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Empties

I love seeing other peoples empties! So I decided to make a board where people could post pictures of their empties, or just tell us about them! I'd also be interested in knowing whether you're repurchasing anything or not.

Re: Empties

I cannot wait to see what you think when you're ready. It is the only Davines product I've tried so far that I did not love but someone explained I just may not like what sea salt spray does to hair. Like you, I try to only have one open item at a time, so I am trying to force myself to finish that before I try one from another brand. I have a ton of others to try and really want to know. 

 

I hate having multiples of anything open, but sometimes I cannot help myself and other times multiples make sense.

Re: Empties

I love this thread. 

 

I just finished a large bottle of Fresh Soy cleanser and a tub of the Body Shop Coconut body butter

Re: Empties

So, so behind in posting my empties.  These are from November.  I didn’t have as many FS empties this month because after a few months of being committed to empties I finally think I have these under control and don’t have as many duplicates of the same type of item open.  But because I was traveling I did make it through quite a few foils.  I’m coming to really like foils for travel since I’m frequently only carrying on my bags and it frees up space in my baggy for my larger makeup items.

 

Full size & deluxe:

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Love:

Spoiler

 

Caudalie Premier Cru The Elixir – I’ve tried quite a few deluxe samples of of face oils now and this is by far my favorite.  I love the nice glow it gives my face, but what makes it my favorite over other oils is how quickly it absorbs and how light it feels on my face.  (I also used up a DS sample of Josie Maran Argan Oil and it feels heavy by comparison.)   I’ve already purchased the full size, but am trying to work my way through my deluxe samples of oil first.

 

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation – This is always one of my go to moisturizers because I love how lightweight yet hydrating it is.  But I do need something heavier in the fall/winter so I’m currently using Caudalie Premier Cru the Cream during the day and L’Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Riche Comforting Cream at night.

 

Beauty Blender Pure – Love this for applying foundation.  However, despite regular cleaning it still seemed to hold a lot of pigment from foundations and cream blushes so I definitely prefer the Original as it looks cleaner over time.

 

Eucerin Skin Calming Cream – It’s by no means glamorous but it does the job.

 

Dry Bar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot – Love this!  I’ve been using it about once a week for moisture and my hair definitely feels healthier.  Already repurchased.

 

Caudalie Vinosource Crème Sorbet – I first used this a few years back and I forgot how much I love it.  I enjoy the smell and feel of this cream.  Would definitely consider purchasing this.

 

Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Polyphenol C15 Anti-Wrinkle Eye & Lip Cream – Liked this as well.

 

Avene Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Serum – I really like this serum.  It does seem to do a nice job of helping with hydration and it’s affordable compared to a lot of serums.  I have quite a few back up serums to get through but would definitely consider purchasing.

 

 Like:

Spoiler

 

Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish – I used to like this for my face but after a recent facial I was told to discontinue physical exfoliants and use strictly chemical exfoliants.  Since I already had it opened I decided to use it on my body instead.

 

Lush Life’s a Beach – I’m a sucker for Lush so I bought 3 of these when they were LE.  I liked the vanilla-y scent of this but because the sand and sea salt aren’t suspending in any type of gel or liquid I found it a little harder and messier to deal with than a typical scrub.  I’m also undecided on how I feel about the experience of using it.  Without any gel or liquid it does feel a little different.  (An article described it like rolling around in the sand which is probably accurate.

 

Lush The Olive Branch – I really liked this.  It has a pleasant scent that is perfect for the holidays and leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated.

 

MaskerAide All Nighter – I will admit I got this just to redeem the AmorePacific promo code.  I thought it was hydrating and refreshing but I’m not sure I can see a huge difference between this mask and the other sheet masks I’ve tried (Sephora, Bio Republic, and SK II).  The results and experience often seems similar.

 

Philosophy No Reason to Hide – I got 4 of these deluxe samples when they were point perks.  I tried 3 of them back in March and liked the texture and feel but wasn’t sure I saw results.  This one was a straggler that I forgot to sample but I still feel the same way about it as I did back then.

 

Eucerin In-Shower Moisturizer – This definitely works.  My skin feels softer than with no moisturizer at all and I love how quick and easy it is to use – just slather on and wipe off.  BUT it’s not enough for the winter time so I still need to use a regular body lotion, which defeats the purpose.

 

Sephora Pearl Mask – I like this.  My skin does look and feel better afterwards but as with the MaskerAide mask I’m not sure that I see huge differences with one brand or type of mask over another so I’m curious to see if I’ll get similar results with the super cheap sheet masks I got at H Mart.

 

Josie Maran Aragon Oil – This oil is fine but I prefer Caudalie Premier Cru The Elixir for all the reasons mentioned above.

 

Gillette Satin Care – One of my go to shaving foams.

  

Dislike:

Spoiler

 

Temple Spa In Good Condition Hair Conditioner – Meh. Not hydrating enough for my hair.

