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]

@RGbrown @itsfi I'm just at the very dregs of my G&G topcoat but I actually ordered a base and top coat from Vibrant Vinyls (which should be delivered on Monday).  I've heard really great things about both products and it doesn't hurt that you can even choose a scent to have added!  

[itsfi]

@CookieGirl1 @RGbrown I have a top coat from Vibrant Vinyls and like it. I’d say that one and the Glisten & Glow are my favorite top coats. I’ve not tried any VV base coats. It looks like I may need to pick up a base coat later in the year; will have to check out the selection at VV. Yaaay a nail haul on its way! 

[RGbrown]

@CookieGirl1 

I've got their Double Bond base coat, and while it is scented, I can't smell it once I top with polish. I'm curious to know how long the scent lasts from the top coat though...not sure that's something I'd appreciate long term, and it has stopped me from picking one up whenever they've got a scented one at PPU.

[itsfi]

@RGbrown, isn’t it interesting how we can be so set in our ways about certain things, including a top coat? 

I feel that way about Zoya nail polish remover - it’s the one!!! I’m just working through the last of the other ones that I have and then it will very literally be the only nail polish remover I’ll keep on hand. 

[RGbrown]

@itsfi 

Ahhhh, Remove+ is such a joy! That's another staple for me, though my sense of despair is setting in, and I'm wondering if they'll ever have another 70% sale. I've still got a little bit left, but it's so expensive compared to others, and I don't want to pay full price for it considering how quickly I run through it, so I found a knockoff recipe that I'm currently trying, and it's pretty good!

10 parts acetone

1 part glycerin

1.2 parts water

Glycerin won't dissolve in acetone on its own, but the water keeps them both bound together. It smells like acetone of course, but doesn't dry out my hands like plain acetone does. If/when Zoya does another nice sale, I'll probably stock up heavily on Remove+ again, but for now, this is my cheap alternative!

[itsfi]

Oh, good to have this in handy! Thank you @RGbrown. Hmmm... that very noticeable acetone smell. 👃🏼 I’ll just have to keep a nice scented hand cream around to use afterwards. That’ll help me get through some of my hand creams too! Yes!!! 😆 

Come on, Zoya!! Help us out!! I have a couple of Amazon gift cards that I may use to pick up Remove+, if I get close to running out. 

[RGbrown]

@itsfi 

Fortunately, the acetone scent dissipates pretty quickly...by the end of my mani, all I smell anymore is the polish, not the remover 😊

[itsfi]

Oh, that I could handle. I’ll give your recipe a go @RGbrown! 

[haleyvvvv]

Yay for catching up on sheet masks, @RGbrown!! Nice empties!!

[RGbrown]

@haleyvvvv 

Thanks so much! It's nice to finally be in the right decade with sheet mask expiration dates 🤣

[itsfi]

January 2021 Empties

Jan 2021 Top Shelf: These are excellent products and ones I consider to be staples and repeated repuchases.

Spoiler

When it comes to AHAs I always come back to these First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads.

Carolina Herrera Good Girl Eau de Parfum - creamy floral, both sweet and smoky that smells oh-so-good I wonder if they make this in a candle?

Peace Out Acne Dots are lifesavers, for acne and maskne.

Voluspa Vanilla Latte is a Sephora Exclusive. Who knew?! Well, we do now. This has such a beautiful (robust) espresso bean note and creamy frothy slightly sweet vanilla base. I so want this in a larger tin size.

Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask is a HG product. My skin feels so soft, smooth and nourished after this mask.

Anchor & Heart Lacquer Vitamin Sea Cuticle Oil - I received a DS as a gwp and I'm convinced this is why my nails have been growing and staying long, or had been before I ran out.

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Nightly Re.Pair Mask has quite a fan base on the masking thread. This was gifted to me by @Shosh85 and it's taken me a while to really give it a good trialing. I know, I know, why so slow? Seriously, I don't know. This is a great overnight mask. My skin looks more calm, less red the next morning. It feels soft and hydrated too.

The combo of Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Lotion and Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream is superb for dry skin. I like each of the products on their own but together they work so very nicely to leave my skin feeling supple and moisturized. The entire Ceramidin line is fabulous!

L'ancome Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara is one of my go-to mascaras. The waterproof L'ancome mascaras are all generally well loved by me.

