Empties #15

My empties bucket is overflowing! Here are all the products I finished in October & November:

beauty empties

ACT Frosted Mint Mouth Wash (sample)
This mouth wash wasn't bad. I just prefered the Clean Mint flavor I finished in Empties #14; I ended up purchasing the green one.

Acure Repairing Shampoo (sample)
I didn't like this at all. It was way too light, didn't lather well, and had a weird smell.

Alpha Hydrox 12% Foot Cream
I liked this foot cream. Like all heavy-moisturizing-products, it's great while it's on but doesn't seem to make any long term effects. I might repurchase this; I prefer Bath & Body Works shea it isn't so foot cream.

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo (Birchbox sample)
This was a really good dry shampoo. It absorb most oil and smelled pleasant. I might use some Birchbox points for the full size.

BeautyCleanser (Birchbox sample)
I've had this forever; I'm glad I finally finished it up. It did a pretty good job - not great - at removing the makeup from my BeautyBlender. However, I prefer the solid cleanser or regular soap over this.

Beauty Protector Hair Mask (Birchbox sample)
This hair mask was okay. I didn't notice any major difference in my hair. The scent was just too much for me.

Bikini Zone After Shave Gel
This product is great for minimizing shave bumps and irritation all over.

Caudalie Micellar Cleansing Water (Birchbox sample)
This product was heavily scented and not very effective at removing eye makeup. Not a fan.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Cream (sample)
I enjoyed using this cream. It smelled really good and made my skin feel awesome right after applying. However, I prefer the Vinosource Sorbet over this.

Clear Total Care Shampoo (foil packet)
I've been a long time Clear fan. I actually purchased a full size bottle right after finishing this up!

Clinique Take off the Day Makeup Remover (travel size)
This was my old HG. Lately, I prefer micellar waters.

Crest 3D Luxe Glamorous White Toothpaste
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Crest 3D White Two-Step Toothpaste (foil packet)
This product seemed pretty pointless to me. I didn't notice any difference after a single use. The taste was unpleasant.

Crest Complete Scope Toothpaste (travel size)
I've had this tube for awhile, I'm not a fan of the overpowering scope flavor. The texture was weird, too.

Davines Love Conditioner (foil packet)
This was a nice conditioner, but I don't think it's worth the price tag.

Davines Love Shampoo (Birchbox sample)
This was a nice shampoo, but I don't think it's worth the price tag.

Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar Soap
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

It's a 10! Miracle Leave in Product
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Jordana Easy Liner for Lips in Rock'n'Rose (2)
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me. It's crazy I finished both of these on the same day! (They were purchased at different times.) One was on my vanity and one was in my purse at all times. I immediately purchased a few more. This lip liner is great under so many different lipsticks.

Juara Radiance Enzyme Scrub (Birchbox sample)
I didn't like this scrub at all. The texture and smell were both unpleasant.

L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Hair Mask (foil packet)
This mask was effective but I prefer higher end ones.

LA Fresh Travel Lite Makeup Remover Wipe (1 ct)
I didn't like this makeup remover at all - it smelled weird and wasn't very effective. It was very similar to a baby wipe.

Maybelline Rocket Volum Express Mascara
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes (7 ct) (2)
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes (25 ct)
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Nivea Pearl & Beauty Deodorant
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Noxzema Mini Razor
These mini razors used to be incredibly effective; they have since redesigned them and the plastic guard makes it impossible to cut any hair. I won't be repurchasing these.

Origins Modern Friction Scrub (sample)
This scrub was just okay. (Note to all - avoid the eye area. It burns like no other.)

Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle
This was my old HG lipstick; I've been through plenty of these!

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara
This mascara was just okay. It didn't make my lashes have the 'wow' factor. I won't be repurchasing this mascara.

Rituals Happy Buddha Foaming Shower Gel (Birchbox sample)
This reminded me of the foam soap I used when I was child. It lathered and moisturized well. I really enjoyed the scent, too!

Ruffian Dressing Room Nail Remover Towelette (Birchbox sample)
These were overly fragrant and not that effective.

