Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you make purchases through them.

I have a good mix of empties this month: some staples, some samples, and even some makeup which can take a long time to use up.

Loves

Bath and Body Works Snowflakes and Cashmere Shower Gel – I really enjoyed this both for the fragrance and for the quality of the product inside so I purchased a few more to have on hand throughout the year. The key notes listed are: Cashmere Cream, Shimmering Vanilla, Frosted Clementine, Golden Amber, and Caramel Woods. To me this is a scent that’s good for people that are sensitive to fragrances. It isn’t too strong, there is no sharpness, and it’s just a little bit sweet. I hope they release this again next holiday season.

Alterna Caviar Clinical Daily Root and Scalp Stimulator – I’ve now been using this product for about 3 months. I still have not noticed any difference in hair growth or fallout but I have repurchased it because I like it as a styling product. It’s ultra lightweight, non-sticky, non-greasy, and perfect for very fine, thin hair. It gives the hair a bit of volume and helps it to hold a blowout a bit better than with nothing in it.

Alterna Caviar Clinical Daily Detoxifying Shampoo – Same story as with the root spray above… no real difference in hair growth or fallout. But again, I like this for what it is. It cleans my hair well and somehow manages to keep it clean longer than other shampoos. For the size of the bottle, it lasted much longer than I expected. I am able to use less shampoo because it is more concentrated than the cheaper shampoos I’ve used.

Trader Joe’s Natural Facial Cleansing Pads – A staple in my skincare routine. I have used it a little less often the past month because my skin has been more dry but I plan to keep using this as the weather warms up.

Soo Ae Deep Sea Water and Green Tea Collagen Essence Masks – So far I have tried a total of five of these masks. They all seem to perform about the same, regardless of the claim on the packaging. They do all have different scents though – none of them are all that strong, at least to me. I have a couple more in my bathroom but I plan to repurchase them when I run out.

Burberry My Burberry Black (Sample) – I remember enjoying a sample of the original My Burberry and this smells somewhat like it, but a sweeter, sexier version of it. I only had this one-time-use sampler card and I wasn’t sure I wanted to commit to a full size perfume but I really liked the scent so I picked up the rollerball. So far, I’m still enjoying this.

Physicians Formula ABC Cushion Foundation – I’ve had this compact for about a year now. I got more use out of it than I thought I would (not using it daily, more like a few times a month). I rarely repurchase foundations but I enjoyed this one enough that I thought it was worth picking up a new one. I especially like that it’s SPF 50, but has no sunscreen smell to it and it doesn’t feel any heavier than a normal foundation. It covers well and looks really natural on the skin too.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion – This is the old packaging but they still make this product. I have a new one and will likely continue to use this as long as they make it. One that is similar and more cost-effective is Billy Jealousy Liquid Sand, though the exfoliant particles are a bit larger in size. After using that one for some time, I came back to The Body Shop one and forgot how much I loved it. For now, I’m back to using this one.

MyChelle Ultra Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum – I’m on my third container of this. It’s one of those products that doesn’t really wow you at first because it’s lightweight and it doesn’t feel like it’s doing anything. But I have noticed that sticking with this for a long period of time and mixing it together with facial oil, helps keep my skin stay moisturized better. It helps reduce the flakiness and texture than comes with dry/dehydrated skin.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes – Still my favorite makeup remover. I have yet to find anything better.

Mac Brush Cleanser – I haven’t tried all that many brush cleansers but I really like this one for quick daily cleansing so I plan to keep using it.

Benefit Roller Lash – I went through a full size and a travel size of this. I am on my third tube and I still love it. I’ve been lucky that samples have kept me going but I may need to purchase my next one LOL.

Likes

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation (Sample) – This sample came in the shade Y245 = 120. I wore the old formulation and the stick foundation in 117 so this shade was a little too dark for me. I only used it once because the shade was noticeably wrong on me and remember feeling like it worked okay but wasn’t the most forgiving on textured skin. I’d like to get a sample of this in the right color to try again.

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief Gel-Cream (Sample) – I used this when my skin was feeling more dry than usual and remember it really had a thirst-quenching feel on the skin. I had to use a fairly thick layer (the whole sample packet) because it sunk in pretty fast. I was happy with how it felt and how hydrated my skin looked so I would like to try it again.

L’Occitane Milk Concentrate with Almond Milk (Deluxe Sample) – Sephora had a L’Occitane 500 pt perk and this was a part of it. It had more of a lotion texture but felt like it nourished the skin well. I like it but I don’t like it enough to pay $50 for the full size. I’d say this is one of those products that I’d keep in my mind if I felt like I wanted to treat myself to something fancy or get during a sale or with a coupon.

L’Occitane Supple Skin Oil with Almond Oil (Deluxe Sample) – Out of all the L’Occitane products in the 500 pt perk, this was probably the one I liked the most. Again, this is pricey and not something I feel is necessarily worth the expense for everyday use. I have it on my Sephora Loves list in case I feel like getting it during a sale but I’m in no rush to drop $46 on it right now.

