December Empties | #32

The end of the year was like an unintentional crunch time, using things up before 2016 was gone - my empties bag was loaded to the top full of things and I hardly even tried to finish stuff up! 

Why show your trash, you say? Because - when you use something up, you know whether or not it was good or worth repurchasing because you actually used the whole thing! You know? If you love empties posts the way I do, check out some of my other posts here and here. 

Here's what I used up in the month of December...

• Everyday Shea Vanilla Mint shampoo (would not repurchase) - I wanted to like this shampoo because the ingredients are pure and I typically love vanilla mint scented things, but this just didn't clean my hair well enough. My husband mostly used this and he didn't hate it, but he didn't love it either.

• Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser (would repurchase) - This is a very gentle cleanser. It smells lightly of eucalyptus, and cleanses without stripping the skin of necessary oils. I found this big bottle at TJ Maxx for $10, but if you buy it at Sephora it'll set you back nearly $50!

• Rituals Shanti Shower Oil (would repurchase) - I bought this for the sole purpose of using it as a shaving "cream" ..er ... oil. It worked fabulously. It lathers slightly and kept my legs from feeling like the Sahara before I got out of the shower and applied lotion. I'd totally buy this again in the future. (more on this here)

• Alaffia Skin Recovery Facial Toner (would not repurchase) - I got this on sale, but wouldn't buy it again at full price. It smelled nice and didn't do anything bad to my skin, but I don't like spray toners and I feel like I used this up really fast.

• TonyMoly Cat's Clear Wink compact (would not repurchase) - I was sent this powder from MEMEBOX, and it was fine, but mostly it was cute. It had a tendency to make my skin too matte and my foundation look a tad cakey. There are other powders I prefer to this. (see full review here)

• Wet n Wild Mega Liner (would repurchase) - This is an old love of mine, but if you go looking for it, it's been reformulated and the packaging is way different. I've been told the new formula is not the same, but I have yet to put this to the test.

• Avon Cream Eyeshadow in Frothy Mocha (would repurchase) - I'm so sad this dried out because this shadow is gorgeous and perfect for every day. Unfortunately, I think this is discontinued which breaks my heart! (see it in action here)

• Maybelline Lash Discovery Mascara (would repurchase) - I got this for my bottom lashes because the brush is super small and skinny. It's not the best, it tends to flake off on me a bit, but I'd probably buy it again because it's affordable and widely available. 

• L'Oreal Lash Out Butterfly mascara (would repurchase) - I don't think this exact version of the butterfly mascara is available anymore, but I loved this. It made a favorites post earlier this year, and I'd certainly give other versions a try in the future!

• Simple Micellar Cleansing Water (would repurchase) - If I was a micellar water kind of girl, which I'm not, I'd get this again. I used it to remove some extra traces of eye makeup and it did the job. You can find this easily at the drugstore for a decent price. 
• Hanalei Lip Treatment (would repurchase) - I got this in a past Ipsy bag and I freakin' loved it. It smelled amazing and was perfect to use at night before bed. I definitely want a full size of this in the future. 

• Burt's Bees Lip Balm with Pomegranate (would not repurchase) - I *hated* this stuff. It actually chapped my lips the more I used it, so I didn't even finish this thing. I do not understand the hype that Burt's Bees has - there are way better natural lip balms on the market. 

• CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine in Vanilla Mint (would repurchase) - I adore these lip glosses. They're cooling and they always soothe my sore, chapped lips. I love having one of these in my purse at all times. You can find them at Bath & Body Works.

• Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist 24 Eye Cream (would purchase) - I fell in love with this sample. It's super hydrating and actually a tad oily, which is great for someone like me who tends to have dry, crepe-y under eyes. I definitely want to get a full size of this in the future.  

• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - Still working through my mega Costco sized box of these, and still loving them. 

• TonyMoly Tea Tree Sheet Mask (would not repurchase) - I've got a whole set of these masks from Amazon (the best value if you want to try out these super popular masks) and I had high hopes for this one, but I didn't notice it doing much for my skin. I preferred the Red Wine mask over this one. 

• Aveeno Positively Radiant Makeup Removing Wipes (would not repurchase) - Holy moly, these are so fragranced. Enough to bug me, and enough to make me not want to buy them again. Personally, I'm really over makeup wipes. Once I work through my back stash of them, I'm going the cleansing oil/balm route for makeup removal for good.

• Desert Essence Natural Tea Tree Oil Whitening Plus Toothpaste (would repurchase) - I was pleasantly surprised by this toothpaste. It was super minty and foamed up nicely and the ingredients are good! 

