This was another good month for empties.
I guess you could say I finished up a bunch of random stuff.
Skintimate Shave Gel
This particular pink and floral scented shave gel from Skintimate was my favorite for many years. But the last time I stocked up at Costco, they had the Shick/Olay brand instead. So I switched brands. The Shick/Olay shave gel was much thicker and creamier and better for my dry skin, plus it was easier to shave with the thicker gel. But this time, Costco didn’t have the Shick/Olay gel. Instead, they had Skintimate, but it was the Skintherapy “Lotionized” line for dry skin. I got that one, and it’s fine. I guess the brand was less important than whether it was a thicker gel for dry skin.
CVS Biotin Capsules 5000 mcg
This was the second bottle of CVS Biotin capsules that I finished because they were buy one, get one free. They were capsules filled with biotin powder, and they had a bit of a taste from the powder going down. So when I ran out, I bought a different brand. This time, I bought a smaller size liquigel at Walmart. I’ll see if I like it better. It was also 5000 mcg because that is the amount I need to make a difference in my nails and hair.
Wildwood Soapworks Honey Almond Bar Soap
I know some of you don’t like bar soap, but I do. I don’t share my soap, so it isn’t dirty. I especially love handmade soap. I bought this one at the Boston Flower Show from the man who made it. I liked it a lot. Will I repurchase? Probably not because I didn’t like it enough to pay to have it shipped to me. One of my other favorite bespoke soap artisans, Daphne from Nature Island Botanicals, is coming to town for the annual Waterfront Craft Festival in a couple of weeks, and I’ll pick up some of her heavenly soaps.
John Frieda 3 Days Straight Spray
I like John Frieda 3 Days Straight Spray for keeping my hair smoother and less frizzy. Throughout most of the year, if I use it and flat iron my coarse, thick, somewhat frizzy hair, I can go for 4 days without washing and styling it. Unfortunately, in the humid summer, it’s not quite enough. Somewhere I have Bedhead anti-frizz cream that is more effective, but of course, I can’t find it now that I need it. At any rate, I already have another 3 Days Straight in my stash.
Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths
The deluxe sample of 10 facial wipes from Skyn Iceland came in a recent ipsy bag. I liked these wipes a lot. Skyn Iceland Skincare focuses on solutions for stressed skin so I can always count on them to be gentle yet effective. Before using each wipe, the directions says to fold it over a few times and that creates a kind of bubbling that made me think, anyway, that it was really cleansing, and it was. These removed my makeup without a lot of rubbing and tugging. I would buy these, but now I’m using the Burt’s Bees wipes I got in my Target Beauty Box, and I’ll report on them next month.
Jouer Conditioning Lip Treatment
When I got this deluxe sample of Jouer Conditioning Lip Treatment in an ipsy bag a few months ago, I thought it was just a lip balm. No, it’s not. It’s a lip plumper and conditioner. Also, when I first got it, it had a chemical taste/smell that really turned me off. I don’t know if the formula needed to be mixed and all the chemically taste/scent went to the front of the tube or what, but as I used it, either it dissipated or I got used to it. At any rate, I ended up liking the Jouer Conditioning Lip Treatment. It’s very similar to the City Lips Lip Plumper in Clear that I have stockpiled except that the Jouer doesn’t include collagen and it comes in a tube rather than a traditional lipgloss tube with doe-foot applicator. When I run out of City Lips, I may see which one is the better value and go with that though I may not be ready to walk away from City Lips collagen. At any rate, I am a real believer in lip plumpers that don’t contain peppermint oil. They really do work for me both to make my lips look fuller and keep away the dryness.
Ulta Cleansing Sponge
I know, I know cleansing sponges aren’t great because they harbor bacteria. But I wash them out and throw them in the microwave to try to keep them cleaner, and I replace them at regular intervals. I love the cleansing sponges from Ulta because they’re a good size and they are super soft. Unfortunately, Ulta is almost always out of them, and whenever I ask when they’ll be back in stock, the sales assistants either don’t know or tell me they’re being discontinued. I hope they’ll be back because I’m on my last one.
Sensodyne Pronamel Toothpaste
I participated in a Facebook ad campaign for Sensodyne Pronamel Toothpaste a couple of months ago about rebuilding tooth enamel that can get eroded from acidic foods like fruit, and it convinced me that I needed to give this toothpaste a try. Did it work? I have no idea, but I used Sensodyne for sensitive teeth anyway so what the heck. I repurchased it last week.
CoverGirl The Super Sizer Mascara
My current favorite mascara, CoverGirl The Super Sizer, got left out of the empties photo. In fact, it’s not entirely used up, in spite of the fact that I use it several times a week. It is now almost 4 months old, and you’re supposed to toss mascara after 3 months so it was living on borrowed time. I hate throwing out anything that’s not used up, but over the past couple of weeks, the formula has gotten more difficult to apply because it has become clumpy. I got this one for free from CoverGirl and I’ve got a new one that I bought waiting in the wings so I’ve gotta toss this. Actually, I will keep the wand, wash it out and use it as a lash comb. I hope when I open the new tube I love it as much as I did this one when it was new!
