Beauty + Skincare EMPTIES

Its that time again where I grab up the basket of "empties" and go over how I felt about the products! I've been really enjoying this because I can really sit back and dissect the product (from packaging, quality, short/long term results, etc). The best part is I'm using up items I've had sitting around and making space for new items to try!

If you would like to hear what EMPTIES I have and what products I plan to repurchase continue reading!

- Kristin Ess Extra Gentle Shampoo & Conditioner
So shocked. I used up an entire set of haircare products! Honestly didn't see anything 'amazing' when I used these the first few times. The results were 'eh'. Depending on the weather  conditions the product would either do its job or leave my hair extra oily and flat. The smell is also a bit too perfumey for me. I do think the packaging was nice. The bottles have some natural weight to them which feels pleasing. For the price, I feel you should just go to Ulta and buy a Salon set.


- Eyelure Wispy N152
When I have the time to wear false lashes I love em. This brand has always been an affordable favorite and the wispy is so great for a 'natural glam' look.


- Garnier SkinActive Micellar Water *Pink Bottle*
Best product ever. I have to stress the pink bottle because I did a repurchased but grabbed the blue bottle (and I'm not enjoying it as much.) The pink is an All-in-1 and good for sensitive skin. I also love it comes in smaller travel size bottles!

- Too Faced Shadow Insurance
I have been slowly using this up for ages. It really does lock in the shadow and keeps it from sliding or melting off (which says A LOT because I live in Florida!). I will probably repurchase down the road but I'm currently wanting to try out a few new brands of eyeshadow primer.


- Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Foaming Cleanser
It has a good foaming pump. Citrus scent. And removes dirt easily. Worked great with my Clarisonic. This is a cult classic but I doubt I'll repurchase because I'm in need of a cleanser that fits all my needs.


- Sephora Collection Avocado Face Mask
This mask was in a collection set I purchased and wow I'm so glad I got to try this! The way the mask was packaged is 100% high quality. I felt the mask is like most sheet masks as in there was a lot of product and the results were normal. I'm going to look more into Sephora's sheet masks next time I'm in-store.

- Abercrombie & Fitch Perfume Sampler
I was given this sample set on a trip to the store. Was super excited to try 3 of their newest perfumes and the package even had a $10 off coupon! The samples had a good 7-9 pumps in it which is great! Ellwood is definitely a beautiful scent.

- Batiste Dry Shampoo "Cheetah bottle"
Like most Batiste Dry Shampoos this one did what was expected. I like the packaging and the scent wasn't too bad either. Definitely, plan to restock on some dry shampoo in the near future! Also watch for this, you can get them at Tjmaxx for much less!

- Dr Jart+ Ceramidin
I received this in a Sephora Play! Kit. It wasn't too terrible of face cream. But definitely isn't my Charlotte's Magic Cream or La Mer. I don't plan to repurchase because I have so many face creams I need to test out and the results from this wasn't that amazing.

- Dirty Works Coconut Body Scrub
Not sure where this came from... It was in my basket of shower scrubs and I thought it was worth using. Definitely had amazing exfoliants in it! The scent felt like a vacation and the exfoliants knocked all the dry skin off in one use! If I could find this product again I would definitely repurchase for prepping my skin for tanning.

- Chapstick
I mean, its Chapstick. Classic. Everyone uses it. Will always have one in my purse!

- Benefit's Bad Gal Lash
I love benefits products - Hoola Bronzer is my jam. But I'm not a fan of this mascara. The brush was very chunky and I felt the product didn't transfer off well. It seemed really clumpy at times and for the cost, it's not worth it.

- Two Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelettes
I live for these things. Especially when I visit the spa. But I will warn everyone to not skip on using a face cleanser or wiping down your face with some water. These wipes remove makeup but there are some oils and perfume that will leave a strange film-like layer on your skin. If you apply makeup after using one of these it might alter the appearance of your makeup too.

As always don't forget to follow the instagram! I post daily style, beauty, and lifestyle posts! Also when I reach my 'speical' goal I plan to do a huge giveaway! Thanks for all the support! 

- Brittney

Marshalls or TJMaxx - Which has the better selection?

Today I’m comparing my 2 favorite stores: TJMaxx and Marshalls. Both are owned by the same main hub but you’ll be surprised that each store carries different selections and price points. Below you will see my choices on which has the better selection. But first, if you’re not following the instagram please click this link and follow me!

