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.

[CookieGirl1]

I haven't tried the amika Reset Cooling Gel Conditioner or the amika Reset Clarifying Gel Shampoo but I HAVE tried the amika Reset Exfoliating Jelly Scalp Scrub and sadly it totally didn't work for me.  It made my hair feel...sticky.  I like a couple of things from Amika after trying the scrub I really don't WANT to try the companions to it.

[jen81]

@CookieGirl1 I have the clarifying gel shampoo and I just think it’s ok, no Amika’s best products in my opinion. I like living proof detox shampoo much better!

[CookieGirl1]

@jen81 I actually have that one as well, lol.

[eshoe]

November Empties:

Spoiler

FS

A few Trader Joe’s loves, the Macaron Soap, Hair Mask and Rose Facial Toner. Their skin and body care products are generally a hit for me. I’ve only had one snag (their eye cream). My only minor annoyance is the facial mist spray nozzle emits quite a bit of product. Wish I could decant into a GR bottle.

CosRx Advanced Snail 96 - Wow this helps smooth my skin and plumps it up quite nicely. But the stringiness is sooooo gross! I had a backup which I am using because my skin really does love it, but I can’t lie when I say I kind of dread using it. I find the Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence works just as well, without the visible mucous element. 

I also finished a few Kora Organics products this months, none of which I would repurchase. The Body and Face Glow sticks are pleasantly scented, but way too greasy for me. They both worked lovely as nourishing foot balm. The moisturizer saw the same fate. 

nugg Skin Fizz 3-in-1 Cleanser, Exfoliator and Mask - mixing this with my Vita C powder is my go-to quick AM skin brightener. This ‘flavor,’ Kale and Lemongrass, has the most appalling scent. Unfortunately I purchase six of these online. So I just hold my breath while in use 😄

DS 

Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence - love, love, love this rich, thick essence. Will be an easy repurchase once I finish my backup  CosRx.

Pixi Skintreats Glow Mud Cleanser - very gentle cream cleanser. Earthy beige tint and subtle, pleasant ginseng scent. Would definitely repurchase!

Tatcha The Water Cream - I’ve tried this in the past, and it made a better impression on me this go round. Just the right texture, which is true to its name. 

Laneige Cream Skin Toner - this is just the right kind of daily toner for my normal/dry skin. If I didn’t have a few bottles of the Pixi Milky Toner, this would be a serious contender.

Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask - This is fine, my hair just needs something even more deeply moisturizing than this (the Amika Seaberry is just right!).

Living Proof Intense Moisture Mask - not moisturizing enough.

TCFS All-in-One Egg Mellow Cream - didn’t care much for the baby powder-like scent, but the texture was beautiful and my skin really loved this! I would consider repurchasing this one.

Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask - loved the campfire scent in this clay mask, the gentle blush hue, and the fact that it didn’t dry so much that it hurt my skin. Pleasant enough.

Vichy Liftactiv Specialist Peptide-C Ampoules Anti-Age - would likely not use this type of product again. Having to break a glass vial to apply serum is a little too stress-inducing for me.

Too Faced Mascara - the wand was just too cumbersome, and made application a bit difficult for me. The product was decent, but not one I would repurchase. 

FAB Arnica Relief & Rescue Mask - soothing, didn’t notice much difference after using, but it’s always good to have a mask like this on hand that doesn’t do anything fancy, just soothes. 

PTR Cucumber Mask - this was from a gratis a couple of years ago. Love keeping it in my mini fridge for extra relaxation. May repurchase just to have a non-nonsense mask on hand (see above).

Dr. Jart+ Ever Sun Day Mineral Sunscreen - LOVE this. Looks white but that dissipates almost immediately. Pleasantly herbal/fruity scent that is only noticeable while applying. 10/10 would repurchase!

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey - oooh what a pleasant & fancy candle. I have been saving points in the hopes there would be a few JM rewards this fall, but that didn’t happen. Maybe next year.

Biore Strip - a monthly staple. Just noticed a couple of months ago that it has parabens, however at the rate I use them, I am not too concerned.

Foils

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! - Pretty sure I’ve finished a FS of this a couple of years ago, prior to tracking. It’s ok, I didn’t find too much of a difference with using it on a regular basis.

Taste Rainforest of the Sea Deep Sea Collagen Super Serum - this was quite enjoyable to use, though it felt more like a thin oil than a serum. In general, from lip gloss, to hair masks, to serum - for the most part, I prefer thick and goopy. I was surprised to like this so much, I would be interested in picking up a DS to give it a longer trial. 

La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Cream - loved the consistency of this very rich, non-greasy eye cream. I wasn’t a fan of the heavily perfumed scent. I have a moisturizer sample I am looking forward to trying, to see if it has a similar scent. Many lines like this seem to infuse their skincare products with the same scent, and if you enjoy that scent, it’s a good thing.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Cream - WOW what fabulous staying power! No primer needed. Another 10/10 would repurchase, Moonlight was just gorgeous, even my husband noticed and commented on my eyes.

