January Empties | #33

Starting the new year off right - by getting rid of things! I really want to make a conscious effort in 2017 to pare down my stash of beauty things to just my favorite, most used items and not keep a massive backstock. So often I see a great deal and feel like I have to get something because the price is right, even when I have no need for it. Moving forward, I'm going to be more conscious of how many items I keep on hand. 

With that said... here's what I've used up in January...

• Batiste Dry Shampoo in Floral Essences (would repurchase) - Batiste is hands down my favorite dry shampoo. It works great for soaking up oil and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Anything that saves me from having to wash my hair multiple days a week earns a repurchase in my book!

• Hask Mint Almond Oil Conditioner (would repurchase) - This is a nice conditioner. It has a nice mint scent and I think this line actually did help spur some new hair growth. See full review here. 

• It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin (would not repurchase) - This was fine. I sprayed it in my hair after I showered and used it to detangle my hair, which it did. I just prefer a keratin-free leave-in treatment - I don't want to develop breakage from overuse. 

• ARK Age Protect Skin Vitality Moisturizer (would repurchase) - This is a really nice moisturizer. It's light yet moisturizing, but also leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. It didn't break me out either. My husband used it and liked it, too. See full review here. 

• Up & Up Eye Makeup Remover Liquid (would repurchase) - The Target brand eye makeup remover is the bomb. It competes with any name brand version, such as Neutrogena, out there. 

• Collective Wellbeing Honey Buff Gentle Exfoliator (would not repurchase) - This scrub was like a majorly watered down St. Ives. It ran everywhere when you tried to use it, which drove me crazy. So much was wasted because it ran all over. For that reason, I wouldn't buy this again. 

• CeraVe Eye Repair Cream (would repurchase) - This was a really nice eye cream. It's not too greasy but provides a good amount of hydration.

• Nooni Snowflake Cleanser (would repurchase) - I liked this little sample. Cleansing balms are my favorite way to remove makeup. See full review here. 

• Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in ZZ (would repurchase) - I loved this mauve lipstick sample so much that I bought a full size. It's creamy and hydrating on the lips and the color lasts for hours. This formula is one of my favorites. Definitely want to try more Vice lipsticks.

• Benefit Bad Gal Lash (would repurchase) - This was an OK mascara. Nothing overly special. It took a little bit of building to get the amount of volume I wanted, but overall it was good. I probably wouldn't spend much money on the full size though, because drugstore mascaras are good enough for me.

• Jack Black lip balm in Asian Pear & White Tea (would not repurchase) - I love Jack Black lip balms but I did not enjoy this scent. 

• Essence I Heart Extreme Mascara (would repurchase) - This is an awesome drugstore mascara. I love the short-bristled plastic brush - it makes it easy to coat your lashes and get up to the water line easily. This is super cheap and won't cost you more than $5! This isn't my first tube of this mascara and it won't be my last.

• Maybelline Stay Fit concelear (would not repurchase) - There's SO much hype around this concealer. People rant and rave all about this, but it does not work for me. It creases like mad and makes me look like I'm 50. Noooo thank you. 

• Blistex lip balm (would repurchase) - I like Blistex. It feels cooling and comfortable on the lips. Yeah, I'll buy it again.

• L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur (would not purchase) - This was fine, but it's very synthetic and fake. I don't know if my sample was old, but it was thick and hard to smear around. My skin looked smooth, but there are other smoothing primers I like more than this one. 

• Shiseido Ultimune Eye Power Infusing Concentrate (would purchase) - This was an interesting product that's supposed to be a boost to anything you put on top of it. It smelled really nice and felt good on my skin. I'm sure it's expensive, but I'd be interested to see how my skin adjusts to using more than just a sample of this.

• Liquid BlenderCleanser (would not purchase) - Meh... not worth buying this cleanser made specifically for the beauty blender. It's really nothing special. Dr. Bronner's is my go-to, it's cheaper, and it does a better job. 

• Arbonne Cellular Renewal Masque (would purchase) - This mask was really nice. It felt kind of like lotion, but my skin felt refreshed after using it. I don't purchase pyramid-scheme products, but if I happened upon this randomly, I'd think about purchasing it.

