I haven’t done an empties post in forever, like about 9 months. In fact, I’ve saved all the empty containers so I can do a big empties post, one of these days, so I can really report on the brands that I repurchased over and over again. This post, however, will focus just on March empties.
Why is it so easy to use up skincare products but less so makeup? I guess it’s because I have so much makeup to choose from, and skincare gets used repeatedly, right?
Here’s what I used up last month.
La Mer Hand Treatment: I am crushed that I have come to the end of this fabulous but pricey hand cream from La Mer. It was not the least bit greasy, and it definitely kept my hands from getting chapped this cold winter.
Repurchase? Probably not. I received this travel size tube as a Press Sample. Not sure I can afford to replace it right now. Some day!
Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover: Every time I stray and buy a different eye makeup remover, I regret it. I adore the Rimmel Eye Makeup Remover. It truly is gentle on my overly sensitive eyes.
Repurchase? Yes! In fact, I scored two bottles at deep discount at a recent Ulta visit. I like to stay stocked up on this lovely.
Kleem Jeunnesse Intensive Vitamin C Serum: Kleem Vitamin C Serum is a lightweight vitamin C serum. It absorbs quickly and easily. Though it works with all skin types, I recommend it especially for those with oily or combination skin. And they have recently reformulated it so that it has a more citrusy scent.
Repurchase? No because I received a bottle with the new scent from the brand. Thank you! But because my skin is so dry, I actually prefer a vitamin C serum that is thicker or more of a gel than a liquid.
NeoCell Hydra+ HA Serum: I love the NeoCell Hydra+ Hyaluronic Acid Serum. It smells great, and it’s an easily absorbed lightweight gel. When I use it, I can feel the difference.
Repurchase? Yes! I hate to be without it.
Nature Island Botanicals Vitamin C Whipped Soap Sugar Scrub Souffle, Orange Scent: Handmade, natural with organic ingredients, Daphne’s bespoke skincare products are long-time favorites that I buy at the Waterfront Festival in Gloucester MA every July. However, Nature Island Botanicals products are sold on etsy too. Daphne also takes phone calls for orders.
This whipped sugar scrub is very hydrating. It’s a gentle scrub that’s perfect for my sensitive skin. The scent from orange, blood orange, pink grapefruit and bergamot is absolute heaven.
Repurchase? Not right now because I have two other NIB scents in my stash to take its place. But the orange scent is a definite repurchase in the future. It also makes a great little gift along with Daphne’s gorgeous soaps and body butters.
Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes: This was a travel size pack of remover wipes that I got for free along with Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover. I like Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes. They remove my makeup without tugging, and they’re are perfect for my sensitive eyes.
Repurchase? Yes, at some point. They are one of my favorite wipes brands.
Urban Decay Anti-aging Primer Potion: I’ve been using UD AA PP for several years. It doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes. It helps my eye shadow stay on for hours and hours. I can’t imagine any shadow primer that’s any better. Really.
Repurchase? Yes, I had one waiting in my stash!
Here are some more March empties!
Natracare Cleansing Makeup Remover Wipes for Sensitive Skin: I love that the Natracare Makeup Remover Wipes are extremely gentle, incredibly soft, perfect for my sensitive skin and eyes. Plus they are made from organic ingredients including the cloth.
However, they don’t remove my eye makeup quite as easily as other brands. So I have to keep at it a little longer.
Repurchase? Sadly, no. I wish they would increase the cleaning power a bit while maintaining the gentleness. Then they would be a complete winner.
Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick, deluxe sample: I received this sample of Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in an ipsy bag last year. It is creamy, has the right amount of slip for easy application. It stays on for quite a while for a non-long-wear lipstick. It has a lovely satin finish. I adore it!
Repurchase? Yes! I bought another one in the shade I received as a sample. Plus I redeemed ipsy points for a full size in another shade. This is one of my favorite lipstick formulas.
