September Empties

It's that time of the month - empties time! This month I used up a bit less products than I normally do and I also included anything that it's time to get rid off after summer (e.g. sunscreen that's gonna be expired next summer) or that doesn't work for me anymore. That's because I did some shopping throughout September and I want to enjoy all the products I have without forcing myself to use something that doesn't work well.

As always, I've gone through a bunch of sheet masks. I still love my Leaders 7 Wonders sheet masks (link), but this month I used a few more by this brand. Detox and Chill (link) are black sheet masks that feel thicker and more cloth-like than 7 Wonders line. I was expecting them to be like charcoal/mud masks, but the color didn't transfer to the skin and they didn't need to be rinsed off. I don't know what I was really expecting with these masks, but it wasn't as I imagined, so I'm not going to repurchase them. It's just me, but I prefer detoxifying/cleansing/etc. masks that are regular rinse off masks and sheet masks for hydration. Breakup with Your Ex-Skin Cells (link) was another Leaders mask that I tried out this month. I was expecting more glowy, more brightening results, but it was another mask that didn't need to be rinsed off. It felt comfortable and hydrating on the face, but I didn't notice anything special about it.

I've mentioned Biobelle #Glam (link) hydrogel mask many times. It's my favorite from the brand and I keep treating myself to it. Besides, the black lace in it looks super cute.

I love Andalou skincare products, but the sheet masks just don't go with my skin. The moment I put on this 1000 Roses Soothing sheet mask (link) my skin felt uncomfortable and I had a burning/itchy sensation. I've tried other products from 1000 Roses line and never had a problem.

This month I was very excited to try out Orgaid* sheet masks (link). These masks are formulated with USDA certified organic ingredients. I really love the packaging and that raw paper look. The brand offers 3 different masks and while I didn't notice much difference among them, I liked Greek Yogurt nourishing mask the most of all because of it's smell. The scent is light, but very refreshing. The masks had plenty of serum in them. The cloth wasn't too thin, but was comfortable on the face and applied well. These masks are not too big on the face and didn't reach my hairline on the side of the face. It's something I'm not used to as most masks feel bigger on the face, but being smaller is not a bad thing considering that I like to apply sheet masks as part of my skincare routine (I'll apply a sheet mask after a serum and before a moisturizer) and in that case the mask doesn't dampen my hair. The only negative thing I can say about them is that eyes were not cut out comfortably, so I had to adjust that myself.       

Pacifica Skin Revival micro dermabrasion scrub (link) was part of a mini facial set that I had from the brand. I tried my best to use it, but the smell was awful, so I finally had to get rid of it and not torture myself. The scrub itself was very fine and gentle and did a great job.

I received deluxe sample of Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser (link to full size) with some of my purchase. It was only a 1 oz. sample, but it lasted so long as a tiny bit goes a long a long way. I used this cleanser as my morning face wash during hot and humid days or when my skin acted up and I felt I might get a pimple. A lot of time I would massage it into my skin and leave for a few minutes as a quick mask. This cleanser really cleared my skin and prevented any breakouts without drying. I would love to repurchase.

I used Ogee Seeds of Youth* serum (link) as my moisturizer during the summer. I can get away with a more watery serum and some light moisturizer or a thicker serum on top during warmer weather, so this Ogee serum was great. It hydrated my skin well, applied and absorbed quickly.

I have a mini of Sunday Riley Luna Oil (link) that came in a set. I'm really not into oil based products, but I tried giving it a chance. I used it for a little bit, but I just couldn't stick to this product and I didn't see any results.

I received a sample of Bioderma Sebium Mat Control moisturizer (link to full size) in September's BeautyFix box. It lasted for a couple of uses and was a pretty nice moisturizer. It is light, yet hydrating. However, a few times it came out with liquid separated from the cream, which I didn't like.

For the longest time I've wanted to try Oz Naturals products and finally I've got a bunch of them. One of them was Vitamin C serum (link). It is a very watery serum, but I enjoyed using it a lot. I would apply it as my first serum and top it with another serum or moisturizer.               

I've also finished Ogee facial wipes* (link). They were ok, but nothing close to my favorite Ecocare wipes that remove the makeup in an instant. Ogee wipes were not damp enough and not "strong" enough, but I used them up to wipes my hands and makeup containers/tools when applying my makeup.

Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Coconut Water (link) smells heavenly! It's my second or third bottle. I spray this facial mist after cleansing my face before I apply any serums or moisturizer. I can't say I see some amazing effect from this water, but I enjoy the smell a lot.

Kiehl's Rare Earth deep pore cleansing masque (link) is one of those products that I thought would never end. I bought sometime in February and used quite often. At first I didn't like this mask as it applied unevenly and had pieces of masks in it, but then I changed the way I'm applying. Instead of taking out the whole needed amount and trying to apply it on my face, I would scrape off a bit of the mask with my mask brush and apply it to some part of my face. I would then go and repeat it on another part of the face. This made the application smooth and easy. The mask itself was a nice mud mask. It cleaned the skin, but didn't dry it. I would repurchase it in the future, but not too quickly as I got a little bored of using the same product for so long.   

The Natural Dentist mouthwash is my favorite for years, but I wanted to try a different flavor that's not minty, so I picked one from the kids line. I've got this rinse in Berry Blast flavor (link) hoping for a yummy taste. This mouthwash tasted sour, like a vitamin c water, so while I used it, I didn't enjoy it.

I couldn't get into using charcoal powder to whiten my teeth because of the mess it leaves in the bathroom, so I was excited to try My Magic Mud activated charcoal toothpaste in Wintergreen* (link). It seemed like a good idea, but I was wrong. The taste was ok, I wasn't crazy about it, but it was definitely more fresh, more minty tasting than plain charcoal. This toothpaste is black, so no matter what, it does leave splatter in the sink. I was fine with all that, but what bothered me was that sometimes the toothpaste would shoot out of the tube and water/liquid was separated from the toothpaste. No need to mention that it would make a mess on the counter, mirror or bathroom walls. I want easy to use products and since this wasn't one of them, I'm getting rid of it.

Rituals shower gel (link) is one of those different and exciting products. This body wash would come out like a gel, but would turn into thick foam almost instantly. It was fun to use, but I wasn't crazy about the scent and it felt like it may dry the skin in the long run.

Alba Botanica Acnedote scrub (link) is becoming a regular in my empties. I've been using it for years, I love it and I continue repurchasing it.

Every time I think about Brooklyn Botany Camellia Wonder Oil* (link) I remember its scent. It's a multi use product, but I used it as a body oil. I especially loved applying it on my legs during the summer or whenever I was wearing a dress as it gave a beautiful shine, but wouldn't make the skin greasy.

I've heard so many great reviews about Native deodorant that I had to get one myself. I got it in Coconut & Vanilla (link) and I didn't like the scent at all, but I could have used it if it worked. This deodorant turned out to be one of the biggest fails for me as it didn't do the job. The stick itself felt hard and didn't apply pleasantly to the skin. It also didn't seem to have uniform texture, so I would have to pat the deodorant in with my hand. Moreover, it didn't protect me at all, so I kept it for a while and tried in a cooler weather, but still it was a fail.

I love Bath & Body Works hand sanitizers (link) and keep them everywhere (in my bag, in the car, on my vanity, etc.). I always buy a bunch of them when a good deal is offered, so they're really cheap and they smell great.

I've had Acure Continuous Spray Sunscreen SPF 30 since the summer of 2016. After googling for a link, I realize it's not available anymore. I don't know if it's discontinued or repackaged, but I liked this sunscreen. I would apply a thick layer of it, but it wouldn't leave a white cast on my skin and it would protect my skin from the sun. I enjoyed it a lot, but since this summer I spent less time in the sun and used another sunscreen, I just couldn't use up Acure before the expiration date.

Coola SPF 30 sunscreen spray* (link) was the sunscreen I reached out for this summer. It was easy to use, it didn't leave white residue on the skin and it smelled nice. There are a few different scents to choose from, so that's a nice bonus. The container is almost empty, but it's past the expiration date, so I'm not keeping it any longer.

I love MooGoo as a brand and I enjoy their products. I've used up Skin Milk Udder Cream* (link), which I was using as a body moisturizer. It gave great hydration without making my skin greasy. It was also very gentle on th skin and calmed it down after shaving or after time in the sun. This cream smells like nuts and I enjoyed that a lot.

