My blogging friend Renu was part of a group that aimed to use up 100 full size products during 2018. She achieved her goal and then some! Though I was not a member of the challenge group, I am pretty darn sure that I have achieved that milestone as well. Yippee!
In November, I used up a lot of full size products, and I am tossing several things that are old or have gone off. Here are this month’s empties:
Bath and Body
- Farmhouse Fresh Buttermilk Lavender Steeped Milk Lotion Hand Cream: Because I adored the scent of this hand cream, I really took my time using it up. This scent that I think is similar to Fluffy Bunny and the Honey Chai scent are my faves among those I have tried from FHF. Repurchase/Recommend? I am now using FHF Maypop Steeped Milk Lotion so I don’t need more, but I strongly recommend this scent. The lavender is not overwhelming at all!
- Jergens Crema Hydrating Coconut Milk: For a drugstore body butter, this one is top-notch. Very creamy and hydrating, and the scent is divine. I would say this is my favorite mass market brand body butter. Repurchase/Recommend? I don’t need more body butter, but if you are on a budget and like a coconut scent, this is the one to get!
- Molton Brown Orange & Bergamot Shower Gel, travel size: I got this Molton Brown shower gel in my Barney’s bag. The orange bergamot scent is fresh and lovely to use anytime. It smells a bit like orange tea. Repurchase/Recommend? Because I have so many different shower gels, I don’t need more now. But this scent is one of my favorites from Molton Brown. It’s complex and bright.
- Brandless Gel Hand Soap, maple scent: I bought this hand soap for $3 from Brandless earlier this year when I got free shipping from this new online retailer that sells everything for $3 each. The soap is a good one, however the maple scent was actually a little too strong. I can’t believe I’m admitting that, but there it is. Repurchase/Recommend? No, I’ll pass on this.
- Propolis Soap with Manuka Honey from Pacific Resources International: This was the most unusual soap. It was unbelievably creamy, soaped up extremely well, and rinsed absolutely clean leaving no residue whatsoever. Repurchase/Recommend? I strongly recommend this soap if you like a soap that rinses clean. It is amazing. But because my skin is so dry this time of year, I need a soap that is creamy and leaves some of the creaminess on my skin.
Facial Skincare
- Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream Light: This luxury Korean beauty cream is one of my all-time favorite anti-aging moisturizers. I am a serious fan of all things ginseng. I adored the weird ginseng scent, and the creaminess of this moisturizer. Repurchase/Recommend? If I were going to repurchase, I would get the regular rather than the light version for my super dry skin. But alas, this cream costs over $200, so I won’t be repurchasing it. If you can afford it, it is a delight!
- Georgette Klinger Lavender Facial Mist: This fine mist is the first spray product that I could stand spraying myself in the face, lol! I loved this hydrating mist with a wonderful light lavender scent. Repurchase/Recommend? I bought the Coconut Facial Mist during a GK sale, and truth be told, I love the Coconut Facial Mist even more. Same fine spray but an even more delightful coconut scent. I can’t stop spraying my face with this wonderful mist!
- Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster: I love all the Paula’s Choice Boosters that I have tried, and this one is no exception. It works very well. Repurchase/Recommend? Though I recommend this HA booster, I am not repurchasing it right now as I have about a trillion serums and two other PC Boosters that I need to finish up.
- 7th Heaven Pink Guava Peel-Off Mask: This is a fun pink peel-off mask that left my skin feeling clean and fresh without feeling stripped. Repurchase/Recommend? I have another one in my stash so I don’t have to repurchase yet. I think this seriously pink peel-off mask would make a great stocking stuffer.
- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Skin Booster, mini: I didn’t really understand this serum from the Ultra HD line, and I didn’t get enough in the bottle to make me feel that I needed it. Repurchase/Recommend? Nah. But I am still a mega-fan of MUFE Ultra HD foundation.
- YSL Forever Concentrate, mini: I got this sample with some purchase, probably from Sephora. It was a nice cream concentrate with a pleasant scent. Repurchase/Recommend? I liked it, but not enough to spend the money for a YSL serum especially since I have so many others. Plus I’m not sure this particular product still exists though there is a new Liberator line.
- Rodin Olio Lusso, mini: I got this sample of Italian luxury face oil in a Barney’s bag, and I was eager to try it because my blogging friend Helen loves this brand. Frankly, I couldn’t stand the scent. Repurchase/Recommend? No. There are other more affordable facial oils that smell much better and work just as well or better for me.
Makeup and Makeup Remover
- Garnier SkinActive Micelllar Cleansing Water, waterproof (blue) & regular (pink), travel size: I went through two of the Garnier travel size micellar waters. I like them both because they do a decent job removing my makeup. However, at $3.99 each at CVS, they’re not that great a deal. It makes more sense to buy the full size and pour some over into a travel size container. I have to remember to do that next time. Repurchase/Recommend? I most likely will repurchase these in the future because it’s so much easier than making my own. Garnier Micellar Water is a good and more affordable alternative to Bioderma in the full size.
