March 2016 Low-Buy Accountability

~ stashy

I felt like I did less shopping and browsing in March just simply due to being busier… but now listing everything out, I did in fact, do a lot of shopping! 😳
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I’ll be listing all of the beauty related items I bought in March, but only actual makeup items will be counted toward my budget.  First makeup item I bought in March was the Body Shop Fresh Nude Foundation $25:
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I’ve worn this a few times now and it’s quite nice. I’ll do a review after I’ve given it a more thorough test.

MAC:

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MAC Bamboo & Mystery pro palette refill $8 each for total of $16:
I found out these 2 shades on my wish list are being discontinued but luckily at the same time MAC reduced their price for the eye shadow pan refills from $12 each to $8. That’s a 33% price reduction – it makes you wonder how much money they were making before, hrm?
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MAC Charlotte Olympia Collection Good Old Days Nail Lacquer $15.50
Aaaand, I succumbed to the limited edition temptation! When I saw this post by Eugenia, I was sold! I toyed with either the white or the classic red polish (or ahem, both) but my decision was made for me at the MAC store as the red was sold out. I actually snagged the last bottle of this shade. Base on online photos, I thought the bottle would be tiny but it’s actually quite tall – I put a full size bottles of Essie (Cabana Boy) and OPI (Chiffon My Mind) for comparison.

Sephora:

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Bobbi Brown Beach roller ball perfume
This was influenced by an IG post by Dominique of Style Domination. It honestly smells a mixture of Coppertone sunscreen and Off! bug repellent, but somehow it works. I’ll devote an entry on this!

Shu Uemura eye lash curler
I used to have this and gave it away. Since getting the Surratt lash curler, I got it in my head that I need make a solid comparison between that and the cult classic Shu. So here’s a rare case of me buying stuff just for the blog! Another one of my friends will get this lash curler once I’m done with it – you lucky dawg.

Drugstore:

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Garnier SkinActive Micellar Water
Finally, I got this to try out. There was a 25% off sale so I got this for around $8. I hope it’s as good as all the rave reviews say it is!
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Quo Round Compact Sponge 
These are my favourite compact sponges so I scooped a bunch up when I spotted them on clearance for $1 per pack (normally they’re $5 each). I don’t believe they are being discontinued but this particular Shoppers location was just clearing space for some Joe Fresh stuff.
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Bonne Bell Lip Smackers in Dr Pepper (influenced by ClassicMaggie) and Chocolate Mint
I should have stuck to just the Dr Pepper flavour but I was lured into the Chocolate Mint by the “1970’s Groovy” retro text on the package. I thought the balm colour would be a brown shade but it’s actually a light mint which essentially applies clear. Boo. Dr Pepper is awesome though!

Random:

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Oxy 5 Acne Vanishing Treatment Benzoyl Peroxide Lotion 2.5%
I found this for $3 at Dollarama and just in time because I’m nearly out of my current blemish treatment. It’s so difficult to find Benzoyl Peroxide treatment with only 2.5% – most of them are 5% which would burn my skin. Glad I scored this! Expiry date is Feb 2017.
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Inhibitif Body Serum
I’ve been curious about this hair reduction product for my underarms. It launched here in Canada with big hoo-ha and then disappeared. I was pleased to see this at Winners. I debated getting the smaller size bottle but I noticed that whoever ticketed them switched the prices around so the 120ml was $10 whereas this 240ml bottle was only $6. I like to take advantage of mislabeled items! 😉

Body stuff:

