products that didn't work for me

Sometimes it's just as important to hear about products that don't work just as much as the ones that do. These are just my personal opinions and experiences with products that I didn't have any luck with. Maybe if you've had luck with any of these, you can tell me what I'm doing wrong! :)
 

Burt's Bee's Citrus Facial Scrub

I purchased this Citrus Facial Scrub expecting something way different. I was hoping to get a good exfoliation out of this, but absolutely no luck! The product seemed very dry, and not even water helped to get a better consistency. I didn't feel like it cleaned my face at all. I love Burt's Bees, but this did not seem worth the money. 

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Candy Coral 
My biggest issue with this blush is its texture. The blush is neatly packaged. However, after only a few uses, the product gets everywhere. The texture is more like "play-doh" than "bouncy" as it claims to be. Some of the lighter colors in this line, such as Candy Coral, take a lot of effort to get color on your cheeks. 



 If you want just a sheer wash of color, then you might like these blushes. But be prepared to spend a few extra minutes to get some kind of color. To me, there are just way better blush options for even better prices, such as the ones from Wet n Wild or ELF. 

L'oreal HiP Cream Eyeliner
I bought this liner to see if it could replace my MAC Fluid Line in Blacktrack. At first, I really liked this product. But I found over time that it started to smudge easily. The product in the pot also dried out much quicker than the MAC liner. I do like other drugstore gel liners, but this one just did not work. The best gel liner I've found at the drugstore is from Physician's Formula. 

ELF Studio Lip Stain in Fashionista
 I haven't really found an ELF product I don't like... until this one. I think I was drawn to the color more than the fact that it claimed to be a "stain." I applied the pink color to my lips, then waited about two minutes, and then applied the gloss. I think I've come across lip balms that last longer than this. The color settles into any lines or cracks in your lips. (ew!) And it doesn't ever fully dry so it will rub off on anything that hits your lips. Don't expect this one to last longer than your average lipstick! Luckily, this one only set me back about 3 dollars. 

However, I do highly recommend checking out other ELF products such as the blushes, powders, and brushes at your local Target! 

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream
This was one of those I-don't-own-anything-like-this-so-I-feel-like-I-should moments in Ulta. Anyone else have those? Just me? :) This matte lip cream is definitely matte. However, it made me look very sick... or that I was about to die. It just didn't do anything for me. Maybe it was the wrong color. But the texture seems a little off too. And I don't think adding a gloss could have helped it out. I'm just going to stick with my comfort zone of lipsticks and lip balms! I tried :)

Covergirl Lashblast 24 Hour Mascara

I know I'll probably get a few "how can you not love this mascara?" thoughts on this one. I know this is loved by many people. I once tried the original Lashblast and it didn't do any amazing things for me. But, I decided to try the 24 hour just to see if this version would work better for me. Unfortunately there were major smudging problems with this. It also didn't do anything to volumize my lashes. So, unfortunately this one didn't work in round two.
Sorry Lashblast lovers! 

 HealthySexyHair Soy Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner

This was an impulse buy at Ulta. I was in a rush and I needed a new shampoo. They didn't have what I was looking for, so I picked up this HealthySexyHair shampoo/conditioner with Soy, Coconut, and Argain Oil because it was on sale. And I really like this line so I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, I thought it was pretty terrible. I needed a lot of the shampoo to get a good lather. And the conditioner was very thin and watery. None of the ingredients they highlight on the packaging did more for my hair.  For $20, I definitely expected more. 

The bottles are also made very poorly. Much of the shampoo built up inside and around the cap causing it to run down the sides. I literally had to wash these bottles before taking a photo of them. You shouldn't have to clean your bottles! 
Moral of the story: if you see these on sale at Ulta... look the other way!

Have you had any luck with these products? 

What are some of your unfortunate experiences with makeup or beauty products that you initially thought you'd like? 

operation: use what you got

A couple months before I started this blog, I began “Operation: Use What You Got.” The closet in my bathroom is filled with half-empty bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, styling products, and much more. When you’re storage containers can’t fit any more bottles, that’s when you know you might be a hoarder have a problem. So, I started on a mission of using what I have. So genius, I know.

I’ve kept all my empty products so I can share the things I’ve used up during this “operation.” But now, I realize that at this point, I’m basically hoarding trash. It’s kind of weird not throwing away things that should be thrown away, so I had to finally sit down and do this post so I could now throw my empties away.

I have quite a few empty products so I’m dividing this into three parts: hair care, skin care, and makeup. I’m starting with hair care, so stay tuned for parts two and three!

Suave Keratin Infusion Shampoo

I’ve used Nexxus Shampoo for years. I love it. But, I do venture out and switch it up from time to time. Suave came out with their Keratin Infusion line this year, and I just couldn’t resist trying. I used this up fairly quickly, and I have to say that I really liked it. It was moisturizing and didn't leave any residue on my hair. For only $4.50, it’s worth a try!

Dove Dry Shampoo

I can go through dry shampoo rather quickly. But, the problem with dry shampoos is that most are made with that white powder substance, which can give a gray-hair look on us brunette ladies. This one by Dove does not say it’s for brunette shades because it’s supposed to work on all hair types and colors. Well, it would have been nice to see if that claim holds true if I had not run out of this product in just one use. I’m not kidding. I used this ONE time. A few sprays in my hair and the next time I went to use it, there was nothing in there! I don’t know what that was about. Someone at the Dove factory forgot to fill my bottle up all the way. I can’t really say if I like or dislike it, because I only used it once, and I’ve since moved on to the Batiste Dry Shampoo.

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Leave-In Conditioner

I wrote about this leave-in conditioner in my summer hair care post. Leave-in conditioner is key for ladies with long horse hair like myself. I like to soak my ends with this leave- in conditioner after a wash. I love this one and I always re-purchase it (for around $6.00).

 Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo

This is my most expensive shampoo, and it’s also my all-time favorite. I love most of the Aveda line of hair care. Each does what it says it’s going to do. And the Smooth Infusion line is no different. The shampoo alone is very moisturizing and reduces frizz. I also love the packaging of this shampoo because it’s lightweight and great for travel. I buy the 8.5oz bottle, which is $21.00. You can buy at Aveda salons or online.

Ojon Damage Reverse Conditioner

Ojon is another expensive hair care brand. So, I was very excited to receive a sample of this conditioner in a past Birchbox. I used it up fairly quickly and I loved it. It contains pure Ojon oil, brazillian buriti oil, and murmur butter; all of which made my ends silky and smooth. I highly recommend trying this conditioner if you have really damaged hair. 

So that’s what I used up in the hair care world over the past month or so. I’ll post parts two and three next week.

What kind of products do you use up frequently? Do you also have half empty bottles of shampoo and conditioners in your cabinets like me?

Let me know so I don’t feel alone! :)