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

[itsfi]

December 2025 Empties 
Month-To-Date = 14 (including foils)
Year-To-Date = 299 (does not include decluttered products)

I'm behind on finalizing a detailed tracking of type of products and size for 2025 and may not get to it as I have some other things to turn my attention to this week/weekend, but to quickly recap this year's product use:

• 299 total products used up, 83 of which were foils - those are specifically detailed in Foil Challenge 
• I recently passed along (donated or re-homed) several products but forgot to take a photo (or do a count) before sending them off. Prior to that, however, I decluttered 12 products this year, all noted on Show Me Your Declutters! With that count, the total number of products out the door in 2025 (declutter + empties (including foils)) totaled 311.
• My empties count has gone down year over year, which makes sense as I have been moving towards more full size products and less foils, and a whole lot less sheet masks. I had 456 empties in 2023 and 425 in 2024, all exclusive of decluttered products. This year saw a significant drop from those figures - 299.
• This year, I've gone through the vast majority of (if not all of) the partially used products from 2024 and earlier so heading into the new year, I'm pretty much working with / using (or will be using) products I started using this year and in 2026. Unless I start using sheet masks every day, which is highly unlikely, my empties count for next year could see another drop. 

😘  This is my second full size bottle of Ceremonia Guava Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner that I’ve worked through. Hair feels soft and weightless, but not lifeless. I would rank it as between a Top Shelf and GOAT product for me. 

😘  Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Lip Jelly Non-Sticky Gloss  (gratis) - color looks a lot more bold in tube but applies more sheer on initial pass of the wand (but can be built up), and leaves a glossy (not sticky) shine. Spending more time using what I have in concentrated periods of time and being more mindful of what I new products I purchase (or what products I repurchase) and also when I make those purchases has helped me work through more full size products. 

❤️  LANEIGE Bouncy & Firm Plumping Lip Treatment 0.42 oz / 12 g is rich but not heavy with a gel like consistency. It goes on easily, feels nourishing and comforting and leaves my lips feeling soft, hydrated and plump the next morning.

😘  Luna Daily The Mini Everywhere Spray-to-Wipe - With Prebiotics + Vitamins C&E, Omegas 3 & 6 for Dry Skin 1.01 oz is great for on the go, after the gym when, for whatever reason, I don’t have time to get home to shower, or traveling.

😐  Maybe it was just this sample but this L'Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Anti-Breakage Hair Oil 1.7 oz / 50 ml had more of a serum or serum-to-slightly-more-viscous-than-usual-oil consistency to it. I do think it added shine and gave some new life to my color. I'm not sure my fine hair (fine strands + lots of strands) is the ideal hair type for this product though. A little does go a long way for my hair type, applied on wet, damp or dry hair but especially when used on dry hair. This I think is better suited for those with medium-to-thick hair or medium-to-thick hair strands

👍  Dr. Jart+ Cicapair™ Gentle Foam Cleanser for Sensitive Skin 5.07 oz / 150 mL - the empty is of the older, discontinued version which has been repackaged, and possibly, likely, reformulated. I used it primarily as a morning cleanser on those mornings when my skin was a little fussier than usual and red, which was often in the spring due to allergies, and this summer for some reason. This older version was fine enough but I wouldn't repurchase the old version; not sure if I will try the new formula. 

😘  I've not had the best track record with shade matching when it comes to YSL foundations in general, but this 

Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Foundation seems promising. I ended up having to mix a couple of shades from the sample card together to get a better match (which isn't uncommon) but I generally try to avoid that if possible unless I adore the formulation. This is described as a full coverage foundation and oh yes, it is definitely that!! I rarely wear full coverage foundation but this one was nice - demi matte finish that didn't leave my complexion looking flat or feeling tight or dry) and wore well all day long when set. If I find a better shade match without having to mix shades, I'd probably pick up a full size once I make more of a dent in my full and medium-to-full coverage products. 

