Friday, June 5, 2015

May 2015 Empties!

Through my love of make-up Youtube videos, I have come to love empties videos! It is just such a good way to review a product when the whole thing is used up! 

I have seen a few other bloggers do these posts and thought it would be a good way to review all my empties given that I don't do Youtube videos! At the start of May, I used 5 products within the first 2 days and it gave me the motivation to see what I use up and what I thought of them! 

(Also, just as a note I will only be showing empties of make-up, skincare, body and hair products - the rest you don't need to see! I won't be showing many masks here either because I review my whole Month in Masks in a separate post that you can check out here!)

Let me know if you like reading these posts and if you are interested in seeing a monthly post!

Here is a look at my May Empties:

Surya Brasil Sapien Women - Vegan & Natural Shave Gel ~ full size $20.39. The eco friendly Sapien Women Shave Gel protects your skin while shaving. Its a natural and vegan product made with exotic organic Amazonian ingredients like CupuaƧu butter, Pracaxi oil*, Macadamia oil, Vitamin E to prevent drying and protect sensitive skin. Organic Aloe Vera juice and vegetable glycerin promote intense hydration.
I received this product in the Nina Garcia June 2014 box and it smells soooo good! I was a little unsure of a gel type shave gel at first but this is awesome - I love that it is vegan and all natural. A little product went a long way and this lasted a long time. I will repurchase this when I get through a few other shave creams!

Tosowoong Timeshift Skintoner AP Therapy ~ $34. Enriched with nutrition-rich fermented extracts, galactomyces ferments, snail mucus extracts, bifida ferments, and various plant oils. It works to soothe and deeply moisturize the skin by creating a protective layer on top.
I received this in the Jackpot Memebox in September 2014. I really love this toner - this is one of the original products that got me hooked on Korean skincare products! I have a few other toners to go through, but I really need to repurchase this because it made my skin feel awesome! 

The Face Shop Quick Cleansing Brush Spray ~ $12. (I can't find this online but I buy it in stores!)
This is my daily brush cleanser - it is nice and inexpensive. It is a big bottle and lasts and long time - I have already re-purchased this! 

Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura Beam ~ $12.39. This a gel-type cream that adds a supple and healthy glow to the skin - mix with your favorite BB Cream or use alone.
I received this in the Tony Moly branded Memebox - I initially liked the look when I mixed this with my BB cream but it is sooo hard to squeeze this out of this tube. I finally accepted that I only got a few uses out of this before I accepted that it was just empty. I will not re-purchase this, I just didn't get a chance to use much of it. 

Deep Steep Brown Sugar Vanilla Hand Cream ~ $9.95. Deep Steep’s Hand Cream nourishes hands with enriched moisturizers targeted to restore softness. 
I received this is the May 2014 Petit Vour Box - I have a lot of hand creams to get through so it took a bit to get to this one. I love Deep Steep and all of their products have been great. This hand cream is amazing and the scent is awesome! I have a million hand creams to get through, but if I get around to repurchasing my own - I will get this! A little goes a long way. 



Purederm Nose Pore 6 Strips Choco Cacao ~ $9.99 for 6 strips. PUREDERM Botanical Choice Nose Pore Strips "Choco Cacao" are one-step cleansing treatment specifically designed to unclog pores and lift away unwanted blakcheads. The strip removes dirt and oil which clog pores, leaving your skin clear and smooth. you'll feel a dramatic differece after just one use, and continued use of Nose Pore Strips works to tighten pores, keeping skin looking and feeling fresh. 
I received these last year in the Cacao Cosmetics Memebox and they work great. I liked that they smelled like chocolate while I used them! I liked these, but I will likely just buy pore strips at the drugstore instead of ordering them online. (I only had 1 left this month, so I am done the whole box now!)

Biore Nose Strip and Biore Face Strip ~ box of 14 for $12. Instantly Remove Pore-Clogging Dirt, Oil And Blackheads Cleans Weeks Of Dirt Buildup In Just 10 Minutes Have An Innovative Slit Design For Improved Fit Contains 7 Face And 7 Nose Strips Hypo-Allergenic And Oil-Free.
I used 1 face and 1 nose strip this month - they were both good. They did the trick and I will keep using them!

It's Skin Mangowhite Lip and Eye Remover Tissue ~ $5. This is a mango scented tissue that is perfect for cleansing your lip and eye.
I got these in the February Beauteque BB Bag and love them! These are awesome to remove eye makeup before cleansing! I have already bought more of them! 



Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Powered by Ceramide ~ sample size 5 ml for $12 (full size is 30 ml for $72). This sheer lightweight liquid serum with micro-caplets activates when dispensed, providing a refreshing burst that initially clings to skin then dries to a smooth weightless finish. Use to help reinforce skin’s essential moisture barrier, even skin tone, retexturize, and reduce the appearance of first signs of aging. Rejuvenates the look of tired skin for a more energized complexion.
I received this product in the Elizabeth Arden Topbox. I really liked this serum - I loved the little beads inside but I didn't like that I couldn't use up all the product through the dispenser. I probably wouldn't repurchase based on the price, but I would definitely use another sample of it! 

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II ~ sample size (full size is $62-$155). Reveal a smoother, more radiant, younger look. Wake up to more beautiful skin every day.
I received this sample as a bonus in a Sephora order and this is amazing!!! I literally used every drop and then used my spatula to scoop out anything left! My skin felt amazing after using this - I would love to repurchase this but it is so expensive!! I am hoping to find another sample! 

Tony Moly Rice Toner ~ sample size (full size is $15.98). Ceramides and vitamin-rich rice bran extract and rice bran water whiten and clear dark skin tone.
This was the perfect size to take away for a weekend - I really liked this! I love rice based products, I feel like they work wonders for my skin! I will consider repurchasing this, but again I have a few toners to get through! 

Skin Food Water Berry Emulsion ~ sample (full size $18.76). Include "Berry Extract" and "Hyarulonic Acid Salts". This emulsion will make the skin moist. [Hyarulonic Acid] It is absorbed 1000 times water of own weight. How to use Using a cotton pad or palm, apply liberally onto the face in gentle upward and outward motions.
My experience with foil packets is they usually have more product in them than I expect - this was not the case. It was hard to get a feel for this (I have a couple more to try), but it was a bit more scented then I generally prefer so it doesn't beat out my current emulsion. 


Skinfood Premium Avocado Rich Essence ~ sample size (unsure full size cost). This moisture rich essence instantly hydrates and locks in moisture for brighter, healthier skin.
I really enjoyed the sample of this essence and would like to try more of this essence - I thought it made my skin look better! 

Innisfree Jeju Bija Anti-Trouble Spot Patch - $3.83 for 12 patches. Spot oil patches from Torres drugs. Helps reduce irritation and skin with acne.
I have previously referred to these as my miracle acne treatment! My skin isn't too bad, but generally once a month I get one or two big pimples and these have been amazing! I have already repurchased these! 

LA Fresh - Be Good. Good Day. Day Moisturizer ~ sample size 15g for $12 (full size is 50g for $40). This highly natural day moisturizer provides ample hydration and helps bring back a fresher & happier looking skin appearance. Made with collagen-producing peptides, super-hydrating hyaluronic acid, natural cucumber, aloe, antioxidant panthenol (Vitamin B), Vitamin C & E and a natural anti-aging botanical complex of maqui berry, licorice root, ginko leaf, grape seed and hickory bark.
I looooved this moisturizer - I received this in my January Ipsy bag. This lotion smells like cucumber and went so smoothly on to my skin! I am waiting to finish a few moisturizers and then I will be repurchasing this! (plus, this sample package is delightful!)



Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo ~ sample size 21.3ml for $3.96 (full size is 156 ml for $29). Check the ingredients. It's a sure bet your current dry shampoo uses aluminum shavings to absorb the oils in your hair. Not amika's. We wanted our Perk Up Dry Shampoo to actually clean your hair, not add more gunk to it. What a novel idea! What's the point of talc when all it does is add white residue to your hair? We don't know either. So we took it out! Perk Up uses natural rice starch to absorb excess oil and dirt without leaving the residue behind.
I first received this in the September Topbox (I have since got it in Luxebox and Birchbox too). I don't mind this dry shampoo, but it's not my favorite. I will use the samples I have but I wouldn't purchase this on my own.

Arbonne Makeup Primer ~ $40. Vitamin-rich makeup primer visually diminishes fine lines and pores, creating a canvas for flawless makeup application.
Finally! I feel like I have been using this primer for forever (almost 2 years to be exact) - it was fine, but a bit more oily than I prefer in a primer. I am happy it is done and I would not repurchase it. 