L’Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream (Deluxe Sample) – This was a thick shea butter hand cream with a fairly heavy shea butter scent. It reminded me a lot of The Body Shop Shea Butter Body Butter. It was okay but a little heavy feeling.

Sunday Riley Good Genes All in One Lactic Acid Treatment – This came as part of the SUNDAY RILEY Power Couple Duo: Total Transformation Kit. I repurchased the kit so I have another one already. I like the Luna Oil but I’m still undecided on whether I’d purchase this again. It smells nice and feels nice but I’m not convinced it’s doing much for my skin.

Sephora Algae Face Mask – Like with the Soo Ae Masks, these Sephora masks all seem to perform about the same. They are nice while I use them but don’t leave much lasting hydration behind once I take the mask off.

Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Deodorant – I had this for the longest time and decided to start using it again only to find there wasn’t much left anyway. It is definitely more effective than not wearing any deodorant at all but it’s nowhere near as long-lasting as traditional deodorants. I have purchased several of these over the years to keep on hand as a natural option on days when I’m not going out anywhere or during the winter. I’d purchase it again but only because I haven’t found anything better.

365 Fragrance Free Shampoo – My fiancé uses this shampoo. I used it for a while when we first purchased it and thought it was okay. I felt like I had to use a lot of it to get my hair clean because it was difficult to spread evenly and didn’t suds very well. They have improved the formula so it works slightly better but it’s still not my favorite. He likes and continues to use it though.

Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash – I have been using this for years but I am using Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash for now. I am kind of bored with the Olay one and I love the scent and lather of the Dove body wash.

I Love… Raspberry and Blackberry Hand Lotion – This was a really nice hand lotion with a nice scent to match. It was very fruity and sweet. It absorbed well without leaving my hands feeling greasy but it also left them feeling very comfortable. I might consider picking another one up if I see it somewhere convenient to buy but I don’t plan to go out of my way to buy it online where I don’t normally shop.

Eh

Tory Burch Love Relentlessly (Sample) – I might have put this in the likes section if it were’t for the execution of this sample. I’m not sure you could even call this a sample because there wasn’t enough under the plastic film to even apply to my skin. It was more like a magazine sample, where there’s just enough fragrance to smell it on the paper. The fragrance smells very sweet and somewhat floral. I tend to like sweet fragrances but this one is too sweet and strong. I don’t totally dislike it but the sample card was kind of a joke.

Miu Miu L’Eau Bleue (Sample) – This sample card had a different type of film over it so you could actually apply the perfume to the skin and see how it wears with your own chemistry. This was more a “watery”, fresh scent. It was okay but I’m not drawn to it.

L’Occitane Shower Oil (Deluxe Sample) – This was like a cross between a shower gel and a body oil. It feels like an oil initially but as you rub it over the skin it gets foamy. It does cleanse the skin the way a shower gel would, but it’s not stripping at all. It is also not really all that moisturizing. It leaves the skin feeling similar to the way it feels when I use a creamy body wash like Olay or Dove but this product is way more expensive.

Sephora Instant Moisturizer (Sample) – This felt decently moisturizing, a bit “oilier” than the Clinique sample above, but the fragrance was a little strong. I’m not super picky about fragrance in skincare but I prefer it at least be on the more subdued side.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you make purchases through them.

These empties are mostly from January. There are a few that bled over from December and 1 or 2 from the first week of February. Most of it was good stuff this time.

Loves:

MyChelle Ultra Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum – I’ve been using this serum since October 2016 and I already purchased 2 more since. It’s very lightweight, not greasy whatsoever. On it’s own, it doesn’t seem like it does much, but mixed with some facial oil, it’s amazing. It cuts down the oiliness of facial oil and adds the benefits of it’s other ingredients. It has a soft rose scent. I moved to Oregon about 6 years ago and ever since I’ve had to deal with dry, flakey skin during the winter months. My skin seems to have fared this winter better so far with this serum.

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Body Butter (3) – This is another great winter product, though it is limited edition and comes back in stores in the fall. I have stocked up and have a few more in my stash.

Trader Joe’s Coconut Body Butter – This is the body butter I go for the rest of the year. It is not limited edition so you can find it any time of the year. It is not as thick as the pumpkin one but it’s just as moisturizing. The coconut scent is fairly light and fades shortly after applying so it doesn’t get in the way of any fragrance I might be wearing.

Trader Joe’s Natural Facial Cleansing Pads (3) – These have been a staple in my skincare for a few years and help control my acne. They have a nice herbal scent and leave a cool feeling on the skin. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you, Desert Essence Natural Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleansing Pads are the same thing.

Pinrose Gilded Fox – I was skeptical I would like this based on the description (cocoa, rum, vetiver). This is the first fragrance sample I’ve gotten in a single use format and I kind of wish I had gotten a regular sample vial because I want to use it more! The rum and vetiver were a little strong at first but the cocoa was more prominent after it dried down. I am really tempted to buy I bought the full size of this fragrance.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes – A long time staple in my skincare routine that works well.

