November 2023 Empties

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

1. UNICAT Loose Setting & Matte Finish Mineral Powder: If I'm being honest I purchased this powder because the packaging is just absolutely adorable. That said, it's a bit too matte for my liking - it didn't emphasize texture or anything like that but it gave me a finish that was more matte that I would have liked. I think this would work nicely for someone with somewhat oilier skin than me.

 

2. Disney Jasmine Storylook Palette golden sands bronzer: I have to admit that I am shocked that I used up an entire bronzer but here we are. This gave my skin a nice bronzy glow without being too intense or over the top.

3. CALA SPOOKY LASHES in Electra x2: These lashes are beautiful - I personally really love the wispy yet spiky effect that they have. That being said, I find that they like to pop off at the inner and outer corners of the eyes so they're a bit fiddly to apply.

4. Clinique Moisture Surge 72 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator: I really liked how hydrating yet lightweight this moisturizer is. It really makes my skin feel plump and juicy. 

5. lune + aster Yes We Can Lip Balm: I am so sad that this balm has now come to an end because I loved it so much. This gave my lips a nice bit of moisture while also having a very soft, rosy color to it that I think worked well with nearly any eye look I did. 

6. Bath & Body Works Golden Sunflower Body Cream: This is a really nice, hydrating body cream that smells nice too. Unfortunately these have gotten too pricey for me to purchase without the semi-annual sale ,however, as I don't feel like they're worth $17/tube.

7. Soapology Dead Sea Salt Scrub in Rose: This scrub smells absolutely delicious and decadent, a truly wonderful floral experience. It's also really abrasive and scrubby just how I prefer my scrubs to be. That being said, I personally found that this is somewhat greasy and tends to leave a residue behind on everything it touches whether that's surfaces or skin which is then, in my experience, difficult to remove. Additionally, as someone who shaves, I prefer sugar scrubs mainly because when salt gets into wounds it stings in quite a prominent way and that's no fun.

8. Bath & Body Works Berry Waffle Cone Scented Candle: I'm so sad that this candle has come to and end because it smells delicious and cozy. I enjoyed burning it every night.

9. Virtue Full Conditioner: I'm genuinely sad to have used this up as the Virtue Full line is my favorite out of all the hair lines I've tried. This smells so good and leaves my hair very silky and shiny. 

10. wet n wild photofocus Eyeshadow Primer: Unfortunately, this primer dried up before I was able to use it up completely. Other than that though I think it's a fantastic primer - it helps my shadow go on smooth and wear without creasing for 8+ hours. 

11. Juvia's Place I Am Magic Concealer in J21: I absolutely love this concealer - it has good coverage, you get a lot of product so it lasts a long time, and has a glowy, skin-like finish. My only issue is that this shade is a bit too light for me as it's difficult to perfectly color match online.

12. Shop Miss A AOA Studio Dermaplaning Face Razor: I honestly realize that even though I use them for dermaplaning, I prefer using smaller brow razors because they give me better precision. This feels too large and sort of clunky. 

13. Laura Mercier Powder Puff: This is the mini size that came with the mini setting powder. I find that this works really nicely to powder my face but I've had this puff for a long time now and it's gotten quite stiff and not soft the way it once was so I believe it's time that we part ways.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Disney, lune+aster, Soapology, and Clinique products which were gifts and/or provided for review. 

September 2023 Empties

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

1. Kose softymo Washing Foam Hyaluronic Acid: This was a nice basic cleanser, I found it did a good job of washing off any remaining makeup off my skin and left my skin feeling soft and comfortable. That said, I prefer somewhat more hydrating, cushiony-feeling foaming cleansers.  

2. inm Out the Door Topcoat for Nails: I absolutely love this topcoat and am sad to have run out. This gives my nails a nice, smooth, shiny effect and really does set and dry quickly. 

3.  Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base: Y'all this is another product that I am so sad to have run out of. Even though this is technically both a moisturizer and a primer, I used it as my night cream because this is so hydrating and nourishing. It really helped heal the eczema patch on my chin and overall left my skin feeling very hydrated and supple. 

4. Bath & Body Works Golden Sunflower Ultimate Hydration Body Cream: This has a really nice floral, creamy scent to it and made both my legs and feet feel very hydrated. 

5. Soapology NYC Waterlily & Jasmine Body Buttercream: This cream smells really lovely; it has a soapy, clean, floral scent to it. That being said, I wish it was a thicker, more emollient cream - I feel like this didn't provide enough hydration.

6. Freeman Anti-Stress dead sea minerals Clay Mask: I feel like when I had this in the sample packet that i really enjoyed this mask because it wasn't drying but felt deep-cleansing. That said, this tube version feels a bit drying and tight on my face - I didn't like it as much. 