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L’Occitane Solidarity Rose Balm for International Women’s Day
L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream & Key (got the key for free with the purchase of a full size hand cream – you use it to squeeze out the very last bits of product!)
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I went inside L’Occitane purely to buy the Rose Balm in support of International Women’s Day initiatives, and to buy a birthday gift for a friend’s birthday. I walked out with a hand cream for myself, and a gwp for spending over a certain amount! 😉 The gwp includes Precious Cleansing Foam, Neroli & Orchidee Body Milk, Immortelle Divine Cream, 2 packettes of Huile de Jeunesse Divine – and a sweet little cosmetic pouch.
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LUSH Bouncy Bunny Shower Jelly
I haven’t opened mine up yet but I assure you there’s a cute little bunny crammed inside that container. Can’t wait to use this! (Also, I went into LUSH with the intention of buying another fresh face mask but on that particular day, every single one of their fresh masks were out of stock! 😕 I haven’t had a chance to go back yet.)
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Bath & Body Works Waikiki Beach schtuff
Basically I had to get my hands on everything new from this line. I’d stocked up on a lot of body lotion and shower gels last year already so I didn’t need any of those.  From this year’s collection I bought: 3 wick candle (x2), hand soap (massive 394ml bottles x3), Wallflower bulbs (x3) and lip gloss (I found more of them at another location yay! x3). ❤

Total makeup purchases: $56.50

My March makeup allowance with the roll-over was $59.24. I just made it, phew! 😉 $2.74 to be applied to April.  Full steam ahead for this month! I’ve allocated $250 (now $252.74) to spend… that sounds like a lot but it will be depleted so quickly with the upcoming VIB sale. 😛 I’ve got to be smart with my spending. I’ll post my wish list / shopping cart for your opinion before I make my purchase!

Have you tried any of the items I got in March?

57 thoughts on “March 2016 Low-Buy Accountability”

    1. I put the Shu against my eye to test it out and instantly I knew why I’d given my previous one away – it doesn’t fit! (You much acquit!) 😛 😆 I’ll try to do some measurements on their curvature too!

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  4. Ooh that is a fun haul! That MAC x Charlotte Olympia bottle really gives me the heebie-jeebies, so pointy. LOL.

    ITA with it being hard to find 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. I am hoarding a tube or two of PanOxyl 2.5% that worked a treat for me several yrs back when I was suffering from a bout of cystic acne. They don’t make it anymore.

    Dr Pepper LipSmackers are my fave!!! I recently bought a set of Sofia the First LipSmackers for a little girl, and so wanted a LipSmacker for my own.

    Grats on coming under your budget for the month 🙂

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    1. The one I’m finishing up is the Benzagel Spot On which I found at Shoppers once but when I went back they stopped carrying it: http://benzagel.ca/spot-on.php
      I got the Paula’s Choice 2.5% version but that one burns my face:
      http://www.paulaschoice.com/shop/skin-care-categories/targeted-treatments/_/Clear-Regular-Strength-Daily-Skin-Clearing-Treatment/

      The Charlotte Olympia bottle isn’t THAT pointy. Just a little annoying now because it’s too tall to fit into any of my bins. :/

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    1. I’m drafting my wish list and I think I might be broken… there’s not a lot that I “need”. I’m browsing now to see what else might catch my eyes…
      Hmm I do wonder if the loyalty card will apply in the UK.

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  6. Yet another month of great purchases!
    Oh man, those Bonne Bell Lipsmackers bring back some serious nostalgia!
    I heard so much about the Bobbi Brown perfume last summer. The way everyone describes the scent makes it sound questionable haha, but I’m sure if they can somehow make it into a perfume-y scent, then it could really work! Between that and your Waikiki stuff (yay for getting your hands on the lipglosses), you’re set for the summer!
    The Bouncy Bunny Shower Jelly sounds aweeesome and citrusy. Not to mention cute!

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    1. Bonne Bell stuff is so nostalgic in general. I remember I had some roller ball lip gloss that I thought was SOOOO grown up lol.
      I debated on that Bobbi Brown Beach perfume for a while before I made the purchase. I asked people to smell it and they all seem to like it even though they couldn’t pin point why. I was all prepared to hate it but it’s so unique.
      That poor bunny, it will meet the same fate as a chocolate bunny! 😛

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      1. Oh my gosh, I totally forgot about those roller ball lip glosses!! Oh, the memories. Makes sense that we would feel grown up using Bonne Bell, it was the closest thing to make up that a 7 year old was allowed to use! 😛
        Hmm, I might have to give the Bobbi Brown perfume a sniff. Did you get yours at The Bay?

