October Empties | #31

Holy cow - my empties bag filled up quick this month. Lots of goodies to share with you, so let's get right to it...

• Proganix Soy Protein + Caffeine Volume Shampoo (would repurchase) - Last month I used up the conditioner, this month I made it through the shampoo. This stuff was fine. It didn't blow my mind, but it made my hair feel clean and volumized without stripping it. Full review here.

• Psssst Instant Dry Shampoo (would repurchase) - This will be featured soon in a battle of the dry shampoos so I don't want to get too detailed, but just know I enjoyed this. 

• Clairol Hair Food Root Cleansing Shampoo (would repurchase) - I absolutely loved this clarifying shampoo. It smells amazing and removes buildup, and it's a better option than some other brands. I only use this once a week or so, so this lasted me forever and ever, but I never got sick of it. Full review here.

• Schwarzkopf Oil Potion Gold Shimmer Treatment (would not repurchase) - I think this was discontinued, and I can kind of see why. It really didn't deep condition my hair, it didn't smell that nice, it was just sort of blah. The only cool thing about it is that it's a shimmery gold cream that looks cool in the jar. 

• CC Pollen Anti Aging Serum (would not repurchase) - I purchased this on a whim from Vitacost, and I can't say I noticed any difference in my skin when using this. It had fabulous ingredients, but it just didn't do anything. Maybe with continued use it would, but I'd rather try out other serums instead.

• Insta Natural Youth Express Eye Gel (would not repurchase) - Let me first say, this is a good product. The reason I wouldn't repurchase it is because it's only good for me in the months my skin needs less hydration, plus this lasts forever and I like to switch things up. If those two things aren't something that you need to look out for, go for this! It has good ingredients and the price is right. Full review here.

• Exuviance Skin Rise Bionic Tonic (would repurchase) - I was on the fence about this product when I first used it. I brought it back out earlier this month to use up, and combined with a retinol, I saw a noticeable difference in my skin. I'd definitely consider getting another jar of these pads because the ingredients are dang good. Full review here. 

• Naobay Oxygenating Moisturizer (would repurchase) - This is a very basic facial moisturizer that I really enjoyed using. I got it in an Ipsy bag, and finally pulled it out just to use up, and not only did this little sample last me forever, but I actually liked using it more than I expected to. It didn't have a scent, and it didn't break me out - both pluses. 

• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Boosters Facial Cleanser (would repurchase) - I like to keep my skincare WAY more natural than this, but I truly enjoyed using this cleanser. It made my skin feel super clean and fresh, which I loved the feeling of in the morning. I get samples of this now and then in Walmart Beauty Boxes, so I hope I get some more. 

• Lush Sympathy for the Skin Hand and Body Lotion (would repurchase) - I really like using Lush lotions, and this is a new favorite. I smelled this when I was in Colorado last year, and loved it so much my husband got it for me for Christmas. I used it sparingly and only just used it up. It smells like vanilla, which I love, and even has little vanilla bean granules in the lotion that soak in to your skin. This certainly won't be my last jar.

• Lush The Sacred Truth Fresh Face Mask (would repurchase) - A great mask for hydration. Full review here. 

• Reviva Labs Antioxidant Skin Smoothing Day Cream (would repurchase) - This is actually my husband's daily moisturizer and he likes it. It has good ingredients and doesn't break him out, so he already had me repurchase another one for him. 

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation (would repurchase) - You already know this is hands down my favorite foundation of life. I've repurchased this a million times and already have a few bottles on back stock because I refuse to be without it. Full review here.

• Carmex Cherry (would not repurchase) - I love Carmex, but I do not love the Cherry flavor. The taste takes over my mouth and it isn't pleasant. 

• Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara (would not repurchase) - This wasn't the worst mascara, but there was more I disliked about it than I liked. The wand was way too big so I got product all over my eyelids, and it took around 3 coats to get the volume I prefer. This isn't worth the price tag in my book. 

• Rimmel Scandaleyes Precision Micro Eyeliner (would not repurchase) - I only used this a couple times because it's awful. The tip isn't long enough, and it applies so sheer it's laughable.

• Jafra Hydrating Toner (would not repurchase) - There wasn't anything bad about this toner, but it also wasn't anything special. I think Jafra is one of those pyramid scheme beauty brands, and ya'll know I hate that shit, so I wouldn't bother trying to get my hands on this in the future.

• GUM Cavity Protection Toothpaste (would not repurchase) - This is a little sample from my dentist. Again, nothing overly special here. I prefer more natural toothpastes than this, and if I weren't to use a natural kind, this isn't my first pick.

• DKNY My NY perfume (would not purchase) - Not bad, not great. Fruity and warm, but nothing I need a full size of.

