Skincare products: As I had suspected, my October Empties post was going to pale in comparison to my August and September posts because I had far fewer half used products to work my way through. I am now faced with far more full bottles of testers and full sized products, therefore it will take a bit of time to really empty them. As you can see, the Juno Oil was the only full sized product that I used up in the skincare category. I did manage, however, to get through a few samples that were so amazing that I was prompted to purchase the full sized products at the recent Barneys Bag Event- as was the case with the Tatcha Classic Rice Enzyme Powder and the Sponge Krema Niktas (anti aging night cream) and Krema Triantafillo. All three of these are simply phenomenal products that I had to have (and that I will be reviewing soon). The Kiehl's Rosa Arctica Cream was way too rich for my combination skin-- so I used it on my neck and hands-- and it was
truly lovely. If you have drier skin, I would urge you to try a sample-- it is a really wonderful rich cream.
Haircare & Body Products: While I really have a penchant for luxury hair care products, I have to say that I really love Trader Joe's Nourish Spa Shampoo and Conditioner-- they works really well, are very affordable, and the Conditioner really moisturizes and detangled my curly hair. I can't believe that I have two more Tom's Deodorant Empties this month! I typically have several deodorants in rotation at the same time, and I finally used up a few more that were nearly empty and being woefully ignored (since the
Kai Deodorant came into my life). Of the scents available, I think that I favor the Lemongrass-- because it smells really wonderful and refreshing (definitely worth a repurchase). Another product that I really liked was the Living Proof Frizz Wave, Curl Styling Treatment-- this stuff was FANTASTIC, and I am definitely thinking about buying a bottle after I finish up a few more full-sized haircare products.
Fragrances: I definitely had far fewer perfume samples this month, but I did manage to get through the remainder of the full sized bottle of Intelligent Nutrients Focus Aromatic Spray. I didn't care for the way that it smelled
on me- so you guessed it- it became a room spray near the kitty litter box! It actually smelled amazing in that application!!
Did you manage to finish anything up this month? If so, what? Did you toss anything out that you hated too much to endure actually using??
Wait...you still have 13 more days in October to have a bigger empties post!!! Ha ha :-)
ReplyDeleteThat La Mer sample...did it happen to be the new soft cream? I checked it out at Bloomingdales and loved the texture. I won't be able to use it bc of ingredients...but I'm very curious to see what other think about it!
What was in those orangey/pinky containers?
HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!! I know, but I really don't have anything that I'm going to empty in that time- so I figured that I would post it now. I think next month I'm going to get back to work on some of my samples to empty out some of my stash! Hopefully next month I will have a more impressive pile of Empties!
DeleteNo, I wish that La Mer container had been the new Soft Cream! I keep forgetting to check it out each time I'm in a store that carries La Mer. Note to self, check out Soft Cream ASAP!!
The orange/pink containers are the little sample pots from BeautyHabit. One was Steam Cream, and the other three were Rouge Bunny Rouge Foundation samples in three different shades. :-)
I've been trying to save my empties but I rarely have any. I have a small stash though (eye makeup remover, facial cleanser, hand cleanser, an spf) if I ever decide to blog about it.
ReplyDeleteYou do impress me!
Well, what I have found-- at least for me-- is that it takes a serious concerted effort to use up products down to the bottom of the jar/bottle. I have had to discipline myself to really use things up methodically. Of course I don't always do this, but for the last few months I have really been trying to use up lots of things. It's hard to do when you are testing lots of products-- so I am sure that slows your accumulation of empties. :-)
DeleteHave you tried the Lightweight version of the Rose Arctica cream? It works great on my combination skin - not nearly as rich as the regular version.
ReplyDeleteHi!! I haven't yet, but you are the second person who has told me that it is great for combination skin!!! I will definitely have to get my hands on a sample!! Thanks for the glowing review!! :)
DeleteThank you both, Lola and Anonymous, for your recommendations. I've wanted to try this product but didn't know which version would be best. I have dry skin, but it is very sensitive. I think the lightweight version might cause less irritation.
DeleteThanks again----I will definitely go to Kiehl's and get samples!
