October Empties

I thought I'd post the items that I finished up this month. I meant to post this earlier, but with working two jobs, I'm good to just get posts up lol.

On a random note, I woke up to crazy snow and at least an inch of accumulation on the ground! I think it's going to be a cold November.

Now, Back to the Empties!

First I'm going to do my makeup empties for this month.

tarte lights, camera, lashes 4-in-1 mascara (deluxe sample size) - Full size is $20.00

I did really enjoy this mascara. It defined my lashes and had a great dark black color. I also found that it defined my lashes without making them look clumpy at all. Who knows, I might get it again. It's only $3.00 more than my MAC one that I'm going to purchase again soon.


MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash - $17.00

This is one of (if not my top) favorite mascara. It hold curl in my lashes and gives them spectacular volume and length. I would get people asking me what fake lashes I had on while wearing this mascara. It will be one I purchase again after I'm through with the ones that are currently in my collection.


L'Oreal liquid Liner - ??

I'm pretty sure this is a discontinued item as I can no longer find it. But, if I could I would repurchase it. It has a great thin brush applicator that creates a beautiful smooth line and a wonderful thin point for a wing. I'm now on a new hunt for a liquid liner.

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in "Born With It" - $7.49

I could not have been more excited to finish a product than I was when this was finally gone. It was a pretty color, but did not sit on my lips very nicely. In order to get through it I had to apply a lip gloss on top. The silver glitter in it was also a little chunky which I think contributed to it looking weird on my lips.

Now on to the perfumes that I worked through this month:

Tocca "Margaux" - Full size $68.00

I could not use this more than once (so it's not exactly an empty, but I'm finshed with it none the less). It was WAY too stong and smells of the oldest old lady perfume you can think of. And I swear that scent will smack you and everyone around you in the face for a solid 8-10 hours.... Not for me.


Victoria Secret "Fearless" - 1.7oz bottle $55.00

I didn't mind this fragrance. It's not one I would purchase, but I did like the little sample just fine. It just didn't leave a big impression as some others did. This had about a 4-5 hour wear time.


Dolce & Gabbana "Desire" - 1.6oz bottle $93.00

This is the one I that I really loved. I wore it so long ago, I can't remember the specific notes in it, but I loved it so much and enjoyed wearing it. I was really sad when I had to toss this in my empties bucket. I want so bad to get this perfume - I just wish it weren't so expensive.


Clean "Skin" - 2.14oz bottle $69.00

I enjoyed this scent. It was a very nice light subtle scent. Perfect for daytime wear at work. I'm debating purchasing this one as well. (Plus the price per amount is much better on this one - I just love the Desire one more)


DKNY "my NY" - 1.7oz bottle $68.00

I couldn't finish this perfume either. The pepper scent in it (it does have a listed note of pink pepper) started making me feel ill when trying to wear it.


Calvin Klein "Down Town" - 1.7oz bottle $65.00

This is another scent I enjoyed. Like "skin" I found it to be nice and light/subtle. It also had a nice woodsy scent to it which I really enjoyed.


Hanae Mori "Butterfly" Eau de Toilette - 1.7oz bottle $72.00

This one I have absolutely no recollection of. So, I assuming it not bad, but it wasn't all that great either.


                                           Now onto hair empties!

Pantene Pro-V Root Reboot Dry Shampoo - $7.99

This dry shampoo worked just fine. It did make my hair look cleaner and provided a little volume without much residue. ((Side note this does initially leave a white cast, but it easily brushes out)) I just think that the Tresseme one that was in last month's empties gave my hair much more volume.


OGX "thick & full, biotin & collagen" Shampoo - $6.00 - $8.00

I really loved this shampoo. It added a little volume to my hair and has helped keep my hair healthy. I also really loved the smell! I did use the conditioner with it, but I use more shampooo than conditioner so I still have some left. I did not purchase this same shampoo, but I am using another one from this brand. (I like to mix it up a little when it comes to shampoos)

My skin care empties!

