More skincare empties this month, of course! I wear makeup just about every day so why don’t I use it up, lol! Clearly I have too much of it 🙄
Here’s what I used up and whether it worth buying again.
- Obey Your Body Hand & Body Lotion Pump in scent La Femme: Quite a while ago, meaning over a year, I allowed myself to be accosted by one of the Israeli guys in a pushcart at the mall selling Obey Your Body, an Israeli Dead Sea Minerals skincare line. In addition to leaving with a handful of skincare samples, I let myself be talked into buying a pump bottle of the body lotion. Truth be told, I loooooove the scent of this lightweight, non-greasy, silky lotion, La Femme. I have no idea how to describe the fragrance because it’s a strange scent. You will definitely think I’ve lost my mind if I say it smells sort of like St. Joseph Aspirin for Children but, trust me, it’s a good smell. I would like to buy more of it for the scent alone, but it’s out-of-stock and they don’t have any contact info other than a phone number. I may try calling but I think they probably discontinued the scent and replaced it with Ocean and Kiwi. Since I’d be buying this lotion primarily for the scent, I don’t want to try the new ones. On sale for $28 with free shipping.
- Coui Super C Vitamin C Serum: This is about the third bottle of Coui Super C Vitamin C that I have finished. It’s one of my absolute favorite C serums. It’s not too thin and not too thick. It has almost no scent, but if I had to describe it, I’d say faint citrus maybe. It helps brighten my skin and has helped fade my sun damage (though I still have some dark spots but they’re less visible). It contains a lot of good stuff: Vitamin C + Hydrolyzed Collagen + Marine Kelp + Hyaluronic acid + EGF + antioxidants. It’s priced at $28.95 on Amazon. I already have another bottle of Coui Super C waiting in the wings.
- CVS Biotin 5000 mcg capsules: I am a true believer in biotin. It is the only thing that really keeps my nails from peeling, cracking and breaking. It took a long time for biotin to start working (like more than 3 months), but once it started to work it doesn’t stop. I take at least 5000 mcg/day. I bought these capsules at CVS. I started with little biotin pills from Appearex that really were overpriced and didn’t have enough biotin in them. They were discontinued, and it’s probably a good thing. I don’t know if it matters what brand you take as long as it is legitimate. I’ve heard some scary things lately about private label supplements so I hope these capsules from CVS are the real deal. I bought this during a BOGO so I have another one on hand.
- Castelbel Laranja (Orange) Soap from Portugal: For some women, bar soap is out of fashion. Not so for me. I love me a good bar soap, especially one that smells good. When Jeff and I went to visit his daughter who was studying in Seville Spain a couple of years ago, we stopped on the way in Lisbon for 24 hours and tried to see and do as much as possible in that short time. On our way back to the hotel after visiting the Alcazar, I popped into a store and I bought a few gorgeous bars of triple-milled, fragranced soap to give as gifts and to keep for myself. Portugal is known for their soap. The orange soap was smelled fabulous and it lasted in my shower for several months. I have another one of a different scent waiting for me. Castelbel soaps are sold in gift shops and on Amazon for about $12-13.
- Rodan + Fields Redefine Moisturizer AM & PM (part of the Redefine kit): I received these two deluxe sample size jars for review back in January. It was my first foray into Rodan + Fields product line, and I must admit I liked them a lot. If I were not trying out another brand, I would consider repurchasing them. They were especially perfect for winter, very hydrating.
- NeoStrata Skin Active Intensive Eye Therapy: I received this terrific eye treatment gel for review. It is formulated to stimulate the production of collagen to help minimize the look of crow’s feet, deflate under eye puffiness, and help build and plump the eye area. About the only problem I don’t have is under eye puffiness, so I used this treatment on my crow’s feet and on the loose skin above my crease. I’ve been using the deluxe sample size (about 2/3 of the regular size pump) for about 2 months. I do not expect anything to turn back the hands of time for me. But it did soften the look of my crow’s feet and it helped contour my eye area. I will either purchase this product, or try the Exuviance Age Reverse Eye Contour that is specifically made for my key eye concern. Price $82 for full size of the NeoStrata Eye Therapy, 0.5 oz. but it seems to be on sale for $42 through the link above or in the widget below
So have you tried any of these products? What did you finish up last month?