 

Pureology Hydrate Condition – I got this awhile ago because I was hoping for something less expensive than the brands I was getting at my salon, but I ended up deciding it was worth spending more to keep my hair in better condition.

 

Julep Rock Star Hand Cream – This hand cream was nothing special.  I think Caudalie’s hand cream does a better job of moisturizing my hands without making them greasy.  I also think this is a great example of how Julep inflates their prices.  At its regular price, the cost per ounce is a little bit higher than Caudalie even though I think the Caudalie hand cream is a much, much better product.

 

REN Keep Young And Beautiful™ Instant Firming Beauty Shot – I did not like this AT ALL.  It had a gel-like consistency that was too thick for my taste and the results didn’t seem to offset my dislike of the texture.  I also noticed.  I also didn’t like that it seemed to pill when I applied an oil, moisturizer, etc. over the top.

 

Philosophy Miracle Worker – Nope.  Scent was too strong for me and I didn’t care for how it felt on my skin.

Unfinished, but it was time to throw out:

Spoiler

 

Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy – I got these for free forever ago.  Nope.

 

Prescription skin ointment

 

Goldie lip gloss – Not sure what color this was but I loved this when I first bought it.  It is a really pretty color but I’ve had it for YEARS and god knows I have so many lipsticks and glosses so it was time for it to go.

 

 

Foils:

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Of the foils the standouts were the Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask, the Caviar CC Repair, and the Agave Hair Oil.  I especially LOVE that Sisley mask, I'm just not sure I love it enough to justify the $162 price tag but I'm definitely thrilled when I get a foil of it.  I was most disappointed in the Drunk Elephant foil.  I've heard great things about the brand but the scent was just too much for me.

Re: Empties

I do not like the Laura Mercier on my face, because it is a little more rough than I prefer. I still have one left, so I may use it on my body, too. 

 

Did your esthetician say why scrubs are bad for skin? I have so many (including Exfolikate, which I love).

 

I am still annoyed that I ordered the Feb SAKS bag that should have included that Sisley mask had a card to redeem at the counter. By the time I opened the box (WAY AFTER I placed the order), it had expired. If it is that wonderful, I guess I am grateful, because I hate loving expensive things.

Re: Empties

First, that's so annoying on the Feb SAKS bag.  I would have been bummed if I thought I was getting a mask only to have to redeem it in store.

 

As far as the scrubs go, she said for my dry, sensitive skin scrubs are too irritating without helping my skin turn over enough.  When I went in she said my skin was dry and congested and that because it wasn't fully exfoliated the products I was using for my dry skin weren't getting the change to penetrate enough to make a difference.  It was definitely interesting to hear because during my last spa visit with a different facialist she told me I was overexfoliating so I cut way back.

 

I do think the most recent girl was right because since I switched to using a chemical exfoliant 3-4 times a week I've noticed my skin does feel less dry and my forehead wrinkles are much, much less pronounced so what she recommended does seem to be working.

Re: Empties

Yes, it was even more annoying that the certificate expired. In their defense, it took me a long time to open the box. My niece passed away the night I ordered it. When it arrived, I could not bring myself to open the box for a while.

 

I have dry, sensitive skin, too. My face is actually feeling less dry with my routine, because I am raising the moisture level big time this winter.

 

I ordered a three pack of the OH peel a few weeks ago and used each every other day. I agree my skin was feeling even more smooth that week than it does now. She may be onto something. Thanks for letting me know.

Re: Empties

I've lurked here a few times in the last month, but this is my first empties post. I've tried holding on to my trash in the past, but it was really hard. Seeing everyone's empties made me feel inspired. These are from the past couple of months.

 

empties.jpg

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Not pictured:

Pantene Repair & Protect shampoo

Ahava Hibiscus & Fig body lotion, I kept this at work for hands.

Re: Empties

The smell of that Origins cream was a little too much for me. What did you think of it?

Re: Empties

Great empties!  Glad we brought you out of lurkdom.  I find this one of the most satisfying threads to participate in all month.  I love feeling inspired to shop my stash and use up what I already own and it's fun to see what others are finishing up and what they thought of this month's products.

Anonymous Insider

Re: Empties

Having problems uploading pictures, but a list of my empties for November are included below. This is my first time posting - this thread really inspired me to work through some of the half-empty items on my shelf. Thank you!

 

Loves:

No loves this month – I have a lot of other products to get through so I may end up repurchasing some of my likes at and some point, but none inspired me to repurchase immediately.

 

Likes:

Aerin Hand Cream

Pacifica Lemon Blossom Body Butter

Sunday Riley Bionic

Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum (used to love, but now I am obsessed with the Drunk Elephant Vitamin C serum)

Dr. Hauschka Melissa Day Cream

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat (great for summer, need something a bit more moisturizing now)

Chanel Le Jour De Chanel

 

Meh:

Sisley Creamy Mask with Tropical Resins (it is a purifying mask and a fine job, but not for the $$$. If you want a truly luxe purifying mask, go for the Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask!)