Arbonne Translucent Loose Setting Powder ~ $29. Promotes natural radiance and creates a soft-focus effect, while helping makeup stay put.
I like this setting powder - again I felt like it took me forever to get through though! You know when you just get bored of a product if you have been using it for so long?! I just wanted to be done with it. I have a few other powders to use first, but this could be a potential repurchase? i feel like you get your monies worth since it lasts so long! 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Eden ~ sample size (full size is $24). A creamy, nude matte primer that gives you vibrant, crease-free eye shadow for 24 hours. 
Of all the types of urban decay primers, Eden was not my favorite. I thought it was way too light and really heavy on the lid. Not a product I would buy full-sized.

Estee Lauder DayWear BB Creme ~ sample size 5 ml for $7.67 (full size is 30 ml for $46).  All at once. Moisture, protection and flawless perfection. This lightweight BB Creme creates an instant, even-toned, healthy look. Delivers high-performance, oil-free hydration and helps to control excess surface oil. Powerfully protects with Broad Spectrum SPF/FPS 35. 
I received this from a Topbox in the color "light" - it matched my skin tone really well. I was okay with using this but I was looking for a little more coverage than this had to offer. Strangely, this product smelled really good for a BB cream, but I would not buy it again. 

Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Illuminating Moisturizer ~ sample size (full size is $42). A waterproof and full-coverage, weightless tinted moisturizer that lasts for 12 hours. 
I really love most Tarte products, so I really wanted to love this but I just couldn't! This is not full coverage as it is described and it was actually quite sheer and hard to build. This will not be a repurchase. 

Fresh Cream Tinted Lip Balm ~ $3.50. Fresh Cream Tinted Lip Balm is ultimate feminine lip balm is truly rich and creamy, made of the finest ingredients renown for their moisturizing and healing qualities, such as Olive Oil, Cocoa Butter and Coconut Oil. Every Lip balm has a bit of tint and is freshly made just 2 weeks before shipping. 
I got this in an Indulge Me box (when that still existed) I couldn't finish using this - the color was just not good. I normally like tinted lipchaps but not this color... 



(Despite the eye problems I have been having, I still insist on wearing mascara - which is probably making this problem worse - so I am going through mascara a little quick but most of these were almost done at the start of the month!)

Scandalous by Nanacoco - Thickening Mascara in Black ~ full size $4.99. Embrace va-va-voom volume with this new favorite! The flexible silicon ball brush gets up close and personal to majorly magnify your lashes! 
I received this in the March Beauty Box 5 and I could only use it twice - ugh, it is so bad! Honestly, my realy eyelashes looked better than using this mascara. It was so wet and gooey that it just stuck my eyelashes together and did not add any volume or length - I just can't describe how bad it was! Never. Buy. Ever. 

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-one Mascara ~ sample size 0.1 oz for $8.33 (full size is 0.24 oz for $20). Like a pushup bra for your lashes, tarte’s best-selling mascara lengthens, curls, volumizes and conditions to deliver a 330% increase in lash volume instantly. The high-performance formula is also infused with naturally-derived olive esters to help nourish and protect lashes. 
I received this mascara in the December Ipsy bag and I really liked this mascara! It is so hard to find a mascara that thickens, lengthens and doesn't clump - this does all of that! I will be repurchasing this! 

Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara ~ sample size (full size is $25). A reparative and volumizing mascara infused with Amazonian clay. 
I did like this mascara, it just wasn't my favorite mascara. It was a little more natural look than I normally go for. 

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara ~ sample size 3ml for $5.50 (full size is 12ml for $22). Get bigger, blacker, badder lashes with our ultra-creamy, lengthening and volumizing mascara. So intense you might need a safe word, Perversion glides on and gets you sexy in one stroke.
I received this in the August Ipsy bag, and I really liked this mascara! It is very lengthening!

So, in May I used 27 products!!! woo-hoo - that felt really good! I honestly haven't really thought about blogging my empties before, but it is great going through products and deciding if you like what you used or if you did not like it!! I liked doing this post, so I hope you enjoy it too! 

2 comments :

  1. I love reading empty posts and having a snoop in people's beauty stash! I agree with you about the luminous goddess aura beam, it's not worth the effort squeezing it out the tube. I've been using mine with a western bb cream that I've been trying to use up and find it leaves my skin really oily looking and its difficult to know how much to squeeze out. Maybe it works better with a korean bb cream? Otherwise I think mine is headed for the trash too!

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    1. haha - thanks! I love reading empties posts too (it's such a guilty pleasure!). Ya, I'm not sure if the Aura beam is worth using with anything sadly, I like that idea of it, just not the product!

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