It is a new year, and it’s time to talk about all of the products I’ve used up the past three months. It is also the end of my year long NO BUY. At the beginning of 2017, I pledged to not buy a single makeup item for an entire year, and I succeeded! Having as much makeup as I do, I had more than enough to last me an entire year. I was actually able to use up things, and every time I was tempted to buy something new, I just told myself that I already owned something similar.
When I first started this no-buy, I thought it would be very difficult, as I purchased makeup all the time, and was even VIB Rouge at Sephora. I’m happy to say I’m no longer Rouge. It used to overwhelm me to see all of my products in my makeup drawers not even halfway used up. Some maybe used once or twice. Makeup expires, and hoarding it is no longer fun! My new rule for 2018 is to use up something before I purchase something similar. It is a great feeling to use something up!
Time for some Empties! I love seeing people’s trash and I think you all do, too. I get a lot of views on these. It’s fun cause it’s a bunch of mini reviews.
HAIRCARE
Kenra Platinum Blow Dry Spray – I just mentioned this product in my 2017 Best of Beauty Post , and if you missed that one, just know that this stuff is amazing! It smells great, protects your hair from heat, and lowers blow dry time. Definite repurchase.
It’s a Ten Miracle Leave in Plus Keratin – you’ll probably think I’m crazy for this, but I actually grabbed this empty from my girls’ bathroom (they’re 6 and 3). I use this on their long hair every night to detangle, protect from heat, add moisture, smooth, and everything else it does. We love this stuff! Already repurchased.
The next one is the Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo. This is a clarifying shampoo that is minty and tingly and gets rid of all the buildup in my hair. I use this weekly and love how nice and clean my hair feels after. I would repurchase.
Lastly for hair is one of my favorite dry shampoos. This is the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo. This take away the oil from my hair, adds volume, and has a nice scent that isn’t overpowering. It leaves a bit of a white cast, but brushes out easily. Already repurchased.
SKINCARE
First off, the Caudalie Instant Detox Mask. This is a good mask. It is a pinky colored mud mask that really clears out pores and refreshes your skin. The only thing I don’t like about it is the smell. It’s a very strong, almost licorice scent. I would repurchase because of the scent, and there are better mud masks out there for cheaper.
Next is a repurchase for life! The Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water is so good for removing makeup. I put this onto a cotton round, and it takes off all of my makeup in a snap. You can also use this to swipe over your face when you’re in a hurry or you don’t want to wash your face. It removes the dirt and doesn’t require rinsing. Love it!
This one was kind of a dud. Vita Liberata 10 Minute Tan. If it sounds too good to be true, it is! Leaving it on for ten minutes will not give you a tan, you have to leave it on longer. It is also a lotion, so you have to use practically the whole bottle for one application. It’s not worth the money ($39!) and there are better self tanners out there (Fake Bake Flawless ($12).
Lastly for skincare is an item that both my husband and myself use, and I think it’s in every empties that I post! They need to make this in a bigger size. It is the Clinique For Men Face Scrub. This is a super minty gritty exfoliant that makes my skin feel sooo nice and smooth. I use this on the shower and I love it. He does too. Already repurchased.
MAKEUP
Real Techniques Miracle Blending Sponge – did they change this? It doesn’t feel as soft and bouncy as it used to…but I still used one till it ripped. I use it dampened to apply my favorite foundation and it blends it oh so nicely. The foundation is L’Oréal Infallible Pro Glow, and it leaves such a nice luminous natural finish to my skin. I will repurchase both of these.
For primer, I always need hydration. The Too Faced HangoveRX Primer adds some moisture and smells like coconut. It doesn’t break me out and feels lightweight. I would repurchase.
This Sephora Collection Gel Serum Concealer is my favorite to conceal any redness or blemishes on my face. I don’t love it for the under eye (too sheer), but it does work nicely on the rest of the face. Already repurchased.
Next is the Lush Lip Scrub in Mint Julips. This is a chocolatey mint flavored lip scrub that exfoliates the lips and hydrates them with oils. I know it’s easy to DIY this, but I really love this one. I’ll probably repurchase.
Ok, so I have four mascaras here. The Estee Edit one was a fail. It had a regular wand on one side and a teeny wand on the other. I couldn’t get either one to work for me. Too wet, too clumpy. I didn’t like this at all. Can’t repurchase – this brand has been discontinued. Next was my favorite mascara last year- Tarte Maneater, which is an awesome mascara. Really volumizes the lashes, but has been replaced by L’Oréal Lash Paradise because it is so much cheaper and just as good! Used up two of those and definitely will repurchase.
RANDOM
I decided to throw in my toothpaste (why not?) for this post, and it’s the Arm and Hammer Extreme Whitening with Baking Soda and Peroxide. I love this stuff because it’s not sickeningly minty and sweet like regular toothpaste, and I like how it foams up a lot and really whitens my teeth. Already repurchased!
I used up a Chloé Roses Perfume that I absolutely loved. The smell of this was super feminine and pretty. Roses are my favorite scent, and this perfume is just like sniffing a bouquet of roses. Loved this! Will repurchase after I use some other fragrances up.
Next are two brush cleansers. First is the Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner. This is a spray on spot cleaner that I would use in between eyeshadow colors or on any of my eye brushes when I wouldn’t have time to deep clean them. It smells like vanilla and does a great job of getting all of the color off. This bottle lasted me forever! I will repurchase this.
Lastly is my deep cleanser for brushes. This is the Sephora Collection Solid Brush Cleanser. I use this on all the brushes and sponges I use. This is a solid bar of cleanser that you rub your brushes or sponges on, and it gets every last bit of makeup off. It’s really easy to rinse the product off, too. I love this stuff and will never be without it!
That’s it for the empties, that was a lot, right?!
Thanks for reading xx
The Hustlin’ Homemaker 