Empties - V2

[scott1201]

Seeing product empties is so satisfying 🙂

Post your weekly, monthly, quarterly, whenever-ly empties and let us know how you felt about them!

Previous Empties thread:

Spoiler

https://community.sephora.com/t5/Insiders/Empties/m-p/589003

[Cyncynn]

Here are my empties from the past 2 months or so!

 

Loves: Masque Vivant, Soulfood, Patchology

Likes/Good:Glow Recipe, Briogeo

Meh: Charcoal sheet mask broke me out, Skyn Iceland mask was dry(I wonder if it was a faulty package or something)

nn

Loves: Kiehls Calendula Deep Cleansing Face wash is amazing! Cleanses really well without leaving your skin feeling tight. I consider myself a cleanser connoisseur and would highly recommend this.

Really liked: It Cosmetics confidence in a cleanser feels lovely and creamy on the skin. My skin felt really soft and there was no residue or film left after washing it off. Only downside was the citrus peel oil or something similar on the formula. On days my skin was irritated from retinol I felt a slight burn. Glow recipe cleanser was gentle and pleasant to use, this was great as a second cleanse after a balm or oil. I wouldn't use it on the mornings, because it made my skin a smidge tight.

Good: Glossier cleanser and YTTP cleanser. Good for second cleanse, but a bit drying to use in the mornings.

Meh: Omorovicza cleansing balm (you absolutely need a flannel for this and even after a flannel I could feel a film on my skin) and Estee Lauder cleanser. Terribly expensive for what they do.

Bad: I am not a cetaphil person (cerave has better and more expensive formulas)

Beyond Bad: The SKII was the most horrid product I've ever used on my skin. My skin felt so dry it was painful.

       

Loves: Juliette Has a Gun Not a perfume, Essence nail polish drying drops, ABH brow wiz, Mac mascara (I love the wand on this one!)

Good/average: Tarte radiant setting spray, murad eye cream, Klorane body wash (moisturizing, but scent was basic), Alterna hairspray, Sturm HA serum(very good, but not worth $300 for FS), Caudalie cream

Bad: Pretty Vulgar (From influenster, the worst mascara I've used in a long time), Trestique eyeshadow stick (crumbles and uneven)

[l8totheparty]

Nice run-down/ review! @Cyncynn 

[WinglessOne]

A small batch of empties from July and early August. I’m trying to use some of my kabillion samples, or at least the ones I’m sure are safe for my skin. 

Loves: 

Spoiler

Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Triple Correction Eye Serum: I’ve already repurchased it and moved it to an airless vacuum pump bottle (which wasn’t easy, thanks to the shape of the DDG bottle) because it’s very hard to use up all this serum once the level’s lower than its original bottle’s pump tube. This serum’s worth the trouble, though. I rave about it all the time. ❤️ 

MAC Satin Lipstick in the shade Carnal: I love this blue-toned blood red shade and wish it wasn’t discontinued. I save all my MAC empties for their recycling program (and okay, for free lipsticks); this reminds me to take my latest batch to my local MAC store or counter. Meanwhile, I’ve opened my last backup tube of Carnal. 😞 MAC, y u always kill ur best stuff? 😭 

Skinfix Eczema Hand Repair Cream: This is the tube I received as gratis from Sephora. I’ve already repurchased it and will likely go through multiple tubes this winter. 😄 My hands don’t have eczema but they are quite dry, and this cream is the best moisturizer I’ve ever used on them. I’ve been trying not to use it daily but that’ll definitely change once temperatures drop below freezing. 

Sephora Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes: I travel with these instead of micellar water. At home, I use them to remove makeup swatches or custom blends done on my hand. They’re effective for anything but mascara and waterproof makeup. They smell good. And they don’t irritate my skin at all. It’s almost time for me to restock these. 

Nopes: 

Spoiler

Tarte Babassu Foundcealer samples: My skin tones are the same as a foundation-wearing friend’s, so I tested 2 shades of this foundation on myself (one on each half of my face) to see if I should recommend either of them to her. I shouldn’t. Both shades were ashy on me, even though they had different undertones. And this stuff felt very heavy on my skin. 

