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For me, 2022 continues to be off to a good start when it comes to using up beauty products. I am following up January’s significant number of empties with 14 more in February, 13 of the 14 I bought myself and 5 I have already repurchased. Here’s what I used up and my thoughts on whether it’s worth buying.
Bath & Body
As usual, Bath & Body is my biggest category for empties since I use it most often and on the biggest area.
Earthly Body CBD Daily Intensive Original: I like this CBD cream for muscle aches, bruises etc. In addition to hemp extract and hemp seed oil, it has vitamin E, shea butter, aloe, panthenol, and essential oils for softness and moisturizing. It has mint and eucalyptus oils that give it a minty/herbal scent and to help with muscle aches. It does take the edge off muscle aches and bruises. Repurchase? CBD Daily makes two extra strength versions (Ultimate Strength and Triple Strength), and once I use up the second jar of Intensive Original in my stash, I might buy whichever of the two is the highest strength. Right now, there’s a 25% off sale on the Earthly Body website with the code: DailyGreatDeal25
Cela Creme de la Creme The Very Best Cream: I got this full-size tube of body and hand cream in one of my Ipsy Plus bags, and I am a fan. It’s luxurious, smells deliciously sweet, and is hydrating. Repurchase? Someday. I have so many body creams and lotions that I have to use up first. But this is a lovely, pampering body cream that may just be worth the higher price tag. Although it is sold on Ulta.com, the best price is on Lovelyskin.com.
Secret Out Last Anti-Perspirant: Because I use Crystal natural deos most of the time, I buy the travel size Secret Out Last to use when I need serious odor and wetness control. I think Out Last is very effective. Repurchase? Yes, I did.
Home and Body Co. Sweet Orange Hand Soap: I bought this liquid hand soap two years ago at Costco for $9.99 in a set of 4 different fragrances. I had never heard of the brand, but I was drawn to the faux Perugia Deruta-style packaging. It’s made in California, not Italy. The sweet orange fragrance is nice but very faint. Frankly, I might have preferred the scent to be a little stronger. Nevertheless, it is good soap that cleans effectively, makes enough suds though not tons, and it is gentle. This big bottle lasted me for two years during the pandemic when I’ve been washing my hands frequently. Repurchase? I just started the second bottle (Lemon Verbena), and this box of 4 should last me another 6 years at this rate! Unfortunately, this particular set might have been a limited edition ‘coz it’s hard to find now online and I haven’t seen it at Costco.
Nature Island Botanicals Heart-Shaped Soap: Daphne made heart-shaped soaps again this year for Valentine’s Day. When I placed my annual order around the holidays, I bought one. It is made with her usual natural and organic, gentle but effective formula that’s a pleasure to use. So creamy for my dry skin. This one contained California champagne, geranium rose elemi (an extract, I’m guessing), petitgrain (an essential oil from the bitter orange tree that provides a sensation of relaxation), with rose petals on top. The only thing I could have done without were the rose petals. They flake off in the shower and are just one more thing that needs to be cleaned. Repurchase? Yes, next year when it comes back in stock. And I will probably complain about the dried rose petals again 😉
Skincare
Bioderma Hydrabio Micellar Water: I love Bioderma Hydrabio Micellar Water for makeup removal. It is so gentle, non stripping, and does a good job removing makeup as a first step in cleansing. I’ve been using this MW for at least the past 5 years. I love that you can buy it at CVS, Walgreens and Target. Repurchase? I bought this large 500 ml/16.7 fl. oz. bottle when CVS first started carrying the brand two years ago, and I got a 2 for 1 deal. So I have had a second bottle waiting in the wings that I am now using.
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream: This is the second tube of CeraVe Eye Repair Cream that I have used up in the past few months. I use it specifically on my eyelids, and sometimes I use it on my undereye area and crow’s feet when I’m not using a retinol eye gel there. It’s supposed to lighten dark circles and reduce puffiness, but I use it primarily for hydration. I think I bought it on a whim, and it turned out to be great: moisturizing, gentle, affordable, and sold at CVS. Repurchase? Yes, I did. Right now, Target appears to have the best price for it, around $10 and change, compared to the $17+ that I paid at CVS before coupons. I may pick up a spare.
Evolue Hydrating Serum: I got this pump bottle of Evolue Hydrating Serum in an Ipsy Plus bag. It’s a hyaluronic acid clear, viscous liquid with no scent. It was a good one. Its point of difference is that it is formulated with High, Low and Super Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid. High molecular weight HA delivers the most visible results and works on the skin surface, but is the most short-lived. The lower weight HAs penetrate skin better and last longer. A mix of molecular weight HAs is a good thing. Repurchase? Probably not because I have a million HA serums to use up, and it costs $68. Nevertheless, this is an excellent formula.
