January Empties

I'm just going to hop right in because I have a quite a few things to talk about, and any info about what Empties posts are can just be found in my last empties post. Click the links in the captions for product info (prices/where to buy).

1. Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Primer | 2. Maybelline Master Precise Liner | 3. L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream

 1. I enjoyed this deluxe sample of primer while it lasted. For the most part it did what a primer is supposed to do: prepare the skin for makeup, hydrate, fill in some lines, not pill. However, it didn't really do anything to control my oil, so I probably won't be purchasing the full size. For those that have dry skin (and, therefore, don't worry about oil) this would be perfect for you, as it is nice and silky and gives that extra boost of hydration we all need in the winter.

2. This is a really good liner, and I enjoyed using this at first. It was really easy to achieve a fine, steady line with this, and it was nice and black. However, as it dried out, the end of the nib got dry and started to roll up into itself/dull (if that makes sense), it got less black, and it tugged at the eye area (not good). I guess I was disappointed about how long the product lasted even though it is pretty cheap for a good liner. I might just stick to shadow as liner. Just be prepared to replace this frequently if you do run out and get this. 

3. I love the L'Occitane hand creams, and after trying this sample, I got a few more in some different scents, and I will definitely continue to repurchase them. They're not greasy, they keep my hands moisturized (not intensely, but enough to keep them from getting cracked), they last a long time, and they're not even that expensive. However, I don't really like this original shea scent. It kind of smells like baby powder. I would recommend the lavender (which is even more moisturizing), the honey, and the vanilla scents. 

4. The Body Shop Moringa Body Butter | 5.  The Body Shop Strawberry Body Butter | 6. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

 4/5. I had tried The Body Shop Body Butters before and didn't really like them. I thought they were way too greasy, so I was skeptical when buying these. However, that was years ago, and they changed the formula, and I really like it. The Moringa was by far my favorite: It's paraben-free and has a more buttery/whipped texture that kind of melts into the skin without leaving you greasy. Plus the smell is to die for. The strawberry had parabens, which I'm not fond of, and the texture of Greek yogurt (specific, I know, but true). It also didn't absorb as well, leaving a bit of a greasy feeling. The smell was a bit more artificial, and again, yogurt-y. Overall, I will repurchase the Moringa if I find the paraben-free formula. I'm curious to try the lotion for other times of the year, but the butter is great for winter. 

6. This is by far the best powder I have tried from the drugstore, and I will definitely repurchase. It sets the skin really well and absorbs oil, but it doesn't look like you're wearing makeup. The best powder I've ever tried, my favorite of all time, is the Trish McEvoy Even Skin, but for an inexpensive option, this is great. My only complaint is the packaging. It's hard to travel with because the lid could pop off at any moment, but this isn't a carry-in-your-bag-powder anyway because it doesn't have a mirror. It also begins to crumble when you hit pan.

7. Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer Moisturizing Lotion | 8. Dove deodorant | 9. Clean Outdoor Shower Fresh

7. I got this a year ago with the products that came with my Clarisonic, and this was definitely a product I was glad to finish. I pretty much hated this moisturizer and ended up using it on my upper body to get rid of it. I have oily skin, and when I used this (no matter how much powder I put over it or how many mattifying products I used) I was greasy after even an hour of wear. It's not like it broke me out, but it was just unattractive. I tried using it as a night moisturizer, too, and I would wake up with dry patches around my nose and corners of my mouth. For that reason, I can't even recommend it to dry skin girls. It's basically an expensive, greasy sunscreen, not a fast-absorbing moisturizer. Just don't waste your money.

8. Deodorant is kind of boring, but we all (or most of us) use it. I really like this one. It's moisturizing, smells fantastic, and kept the sweat and odor at bay. I just purchased a deodorant without aluminum to try, but it's really not working (therefore, I got another really cheap one I hate to cover that stank up), so when those are done, I'll probably go back to this. I'll risk the health problems. 

9. There's something so satisfying about finishing a fragrance, and I feel like I've been running through mine (they're mostly half full bottles, and I've been sticking to one at a time). I wasn't happy or sad to see this go. For me, this is just a nice, fresh, everyday scent (good for summer and spring days and nights, but I used it now just to finish it and move on to something else). It's very green, easy to wear, and the only person who didn't like it was my mom (I got so many compliments on this, it was crazy). I won't repurchase for now, as I have three fragrances to get through, but it's a possible repurchase candidate.

So I hope this was helpful, and I have some products that I'm going to be finished with soon, so I'll probably be writing another one of these next month. Have a good February, y'all!

What did you finish this month?