Bye Bye Empties, July 2018

August 8, 2018August 7, 2018 littlebeautyloves9 Comments

July was so beautiful in Toronto! The weather has been spectacular with lots of super hot days and almost no rain! Yay! Some things I’ve done this month include throwing a bridal shower for one of my really good friends, going to the beach and having lots of walks in the parks nearby my home. I’m really lucky that I live right next to the lake so it makes heading to the water super convienient.

I’m looking forward to more fun in August! I’m hoping to make a trip out to the Toronto Islands (they are a 15 min ferry ride off the main land). I’ll be heading to Ottawa/Chelsea for a nice spa bachelorette weekend with my girlfriends. The last two weeks of August is the Canadian Nation Exhibition which I always attend. There are so many exciting things to do!

Now I’m going to share a few items that I used up in July. It’s not too many products, but I have a lot of itens that are almost empty so I’m guessing August might have a lot, especially with it being end of the summer.

Skincare

Yves Rocher Sebo Vegetal Purifying Micellar Water 2 in 1

Almost every month now I’ve been sharing an empty from Yves Rocher. There was a time when almost all my makeup/skincare was exclusively from them. I really do love this brand and although some things are hits or misses when they are hits they are really amazing! This guy was a hit for me at first but the more I used it the more I found it was really irritating around the eyes. I gues it’s understandable because it is a purifying micellar water. It worked really great around the face but not so much for mascara. I did include this in my Review of Makeup Removers but even then I knew I wouldn’t repurchase it.

Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist 24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream

I have three of these little mini eye creams sitting in my collection that I’ve been holding on to so I don’t have to splurge on the full size tube just yet. Since I use so little a little sample size such has this lasts me about one and a half months. I still have one sample to use up but after that I will probably buy the full size cream because this has been very effective for me.

Haircare

Garnier Fructis Colour Vibrancy Treat 1 Minute Hair Mask

I got this to review a bit ago but the product is really nice. I used it mostly in place of my conditioner. I’d leave it in my hair for a few minutes then rinse it out and towel dry my hair afterwards. It left me feeling like my hair was less frizzy and super soft. I liked this a lot. I also really liked the scent of it. It smells very much like fresh strawberries. I would repurchase this.

Makeup

Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Chihuahua

I LOVE this chocolatey nude lipstick and I really like this formula because it was long wearing on me. This may be the first lipstick I’ve ever really emptied which I’m super proud of myself for. Funny thing is, it’s only the deluxe size. I probably wouldn’t repurchase it only because I don’t wear lipstick so much.

Dermablend Professional Long-Wear Makeup Remover

This deluxe sample was part of an order I made with Beautyboutique a while ago. Although I didn’t like it in the beginning I grew to really love it towards the end. What I would do was massage this over my face and let it soak in while I showered. After that I would wipe some of it off with a cotton pad then wash my face completely with facewash. I felt that by doing that it was really leave my skin makeup free. I still prefer my Urban Decay Makeup Meltdown or my Clinque take the day off balm but I thought it wasn’t too bad.

Samples

Blaq Eye Mask

This might be the very first eye mask that I’ve tested that I’ve actually really enjoyed! It held up on my face really well and didn’t slide off like most eye masks would. I used this on a day I was having trouble waking up and needing an eyemask to hydrate under my eyes. This left the skin under my eyes super hydrated. I really liked this and would repurchase again.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and Moisturizing Lotion

I think a product like this is really great because it works for body and face. I really like the formula because it was very gentle on my skin. I tested this duo for both my face and body and thought the cleanser was really nice for the body and face. The lotion was better for my body but I wouldn’t us it on my face because I like more hydration. I would definitely purchase this in the full size because it would be great for traveling.

Well there are all my July empties! I feel like their were some items I discovered in the sample sizes that I would definitely get as full-size products. I really hope that I can finish more items in August!

What was in your empty stash for July?

Lots of love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, June 2018

July 3, 2018July 3, 2018 littlebeautyloves9 Comments

It is finally summer! Woohoo! The last few days in Toronto have been HOT and I love it! I’m naturally always cold so I enjoy being really warm. It’s been a busy month for work, but now that our move is done I can go back to focusing on more personal items. I have some fun stuff planned for July and depending on what I end up doing I might share some of them on the blog.

Last month I used up so many products that I wasn’t surprised I only had 5 empties for June. I still wanted to share them because then I can let you know my thoughts and I personally like to keep a record of it for myself too!

Skincare

L’Oreal Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Lotion. Last month I used up the brightening daily pads and this month I’ve used up day lotion. I’m sure next month I’ll use up the night cream and daily scrub that came in this range I received from Influenster. This has 30 SPF which isn’t high, but was still good for at least the winter and early spring when I was using this the most. Unlike a lot of creams I own this one didn’t absorb into my skin as quickly as others I’ve used, but it was really mositurizing and I did like the added sun protection. I do have other daily lotions I enjoy so I wouldn’t repurchase this one.

Yves Rocher Sebo Specific Ultra Clean Purifying Cream Cleanser. I used this maybe once a week whenever I wanted to deep clean my skin. It has a clay-like consistancy with little micro-exfoliants. I really did enjoy this so I would repurchase it.