• Tom's Wicked Cool toothpaste (would not repurchase) - This is the worst toothpaste ever. It doesn't make my teeth feel clean, it's barely minty... just yuck.

• Boscia Makeup Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil (would not repurchase) - This stuff gets so much hype, and I don't understand it. I didn't think it was that great of a cleansing oil, and for the price, you can get way better ones for cheaper. 

• First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser (would not purchase) - There's nothing special about this face wash. It was fine, and it's a shimmery red color which is interesting, but I wouldn't spend the money on a full size bottle. 

• LaVanila deodorant in Vanilla Snowberry (would repurchase) - This was part of last year's holiday deo trio, so this scent isn't available anymore. It was nice. LaVanila is my favorite natural deodorant brand, and it made my best of 2016.

• Four Elements Love Infused Body Oil (would repurchase) - I love this brand and this body oil, it's made with amazingly natural ingredients. I used this on my stomach when I was pregnant, and then as an all over  moisturizer even after I had my son. If you don't like the scent of rose, you won't like this, but there are other scents to choose from. 

• Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy perfume (would not repurchase) - God, after a 3.4 oz bottle of this, I am so over this scent. I loved it in my early college years, and now the scent is a bit more juvenile than I'd prefer. 

• Benefit Ooh La Lift (would repurchase) - This is a nice under eye brightener. It isn't amazing, but it did help my undereyes look less crepe-y. 

• Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm (would repurchase) - This is a real pricey eye cream, but it's good stuff. It's lightweight but hydrating. (full review here)

• Clinique Turnaround Revitalizing Treatment Oil (would not purchase) - There's nothing special about this face oil. I mixed it in with my moisturizer in the morning for an added boost of hydration. I wouldn't buy this in a full size.

• Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Hawaiian Kukui (would repurchase) - Tree Hut scrubs are my favorite body scrubs ever. They're affordable and have lots of scrubbies to get your body feelin' silky soft in no time. They don't leave a residue and they all smell amazing.

• Trader Joe's Pumpkin Body Butter (would repurchase) - This was really nice, but it's seasonal so you won't find it at Trader Joe's again until next fall. It was so good it made a favorites post earlier this year.

• Soap & Glory Butter Yourself Body Cream (would repurchase) - Every single one of Soap & Glory's body creams smell so good, this one is no different. It is lightly moisturizing and smells divine. 

• White Barn candle in Thankful (would repurchase) - This was a really nice, smoky and nutty scent that I enjoyed. I believe it comes out annually, and I'd consider getting it again. 

• Better Homes wax melts in Pure White Woods (would not repurchase) - These wax melts were super strong, musky and fresh. One cube is enough to smell up my entire house. The smell isn't bad, but not my favorite. 

• Trader Joe's Cedar Balsam candle (would repurchase) - I loved this candle from Trader Joe's! I think it was a new release for the holidays. It smelled like Christmas - piney and woodsy. I hope they come out with more candles in the future. 

• Better Homes wax melts in Spiced Apple Wreath (would repurchase) - These smell just like you'd imagine. Fruity with a hint of holiday spice. I liked these and would buy them again if I saw them. 

• Frostbeard Candles candle in Headmaster's Office (would not repurchase) - I wanted to love this, but I was super underwhelmed. It hardly had a scent throw, which was really disappointing. I wouldn't get it again. (see more here) 

What did you use up recently? Let me know in the comments!

March Empties (#24)

Where in the world did March go? It feels like it was over in the blink of an eye. And as we say goodbye to March, I also say goodbye to a slew of products - some good, some bad. Using up a whole product means you have a pretty good idea of whether or not it's worth repurchasing, and I'll let you know exactly what I would buy again and whether or not you should, too. Check 'em out...

• Bioderma Micelle Solution (would repurchase) - Everyone and their mom raves about Bioderma, the French micellar makeup remover. It works like a charm to remove all makeup, waterproof and not. I prefer to use a balm cleanser to remove my makeup, but I've got another bottle of this to use up in the future, and then I'll probably stop using cleansing waters. Again, it's not a bad product at all, just not my preferred method of makeup removal. 

• Alaffia Coconut Water Face Toner (would repurchase) - This toner is all natural, and is made using certified fair trade coconuts. It's gentle, and smells lightly of coconuts. I like that the ingredients are simple and not chemical-laden, and this big size lasted me months. 

• BeautySecrets Ridge Filler (would repurchase) - BeautySecrets is a Sally house brand, and for the cheap price, this base coat was pretty good. It created a good base to apply polish over and it made my nails feel stronger.

