Dec/Jan Empties
Woah, have I got a big ass empties post for you but I’ve to warn you that half the products are discards. I think there’s something about the month of January that gives me this burning desire to throw stuff out even more. What can I say, 2013 has me de-cluttering like a demon already.
Let’s kick off with some hair and body care…
From left to right:
Reveur Scalp Shampoo started off with a bang but I was kind of over it by the end of the bottle. The “soybean, isoflavone, ginger” scent just didn’t keep me interested. Besides, I’ve found La Visui.
Aroma Kifi Geranium & Ylang Ylang Conditioner smelled quite nice in that aromatherapy way. My husband loves this product but it’s sort of average to me. It wasn’t bad but it didn’t feel like it moisturized well enough for my liking – it reminded me of natural products that have good intentions but just don’t cut it.
Mekhala Black Rice Shampoo was a solid addition to my haircare routine. I like to change up my shampoos and I always looked forward to inhaling the pillowy rice scent. Review here.
Sukin Organics Hydrating Body Lotion is something that I always seek out when I’m in Singapore and Sydney when I need a good body moisturizer without icky chemicals. And it smells lovely.
Korres Vanilla Guave Body Butter is by far my favourite scent from Korres — it is sweet, comforting, and feels luxurious on the skin. But I’m sad that it’s not available in Tokyo and they only have Fig, Jasmine, Basil Lemon, and Japanese Rose in Japan.
Weleda Wild Rose Shower Cream is a body wash I always try to stock up on when I’m in the US or Europe. It would make any die hard rose lover happy in the shower.
Alright, here are some skincare products that I’ve used and tossed…
Clockwise from the left:
Estee Lauder Time Zone Anti-Line/Wrinkle Eye Creme was an excellent staple in my skincare routine. If not for the fact that I’m constantly tempted to try new brands, I would definitely repurchase this.
Mekhala Soothing Tamarind Facial Cleanser is simply divine. In-depth review here.
Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O Advanced Formula was part of a travel sized set I bought on an ANA flight. It came in a set of four 50 ml bottles and I was sorry to see the last drop go. Of them all, this one appeals to me the most as it’s for “aging concerns”. They all work the same to me and they are the Rolls Royce of cleansing oils in my honest opinion!
Ettusais Acne Skin Version Up Extra will always be on my repurchase list.
Astalift Cleansing Gel comes out gloopy and does an alright job of taking makeup off but struggles with waterproof mascara (even after using a mascara remover). It’s just a personal preference I have for cleansing oils over gels.
Astalift Moisture Foam does not clean well and leaves a slight residue on the skin so I will not repurchase.
Yuskin-S Body Cream is great as a filler to help make expensive body lotions last longer. It’s also meant for sensitive skin.
La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo is a must-have for de-clogging pores.
Olay Regenerist Serum Fragrance-Free made my makeup look flawless and I would wear it over the Ettusias Acne Skin Version Up Extra during the day. I started doing this after I began using the Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream in No.27 because it’s pretty thick and I didn’t want to overload my skin especially if I put on sunscreen.
Now, onto the discard pile. I had to be really honest with myself and I threw all of these makeup items out because they were either two old for comfort or I just didn’t think they deserved a space in my already cluttered cupboard.
Clockwise from left:
e.l.f. Translucent Mattifying Powder was too drying, even for an oily-skinned girl like me. It also looked flat and unforgiving.
Maybelline Pure BB Mineral 8-in-1 Protecting Cream was featured in my “Products I Regret Buying” video. I can’t believe I hadn’t tossed this out yet! In short, it made me look and feel very oily.
Biore UV Bright Face Milk SPF50PA+++ is one of the few physical sunscreens available at the drugstore but it reeks of alcohol and I always have to brace myself to use this. With my trusty DiorSnow Pure UV Perfect Brightening Protective Base SPF 50, it just can’t compete.
Shiseido Senka Mineral Water UV Gel SPF50PA+++ irritates my skin so out it goes. Review here.
Kate Mineral Powder Foundation SPF15PA++ was procured during my sensitive skin break out phase but it really doesn’t cut the mustard. I know I liked it a couple of years ago but I have since found so many great finishing powders that don’t break me out.
Revlon Beyond Natural Protective Lip Tint was a lovely coral lippie but it’s too old to keep. It followed me to Japan so it’s at least seven years old.
