It was one of those months where I needed to replenish boring things. I repurchased some The Ordinary for this household and some French pharmacy skincare basics from Beautyhabit (they had an amazing GWP). I also bought MAC Gentle Makeup Remover. For the rest of the month I did pretty good at controlling my impulses. But, then one Saturday shopping day after a much needed haircut, I felt like treating myself. I picked up a couple Innisfree items (repurchases) and some stuff from Harmon: Maybelline Big Shot Primer (surprisingly, really good), Wet n Wild Perfect Pout Lip Liner (haven’t used it yet – I have a problem), L’Oreal Infallable Eyeshadow (omg, these are amazing Armani dupes and why don’t I own them all?!) and Maybelline Powder Matte in Concrete Jungle (a gross “my lips but deader shade”; formula is a good Dior Kohl Powder Lipstick dupe). And I bought Olaplex 3 in hopes it will fix my hair.
I already failed at my Goals for 2018, but I’ll be OK. It’s always difficult to break old habits.
Here’s what I emptied in January:
SKINCARE
I made it a goal to use up some bottles of stuff that were almost empty and taking up space. You’ll also notice I emptied many cleanser samples. Spoiler alert – I didn’t like any of them. Oh, and I was also about the ceramides in January. It has been soooo cold and dry.
The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% – After trying their popular Vitamin C Suspension 23% in HA, which is gritty, I decided to give this one a try. For my skin, this one is much better. It doesn’t burn, it has a pleasant texture and it provides results.
- Repurchase? Yep. I already have.
The Face Shop Rice Ceramide Moisture Emulsion – This provides a lot of moisture in a thin layer. I love it layered in the morning. It has a nice, light fragrance and lots of ceramides.
- Repurchase? Yes.
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lift & Firm Day Lotion with SPF 30 – This moisturizes but it has a strong perfume and a low-ish SPF. It layers wonderfully over their Ceramide Capsules.
- Repurchase? No. I can find something like this for cheaper.
Yves Rocher Riche Creme Comforting Anti-Wrinkle Day Lotion – This was a GWP. It’s an OK lotion but I didn’t really notice any pros/cons after using an entire bottle.
- Purchase? No.
Formula 10.0.6 Keep Your Cool Skin-Calming Gel Mask – This smells like coconut/cucumber. It says “cooling” and omg, it burns my skin but I don’t know why based on the ingredient list.
- Repurchase? Nope.
Labello Original Lip Balm – My favorite lip balm formula.
- Repurchase? Yes.
Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover (travel size) – It does a good job getting the stubborn stuff off.
- Repurchase? I may.
Omorovicza Reviving Eye Cream (sample) – Ugh, I need to stop sampling expensive things! This is a lightweight eye cream that smells like cucumbers. It was excellent for me as a morning eye cream.
- Purchase? Ugh, I’d love to. I really do love this.
Omorovicza Gold Night Drops (sample) – Very luxurious but out of my price range.
- Purchase? Not in the US; too expensive here.
Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Soap (sample) – I have never hated a cleanser so much in my life. It smells like a fishmonger bathed in cheap hotel soap. The scent lingers and lingers. It’s terrible.
- Purchase? Never.
Laneige Multi Cleanser (sample) – OK.
- Purchase? No.
The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam (sample) – Smells nice, but too drying.
- Purchase? No.
The Saem Marseille Olive Cleansing Foam (soap) – Probably has a high pH (left my skin feeling sensitive).
- Purchase? No.
MASKS (wouldn’t repurchase these):
My Beauty Diary Natto Mask – <meh>
La Prairie Swiss Cellular White Intensive Illuminating Mask – I love these overpriced things that make me feel poor. Reason for no repurchase – I’m poor.
TonyMoly Floria Nutra-Energy Mask with Argan Oil – These are my favorite from TonyMoly so of course they are impossible to find because they’re not cute/gimmicky.
FRAGRANCE
I made it a goal to use up some candles that I have that were close to the end of their lifespan. I emptied 5! I didn’t really empty that many perfume samples since I’ve been craving things that I own in full-size bottles.
NEST Pumpkin Chai Candle – In my opinion, this is the best pumpkin spice home fragrance ever. Review.
- Repurchase? Only when I want pumpkin spice again and that’s going to be a long time from now.
