Empties

[wendyomgwar]

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.

[kelloua]

I agree.  Bummer on all the misses but at least they look like mostly deluxe samples vs. full sized products.

[knuevekm]

These are my November/December empties. 

Disclaimer: there are not that many dislikes because I am to the point where I have a pretty good idea of what will and will not work for me. I only collect samples or try out products that I think have a good chance of success.

Loves (regular rotation)

See spoiler for reviews

Spoiler

MAC wipes- These do a great job getting my makeup off before I wash my face. I usually wipe my face off, then rinse the wipe with water and ring it out then wipe my face again.

Tree hut shea sugar scrub- holy grail item for me. Gentle but abrasive enough to get the job done

Dr. Jart premium BB- pretty good coverage + SPF 45, note: you can get every last drop out by unscrewing the black cap separating the hard cover and cutting open the soft white container inside.

OH sheer transformation- This is my summer moisturizer because it is so light weight. Since I apply lots of sunscreen during the summer months it is nice to have a light weight moisturizer. I won’t be repurchasing this again until July.

OH ultimate lift eye gel- this jar lasted me a little over a year. I really loved it! Just recently my eye area has changed not sure if it is due to winter or just changing with age I need something more moisturizing though.

Belif the true cream aqua bomb- I used this on my neck and it was very nice. Luckily, I did not experience any stinging that others have experienced.

Butter London scrubbers- These are my favorite remover pads. The amount of remover on the pads varies. Some times I have to add remover sometimes there is plenty on them. I mostly love the shape and texture. They remove my polish with out a lot of fuss.

LOccitane hand cream- these are great especially in the travel size that is perfect for my purse. Absorbs quickly, nice smell, makes my hands soft.

Anthony glycolic face cleanser- I have been using this for a couple years. One bottle lasts me almost exactly a year. Nice creamy face wash.

Loves (new to me)

See spoiler for review

Spoiler

Tatcha luminous hydration lifting mask- I saw results after one use. I used it in the evening and the next morning my face was tighter and brighter. At $28 a mask though this is a splurge and I probably won’t buy them often. I think they are great to use the night before a big event though.

Tatcha silken pore perfecting sunscreen- I wore this alone and after applying I did feel like the appearance of my skin was improved.

Aussie spray gel- I repurchased this. I like the spray gel better than a hair spray for my short hair. Disclaimer: I haven’t tried spray gels from other brands.

LOccitane foot cream- I have used the hand cream before but the foot cream was new to me. This is the best foot cream I have found yet, I immediately purchased full size and use it every night.

Sunday Riley good genes sephora sample- this was new to me in Nov and was immediate added to my regular rotation. I get much less blemishes and I am seeing more even skintone.

Makeup forever artist shadow- it doesn’t look like they are used up but they are. These were very nice. Blended well, no fall out, and wore nicely through out the day. Added bonus they did a good job of including colors that I could make an entire eye look with.

Tata Harper reparative moisturizer sephora sample- This stuff is awesome! My face is perfectly moisturized and that is very hard for me to accomplish during the winter months. This was new to me in November but was immediately added to my regular routine.

Foot file- I don’t remember where I got it, but I remember it being super cheap. I file my heels just a little bit after every time I get out of the shower and I have not had any calluses or feet cracking all year. This is the first foot file I have mentioned in an empties post because this one was super cheap, did the job, and lasted a decent amount of time.

 Meh

See spoiler for reviews

Spoiler

Bath and Body works Peach Bellini gentle foaming hand soap- smelled great, but I didn’t feel like it did the best job of cleaning

Korres advanced brightening sleeping facial- I used to love this stuff for my winter night time moisturizer. I started using it again now that it has turned cold and I realized I have other moisturizers that do a better job.

Ulta 80 round cotton pads- These didn’t blow me away, but they got the job done.

LOccitane amande milk concentrate- the smell is good, but the regular creams are better IMO

The body shop mango hand cream- smelled really good, but didn’t do that great of a job moisturizing

Algenist geius eye cream- sephora made sample I am on the hunt for a more moisturizing eye cream. I put this in the “meh” column because the sample was not enough to see results for an eye cream. I did go ahead and buy full size. So far I like it but am not blown away by it.

Glam glow thirsty mud- I don’t like this for my face but when I get a sample of it I use it on my feet and it makes them nice and soft.

