July Empties | #28

You guys... WHERE is the summer going? It's slightly depressing that we're here talking about July empties because it means that the summer is flying by and August feels like the end of the season. Ugh. Enough about that.... let's get to the empties. Read through to see what I used up and whether or not it's worth trying out for yourself. What better way to give a review than when you've used something completely up, right? Let's get to it...

• Michael Todd Charcoal Detox Gel Cleanser (would repurchase) - I'm a big fan of Michael Todd face cleansers, this one being no exception. It left my skin feeling really clean and kept me breakout free, but didn't make me feel squeaky and dry how some cleansers can. I've already bought another bottle. (see full review here)

• Equate Beauty Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover (would repurchase) - This is Walmart's version of the Neutrogena eye makeup remover, and honestly it's just as good and costs less. It gets waterproof makeup off easily and doesn't leave anything behind. 

• Carapex Renewal Facial Cleanser (would not repurchase) - I got this sent to me, along with a handful of other products, but this was my least favorite of all the things I was sent. I had some sort of reaction to it that made my neck and face really itchy, so Jake used it up. It has some grit in it so it gently exfoliates the skin and it doesn't have any offending scent. 

• Origins Plantscription Anti-aging Power Serum (would not repurchase) - This was a free gift with purchase that I'd never tried before. It was fine, but I didn't notice it doing anything for my skin, and for the price I just don't think it's worth buying. I also think Origins is a bit of a greenwashed brand, acting more natural than they really are. The ingredients in this are OK for the most part, but not all of their products are.

• Barefaced Mud Mask (would repurchase) - I really enjoyed this mud mask, but unfortunately it dried up on me and started to smell weird well before I could get all the way through it. I felt like this really did tackle any problem areas on my face and left my skin feeling refreshed. (see full review here) 

• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - These are always in my empties and they're still great. I get a big pack of them from Costco and use them to remove my eye makeup, apply toner, take off nail polish, etc. 

• Paula's Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum (would repurchase) - It's hard to say from a sample whether or not it did anything for my skin, but I liked it enough to want to test out a full size. 

• Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream (would not repurchase) - I am not a fan of this moisturizer. It's highly scented with a disgustingly fake fragrance and I'm sure it's loaded with gross chemicals. 

• Batiste Dry Shampoo in Wild (would repurchase) - This is my favorite dry shampoo of all time. It smells like a delicious fancy perfume and it soaks up all the oil in my hair. (See other dry shampoo reviews here and here)

• Nip + Fab body wash (would repurchase) - This was a decent body wash. It smelled fresh and lemony. Nothing super special, but it was good. 

• Alba Botanica Coconut Milk Moisturizing Cream Shave (would not repurchase) - This was a weird shaving cream. It had the consistency of a lotion, it didn't really lather up, and overall it just wasn't a good barrier for shaving. I used this primarily on my armpits and opted to use an oil on my legs because it offered far more protection and hydration. 

• bcBud Moisturizing Hemp & Omega 3 Body Lotion (would repurchase) - I really enjoyed this lotion. It had a subtle fresh scent and moisturized without being greasy or heavy. I liked it enough to include it in a past favorites post.

• Essence Lash Princess Mascara (would not repurchase) - This mascara sucked. It made my lashes clumpy and it flaked off as the day went on. It's cheap, but not worth the couple bucks it costs. 

• Estee Lauder Sumptuous Infinite Mascara (would repurchase) - On the flip side, this mascara was amazing. It separated my lashes, added volume and gave me crazy length. I loved this little sample and I'd definitely buy it in a full size in the future. 

• Covergirl Intensify Me! Eyeliner (would repurchase) - I wasn't so sure about this eyeliner when I first tried it, but it grew on me -- enough to make it in to my top products of 2015. I'd definitely pick it up again. (see full review here) 

• Auromere Ayurvedic Herbal Toothpaste (would repurchase) - This has made it's way in to my top natural toothpastes list. It's made with amazing natural ingredients, tastes good, and foams up when you brush and leaves my mouth and teeth feeling fresh and clean. I've already picked up another tube. 

• L'Occitane Apres-Shampooing Conditioner (would not repurchase) - This was fine, but the smell was a bit too old-ladyish for my taste, enough that I don't want to buy it in the future. It did leave my hair feeling soft, but it's mega scented and I couldn't get over that. 

