Another good month for me in terms of using up beauty products. So how come I still have so many products in my stash, lol? Well, I’ll keep at it as well as keep doing giveaways. A Derma E giveaway will be launching soon now that the Pumpkin & Spice giveaway is over.
I Bought This, PR Sample, Affiliate Links
Bath & Body and Skincare continue to reign supreme in terms of number of empties, but there are some other categories represented this month as well. Here’s what I used up in October:
Bath & Body
Nature Island Botanicals Caribbean Escape Coconut Body Butter: I don’t know how many jars of NIB Caribbean Escape Coconut Body Butter I’ve emptied. I love the tropical scent and the relatively lightweight though hydrating consistency of this body cream. It’s divine. Repurchase? Yes, I will. Right now, I am using the NIB Citrus Sunrise Body Lotion that is actually a richer, thicker cream in a pump bottle. In case, you ever want to try some of Nature Island Botanicals handmade natural and organic body and skincare products, Daphne Frampton takes orders over the phone, by text and on Facebook Messenger. She has free shipping now through a couple of weeks before Christmas.
RITUALS Precious Amber Kitchen Hand Balm: I adore RITUALS Hand Balm in all their fragrances that I’ve tried, but I really really love this one with its warm, amber scent. The square-shaped pump bottle that holds almost 6 ounces is my favorite because it’s faster and easier to use than the tube. In terms of the formula, it is lightweight but highly emollient. Plus it makes my hands so smooth because there must be dimethicone in it. Repurchase? I intend to, but I am searching my stash to make sure that I don’t already have the Hand Balm in the Cherry Blossom scent.
Secret Outlast Sweat & Odor Antiperspirant, travel size: Although I use natural deodorant from Crystal most days, if I have something stressful going on or if it is super hot outdoors, I switch to Secret for the day. I like it. Repurchase? Yes, I did.
Hey Honey Walk the Walk Propolis Foot and Heel Cream, travel size: I think I bought this travel size tube of Hey Honey foot cream as a $3 add-on from Ipsy several months ago because I am a fan of the Hey Honey honey-infused brand of skincare and body care. I ended up thinking that Walk the Walk Propolis Foot and Heel Cream is the best foot cream I have ever used! Repurchase? Hey Honey is currently having a 25% off Friends & Family Sale so I bought a full size tub as well as the Hand and Feet Set that will give me another full size tub of Foot Cream plus a tube of their hand cream that I’m eager to try. Check it out!
Baronessa Cali Tarrocco Sicilian Blood Orange Exfoliating Soap, travel size: I got this exfoliating soap at a hotel that Jeff and I stayed at in Sedona 5 years ago. I had been saving it (what for?), and I finally took it out and used it. The orange scent was lovely. The translucent orange glycerin soap made lots of lather, and the natural bits of exfoliator (tiny apricot seeds) were nice. Repurchase? I think I preferred the smooth Tarrocco Blood Orange Complexion Soap without the exfoliator grains. The scent was so nice that sometime when I need bar soap, I will buy the Complexion Soap if I can find it. Baronessa Cali Tarrocco also makes Blood Orange body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel. It’s a wonderful product line.
Skincare
Derma E Vitamin C Daily Brightening Cleanser: This is a terrific liqui-gel facial cleanser that comes in an easy to use pump bottle. It smells like citrus so it’s especially nice to use in the morning. While some people wonder what’s the use of a facial cleanser with active ingredients since it gets washed off, many facial cleansers including this one leave ingredients as well as a hydrated feeling behind. Repurchase? I already have another waiting in the wings, though right now I am really enjoying the First Aid Beauty Gentle Foaming Face Cleanser that I reviewed yesterday.
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence: I bought the small bottle of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence about a year ago from an online retailer where it was on sale, and I don’t think I paid more than $25 for it which is less than it typically would cost. I have used it sparingly. It’s my favorite face essence because it’s so lightweight (it’s a liquid), hydrating, soothing, and it helps skin look smoother. But it is super expensive. Repurchase? At some point, I will see if I can buy another travel size bottle from that same online retailer whose name I have forgotten, but in the meantime, I have other essences that I can use. Otherwise, if you have money to spare to get the best value, Costco is the place to buy it in the large, 11 oz. pump bottle.
