Empties #2 | December/January

I’ve definitely become one of those people who likes to finish one thing before opening another. I hate being wasteful, so I’ve been trying super hard to actually finish things. It’s SO rewarding to look at this giant pile of stuff I finished up and know that it’s not all just sitting around half used while I move on to the next thing!

Alright, let’s get into what I finished in December and January…

Makeup

Evolution of Smooth Lip Balm

I’ve used EOS lip balms for years, and I think this is the first time I’ve actually finished one. Woooo! Also, I recently learned that EOS balms are all-natural and contain a whole bunch of organic ingredients. Whaaaat? Who knew!

Repurchase? Yes! Well, no… but only because I literally have like twelve others already, haha.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

This was a small sample size that I feel lasted forever. I’ve never really been a fan of this primer for reason though, so I just used it for eyeshadow swatches.

Repurchase? Nah.

Jersey Shore Sun Mongongo Lip Conditioner

I loooove this lip balm! It’s USDA certified organic, makes my lips feel nice and soft, and has a little bit of a glossy look to it which I really like.

Repurchase? I’d definitely be open to doing so in future if I ever need to buy another lip balm (right now it’s looking like that’ll be in 20 years, haha).

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray

This is truly an unbeatable making setting spray. It keeps everything on major lockdown and I’ve relied on it for nights out dancing for the past couple of years. They just repackaged a bunch of their products as well and the new packaging looks really cool! Unfortunately, this product contains BHT, so I won’t be using it anymore and am officially on the hunt for a new holy grail setting spray- recommendations, anyone?

Repurchase? No, due to it containing BHT (one of my “non-negotiable” ingredients).

Skincare

Sephora Mud Mask Purifying & Mattifying

Oh my gosh, I’ve had this FOREVER. It was definitely it’s time to go, so I forced myself to finish it up. It’s a fine mask- nothing life changing, but it does give me that “cleared out pores” feeling that I look for in a mud mask.

Repurchase? No, looking for cleaner options.

Hada Lobo Tokyo Skin Plumping Gel Cream

I loved the gel texture of this moisturizer. I did get a solid almost two weeks of use out of the four or five sample packs I had acquired via ULTA orders. It moisturizes well and is free of parabens, dyes, fragrances and mineral oil.

Repurchase? Would consider it.

Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream

This is such a good eye cream, both performance and price-wise. I honestly miss it since running out of it. It’s super lightweight and absorbs quickly, but moisturizes SO well. I get really dry under eyes and this was a lifesaver for me. I highly recommend trying this out!

Repurchase? I just might!

Belif The True Cream Aquabomb

Another really nice gel moisturizer that I found very similar to the Hada Lobo one I tried. The Hada Lobo Gel Cream is around half the price, so I’d say try that one over this one.

Repurchase? No, but it is a good moisturizer.

Bioré Baking Soda Cleansing Scrub

I was given this at an event, but Bioré products are usually too harsh for my skin so I skip them. Anyways, I gave this to Cole and he quite liked it. I tried it a time or two, and it was a decent little scrub. In fact, I’d say it’s a decent dupe for the Dermalogica Microfoliant, which I’m currently using (and for a fraction of the price).

Repurchase? No.

MIYU De-Stress Mi Beauty Essence

This facial mist was in my bathroom for the past like 3 years, so I’m chucking it. It’s almost empty anyways.

Repurchase? No. I wouldn’t even know where to buy it if I wanted to, haha.

LUSH Magical Moringa Facial Moisturizer

I received a few LUSH samples as part of a gift from a friend who works there, and while I’m so grateful because I love a lot of products from LUSH, this moisturizer is freaking awful. It’s the grossest, driest texture that I just can’t stand. It feels like I’m trying to smear dried out playdough on my face! It certainly doesn’t “melt” into my skin like LUSH says it’s meant to. I couldn’t bring myself to finish this.

Repurchase? Not in a million years.

LUSH Ultrabland Facial Cleanser

Another awful LUSH product. This is an oil, honey and beeswax based cleanser that leaves an actual thick layer of residue on my skin… it feels disgusting! My face feels significantly dirtier than before washing when I use this.

Repurchase? Heck no!

