Empties January/February 2015

Lots of empties, so I'll be quick. 

1. Sample of Tarte Fearless Amazonian Clay Blush: Color was okay, applied somewhat patchy. Very pigmented and long-lasting. Would not repurchase; I prefer Trish McEvoy blushes. 

2. Trish McEvoy Mineral SPF 15 Powder Foundation in Bare: Favorite powder ever (some coverage, not cakey at all, absorbs oil, long-lasting). I will forever repurchase, and am already halfway through another one. 

3. Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer: I like the One Heck of a Blot Powder in here, so I depotted it. I decided to throw away the remnants of the concealers. They looked cakey, and they got really tacky and wouldn't blend. Just was awful toward the end, and I don't know why. Would not repurchase.

4. Neutrogena Moisture Smooth Color Sticks (Papaya and Peach): Just throwing the rest of these out. Yes, they're comfy, but they settle into lines on the lips and have straight up glitter in them. Would not repurchase. 

5. Makeup Revolution Viper Mascara: Spidery lashes, difficult brush, and smudges. Would not repurchase.

6. Makeup Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara: Spidery lashes, difficult brush, and smudges. Would not repurchase.

7. Covergirl Professional Super Thick Lash Mascara in Black: Best drugstore mascara ever (a lot like Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes). Will always repurchase. 

8. Shiseido Benefiance Retinol Eye Masks: Didn't do anything, leaked into eyes, unpleasant fragrance (to me). Wouldn't repurchase. 

9. Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths: Came as part of a set; I wouldn't have bought these on their own. I hate wipes in general. These were drying, didn't remove makeup fully, and left residue. Smelled nice. Not worth the hype. Would not repurchase.

10. Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Cream SPF 30: I had this tube forever. Love this sunscreen. Broad spectrum, offers enough protection. It's glowy, yet doesn't make me oily. Makes my makeup last longer. Love the packaging; the pump gives me the perfect amount and gets out every last drop. Would definitely repurchase, but I wish it weren't so expensive.

11. Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil: Smelled a bit like cough syrup. Wasn't as good as other cleansing oils to remove makeup; didn't completely rinse away clean. Wouldn't purchase full size.

12. Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist: Felt nice, but more of a luxury as opposed to something functional. Not that necessary in my routine, and doesn't hydrate as much as other facial sprays like the Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence or the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe and Herbs. Wouldn't purchase big bottle.

13. Pixi Glow Tonic: Finally finished the rest. Those two bottles of this I got in London lasted forever (the last bit was in a travel bottle). I might repurchase, but not over the Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion. That seems to be more gentle, and I prefer BHA.

14. Olay Classic Night Cream: I think I bought this because I was trying to see if I could get away using a cheap moisturizer. I can't. This stuff doesn't feel hydrating on the skin at all. It just leaves a weird coating. Need a lot to feel even a bit hydrated. There are some gems at the drugstore, but this was all fillers, hence the price tag and why it didn't last long. It's way more economical to buy an expensive moisturizer that lasts a super long time than to spend five dollars every month on something that does nothing. Would not repurchase. 

15. Phyto Phytokarité Brilliance Mask: I really liked this as my daily conditioner or as a mask for making the hair nice and smooth. The water where I live is so hard; I think this worked a bit better for me in France. I would repurchase this in France if I move there, but for now, I won't repurchase because it doesn't work as well with the water here.

16. Marvis Jasmin Mint Toothpaste: I won't use toothpaste from any other brand. I think Aquatic Mint is my new favorite flavor, but I still love this one, too. I will repurchase Marvis for life!

17. Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream: One of my favorite hand creams. It's hydrating but not at all greasy. I already repurchased my third tube.

18. Old Sport Pure Sport Deodorant: I bought this because this is what my best friend wears, and I missed the way he smells (creepy or just bff love?). However, the actual deodorant didn't work well on me. It was irritating to my arm pits, left me smelly (BO still came through, even with men's deodorant), and it was hard to wash off. Wouldn't repurchase.

19. Johnson's Baby Shampoo: I use this to wash my brushes. It leaves them soft, and I love the smell. I would repurchase, however, I'm considering switching to the Molton Brown Cloudberry Shampoo to wash them. I use it at work to wash brushes, and it leaves them super soft (and you need less of it since it's so concentrated).

20. Lush Figs and Leaves Soap: Love the smell of this soap, however, I forgot how much the seeds and leaves part of it really annoyed me. I might repurchase if I miss the smell, but for now, I'll just use up my zillion bars of soap I already have.

Samples - I like all of these but I'm too poor.

21. Darphin Aromatic Purifying Balm: Amazing for zits and extracting blackheads. If I weren't broke, I'd totally purchase.

22. Sunday Riley Skin Adrenaline Moisturizer: I like this moisturizer, but the smell was a bit medicinal for me. Wouldn't purchase this one because of the smell.

23. Sunday Riley Bionic Moisturizer: LOVE this and wish I could afford it. Even though this is targeted at dry skins and I'm oily, I found that this hydrated my skin without leaving me greasy at all. And it smells like starfruit.

24. Sunday Riley Start Over Eye Cream: Really like this. Very good for de-puffing the eye area (because of all that MCT in it). Because of the MCT though, it does make my eyes water. I actually really like this on zits though. (Try using your eye cream on zits. The inflammatory ingredients  in a de-puffing formula really help to bring them down gently!) I may purchase this, but it would be a hard choice between this and Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Eye, which I'm obsessed with.

25. Sunday Riley Good Genes: Words cannot describe my love for this serum. Like, new face. Holy shit. When I'm out of my other serums, this is next up.

26. Sunday Riley Juno oil: This is one of my favorite face oils. So hydrating, yet light-weight. 

27. Sunday Riley Artemis: Amazing for taking down those blemishes that are like welts. I can't use it every day or else I get a bit dry (because yes, oils purify!), but I love this when I'm congested.

28. Sunday Riley Charisma Crème Cleanser: I really really like this cleanser. Visible difference in the brightness of my skin after using this. It leaves it so soft. 

29. Sunday Riley Cashmere SPF 30+: I love this sunscreen. This is the best physical block I've ever used. It leaves no white cast, and it's mattifying. When I have sufficient funds, this is on the list. 

30. Rahua Shampoo and Conditioner: I love these. So nourishing for my otherwise frizzy hair, and the smell is addicting.