Bye Bye Empties, March 2019

April 1, 2019March 30, 2019 littlebeautyloves4 Comments

Spring is officially here in Toronto! It’s slowly getting warmer and although there are some rainy days it’s been equally sunny and I love it! The days are getting longer, and soon it’ll be patio season! I’ve had some ups and downs this month, but I’m looking forward to what April has in store. The last two months I’ve had quite a lot of empties so I’m not surprised I don’t have as many items in March because a lot of my current items are recently opened.

*Note: I’m on a no-buy this year. If I mention repurchasing an item, it just means that I really liked it and would buy again, just not in 2019.

Skincare

L’Oreal Revitalift Triple Power LZR (Sample). The texture of this face cream is interesting. It’s like a hybrid between a gel and cream and it feels so good on the skin. It blends in so easily and it was good at leaving my skin moisturized. The sample lasted about 3 uses so I can’t say that I noticed a brightening effect but I did really like the texture so I might be interested in picking this up in a full-size.

L’Oreal Micellar Water Complete Cleanser. I thought this micellar water is alright. I think the big test for me is how well a micellar water can break down my eye makeup and mascara. This one did a good job but it did leave behind some residue for some of my more stubborn makeup (waterproof mascara). I did like it as a precleanse for before I washed my face. I have quite a few micellar waters to use up so I’m not sure I would repurchase this one until I’ve tested the other new ones I’m currently using.

Garnier Moisture Bomb Gel Cream (Sample). I received this sample in my July 2018 Topbox. Once I finally got around to opening this I used it up after 5 uses, I enjoyed it so much. This is a great everyday moisturizer that leaves my skin super hydrated but is also really light in texture. I would definitely repurchase this.

Shiseido Facial Cotton. This is an item that I’ve shared in an empties post before. Whenever I there is a spend your points event through Shoppers Drug Mart I always pick up a pack of these. I actually have two packs of the MUJI Cut Cotton pads which are practically dupes of these guys so I won’t be repurchasing these any time soon.

Makeup

Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Brow Pencil. I picked this up when I was shopping online on the Tarte website a few months ago because I needed a brow pencil and I figured I would test this out. I got the shade medium brown which works with my brows. I like this formula because it’s creamy but not so much that I’m afraid it’s going to rub off my eyebrows so quickly, but it does apply easily. I really like it and I would repurchase this.