Clinque Super City Block 40 SPF. Over the past few years I’ve been wearing this under my makeup to protect it in the sun. If you’re interested in a full review of this product you can read it here. The consistancy was a bit thick so I would mix a little bit of my moisturizer in this. Since first testing this product I’ve tried many other daily moisturizing sunscreens that I prefer, including one from Garnier which you can read about here. I won’t be repurchasing this.

Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate. According to Shiseido’s website this strengthens skin against daily damage and visible signs of aging for skin that’s 28% stronger in just 1 week. I always just think of it as a magical skincare product because it just works so well on my skin to enhance the effects of whatever moisturizer I wear. I feel like my skin feels a lot firmer whenever I use this. It’s a very nice serum. It’s a pretty expensive product, but I’ve been collecting little sample sizes of this so I still have a few more before I run out. One of these tiny 10ml bottles actually lasts me about two months because you don’t need to use to much.

Oral Care

Marvis Toothpaste. For my birthday a few months back I asked for Marvis toothpaste and my cousins were sweet enough to get me a trial set of their different flavours (my pack had licorice, ginger, lavendar and various mint flavours). My first empty of this line is the Ginger Mint which I thought was really tasty! I don’t really like a lot of toothpastes because the mint in them can be harsh, but the mint taste in the Marvis toothpaste is stuble and the ginger flavour isn’t overbearing or spicy which I liked a lot. It leaves me with fresh breath and super clean feeling teeth. If you dislike most drugstore toothpaste you might enjoy these. I’m currently testing other flavours but I think I’m hooked for life and would continue to repurchase these.

So that’s it! Only five empties to share for the month, but I have a feeling I’ll have more for next month. What products did you use up in June? Ever have a month where you don’t use up as many items as you hoped?

Lots of love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, May 2018

June 9, 2018 littlebeautyloves13 Comments

This is coming out a tad late but I figured I still wanted to share my empties for May 🙂

May was an amazing month! The weather has been gorgeously warm and sunny and it makes me so excited for summer!

June is going to be crazy hectic for me (which is partially why this is going up late). So much is happening at my work. We are moving our head office, expanding our branch office, and hiring new people which all fall under my responsibility. I also have some fun birthdays coming up! June is going to be super busy 🙂

Now let’s get through some empties!

Skincare

Marcelle Make-Up Removing Cleansing Cloths. I was really surprised by how well this worked for removing my make-up. I used to have the liquid Marcelle Makeup Remover which didn’t work as well for me. However, these wipes work wonders at removing makeup. The cloths are thick and soft and feel super good against my skin. I would repurchase this.

Biotherm Life Plankton Sensitive Emulsion. I thought this was OK. This had a light texture but it’s not as hydrating as I would like it to be so I won’t be repurchasing it.

Yves Rocher Elixir 7.9. This is an eye creamI wore every night before bed. I didn’t take a photo of it but I liked that it had three little roller balls at the end which helped to message the product into my skin. In true Yves Rocher style, I think this is now discontinued or it’s been rebranded at the Elixir Jeunesse. If you click here you will see what it looks like on the YV website. I have so many other eye creams that I need to get through so I won’t be repurchasing this, and I am not sure I can.

Saturday Skin Daily Moisturizing Cream. This little Sephora sample packet lasted me about three uses. I liked using this in the morning because it absorbed into my skin quickly and it kept me feeling hydrated. I have a lot of skincare so I don’t think I’ll be purchasing this.

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream. I love Fresh products, I’ve been using them for a long time and I always pick up the newest sets from Sephora. I used this cream every single night after my serums and it just helped lock in all the moisture in my skin. I would repurchase this.

L’Oreal Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Daily Pads. I received the whole Revitalift line via Influenster a while ago and after some time sitting inside a drawer I finally moved this guy to my bathroom counter and used it up! I liked using this every evening after I had washed my face of makeup and before I applied my skincare. The pads were smooth on one side and textured on the other. I also love the added glycolic acid to help reduce fine lines. If I didn’t have another toner to use right now I would have probably repurchased this!

Body Care

Kiss My Face Active Life Deodorant. I recently dedicated a post to my favourite deodorants and this was one of them! I absolutely love this deodorant and have two backups ready to go!

Fragrances

Estee Lauder Modern Muse Eau de Parfum. I love the scent of this perfume and wore it everyday! It’s such a nice clean scent. Notes include; Jasmine Accord, Woods Accord. I would repurchase this. I also have the Modern Muse Le Rouge that I wanted to use up!

Dolce & Gabanna Dolce Eau de Parfum. This is maybe one of my all time favourite scents! I fell in love with this from the first sample I tried. I love the travel size spray bottle. I’ve taken it with me on every trip I’ve been on because it’s such a great scent on me. Notes include; Neroli Leaves, Papaya Flower, White Amaryllis, White Daffodil, White Water Lily, Cashmeran, Musky Notes, Sandalwood. I am repurchasing this.

Makeup

Givenchy Noir Inderit Mascara. You can read my full review of this mascara here. It’s so expensive for what it is, $38.00 CAD for mascara isn’t really worth it to me when there are more affordable options out there. Granted I loved the way it applied and it was nice for everyday looks and I did enjoy the parfume scent. At the end of the day, the bending brush didn’t make it any easier or better for applying mascara and the formula was too thin so it didn’t give me big flirty lashes which I prefer.

So that’s it! All my empties for May! I think I did a decent job of using up some products.

What did you use up in May? Have you tried any of the products I mentioned above? If so, what are your thoughts?