NaturaBisse Tensolift Neck Cream

The Face Shop Blackhead Out Charcoal Nose Strip (The Tony Moly Strawberry Nose Pack is much better, but more time intensive)

Tony Moly My Little Pet Eye Patch

Sally’s Box Delight Collagen Hydrogel Mask

**bleep**+Fab Dragon’s Blood Cleansing Pads

**bleep**+Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Pads (I know people love these, but I didn’t think they were strong enough to do anything b/c my skin is already used to acid exfoliation. I may try the extreme version in the future)

Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths

Dr. Hauschka Clarifying Day Oil (reminded me a bit of Sunday Riley Artemis, but I did not like it as much because I don’t think it absorbed as well)

Dr. Hauschka Clarifying Toner

Fresh Lotus Eye Gel

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Alba Botanica Pore Purifying Mini Peel

Mario Badescu Whitening Mask

Re: Empties

That's interesting to know about the Drunk Elephant Vitamin C Serum.  What do you like better about it?  I never thought I was that crazy about it because the texture is a bit thick and tacky/sticky for my taste but then I realized my skin seemed to really love it.

 

I've only tried one Drunk Elephant product, a foil of their luxury facial oil and the scent just smelled off to me, almost like cigarette smoke.  I can't quite describe it but it was really unappealing so I'm nervous that others in the line may not agree with my nose.

Anonymous Insider

Re: Empties

The DE serum has been more effective for me. I was having some hyperpigmentation on my forehead and the Truth Serum was helping, but the DE totally reversed it and has evened out my overall skin tone. 

 

I am not totally enamored with the scent - it smells a bit musty to me, probably due to the fermented pumpkin. However, I do not even really notice it now and when I first started using it the scent seemed to disappear quickly, especially when a moisturizer and/or sunscreen are layered on top. The results are worth it! 

Re: Empties

When I one day finish all the little bottles of truth serum, I'll have to give drunk elephant a try.  I love their Glycolic lotion.  

Anonymous Insider

Re: Empties

The Glycolic is next on my list to try! 

 

It took me a while to get through all of the minis of truth serum I hoarded when they were available as point perks 🙂

Re: Empties

I have the full size - so i just empty all the minis in there

Re: Empties

CAM00184.jpg

 

Empties!  (I have no idea why the picture is upside down).  Nothing this month that wowed me that I loved, but plenty of things I liked.  

 

Likes: 

- The Body Shop Mojito body butter

- Karuna Exfoliating face mask (I'm not convinced I got any exfoliating, but theres TONS of serum in the packet- can be saved and used for several weeks.  I'll be doing that next time.  This time I just threw the packet away).

- Caudalie Vinosource night cream

- Omorvicza cleansing foam - nice, but not nice enough to justify the price tag.

- Living Proof prime style extender

- Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar soap - I'm a sucker for beautiful packaging.  Also, smells like coconut cake.

 

Meh: 

- Strivectin eye concentrate for wrinkles- honestly, I think I'm just not much of an eye cream person.  I have yet to find one that I enjoy using.  This didn't sting my eyes, which is a big plus.  I just have no idea if this worked.

- Albertini Warm Love pumpkin exfoliating mask- smelled amazing, but felt like spackling cake batter on my face.  Couldn't handle the texture.

 

Nope: 

- Bliss 24-Heaven healing body balm- good moisturization but smells disgusting.

 

Also: assorted fragrance sample cards.

Tossing: Maybelline 14 hour lipstick in Fuschia Forever.  I really liked this lipstick (it lasted and felt decent on my lips) but it dried out before I could finish.

 

Re: Empties

Omorovicza offered to send me some free samples, and I almost ordered that foam. I did get all cleansing samples though, but I still really want to try that one.

 

I am laughing at your Bliss review, because I used it in December (will post once I finish the month). I love how it moisturizes, but even wrote in my notes that it smells like Play-Doh.

Re: Empties

It's always interesting to see how opinions differ!  I hated the Body Shop Mojito Body Butter (threw it away half used, which is unusual for me) and liked the Bliss 24-Heaven (I don't remember having it much of a scent).

Re: Empties

I was just thinking the same thing, I can't remember the scent of the Bliss 24-Heaven at all, only that it seemed really hydrating and my skin loved it.

 

But these boards have definitely reinforced for my how personal scent is as there seem to frequently be things others love that I do not and vice versa.

Re: Empties

I'm kinda over bodyshop body butter in general but just found two pots of it.  Using them up but worried I'll get more for christmas😁

Re: Empties

Same here.

 

I'm not worried about receiving anything from the Body Shop for Christmas, but there is a very good chance I will receive a pile of stuff from Bath and Body Works, as I did last year.  Pretty sure my aunt thinks I'm still 15.  She gave me a giant bucket full in 2014.  It included a body wash that smelled like green apple candy.  I was appreciative and tried to use as much as I could stand, but once you've used the good stuff B&BW just isn't impressive.

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