Benefit Dew the Hoola Bronzer (Sample). This is a bronzer I got at the Benefit booth at GenBeauty 3 years ago. When I first started using this I didn’t really like it until I found a method that worked for me which was to use my beauty blender to blend this into my skin and then I was using this all the time. I was pretty sad when I used this up so I know when I’m done my no-buy for this year I’m going to pick up a full size of this!

~~~

There you have it! My empties for March. There isn’t that many items, but I’m glad I used up some items that I’ve had in my stash for some time.

What items have you used up for March?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, February

March 4, 2019March 4, 2019 littlebeautyloves3 Comments

February flew by for me! I had a great start to the month with my birthday. I celebrated with everyone I love which was amazing. It was pretty hectic at work and towards the end of the month, it started to take over quite a bit of my time. I’m hoping things can slow down again in March.

I didn’t think I had used up so many items but when I looked at my empties bin I was pleasantly surprised with my progress. Since I’m on a no-buy, I can really start to feel items emptying out of my bath & skincare collection which is great!

On to what I used up!

*Note: I’m on a no-buy this year. If I mention repurchasing an item, it just that I really liked it and would buy again, just not in 2019 😛

Hair and Body Care

Bath & Body Works Sea Island Cotton Shower Gel. This mini size was sitting in my travel bag for some time now that I decided I would just take it out and use it up. This is such a signature scent for me, I love the freshness and sharp clean fragrance. It’s also just a plain’ol good body wash. I would repurchase.

Dove Exfoliating Body Polish in Crushed Macadamia & Rice Milk (sample). I absolutely love the scent of this! It’s so comforting and delicious. I love exfoliating washes and use them about once a week, especially in winter, to help smooth my legs. The granules on this are sand-like so it always reminds me of being at the beach. I have a large tub of this in another scent that I will be opening up soon.

Being by Sanctuary Salted Caramel & Macadamia Bubbe Bath. Can you sense a trend here with my favourite scents! haha! This is the second time purchasing this very bubble bath. I love it! It smells amazing and it creates such beautiful bubbles. I am definitely going to repurchase this.

Dove Derma+Care Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. The winter has been really bad on my skin and hair this year. I have a dry scalp and suffer from dandruff occasionally so I always like having anti-dandruff shampoo around to ensure that I get a deep clean. Dove doesn’t really come to mind when you think of these kinds of shampoos, but this guy is awesome! I enjoy the scent because it’s not so harsh and it really leaves my hair and scalp feeling really clean but it’s a very gentle formula. I would repurchase this.

Skincare

Consonant Natural Foaming Face Wash. I’ve tried so many foaming cleansers in the past and this is maybe one of my favourites. It’s super gentle on the skin but it removes makeup with ease. I don’t have any issues using this close to my eyes when I’m removing my mascara. This guy was a mini size because I wanted to test it out, I would definitely repurchase a large size next time.

Kaja Juicy Bamboo Natural Facial Cleansing Cloths. I reviewed a sample packet of this in my September Empties and since I really liked it I decided to buy a pack. The cloths themselves are small but effective. I liked using them to refresh my face in the morning before applying makeup or at the end of the day to remove my mascara. I like that the cloths are biodegradable so I would throw them into my organics bin when I was done with them. They have a lemony fresh scent too. I would repurchase.

Hello Fab Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer. I loved wearing this when I was bare faced and wanted to add a little glow and moisture to my skin. It was alright as a primer but I mostly just liked it as a moisturizer. I’m not sure I’d repurchase this one.

Clinique iD Dramatically Different Lotion + Active Cartridge for Fatigue. I’m sure a lot of you have probably seen the new Clinique iD lotions – the ones where you can add a Cartridge of your choice so that when you pump it you get lotion and serum?

Well, I was really interested in them so I stopped by the Clinique counter and got a sample of a duo that would work for me, the dramatically different lotion+ with the anti-fatigue orange serum cartridge. I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but this ended up being great stuff! The fatigue cartridge is perfect for my winter dull skin and the dramatically different lotion itself was amazing at hydrating my skin without feeling heavy. I would definitely repurchase and highly recommend trying a sample for yourself!

Makeup

CoverGirl Exhibitionist Mascara. I received this through Influenster to test out and I shared a look using it in my Festive Makeup Look. This was good at lifting my lashes. It’s a very nice black mascara and the formula was dry so it lightly coated my lashes which I enjoyed for everyday type looks. It has started to smell so I’m tossing it out.

Bang Beauty Chocolate Eye Liner. I got this in my August BoxyCharm and was so excited to have a brown gel liner. I tried to use this the other day but it was so dry and crumbly so I’m just going to toss it out.

Butter London Stroke of Wow Roll On Precision Eyeliner. This came in my September BoxyCharm I said I was going to give this a try but every time I opened it and saw the pizza cutter style applicator I was turned off from it. Why would I chance ruining my look by using this tool, it’s hard enough getting a perfect wing with just a liquid or gel liner, why make it any harder. This is a stroke of no and I won’t be repurchasing it.

~~~

These are all my empties for February! I was really happy with everything I used up. Some things went straight to the trash but the majority of items were used all the way through.

How was your progress for February? What items did you use up?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, January 2019

February 5, 2019February 5, 2019 littlebeautyloves9 Comments

Whoa! The first month of 2019 is over! I think January has felt like a time to refresh and start the new year with new blog goals. There has been a lot going on in my personal life too, a bit of extra stress at work but luckily towards the end I was able to sort it out.I also started celebrating my birthday with friends and family towards the end of January even though my actual birthday is February 1st.

Here’s what I used up in January;

*Note: I’m on a no-buy this year so if I say I’ll repurchase an item, it just means that I liked it enough to buy it again, but just not in 2019 😛

Body Care

Aveeno Positively Radiant Exfoliating Body Wash (reviewed here) I loved the scent of this body wash and how it left my skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated. I would definitely repurchase this the next time I’m in need of an exfoliating body wash.

Bath & Body Works In the Clouds Body Wash. I wasn’t impressed with this body wash. The scent wasn’t my favourite and it didn’t leave me feeling clean even if I would pump a huge foam mountain of this. I won’t be repurchasing.

Marvis Toothpaste in Classic Strong Mint (other flavours reviewed here). I’m just going through all my Marvis toothpaste flavours and loving it! I have a couple more before I completely run out but I would repurchase them! Although this is labeled as “strong mint” I didn’t think it was as minty as one might expect, I don’t think I’d get this particular flavour again.

