Empties & Tosses #14 // May 2015

A few things I finished in the month of May...

Here's my rating scale: 

(>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ // worthy of dance party (repurchase)   

^u^ ^u^  // pretty great (maybe repurchase) 

-_- // indifference (will not repurchase) 

While the Sapien Women Body Moisturizer* -_- was lightweight and smelled of tutti fruity, it took forever and a day to absorb into the skin. 

The Aveeno Positively Nourishing Moisturize Shampoo and Conditioner* ^u^ ^u^ did wonders for my winter hair. However, the Pantene Pro V Damage Detox Conditioner* -_- was kind of meh. 

The My Beauty Diary Pearl Brightening Mask ^u^ ^u^ is $1 a piece and my skin looks "brighter" the next morning after using this. 

I LOVE the Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^. It works to prolong the wear of any nail polish, not just Revlon Gel Envy ones. 

I've had the OXY Clearing Treatment -_- and probably haven't used it since ... 2009. It's nearly full but it's about time I tossed it. 

I used the Chantecaille Magnolia, Jasmine and Lily Healing Emulsion -_-  whenever my skin felt irritated or itchy and the next morning, I'd wake up with my skin feeling calmed down. Bonus, it smells beautiful so it's like aromatherapy for your face. However, at $156 a bottle, I could buy a textbook instead. 

May TALLY: 

1 tosses

6 full-size

1 samples 

8 total 

YEAR-TO-DATE: 

26 tosses

36 full-size

18 samples

80 total

Not much focus on emptying things compared to my usual empties posts this month but I did manage to finish a few full size hair products.

What did you finish in the month of May? 

*Press samples denoted with an asterisk

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Empties & Tosses #13 // April 2015

Quite proud of myself this month, as lots of things were finished. I also attended a bit of a Canadian Beauty Blogger swapity swap and picked up a number of things to congratulate myself for doing so well in the month of April. 

Here's my rating scale: 

(>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ // worthy of dance party (repurchase)   

^u^ ^u^  // pretty great (maybe repurchase) 

-_- // indifference (will not repurchase) 

The Graydon Clinical Luxury By Nature Green Cream* ^u^ ^u^contains broccoli seed oil and a few recognizable but currently unnamable kitchen herbs that make it smell like a pakora (Indian fritter). The cream was lightweight, fairly hydrating and sank into the skin quickly. The Province Apothecary Moisturizer* ^u^ ^u^smelled very natural but was also quite light and made my skin feel nice and soft. I really liked the Graydon Clinical Luxury Body Oil* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ , as well as the Fresh Seaberry Face Oil (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ . The Laura Mercier Foudation Primer -_-and the Kahina Giving Beauty Night Cream -_-smelled a bit off when I opened them so I wasn't paying attention to how they worked. The Philosophy perfume in Loveswept -_-was nice but a little to sweet for my liking. The Crest white strips* ^u^ ^u^only cover the front of my mouth, so my back teeth aren't quite as whitened. 

The Besame Sweetheart Balm in Sweet Rose* (discontinued) was super duper thick and moisturizing. The Sweet Rose an off-white with a fine lavender iridescence. Sheer white gloss on the lips is not particularly flattering during any time of the day, so I put it on every night before bed. The Tata Harper Be Adored Lip Treatment* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ was an absolute treat! So moisturizing, smooths over lip lines and leaves a sheer red tint. The Murale Skin Perfecting Lotion* ^u^ ^u^ was a nice lightweight daytime moisturizer. I really, really liked the scent of the Miracle 10 Light Serum*(>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ . I used it morning and night and it always left my skin feeling plump. Also, it's light enough that you can mix it with other heavier oils and serums. I'm finally saying goodbye to the Biotherm Aquasource BB Cream* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ , which I wore for a majority of the last 4 months. The sheer base evens rather than covers, perfect for no-makeup days! 

I burned The Body Shop Candle in Cranberry (discontinued) because I wanted to use the container for my mini makeup brushes. I've had it for a few years so the candle had lost its scent. I'm not a candle-crazed blogger... The Sapien Women Shower Gel* -_- was so-so. I found it didn't lather well but it smelled of tutti fruity! 

Not going to babble on about mascaras but here's a little rundown (click the product text for some full reviews). 

