February and March Empties vol. 39 & Project Pan 2019
It’s been a while since I shared my latest empties with you guys. Truth is, I couldn’t really finish much of anything in February, and I didn’t feel like writing a post featuring only two products. However, this month I started my annual spring cleaning and found a whole bunch of products that I’ve been meaning to finish for a long time now. In the end, I dedicated a special shelf in my beauty cabinet for those future empties, and today I have a sizeable pile to share, along with my final thoughts.
SKINCARE:
1 // Peter Thomas Roth 3% Glycolic Solutions Cleanser ($38) – This is a cleanser I share with my husband. Like most guys, he is not huge on skincare, but he does have a very simple routine that he follows every day, and this cleanser is part of it. I borrow it every few days when I get tired of my own. Even though I have a lot of other foaming cleansers, we keep repurchasing this one at Sephora over and over again because my husband insists that it’s the only one that doesn’t break him out. I know very well what he means, as this used to be one of my favorite products for that same reason. It’s pricey, but darn it’s good.
Repurchase? Yes, and will keep buying it until it’s discontinued.
2 // Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Correction Pads* ($40) – These pads are soaked in an acne-fighting solution that contains 2% Salicylic Acid and 10% Glycolic Acid, and they are recommended for people with problem skin. I used them when dealing with my hormonal breakouts and a weird episode of bacne that happened a few months ago out of the blue. As far as the effect, these are great – I did notice a huge difference almost immediately after I started using them. However, I just can’t stand that overpowering peach scent, and ultimately it’s the only reason why I personally won’t be repurchasing these.
Repurchase? No. They work really well, but I can’t stand the fragrance.
3 // Oille Eye Serum Antiwrinkle Intelligence* ($48) – This was one of the few beauty oils that I could use every single day. I liked it so much, I even brought it with me on my trip to Russia last summer, instead of your typical eye cream. Although the product claims to target wrinkles and inflammation, what I really noticed is how soft and supple it made the skin around my eyes feel. It is a very lovely product indeed, as long as you lower your expectations.
Repurchase? I might have, but it was a limited release and the product is no longer available.
4 // COOLA Full Spectrum 360° Sun Silk Drops SPF 30* ($46) – It’s so nice to finally have sunscreen options other than thick creams or low SPF oils! These drops from COOLA are lightweight and runny and provide moderate broad-spectrum UV protection that’s perfect for a cloudy day. The brand went a step further and included special filters that shield the skin from infrared and HEV, or high energy visible light. It is still unclear how damaging the effects of those last two are, but some early studies suggest that we might need to protect from those as well. Even though I managed to finish this bottle, I will not be seeking to replace it. Something in the formula irritates my skin, so I think I may be sensitive to one or more ingredients.
Repurchase? No.
5 // Skinfix Calm & Rejuvenate Eye Cream* ($50) – The reviews are so polarizing on this one! Some people say it’s the best eye cream they’ve ever used, and others say that it irritated their skin really badly. I wonder why there is such a huge difference in opinions? I’m already on my second jar and have nothing but good things to say about it. I especially noted the depuffing effect – my morning puffiness disappears within minutes after the application. It seems that Skinfix decided to discontinue this eye cream, but I hope they bring it back once they figure out what went wrong with the formula that caused some people to have a reaction.
Repurchase? No.
6 // GM Collin Sensiderm Cleansing Milk* ($34) – This cleansing milk has been in my stash for so long, I couldn’t believe it was still in good, usable condition – but it was just as fresh as the day I opened it for the first time. This is a SPA/salon brand that’s mostly known to professionals, and I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to try some of their products targeted for my skin type. This cleansing milk works wonders for my combination/dehydrated skin. It’s gentle, but it removes impurities very thoroughly and doesn’t strip the skin of moisture. I don’t know if I’d go out of my way to buy it, though, there are so many other comparable options on the market.
Repurchase? No.
