December and November were big months for me for finishing up and recycling empties, so I thought January would be a little lighter, and it was. But I’m still happy to finish up a number of products and make way for others.
Most of my January empties were products that were relatively new to me.
Almay Eye Makeup Remover Liquid
I’ve been complaining lately that my former favorite Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover was no longer doing the trick. Fortunately, CVS had a 2 for 1 sale on Almay, and I saw that it was rated #1 Eye Makeup Remover Brand in America. That convinced me to give it a try. And I like it a lot. Almay does a better job removing heavier mascara than Rimmel, and it doesn’t sting my eyes at all. I’m using my second bottle now, and I am on the lookout for the next sale to stock up. Repurchase? Yes.
StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream
This fabulous neck cream made it onto my Best Skincare of 2015 list. For a seriously beyond 40 woman like me, StriVectin Neck Cream is serious stuff. I love it. This is expensive cream, but I think it’s worth it. Repurchase? Fortunately, I had another jar waiting in the wings.
Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Serum
This ever-so-faintly-fragranced liqui-gel clear hyaluronic acid serum was a delight to use! I received a deluxe sample to try out, and I loved it. It definitely helped hydrate my super dry skin. It contains a hydrating and firming mixture of Okinawa red algae and HA, plus it has 23-karat gold that gives my skin a nice radiance. I definitely recommend this gorgeous serum from Tatcha! Not only is it a treat, but it too is serious stuff for maturing skin. Repurchase? I would in a heartbeat, but right now I have several other serums to use including another from Tatcha.
OZ Naturals Pro-Retaxinol 2.5 Serum
I was looking for a facial serum with the maximum amount of OTC retinol, and I was happy when I found OZ Naturals. In addition to retinol, it contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and retaxinol, an anti-aging ingredient. I liked this serum a lot. Repurchase? I was about to buy it when I received a 2.5% retinol from another brand. I’ll let you know about that one in a few weeks!
Ritual Beauty Daily Perfecting Treatment Serum
I received this indie serum to try out a while ago. To me, it was more like a lightweight moisturizer than a serum, and in the warm or hot weather, I wore it without moisturizer. It contains Matrixyl 3000, AHAs and antioxidants. Ritual Beauty was created by a lovely entrepreneur from the Atlanta area, and I am sad to report that she has closed her business. I’m glad I got to use it. It was a wonderful skincare product.
LaVanila The Healthy Body Butter
I got this travel size body butter in pure vanilla scent in one of my ipsy bags. I own a couple of LaVanila’s rollerball fragrances. I am on the fence about LaVanila. I like vanilla notes in perfume, but I don’t really love the LaVanila vanilla scent. Sorry to all the LaVanila fans out there! It’s just me. Although this was a nice, rich body butter, I just didn’t love the scent. Repurchase? No. I used it up, but it’s not for me.
Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm Lip Treatment
I received a tiny tube of Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm in my introductory Birchbox last month. I immediately opened it because my lips are so dry in spite of our (so far) mild winter. Dr. Lipp is a very thick ointment. I tried to squeeze it out of the tube and the tube burst – the seam at the other end popped open! But I applied it, and I was instantly in love. This medical grade lanolin soothed and healed my dry lips within a few hours. Repurchase? I ordered a full size tube the next day. This stuff really works for me.
Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream
I got this sample packet in my last Sephora order, and I wish it had been a larger size! I really liked Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream. It is a medium weight, fragrance-free moisturizer that worked well to hydrate my dry skin. I think it would have been a great medium to mix CoverFX Custom Cover Drops into! Repurchase? If I needed moisturizer (I have enough for a couple of years), I definitely would consider this one from Bobbi Brown.
So those are my empties this month. What did you use up?
Great empties 🙂 You’ve been busy finishing up the products. Your post motivated me to look in to my empties bag, as there’s plenty I finished off recently so I need to finally write a post and throw them out 🙂
Thanks for sharing,
Love, D x
Dorota Gornicka recently posted…iDorottka ♥ palettes: MAKEUP REVOLUTION SALTED CARAMEL, COULD IT BE THE ONE?
