Empties #27

purchased pr sample affiliate links

It’s been a while since I last shared my pile of empties, so here’s a quick update on the products I recently finished. They’re kind of a mix between PR samples and things I purchased myself, and some of these products never appeared on this blog. I’ll get into more detail on that below.

SKINCARE:

1 // Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ($29 for 4 oz) – I love this Salicylic Acid toner, it is seriously one of my favorite products, and has been for years. It helps degunk clogged pores and blackheads, and just promotes clearer skin in general. I definitely noticed less breakouts since I started using it. Can’t recommend it enough, especially for acne-prone skin.

Repurchase: Yes!

2 // Institut Esthederm Age Control Sunscreen Cream for Highly Sensitive Skin SPF20* ($70 for 1.6 oz) – So I know what you’re thinking, this is only SPF20 and it’s not nearly as effective as your trusted SPF50+ products, but hear me out. The classic sunscreen agents here serve a secondary role to a highly innovative complex that actually makes your skin protect itself from the sun. This product was recommended to people allergic to the sun, and yes that’s a real thing. I enjoyed using this sunscreen, and it worked really well for me, but it got recently reformulated and it’s totally out of my price range right now.

Repurchase: No [discontinued].

3 // LABGrab by Silk Therapeutics Serum-Fine Lines* ($60 for 1 oz) – The serum is a highly concentrated treatment that targets the main signs of skin aging: fine lines and hyper-pigmentation. The formula is as clean as it gets, with zero irritants and fillers, nothing but good stuff. It took me forever to finish, because you only need to use 1-2 drops tops.

Repurchase: Maybe.

4 // LABGrab by Silk Therapeutics Cream-Eye Renewal* ($52 for 0.5 oz) – This eye cream has unique grainy texture that I haven’t seen before. The grains are comprised of active ingredients encapsulated in silk. The capsules break when you spread the cream over the eye area, releasing a fresh dose of actives each time. I especially liked the depuffing effect!

Repurchase: No. I loved the results but I just like trying different things.

MAKEUP:

5 // L’Oreal Voluminous Feline Mascara ($8.99 for 0.27 oz) – Like most L’Oreal mascaras, this one was great and totally on par with expensive mascaras from the department store. The wand is a little spikey, so it works best for separating the lashes and building length rather than volume. This is a good one to try if length is what you’re after, but my lashes lack volume, so I am more keen on the multi-purpose mascaras, like another fan fave Voluminous Butterfly.

Repurchase? No.

BATH & BODY:

6 // Function of Beauty Shampoo & Conditioner* ($36 for 1 set) – As you can see, I finished the conditioner but there is still a lot of shampoo left. I am going to toss it because this shampoo alone doesn’t cut it for me, which may be my own fault. Function of Beauty is a service that delivers customized haircare based on the customer’s self-assessment of their hair condition, so I think I entered the wrong parameters. I suspect that I messed up somewhere when trying to figure out what it is that I want from my shampoo & conditioner, so I got a shampoo that I can’t use on its own and conditioner that I had to use a lot of to get the desired effect.

Repurchase: Maybe, once I figure out what it is that my hair really needs.

7 // Amayori Rotenburo Air Bath Salts* ($80 for 5 x 4 oz packets) – Nothing is more relaxing than a nice soak in a hot bath, and Amayori bath salts are the ultimate indulgence. The idea behind bath salts is nothing new, it’s the fragrance blend that is purely magical. Rotenburo Air is inspired by the Japanese outdoor baths and perfectly embodies the cozy ambiance of a traditional onsen.

Repurchase: I would love to!

What products have you finished recently? Body wash and makeup removing wipes totally count!

* Indicates PR samples.