Lots of love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, April 2018

May 2, 2018May 1, 2018 littlebeautyloves12 Comments

April brought with it some really interesting weather curves in Toronto. It started off looking like spring was around the corner but then it got really cold and we experienced a few snow storms! Luckily it’s over (hopefully) and it’s been gorgeous the last week. I have a few engagements and weddings to look forward to in May! I love springtime in the city and look forward to walking around a lot more.

I’m also on a mission to use up the skincare and makeup items I have in my collection that I have been purchasing or getting through my subscription boxes. I’ve put a stop to any Sephora or Beautyboutique shopping for the next few months unless it’s a much-needed item. A lot of items won’t be repurchased for a while as I use up what I have.

Skincare

Volition Detoxifing Silt Gelee Mask. This clay mask has a gel-like feel so it clarifies and hydrates at the same time. It was pretty cool and I used this deluxe sample as a spot treatment over on my face about 4 times. I did like this a little more than other clay masks because it does moisturize my skin. I’m not sure if I would repurchase as I have so many clay masks to use up right now.

Laneige Multiberry Yogurt Repairing Mask. Talk about moisturizing the skin! I absolutely loved this mask sample. You are supposed to apply this mask after toner and leave on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing it with water and applying your moisturizer. I was using this wrong until almost the end. I was actually just using it as a moisturizer and applying a little pea size over my face after cleanser without rinsing it after. It felt pretty thick and when I realized it was a mask I figured out why but it was perfect for hydrating my skin. I would purchase a full size.

South Mane Under Eye Gels. I got this in my March BoxyCharm and I was originally really excited about it. I did use this one time but it left my eyes with darker circles which I did not like. I have two more to test out but I don’t think I would purchase this.

Kit Anti-Aging Sheet Mask. I got this in my March Topbox and I used it right away. It has a cooling and gentle tingle effect. This has so much serum in it that I was able to use for days after I had used the mask. It made my skin feel really plump and hydrated and I enjoyed it. I would repurchase this.

Makeup

Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil. This is the same pencil I purchased back in September 2016 when I shared my Benefit Brow Haul and it has lasted since then with regular use (granted I have used other brow items along the way). Although I liked the large brow applicator I’m actually tempted to try the Benefit Precisely, My Brow Ultra Fine Shape and Define. I loved this colour. I got 03 Medium and it worked really well on my brown brows.

Meet Matt(e) Hughes Deluxe Sample Liquid Lipstick in Committed. Although I loved this little sample and shared that in my Favourites From the boxes in April 2016 I’ve been holding on to this little guy for far too long so I’m going to toss it out.

Benefit Sugarbomb Lipgloss Deluxe Sample. I’m not sure how long I’ve had this lip gloss but I almost feel I’ve had this for over 3 years and hardly ever used it. I’m going to toss it and probably not going to repurchase this ever.

Colourpop Supershock Eyeshadow in Glow. I originally shared this in a haul back in September 2016. I used this quite a bit but I just found that the light colour hardly appeared on my eyes. I tried applying all over my lids, in the inner corners or on my brow bone but it I just felt that it didn’t do very much. I won’t be repurchasing this.

BodyCare

Victoria’s Secret Secret Charm Honeysuckle & Jasmine Body Wash. I bought this a few years ago during the Victoria Secret semi-annual sale. This smelled nice but it left my skin feeling very dry so I would not repurchase this.

Tarte Brazilian Plus+ Self Tanner Deluxe Sample. I usually don’t wear too much self-tanner but over this last winter, I wanted to give myself a little glow. Based on the description this has natural exfoliators and moisturizers, it will give you a natural-looking, deep-toned tan in as little as four hours. All of that sounds really good to me! I have a tanning lotion from Vita Liberta that I bought last year that I’m going to use up next!

Nova Scotia Fisherman Lip Balm in Sea Salt & Caramel. I finally used up all of my Nova Scotia Fisherman lip balm! I absolutely love this brand and this product. It smells delicious and is amazing for moisturising the lips, especially in colder weather. You can read all my thoughts here.

Samples

I tried a few samples from Sephora and Beautyboutique in April. I used the Lancer Eye Contour Cream about 4 times under the eyes and thought it was ok. I enjoyed the mousse-like texture of this. I won’t purchase a full size because it’s $120 CAD for 0.5 oz!

I tried two items from Dior and I wasn’t a fan of either of them so I wouldn’t get the full size. I was able to use the Dior Glow Better Jelly mask once and thought it was ok but it didn’t wow me especially for Dior pricing. You can’t see the product name but the second Dior product is the Dior Capture Totale Dreamskin Advanced, it’s a primer but it pilled so badly on me that I definitely could not wear makeup over it. I’m pretty disappointed with both of these items.

Dr Dennis Gross alpha beta glow pad for face just didn’t work for me. It irritated my skin a bit which hardly ever happens so I’m not going to purchase this.

I got three samples of the Filorga Sleep-Recover Anti-Fatigue night blam and I’m so happy I did because this is expensive. It helps moisturize my skin overnight and I feel like it is a good night mask that makes my skin feel bright in the morning.

So that’s all the items I used up for April! What items have you used up? What did you enjoy and what were you not a fan of?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties: March 2018

April 1, 2018 littlebeautyloves26 Comments

Happy Easter and April Fools!