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I just started taking biotin, mainly for my hair, because I’m shedding like a dog 🙁 Fingers crossed that it helps. The only problem is that supplements are soooo hard to find here. You can’t find them in store. You can only order online. At insane price points of course.
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Melissa, it took well over 3 month, probably more like 6 months for biotin to begin to work for me. I don’t think I was taking a high enough dosage when I first started. But once it started working, it’s done a great job for my nails and hair. Sorry that it’s so expensive for you in Europe. Here, it’s very affordable. Next time you visit the US, you’ll have to bring back a bunch!
I take at least 3 or more baths a week and I only use bar soap then. I use to have quite a collection of different scents/brands but I slowly worked my way through them. I have to agree with you there is nothing like a good bar of beautifully scented soap.
I cannot use biotin since it breaks me out like a teenager. I sure wish I could though.
After reading your review of Coui awhile ago I purchased a bottle that I am still currently using. I do not use it every day but even so I purchased another bottle b/c like you I enjoyed the formula and the code that you provided was still good. I do not understand why but if I use it every day I get breakouts. I know Vit. C products can do that to some people. I can tell a difference just using it a few times a week though.
Some months I empty products like no tomorrow. Other months not so much. I swear some of my stuff keeps refilling its self. ha ha
I’m glad to hear that you’re a soap lover, Laura. I’ll remember that when my friend, Daphne, comes to Gloucester in July for the Waterfront Craft Festival with her handmade soaps (I hope she’s coming back!). I am sorry that both biotin and vitamin C serum break you out, but I’m glad you found a way to use the vitamin C serum judiciously that is tolerable for you and that still is effective. And I appreciate you sharing your experiences and information about different products here because what works for me doesn’t necessary work or work the same way for someone else!
That Vit. C serum sure is a workhorse. I cannot even imagine how much brighter my complexion would be if I could use it every day. Thank you for for all your reviews but for that one especially. 🙂
Oh and on the subject of weeding. I got Brian to pull some weeds for me a few days ago since I break out in random hives for no good reason. I specifically pointed out what needed pulled. Well when I went out today to water my one patch left that gets slight sun most of my perennials were gone. lol but grrrr too.
Oh no, Laura! That is so unfair. The other evening, I went out onto my deck and I saw a big rabbit sitting in the middle of the lawn in the backyard. I know my gardens are his salad bowl. He was quite undisturbed by my presence till I got almost right up to him. Do you have rabbits? Or is it just the lack of sunshine. I’ve been working on my hosta garden and I put in another smaller hosta garden after dividing a big hosta into 7 plants. I’ll post some pix of it soon but it’ll take some time to look like what it’s supposed to
My nemesis are squirrels…two in particular. They are buddies and share a nest together in a big maple tree on the side of the house. They are enjoying my birdbath to drink from, mulberry bush to eat from as well as digging up my plants and then leaving them to die. I guess it does not help that I leave walnuts out for them. My husband had a pet squirrel that he rescued before we met. Its eyes were not even opened yet. He fed it with a dropper. The mother had died. Anyway Brian goes out and chirps to them. He can mimic a squirrel pretty well. lol
The only garden area I baby is the one that my husband reeked havoc on worse than any squirrel or rabbit could. lol When I feel better I might do more next summer.
I am sure that rabbit cannot believe his find. I know even one can do some damage and quickly too. I know this sounds gross but maybe if you bought some fox or coyote urine it would scare him away.
Good idea, Laura! We have foxes and coyotes in the ‘hood. Maybe one will pass thru my yard and do the deed for me, lol. Squirrels can be pretty darn cute (like bunnies) and they’re hard to discipline. The morning after I put in the new hosta bed, one was in there digging away hiding acorns!
I need to be more diligent with taking biotin as I have the peeling nail issue. Really, I keep the biotin on the counter so I see it – and I still forget to take it .. lol.
Monica.