• Keys Eye Butter (would not purchase) - Holy cow, the smell of this stuff was enough to make me throw out this sample. The ingredients are amazing and natural, but I think it's the rosemary oil mixing with something else that is just pungent and unsavory to sniff. Aside from that, it's a nice thick cream that adds moisture to the delicate undereye area, but beware of the scent!!

• 100% Pure Green Apple Nourishing Body Cream (would purchase) - A nice hand cream that smells just like green apples. Good if you like products that lean more natural.

• Jason Cranberry Pure Natural Hand Soap (would repurchase) - I loved this hand soap. It had an amazing light cranberry scent and the ingredients are A+. This big bottle lasted a long time, too. 

• Everyday Shea Peppermint Tingle Hand Soap (would repurchase) - Another natural hand soap, with a light minty smell. Cute packaging as well. 

• Babyganics Face, Hand & Baby Wipes (would repurchase) - I love Babyganics wipes to remove swatches, but not so much for baby wipes. They don't smell like anything and have minimal ingredients. These are my go-to for cleaning up my beauty area and giving everything a good wipe-down. 

• Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black (would repurchase) - Love this perfume and have it in a full size. Just had to use up this mini. See full review here.

• Oscar de la Renta Something Blue (would not purchase) - I do not like this scent. It's very heavily floral and citrusy, the complete opposite of what I like to wear.

• Estee Lauder Modern Muse (would not repurchase) - I like Modern Muse, but not enough to want a full size. It's floral but has undertones of patchouli, woods and musk. I prefer the Modern Muse Rouge and would buy that before the original. 

• B&BW Red Velvet Cheer candle (would not repurchase) - This was from last year's holiday collection. If you like gourmand scents, you'd like this. Unfortunately it didn't have much throw so it was more for the aesthetic than anything.

• B&BW Winter candle (would repurchase) - This is a classic B&BW holiday scent that I really love, comprised of the smells of pine, woods and mandarin.

• Yankee Candle Golden Sands candle (would repurchase) - This smells so nice. It reminds me of Flowerbomb or some comparable perfume. Had a nice scent throw. 

• Yankee Candle Mountain Lodge candle (would repurchase) - A fresh scent, kind of manly. Had a good throw as well.

• Better Homes Scarlet Amaryllis Flowers melts (would repurchase) - This smelled kind of fruity to me in a weird way. It was a strong scent that filled my whole house. Not my favorite, but not bad.

What did you use up this month? Let me know!

July Empties (#16)

Ready to dig through my trash? I sure am! I used up quite a bit in July. The beauty of using up an entire product is that you know whether or not it was good, whether it is worth buying again, and if you'd recommend it to others or not. While we dig through my trash together, I'll let you know just that about each and every one of these products. Let's get to it....

Sebastian Trilliant Thermal Protection and Shimmer-Complex (would repurchase) - This heat protectant had a cool consistency; It separated in to two parts, like oil and water, and had shimmer in the formula. I wasn't a big fan of the scent, but it seemed to protect my hair from heat damage.

Suave Keratin Infusion Smoothing Conditioner (would repurchase) - These Suave infusions shampoos/conditioners are really nice, and they are dirt cheap. I enjoyed using this, but didn't like the Keratin version as much as the others I've tried.

Ocean Potion Ever Glow Daily Moisturizer (would repurchase) - I didn't get all the way through this before it started to smell off (a tell-tale sign that your beauty product is expired). I liked this lotion, especially to use in the days after I got a spray tan, or had been self-tanning. It has a nice summery scent and does a good job of hydrating. However, it didn't give enough color payoff for my taste.

California Tan Tan Extender (would not repurchase) - I got this at Sun Tan City as part of a spray tan package. Honestly, I didn't think this stuff was that great. It wasn't moisturizing enough, it didn't smell that great, and I think the Ocean Potion lotion is a much better post-tan lotion than this stuff.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub (would not repurchase) - I actually love using this stuff, however, it's way too rough for a facial scrub and I worry that it's damaging my skin when I use it. So for that reason, I will not buy it again.

Kiehl's Yerba Mate Tea Toner (would not repurchase) - I believe this product has been discontinued. It was just a very basic, gentle toner. It worked fine, but I don't think it'd be worth purchasing again if I even could.

Sephora 2 in 1 Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Gel (would not repurchase) - This stuff SUCKS. It couldn't take off my waterproof eyeliner, and it did an OK job at best removing my non-waterproof eye makeup. I would definitely not buy this again.