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser

This cleanser is alright. I didn’t love it and I didn’t hate it. It does leave my skin feeling a little bit dry afterwards. I could have sworn that I had used it a couple of years or so ago and liked it, but this time around I wasn’t a huge fan.

Repurchase? If it came in a set, I’d use it, but I wouldn’t go out and buy it on it’s own.

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate

This oil lasted FOREVER. Seriously, I had just started using it every night when we were in New Zealand for Christmas 2015, and I only just finished this in December. There were a few times that I stopped using it for a little bit, but even then, this still lasted for a ridiculous amount of time, haha. It wasn’t life changing, but it did make my skin feel nice and hydrated.

Repurchase? Doubtful. It’s a nice oil, but I feel like there are better options out there!

Kaia Naturals Juicy Bamboo Natural Facial Cleansing Cloths

These are a great clean option when it comes to face wipes. They’re 100% biodegradable bamboo fibre cloths made in small batches and soaked in vitamins B12, C and E, as well as citrus essential oils. They smell amazing (naturally!) and cleanse the skin without drying it out.

Repurchase? Yes! I absolutely love the Kaia Naturals products. I need some of these cute little Juicy Cloths To-Go to take to Southeast Asia with me!

Nourish Organic Renewing Eye Cream

I definitely wouldn’t call this the best eye cream ever, but it’s not terrible. It hydrates the under eye area fine, however my only qualm is that it sits on top of the skin for a long time before it finally soaks in, so I can only wear it at night time.

Repurchase? No, I prefer something that absorbs much faster.

Korres Wild Rose Brightening Targeted Tone Corrector

I honestly didn’t think this was doing anything for my skin while using it, but if I think back on it now, I’m pretty sure it was. My skin scars really easily- if I get a zit, there will be a bit of discoloration in the spot where the zit was for weeks and weeks, long after it’s been gone. I had a breakout right after I stopped using this (at least a month ago) and STILL have the discoloration from it, yet I don’t remember having any issues like that while using this serum. So, maybe it was doing it’s job!

Repurchase? I’m now considering it to use specifically when I have discoloration to clear up.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Fluid Lotion

This SPF 60 lotion sucks. Haha, so blunt, sorry. Seriously though, I struggled to use up this stupid little sample because it’s terrible. It pills as soon as I put it on my face! I tried it at several different points throughout the past year when I was using varying skincare products, thinking maybe it just reacted weirdly to one specific thing I was using, but nope- it pills with everything. No thanks!

Repurchase? Definitely not.

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream

This is an expensive eye cream, but it really is worth it. It makes my under eyes so hydrated and keeps my makeup from getting dry and cakey in that area. Unfortunately, it’s full of parabens, so I will no longer be using this.

Repurchase? No.

Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral-Enriched Renewal Cream

This is such a nice night cream. It’s super rich without being really heavy, if that makes sense. I love the consistency and the smell and the soft, hydrated feels it gives my skin. It also doesn’t contain any of the ingredients I am avoiding- yay!

Repurchase? When I run out of night creams, I’ll definitely consider getting this one in a full size!

Pur-Lisse Blue Lotus 4-in-1 Eye Adore Serum

While I like the gel texture of this eye cream, it didn’t do anything for me. I had a sample size, but because you use so little eye cream with each application, this lasted me a few weeks. I can’t recommend this at all, given the price point is insane for a product that really didn’t do anything.

Repurchase? Nope.

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution

If you’ve ever read my blog for any length of time, you already know I freaking love this stuff. It will be in every empties post ever, haha. There is no better makeup remover in the world!

Repurchase? Forever and ever. ;)

Beautycounter Nourishing Rosewater Mist

This is a really nice facial spray. I love all the rose things, so it definitely got good use from me. I’d use this throughout the day for a little refreshing as well as lightly all over my face to help get rid of that slightly powdery look after you’ve set all of your makeup.

Repurchase? Not right now, just because I’m now using a bunch of rosewater mists from Imbue Goods that I already have!

Haircare

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Beautifying Oil Cream

I didn’t completely finish this, but almost. I quit using it near the end because it’s full of a bunch of crap I can’t pronounce (warning sign! haha) and makes my hands all sparkly, which drives me nuts. It also did nothing for my hair, so there’s that!

Repurchase? Nope.

