March 2023 Empties

All my monthly trash on display for you to see. :P

1. Virtue Flourish Conditioner for Thinning Hair: I really enjoyed both this and the accompanying shampoo (which I am still working on) as they both really did make my hair feel thicker and more dense. This has a spa-like herbaceous scent to it that I really enjoy as well. 

2. AOA Studio A+ Glam 3D Premium Faux Mink Lashes in New York: I really love how big and full these lashes are and how big they make my eyes look, but they have the tendency to want to pop off the inner and outer corners of my eyes.

3. REVLON Colorsilk Beautiful Color After-Color Conditioner x4: So the woman my mom currently works for passed down a bunch of these post-color conditioners because apparently her daughter doesn't use them - which I think is criminal because boxed dye dries out the hair quite badly - but in any case I really like this! It's deeply hydrating and helps nourish my dry ends. I personally happen to think it smells nice too.

4. Fourth Ray Beauty Night Dew hydrating jelly mask: This mask does a fantastic job of adding a boost to my nighttime routine. While, as most things, it didn't really help my eczema patch much I did find that overall my skin was more hydrated and had a nice, soft texture while I was using this.

5. one+other Pro Strength Nail Polish Remover: I found that this did its job as a nail polish remover. 

6. exederm for eczema and dermatitis flare control cream: Unfortunately I didn't find this more helpful than something like just cortisone and that's probably to do with the fact that the main ingredient here is cortisone to begin with. Initially I thought it was better than just regular cortisone but over time the results were essentially the same. Suffice to say I will probably just use plain cortisone for my eczema going forward. 

7. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Cannabis Sativa Hemp Seed Oil x2:  I really love how gritty these scrubs are. This has an earthy, fresh, green scent to it that I didn't think I'd enjoy but I do. At least it doesn't have that signature scent one might associate with cannabis and I appreciate that.

8. Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream: I'm kind of unsure as to why I liked this so much in my original review of it. I've used up my second tube of it and it's alright at moisturizing and everything but it feels and acts very basic for something so pricey. My eczema patch has calmed down a little bit, but I would almost say it's the warmer weather that's helping and not this specific product. Although this is supposed to have skin regenerating ingredients in it, I really didn't see a difference. I felt like it was just okay. 

9. Skinfood Peach Cotton Multi Finish Powder: I really enjoyed the smooth finish of this powder and that it had a bit of a peach scent to it. That being said, the sifter here is not removable which makes me feel like there might be product left behind that I just cannot get to. 

10. Nutrius Brazilian Body Butter Cream: I had asked my mom to get these for me hoping that they were a dupe for the Sol Janeiro Bum Bum Cream and while the cream smells nice, it is no dupe. Unfortunately, I found this overall like a thin body lotion and I wish it were more hydrating. It hydrated my legs ok but really didn't do much for the soles of my feet. 

11. Marc Jacobs O!mega Lash Mascara: I am so glad to be done with this mascara because, it may be because it dried out, but it really didn't do anything noticeable for my lashes. In fact it hardly coated them at all because the formula would just stick onto the brush rather than to my lashes. 

12. Garnier Fructis Smoothing + Avocado Hair Treatment : I bought this on a whim because I needed a hair mask and ended up really loving this. It makes my hair very soft, smooth, and nourished-feeling while also smelling delicious. I love that its scent lingers in my hair.

13. Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara: Unfortunately it seems as though this mascara has also dried out to the point where it does nothing but comb through my lashes without doing anything for them. 

14. wet n wild Vitamins super nutrient face mist: I really enjoyed this mist, it smells yummy, kind of like Emergen-C or Fanta to me. In addition, I think it did a nice job with helping my skin feel refreshed and helping my makeup stay on. 

15. COSRX Aloe Sun Soothing Cream SPF 50 PA+++: As always, I am so sad to have run out of this. It is by far my favorite sunscreen that I've used for face because it's hydrating, fairly lightweight, and absorbs well. It doesn't have very much of a white casting either.

16. lune+aster Desert Moon Bronzer, Blush & Glow Palette: This was a really nice face palette that, while I wasn't sure that the bronzer here would work for me, actually created quite the natural, glowing, sunkissed appearance especially when all the shades were used in tandem. I quite enjoyed it and am sad to have finished it up.

17.  Quo Curl Effortless Mascara: Unfortunately, this mascara has developed an off-scent, it smells fishy, so I'll be discarding it.

18. AOA studio A+ Glam 3D Premium Faux Mink Lashes in Paris x2: These are beautiful, large, false lashes that really open up my eyes and make my eyes look large. That being said, I have trouble getting these to stick in the inner corners of my eyes.

19. Trish McEvoy Jet Black Lash Curling Mascara: Unfortunately, this mascara has developed an odd scent to it so I think it's best for us to part ways. 

20. Tarte Lights, Cameras, Flashes! Statement Mascara: This mascara has completely dried out.

21. up&up 100% acetone nail polish remover dip-it: This has gotten quite dirty so I've replaced it. 

