthening side, thus this product is designed to add length and volume. I am sensitive to volumizing mascaras as they irritate my eyes after only a couple of hours. I can wear this mascara a lot longer without irritation but it does start to bother me a little if I rub my eyes at the end of the day and the fibers get into my eyes, so I have to be careful when wearing it. My only complaint is the packaging. I use one side at a time and when I detach the step one side of the wand I'm left holding on to the step 2 mascara while applying step one, since both wands are attached. I would have preferred detachable wands. Nonetheless, this mascara makes my lashes look amazing and I enjoyed using it during the month of February. 

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge - I purchased two of these sponges a couple of months ago and I just started using this item in February. I usually wet it by quickly placing it under the running faucet before I start doing my makeup. Then, I squeeze out the excess water and wrap the sponge into a dry paper towel while I apply my eye makeup. Then, I pour my foundation onto a palette and I dip the Real Techniques sponge into the palette and press the foundation into my skin for an airbrushed look. I love that this product allows for even application and light, yet buildable coverage, particularly when used while wet. I also use this sponge to blend out the concealer that I use to define my brows. I have also seen other beauty bloggers use the sponge dry to apply/blend out concealer or to set their under eye area concealer with powder. There is no wrong way to use this sponge as it is simply a matter of preference. It is easy to clean, you can simply rinse it out and rub it against a bar of soap or a shampoo bar and continue to rinse until it comes clean (pictured below). I have heard other bloggers say that this product is better than or comparable to the cult favorite Beauty Blender, and although I have never tried the blender, this product does not give me a reason to do so. I found this product at Ulta for $5.99 and I absolutely love it.

Maybelline Baby Skin Primer - if you have read a few of my blog posts you are probably aware that I have sensitive skin, so I have to be careful when selecting skin care products. Maybelline released this primer recently and a few bloggers raved about it being a dupe for Benefit Porefessional. Porefessional did not work for me but I wanted to give Baby Skin a try. This product helped to make my foundation look smoother by reducing my pores. This product does not control oil as that is not the intended purpose. If oily skin is an issue you will have to use other products in addition to this one. I found this product at Target for $5.99. It goes on smoothly and is clear once applied to the skin, and though it has somewhat of a powdery texture (silicone) like Porefessional, it does not feel as dry on my skin in comparison. Best of all this product did not irritate my sensitive skin! This is a drugstore product that is worth a try. 

Skin Care:

Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme - I raved about the Nivea hand creme a couple of months ago but I love this one as well. In comparison, this comes in a smaller plastic jar, while the other creme comes in a larger tin. This creme is a richer, smoother, water-based, and of a lotion-like consistency, while the other creme is thicker and oil-based. The creme melts right into my hands and it leaves a fresh smell. Because of the whipped consistency I prefer it over the original creme but there is less product and I will use it up a lot quicker because it is water-based. It's another great item to throw in your purse or book bag and it can be used discreetly while in public. I found this product for $1 at Walgreens and it is available at most places where Nivea products are sold.

Bliss Lid Lash Wash - I pinned this product to my Pinterest board a couple of weeks before I bought it, and I was super excited to find it in Marshall's for $7.99 compared to $16. I love this lid wash. It is oil-free, great for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers, and it easily removes my eye makeup. The product is a clear gel-like consistency (think aloe vera gel minus the stickiness) and I apply it to a cotton square and gently rub the saturated pads across my eyes until my makeup disappears. I complete this step before I wash my face and it assists in the removal of glitters, eyeshadow, waterproof makeup, lash glue, and mascara. I found this product at Marshall's but it is also sold at Sephora stores and online at the Sephora website. 

Josie Maran Argan Oil Light - I first received this as a sample at Sephora. I use it at night after I apply my balancing moisturizer. It has helped to even out my complexion and to keep my skin moisturized during this relentless winter! I was too excited to purchase a full-size bottle. I purchased the smaller bottle as it only takes a few drops of oil to do the job. This product is available in Sephora stores and on their website. I will warn that the product may smell a little stale, as I exchanged the first bottle because of the smell and they both smelled identical though both bottles were purchased at different stores. If you have ever let olive oil or grapeseed oil sit in a cupboard for a few months, you will know the stale/rancid smell that I speak of. It is still safe to use and it still works effectively, it is just not as fresh.

