More Empties

It's so satisfying to finally finish up a product. I have been hoarding these empties for the special occasion of a blog post. Now that's it's finally done, I can't throw these puppies in the trash! 
I'm going to make this post as short and sweet as possible, because I have a lot of empties to get through. So for each product I'm just going to answer these two simple questions:

Did I like it?

Would I buy it again?

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Let's dive in, shall we?

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base

Did I like it? No. I found it to be too thick of a primer, and I didn't notice that it did anything spectacular in terms of making my makeup last any longer. I just noticed that it felt very heavy on my skin. 

Would I buy it again? NO.

Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream (full review here)

Did I like it? Yes. I think it's a very good drugstore BB cream, considering that there are lot of really bad bb creams available at the drugstore.

Would I buy it again? Probably next summer, the light/medium shade is too dark for my pale winter skin.

Laura Mercier Oil-free tinted moisturizer

Did I like it? YES!

Would I buy it again? YES! I'm already on a new tube of this product. I can't live without this in my makeup bag.

Neutrogena Natural Fresh Cleansing + Make-up remover 

(as seen in my skincare routine here)

Did I like it? Yes, it smells like granny smith apples.

Would I buy it again? Maybe. I really like the original foaming makeup cleanser from neutrogena (comes in a light blue bottle) so I'll probably be buying that one next. 

Neutrogena Natural Purifying Pore Scrub

(as seen in my skincare routine post as well)

Did I like it? It's a typical face scrub. I didn't notice that it did anything particularly outstanding for my skin.

Would I buy it again? Probably not.

Philosophy Purity made simple cleanser

(as seen in my skincare post as well)

Did I like it? This product is so over-hyped in the beauty community. First of all, it's not really that "pure" as the name would lead you to believe. I prefer cetaphil as a gentle cleanser.

Would I buy it again? No.

Neutrogena oil-free Acne Stress Control power-cream wash

(as seen in my skincare routine post here and "what's in my shower" post here)

Did I like it? Yes. I can feel it working and I see results after I use it.

Would I buy it again? I want to try the scrub from this range too, but I would buy the power-cream wash again.

Neutrogena oil-free Eye Make-up Remover

(as seen in my skincare post as well)

Did I like it? Yes. It effectively and gently removes all of my eye makeup

Would I buy it again? Yes. It's the only drugstore makeup remover I have found that really works for me.

Bioderma sensibio H2O (cleansing water)

(as also seen in my skincare post)

Did I like it? Yes. It's the most gentle way to remove makeup.

Would I buy it again? Yes. I prefer using bioderma to makeup wipe because I feel like I get more uses out of it than just the 20 or so wipe that come in a pack, but wipes are really good for travel.

Simple cleansing facial wipes

Did I like it? Yes. I noticed that these wipes effectively cleansed my face and were really gentle on my sensitive skin.

Would I buy it again? Yes. I like having makeup wipes around for quick cleansing and for travelling. I prefer the simple brand wipes to neutrogena ones, and they're cheaper too.

Bath & Body Works, Triple Moisture body cream (twilight woods)

Did I like it? Yes. Twilight Woods is my favourite scent from Bath & Body Works and I find that this lotion does an excellent job of hydrating my skin.

Would I buy it again? Not anytime in the near future. I'm really enjoying using the Vaseline brand cocoa butter lotion at the moment

Batiste dry shampoo

Did I like it? Yes - this is definitely one of the better drugstore dry shampoos on the market. Not only does it eliminate the look of greasy roots, but it also helps add volume to my limp, second/third day hair

Would I buy it again? Yes.

Sally Hansen nail polish remover, "maximum strength, moisturizing"

Did I like it? Yes. 

Would I buy it again? I've already repurchased this exact product and am using it currently

OPI nail polish, "Elephantastic Pink"

(see it on my nails here)

Did I like it? LOVE THIS COLOUR! This is one of my favourite nail polish shades of all time. It was the saddest moment when it dried up (I was careless and didn't screw the lid back on all the way).

Would I buy it again? I am definitely going to repurchase this nail polish!

Physicians Formula eye booster liquid eyeliner

Did I like it? Yes. It's actually a very fine brush applicator, and I found it to be super easy to use and get a perfect line

Would I buy it again? Probably not. Maybelline has since come out with an eyeliner similar to this, although it's felt tip, and it gives similar precise results at a much cheaper cost

Maybelline "The Falsies" volum' express mascara

(full review here and here)

Did I like it? No. This mascara does nothing for my lashes and I don't know why everybody loves it so much.

Would I buy it again? No.

Maybelline "One by One" volum' express mascara (waterproof)

Did I like it? Yes! This has now become my favourite mascara. Because it's waterproof, it holds a curl amazingly well and it doensn't smudge or flake at all. 

Would I buy it again? Yes, already have, and I definitely will again.

Garnier skin renew Anti-Dark-Circle Roller

Did I like it? Yes. I found this to be a really simple and quick 2-in-1 concealing/anti-fatigue product

Would I buy it again? I think I would.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer (nude)

Did I like it? Yes. This was my go-to concealer over the summer (as you can see by the label, it was well used)

Would I buy it again? Probably. I want to try the touch magique concealer from L'oreal (same idea, different brand) and see which one I prefer, although they're probably nearly the same

Bobbi Brown corrector (porcelain peach)

Did I like it? Yes! This is my holy grail under eye concealer

Would I buy it again? I wouldn't buy it again in the shade porcelain peach, but I have already repurchased it in the shade light bisque

Lush Fresh Face masks: Cosmetic Warrior & BB Seaweed

Did I like it? Yes. Cosmetic Warrior is a mask that helps fight active breakouts. BB Seaweed is a mask that helps adds brightness and moisture back into the skin.