7. Ardell Professional Studio Effects Lashes in Wispies x2: I really love these lashes because they're on the softer, more natural side but they still add a bit of length and volume.

8. e.l.f. Holy Hydration Eye Cream: As the name of this implies, this is a really great eye cream for hydration specifically. A little bit goes a long way and while this is really hydrating, it's also lightweight and plays nicely with makeup. 

9. skinfix inked Tattoo Balm: I did not get another tattoo, however I continue to have a patch of eczema on my groin that is just stubborn and itches quite intensely. I figured since this is meant to help heal tattoos that it might also help with the painful itchiness and dryness that the eczema presents with. While this helped a bit, I can't say it helped heal my eczema the way it helped my tattoo heal. 

10. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Shea Butter & Almond Oil with Essential Oils: This was a bit more liquidy than I'm used to these scrubs being but I feel as though it still provided a nice exfoliation for my skin and left my skin feeling soft.

11. Bath & Body Works Rose Water & Ivy PocketBac: It's been a while since I've had these hand sanitizers and I really appreciate having them. This smells really delicious and absorbs quickly into my skin without drying my hands out.

12. The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane: Even though I had a backup, I'm still sad to have used this all up just because it is an absolute holy grail for me. I love how this oil is lightweight but that it also really helps reduce any redness, texture (i.e.: dry, flaky skin) and inflammation on my face. 

13. Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel: I'm unsure why they called this a gel when it's a cream but I have to say it is an excellent spot treatment. This helps clear up spots within a few days, helps cysts come to a head, and also helps reduce swelling. This tube also lasted me two years so I think it's a fantastic investment. 

14. Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum: Like the other serums in the kit I got, this provided a nice boost of hydration to my skin. I don't know that I would say, in terms of calming, that this particularly did anything to reduce redness on my skin.

15. ORLY Bonder Rubberized Basecoat: I really like this base coat because I feel like nail polish really does grip onto it well.

16. one+other Pro-Strength Nail Polish Remover Dip: The one I currently have has gotten quite gross and very discolored. I figure it's time for a fresh one.

17. OYAX Deep cleansing Nutrition Mask Avocado Sheet Mask: This mask hydrated my skin really well while leaving my skin feeling very soft and smooth.

18. OYAX Hyaluronic Acid HA Whitening Moisturizing Facial Mask: I can't say this mask really whitened my skin but I'm also paper white so there wasn't much work for it to do in that aspect. Additionally, I don't have any major wrinkles to speak of so I can't say if this would help those either. In any case, this left my skin feeling very hydrated, plump, and smooth. 

19. Freeman Hydrating glacier water + pink peony Gel Cream Mask: This mask did a nice job of providing my skin with an extra boost of hydration while also being lightweight and refreshing. 

20. Grandma Agatha's (Agafia's) Recipe Strengthening Hair Mask with Burdock: While I feel like this mask makes my curls look really pretty, defined, and shiny; I also feel like I wanted this mask to be more hydrating and will probably not get it again.

21. Maybelline Fit me! Loose Finishing Powder in 10 Fair Light: I am honestly relieved to have used this up because I feel like, it may not have been super noticeable but it was too yellow for my liking and it would crease under my eyes. Overall on the face though, this made my skin look really smooth which I appreciated. Additionally, I don't like that the packaging has a sifter that isn't removable - I feel like there are bits of powder I just can't get to because I can't get the sifter out without injuring myself. 

22. Givenchy Paris Mister Perfect Instant Makeup Eraser: I have held onto this thing for ages and I'm sure it's dried out or is otherwise no longer hygienic to use. I'd rather not end up with an eye infection.

23. OCC Black Dahlia Cosmetic Colour Pencil: This is a beautiful berry shade, however; I have sharpened this down as far as it can realistically be sharpened and have used it to the point where the wood scratches my lips when I try to apply this. I think it's that time to move on. 

24. 11 Village Factory Foot Peeling: I bought this because my right foot especially has been bothering me for a while, there's some scaly skin on the side of the foot that isn't callus but it's dry and nothing has been getting it off so I figured a foot peel might do the trick. I'm currently on day 6 post having used this and even though I've been soaking my feet nightly, there's only some very slight peeling around my toes and heels currently. I'm waiting for the soles of my feet to start peeling. Additionally, I am a size 10 in women's shoes and these were an extremely tight fit, I barely got my feet in there. I think they'd be ideal for someone with smaller feet. 

25. berkley jensen Scented baby wipes in Refreshing Green Tea & Cucumber: These wipes smell really nice - I like to use them to wipe dust off services, to wipe down my makeup collection, and to remove swatches when I take blog photos. 

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Soapology Body Buttercream which was a sample with purchase, the Givenchy product, and the OYAX masks which were birthday gifts. 

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.