Skincare

L’Oreal Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Duo. I mentioned a few months back in a previous empties post that I had the opportunity to test out the full Revitatlift range. This duo was one of the stand-out products for me. I applied it every evening and thought that the cream and serum worked really well to hydrate and brighten my skin. I would repurchase this.

Ole Henrikson Sheer Transformation Perfecting Moisturizer (reviewed here). This was a fantastic day cream. It was light, creamy and absorbed quickly into the skin. I have a few other moisturizers that I need to use up so time so I don’t think I’ll repurchase this until I’ve used them up.

Fresh Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy Boosting Face Mask. Oh, my obsession with Fresh is real! I love this mask! It has pieces of fruit in it so whenever I accidentally got some in my mouth it tasted so good! It was also really good at hydrating my skin. The only downside was that it was a bit messy so I would use this on days when I had some time to really wash it off my face, but I would definitely repurchase this.

Papa Recipe Bombee Fruitables Red Squeeze Intensive Mask. I received this in my December Topbox and was really excited to try it because it sounded to be an interesting mask. One, the sheet mask was thinner than traditional masks so it stuck to my face well and two, it had 5 extracts; tomato, apple, pomegranate, mangosteen and redcurrant, all of which are supposed to improve the skin. I’d probably repurchase this and other masks from this brand.

Makeup

Benefit They’re Real Mascara. I generally like all the Benefit mascaras but this one is a staple in my collection. I really like my lashes to look super long and fanned out and this mascara does that for me. I recently used this up in my Project Pan for January. I would definitely repurchase this!

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Mad Max. This is a brown liner in the popular KVD brush tip liner style. I like the brown because it looks really nice for my everyday makeup when I want to do a winged liner but feel like using a black liner would be intense. I like having brown liners in my collection for that reason. Unfortunately, I don’t have another brown liquid liner to use for the rest of the year but I do have a few pencils which should hold me over until the end of 2019, after that, I’m sure I’ll repurchase this guy!

~~~

That’s all my empties for January. I think I did OK. I’m happy to have used up a lot of different items and clear them out of my collection. It’s been feeling really good lately to use up what I have knowing that I’m truly clearing out my stash.

What items have you been able to use up in January?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, December 2018

January 3, 2019December 31, 2018 littlebeautyloves17 Comments

Well what do you know! It’s 2019! My December empties include not only items that I used up but I’ve also included some items here that I actually haven’t used all year and I figured why not just toss them out! No use keeping something that I’m not using or enjoying.

If you read my post on my 2019 goals, you’ll know that I’m on a no-buy for this year. I still will mention below whether I would repurchase an item or not, but it’s more to just note whether I enjoyed the item enough that I would repurchase it, not that I actually will this year.

Skincare

Ole Henrikson The Clean Truth Foaming Cleanser and The Truth Serum. I dedicated a full review to both these products in my post Ole Henrikson Skincare Review. I would definitely repurchase the Truth Serum, but I find I have foaming cleansers I like better than the The Clean Truth Foaming Cleanser so I won’t be repurchasing that.

CoverFX Custom Enhancer Drops in Radiance. I love this little mini. The radiance drops are great for me because they help my skin glow under makeup. The full size of this is pretty expense so I won’t be repurchasing this.

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Face Mask. I think this is the second or third mask I’ve used up. I really enjoy it because it is super hydrating. I would repurchase this.

Neutrogena’s All-in-One Make-Up Wipes. This has made it into my empties stash again. I love using these wipes to remove any left over makeup after I wash my face. Currently, I’m working through other makeup wipes so I won’t be repurchasing these.

Body and Hair Care

Yves Rocher’s Jardin du Monde Soft Shower Cream. Another item that has made it into my empties again! I love the Cotton Flower from India scent. I think I might still have some other body washes from Yves Rocher that I’m making my way through.

Professional Sebastian Shaper Plus Extra Hold Hairspray. This came in my November 2017 Topbox and then it was in my favourites from the boxes post a few months later. I really like this hairspray but the nozzle stopped working and I can feel a lot of product in it. I’m pretty disappointed with that so I won’t be repurchasing this.

Makeup

Covergirl BB Cream Tinted Moisturizer. I shared a review of this when I shared a post on the BB Creams I have here. I love wearing this with my foundation to help sheer it out or on it’s own. I don’t use it too often anymore so I won’t be repurchasing this.

Tarte Rainforest Of the Sea Foundation. I shared a review of this in my One Look, One Week of Reviews. I like this formula and the shade matches my skin tone. I have so many foundations to get through that I’m not going to repurchase.

Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer. This is probably one of my favourite concealers from the drugstore. Whenever they go on sale I’ll pick up two of these. The formula lasts a long time on me and it blends so well under my eyes providing a good amount of coverage without looking too heavy. I have a back-up of this in my collection.

MAC Prep & Prime Skin Base. I received this little sample with a MAC purchase I made at the beginning of the year. I realize that when it comes to primer, I much prefer ones that are hydrating or provide a glow rather than a pore filling one like this one. It’s not bad and I used it a few times, but I think I’ll just toss it since I haven’t used it in the last 6 months.

Benefit Air Patrol Eye Primer. I received this in my Topbox and shared it in a Favourites post in September 2016. I have been using this on and off and I do like the formula but since I usually just wear concealer as a base for eye-shadow I don’t use eye primer as often. When I do use eye primer it’s usually my Urban Decay Primer Potion or the Too Faced Glitter Primer. This is almost empty anyway (and I’ve owned it for two years now) so I’m going to toss it!

Eyeko Fat Eye Stick. This isn’t terrible but I don’t wear it. I usually just reach for a standard eye pencil so I might as well just toss this as well.

Peony Shadow Trio and Elf Blush and Bronzer duo. More products I’m going to just trash my collection since I haven’t been using them at all. The eye shadow trio are just not colours I’m ever tempted to wear and the Elf Blush/Bronzer is too glittery for my liking.

Tarte Cosmetics Mineral Bronzer Park Avenue Princess. I got this a lonnngggg time ago when I used to subscribe to Ipsy. This has gotten some really good use and although I have just a little bit of product left I decided I would just remove it from my collection because I have so many bronzers right now.

