Saturday, February 22, 2014

Empties Post Volume XVIII: February 2014 Edition

I was rather surprised that I used up so many full size products this month-- particularly since February is a short month. My biggest achievements were surprisingly with haircare products and makeup.

I managed to finish up my bottle of DermOrganic Intensive Repair Hair Masque (reviewed here). It is a lovely hair masque that did wonders for my naturally curly hair, and it is one that I will happily replace once I make my way through a few of my haircare products.

I also managed to finish up the DermOrganic Leave-In Treatment (reviewed here). This is a wonderful silicone and argan oil based product that does wonders for taming frizzy fly-away prone hair. I have many other similar products in my haircare arsenal right now, but will once again happily replace this once I have the need for this type of produce.

Tom's of Maine Sensitive Beauty Bar with Soothing Chamomile (reviewed here). I really loved this soap. I took to using it in the shower from my shoulders to my toes, and found it gentle and emollient enough to use for shaving. A definite repurchase.

Clarins UV Plus Ecran Multi-Protection SPF 40 (reviewed here). This remains one of my all-time favorite sunscreens. I apply it first thing in the morning, but my reapplications throughout the day are now done with Goldfaden MD Sun Visor Ultra Light Oil Free SPF 30 Mist (reviewed here) because this miraculous sunscreen mist does not disturb your makeup!

Aubrey Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo and Conditioner (discussed here): While I have never published an in-depth review of these beauties I have repurchased them many many many times over the years. They make my hair soft with shiny happy curls, and the scent evokes a spring stroll in a beautifully fragrant garden. I will definitely repurchase them before long!

80 Acres of McEvoy Ranch Verde Olive Oil Bar Soap (reviewed here). This smells and feels so good that I have to buy more! It is so emollient and moisturizing that it keeps my hands and body hydrated and happy!

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel (overview here). This Two-Step maintenance program is so fabulous that a few sample packets was all I needed to convince me that buying a huge box was in order!

I don't usually include hand soaps in my Empties posts, but I really loved the Seventh Generation Mandarin Hand Soap so much that I had to include it. I found it on sale at the grocery store and purchased several bottles. Even during the colder months it didn't dry out my hands!

Of the samples used the two that were the most noteworthy were the Radical Skincare Youth Infusion Serum and the Aesop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment. These two are so fantastic that I have already purchased the Aesop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment, and the Radical Skincare Youth Infusion Serum is on my short list of must-haves.
Undoubtedly my biggest achievement was finishing up 7 makeup products (6 full sized products and 1 sample). On the "regular use" side I used up a sample size of Armani Maestro (I have a full-size bottle), and a Chanel Glossimer in Unity. Unity was already nearly finished up so I decided to use the last bits this month. The other five products illustrate my victorious "dent" in 5 out of the 9 products featured in my series Project Make-A-Dent (#projectmakeadent) learn more about this my series here. I managed to finish up a Rouge Coco Shine in Royallieu, a Chanel Glossimer in Glaze, a Rouge Bunny Rouge Tinted Moisturizer, a Covergirl Liquiline Eye Pencil, and a Chanel Lip Pencil in Beige. Therefore, I think that it is safe to say that I am very pleased with the number of Empties that I generated in February!

What did you finish up, toss, give away, or return in February?

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13 comments:

  1. wow! great job. what a coincidence! i also used up 3 sample packets of dr dennis gross peel. i'm almost done with my bottle of live live sunscreen.

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    1. Thanks! Haha-- that's funny that we both used 3 packets of the Dr. Dennis Gross Peel this month! I had planned on using it with greater frequency, but it somehow didn't end up happening! I bought the really big box-- so I will try to get back on track and use it more often! Good for you for nearly finishing your live live sunscreen! Are you going to repurchase it, or are you moving on to something else? Have a wonderful weekend! :D

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  2. Holy makeup, Lola!!! Wow wow awesome job!!! Maybe one day I'll have more makeup empties :-)

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    1. Hi Gummy! Thanks- it did take a little more effort since I was simultaneously finishing up 5 products from #projectmakeadent! I think you will find it easier to do since you are doing that project as well! It makes me feel less guilty about my recent makeup purchases (hello, Tom Ford) since I actually finished this many pieces! :D Have a great weekend!

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  3. I love higher SPF sunscreens.

    This month, I used up:
    -Zombify Cosmetics by gothcupcake on Etsy Coconut Tangerine Cupcake Lip Balm
    -Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Phoenix in Winter perfume vial
    -Victoria's Secret Pink Feel Flirty body lotion from the Fresh Vanillas collection
    -Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer sample
    -Happy Hippo Bath Very Vanilla lip balm
    -Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Somnus perfume vial
    -Avene Cleanance face lotion

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    1. I prefer higher SPF sunscreens as well, Iris. You did another excellent job with your empties this month! It always amazes me how often you are able to finish lip balms-- I suppose Canadian winters really do encourage lots and lots of lip balm! Enjoy the rest of your weekend! :D

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  4. Girl, you're a machine! I like seeing all your empties, as strange as that is to "normal" people. :) Ha!
    I quite like the DermOrganic Leave In Treatment. My hair drinks it up.

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    1. LOL!!!!!!! I'm glad it gives you vicarious pleasure. I have been singling out products that are already pretty well used and making every effort to use them up. I have too many products right now, and using things up is helping me consolidate some of my stash! I'm so glad that you like the DermOrganic Leave-In Treatment-- I think it's wonderful as well! :-)

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    2. I feel like I have too many products too. I've been reading some Minimalism blogs and I'm a bit at odds with my beauty "closet". I've had a successful empties month, using up a Paula's Choice RESIST moisturizer, PC RESIST Antioxidant Serum, PC 9% BHA Treatment, Hydraluron Gel, a jumbo Live Clean Body Wash, a package of Shiseido Cotton Pads, and two deluxe skin care samples. I also "finished" a mascara.

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    3. That is precisely why I have been singling out all of the things that are partially or nearly used up-- that way I see the progress, and can feel good about actually using up what I have before going out to buy replacements for things. Oh, reading Minimalist blogs will definitely make you reevaluate any areas of excess in your life-- since Minimalism is fundamentally opposed to such acts of collecting!! You definitely made real and tangible progress with your empties in February-- so that will get you one step closer to minimalism!! I have always been a Minimalist at heart-- yet my makeup and skincare stash suggests otherwise!!!!!!!!!

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    4. I'm not closer to being a minimalist; seeing I'm going to repurchase most of my finished skin care. :) Indulging in a beauty closet isn't a terrible thing as much as I want to streamline my possessions. I can cut back in other areas.

      What'cha up to this weekend? We've been painting our bedroom and the kitchen.

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    5. Well, truly being a minimalist is such a huge commitment to purging most of what you have. I think that your strategy is sensible and more attainable. Plus it's great that you have found skincare products that you love enough to repurchase them-- that's no small achievement! Streamlining your possessions is a really great idea-- I love the idea of only having things that I love and use! This is one of the reasons that seeing all of the empties that I have accumulated over a 30 day period has become such a cathartic experience. Of course there are always things that I empty that are destined for repurchase, but there are so many things that won't be-- so finishing them up always feels like a small triumph that gets me one step closer to consolidating by stash. Of course new things always get collected, but there is still great satisfaction in recycling those empties!

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    6. Good for you guys-- painting your bedroom and kitchen sounds fun-- not to mention that it will transform your space. This weekend we did cleaning and cooking, and clean out the gutters because it was pouring here Friday and Saturday. It looks like it might start to rain again. We certainly need the rain since we are in a major drought (again)! Enjoy the rest of your weekend! :D

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