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge For Lips And Cheeks in Blushed Rose was a GWP when I nabbed some products way back in 2007. It’s just too old to keep and so tiny that I tend to literally overlook it.
Majolica Majorca Lash Bone Black Fiber In is my HG mascara base. Your mascara just doesn’t budge with this baby on.
Dejavu Lash Knockout was pretty good as a volumizing mascara which stays put and is relatively easy to remove. It’s not as good as Majolica Majorca’s Lash Expander though. It has to be tossed because it’s a few months old and my right eye got irritated the other day.
Clnique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clearing Concealer was purchased when I was battling acne — it claims to have salicylic acid which helps to soothe acne while being concealed. I don’t know if that helped my blemishes and the coverage is not great for angry red zits. There is still loads in the tube but I’ve had this for an uncomfortably long time, especially since it is a liquid product. I will not repurchase this.
CoverGirl LashBlast 24-Hour Mascara was a disappointment — smudgy and I had to apply many layers to get some decent length. I think I’ve pretty much given up on Western drugstore mascaras.
Shiseido Eye Lash Curler is heading to the bin because it clips my eyelids all too easily. I think the ideal eye lash curler wholly depends on your eye shape and what may be great for others may not suit you. Lesson learned.
Private Mascara Remover just cannot compete with Heroine Make’s amazing version. It is very watery and doesn’t remove everything even after waiting for a while for the product to set in. I always have to use extra eye makeup remover to get my lashes clean.
Visee Mineral BB Cream Baby Finish is one of the the most appalling BB creams in the Japanese drugstore. I love their other products but I would keep away from this one, if I were you. It has hardly any coverage and emphasizes fine lines.
Thank you for getting to the end of this post if you have read everything. It’s more about discards than anything else and I feel like the negative reviews outweigh the positive in this post. It makes me realize I need to stop impulse shopping (i.e. buying without proper research) because that’s the root cause of all these duds. I’m going to try my best to stick with good quality products and shop my stash this year. Wish me luck!
What do you do with your duds? Throw them out or give them away or make them work?
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Whoaa that’s a lot of empties! I just never collect mine! I definitely use up skincare products way faster than makeup though
@Sunny: It’s sooo hard to hit pan on makeup products! I used to just chuck used up skincare out without a thought but I started following empties posts/videos online and thought they would be a fun addition to the blog.
Wow you got through a TON of products this month–good for you!! I really need to learn how everyone finishes products so quickly–I feel like I NEVER have any empties!!
@Becca: Actually it was over two months
And there are many discards. I feel like my cosmetic cupboard can breathe a bit easier. Well, what I do is that I target specific products to finish and I won’t stray from them till I’m done.
Wow! That’s a lot of empties! I agree with you on some of the discards–some were pretty old!
@Kat: haha! I felt quite embarrassed but hey better now than later!!
Wow! Your empties are impressive too
I think it’s good to throw out old products too – no point keeping things that aren’t good. I think I’m going to do some clearing out too.
@Blush: Yeah whenever I look at lousy products in my collection – I either ignore them or get frustrated trying to make them work, but really, I think I’m better off without them and I just have to let go of the $$ wasted! I love doing a spring clean once in a while….declutters the mind and soul too.
Wow, great job! Now I want Weleda Wild Rose so badly. Had the face lotion at one point but it didn’t really work for me. Shower cream sounds much nicer.
@Liz: Thanks Liz, it felt good chucking all this crap out. I do highly recommend Weleda Wild Rose Shower Creme – it is the most luxurious shower companion ever.
Yes, I do the same thing, pick a number of products i want to finish and only use those until they are done.
I have a short attention span (esp. when i comes to haircare) and have many half full bottles so lately ive noticed my bathroom is a mess.
but many times if the product is new and has a lot remaining i will give it away, I have many a sister and niece! Ive gotten better about saving receipts to return items I absolutely cannot stand but i also really have to use willpower when impulse shopping for cosmetics.
like i buy a lot of lippies, but i mostly ever use balm, so being honest with myself i realize that buying those is probably a waste of money. no matter how fun they are.
@Heather: Gosh I can relate. If only all cosmetic packaging and presentation were ugly, we would be able to resist them much more haha. You are lucky to have many women in your life to give beauty products away to. That is a good way to reduce waste. Returning used products in Asia is just unheard of unless the product was already damaged upon opening the packaging. I’m typing this at the Brisbane International Airport and I had to resist lots of lovely makeup at duty free…am replying comments on my blog instead.