March was a pretty great month! The weather is continually warming up and I had some fun things planned. I’m a bridesmaid for my best friend’s wedding and I started looking at some dresses. I’m really lucky that she’s given all her bridesmaids the ability to choose whatever dress they want. It was nice to hang out with everyone and I’ll keep you posted as the Wedding draws closer (it’ll be in October this year).

I also did something really drastic with my hair! I cut it! Whoot! It has been a few years since I’ve seen a hairdresser and I usually trim my hair on my own but I finally chopped it off! I was really tired of it!

Here are some of the items that I was able to empty this month;

Face Masks

The Face Shop MASK.LAB Anti-Aging Foil Face Mask. This foil mask came in my February Topbox. I’ve never tried a foil mask before so I was really interested in what made this different. I’ve included a photo of my tin man moment because I thought it was fun to share! The mask is a foil on the outside with a traditional sheet mask fused on the inside (to absorb the serum). The foil trapped the heat so my face felt warm. Nothing uncomfortable but worth mentioning. Also, the foil stopped any access product from dripping which I really loved. I would definitely purchase this again.

Biobelle Cosmetics Sheet Mask in #iwokeuplikethis. This was a 3 mask set in my June BoxyCharm. I think this is good sheet mask that left my skin feeling really nice. I don’t know if it made it more glowy but it did make makeup application afterwards really easy. I don’t know if they ship to Canada but it looks like they have other really good masks on the Biobelle website. I’d be interested in testing out more.

Skincare

Garnier SkinActive Makeup Removing Micellar Wipes. If you read my post on makeup removers you’ll know that I really love this product. The wipe itself is a decent thickness and it feels really soft on the skin. I don’t feel like I’m tugging at my face when I use this and it removes my makeup easily. I’ve actually got other makeup wipes to try, including one from Marcelle that I’m really loving but I’m likely going to repurchase this one again.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask. I got this deluxe sample of this from Sephora. I got a good two weeks worth of product out of this so not bad at all! The mask was really light and hydrating and was also more gel-like. I liken it to Clinique’s moisture surge. I did like this but I would like some anti-ageing properties in my skincare so I’m not sure if I will repurchase it.

Lancome Energie De Vie the Smoothing and Plumbing Pearly Lotion. I did not care for this lotion. It didn’t hydrate or plump my skin. It had this weird slushy-like consistency. I won’t be repurchasing it.

GlamGlow Nude Glow Primer. I should have probably put this with my makeup empties but since it ended up in the photo with my skin care I’ll just talk about it here. I love this primer because it is illuminating. It has an interesting Flinestone Vitamins type of scent but it wasn’t anything unbearable. I loved wearing this under foundation and if I didn’t already have a Becca backlight primer open I would likely purchase a full size of this.

Benefit Instant Comeback Facial Serum. I’ve had this serum for a really long time and it has finally emptied! I really liked this because it felt like it instantly brightened my face and made my moisturizer glide on so much easier. I’ve since moved on to other serums but I might pick this up again soon.

Dr Brandt Skincare Xtend Your Youth Eye Cream. I got this little sample from Sephora and I used it about three times. As far as an eye cream goes it felt really light and creamy and was easy to spread under my eyes. According to the Sephora website, this is an antioxidant eye cream that protects, hydrates, and smooths the eye area. The ingredients claim to provide protection against free radicals and skin aggressors, all stuff I would love. The only thing it’s missing is some fine line reduction so I’ll have to pass on this.

Makeup

GrandeLash MD Lash Enhancing Serum. I suggest you read my 8-week review of this product here and then follow up three-month review here. In a nutshell, I love this and already have repurchased a second tube.

Lancer Dani Glowing Skin Perfector. I have really been into illuminating primers so I picked this sample up from Sephora. Dani Glowing Skin Perfector is an innovative, illuminating skin finisher and treatment that revitalizes, brightens, and perfects all skin tones in one step. (Sephora.ca) This is really nice but the price is a bit out of my budget at $120.00 CAD/1oz. I did pick up a second sample which I will enjoy but I would not purchase a full size of this.

Yves Rocher Pure Light Foundation. I really enjoy this foundation because it’s very light in consistency but provides a medium coverage. It also is a good shade match for my skin. I think when it comes to Yves Rocher products this is one of my favourite items (second only to their body washes). I’m on a mission to use up the foundations I have so I won’t be repurchasing this.

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara in Brown. I really enjoy this mascara. The curved wand is perfect for lifting my eyelashes. Like foundation, I’m trying to use up all the mascaras I have because I have quite a few. Once I do have a chance to, I will repurchase this one.

Body Care

Ombra Spa Aromatic Foam Bath with Eucalyptus. If you ever feel sick or congested, I highly recommend picking up this bubble bath because it fills your tub with nice bubbles and a punch of eucalyptus to help open up your airways. I got this one from Walmart and I’m probably going to pick up another one come next winter.

Being by Sanctuary Spa Salted Caramel & Macadamia Bubble Bath. This smelled so delicious I swear I could have eaten the bubbles! It makes my bathroom smell like a fudge shop! I picked up this bubble bath and a few body washes from BeautyBoutique to test out Being by Sanctuary products and I’m really loving this brand. The bubbles it creates are awesome too! I am repurchasing this.

Tom’s Long Lasting Deodorant in Refreshing Lemongrass. I hated this because the scent did not work with my body chemistry. I’m not repurchasing this.