- CVS Premium 100% Cotton Squares: I needed some cotton squares to keep at Jeff’s and I bought these in a pinch. I really hated them. They pilled and the cotton got into my eyes. Repurchase/Recommend? No!
- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation (liquid): I can’t believe I used up a full size container of foundation. Woo hoo! R230 is a perfect match for me. I like the medium coverage foundation that easy to apply. Repurchase/Recommend? I recommend this foundation if you like a medium coverage foundation that feels quite lightweight on the skin. I have two of their foundation sticks in this shade so I won’t be repurchasing this right away, but I would say that it is one of my absolute favorite foundations.
- Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara, travel size: I know not everyone is a fan of Bad Gal Bang Mascara, but it works for me! Lately, I have also been using They’re Real because I love the wand. Repurchase/Recommend? I already have a couple of more of these in my stash.
- L’Oreal Silkissime Eyeliner Pencil, black: I liked this drugstore eyeliner pencil. It is very creamy, and it stays on reasonably well. Repurchase/Recommend? I think L’Oreal Silkissime Eyeliner is a good affordable drugstore eyeliner pencil, but these days there are so many black eyeliner pencils around, and I own a million of them. My favorite black eyeliner pencils are Mally Evercolor Waterproof and MUFE Aqua XL Eyeliner Pencils.
- Dior Creamy Lipgloss, sample: I have a couple more of these in clear and bright orange. This bright reddish-pink gloss packs a serious punch and feels great on my lips. Purchase/Recommend? I’ll let you know after I try the other two.
Other: Hair and Fragrance
- Eva NYC Clean It Up Shampoo, small size: I adore this fabulous smelling shampoo. It smells like vanilla lavender! It soaps up really well, and rinses clean. My only concern is that it has SLS in it. Although Eva NYC claims it doesn’t fade color-treated hair and my colorist at Vidal Sassoon says go ahead and use it, and experts say that it is water that removes color from color-treated hair, I can’t really get past thinking it fades my hair color. Repurchase/Recommend? If you don’t have color-treated hair, by all means try this fantastic shampoo.
- Sylvaine Delacourte Lilylang perfume coffret (spray sample): I love this floral musk-based French perfume scent. Light, feminine and lovely! Repurchase/Recommend? You really should try Sylvaine Delacourte perfumes because you can’t go wrong. The discovery sets (Musk and Vanilla) are $4 each for 5 fragrances that will be sent to you from France. I just took advantage of their holiday offer and bought a Custom Box with their stunning heavy copper purse spray. I think I now have 3 big vials of Lilylang and Fiorentina (both from the Musk discovery set) that I chose, and they also included a Vanilla Discovery Set of coffrets. I love this brand!
Products I’m Tossing
- Dr. Jart Premium BB Beauty Balm: This was the first BB cream I ever purchased several years ago after I started blogging. Dr. Jart is an excellent but rather pricey Korean beauty brand. This is one of the BB cream that comes out white from the tube and is supposed to change color to match your skin tone. It is for light skin tones only. It was a nice BB cream, and the shade change was decent but not perfect. Repurchase/Recommend? Over time, I found other BB creams that were a better shade match for me, so I gave up on this one and should have tossed it long ago.
- Darling Girl Balm Gloss 3D: I really liked gorgeous copper multidimensional shade of almost opaque lipgloss, and I should have used it more often than I did. Unfortunately, it is almost 2 years old and it smells like it has gone off so I have to toss it. Repurchase/Recommend? I’ll buy more from Darling Girl at some point. It’s CF, has great shades and is very affordable.
- Skinceuticals Eye Cream: Someone gave me this eye cream, and I kept it at Jeff’s to use there. It was a thick cream. The color was always an off-white since I was given it. Repurchase/Recommend? The color turned almost brown so I must toss this. I was very thick, too thick. I wouldn’t buy it.
- Beauty by POPSUGAR Tinted Lip Balm: I got this lip balm in my first Ipsy Bag Plus, and there was something wrong with it. It was very grainy and I am tossing it. I complained to Ipsy, and though it took a few weeks, they sent me a replacement that is perfect. I actually love this lip balm. It comes in clear and several shades. My shade is Fresh, pretty peachy peach. Repurchase/Recommend? Though I initially got a bad one, this is a terrific lip balm. Great for everyday wear.
- Jesse’s Girl Glow Stix Lipgloss: As much as I love the fun shades of multidimensional lipgloss that I was sent from Jesse’s Girl, some of the tube leak and get all over everything. It didn’t happen right away when I got them, but took several weeks of use to start leaking. Boo! I usually love Jessie’s Girl products, but they need either a better formula or a better tube. Repurchase/Recommend? Sadly, no.
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Congratulations on 100+ empties! You should do the challenge next year for sure – you’ll ace it! Well done on finishing a whole MUFE foundation; my 2019 target includes a full eyeshadow palette, but I doubt I’ll hit pan on a foundation.
