January-April Empties

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?