Soo Ae Tea Tree, Propolis, and Aloe Sheet Masks – I used the Tea Tree one when my skin was breaking out, knowing that my skin does well with Tea Tree Oil. The inflammation around my breakouts went down and my skin was more glowy and even-toned the next day. I got the same glowy effect with the other two masks. They fit my face well, the masks were very saturated in the serum, and were lightly scented.

GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment – I LOVE this and use it mainly when my acne starts flaring up. It seems to calm the redness and inflammation around my breakouts and helps them to heal faster. This jar lasted me about 6 months since I use it sparingly.

Kneipp Herbal Bath in Balancing Lavender – This was impressive enough that I bought a full size (which I’m also almost done with). It is a concentrated aromatherapy bath oil with a scent that stays strong even with it’s diluted in a bathtub full of water. I plan to repurchase this when I’m out of my current bottle.

Likes:

Dove Advanced Care Deodorant – I’ve been using this deodorant for probably about a year. I got it at Costco in a 3 pack so it lasts forever. As much as I would love to use a natural deodorant I haven’t found one that works well enough. This one has worked for me during all seasons so I will likely repurchase this.

Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy – I purchased a set of these mini hand therapies quite a while ago and am slowly using them up. I like the formula and the scent but my favorite scent so far in this line is the Pomegranate. If I were to purchase a full size it would be that one.

Bath and Body Works Fresh Balsam 3-Wick Candle – This candle lasted me a couple of holiday seasons LOL. It was nice but not something I’d stock up on.

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Iowa Pine Soy Candle – I liked the pine scent of this candle better than the Bath and Body Works one. It was more of a pure pine scent and a bit stronger.

Sephora Orchid and Rose Sheet Masks – I purchased a set of Sephora sheet masks to give them a try during the holidays. These are decent but I thought they might be more moisturizing than they actually were. I liked them but I probably won’t buy them again.

Eh:

Masque Bar Brightening Sheet Mask – The sheet didn’t fit my face very well and it didn’t seem like it really didn’t anything for my skin.

Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes – I’ve used these for a while now, but I don’t think I will buy them anymore. I just like the Neutrogena Makeup Remover wipes better because they are softer and remove makeup better.

Here’s another month’s worth of products I’ve used up. Most of these are the same old things I always list in empties posts. I think I need to branch out and try some new stuff!

Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Body Wash and Shampoo – I buy and use this regularly. Good quality, good price.

Aveda Invati Exfoliating Shampoo and Thickening Conditioner Deluxe Samples – This is the first Aveda product I have tried. The shampoo was more liquidy than ones I normally use but I felt like it cleaned my hair well. The conditioner was pretty thick but it was also lightweight. They both smelled herbal and spa-like but otherwise they didn’t wow me so I’m not planning on buying these.

The Honest Company Honest Shampoo + Body Wash – This bottle is maybe a year or more old. The packaging was really messy which is why I stopped using it for a while. Product would ooze out of the lid and get all over the bottle. I have already repurchased this and to my delight they have replaced the flip-top with a pump. I like the product inside, especially that it is so multi-functional. I’ve even used it as a face wash and brush cleanser and it works great both ways. This would be great for people that hate clutter and want to minimize the amount of products in their shower.

The Body Shop Satsuma Body Polish – This smelled amazing but I used it mostly as a body wash and not so much as a body scrub. There wasn’t enough exfoliant in the product so I wouldn’t repurchase this. I would definitely consider getting the body wash though.

Simplicity Spa Soothing Bath Salts – I don’t even remember when or where I got this but there was just enough left in the container for one bath so I used it up. It was just average, like any other scented bath salt so I have no reason to specifically seek out this brand. I have some bath salts from another brand called Village Naturals that I am liking which I’m more likely to repurchase.

Trader Joe’s Spa Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil – I buy and use this regularly. I have a review of this if you are interested in hearing more about this product.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash – I also use this pretty regularly. This is better if I need to get a lot of gunk off my face (sunscreen, oil, makeup, etc.) but I prefer the Trader Joe’s one to help keep acne under control. This one has never really done anything for my acne.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion – This has been another staple in my skincare routine and I have reviewed this as well. I thought this was my last one but I found 2 more in my skincare drawer! I will not be purchasing anymore because I have found a couple other comparable products that I want to try out for a while.

Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner – I like this and use it daily. It’s another product in my mix of anti-acne secret weapons even though it is not marketed as that type of product. I’m pretty sure the glycolic acid in it is what is working for me. I might consider trying another product with same ingredient when I run out of my current bottle just to see what else is out there.

Trader Joe’s Spa Natural Facial Cleansing Pads with Tea Tree Oil – This is the best product I have ever used to treat acne. Definitely planning to repurchase.

Covergirl Lashblast Length Mascara – This is my favorite everyday, easy, non-fussy mascara. It adds some color, length and definition to my lashes and it never clumps or smudges on my lids when I’m applying. I already bought a new one.

Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara – I like this mascara too but not quite as much. It’s nice because it’s one of the few mascaras I’ve tried that adds a little bit of volume to my lashes without being difficult to apply or giving me spider-lashes. The darkest color isn’t really that black so I don’t wear this if I have a darker eyeshadow look going on but I still like it so I already bought another one.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer – I already have one or two more of these little packets and they last me probably about a week each. I like it but I think there are many cheaper alternatives available that are very similar so I wouldn’t buy this.

Finally, I am caught up with my empties! These are supposed to be monthly posts but with the chaos that my life is, they got really backed up. Looking back over this group of items, it seems that a lot of the ones I will not be repurchasing have to do with the fragrance. I’ve become more sensitive to fragrances myself over the years but more importantly, I’ve become more aware of others’ sensitivity to fragrance. The item that piqued my interest the most was Billy Jealousy Liquid Sand Exfoliating Facial Cleanser.

Repurchase Legend:

• Yes – Already repurchased, have a backup, or will repurchase in the future.
• Maybe – I liked it but I either don’t need it at the moment, it costs a lot, or I need more time to evaluate.
• No – Didn’t work for me, wasn’t happy with the results, didn’t like some aspect of the product, just want to try something else.

Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo – Good, cheap, does the job. I’m bored of it though, so I’ve switched to a Pantene Shampoo for now.

Dear Clark Resurrecting Wash Shampoo – This was an interesting product. It was VERY moisturizing and it left a slick, almost oily, feel in my hair after rinsing out, but my hair felt normal, not weighed down after drying. For me, this a product I’d use as a spa night treat, not everyday. I LOVED the orange-spice fragrance. I could be tempted to buy the full size if I got a deal.

Thierry Mugler Angel Shower Gel – This was highly fragranced and slightly different from the perfume. I like the smell of this better than the perfume for some reason. My fiancé is pretty sensitive to this particular fragrance so I will not be purchasing this. It was a good quality body wash, not watered down.

Billy Jealousy Liquid Sand Exfoliating Facial Cleanser – This was another unique product. This is marketed as more of a men’s product but of course it’s perfectly useful for anyone. The full size costs $24 but you get a whopping 8 oz of it which is much more cost effective than The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion and is just as good an exfoliator. It is densely packed with exfoliating grains which are slightly larger and the base is a bit more creamy and moisturizing. I will probably purchase this when I run out of my current facial scrubs.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion – I am almost out of my stash of these. I have bought them in bulk during sales for the last few years but I’m going to move on from this. It’s a good product but I would like to explore the market and see what other great exfoliators there are out there.

Trader Joe’s Spa Natural Facial Cleansing Pads with Tea Tree Oil – These are still going strong for me as an acne treatment. I finally figured out that these are the same as the cleansing pads from Desert Essence, same ingredients, almost the same packaging. So, if you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you, you can order the Desert Essence ones online or look for them at a health-food store like Whole Foods.

Butter London Scrubbers – I got a single use sample of this and it worked well for me. One wipe is supposed to be enough for all 10 nails and it lived up to that claim for me. I’d buy these if I was going on a trip but probably not as my regular nail polish remover.

Mac Brush Cleanser – I have already repurchased this. It’s not the cheapest but it works well for me and doesn’t dry out my brushes.

Marrakesh Endz Argan & Hemp Oil Therapy – I got this a little sample last spring and it took me all summer to use it up. It has a very summery scent and worked fairly well as a detangler. I have many more products I need to use up that are similar so I won’t be purchasing this.

J.R. Watkins Lemon Cream Hand Cream – I already bought another one of these. This cream is wonderful for someone who has to wash their hands frequently because it’s so thick it survives through a couple of washes before needing to be reapplied.

Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea Body Lotion – I used to be more into this brand of body care but I’ve gotten tired of the scents. This is one of the few scents that I like because it is softer and tends to be less bothersome to people around me. This lotion did a decent job of moisturizing but it was a bit sticky after drying down.

Tree Hut Shea Body Butter in Coconut Lime – I was so excited to get this because I love coconut but it’s actually less coconut-y than I expected. It has more of a tropical cocktail type of scent. It was thick but felt lightweight and was easy to spread over the skin. The fragrance was a bit too strong for me to wear on my whole body so it ended up being used mostly as a hand cream. I’d look into other scents because I like the formula but I wouldn’t buy this scent again.

The Body Shop Olive Body Butter – Similar to the Tree Hut body butter, this was also thick, easy to spread over the skin, and had a heavy fragrance. But this one was more moisturizing and would be good for the dead of winter or dry skin types. This wasn’t my favorite scent from this line so I will not be repurchasing.

Trader Joe’s Pomegranate Body Butter – I think I may have mentioned this once before in an Empties post and I believe it wasn’t something I liked that much at the time. I first tried this in winter and wasn’t all that thrilled about it because its quite light for a body butter and almost feels like a lotion. However, I used it over the summer and it was fantastic for that. I hate feeling sticky during hot weather so lighter moisturizers are in order. I like the fragrance – fruity, sweet, not too strong and it dissipates shortly after applying. This was a seasonal item but I’d buy it again if they have it this year.