• Briogeo Don't Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask (would not repurchase) - This was just an OK deep conditioner, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it a "deep" conditioner. It worked like any normal conditioner would, and didn't make my hair feel any more soft or silky like I would expect it to. 

• Earth Mama Angel Baby Postpartum Bath Herbs (would repurchase) - If you just had a baby, you need this. They look like big tea bags that you throw in the bath and they're full of healing herbs to soothe all the areas that need it after having a baby. It will leave a tea-like film in your bath tub so make sure to rinse it out after each bath. 

• MyKind Organics Prenatal Once Daily (would repurchase) - You've seen these before, they're my prenatal of choice while I was pregnant. I am still taking them while I breastfeed, but once I'm out I will probably switch to something cheaper. I cared more about how good these were while my little guy was actually in me, and while I still care about the quality of the ingredients I'm putting in myself, I am just ready to transition to something cheaper now that I'm not pregnant. 

• rareEssence Spa Diffuser in Love (would repurchase) - I love this brand of diffusers because they're made with 100% essential oils, not nasty chemicals like most are. This specific one was made with Rose Absolute, Ylang Ylang and Palmarosa. It smelled warm and cinnamon-y and not overly herbal (if you don't like that sort of thing) and it lasted me for months. I would definitely get this again in the future. 

• White Barn candle in Sundress (would repurchase) - This was a nice, fresh Summer fragrance that I got a couple years ago and had sitting in back stock. It's described as a combination of day lilies, tonka beans and bergamot. 

• B&BW candle in Sparkling Limeade (would repurchase) - These little mason jar candles are so cute, and the jars are totally worth keeping around. This smells refreshing, like limes and a hint of sugar. 

That's all of my empties! What did you use up this month? Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments! 

Out with the old, in with the new! | Empties #4

Since my last empties post in December, I've been using things up like mad and I can't stand to see this bag of trash in my room for a second longer! If you're unfamiliar with "empties" posts, I show you what I've used up and give a brief review on each product. By the time I've used something up entirely, I've got a pretty good idea of what I like and don't like and I know if I'd repurchase it. Plus, these are some of my favorite posts from others to read so I enjoy writing them just as much! Let's dive in....

• epielle Green Tea Cleansing Tissues (repurchased) - I get these at Big Lots, primarily for spot cleaning brushes and wiping swatches off my arms/hands. They do a good job. I've already repurchased another version of the epielle tissues.

• Pond's Evening Soothe Wet Cleansing Towelettes (would repurchase) - These are in my top 3 favorites for cleansing cloths, and you probably recognize these from past empties posts. These cloths are quilted, smell amazing and do a great job scrubbing my makeup off.

• Alba Botanica Hawaiian 3-in-1 Clean Towelettes (would not repurchase) - This was the first time I've ever tried anything from Alba Botanica, and sadly these wipes just didn't do it for me. They weren't wet enough for my taste and I just didn't feel like they got rid of all my makeup well enough. 

• Oscar Blandi Daily Leave-In Detangler (would not repurchase) - I feel like it took me forever to get through this bottle. I wasn't a big fan. It smelled faintly of pickle juice, and was just okay at getting tangles out of my tangle-prone hair. 

• Batiste Dry Shampoo in Floral & Flirty Blush (would repurchase) - I really like Batiste dry shampoos. I come back to them again and again because there always seems to be a new scent I haven't tried. This had an okay floral scent and did the job of soaking up excess oil in my hair.

• Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturizing   Conditioner (would repurchase) - This was nice. It wasn't anything special, and it definitely isn't my favorite out of the Herbal Essences line, but it was good. 

• Clear Damage & Color Repair Nourishing Shampoo (would repurchase) - Holy cow, this took me FOREVER to get through (as shampoos always do). This had a creamy consistency which I liked and foamed up really well. I have lots of other shampoos to go through first, but I would repurchase it in the future.

• Essence I Heart Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara (would repurchase) - I loved this stuff! It gave me awesome length and tons of volume without being clumpy. It's also mega cheap, which you can't beat! I did experience some flaking during the day, but minimal enough that it didn't bug me. I can't wait to get more of this stuff!