🐐  Touchland hand sanitizer is a GOAT in terms of performance - hydrating, not sticky, and absorbs quickly. This year's new limited edition seasonal scent, Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer Gingerbread is pretty good; it took me some time to warm up to the scent. The first few spritzes seemed to give off more of an alcohol and artificial scent but after keeping with it, the cinnamon and vanilla came through, with a teensy bit of gingerbread and sugar notes sprinkled in there. I wouldn't mind if Touchland brought this back next year, with a few tweaks to make the star notes more prominent

😘  Coming as a surprise to me - a pleasant one at that - is the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Cream Blush Provence - it blends smoothly and gives a natural, healthy glow. Soft pink shades like this don't always work well on my sometimes-ruddier cheeks but Provence was lovely - soft enough to not be overwhelming, mimics a healthy flush when I apply a few layers to my cheeks. I passed on it during the holiday savings event and regretted it immediately after the sale was over, but then, Laura Mercier was one of the brands with selec items  on sale near the end of the year and I picked up a full size then. I'm saying it was meant to be. 😉

🐐  These Salux Nylon Japanese Beauty Skin Wash Cloth/Towels are excellent!!! It exfoliates and makes it easy to get to those now impossibly hard to reach spots in the middle of my back because I'm no longer as flexible as I used to be. I also love that these washcloths are reusable and can be machine-washed. 

😘  Another product from this year's Pan It! - 2025 Challenge I was able to use up was the haruharu wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream. I enjoyed this one a lot but was not as consistent with it as I would have liked to have been, as I should have been. It's one of those items that flies under the radar but you miss it (and realize what it delivered) when it's been out of the rotation. Haruharu wonder is another brand my skin responds well to (e.g., cleansing oil, cleansing gel, serums, sunscreen, and now this eye cream) and I can see myself repurchasing this one (and other products from the brand) but after I make more of a dent in my eye cream stash. 

🐐  I love, love, looooove Biossance Squalane + Elderberry Jelly Cleanser (discontinued), so, of course it's been discontinued. Le sigh. It's one of just two products in the brand's catalog of beauties that falls into that "all-time favorites" category for me. This is the one that all second cleansers I use must compete against.

😐  Bullseye's Playground Harvest Pumpkin Latte Candle - That clear mug is not just a prop for the photo but one of my empties - it was a candle and it looked and sounded promising when I purchased it. The cold throw was soft and subtle but I was able to pick up coffee and milk notes, with just a hint of pumpkin, all of which I was looking forward to. Those notes came through with the same intensity when initially lit but faded away entirely within half an hour, and unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any throw from it, cold or lit, going forward. Hoping I just picked up a dud. 😕 I have this clear mug though and am happy about that! 

EMOJI KEY

🐐= product is a GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) in its category [I have a personal requirement that before a product receive this designation, I have to have finished a minimum of two of the product (with at least one being a full size).]

❤️= Love

😘 = Like and would repurchase
👍= Like but would not repurchase (at least not immediately), usually because I like another similar product more or because I have other similar products to work through before making a purchase
😐= Lackluster = it's okay / meh, includes products that are fine enough but are not suitable for my particular skin / hair type or concerns or are just not what I prefer/gravitate towards
✖️= No [This is typically given to a product that irritates my skin] 

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Great job! Happy New Year! I like how you have been mindful for using up certain products for concentrated periods. That is something I need to work on, which can be overwhelming with my collection. How did you decide what to declutter/rehome? I am looking forward to what is to come in 2026 😊

[itsfi]

Thank you @Mellmars1185. Happy New Year!! Did you stay up to ring in the new year? 

Yeah, it took me a while (and it's still a work in progress, for sure) to figure out how to best use products and which ones to work on for shorter periods of time versus longer ones. It was definitely some trial and error for me. 

You're really good at using what you have and working through products - I'm thinking specifically of how you work through your setting powder, very impressive!!! 

