empties, summer 2016

Why do people love empties blogs and videos so much?  They are strangely satisfying don't you think?  They also provide a nice succinct review on a product:  thumbs up or thumbs down, no droning on and on about it.  Not only do I love seeing other people's empties but I have fun blogging about my own as well.  This month's are actually stuff that has been accumulating in my bin over the entire summer.  It usually takes me ages to go through a single product because, being the beauty junkie that I am, I have many different things going at the same time.  My excuse?  Variety is the spice of life, of course!  But it does make for a smaller haul.  This Summer I only had:


Sephora Collection Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover.  It completely dissolved my mascara without having to rub much at all.  It did a more thorough job than most eye makeup removers but if I got it in my eye it stung.  Supposedly it supports lash growth but I didn't use it enough to notice.

Repurchase?  Maybe.   I liked the price point but there are others I want to try.

Philosophy Pink-Frosted Animal Cracker Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath.  Smells so comforting to me and makes me feel like a little girl.  Plus it is my favorite thing to use as a shave cream.  

Repurchase?  Yes!  Or maybe the same thing in a different scent - I love them all.

L'Occitane 100% Pure Shea Butter.  For years I have used this as a night cream.  My sensitive skin never reacts badly to it and it is about the only thing that hydrates me well enough over night.  It's very thick and takes forever to absorb but that is a price I am willing to pay because it solves so many of my problems.

Repurchase?  Always!

Bumble & Bumble Thickening Dryspun Finish.  This is the second time I have purchased this but it didn't seem to do as much for me the second time around.  I think it is a lovely light texturizing spray that you don't feel on your hair, but these days I am willing to have rough-feeling hair to get a more dramatic result.  I am curious about their new Cityswept Finish though.

Repurchase?  Nope.

TopShop Matte Lip Bullet in Wink.  I bought this on a trip to England two years ago and am now throwing it out because it is just too old.  It never actually felt that matte on me and it tended to bleed outside my lip line.  It was a great souvenir though - LOVED the color but the quality felt cheap.

Repurchase?  No.

Viktor&Rolf Eau Mega Perfume.  I very rarely use up a perfume bottle but this one I used as a room spray in the guest room so it got sprayed a lot more.  The guest room tends to get fusty and musty and Eau Mega is perfect for brightening and lightening it up.  It is a super pretty aquatic, slightly fruity floral.  Totally sexy sunshine in a bottle.

Repurchase?  No, I'll just find another one of my many perfumes to use as a room spray.

Lanza Keratin Healing Oil Shampoo and Conditioner.  These babies were a dream for when my hair was long and processed and a bit coarse.  So luxurious and hydrating!  Now I have a short and healthy bob for which they were a bit much. 

Repurchase?  Not unless I grow my hair out again.

Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara.  This is still my favorite mascara - nothing makes my lashes look as good as this.  It is however a dry formula so it barely makes it to the 3 month mark before becoming unusable.  Sadly my latest one is toast.  

Repurchase?  Absolutely, I already did!

Bioderma Micellar Water.   Everyone raves about this makeup remover/cleanser so I ordered a small bottle to check it out.  I liked it a lot but honestly it didn't seem any better - or any different - than my Garnier Micellar Water which is at a Walgreens 5 minutes down the road instead of  the Bioderma online order that takes several days.

Repurchase? No.

L'Oreal Brow Stylist Definer.  This eye pencil is just like the famous (more expensive) Anastasia Brow Wiz but in my book even better.  It's the right amount of creamy consistency and pigment that can create either a natural or really defined brow.

Repurchase.  Yes!

Dermalogica Ultra-Calming Barrier Repair.  This is a necessity for my reactive sensitive skin.  Any little thing can turn my skin red but this silky gel-like product protects me from the elements.  I get a lot less red when I wear this stuff.  I put it on every morning over my moisturizer and under my sunscreen or makeup.

Repurchase?  Yes!  It is a "must have" for me.

Hard Candy 1000 Lashes Fiber Mascara in Indigo Blue.  I always have a blue mascara on hand.  Swiped on top of a coat of black mascara it really makes your eyes pop.  And just for fun I sometimes even go for an 80's all-out blue look.  But I don't use blue mascara everyday so I don't like to spend a lot on it.  This time I tried Hard Candy but the blue was too light and the formula did nothing for my lashes.  I think I'll go back to my tried and true "cheapie" Sephora Collection Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara in 04 Blue.

Repurchase?  No way.

What favorites or hate-its did you use up or toss out this month?

all products reviewed were either bought, researched, or sampled by me. And product pictures were stolen from the link's websites. I am not financially compensated for my reviews