Lift Lab Skin Regeneration Purifying Cleanser: I love this hydrating and exfoliating cleanser from Lift Lab. It has tiny exfoliating grains in it and it feels so good to massage it into my skin. But the non-stripping, cleansing formula and the tiny grains are gentle enough for me to use this cleanser twice a day on my face. At night, I leave it on for two minutes as a gentle mask and then rinse off with water. My skin feels so great afterwards.
Repurchase? Yes! I received two press samples from Gloss48.com to try out a few months ago for review: the Lift Labs Purifying Cleanser and the Moisturizer. These are pricey skincare products, but they are truly worth it for me. I purchased full sizes of them both. I truly recommend this brand!
So, this is what I’ve used up this month? Have you tried any of these beauty products, and if so, what was your experience?
I know a lot of skincare that is cheaper is comparable to brands like La Mer… but damned if I don’t want some just because lol
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True! I was amazed at how different this hand treatment was from other hand creams I’ve tried. Frankly, I didn’t expect it to work since it isn’t heavy or greasy but it did! Sorry to see it go 🙁
I’m so glad to read this post today! I just cleaned up my makeup room (which means, in laymen’s terms, that it was like Christmas! I rediscovered items I forgot I owned!) and found Rimmel’s Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. I have a tough time with allergies, and I have been looking to find something that wouldn’t irritate my eyes while removing those numerous cat eyes and mascara. Can’t wait to try it out! 🙂
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I hope you have good luck with the Rimmel remover. In addition to gentleness, it’s great that I don’t have to remember to shake the bottle like you have to do with Neutrogena. It just works!
Oh noooo, not the La Mer hand cream! I will be just as crushed when mine is empty, but I still have about 20% left inside. It’s really an amazing treatment, isn’t it? I just hate falling in love with something so expensive 🙁
Same here, Anastasia! I can’t believe a hand cream could cost $80!!
A lot of empties! I think these posts are fun 🙂
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Yes, me too! I have discovered some great recommendations from these kind of mini-reviews!
I definitely think that this is a very successful empties post! You did a remarkable job finishing up so many full size products! I will have to try the Rimmel Makeup Remover– as you know, I, too, have sensitive eyes! It’s always such a challenge finding ones that don’t sting or burn my eyes! I love empties posts so much– they are always so inspiring and motivating!
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Lola, I haven’t done an empties post since last June, I think, and I have saved all the bottles. You wouldn’t believe how many full-size skincare products I’ve used up! With my dry skin, I practically drink the stuff. The Rimmel Eye Makeup Remover is absolutely my favorite. It doesn’t sting my eyes at all. It gets off thick, fibrous mascara easily, and unlike the Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover, I don’t have to remember to shake the bottle and it doesn’t leave behind a residue. I always regret it when I stray and try something else.
I love UDPP and also the Moxie lipsticks and that Nature Island Botanicals Vitamin C Whipped Soap Sugar Scrub sounds amazing too!
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The NIB Vitamin C Whipped Sugar Scrub smells like heaven!! I love it
I have to try that Rimmel Eye Makeup remover! I also love that Moxie Lipstick from the past tipsy bag, its a great color!
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For me, Rimmel Eye Makeup Remover is the gentlest to my eyes yet it easily removes my eye makeup. It’s my HG. Yes, the BM Marvelous Moxie lipstick sample hooked me on the lipstick and I’ve since gotten 2 full size that are among my favorite lipsticks!
I would love to find a gentle makeup wipe remover that actually works. Right now I use wipes from MAC and though their wipes are amazing at removing all of the gunk lol they tend to irritate my eyes sometimes 🙁
I’m not willing to pay a lot of makeup remover wipes so I stick with drugstore brands. And I’ve had good luck with Pond’s, Maybelline and Neutrogena wipes. The Natracare are very soft and they’re organic but I had to tug a little bit more to get off my mascara than with the regular brands.
Empties posts are the best; keep them coming – I’d love to see how much you used up in nine months! Can I have that ducky, please? It’s sooo adorable!!
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Isn’t that little ducky adorable! I just found him at what used to be the 5 & 10 cent store 🙂
I’ve tried a sample of La Mer’s original Creme de la Mer and really liked it, but I just can’t see paying that much for skincare. Of course their hand cream would be good, too! I just wish they were more affordable, because I know their face cream had a wonderful texture to it.