Simple Cleansing Micellar Water
This is one of the better drugstore makeup removers; it's also a good, cheaper alternative to Bioderma.

Simple Cleansing  Facial Wipes (7 ct)
These wipes were scentless, which was nice. Unfortunately, they weren't as effective as my HG Neutrogena ones.

Skintimate Lotionized Dry Skin Shave Gel
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

St Ives Apricot Scrub (sample)
I used this primarily as a body scrub, since many reviews say it isn't face-safe. This scrub was just okay. I prefer salt ot micro bead scrubs.

Swisspers Cotton Rounds (100 ct) (2)
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Trilogy Vital Cream (sample)
This had a strong scent, I was afraid my face would be too sensitive for it. I just used this as a hand and foot scrub. It was pretty moisturizing. I don't think it's worth the price tag.

Venus + Olay Refill Cartridge
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Venus Sensitive Skin Disposable Razors (3)
I didn't care for these razors. They caused a lot of irritation. I'm happy to finally be tossing these!

Vitafusion Women's Complete Multivitamin (220 ct)
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Wet'n'Wild MAX Volume Mascara
I used this mascara for less than a month. I just wasn't a fan. It was very difficult to work with.

candles

Candles:
Bath & Body Works Autumn 3 Wick Candle
This scent is more on the girly/sweet side, but I still like it.

Bath & Body Works Leaves 3 Wick Candle
This smells like fall in a candle; it's one of my favorites!

Bath & Body Works Sparkling Pear Riesling
Surprisingly, I liked this scent - I usually don't go for food scents.

Better Homes and Gardens All that Glitters Wax Cubes (6 ct)
This smells dainty, girly, and clean all in one. I enjoyed melting these!

Glade Hit the Road Candle (2)
This was a clean fall scent. I enjoyed it so much I got a second, and bought the wax melts on sale...

Glade Hit the Road Wax Melts (6 ct)
^^

Glade Pumpkin Pit Stop
This smelled nice in the jar/store, but I didn't really care for the scent while burning.

Target Amber Wood Candle
This had little to no scent while burning. (I need to stop buying cheap, brandless candles.)

Yankee Candle Fluffy Towels Votive
This is one of my favorite scents!

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October Favorites

Favorites' posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) 'rediscovered' items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month. October was all about lip products.
Lipstick Queen Hello Sailor & handmade lip balms

Handmade Lip Balms
I've purged my lip balm collection. Most of the drugstore and chemical-y stuff ended up in the trash. Lately, I've been loving handmade lip balms. They tingle in a good way and don't cause irritation. All month I've been using Apothecary Fairy Peppermint Tea Tree Medicated Lip Salve* (This was gifted to me.) As well as Margarita! and Peppermint Lemongrass Lip Lotions from Kettlepot Soap.

Lipstick Queen Hello Sailor
This has been on my wishlist ever since Birchbox mentioned it on their YouTube channel over a year ago. I finally purchased Hello Sailor as a birthday present to myself! It looks like a scary royal blue in the tube, but it goes on as a sheer purple tint. It makes your teeth appear whiter and brighter. It's somewhat hydrating. I've especially been liking this lipstick over mauve lipliners. It leaves a nice shine but doesn't feel sticky. My only complaint is the taste/smell; it's not unbearable but it isn't pleasant either. It reminds me of some 'play makeup' from my childhood/preteen days.

lip balms & blue lipstick,
-Kaitlyn

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September Favorites

Favorites' posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) 'rediscovered' items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month. Here are my belated September favorites -

Caudalie beauty favorites

Caudalie Skincare
I've been loving all things Caudalie lately. All of their skincare products feel and smell amazing!