Bath & Body Works "Be Enchanted" Shower Gel - $12.50

I really enjoyed this scent. I used this both as a shower gel and as a bubble bath every so often. I love the bath and body works shower gels as they keep my skin clean without over drying. ((Note: this bottle is the old packaging)) I am now using white citrus, but I may go back to this one once I have finished some of my other half used body washes.

Bath & Body Works "Brown Sugar & Fig" Deep Cleansing Hand Soap - $6.50

This is also in the older packaging. I did enjoy this scent at the start of fall. It was a nice transition scent that was warmer, but also fresh and sweet. ((This scent is no longer being sold, no idea if it will return later. )) I like the Deep Cleansing Hand Soap much more than the foaming hand soap. I'm just not a fan of foaming hand soap.

Bath & Body Works "Sweet Pea" PocketBac - $1.75 

I actually went through two of these sweet pea PocketBacs this month. I love the scent of sweet pea, and have the hand lotion too. I jump around scents with my PocketBacs, so I may end up with scent again.

Neutrogena naturals "fresh cleansing + makeup remover" - $7.99

I use this face wash every night as my makeup removing face wash. I find it's really effective at getting my foundation, blush, eye-shadow, etc. off. I wash my face using this product and a rubber scrubby (you can get them at Sephora - mine is from the face wash in my last empties). I did repurchase this already - it's a staple for me.

Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash - $5.99

This was the second face wash I was using. (First I remove my makeup with the Neutrogena one. Then I wash my face to get any dirt and grime form the day off.) I liked this one because it was gentle and didn't dry out my face. I am currently trying out a new product, but I would contemplate purchasing this again (for the third time).

Lastly, my candle empty.

Slatkin & Co. (From Bath & Body Works) "Fireside" 3-Wick Candle - $22.50

I actually used two of these candles this month. I adore this scent once it starts to get cold. Not only does it spread this scent all over the room, but it reminds me of bonfires with my family during the fall. I think it's my favorite candle scent of all time (both for the memory reminder and the wonderful scent). 

So those are all my empties. I hope you enjoyed reading about what I used up in the month of October! Can you believe it's already November? I can't haha. It seems that the year has just flown by.

~Rachel

September Empties!

I figured I'd do a post for my September empties, and give you brief reviews of what I liked and didn't like. Side note: If I finish a project pan/finish 6 by Christmas item, it will not be shown here until after I have posted my progress. That way those posts are still surprises! (I love surprises! Maybe that's why I like my subscription boxes so much). Lets get started

This is the Bath & Body Works Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Honolulu Sun. I started using this at the end of summer (Early August/Late July), and thankfully finished it just in time for a more transitional scent. [Just like lotions, I have a stockpile of soap...] The scent of this reminded me of going to pool, like that chlorinated water smell (but in a good way). It was perfect for summer, and brought back pleasant memories every time I used it. I really enjoy these hand soaps so after I'm done with my stockpile, I will buy more. (but I'm not a fan of their foaming cleansers - I just don't like foam soap).

This is the Purpose Gentle Cleansing Face Wash. This is the face wash that I use everyday after my makeup removing cleanser. (You are supposed to remove makeup, then cleanse your pores). I like it because it's really gentle (as advertised), which I need when I'm washing my face back to back. I already have another one of these that is half gone. (Both me and the fiance use this cleanser so it goes fast. This one we finished the first week Sept/Last week of Aug). Side note: This is not a sudsy face wash, so if you like that, don't get this one!

This is the "Oil-Free" Eye Makeup Remover by Neutrogena. It advertises: effective and gentle, removed even waterproof mascara, no oily residue. Now, This cleanser does NOT feel oil-free. It even appears that the oil in it separates from the liquid on a half-half basis (I have to shake this before putting it on a cotton ball). I will give it to this product, it can remove ANYTHING from my eyes without me having to scrub hard, but there is definitely an oily residue behind. I feel that's why I have a love, hate relationship with this product. I've tried other makeup removers, and they just don't work as effectively as this one.  I will say that since I use it at night mostly, I do wash my face after using it, so I don't feel the oily residue for very long. 

