Monthly Beauty and Book Haul - January 2023

Last year I set a monthly beauty and books budget at $200 per month and I really stuck to it! I am trying to be thoughtful in my purchases, so this has been holding me accountable for being reasonable with my spending. Since it worked so well last year, I'm really trying to do the same thing this year! 

I do always love my Monthly Haul posts - it's a good way to keep track of everything that I picked up each month. I don't always blog about everything I pick up (I try to), but if you ever spot anything in here that you really want me to talk about, let me know! 

I purchased everything in this post

Sephora Order ~ $126.00 CAN. I was really excited for some of these newer products at Sephora (especially that Rare Beauty highlighter!) - I did a full unboxing and first impressions of the products! First impressions of everything was good and the Rare Beauty Positive Light made my Monthly Favourites for January! So, good first haul of the year! 

The Five Products I've Been Reaching For All Summer!

While the pandemic is still impacting our travel plans, I've been spending quite a bit of the Summer travelling locally. I have family to go visit as well as a cabin we've been to multiple times, so I've been living out of a travel makeup bag for most of the Summer. 

The Paula's Choice, Simple & Dove products were received as PR samples & the Klorane product was received from Topbox Circle - this post contains affiliate links

During my Summer getaways and living on a very trimmed down beauty routine, I've found a few products that I've been reaching for all the time! When we go to the cabin, we really preserve water, so these products are all about convenience, easy packing, and quick to use! 

Five on Friday - July 16, 2021 ~ Klorane Topbox Circle, Well Order, UEFA Euro 2020 Cup, Bare Activewear and Blonde Ambition Clothes

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all had a great week - if you've been following me on instagram, then you know I've been on a family vacation all week, so it's been a little quieter around here! (And, if you don't follow along there, I will share some updates here when I'm back next week!)

ONE 

The Topbox Circle was received for free, everything else I purchased

Woo hoo - I got picked for another Topbox Circle and I'm really excited for this one too! It's a moisturizer and eye masks from Klorane and I'm so excited to try both of these. I love Klorane hair products, so I am excited to try more of their skincare products! 

Monthly Beauty Empties - May & June 2021

Here's a look at my May and June Beauty Empties:

Some products were received as PR samples - this post contains affiliate links

Guerlain Meteorites Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer ~ sample size shown (full size is $85.00 CAN). For skin that seems lit from within, apply this smoothing liquid to clean, moisturized skin as an essential first step in any makeup routine.

I just shared this on my 21 in 2021 Project Pan - I finished this as much as I could before there was no more getting out. This was fine; it has the distinct Guerlain scent and the primer was fine. This is older and discontinued now. 

Repurchase: No can do

November and December 2020 - Monthly Empties

Alright, I was incredibly behind on my November empties, so I figured it's just best if I combine the two months in to one post - it's a bit of a doozy:

Some items were received as PR samples - this post contains affiliate links

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Color Correct Cushion Wonder in "Peach" ~ $6.98 CAN. This color-correcting serum instantly provides weightless color correction of any skin coloration concern.

I you've seen my Project Pan 20 in 2020 Wrap up Post, there will be a few repeat products in this post, because I finished quite a few goodies. This was a good product and I did like it, it was creamy and blended in so nicely. It was peach so it worked to colour correct under my eyes and looked good. This was a Monthly Favourite back in July 2017 but the cushion just got so messy and I probably wouldn't pick this up again only because of this.

Repurchase: Not likely 

July 2020 What I Bought - Monthly Haul!

I set one of my 2020 goals to be actually sticking to my $100 a month Beauty Budget - last year I attempted this and didn't do so well, so I'm actually trying to be a little more strict on myself! I really want to make sure that I can use and enjoy the products I have in my collection and that I will really use the products I picked up! 

I always love my Monthly Haul posts to share with you everything I picked up (since I can't review everything I buy)! I also am trying to hold myself a little more accountable to buying products that I really want and will actually use!