~~~

Well that is everything I used up in December or decided to throw out for the end of 2018!

What items are in your empties for December?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, November 2018

November 29, 2018November 28, 2018 littlebeautyloves9 Comments

I’m so happy with the number of products I was able to empty this month.

Yay me!

November has been pretty chilly, but I’m embracing the cold weather by bundling up and keeping cozy by the fireplace. I finally upgraded my coffee machine (thank you Nespresso black Friday deals) so I’m really going to be getting cozy with a hot drink under a comfy throw watching lots of Netflix (or Prime)! I’ve been watching a lot of Parks and Rec lately.

I also put up my holiday decorations two weeks ago which definitely put me in the Christmas spirit! Does anyone else put up their decorations in mid-November or do you wait until December?

Now on to what I was able to use up;

Skincare

Ole Henrikson Nurture Me Moisturizing Cream. I shared a review of this not too long ago when I tested Ole Henrikson but in a nutshell, I really like this product! It’s a thick moisturizing cream that I enjoyed applying onto my skin in the evenings. It also smells like an orange creamsicle! I would repurchase this.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum. I applied this every evening around my eye area for about three weeks. I’m impressed that this little sample lasted that long. It’s a really nice light serum that absorbs into the skin quickly and left my eye area looking bright! I think I have the full-size of this in my collection, but I’m currently testing out the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix so I’ll hold off opening it until that is used up.

Dermovia Lace A Peel Black Bamboo Charcoal Peel Off Mask. I received this in my October Boxycharm. So many people who got BoxyCharm that month were reviewing this item and a lot of them felt it was very painful to peel off. Knowing that I only applied the charcoal to target areas on my face to reduce the pain. I found that the lace did help when it came to peeling off the mask but it was pretty painful to remove. My skin was very clean afterwards but it’s not something I would repurchase.

Body Care

Yves Rocher 3 in 1 Nourishing Lotion. I was in love with this product when I first got it but after trying so many other creams since then I find I don’t reach for this as often. I was able to use this all up and although this is nourishing and smells really good, there are other products I like better. I won’t be repurchasing this item.

Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream. I’m obsessed with this cream, I make everyone I know smell it! I love it not only because of the smell but because it absorbs into my skin really quickly and leaves me feeling hydrated. I especially enjoy this after I shave my legs because it helps to calm any irritation I get from my razor. I’ve put this on my Christmas list 🙂

Haircare

John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Shampoo and Conditioner. If you didn’t know, my hair is naturally curly and frizzy. I’ve always struggled with it being extremely dry. I enjoy the frizz ease line by John Freida so when I got these products I had a feeling they would be good. This leaves my hair very hydrated and silky. If I left it to air dry, it did minimize my frizz by a bit, but I mostly loved how smooth it made my hair whenever I would heat style it. I won’t be repurchasing this only because I have other hair care products I need to get through and also because recently I’ve been applying a hair mask after I shampoo rather than a conditioner.

Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask. Speaking of hair masks, I really enjoy this one from Briogeo. It’s not as good as the Shu Uemura Hair Mask I reviewed a while ago, but it’s still pretty good. I think I have a few samples of this that I’ll get through, but right now I’m in the mode of testing hair masks so I won’t be repurchasing this just yet.

Makeup

Benefit Browvo! Conditioning Primer. Usually, I like Benefit brow products, but I just think this particular item just isn’t for me. This would make my brows feel heavy and thick and it would pill-up on me. I won’t be purchasing this.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner. This is my favourite high-end felt-tip liner. It’s a nice intense black and the formula is really easy to work with. It’s not too liquidy that it bleeds on me and it’s not too dry that I don’t have time to create a wing before it sets. Currently, I have a few eyeliners that I’m using up (a lot are from subscription boxes I want to test) so I’m going to hold off on repurchasing this for a little while.

Tarte Tartiest Mascara. I like this mascara quite a bit. I like that it has a rubber applicator which brushes out my lashes and coats them evenly, leaving me with fanned out lashes. I would repurchase this.

Benefit Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer. I received this in my Topbox and although I really liked this and included it in my favourites from the boxes back in January, the formula got old and dried out. I think it’s because I was using other concealers rather than trying to just use this one up. I need to use up what I have before I repurchase this.

Beauty Blender Sponge. Well, another blender coming up to its 6 month mark! Haha! Although I could have tried to stretch out the life of this blender another month or so, I’m trying to be more hygienic with these types of sponges. Since discovering the L’Oreal Infallible Sponge (which is way cheaper than the blender) I don’t feel like I need to stay attached to a sponge. I did have another Beauty Blender that I unpackaged for use and I noticed something interesting.

The tip of the old blender is a lot pointier than the new one. Could it be they changed the design slightly, or I just happened upon a less pointy sponge? This may not be a big deal to some, but I like using this to blend out my concealer and I really like having a pointy tip.

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lipgloss and Lippie Stix. Believe it or not but I’ve owned these for about 2 and a half years! They are beyond old and I hardly ever used them so I’m just going to toss them out. As much as I like Colourpop lippies I don’t think I’ll be repurchasing them any time soon.

Well, that’s all the items that I used up in November! What product did you add to your empties stash this month?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, October 2018

November 2, 2018November 1, 2018 littlebeautyloves7 Comments

How has your October been!? Mine was super fun! My very good friend was married in the middle of the month and since I was her bridesmaid I helped her prep for the big day! The wedding was beautiful. We even performed a song at the reception together. One thing you may not know about me is that I like singing and a few years ago myself and two of my friends started a little band and played a show for our family and friends. So it was like a little reunion at the wedding.

I also celebrated Halloween by watching scary movies and tv shows all month long and celebrated Halloween parties at two of my company’s offices. The first party I dressed up as a unicorn and the second party I went as a flapper!

Anyways, now November is here and Christmas is edging ever more closely!

Here’s what I used up for October;

Skincare

Fresh Soy Cleanser. This is a gentle everyday cleanser that was great at removing all my makeup, including my eye makeup. I used this day and night (in between other cleansers like the Ole Henrikson which I reviewed a few days ago). I have another deluxe sample size of this before I need to repurchase it. Plus, I have so many cleansers that I’ve been using and testing so I won’t be purchasing any new cleansers for some time.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser Cloths. I wasn’t the biggest fan of these facial cleanser cloths. I felt like the cloth would tug at my face whenever I tried to remove any eye makeup like mascara or eyeliner so I ended up just using these as morning cleanser wipes before I applied makeup to my face. I will not be repurchasing them.

Grande Lash MD. If you’d like a full review of this product read here and here. This is pricey so it’s really hard justifying having to get one every 3 months BUT it does work on me. Right now I have the Lash Enhancer from Shiseido open so I won’t be repurchasing it so soon, but I think it might be something I add to my Christmas list.

Bella Aura Skincare Night Cellular Renewal and Instant Lifting Eye Contour. I received these two items my Topbox subscription. This formula is very runny, but it absorbs into the skin like a dream and left me super hydrated. It has a very perfumed scent which I don’t mind, but I know that might turn off some who are sensitive to scent or don’t like fragrance in their skincare. I really do enjoy this brand it’s just that I have quite a few skincare items that I have not opened so I don’t imagine purchasing this anytime soon.