So that’s it for my empties this month. Did you use up anything I should know about?
Empties posts are always fun! I love Skintimate Shave Gel!
Destany recently posted…Nicole by OPI Coca-Cola collection for 2015 swatches and review
Me too, glad I found the dry skin one at Costco
I like bar soap as well (thanks for reminding me, I need some!). There is a local maker here that makes soap from goats milk and it is flipping divine!
Jessica recently posted…Sinful Colors A Class Act nail polishes (partial collection)
Oh, that does sound divine, Jessica! Goat’s milk soap is one of my favorites. I can sometimes get it at the farmer’s market nearby.
I love empties posts, but I can never save my empties long enough to have enough to do a post hehe.
Leigh recently posted…July 2015 Favorites: Music, Books and Beauty Products Edition
I don’t know how I manage it, Leigh, but I have a bunch of empties almost every month. I hate to throw away anything that’s not finished up 😉
I finally used up a Proactiv toner and purchased Thayers Rose petal witch hazel toner. It’s really gentle and smells divine ~ it’s a toner I actually want to use 🙂
I tried the CG mascara .. meh, I wasn’t a fan of the need to turn/twist on application. I just like a straight up brush on mascara, no gimmicks.
Monica.
MonicaP recently posted…Old Navy Hits & Misses
Brava! It feels so good to use up beauty products and go on to the next. The Thayers toner sounds divine! I actually am into toners these days. I use the CG wand just like any other wand without the twisting and it works out fine. But then, I am a big fan of Too Faced Lashgasm that has a similar plastic teeth wand that is great for separating so the CG was designed for me 🙂
Excellent job finishing up full size products, Allison! I have sensitive teeth as well, and I love Sensodyne!
Lola’s Secret Beauty Blog recently posted…butter London Lippy Bloody Brilliant Lip Crayons | Review
I really do like the lineup of toothpastes from Sensodyne. And I hope that this formula is repairing my enamel!!
Geat set of empties! Have heard many good things about the Skyn Iceland wipes.
NORAH recently posted…Bean Box Coffee Subscription Service
I was surprised at how much I like them! They are well worth buying
I hate tossing mascara but yeah you don’t want to risk the eye area heheh
Heather recently posted…YSL Blur Perfector & Blur Primer Review
Actually, if the formula had thickened, I would keep going for another month 😉
I can’t believe I’ve never heard of the Boston Flower Show, after going to college there for four years! It sounds incredibly lovely. Maybe someday I’ll go back and attend!
Sammi the Beauty Buff recently posted…Ipsy Glam Bag: July 2015 Review
Sammi, the Boston Flower Show used to be huge and fabulous and it was held at a huge venue out by the JFK Library which is probably why you didn’t know about it. But they fell on hard times and, though the show has moved to the venue next to the ICA it’s much smaller with fewer exhibits. Last year, we didn’t go coz it’s expensive and we didn’t think we were getting enough out of it now in its current iteration.
I feel like my Covergirl Supersizer is lasting SO long. Usually by this point I can tell they are getting old, but so far nothing! I’ll give it a few more weeks, I don’t have any back ups!
Tess Galen recently posted…Giovanni Avocado and Olive Oil Shampoo and Conditioner
That’s great, Tess! Mine lasted a good three months before I started to get some clumping, but I am still pleased with it. Now I’ve gotta find my backup. I know it’s here someplace!
I like the Skintimate shaving gel too for the same reasons. It’s also quite affordable. I don’t use bar soap too often but do like handmade versions. Last Summer I was in Tennessee and this young girl was on the side of the road selling some she made herself so, of course, I had to buy one. It’s a heavenly cherry scent. My only recent empty was a Body Shop raspberry shower gel. So lovely! I miss it already but have other new scents to use. lol Thanks for the reviews on your empties. 🙂
I love that you bought the girl’s handmade soap on the side of the road. What a great story! TBS raspberry shower gel sounds great! I just used up a Vitabath but I forgot it this month so next month it’ll be. Isn’t it a good feeling to actually use some things up?!
The wildwood soap looks great! I’m glad the biotin works for you because it makes me breakout like I did when I was 15! Great pile of useds! I need to start collecting mine, again
Color Me So Crazy recently posted…A NEW Challenge!! EPaWC: Picture of the Week
I’ve heard other women say that biotin makes them break out. That’s unfair ‘coz it really does work! I like collecting empties. Easy post, short reviews, and I can see what I’m actually using up!
I never thought to save Sensodyne Pronamel for an empty post. It’s what my dentist recommends for me so I buy it all the time. Regular Sensodyne is always at Costco but not the Pronamel.
MarciaF recently posted…Giveaway alert! Win a Dove Summer Care package!
I don’t usually include toothpaste, but Heather mentioned that she does and I was inspired to buy this particular type – Pronamel – from a Blogher campaign I did so why not?
