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

[Shosh85]

@itsfi 

I really do love the Shiseido brand! The only beef I have with them is that a lot of their products seem to be heavily scented.

I haven't really found a squalane oil I absolutely love. Usually when I reach for an oil it's The Ordinary Rose Hip oil or Good Light Alphabet Oil. Lately though I've been using The Ordinary Squalane oil with retinol and I wouldn't say it's life-changing, but because of the added retinol, I think I like it a bit more.

[itsfi]

July 2025 Empties

Month-To-Date = 28 (includes foil samples)

Year-To-Date = 176

Pretty good month for full-size empties, a few of which have taken a couple of years to finish. Most of July's empties were products I've used before, a lot of tried-and-trues being used up (and up for being repurchased soon-ish).

❤️  Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream Plumping & Hydrating Refillable Moisturizer has been an oft reached-for moisturizer in my nighttime routine, usually in the fall/winter. It's also one of a few that I pack when I travel - airplane air wreaks havoc on my skin, regardless of my destination.

🐐  Skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Oil Hydrating Cleanser 6 oz/ 177 mL # is trusty cleanser for when my skin struggles with dehydration and sensitivity. And, when is my skin not dealing with dehydration and sensitivity?

🐐  Sephora Collection Caffeine Eye Mask (discontinued) for making me look a lot more awake and alert than I may otherwise feel. 

🐐  Etude Sunprise Mild Airy Finish SPF 50+ PA++++ has been part of my sunscreen routine for a decade. It's undergone a reformulation which has made the white cast more prominent (and takes longer to dissipate) but this still remains a good one for me. There are some great Korean sunscreens that continue to come out but this OG continues to be one I like to have on hand.

❤️  Love the thinness of these Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Day Dots. The Inkey List currently makes my favorite hydrocolloidal pimple patches but I would happily use these. 

😐  The vanilla in the Tree Hut Foaming Gel Wash - Vanilla is too strong and leans too warm & synthetic for my liking, which is one of the reasons it took me so long to work my way through this large bottle. I found the strength of the notes in this one to work well when mixed with other body washes that I found to be too heavily scented one way or another.

👍  Homeworx by Slatkin + Co. Limoncello Cupcake & Bing Cherry Scented Candle was from Ulta Beauty World, and is a delicious smelling gourmand. The smell of cupcake, frosting and candied lemons are the most prominent and consistent. The cherry notes waft in and out, sometimes coming through very distinctly and other times, just really, subtle. 

😘  Bisyodo Makeup Brush Cleaning Wipes are lovely for travel or when I'm feeling lazy with cleaning my brushes. 

👍  These SEPHORA COLLECTION Booster Eye Mask Smooth + Peptides 1 pair / pack are pretty good for adding a little hydration and moisture to the undereye. I would use if I have them in the house but they're not replacements for my favorite SC caffeine eye masks

😘  Trader Joe's Pink Pomelo Grapefruit Hand Soap is a repeated repurchase. 

😘  Blume SuperBelly Hydration Drink Mix Powder (Strawberry Hibiscus) makes for a tasty warm weather refresher when I want something hydrating but want a little extra kick in terms of flavor.

👍  Summer Fridays Mini Jet Lag Mask + Moisturizer 1 oz / 28 g (gratis) is a good multi-tasker. I prefer using it as a hand cream or a moisturizer over a mask.

🐐  Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin™ Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream has been a long time GOAT product for me. It's a winter warrior for me and a go-to when my skin barrier is compromised. I don't know if this has undergone yet another reformulation (hoping that's not the case 🤞).

👍  Patchology FlashPatch Rejuvenating Eye Gels were huge about 5-7 years ago and I was happy to  give these a go again when I received them as a gift. For some reason, I have always experienced some slippage with these, so while they work well enough, they're not my favorite. 

 

❤️  The cucumber scent in this Dior Forever Perfect Fix Setting Spray reminds me of a spa; this setting spray does a lovely job of melting powder products for a blurred (but natural looking) finish - definitely my skin but better. The mist on this is generally good but as it nears the end, it can be temperamental. I have a backup so I won't need to repurchase.

👍  Touchland Peachy Lychee Power Essence Body & Hair Fragrance Mist Peachy Lychee has grown on me. This scent seems to perform better on my skin in more humid climates. It leans more floral than fruity as well.

❤️  Dior Vernis Huile Abricot Nail & Cuticle Cream does wonders for my nails (when combined with consistent use of it and the Dior abricot cream, the Canmake nail hardener and eating well. I like the smell on this one too, it has a peachy/apricot scent - it's subtle but it's there. 

🐐  Salux Nylon Japanese Beauty Skin Bath Wash Cloth is staples in my body care stash. Great for adding a little exfoliating to the shower routine and these are fantastic for the harder to reach areas of the back. 

More details about these foils can be found on Foil Challenge thread - the Cutex Swipe & Go Nail Polish Remover Pads and Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots are great for travel. The first time I tried a sample of the #Mizani Press Agent Smoothing Sulfate-Free Shampoo 8.5 oz/ 250 mL and Mizani Press Agent Smoothing Sulfate-Free Conditioner 8.5 oz/ 250 mL, I thought they were just 'meh' - used these again after I got back from my vacation and found these to be not bad, better than 'meh'- maybe due to my hair being more damaged/dry from the saltwater.

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

✖️ = No [This is usually given to a product that irritates my skin]

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Excellent empties! Great job on getting through the vanilla body wash! I probably would havr given up! You should be proud for pushing through and not wasting. I hope you had a great trip!