Oh, for decluttering, I usually think of it as products going into 3 separate buckets or bins - (1) toss it / declutter; (2) re-home; or (3) undecided. I have a bin for (2) and (3). Things that fall into (1) need to just toss it in the garbage as soon as I decide to declutter; otherwise, the chances it stays in my collection goes up. Or, I'll empty the contents, clean out the container and then recycle the container, depending on what the actual product is.

Toss It

• It's an automatic toss if the item fails the smell or sight test or it begins to perform poorly. I don't really want to put that on myself and I certainly wouldn't want to give it to someone else to have them use it.
• I tend to keep to expiration dates or PAO (period after opening) dates when it comes to sunscreen and products for acne that includes actives in it. That said, subject to the smell/ sight/performance test, I have used skin tints containing sunscreens a little longer than the expiration / PAO date because I don't use those types of produts as my source for sunscreen. Also, I've used a sheet mask and a non-sheet mask well past their expiration dates, provided, of course, that they pass the smell/sight/performance test.

Re-home

• If the product has been gently used and in a condition that it can be re-used by someone else / is acceptablle to whomever I am passing it onto, then I'll pass it along to a local shelter, a non-profit or I'll give it to someone I know who doesn't mind that it's been slightly used. Things like body cream, shower gels, fragrances, hair care products and nail polish are things that fall in this category.
• Anything unused and unexpired that doesn't suit me or that I know I won't use - for me, this is generally, non-waterproof mascara, red lipsticks that are promo gwps, most skincare geared towards very oily skin
• WIth things in this category, I have to make sure that I actually pass the items along instead of havin it just sit in the house piling up. I haven't found a really good system for this but I've been working on trying to do donations to local shelters / charitable organizations about once a quarter. I usually have to set aside a declutter weekend and then make sure I schedule a drop off at the local shelter or Goodwill, etc. Otherwise, I'll find a bag full of stuff in the hall closet six months later - that's a very specific thing to happen and it's happened to me more than once. 😣

Undecided

• If I'm not sure whether I like a product enough to keep it in my collection - either because I haven't had another time to really use it or I haven't tried it yet or it's not the right season to put it to use or for whatever reason, I'll put it in a bin with other beauty products I'm on the fence about, with the idea that I'll go back and give it another try. I have to be really good about making sure I actually go back and give it another try and not let it sit there indefinitely, or worse yet, sit there long enough that it blows past its expriration date by the time I actually get around to trying it. 

[haleyvvvv]

I really appreciate the thoughtfulness about the quantity of the items you're finishing up @itsfi !! Fabulous job for the year and really impressed at seeing your dedication to using your collection!! 

[itsfi]

Thank you @haleyvvvv! I've been really trying to be better about my consumption of things over the last couple of years; it's not so much about the overconsumption / toxic beauty standard discussion and more about quality vs quantity for me, with quality being entirely subjective. I'm finding that I have fewer and fewer products that are just 'meh' in both the short and long term, when I'm more thoughtful about what I decide to buy and that's been great!! Also, my decluttered products now are less so because a product has expired or has gone bad, and more because I like another product (that I already have) more and I can pass along the product to someone else who can make better use of it. 

[lmaster]

December empties and declutter: 22 (406/450) I was sooooo close to my target goal this year!! If i would of used more sheet masks I probably could of pulled it off

 

 

 

 Great candles,  the skeleton one i bought from tj maxx for 7$ and totally worth it

 

Spoiler

Tarte and kvd are declutter 

 these Toner pads are fantastic 

[itsfi]

The jar on that skeleton candle is so cute @lmaster. Nice work on finishing that Laneige cica sleeping mask - there's so much product in those jars!! I love toner pads as spot treatment masks - I like the rice toner from that brand but not the toner pads; will have to take a look into them (but after I get through these other toner pads in my collection 😂🤣😂)

[haleyvvvv]

Great job, @lmaster!! Congrats on your progress for this year!! Those candles are too cute!! 

[Mellmars1185]

@lmaster Great job to finish off the year! Progress is progress in the right direction. Wow you finished off a full size Laneige mask! That is a great one. Do you use it as a sleeping mask? How did you use the ACV hair rinse? I have the same one and have yet to use it. Where did you find the rice toner pads?