Sammi recently posted…My Favorite Things: March 2015
I’ve never tried any of the La Mer face care products. I would love to! I’ll have to see if I can get a same of Creme de la Mer. You have intrigued me, and I’m wondering what the texture is like?
I found a little sample card in a magazine (forgot which one, sorry!) and was able to obtain it at a La Mer counter. It was pretty thick, and you only had to scoop out a pea-sized amount and rub it between your fingers to warm it up and make it spreadable. I feel like if you were to get a jar of it, it would last a really long time!
Sammi recently posted…My Favorite Things: March 2015
It might have been a different product. This La Mer Hand Treatment comes in a tube and isn’t very thick at all. In fact, I was afraid it wouldn’t work because it wasn’t thick like my usual hand cream brands. But it definitely does. And I am not usually a fan of floral scents, but I love this one! Oh well, I enjoyed it while it lasted!
Don’t you love empties .. lol. I feel really good when I actually finish something 🙂
Monica.
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I agree, Monica. I love to be able to add an empty to the recycling! Makes me feel so much better about getting new stuff!
That is a lot of goodies that are empty for sure. I am obsessed with La Mer hand cream but I agree it is sooooooo expensive. I have only been using it when my hands are so dry. Other than that it is a luxury. I love the product, but HATE the price for sure.
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Yes, it’s a treat of a treatment, for sure! I hope that La Mer Hand Treatment will find its way to me again some day 🙂
Love the Rimmel makeup remover – definitely something I have repurchased
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So happy I discovered it. My eyes thank me whenever I use it instead of another eye makeup remover!
Yay, so happy to hear you love UDPP Anti-Aging
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I do. I used to use UDPP, but they changed the formula and it was no longer doing it for me. The AA version is perfect <3<3<3
You’re right, it is easy to use up skincare products but so hard to finish makeup! I’m so glad you finished a UDPP, I just finished one recently and it seemed to take FOREVER!
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My UD AA PP tube lasted me an entire year! I used to stockpile them when Ulta/Sephora had a sale, but I don’t do that anymore since it takes me forever to open a new tube!
I love empties, and I am also guilty of waiting an incredibly long time between empties posts – oops. That La Mer hand lotion sounds so nice, I’ve always wanted to try that brand but spending $200 on a face cream only seems logical if you’re a millionaire lol 😉
Yes, it’s too bad that La Mer is out of reach for most of us! And I’m glad that I’m not the only one who doesn’t get to empties posts too often. But I should coz they are helpful!
Before I blogged I was using La Mer skincare but hated shelling out for it. Now I have so many skincare items that I won’t spend big money on them anymore.
I’m quite impressed with your list, even if it took 9 months. I finish so little. I toss mascaras but I rarely finish any cosmetic other than a pencil that gets sharpened away.
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Marcia, this relatively small empties post was just the products that I finished up in March. I have two big bags full of products I finished up since last summer! I think I will do a post on the trends I can see in what I’ve used up and replaced multiple times. And I agree, mascara is the only product I either finish up or gets too thick to use.
Honestly I can’t even remember the last time I finished up a makeup product, I agree with you that it seems like I go through my skincare so much faster
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I have soooooo much makeup, it is rare! I meant to put my Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder compact in the pile. I hit pan and was almost finished with it when I dropped it by accident and what was left crumbled. That was the last full size makeup product plus L’Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Intenza Mascara that I just about finished up and tossed!
I love Rimmel London eye/makeup remover brand for my eyes!! I am almost done with my empties and definitely will be getting more in time for May/Mother’s Day!!
I’m glad the Rimmel eye makeup remover works well for you too, Ursula!!
I am curious about the NeoCell serum. I am going to have to look into this.
It’s quite affordable, and it’s been helpful to me!
I have that Moxie lippie and love it as well!
