Product Reviews - Pocketful of Joules

Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner: My Thoughts + My Preferred Dupe

You know when you obsess over something for way too long before finally taking the plunge? That was me with the Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal eyeliner. It haunted me on Instagram for probably a year and everyone RAVED about it. I kept seeing that it was creamy and glided on like a dream and was worth every penny.

Since September was my birthday month, I decided to make the splurge and ordered one in Sequin Green (a khaki green with a gold sparkle) and was SO EXCITED to try it out. The cost was ridiculous. The eyeliner was $34 and once you added shipping and tax it was $41 for an eyeliner. And yes, I had second and third thoughts, but I bought it because it was obviously going to be amazing.

And oh my, what a disappointment!

Sure, it goes on creamy and is nice and sparkly. However, within an hour or so, I have glittery sparkles all around my eyes – over, under, you name it. It’s like a batman mask of glitter.

But here’s the real kicker – the drugstore eyeliner I’ve been using for the last few years is actually better. It looks almost identical (without the glitter), costs less than $10, and lasts forever!

It’s this one: NYX Professional Makeup Epic Wear Liner Stick in All Time Olive.

Don’t get me wrong, the Victoria Beckham packaging is gorgeous and even came with a cute little canvas bag. But if we’re talking performance? My cheapie dupe wins. Hands down.

So yeah. I took one for the team so you don’t have to. I’ll certainly use the fancy eyeliner until it’s down to the very last nub because I spent FORTY-ONE dollars on it. But, then I’m back to my $9 favorite.

Disclosure: Not sponsored. This post contain an Amazon affiliate link. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Empty’s: September 2025

A few years ago, I started a series called “Empty’s” where I revisit an item after it’s been used long term, and decide whether I want to repurchase it.

You can find my previous posts here:

Here are the items in my Empty’s bin today:

Eclat Vitamin C Serum (find it here)

I checked my Amazon orders and I started using this Vitamin C serum in October 2022 and have purchased it 10 times since then. I love this serum, it’s easy to purchase on Amazon and depending on the day it costs between $9 – $12. I use this daily in the morning (cleanse, then CosRx snail serum, then this, then moisturizer). This one is a forever reorder for me.

Naked and Thriving Renew Resurfacing Night Serum (find it here)

I purchased this serum almost exactly a year ago and just used the last dregs in the bottle. I was influenced by Instagram for this purchase and was convinced that it would be a hero product… but it was just… fine. The consistency was fine, the smell was nice, but I didn’t notice it doing ANYTHING to my face. Other than costing me $69. I will not be reordering this one.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (find it here)

I’ve been using this cream pretty consistently since February 2023 and just finished my latest tub. I like this product because it goes on nice and thick, but then soaks right into my skin rather than making me feel sticky. While I do like this cream, I’m going to hold off on reordering it at this time for a couple reasons. First, the pump sucks. It only works for maybe a quarter of the tub and then you have to unscrew it and dip your hand in to get the lotion. Second, it has no scent. Which is great if you don’t like scents. But my Palmers Cocoa Butter smells delicious AND works well, so I’ll be using that for a while.

Disclosure: Not sponsored. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Back to School: 4 Tips to Make Your Life Easier

*Source: Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash*

It’s that time of year again – we just received our class assignments and school supplies lists for the upcoming year. We don’t go back to class until after Labor Day, but according to my social media timelines some kids are already starting to head back!

Here are a few of my tips to help make the back-to-school craziness go a little bit smoother:

Tip #1: School Supplies Upgrade

Order these labels and stick them on EVERYTHING: Avery Durable Labels.

I’ve been using them for years on school supplies, lunch boxes, water
bottles, plastic containers, ice packs, etc. They are dishwasher safe and hold
up really well after dozens and dozens of washes. I even have a water bottle
from 3 years ago that STILL has the label on it with Jack’s name. These things are invaluable, so keep a pack on hand!

Tip #2: Throw in a Load of Laundry

Hunt down the backpack and lunchboxes your kiddo(s) used last year, throw them in the washing machine and wash them on cold (add a few towels so you don’t waste any space). Then, let them hang dry so that they’re all ready for the coming year. Even if you bought a brand-new lunchbox and backpack, DO THIS ANYWAYS with the old ones. That way when a container of peaches opens up inside their lunch bag and makes everything sticky, you’re prepared with a backup until the new one is clean again. If you have a hard lunchbox (rather than the squishy kind), stick it in the dishwasher for a nice back-to-school bath.

Tip #3: Reintroduce Shoes

If your kid is like mine, they’ve been wearing sandals, flip flops, or crocs
all summer long. However, at our school it is required to wear sneakers on PE days. Well, Jack hasn’t put on socks and sneakers in months, so each August I have him try on his sneakers to make sure he hasn’t grown out of them.

Flow Chart 1: If they’re too small, you now have a couple weeks to
find a new pair. Find them, buy them, start wearing them to break them in so they are ready to be worn for a full school day.

Flow Chart 2: If they still fit, reintroduce shoes and socks to your kid.
According to Jack, socks are evil and so hard to put on after three months. So, we start wearing them sparingly before school starts to get the whining out of the way early.

Tip #4: Do a Clothing Fashion Show

Yes, I know it’s still 90 degrees in Maryland. However, when you realize
your kid grew out of all their pants and long sleeves it will be cold outside
and you’ll be stuck sending your kid to school in capris. Do a quick try-on of
pants, long sleeves and jackets so that you have a couple months to hunt out
sales and gather what you need.

Disclaimer: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. This means that
clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.