22. Urban Decay Naked Skin Illuminating Beauty Balm: I've been using this as a primer because, on its own this doesn't have much coverage but gave my skin a bit of an orange tint because I assume it was meant to give a "bronze" effect. That being said, it worked well at holding my makeup on and smoothing out any texture on my skin. 

23. Dove gentle exfoliating sea minerals body wash: Honestly, I like to use these body washes for shaving and the exfoliating version isn't my favorite because it's a bit gritty. That being said, the exfoliating factor of this body wash is extremely mild and it still provides me with a smooth shave.

24. Freeman Deep Clearing manuka honey + tea tree oil Clay Mask + Cleanser: I really enjoyed using this as a mask because I found that it left my skin feeling genuinely deeply cleansed but without being tight or dried out. 

25. The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane: I enjoyed this retinol formulation in particular because I believe that due to it being in squalane oil, that it was generally well-tolerated by my normally sensitive skin. However, I have complained for nearly a year now of this horrid eczema patch on my chin and I wonder if perhaps the retinol hadn't been making the spot worse. I have purchased a bunch of gentle, hydrating products since the start of this year and I'll be taking a break from the retinol now that I'm done this bottle so we'll see if it was, in fact, the retinol that may have been causing or exacerbating the patch.

26. Freeman Anti-Stress dead sea minerals Clay Mask: This is another mask I really enjoyed using  because I found that it left my skin feeling deeply cleansed without being tight or dried out. 

27.  lune + aster Powerlips Lip Oil: Unfortunately, although I really enjoyed this lip oil and found it hydrating, it has developed a weird off scent/flavor and I feel like it's best that I discard it. 

28. YSL 5 Fuchsia Temptation Crème de Blush Cream Blush: Frankly I'm kind of shocked that I finished this blush because it very, very slowly and very, very gradually just came to an end. It was a really fun, bright fuschia pink that added a nice brightness to my cheeks. I really enjoyed using it.

29.  Dr. Bronner's Rose Magic Soap: I really like to use these soaps to wash my brushes with. I do find that this has quite an intense floral scent to it that I wouldn't pinpoint as being rose. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Dr. Barbara Sturm, Marc Jacobs, lune + aster, Quo, Trish McEvoy, tarte, Urban Decay, Freeman, YSL, and Nutrius products. 

December 2022 Empties

 All my monthly trash on display for you to see. :P

1. Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Lotion: I adore the scent of this but honestly I prefer this in the actual body butter formula as I didn't find the lotion hydrating enough. It did ok for my legs but it's definitely not enough hydration for my feet.  

2. Suave Professionals rose oil infusion Volumizing Conditioner: I felt that this conditioner left my hair very soft and silky while having a nice rose scent to it. 

3. Maya Chia The Happy Hour The Highlight of the Day: I decided that since I wasn't really using this as a highlighter at the time being and I ran out of my facial oil that I'd use this to replace said facial oil. Unfortunately all I can say about this product is that, if you manage to get your hands on one of these highlighters, you really don't want to let it sit for a while. The pigment completely separated from the oil and would not recombine even when I'd shake the bottle. The dropper also got clogged and while I did unclog it with a pin, it seemed to no longer want to pick up product. I ran through the oil very quickly as it doesn't seem that there was much in the bottle to begin with. Like I said, unless you purchase this and use it all right away I would suggest picking up a different Maya Chia oil, as I have raved about them in the past. Alas, this isn't my favorite.

4. COSRX The Vitamin C 23: While this serum felt refreshing to apply because it had to be kept in the fridge, I didn't find that it did anything worth writing home about for my skin. I really didn't like its scent either. 

5. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub: This is a really yummy scented sugar scrub. It's a coarse grain sugar, which I personally enjoy because I find it invigorating. I like to use these scrubs to prep and smooth out my skin for shaving.

6. AOA studio A+ Glam 3D Premium Faux Mink lashes in Dallas: These are a pretty fluttery, wispy lash but I found that they had some trouble sticking to the inner corner of my eye. Additionally, they kind of lost their shape as I wore them.

7. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Shampoo: This shampoo has that beloved Bum Bum Cream scent to it that I just adore. It lingers in the hair and makes my hair smell so good! I also find that this is a very hydrating shampoo formulation - it leaves my hair feeling soft and silky. 

8. Freeman Detoxifying charcoal + black sugar Mud Mask: I like that this is a mud mask that doesn't feel super tight as it dries. I can't say it works amazing for clearing away my sebaceous filament but it makes my skin feel deep-cleansed yet soft and smooth when I use it.

9. wet n wild Rose Addiction Photo Focus 3-in-1 Primer Water: Every time I use this up I'm sad because I really love the way it sets face makeup. I wish they sold these in jumbo bottles that were like 8 oz .of product or something because 1.52 oz. of liquid is nowhere near enough.

10. pixi by Petra skintreats Rose Cream Cleanser:  Frankly I'm so glad to have used this up because while it left my skin soft, it doesn't really foam up and I am not a fan of its texture or scent. 

11. Fourth Ray Beauty Super Fine pore refinining Mask: This mask was nice in the sense that it left my skin feeling really silky smooth after I used it. That said, I don't find that it helped my sebaceous filaments in any way. 