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The BM Marvelous Moxie was one of my favorite things from ipsy last year
Maybe some day I’ll get to try something from La Mer, but from now, I’ll just admire from afar! I like the Marvelous Moxie lippies, too. Very smooth and buttery!
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I’ll be admiring the La Mer Hand Treatment from afar too, Nidia! funny
I remember loving the Neutrogena wipes and I’ll probably go back to it at some point. I’m currently obsessed with my Simple Skincare Gentle wipes at the moment. I love the UDPP Anti-Aging Primer, one of my faves <3
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I’ve heard good things about the Simple Beauty wipes. I may try it but I have trouble with the Simple Beauty Eye Makeup Remover and Micellar Water stinging my eyes so I’m a bit nervous about the wipes
Yeah. I’ve been using a La Mer hand cream too but it was a gift and even though I like it a lot I definitely won’t repurchase it after I finish it, just because it’s sooooo expensive.
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Sad because it works so well. I got mine as a press sample, and it’s one of the best beauty products I’ve ever received
What a fabulous selection of empties! You’ve got through quite a lot haven’t you… I always find it really satisfying throwing an empty package away knowing I’ve used it up and enjoyed it, quite sad I know! I haven’t tried the La Mer hand cream before but Clarins do one that is really good AND they have a product called the Foot Beauty Treatment Cream which is amazing on the hands and feet… lots cheaper than the La Mer so perhaps you’ll like that one xxxx
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I’ll look for the two Clarins products, Laura!
I’ve never seen the Rimmel eye make-up remover before, and it sounds really good! I’m always anxious when buying make-up removers in case they sting my eye, but I trust my Garnier Micellar Water not to do so! x
Jasmine || blogsallbeautyy.blogspot.co.uk
That’s interesting, Jasmine. Wonder if it isn’t part of the Rimmel line-up in the UK. Not all stores carry it in the US though.
Great empties! I’ll have to try the Rimmel makeup remover, its one of the few I haven’t 😀
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Among the drugstores brands that I’ve tried: Maybelline, Neutrogena, Simple Beauty – Rimmel Eye Makeup Remover is by far my favorite: the right size, very gentle to my sensitive eyes, often on sale, removes my eye makeup with ease!
I love using up empties! It makes me feel like less of a beauty hoarder lol. I haven’t tried the anti aging version of the UD primer. I might have to give it a go!
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I don’t know if you need the UD AA PP yet, Amber! But it works well for me. And you summed it up beautifully: getting rid of empties makes me feel like less of a hoarder too!
You used up quite a lot of products,well done! Is that Rimmel remover good at removing waterproof makeup?
And Neutrogena makeup wipes are my absolute favorite!
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Agata, I honestly don’t know for sure since I never wear waterproof makeup. But the website and the bottle both say it does remove waterproof.
I love love love the bare minerals moxie lippies! I bought a couple last year and they’re super creamy and pigmented!
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I think they’re the best, too, Priyanka!!
Hi, I always enjoy empties posts. Your being honest is refreshing too. I received the same bareMinerals lipstick but haven’t used it yet. It’s good to know that it’s something you liked. Thanks!!
Natalie, thank you so much! The Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie is a real winner. The formula is just the right amount of creamy, and the shade really works for me. I bought a full size during the last Ulta sale in the same shade, and I bought another shade during the summer. It’s one of my favorites. Go find yours and give it a go, and let me know if it suits you! <3
I love seeing these posts to see what you ladies use and what you would rebuy!
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I love reading them, too. They are very helpful about what to pick up and what to avoid!
I always have so much respect for people that actuallly use up their products.
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Hahaha, I’m so frugal, I hate to throw out unused product unless I really hate it 😉
I seriously need to try that UD primer. Can you believe I never have?!
No, I can’t believe it, Kristin 😉 It is a good one. Which eye primer are you using?
The La Mer hand treatment is one of my all time faves.
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It’s amazing what a great product the La Mer hand treatment is. I am sorry to see it go!
I really need to start keeping track of my empties!
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I have 9 months worth, Cindy, that I still haven’t written about. I’ve gotta get caught up so I can recycle them all!