Philosophy Purity Made Simple: This was my first time trying this cleanser. I used it right after the Bobbi Brown oil cleanser sample. It’s very creamy and smells weirdly medicinal. Irritated my eyes a lot. Removed the rest of the Tarte foundation without stripping my skin or causing any dryness, but a slightly tingly reaction of chicken bumps began to form on my cheeks—and that reaction’s usually followed by dry patches. 😡 I quickly added my beloved e.l.f. essence and a cold compress to calm that reaction down. 

Ulta Premium Pillow Cotton Pads: Yet another pack of cotton pads/rounds I’ve replaced with reusable bamboo/cotton rounds. Took me about a year to finish these. I didn’t like them for skincare use, but they’re kinda nice for cleaning wounds like the badly skinned knee I had last year. I won’t repurchase them, though. 

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Body Lotion: I tried this years ago but couldn’t remember what I didn’t like about it. It’s not terrible—it’s quite moisturizing—but it strongly smells too much like suntan lotion meets Jergens original lotion. And I don’t like how my hands felt after I applied this; not greasy at all, not bone dry, but kinda... suede-ish? Definitely not the feeling I prefer. 

Paula’s Choice Gentle Cleansing Cloths: These are too gentle. 😄 They can remove powder blush but struggle a bit with eyeshadow swatches. Removing cream/liquid makeup requires more aggressive rubbing than it should. I still have a few single packs of these wipes (more GWP from PC); I might use them for post-workout wipe downs. But they’re ineffective as makeup wipes. 

Neutral, won’t purchase: 

Spoiler

Bobbi Brown Oil Cleanser: Effectively broke up and removed most of the Tarte foundation. I also have a DS bottle I might use from time to time. But I have no need to buy a full size. I’d rather use micellar water than a cleansing oil as my makeup remover.  

[2manyperfumes]

Wow great empties and you’ve kept track of what you really liked and stuff that don’t @WinglessOne  - you are always organized and thorough 🥰

[CookieGirl1]

I made it through a *few* larger products this month which felt good.  There were only a couple of things that were truly duds for me and the rest were either so-so or definite "loves":

I enjoyed both of the sunless tanners but I don't use either of them for my base tan; they're both products that I used more as "tan extenders" because each has more moisturizing properties and since both give fairly gradual results I liked them best when I used them to keep my faux tan looking fresh. *I don't think that the St. Tropez Watermelon one smelled super watermelon-y but it didn't have the typical self-tan smell either. The Banana Bundt Cake candle is a fav (and I majorly stocked up on them during the recent Bath & Body Works sale) and I love both the Batiste Volumizing dry shampoo and the UD All-Nighter. The nail polish remover was average and I totally forgot that I even had the acne cleansing pads until I dug them out of a cupboard and used up the last couple that were in the container.Loved them ALL with the exception of the Kiehls Nightly Refining Micro Peel which didn't seem to do anything for me (and don't be fooled by its small size because it lasted a long time) and it felt really sticky on my skin. Everything else was great!Nothing special here. Just my attempt at using up a few foils/samples.

[RebeccaBT]

@CookieGirl1 Great job! 

Best,

Rebecca

[jen81]

Likes- All we just ok.i have another volition sample which I will try out. 

[RebeccaBT]

@jen81 Great job! 

Best,

Rebecca

[CookieGirl1]

I don't feel like I made it through very much this month; it's like I'm on the brink of finishing up several things and this month just didn't push them over the edge.

I'm just decluttering this. I used it a couple of times and I think it's one of the most pathetic excuses for a "detox mask" that I've ever used.These were just OK with the exception of the Elemis Superfood; it was actually awful. It smelled like a slug that crawled into a smelly sock and died. It definitely didn't belong on my face.The "happy empties". And can we all appreciate that after TWO YEARS I finally made it through a Butter Bronzer?!

