I guess when even I start dreading my empties bag, it's a sure sign that I've kept it full for far too long. I've decided to post this empties round-up a bit later than the actual end of the second quarter due to my other stash-reducing projects' updates, so I feel like I've finished some of these products eons ago and no longer remember much about them...
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Let's start with make-up this time - I think it's the most interesting, so if you don't care about my other beauty trash, you can just scan through this part and be done reading (see how I like to make it easy for you? ;).
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Peony (review here; it's not empty, I just hate it and decided to get rid of it), Ulta Make-up Sponge, Dr Brandt Pores No More primer (thick and silicone-laded), Heroine Make Volume and Curl Mascara (review here)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Graftobian HD Glamour Creme Foundation in Buff and Aurora (here's my review - obviously not completely used up, but old and I don't really enjoy wearing it anymore), Skindinavia Make-up Finishing Spray (it was alright, but I'm not sure I absolutely need a setting spray in my make-up routine), Rouge Bunny Rouge Sea of Clouds Highlighting Liquid sample (fantastic for fair skin as it's basically a white pearl shade), Make Up Forever Smokey Extravagant Mascara, Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Whiskey, Real Techniques Miracle Complexion sponge (reviewed here - mine didn't last as long as I expected, and I think I prefer the original Beautyblender).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Laura Geller GlamLASH mascara, OPI Original Nail Envy, INM Out The Door Topcoat
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Would you say skincare is the next most interesting category of empties after make-up?
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: The Face Shop Hydra Gel Mask in Vita B (not really a gel sheet mask like the Tatcha, more like a sheet of rubber if that makes sense?), Orientana Moisturizer for Combination Skin (a more natural Polish skincare brand, but this cream was incredibly fragranced and the texture quite greasy on the skin)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: The Saem sheet mask and Freeman Coffee & Chai Eye Mask* (reviewed here), Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum (featured here; worked really well for the first couple of months then no more improvement), Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel (will be featured shortly - stay tuned), Osmia Organics Facial Calibration Serum* (a facial oil, really), Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado (weird texture that wouldn't always absorb but decent moisturizer), Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads (featured here, prefer the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads), Avebio Immortelle Flower Water (scent a bit too strong, prefer other hydrosols), Canmake Easy and Fast Make Gel (moisturizer with spf), Badger Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Nothing, really :(
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In terms of fragrance empties, I have a bit of a sad story to share. As you can see, the full size bottle of discontinued Givenchy Fleur d'Interdit is definitely not empty. I was given this fragrance by a family friend when I was maybe 12 or 13, making this fragrance at least 16 years old. Yes, the scent has gone sour - probably a while back, actually. I remember I loved this thing to death when I first got it (my first adult perfume! SO SOPHISTICATED), but my mum told me I was too young to wear it, and that I should save it for later on. Yeah, boy, did I save it for later on - except now it's unusable. The rest are samples, among which I enjoyed Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Teazzura and Tocca Simone the most - both summery fragrances and it's been hot hot hot over here. I also realized I really dislike apple notes in perfume *gives Tocca Giulietta and Marc Jacobs Daisy a stink eye*.
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I seem to have been the most prolific (or greedy...?) in the bodycare department.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Crystal Body Deodorant Stick (this made me MORE smelly, if that's even possible), Secret Invisible Solid Antiperspirant (I've come to the conclusion that I dislike invisible solids and prefer clear gels - I'm actually using one by Secret right now and it's really good!), Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish (not completely gone, but I realized it contains polluting plastic microbeads)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream (I think it's too expensive and not sufficiently moisturizing for my severely dry hands), Ulta Vanilla Sugar Body Wash (used as a bubble bath), Philosophy Fresh Cream Hand Wash (also used as a bubble bath - lovely scent, but $$$), Green Pharmacy Bath Oil in the Clove & Mandarin Orange scent (another Polish brand aspiring to be natural - this was more like a foaming gel oil for the bath, and at about $3.50, I really enjoyed it), Kneipp Lavender Bath Oil*, Rose hand cream from Bulgaria (gift from my mom).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): The Body Shop Body Butter in the Vanilla Brulee scent (I think these can't be beat for a nourishing body moisturizer, and the price isn't too bad when you catch them on sale), Camille Beckman Lemongrass & Grapefruit Hand Cream* (came in a Glossybox and turned out to be fabulous, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to order from their website just for this hand cream), Aura Cacia Meditating Cedarwood Mineral Bath and Orange & Patchouli Foaming Bath (not the cheapest bath products, but less expensive and more natural than Lush, that's for sure! I have a couple more sachets on hand already).
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Do you guys get excited over haircare products? Because I don't really - I'm okay with most shampoos and conditioners, and I guess my only must-have now that I have longer hair is a good spray detangler. Any recommendations?
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo (despite being touted as the best drugstore dry shampoo by many beauty gurus, I found it to be less effective than Batiste and the smell so strong my husband could smell it in another room).
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Nioxin Scalp Treatment (well, Mr was the primary user, but he stopped with one application left in the bottle and I finished it - it was alright?), TIGI Catwalk Sea Salt Spray (worked well but the scent was a bit too strong).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Batiste Dry Shampoo in the Tropical scent (already repurchased; I've decided not to experiment with dry shampoos anymore and just stick to Batiste as my favorite), Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream (lovely, but I'd like to try their Full Thickening Cream for my fine hair).