Thank you, Renu! I am delighted to use things up. But using up a full eyeshadow palette? I don’t think that will ever be in the cards for me 😉 I will gladly cheer you on with that goal!
Impressive job with your empties, Allison! I haven’t had time to do an empties post in months! I need to. The Rodin Lavender oil is quite pungent, and I didn’t buy it for this reason. Their other two facial oils are delectable (the Geranium and the Jasmine). If you are seeking the most otherworldly permutation of Lavender, then Aftelier Lavender Face Elixir simply can’t be beat!
Wait, Mandy has a lavender elixir??? It appears I don’t notice anything new, ever, since I am so ridiculously smitten with the pear, fir, and coffee body oil. Not that that’s a bad thing to be stuck on… 😀
Helen, I think that Rodin oils just aren’t for me. I hate the Jasmine & Neroli too. In fact, the sample I got in my Barney’s bag in September smells the same as the Lavender, boo hoo. Someday, I must try some oils from Aftelier!!
Way to go Allison! I think I’ve emptied….um…. a body wash and a conditioner. And a travel/deluxe sample of cleansing balm. I do have two nearly empty bottles of an older Lancome foundation that I’ve been debating: force myself to use them up, or just toss? I’m leaning towards tossing them. Yes. That’s it. They’re going. I don’t really enjoy them anymore, and I have better. Thank you for passively helping me make up my mind!
Thank you, thank you! Yes, just toss the Lancome foundations! I just tossed a bunch of stuff yesterday, and next month there will be more being tossed! But I am very happy that I have so many empties that I recycled this morning. Yay!!
Oo the vanilla lavender scent sounds nice!
I actually like that MUFE Booster and I mix a couple of drops into thick, matte foundation. The MUFE Velvet Matte foundation is beautiful with it. And wow, you have my respect for finishing so many full sized products!
Thank you, thank you, Shireen! I try to finish everything I can before recycling it. I grew up without a lot of money, lol. Good to know about the MUFE Booster. In fact, tonight I was trying to take advantage of the 25% off discount at MUFE that ends at midnight to buy more of the Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation that I just finished, and I would get a sample size foundation as well as another sample of the Booster with the purchase. But for some reason, the 25% discount didn’t kick in even though the offer said no code necessary. Unfortunately, customer service was closed. But if I do get more of the Booster, I’ll try adding it to my foundation (even tho it isn’t really matte) and see what happens. Thanks for the tip!
You go girl! It’s rare I finish anything these days. I just took a HUGE bag of bath and body products to work for the girls–I had no more room in the shower!
I wish I had more friends that I could give stuff to. So few of my friends wear makeup or like bath and body products. I’m glad to hear you’re sharing the wealth!
Wow that’s impressive. I’ve always have difficulty finishing products. This is a great initiative.
Thanks, Natoya. I’m frugal in some ways, and I hate to throw things out if they’re not used up.
What a great amount of products you used up. I’m proud of you. I have been saving but because I rotate things so often there’s little that’s actually finished.
You did well finishing all of these products – what a haul!! I was curious about Sulwhasoo, their products are an absolute treat for the skin but the price point makes them difficult to splurge on. For super fancy Korean products I tend to go to eBay or TesterKorea / KoreaDepart and buy a bunch of foil samples, then squeeze them into a jar 😀 It costs maybe $20-$30 to get a full jar of a $200 moisturizer.
Thank you, Anastasia, for that great tip! I would love more of the Sulwhasoo moisturizer but it’s way out of my price point. I will go to the sites you suggest and see what I can find in samples. Now, if only I hadn’t recycled that pretty Sulwhasoo jar!
Good on you for using up so much! I also need to do a thorough clean out of my makeup before the year ends!
Wow, you really rocked the empties game! I see a few things that I love.
Whoa! So many empties! Haha…love it. I’m also a huge fan of Make Up For Ever. It’s so great that more companies are creating a full spectrum of shades.
Glad you’re an MUFE fan, too! I agree about the shade issue. It’s about time
These are always so satisfying to me. I should start keeping track of my empties! I’ve always wondered how the MakeUp Forever Foundation is and it sounds like I would like it. A tad more expensive than my go-to (It CC+ Cream), but if I ever want to switch it up I’ll have to try that out. And I like the BadGal mascara, too!
You should, Chelsea! My empties posts give me a real feeling of accomplishment, lol. I have several tubes of IT CC Cream sitting around unopened. Because I am between Fair and Light, I had to buy both shades and mix them which is ridiculous. And I decided the formula is a bit too heavy for me. The MUFE is very different because it’s a lightweight foundation rather than CC cream. The CC Cream is really good for winter IMO.
Wow!!! That’s a lot of empties!!! Seeing that mask though reminded me, I’ve been battling dry skin this week….time for a face mask!!!
I just love recycling empties, lol!
I really like Bad Gal Bang as well. It’s my mascara of choice since it came out.
Yay, another Bad Gal Bang fan! I love it too, and I am always surprised when others don’t 😉
Empties posts are always inspirational, i end up wasting so many products 😮