June Empties!

So July 4th is this weekend.  I feel like summer flies by once we round the corner of 4th of July and that makes me sad.  Anyway - here are my empties from June!  I am proud to say I used up 20 things, and only 2 of them were samples!

Items I will miss most:

• Glam Glow Supermud Clearing Treatment - I say I will miss this the most because I just can't buy it again since it's so damn expensive!  So unless I get it as a gift, bye felicia!

Items I can't live without & have already repurchased (or had a back-up)

• Saline Solution - I use this to rinse my contacts after storing them overnight in Clear Care solution.  I can't use multi-purpose solution because it irritates my eyes.
• Clear Care - BFFs 4 ever!
• Elf Shine Eraser - Love these!!  I bought a bunch of these a while back and still have a couple left in my stash.
• Oral B Flossers - can't live without these!  I find it so much easier than using regular floss.

Items I will eventually repurchase:

• Soap Opera Company Bath Bombs - love, love, love!  The scents are amazing and my skin feels so soft after using them!
• Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer - Once I run out of my other under-eye concealers, I will be getting this again.  It's awesome!
• Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Roaming Cleanser - I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did!  I read "foaming" and thought "drying".  But I was wrong!  I loved using this in the morning.  That reminds me - I think I have another deluxe sample of this stuff somewhere that I should probably look for!

Samples that made me want the full-size:

• Tarte Brazailliance Self Tanning Face Towelettes - these were also in this very same category last month.  LOVE!
• Simple Cleansing Wipes - I got a sample pack of these in my Walmart Beauty Box and though I swore I'd never use cleansing wipes again, I may have to get some of these!

Disappointing products:

• Tree Hut Sugar Scrub in Almond & Honey - wayyyyy too sweet smelling for me!  It still worked great though.  I just prefer the Coconut & Lime scent.
• Philosophy Take a Deep Breath SPF 30 - I tried the non-SPF version of this a while back and really liked it.  But this wasn't the same and made my face super shiny!

Items you couldn't pay me to repurchase:

• Noxzema Razors - no, just no.  Nowhere near a close enough shave for me and it clogged up easily.

TOTALS:

• Full Size - 18     $225.36
• Samples - 2       $   3.36
• TOTAL VALUE  $228.72

May Empties!

I have to say, I went through some stuff in May!!  41 products total!  And here are my thoughts....

Items I will miss the most:

• Tarte Brazilliance Maracuja Self Tanning Face Towelettes - I held off on trying these for a while because I was nervous.  I had never used a tanning towelette before.  I got this in a Sephora 500 point perk with some other Tarte products.  I have one more in my stash and I really want to buy these!  They aren't orange or streaky at all!  And when I used it, I felt like I needed less makeup.  :)
• Aquareveal Satin Bright Soft Water Face Peel - got this sample in a Birchbox and I looooooved it!  I got quite a few uses out of it because a little goes a long way.  It was so cool and gratifying feeling my dead skin cells ball up.  My face felt amazing after using this.

Items I can't live without and already repurchased (or already had a backup):

• Ole Henriksen Truth Serum - I cashed in a Sephora gift card on the full size after using two smaller bottles that were part of a set.  I love this stuff and it is one of the only things I can tell a difference when I DON'T use it.
• Kenra Volume 25 Hairspray - This is my go-to hairspray.  I am on my last bottle and hopefully that lasts me through the end of my no-buy (July 21)!
• Clear Care Solution - You all know how much I'm obsessed with this stuff.
• Garnier Cleansing Oil - Still have one more in my stash!  Love this stuff!
• Beauty Blender - I got a set of 2 and the cleanser with a Sephora gift card I got for Christmas.  I dug out the newer one a few weeks ago and noticed how smoother the texture was!  So I figured it was time for the first one to go.  I had been using it since December.

Items I will eventually repurchase:

• L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter/Concealer - Loved this so much, maybe even more than my Nars Creamy Concealer....it was the perfect shade and consistency for under my eyes.
• Aussie 3 Minute Miracle - So cheap, and so good!  Once I run out of hair mask and deep conditioner samples, I'm getting this again!