Hi Isis04,
DeleteThe original version is quite lovely- since you have dry skin I would try to get a sample of each to see which one works better. My suspicion is that the original formula won't cause your sensitive skin trouble, but in the event that it does you will not have spent money on something ill-suited to your skins needs. I haven't tried the lightweight version yet, but I wonder if it would offer sufficient moisture for your dry skin. I would try to test patch them to see if your skin is reactive to either. While my skin is combination- I do find it to be sensitive at times-- or perhaps describing it as reactive would be more accurate. SO I absolutely understand what it is like to tread that fine line between effective products and ones that don't cause my skin problems. Please keep me posted on your experienced with them!! Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Hi, Lola, Good for you! I am trying so hard to get through my stash. I have amassed so many samples and I rarely get to them unless I am traveling or if it is something I really want to try. I screen them out as I receive them now, otherwise I accumulate too much. Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteHi Rola!! Me too-- it really takes a concerted effort to get through all of those samples. However, I do find that it is a really good way to find out which products are worth taking a second look at, and which ones to avoid!! My pile is a little bit out of hand as well. I need to figure out a method of screening them out from the beginning-- because they really do accumulate rather quickly! Have a lovely weekend! <3
DeleteThis is still a lot of empties, dear!
ReplyDeleteHow did you like Child perfume? I've heard great things about it. And a part of me cringes every time someone swears good by Living Proof. I feel like it'd be awesome for my hair but the bottles are so tiny and the price tag more than I'd like to spend.
Thanks, Liz! I like the Child Perfume-- it has a lovely scent. I really liked the Living Proof Wave Curl Styling Cream, but completely agree about the tiny bottles and the price point. I have several finishing products to get through before I will be thinking about buying another one-- so we'll see if I'm even thinking about this once it's time to buy something else!
DeleteI don't know exactly why I'm obsessed with empties posts. I just know that I am! I enjoyed this one too - lots of fragrances samples there! :)
ReplyDeleteI am too!! There's is something so cathartic about looking at all of those empty containers-- it's just so satisfying!! :)
DeleteCongrats, my lovely friend!
ReplyDeleteI am also astounded that you made it through two more Tom's deodorants. How do you do it? I must be doing something wrong (heh heh) because I bought two replacements (on clearance) to my current stub ~ 1 month ago. I don't think the stick's changed much. Grrr.
Yeah -- either I don't put enough on or I'm walking around unaware that I smell of b.o.
Thanks Boo! No need to be astounded by the two Tom's deodorants-- neither had much left in them-- it only took a small amount of effort to finish them off!! I will definitely repurchase the Lemongrass one again. I'm pretty sure that you are running about smelling of b.o.- LOL!! Lucky you for finding them on clearance! I always have several deodorants in rotation at the same time-- anywhere between 2 and 4. However when they start to get really low I often make a concerted effort to use them up-- which is precisely what happened here. <3
DeleteI used to like the Lemongrass (or was it the Calendula one?) but a few years ago I started associating the scent with sweat. I used it every time when freshening up after my bike commute or lunch time run.
DeleteThere's no risk of that happening now as I'm a lazy buttttttt.
LOL!!!!!!!! That's hysterical-- there's nothing like an association like that to kill your love for that deodorant!!
DeleteHi, it's me again. Since you asked, my last bout of empties (since Aug 21) vetted me: Jumbo - 1, Regular - 16, Sample/Travel - 34, and Tossed/Gave Away - 7.
ReplyDeleteMy total since June 1 is: Jumbo - 1, Regular - 34, Sample/Travel - 62, and Tossed/Gave Away - 20.
I've somehow acquired more samples since starting Project Empties but I'm nearing the end. I'll try to give away samples for skin care alien to my regular routine as I had 2 allergic reactions during the past round of empties.
Grr... Typing this again as my app froze. (Typical! Oh well. Part of the fun.) I've taken to typing in my phone's Notepad to circumvent comment loss.
Anyway. :)
Imagine me giving you ten, a chest bump, and a silly dance. We're awesome! Burgeoning on Liz territory!
Hi Boo!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW, I bow to you!! This is a most impressive collection of Empties The acquisition of samples is both a wonderful way to determine whether you like things enough to buy them, but on the other hand they really create a level of product chaos!! That is a bummer that you had two allergic reactions-- I hate it when that happens!!!!!!!!!
DeleteI am giving you ten, a chest bump, and a silly dance back!!! Together we rocked the Empties-- add Liz in, and we rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3
Party! Party! Emp-ties Par-ty!
DeleteBooya!!!!!!!!!!!
Delete