FAB ultra repair sleeping cream- I knew I wouldn’t like this on my face so used on my feet and lower legs. It made them soft.

Fresh sugar lip serum- I wanted to love this so bad because I really like the balms. This felt nice and tasted nice, but doesn’t work. I will stick with my Bite agave mask.

Boscia mini konjac sponge with charcoal- this was a nice gentle exfoliator. I find it is an additional step that I often skip, and didn’t notice any difference between the charcoal version and the regular version that I have used in the past.

Dislike

See spoiler for reviews

Spoiler

Deborah lippmann lavender nail laquer remover finger mitt- the pads had plenty of remover, but the finger mitt shape actually make it difficult to remove the polish in the corners.

Beauty 360 nail file- this was a cheap nail file I bought I think from CVS to file my toe nails and it didn’t hold up very long at all. I guess I got what I paid for.

[notcreative]

I love that you're getting to a point where you know what works for you. It may never happen for me, but that is probably because the thrill of sampling new things and finding the latest and greatest never fades. 

I love the OH eye gel, too, because it smooths everything quickly. It is not moisturizing enough for me, so I use a regular eye cream under it. I know the eye cream is thicker, but I prefer the results of the cream under this than when I used to do it the other way around.

I've wanted to try that Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub for a while, so I will go for it once I use up some of my scrubs.

I can never get rid of my Bath and Body Works stuff, because I get some almost every gift giving event. Hauled more this Christmas. Yay me!

[kelloua]

Interesting.  The OH eye gel isn't hydrating enough for me either.  I never thought to double up with another eye cream.  Do you apply one immediately after another or do you apply the regular eye cream and then wait a little bit and use the gel.  i'm curious because I have a big sample that I've already opened up and would rather not waste.

Somehow I've managed to not get any Bath and Body works stuff for a long, long time.  Though I do really like the candles and the wallflowers.  I would also like the hand soap if they made it possible to get refill containers of it I could use to fill my soap pumps.

I feel like I'm at a point where I have a pretty good idea what types of brands, products and ingredients work for me, but I can't stop sampling and trying new things.  I hear you on being a sucker for wanting to find the latest and greatest things even if I have an arsenal of existing products that work really well.  Recently I tried a lot of different oils and decided that nothing really compared to the first one I tried.

[notcreative]

I always put time between steps in my routine. It is not a lot of time, but I alternate between eyes, lips, face, and neck/chest to space things out. By the time I apply the gel, the eye cream has been on for about a minute. I am sure they are meant to be used one at a time, but I like them together. 

When I first bought the full size OH eye gel in August 2014, the OH rep essentially made it sound like a mask for the eyes. She was a really good sales person, too, because she insisted I email her the before and after pictures my sister took. I did, but I'd bet anything she did nothing with them.

That was when I stopped viewing it as eye cream and use it as I do a sleeping mask. It goes on last.

Funny enough, I have never received a B&BW candle, and they look amazing. It is something I would not mind.

I do the same. I try a million new things and none of them measure up to my first loves at times. Still have not found a mascara I like better than Definicils, yet I gift most of those away, so I can try new ones. I do like knowing that people I love get to try the mascara (or any products I love).

Speaking of product swaps, have you tried that Davines Sea Salt Spray yet?

[kelloua]

That's interesting!  Feeling the texture of the OH eye gel seeing it as a mask makes sense.  It actually reminds me a lot of the texture of a Origins eye mask I have.  And definitely some good salesmanship on the rep's part!

I actually haven't tried the Davines Sea Salt spray just yet.  I have a Bumble and Bumble one I'm finishing up and then I'm on to it next!  I've been trying to rush through the Bumble and Bumble version so I use it sooner!  The old me would have had multiples open at a time but I've tried to be better about finishing up one thing before moving on to the next.

[notcreative]

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.

[nhunka]

I love this thread. 

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

[kelloua]

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:

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:

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.

[notcreative]

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.

[kelloua]

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.

[notcreative]

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.

[sn22]

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.

Not pictured:

Pantene Repair & Protect shampoo

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

[notcreative]

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

[kelloua]

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]

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

[kelloua]

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]

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! 

[heartsmyface]

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]

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 🙂

[Zpsid91]

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