Samples that made me want the full size:

• Benefit Rollerlash - so good!  I cashed in some Birchbox points on the full size after getting a sample at Sephora.  Although, I think I liked the sample better....I dunno....hate when that happens!
• Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum - I tried a foil packet of this and fell in love.  Then I remembered I had one of those little GWP bottles somewhere.  Thankfully I found it, because I ALMOST broke my no-buy for this stuff!  I don't know what is in it, but it is magical!
• Aquareveal Satin Bright Soft Water Face Peel - see previous comments about this.  I wannnnttt.
• Tarte Brazilliance Maracuja Self Tanning Face Towelettes - see previous comments.

Disappointing Products: 

• Studio 35 Cotton Squares - this is a Walgreens brand and I didn't like them.  They fell apart and left little bits of cotton on my face.  No thanks...
• Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara - Don't see what all the fuss is about with this.  It flaked on me and didn't really do much for my lashes unless I piled it on, but that just made it flake more.
• Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes Liner - I got this in the Matte Brown.  It faded on me, even with primer.  One would think that since it was $19, it wouldn't look patchy and faded at the end of the day!

Products you couldn't pay me to repurchase:

• Dove Revive Body Wash - Not because this was terrible, but for some odd reason I thought it was a good idea to buy this in a 3 pack at Sams Club!  So needless to say, two years later, I am beyond sick of this scent!!!!

Totals:

• Samples - 16          $ 61.47 
• Full Size - 25         $249.42
• TOTAL VALUE:     $310.89

April Empties!

Okay so I'm so behind on this blog post!  But it took me a while to go back and figure out what I actually used in April.  Now I am making a running list, so May will be much easier!  Here is a summary of what I used up.  

*Disclaimer:  I borrowed this format from my girl Stephanie from The Wonky Brow Blog.  Hey girl, hey!*

Items I will miss the most:

• Nars Creamy Concealer - I really, really, really liked this!  The color was perfect, the formula was amazing, and the coverage was great!  Sadly, I have too many concealers to work through before I drop $29 on this bad boy again.
• Maybelline Dream Matte Powder - Yes, I will miss this item the most because it's been DISCONTINUED!  This was my go-to drugstore powder!  And I've heard the new formula isn't as good.  I haven't tried it yet though.

Items I can't live without and have already repurchased:

• Clear Care Contact Solution - I really wish I had discovered this years ago.  I have worn contacts since the 9th grade and have always used the multi-purpose solution.  I only discovered Clear Care last month, after Erica (@beautyempties on IG) posted her love for this.  It is amazing!!  Seriously, I will never go back to the old solution.  My contacts don't feel dry and I don't constantly feel like something is in my eye!
• Suave Visible Glow Lotion - I finished this and went out (before my no-buy began) and bought 2 more!  I really like this stuff and it's CHEAP!  Plus it doesn't have that bad self-tanner smell...at all!  I don't know how they manged to do that.
• Tree Hut Coconut Lime Scrub - I love this!  I especially love when hubby uses it on my back in the shower...although I do have to reciprocate, which is lame.  But this stuff smells amazing and really has helped with breakouts on my back!  I tried other scents from this line, but I love this one the most!
• Anastasia Clear Brow Gel - What had happened was....I got one of these in a set, and now I'm hooked and am a brow gel snob.  I've heard NYX and Elf brow gels are just as good, so maybe I'll try them next.  Technically I didn't repurchase this when I ran out because a mini size came in my April Birchbox.  But I still love this!

Samples that made me want the full-size:

• Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion - I've heard mixed reviews on this, but I tried a sample and immediately got the full size (before my no-buy!).  No, it is not as hydrating as regular lotion, but it's great to use in the shower and then apply normal lotion after you dry off!  And even if I'm too lazy to apply normal lotion, that is ok!  I will probably always have this in my shower.
• Fekkai Dry Shampoo - This is probably one of the top 3 dry shampoos I've used.  The smell is incredible and there is no white cast.  I haven't gotten the full size, but it is on my list!
• Dr Brandt Pores No More - Funny thing...the full size I purchased (with a Sephora gift card) has a slightly different consistency than the sample I had?  It still does the same thing, but it makes me wonder....