Purses - TjMaxx
Every TJ I have went to had tons and tons of purses. They have such a large selection of luggage too. Marshalls on the other hand, I always felt like there was less to pick from.

Jewelry - TjMaxx
The jewelry bar at all the Tj’s I’ve been to is amazing. From designer jewelry to cheap thrills. The Marshalls I’ve been to actually don’t have any jewelry.

Makeup/Beauty/Skincare/Haircare - TjMaxx
If you want the best prices and the most selection I alway feel TjMaxx has more to offer than Marshalls. I do feel Marshalls carries a lot more soaps and body care items.

Shoes - Marshalls
Literally love getting shoes from Marshalls because they carry higher quality brands and all the shoes come with their original boxes.

Kids/Baby Goods (including toys) - Both
Both stores seem to have an equal stock of kids/baby goods. I do feel Marshalls is higher in cost on items but Tjmaxx seems to be more picked over. I sometimes call to see if they added more baby items out and go right when they open.

Women’s Clothing - Both
I always find a good amount at both stores. Marshalls seems to carry more higher quality goods but their price tags are ALWAYS a bit higher. I have seen the same items at both stores and seen a 2-5$ price difference.

Men’s Clothing - TjMaxx
The mens racks always seem to be more stocked and have large selections. I enjoy getting my husband his dress socks from Tj’s. But I do flock to Marshalls to get him more dress shirts (like I said before, I noticed Marshalls carry higher quality brands).

Home Items (from pots, food, decor, pictures etc) -  Both
Okay, well if you are getting home items go to their sister store HomeGoods but if you can’t make it there either of these stores will do! Their prices are amazing and the selection is great. I’ve even found Lilly Pulitzer home items at both Tj’s and Marshalls before!

Stationary Items - TjMaxx
I literally always buy my wrapping goods and cards from Tjmaxx. They have such a great selection I feel you can never ever go wrong.  My local Marshalls never carries stationary goods but I have heard of some that have a lot.

Results on which had the better selection-
Out of both stores I feel TjMaxx does win for having the best prices (lowest cost) and larger selections. My personal opinion is Marshalls is a step higher and their prices reflect that. I always feel Marshalls carries higher qualities and like I said, the shoes still have their original boxes; unlike TjMaxx (which shoes are without boxes and normally have marker marks on the bottoms).
TIPS: Always visit these stores during ’slow hours’ if you want quick checkout. Peak hours you’ll wait in longer lines. If you’re able to visit both stores to compare prices definitely do so! I have found things at one store and the other store had the exact same item but 2-5$ cheaper. 
Don’t forget to follow the instagram for daily posts on fashion, beauty and lifestyle!

- Brittney

Sio Beauty Review

I feel you're never too young to start taking care of your skin. Sitting and reflecting back to my teenage years (I never wore sunscreen), my early 20's was a platinum member at the Tanning Salon (and spent 3-4 nights out of the week at the bars/social hangouts), and in my late 20's became a mother + moved from the foothills of North Carolina to the coast of Florida. Lets be real, my skin has DONE A LOT.

So the important thing is finding a good skincare routine that will help reverse the damage that's been caused. And help my skin for future damage. The check list is of course: good skin cleanser, good moisturizing lotion, and good sleep. But that's where Sio Beauty comes in. Good sleep + Sio go hand in hand.

What is Sio Beauty?
SiO Beauty is a Doctors endorsed Silicone skin patch treatment that you can use at night time that helps reverse the signs of wrinkles and aging skin. Wrinkles from aging, sun damage, side sleeping, and gravity. The elements within SiO's skinpads is simple: Silicone + Oxygen. The pads helps with collagen production and gives your skin the opportunity to plump and rejuvenate itself. In clinical trials some saw results within the first use!

What Patches can you purchase?
SiO Beauty has many different options. Face, Neck and Décolleté. There's even a collection for Men! The face collection range from around the eyes, forehead, smile/lips. These patches are for 15 uses (but some beauty bloggers said they've used a patch for 2 months before). The best part is you can get these are a discounted price when signing up for their subscription option (you can cancel at any time!)

The plastic backer is to stick the Patches back on for safe storage!