Alterna Caviar CC Cream 10-in-1 Leave-In Hair Perfector

You know, for as long as I’ve had this (I had a few decent sample sizes to go through), I had no idea that the brand was actually Alterna and not just called Caviar, haha. I loved how nice this made my hair feel, but I won’t repurchase because it’s full of questionable ingredients and I’d rather find something cleaner.

Repurchase? Unfortunately not.

L’Oreal Paris Elnatt Satin Hairspray

Guys, I seriously miss good hairspray. Hairspray in general is full of such crappy ingredients, but I feel like I may just need to repurchase anyways as I need something that works to use on the rare occasion that I curl my hair. I’ve tried some other options with cleaner ingredients since finishing this and nothing even comes close.

Repurchase? Maybe, if I don’t find a solid replacement ASAP!

Pacifica Jet Set Trio Kale Collection

This is nooooot for hair that needs a lot of moisture. My hair was a pile of straw for the couple of weeks that I worked my way through this trio… it was depressing, haha. Even the leave-in conditioner did absolutely nothing for me! I feel like this would be great for anyone with very fine hair, because it does clean well, it’s just missing the super-hydration aspect that I need so badly.

Repurchase? No.

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil

This was a fine hair oil. I didn’t get too many uses out of this little sample size, but it didn’t do anything particularly special for my hair.

Repurchase? No.

Bath/Body

BVSpa Lavender & Rosemary Sugar Scrub

I’m sorry, but anyone who doesn’t live in Canada and doesn’t have access to a Shopper’s Drug Mart is missing out, because the BVSpa scrubs are life. They work SO well and have a beautiful lavender and rosemary scent.

Repurchase? Yup, already did!

Lone Goat Soap Co. Tranquilo Soak

I came across the Lone Goat Soap Co. products at a local market over the holidays and fell in absolute LOVE with this bath soak. I don’t think I’ve ever smelled something more incredible in my whole life. These bath salts are topped off with lavender buds and lavender essential oil, and they make my bathroom smell insanely good.

Repurchase? Not for the moment, only because I’m about to try my hand at making my own bath soaks! If it turns out to be a giant fail though, I’ll definitely be coming back to Lone Goat, haha.

J.R. Watkins Calming Bath Soak

Are we sensing a trend, yet? I like baths and I like lavender, a lot, clearly! This is yet another beautiful smelling bath soak that I have fallen in love with. This product is also 100% natural!

Repurchase? Again, if my bath-soak-making adventures don’t work out, then definitely yes.

Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Vanilla Coconut Bath Salt

I only had a little tiny packet of this that came as part of a set, but the one bath I did have with these bath salts was great. The scent is so, so nice, though I don’t find it lasts at long (especially in comparison to the other two bath soaks I’ve mentioned above). These salts are also 100% natural and toxin-free.

Repurchase? Possibly.

The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter

Fun fact: The Body Shop greenwashes like nobodies business. The average consumer would totally think that The Body Shop is full of great ingredients and natural products, but noooope. I was very disappointed to find out about this and no longer use pretty much anything from them. Their body butters are nice, and I like the scent of this coconut one because it’s not super sweet, but I won’t be repurchasing.

Repurchase? No.

Lavanila The Healthy Body Butter

A much better for you option than the body butter above is the Lavanila The Healthy Body Butters. They smell really nice and are all natural!

Repurchase? If I ever run out of body lotions, then yes, haha.

One Earth Black Soap

I must have had a reason as to why I included a soap in my empties, but I can’t remember now. I’m going to assume that it was probably because I didn’t like it, but I can’t be 100% sure, haha. It’s also not even on the One Earth site anymore, so maybe it was terrible. ;)

Repurchase? Couldn’t even if I wanted to (which I don’t), haha.

Kaia Naturals The Takesumi Detox Deodorant

I saved the best for last! If you are looking to switch from conventional deodorant to a natural deodorant, YOU NEED THIS. I have tried a few natural deodorants, and this one is by far my favorite. The Cold Pressed Rose one smells SO nice and so does the Juicy Bamboo. I just need the Lime Mint to complete my collection ;) I have a full review coming up on these, so keep an eye out, but just know for now… you need this.

Repurchase? Yes!!!

Sorry that was so long, but I imagine they’ll be shorter in future as I really pushed myself to finish a lot of stuff that I had sitting around half-used these past couple of months. What did you finish up recently?