October/November 2025 Empties

 I hope everyone is having a good start to their holiday season! I already have some empties piling up for December so it's time to get rid of these Autumn ones and do some mini reviews. 

Living proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment – This was a travel sized tube that was nearly finished from my last trip so I decided I may as well finish it. I have no idea at this point how many containers of this product I have gone through. It's one of my favourite hair products. I really love all of the volume, thickness and manageability that this product gives me. Already repurchased. 

Caliray Come Hell or High Water Mascara  I love the fact that this mascara doesn’t budge or smudge so it is great when I am wearing my glasses. It gives good length, volume and curl too. Not my favourite mascara, but definitely in the top 5 and it serves a specific purpose for me.This was my fifth and I have already repurchased another. I buy the travel sized one as it lasts me 3 months plus and it's great to throw into my purse. The regular sized one would be a waste of money for me as it would go bad before I finish it. 

Ilia Limitless Lash Lengthening Clean Mascara - I have to say this product was not good. I've found way better mascaras at the drug store. It gave me no volume, pretty much no length and applying it was a general waste of time. I only used it a few times, mostly to see if it improved once it got some air in it, and it completely dried out so fast. $40 Canadian is outrageous for this product. Will never repurchase. 

Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion - I bought this awhile ago at Sephora, but I see they no longer carry it there but they do on their own website. This was a solid body lotion in terms of effectiveness. My skin felt very good after applying this and the moisture did last a decent amount of time. It is a watery formula so depending on your needs, it may not be what you are looking for. All of this being said, for $34 Canadian, I am not sure it is worth repurchasing. Especially, since I would need to pay $10 to have it shipped to me directly from the brand. If you can get this on sale and don't have to pay for shipping, I would consider repurchasing. My final thought on this is that the packaging is very lightweight and narrow so it falls over very easily if it's on a table. I found that super annoying. 

Cetaphil Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating Lotion for Dry, Sensitive Skin - This was a good, thick body cream and it worked well. I would totally repurchase it. Since it is drugstore, the price is reasonable. Regardless, I have 2 complaints. I don't like the smell. To me, it smells like mothballs. However, I find a lot of lotions smell that way, so it may be some ingredient I don't jive with so please take my opinion with a grain of salt. Second complaint is that the product is so thick that it is hard to sometimes get it out of the plump and getting those last bits of product out is extremely difficult unless you cut it open. I would suggest buying the tub instead of the pump for this reason. 

Oribe Run-Through Detangling Primer - I bought this ages ago from Amazon used it a couple of times, wasn't impressed and put it away. I busted it out again over the summer and decided to use it up as I was nearly out of my detangler. It was ok, but personally I prefer the Bumble and bumble detangling primer. The Oribe works best as a hydrator, not so much a detangler. This product offers heat protection as well. Aside from the fact that I consider this product mid, the nozzle gets clogged constantly which drives me mad. The cost is $49 Canadian currently, which for what it is, is steep. Will not repurchase. 

Tarte Lip Gloss - I got a set of these a few years ago, and I only open one at a time. This was a great blueish pinky purple that was subtle and pretty and I miss it already. Tarte doesn't appear to have a similar product in their product line-up any longer and it's a shame as it is one of the best products they have ever made. They smell good, feel super comfortable and were long lasting. The colours were phenomenal. I believe I have one left and I will be using it shortly. Would repurchase if I could. 

Burt's Bees Wild Cherry Moisturizing Lip Balm - These are good to have lying around the house but I do prefer my Laneige or Summer Fridays lip products. They are very inexpensive so worth buying for sure. I got a set from the hubby as a stocking stuffer in the past so I have a few of these to use up.  

Rimmel Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in 018 Addicton and 063 East End Snob - These lip liners were great in terms of the price, colour selection and quality. They appear to be discontinued for the most part, only a couple of shades are left on Rimmel's website. I am glad I bought these but they made me realize I am not crazy about mechanical lip liners. There is a lot product still left inside, but you can't access it at a certain point. I checked online and it appears many people have had the same complaint. I recently decided to use up one of these when the other one reached the "end" and it didn't take long for the same thing to happen. To be fair, I used these quite a bit before they would no longer turn up. It still bothers me though as I hate to see wasted product. 