• Babyganics Face, Hand & Baby Wipes (would repurchase) - Let me be clear, I wouldn't purchase these again to use on my son's butt because they suck for that. I would purchase them to wipe off swatches and clean up my vanity, which is what I use them for. They're made with good ingredients and free of gross chemicals.

• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - Y'all already know how much I love these. I use them time and time again and I buy them in a mega pack from Costco so I never run out. 

• Audrey and Lewis Barrier Reef Hand Soap (would repurchase) - I haven't included hand soaps in my empties before, but I figured I'd start. I got this at Marshalls and I enjoyed it. It was very lime-y, so if you like citrus scents, you'd love this.

• Seche Vite Top Coat (would repurchase) - One of my absolute favorite top coats. It dries super fast and leaves my nails looking mega shiny. 

• Benefit Porefessional Primer (would not repurchase) - This is a nice primer that helps minimize the appearance of pores. It has a slippery silicone feel, and actually did make my skin look pretty good. I didn't notice it extending the wear of my makeup at all. I don't think I'd get it in a full size, though. 

• B&BW Radiant Red Maple candle (would repurchase) - I got this candle last year and finally pulled it out -- I'm not sure they brought it back for this season. It smells amazing - like toasted marshmallow and apple. The scent throw was amazing and I could smell it throughout my entire house. 

• dw Home Apple Cider candle (would repurchase) - I'm obsessed with apple cider scented things this season and this candle lived up to my expectations. It smelled just like cider and had great throw. Extra points for the gorgeous frosty orange/red glass. Wish it didn't have writing all over it so I could save it and reuse it.

• Yankee Candle Vanilla Chai candle (would repurchase) - This spicy-scented candle was nice, but didn't have quite the scent throw the other two did. If I left my bathroom door mostly closed, I could smell it when I walked in, but not if I left the door open. It was nice though, perfect for fall. 

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

January Empties | #22

While preparing for baby's arrival, we've spent a lot of time prepping the nursery. And baby's nursery is my old beauty room. With that said, I've rearranged everything and found new storage to fit my new beauty area's space, and I have to say - going through all my stuff has me motivated to use up a LOT of stuff. Maybe it's nesting that has me wanting to get rid of everything in sight, but no matter what it is, using some stuff up and downsizing will be good for my storage and my sanity. Here's what I went through in January...

• Cotton Labo Organic Cotton Puff (would not repurchase) - I got a two pack of these cotton pads on a whim on Amazon. I was thinking they'd be like the Shiseido cotton pads, but unfortunately they didn't measure up at all. They're too flimsy for my taste.

• Finchberry Sweet Dreams soap (would repurchase) - I got this soap as a gift and I really enjoyed using it. It suds up really well and lasted me quite a while. Finchberry soaps are vegan and chemical-free and I'd recommend trying them out if you haven't.

• Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream (would repurchase) - I'm a sucker for the Ginger scented Origins products. This lotion was nice and light and smelled amazing. I've got backups for future use. 

• The Body Shop Absinthe Purifying Hand Cream (would not repurchase) - This stuff sucked. It had a fresh scent, but it didn't moisturize at all. In fact, I think it made my hands drier. Now that it's gone, my hands seem to be in better condition than when I was using it. I won't bother with this stuff again. 

• Caldrea Body Lotion in Honey and Nutmeg (would repurchase) - This lotion was nice and light and kept my skin soft. The smell got a little old, but fortunately it didn't last all day.

• Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme (would not repurchase) - I got this in a Target beauty box or something like that. I threw it in my purse to use as a hand cream. It's nothing special and had an old lady scent. I'd never purchase it in a full size. 

• Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter (would repurchase) - I really like Soap & Glory products. They smell amazing, and they're nourishing. This body butter was really nice and kept my skin feeling soft even in the dead of winter. 

• Urban Decay Eye Shadow Potion  (would not repurchase) ---- - This is super old (hence the outdated packaging!), and while it isn't used up, it's time to let it go. I was never a big fan of this eye primer. This particular one has a golden sheen and I'd rather use one without any shimmer.

• Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara (would not repurchase)- I don't know if this dried up on me before I got to it, but it was not enjoyable to use. It was clumpy and very dry... I don't remember it being that way the first time I tried this formula a long time ago. 

• Kat Von D eyeliners in Poetic and Saint (would not repurchase) - I am not a fan of Kat Von D eyeliners, and I might be the only person in the world who isn't. I have a whole post planned for this topic, but just know that I wouldn't bother spending money on these again. 