^u^ ^u^ - CoverGirl Full Lash Bloom*, Rimmel Wonder Lash*, Kat Von D Immortal Lash*, Hard Candy Lashaholic*, Revlon Bold Lacquer*

-_- - NYC Big Bold Volume By the Lash*, Quo Dynamic Duo Mascara*

The Veet Hair Removal Cream -_- smells like pure, toxic chemicals. It also made my eyes and legs sting and may or may not be 3+ years old. I haven't used it in a while... The Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration* -_- and Wet n Wild Eyeliner in Purple -_- are so-so products but also 3+ years old. The Body Shop Blush in Desert Rose (discontinued) was one of those things I stole from my mom's vanity. It's AMAZING but I know it's more than 5 years old and probably housing some serious bacteria. The Artifact Mask in Bali Papaya Rice ^u^ ^u^went mouldy before I was able to review it (likely from storing it in my bathroom - I would suggest keeping it in the fridge) but it smelled beautiful and was a lovely mask for light chemical and physical exfoliation. I used the Hard Candy All Lid Up in Lady Like* -_- a couple times but dried up soon after and was thus, unusable. 

April TALLY: 

13 tosses

7 full-size

8 samples 

28 total 

YEAR-TO-DATE: 

25 tosses

30 full-size

17 samples

72 total

WOOO, lots of empties this month! What did you finish up in April? 

Press samples and purchased products featured. Press samples are denoted with an asterisk (*). 

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Empties #12 // March 2015

My product-using enthusiasm was half-assed this month because not wearing any makeup is equivalent to not using any product. 

Here's my rating scale: 

(>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ // worthy of dance party (repurchase)   

^u^ ^u^  // pretty great (maybe repurchase) 

-_- // indifference (will not repurchase) 

Finally finished a huge bottle of the Sapien Women Body Scrub*-_- . In addition to being natural and cruelty-free the scrub looks like poop (literally) when it gets all over the shower. The exfoliating is subpar due to the widely disbursed  pieces of coconut bark. The Lush Prince Charming Shower Gel* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ smells delightfully sweet and works into a fairly light lather leaving skin feeling clean but not stripped. The CoLab Dry Shampoo* ^u^ ^u^ in Rio ran out quite quickly. The scent is great but the product lasted less than a month and a half. A baby sample of the Living Proof Satin Hair Serum ^u^ ^u^ lasted me for more than two months. The light oil works in either wet or dry hair and leaves locks feeling smooth and silky. The serum smells slightly peppery like a clean man. I like, I like. 

The Bioderma Atoderm Lotion (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ is super lightweight and great for when my skin is feeling particularly sensitive or dry. The Mika for Shu Pore Eraser* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ worked really well on its own to even out my skin tone and underneath foundation. The foam formulation is super cool and the SPF was an added bonus, as it let me skip the sunscreen step. In addition, the limited edition packaging was a pleasure to keep on my makeup table. At first, the Bioderma Sebium Pore Refiner -_- did well to mattify and hide the pores on my nose. However, it seemed like the more I used it, the less effective it became. 

March TALLY: 

0 tosses

5 full-size

2 samples 

7 total 

YEAR-TO-DATE: 

12 tosses

23 full-size

9 samples

44 total

I'm going to promise myself that I'll try harder next month. So much product to use and so little time! 

What products did you finish up last month? 

Purchased products and press samples featured. Reviewed items linked to blog post. Press samples are denoted with an asterisk (*). 

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Empties and Tosses #11 // February 2015

The shortest and my least favourite month has come and gone. Goodbye, chilly February, you won't be missed. Keeping up with my now *monthly* empties posts, I did some decent empties damage this month. 

Here's my rating scale: 

(>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ // worthy of dance party (repurchase)   

^u^ ^u^  // pretty great (maybe repurchase) 

-_- // indifference (will not repurchase) 

SKINCARE

The Reversa Cleansing Micellar Solution (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ works exactly like Bioderma - gentle yet powerful - and the pricing is similar. The Biotherm Biosource High Efficiency Cleansing Oil* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ was pretty good. The oil itself is quite thin and emulsifies almost immediately under water. It's effective (and presumably "efficient") at removing all my makeup - even the waterproof stuff. The CNK Vitamin C serum* -_- from Memebox didn't do much for me. The Quo cotton rounds ^u^ ^u^ were decent but not as amazing as my fave from Shisedo. 