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – I used this tiny sample over a month ago so I’m going off memory here. I remember it felt lightweight (not like smashbox and other heavy silicone-type primers), non-sticky, but also not slick. This small packet wasn’t enough for me to test out thoroughly so I’m not really compelled to buy a full size version of this.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes (2) – I already bought more of these. The towelletes are soft, the makeup remover works well but it leaves a slick residue on the skin so I always wash my face afterwards.

Repurchase Legend:

• Yes – Already repurchased, have a backup, or will repurchase in the future.
• Maybe – I liked it but I either don’t need it at the moment, it costs a lot, or I need more time to evaluate.
• No – Didn’t work for me, wasn’t happy with the results, didn’t like some aspect of the product, just want to try something else.

Full Size:

Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes – I’ve been using these for a long time and have 2 more packages to go. I will probably repurchase them again but only use them for cleaning up swatches because they are not as soft on the skin as I would like them to be. They don’t leave any slick residue on the skin though, which I really like.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes – I’ve also used these for a long time and will repurchase them. I like that the material they are made out of is soft and I only need 1 wipe to get all my makeup off.

Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner – This is a product that my skin has gotten used to and I no longer see any improvement but when I stop using it, I notice my skin doesn’t look as good. Have already repurchased this.

Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Dark Spot Corrector – My dark spots faded a bit using this but not enough for the amount of time I was using it. Because I didn’t have much faith in further improvement, I went with another product.

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum – This product is so similar to the Dark Spot Corrector in terms of the ingredients and the texture. It seemed to smooth out my skin slightly (more even texture) but it was extremely subtle and eventually my skin plateaued so I switched to another retinol product.

Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer – I bought this jumbo sized lotion to fill up some lotion dispensers I kept by the sink to use after washing my hands. It’s a good basic moisturizer with very minimal scent and leaves a light, non-greasy layer of moisture. It wasn’t bad at all but I got bored of it, so I won’t be repurchasing.

Dove White Beauty Bar (2) – I have one more bar of this left. I usually buy these in bulk at Costco because it’s a good deal but I hate storing so many of them and having them take up space for like a year LOL. I will probably buy it again at some point but I’m not in a rush to.

Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo (2) – This is something I go back and forth using. It is my fiance’s current favorite shampoo and I’ll use it too because it’s cheap and good. But I have my own favorite shampoo that I think works a bit better for me (Enjoy Shampoo – see below). I ran out of that though and it’s kinda of pricey so I’ve been stretching my dollar out by using this for a while. I’m sure I will cave and buy my favorite again, maybe if I can get a deal on it.

Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Body Wash (2) – Another good, cheap body wash. Its gentle and leaves a nice cooling tingle on the skin after using it.

Trader Joe’s Spa Natural Facial Cleansing Pads with Tea Tree Oil (4) – This stuff is my anti-acne secret weapon. I don’t know how it does it’s magic but if I stop using it regularly, you can bet my skin will break out. I just bought four more!

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Body Butter – I think this was one of the first things I used up this round of empties. I have quite a few backups so no need to repurchase.

Edenfield Cranberry Crush Body Wash – A really old body wash I had stored away and I wanted to use up. Had too much red coloring in it and it felt sort of watered down. Won’t repurchase.

Lancome Tonique Radiance Clarifying Exfoliating Toner – This came as a gift with purchase. It was too drying for me.

Spa Sister Sugar Cane and Coconut Foot Butter – I had two of these that came in a gift set. I don’t know where to get more but I did like them. They had a beautiful coconut scent and absorbed in quickly, leaving my skin smoothed and softened.

Enjoy Sulfate-Free Rejuvenating Volumizing Shampoo – LOVE this. It works consistently every single day. I never have a surprise bad hair day with this. It is both gentle and very good at getting my hair clean. It’s pricey but I will eventually buy this again.

Enjoy Rejuvenating Volumizing Conditioner – LOVE this too. This has vitamin B5 and peppermint which can get pretty tingly on the scalp but that’s what it’s supposed to do – to stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles and keep them as healthy as possible. It’s very lightweight and even applying this all over my hair and working it into my scalp, it doesn’t weigh my hair down at all. Will buy again at some point.

Herbal Essences Naked Cleansing Conditioner – I decided to try this on a whim because I’d heard about cleansing conditioners and I thought I’d see what they are all about. This had a very strong fragrance which kind of bothered me at times but it did surprisingly well with my fine, thin hair. It cleaned up excess oil and got me through most of the day without too much weigh-down. It’s not really the right type of product for me though so I won’t be repurchasing it.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream – I first tried a deluxe sample of this and fell in love with the texture. It’s light, velvety, and gel-like. It worked really well when my skin was very dry.

Scalisi Skincare Cleanser and Exfoliator – I wasn’t impressed with this. It’s pretty basic as far as cleansers go and the exfoliator was just an extra unnecessary thing. There wasn’t enough of it to actually exfoliate but just by being there it made it difficult to use around my eyes. It’s also very expensive.

Josie Maran Argan Oil – This little bottle lasted me over a year. I used it mainly as an alternative to eye cream. I have another one already.