7 // Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Dark Spot Corrector ($125) – I was very into LMdB products a few years ago, and I recently tried to revisit the brand. This serum still had a little bit of product left, so I thought maybe I could finish what’s left of it, but I think it expired so I’m just going to toss it.
Repurchase? No.
BATH & BODY:
8 // Daniel Galvin Jr OrganicHead Detox & Purify Shampoo* ($14.99) – I remember the day when this shampoo and conditioner duo showed up in the mail, and I had no clue where they came from, so I just tossed them aside. I recently ran out of my usual shampoo and decided to give these a try – what a pleasant surprise it was! Usually, clarifying shampoos leave my hair and scalp slightly crunchy and dry, but this one did not. I loved how airy and voluminous my hair felt when I used it. The formula is vegan and free of SLS/SLES.
Repurchase? Maybe.
9 // The Body Shop Mango Body Butter ($21) – TBS body butters are a staple in my winter routine, I always stock up during their Black Friday sale and then use them throughout the cold season to keep my elbows and toes moisturized. This year I went with the mango line, and next year I’ll be trying something else.
Repurchase? Yes, but in a different scent.
10 // Proganix H2O Plus Electrolytes Quench Shampoo* ($8) – Another great shampoo, and it’s priced well, too. This moisturizing collection is formulated with coconut water, so if you are struggling with frizz or dry hair, it’s worth trying for sure.
Repurchase? Maybe.
11 // SweetSpot Labs Coconut Lime Gentle Wash* ($12) – This gentle wash is pH-balanced and can be used even on delicate skin. I own these in several scents but it’s the first time I actually finished a bottle, because a little goes a long way so they last quite a while. It’s such a specific product that I don’t know if I really have a need for it, but at the very least I enjoyed using it so there’s that.
Repurchase? I haven’t decided.
12 // The Body Shop Shea Shower Cream ($10) – This was also part of my Black Friday haul last year. This one with shea butter had a wonderful creamy texture and left my skin feeling so soft and fresh. Although my heart will forever belong to Molton Brown, TBS body washes are probably my second favorite in this category.
Repurchase? Yes.
MAKEUP:
13 // Ever Whiplash Speed Volumizing Mascara* ($25) – It’s been a while since I had makeup empties, but this time I have three! First one is this volumizing mascara from Ever Skincare, which was my favorite product from their makeup line. This wand shape and formula are comparable to high-end mascaras, so I think it might be worth splurging on, unlike most MLM products, which are usually just overpriced crap. By the way, I reviewed and swatched more Ever makeup in this blog post, if you’re interested.
Repurchase? No, since I don’t support MLM businesses.
14 // Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer ($29) – This is my go-to concealer, and I’ve been using this tube for almost a year now. There’s still product left inside, but I had it for so long already that I feel like the formula has become much drier than before so I plan to replace it soon. Seriously, it’s one of my favorite makeup products ever and if you need a new full coverage concealer that won’t cake or crease, I can’t recommend this one enough. They come in a ton of shades and undertones too, so there’s a high chance you’ll find your perfect match.
Repurchase? Yes.
15 // Kevyn Aucoin The Expert Mascara* ($29) – This is a really good mascara, just like the rest of Kevyn Aucoin products. Honestly, so far everything from this brand has exceeded my expectations. The best part about The Expert mascara is its wand, which has a very unique tapered, curved shape that I’ve never seen from any other brand before. It curls and lifts my lashes like no other. Unfortunately, it tends to dry well before the 3-month expiration mark when I usually toss my mascaras, and only for that reason I won’t be repurchasing it again. It’s just too expensive to toss every other month.
Repurchase? No.
I set the goal for myself to finish at least 100 full-sized beauty products by the end of 2019. So far I emptied 25 out of 100, with all of my previous empties combined. Not bad at all, and we still have 3/4 of the year to go! I have a feeling that I might surpass my goal if I truly commit to finishing everything on my vanity right now, but I guess we’ll see what happens.
What was the last product you finished or hit pan on? Do you have any fresh 2019 empties yet?
*Indicates PR samples.
