2019 was the first year I participated in Project Pan where a group of my blogger colleagues and I pledged to reach our individual goals of emptying a certain number of beauty products. My original goal for 2019 was 100 products, but once I reached that in late summer or early autumn, I upped the goal to 125. I ended 2019 with 140 products emptied.
Not to be too cocky, I will set my 2020 goal at 130, 30% higher than last year’s original goal. We’ll see if I can pull it off.
Because I used up so many products during December, January is a leaner month. So I’m not off to as good a start as I had hoped. Oh well, whether I reach my goal or not, I enjoy keeping track of my empties. I hope that this year I will get rid of more expired products as well.
Here are my January empties:
- Nature Island Botanicals Caribbean Escape Coconut Body Butter: This still remains my all time favorite body lotion. The scent is divine: the tropics in a jar. And it’s natural, handmade from organic ingredients and cruelty-free. Repurchase? I had another jar waiting in my stash. I ordered replacements from Daphne at Christmas, but she is having free shipping from Feb. 1-March 15, yay!
- Koh Gen Do Organic Cotton Pads: In April, Koh Gen Do sent me a bag of 80 organic cotton pads in a plastic ziplock bag. It was a special size and form (80 pads in plastic vs. 60 pads in a cardboard box) that they released in the U.S. just for Mother’s Day. I certainly liked having more pads in an easier to store container. I’m sorry that they aren’t selling this now. But KGD organic cotton pads are light as a feather, super soft and strong. They are the best, bar none. Repurchase? I have a box of 60 KGD organic cotton pads waiting to be used. But in the meantime, I am using up the cotton pads that I bought at Muji in New York last spring, not quite as excellent, but I want to use them up first.
- Dr. Brandt Needles No More No More Baggage Eye Cream: I received this full size eye cream in one of my Ipsy boxes this past year. I know that so many women love Dr. Brandt No More Baggage, so even though under eye bags are not my issue, thank goodness, I decided to try it. The cream is an orange shade so I thought it might mask the somewhat dark circles I have under my eyes. Repurchase? No, frankly, No More Baggage isn’t the right eye cream for me. The orange cream didn’t mask my shadows, and I have other eye creams that I prefer. However, if you are a fan, you can get 35% off with the code winter35 on the Dr. Brandt website plus an additional 8% cash back via Rakuten now.
- Honestly Margo Aurora Lavender Sleep Balm: Honestly Margo is a clean beauty brand developed by a teenager and her mom. I have tried a few of their products, and I’m impressed. Aurora Lavender Sleep Balm had a calming lavender scent and came in an easy to use twist up stick. I may be weird, but I use balms on my feet at night. This one smelled terrific, and it was easy to apply. When I take my cotton socks off in the morning, my feet are very soft. Repurchase? I have another Honestly Margo Balm in a different scent that I am using now. I just checked the Honestly Margo website, and the two balms I got have been replaced with other scents, and now they are lip/body balms. The size and ingredients look to be just about the same. It’s good stuff. Check it out!
- Decleor Aromessence Neroli Hydrating Oil Serum with Essentials Oils, sample size: I really loved the Neroli fragrance of this essential oil serum, and it did a wonderful job rehydrating my super dry skin. Repurchase? If I weren’t loaded with face oils, I would definitely buy this one from Decleor. It was lightweight, very hydrating and the scent was divine.
- Molton Brown Jasmine & Sun Rose Bath & Shower Gel, sample size: I recently mentioned that I got this sample from Molton Brown when I bought the Bizarre Brandy Shower Gel that I ended up giving to Jeff. The Jasmine & Sun Rose was my “consolation prize”, lol, since Bizarre Brandy was too masculine a scent for me. Repurchase? I had been on the fence about Jasmine & Sun Rose, but over time the unusual scent grew on me. To be honest, it doesn’t smell like jasmine (thank goodness) or rose. It reminds me of the scent of St. Joseph’s Aspirin for Children that my mother gave me a zillion years ago. Not that that’s a bad thing. It’s unusual, and I kinda like it. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t buy a big bottle of it that would last me a year or so. If I have an opportunity to buy or receive a travel size, I will do it.
- Mystery brand facial sponge: I wish I could remember where I bought this facial sponge. It came in a two pack, and it was affordable. I don’t think I got it at Ulta, so I’ll look at CVS. Repurchase? I’m using the second one that came in the pack, but I threw out the outer packaging so that’s why I don’t know where I got it. I like sponges, either cellulose ones like this, or sea sponges to remove my cleanser.