Redken Frizz Dismiss Sulfate-Free Shampoo - This bottle was travel-sized. I think this packaging has been discontinued. I bought this at a L'Oreal Wareouse sale some time ago. I am not sure if the product was old, but it did not lather whatsoever. If someone has any experience with this product, please let me know.  I found myself using a lot of it, since it didn't lather so I maybe got 3 uses out of this small bottle. I guess it was ok, but I wasn't impressed overall with it. 

Dr. Hauschka Translucent Make-up 01 - I brought this a very long time ago, and at the time, 01 was their lightest shade. Dr. Hauschka doesn't appear to make this exact product any longer which is for the best, as it wasn't very good. I decided recently to use it up and wore it when I was popping out to run a quick errand, not when I was going anywhere special. It hadn't gone bad but I think it was starting to think about it. The colour, 01, was very dark, leaning more medium to tan. The formula was watery and sheered out luckily but was still much too dark for me. It had a strong smell, which I liked, but it may be too much for some people. Coverage was light to medium at best. Would not repurchase it, even if I could. Hopefully, their newer base products are better. They appear to have a better shade range now. 

Estee Lauder Micro Essence - I bought this ages ago at the extreme urging of an Estee Lauder rep as she told me it was their best seller and it would change my life. I don't remember what I paid for it at the time, but it was very expensive for what it is, and I foolishly didn't ask how much before she rang it up. If I was to guess I'd say I paid about $70 at the time. The bottle I have is 75ml and is in glass which I am appreciative of. The smallest size I see online is 100ml for $102 Canadian. Ouch. I had this for a long time before I finally opened it and started using it. It does work in the sense that it adds a fair amount of moisture and comfort to the skin and it is softening. If I got it at a discounted price or in a set, I would gladly use this again. At this price point though, I won't be repurchasing as it was not life changing nor worth the price tag in my opinion. You can get other products for a fraction of the price that work in a similar fashion. 

Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer - This was a good moisturizer that I used at night sometimes. When I woke up, my skin would look bright and clear. It did moisturize decently, but I have creams that work better for that. I got this in a subscription box that I used to have. I would consider repurchasing, but it is not my favourite night cream so I will not be rushing to do so. That being said, this is easily in my top 5 facial creams so it is a solid purchase. I think this would have been a great cream for me when I was younger and didn't need as much moisture. 

Biossance Squalane + Copper Pepptide Rapid Plumping Serum - The first couple of times I used this I couldn't believe my eyes as it plumped my skin like crazy and practically erased my laugh lines. I was ready to go to Sephora and buy the largest bottle they have of it. However, after the first couple of uses, the dramatic change diminished and it was not the same again. I am not sure what happened, or how this is possible, but the effect was significantly gone. I do find that in general Biossance products don't do much for me but they must work for other people. This was a travel sized bottle that I received for free from Sephora. 

That's all for now! 

August/September 2025 Empties

Hello! Back with another empties post. Not a whole lot this time around. I am trying to pan and empty several things at the moment so the next few months should be more interesting. Let's get into it.  

The Inkey List Supersolutions 10% Azelaic Acid Serum - This product has been just what I needed for my rosacea. I have already repurchased. Can't live without it now. This is a must have for anyone with rosacea and the beauty is you can layer it with other serums. I highly recommend using it twice a day for full effectiveness. I am not sure how many of these I have gone through now but I will be buying it likely forever. 

Living proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment – I have gone through countless bottles of this product and I already have repurchased another. I really love all of the volume, thickness and manageability that this product gives me. My only complaint is that it makes my hair a bit stiff. I have started using other Living proof products and I have found some good ones which I should have an empties post soon. I wasn't the biggest fan of their shampoo and conditioner when I tried it in the past but I would be willing to try it again to see if my thoughts have changed. 

Caliray Come Hell or High Water Mascara  I love the fact that this mascara doesn’t budge or smudge so it is great when I am wearing my glasses. It gives good length, volume and curl too. Not my favourite mascara, but definitely in the top 5 and it serves a specific purpose for me.This was my fourth I have already repurchased my fifth. I buy the travel sized one as it lasts me 3 months plus and it's great to throw into my purse. The regular sized one would be a waste of money for me as it would go bad before I finish it. 

Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum - I think this must be my last travel sized version of this product. At least, I hope so. Maybe it is me, but Biossance products don't seem to do much for me. This serum I don't think did much at all. I believe this product has a tiny amount of retinol, so little as I have read, that it would have no effect on skin. Not sure if that is true, but that is what I have seen online from beauty insiders. I think this product has been discontinued too. Would not repurchase. 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Original - I have lost count how many of these I have used up over the years. Already repurchased. It's the best one I can find on the market. Everyone needs this. 

tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Hydrating Balm Gloss in Raspberry - There are so many of these tarte lip products that look similar it isn't funny. I am not touching the plumping one. I really liked this product in the Raspberry colour. It's nice and glossy, looks plump and very moisturizing. I have since bought another colour and I am not enthused about it at all. I'm using it to add hydration on top of dry lipsticks to use it up. 

Youth to the People Polypeptide-21 Future Cream - This was a little travel sized sample and I quite liked it. It's not better than Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream nor the Caudalie Premier Cru cream, but I would consider buying this one possibly in the future. It was one of the best face creams I have used in a long time. 

Klorane Floral Water Make-Up Remover - Love this. There is no substitute. Will always buy this until it is no longer available. 

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion (Shea Butter) - This is a great lotion. Especially the Cooling Menthol version which this one wasn't but it's still good. Already repurchased. 

Peach & Lily Power Calm Hydrating Gel Cleanser - I thought this was the best cleanser when I first tried this and I do still really like it, but I have have a couple others that I prefer. I would consider repurchasing this, but I won't be rushing to as I have lots of other ones I am currently using. This cleanser makes your skin feel really clean while not stripping it of moisture and protecting the skin barrier. 

SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream - I really liked this product when it first came out. I credit it with helping me get my rosacea under control. I don't find it to be very moisturizing but it does seem to help a lot with my skin barrier. I have repurchased the regular, full sized jar a few times but it seems to not be as effective as it was. I have seen some online chatter about SkinFix changing the formula and I believe it. This is likely the last one and I don't plan to repurchase unless my skin goes completely crazy and needs skin barrier help and other things stop working. 

May, June and July 2025 Empties and Trash

Hello! I have been sitting on these empties for awhile so let's get to these mini reviews! 

Earth's Nectar Nourish Conditioning Detangler - I bought this from Sephora when they carried this brand, which they no longer do. I didn't really like this product. I bought it for it's detangling claim and I didn't find it detangled very well at all. I then tried to use it as a hair refresher and it didn't do that very well either. The nozzle sprays a lot out at once and with three sprays, your hair is soaking wet. My hair did not feel hydrated after using it, and in fact, sometimes it felt like soft straw after it dried down. For some reason, I was hell bent on using it up and I finally did. I mostly used it when I was having such a bad hair day anything would have helped just to tame down my hair. Would not repurchase. 

L’Occitane Foot Cream (x2 travel and full size) – Simply the best. Have been using this for 10 years and I love it. Already repurchased. Highly recommend.

Huda Beauty #Fauxfilter Luminous Matte Liquid Concealer - It's not often that I finish a concealer but this one I did. While I am still looking for my holy grail concealer, this one is pretty good. Mine is in the shade Coconut Flakes 2.7N. While I do rotate in other concealers to my routine, I used this one an awful lot and it took me 3 years to finish! It isn't too creasy and it's thick in a good way but spreads out nicely. It says it lasts 14 hrs and I would say that is a reasonable claim. I think I have gotten longer wear of it than that! It's "full coverage", or is as full as I can find on the market. This and the Natasha Denona concealer are my current favourites, although I do plan on trying out a couple other ones I have my eye on. Already repurchased. 

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Mask - This was a mini of sorts that I got in a travel set. I must have got about 8-10 uses out if it. It was pretty good but to be honest, it worked the same as the regular conditioner in the Hairdresser's Oil line. For that reason, I would not repurchase this as it's $65 Canadian for a full sized tube and the regular conditioner is $51 for the same size.   

Olehenriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment - I may get some flack for this but I hated this product. I know some people love it, but not me. I am convinced that different people have different needs and react to products differently. This lip treatment constantly slid off my lips. If I was lucky, I would have it on for 5 minutes and it would disappear. I would have to reapply and I don't have time for that every 5 minutes. Summer Fridays and Laneige last a heck of a lot longer on my lips so for me there is no contest. I have had bad luck with all Olehenriksen products I have ever tried so maybe they are not meant for me. Definitely would not repurchase. 

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum Complexion Correcting - I love a lot of Caudalie products, but this one didn't seem to make a difference to my skin at all. If I used another serum, from another brand, it worked the same or better. Even paired with the Cauldalie Premier Cru, it was the same effect with and without the serum. This was a sample size. Would not repurchase. 

Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum - Maybe it is me, but Biossance products don't seem to do much for me. This serum I don't think did much at all. It was a travel size and I have another one too that I am trying to use up. I believe this product has a tiny amount of retinol, so little as I have read, that it would have no effect on skin. Not sure if that is true, but that is what I have seen online from beauty insiders. I think this product has been discontinued too. Would not repurchase. 

MAC All That Glitters Eyeshadow - Not sure if this was the second or first one I have finished. This is a great shade and I have already repurchased it. It's a light gold that goes with a lot of looks. It's a great one and done eyeshadow. Can't recommend it enough. 

Native Deordorant in Vanilla & Chai - This is not an empty, it is trash. I thought I had thrown all of these Native deodorants out, but I found this one still lying around. I had a bad reaction to this deordorant. My friend loves this deordorant, and she bought me a set of some small limited edition scents of which this was one of them. I believe it is the baking soda in this that I cannot handle. Will not repurchase obviously.  

Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream - This was sample and it was ok but really did nothing special for me. I have far better moisturizers in my collection. Will not repurchase. 

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Brown Sugar - The smell of this is intoxicating. This was part of a holiday set of minis last year from the brand, and let me tell you, if they offer another holiday set of these this year, I will be all over it. Have repurchased 2 other full sized tubes in different scents. 

L'Occitane en Provence Dry Skin Hand Cream - Used this in my purse, it was fantastic as all L'Occitane hand cream is. Will repurchase, but trying to get through some other travel-sized hand creams first. 

Gxve Can't Stop Staring Mascara in Black - This was one of my favourite mascaras ever and I am soooo sad that Sephora doesn't seem to be carrying it any longer. In fact, it looks like the brand may be done as you can't buy from their website either. Would repurchase if I could. This mascara gives great length, volume and doesn't smudge. 

Shiseido Facial Cotton - Another one done! Already repurchased. I really try to load up on these during the Sephora semi-annual sales as they have gotten quite expensive but there are no other suitable substitutes in my opinion. Quick tip, if you are in Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart tends to sell this for $4-$5 dollars less than Sephora.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel - This is a holy grail product for a lot of people and I have to say, I do notice a difference with the texture of my skin when I use them. I have gone through many one and done samples of this, but this time I had a box finished of 3 treatments so I thought it was high time I shared my thoughts on them. Even though I have sensitive skin, I can tolerate the extra strength version. I cut mine in half to stretch the product out as they are pricey and put the other half of the sheets in a ziploc bag and try to use the saved pieces within a few days after. They make my skin brighter and smoother. I really need to use these more often. A fantastic product. Will repurchase, but I have a number of freebies of this product to use up first.

That's all for today, will be back soon with an August/September empties post as my empties are piling up already!

 

March/April 2025 Empties

Welcome to another empties post with mini reiews! I didn't have a ton of empties in March so I lumped them together with April's. Let's dive in! 

Cerave Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser (Removes Makeup) - This was by far one of my best finds back in 2023. The fact that it is easy to get (any drug store) and is reasonably priced is fantastic. This cleanser is very hydrating, gentle, does not play with my skin barrier and removes my makeup including eye makeup! Makes my skin so clean! I tend to use this only at night but I think you could use it in the morning too if you want. Already repurchased. This is easily in my Top 5 cleansers. 

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Vanilla Beige and Iced Coffee - I got a mini set of 4 of these last Fall during the Sephora sale. I bought them as I wanted to try a variety of scents and colours. The Iced Coffee one grew on me quickly and I would repurchase that scent no problem. The Vanilla Beige was ok. I really like Summer Fridays lip butter balms and although I wished they lasted longer on the lips, I think they are one of the best lip balms you can get on the market. I have already repurchased a regular sized tube in Birthday Cake and will be reviewing that one for you shortly. 

The Inkey List Supersolutions 10% Azelaic Acid Serum - This product has been a lifesaver for my rosacea. I have already repurchased. Can't live without it now. This is a must have for anyone with rosacea and the beauty is you can layer it with other serums. I highly recommend using it twice a day for full effectiveness. I am not sure how many of these I have gone through now but I will be buying it likely forever. 

Sol de Janeiro Rio Deo Refill in Brazilian Jasmine & Pink Dragonfruit - I quite like this deodorant and have gone through a few of these already. I am starting to get confused with all of the scents. I think I like the original one the best. The refills never seem to sit right in the containers and the temporary lids are awful. All that being said, I do like this product and have repurchased. I would'nt say it is workout appropriate, you would need something stronger but it's great for day to day.