[itsfi]

Wow @CookieGirl1, good job on the Butter Bronzer! Feels good to get through a product. That Elemis item sounds ... ewwww! But your description had me cracking up. Sounds like there will be more empties to come this month.

[Weetart]

YASGood. Would purchase.Eh, not for me.Nope

The super winner of everything was the Hale & Hush Quiet Wash sample. O M G. Best face wash ever. My face was baby soft and had zero irritation after using it. I'm considering giving away my stock of face wash so I can just use this one. Unfortunately it's one of those things that is insanely expensive and I can only buy it from my local rep around these parts.

[itsfi]

Look at all those sheet masks you used up! Good job @Weetart! 

[SnugglePuggle94]

My recent empties since my last post on here, which has been awhile lol! I did more work on my samples! Belif Aqua Bomb- this is my second bottle. Although it’s not my HG, it’s still a nice lightweight moisturizer especially in the summer. Tatcha Camellia Cleansing Oil- love! Great for removing makeup and leave my skin without feeling stripped. Doesn’t sting the eyes but does leave blurry vision for a few seconds. Already got the full size. Amorepacific treatment cleansing foam- really like it! I used it on my jaw line primarily where I get acne and it did great in preventing breakouts and my skin felt pretty good and smooth. Would repurchase! Tatcha blotting papers- only ones I’ve ever purchased, I’ve gone through four or five of these now. Definitely a HG! Blots my oils without removing my makeup. Briogeo shampoo and conditioner samples- I didn’t see much volume effect but my hair felt good and smelled amazing. Maybe if they had this in a hydrating formula I would buy the full size. Caudalie serum- didn’t see much effect with just one use but I think my pores looked a little smaller than usual. FAB cleanser- Dislike! My skin felt way too tight after trying that. Briogeo mask- didn’t see much effect but I’m not sure I used the right amount through my hair because the sample is so small. Flower Fusion mask- dislike! I had a reaction to this one so never buying again. Sephora cotton rounds are my jam! So much softer than my grocery store and do a great job for toner and removing eye makeup. Saturday Skin mask- didn’t see much in terms of “radiance” as it says it should do but my skin didn’t react so that was nice. Maybe might repurchase. Overall a nice set of empties and I can’t wait to use more!

[itsfi]

Love those Tatcha and AmorePacific products @SnugglePuggle94! They're so nice!

[sonnydee]

April empties (yes, I know its june 😂) not many empties, my skin freaked out in the middle of the month so I had to take it easy...only one dislike. Benefit eye makeup remover. it burned my eyes! secret key mask was pretty good but it has alcohol in the first few ingredients so, not hunting it down but would use again if I got it in a sub. all others are hg or likes.

[lmaster]

more awesome empties! @sonnydee

[angelKiss24]

The only one I love out of this bunch is the CO Bigalow Rose Salve - an absolute lip saver for me...if I don't have it on before I go to bed or first thing in the morning, I get a little panicky. 😅 • The sunscreens didn't work for me, the Biore blue and pink bottles are drying my skin out due to the alcohol. This was my last blue bottle, but I have 2 more of the pink... think I might just toss those. And finally, a Shiseido product that I dislike very much, the Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion. It leaves a HORRIBLEwhite layer - not even a cast - A LAYER of white on my face!! I tried to make it work...I massaged it in, I patted it in relentlessly, I triedgiving it time to sink in. Nothing worked. Switching back to what I knowand love and saying sayonara to these. • Everything else was just mehhh.2nd empty bottle of TLC, didn't work wonders, I'm moving on. The Rosette cleansing oil, Aesop shampoo, L'Occitane velvet serum, Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip and Quai Treatment Mask all worked as intended but I found no pleasure in using any of them.

