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 Hydrating Non-Sticky Lip Oil XOXO (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 ... 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] 

[lmaster]

Wow super impressive!! @itsfi 

[itsfi]

It looks like we all had a good year with our empties @lmaster 👍 Looking forward to seeing everyone's work this year.

[missjeanie]

@itsfi That's quite a number count!  

I remember quite enjoying the Biossance cleanser as well and had to get up and see if I still had a full one in my stash of cleansers.  I must have used it up at some point and never replaced.  Sad to see it discontinued!

[itsfi]

Yeah, I'm happy that there are more full size product @missjeanie and that I used up more than I purchased last year. I think I can do better so that's the aim for this year. We'll see. 

[Samtian]

@itsfi Amazing work!!

[itsfi]

Thank you @Samtian; just been putting my head down working through the same things, rotating a few things in and out as the seasons or months go by. 

[ather]

@itsfi  Great job!!! Is there a reason you think you have been declining in product use? Are you using more of the same type so it takes longer to get through or have you been using more full size products? 

[itsfi]

Hmmm, that’s a good question @ather  🤔 There’s probably a few factors at play - 

• Using more full sizes and a lot less foil and deluxe sizes means less number of items being used in general.
• I’m also rotating through less products in my skincare routine and not wearing as much makeup so there’s less of a pool of products at any one time that’s available to be emptied. Even though I incorporated more makeup products number wise than in years past, I didn’t use as much as I did previously - I had more days this year where I only applied a dot of foundation on parts of my cheeks as opposed to foundation all over my face.
• I also went from sheet masking as much as once a day sometimes twice a day to around 30 for the entire year.

[ather]

@itsfi  Ahhh your so smart!!! That makes perfect sense!! 

I feel your less makeup. I use to never leave the house without a full face. And in the last 4 weeks I might have had just mascara on twice. No foundation or blush or anything else. Hoping to head back to work tomorrow (another injury 😫) getting old sucks! Which I will usually wear a tinted moisturizer and blush and mascara. My eyes have been watery lately so no eyeshadow! 

That’s quite a gap between masks!! Is it more for skin reasons? Or time? 

[itsfi]

Oh no, I'm so sorry about the watery eyes @ather; been there, and completely understand about no eyeshadow or just no eye makeup. Yeah, it's a big difference. After I went through using a sheet mask once every day, sometimes twice for over a year, my skin really benefited from the extra dose of hydration. My skin still leans on the dehydrated side under the surface and sensitive to certain ingredients, gets easily flushed/pink and it became more normal, normal-to-dry (combo in the summer). It also became more sensitive to frequent sheet mask wear so I eased off of it and at some point, easing off of it became more a once in a while thing and I would use other types of masks, serums or treatments and then that gradually lead into a less is more skincare routine as a whole. It's fun to see the new wave in Kbeauty again and to see a lot of the things discussed or shared as being something we wanted to see come about but it's interesting, ironic that sheet masking is less a part of my daily skincare routine with there being even more access to it. It's another year so we'll see what it brings.

[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 

[missjeanie]

@lmaster Over 400 products!!!  That's a great usage for 2025! Sheet masks... so good for empties counts if we can remember to use them eh! Do you have a goal for 2026 yet?

[lmaster]

Thank you dearly!! @missjeanie yes I'm thinking 350 realistically 

[Samtian]

@lmaster You still did beyond amazing!

[lmaster]

Thank you so so much @Samtian