Disappointing Products:

• Dr Jart Dermaclear Micro Water - I didn't care for this.  It left a sticky feeling on my skin.  It didn't really remove all of my makeup, so I used it after removing makeup and I just couldn't deal with the feeling it left.  I use the Simple cleansing water and I love that!
• Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara - Flake city!  No, just no!  I liked (read: not loved) the way it made my lashes look, but I hated the flakes!  And the wand was huge and awkward.

Products you couldn't pay me to repurchase:

• I didn't really purchase this because it was a sample, but the Hourglass Immaculate Foundation was a waste of my time.  The color was wrong, but even the coverage was non-existent!  

Full Size Products Used:  23

Samples used:  9

The 12 Empties of Christmas

Joining in on the #12emptiesofchristmas challenge, started by the awesome @Jencoempties on Instagram!  Here are my picks!

1.  Dove Go Fresh Body Wash in Pomegranate & Lemon Verbena Scent

I have no idea why I bought a 3 pack of these at Sams Club.  I don't really care much for the scent.  I liked it at first, but now I'm tired of it.  This 3/4 full bottle has been sitting on my shelf forever and it needs to go!

2.  Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night

I really like this - when I remember to use it!  I've noticed more lines on my forehead and around my eyes, so I want to force myself to use this.  It's a retinoid, which my skin seems to respond to.

3.  Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed

This is the first Tarte blush I got, and I started to make good progress with it, until I became hooked about bought more shades!  (I now own 5, or 6? I forget!)  But this color is great and goes with everything.  It looks great when I'm pale and when I'm tan.  

4.  Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Great color on me - not muddy, not orange, perfect to contour.  I've tried the drugstore "dupes" but the color just isn't right.  And it blends beautifully!  This is probably the only bronzer I've ever hit pan on!  All the others just weren't the right color!

5.  Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub

This stuff is so good and it tastes amazing!  I included it so I would be reminded to actually use it!  I have another one in my stash.  I want to try the popcorn flavor next!

6.  Josie Maran Argan Oil Lite

LOVE this!  I want to use this bottle up so I can get the larger bottle next!  I use this on my face at night, either by itself, or mixed in with my First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream.  It's also great on cuticles.  I need to try it in my hair - I keep forgetting to!

7.  Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded

Perfect eyeshadow base.  I almost threw this out because it was starting to dry up, but I learned from my girl @abeautyproject on instagram that you can use saline drops to revive it!  It works perfectly!  I pretty much use this every day with a neutral taupe or mauve in my crease.  

8.  Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa Shea Cashmere Body Lotion

This feels really nice.  I got it in the winter and it wasn't hydrating enough then, but I think it will be a good summer lotion.  I can't wait to finish it though because sometimes the scent is a bit too much for me.

9.  Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator 

I was between this and the Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion.  I got this because it was a way better value.  I included this because I tend to forget this step and I notice a difference when I use it 2-3x a week.  I will definitely be buying it again!

10.  Michael Todd Pumpkin Nutrient Rich Facial Mask

I am lazy when it comes to masks, but this one doesn't dry like clay masks do, so it's perfect to use in the shower.  I also feel like the steam from the shower helps it sink in better.  It does tingle when you first apply it, but it does subside.  It has glycolic acid, which my skin seems to like.

11.  Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Hydromist Blow-out Spray

I've had this forever and I just want it to be done so I can throw it away!  I have about half left.  It's nice, but the smell isn't my favorite.  It does volumize, but you have to be careful not to overdo it!  

12.  Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream

I got a small sample of this in one of my first Birchboxes and really liked it, so I got the full size.  I've had this a while and I've got about 1/3 of it left.  I want to try something new next.  I don't think it helps with dark circles like it claims.  But it does feel nice and works well under makeup.

Wish me luck!  I will post updates as I work through all this stuff!!