Galenic Argane Emulsion Douceur Reparatrice - I expected this to be an oil, however it was a thin lotion that was also heavily perfumed. Fun to try something new, though!

She Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Oil in Lotion - as an extremely thin and runny oil, it was absolutely lovely. A light scent, not identifiable but just a treat to use. 

Evolve Bio-Retinol + C Booster - Wish I had a DS of this, I am all for bakuchiol and this very thin serum was another very pleasant one to use. I guess this was a month of surprises in that I found a few lighter skincare products that my skin <3’d!

YTD
Sheet Masks	342
FS	126
DS	142
Foils	116
Total	726

[missjeanie]

Great set of empties @eshoe !  I have the TJ's hair mask that I've been saving.  Odd I know... but I don't know when I'll get back there! lol Is it weird that I kinda get a kick outta the stringiness of the CosRx?  I got hooked on the LM Caviar sticks earlier this year, I'm hoping to get to a store that carries them sometime to pick up some more.  Hope you find some shades you love too!

[eshoe]

Ahhh don’t save it, @missjeanie! The TJ’s mask is good, maybe a cheaper version of the Amika:) I’m not surprised at all that you like that goopiness. It’s amusing, for sure. I meant to pick up a set of the LM sticks but held back because I already have more than I need and I just need to work with that. That’s my goal for the New Year! How about you?

[missjeanie]

That 'work with what you have' and 'you have more than you'll ever use' mantra worked for me all year... till the Friends and Family sale then it's all been a haze of purchases.  Not all beauty, I went way overboard for my nieces this year with Christmas coming but.... ya... I totally picked up the holiday set of 4 mini LM sticks.  I mean... they're mini's right?  I seriously wear the same version of shadow pretty daily... I don't need any more shadows... I could have 10 more eyeballs and still not use everything before I'm 100.... but... pandemic shopping is therapy?

[sephoraaddict918]

What a great set of empties @eshoe!!! I recently finished the CosRX Snail Mucin too! I liked the hydration it gave my skin, but I didn't notice any extra sliminess like you and others have experienced. I used a deluxe sample of the Charlotte Tilbury Clay Mask and really enjoyed it, but I'm not ready to pay the big bucks for the full size. The Oozoo Bear Water Bang is one of my favorite masks! It's so juicy and never lets me down. I've used the Vichy Vitamin C that comes in a bottle with a dropper and really enjoyed it. It has similar ingredients to the ampoules and doesn't require breaking any glass (which definitely kept me from trying them).  

[eshoe]

@sephoraaddict918 Wow we share a lot of loves! The CosRx doesn’t leave my skin tacky or sticky, it’s just the application where I find strings when I pat my finger in the palm of my hand to get transfer some of the product😆

That Vichy sounds interesting, I will keep it in mind, thank you for the recommendation!

[CookieGirl1]

Your YTD numbers are impressive, @eshoe 😛

[eshoe]

Thank you, @CookieGirl1. I don’t think I will be posting empties next year, this has helped me determine how much I go through which was exactly what I needed. 

[Samtian]

@eshoe I was smiling at your empties until I saw that stupid bear. HAHA. Great job!! I'm glad you like the Tatcha better this go round. 

[eshoe]

Ha ha you are really a good sport, @Samtian! And you know, it’s always good to re-try a so-so or fail. Sometimes your skin changes, and voila! It’s a love (or in this case, if I had a few extra $ to spend on moisturizer every few months;)

[Samtian]

@eshoe Haha I know what you mean. I was thinking about that with my recent sheet masks issues. My skin seems to be reacting to everything now.

[KeriCherryDee]

 

What a beautiful empty 😍 Herbivore Pink Cloud Rosewater + Squalane Makeup Removing Face Wash 3.38 oz/ 100 mL . It’s definitely a Top 5 favorite cleanser of mine! Non-stripping, gentle, lightly moisturizing, removes light makeup, love that it has a pump, and price isn’t overly expensive. Two pumps a day (most days a week, not quite daily) lasted me about 4 months. Would happily repurchase in the future

[RGbrown]

End of November empties!

YTD 337

Notes in the spoilers!

True Loves

Spoiler

Wella FusionPlex Conditioner: I've loved the FusionPlex line for well over a year now, but have always limited myself to using up samples while I keep testing other stuff in my stash. I think I've about decided I'm tired of trying other stuff though, as nothing else has ever made my hair look as good as this does, and I may be about to bite the bullet on some full-size bottles soon. I want to test this conditioner against the Paradoxx (in the next pic) a bit more, but so far, they are about neck and neck based solely off the samples I've had.

Butter London Nail Foundation: this has been my base coat of choice for quite a while now; it evens out my ridges really well, and wears well enough for me to keep my polish on a week or so (if I make it that long before changing it lol). I've got one more in my stash, but sadly, Ulta has stopped carrying it, and I'm not sure I'm up for spending $18 on a bottle with real money elsewhere, so I'll be branching out to try a few other ridge fillers soon. May comeback to it though if I don't find an acceptable sub.

Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil: I keep trying other oils, and always come back to this one as the best for my oily skin. It really does help control oil-production, and this one seems to help keep hormonal breakouts to a minimum as well. I've got a mini in my stash, and will be buying a new bottle shortly as well.

Bumble Pret-a-Powder Dry Shampoo: one of my faves

Zoya Remove+: the best remover for taking polish off quickly without drying my fingers. I will always have this on hand!

Likes & Nopes

Spoiler

LIKES
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum: I use this for the niacinamide, and like it just fine. When I need to buy something, it'll be the ELF Hydrating Essence, but I'm perfectly content using any samples of this I happen to get my hands on in the mean time.

We Are Paradoxx Secret Weapon Conditioner: oops, this should have been in the true love pic! This does some magical juju on my hair that is simply amazing. Works great on my oily roots without weighing them down, and works equally well at taming my dry, frizzy ends in a way that only one other product has (FusionPlex, in the above pic)! 

Tigi Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo: perfectly fine. It works well without too much white stuff, and isn't gritty or sticky. Citrus scent that I find pleasing as well.

Herbivore Emerald Oil (gratis): more often than not, this just felt a touch heavy for me, especially in the warmer months. I set it aside to finish it off this winter, and when I pulled it back out, I discovered it had turned 😞

Burt's Bees Lip Balm (Pomegranate): basic staple I keep on hand

Commodity Mimosa: warm, sweet, comforting. Made a lovely pillow mist.

Kate Blanc Vitamin E Oil, Earthly Body Miracle Oil, Ulta Lemon Essential Oil, Perfect Formula Daily Moisture Oil: I mixed up a new batch of cuticle oil last week, and these all got dumped into the bottle with some jojoba oil.

NOPES
L'Oreal Voluminous mascara (Deep Green): the mascara itself is ok, but it's perfumed, and I'm not down with florally mascaras. Also, the green may as well be black; it's nearly impossible to tell the difference.

Burt's Bees Flavor Crystals Lip Balm (pineapple): ok as a balm, but the "flavor crystals" are just an odd addition. Gritty, but not like a scrub...just weird.

Commodity Wool: I expected something warm and comforting, but instead got a perfumey laundry detergent scent; a mix of knock-off Tide and flowers. Yuck.

Mad Hippie Hydrating Nutrient Spray: I wanted to love this, but the scent is overwhelmingly loud floral. I powered through about 90% of the bottle, but I just can't anymore.

Hask Biotin Thickening Dry Shampoo: not crunchy or stiff, as I had feared, but extremely gritty. 

Sheet masks. These are all fine; I'm finally trying to get back on track with finishing off what is a surprisingly large stash for someone that doesn't really care for sheet masks lol. No complaints about any of these.

[missjeanie]

I've always wondered about the B&B dry shampoo @RGbrown thanks for the post... I'll have to add it to my loves to try out. 

[RGbrown]

@missjeanie 

It is fantastic! Extremely low on the white-residue scale (and what is there shakes/brushes out easily), and the scent is, hmmm, how to describe it? Dry/fresh? It's not sweet or floral, just light, maybe slightly woody. It's not gritty or stiff or sticky; it gives a hint of volume while managing to stay true to the Invisible name. I'm allergic to $29 for the full size can because I go through dry shampoo relatively quickly (I use it almost every day, sigh), but I hoard every sample I can get my grubby hands on 😂

I also really like the Bumble loose dry shampoo, and I have and will continue to buy it. Aerosols are just so much easier though!

[missjeanie]

I go in phases with my dry shampoos, some months I go through tons using it every other day, and then I can also go months without using it @RGbrown .  So far the Amika is my favourite, but the Batiste is also a go to due to pricing.  I'm dark haired so I like that this one doesn't leave you a ton of white cast.  I just added it to my loves list to test out some time.  I've tried the B&B shaker style and I think that delivery method just wasn't for me.  You're bang on about aerosols being so much easier. 

[RGbrown]

@missjeanie 

Alterna has a loose powder dry shampoo that comes in a pump bottle; it's much easier to use than the Bumble shaker! Not perfect, but better. I just keep refilling it with my Bumble now lol (though the Alterna was nice too...I just happened to run across better deals on Bumble when I was re-upping my loose powder). I'm really trying to cut back on the alcohol I put in my hair, which is why I keep a loose one on hand too; I try my best to remember to alternate them each night.

[sephoraaddict918]

Nice empties @RGbrown!! I totally agree the Zoya Remove+ is the best nail polish remover I've ever used. I no longer use anything else! It's been a while since I've used the Soap & Glory Moisture Mask, but I think I liked it. Most sheet masks aren't that memorable to me, and as long as they are hydrating, I am usually satisfied.