[Mellmars1185]

November & December

Empties - 30

Foils - 6

Declutters - 3

2025 Roundup

Empties - 163

Foils - 73

Destashes - 43

This is my third year of keeping track of my empties. The pattern seems that I buy more than I consume. My goal for 2026 is to use more than I buy... I know this goal is attainable. I have said in the past I am going on low/no buys. I really want to stay away from purchasing new releases in 2026 and just shop my stash. If needed, I will replace already used/loved items.

 

 

^Last photo are destashes. The Cerave was nice. I would use it on no makeup days when I would go for walks. I enjoyed the scent. However, I realized it was expired. It did not lay well underneath makeup. But that could have been partially because it was expired. I tried to make the Anastasia Beverly Hills Long-Wearing Natural Volumizing Tinted Brow Gel work multiple times but the brush just made things messy. I have other brow products in my stash that deserve more attention. The Marc Jacobs fragrance gave me a headache.

 

 

[itsfi]

That's a good plan for the new year @Mellmars1185. I'm sure you'll discover and re-discovery some gems in your current collection! There'll always be new releases and many of them will be part of permanent collections so if it's something you find yourself still wanting after a couple of months or after you've made your way through part of your existing beautie, it might be something you treat to then. 

Oh no, I'm so sorry that MJ perfume gave you a headache. I experienced that with a couple of scents at the end of the year and it was definitely not a fun time. At least it was a sample vial and not a full size! 

[haleyvvvv]

Great job, @Mellmars1185 !! Definitely feel you on the use more than I bring in space!! 

[Mellmars1185]

@haleyvvvv Thank you! I feel like a new year is a good time to start a new goal. 

[lmaster]

@Mellmars1185 absolutely impressive!!

I'm on the same low buy journey,  we can do this 💪 

[Mellmars1185]

@lmaster Thank you so much! Yes, we got this 💪

[Samtian]

This year ended up being a very good year overall for me. Beat my declutters from previous years. 

2025- 119/100
2025- 86 Destashes

Love-
* Pumpkin Juice Bath Bomb by The Witch's Bath (OMG amazing! It was themed like a butterbeer from HP and it looked like I was swimming in a Budweiser foam and all. But smelled way better)
* Peace Out Acne Dots Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots  
* Spa Life Overnight Mask
* Nose Strip

Ok-
* Jollyrancher Watermelon Chapstick
* Hershey's Smores Chapstick

N.O- 
* Valentino Foundation  
* Dermologica - wrong picture

Declutter-
* 1270 Frapin Sample- Forgot to include in picture
* CT Pillowtalk Mascara  Charlotte Tilbury Mini Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara  
* Bobbi Brown Smoky Mascara 
* KVD Lovecraft
* Mary Kay Mascara
* Rare Beauty Inspire 
* GA 400( Can't Open )
* Bite Rose Pearl
* Kora FS expired ...2018!
* Kora sample also probably expired
* Burt's Bees Almond Milk ( Can't open)
* Save the Queen lotion bar ( Can't open)
* Hot Topic Eyeliner
* Bite Demi Glace

[itsfi]

You put up some spectacular numbers in 2025 @Samtian !!! 🙌🙌 Major kudos to you for decluttering more than you did than in previous years - I feel like it gets more challenging to declutter as the years go on because there's theoretically less to be decluttered so brava to you!! 

My eyes got big and I had a good chuckle when I saw the Kora FS from 2018 on your declutter list - I'm pretty sure a few of us here, myself included, are all too familiar with coming across, ummmm, vintage, yeah vintage, beauty products in our collection. For my own sanity, I stopped keeping track of those and just counted them in the general decluttered count. 🙄😂

[lmaster]

You did phenomenal!! @Samtian 

[Mellmars1185]

@Samtian @Amazing job on reaching your goals!

[haleyvvvv]

Congratulations on your totals, @Samtian !! I'm so impressed at how much you've decluttered this year, kudos to you!!