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream: I think this was my first tube of CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, and I liked it a lot to use on my dry eyelids, crease and under my eyes. It is nicely hydrating, and it’s very affordable. Using this in conjunction with the expensive City Beauty Lid Lifting Treatment is ideal. I save the City Beauty cream for the skin above my crease, and use this affordable cream in the rest of my eye area. Repurchase? Yes, I did. I noticed that CVS charges $7 more for it than Target, boo! Fortunately, I had a coupon and Extrabucks, otherwise I wouldn’t have bought it at CVS.
Georgette Klinger Sea Extracts Eye Cream, travel size: I got this cute little tube of Georgette Klinger Eye Cream from the company as a sample when I bought a couple of bottles of their wonderful Coconut and Lavender Toners. This little tiny tube lasted me for almost 3 months. It’s a very lightweight white hydrating cream with the benefits of firmness and elasticity. I used it the same way I used the CeraVe. I probably should have also tried it on the skin above my crease where I use the City Beauty. I liked GK Sea Extracts Eye Cream, but I think in the cooler weather it might be better suited for younger skin than mine. Repurchase? Probably not.
Filorga Hydra-Filler, travel size: I must have gotten this tube of Filorga Hydra-Filler gel cream either through Ipsy or from a Barneys NY goody bag a while ago. I put it away, and then found it a couple of months ago. I liked it a lot. With hyaluronic acid, it’s hydrating for my mature skin, and it does act like a filling primer. Repurchase? I don’t know. I have so many different moisturizers that I have to use up first, but I did like this one because it functioned as a multitasker: anti-aging cream and primer in one.
City Beauty City Lips Clear: I go through a tube of City Lips about once every 6 weeks. Although I have a million tubes of lip balm, this uber hydrating, non-stinging, plumping clear lip balm is my absolute fave. Repurchase? I always have at least one tube but usually more in my stash. But at the end of the month, I think there’s going to be another City Lips BOGO. So I’ll wait till then to pick up a couple more.
Health & Beauty
Natrol Biotin 5000mcg Tablets: These strawberry fast dissolving tablets have been my go-to biotin supplement for healthier hair, nails and skin for at least the past 4 years. I buy them at Costco in a bottle with 250 tabs, and they are very affordable. Repurchase? I have a bottle waiting in the wings, but my head has been turned by the super yummy strawberry heart-shaped gummies from Vegamour. I’m halfway through the pricier Vegamour gummies jar, and I have another one in my stash. After that, it will be a dilemma because the Natrol tabs are so much cheaper.
Hair Care
JOICO K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock Instant Shine & Repair Treatment: I’ve gone through a million tubes of JOICO K-PAK Luster Lock conditioning treatment, too. It’s a staple in my haircare routine. Nothing works as well for my coarse hair. Repurchase? I just opened a new tube. I am never without it.
Beauty Tools
Beautyblender Blendercleanser Solid Unscented Brush Cleaner: Because I didn’t wear much makeup over the past 18 months, this tub of Blendercleanser brush soap lasted me forever! It’s easy to use and it works well on my brushes and sponges. Repurchase? At some point, I will. I think I have a tub of another brush cleansing soap in my stash that I need to use first.
Makeup
Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara, travel size: I got this as part of a birthday gift from Ulta a while ago. I thought it was an OK volumizing mascara with a fiber wand. The mascara itself is thick and on me with my wonky lashes, it often made them stick together so that I had to separate a lot of them. I carried it in my purse makeup bag for quite a while to use in a pinch, but it is old and I need to toss it. Repurchase? No. There are other mascaras that I prefer.
Project Pan Stats
In October, I used up 15 beauty products. Not bad at all especially since so many of them were really big. And all but two were products I purchased. Plus at least half of the products I emptied were staples in my beauty routine. Interesting.
I ended last month/September with 94 empties so far in 2021. With 15 more, I am now at 109! My goal for the year is 125 empties, so with two more months in 2021 (can you believe it?), I need to finish up only 16 more. Woohoo! I’m quite optimistic that I can use up an average of 8 in the last two months.
How about you, did you use up anything in October that you think you’d buy again? Do tell!
Excellent job, Allison! You really used up so many products in October! There is a chance that I will finish up a bottle of the Derma E Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser by the end of this month! I love that cleanser and keep a bottle in my shower. The smell alone is delightful, but it is also such an effective and lovely cleanser!
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You will definitely hit your goal. Great job finishing things. I notice that CVS charges a lot more for items but then they do sales and coupons so I end up going back there for more.
I’m the same way, Marcia. CVS’ sales, Extrabucks and coupons suck me in.