12. TONYMOLY Intense Care Gold 24K Snail Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA++++: I liked this sunscreen in the sense of it being nicely hydrating without needing the use of additional moisturizer. That being said, it's a bit heavier in texture than what I prefer and I just don't love its scent.

13. innisfree youth-enriched gel cream with orchid: I am sad to be out of this moisturizer because it just worked so beautifully. The only spot that this didn't hydrate fully is my little eczema zone that I frequently complain about. Even so, this did a good job of giving it hydration compared to other products. I love how this is both lightweight and refreshing to apply yet it is deeply hydrating. This leaves my skin feeling plump and soft. 

14. Soap & Glory Heel Genius Hydrating Foot Cream: Honestly I absolutely love this stuff for two reasons. The first is that I often complain that body hydrators don't do enough for the soles of my feet whereas this left my feet feeling very soft and hydrated. I'm on my feet a lot and am prone to callus growth; these calluses make my feet uncomfortable because they get dry and stiff, thereby limiting the natural flexibility of my skin where they grow and giving it this weird numbness that I cannot stand - which is why I often complain that body hydrators aren't doing enough - if I'm lucky they'll hydrate the surface of the sole but do nothing for the callus issue - this hydrated deeply enough for even that callused skin to retain its sensation and flexibility. I'm assuming that is partially due to the AHAs this contains along with its hydrating ingredients. That being said, the second reason I love this is because it's not too heavy, greasy, or irritating to have applied to my legs post-shave - my legs and feet are essentially the only parts I put body hydrators on because usually I use hydrating body washes and those are sufficient for the rest of my body (eczema-prone areas excluded, I use special eczema lotions for those) so to find a product that works beautifully for both is like finding some sort of holy grail. The only issue I have with the product is it's a bit pricey for me to keep replacing - it lasted me about 3 weeks. 

15. AOA Studio A+ Glam 3D Premium Faux Mink Lashes in Jeju: These lashes are really pretty but have a habit of wanting to pop off at the inner corners.

16. berkley jensen scented baby wipes in Refreshing Green Tea & Cucumber: I love these wipes largely because, at 500 to a pack, they don't run quickly. As I've mentioned I like to wipe down surfaces with these and use them to remove swatches on my hands.

17. e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm: Overall I really liked the smell of this and how it removed a vast majority of my makeup but I wish it did a better job at breaking down lash glue residue. It did alright but I felt that all the rubbing I did ended up irritating my eyes. 

18. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Cannabis Sativa Hemp Seed Oil: This is a coarse grain sugar, which I personally enjoy because I find it invigorating. I like to use these scrubs to prep and smooth out my skin for shaving. I really like its fresh, earthy, green scent - it kind of smells like a forest with a bit of a sugar note. Thankfully it doesn't smell like the kind of weed that people smoke because that scent makes me nauseous. 

19. REN Perfect Canvas Skin Finishing Serum: I used this serum primarily as a primer versus a skincare item - I really liked the boost of hydration it gave my skin and how it made my skin look really smooth under my foundation. 

20. AOA studio Perfect Setting Powder in Brightening: Honestly, I really wanted to like these powders because they're inexpensive but unfortunately they crease under my eyes and I feel like the emphasize texture on my skin.

21. Crown Brushes: The following are all brushes I like to replace on a yearly basis just because they get used so often that they fray heavily and end up changing in shape - for whatever reason more so than my other brushes. My brow brush is a bit broken as well:

Crown Pro C511

Crown Pro C510

Crown Brush C158 Angled Liner/Spoolie

22. Dove restoring coconut & cocoa butters body wash: On the one hand, I really love this body wash because it makes my skin super soft and silky when I shave. That being said, it's thick and leaves quite a nasty residue around the tub.

23. Fourth Ray Beauty Grand Reveal resurfacing overnight mask: I feel like I really liked this mask at first but overall, I find that it aggravates my eczema and is dehydrating to my skin. I personally prefer sleeping masks that add a boost of hydration to my nighttime routine so I will not be getting this again.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Maya Chia, REN, and Freeman products. 

October 2022 Empties

All my monthly trash on display for you to see. :P

1. innisfree 3 Jeju Color Picker Real Color Nail: I've just run out of this nail polish, it's very goopy and mostly gone so it's time to say goodbye. 

2. AOA studio A+ Glam 3D Premium Faux Mink Lashes in Amsterdam: These lashes are beautiful but unfortunately they're very fluttery and don't have a base that lets you glue them on easily or anchors them onto the eyes. This causes them to pop off at the corners constantly which annoys me.

3. : I love the scent of this mask and that it leaves my skin feeling soft when I wash it off. That being said, I don't love its texture, it feels like it leaves a bit of a balmy texture behind.

4. AOA studio 3D Faux Mink Lashes in Krissi: I really enjoyed this pair of lashes - it gives my eyes definition and oomph while still being a bit natural and fluffy-looking. 

5. Duo Quick-Set Striplash Adhesive: I'm gonna be honest that I don't find that this sets any faster than the paint-on lash glue with the brush. That being said, it works just fine for gluing on falsies. Mine is getting clumpy so it's time to replace it.

