February Empties

It seems like the haters are out in full-force this month!  Not only did I get a nasty comment, a fashion blogger I love wrote about her insecurities at Caught up in Cake, and Wayne Goss (a makeup artist and youtuber I admire immensely) just put up a video about hateful comments in the youtube/blogging world.

Check them out and support them!  We're all a sort of team of beauty-lovers here (in my eyes) and we're not about to let haters bring us down <3 even if we're sometimes our own hater.

Pictured: the blue tub is all that's left of my full-size tube of Stila Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Medium; the pale pink tub is all that remains of my latest tube of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo; sample of Chanel Demaquillant Yeux Intense; Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment 1oz.

I managed to finish up several products so far this month! I'm proud of myself because I'm trying to stop buying backups and new stuff when I've got perfectly good products to use.

Macademia Hair Treatment Oil - I loved this. I believe over the years that hair gels, waxes, sprays, mousses, and pomades have contributed to my acne, but since I've used this oil my skin has been pretty great so it obviously doesn't cause acne for me!
This is the $13.50 size and I don't love the bottle, but they've got a $39 size that's a better value and includes a pump (which I already purchased.  I hesitated about this purchase because I just started a full-size bottle of Ojon Damage Reverse Serum (which does the same job), but the packaging is this terribly annoying dropper).  Packaging matters!

CVS makeup remover wipes - love 'em, I have back-ups and would definitely repurchase

Ponds all-day clean makeup remover wipes - love 'em, I don't have more yet but I will certainly repurchase

My second tube of La Roche-Posay Effaclar duo - ADORE it. I am going to stop using it while I try to conceive/am pregnant but they'd better not change a THING with this because I'm going back to it immediately in about a year.  It is my skin savior!

Chanel Demaquillant Yeux Intense Eye Makeup remover sample - great stuff; if I didn't have a good travel-sized bottle of Clinique Take the Day Off and a full-size of Lancome Bi-Facil, I would be buying this Chanel remover.  I probably will buy it in the future.

Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Medium (first full-size) - Love it, possibly more than Origins Vitazing. I already have a back-up of this but I'm going to use a new tube of Origins Vitazing to see if I like it better.  So far, the Origins Vitazing feels a little greasier to me so it looks like the (shock!) Stila is winning!

Dermalogica Active Moist - love that it doesn't make me break out, but it doesn't do much of anything, really; not very moisturizing. Still looking for a great SPF-free non-tinted moisturizer for nighttime that doesn't cause acne.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads  (box of 10) - I really like these but I think my skin reacts to them :( If I leave the tan on too long (more than overnight) I break out. I think I have the same problem I had with Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel pads. They might just be too harsh. They make my skin so nice at first but then my skin rebels and the smooth texture I initially got becomes all rough (yuck). I think I'm going to stick with Kate Somerville Exfolikate or Exfolikate for Acne because my skin has never gone rough using those.  Also, Vivo Per Lei Peel is good. While pregnant I'm going to try using Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel and Elicina cream because they are both pregnancy-approved.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple  12 oz.- Already bought a new, larger 16 oz. bottle. It doesn't 'wow' at first, but over time you realize your skin really loves it.  It is great with the Clarisonic, too.  I don't currently use it at night; I've been using Boscia Makeup Breakup Cleansing Oil at night (I think it leaves my skin feeling soft and clean so I haven't been using another cleanser afterward, but I do use a wipe first).

Any products you're proud of finishing this month?

October Empties

People seem to really like posts like this, so I managed to rescue the above empties for a quickie review!
CVS Makeup remover wipes: I go through 1.3 packs of wipes a month. These have been in a favorites post before.  They work as well for me as MAC wipes, but without the sting.  Next up: more of these.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple 4 oz.: I realized I quite like this facewash for the morning, and was so psyched they had a super-deluxe 12 oz. 100-point perk of Purity Made Simple during the Sephora F&F.  Next up: The 12 oz. freebie of Purity Made Simple (of course).

The Cool Fix Targeted Gel Lotion: This was in a birchbox and I used it on shaved bits like my calves until it ran out. It does give a cooling feeling and light (though slightly sticky) moisturization.  I think it's nice for summer so I might seek it out next year. Next up: SteamCream

Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller: My go-to undereye concealer. I don't need very much coverage so this is adequate for most days. I feel it works almost, though not quite, as well as YSL Touche Eclat. Next up: same thing!

Givenchy Vax'in For Youth 1 oz.: Seems to smooth out skintone and lessens the look of large pores, and lightly moisturizes while smelling nice, but doesn't get rid of wrinkles or dark spots and is crazy-expensive (I got it on sale, of course!).  Next up: A deluxe sample of Lancome Genifique

Lancome Creme Radiance Clarifying Cream-to-foam Cleanser 1 oz.: This was too drying in combination with La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo (which I'm still trying out), and is very heavily fragranced.  I can't get past the heavy flower scent so I won't purchase the full-size.  Next up: The Purity Made Simple 12 oz.

Juice Beauty Nutrient Moisturizer .5 oz.: I used this as a night cream because it doesn't have SPF. It's really thick and you have to warm it up to melt it in your hands before applying. I'm not sure but that aspect made me fear it was clogging my pores. It's sticky, too.  Don't like.  Next up: Dermalogica Active Moist

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster: Sticky, doesn't do anything but temporarily tighten.  I got it in a Sephora set. I wouldn't have bought it on its own because I tried it years ago and didn't see any results.  Next up: The Genifique sample

TonyMoly iceQueen Multi Play Cream SPF30 PA++: Was Muse Approved, so I ordered it online.  I didn't care for it under makeup (but she has dry skin and I've got oily skin).  I really wound up using it when I was going to be outside without makeup (working out or yard work).  Next up: Origins VitaZing

Yes to Cucumbers Eye Love Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel: cools and moisturizes. I really liked this over the summer but in cooler weather I need something a little more moisturizing.  I don't like most eye creams because they cause milia, but eye gels never have for me.  Next up: Avalon Organics Lavender Revitalizing Eye Gel

Bath & Body Works Paris Amour Body Lotion: Too strong-smelling for my taste, though the fragrance is nice.  Next up: SteamCream

H20+ Sea Results Eye Mender: An eye cream that actually didn't give me milia! I'm planning to buy this again but I'm going to try out the Avalon Organics lavender eye gel first.

Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover 1.7 oz.: I use this in addition to wipes when my eye makeup is being stubborn.  This is really great stuff and I'm hoping to get the Lancome Holiday Blockbuster for the full-size. Next up: hopefully, the full size!

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-usage Dry Oil 50mL: what happened?

With every use of this lovely-scented oil, the lettering moved across the bottle and stuck to my skin.  It was such a disappointment because part of the appeal of this product is the French Pharmacie-look of the bottle.  I haven't heard of this happening to anybody else, though. I bought it from birchbox so I know it's an authentic bottle.  Also, I thought it was a spray when I bought it but there was no spray nozzel on this one. *shrug* Next up: SteamCream.  It's body cream time, anyway!

I'm looking forward to empties and favorites posts from you guys :)  Did you manage to use up any makeup?