Hibiclens Antiseptic/Antimicrobial Skin Cleanser – This is something you might not be familiar with. My fiance introduced me to this medical soap. This might be TMI, but it’s something I only use if I can’t seem to get rid of B.O. under my arms with any other soap. It’s fantastic for that.

Deluxe Samples

Unwash Bio-Cleansing Conditioner – This was my second experience with cleansing conditioner. It had a nice smell, similar to Alterna Bamboo Strand Expand, but it didn’t get my hair as clean as the Herbal Essences one. No buy for me.

Lush Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter – I have a love/hate relationship with this. Its great for my heals but I don’t like the smell. Its lemony and then there’s this other funk that creeps in… like petroleum, motor oil, something synthetic? Ugh. I dunno. If they offered a similar product with a  better smell I might repurchase.

Bliss Grapefruit and Aloe Body Butter – For being a body butter this was very light. The consistency was more like lotion. I really like the fragrance. It wasn’t too tart but it was bright and refreshing. Might repurchase.

Lancer Lift Serum Intense Stem Cell Recovery Complex – Didn’t really notice much with this.

Revive Intensite Volumizing Eye Serum – Didn’t really notice much with this.

12 Benefits Instant Healthy Hair Treatment – This had a clean floral fragrance and it was really nice for detangling. Might repurchase.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment – Love this balm but it’s expensive and I haven’t bought it in a while for that reason. I like that you can get a bunch of little ones in a set during the holidays but the clear one always works best for me. I’d buy it again if I could get a good deal.

Bvlgari Eau Parfumee Hair Conditioner – This was ultra light and left my hair fragranced but didn’t do much for tangles. Wouldn’t buy it.

Alterna Bamboo Volume Plumping Strand Expand – This little sample lasted me a really long time and actually gave my hair a bit of volume without making my it feel sticky. My hair is way too long right now and what I need more than a new product is a hair cut LOL. Would consider this in the future but not right now.

Estee Lauder Enlighten Dark Spot Correcting Night Serum – I got this just in time when I ran out of my Neutrogena dark spot corrector so I was thrilled. I used it as a spot treatment so it lasted me about a month. I didn’t see any results whatsoever so I decided to quit using it and opt for something with hydroquinone instead.

Foil Samples:

AMEN Pure Wood by Thierry Mugler – I breifly had a subscription to the Mugler box and got this in one of them. Being a men’s product, and my fiance not being all that into colognes, it sat around for ages. I finally decided to just open it up and smell it so I could get rid of it LOL. It’s actually really nice and soft. It’s woody, with a faint smokiness to it. It brings to mind a forested area during a warm fall night, but also something cozy like if I were sitting on a cabin porch wrapped in a fluffy, soft blanket. Obviously won’t buy it for myself but I recommend checking it out, if you like woody fragrances that aren’t too strong.

Tom Form Velvet Orchid – The only Tom Ford fragrances I’d smelled before this were all way too strong for my taste but this was a little more up my alley. It has since faded so I’m going off memory and the hints of the scent still left on the packaging. I’d consider getting another sample or maybe purchasing a small size of this perfume.

Ernest Supplies Protective Matte Moisturizer – I didn’t like this. It did go on mattifying at first but it left my skin like an oil slick by lunchtime. Not for me.

Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector – Daily Anti-Acne in Light/Medium – This had a very nice texture and I know the price is right but the color was a bit dark for me.

Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment – I want this. In fact, it’s sitting in my Sephora shopping cart right now but I haven’t bought it yet. I finally bought this today. My pores actually did look cleaner after just one use and the glow lasted for a few days.

Rodial Glamoxy snake serum – I had enough for like 2 uses so I have no idea if it didn’t anything.

Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins – Way too heavy for me.

Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer – Smelled great but it was a little thick for me.

Loreal Revitalift Volume Filler Re-Volumizing Serum – Quite nice for a drugstore product but I already had another product in mind to add to my skincare routine.

Loreal Revitalift Volume Filler Re-Volumizing Cream –  Quite nice for a drugstore product but I already had another product in mind to add to my skincare routine.

Loreal Youth Code Texture Perfector Serum Concentrate – Didn’t notice much with this.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Buttercream – Very nice thick hydrating body butter. It smelled like 7UP which was okay but not my favorite. Would buy another scent maybe in the winter when I need a heavier body butter.

Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum – Didn’t notice much difference but it had a lightweight, thin consistency and a barely-there fragrance.

Revlon Photoready Prime + Anti Shine – Can’t really remember how this lasted throughout the day but it did a nice job of blurring pores.