From Left to Right: Forehead Patch, 2 Eye/Lip Patches, and Neck Patch

My Results!
I decided to purchase the entire facelift kit. This kit came with the eye and lip patches, forehead, and neck patch. I ended up mailing my mom the neck patch because she has complained about her neck area BUT she's very skeptical (I thought I would give her the opportunity to try one for free and she can give me her honest review in return). I honestly was only concerned with my forehead area but thought for this review I should try the lip and eye area as well. I will mention I use my patches 2x a week.
When I first applied my forehead patch it of course felt silly having a silicone patch on my face BUT it was super soft. I was surprised at how well I slept with it too. I never woke up or felt discomfort. The next morning I was completely shocked at the fact some of my forehead wrinkles were COMPLETELY GONE! My skin was super soft in the area the patch was at too.

Pros: I did see results from using this product. It's not super costly, it can be used more than once, and the silicone is quite comfortable.
Cons: Not sold in stores, If you do get hair or dirt on the sticky side it's about impossible to remove it, I didn't feel super comfortable with the around the lip patches (I kept picking them at night).
Pomp and Palms Star Rating: I would give a 4.5 star rating. I really enjoy this product and will continue to use it (especially my forehead area). I do believe it's something you have to get used to wearing at night and you need to commit to using it if you want major results.


If you would like to try SiO Beauty please use this link that was provided for me to give you. When using this link you will get $10.00 off your purchase of any Skin Patch! (You can get a set of eye or lip patches for just $4.95 OR a forehead patch for $14.95!!!! Just sign up for a subscription for the additional 20% off and cancel at anytime after your order is placed.)
My $10.00 off SiO Beauty Link: https://www.talkable.com/x/HW71T3

Product Review: Kate Somerville Cold Cream

I really enjoy doing product reviews. As a girl who seeks reviews before purchasing (especially makeup & skincare), I enjoy the opportunity to be the tester! With my product reviews I’m trying to step away from what ‘every other blogger’ reviews. Everyone has reviewed Glam Glow Mask (sooo amazing), Dry Bar products, FabFitFun boxes, SK-II skincare, etc. My goal is to review something that isn’t over sold. I feel this gives the readers something fresh to read about (and possibly consider purchasing) and gets my creative juices flowing because I’m reviewing something that hasn't been over sold on the blog sites. 

Kate Somerville Review.

While vacationing at Daytona Beach I decided to try a new product. Kate Somerville Cold Cream is a skincare cleanser I see all the time at Nordstrom and Sephora, but never felt the need to purchase. From recent beauty purchases, I collected 2 deluxe samples. I also went to Sephora for an extra sample (I felt to give the best review I should use this product for a few days to see the quality, how it works, results, etc) I ended up using it during my entire trip, 4 days in total!

Overview:
Kate Somerville Cold Cream is described as a whipped cleansing cream that moisturizes skin. This product is to remove dirt, oil, impurities, and makeup—even stubborn waterproof mascara. It’s labeled for all skin types. How the website states to use this product: Use AM or PM, and always for makeup removal. Massage onto dry or damp skin then wipe off with a wet washcloth. Currently on Sephora’s website it has 4 out of 5 stars. 37 reviews were marked under 5 stars, 51 were marked at 5 star. The low star reviews state the product ended up causing major breakouts and didn’t remove makeup any.

Zoomed in detail image of the Cold Cream.

Cold Cream. The product is very creamy and has a soft clean perfume scent.

My review:

Honestly, I’m a bit let down by this product. I will give this cleanser credit on great texture and smell wise, it's really pleasant! The packaging is really great too. BUT, the most frustrating part is the fact it’s labeled “Moisturizing Cleanser + Makeup Remover” but the makeup removal is something this product deeply lacked. The basic soap bar from the Resort removed more makeup. I used this cold cream 2x in a row and it removed only about 25% of my makeup in total (definitely didn’t remove any of my mascara). The makeup I wore was my MAKEUP FOREVER foundation and 2 coats of Benefit They’re Real mascara (not waterproof), so not a lot of makeup that needed to be removed. I definitely wouldn’t spend $48.00 on this simply because it couldn’t remove any of my makeup. I see why the poor reviews stated the lack of makeup removal. I haven't seen any skin acne (and fingers crossed I won't!)

I hope this review helps. If you’re in need of a good cleaner that also removes makeup I enjoy Philosophy’s Purity Cleanser! I have a small bottle from the beauty bins near Sephora’s check out and it’s last me 3 months. A good drug store cleanser + makeup remover is Neutrogena's Ultra Gentle Cleanser set.

You can find this at Sephora, Nordstrom, Ulta, and wherever big name skincare is sold.

This is the perfect Drugstore cleanser + Makeup remover.

Have a sunny day!

- Pomp and Palms