• Covergirl Clump Crusher by Lashblast Mascara (would repurchase) - Another mascara I totally loved. It made my Best of Beauty for 2013, so you know it's good stuff! Lengthening, volumizing and never clumpy, this is where it's at for drugstore mascara.

• L'Oreal Shocking Extensions Waterproof Telescopic Mascara (would not repurchase) - While I normally love the Telescopic line, I didn't like this waterproof version. It didn't apply as smoothly as the normal formula, unfortunately. I'd stick to the normal formula in the future.

• Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara (repurchased) - I think the tube I got was dried out because this was not usable. I know people rave about this mascara, and I can't believe the formula I got is the same one others rave about. I tried to use it a couple times, but I couldn't stand it. I got a couple more of these for Christmas so I'll be keen to find out if the formula is different. 

• Olay Anti-Wrinkle Nutrients Night Renewal Cream (would repurchase) - This night cream was nice. It hydrated my skin and smelled pleasant. I have another night cream I'm using now, but I would probably give this a shot again in the future.

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation (repurchased) - I won't even go on about this. You know I love it. For an in-depth review, click here. 

• Aquaphor Healing Ointment (would repurchase) - I used this for dry skin patches and lip balm and I love it. Nothing heals dry skin and chapped lips like Aquaphor. I've got a big tub of this to get through yet, but I will definitely repurchase in the future.

• Kiss My Face Ultra Moisturizer (would repurchase) - I used this lotion for my hands as it was too thick for use on my face, but it was nice. It has no fragrance so I never had to worry about it competing with my perfume. Nice and simple, I liked it.

• Grand Central Beauty S.M.A.R.T. Skin Perfecting Polisher (would not repurchase) - I got this little sample in a past Birchbox. I didn't notice this doing anything for my skin at all. I can't say I enjoyed using it.

• Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel in Peach Poppy (would repurchase) - There's always one of these in my empties! Peach Poppy smelled really nice, and the packaging is super cute. I liked this a lot!

• Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion (would not repurchase) - I kept this little guy in my purse for use on the go. I didn't think it was anything special and I just wanted to get through it.

• Boots Brazil Nut Body Wash (would repurchase) - This smelled AMAZING. I don't like to eat brazil nuts, but I sure loved using this scent of body wash! I've got more body wash to use for now, but this will be making a comeback in my stash at some point.

• The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Creamy Body Wash (would not repurchase) - I thought this was going to smell much better than it actually did. I don't know if it was just old (purchased it from TJ Maxx) or if that's actually how The Body Shop's Cocoa Butter line smells, but I wasn't a fan.

• Bath & Body Works Festive Vanilla Fig Body Lotion (would repurchase) - I didn't use this up entirely, but it's been in my stash for far too long and needs to be thrown out. It smelled really nice and hydrated well.

• Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat (repurchased) - This is my holy grail top coat. I've gone through a few of these, and I'm already working my way through another. It leaves your nails shiny and dries super fast. A+!

• Chapstick in Green Apple (would repurchase) - I got sent a bunch of these quite a ways back, and I have to say I like it! It smells just like you'd imagine it would and does a good job of hydrating my lips. I've still got a couple more of these left to use up.

• Weleda Pampering Body Lotion in Wild Rose (would not repurchase) - I got this sample in a past Birchbox (grrr tear-open samples!) and remembered to use this the other day. I didn't really like this smell, and I typically like rose scents. This just didn't do it for me.

• fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream (would repurchase) - I don't even remember where I got this, but I really liked it. The smell wasn't my favorite, but it moisturized well.

• Studio Beauty Calming Mask & Detoxifying Mask (would repurchase) - These little face mask packets are from Walgreens' own beauty line. I liked the Detoxifying Mask more than the Calming Mask, although my husband said it smelled like asian beetles. They were cheap and fun to try, and I got 2-3 uses from each packet.

• Bath & Body Works Candle in Merry Cookie (would repurchase) - This smelled SO good, super sweet like a sugar cookie! I loved the adorable packaging this came in, too.

• Holiday Time Candle in Winter (would not repurchase) - This candle is from Walmart and is part of their "Holiday Time" Christmas collection. The scent throw on this was weak and it burned rather quickly. I wasn't really expecting much from this, and should have listened to my gut that it wasn't worth picking up.

What did you get through this month?