Yay, making more progress using up some of my stuff! Sometimes I feel like I’m forcing myself to use up products I don’t really like because I don’t like throwing away something that could be used. But this round of empties actually contains quite a few great things I really enjoyed. Here’s all the things that got used up during the month of February:

Olay Ultra Moisture with Shea Butter Body Wash – This bottle seemed to last me FOREVER. I mostly use it to wash my back with a back brush because the skin on my back tends to feel too dry when I use a normal body wash. This is more moisturizing and leaves my skin feeling comfortable. I will keep purchasing this until I find something better.
Edenfield Cranberry Crush Shower Gel – This was a holiday edition item that has been sitting on my shelf for ages. I didn’t like it very much because it has such strong coloring in it and it seems watered down. It gets the job done but I wouldn’t buy it again.
Lush Celebrate Body Lotion – This came in a Christmas gift from a friend. It was super-ultra-crazy moisturizing and had a very uplifting citrusy scent. I think this is only a seasonal item but if they get it again this year, I’ll probably pick up another jar.
Crabtree & Evelyn Wisteria Body Cream – My fiancé got me a gift box of goodies in this scent. The cream itself was nice but for some reason they decided to change the scent! There was a distinct note I really loved in the previous version of this scent and it seems like they took it out. I won’t be buying anything else in this scent just because it’s not something I love anymore.
Natural For Her by Herban Cowboy Maximum Protection Deodorant – I tried this out on a whim and actually really liked it. It doesn’t have parabens, aluminum, triclosan, alcohol or propylene glycol. It has a floral fragrance and works better than a few other natural deodorants I’ve tried but still not as good as traditional ones. It’s a good one to use in winter or when you aren’t planning on working out.
Trader Joe’s Spa Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil – I have been kind of backing off of this face wash lately. I like it still but I feel like my skin isn’t as oily as it use to be. I think I’m going to switch to the Vichy one below.
Vichy Purete Theramle 3 in 1 Cleanser – I got this in one of my Glossyboxes and had a feeling I would like it. I was skeptical, though, that it would clean my skin and still somehow moisturize it – but it did!
Trader Joe’s Natural Facial Cleansing Pads with Tea Tree Oil – Instead of the face wash from the same brand, I think this has become my new favorite anti-acne product. There’s just something about the tea tree oil and other ingredients in this that really works at preventing breakouts. I usually hoard several of these because I’m afraid I’ll run out and start breaking out again LOL.
SkinInc Custom Blended Brightening Serum – This serum did a great job of keeping my skin hydrated even though it feels very lightweight. I didn’t notice any brightening but I only had this small sample size. I might purchase a big size of this.
Skin&Co Truffle Therapy Serum – This had a really nice scent and luxurious texture but it didn’t seem to actually do anything. Not planning on buying it.
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer – This sample lasted me an unbelievably long time. I want to buy the full size but I’ll wait till I can get a deal on it.
Crabtree & Evelyn Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy in Evelyn Rose – I like this line of hand creams but I’m picky about the scents. This was one of the nicer rose scents I’ve come across because it isn’t too strong and smells authentic. At some point, I’ll finish my collection of mini hand creams and buy a big size. I also love the Pomegranate scent!

January flew by so fast! I didn’t think I was going to use up so much stuff but I’m proud of the amount I got through. The foil samples in my collection really ballooned up because both Sephora and Ulta were offering free sample gift bags during the holidays. Those things have been driving me nuts because I don’t really want to put samples away with the rest of my stuff, because I’ll likely never use them! So they’ve just been sitting on my counter. Read on to see what I thought of them and whether I’d purchase these products again (or purchase the full-sized version).

Full-Sized Products

Bodycology Toasted Vanilla Sugar Foaming Body Wash – This was just okay. I bought it because it was cheap and smelled nice but I probably won’t buy it again.
Dove White Beauty Bar – I’ve been using this product for years and will continue to do so.
Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo – This is a decent shampoo at a good price. It cleans well and does not contain laurel/laureth sulfates. I will buy this again.
Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes – I buy the big box of these at Costco for the deal but they don’t compare to Neutrogena’s makeup remover wipes. I’ll buy them again because they work fine for removing swatches and light makeup but I will continue to use Neutrogena for more stubborn makeup.
Trader Joe’s Pomegranate Body Butter – Since I loved their pumpkin body butter so much, I thought I’d give this a try. It was much lighter and the ingredients are quite a bit different too. It wasn’t bad but I much prefer the pumpkin body butter and coconut body butter, so I probably wont get this again next year, if it’s available again.
e.l.f. Daily Brush Cleanser – This didn’t clean as well as my Mac Brush Cleanser and left my brushes feeling really dry. Will not be purchasing it again.
e.l.f. Makeup Mist & Set – I didn’t like this at all. The sprayer did not spray a fine or even enough mist and it had a funky smell. Won’t buy this again.
Covergirl LashBlast Length Mascara – Love this and will probably continue to purchase it as long as they make it!
Urban Decay Primer Potion – This took forever to finish up because I typically don’t wear eyeshadow every single day. It worked pretty well and gave me a couple extra hours of wear for most of my eyeshadows but I want to try another product so I don’t have any plans to repurchase it.

Deluxe Samples

Philip B pH Restorative Detangling Toning Mist – I got this in my Glossybox subscription and it took me a while to use it up because I just didn’t love it. It did detangle but if I used too much it would weigh my hair down. Not planning to buy this.
Crabtree & Evelyn Pomegranate Argan & Grapeseed Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy – I loved this and when I make it through my other hand creams, I’ll probably buy the full size version of this. The scent is intoxicating and the formula leaves my hands feeling super smooth. It’s not a heavy moisturizer though, so for the winter months, I’ll still keep a heavier duty product on hand as well.
Eslor Firming Collagen Day Cream – I also got this in my Glossybox subscription. It is pretty heavily scented, has a thick formula that feels a bit too heavy for my taste and it doesn’t seem to actually moisturize all that well, so I will not be purchasing this.