Josie Maran Cleansing Oil - I initially received this product as a sample when I was at Sephora one morning chatting it up with a beauty advisor that recommended this cleansing oil to assist in makeup removal. I use this product on days that I wear foundation. I apply it before I use my black soap bar and it helps to lift the makeup so that I only have to wash my face once to remove all of the makeup. Prior to using this products I would have to wash twice at times to ensure the removal of makeup, and the extra wash dries out my sensitive skin! I have also used organic oils like coconut oil and vitamin e oil to remove makeup in the past but they don't work as effectively and I am usually left with a huge mess. Since sampling this product, I have added it to my skin care regimen. I do not think that I can live without it (product dependency)! It is also available in Sephora stores and online. 

Burt's Bees Cucumber Face Wipes - I also found these wipes at Nordstrom Rack. I bought a pack of 30 for $5.99. I believe that they are the same price in stores such as Target and Walgreens. But these wipes work for me! My biggest issue has been finding wipes that assist in removing makeup and that does not dry out my skin. I have tried all kinds of wipes - Mac, Oil of Olay, Yes to cucumbers, Yes to blueberries, etc. and they all made my skin extremely dry and irritated. I use these wipes before I use the Josie Maran cleansing oil on days when I wear foundation. I sometimes use them on lazy days when I am rushing to bed and I am not wearing foundation - I will use a wipe, then follow up with a toner, and apply moisturizer. 

Hair Care:

Darcy's Botanicals Watermelon seed oil - I love this product! First of all it smells amazing!! It smells like watermelon candy! I am usually indifferent about hair oils as I own tons but this one stands out. When I apply this to my hair it instantly softens my strands! I have used this oil multiple ways - before my deep conditioner, to seal my ends, before applying moisturizer when using the liquid-oil-cream method (order of product application), and before doing a tea rinse treatment. I also love the packaging - it is a spray bottle and I spray it directly onto my hair or in my hands before applying. This item has become a staple for me. According to Darcy's website watermelon seed oil is called kalahari seed oil in Africa. The site states that this product can be used on both hair and skin and is great for mature, dry, or acne prone skin. I plan to give it a try on my skin in the future. This product is available for purchase on the Darcy's Botanicals website. (Photo courtesy of Darcy's Botanicals)

Pura Body Naturals murumuru milk (Tahitian vanilla) - I usually use this leave-in during the summer, as it is glycerin-free. Since I live in the most humid city on earth, if I want to "look like something" in the summer I have to avoid leave-ins and stylers that contain glycerin, as my hair frizzes beyond recognition if I don't monitor the ingredients! This winter I was advised to avoid glycerin as well because it is a humectant and the dry winter air and indoor central heat pulls moisture from anywhere, including our hair and skin, resulting in severely dry hair and skin. The addition of glycerin just speeds up the moisture release process. In the past I have never had to worry about changing my hair regimen for winter, as Houston usually has about 7 days of winter sporadically strewn throughout the season. This year the season was consistent so I struggled! The Pura Body Naturals leave-in came through for me - leaving my hair soft and moisturized and it smells so good! It smells like a mixture of pineapples and vanilla and the fragrance lingers so if you are scent sensitive I would choose the unscented version. This product can even be used as a detangler since it has great "slip". I purchased this leave-in at an online natural hair boutique (I can not recall the exact vendor) but it is also available on purabodynaturals.com. 

As I Am Naturally Coconut Cowash - this is my favorite co-wash to date. I have used it sporadically over the past year but since I decided to shampoo less regularly during the winter to assist in moisture retention, I have started using this to cleanse my hair on a weekly basis. In case you are not familiar, this product does not contain harsh ingredients that are found in traditional shampoos, and it also contains less cleansing agents than are typically found in gentle sulfate-free shampoos. This product also has cleansing ingredients that are not found in standard conditioner, thus it is a great balance between a sulfate-free cleanser and a conditioner. It leaves my hair super soft, moisturized, detangled, and it removes the gels and moisturizers that I have piled on throughout the week. I buy this product at Sally's Beauty Supply and it is on sale regularly. This coconut cowash has replaced my other co-cleansers as it is effective, inexpensive, and I do not have to order it online. My only complaint is the packaging. It comes in a jar so the packaging is not ideal for me since I wash my hair in the shower, but I make it work. It is a thin lotion-like consistency so transferring it to another container would be fairly easy if necessary. The cowash smells like cognac or rum (don't laugh!) or more specifically the scent is reminiscent of imitation vanilla flavoring that is used for cooking, but even that smells like liquor to me. I have also seen this product at Target and privately owned beauty supply stores. 

February was a great month in beauty for me. Have you all tried any of my February favorites? I would love to hear your reviews so feel free to leave a comment in the comments section below! If you have additional questions or concerns please email me at jarfullofglam@yahoo.com.