NYX Stay Matte Not Flat Powder Foundation
My Revlon pressed powder broke. I heard a few YouTubers raving about this NYX powder. I decided to give it a try - so far, I'm really impressed. It gets rid of shine and sets concealer really nicely. It doesn't leave a powdery or cakey look.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette
The Naked 2 Palette is by far my favorite. In September, I've been gravitating towards the Naked 3 Palette - this palette really screams 'it's fall' to me. Most of the colors really make my green eyes pop, too!

powders & palettes,
-Kaitlyn

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Empties #14

Does hoarding trash ever stop feeling weird? Here are all of the products I finished in August and September:

beauty empties

ACT Advanced Care Mouthwash in Clean Mint 
(This was sent to me for free.) I've never tried ACT mouthwash before. I'm not sure why. I've always gravitated towards Listerine or Scope. This mouthwash was excellent, it didn't feel like a war was happening in my mouth, like the other mouthwashes. I'll definitely repurchase this in the future.

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel 
I've had this for over a year. While it wasn't completely empty, it was no longer clear. I liked this a lot but I don't feel like it's worth the price. Lately, I prefer tinted gels.

Bath & Body Works Love & Sunshine Shower Gel 
(travel size, GWP)  I don't really remember this scent; I don't remember liking or hating it. Like all Bath & Body Works shower gels, it lathered good and also made a good bubble bath.

Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/Medium
(This was sent to me for free.) I really liked this. It's pricey for such a little tube. I recently purchased Maybelline's similar product. I might purchase the Benefit one.

Clairol Hair Food Moisture Mask with Honey Apricot Fragrance 
(Target Beauty Box) I hated this. The scent was awful. I don't like food-scented products to begin with; this reeked of imitation honey. It was decent on the ends of my hair. Overall, it made my hair feel weighed down and my scalp have product build-up. I used about half of the bottle; I just can't make myself finish it.

Clear Complete Care Shampoo 
(travel size, Walmart Beauty Box) I've purchased this shampoo in full-size multiple times in the past. I really like it. It smells good, lathers good, and leaves my hair feeling clean. I might repurchase it again.

Clinique Clarifying Lotion
I purchased this over a year and have used it almost daily since. I asked for the big bottle - I had no idea there were three sizes; I wanted the medium bottle. While this was a better value, working with it full was nearly impossible. I ended up decanting the product to use it. I have - finally - finished all 13.5 ounces of this. This is really effective. While it was my holy grail toner, I'm a little tired of it I'm looking for something new.

Clinique Take the Day off Makeup Remover
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Dove Go Fresh Revitalizing Body Wash (mandarin scent)
(travel size, Walmart Beauty Box) I've used a few of these now. I like the scent and the lather. I actually just purchased the full size in the plain scent.

Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar Soap (2)
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant 
(sample size) I really, really like this product. However, I do not like the full-size price tag. I've been gravitating towards gift sets and beauty boxes that have a sample of this product. It's an excellent exfoliant.

Joico K-Pak Shampoo 
(travel size) While the K-Pak Conditioner is my holy grail, the shampoo is just okay. I like it, but probably won't purchase the full size again.

L'Oreal Oleo Therapy Oil Infused Shampoo & Conditioner 
(travel size, Target Beauty Box) One of these bottles went MIA before the photo (aka probably accidentally in the trash.) I liked this scent. The smell and lather were pleasant. There was no product buildup left behind. I might repurchase these.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
I didn't like this mascara, my lashes felt and looked really limp and heavy throughout the day.

Mirenesse Curl Mascara 
(Birchbox sample) This mascara was just okay, it gave a more natural look - rather than the false-lashes look. I won't be purchasing the full size.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes (7 ct) 
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes (25 ct) 
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunscreen SPF 85
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Nivea Touch of Happiness Body Wash 
(travel size) This was my holy grail body wash in high school, I'm just not liking it anymore.

Oribe Cote d'Azur Perfume Sample
I thought this would smell like all of the amazing Oribe hair products. Unfortunately, it didn't. The scent was still pleasant. It sort of reminded me of Marc Jacob's Daisy - light and fresh. I won't purchase the full size.

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray 
(purse size) This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder in Fair 
I've had this powder for over a year. I hit pan, then the powder cracked, then one of the hinges broke off. While it's not empty, I think it had a good life. This was effective for concealer-setting and mattifying. I recently purchased the NYX Stay Matte powder; I like it a lot better.