Vitamin C has been something I've delved into over the last year and a half, maybe two years. This Farmacy Very Cherry Bright is one of my favorites.

January 2021 Premium: These are loves and repurchase worthy.

Spoiler

The Papa Recipe Bombee Pore Ampoule Honey Mask Pack is a new one to this line and like the others, is a good sheet mask for hydrating the skin. It also does a pretty nice job of making skin look and feel clear, soft and smooth. All the sheet masks in this Bombee Honey range have been a hit; this one is definitely one of the ones in the top tier of the bunch.

Voluspa Saijo Persimmon was my introduction to Voluspa candles. It was a favorite then and remains a favorite now.

Sephora Clean Skin Gel Cleanse + Tone makes a fantastic second cleanser or morning cleanser. The scent is typical of skincare products from Sephora; it's not bad but it's not great either. The product itself, however, is pretty great.

I forget how nourishing and brightening the AmorePacific Botanical Radiance Oil is until I come back to it after having been away for a while. 

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream a HG product for me. Smelling like a tropical vacation is never bad in my mind; smelling like one when in lockdown is just good for the soul. 

Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion No. 23 (Medium Beige) is a good formula for dry to very dry skin in the winter months, which at that time of the year, I could probably get away with the No. 21 shade. 

Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner and Essence Mist are two of my favorite products from the brand. Over the years, I've tried a few foils of different products and, for the most part, they've been good, though I've never really found an item that I've felt ranks up there with the essences. Well, that was until I used the Pyunkang Yul Moisture Ampoule and Pyunkang Yul Moisture Cream. My dry skin likes both of these products and I can see myself picking up full sizes of both once I make a dent in my bin of full-size skincare items.

I did not want to like the Dior Forever 24H Wear High Perfection Skin-Caring Foundation with Sunscreen, but sometimes things don't go according to plan. 😉

Voluspa Goji Tarocco Orange smells amazing!

By Wishtrend Vitamin 75 Maximizing Cream feels soothing and moisturizing; love that it brightens my complexion as well.

SNP Bio-Cell Mask Double Firming is one of the thinnest bio-cellulose masks I've ever used. I was pleasantly surprised by the firming I experienced with this one around my eyes.

The combination of honey and peptides in the Papa Recipe Bombee Pepta Ampoule Honey Mask makes for a splendid sheet mask for those whose skin, like mine, is in need of nourishment and who find anti-aging benefits a plus.

Spoiler

My skin looks and feels so clear, soft, smooth and brightened after using the Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum overnight.

There’s a reason Primera Black Seed Cold-Brew Serum is sought after. I only wish I would have tried this sample out sooner. This makes my skin plump and hydrated.

Herbivore Emerald Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Deep Moisture Glow Oil has done a lovely job of calming and reducing redness and darkness from maskne and PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation).

First, let me just say that the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream Super Lotus Night Recovery smells intoxicatingly amazing!!! I had the hardest time pinpointing the slightly fruity, slightly floral notes in this one but was mesmerized by it every time I opened the jar. It is definitely not the signature cucumber scent I often associate with Fresh. The moisturizer itself is lightweight, and a cross between a gel and a cream. It would be better suited for my skin as a moisturizer in the spring / summer months, but works well layered as an overnight mask - and, with that scent, such a pleasant way to call it a night! What I'd really like is for this to be available in a body lotion and/or candle.

Everything Else:

Spoiler

January 2021 OkayJanuary 2021 MaybeJanuary 2021 MehJanuary 2021 No

[missjeanie]

January 2021 Empties!

73 in total which I'm happy with.  My year long goal is 730 or 2 a day.  In lieu of project pan this year I'm pulling out some items at the beginning of the month from my collection depths that may be past their prime or that have completely fallen off my radar.  I'm trying to use them a few times during the month to determine if they'll be a declutter or a keep.  I had a couple keeps this month and a couple of declutters.  I'm going to keep the declutters as a part of my empties count since they're still leaving my house.  

