Hello, my friends! Today I’m doing my first empties post of the year. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know that I am notoriously slow at using products up. Last year, I collected all of my empties and grouped them together in two large posts. I don’t use up many products in a year, but even that was overkill for me, resulting in posts that were too long. This year, I’ve decided to split my empties into three posts instead of two, which should be more manageable. Read further to see what I’ve used up in the last 4 months! PS – sorry for how dark the photos are. The weather has not been cooperative lately!
MAKEUP
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner
This came in a Stila set that I received in a giveaway from fellow blogger Tigritsa at the beginning of last year. A few years ago, this used to be my favouorite liquid liner, and while it’s still a pretty solid choice, I have since found liners that dry down more matte and black.
Repurchase? No
Stila The Huge Extreme Mascara
This came in the same Stila set above. The mascara itself was just okay – I found it a little too heavy, which meant my lashes always wilted. I’m still grateful for the opportunity to try it, thanks to Tigritsa!
Repurchase? No
SKINCARE
Farmacy Green Clean Meltaway Cleansing Balm
After using cleansing oils for literally a decade, I discovered this cleansing balm last year and fell in love. It’s hydrating, it’s gentle, and it removes all of my makeup effectively. There are a lot more cleansing balms I would like to try eventually, but I can’t stop purchasing this one. My full review of this is here. I just repurchased this during the Sephora sale!
Repurchase? Already have!
Herbivore Pink Cloud Rosewater Moisture Creme
I purchased this at the same time as the Farmacy cleansing balm, and used it up around the same time as well. This was quite a decent moisturizer that leaves your skin with a dewy finish once applied. I have a long list of other face creams that I’m interested in testing out, but I wouldn’t be opposed to repurchasing this eventually. My review of this moisturizer is here.
Repurchase? Maybe
The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA
Alpha Arbutin is supposed to help to decrease hyperpigmentation, and while I think it did help in this regard, the effects were slow and subtle. This worked well under other skincare and makeup, but I don’t think I would repurchase it. My full review of this product is here.
Repurchase? No
The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane
I was so pumped to use this after I first bought it last year, and it lived up to the hype. This is hands down the best face oil I’ve used thus far. Squalane is meant to help with locking in moisture, and this did just that, without feeling greasy or breaking me out. I want to first try the brand’s Hemi-Squalane, but would definitely repurchase this if the Hemi-Squalane doesn’t work out. My full review of the product is here.
Repurchase? Yes
BODYCARE/HAIRCARE
Bumble & Bumble Invisible Oil UV Protection Primer
This is marketed as a heat primer, but my hairdresser uses it as a leave-in conditioner as well. This is my second bottle of this and I probably will repurchase it eventually, but I do want to use other leave-in conditioners for now.
Repurchase? Maybe
Laura Mercier Body & Bath Ambre Vanille Hand & Body Creme
I feel so fancy when I use Laura Mercier body care just because of the brand. I treated myself to a set of 4 hand creams in 2017 and have been slowly making my way through them since. The Laura Mercier creams typically smell absolutely divine, but this one is just okay – definitely nothing to write home about. I also don’t find the LM creams to be very moisturizing, which is pretty disappointing considering how pricey these are.
Repurchase? No
The Body Shop Vanilla Chai Softening Body Butter
This was a limited edition scent during Christmas 2017. I used it for a bit right after I purchased it, but I put it away after Christmas because it’s too warm and Christmassy. I brought it out again around this November to finish it. In terms of moisturizing properties, TBS body butters are some of my favourites, and I like using them year round. I wasn’t a huge fan of this scent – it’s nice and softly spicy, but I find it kind of weird as a cream. Using this made me realize that I much prefer fruity scented skincare.
Repurchase? No
The Body Shop Frosted Berries Softening Body Butter
This is also a LE holiday scent from two Christmasses ago. I started using this right after the Vanilla Chai scent was done, and finished it off in April. Like all TBS body butters, I felt like this was very moisturizing, but the scent is just okay. I like it a lot more than the Vanilla Chai, but I wasn’t in love with it.
Repurchase? No
Bath & Body Works Love & Sunshine Shea & Vitamin E Shower Gel
Like the TBS boy butters, the BBW shower gels are a staple in my body care routine. The scent of this was just okay as well. Nice and clean, but nothing memorable. In terms of performance, I always love how sudsy they are, and they make me feel squeaky clean without being drying.
Repurchase? No
Bath & Body Works Pretty as a Peach Shea & Vitamin E Shower Gel
As I mentioned before, I prefer fruity scents over florals, and in particular, I love peach scents, so this was right up my alley. It performs the same way as the Love & Sunshine and any other BBW Shower Gel, so I would definitely buy this again.