6. lune+aster Eclipse Volumizing & Curling Mascara: While I liked that this is a tubing mascara that can be layered and created quite visible results I also don't love that the formula is kind of clumpy. I usually remedy that issue with a lash comb but due to the tubing nature of this mascara, it managed to clog up my lash comb. Overall I'm happy to have played with it but I'm also happy to move on to another mascara.

7. Physicians Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner: Now this is a product I'm sad to be moving on from because it's my favorite liquid eyeliner at the drugstore. I find that over time (as in, it took about a year of regular use) that I noticed this really did make a difference on my lashes - they're so much fuller and thicker now and while I will say I've gotten better at applying falsies over the years I hardly ever have lashes come off when I take my falsies off.

8. wet n wild photo focus Concealer: I feel like I used to love this concealer more than I did when using it now. Firstly the color was a tad bit too dark for me, which was an error on my own part. But additionally, the product is more sheer than I remember it being and required quite a bit of layering to get the opacity I wanted. I also feel like it was difficult to get a good amount of product out of the packaging and even having removed the wand wiper I can't get all the product out of the packaging.

9. beauty 360 100% Acetone Pro Strength Nail Polish Remover:  This works great for getting nail polish off fairly quickly. My jar has gotten really gross so it's time for a new one.

10. KimChi Chic Puff Puff Pass Set & Bake Powder:  I love this powder so much! It's beautifully finely milled and super silky, it sets the under-eye and face area beautifully while looking natural and not creasing. I highly recommend it.

11. GLAMGLOW GLOWSTARTER Nude Glow Mega Illuminating Moisturizer: I really like the glow this gives my skin but, that being said, while its hydration level is alright I personally would prefer something a bit more hydrating because this didn't do very much for my face eczema and it's becoming a real issue for me as we head into colder weather.

12. Soapology Lavender & Vanilla Shower Gel: I'm a big fan of this because it smells so good! It's a very floral lavender with a hint of vanilla that smells sophisticated, not overly soapy or sweet. I was genuinely impressed with it. This foams up beautifully and left my skin feeling silky smooth.

13. Kosasport Serene Clean Chemistry AHA Serum Deodorant: Honestly if you're looking for a "natural" or aluminum-free deodorant I would highly recommend this one. It kept me stench-free from day one! That being said, it does nothing to keep you from sweating so if you sweat profusely and would rather not, this may not be the product for you. Additionally, I am someone who shaves my armpits and if I accidently nicked myself I'd know it because the acid would sting. It wasn't anything intensely painful but it was unpleasant. This lasted me several months and is incredibly lightweight and nonstick which I appreciate.

14. GARNIER green labs Brightening Gel Wash Pinea-C: Honestly I don't like how this didn't foam up much and it was also a bit drying to my skin. I need something somewhat more hydrating.

15. #I DEW CARE Cake My Day Mask: This mask is great for hydration but I feel like it leaves behind a bit of a residue when you wash it off and therefore is best for the driest of the dry skin types or is best used only on super dry areas that need the extra boost.

16. berkley jensen unscented baby wipes: As I've said in the past I really like to use these wipes to wipe down surfaces, clean my makeup with, and to remove makeup swatches with. They're well-moistened and last a long time due to there being 100 per pack. 

17. Soap & Glory Drop in The Lotion: This has a yummy coconut scent to it but I honestly don't find it hydrating enough. It'[s just barely hydrating enough for my legs and, as you can guess, isn't hydrating enough for the soles of my feet. 

18. now essential oils 100% pure peppermint: I like to sprinkle peppermint oil around as a deterrent for creepy crawly creatures and to use it in my essential oil diffuser to help clear my sinuses.

19. AOA studio 3D Faux Mink Lashes in Elidia: These are a really pretty, large fluttery wispy lash.

20. Trader Joe's Brazil Nut Body Butter: This body butter smells absolutely delicious and does a wonderful job of providing hydration for my legs and soles of my feet. I feel like the more I used it the more I liked it. 

21. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Black Elderberry: I love these scrubs because they give me a good intensity of scrubbiness where they leave my skin smooth and feel invigorating. This has a nice tart berry scent to it. 

22. A+ Setting Spray: This was a fairly nice setting spray that did a good job of keeping my makeup in place. I did feel like I had to use a lot to get that refreshing sensation I like from a setting spray, but for it being under $2 I can't complain.

23. Dove refreshing cucumber & green tea Nourishing Body Wash: As I've mentioned many times, I really love to use these body washes to shave with because they're very hydrating and more economical for me to have on hand versus shaving foams. This has a nice, refreshing, slightly sweet scent to it. 

24. Boheme Haircare Nourish Shampoo: I felt like I liked this a lot when I initially started using it - this has a nice, spa-like, herbaceous scent and left my hair feeling soft, clean, and full. That being said, over time I felt like I noticed shedding and thinning in my hair and I'm unsure if this is to blame but I have to say I feel like it didn't contribute to any improvement of my hair's quality.