All together

 

 

Loves

Spoiler

-I bought the BB Hairdressers oil I bought in March of 2019.  It lasted forever! I do really like both of these and will likely re-purchase at some point, however I like mixing things up so it may be a while while I try out some new things.
-Feria Conditioner.  I like the hair dye and the conditioner.  I'll keep using them to pretend that I'm not getting old.
-Nivea Cocoa Butter Body Cream was a wonderful scent and texture.  It soaked in in a normal amount of time and I'd grab it again after I use up some body lotion that I already have on hand.
- Lush Bath Bomb.  This one was Golden Wonder.  I don't really have favourites with these, I just like bath bombs that turn my tub a pretty tropical blue.  I'd buy this again.  I think I may have another already actually.
-MAC shadow in Naked Lunch.  When I finished this I went to buy another and thought I'd check out my stash of MAC to see what else I should grab.... well I already had a new one ready to go.  This will go into my back to Mac pile.

 

Likes

Spoiler

-PTR Water Cloud moisturizer and serum.  These are fine.  I like the serum more than the moisturizer.  The thing for me is that these would be more of a summer product.  They just weren't quite moisturizing enough for me in the winter.  
- Skinfood Strawberry Jam Scrub thing.  I like this.  It smells yummy.  Doesn't taste yummy.  Don't make the same mistake I did and get it in your mouth.  I do like this and if I saw one at a great deal I'd pick up, however my desire to try new things will likely outweigh that and I'd try something new instead.
-Ulta setting spray SPF 50.  Is this the best spray sunscreen out there?  No.  But does it do the job at a great price point.  I use this as a setting spray and a refresher through the day if I'm outside.  I do have another of these and will pick up more when I can get back to an Ulta, however there could be improvements on the spray mechanism it's self. 
-TCFS Pumpkin sleep mask... wish it smelled like pumpkin. 
- Shea Moisture Hair Mask sampler.  This worked wonderfully.  The scent on it was just okay though.  I need to smell/try more from the brand. I love the scent of their African Black Soap.  Need to try out more items in that scent, it's intoxicating.
-Under Eye Patches from Azure, these are pretty awesome.  They're a sheet mask material, not a biogel and are much larger than standard eye patches which I enjoy mutchly. Did they solve my dark under eyes? No.  They were nicely moisturizing though and I'd pick them up if I came across them again.

 

Okay

Spoiler

-Shower Tabs from Ulta.  I enjoy the idea of these, this scent just wasn't my favourite. 
- Drunk Elephant Tinted SPF.  This is okay if I give time for my skincare to soak in really well first, and don't use make up after.  Otherwise I get pilling.  I have a full size of the non tinted version and it does the same for me.  I'll use up what I have but I've got better sunscreens that I don't need to wait for. 
- I Dew Care Masks - These were okay, they were fun and cute, a few selfie worthy, but nothing to write home about.  I have no issue using them, they just don't offer as much as others I have.  Would be great for a teen or someone with little to no skincare issues/concerns if that makes sense. 
-Kiehls Turmeric and Cranberry Mask - This was okay, but again, I have other masks that have more brightening and radiant effects.  Glad to have tried it out, got several uses out of it and this is really the size of masks I should be buying.
-Klorane Dry Shampoo was fine, it soaked up some oil at my roots, but it wasn't as good as my favourites and didn't have a scent that I enjoyed, though it wasn't offensive. 
-All the masks... These are fine, they fit okay, but not great, and they did offer some hydration/brightening that I get from most masks.  I've been finding my mask collection overwhelming so I just grabbed some that I wanted used up and put them on my washroom counter to toss on after my shower.  I wasn't mad at these, but I am glad to have them gone and to be moving on to others.  

 

Nopes

Spoiler

-The alba body lotion was a beautiful scent when I first got it.  It's faded/changed a bit so I used it up on my legs.
-BBW lotions, were also changing in scent due to age.
-OH Scrub.  This smelled way too much like tea tree for my liking. Scrub factor was just okay.
-Leaders Masks left a film on my face.  They were hydrating/moisturising, but I'm not a fan of the film/tack on these ones.  I have more.  Will use up, but wouldn't re-purchase.
-The silver pouches were eye patches that were round in shape.  I had to cut them in half.  That seems odd to me. 
-The little round thing was representative of the Drunk Elephant A-Passioni that was a gift in a gratis package.  I was not a fan of the product, and it was in my toss pile after mostly using it up on my decollate, however my younger cousin was looking to purchase it and I passed it on to her.  She's a big fan.