I purchased everything in this post

Soo AE Haul ~ $47.28 CAN. I was really excited when I saw that Soo AE came out with a line of Hanbang masks, because I've used them from other brands and really enjoyed them! Soo AE is such an accessible k-beauty brand, so I love seeing these ingredients expanded to more brands! I also loved the look of the fruit line and a wine mask! The Glacier mask was added in as a freebie! 

May 2020 - Monthly Empties and Month in Masks

Here's a look at my beauty garbage from May:

Some products may have been received as PR samples - this post contains affiliate links

Lip Smacker Easter Tsum Tsum Minnie - Strawberry Lollipop ~ $4.95 US. Your favorite Tsum Tsum characters have arrived just in time for Easter! Add Easter Minnie Tsum Tsum to your collection, in a yummy Strawberry Lollipop Flavor.

How adorable is this little Minnie Mouse?! I love Tsum Tsums and these are just the cutest lip balms! This one smelled really good and was a good lip balm. 

Repurchase: Maybe, it was an Easter one so it's probably seasonal 

March 2020 - Monthly Empties and Month in Masks

Here's a look at all my beauty garbage from March and what I loved and didn't: 

Some products may have been received as PR samples - this post contains affiliate links

Skindinavia The Makeup Finishing Spray - Bridal ~ $29.00 US for 4 oz. or $39.00 US for 8 oz (this is the 4 oz bottle). Our ultra-fine mist spray has patented technology designed to resist the effect of excess moisture and help keep makeup flawless all day and all night.

This is a pretty easy favourite setting spray and it was featured in my Favourite Setting Sprays post I did awhile back, so I clearly love this - it's been a love since way back in July 2016. I also recently featured this in my Shop My Stash where I use products that will weather proof my makeup for a long night and this is the best formula of setting spray by far!
Repurchase: I have a few other kinds to use first, but, yes! 

February 2020 What I Bought - Monthly Haul!

Yay - time for my first Shopping Haul of 2020! Early this year, I set one of my 2020 goals to be actually sticking to my $100 a month Beauty Budget - are you ready to see if I was able to do this?!? 

I always love my Monthly Haul posts to share with you everything I picked up (since I can't review everything I buy)! I also am trying to hold myself a little more accountable to buying products that I really want and will actually use!

I purchased everything in this post

Shoppers Haul ~ $6.79 CAN (originally was $142.50 CAN). I always love when Shopper's Drug Mart has your spend your points events, so I always stock up on a bunch of goodies. I picked up some Neutrogena face wipes, a new cleansing balm, cotton pads and dry shampoo. Then I picked up a couple of new products from the Physicians Formula Rose All Day line - you can see my review on the products here! I picked up a few different Essie products too - make sure you check out my recent Mani Monday posts for my thoughts on the polishes. And, I picked up the new Covergirl cream blush - I can't wait to try this soon. 

March 2017 - Month in Masks & Mask Empties!

Masking is a huge part (and probably my favorite part) of my skincare routine! I try to use all types of masks as often as possible as I find they really help moisturize and improve my skin! 

This post is a review of all the masks I use each month and mini reviews on all of them - I also consider the Month of Masks my Mask Empties post, because I do not feature my sheet masks in my monthly empties post! You can check out my past Month of Masks here! 

Here is a look at the masks I used in March:

March 1
TONYMOLY I'm Real Mask Sheet - Seaweed ~ $1.99 US. Purifying sheet mask. Contains seaweed. Makes dull skin bright and radiant.

This mask was featured on a Mask Wednesday - you can check out my review here! This mask was not my favorite sheet mask at all. I did not find it moisturizing at all and I need hydration out of my sheet masks! 
Repurchase: Maybe another Tony Moly mask, but not this type! 

September 2016 - Monthly Empties

Here is a look at everything I used up in September:

The Face Shop Clean Face Anti-Imperfection Patches ~ $2. These practical patches reduce the appearance of pimples as soon as they occur. Gentle on skin, they are easy to apply at any moment to fight against unexpected breakouts!