• Listerine woven floss (would repurchase) - I prefer to use the woven floss because I feel like it does a better job of getting the gunk out of my teeth and it doesn't hurt my gums as much.  This is a constant repurchase for me.

• Clean For Men (would repurchase) - My husband tried this men's cologne, and spilled half the bottle on himself. I thought it smelled good, but I think my husband was over it after he doused himself in it. It's light and fresh and unique for a men's scent. Honestly, I think even a woman could wear this cologne and get away with it.

• Benefit They're Real mascara (would repurchase) - This is a fabulous mascara. It really does make your lashes look fake. It adds volume, major length and fullness. I love getting samples of this, and I'm sure I'll get more in some future Sephora orders to use.

• Mario Badescu Kiwi Face Scrub (would not repurchase) - This scrub was gross. It had a nasty fake kiwi smell and a smattering of kiwi seeds that didn't do much to truly exfoliate the skin. My husband complained that the scent lingered on his face - I didn't have that problem, but the smell was bad enough just using it for a couple minutes of washing.

• Yes to Coconuts Ultra Hydrating Facial Souffle Moisturizer (would repurchase) - I looooved this moisturizer. It gave the perfect amount of hydration and had a nice light coconut scent. Find a full review here. 

• CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (would not repurchase) - My husband used this for his face and he liked it because it's fragrance free. We won't be repurchasing this though, as he's opting for something more natural without weird chemicals or parabens. 

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation (would repurchase) - I think there's always one of these in every empties, if not every other month. Find a full review here.

• Michael Todd Intensive Cream Eye Treatment (would repurchase) - This lasted me AGES... I'm talking 6+ months! It worked nicely and felt good under my eyes. Full review here.

• Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster (would repurchase) - Ugh, I loved this stuff. It smelled like super fresh oranges and felt refreshing on my skin. I'd need to continue using it to see what benefits it provides my skin in the long term, but it didn't do anything bad for my skin for now.

• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - I get these cotton pads in a mega pack from Costco. They're great quality - they don't fall apart and they're just thick enough. I'll continue to get these time and time again.

• Vanedo Beauty Friends Snail mask (would repurchase) - This mask is supposed to moisturize and provide elasticity to the skin. It felt really nice and my skin looked refreshed in the morning. 

• TonyMoly Red Wine Mask Sheet (would repurchase) - This is as close to a glass of wine as I can have these days. This mask smelled really good, lightly of wine, and it was refreshing. My skin looked quite good the next day after using this and I enjoyed it.

• Seventh Generation Mandarin body wash (would repurchase) - This was a nice body wash with good clean ingredients. It kind of smelled like dish soap, but I didn't really mind.

• B&BW French Lavender & Honey shower gel (would repurchase) - I actually really enjoyed this scent, even though it doesn't smell like lavender. I think B&BW shower gels are pretty basic, and I don't like that they're filled with chemicals, but when I get them for free, I use them up.

• Korres Body Butter in Apple Blossom (would not repurchase) - I've said this before and I'll say it again, I like the Korres body butter formula but I have not found a scent I like. There was something particularly weird about this apple blossom scent that reminded me of cigarettes and perfume. YUCK. 

• Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil in Bloom (would repurchase) - I have no idea what makes the "in Bloom" formula different than the normal body butter, but whatever. This stuff is really great. It's mega nourishing on the skin and leaves a subtle oily residue that sinks in as the day goes along. This is an awesome lotion if you're pregnant (like I am) and need some extra moisture on your stretching skin.

• Laura Mercier Souffle Body Creme in Amber Vanille (would repurchase) - This body butter was heavenly. It's very very scented, like so scented you can't wear perfume over it, but it smelled amazing. This particular scent was a delicious musky-bakery type vanilla that I could smell on me all day long. I got a kit of these little sample sizes in various scents for Christmas and I can't wait to try them all out.

• Hask Keratin Protein Smoothing Shampoo (would repurchase) - This was a nice shampoo. It smelled good and made my hair feel nice. Full review here. 

• Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo (would repurchase) - I actually really enjoyed this dry shampoo. Unfortunately the nozzle got clogged about a quarter of my way through this mini bottle and wouldn't work again so I didn't get to use it all up, but I'd try it out in the full size.

• HerStyler Hair Serum (would repurchase) - I used this argan oil serum in my hair at night, the evening before I was going to wash my hair. I let it soak in over night to help repair any damage and give my hair a little treat. I wasn't the biggest fan of the smell after continued use, but it was nice nonetheless. Unfortunately I couldn't get the last bit out with the pump, and I'd been using it for months, so I decided to let it go. Full review here.

And that's it. Those are all my empties for March. Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!

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MEMEBOX goodies | Tony Moly & More!