[lmaster]

excellent job @angelKiss24

[blackkitty2014]

These are my empties during Jan, Feb and Mar 2021

[samkeaysxo]

 this is 2 months of empties, September and October. I really haven’t been using too much lately, especially makeup products as I’m barely wearing makeup since of constant mask wearing. Anyway, here are my empties: 

loved: both Bath & Body Works candles, 2 favs for sure. The sanitizer, and also the c.o. bigelow lip balm which are from Bath & Body Works too. The balm is thick but not sticky or goopy. I wore it at night and also through the day. Already repurchased. VS Pink body spray was sweet and light, I usually layered this with a perfume and always liked the combination. Stila liquid eyeshadow, I adore these! They’re so pigmented and sparkly, but they dry out sooo quick. MILK Kush mascara, one of my top 2 mascaras. Very lengthening and dark, doesn’t smudge on my oily lids either. Already have 2 back ups. 

meh: Tatcha mask, it was nice, but it was a brightening mask and I prefer deep cleansing/purifying or oil control, this was obviously a sample, but I wouldn’t purchase. Benefit Boi-ing concealer; just too orange toned. Their shade range is not the best. It is good coverage but too orange. Wouldn’t repurchase. Lise Watier blending sponge, it was a little stiff, not awful but I prefer real techniques or beauty blender for sure. Probably wouldn’t repurchase unless it was on sale for a good price. Polish’d makeup removing wipes, removed my makeup enough to follow up with a cleanser, but there are other brands I prefer. Wouldn’t bother repurchasing. 

Hated: Tarte Knockout toner, it smells like alchol and dried out my skin. I didn’t even use the whole thing, I used it for about 4-5 weeks and then dumped the rest. 

[sephoraaddict918]

August Empties (Makeup)

Makeup Empties / Declutters

Spoiler

BareMinerals All Over Face Color (Clear Radiance)

Results - I can’t really tell what this powder wants to do. I just mixed it in with my Maybelline FitMe Powder to give it a little sparkle. Aroma - None Texture - Finely milled and sparkly Expense - $22 0.05 oz; I have no use for this product. 

CoverFX Perfect Setting Powder 

Results - Sets concealer without flashback Aroma - None Texture - Softly milled  Expense - $35 0.35 oz; I’m still on the fence about this powder. I bought a kit that includes a mini size for my CoverFX review, but I wouldn’t buy the full size based on my recent experience.

NYX Professional Makeup Tinted Brow Mascara (Black)

Results - I use this to get my overgrown brows as tame as possible. It seemed to get the job done well enough. Aroma - None Texture - Drier Pigment Expense - $7.50 0.22 oz; I wasn’t wowed by this, and it seems like it was dried out already when I got it. I will at least try it one more time before I dismiss it completely.

Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur

Results - I didn’t notice much blurring, but I like how smooth the primer feels on the skin Aroma - Didn’t notice any scent Texture - Straight Silicone Expense - $37 1.0 oz; This primer is just a’ight to me, so I’m not running to purchase a full size.

Smashbox Photo Finish Vitamin Glow Primer

Results - Skin feels moisturized and slightly glowy Aroma - Citrusy Texture - Light and creamy Expense - $39 1.0 oz; I would buy the full size version of the primer during a sale. 

Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Super Volume Mascara

Results - Lashes that are neither thick or super volumized with a quickness. Aroma - Didn’t notice anything Texture - On the drier side Expense - I got this on super discount because S&G makeup was being discontinued at my Ulta. I think I paid less than $5 for it, but I wouldn’t repurchase.

Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow (Cloud/Kitten)

Results - Eyelids that shim shimmer to the gods! Aroma - Nothing noticeable Texture - Creamy; but the mini sizes seem to dry out very quickly. Expense - $24 0.153 oz; I got these in a holiday gift set. Out of the two, I would probably purchase a full size of Cloud because the color is more unique than Kitten.

Ulta Beauty Bloom Blush

Results - Nothing; This blush is not made for people who would fail the paper bag test. Aroma - Nothing noticeable Texture - Dry and powdery Expense - $0; This was part of a gift set, so I don’t feel guilty about decluttering it.

Ulta Beauty Bloom Eyeshadow Palette

Results - Ashy lids because this palette looks pretty in the pan, but it’s not made for us melanated beauties. Aroma - Didn’t notice any scent Texture - Powdery Expense - $0; This was part of a gift set. Now, it has been decluttered because it doesn’t bring me joy.