Neutrogena All-in-1 Acne Control Daily Scrub (would repurchase) - This facial scrub was great. It didn't clear up my face entirely, but it did make my skin feel really clean and healthy. 

Jason Shave Therapy Anti-Razor Burn Lotion (would repurchase) - This was an awesome shave lotion. It really did minimize the razor burn I got after shaving my legs. The smell is quite herbal, and it's not a very thick shaving lotion, but it does the trick!

Earth Therapeutics Loofah Exfoliating Scrub in Oatmeal & Honey (would not repurchase) - This wasn't a bad scrub by any means, but it just wasn't scrubby enough for my taste. I like a really intense scrub, and I felt like I needed to use exfoliating gloves or wash cloths with this when I used this on my body. There are other scrubs I like better, so I would not repurchase this.

Secret Deodorant in Romantic Rose (would not repurchase) - This did not smell like rose at ALL, and in fact, I found this scent to be sickening. None of the Secret gel deodorants seem to smell like what they're named -- anyone else notice this, too?? I prefer to use natural deodorants daily, but when I need extra sweat protection, I break out the Secret. 

B&BW Oahu Coconut Sunset Body Lotion (would repurchase) - I'm typically not one to buy coconut-scented products, but there was just something really nice about this scent. It was hydrating without being greasy - a perfect lotion for summertime. 

Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - I got these cotton rounds in a bulk package from Costco, and they are fabulous. 

FinchBerry Soap bar (would repurchase) - My husband got me a couple FinchBerry soaps for Christmas and I just got around to using one. I'm not sure exactly what the scent was (I didn't see the one I used on their website) but it was very nice. It lathered nicely, smelled great, and didn't dry my skin out. I love that their soaps are vegan, cruelty-free and free of harsh chemicals.

epielle Collagen & Vitamin E Cleansing Tissues (would repurchase) - I don't use these wipes on my face, I use them solely for cleaning swatches off my hand or cleaning up my makeup area. They do a good job at that.

Eyelure Katy Perry Lashes in Oh Honey (would repurchase) - I wore these lashes for a wedding I was in and they were really nice. They added some oomph to my eyes without being ridiculous.

Maybelline The Rocket Waterproof Mascara (would not repurchase) - This was an OK mascara. It had a tendency to crumble in to my eyes, so I used it primarily for my bottom lashes.

Chapstick Medicated Lip Balm (would repurchase) - The wrapper was somehow taken off of this, which shows you just how well loved it was. I absolutely love the Chapstick brand of medicated lip balm better than any others I've tried. I like to use it when my lips feel particularly dry, or I just want some extra nourishment. It feels so nice on the lips.

e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator (would not repurchase) - I know people rave about this lip scrub, but I was not a fan. I didn't even finish this before the whole stick broke off. It's really rough and hard to gently exfoliate the lips with. I'll stick to my Lush lip scrub instead.

NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Face Powder in Translucent (would repurchase) - This stuff is holy grail for me. It's cheap as hell, under $5, and performs like a high end product. It's super finely milled and finishes nicely on the skin.

Starskin Foaming Peeling Perfection Puff (would repurchase) - Full review here.

Starskin Hydrating Bio-Cellulose Second Skin Facial Mask (would repurchase) - Full review here.

Suave Moroccan Infusion Shine Conditioner (would repurchase) - I love this stuff. It smells so good (way better than the keratin version) and made my hair really soft and easy to work with. For the price, this stuff is amazing.

Fekkai Glossing Shampoo & Conditioner (would repurchase) - I didn't like the scent, but this stuff worked nicely. My hair felt soft after using these.

Biore Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strip (would not repurchase) - I didn't like this at all. It didn't really clean out my pores, and it left a sticky residue on my nose. 

Clinique Calyx Perfume (would not repurchase) - This is a scent that I just could not wear. It's really fresh, sort of citrus-y, and just so not for me. I couldn't use up the sample. 

Pharrell Williams Girl Perfume (would not repurchase) - Another perfume I just didn't like on me. It doesn't smell bad, but I just didn't like it enough to want to wear it. 



What did you use up this month? Have you tried any of my empties? Let me know!