• Chapstick Hydration Lock lip balm (would not repurchase) - I was not a fan of this chapstick. It felt like a light wax that never sunk in to my lips to actually hydrate them. I don't think I've ever disliked a Chapstick balm before this one.

• Lypsyl lip balm (would repurchase) - On the flip side, this lip balm is amazing. It's mega hydrating, has good ingredients and feels so nice on my lips. I would highly recommend it. 

• e.l.f. Eye Refresh (would repurchase) - I don't know if in my head I thought this worked well (placebo effect) or if it was just a dud, but it felt cooling and helped if my eyes were puffy or in need of a refresh. I'd probably get it again because it was so cheap. 

• Hask Keratin Protein Smoothing Conditioner (would repurchase) - I liked this a lot. Find a full review here. 

• The Seaweed Bath Co. Volumizing Argan Shampoo in Lavender (would repurchase) - This was a really nice shampoo. I used the conditioner up last month and the combo of the two was nourishing and made my hair shiny and soft. 

• Macadamia No Tangle spray (would repurchase) - This spray was a bit thicker than your average detangler, but it was super nourishing and really did help get rid of tangles. 

• Serge Normant Meta Luxe Hair Spray (would not repurchase) - While this hair spray works well and smells nice, it's uber expensive and that alone is reason enough to not buy it in a full size. I have others I like better for much less. 

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation (would repurchase) - You already know, this is my favorite foundation of all time. It's my umpteenth bottle and it certainly won't be my last. Full review here. 

• Maybelline Better Skin foundation (would not repurchase) - This started smelling really weird, a key indicator that it's expired. I didn't use it all, unfortunately it wasn't a favorite. Full review here.

• NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Face Powder (would repurchase) - This is a holy grail face powder for me. It's under $5 but performs like it's high-end. Definitely worth trying out if you haven't before. 

• Seche Vite top coat (would repurchase) - While I think this top coat is good - it creates a shiny finish and it dries really fast, and I'll certainly buy it again.. it does make my nail polish chip quickly. But for some reason, that doesn't stop me from buying it again and again.  

• Missha Cacao & Cream Facial Scrub (would repurchase) - This is a korean brand that came in a past Memebox. It smells legitimately like (and resembles!) cookies and cream! My husband used it and really loved how it smelled and worked. It's not too abrasive and has a creamy texture, so if you don't like a rough facial scrub, you might enjoy this one.

• Lush Hot Toddy shower gel (would repurchase) - This is a limited edition Christmas scent that I bought last holiday season. It smells like cinnamon and is filled with glitter (that doesn't stick to your body). I like Lush shower gels, and this was no exception.

• Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume (would repurchase) - Not quite finished with this perfume, but it is oooolllld and the scent just isn't quite right anymore. I loved this when I first got it, but I'm ready for a break from this perfume for a while. People describe this as fruity, but I definitely can't smell those notes. To me it smells like a  sophisticated floral scent. 

• BCBGMAXAZRIA bon chic perfume (would not repurchase) - While I used up this little sample size, this perfume wasn't really my kind of scent and not unique enough that I need it in my collection. It's sweet and kind of fruity, but mature enough to wear to work or for a day out. 

• Clinique Moisture Surge gel moisturizer (would repurchase) - I realllly liked this gel moisturizer. It felt so nice on my skin and felt moisturizing without being heavy. I would love to get a full size of this at some point. 

• Fresh Soy Face Cleanser (would repurchase) - I've used many samples of this face wash and I really like it. The scent isn't overwhelming and the formula is really gentle for any kind of skin type. I wish it wasn't so expensive or I'd totally purchase it! 

• Quantum Canker Covers (would repurchase) - Kind of a weird empty, but I had to throw it in because these are a total life saver for me. I am prone to canker sores, especially when I bite my lip (which is all the time), and nothing provides relief and promotes healing like these. If you suffer from canker sores, you have GOT to check these out. 

And that's it! What did you use up this month? Have you tried any of the products I talked about? Let me know! 

Claire's - Candy Shop

I picked up this polish a couple weeks ago on a shopping trip with my mom and sister to one of our favorite outlet malls (probably the one time a year I even go in to Claire's). I always like looking through the polishes they have as I've really liked every one that I've bought from Claire's so far - and this one didn't disappoint! 

This is two coats of Claire's - Candy Shop, a hot pink jelly filled with lots of hex and mini glitter! I love how the glitter gets sandwiched in with the base of the polish and creates something of a jawbreaker look! I topped this mani off with a little yellow flower nail decal on my ring finger (which did NOT want to lay flat and looks kind of blah, but oh well!) and a coat of Seche Vite and wa-lah! Just ignore my itty-bitty nails - I broke all of them while moving this weekend! So annoying!