25. innisfree brightening & pore-caring cream: I like that this is a lightweight formula but it gives the skin a nice boost of hydration overall. That being said, I have an eczema patch on my face and this didn't hydrate that bit at all. Additionally, I don't find that it does anything for my pores.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Soapology, Boheme Haircare, innisfree, and KimChi Chic  products. 

August 2020 Empties

All my monthly trash on display for you to see. :P

1. Celeb Luxury Viral Extreme Teal Colorwash: This is a great vivid teal, color depositing shampoo - it does a great job of cleansing the hair while also depositing color. 

2.  innisfree brightening & pore-caring serum: This serum felt really refreshing to apply but I don't find that it did anything particularly special for my skin in terms of brightening or pore-care.

3. Youth to the People Spirulina + Microalgae Kale Spinach Mask: I really like that this mask is designed to be deep cleaning yet also nourishing for the skin. A lot of deep cleaning masks tend to just dry me out so this was a nice change.

4. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Mocha & Coffee Bean:  You know I love these and have been using them for years - my #1 body scrub because it's super scrubby but isn't oily so you won't be slipping and sliding all over your shower or tub. I LOVE this scent for my morning shower because not only does the scrubbing action wake me up but this yummy coffee scent does too.

5. berkley jensen Unscented Baby Wipes: I personally love baby wipes to wipe surfaces with, especially my makeup and these are fantastic because they come in a 100-pack so it lasts a long time before you have to go grab for another one. I'm sure that would be convenient for those of you with babies. They're also really good quality and are well-saturated. 

6. Softsoap Juicy Pomegranate & Mango Moisturizing Body Wash:  This smells absolutely incredible and I was using it to shave my legs. I don't find it to be all that moisturizing though, possibly because it's a gel-based formulation.

7. Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray: Truth be told I hardly ever use heat styling tools on my hair. I really liked the burst of moisture this gave my hair though and I appreciate that it didn't weigh my hair down.

8. Johnson's Bedtime Lotion: Unfortunately this wasn't really all that hydrating. It has a nice scent to it and it goes on smoothly but I wish it had more hydration to it.

9. Makeup Geek Elegant Full False Lashes: These are really fun spiked lashes.

10. Anastasia Beverly Hills False Lashes in Domina: These are such a fun pair of slightly spiky, slightly wispy, long lashes. They add such pretty, fluttery drama to my eyes.

11. Chaos Makeup in Golden Rose: Unfortunately this smells like it went off so I'm discarding it.

12.Darphin Intral Redness Relief Serum:  I don't really find that this does much for my redness but feels refreshing on the skin.

13. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Smoothing Shampoo: I got this as a sample and OMG it smells incredible - as their products do (to me) and I found that this shampoo made my hair feel super soft and smooth. Plus the scent lingers in my hair and reactivates when I ruffle my hair up... I absolutely love it!

14. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Smoothing Conditioner: Much like the shampoo, this is super hydrating and leaves my hair smelling phenomenal.

15. Tree Hut Black Sugar Scrub in Charcoal:  You folks know I love these and have been using them for years - my #1 body scrub because it's super scrubby but isn't oily so you won't be slipping and sliding all over your shower or tub. This does have a charcoal-ish scent to it that I don't personally enjoy.

16. Tocca Stella Eau de Parfum: This is a nice citrusy perfume.

17. Creme de La Mer the moisturizing soft lotion: This felt so lovely on my skin and absorbed quickly, leaving my skin super soft and supple.

18. Clinique Pep-Start Guava Pout Perfecting Lip Balm: This smells like it's gone really off.

19. Tocca Florence Eau de Parfum: This is a really clean, earthy, green scent. I like it but I don't find that it's one I'd go out and purchase.

20. m-61 PowerSpot Clear: As you can tell I keep repurchasing these - they're a great spot treatment that really helps reduce the redness and swelling of acne while drawing all that nasty puss and bacteria to the top.

21. dermalogica retinol clearing oil:  I have mixed feelings on retinol as I've had dryness and irritation happen from it in the past. That said, because this is an oil, I find that it hydrated my skin so I didn't really get dry. I did notice more radiant skin when I was using the sample.

22. Creme de La Mer the moisturizing soft cream: This feels a tad bit too heavy for my skin.

23. innisfree nourishing mist with canola honey: This was a really nice smelling refreshing mist. I find that it smells floral but not like honey.

24. Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Cologne: This is a lightweight, soft scent.

25. Jo Malone Wild Bluebell Cologne: This is a lightweight, soft scent as well, a bit earthy compared to the one above.

26. Clinique Pep-Start Cherry Pout Perfecting Lip Balm: This smells like it's gone off.

27. Tocca Gia Ea de Parfum: You know I absolutely LOVE this perfume and I was happy to wear it but sad to have used it all up.

28. Maya Chia The Revitalizer Beautifying Body Oil: This truly is such a wonderful hydrating oil (alas, not hydrating enough for the soles of my feet) that absorbs quickly - I used it after shaving my legs and it made my skin feel lovely.

