Empties - February 2016

The past few weeks (month?) have been extremely crazy for me, which is why I'm only getting around to posting this now.  But between spending a lot of time away from home and making a concerted effort to use up my stash, my empties pile in February was huge!  This month was heavier in hair care than usual, mostly because I used up a whole bunch of hotel bottles I had laying around.  Skincare and Face Care are also big categories this month; some items were single use, and some were items that have been almost done for a while and I made it a point to finish them.

Also notable was that I didn't have any Neutrogena wipes nor hand sanitizer this month.  Not to worry, though; the empty hand sanitizer bottles will be flowing soon.  As for the wipes, I was trying out a different full-size pack and really didn't like them.  So between travel and this other pack, just one mini pack this month.

(Note: Birchbox link below is my referral link.)

Makeup

• Ulta Raincoat Waterproof Topcoat for Mascara – Full size.  This product is a clear coat of mascara that you put on top of your regular mascara to (theoretically) make it waterproof.  It didn’t work for me.  You’re better off wearing waterproof mascara.  I’ve also heard you can do the same thing by putting a layer waterproof mascara over your regular mascara.  Repurchase: No.

Face Care

• Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towlettes – Travel size from Target Beauty Box.  These smelled nice, but weren’t great at removing makeup.  Purchase: No.
• Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet – Sample from Birchbox (not on Caudalie website).  This pilled a bit on my skin depending on how much I used.  Not a fan.  Purchase: No.
• CeraVe Eye Repair Cream – Sample from Target Beauty Box.  While I was using this and a few other new products, the skin around my eyes was very irritated.  Not sure if it was this, but since this didn’t do anything special, I’m going to avoid this.  Purchase: No.
• Clark’s Botanicals Smoothing Marine Cream – Sample from QVC (received in the Advent Calendar).  This felt rather unusual going on, but not in a way I enjoyed.  The scent vaguely reminds me of the dog – it’s faint but I don’t like it, especially for a facial product.  Purchase: No.
• Hada Labo Ultimate Anti-Aging Deep Hydration Facial Mask – Full size (single packet) from Target Beauty Box.  Nice enough sheet mask.  Purchase: Maybe.
• Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream – Sample from Target Beauty Box.  A relatively light face cream, but with a relatively strong floral fragrance.  Not a fan of the scent, so even though the texture was nice, I won’t be purchasing this unless  they reformulate.  Purchase: No.
• Make Up For Ever Sens’Eyes Waterproof Sensitive Eye Cleanser – Travel size.  HG product.  Gets off absolutely everything, even stubborn eyeliner that other makeup removers won’t.  The full size is a little expensive for me, but the travel size is worth it so I don’t have to worry about what makeup I wear when on the go.  I’m trying another cream eye makeup remover now, and if it doesn’t match up, the full size may be in my future.  Repurchase: Yes (already have).
• Supergoop! Play SPF 30 Water Resistant Everyday Sunscreen – Sample from Birchbox.  I’m so glad this is gone.  This was nothing special, and I still occasionally burned through it.  I also didn’t like the feel of it under makeup.  Purchase: No.
• Walgreens Cleansing Eyelid Pad – Full size.  I didn’t use these to remove eye makeup but rather just clean my makeup-free eyelids.  I have a different process now, so I didn’t finish my box.  Getting rid of the ones I have left because they are expired.  Repurchase: No.