- ThisWorks Morning Expert Open Eyes: I have no idea where I got this sample packet of eye serum. The packet says that it offers blue-light protection. I vaguely remember getting an email from a PR person about an eye cream with blue-light protection, but I can’t believe they would send me a single use packet to try out for review. I just checked out ThisWorks.com, and all of their products with cool names that say what they do look quite interesting. However, it’s a UK website (it’s on sale for 24 pounds), so I now think I must have gotten this as a sample along with the Molton Brown Muddled Plum stuff I bought on lookfantastic.com. Guess I never got anything from that PR person after all. Purchase? I don’t know. I like the idea of an eye serum that gives me blue light protection. On lookfantastic.com, it is on sale and has free shipping. Hmmmm.
So, in January, I used up 7 beauty products. I am not going to count the packet from ThisWorks because it was a single use. Seven products isn’t bad, but it’s not great. If I continue on that path, I won’t even reach last year’s goal of 100. 🙁
I am tossing a few products this month. Frankly, I should go through and find even more to get rid of.
- LUSH Santa Baby Lip Scrub: I adore LUSH’s limited edition Santa Baby Lip Scrub because it’s red, it has hearts in it, and it tastes like Coca Cola. So why am I tossing it, you ask? It’s 2 years old, and it is as hard as a rock. LUSH’s products are natural, and they need to be used up quickly. I often forget about lip scrubs because they actually hurt my lips. I didn’t buy a new jar of Santa Baby Lip Scrub this year even though I thought about it because I knew I wouldn’t use it often enough.
- City Cosmetics (now known as City Beauty) Total Eye Rejuvenation Serum: This eye serum is OLD because the company changed its name and packaging quite some time ago. I was all set to toss this, but I just pumped some out and it smells OK (it has no scent). So I just tried a little, and it feels so good, I will make a concerted effort to finish it up…soon…so it can become a legitimate empty.
- IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara: I bought a double pack of this mascara when it first came out because I tried a travel/sample size via either Ipsy or Sephora Play and I liked it. But I didn’t like the full size mascaras as much as I liked that sample. Now I am tossing this because it is old. I have to find the second one because that should go too.
- Beauty by POPSugar Lip Balm: I got this tinted lip balm in one of my first full size Ipsy Plus boxes. The shade was pretty. I should have worn it on days that I wasn’t doing anything special, but I tend to reach for City Lips because it keeps my lips feeling so soft. Now the balm is old, and lip balm always become grainy in my experience. Time to go.
- Beessential Honey Balm: I find it very difficult to use up stick lip balms because these days I tend to use either City Lips or Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm most often. Beessential Honey Balm was a very nice natural lip balm, but it is several years old. Its time has come.
That’s it for me this month. Please check out Renu from Cosmetopia Digest’s new empties video. She started our Project Pan group, and she uses up so much, it’s incredible!
And how about you? What have you used up that you really liked? What are you tossing?
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Thanks a bunch for the shoutout! We’ve both set 2020 targets which are slightly lower than what we actually used up last year, so we’ll definitely get there. I like the IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara a lot, but it’s all minis for me – I wonder why the full size wasn’t as good. Thanks for the warning; will stay away from the full size. I think there will be months where we use up five, or even just the two products, but overall, we’ll get there as long as there’s a regular routine, Allison, so don’t worry about the seven this month!
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I have found that some full size mascaras just aren’t as good as minis. Not sure why – too much air gets in them? IDK, but when possible, it’s minis for me too. Who can use up a full size mascara in 3 months? Not me!
I am still so happy you started the Project Pan group, even if it is mostly you and me! I was collecting and writing about my empties before, but now I make even more of a concerted effort to use things up. I am inundated with beauty products. More tossing of old and expired products for me this year!
Nice job, Allison! Such a satisfying way to close out the month!
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I definitely get a sense of accomplishment from finishing up beauty products. I hate throwing things out that I haven’t used or used up, but I must get better at that. I’m working on cleaning out my closet now. Ugh.
It’s time to cull the mascaras around here too. I’ve got a full size Dior that I should work on using up soon and a Milk Makeup Kush that is past its prime and destined for the bin. I’ll replace the Kush, but probably with a travel size next time. When I go to replace the Dior they’ll have probably discontinued it already. That happens to me quite often and it is most annoying. LOL
Other than that I used up another tub of CeraVe cream, and a Clinique face mist.