NEST Pink Jasmine Candle * – I love NEST’s florals. Review.
- Purchase? It’s been discontinued but they have plenty of other nice florals.
Votivo Dulce Carmelo Candle * – This is a sweet, limited edition/holiday caramel gourmand, a holiday scent. Review.
- Purchase? I bought a travel size that I still have. Now I’m burnt out on gourmands.
Malie Organics Pikake Island Ambience Room Spray * – It’s a pretty floral. Hubs thinks it smells like bananas. I think it smells like pikake, so go figure.
- Purchase? Nah. I do love their body stuff though.
Aura Grounded Travel Candle * – Such a great green fig with woods scent. Review.
- Purchase? Yes.
Project Perfume Sample Empties: Samples I would not re/purchase:
Ulrich Lang Lightscape * – Review
Serge Lutens Datura Noir – Review
Roxana Illuminated Perfume Impromptu * – Review. This got even better with age.
Roxana Illuminated Perfume Green Witch * – Review
Humiecki & Graef Clemency – Review. I love it but don’t need it.
Olympic Orchids Carolina * – Review.
BATH/BODY
I was really into white florals and shower oils. AND MOISTURE.
Alba Botanica Very Emollient Midnight Tuberose Bath Gel (huge bottle, 32 oz) – I love the smell of this stuff (tuberose!). The formula has coconut oil but it manages to lather well without drying me out. I love it but geez, this bottle is too huge for a product flirt like myself. Review.
- Repurchase? Yes, but I’d love to have it in a smaller size.
Baïja Creme Moana Fleur de Tiaré – This is a thick but creamy body lotion with an amazing tiare floral fragrance. It was a gift.
- Purchase? Maybe if I’m in France. Meanwhile I can substitute it for Yves Rocher Tiare Line.
Historiae Hameau de la Reine Soap – It’s a green heart soap dedicated to Marie Antoinette that is a green floral.
- Repurchase? No.
Skin & Co. Roma Umbrian Truffle Shower Oil (travel size) – I am absolutely obsessed with this product. It emulsifies and moisturizes. The scent is a green fig with fig fruit.
- Purchase? Yes! I love it.
L’Occitane Amande Shower Oil (travel size) – My other obsession of the month. This is an emulsifying oil that smells like almond blossoms.
- Repurchase? YES!
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Yogurt Lotion in Vanilla & Oats (travel size) – To my surprise this line smells great (like a soft, warm, powdery vanilla). This cream was good too.
- Repurchase? I may buy the full-size.
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash in Vanilla & Oats (travel size) – See above. I like it.
- Repurchase? Probably not because there are other vanilla-scented shower gels I like better.
HAIR
For me, this was a good month for hair empties. It was boring drugstore stuff.
Suave Keratin Infusion Smoothing Conditioner – Not bad. It does make my hair less frizzy.
- Repurchase? Probably. I need to try it with the shampoo too.
Pantene Intense Repair Conditioner – I like how this stuff smooths my hair.
- Repurchase? I did but I bought the “Age” one because it says it’s for color treated hair.
Yves Rocher Radiance Shampoo – This was a GWP and it is too drying for my hair so it was demoted to brush cleanser. Smells like lemons.
- Purchase? Nope.
Giovanni 2Chic Blackberry & Coconut Oil Hair Serum (travel size) – My hair really, really liked this. The coconut scent wasn’t overpowering.
- Purchase? Yeah.
MAKEUP
Not a great month for makeup empties but not a bad one either. My input is still more than my output in this category…
Shiseido Stick Foundation in 120 Natural Light Ivory – It’s easy to use with a natural looking finish.
- Repurchase? Probably not. I like the NARS one better.
im Avocado Mascara – I bought this in Mexico. I don’t like it. The brush it too huge for my face…which is saying a lot because my face is huge.
- Repurchase? No.
Too Cool for School Dinoplatz Pearl Bay Invasion Highlighter in #1 Mother of Pearl (sample) – This is so pretty and actually really subtle on pale complexions. It just makes me look fresh and dewy.
- Purchase? Yes, but after I run out of a similar one from Nature Republic.
Total: 41. 21 full-size. 7 deluxe samples/travel size. 13 samples
This number is higher than I expected! I did focus on emptying some full-size items and it felt good to use them up, especially the candles I’ve been hoarding.
