May 2019 Empties

I’m back this month with more empties and for the second time in a row, I have a really big set of empties. I’m pretty determined to use up a lot of my skincare, and actually just passed on a bunch of it to some friends. As hard as I try, I am just not as into skincare as I am into makeup, so I’m really trying to pare down my skincare collection a little bit. Let’s get started.

• * = gifted products

SKINCARE

Ole Henrikson Nurture Me Facial Water was a TJ Maxx buy, and it was just ok for me. It felt soothing and hydrating, but I didn’t think it was life-changing.
Wouldn’t repurchase

MAC Cleanse Off Oil is a fine cleansing oil that I like to take with me when I travel. It removes my makeup pretty well, but not quite as well as my HG DHC Cleansing Oil. I wouldn’t repurchase the full size but gladly take samples.
Wouldn’t repurchase.

Clinique Take the Day Off Eye and Lip Makeup Remover is my HG, and I go through this every couple of months.
Already repurchased.

FRÉ Skincare Purify Me Face Wash* was a really great basic cleanser with some exfoliating beads. It felt really moisturizing but also cleansed well, especially after a workout, which it was designed for.However, it wasn’t anything mind blowing, and I passed on the extra one I had to a friend because I have cleansers I love already.
Wouldn’t repurchase.

Sunday Riley Martian Mattifying Melting Water-Gel Toner was not my favorite toner at all. I honestly couldn’t get past the smell, which smells like the mixture of cumin and witch hazel (both ingredients in the toner), or something worse. I couldn’t use it consistently enough to actually tell a difference.
Wouldn’t repurchase.

Clarins Facial Lift Total V Contouring Serum used to be an oft-used product, but I’ve discovered that jade rolling and gua shas can help with the depuffing, thus removing the need for a special (and pricey) depuffing serum. I would still consider purchasing this if I were feeling spendy but I no longer consider this a must have.
Might repurchase.

Lumene Valo Glow Boost Essence* was a really gentle Vitamin C serum that I enjoyed using. I think this would be more suited for sensitive skin because it’s so gentle, but I did notice brightening effects with this and think it’s a solid drugstore option. My skin is quite hearty so I can handle stronger vitamin c serums that I prefer, but I’d buy this if I needed it in a pinch.
Might repurchase.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel was expired. I probably let it expire unintentionally after using it once and not really noticing any results. It was just a sample and I wouldn’t purchase a full size.
Wouldn’t repurchase.

Murad Pore Refining Skin Smoothing Polish was a pretty good face scrub, but I just generally don’t enjoy using face scrubs so I never use them consistently enough to notice a difference.
Wouldn’t repurchase.

Peach Slices Travel Mask is a really nice soothing mask after a long day of travel, as it was intended to be! It helps relax and revive my face after a long day of trains or cars or planes. As with most masks I don’t notice any long term effects, but it’s a good pick-me-up that isn’t too expensive.
Might repurchase.

MAKEUP

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Bourjois Healthy Mix Gel Foundation was a lovely light coverage foundation! I thought it covered enough of my spots and also wore well on my oily skin while feeling weightless. I wish it were more readily available in the states because I’d pick up another bottle.
Would repurchase.

Sephora Colorful Ink Cheek Gel did literally nothing for me. No pigment, not even a little bit.
Would not repurchase.

Anastasia Beverley Hills Clear Brow Gel is a lovely brow gel! I love the strong hold to keep my brows in place, and yes it makes them stiff, but my brow hairs aren’t so thick that it made them noticeable stiff or crunchy. I just am hesitant to pay $20 for a full size of this.
Might repurchase.

L’oreal Color Riche Extraordinaire Lip Gloss is yet another discontinued gloss that I’ve used up. These are nearly identical to the also discontinued Maybelline Color Elixir glosses I used up last month. I have a couple shades of this gloss left that I will enjoy using up as well.
Can’t repurchase.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Nail Polish in Steel-etto – oh my, does anyone still remember this polish? It was ALL the rage around 2011 and I clearly loved this shade. I used most of it until it got too thick and sticky at the bottom for me to revive. The formula of these were amazing, and the shades were on point. RIP these nail polishes.
Can’t repurchase.

I also panned another two items, but will obviously keep using them until they’re empty.

ELF Cosmetics Peachykeen blush is one of my favorite drugstore blushes. I like the barely there peachy tone and the shimmer that it gives off. These blushes are pretty powdery so it’s easy to hit pan, and once I hit pan, it’s pretty easy to use the entire blush up. I wouldn’t buy these again because I have so many blushes with a longer lasting formula, but these are a great drugstore option.
Probably won’t repurchase.

Lorac Spotlight Highlighter is a somewhat natural-buildable champagne highlighter. It’s a mini that came as a GWP, and I believe this specific one is discontinued, although Lorac has many other highlighters. I love this for work days and I keep this mini in my gym bag.
Can’t repurchase.

HAIR AND BODY

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Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo is a great dry shampoo that doesn’t leave any white cast, doesn’t dry my scalp out, but absorbs oil and wetness well. Plus, it’s super affordable. Big fan of this, especially the small travel size for my gym bag.

Already repurchased.

Federic Fekkai The One Dry Texturizing Spray was not my favorite. It was kind of sticky and didn’t do that great with texturizing.
Wouldn’t repurchase.

Schmidt’s Cedarwood and Juniper Deodorant is a pretty good natural deodorant. I use Schmidt’s because it’s so readily available and I like a lot of their scents, although this one is clearly more “masculine,” though I still used it. It’s definitely not an antiperspirant, and other natural deodorants I’ve tried have better wetness control, but I can get by with these deodorants most of the time.
Already repurchased (in a different scent)

Aesop Orange Rind Concentrate Body Balm smells divine! I love the smell and the balance of sweet and bitter of orange rinds, so naturally I loved this. I’m pleased to say the formula is also super hydrating and moisturizing for most of the year, with the exception of the winter months. The scent haunts me so I will definitely purchase a full size once I finish up more body products.
Would repurchase.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana White Perfume is one of my favorite scents! I heard these were discontinued and I have one small bottle left, but I love the florals of this scent (that I won’t even try to describe) – though it has peony and musk in it. If I could repurchase this I totally would.
Can’t repurchase…though I would.

How’s that for a round of empties? I’m glad to get rid of so many full-size products this past month and my skincare stash is definitely getting smaller. If only I could say the same about my makeup….

Did you see anything you like in here? What have you finished recently?

As always, thanks for reading.