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Lotion 
(travel size) I love the way Soap & Glory products smell. I've been through a few tubs of the Righteous Body Butter - I like it a whole lot better than the lotion. The lotion just wasn't moisturizing enough for me.

Swisspers Cotton Rounds (100 ct) (2)
This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator 
(deluxe size) This is both a staple and a holy grail product for me; I won't continue to rave.

Venus Sensitive Skin Disposable Razor 
I'm not a fan of these; I'm just trying to get through the package to go back to the Venus + Olay razors.

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Perfume Sample 
I have a love-hate relationship with this perfume. It smells excellent but doesn't work with my body chemistry. I typically just spray it on my clothes or around the house. I have a few samples on hand. I probably won't purchase the full size.

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow in Creme Brulee 
This eyeshadow was horrible. I typically like Wet n Wild products but this was entirely too chalky to work with. It's not empty, but I'm tossing it.

Candles:

candles

Better Homes and Gardens Tranquil Garden Spa Scented Wax Cubes 
(value pack, 12 count) This is becoming my staple scent. I'm looking forward to when this scent comes in candle form, too!

Glade Cashmere Woods Large Jar Candle 
This is my favorite Glade scent. I'm so glad they make large candles now. It's definitely a great value!

Luminescence Fresh Linen Candle 
This was a Dollar Tree find; I thought it would be a dupe for Fluffy Towels. It smelled nice in the jar; however, while burning, it had little to no scent.

Method Scented Beach Sage Soy Candle 
I wanted to try some of the Method candles for the longest time. Beach Sage is my favorite Method scent. I finally decided just to purchase this during the last Target Method sale. For $6 and little burn time, it's not the best value. The scent was nearly nonexistent while burning. The Method Beach Sage Surface Cleaner smelled stronger than this. I will not be repurchasing Method candles.

Yankee Candle Fluffy Towels Medium Jar Candle
Yankee Candle Fluffy Towels Votive
This is my favorite Yankee scent; I won't continue to rave.

Yankee Candle Coastal Waters Tart 
Yankee Candle Harbor Breeze Tart 
Yankee Candle Meadow Showers Tart 
All three of these run together in my head. They're all clean and fresh scents. I liked all of them, but no more than my current favorites.

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August Favorites

Favorites' posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) 'rediscovered' items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month.

beauty favorites

Alpha Hydrox Extra Strength Deep Therapy Foot Cream
My feet have been so dry lately. My lips and feet have always been problem areas for me. I was looking for a new foot cream that would really help; this cream had great reviews. It contains 12% glycolic acid, so it really penetrates and exfoliates. I've been using this nightly most of the month and my feet have definitely improved.

Mr. Robot
I marathoned the television series Mr. Robot this month and I really enjoyed it. If you're a fan of the movie Fight Club and shows about technology and mental disorders, definitely check Mr. Robot out! The show has 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Ocean Water
I visited the beach for a vacation at the end of August. Ocean salt water does so much good for your skin. After just one day there, my skin felt lighter, softer, and refreshed. Ocean water is more or less a natural exfoliant; my dry patches and blemishes completely disappeared. Not to mention, I had natural beach waves all week - with no product required!

OPI Push & Shove 
Purchasing this polish was sort of an accident. I was on the hunt for silver craft paint, and ended up purchasing this on eBay for $6. I was intrigued - a polish that required a mandatory base coat and no top coat. (Plus, who isn't a Gwen Stefani fan?) It promised "one night of wear" - which was somewhat off-putting. This polish only lasted two days before flaking off badly. I feel like OPI could've improved the formula a bit more. The color was so awesome - I felt like I had mirrors/reflectors for finger nails. This polish is good for occasions, but it can't handle normal use of your hands.

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
I raved about this spray in the past. I started a second bottle this month. In my opinion, it's basically an all-in-one product - dry shampoo, texturizing spray, light hair spray, and hair refresher. It smells so amazing. The only negative is the price - $42 for a full-size bottle. I'm saving Birchbox points!

mirror nails & beach waves,
-Kaitlyn

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