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Woohoo, we made it! I mentioned last time that I would also like to discuss my 'Use it Up' goals in these posts, so here goes. As far as my previous goal to use up more foil samples and various minis, I did really well in my Use Up Those Freakin' Samples challenge, and I'm trying to stay on top of things by using up at least five samples a month. I also haven't purchased any beauty product back-ups, and I'm still working on further reducing my stash of skincare, haircare, bodycare, fragrance, you name it. The slowest area to move out of my collection is obviously make-up, and while I did buy some new things to play with, I've also parted with some and started a new Project Pan to use up as many products as I can - I guess that's my focus for the next couple of months.
How are you guys doing on the empties front? I feel that next quarter I may have a lot to share as a lot of things seem to be running out at the same time - I still have replacements at the ready so no need to repurchase, but I'm trying to make room for some Sephora sale shopping in November :)
Disclaimer: Products marked with an asterix (*) are press samples I received from the brand's PR for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as free press samples. Thank you for reading!
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Peony (review here; it's not empty, I just hate it and decided to get rid of it), Ulta Make-up Sponge, Dr Brandt Pores No More primer (thick and silicone-laded), Heroine Make Volume and Curl Mascara (review here)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Graftobian HD Glamour Creme Foundation in Buff and Aurora (here's my review - obviously not completely used up, but old and I don't really enjoy wearing it anymore), Skindinavia Make-up Finishing Spray (it was alright, but I'm not sure I absolutely need a setting spray in my make-up routine), Rouge Bunny Rouge Sea of Clouds Highlighting Liquid sample (fantastic for fair skin as it's basically a white pearl shade), Make Up Forever Smokey Extravagant Mascara, Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Whiskey, Real Techniques Miracle Complexion sponge (reviewed here - mine didn't last as long as I expected, and I think I prefer the original Beautyblender).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Laura Geller GlamLASH mascara, OPI Original Nail Envy, INM Out The Door Topcoat
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: The Face Shop Hydra Gel Mask in Vita B (not really a gel sheet mask like the Tatcha, more like a sheet of rubber if that makes sense?), Orientana Moisturizer for Combination Skin (a more natural Polish skincare brand, but this cream was incredibly fragranced and the texture quite greasy on the skin)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: The Saem sheet mask and Freeman Coffee & Chai Eye Mask* (reviewed here), Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum (featured here; worked really well for the first couple of months then no more improvement), Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel (will be featured shortly - stay tuned), Osmia Organics Facial Calibration Serum* (a facial oil, really), Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado (weird texture that wouldn't always absorb but decent moisturizer), Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads (featured here, prefer the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads), Avebio Immortelle Flower Water (scent a bit too strong, prefer other hydrosols), Canmake Easy and Fast Make Gel (moisturizer with spf), Badger Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Nothing, really :(
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Crystal Body Deodorant Stick (this made me MORE smelly, if that's even possible), Secret Invisible Solid Antiperspirant (I've come to the conclusion that I dislike invisible solids and prefer clear gels - I'm actually using one by Secret right now and it's really good!), Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish (not completely gone, but I realized it contains polluting plastic microbeads)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream (I think it's too expensive and not sufficiently moisturizing for my severely dry hands), Ulta Vanilla Sugar Body Wash (used as a bubble bath), Philosophy Fresh Cream Hand Wash (also used as a bubble bath - lovely scent, but $$$), Green Pharmacy Bath Oil in the Clove & Mandarin Orange scent (another Polish brand aspiring to be natural - this was more like a foaming gel oil for the bath, and at about $3.50, I really enjoyed it), Kneipp Lavender Bath Oil*, Rose hand cream from Bulgaria (gift from my mom).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): The Body Shop Body Butter in the Vanilla Brulee scent (I think these can't be beat for a nourishing body moisturizer, and the price isn't too bad when you catch them on sale), Camille Beckman Lemongrass & Grapefruit Hand Cream* (came in a Glossybox and turned out to be fabulous, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to order from their website just for this hand cream), Aura Cacia Meditating Cedarwood Mineral Bath and Orange & Patchouli Foaming Bath (not the cheapest bath products, but less expensive and more natural than Lush, that's for sure! I have a couple more sachets on hand already).
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo (despite being touted as the best drugstore dry shampoo by many beauty gurus, I found it to be less effective than Batiste and the smell so strong my husband could smell it in another room).
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Nioxin Scalp Treatment (well, Mr was the primary user, but he stopped with one application left in the bottle and I finished it - it was alright?), TIGI Catwalk Sea Salt Spray (worked well but the scent was a bit too strong).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Batiste Dry Shampoo in the Tropical scent (already repurchased; I've decided not to experiment with dry shampoos anymore and just stick to Batiste as my favorite), Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream (lovely, but I'd like to try their Full Thickening Cream for my fine hair).
How are you guys doing on the empties front? I feel that next quarter I may have a lot to share as a lot of things seem to be running out at the same time - I still have replacements at the ready so no need to repurchase, but I'm trying to make room for some Sephora sale shopping in November :)
Disclaimer: Products marked with an asterix (*) are press samples I received from the brand's PR for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as free press samples. Thank you for reading!