Haha! Yes you should write ’em up, recycle them and make room for more 😉
I’d say that you still did a remarkable job with your empties! I can’t believe the you finished up the StriVectin Neck Cream! I still have soon much left! I love that stuff!
Lola’s Secret Beauty Blog recently posted…Voted Top 20 Beauty Bloggers You Must Follow by YouQueen Magazine
I’m older than you, Helen, so I’m on my second jar! But I’ve gotta try to make it last. At $95 a jar, I need to slow down 😉
Why do I feel like I never have this many empties….like ever? Good job on being consistent!
Kat Dinges recently posted…FingerPaints: Tis the Season to Sparkle
Haha, Kat! I feel this need to finish things up!
Wow, you used up so many amazing products in January!
The Beauty of Life recently posted…Hands On Hydration: Davines OI Hand Balm
I try!
Great empties. You got through a lot of skin care. I had a lot of empties for December, but not so much in January. I used up The Balm TimeBalm Face Primer. It worked fine, but wasn’t anything special. Also, Rituals Yogi Flow Indian Rose & Sweet Almond Oil Foaming Shower Gel, and a BareMinerals Orgininal Foundation SPF 15 in Fair.
What did you think of the Indian Rose & Sweet Almond Oil scent? I’ve got the Cherry Blossom and it’s almost used up. I was going to repurchase the scent I had, but I’m wondering if I should try a new scent if you liked it
It amazes me that you could use up so much. I finally gave up on even thinking about doing an empties post and threw everything away. It was driving me nuts seeing it and not knowing if I could get to it. I had a lot of garbage and recycling that week.
MarciaF recently posted…Brighten your eye look with Repechage Eye Rescue Pads
Oh, I think as long as you recycle stuff and move it along, that’s all that matters!
I love reading these posts. I’ve used the Almay eye makeup remover before (I stole it from my mom lol). I’d give the Bobbi Brown moisturizer a try.
Kim recently posted…NARS Dual-Intensity Blush Panic on Brown Skin
I always get some good ideas from empties posts, and writing an empties post encourages me to use things up!
I enjoyed your empties review…I have tried Bobbi Brown cream in the past and its great! I just finished Tata Harper facial lotion which I got via Birchbox which I enjoyed!
Ursula
I’d like to get to try more of the Bobbi Brown. I’m glad that you liked it too. I still haven’t tried anything from Tata Harper but hope to one of these days
Great Empties, Allison! I LOVE the Oz Naturals Retinol Serum— it’s so good and works well for all skin types! I have oily acne prone skin and I was having a horrible breakout until I used this again. You always do such a good job finishing products— can’t wait to see your next empties!
Megan T. recently posted…Lookbook: Zodiac Part I
Thank you so much, Megan! I really liked that OZ Naturals Retinol Serum too. But now I’m trying a different brand, Cosmedica, sent for review with similar ingredients and 2.5% retinol. So far, so good. February is a short month so not sure I’ll finish up as much lol
Well done on finishing up the serums! I’m off serums at the mo but can’t wait to get back into a proper skincare routine. I gave the StriVectin neck cream to my Mum as it was too rich for me and she loved it.
Renu recently posted…Beauty Products Emptied in January 2016
The neck cream really is more for your mom than for you. I hope you skin will finally heal and you can get back to a more normal skincare routine. I hope you can leave the house at least!
OMG I’ve been so tempted to order some Tacha products from QVC but I’m supposed to be on a no buy til IMATS (fingers crossed). I previously tried the Almay remover wipes and liked it (I think I got the same deal as you from CVS at the time too lol). I would definitely try this remover now. Nice empties Allison!
Kara recently posted…Tartlette in Bloom | Review, Swatches & Face of the Day
I’m supposed to be on a no-buy but I fell off the wagon. I bought an IT Cosmetics collection from QVC and either Mary or Cindy Lou Manizer from theBalm and I’m trying not to buy the new IT Cosmetics mascara that looks beyond belief. I haven’t tried the Almay wipes but now I will. I don’t have any wipes at the moment.
