Empties #23

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Hey guys, I know it’s been a while, but I finally remembered to collect my empty bottles. This time I finished quite a few full-sized products, mostly skincare, so I’m feeling super proud about it. Not everything here is technically empty, for the reasons we’ll discuss below, but I used each one of these enough to get the whole picture about the product and the way it works or doesn’t work for my skin. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

SKINCARE:

1 // Dr. Jart+ O2 Cleansing Foam – I bought this a long time ago from Birchbox using my hard-earned points, and this turned out to be probably the biggest waste of those points. Long story short, this is a purchase I regret. Short story long, before I knew any better about the importance of pH level in my cleansers, I used to love that feeling of squeaky clean skin, truly believing that it will help deal with excess oiliness. At that point I was just getting into Korean BB creams, and heard that they require some special products to fully wash out. Birchbox described this cleanser as the perfect solution to remove all traces of foundation and sunscreen, which is just what I needed. Guys, this thing has a pH of 11. For the reference, pH level of Lye is only slightly higher at 13. Anyway, to no one’s surprise, my skin got totally stripped of any and all moisture, and I had to deal with a compromised acid mantle for months before I managed to restore it to a healthy state.

Repurchase? When hell freezes over.

2 // Blanc Doux Pinot Noir UV Shield & Tone-Up SPF35 PA++ – Products from this line are made with wine so they’re rich in antioxidant polyphenols, making them amazing for my AM routine. While I think the SPF here is a bit too low to use outdoors, I still emptied the whole thing by using it at home on top of my usual moisturizer. Most of all, I loved the texture – this gel/cream sinks into the skin without leaving white cast, and never makes my skin look oily.

Repurchase? Unlikely, because I love trying new things, but it’s a very good sunscreen.

3 // Cosmetics 27 by M.E. SkinLab Baume 27 Bio-Energizing Cell Repair Balm – I’ve had this rich balm for 2 years, which is probably a lot longer than its intended shelf life after opening. I just couldn’t make myself throw away such a fancy product, even though it was almost empty. I must say, it’s absolutely exquisite for those looking to really repair dry skin, as the results are not only instant, but also long-lasting well after you wash off the product. That price tag tho…

Repurchase? Maybe if I win a lottery. This is by far the most moisturizing thing I’ve ever tried in my life.

4 // Biossance The Revitalizer – I thought I’d lost this one until it was recently discovered in a big bag of samples that I keep for traveling. My skin responds really well to squalane, so it drank up this serum like a boss and begged for more. Tatcha uses squalene in a lot of their products, and you guys know how much I love that brand, so it’s no wonder I enjoyed The Revitalizer, too.

Repurchase? I will definitely consider it.

5 // Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream – You guys know I am a huge fan of Korean beauty products, so when I heard that fellow bloggers were obsessed with this moisturizer I had to give it a try, too. It worked so well for my combination/dehydrated skin that I bought 2 more spare jars, and glad I did because the product has since been discontinued.

Repurchase? I already did!

6 // A-True Darjeeling Black Tea First Anti-Wrinkle Essence – I reviewed this essence in this blog post, and after finally finishing the bottle my opinion of it hasn’t changed. It was very pleasant, mildly hydrating, and smells like black tea, so if you’re looking for a lightweight serum to slightly boost your skin’s moisture level and don’t mind the fragrance, you will probably like this one.

Repurchase? No. I thought it was nice, but there are products that work better for my skin type.

LIFESTYLE:

1 // HUM Nutrition Red Carpet – Red Carpet was one of the first HUM Nutrition supplements that I tried, and it turned out to be among my favorites after I’ve tried other varieties. I definitely see the difference in the appearance of my skin, hair, and nails when I use it, so I’ve repurchased it many many times.

Repurchase? Yes! 

2 // HUM Nutrition Omega The Great – While I love HUM Nutrition Omega complex, I feel like it’s not much different than other Omega supplements available at cheaper prices. However, it does have the benefit of not giving you fishy burps, so that’s something to consider.

Repurchase? No, but it’s a good one to consider if you don’t like the fishy smell of most Omega supplements.

I know you guys constantly ask me about these on Snapchat, so here’s a tip on scoring a really good deal on your first batch of HUM supplements:

• First of all, go here, scroll down, and click the pink “GET STARTED” button. That will prompt you to take a personalized quiz, and the specially designed algorithm will select the best supplements for your concerns. There is a surprise at the end of the quiz – a $10 off code with a 5-day expiration date.
• There is also a pretty sweet 25% discount, which applies automatically when you buy 3 or more supplements. I highly recommend getting all 3 bottles!
• At checkout, don’t forget to use your personal $10 discount by putting it in the COUPON CODE area.
• But wait, there’s more! In the REFERRAL CODE area, enter F910B to get another $10 off. That’s my personal code, and if you use it, I will also get $10 off my next shipment, so it’s win-win!

Have you tried any of these products? What did you hit pan on recently? Let me know in the comments below!

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