This month I endeavored to use up as many sample packets and lip products as possible. I sought to be pragmatic because I had been down with a nasty cold and wanted to avoid infecting full-sized products.
Full-Size Products: *Remedy with Phytoplex Hydrating Cleansing Gel (reviewed here). MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator (reviewed here), and *FutureDerm Time Release Retinol 0.50 (reviewed here).
I really loved using the Remedy Hydrating Cleansing Gel for shaving because it left my skin indescribably smooth and soft. I really liked the MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator, and am pleased that it is finally part of their permanent collection, but I probably won't repurchase it since I have other physical exfoliants that I prefer to this one. FutureDerm Time Release Retinol 0.50 is a highly effective and gentle retinol-based product. I liked it so much that I opened up the pump bottle and scraped out every last bit. Once I finish using my other retinols- I will definitely purchase another bottle of this great product.
I made it my goal to finish up all of my nearly completely used up lip balms, and it was fairly easy to do for two reasons: 1) each of them had very little left, and 2) I had been sick with that awful cold, and for the most part was unwilling to infect newer lip balms. My disastrously chapped lips were cracked and on the verge of bleeding at the height of my cold, therefore requiring constant reapplication. I felt so satisfied when I realized that I had actually finished up an unprecedented 8 lip balms, but to be fair the contents of these 8 lip balms amounted to no more than 2 full-sized products, and they were used over the period of about 3 weeks. I did scrape out the last bits in order to recycle the packaging- so I really did use every last bit.
Samples Galore: I have continued to work my way through my samples, and I really managed to use up quite a few. I relied upon samples for my cleansers, makeup removers, lotions, serums, masks, cotton pads, scrubs, sunscreen, eye creams, and anything else that I could find to use during that time. The Tatcha Classic Rice Enzyme Powder, Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water Cloths, and The Organic Pharmacy serums all rank amongst my favorites- and I have full sizes of each that I covet!
Makeup: MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer. I have had this concealer for so long that if I hadn't finished it I would have tossed it. I liked it a good deal, but was ready to move on to the next thing once I made my way to the bottom of the tube.
*Denotes Press Samples.
What did you use up, toss out, give away, or return this month?
Perhaps the best anthem for Empties!
Wow that's a lot of samples! I think I need to clear up some of my used not not used up lip balms too.....
ReplyDeleteEnjoy reading empties a lot and I m now following on bloglovin!
Go read my blog too if you fancy,
Cheers,
Jacq
Hi Jacq H, Thanks for stopping by to comment! It is a good sized pile this month-- I did much better than I expected I would. I thought having a cold would make me slack on skincare, but I found the opposite to be true- surprisingly! I think since I felt so yucky- the pampering went a long way to making me feel semi-human!! I love reading empties posts too-- they are so satisfying-- and you can get vicarious pleasure from seeing how well your friends did using up what they have, and it is so motivating to do the same. I will definitely check out your blog! :D
DeleteHoly Mary, mother of empties!!! Wow wow!!! Very impressive empties post, my dear Lola!!! Even if those lippies were almost empty, it's still got to feel amazing to finally be done with them! I actually finished one lip product - the Rodin balm...am trying to finish up the Korres Jasmine lip butter too, though I don't think it'll make it into this motnh's post. How did you like the Sjal samples??
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gummy!!! It felt SO great being done with them! The only good thing that came out of my cold was using up all of those samples and all of those lip balms!! Wow, I can't believe that you finished your Rodin balm-- HOORAY. I imagine that that will be a repurchase! I loved the Korres Jasmine Lip Balm, but am making myself finish my other two Korres Lip Balms before repurchasing Jasmine-- which is DEFINITELY my favorite! I liked the sjal samples-- especially that Pearl Enzyme Exfoliant-- that is definitely my favorite thing from the line-- it is sooooooo expensive that I have continually resisted purchasing it. I can't wait to see you empties! xoxo
Deletewhoa!! Good job! That is EPIC lol. i want the kgd cloths but i'm afraid to love them, especially at that price :/ i love the cleansing water so my only expectation is that i'll love the cloths too lol.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joyce!!! It was pretty easy to do because I limited myself to samples and almost empty products, but that doesn't change the fact that it was SUPER satisfying to see so many empties piled up! The KGD Cleansing Cloths are AMAZING!! I cut them in half- so they always last me twice as long. A single sheet is too big for my face-so they now last much longer!! :D
DeleteI can see O_O you love your Volcanic Ash Exfoliator! Good work with your lip balms. I haven't finished any in a while, probably because I've got a few on the go. You know, the SPF one, the non-SPF one, the tinted SPF one, and the tinted non-SPF one. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Boo!!! I really do like the Volcanic Ash Exfoliator-- I used every last drop! Te lip balms were definitely my best accomplishment this time around. They are so hard to use up, but my cold made it pretty easy to concentrate my efforts on the balms that were mostly used up. I know just what you mean about carrying so many different types of lip balms-- I do the exact same thing! :)
DeleteWow you finished using up so many products! I recently posted my empties post but I only managed to finish up 4 products lol. It's still a great feeling when products are used up and now I can go and purchase new items lol!
ReplyDeleteA MakeupHabit
I did and especially good job last month! If you see my recent post for this month you will see that it is quite unimpressive comparatively!!
Deletehttp://www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com/2013/04/empties-post-volume-ix-april-2013.html
4 products is not too shabby!!! I agree- it feels so great when you finish up products! It definitely makes one feel more justified about making new purchases- LOL!!