Empties #11

My bag of empties is spilling over and you know what that means - it's time to dig through my trash! Why do I do these posts? Because if I've used something up, you can bet I have a solid opinion on the product and it's the easiest way to do a whole bunch of reviews quickly! Ready? Here we go...

L'Oreal Vive Pro Glossy Volume Conditioner - This was just OK. I really love the moisturizing version of this conditioner (in the yellow bottle) but this version didn't wow me. I didn't care for the smell either. Would I repurchase? No. 

Dove Dry Shampoo - This is a really good dry shampoo. It soaks up oil and allows me to skip a wash or two. I'm not crazy about the scent, but I can ignore it because it works so well. It's also cheap, which adds to my love for the product. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Nexxus Therappe Ultimate Moisture Shampoo - This shampoo is expensive. Granted, I found it on clearance when I bought it. But with that said, I wouldn't pay full price for it because I don't think it did anything miraculous to my hair. It compares to any drugstore shampoo I've used. If I saw it on sale again, I'd probably repurchase it, but I wouldn't spend full price. Would I repurchase? No.

B&BW Pumpkin Latte & Marshmallow Shower Gel - I purchased this last fall, and oh my GOSH it smelled so good. The scent was seriously amazing. Despite being formulated with shea, it's quite drying so you'll need to use a lotion after your shower if you have drys skin. I really hope this scent is re-released next fall because I will stock up! Would I repurchase? Yes.

Argania Spinosa Organic Argan Oil Special Treatment Masque - I found this hair mask at TJ Maxx about a year ago and HAD to have it because the scent is unreal. It's easily the best smelling hair mask ever and it will make your hair soft and silky. It's made my favorites before for good reason! I loved every minute of this, and sadly I can't find it anywhere to repurchase! I hope I find it again at TJ Maxx because it's great! Would I repurchase? Yes.

Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Conditioner - I keep seeing this stuff hyped in magazines, and honestly I'm not sure why. I used up this little sample size just for the heck of it, and I didn't feel like it did anything for my hair but make it smell good. I didn't notice my hair looking shinier or cleaner. It was just a novelty. Would I repurchase? No.

Yes to Cucumbers Calming Night Cream - This was nice. It's a light moisturizer that didn't irritate my skin or break it out. I think this is a good option in the warmer months when you don't need intense hydration. Would I repurchase? Yes.

B&BW Cashmere Glow Body Lotion - I kept this little bottle of lotion on my night stand to use before bed because I'm not a fan of the smell (so I didn't want to use it in the daytime). I don't know why I bought this because I can't imagine I ever DID like the scent. The hydration level was just OK - I started adding argan oil or shea butter in with it since I like a heavier lotion at night. If you like the scent and don't like greasy lotions, this is for you! Would I repurchase? No.

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation - Yep, another one of these. Full review here. Would I repurchase? Obviously.

Kiehl's Abyssine Lotion - Unfortunately, this has been discontinued. I mixed this with another moisturizer in the morning for sun and wrinkle protection. It was fine, but I'm not mourning that it's discontinued.

Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil - I really  really liked this. It broke down my makeup well, even waterproof mascara! It has a nice citrus scent and this little bottle lasted me forever and a day. I think I'll be purchasing a full size in the future! Would I repurchase? Yes.

Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray - I really like the Urban Decay setting sprays.  They do an excellent job of keeping my makeup lasting for hours. De-slick was nice, but I guess I never really noticed if it actually controlled oil on my face. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Landeva Organics Rose Nourishing Toner - I did a full review of this toner sample here. It was nice! Would I repurchase? Yes.

OPI Avojuices in Winter Huckleberry and Vanilla Snowflake - Both of these scents were nice! Winter Huckleberry is subtle, but Vanilla Snowflake is VERY sweet and smells a bit artificial. These provide quick relief from dry hands but they don't penetrate deeply enough so by the next hand wash you'll have dry skin once again. I like them anyway, especially to have in my purse. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara - I really enjoyed using this! It did transfer a bit under my bottom lashes which I hated, but it made my top lashes look full and voluminous. Would I repurchase? Yes.

B&BW Antibac in Brown Sugar & Carrots - This smells exactly like it sounds. It was a nice fall scent. I like to use antibacterial gel before doing my makeup so I'm not transferring anything yucky on my face or in my eyes. I typically use the B&BW versions because they have so many fun scents. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Almay Oil-Free Makeup Removing Towelettes - I wasn't a big fan of these. They irritated my eyes which immediately turned me off. They were wet and got my makeup off, but I won't bother with them again. Would I repurchase? No.