29. Korres Foaming Cream Cleanser: This is a nice basic foaming cleanser that had my skin feeling soft and clean.

30.Skinceuticals Resveratrol B E: I feel like this didn't really do anything for me but I also feel like this is one of those things that, because it's so heavily anti-oxidant based, is a product you have to keep using for years to see if it prevents further aging.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Youth to the People, Oribe, Jonson's, Chaos Makeup, Darphin, Sol de Janeiro, Tocca, La Mer, Clinique, innisfree (serum), Jo Malone, Maya Chia, Korres, and Skinceuticals  products. 

May 2019 Empties

All my garbage of the month! :D

Sheet Masks Galore:

papa recipe Bombee Honey Mask x3: I purchased a box of these because I used to absolutely adore them and I still do. These provide lovely lightweight moisture and leave my skin looking radiant while feeling smooth, soft, and nourished.
papa recipe Bombee Fruitables Orange Squeeze Energy Mask: My favorite of the Fruitables mask line because this leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth, hydrated, replenished and looking radiant. It also smells delicious.
papa recipe Bombee Black Honey Mask Pack: I really enjoyed this mask but find its effects quite similar to the regular honey mask. That said I feel like this adheres to the face a bit better though but unfortunately is slightly smaller in size.
patchology Soothe 5 Minute Flash Mask: This is a really nice, calming, hydrating mask.

patchology Hydrate 5 Minute Sheet Mask: This is a nice soothing, hydrating mask. I'd say this and the soothe are interchangeable although that one has slightly more anti-inflammatory effects and this has slightly more hydrating. This hydrates without a heavy essence, which is nice.
patchology Illuminate 5 Minute Sheet Mask: I really like that this mask has somewhat of an apricot -peach smell - it's unexpected yet very summery and pleasant. The mask gives my skin a nice radiance. 

patchology Milk Peel 5 Minute Sheet Mask: Out of these masks this is the only one I kept on for the recommended 5 minutes - because the others don't have any actives in them I left them on for 20 minutes each. This mask left my skin looking radiant and feeling smoother - I liked that it gave the effect of an at-home peel, or similar to other at-home peels I've tried but it felt very gentle.
the Saem Pure Natural Mask Sheet Snail Brightening: I found this sheet mask refreshing yet not as hydrating as I personally like. I also didn't find that it brightened any more than their regular clay mask did.
the Saem Pure Natural Mask Sheet Snail: I found this sheet mask refreshing yet not as hydrating as I personally like.
Secret Key Nature Recipe Mask in Honey: I really like that this mask is honey scented but it isn't as hydrating as I personally prefer for my sheet masks to be.

Soap & Glory Miracle Moisture Mask: This mask felt refreshing and hydrating but because it's a gel it didn't stay put on my face that well and I wish the serum in it was milky rather than watery.
TONYMOLY I'm Coconut Mask Sheet: My very favorite of the TONYMOLY sheet mask line - this mask smells like delicious coconut milk and leaves my skin feeling hydrated and supple.

TONYMOLY I'm Rice Mask Sheet: I found this to be a lightly hydrating, smoothing face mask.

2. Pampers Sensitive Skin Baby Wipes: I like to use these to wipe down surfaces and my makeup because they're nontoxic and work well for that.

3. LUSH Ro's Argan Body Conditioner: Although the body conditioners are meant to be used in the shower or bath and then rinsed off I personally prefer using them as body lotion - which I've been told by employees is an ok thing to do. This has a delicious rose honey scent that I absolutely adore. 

4. Odacite Blue Aura Cleansing Water: I used this as a toner and I really liked the way it made my skin feel cleansed yet soft. It's also got a refreshing clean, slightly citrus-y scent that I enjoy.

5. Odacite Pe + C Peach Cypress Serum Concentrate for Combination Skin: I think this worked nicely in balancing my skin out as I was starting to break out a lot when I started using it and it seemed to help reduce the breakouts.

6. Klorane Eye Contour Smoothing and Relaxing Patches: While I didn't find these to be super smoothing I did find them sticky - that said they made my under-eye area look very vibrant, awake, and hydrated so I appreciate that. I liked them a lot.

7. Studio 35 Beauty Manuka Honey Detoxifying Mask: This was by far the weirdest face mask I've ever used - its consistently is very snot-like and it peels off after it dries. I didn't find that it had any amazing effects on my skin.

8. Comfort Care Essentials Revitalizing Conditioner: I wasn't really expecting much from this conditioner given that it's a little thing left in hotels but it actually provides a nice, light hydration.

9. Otaku Scents Ami (Sailor Mercury): I will say that although this candle smelled nice and the artwork is adorable - it just burns poorly and unevenly. I wanted to love these candles from Otaku Scents so much but their uneven burning leaves a lot to be desired. I may get wax tarts from them in the future but I've given up on the candles.

10. Sol Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream Fast Absorbing Body Cream: Folks, this stuff smells INCREDIBLE and I love that the scent of it lingers on my skin all day. Yum! It leaves my skin feeling soft, silky, and well-hydrated.

11. Comfort Care Essentials Gentle Cleansing Shampoo: As with the conditioner, I really wasn't expecting to be wowed by this in any sense but found that it did a pretty decent job of cleaning my hair without causing it to feel dry or stripped.

12. red cherry Eyelashes in Molla: This are a nice natural, wispy lash style. I like that it gives my eyes a more open appearance but is still fairly natural-looking.