FACEMASKS

Charles (aka boyfriend) visited me and we did some face masks. We used a couple from my big box of My Beauty Diary Africa Hydrating 2-Step Face Masks (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^. They're good and the hydration claims live up to their word. The step-2 serum is a little sticky but sinks in nicely overnight. 

MISC STUFF

The Evolution of Smooth Raspberry Pomegranate Shave Cream* ^u^ ^u^ smells absolutely divine. It took me over a year to get through it because I seldom shave (and use an epilator instead). Nonetheless, it leaves skin feeling smooth and pretty smelling. The Quo Nail Polish Remover ^u^ ^u^worked well - would repurchase. The Body Shop Spa Wisdom Africa Shea Butter and Sesame Oil Body Balm ^u^ ^u^ is much thinner than the Body Shop Body Butters but similarly hydrating. It sinks into the skin quite quickly. The shea scent isn't my thing, so I tried to use it up ASAP so I could use the mason-jar-esque container as a make up brush holder. I also finished a Laura Secord Toffee Chocolate Bar (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^(pictured in the roundup) - divine! 

HAIR STUFF

The Pantene Pro-V Original Fresh Dry Shampoo* -_- made my second-day hair look less oily but it smells of hairspray and makes hair feel extremely crunchy with lots of grit. I definitely prefer the new CoLab Sheer Invisible Dry Shampoo* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^. I've already gotten through an entire mini of the London scent. 

MAKEUP TOSSES 

The Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Bare Pink (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ is a very sheer pink. The gloss was non-sticky and perfect for everyday wear. It began to separate so we're parting ways. The Sally Hansen I Heart Nail Art Striper in Black* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ became ultra-gloopy, very useful for nail art (when it wasn't gloopy). I can't deal with broken or melted lipsticks so I'm saying goodbye to Wet N Wild Mega Last Lipstick in In the Flesh* ^u^ ^u^and the Revlon Lipstick in Carnival Spirit* ^u^ ^u^. The entire Dearberry Chocolate Eyebrow Pencil* -_- broke and fell onto the floor upon twisting up, so it's goodbye to that as well. 

February TALLY: 

5 tosses

11 full-size

0 samples 

16 total 

YEAR-TO-DATE: 

12 tosses

18 full-size

7 samples

37

I think I'm doing well so far this year! See more my past empties posts here. 

What did you finish up this month? 

Press samples featured and denoted with an asterisk (*). 

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Empties and Tosses #10 // January 2015

A new year always requires some sort of effort to clean up my act when it comes to housing beauty products in my room. This year, I'm making an attempt to do monthly empties instead of having 4 posts a year in which I talk about 40+ products in each. 

Here's my rating scale: 

(>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ // worthy of dance party (repurchase)   

^u^ ^u^  // pretty great (maybe repurchase) 

-_- // indifference (will not repurchase) 

THE BIG GUNS (aka big full-size stuff) 

The Sapien Women Facial Scrub* ^u^ ^u^ looks like mud pie, smells like tutti fruity and was a nice physical exfoliating scrub that I kept in my shower. I liked the Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Facial Cream* ^u^ ^u^ a lot more than my initial review might suggest - a go-to non-greasy moisturizer for both day and night. I was highly impressed by the CoverGirl Tru Blend Liquid Makeup in m3* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ and it's one of the few foundations I've actually finished. The light-medium dewy coverage is great for transition months and m3 is a perfect match! 

THE LITTLE GUYS (aka samples and one-time-use) 

The Sephora Formula X Delete To-Go Nail Polish Remover* ^u^ ^u^ is a thick cotton pad soaked in acetone. It was great for removing polish but a little pricey and wasteful for my nail-polish removing tastes. The Glam Glow Power Mud Dual Cleanse Treatment -_- didn't really live up to the hype of its name. It was slightly tingly and felt like it removed all the gunk from my face but I could purchase a much less expensive mask with the same effect. The Cover FX Calming Primer (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ worked well for my skin's needs. It kept my pores looking minimized, makeup in place and oil at bay, everything I seek in a good primer. 