Swisspers Cotton Rounds - I don't normally include these, but I've been experimenting with different options so I thought I'd throw 'em in. I got a huge pack of these at Costco since I like to use these to remove my eye makeup. These are nice. They have a textured side and a normal side, and I prefer to use the softer, normal side. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Lush Rose Jam Bubbleroon - Unnghh, I LOVE Rose Jam. It smells simply amazing... a mix of rose, vanilla and lemon. I split this bubbleroon in two and it made both of my baths moisturizing, bubbly and heavenly scented! Would I repurchase? Yes.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer - I loooove this concealer. It works wonders for concealing dark circles. It's reasonably priced but performs like a high end option. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette in Light - I've had this for ages, so long that they've actually changed the packaging. It's black now, if you want to look for it next time you're in Target. If you need some heavy duty concealer that's light and not cakey, this is the one. I only used the lightest color (which is still a bit too dark for me) but I absolutely love it. I only used this to conceal spots.... it'd be a bit too much for the undereyes methinks. I think the concealer is better in the quad than the ones you can buy individually... the formulation is different. Anyone else notice this? Would I repurchase? Yes.

NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent - This is an amazing face powder. It costs under $5, but I think you could fool someone that it cost much much more. It's lightly milled and never makes me look cakey. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Givenchy Dahlia Noir perfume - Yuck yuck yuck yuck. I spritzed this on my wrist and regretted it instantly. This smells like an old lady. I would never in a million years buy this. Would I repurchase? No.

BCBGMAXAZRIA bon genre perfume - This perfume, on the other hand, smells absolutely amazing. It's fruity with a bit of spice. If I saw this on sale, I'd totally buy it. Crossing my fingers it shows up at TJ Maxx. Would I repurchase? Yes.

fresh Rose Face Mask - Well you know I loved the scent of this. And to make things even better, it has rose petal pieces in the actual mask. I think this is a really great product. It makes my skin feel balanced and soft. If it wasn't expensive and I didn't have a million face masks, I'd buy it. Would I repurchase? Yes.

B&BW 'Tis the Season & Marshmallow Fireside candles - Can you read that it says Snowday 2013 on these two? I bought them last year.... and they sat around because I don't like to burn things out of season. (#candlehoarder) Of the two, Marshmallow Fireside was my favorite because I love "fireside" scents and I love "marshmallow" so duh. 'Tis the Season really does have a Christmasy scent, but it's not really my favorite. Would I repurchase? Yes.

B&BW Black Tie candle - This candle smells like a man's cologne. They bring this scent back around New Year's and it's really nice. I'm not in love with it, but if I got gifted it, I'd burn it. Would I repurchase? Maybe.

B&BW Holly Jolly Christmas candle - I absolutely loved this candle. It honestly smells like Christmas bottled up in candle form. It's sort of a pine-y fruity scent. My husband and I both really liked this one. I hope it gets brought back next year! Would I repurchase? Yes.



What did you use up this month? Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!

Empties #9

Here's my trash from the last 2 months. Shall we get right to it?

Yes to Tomatoes Volumizing Shampoo - I like most everything I've tried from the Yes To brand, this shampoo included. It had a really nice, dare I say, feminine (?) scent (my husband used it and liked it, too) but I didn't really notice it giving my hair much volume. Despite that, my hair felt clean and it was enjoyable to use. 
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Fruity & Cheeky Cherry - I'm a big fan of Batiste dry shampoos. They do a good job of allowing me "clean" hair for a couple days post-wash. The cherry scent was subtle and didn't linger in the hair.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Pantene Ice Shine Shampoo - I have had this in the closet forever and finally used it up. This is a super basic shampoo. I didn't notice my hair being shinier than normal, but that was OK by me. I prefer a bit more moisture from my shampoos, so this wasn't my favorite, but it certainly wasn't bad. 
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Kiss My Face Big Body Conditioner - This is an all natural conditioner. I've tried many natural conditioners that I've loved, but this one doesn't quite make the cut. I didn't find this to be very nourishing, and the scent was just OK. 
Would I repurchase? Probably not.