Box arrived safe and sound, sorry I wasn’t able to come round til now to say so! You are too fab, really! <3 I was super excited to see the baby Liz Earle cleanser too, I've always been curious about that one. And the setting powder went straight to the vanity since I was just wondering what I'd done with my baby KvD jar- it's gone AWOL. LM is better than KvD anyway. 🙂 Btw, did you hear she (KvD) sold the rest of her shares and left the cosmetics company?
I used to always use Diorshow Mascara, for years and years. I need to try it again. I’ve heard good things about Milk’s mascara but I have tried it yet. I’m glad you said they have a travel size. I am all for travel sizes these days. Who can use up a full size mascara in 3 or 4 months? Not me. I did just buy a full size Benefit They’re Real because with that purchase I got 2 free minis so it was worth it plus the full size was half price.
Does the Clinique face mist have sunscreen in it? I’m on the hunt for an SPF face mist, and I hope to find one by the summer. Maybe Supergoop?
I’m so glad you got the box and enjoyed the little extras. I was trying to figure out what you might like to try. Glad the Liz Earle cleanser and muslin and the setting powder were a hit!
Nah it’s just the Moisture Surge spray, so no spf. I rather like it and wish they’d come up with a way to incorporate some sunscreen in there but then I have a feeling it would wind up being a greasy mess. I’ve not found a mist spf that either A: mists properly or B: doesn’t feel a disgusting mess when I’ve got it on my face. The reviews on Supergoop’s newest version at Sephora aren’t all that positive. I don’t know if that would stop me from trying it as a product in general, but it would cause me to make sure I bought it from a retailer where I could return it if necessary. However since I didn’t like the previous version I’ll probably pass. I may venture further down the powder products route though. New reviews comment that Supergoop might have finally fixed some of the issues with the brush in their spf setting powder. Or maybe I’ll try the Kate Somerville spray. Mixed reviews there, but with previously mentioned returns policies it might be worth one more try with the mists…. Or maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment. LOL
Aha, I just received 3 mists from Derma E. Two of them smell terrific, but one not so much. The spray is not quite as fine as I would like so I usually spray them on my hands or cotton and then apply, but that defeats the hydrating during the day point of it all. I have two mists that I can use: Jurlique rose mist but it has some alcohol in it so it’s more of a toner, and Georgette Klinger Coconut Mist Spray that I use as a toner (no alcohol) or to revive makeup. I need an HA or hydrating mist that’s very fine. Is the Kate Somerville a hydrating mist or does it have SPF? I don’t mind the powder SPFs in the summer, but I never think of them in the winter – my skin is too dry. I just saw that Ulta SPF 50 Rose Setting Spray gets 4 out of 5 stars with 168 reviews. I will try to remember to look for it at Ulta next time I’m there.
The Kate I’m looking at is spf. Reviews are definitely a mixed bag. Some are “eww this is the grossest stickiest thing ever!” and some are “I can’t live without it!!!” If I try it I’ll let you know which camp I’m in, hahaha.
And I have the same issues with most hydrating mists not being fine enough. I like the Tatcha Dewy Skin mist but the nozzle on mine sometimes gets gunked up and then occasionally sprays droplets instead. Most of the time it’s Jurlique that I’ve got in my bag, but when that’s empty I’ll maybe stick with the Clinique Moisture Surge version for a while. It’s not super-fine, but so far it’s not like spitting-raindrops either. I think it *might* be okay over makeup. I’ll have to try it.
If you pick up the rose spf setting spray from Ulta let me know what you think of it!
If you are thinking about cleaning out getting rid of…… why not show us how you organize so you know what you have and can find it 🙂 I always like stealing storage ideals from people 🙂
Gloria, I’m embarrassed because I am so far behind on reviewing things. But I have written in the past about what I use for storage: https://neversaydiebeauty.com/beauty-tips/makeup-storage-tip-more-fun-with-apothecary-jars/
https://neversaydiebeauty.com/features/my-storage-solutions-for-cosmetics/
https://neversaydiebeauty.com/productspotlight/reliving-the-glamour-of-bygone-travel-with-yaheetech-cosmetics-trolley-train-case/
I need to get rid of more stuff that’s old and expired to make room for new stuff. Right now, I’m trying to do that with my clothes, shoes and bags in my closet because I’m getting new carpeting. I’ve been trying to sell some of my never and seldom worn clothes and shoes, but it is tough.
Now I’m curious about that body lotion, too!
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I’m trying again to keep track and post about it once in a while. But I’m slow using products up. I’ve tossed a lot though in January.
I’d be really curious to know which products are your repurchases, Marcia. You try so many products for review, I always wonder which are your personal faves or staples.
Damn, such a great pile of empties! I’m currently trying to work through all my mascara samples.
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