FACE STUFF

The Murad Clarifying Wipes for Blemish Prone Skin* ^u^ ^u^ were quite great at removing makeup and cleansing. Nothing outstanding but a good option, especially for noticeably less break outs. I'm finishing up a box of the My Beauty Diary Pearl Powder Mask ^u^ ^u^, which leave my skin feeling hydrated and brightened. The Choco Cacao Collagen Mask* ^u^ ^u^ has a similar effect as the beauty diary but smells slightly of chocolate! The Sisely Paris Black Rose Cream Mask -_- was only so-so. Generally, I'm not a fan of cream masks that aren't over-night masks because they don't get enough time to sink into the skin. At Sisely's price point, would definitely not repurchase.

HAIR STUFF

The Biotera Ultra Color Care Conditioner* -_- did absolutely nothing for my hair. The Likke Detox Scalp Care Gel* ^u^ ^u^ has an amazing tingly feeling when applied to the scalp. I couldn't tell if my scalp was actually getting a detox but it felt so cool. The John Frieda Frizz Ease Thermal Protection ^u^ ^u^ did exactly what it claimed in the packaging, tamed frizz and prevented my hair from breakage when using a blow dryer. 

TOSSES

I really liked the Lancome Hypnose Custom Volume Mascara ^u^ ^u.It was great for building volume. The Annabelle Big Show Mascara x 2 (one waterproof)* -_- was also great at building volume, however both the waterproof and non-waterproof formulas smudged and gave me raccoon eyes. The Almay Smart Shade CC Concealer and Brightener* -_- is a little thick and slightly cakey for my preferences. Initially, I had really liked the CoverGirl + Olay the De-Puffer Concealer* -_- but I stopped using it then restarted and it broke me out underneath my eyes (which was both strange and painful). I love the scent of the Nivea Lip Smoothie Cranberry and Raspberry  -_- as well as the slight wash of color, however, it's a bit old and Nivea's ingredients aren't the most natural for me to be dragging on my lips multiple times a day. The colour of NARS Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight  -_- just didn't work for me - too pale. Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Champagne -_- must be 5 years old by now. Gross, right? It adds a frosty shimmer to the lips and I've only used it 4 or 5 times because of that. 

The TALLY: 

7 tosses

7 full-size

7 samples 

21 total 

Have you tried any of these products? 

Both press samples and purchased products featured. Press samples denoted with an asterisk (*). 

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Empties #9 [End of Year]

Holy cow. It's been 4 months since my last empties post. I've been at school and using up a lot of things, beauty inclusive, so here's a big bad load of [67!!!] products I've finished and a few I'm tossing. 

I've got a new rating scale by recommendation from Ling of The Cosmetic Critic. 

(>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ // worthy of dance party (repurchase)   

^u^ ^u^  // pretty great (maybe repurchase) 

-_- // indifference (will not repurchase) 

I reviewed the Tresemme Keratin Smooth System Shampoo and Conditioner* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ back in July (loved it!) and finally finished up both the full-size bottles. I've got some samples kicking around in my stash. The Fekkai Full Blown Volume* -_-is a lightweight foam that smells delightfully of mangoes, but it didn't do much in terms of conditioning. The Vidal Sassoon Hydra Block Color Preserving Conditioner -_-came with the dye that I used to make my hair purple, just your typical conditioner that comes with box dye, so-so. I really enjoyed using the Dove Oxygen Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner ^u^ ^u^- fairly moisturizing but not overly weighty and made my hair feel nice and clean. 

 If I could afford all and any haircare, I'd probably pick something along the lines of John Masters Organics (available at the Cure Apothecary). The Spearmint and Meadowsweet Scalp Simulating Shampoo* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^is quite clarifying, great for removing dry shampoo buildup, and the Citrus & Neroli Detangler*(>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ smells like perfection and works quite well as either a leave-in or wash-out conditioner. The John Frieda Luminous Volume Shampoo and Conditioner and Full Repair Shampoo, Conditioner, and Replenishing Oil Elixir -_- were all so-so, nothing noteworthy. I'm pretty into the Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser ^u^ ^u^but I find it a little too hydrating for my hair at the present time. I also finished up a set of the Keratin Smooth. 

Lush D'fluff* ^u^ ^u^is an oddly fluffy shaving cream that smells like strawberries, LOVE! The Eco-tools Loofah* ^u^ ^u^worked like any other. I must have taken quite a few baths in the past 4 months because I finished the HUGE bottle that is the Baylis and Harding Sweet Mandarin & Grapefruit Restful Bath Foam* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^. It creates big bubbles with a scent that lasts the entirety of my 20-minute bath. The scent is quite light, so I like to mix it with a citrusy bath bomb. The F. Miller Body Oil* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ (available at the Cure Apothecary) was a surprise favourite of mine. It's jam packed with a ton of good-for-you oils and sinks into the skin immediately, without leaving a greasy finish. 