Beauty Secrets Acetone Nail Polish Remover - This is the Sally Beauty brand of acetone polish remover. Even though acetone is quite harsh for the nails and cuticles, it cuts out half the time when removing pesky polish. I prefer using it over non-acetone removers, and I liked this brand.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

B&BW Honey Body Scrub in Wild Iris & Honey - This sugar scrub was really enjoyable to use. It left a nice oil on the skin and the scent lasted for a couple hours after using it. I'd never tried scrubs from B&BW before, and after trying this one I definitely want to try more!
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Yes to Carrots Daily Cream Facial Cleanser - I used this cleanser in the mornings as it's very gentle. I don't think it would be something I'd use in the evening as I prefer a heavier-duty cleanser then, but for mornings it was nice. It didn't break my skin out and it didn't leave a film behind on the skin.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

B&BW Dreamy Vanilla Woods Shower Gel - Wowza, this is an old fragrance from B&BW! This guy has been sitting in my closet for way too long, practically begging to be used up. It's a very sweet autumnal scent but I admit it got a bit sickening, so because of that I wouldn't get it again if they re-release this scent.
Would I repurchase? No.

Garnier Expert Exfoliator Daily Exfoliating Gel - This is a very gently exfoliator so if you like to exfoliate every day, this is for you. It leaves the skin with a cold feeling that can burn if your skin is dry, or even hurt if you rub it around on your face too long. It was nice for the time being, but I've found other products I like better.
Would I repurchase? No.

Nourish Organic Deodorant in Almond Vanilla - This is the best all natural deodorant I've ever tried. It is very lightly scented (so if you're someone who needs to mask BO this scent isn't the one for you) and it didn't make my armpits smell bad the way so many natural deodorants do. My one gripe (and I don't know if I just got a bad bottle) is that the texture is gritty. It actually kind of hurt to apply at times. It never irritated my armpits to the point of pain, but it was strange and not comfortable when applying. Regardless, I still loved it.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Whish Shave Cream in Blueberry - This was a sample from a past Birchbox. I didn't care for the very fake blueberry smell, but it worked really nicely. I've never seen this in stores, but if I did I would consider purchasing it.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Yes to Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment - This product made a past favorites post, that's how much I loved it. For the warmer summer months, this eye cream was my jam, but when the colder fall months hit it wasn't quite moisturizing enough. I still really enjoyed using it.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

B&BW Anti-bacs in Sweet Clementine and Ice Cream Dream - I always have these in my empties, as I use them prior to applying my makeup to ensure my hands are germ-free. Sweet Clementine had a clean citrus scent and Ice Cream Dream was sweet and heavenly.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

It's So Big Mascara by Elizabeth Mott - This mascara came in a previous Ipsy bag and it was surprisingly really good. It did make my lashes look big and voluminous without compromising length and separation. It flaked a tiny bit, but not enough for me to completely write it off as a bad mascara.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Eye Base - I'm willing to bet I got a bad sample of this, because it was hardly usable. It caked all over my eyelids and did nothing to enhance and hold my eyeshadows. 
Would I repurchase? Probably not.

Juicy Couture Perfume - I have to say, I think I'm officially over Juicy Couture perfumes. I never did care too much for the original scent, as I find it a bit too floral for my taste. I just wasn't a big fan of this.
Would I repurchase? No.

Maybelline The Colossal Volum Express Cat Eyes Mascara - In a previous post, I believe I said I enjoyed this mascara. Well, times have changed because I could not get through this tube. This is being thrown before its time because it made my lashes clumpy and it was hard to work with.
Would I repurchase? No.

TheBalm Stainiac in Beauty Queen - This was a really pretty rosy lip stain that gave a perfect glow to my lips. It won't hydrate your lips, but it will stain them a beautiful color that lasts and lasts. I really enjoyed using this little sample, but unfortunately it dried up before I could use it all.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Maybelline Great Lash clear mascara - I use this to set my eyebrows. It works good, it's cheap. Not much more to say.
Would I repurchase? Yes, already have.

Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes - These are a tried and true makeup wipe that I come back to often. They are moist and gentle and work great to get all my makeup off of my face.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

L'Oreal Laquer Liner in Blackest Black - I didn't completely use this up but it's old and hard and I've had enough of it. It wasn't creamy and easy to work with, it was always kind of hard and tough to get enough of on your brush. 
Would I repurchase? No.