The Body Shop Almond Hand and Nail Cream. This was great over the winter for my dry hands. I would repurchase this because I love the almond scent.

That’s all I emptied in March! I’m pretty happy I was able to use up some products that I’ve had for a while.

What have you used up for March?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties: February 2018

February 27, 2018February 25, 2018 littlebeautyloves11 Comments

Here’s some wishful thinking, but I imagine Spring might be coming a bit early! I’m surprised at how many beautiful and mild days we had in Toronto. Usually, February brings with it a dip in temperatures and a feeling that Winter is never going to end. This time around it’s been so pleasant! I hope that March is the same!

I have lots of skincare empties for this month because I’ve been focusing on keeping hydrated!

Skincare

Yves Rocher Pink Grapefruit Vitamin Face Mist. This item was unexciting. I use face mists all the time but this guy didn’t leave me feeling too hydrated so I would have to spray quite a bit of it on my face to feel like it did anything. Plus I didn’t like the mist. It just splattered onto my face. I will not be repurchasing this.

Estee Lauder Nutritious Night. I really enjoyed this night cream! I shared a review on this which you can read here. I didn’t need very much product so this lasted me quite a long time. I think this particular cream is discontinued, or the name has changed. I have a few other night creams from Estee Lauder that I’m looking forward to trying next.

Secret Nature Rose Mask Sheet. I’m not exactly sure how I got this mask. I think it may have been from my sister. Either way, I absolutely loved the scent. It wasn’t a sweet rose scent, but it lingered on my skin for some time after I removed the mask. This is supposed to even skin tone. I have been using a lot of skin care items the last few months and I feel like in general, my skin has been looking good so I can’t say if this one did anything special.

REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream. I was happy with how much I liked this cream. A little pea sized amount was good for my whole face so this little sample lasted me about a week and a half being used every day. The Global Protection Cream is supposed to combat chronic discomfort, redness, and sensitivity. I don’t suffer from those issues but it did feel like my skin did feel moisturized and it was really soothing. It has a very earthy scent which I quite enjoyed as well. I have quite a few moisturizers that I need to use so I don’t think I’ll be repurchasing this anytime soon.

REN Keep Young and beautiful Instant Firming Beauty Shot. I used this just once but it pilled on me so I don’t think I’ll be purchasing a full size. It does have a slight tightening feeling so I’m sure it does firm the skin, it just didn’t work for me.

Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel. If you read my review of this face wash back in my Summer Night Time Routine you would know already that I didn’t care for this but I was just trying to use it up. I’m not repurchasing this but I’m soooooo happy it’s empty now!

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Makeup Removing Micelle Solution for Sensitive Skin. This is the third large bottle I’ve emptied and I still have another one open which is even with the pump in the cap that I’m using up along with one from Yves Rocher. I like this for breaking down my mascara before I wash my face and sometimes when I’m really lazy and am wearing minimal makeup, I’ll use only this to wash my face. I won’t be repurchasing a new one just yet as I dry to finish up other ones that I have.

Body Care

The Body Shop Shea & Vitamin E body lotion in Butterfly Flower. I really wanted to use up at least half of this but I disliked the scent so much that I couldn’t do it! I had this lotion in my stash for a while that I think maybe the scent might have gotten old. It smells like an old cantaloupe and I don’t like it. I will not be repurchasing this.

Yves Rocher Jardin du Monde Soft Shower Cream in Cotton Flower from India. I feel like every 3rd month I include this body wash into my empties post but I really like it. The scent is so good and I like that it’s moisturizing. As you probably can guess, I’m repurchasing this.

Softsoap Body Scrub in Coconut Butter. Speaking of a body wash with an amazing scent, I absolutely love this one. It smells so yummy. The scrub on this is a bit harsh but since the actual body wash is creamy it was perfect to prep my skin before shaving or when I wanted to exfoliate and hydrate at the same time. If you’re familiar with Softsoap you know that this brand is super affordable, but damn is this one particular body wash so good! I would repurchase this.

Hair Care

Head & Shoulders dry scalp care shampoo and smooth & silky conditioner. Again, another item that has been a repeat quite a bit on the blog. I have dry hair and a dry scalp. The plus of that is that I literally only need to wash my hair twice a week but the downside is that sometimes it’s so dry it’s flakey. I love the deep clean and scent of head & shoulders. I do rotate my shampoos and conditioners only cause I’m not partial to any particular brand but I do love these ones. I have already repurchased more head & shoulders items.

Makeup

SOOOOOO, I forgot to take a photo of my Revlon Mega Multiplier Mascara with my cute polka-dot background so I’ll insert one from my one look one week of reviews series below! haha!

If you were interested in my thoughts for this you can read them here. In a nutshell, I liked this mascara. Easy to use, not clumpy, the wand is a great shape for my eyes, however, it is reminiscent of the Princess Lash mascara by Essence and I much prefer that one over this. I did use it all up and I was surprised that the formula didn’t dry out as quickly as I thought it would but it’s not anything special when it comes to mascara so I won’t be repurchasing it.