I fell in love with the length that the Shu Uemura Petal Lash Mascara* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ gave my tiny little Asian lashes, plus it's the most pleasant smelling mascara ever! The Shu Uemura Lasting Gel Pencil in Black Brown* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^was also a winner... long-lasting (like the name says) and a fairly fine tip for close-to-the-lashline-liner. Without a doubt, the CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ is my holy grail. I really liked the staying power and pigmentation of the Lancome Artliners ^u^ ^u^ but the packaging went wonky and wouldn't close properly, making the product gloopy... so I'm letting them go. 

I'm so proud of myself for finishing both the Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Just Plum* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ and the Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^. I rotated the two into my daily routine. They're both ultra moisturizing and smooth over dry patches and lip lines while adding a touch of colour. I've been saving the tiniest bit of the Marcelle Hydra-C Foundation (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^for a rainy day, since it's discontinued. I really enjoyed it - perfect colour match, medium coverage, and long lasting. I finally got through the The Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^. A little goes a very, very, very long way, it works like a charm to set under eye concealer and makes skin feel soooo smooth. 

The cap of the Marcelle Eyebrow Pen* (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^fell off and got lost before I could review it fully. As for first impressions, the "universal dark" was actually cool-toned enough to match my jet black brows and added colour to sparse areas without looking fake. I used up the Annabelle Eye Ink* ^u^ ^u^ to the very last drop as an everyday liner but I couldn't wait to throw out the NYC High Definition Liner* -_-, as I found it to be a total fail. Also, I'm saying goodbye to the NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Cottage Cheese ^u^ ^u^, as it's super old (2 or 3 years) and I was mostly keeping it around for nostalgia's sake. 

The Body Shop Nutriganics Softening and Cleansing Gel* -_-worked well to remove face makeup but it stung my eyes like crazy (even though I tried as hard as I could to keep it away from my eye area). Both the Cetaphil Cleanser -_- and the Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser -_-were too gentle to fully cleanse my face. The Annabelle Eye Make Up Remover Lotion  (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^  has to be my favourite eye makeup remover I've tried thus far. Plus, it comes in a pump bottle! The Clinique All About Eyes Serum* didn't do much for my undereye area other than the short- lived cooling sensation from rubbing the rollerball under my eyes. The Kaia 24H Booster Serum ^u^ ^u^ was a super-fast absorbing oil-serum but it started smelling weird when I had a teeny bit left. I found the Pelle Beauty Stellar ^u^ ^u^ to be very multifunctional (and effective!) in my hair and on my face and body. The scent is a little strong for my liking but Stellar provided stellar hydration. I applied the Chantecaille Lily and Jasmine Hydrating Mask (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ to my irritated, itchy skin in the evening and woke up with soft, luminous and plump looking skin in the morning. Given the price, it was the miracle worker I had expected it to be and would totally pick up a barrel of the stuff if it was 95% off. 

I wasn't a fan of the Up and Up (Target) Cotton Rounds -_- or the Walmart Cotton Rounds -_-. They fell apart pretty quickly. The My Beauty Diary Pearl Powder Mask (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^has been one of my favourites for brightening/whitening the skin. I didn't find the Borntree Tea Tree Black Head Nose Pack*  -_- to do anything for my nose, other than feel slightly slimy yet moisturized. 

I love snacks. The Brookside Chocolate Acai with Blueberries, Coffe Crisp, Pretz, Ice Breakers Duos and Frost are all worth the repurchase. (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^

I also finished up a box of mango slices and President's Choice Decadent Chocolate Chunk Cookies (YUM). (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^ (>'-')> <('-'<) ^(' - ')^

I'm tossing some expired contact lens solution (I seldom wear contacts), some JVC Gummy Headphones that are dead in one ear, two broken hair bands both from Goody and two no-name pens that are dried out. 

Yeah... my fingers are out of breath from all of those empties. I also threw out a bunch of expired makeup that I'm too lazy to write about, so there's that decluttering that happened. 

What have you finished up this year? 

This post contains press samples and purchases. Press samples are denoted with an asterisk (*). 

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