Caudelie Premier Cru Eye Cream - This little sample was really nice. It felt smooth and hydrating on my eyes, but it is definitely too far on the pricey side for me to purchase this anytime soon.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Chapsticks in Spearmint and Strawberry - These are good plain lip balms that hydrate the lips. I think anyone and everyone has tried these. They're cheap and they do the job.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Trader Joe's Antiplaque Toothpaste with Fennel, Propolis & Myrrh - Buyer beware! If you don't like licorice, don't buy this. It tastes like black jelly beans. I happen to like licorice, so this was fine with me, but I probably won't buy it again because I prefer a minty toothpaste.
Would I repurchase? Maybe.

OPI Avojuices in Raspberry Violet and Jasmine Juicie - I really like these hand creams. They make your hands ridiculously smooth without feeling heavy or greasy. They won't penetrate the driest, cracked hands, but if you need a little boost of moisture, these will work great. The jasmine scent is my favorite from all the many I've tried of these.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

L'Occitane Hand Cream in Magical Leaves - This had a really nice fresh scent that lasted just long enough (i.e. just long enough that it wasn't offensive). It moisturized really nicely and what can I say - it looked cute on my desk at work! I love the packaging of the L'Occitane hand creams!
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Michael Todd Wild Rose Petal Creamy Body Wash - I had high hopes for this as I love the smell of rose, but this had an old lady sickening rose scent to it. It lathered nicely, but I couldn't get past the scent.
Would I repurchase? No.

GlamGlow Supermud Treatment - It was fun to finally try this product without having to shell out the expensive dough on a full sized tub. I thought it was nice and my skin did feel great, but I do think there are other mud masks that work just as nicely and won't break the bank.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

FAB Face Cleanser - I don't know what I expected this product to be, but it wasn't this. I know people rave about how great this is, but I just didn't find it to be anything special. I had been considering buying this cleanser, but once I tried it I just wasn't very impressed.
Would I repurchase? No.

Benefit The POREfessional Agent Zero Shine Powder - I really liked using this! It set my foundation nicely without looking cakey or too powdery. 
Would I repurchase? Yes.

L'Oreal Revitalift Instensive Overnight Mask - This product claims to show results within just one use. I didn't notice a single change or difference in my skin, even after using it 3-4 times. It was heavily scented which I didn't like as well.
Would I repurchase? No.

StriVectin Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles - I've tried this before and I like it. It does a nice job of smoothing fine lines.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Sonoma Lifestyle candle in Woodland Walk - This candle is from Kohl's and OH MY WORD. It smelled heavenly. It's the epitome of fall scents, leaning more towards a perfume scent than spicy. I absolutely loved it and hope it's released again.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Diamond Candle in Pomegranate Lemonade - I did a whole review of this candle here. It was fun to burn this and find the ring inside.
Would I repurchase? Yes.


Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!

Empties #8

So many empties this month! Check out my mini-reviews on each product below.

• Neutrogena Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes (would repurchase) - These are nice makeup removers, especially for those who are prone to acne. I think they do a good job of removing all of my makeup. I'd buy these again, but Jake hates the smell of them so it probably won't be anytime soon.

• Klorane Soothing Eye Makeup Remover (would repurchase) - I loved this eye makeup remover. It was super gentle and didn't leave any residue behind. I absolutely want to get this again as it's one of the best I've ever tried.

• Lush Prince Shaving Cream (would not repurchase) - This is marketed towards men for facial shaving, but I picked it up on a whim when Lush was out of Turkish Delight. To be honest, I didn't care for this. It had a nice, earthy scent but my legs itched so bad after I finished shaving because this wasn't hydrating enough for me.

• Organix Cherry Blossom Ginseng Shampoo (would not repurchase) - I didn't particularly care for the scent of this, mostly because it smells like a deodorant I've used. I felt like I had to use a lot in order to get a decent lather going, so I don't think I'll get this again.

• Nexxus Dualist Conditioner (would repurchase) - I got this for a complete steal when it was on clearance, and that's the only reason I bought it. This is marketed towards those with colored hair, which I don't have, but it worked just fine for my normal hair. It was moisturizing, and the dual-sided packaging is kind of fun.

• VO5 Daily Leave-In Conditioner (would not repurchase) - This did next to nothing for me. It wasn't great at detangling and I didn't notice any extra conditioning in my hair.