What about you? Which products did you empty in January? Did you buy anything new?
Disclaimer – If there is a /*/ next to an item, it was provided by PR/the brand. All other items were purchased by me or are samples/gifts with purchase/subscription box products.
*Amazon, Sephora, Nordstrom, Perfume.com, Elizabeth Arden, Beautyhabit and Yves Rocher contain affiliate links.
I bet it feels good to have so many products used up that were almost gone and taking up space. I’m impressed with your candle usage! I just received my first NEST candle in Bamboo that I’m excited to burn. But I may wait til it’s a little warmer out.
I really want to try the Alba tuberose shower gel, but I can’t deal with a shower gel that huge. I’m almost done using up a 25oz one from The Body Shop, and I’m counting the days because I’m so sick of it. Maybe they’ll make the Alba in a smaller size…pretty please.
My January empties:
Kahina Giving Beauty Brightening Serum sample
First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser sample
Sephora Instant Moisture + Cream Hyaluronic Acid Booster sample
Dermal Strawberry Collagen Essence Sheet Mask
Dermal Red Ginseng Collagen Essence Sheet Mask
Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask travel size
Whole Foods Organic Vanilla Honey Lip Balm
April Aromatics Tempted Muse sample
Frederic Malle Carnal Flower sample
Frederic Malle Une Fleur de Cassie sample
Parfums de Nicolai Vie de Chateau Eau Fraiche sample
Strange Invisible Perfumes Trapeze Parfum sample
Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille decant
Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Cannelle bottle (used as room spray)
Ninety Six by DW Home Bordeaux Fig Candle
DW Home White Birch Candle
L’Artisan Parfumeur Premier Figuier Shower Gel
Thierry Mugler Womanity Perfumed Body Milk sample
L’Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick Penelope’s Red
I’ll miss a few things that I used up…I actually had to toss the L’Oreal lipstick because its quality had deteriorated after me keeping it for too many years. I really liked the shade, but it lost all of its staying power. I’ll also miss the CSP perfume as a room spray.
I will potentially buy the FAB face cleanser one of these days. The Dermal Red Ginseng mask smelled like red mung bean paste, so very edible. I hated the smell of the Sephora moisturizer. Oh, and I’ll miss the L’Artisan Premier Figue shower gel.
Oh, no! This ended up in a different comment folder and glad I caught it.
Anyway…
Not bad! You went through a lot of samples/decants! It’s been years since I’ve had a L’Artisan shower gel but I love them.
The Alba is absolutely amazing but omg, it’s just too big. I’m going to get tired of anything at that size. But, it’s a great formula and smells great. I just wish they’d bring back the smaller size or at least see it carried by other places.
I have a Bamboo candle too that is unburned :S I have issues, lol.
The Suave keratin leave in conditioner is my HG leave in. I think I’ve been through about 10 bottles of it and I love the smell. I’ve never tried the wash out conditioner.
I keep hearing everyone talk about how amazing the L’Occitane almond oil is. Especially for shaving. I might have to get some.
OK, so I should add that to my list? I saw it in store. It’s really cheap. I liked the conditioner so it has me curious about the entire line. Saying that, I’ve never used any keratin products before so I can’t say if this is a good/bad one. It worked for me and that’s what matters.
I love it. It’s pricey but it does have a nice lather for shaving, rinses off easily and leaves my skin feeling good. Plus, the smell. OMG, how I love the smell.
Yes, definitely add to the list. It’s so cheap, what’s there to lose? I never bought it for the keratin, not really sure if keratin products do anything for my hair either. I bought because I’m really picky about the texture of my leave in conditioner and how it performs when I blow dry my hair. I also need my products to smell nice and there are a lot of funky smelling leave ins out there. My HG leave in 15 years ago used to be Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-In Cream but the formula and fragrance was changed. So I started trying out all of the “natural brand” leave ins, never found one I liked unfortunately so that’s when I landed on the Suave and have been using it for about 4 years now I think.
That entire line of Suave (not just the Keratin) has been recommended to me by people for years. This was my first product from it which was really good (especially for the price).
My favorite leave-in is some thing from Sallys (Ion brand) and there are no Sallys near me, so super inconvenient to buy. I recently bought some sort of “long and strong” stuff from Ulta that is really not good for my hair type (and I hate the smell). So, yep, I need to buy one anyway.