 

Declutter

Spoiler

-Nozzle on the Bed Head stuff wasn't working.  That's a sign that it was time to go.  You know... along with the fact that I don't remember when I bought it or what it was really for.
-Elf face and eye palette.  I didn't even know I had this.  I believe I bought it along with a bunch of Elf stuff to try out years ago.  It clearly it was swatched then never touched again and stuck in the very back of my palette drawer never to be seen again and completely forgotten about.  I had zero motivation to even test this out this month so it's gone. 
-Little Lancome freebie palette.  I did try this out this month three or four times and it worked okay, but it felt like I was pushing myself to use it instead of the palettes I've bought that I'm really liking.  This was mediocre and so it goes.  
-Stilla smudge pot.  This is something that I used quite a bit of at one point as a navy blue gel liner.  I don't wear tons of colour on my eyes, but I can get into a blue/purple/green liner when I'm feeling fancy.  This is just too much work now since it's dried out quite a bit.  I had to add liquid to it and it just isn't the same as it once was.  I have other navy liners so she's gone.
-Urban Decay Mini in Jilted.  I didn't even use this.  It's however got a greyish film on the edges of the bullet. Super embarrassing.  It looks like bloom that forms on chocolate from the oils in the chocolate, but I'm guessing it's mould. 
-Smashbox mini in Posy Pink.  Same deal as the UD.  Unused, however it's got the same bloom/mould on it. 
-Tarte colour changing PH type lip product.  I think this was a sample, it was well used and I liked it when I used it, but I have lots of these types of products and this is old.  

[eshoe]

Wow that elf looks like a less inexpensive version of Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 28 @missjeanie. Nice work on all of your empties! Those are quite a few filler masks I spy😂

[missjeanie]

@eshoe  lol. all filler masks!  My current mind frame is to get some of the filler ones gone so I can be excited about the ones I have left.  Not too sure that actually makes sense... but we're running with it for however it long it lasts.  I made the error of counting all my sheet masks at the beginning of the year... gotta get masking lol

The elf palette really could be good.  If I'd realized I had it earlier on I would have let my nieces play with it, but it's just plain old now.  I should have done a swatch or two at least before tossing eh?

[eshoe]

Yeah, but hey-at least you cleared up a bit of room @missjeanie! 

You are doing a phenomenal job on those masks. Keep it up, and you’ll be back to restocking with masks you can actually look forward to! Lol

[Guessgal]

Aw haha I am the exact opposite of you on the Leaders masks; I like them for the tacky feeling it leaves😆 it makes me feel extra dewy. Also!! I have a UD Jilted that I checked recently that had a white coating on it too that I wasn’t sure was bloom or mould bleh. I’m not planning on using it, but as an experiment, I wiped it with some alcohol to see if it would come back. Apparently, if it’s mould it’ll reappear🤷🏼‍♀️ @missjeanie  

[missjeanie]

@Guessgal I'm finishing off the leaders masks this month and I'm kinda torn.  I do find them super moisturizing... I could probably get away without applying moisturizer after using them... and that's saying something with how dry my skin is of late.  The tackiness does go away after I put the rest of my skincare on.  I think these are a mask that I'm going to have a love/hate thing going on with lol.   Okay now I'm super interested in your UD Jilted experiment!  I know that I wasn't going to wear it either so I wasn't super upset to toss (other than realizing that I'd never worn it... ).  

[haleyvvvv]

Great empties and declutters, @missjeanie!! I feel the same about those I Dew Care masks, they're cute but definitely feel more for teenagers IMO. I really like the PTR cloud cream, so am excited to hear that the serum is also good; I'm sorry thy didn't work for winter though.

[missjeanie]

@haleyvvvv Thanks!  The serum is nice.  I could see it being great for summer.  My extra skin just needs more in the depths of the cold. Have you tried it out?

[haleyvvvv]

Ah, I use like a hydrating toner, essence, 4 serums and a facial oil, @missjeanie, so for me, it is enough as a moisturizer, even for my dry skin in Canadia winters (granted I live in a humidity area). And I generally prefer a gel moisturizer during thr day texture wise. I haven't tried the serum, but it's on my list, as well as the mist. I missed the holiday set this year with all of them, unfortunately I have too many moisturizers to buy a new one, lol.

[Samtian]

@missjeanie Wow!! Great job!