• HerStyler Nourishing & Moisturizing Shampoo (would repurchase) - I did a full write-up on this product here, so I'll spare you the details. 

• Organix Hydrating Moroccan Argan Oil Creamy oil Body Lotion (would repurchase) - I LOVED this stuff. It had a very faint shimmer to it (so faint it took me half way through the bottle to notice it), has a nice scent and is moisturizing. 

• love&toast Honey Nectar Body Lotion (would not repurchase) - I used this as a hand lotion, but I didn't find it moisturizing enough nor did I like the smell. Happy to be done with it. 

• Organic Surge Tropical Bergamot Shower Gel (would not repurchase) - While I enjoyed the body wash, I didn't love the scent as much as I thought I did when I purchased it. I would definitely get another shower gel from this brand, but definitely in another scent. This was fine for summer time, but it would not be moisturizing enough for me to use in the colder months. 

• Skintimate Raspberry Rain Shaving Gel (would repurchase) - Nothing fancy, just a shaving cream. It did the job.

• Aquafresh Fresh Impact Toothpaste (would not repurchase) - The toothpaste itself? Fine. The packaging? Horrible. If I hadn't cleaned it up before throwing it in my empties bin, this toothpaste can would have been CAKED with toothpaste. Just disgusting.

• Suave Moroccan Infusion Shampoo (would repurchase) - I don't love the smell, but this is a nice shampoo that makes my hair feel nice. 

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in1 Foundation (would repurchase) - Blah blah blah... you've heard me talk about this a million times. LOVE it. Full review here.

• Eyeko Black Magic Mascara (would repurchase) - I got this in a Birchbox a while back, and immediately thought the packaging was so cute! The mascara itself was okay, it didn't do anything magical for me, but if I saw it for a good price, I'd probably buy it again.

• Covergirl eyeliner (would not repurchase) - I don't even know the full name of this... it's not on the tube anywhere! This was a REALLY liquid-y eyeliner pen. It was really difficult to build up a solid line as the formula stayed wet so long. This was a big miss for me.

• NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Face Powder in Transluscent (would repurchase) - This was a surprising favorite of mine. I had this sitting in the back of my drawer and finally brought it out to use up. They have all new packaging on this powder now, so yeah... time to use it up. It's really finely milled and looks so natural on the skin - never cakey. Loved this.

• B&BW P.S. I Love You Shower Gel (would repurchase) - This is an old scent that B&BW doesn't carry anymore so I was sad to see this go. It has a nice floral rose scent and is one of the best scents I think they've ever made. This shower gel is by no means hydrating so don't purchase it if you need extra nourishment for your skin.

• Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream (would repurchase) - This is just a little sample, but I got many uses out of it. I used this as my night time eye cream, but think if I were to purchase it again, I'd use it in the morning instead. It's really moisturizing without being greasy or heavy.

• StriVectin Instant Moisture Repair (would not repurchase) - It could be coincidence, but I think this broke me out a little bit. It was the only thing I switched in my skincare routine, and boom - new zits. No thank you!

• Yankee Candle Beach Vacation Candle (would repurchase) - This had a lovely scent, truly reminding me of sitting beachside somewhere. It smelled faintly of sunscreen and ocean air and had excellent scent throw. Full review here. 

• B&BW Snap Peas Candle (would not repurchase) - I have a full review of this here. I liked the smell, but it just wasn't strong enough for me. 

• B&BW Root Beer Candle (would repurchase) - This is an old B&BW candle that isn't available anymore. It smells JUST like a root beer float and gives off crazy scent throw... my husband actually had to blow it out because it was too strong a couple times! (I loved it, though!)

• Better Homes & Gardens Line-Dried Linen wax tarts (would repurchase) - This gave off the most wonderful laundry scent in my home. It smelled fresh and clean without being overwhelming the way some laundry scents can definitely be. 

• Gold Canyon Ten wax (would repurchase) - My mom bought a bunch of these little wax tubs that you scoop out and put in your wax burners. Ten smells like a high-end perfume and I absolutely loved it. 

• B&BW Lemon Mint Leaf candle (would repurchase) - I have a full review of this here. This was a nice fresh scent, still available at B&BW (with different packaging).

Phew... that was quite the empties post! Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!