I'm also getting rid of leftover True Natural Organic Self Tanner in Light-Medium* (link). Since I have very light skin, I prefer buildable tan. True Natural one was the one that gives tan within a couple hours. It did save me a few times when I wanted to have a tan for going out that evening, but it's also a riskier product as any imperfection while applying will show up and there will be no time to fix it. It washes off pretty evenly though when I applied a few layers of this self tanner, it washed off more patchy. Also, the color is Light-Medium, but it's on the darker side of the light, so if you're pale, it might be too dark. I still prefer my Caribbean Solutions self tanner (review here - the packaging changed, but the product is still great), which needs to be applied 3-4 days to get the same tan, but it looks more natural and more even. 

I was using this Schoenenberger Acerola & Cranberry shampoo (link), but I didn't like it at all. First of all, I expected a nice scent, but it was almost scentless. The result wasn't great also. Actually, it made my hair blah and quite limp. I didn't finish the product, but I reused the bottle for Grow Gorgeous Back Into Roots hair mask (link). I didn't keep the original bottle, but I still wanted to include the product in the empties. This mask was amazing and I already repurchased it. While it promises volume for the hair, I didn't notice any crazy volume in my hair. However, I loved it for different reasons. This mask has minty ingredients, so it feels cooling on the skin and the feeling stays even after washing the hair. My hair is fine, so I was a little worried about putting a mask to my roots, but it worked out great. It doesn't feel oily and washes off easily. The hair is left silky, soft and shiny. I usually wash my hair every 1-2 days, but after this mask my hair looks great for 3-4 days. On the second day my hair still looks like I've just washed it. The only downside is that while the container is not that small, the mask doesn't last too long, because you need quite a lot for one use.

I've finally used up Rare Elements Essential Lite Conditioner (link). It lasted me since April. This is a salon quality product, so less is more. It left my hair soft and silky. I would repurchase it in the future, but for now I need a break.

I'm still experimenting with different hair color brands, so this month I used L'oreal Excellence Creme in color 9A (link). I usually use colors with "10", but this looked light enough in the photos. I should have known better as it wasn't light enough for me. While I'm not used to such shade, it does look nice and I enjoy it, but I still use a purple shampoo to give my hair more cool tone. The hair dye itself was nice and didn't smell bad. It applied easily and one box was enough for my long hair. I'll definitely use the same hair color in different shade next time. 

I've been using Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue EDT (link) on and off for the last 13 years. It's one of those popular scents that everyone wears and sometimes I wish I picked something else, but I just love it. I would repurchase it in the future.

I love the flavor selection of Greenland lip balms (link). It's a nice light lip balm that hydrated lips without applying too much product on them. I would use it again.

Coola Mineral Liplux SPF 30 in Tan Line* (link) is a smart spf product, because lips are often forgotten when it comes to sun protection. This tinted lip balm is on the harder side, but applied to the lips evenly. The color was very light and barely visible on the lips. I didn't like the taste as it tasted like sunscreen.

I really enjoyed YSL Rouge Pur Couture lipstick in 70 Le Nut (link to full size). The lipstick applied smoothly and lasted well. This specific color looked very natural and was barely visible on the lips. Unfortunately, the lipstick broke at the bottom, so I had to get rid of it.

I also loved using Tarte Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint in Rose (link to full size), but one day when I wanted to apply it, I noticed that the product was very dry. Since I have so many lip products, I decided to part with this one. By the way, I have the same product in another color and that one is still creamy and has nice texture.

MUFE Ultra HD foundation (link) feels light on the skin, but has good coverage. I wouldn't mind getting full size, but for now I love my YSL All Hours foundation.

I know a lot of people like Benefit They're Real mascara (link), but I'm not a fan of it. The bristles are too long for me and I keep stabbing my lid. The mascara itself doesn't do much to my lashes and I don't get the effect I'd like.

I also wasn't impressed by Lancome Monsieur Big mascara (link). Maybe I should have given it a chance and let it dry before tossing it, but I'm impatient. I like my mascaras to be great from the moment I open them. This mascara made my lashes clumpy and stuck them together.




* marks PR samples received complimentary