I love that Almay makeup remover for stubborn swatches!
Miranda Mendoza recently posted…PSA: 6-pc LORAC Alter Ego Lip Collection Set for $32
I’ve found that it works well on stubborn mascara yet it’s very gentle. It was a good surprise!
Love the Tatcha hydrating firming cream.
Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted…Covergirl Plumpify BlastPRO Mascara!
I haven’t gotten to try that one yet, but it sure would suit me!
Thanks for your thoughts on beauty boxes for 58 and then some women (several weeks ago). I went with the ipsy box and cannot wait to get it.
Wow, that’s great, Kathleen! I’m not sure that your full comment above got published so I didn’t follow the whole thing. But if you were reading my ipsy posts, you’ll know that I’m still a big fan. Just about every bag in 2015 was a good one, and I love the January bag. I hope you’ll weigh in when you get yours! xoxo
Fantastic job finishing these! I’ve been so bad about posting my empties lately, maybe I should start again.
Doing an empties post helps me finish things up.
Great empties. There are a few in there that I love. 😀
Erika recently posted…Farmhouse Fresh Pampers Dry Winter Stressed Skin
🙂
You used up quite a lot! I enjoy finishing products, it’s like a huge success!!!
Kath TheFabZilla recently posted…Spring Love It Is! Jessica Simpson Ten
A feeling of accomplishment!
I love the neck cream so much I wrote it a special Valentine’s poem. I didn’t really but I do just love this product so much!!!
Polarbelle recently posted…Osmosis Skincare Watercolor Pigment Eyeshadows With Review and Swatches
You always make me laugh, Shelley!
Great empties! That’s a lot of products you went through. Enjoy reading this post. Several products that caught my eyes but the StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream will be in my wishlist.
sharon beauty prime recently posted…Chinese New Year – NO Monkey Business : Mac Cosmetics
I hope you can get a sample of the Strivectin Neck Cream to give it a try! I love it, one of my Best of Skincare 2015 picks
I think I’m going to need that Dr. Lipp stuff, my kids and I have had such dry lips lately but I think it’s mostly due to being sick.
Kristina recently posted…PUR Cosmetics HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation is a Winter Makeup Must!
Dr. Lipp is the only thing that really heals my dry lips, though if I use a drying lipstick without lip balm underneath it undoes the progress. I hope you all are better soon!
This post reminded me that I need to pick up another Lavanilla body butter, I’m out and forgot about it… I’ll use my BBW one for the time being.
Honeygirlk recently posted…VALENTINE’S DAY SALE – Silk’n 20% Off
Perfect! I love that everyone has different tastes!
You have finish so many…I’m not good on that.
With LaVanila The Healthy Body Butter you remembered me how in love I was in High School with Vanilla Fields scent, I have to try this one too 🙂
Oh, Vanilla Fields! A walk down memory lane!
🙂
Laura’s Fashion Essentials recently posted…Sweatpants in public
Awesome empties! I’ve been finishing up a lot of samples and trying to finish some Lush products before they finish me.
Bailey recently posted…This, That & Other Stuff Vol. 8 | Valentine Edition
Hahaha, Bailey! I love Lush and I tend to use them all at once rather than breaking them up, but I could see how they might take up a bit of room.
I need to try that Tatcha serum, sounds like an amazing product. I love Lavanila Body Butters, they are so amazing but it’s unfortunate it didn’t work for you.
Brigette Ramos recently posted…NEW Marc Jacobs Mascara – Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara Review and Swatches
I love these types of posts – good to see if something really is good to the last drop! I agree about the StriVectin – their products are pricey, but they really work!
nidia recently posted…Valentine Birthday
The StriVectin products really do seem worth it to me. I’ll be buying more neck cream when I use the 2nd jar up. BTW, Nidia, don’t ever feel like you have to comment if more important things are going on. Blogging isn’t that important