It sounds like you don’t have to take any other pills, Monica. Unfortunately, I have high cholesterol that I inherited from everyone in my family, so I take my biotin and also omega-3 for my eyes at night when I take my cholesterol meds.
Oh, there’s more … thyroid meds .. (now this I don’t forget) .. plus a whole host of vitamins .. Vit D, calcium .. similar to you omega-3 (fish oil) etc. I can’t take them all at once or I feel nauseated, so I have to take one pill here with a meal, one or two with a snack .. and I usually forget to take the biotin .. lol.
Monica.
Oh, boo! I guess I’m lucky that I can get it all over with at once.
Yes, I too seem to only have skin care empties. lol (Far too many make-up choices!) I so remember the smell of the children’s aspirin. It’s not bad at all. I’ve never heard of biotin for nail growth. I’ll have to check it out! 🙂
Natalie, biotin has really saved my (menopausal) nails. At first, I don’t think I was taking a high enough dosage but with 5000mcg/day, it makes a huge difference for me. My nails used to split vertically and now they have healed and are fine. Yes, too much makeup = only skincare empties!
What a fabulous list of empties! I’m still slacking and haven’t posted mine yet, but I don’t really have that many.
Some months I have a lot of empties, and other months, none. Seldom any used up makeup, unfortunately!
Very impressive job on your empties, Allison! I can’t believe that you were able to finish up all of those full size Rodan + Fields products!
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Helen, I don’t think the R+F moisturizers were exactly full size. They came as part of the Redefine kit, and I think they’re a special size just for that…although I’m not sure that they can be purchased separately.
You are killing it with your empties, I need to finish up products and stop moving on to something else. I need more makeup empties and less hair heheh
I have so much stuff, I practically have to move to a bigger house, lol, so I’ve gotta get through more products and recycle them! Surprisingly, I don’t go thru hair products that fast probably because I only wash my hair every 4 days to keep the red color in
Wonderful empties! I took biotin once and broke out badly, so I can’t have it. 🙁 I can’t have awesomely thick hair, but it IS waist-length… so I guess it’s alright. My empties are usually skincare, as well. 🙂
A friend commented on this post earlier today that she too breaks out from biotin. I wasn’t aware that some people have that reaction. I’m glad you get along just fine without it!
I haven’t tried any of these products. I emptied some travel size products last month, but since I don’t keep my empties then I can’t even remember which ones 😀
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I’d never remember either, Leelo, unless I kept them. In fact, I’ve got 6 months worth from last year that I’ve got to do a post on so I can recycle them all.
Your biotin pills are many many more mg than mine! Guess I should get a different bottle! I have had weak nails my whole life so I’m trying to take biotin everyday and see if it helps.
Tess, until I upped the dosage biotin didn’t do much for me, and now it works so well. But if you’re having success with what you’re taking, stick with it!
I used to take biotin and vit d regularly…I’ve dropped the ball even on my prenatals. Gotta get back into the vitamin routine!
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It can be hard to remember to take ’em but worth it if you can get into a routine 🙂
Most of my empties are skincare too. I probably just use more of it in general (skincare routine morning AND evening) and I don’t tend to switch out products daily like I do with my makeup options. Even if I would get the same number of daily uses from skincare product X and makeup pot Y, I probably wouldn’t use Y each and every day, but would still continue to use X.
I do have a nearly empty bottle of foundation though! Ooooooo progress! hahahahaha
There are maybe two or three more uses in my current serum (replacement just arrived in the mail but I’m determined to figure out how to get the last bit out of that darn bottle!) and I recently cut open an “empty” tube of Jack Black lip balm figuring I could get another couple applications, only to realise there was a TON still in there. I had squeezed and rolled and folded the tube into a right mess so the amount remaining was quite a shock. I scraped it out and put it in an empty mini pot I had sitting around.
Same reasoning as me, Rach. Just more makeup to choose from. Glad you opened that Jack Black tube coz that stuff is gold and it’s very pricey! I have the same issue with serum, but mine are mostly bottles with droppers so I just turn ’em upside down and use my hands for the final bits. What form is yours in?