AOA Studio Super Soft PawPaw Wonder Blender - I don't care what anyone says, these sponges are far inferior to the Beautyblender. I don't find these to be as porous as the Beautyblender and therefore product tends to sit on top of the sponge and slide around more. You don't get as good of a blend. Also, I find these dry weird and can get moldy after a bit which I never had happen with the Beautyblender. Since I bought a bag of 6 I will use them up but then it's back to spending good money on Beautyblenders again and I am ok with that. 

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Berry - I really enjoy a lot of these Laneige Lip Sleeping Masks and I have to say that the Berry scent is by far the best scent from their regular line. In general, I tend to prefer some of their limited edition scents. Already repurchased in a few other scents. 

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion - I bought this a long time ago online from the U.S. At the time, I couldn't find it here in Canada. I was starting to get some dry patches on my hands in winter and this was recommended by a beauty influencer that I follow. It did seem to work well and I think I had two bottles of them and this was the second one. First one is long finished. I hadn't used it in awhile. I noticed it was nearly empty so I decided recently to use it up. If this was readily available, I might repurchase, but I don't think it is. I also think other creams have come onto the market in recent years that are better so I would likely buy those first. 

Aveeno Restorative Skin Therapy Repairing Cream – This was one of the best Aveeno lotions that I have tried and let me tell you, they are not all created equal. I really liked this cream and I will likely repurchase.

Caudalie Hand & Nail Repairing Cream in The des Vignes (The Vines?) – I got a set of 3 of these in a Holiday Set a year and a half ago. I have used up 2 of them so far and am on my 3^rd and final one. I really liked this hand cream and I will be repurchasing once I have used up the last one I have. It’s great to throw into your purse and I do find that it moisturizes both my nails and my hands well. 

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix - First thing I have to mention is that the wand inside broke off very quickly and I had to use a Q-tip to get the product out. That was disappointing. This s a sample size though so the packaging was not going to be stellar. I think the product was nice enough. It was soothing on the eyes and I think I may have looked a bit more refreshed when I woke up after wearing it overnight. I didn't really notice it doing anything for my dark circles in general though. It is an expensive product so not sure I will purchase it in the future, but I won't rule it out. 

Makeup by Mario Moistureglow Plumping Lip Serum in Rosewood Glow - I got this as a Sephora birthday gift along with a lip liner from the same brand. I liked the colour, but I think it is more of a autumn shade so I wouldn't rush to wear it in spring or summer. Even though this is a minty plumping product and not terribly tingly, I really detest plumpers and as a general rule, will not buy them. I don't need them and I don't care for the sensation. It was a decent product, but since it is a plumper, I will not buy it. The packing was awful and the inner tube would not retract if you turned it up too high. Since this was sample, I don't know if the regular sized tube would be the same. 

Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream x2 - I thought I only had 1 of these sample jars, but somehow I had two and was using them simultaneously. Part of my confusion was that I have the same sized jar by the same company with face cream in it. Anyway, I managed to finish both of the eye creams recently. I didn't find it was any better than any of the other eye creams I have used and it did didley squat for my dark circles. Some days, I even found it burned a little so I had to be careful to not place it too high up under my eye. Would not repurchase, but I love the glass jar and will be reusing it for travel with another product in it. 

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream- This is my ride or die. I've spoken about this at length so will spare you all. Already repurchased. 

I already have my May empties piling up so should be back soon with more mini reviews. 

February 2025 Empties

I had a few empties piling up and some I am desperate to get rid of/recycle so I figured I had enough to do an empties post. Here are some mini reiews on what I used up in February: 

TRESemme Tres Two Extra Hold Hairspray – I have had this can for YEARS. I don’t use a ton of hairspray in general and this can is huge. I am so happy that I finally finished it. I think this is a great, cheap drugstore option, but there are better out there so I likely will not be repurchasing.

Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 – I really want to love a dry finishing spray so badly as I think it would be the answer to so many of my hair prayers, but they always end up leaving me flat. No pun intended. So far all of the ones I have tried are basically like spraying air into my hair.  This product is supposed to provide instant volume, texture and refresh your hair. It did none of that. Honestly, it was like I sprayed nothing into my hair whatsoever. Unless I get a glowing recommendation from someone I know and trust for a finishing spray, I think I am done with them. Needless to say, will not repurchase.