Are you dying of cuteness overload yet?! Because I can hardly handle the cutest cat compact you're seeing above. I mean, I love a good cleansing oil, too, but CAT COMPACT!!! MEMEBOX recently sent me some goodies and it has reaffirmed my beliefs that Koreans have way cooler everything than we do.

That cute compact is the TonyMoly Cat's Clear Wink compact, an ivory pressed powder. The powder is velvety and soft and creates a matte finish on top of any foundation. It does a great job of keeping my face matte all day long. Another plus? This powder is formulated without parabens, minerals, ethanol, benzophenone, or tar coloring. How gross to think that stuff makes it in to other powders! One thing to note, if you don't have lighter skin, this foundation will make you look white. It is not translucent. 

In the market for a new setting powder that's too cute to pass up, AND you'll have a cute mirror compact to throw in your purse when it's all used up? Buy it for $8 on the MEMEBOX website here.

The mini bottle next to the cute cat compact is the I'm Cleansing Oil, a MEMEBOX house brand product. This is the #02 formula for oily/combination skin. This lightweight oil gently removes makeup and impurities with ease. It has a lovely light floral scent that's not overwhelming in the slightest. Take a quarter size amount in your hands and rub it over your dry face, and watch as your makeup melts away. Rinse it off and your skin will be makeup free!

I LOVE this cleansing oil. It removes my makeup so easily and doesn't break me out. I will definitely be buying a full sized bottle once I get through my makeup remover backstock, that's how much I love it. You can buy it on the MEMEBOX website for $14 here.



What's your favorite cleansing oil? Let me know!

MEMEBOX Special #52 WTF: Wonderful Treasure Finds

The MEMEBOX Special #52 WTF (Wonderful Treasure Finds) showed up on my doorstep recently and it's another good one, folks! MEMEBOX (pronounced Me-Me Box) is chock full of Korean beauty goodies, and is available for purchase on a need-to- have basis, so you don't have to sign up for a monthly box and receive a bunch of things you don't want. You get to decide when you want one and then pick a box that you like. 

The Wonderful Treasure Finds (WTF - hilarious!!) box is comprised of new, under-the-radar items that are secret treasures! They're new and upcoming products, so get on the train and try these goodies early! Here's what's in the box:

• Yadah Capsule Tok Soothing Gel ($11 for 6.7 oz) - This gel is a blend of aloe vera water, green tea extracts, and cactus flower extracts and is meant to moisturize, rejuvenate and soothe the skin. It can be used as a hair treatment if mixed with conditioner, or as a body scrub if mixed with sugar. What's cool about this product is that its use is up to you! 

• MUMUR Air Waterdrop Cooling Hand Cream Snow Blossom ($9 for 1.7 oz) - This is a very unique product. It's a lotion that supposed to create tiny dew drops of moisture on your skin as it's massaged in, "as if a snowflake has melted on your hands." I didn't see any dew drops forming on my skin, but this formula is a bit lighter-weight  and more watery than any lotion I've tried. I don't know how I feel about this product - I don't think I'd repurchase it.

• Bath Charm Store Dead Sea Salt Pearl Natural Soap ($6 for 3.5 oz) - This is a totally natural soap made of dead sea salt, pearl powder, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, lavender essential oil, and rose fragrance. It helps brighten and treat troubled skin. I've come around to bar soaps for the face, and I like the pretty shape of this one.

• Skindeco Comedo AC Power Serum ($36 for 1.7 oz) - Oddly enough, this serum is formulated with garlic extract (don't worry, doesn't smell like it!), and ginger extract. It's made to soften the skin and unclog pores to improve the appearance of the complexion. I liked using this and I'm sure I'll end up using the whole bottle! 

• dearberry Play Choux in Peach Choux ($14 for 1 oz) - This is a pearlescent face primer that aims to perfect the skin before applying makeup. Peach Choux adds a healthy glow to the face. I've been adding this in to my foundation and it adds a very subtle glow that I love! This is my most favorite product in the box this month. See how glowy it is:

• Elinette BMS Cure Cream ($65 for 1.7 oz) - This cream stimulates skin turnover, and aims to soften, smooth, moisturize and firm the skin without alcohol or parabens. This is meant to be used both morning and night. I liked using this. I didn't notice any major change in my skin, but maybe after continued use I will see an improvement. 

• Tonymoly Mr. Smile Patch ($2) - These patches are to be used on smile lines to smooth and firm the skin. They're formulated with "black secret complex", or blueberry, black bean, black sesame seed, and mulberry extracts. These are just plain fun to use!

Would you buy Memebox? What products are you interested in? Let me know!