Plastic bottle with pump. The top portion of the bottle around the neck is flat (and the serum is on the thicker side) so when I turn the bottle over the tiny amount left just slides down the side and sits on that flat shoulder the the same way it’s sitting on the bottom now. :/
I think I’m gonna have a go at it with a clean lip brush.
Jack Black is definitely gold. Pricey but I really do like it!
Oh, I can visualize it now. Bummer. Good luck with that! I agree on the Jack Black, but I’ve been cheating on him lately with City Lips Clear Lip Plumper w Collagen & HA and also with Lindi Skincare Lip Hydrator. But I have 2 JB tubes at the ready 😉
Poor Jack, lol. You’re gonna make him jealous. 😉
Hahaha. I hope not. He’ll go in my beach bag!
Of all the things I’ve tried, it’s the biotin! lol I haven’t taken it in months but plan to after baby. I love empties posts, I love peeking at what other beauty addicts are using up and loving/passing on a second time. Thanks for sharing!
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I’m sure during pregnancy your nails are looking great, Judy. But consider it for after the baby is born in case your hair needs a post partum boost! I like empties posts too, like you said, an easy way to find new things to try or pass on.
I love seeing empties posts!
They’re among my favorites too. Quick review, buy or no buy and out!
You always have so many empties! I had one little Dermalogica sample I went through and I was so excited lol
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That’s so funny, Brooke. Yeah, I did OK again in May. June will be a different story 😉
I like the Redefine line too, particularly the PM moisturizer and face mask/wash
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It was an especially good winter line for me although the grains in the mask/wash were a bit too much for me to use all the time. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it.
I so enjoy reading about bloggers’ empties.
You have reminded me that I need to get Biotin back into my vitamin regime.
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Me too!
Great empties, girl. I need to do mine. But I feel that they would be too boring. lol
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I don’t find any empties posts boring. I love to read about what other people use and how they felt about ’em. Do it!
I’ve been trying to save empties forever and the pile barely grows. I didn’t think to put in the box from my Viviscal Hair vitamins but I will now. I don’t think that the Rodan and Field were deluxe samples – they are full size I’m sure.
Oh, those moisturizers were full size? Since the jars were so much smaller than my other moisturizers, I thought they were something between a sample and a full size. I also thought you could buy them individually, but they only come as part of the kit. They lasted for at least 3-4 months, so you must be right! Since I recycled the jars, I’ll have to see if I wrote down the size of the jar in my original review or look on their website. Probably an ounce, I’m guessing?
You can buy them separately. You have to order from a rep though and not their website to do it. There is a blogger named Casey Yee (I think) that is a rep for R&F.
Thank you for the info on Rodan + Fields. I didn’t realize they had some products that can only purchased through reps
I have been hearing great things about Rodan & Fields and Neostrata, I need to try these brands.
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I had good experiences with both brands, also Exuviance, NeoStrata’s second brand name.
Empties posts are always fun!
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I think so too. An easy way to find out what’s worth trying, what should be avoided!
I think I’m going to pick up some Biotin pills…my nails have been peeling D:
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Do it! Make sure you take at least 5000 mcg a day, otherwise it takes forever to start to work 🙂
I envy those that finish things! LOL
Hahaha 😀 I wish I could finish up more, faster and make room for the next. I hate throwing out stuff that’s not used but I should do it
Such a bummer when your favorite scent is discontinued. And people wonder why we sometimes buy backups of our backups! lol.
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Ain’t it the truth?! Why don’t they give us some warning when products are being discontinued?? 🙁
I’ve never tried Biotin but I’ve considered it lately!
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Your nails are absolutely perfect, Lisa, so it looks like you don’t need it!
I really need to hold myself accountable with posting empties, because then I would hopefully hold myself accountable with finishing products. I clean through skincare stuff consistently so this is giving me some inspiration to do it.
I’ll bet you go through a lot of haircare products with your gorgeous looooong hair, Honey 🙂
I totally agree with you about Biotin. It took a bit for me to notice much difference, but when I did my nails were so much healthier.
Yes, it was odd: nothing happened for quite a while and then big change! I think it’s definitely worth taking
I love empties posts! This is a great one! 🙂
Thanks, Jamie! Now I’m getting ready for June empties!