MAC Cosmetics Zoom Lash Mascara – At one time, this was MAC’s best mascara. I wouldn’t say it is any longer. It’s ok, but not much better than a good drugstore mascara. In fact, it appears to be discontinued. I’m not sad about it.

Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Conditioner – This was a travel sized conditioner that I used for travel and then decided to finish at home. This is one of my favorite conditioners ever! Will definitely repurchase. I am waiting for the Sephora sale at the moment. Have a bunch of other conditioners in my current rotation so I am good until then. 

Living proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment – I have gone through countless bottles of this product and I already have repurchased another two. I really love all of the volume, thickness and manageability that this product gives me. My only complaint is that it makes my hair a bit stiff.

fresh Soy Cleanser -  I got this in a gift set from fresh and I really do like it. I would say it is now in my top 5 cleaners. My skin was oily/combo for most of my life and then a few years ago it turned dry. So I say I love this as a dry skin woman. I am not sure if it would work for me if I still had oily/combo skin. This tube was a large travel size at 50ml. It took me a while to use it up, which is a good thing. I would definitely repurchase. I have a few other smaller sized tubes kicking around my bathroom from gift sets so I may try to use those up first. Also, I have a number of other favourite face cleansers in my regular rotation, so I am good for now.

Nivea Soft Moisturizing Crème – I have had this jar for far too long and I decided it was high time I finished it so I could get rid of it. It was nice and worked well but was a tad greasy. The smell can be a bit much some days. I would consider repurchasing but I do have better creams so likely will not.

Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat Protectant Leave In Conditioner Primer - Love this stuff and will be repurchasing for sure. It's a fantastic hair detangler, softener and heat protector all in one. I'm waiting for the Sephora sale which is in 3 weeks to buy it again. I have another similar product to use up so I will be using that in the meantime. 

MAC Cosmetics Bronzing Powder in Golden – I believe this is discontinued. It wasn’t my favourite bronzer in world and it was a tad shimmery and too “golden”. However, it worked in a pinch as an everyday go to and I decided over the past several months that I wanted to use it up. Mission accomplished.

Caudalie Premier Cru (The Rich Cream) – I really enjoyed this as a night cream. My skin looked and felt so glowy, plumped and healthy each morning after use.  It lasted me about a year with somewhat consistent use. The jar is refillable so I will be repurchasing, likely when the Sephora sale happens next month. 

So that's it for February empties! For those of you on March Break, enjoy! 

December 2024/January 2025 Empties

Back with some more empties! Lots of minis this month but I was trying to get rid of some products I had kicking around and wanted to finish. Let's get into it. 

Caliray Come Hell or High Water Mascara  I love the fact that this mascara doesn’t budge or smudge so it is great when I am wearing my glasses. It gives good length, volume and curl too. Not my favourite mascara, but definitely in the top 5 and it serves a specific purpose for me.This was my third and I have already repurchased my fourth. I buy the travel sized one as it lasts me 3 months plus and it's great to throw into my purse. The regular sized one would be a waste of money for me as it would go bad before I finish it. 

Shiseido Facial Cotton - Another one done! Already repurchased. I really try to load up on these during the Sephora semi-annual sales as they have gotten quite expensive but there are no other suitable substitutes in my opinion.

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil UV Protective Dry Oil Finishing Spray - I love me some Bumble and Bumble and I am a big fan of their products, but this particular product is by far the worst one they've ever made. It's like spraying literal air into your hair. It doesn't smoothe, add shine, no softness, offers no hold nor refresh your hair in any way, shape or form. This was a travel sized can and I think I may have bought two but "used" the other one up some time ago. When this can was almost finished, I sprayed the "air" into my hair until the can was used up and still it did nothing to my hair. Would never repurchase.

Beautaniq Beauty Guardian Angel Revitalizing Eye Gels - I got these in a subscription box I used to get. I didn't really find that they did anything much for my undereye area. I would not repurchase.

Diorshow Maximizer 3D Triple Volume Plumping Lash Primer - This isn't a bad product and I would repurchase a regular sized one maybe but I don't feel it lives up to it's hype. It can help a so so or crappy mascara be better. If you have an amazing mascara though, not sure this helps a lot and it is an extra step. This was a travel sized tube and it's made very crappy. The wand is awful and twisted and another one I had in the past the wand broke off completely very soon after I started using it. Was not impressed with that. 

Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath Gloss in Refresh Rose - I have mixed feelings about this product. This is a mini size. I got a set of 3 in different colours. This was the second one and the colour was too warm for me but it worked in a pinch. So far, the two I have tried are pretty colourless and the difference between the shades is close to undetectable for most people. So I don't love that. They are minty and do appear to make your lips look more juicy with less lines. I normally hate lip plumpers and the discomfort they cause but this one has zero discomfort. This is where the product excels. I tend to dab a bit of this over whatever lip product I am wearing if it is looking a tad dry. Works wonders. A full sized tube is $47.50 Canadian which I think is outrageous for a what amounts to a fancy, clear, slightly plumping gloss. I would never pay full price for this. There are other products on the market that work just about as well for half the price such as the Fenty ones. I would consider buying these again in a mini set if I got them on sale. 

Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Instant Firming Serum - I have said it before, but Caudalie serums do nothing for me. I like their Premier Cru cream a lot, but the serums don't work for me. This was a mini but I do like that it came in a glass container. I was happy to finish this and will not be repurchasing. 

Ilia Lip Wrap Hydrating Mask - I have not yet formulated in my mind how I feel about Ilia products in general. I hated this lip product with a passion and yes I still used it up! I also have 2 Ilia eyeshadow palettes and I like them enough but not sure I love them. Anyway, back to the lip product. I didn't care for the smell first of all. It was like a minty lemon car wax scent. Some of the product was hard and in tiny hard chunks which I would have to pick off my lips. The product would slide off my lips in a matter of seconds and I would have to reapply almost instantly. To say this product was not long lasting is the understatement of the year. I kept this handy in my family room for when I was watching TV and my lips felt dry so I had time to reapply as desired. Would never repurchase. 

Estee Lauder Little Black Primer - I have had this small travel-sized tube for a long time. Longer than I care to admit. I've had it so long that the writing is completely gone from the tube. In my opinion, this is one of the best mascara primers out there and I really like the fact that it is black. It does make a difference, but how much of one, I am never sure. I would purchase this but I have a lot of other primers in my collection to use up first. 

Clarins Extra Firming Jour (Day Cream) - I got a sample size of this and used it on my neck. I have to very careful what I put on my sensitive face so I opted not to use it there. I think this was a fantastic neck cream and I would consider trying it on my face. It was super nourishing and moisturizing. Would definitely consider buying this. 

SkinFix Barrier+ Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream - Hated this. Did nothing for me and my skin barrier was not improved at all. I don't know if it was because of the gel formulation, but this was night and day compared to the cream version for me which was 10x better. This was a small sized jar that I believe I got in a set of SkinFix products. Would not repurchase. 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup - I love this foundation. I don't know how many bottles of this I have used up. Already repurchased. It's matte with a tiny bit of glow. If you want your makeup to stay put all day, this is the one for you. I use shade 2N1 Desert Beige 12. 

SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream - I really liked this product when it first came out. I credit it with helping me get my rosacea under control. I don't find it to be very moisturizing but it does seem to help a lot with my skin barrier. My empty was a small jar that came in a SkinFix set of products. I have repurchased the regular, full sized jar a few times but it seems to not be as effective as it was. I have seen some online chatter about SkinFix changing the formula and I believe it. I am planning to finish up what I have, but I am not sure if I will repurchase as I have found other effective products that manage my rosacea for cheaper and work better. 

Peach & Lily Match Pudding Antioxidant Cream - This too was a small jar that came from a Peach & Lily set of products. I do like it, I am not sure if I love it. I have repurchased a full sized jar and hopefully by the time I am done with it, I will have a more well formulated opinion of it. Will report back. 

it Cosmetics Confidence in Your Beauty Sleep Skin-Transforming Pillow Cream - Another small jar (really small jar) that I got in a set of it Cosmetics products. I thoroughly enjoyed this night cream. So much so that I was all set to order a full sized jar but I stopped because the reviews are not great on Sephora's website. I realize that shouldn't stop me, but it did give me pause. I do plan to push past my concerns and buy a jar during the next Sephora sale. Will keep you updated. 

Fable & Mane HoliRoots Hair Oil - This was another smaller sized bottle that I used up. I have purchased a full sized bottle. This product smells amazing and it moisturizes my scalp nicely. I am not sure if it is doing anything further for me. I hope to have a better idea and a fully formed opinion once I finish the regular sized bottle. Promise to update all of you once I have finished it. 