Disappointing about the frizz spray – but Skintimate is such a great staple for my shower when I use regular razor blades, I love it!
beautyjudy recently posted…Summer Shades of Alessandro Nail Polish
Well, the 3 Day Straight is my year round except for July/August staple so I am giving it a break. But I’ve gotta find the Bedhead serious stuff soon!
I finished a mascara and some whipped soap 🙂
Phyrra recently posted…Dare to Dream with Disney London Soho New York
Good job! I haven’t actually “finished” a mascara in a long time.
It feels so good to finally finish something–it doesn’t happen to me often.
Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted…L’Occitane Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc EDT
I’m a fanatic about finishing things up before I throw them away which is actually not such a good thing. But yes, I love finishing anything!
I love saving empties because it gives me an idea of how much I really use my products
Yes, I feel the same way!
I need to give that 3 Days Straight a try!
Chelsea recently posted…The Best Non-Makeup Summer Beauty Products
For most of the year except the most humid days, 3 Days Straight works really well for me!
Yeah gotta throw mascara or eye infection, no bueno
Kath TheFabZilla recently posted…Are These Your Face Best Allies? YSL TOUCHE ECLAT BLUR PERFECTOR and TOUCHE ECLAT BLUR PRIMER
Yup, time for the new tube!
I just love Biotin. It makes such a difference.
Polarbelle recently posted…Unleash Your Inner Global Wanderlust With The Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadow Couture World Traveler Palette
I’m glad that you’re a biotin fan too!
im obsessed. I need to use up my stuff. I envy all the ladies that use stuff up on a regular basis. Only “beauty” thing I regularly use up is toothpaste. Lol
MyNewestAddiction recently posted…Bond No 9 | Sag Harbor
😀 I don’t usually include toothpaste but Heather said she does and this toothpaste I bought because of a BlogHer campaign I participated in. But I’m committed to using stuff up whenever I can. However, I need to learn to toss things that I know I won’t finish
I grew up with bar soap, and always have some in my shower along with the shower gel. Just depends on what I feel like using that day. It’s soap! It’s self-cleaning! lol. Channeling a little Joey from Friends.
Nidia – Lit From Within recently posted…Soak Off The Funk With #Oleavine
Very cute, Nidia! I agree with you and Joey 🙂
I really enjoyed using those cleansing wipes, too 🙂
Yes, the Skyn Iceland wipes ended up being one of the things in that ipsy bag I used most!
I love cleansing sponges too! As long as we are keeping them clean and replace them regularly, I should think they are as good as cleansing brushes/wash cloths and so on. Loved reading your empties post!
Renu recently posted…Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. lipstick in Stoned Rose review, swatches
You are my empties inspiration, Renu! I’m so happy that I found one more Ulta sponge in my stash, yay!
I have been enjoying that mascara as well – it’s not a favorite but I do like it. 🙂 I had a hard time with those Skynn Iceland wipes… I really enjoy the glacier wash but some of their products are too much for my skin.
Honeygirlk recently posted…Maui Welcomes T.J. Maxx – Grand Opening Today
That’s too bad that the Skyn Iceland wipes didn’t suit your sensitive skin. I lucked out I guess!
Skintimate Shave Gel is a must have product around here! I absolutely love it!
Lisa Heath recently posted…The Polish Bar Late Summer 2015 Collection Swatches & Review
Skintimate doesn’t disappoint, but since my skin got so much drier I’m glad I discovered their dry skin line.
I love the Super Sizer, great waterproof formula!
Miranda Mendoza recently posted…1 Month Tria Update
I haven’t tried the waterproof version yet (at least I don’t think I have!), but I like the one I’ve got
I just got a package of the Skyn Iceland wipes. I haven’t dipped into them yet, but I’m glad to hear they work well.
Bailey recently posted…On the Road | Travel Beauty Bits
I hope you like them, Bailey! They are wetter and almost “soapier” (but it’s not soap) than other wipes, and as a result, I find them easier to work with. Curious to hear what you think
Great review hun !! And some good empties there. I must admit I don’t know most of them which is really interesting to read 🙂 I’ve been using Skyn Iceland under eye gel mask for a while now and its excellent so I’m definitely going to try more products from the range.
iDorottka recently posted…Search for that perfect summer red… Lord & Berry Crayon Lipstick in Kiss
I feel the same way reading reviews from UK bloggers like yourself – I get to learn about a lot of brands that aren’t available here! It’s fun. I have tried a couple of Skyn Iceland products because they show up from time to time in my ipsy bags. I like what I’ve tried so far 🙂
I’ve been curious about that mascara, so now I’ll have to go pick it up. I seriously need to clean out my mascara drawer and toss my older tubes. Have some that are almost a year old. Eek 🙁
Kristin Bassett recently posted…Five Steps to Treating Sun Damage & Preventing it in the Future
I know what you mean, Kristin. I do too. I really like the CoverGirl Super Sizer, but I am a fan of plastic teeth wands like Too Faced Lashgasm. It makes my lashes very long and defined with enough volume for me 🙂