This is my TRESemme Freshstart Volumizing Dry Shampoo. I really enjoy using this dry shampoo. It does volumize my hair without making it look like it has tons of tangles, and helps keep it from looking greasy on those day 2 hair days. I did attempt to repurchase this, but they didn't have it at the store (sold out), so I'm trying a two new ones to see what I think of those. 

This is the Travel-Sized Bath & Body Works Lotion is Beautiful Day. This was one of my Project 10 pan items that I finished (which you saw in the last update). It was very satisfying to chuck this in my empties box! I really enjoy this scent for spring and summer, it fresh a little floral with a little clean mixed in! I do have another bottle of this lotion that I'll go through at some point next spring/summer. This would probably be a scent I'd repurchase after the craziness of lotion/bodymist hoarding stops.

This is the L'Oreal go 360 Clean Face Wash. (This is a sudsy face wash). I use this face wash every time I'm in the shower. The bottle also came with a rubbery scrubber (which is why that indent is there). I did really enjoy this face wash. It did get the gunk off my face (nothing came off when using my toner). This was slightly drying, but my face feels that way with almost every face wash. (this is predominately in my dryer patches - I have 'slightly dry'/oily combo skin). The fiance really loved this on his skin (And we both enjoyed the scrubby, which we are keeping) So this will be a repurchase somewhere down the road (I already purchased the deep cleansing scrub version to try).

The LORAC Breakthrough Performance Foundation in SMS 1 really was wonderful. It had a light coverage so it was great for summer. This stuff literally feels like nothing is on your face, it's so light. It does have an SPF of 14, which I liked as I hate many sunscreens on my face. The evened out my very splotchy skin (I have yellow undertones, but pink/red patches on certain areas of my face). It made my face look all one skin tone, and the skin tone that matched my skin! (A hard find there!). This foundation has a very dewy finish, so I did set it with a powder. I might repurchase if they still sell it and I'm done with the three other foundations I have. Side note: This does not cover blemishes well, as it is a light coverage. This is mostly for evening skin tone.

This is the dr. brandt pores no more pore refining primer. I had a trial size of .25 oz from my ipsy bag in August. After seeing the $45.00 price tag of the full size, I convinced myself that I wouldn't like this nor would buy it. But after using it several weeks I fell in love and splurged to get the full size (which I am using now). This really makes my skin feel soft and goes on so silky. I find that it makes my chin, cheek, and nose pores all go away (which is lovely). This does have a slight herbally scent, but I got used to it after a few times and it doesn't bother me. I just really love the formulation and what it does for my skin. 

This is a sample of the Victoria by Victoria Secret Perfume. (This is not part of my finish 6 by Christmas, I finished this one and the two perfume samples below before that post). Victoria Secret lists this fragrance as "a sparkling blend of red berries, Victoria rose and crème brûlée". I did smell the berries with a subtle sugary floral scent in there. While I enjoy this scent there are others I enjoy more so I wont purchase this one in the full size. This has about a 4 hour wear time, so it's one I'd have to reapply frequently. (But I do recommend you smell it, because it smelled lovely). 

This is a sample of the Flora by Gucci Perfume. Again, I really enjoyed wearing this perfume but there are others I enjoyed more from my samplings so I wont be getting this one. The sites lists its notes as: Citrus Accord, Peony, Rose, Osmanthus Flower, Pink Pepper, Sandalwood. I definitely smell the floral notes and the sandalwood, I didn't smell any citrus at all. This has a 4-5 hour wear time on me. (But again, smell it is a lovely scent)

This is the ever popular Juicy Couture 'couture La La' Perfume. Now don't get mad at me; I really don't like this. When I spray it it smells peppery and the alcohol, pepper mixture never dissipates until the scent is just gone (about 4 hours). I don't think this works on my body chemistry at all. I won't purchase this scent.

After Finishing all my perfume samples, I may make a post with my opinions on each and ranking them in order of which ones I want to buy. (This will be as much for me as it will be for you lol)