Repurchase? Yes
SAMPLES
Fresh Rose Face Mask
This is a very popular Fresh product that you’ve probably seen on social media before – an amber face mask with rose petals suspended in it. This felt nice and made my skin feel smooth after using it, but the effects weren’t long-lasting and it wasn’t anything particularly amazing.
Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask
I found the texture of this to be very strange. It has a very creamy formula but as I started to rub it into my dry, freshly cleansed skin, it would almost pill up on itself? This made my skin feel quite silky right after I washed it off, but it pretty much wore off right away. I wouldn’t buy a full size of this.
Consonant HydExtreme Hydration Boosting Serum
I have wanted to try this product ever since Stashy raved about it, so I was ecstatic when I got this as a sample from Sephora. Stashy uses this on her eyes, which is how I used it as well, and I freaking loved this – my eye area had never felt so hydrated! Since I have dry skin, I bet this would be so nice all over the face. BUT the full size is a whopping $150 CAD/30 mL, which would be used up in a heartbeat. I haven’t worked up the courage to buy this yet…maybe one day!
Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream
I used this sample briefly when I ran out of eye cream. To be honest, I can’t remember too much about it, other than it was fairly happy with how well it hydrated my eye area. I had no idea how much this eye cream cost until I looked it up for this post – $110/15 mL…what?? My holy grail Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist eye cream is expensive in my eyes, but now seems like a steal compared to this guy!
That is all for today! What products have you used up recently, and did you like it?
I also found The Body Shop’s Christmas scents to be a little weird. I don’t know why, but I remember not being a fan. Their regular line is amazing though!
One of these days I’ll have to try that Squalane oil from TO. My skincare routine can’t handle any more additions right now lol!
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I’m glad I’m not the only one, it seems like everyone loves them! They definitely smell a little weird.
Haha exactly! Too much skincare to try, too little face to use it on.
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Not bad for the first 4 months! I absolutely love the Farmacy cleansing balm! I think I have two samples that I like taking on trips because they take my makeup off easily.
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The Farmacy cleansing balm is such a good choice to take on vacation! It doesn’t take up room in your liquids bag, haha!
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I’m not usually a fan of The Body Shop’s Christmas scents but I did like Vanilla Chai, the Vanilla Marshmallow one from 2018 was so sweet and I wasn’t a fan of that one. Good job on everything you’ve finished up!
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I’m glad you loved the Vanilla Chai scent, it’s funny how personal scents can be! The Vanilla Marshmallow definitely sounds too sweet…
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Scents that are too sweet would give me a headache 🤕
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Same here! They’re just so cloying.
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The cleansing balm sounds so good! I’m going to add it to my list of things to try! Still used to be my fav liquid liner too. Which ones do you prefer these days? I haven’t used liquid liners in a while but I feel like trying out a new one! Great empties! ❤️
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I highly recommend the cleansing balm, it is SO wonderful! I’ve been using the NYX Epic Ink liner lately and really love it, and it’s only half the price of the Stila. I’ve also gotten recommendations to try the Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner, although I haven’t tried that one myself and it isn’t really a cheaper dupe of the Stila, haha!
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LOL we are on the same wave length.
I am also conducting a ‘shorter’ empties post approach because when it starts to pile up, the post itself gets long too!
Scents for body butters/lotions/creams are SO important. I haven’t use TBS body butter in years but I remember how moisturising they are!
I have the same sentiments towards The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin. It’s good when used with other skincare. On its own, it’s a bit weak.
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I think you use up a lot more than I do! From what I remember, you had many products in your empties post for January-March!
Totally agreed that products for body creams are important – if you’re gonna slather it all over you, you need to like the scent! I took a long break from the TBS body butters a while back, but now that I’ve been using them for the last two years, I don’t know why I stopped!
Glad you had the same thoughts as me with the Alpha Arbutin!
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I haven’t tried many products from the body shop but I think I should give a few a go! – Emma X | https://makeupbyemmakate.blog
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You need to! They’re so affordable, too!
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So cool, you have so many empties 😀 I only have two empties lol and that would be the Simple Skincare Micellar Water and my Vaseline Intensive Care moisturiser. I liked them both, would recommend but I’m trying out two new products in their place. I really quite like the little Laura Mercier hand creams you mentioned. I received them as a Christmas present 3 years ago. My favourite was Creme Brulee 🙂
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Haha this was over 4 months, it takes me forever to use products up too! I’ve never tried it before, but the Simple miscellar water has a cult following! OMG Crème Brulee is the most delicious smelling…I want to eat that one right out of the tube, LOL!
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Haha oh good, it isn’t just me then 😀 Yes me too it has such a great scent like a dessert for sure :))
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