Would I buy it again? Yes. I would repurchase both of them.

I hope that was somewhat helpful. I think looking back on your empties are a great way of analyzing what products you really loved, or just used up to get rid of once and for all.

xoxoDarlingBuds

Empties

Hi everybody!

 I cannot even tell you how long I have been holding on to some of these products. I wanted to have enough empties for a decent blog post, but now it's just gotten a little out of hand. I needed to get these empties photographed and blogged and then into they trash they go!


I'm actually very impressed by how many empties I have accumulated over the past 2 months. In the past, I was notorious for never finishing products. I've made it my new mission to always finish whatever I start, and that doesn't just limit itself to makeup and skincare products.
Here we go...

Skincare:

• Bath & Body Works Country Chic Body scrub - I love this scent, and I like the scrub. I like how it comes in a squeeze tube thing so you don't have to unscrew a cap or lid. I already have another B&BW scrub on the go right now, just in a different scent
• Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup remover - this is my go-to eye makeup remover. Ever since I used this up, I've just been using Bioderma to remove my eye makeup
• LUSH Cosmetic Warrior fresh face mask - I bought this a while back (Shoppers & Lush Haul). My skin was really acting up at the end of May and this helped to subside any flare ups. It smells horrible, though. It has garlic in it which acts as a natural antiseptic, but when you apply it to your face and let it sit, the mask starts to smell like a wet dog. Nasty smell, effective product.
• LUSH Catastrophe Cosmetic fresh face mask -  This mask is supposed to be a soothing one (some of the ingredients include chamomile and calamine). After my skin started behaving itself again, I used this mask to try and soothe any redness. I actually really really like this mask and I would definitely repurchase it. Here's a pick of me using it (haha)

• Neutrogena All-in-One Make-Up Removing cleansing wipes - another one of my favourite makeup removal products that I've used up. Because I've also use this up, my Bioderma has been doubling as an eye-makeup remover and a face makeup remover. I've also started using the Olivella daily facial cleansing wipes that I featured in my Optimum Points haul
• LUSH Mint Julips lip scrub - I didn't actually get a chance to use this all up because the product actually expired before I could use it all up. That's the only thing about Lush products is that they do have an expiry date. I don't think I'll be repurchasing this scrub anytime soon because I've just been using my toothbrush and this lip scrubbing method from The Beauty Department
• La Roche Posay Toleriane lotion - this is the facial moisturizer that I featured in my skincare routine post. I will definitely repurchase this product later on in the year, for the colder months.
• Boscia Luminizing Black Mask - also a product I featured in my skincare routine post. Won't repurchase it. It didn't do anything and it's way too expensive to just have lying around. 

Makeup, Hair, Nails:

• Mars Anthony 2nd Day Clear Dry Shampoo -  I actually really liked this product! This came in a continuous spray aerosol can; it doesn't leave a white residue, and it does a pretty darn good job at keeping oily roots at bay. I have a couple of other dry shampoos on the go right now, so I won't repurchase this year, but I definitely will in the future. There are also so many other dry shampoos on the market that I have yet to try
• Rimmel Natural Bronzer - I mentioned in a previous post that this bronzer finally bit the dust. I dropped it and it completely shattered. Oops!
• Seche Vite - I have use this top coat to its very last leg. It has now come to the point where it is impossible for me to get anymore product out of it. I will definitely repurchase! I did notice that towards the end of its life, it got very gloopy and it got a lot more difficult to paint onto my nails. It still dried evenly and made my nails look perfect, but the texture was off-putting
• OPI My Chihuahua Bites - I don't think I was very careful the last time I used this product because I guess I left the cap unscrewed a little bit so all the polish inside is all gloopy and dried out :(
• NYC High Definition Volumizing mascara - I did a full review of this mascara (read it here). I didn't particularly like it, so now it's time for it to go 
• NYC High Definition Separating mascara - Another mascara fail, full review here.
• Maybelline Lash Discovery mascara (waterproof) - This is the best bottom lash mascara you could possible get at the drugstore. The wand is super tiny and dainty which allows you to coat every single lash perfectly with mascara. Unfortunately, I can only find this mascara at Walmart so as soon as I get a chance, I will re-buy this mascara! I also featured this is a mascara problems post, read it here
• YSL Touche Eclat - I initially said I didn't think this was worth the hype or the price, but recently I have been dealing with the worst dark circles ever and I just want this back. I have a few other under-eye concealers on-the-go right now, and then I have a backup of this product which I cannot wait to dive into again
• Revlon ColorStay liquid eyeliner - felt tip, black eyeliner - pretty standard. I'm really enjoying my  Physician's Formula eye boosting liquid eyeliner right now, so I'm in no need to replace the revlon one

Hooray for empties!

xoxoDarlingBuds


p.s. On another note, for the next couple of weeks, I will be in a place without an internet connection. I am working as a lifeguard at a children's overnight summer camp. So if you were wondering why I wasn't posting as much, that's why. I will be back to a regular blogging routine in about a month. 
I hope you're all enjoying your summer so far :)

Skincare Routine: as of right now

Honestly, my skincare routine is always changing. I like to try new products or sometimes go back to old favourites. As of right now, I am very content with my skincare routine so I thought I would share it with y'all!

click below to read more