13. skinfix Eczema Balm: Forever a hero product in my collection because it genuinely helps my eczema clear up and I love that it contains ingredients that help calm and soothe the skin that ultimately help to rebuild broken skin versus causing more problems down the line. I love that I can use this long-term on stubborn eczema patches without worrying that it will cause my skin harm.

14. Odacite Pf+O Passion Fruit-Orange Serum Concentrate for Dull Skin: This serum smells lovely and I find that it boosts the hydration levels of my moisturizer but I didn't really feel like it added any extra radiance to my complexion.

15.Revive Foaming Cleanser Enriched Hydrating Wash x2: I love this cleanser so much - it produces a beautiful rich, hydrating foam and does a wonderful job of cleansing my face whilst leaving my skin feeling refreshed-yet-hydrated. Unfortunately it's too pricey for me to go out and purchase on my own.

16. dermalogica Skinperfect Primer SPF 30: I love that this has SPF in it but that's where the love ends. I personally don't love heavy silicone-feeling primers and this is certainly in that alley. I feel like my makeup just slips off it and I  don't like its texture.

17. Everyday Minerals Jojoba Base in Rosy Fair 0C: I picked up a sample of this as I've used it years ago and really liked this color at the time. That said, this time around I felt that this didn't provide me with adequate coverage and in fact managed to move around any concealer I'd place under it. :/

18. Dove Purely Pampering Relaxing Lavender Body Wash: I really like using these to shave as they leave my skin feeling very soft and smooth, last longer than shave gel, and provide a good lather/glide for my razor.

19. Natura Bisse Diamond White Rich Luxury Cleanse: I found this cleanser to be really odd - it's a gel to milk type of texture that doesn't foam at all. My issue with these milky non-foaming cleansers is that I feel they never rinse cleanly and leave a residue on my skin. Now technically I know the residue is meant to hydrate and seal in moisture but honestly it just feels like a weird film on my skin that feels... unclean. This smells nice and the film bit isn't too bad but it's there and I don't like it.

20. Tocca Gia: I absolutely love this scent - it's a beautiful fruity floral that feels light and summery. It just smells so good!!!

21. dermalogica multivitamin power recovery masque: This mask feels intensely hydrating - and heavy - on the skin. I think it would work great if you were to use it directly after a peel or microdermabrasion or any intense skin treatment. Otherwise, it feels like too much and my skin was left red and irritated after I removed it. This feels like it leaves some residue behind and I wasn't a fan of that.

22. Lune + Aster Under Eye Brightener in Original: This is a fantastic sheer, good on its own but good under concealer, eye brightener. It does a wonderful job of disguising shadows, darkness, and general lack-of-sleep on the under-eye area while subtly color correcting. It's also quite moisturizing and has a creamy, easy-to-blend texture.

23. LUSH Dream Cream Body Lotion x2: This is a really nice, hydrating body lotion that hydrates deeply without feeling heavy. Even the soles of my feet feel fairly soft when I use this regularly. My only issue with it, really, is its unscented scent,  which I'm sure folks with sensitive skin like but I just wish this had a scent of some sort. What's really odd is that this contains fragrance and its second ingredient by weight is rose water but it doesn't smell like anything. :/ I wish it smelled like roses, y'all you know I'd be so happy with it.

24. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid: They're not kidding with the name - this stuff is extremely lightweight and fluid/liquid-y. I used it as a moisturizer with my Odacite serum oils mixed in and I find that worked really well as this is rather matte on its own.

25. Everyday Minerals Jojoba Base in Rosy Ivory 1C: Ironically, compared to the last time I had samples of these, I prefer this shade over the OC, I find that it matches my skin perfectly and added extra coverage on top of my liquid foundation.

26. Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Mask: This is by far the most hydrating clay mask I've ever used - it's a good balance because it feels like a hydrating mask but contains kaolin to absorb excess oil. I like that it rinses off clean but leaves my skin feeling hydrated.

27. Bath & Body Works Heirloom Apple Scented Candle: Put simply this is a true apple-scented candle - really crisp and clean.

28. dermalogica antioxidant hydramist: I used this stuff as a setting spray after I finished my makeup - I know it's not meant to keep makeup in place and is actually meant to be a toner but I tend to like sprays like this that hydrate after I do my makeup just to restore hydration to the skin. I found this worked decently in the hydration department but has an odd unscented type scent that I'm not into.

29. Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Jellies: So I was wearing this a few days back and when I went to reapply I pulled out what I thought was the wand wiper - except it wasn't, it was some kind of silicone rubbery squishy thing and the wand wiper was still in the packaging. I'm genuinely unsure if it was part of the wand wiper or something else entirely but to err on the side of caution I'll be tossing this.

30. Odacite Aventurine Kiss Lip Serum: Overall I didn't love this - it hydrates alright and didn't dispense all that well until I removed the aventurine crystal. Once I did, this stuff went fast although that's not surprising given that I essentially removed its stopper.