Makeup
Half Caked Totally Tubular Mascara, The Heights: This is one of my current favorite mascaras. The wand is straight with small plastic teeth that act as a comb to prevent clumping. The formula is primarily lengthening, but it does give me some volume as well. Repurchase? Yes, I just did, but I will wash out and save the wand as a lash comb.
Nails
Olive and June Nail Polish Remover: This is the original nail polish remover that came with my Olive and June Mani Set that I bought at the beginning of June. Though there’s still a little bit of remover left, it is discolored from reds and blues, so it’s time to go. I love the foam interior that makes it easier to remover polish as well as the foam round under the cap to use to remove polish on toes or hard to reach places on my nails. It is a non-acetone remover that works well even on glitter polish. Repurchase? Yes, I did.
Olive and June Top Coat, full size and travel size: I use O&J Top Coat often to keep my polish from chipping, and boy, does it work well! I also love the shine that it gives. The wide brush makes the thick formula easy to apply. It’s fast drying. I love everything about it! I’ve had both of these bottles since June, and though I have a little left in both bottles, the consistency has thickened considerably over the 8 months the bottles have been in use and they no longer apply evenly. Time to go! Repurchase? Yes, I did.
Fragrance
Atelier des Hors Iris Fauve (wild iris): I’ve written about this lovely powdery, iris floral in the past, and I absolutely love it. I bought this travel size before I bought a full size bottle. I love love love it. Repurchase? I’m halfway through my full size bottle, so I’m set for a while. But if you like this scent, it’s currently on sale for $148 for a full size bottle (unused tester) on Fragrancenet.com, wow. I think the department store price is $265.
Hair
Matrix Total Results Keep Me Vivid Pearl Infusion Shampoo for High-Maintenance Colors: This is the second bottle of Matrix Keep Me Vivid Shampoo that I’ve used up over the past few years. It does a decent job helping my red haircolor not wash out quite as much. Repurchase? Because I am mostly using both color-safe Olaplex Bonding Shampoo as well as Vegamour Shampoo, I’m not planning on repurchasing Keep Me Vivid now. However, I still have an after-shampoo, pre-conditioning Keep Me Vivid Spray that I still use as well as a travel set that includes the shampoo.Â
Totals
I’m pleased that I used up 14 beauty products this month (the same as last month), and a few of them I have already repurchased. My total number of beauty products used up so far in 2022 is 28, not too shabby! I have about three other beauty products that are almost empty that will appear in my March post, so I’m on my way.
How about you? Did you use up any beauty products in February? Any favorites?
My favorite post of the month! I am going to buy a tube of the Cerave eye cream, I agree with you. It’s excellent for the price. It doesn’t seem to cause milia under my eyes, either. I have an issue with heavy eye creams, unfortunately. Thank you for posting!
Thank you, Denise! In fact, I was thinking about you as I wrote it. I’m glad to hear that you’ve had good luck with the CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, too. Do you have any recent empties that we should know about?
Yes! Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Serum. I am reordering two when she has her next sale. I think I heard about this product from your site. It works well under the SPF moisturizer I use everyday and it also works well with Paula’s booster serums (?) (I use the Vitamin C and the Hyaluronic Acid). You have inspired me to start using my products! My skin looks great and my bathroom counter is cleaner:).
I am so glad that you also love PC Omega+ Complex Serum as well as the boosters. I just found my bottle recently, and there’s some left in it so I am using it up too. Great choices! I’m especially glad that you can see results from using these skincare products xoxo
What an impressive job, Allison! I am truly impressed by how many products you finished this month! As you will see from my Empties post, I didn’t do nearly as many products as I had hoped, but you will soon see why!
I’m eager to hear your full review of the product you’ve been so loyal to of late!
I get it! There’s so much stuff piling up under my sink. I need to pull everything out, use them, and then see what I need to repurchase.
Thanks for the reminder!
Tell me about it! If you saw under my sink as well as on the floor of my office, you’d realize this was the tip of the iceberg for me. But it feels good to recycle empties, so I hope you get to it as well!
I adore Bioderma Micellar Water! Isn’t it fab?
I’m a huge fan of Bioderma Micellar. I use the pink bottle and have 3 open (each bathroom and my vanity desk). I did use two up at the end of last year but it will probably take me 2 years to finish two of the ones I have open, less for one of them. I just put an eye makeup remover in recycling today. And I’ve tossed several things this week for changing consistency.