Foil Samples

The Balm TimeBalm Rose Face Cleanser – It felt like I was washing my face with a light cream that neither cleansed nor moisturized. Won’t be buying this.
Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser For Face and Eyes – This was super gentle, had a light natural smell, and actually cleaned well. I’d consider purchasing this cleanser in the future.
Exuviance Daily Antioxidant Peel Pads – There was only one pad included so I honestly have no idea if I would like this or not. It didn’t irritate my skin and I’m curious about the citric acid because I haven’t tried it before but I don’t plan to purchase it any time soon.
Fresh Rose Hydarating Eye Gel Cream – This had a light rose scent and felt hydrating but lightweight. I prefer using facial oils in place of an eye creams so I’m not going to purchase this.
Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief – I was expecting this to feel super hydrating because of the name but it wasn’t. It dried down quickly and my face still felt tight after using it – not for me.
Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner – This was really nice but a little too moisturizing for my hair type. Not buying it.
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner – Also nice but too moisturizing for my hair. Not buying it.
Matrix Biolage Exquisite Oil Shampoo and Conditioner – This was the weirdest thing I’ve tried. It felt oily when I was washing my hair but later in the day my hair felt very dry and looked flat. Definitely not buying this.
Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque – I already own the full size jar of this and I enjoy it but there are less expensive options that work just as well so I will not be purchasing it again.

I’ve been saving my empties for an ungodly amount of time because I knew that at some point I wanted to start blogging again. I didn’t realize how much stuff I’d use up LOL. Unfortunately, I wasn’t great about keeping track of every single thing I used up. I know there were more products but I’ll try to do better for the next empties post.

Skincare

Neutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Foaming Scrub – This was not very exfoliating. I’m glad I’m finally done with it.
Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner – This is an old favorite and I plan to repurchase soon.
4 x Trader Joe’s Spa Natural Facial Cleaning Pads with Tea Tree Oil – I love this and plan to repurchase soon.
The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion – I love this and have already repurchased a few.
GlamGlow Youthmud TingleExfoliate Treatment – This seemed pretty good but I can’t justify the price so I will not purchase it.
Naobay Oxygenating Moisturizing Cream – This was not bad but it wasn’t great either. It somehow felt kind of heavy but also not very moisturizing at the same time.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Moisturizer – I bought a full size of this. Love it.
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint – I repurchased this already. It’s good for keeping in my purse.

Bath, Body and Hair

Burt’s Bees Extra Energizing Citrus & Ginger Body Wash – This was just okay. It didn’t lather much or seem to clean super well so I will not repurchase.
Thierry Mugler Alien Radiant Shower Gel – This is a pretty strong scent so I have a hard time actually wearing the perfume for fear of bothering others but I really liked the body wash. It also did a really nice job of cleaning. Not planning to repurchase but I’ll keep it on my radar.
Skintimate Skin Therapy Moisturizing Shave Gel With Vitamin E – This wasn’t bad but I find that using body wash or soap does just as good a job and it’s one less thing cluttering up my shower.
Aqua Spa Relax Body Crème (Lavender + Chamomile scent) – I enjoyed this. It was a decent moisturizer and smelled pretty good. The only thing is that I didn’t think the scent was authentic, it smelled sort of synthetic to me. Not planning to repurchase.
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Body Butter – This stuff smells amazing, moisturizes well, and soaks in thoroughly. I wish this was available all year but it’s not. So I bought a bunch of backups to last me all year. Hopefully they have it again next fall.
Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Lightly Whipped Body Buttercream – I love how well this moisturized. It left my skin super soft after it soaked in but I’m not a huge fan of the scent so I don’t plan to buy it.
Ayres Patagonia Body Butter Deluxe Sample – This was a decent moisturizer but the scent wasn’t something I’d want to wear on a daily basis so I won’t purchase it.
Uberliss Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner – These were just okay. I liked the shampoo a bit better than the conditioner but neither wowed me so I will not be purchasing.

Hands

J.R. Watkins Lemon Cream Hand Cream – I was addicted to this at one point, then I kind of forgot about it. And recently I decided to start using it again. It’s fairly heavy for the summer but it’s great in the winter. I might repurchase when I run out of the other hand creams I have.
Crabtree & Evelyn Avocado Olive & Basil Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy – I liked the formula of this but the scent was just okay so I won’t repurchase.
Crabtree & Evelyn Somerset Meadow Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy – The formula is nice but I didn’t really like the scent so I will not repurchase.
Le Couvent Des Minimes Gardener’s Hand Healer – This felt somewhat heavy/greasy so I don’t plan to repurchase.
Dr. Hunter’s Rosewater & Glycerine Hand Cream – I like the formula of this a lot but the scent was too over powering so I will not purchase the full size.