31. fresh Vitamin Nectar Vitamin C Glow Powder: This is a great smelling exfoliating treatment. Though they call it a foaming facial... mine hardly foamed up at all. I think it's nice and it left my skin feeling very soft and smooth afterwards but honestly I feel like it's just a pricey facial exfoliant - it doesn't stay on long enough to do anything other than remove dead skin.

32. Everyday Minerals Cheek Luminous Blush in Lavender Fields: This is a really gorgeous purple-y blush. In fact out of the more purple-toned blushes this is by far my favorite, it has a really beautiful pearlescent finish. I feel like if I didn't have so many blushes I might go ahead and pick this up in a full size.

33. Trader Joe's Tea Tree Oil: I'll be honest with y'all - once upon a time I really liked the way tea tree oil smelled but something happened and now I don't love it at all. That said this stuff is really multipurpose so I continue to purchase it. I use this to mix in with the solution I use to clean my air conditioner to prevent mold, as a treatment for athlete's foot, and as a disinfectant/anti-fungal for my oil diffuser.

34. Everyday Minerals Pearl Finishing Dust: I was quite impressed with this item as I expected this to be very shimmery and it just gave my face a beautiful, subtle glow that looked like healthy skin.

35. red cherry Eyelashes in Ryder: These are a beautiful full, thick style that's not too long. I liked them because they gave me a lot of volume and drama.

36. LUSH Rose Jam Shower Gel: I am so sad to have used this up - it smells absolutely delicious - like sweet roses; it leaves me feeling clean and fresh without stripping my skin. I love it so much!

37. Virtue Recovery Conditioner: Another product I am genuinely sad to have used up because I loved it so much. This did a beautiful job of deeply hydrating my hair - making it look and feel very smooth, soft, and shiny but without weighing it down at all!

38. NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anna: This is a beautiful plummy nude - I'm sad to be done with it as it's a great color for any time. Genuinely a "my lips but better" shade that goes perfectly with any look.

39. LUSH Buck's Fizz Body Conditioner: I used this as body lotion and it's really nice and softening. I find that it smells like orange starbursts which is a pleasant scent but I probably won't get this again as it just isn't my favorite scent that they offer and I don't like it enough to buy it again.

40. Fresh Sugar Mint Rush Freshening Lip Treatment: I found this to be rather middle-of-the-road; it was neither too hydrating nor too minty. I think if it was a drugstore item I might get it again but give its price point, it's too pricey for what it is.

41. Odacite Ma + N Marula-Neroli Elasticity Serum Concentrate: This worked alright and did a nice job of lightly hydrating my skin but I don't love its earthy scent and I can't really speak to if it helps with elasticity as my skin is still fairly elastic.

42. Colourpop Brow Pencil in Dope Taupe: I find that the taupe they use in these leans a bit warm but it's a nice, safe, natural shade on a lot of folks - myself included. I really like these pencils as they give great precision, good color payoff, are easy to work with, and stay put nicely throughout the day.

43. Odacite Ca + C Camelina-Chamomile Sensitive Skin Serum Concentrate: I read that this is supposed to be really great for redness along with calming and soothing the skin so when we got samples of it in-store I was SUPER EXCITED to give it a go. Unfortunately I didn't really see a difference in the redness levels of my skin when I was using this.

44.  LUSH Chocolate Lip Scrub : A delicious cocoa-scented sugar scrub. I like sugar scrubs because they're edible and super scrubby but I could probably make something like this at home.

45. Osea Red Algae Mask: This was a nice mud mask - I liked that despite being mud-based it wasn't drying but left my skin feeling cleansed and refreshed.

46. Everyday Minerals Pink Primer: This is probably meant to be used more as the first step in an all-mineral makeup, makeup routine versus being used to set liquid foundation - which is what I attempted to use it for. I'm thinking oh it might brighten my skin because it's pink but really it kind of knocked off most of my concealer and emphasized where I was red... Not severely, but enough to make me not want to get this again.

47. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Hawaiian Kukui: As you folks know. these body scrubs are my favorite because they're sugar based and super scrubby. This one has a nice, sweet, tropical scent.

48. Bath & Body Works Love Scented Candle: The only candle I really like in the aromatherapy line - this is a beautiful fresh rose and soft, sweet vanilla scent that's at once a bit herby but soft and romantic all at the same time. I really like it and would get it again.

49. Bath & Body Works Pumpkin Pecan Waffles Scented Candle: A warm, sweet, comforting scent that's great for the cooler months or rainy days. While it's not my favorite scent and one I probably wouldn't pick up on my own it reminds me of my best friend who adores this and I think of him fondly when I burn it.

50. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder: I like this powder and I feel that its slight yellow tint helps to brighten my under-eye area and reduce redness on the face. That said I find that unless I pack this on to the point my under-eyes look dry that it doesn't set my concealer in place. :/

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Odacite, Klorane, Studio 35 Beauty, Comfort Care Essentials, Sol Janeiro, Revive,  dermalogica, Everyday Minerals (samples),  Natura Bisse, Tocca, Lune+Aster, La Roche-Posay, Dr. Barbara Sturm , Soap & Glory , Virtue , NARS,  fresh, Osea, Laura Mercier and  LUSH Lip Scrub products.