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        1. I originally planned to get it at the Bay but they don’t sell the massive bottle and I didn’t want that much perfume, so then Dominique told me about the roller ball, which is only at Sephora.

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  7. Had sniffed out the Beach rollerball on one of my last visits to Sephora. Definitely has that Coppertone note in there! The Shu Uemura lash curler is one of 2 that I use, and I have the bi-phase version of the Garnier Micellar water. Chocolate Mint Lip Smacker?! Must. Find.

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      1. The fact that it’s bi-phase pretty much takes away from making it a true form of micellar water. The top layer is an ingredient used in waterless brush cleaner. I’ve only used this to remove eye makeup and long wear lip color, and it works pretty well. Other than that, I don’t have any plans to use this all over my face. From the size of the bottle alone, I’ll have it around for a good while.

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        1. That’s true about the bi-phase not being a true micellar water – never thought of that! I bet it’s just L’Oreal cashing in on the micellar water hype – it’s probably just a waterproof eye makeup remover.

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  9. Woot woot Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers! I’ve tried a few of the other flavours as well but I think Dr. Pepper is the best one overall.

    I bought Bobbi Brown Beach last summer because I loved the scent…but I found it doesn’t last, at all. I was really disappointed but hopefully it will work better for you!

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    1. Only the MAKEUP portion totaled $56. All body / skincare stuff don’t count toward my low-buy! 🙂 I haven’t tried much facial skincare from L’Occitane, just the toner which was ok. I hope I don’t like the Immortelle Divine cream because it’s pricey!

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  12. so funny coz I literally was about to purchase the Lip Smacker goodies yesterday but I thought maybe next time.. they are good and affordable too. I tried to stay on my budget as well but It’s hard.. great haul as always! 🙂

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  13. So you have 4 items on your list :

    Let me guess: Viseart Neutral Mattes, Shiseido Cotton pads, Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask … what else ??? I bought Marc Jabobs Face II (you should too!) There you go 🙂
    56$ for makeup is quite good considering January & February 😛

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  14. I have the loccitane divine mask too but yet to try it. Great products dear and I loved the way how you are trying to manage to keep up in line with the budget allowance. Good job dear. Can’t wait to see your April purchase.

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  16. I love these accountability posts! Because of all of the sales that have been happening over the last month or so I’ve actually spent a lot on beauty stuff. Most of it was skincare though so I’m in the clear 🙂 i bought exactly two makeup items with the Sephora sale which isn’t bad at all!

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      1. That’s awesome! I’m proud of us! Lol
        I’m sure you’ve posted yours by now but I’m behind on my blog reading (so much sadness!). What did you get?
        I got the Drunken Elephant Vitamin C serum, a Marc Jacobs gel eyeliner and the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder.

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          1. I “may” have been inspired to try the LM powder based off of your rave reviews. Possibly. So far I’m digging it AND the MJ liner (although that might be a little irritating on my waterline, I’m not completely certain yet).
            Drunk Elephant is a skincare company that focuses on fairly natural ingredients. Sometimes I like that and sometimes I feel like it’s just a gimmick. I’m definitely not anti “chemicals” (mini rant: it’s ALL CHEMICALS. I’m done now). You can read about the serum here: http://www.drunkelephant.com/products/c-firmadayserum
            No idea if it will be any good yet but I’ll let you know!

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            1. Love the name Drunken Elephant. Apparently they DO get drunk in the wild drinking fermented fruits?
              Oh I’m with you, the whole natural vs chemical debate is laughable. I go with whatever is effective.
              I hope the MJ liner isn’t causing irritation – that would sad!

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              1. They do! They eat the fermented fruit from the Marula Tree (also called the Elephant Tree or the Marriage Tree which is kind of awesome). There’s a South African liquor called Amarula Cream and it’s made from the marula fruit if I’m remembering that correctly. Although, maybe the fruit isn’t called marula fruit? I’m not sure. You can read about the liquor here: http://www.amarula.com/
                I just looked up a video of the drunk elephants and a National Geographic article came up saying that they don’t actually get drunk at all. I’m not sure why that makes me sad, but it does. Poor sober elephants.

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