That’s all the items I have used up for February. What was in your empties stash this month? Did you have a lot of repeat items like I seem to have?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, January 2018

January 31, 2018January 30, 2018 littlebeautyloves6 Comments

The first month of 2018 is done! Woot! Usually I feel like the months go by quickly but this time around it has felt like a good pace. The last few weeks have been spent hanging out with friends on a weekly basis which is great, my weekends have been filled with coffee dates! I’m also really excited because Feb. 1 is my birthday so I have a fun-filled week/weekend planned for that too! I’m really looking forward to February!

Skincare

MUJI Foam Face Wash for Sensitive Skin. I did a mini-review of this as part of my Summer Night Time Routine. I really enjoyed this cleanser but the more I used it the more I felt like it would irritate around my eyes, contrary to my original review. I don’t have sensitive eyes but it wasn’t very pleasant. I still enjoyed it for the rest of my face. I will not be repurchasing this.

Buff Her House of Exfoliation Vanilla Almond Crumbles. I shared this in my November 2017 Favourites from the Boxes. I loved mixing this in with my cleansers. I used a bit more than half the jar but unfortunately, it doesn’t smell as good anymore so I’m just going to toss it.

Olay Prox Exfoliating Cleanser. This came with my Olay Facial Cleansing Brush as a deluxe sample. I’ve included a link here if you wanted to know what I’m talking about. I used this cleanser a few times before moving on to other ones. I actually prefer to use the Olay Brush with my foam cleansers. This product is not empty but it’s been expired for about 6 months when I found it in my bathroom so I’ve decided to toss it. I won’t be repurchasing this.

Vichy Mineral 89 Sample. I loved the consistency of this serum. It’s gel-like (very similar to Benefit’s Instant Come Back serum) and it was super hydrating. I got about 3 uses out of this sample. I’ve been making a point to go through a lot of my samples and deluxe size items so I have a lot of other serums to get through before I can decide if I want to invest in a full size.

Inglot Milk & Tonic Makeup Remover Wipes. I shared this in an Haul I did back in September. I thought this was OK. It works fine if you don’t wear too much makeup but I was hoping that it would be better for eye makeup and mascara removal. It wasn’t. I won’t be repurchasing this.

Makeup

Benefit Gimme Brow. I prefer this tiny sample because it lasts me about 3 months, the perfect amount of time before the product dries up! I already have a new sample open for use (in the newer Benefit packaging).

Benefit They’re Real Tinted Primer. I shared a review of this item way back on the blog here. I noted that I really liked it but it wouldn’t be something I would go out and buy. Well, this particular tube was a gift BUT I enjoyed this so much I did end up repurchasing it! It’sperfect for when I am doing a minimalistic look!

Beauty Blender. It was time to throw this one out. I have replaced it with the Beauty Blender Pro (the black one) which I’m curious about how much different it works compared to the pink one.

Body Care

Coppertone Clearly Sheer Sunscreen. There isn’t a sunscreen that I enjoy using more than this one. I was introduced to this through Beauty Blogger Network when they sent this to me to try but since then I’ve been repurchasing it on my own. I’ve gone into detail on my thoughts here.

A Girl’s Gotta Spa Energizing Citrus Body Lotion. I enjoyed this product so much! It’s great for my dry skin and I really loved the scent. You can read my review here. I will be repurchasing this.

HairCare

L’Oreal Ever Fresh Balancing System Sample. I was curious about this hair wash system that I requested a sample from the L’Oreal website when it was available online (I’ve signed up for SampleSource.ca which notifies you whenever a brand is giving out samples – just a great way to test out new products). A hairstylist friend of mine once suggested I use my exfoliating body wash to really deep clean my scalp and this totally reminds me of that. The first step is to use a micro-exfoliant to scrub your scalp then follow it with the shampoo and conditioner. I thought this was great. I probably would repurchase just the exfoliating scrub because I love my own shampoos.

Alterra Caviar CC Cream 10 in 1. I got this as a deluxe sample from Sephora. I really love this brand and I did enjoy this cream until I compared it to my Pantene Pro-V Ultimate 10 BB Cream, you can see my review on the blog. These products actually claim to do the same thing except Pantene is way cheaper! I don’t think I’ll be repurchasing it.

These were all the items I was able to use up for the month! What items have you used up?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, December 2017

December 31, 2017December 30, 2017 littlebeautyloves4 Comments

I’m really happy with the items I’ve been able to empty for December. I keep everything in a bin and I was pleasantly surprised that I had filled it up when I went to create this post. Below are the items I was able to use up!

Makeup

Firstly, I used up Sephora’s Retractable Brow Pencil in 03 rich chestnut. I liked the colour of this pencil but I think the brush on the other end is useless. There wasn’t a lot of product in this so it emptied quicker than any other eyebrow pencil I’ve owned. I will not be repurchasing.

I’ve had Yves Rocher’s Velvety Loose Powder in 02 Transparency Beige for the longest time but I’ve finally used it up. I used it to set my face whenever I was wearing full makeup. It came with a sifter which I removed as I got low on the product. I won’t be repurchasing this since I have a lot of pressed and loose powders remaining in my collection.

I’ve decided that it was the time I threw out my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. Recently, I have been using brushes to apply foundation and whenever I need a sponge I’ve been reaching for my Beauty Blender instead. I will not be repurchasing this.

Skincare

Vichy Laboratories is one of my favourite skincare brands at the drugstore. The Purete Thermal 3 in 1 Cleansing Micellar Solution is fantastic at removing makeup. I have way too many micellar waters to go through at the moment but I’m definitely repurchasing this.