I really like the patches from The Face Shop - they come in 2 different sizes in the pack and apply well to the face! They also work really well and overnight my spots have been very visibly reduced - these made my Favorites in April too! 

Repurchase: YES, with backups! 

October 2015 - Month of Masks + Mask Empties

This post is a review of all the masks I use each month - I also consider the Month of Masks my Mask Empties post, because I do not feature my sheet masks in my monthly empties post! You can check out my past Month of Masks here! 

This month will start on September 26, 2015 - because that is when I left for my honeymoon so it is where I ended my last post! 

Here we go:

September/October 2015 Honeymoon Empties

I have to say that I originally thought I would have all my empties from the Honeymoon and October all together in 1 post; but, I had sooo many empties from my Honeymoon it would be waaay too long!! 

I started blogging my empties a few months ago, because I was hooked on Youtube empties videos and love going through and seeing what everyone else has used up and what they thought of the products! I jumped on board, and have really loved it ever since - I know it's basically looking at garbage but it is awesome to go through and see what you would buy again! 

My Honeymoon was 2 weeks long - September 26 to October 10 and I tried to just bring travel sized products with me to use some of my stash up!! It is also perfect to travel with because it takes up less space, and I pack like I'm never coming home! Before we dig in, let me apologize for the picture quality, ugh phones and hotel bathrooms are not a great combination for product shots! Here we go:

Bvlgari White Tea Soap ~ price unknown, hotel soap. A generous and elegant expression of refinement and personal indulgence, BVLGARI's Eau Parfume au the blanc's Bath Soap envelop body and mind with intimate notes of white tea and musk.

I don't think I would normally count this as an empty, but I left it at the first hotel where it was from. It actually smelled super good! If I was at another hotel and they had this, I would be happy to use it. 

August 2015 Ipsy Glam Bag - Beauty Subscription Review

Ipsy is one of the inexpensive beauty bag sample subscriptions. You receive 4-5 deluxe sample size or full size products each month. The cost is $10 US (+ $4.95 shipping to Canada). 

Ipsy is generally make-up products with a mix of skincare, nail polish, and hair products based on a beauty profile you complete. There is usually 12-18 products that are selected from each month! You can view your "glam room" online that tells you all the products you will receive each month. You also receive a make-up bag each month with your products.

Ipsy arrived sooo late this month (on August 31) - it seems that every time I get an add on point item, I am the last to receive my bag. I hate to sound like a whiner, but when people get theirs on the 14th/15th mine should arrive around then too!  Here is a look at the August Ipsy bag:

This month's theme is "Prep School". This month's bag is cute - I like the hounds-tooth pattern, but am not a huge fan of the material. 

May 2015 - Month of Masks in Review

Masks are a big part of this routine and since I have come to love this routine, I have incorporated so many new masks in to my routine! I love trying different brands and different types of masks! Hopefully after this post you love masks as much as I do!

Hope you like this idea and are interested in seeing lots of masks reviews!! 

May 1
Lush Fresh Face Mask "Catastrophe Cosmetic" ~ $9.95. A cooling, calming, deep cleansing blueberry mask for sore and troubled skin.
This mask is AMAZING! (I have featured it before on a Wine + Mask Wednesday and you can check out the full review here, and also it was featured in April's Monthly Mask Review). It smells amazing and I had to use it by May 3rd, so I finished it up!  

May 2015 Ipsy Glambag - Beauty Subscription Review

Ipsy is one of the inexpensive beauty bag sample subscriptions. You receive 4-5 deluxe sample size or full size products each month. The cost is $10 US (+ $4.95 shipping to Canada). 

Ipsy is generally make-up products with a mix of skincare, nail polish, and hair products based on a beauty profile you complete. There is usually 12-18 products that are selected from each month! You can view your "glam room" online that tells you all the products you will receive each month. You also receive a make-up bag each month with your products.

Ipsy always ships out in it's signature pink mailer - which I forgot to take a picture of this month! Here is a look at my May Ipsy Bag:

I have to say that I LOOOOVE this month's make-up bag! It is so cute!