Skincare

• Ala Moana Hotel Facial Soap – Hotel sample.  Standard hotel soap bar.  Purchase: No.
• Citrus Fusion Body Lotion – Hotel sample.  Standard hotel lotion.  Purchase: No.
• Hair & Body Therapeutics Smooth Skin Lotion – Hotel sample.  Felt a bit drying to me, but not the worst lotion in the world.  Purchase: No.
• L’Occitane Crème Mains Dry Skin Hand Cream – Sample from QVC.  Nice, thick hand cream in a good size for traveling.  Purchase: Maybe.
• LUSH Dragon’s Egg Bath Bomb – Full size.  The kiddo used this, and she seemed to enjoy it.  Repurchase: Maybe.
• LUSH Sakura Bath Bomb – Full size.  I’m not a huge bath fan, so maybe I’m missing something, but I really don’t understand the big deal about the bath bombs.  These are really nifty to watch dissolve, but it didn’t do anything for me once I got in.  I was expecting to feel extra moisturized or something, but didn’t really notice anything special.  Repurchase: No.
• Oscar de la Renta Foaming Body Scrub – Rippy packet possibly from Ulta (product not available on brand or Ulta website).  For some reason, I was really surprised that this was a true body scrub and not just a soap.  It is definitely a unisex to masculine scent.  Purchase: Maybe.
• Softsoap Black Raspberry & Vanilla Hand Soap – Full size.  I inherited this from my parents, and really enjoyed this foaming soap.  I liked the both the scent and the formulation.  I will probably go back to a Softsoap of some kind once I use up some other soaps.  Purchase/Repurchase: Yes.
• Thann Aromatic Wood Body Wash – Hotel sample.  Standard hotel body wash with a nice scent.  Purchase: No.
• Thann Rice Brann Oil Soap Bar Aromatic Wood Orange and Tangerine – Hotel sample.  This was a nice scent and not overly drying as soap.  Again, I have a ton of soap to get through, and this wasn’t the best I’ve ever used, but it was nice while it lasted.  Purchase: No.

Fragrance

• Gucci Guilty Diamonds Eau de Toilette – Sample Card from Sephora (product not available on brand or Sephora website).  Traditional old lady perfume.  Not my type.  Purchase: No.
• Maison Martin Margiela ‘Replica’ Beach Walk Eau de Toilette – Sample Card from Sephora.  Very strong but not sweet enough for me.  Purchase: No.

Hair Care

• Eva NYC Soften Up Conditioner – Rippy packet possibly from Ulta.  Nice thick conditioner, but not special enough to have to run out and buy it now.  Purchase: Maybe.
• Fekkai Blowout Hair Refresher Dry Shampoo – Sample from Target Beauty Box.  Decent dry shampoo.  I don’t use dry shampoo often, so full sizes aren’t usually worth me getting.  Purchase: Probably Not.
• Hair & Body Therapeutics Energize Shampoo – Hotel Sample.  Standard shampoo.  Purchase: No.
• Keratherapy Keratin Infused Color Protect Conditioner – Full size.  This left my hair feeling greasy and heavy.  I don’t think it works well on me since I tend to let my hair dry naturally; I think it may be better for people who routinely straighten their hair.  Repurchase: No.
• Neutrogena Clean Normalizing Shampoo and Conditioner – Hotel sample.  Strong shampoo that almost felt stripping.  Relatively light conditioner.  Ok, but my hair usually needs more moisturizing than this provided, especially when used together.  Purchase: No.
• Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray – Sample from Birchbox.  This didn’t do much for my hair.  My hair much prefers a standard sea salt spray.  Purchase: No.
• Pantene Pro-V Shampoo and Conditioner – Hotel Sample (Conditioner x 2).  Standard Pantene conditioner. I like other haircare better.  Purchase: No.
• Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Smooth Vitality Shampoo and Conditioner – Hotel sample (Conditioner x 2).  Standard Pantene product.  I like other haircare better.  Purchase: No.
• Purity Basics Shampoo – Hotel sample.  Rather drying and felt like it stripped my hair.  Purchase: No.
• Thann Aromatic Wood Aromatherapy Shampoo and Conditioner – Hotel Sample.  Standard hotel conditioner that smelled rather nice.  Purchase: No.

Other

• Alcon Opti-Free Pure Moist Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution – Travel size.  Tossing this because it’s expired and found while cleaning and reorganizing my products.  Don’t need contact solution now that I’ve been using daily contact lenses.  Repurchase: No.
• Degree MotionSense Shower Clean Invisible Solid Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant – Full size.  HG product.  Repurchase: Yes.
• Extra Thick Felt Nail Polish Remover Pad in Regular – Single from a Full Size box.  Single pad removed all 10 fingers worth of polish, which was good.  Less messy than regular polish remover, especially for keeping in a bag or desk.  Repurchase: Maybe (if I can remember where I got it from J ).

Giveups

• Thann Aromatic Wood Aromatherapy Body Lotion: Hotel Sample - (Per Duff) Not a very good moisturizer, didn’t do much for my hands.  With Caprylic Acid in it, don’t really want to smell like goat.  Purchase: No.
• Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara in Black – Sample from Walmart Beauty Box.  Not a bad mascara, but not for me.  It took at least 4 layers to get anywhere near the look I like, even with a mascara primer.  Left my lashes a little too natural looking for my taste.  Purchase: No.