I received this Bioderma Sebium AKN moisturizer in my August 2016 Topbox. I tried to remove the sticker that Bioderma had placed on Canadian store distribution, I was curious what it said underneath, haha! That’s why it has the black residue. This was made for acne prone skin which made it useless for me and it’s probably best I get rid of it. I won’t be purchasing this.

I got this little La Mer the moisture soft cream sample in my September Sephora Haul. Although this technically should be included with my samples below, it’s such an expensive sample and I was able to get 10 uses out of it so I figured I would just put my thoughts here. This brand is ridiculously expensive and I would not buy this in a full-size cream BUT the littlest bit of this made my skin feel really moisturized and soft.

Next up is this Bella Aura Skincare Antioxidant Booster. I included this in my October Favourites from the Boxes post. I would apply this in-between my serum and moisturizer in my morning routine and I think it worked really well for my skin. I will be purchasing this!

Masks

The Face Shop’s White Tea face mask felt really light and comfy on the face. This is supposed to illuminate the skin and it did leave me feeling really hydrated so I would repurchase this mask.

I also enjoyed this Life Brand brightening facial sheet mask. I feel like it did make my face feel brighter so I really enjoyed it. I also like the shape of these masks because the cutouts line up with my face well and they don’t feel like they would slip off. These masks are affordable and effective so I would definitely repurchase them.

Bodycare

I enjoy a bath every once in a while and when I take one I must have bubbles. I really enjoyed Dr Teal’s Restore and Replenish bubble bath. It has pure pink Himalayan salt and essential oils so it was great for my muscles and moisturized my skin. It creates such a great lather too. I have already repurchased a new one.

One item I’m really glad to use up is Origins Calm Your Senses Body Souffle in Lavender and Vanilla. Although I loved how hydrated this left my skin feeling I really hated the smell. I love lavender, but the mix of vanilla wasn’t right for me. I won’t be repurchasing this.

Samples

I did so much online beauty shopping the past few months and had collected a whole bunch of samples to use up!

I got a one use sample of the Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Cream in a Sephora order. This had a mousse texture but it absorbed into my skin quickly and left it feeling really hydrated. I would likely purchase a full size.

Another sample I tried was Fresh’s Seaberry Skin Nutrition Cleansing Oil. I love Fresh items but I probably would not purchase a full size of this because I’m not the biggest fan of cleansing oils. I much prefer Fresh’s Soy Cleanser over this.

I also tried Philosophy’s take a deep breath oil-free oxygenating gel cream and eye cream. I really enjoyed the formula for these two items because they were light-weight and absorbed easily into the skin. I would purchase this in a full size.

An item that I am definitely purchasing a full size of is Olay’s daily facials 4 in 1 water activated cleansers. I LOVED, LOVED this! You wet the cloth and use it remove makeup and cleanse the skin. You can then re-dampen the same cloth to rinse your face. I love how well this removed my makeup and it left my skin feeling great! I think these would be fantastic to travel with and unlike my makeup wipes, I won’t have to worry about it drying out.

Lastly, I used another KNC Beauty Lip Mask from my BoxyCharm. I included my thoughts on this product in my November Empties post.

What are some items you used up in December? Any item you’ll be repurchasing?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, November 2017

December 4, 2017December 3, 2017 littlebeautyloves12 Comments

I feel like I got through a decent number of products this month which is exciting. Doing these empties posts encourages me to be diligent with using up the products I have.

Skincare/Body Care

The first item I’ve finished up this month is my L’Occitane Supple Skin Oil with Almond Oil. I enjoy spraying this on my body after I shower but I also would put a few drops in my baths. I’ve been able to work around the nuances that I disliked in this oil in the beginning. I shared a review on the blog over a year ago which you can read here. I didn’t really like the spray nozzle and thought this was really thick at first, but I’ve learned that spraying into my hands then rubbing it on resolved that issue. I’m still unsure if I’d repurchase this or try the body milk instead.

I have used up my Shiseido Facial Cotton pads. I was introduced to these (and the whole Shiseido line) through Stashy at stashmatters.com. Thanks to her I’ve become such a facial pad snob! haha! She also introduced me to the less expensive, but just as good MUJI Cotton Pads (which I LOVE by the way). She’s the best at reviewing so I would suggest heading to her site here (Shiseido) and here (MUJI) for her reviews on each! I already have a backup of this.

After recently raving about this in my Favourites from the Boxes post a month ago I was pretty sad when my Dr.Roebuck’s Polish finished! This mixes two of my favourite things; a facial scrub and moisturizer. I have so many face washes to get through but this is on my list to purchase soon.

Another facial scrub item I used up is the Anthony Glycolic Exfoliating and Resurfacing Wipes. This was harsh on my skin and the last 5 sheets dried out really quickly so I had to wet them to get them to work. I only used this once a week so that was bound to happen. They were very pricey at Sephora so I don’t think I’ll be repurchasing them. You can read my review of them here. I think they just didn’t work with my skin type.

Make-Up

I got this deluxe sample of MAC’s Eye Makeup Remover when I bought some items online and I got about 4 uses out of it. I didn’t think it was better at removing eye makeup compared to my miceller waters so I don’t think I would purchase a full size of it.