October/November Empties 2024

 

Sorry this post is so far into December, but better late than never as they say! I have a few products to review this month that you don't normally see from me so there is a little more variety than usual. Let's jump in! 

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Vanilla - I loved this product! It's better than Laneige and way better than Ole Henriksen. I particularly liked the Vanilla scent even though it is clear. I also have the Cherry one and a holiday set of 4 minis in different scents. I'll be reporting back to you on those as I finish them but suffice to say I really like this product and will be buying more. 

L'Occitane en Provence Amande Hand & Nail Care - Any hand cream from L'Occitane is alright with me, I love them all. This one was good of course and I would happily repurchase. 

Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream - I had heard this was good for rosacea and it is. It is very good at helping restore and maintain your skin barrier. I already have 2 travel sized tubes of it at the ready to use when needed. My only complaint about this product is that it doesn't seem to do anything else for your face. There aren't any anti-aging benefits nor does it make your skin glowy or dewy etc. if it had that, I would buy this by the bucket but sadly it only seems to have one purpose. All that being said, the one purpose it does serve, it serves it well. 

The Inkey List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum – This is hands down, the best product I have ever found to treat my rosacea. Already repurchased. Highly recommend if you struggle with redness.

Sol de Janeiro Samba Foot Fetish Cream - Overall, this wasn't very good. I was very disappointed. The cream came with a foot file which I have yet to use. The only pro was that this cream absorbed extremely quickly and did not leave any greasiness behind. However, it did not really moisturize that much. I've used random hand creams and body lotions on my feet that did a better job than this. Will not repurchase. 

Charlotte Tilbury Hyaluronic Happikiss Lipstick Balm in Pillowtalk - Love, love, love this product. I believe this was the second one that I finished and I have 2 more waiting for me to use. Paired with Charlotte Tilbury's Pillowtalk Medium Lip Liner, this is a combo that cannot be beat. It goes with every makeup look and outfit pretty much. It feels great on the lips. This product is both something and nothing at the same time as it is very unassuming at first glance. If you wear it alone or with another lip liner than the one I recommend, it's not as great but still good. 

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara - I swear I don't know how many of these samples I have gone through. Most of these tubes dry up after you use them a few times. I would never buy this as it simply is not good. Doesn't do much for me in terms of volume, length nor lift. I only use this product if I have it because it was free and only use it if I am not going anywhere special. 

iT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara - This was a recent discovery from earlier this year. This may now be my favorite mascara. Everytime I wear it, I get compliments and sometimes I get asked if I am wearing false lashes. It gives crazy volume and length. I still love my Gxve mascara, but that one may now be my #2 favourite. I already have a travel sized version waiting for me to use and you can bet I will be buying another full sized tube soon. 

Kerastase Elixir Ultime L'Huile Originale - This hair oil is mad expensive. I bought this bottle awhile ago, during the Sephora sale, and at the time, it was way less expensive at regular price than it is now. The product is currently $90 Canadian for 75 ml. The bottle I have is 100ml. So they shrunk the size and increased the price! I think I maybe paid around $70 for mine then got the Sephora sale discount on top of it so I paid a pittance compared to what they are charging now. 

Ok, let's talk about the product itself. For me, it doesn't do anything for me when I apply it to dry hair. Nothing. Waste of time. When I add it to my wet ends, it gives me glorious smoothness, managability and shine. I sadly had used a lot of this bottle before I realized you need to use it on wet hair (only mid-lengths to ends) to see results. It says you can use it on dry hair but I wouldn't bother, you'll waste good product. Would I buy this again? Yes, but it would have to be on sale because it is not worth $90 my friends, it is not life changing. You can find other similar products for less. 

Klorane Floral Water Make-Up Remover - Love this. There is no substitute. Will always buy this until it is no longer available.  

Ciate Mint Chocolate Nail Polish Remover - I don't see that Ciate sells nail polish remover any longer. To be honest, it wasn't very effective and I had to use a lot to remove any type of poish I had on. There are only two good things about this product. One, it was in a glass bottle. Love that, more companies should do this. Second, it smelt good in the sense that I didn't have to smell nail polish remover per se, it was a nice smell if you like the scent of mint chocolate. My husband didn't even complain when I used it and he hates the smell of nail poish and nail polish remover with a passion. 

That's all for me for now! I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!