[itsfi]

@Mellmars1185, thank you. I can't say that I would keep at it, if I had to do it again. 😅 It was rough trying to get through it. I think all of the body washes I have are ones with scents I enjoy ... or, at least I hope that's the case. 😜

[lmaster]

Excellent job!!! @itsfi 

[itsfi]

@lmaster, thank you; it's been a good year so far for empties.

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  Dang! You've been busy! Nice job Fi 👍

I think you know the Dr. Jart Ceramidin is a favorite of mine as well! I've been on the hunt for a good setting spray and the Dior sounds great! Will definitely need to make note of that one 😃

[itsfi]

@Shosh85, it's reallly helped that I don't have so many different things open at one time - not only does my skin do better but I go through products more quickly, so more empties. Ha! Well, except for the ones that took me 2+ years to use up! 🤣 But that's a different story. 

Yes, yes, yes, that Dr. Jart Ceramidin is soooo good; a treasure! 💛 I'm close to finishing up a tube of AESTURA ATOBARRIER365 Cooling Hydro Soothing Gel-Cream Moisturizer with Ceramides for Skin Moisture ..., which has been good for my skin this summer. Timing will be good to break open a full size of the Dr. Jart Ceramidin. At some point this fall, I will compare it with the sample size I have of AESTURA ATOBARRIER365 Cream Moisturizer with Ceramides & Niacinamide for Skin Moisture Barrier Repai.... Will keep you posted on my little science experiment here.

[Shosh85]

@itsfi  Glad to hear your liking the Aestura! I've been interested in trying some of their products!

[Samtian]

@itsfi Whoo fantastic job! That candle sounds amazing. 

[itsfi]

@Samtian, I was a little nervous when I first read the notes on this one - I still love a good gourmand leaning fragrance but I'm a lot less into really sweet smelling scents these days. The candle hit the right notes for me in candle form. The brand put out a collection with three variations on a limoncello cupcake scent - all smell wonderful; if I'm remembering right, this one was my 2nd favorite of the three. 

[ather]

@itsfi  Wow you had an amazing month! Look at all those empties!!! I am in awe and impressed!!!! You did phenomenal!! I just bought a new cleanser. I wish I had see this first!! That’s SkinFx one sounds amazing!! 

[itsfi]

@ather, my empties stash is like a roller coaster ride - some months are high on the empties counts and others are lower. Makes sense. That shower gel and setting spray though, 2 years! Interesting, because the former is one that took a long time to finish because I didn't care for the scent anymore but the latter is a one I really liked but between rotating other setting sprays and the face that I didn't need to use too much of it, it just took a while. 

Oh, which new cleanser did you pick up?

[ather]

@itsfi  I panicked and ordered The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser Hydrating Makeup Remover  not sure why. Definitely haven’t been looking at it or heard about it. Not sure why I added to cart. I like the Oat cleansing balm not sure why I didn’t get that one. Or the Farmacy cleansing balm. I can be strange sometimes!!

[itsfi]

Maybe the squalane & hydrating aspects of the cleanser caught your eye @ather? Fall's coming which means a shift in the seasons (theoretically at least, because we've had some uncharacteristic weather worldwide, it seems) and cooler temps means drier skin and that likes the sound of squalane and hydrating. 😉 We've all made knee-jerk purchases, some of us more frequently than others 😬; it happens. I've heard good things about that cleanser; hoping it will be something your skin loves! 

[ather]

@itsfi  Oooo ok good to know you have heard good things. I am using the Rhode one alternating with #Tower 28 Beauty SOS Gentle Hydrating Gel Cleanser + Makeup Remover 5 fl oz. / 148 ml  which I absolutely adore but the packaging is driving me insane. It doesn’t pump properly for me and gets all gummed up. If I’m not a fan of the TO one maybe I’ll switch back or try the one you picked up! But I do like the aspect of it being hydrating. I think the first one I added was for oily skin and I was like noooooo that is not me. So I switched. 

[itsfi]

@ather, I just looked up what the packaging on the T28 cleanser looks like and I can see how it could be problematic. Is it one of those components where you can unscrew the top/pumping section and decant it into a different dispenser? Or is it the type where it's a single unit and you can separate the pump component from the bottle?

[ather]

@itsfi  I don’t know if I can unscrew it because it’s the one where they bottom moves up as you use it. I would be scared to unscrew it and it be super broken. Maybe when I’m done I’ll try! I guess if I had a pump bottle to put it in it might work. The cleanser is so good. I can rub it in my eyes and nothing. More to follow. I will try to see what I can do. I’m super close to finishing it! It’s also weird it was more problematic when it was more full vs now when it is almost empty. Maybe I got a lemon and should try it again!! I wish it was a normal squeeze bottle. 

[itsfi]

I think you made the right call by not trying to open it @ather; I have a couple of products that have a similar type component, not cleansers though. Love hearing that it doesn't irritate your eyes. Do you double cleanse with it or is it this enough for you?

[ather]

@itsfi  I also double cleanse my face. I like an oil cleanser or a milky cleanser then a gel one. I’ve been using The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser 5 oz/ 150 mL or I also like Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm! but there has been some nights I’m just too tired and I’ll just use the T28 and it seems to be enough! 

[itsfi]

Kudos to you @ather for going through with your skincare routine even when you're tired. There have been a few days over the past couple of weeks where I've gone to "rest my eyes" and well ... 😪😴 I did get up in the middle of the night to wash my face but not good on my part for not doing that before going to sleep. Ugh. 😐 Gonna aim for not having any more nights like that moving forward.