I really enjoyed this deluxe sample of Cover FX illuminating primer. It gave my skin a glow which looked nice under my foundation. I also appreciated that this didn’t have a scent. I currently have another illuminating primer in my makeup stash but I can see myself purchasing a full size in the future.

I received a Ciate Fierce Flicks eyeliner in my October 2016 Ipsy Bag and I was so happy with it when I started using it a few months later. The felt tip is stiff which I usually don’t like but the formula was great. I could get a very precise line and although it was very liquid it didn’t bleed on me. It doesn’t replace my Stila Stay All Day liner but I’m happy I got to try it!

I was at a Teeez event hosted by Dave Lackie when I received their Desert Metals Mascara and at first, I wasn’t sure how I was going to like the brush. After using this, however, I thought it was because it coated and lifted the ends of my lashes fanning them out for a flirty look. I love Teeez packaging and a really enjoyed the formula so I am going to be purchasing this.

I also used up my Anastasia Brow Gel deluxe sample. I have brows that love doing their own thing so I must have this in my makeup collection (or any type of strong hold brow gel). I’ve done a review of this here and have it in a full size.

Samples

Through my various Sephora & BeautyBoutique orders these past few months, I’ve made quite a collection of little one use samples. I was hoping that I would enjoy Sephora’s Fond de teint perfection foundation but the formula wasn’t right for me. It felt a bit thicker than what I prefer it didn’t blend in well so I won’t be getting a full size. Another item I won’t be repurchasing is Sephora’s Cleansing Cream in Rose. It felt really good on the skin because it was creamy, but it did not remove my makeup at all and that’s a huge drawback for me.

I have heard so many positive reviews on the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Hair Mask that I really wanted to give it a try (I also have a deluxe sample of this so I was really hoping it would work). I have really dry hair so nothing is going to drastically change that but this did help hydrate my hair and made it feel soft. I’m going to use my deluxe sample the next few washes to see if it makes a difference with continued use.

The last item is the KNC Beauty Lip Mask that I received in my November Boxycharm. I got three of these lip masks and I’ve only used one so far. I think you’re supposed to use this 2-3 times a week so I’m not following the directions. I thought this was OK. I didn’t notice a dramatic change but it never hurts to moisturize your lips. I’ll use up the other two but I don’t think I’d purchase this.

What have you used up in November? Any favourites that you’ll repurchase? Do you have any items you don’t think you’ll buy again?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, October 2017

November 7, 2017November 5, 2017 littlebeautyloves11 Comments

So again, I guess it’s better late than never getting this post up. October was really beautiful and warm for the most part. We celebrate Thanksgiving in October here in Canada so I enjoyed spending time with family. I didn’t do much for Halloween, other than dressing up for an office Halloween party, but I did watch scary movies and shows every day leading up to Halloween. Now I’m ready for Holidays!

On to the empties!

Skincare

I enjoyed using Neutrogena’s All-in-One Make-Up Wipes. These work OK on their own, but I found them most effective after I washed my face to remove any lingering makeup. The sheets are large, thick and fairly soft. I will be repurchasing this.

I also tried one of my three Bio Belle facial masks. The one I used was #beautysecret. I received this in my June Boxycharm and I’m pretty happy with how it left my skin moisturized. I’m excited to try the other two I still have.

Haircare and Bodycare

I used up my Dove Coconut & Hydration Conditioner. I’ve mentioned before in many other empties posts that I love the Dove line for my dry hair. This one, in particular, has a pleasant scent and always left my hair really soft. I know for sure I’m going to continue to purchase Dove shampoo and conditioners.

Another item that keeps popping up in my empties posts is Yves Rocher’s Jardin du Monde Soft Shower Cream. The Cotton Flower from India is a scent that I really love because it’s floral and fresh. I love the way these lather up and are gentle on the skin. Of course, I always use this for bubble baths too. I’ve switched up my shower gels for November, but I do keep backups of this.

Makeup Tool

OK, so this isn’t an empty per say but I was so disappointed in Pur’s Blend Squad. I got the 3 piece blending sponges in my April Boxycharm. I was excited initially because I liked the shape of these sponges and was hoping it would be soft like my Beauty Blender when wet. Unfortunately, this sponge is so stiff and I had a hard time blending in my makeup with it. So, after one use I’m tossing this and the other two sponges out.

Samples

I have a large jar of the Nivea 2 in 1 moisturizing primer but I didn’t want this little packet to go to waste so I used it up. I love Nivea products because they are hydrating for my skin. This one is great because it hydrates and primes and I find that my makeup applies easily whenever I use this.

I usually love all of bliss products but unfortunately, that’s incredi-peel was a bit too harsh and irritating for my skin. I won’t be purchasing the full size but I’m happy I tried the sample beforehand to figure that out.

I got this sample of GlamGlow’s nude glow mega illuminating moisturizer in my Sephora haul back in September. It reminds me of the Becca Backlight Primer because it has that same type of scent (they both smell like Children’s Flinestone Vitamins) and did the same thing. They both make my skin glowy and work nicely under foundation or as a light highlight. They are about the same price, but I like that the Glamglow comes in three shades.

Lastly, I tried the Tocca Body Wash in Giulietta. I love the scent of ylang-ylang and that’s one of the notes in this fragrance body wash. I’m definitely getting this in the full size.

These were the items I used up in October! Some items I really loved and others I was severely disappointed in. What have you used up in October?

Lots of Love,
Dal