Youth to the People Superfood Firm and Brighten Serum. I received this deluxe sample in a Sephora Favourites bundle and I was super excited for it because it’s designed to target fine lines and wrinkles and uneven skin tone. The sample size lasted about 3 weeks but I didn’t really notice anything special happening with my skin so I will not repurchase this product.

Body Care

Jo Malone London Red Roses Bath Oil. I received this as a Christmas gift last year and I’ve been ever so cautious with how much I use so I could stretch this out as long as possible. I love Jo Malone and own a few fragrances and body items from this brand. This oil made me feel so fancy whenever I used it, but it also was super effective. I would put a few drops into my bath and it had this lovely scent of wild roses. It was also very hydrating without feeling greasy. This is going back on my Christmas list!

Yves Rocher Organic Oats Hand Cream. For Fall and Winter, I live on hand cream. I keep ones at home, in my purse, in my car and at the office. I constantly need some. Yves Rocher has some really good hand cream and this one is pretty good except that the scent turned bad so I couldn’t use it anymore because it smelled gross. I have other hand creams that I need to use so I won’t be repurchasing this.

Gold Bond Ultimate Moisturizing Aloe Hand and Body Cream. SOOOOO I’m not kidding when I say I live on cream in the colder months. This is nothing fancy but it’s good! It hydrates my skin and doesn’t have a strong scent. The best part is I can probably get a large bottle for about $8.00! I’m purchasing this again!

So that’s what I used up in October. Nothing really wowed me that I’m running to repurchase but I’m glad a lot of these items have been used up!

What is in your empties stash for October?

Lots of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, September 2018

October 1, 2018September 30, 2018 littlebeautyloves2 Comments

It’s officially Fall! Hurray! I have actually been enjoying the transition to the cooler weather, I just need to rummage through my closest for my sweaters!

September was a fantastic month for doing things about in the city. It was the Toronto International Film Festival and I saw three great films! I also took a couple of really nice walks in the parks/paths near my home. I’m excited for October because one of my closest friends is getting married and I’m in her bridal party. If I have the chance, I’ll try to share some of it on my Instagram.

On to what I used up in the month!

Skincare

Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Mask. I received three of these in my August BoxyCharm to reduce wrinkles while hydrating and cooling under the eyes. Ingredients include hyaluronic acid, lavender oil and aloe oil. I didn’t notice anything amazing happen but it was hydrating under the eyes and wasn’t uncomfortable to wear. Unlike other eye masks, this actually stuck to my skin. I wouldn’t purchase these but I do have 2 others to enjoy.

The Face Shop Collagen Pomegranate Pack Masque. I got this in my May 2016 Topbox and then shared it in a Faves From the Boxes in October 2016. I didn’t wear this too often, but every once in a while I would use a pea-sized amount all over my face before I went to bed. It is a good moisturizer and left my skin very hydrated. I won’t be repurchasing this too soon as I have other moisturizers but it is a really good one I would get again.

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream. This is maybe the first Drunk Elephant product I’ve tried and I must be honest, I wasn’t impressed. The formula wasn’t whipped and actually looked dry in the tub. I’m not sure if maybe this particular product dried out quickly or if it’s supposed to be like this. Either way, with the full-size being $75.00 CAD I’d want it to be much, much better than this. I won’t be purchasing this.

Body Care

Yves Rocher Cotton Pads For Makeup Removal. I wish I kept the last round cotton pad so that you could see what it looked like but it’s just a very normal cotton pad. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t like a crazy great cotton pad. I won’t be repurchasing this – I’d rather get ones from Shiseido and Muji 😛

Aveeno Calming Body Wash in Lavender Chamomile + ylang-ylang. I love the scent of this body wash. It’s really calming and relaxing which is great when showering before bed. This creates a nice lather and cleans my skin very well. It also doesn’t leave my skin fairly moisturized. I like this as an everyday body wash. I would repurchase this.

Marvis Toothpaste in Whitening Mint. I shared this in my June Empties if you wanted to read my thoughts on the Ginger Flavour. Like I mentioned before, Marvis toothpaste doesn’t have a harsh mint flavour which makes it really easy for me to use to brush my teeth. I have another open right now!

Samples

Juicy Bamboo Natural Facial Cleansing Cloths. I used this sample cloth in the morning and it left my skin feeling clean before I applied my makeup. It even removed mascara residue I didn’t even know was still there! I like that the cloth is biodegradable so I was able to throw it in my organics bin. I’ve already put in an order for these on Amazon.

Philosophy Time in a Bottle. I picked up this sample from Sephora because I always like trying anti-ageing products. The sample lasted me 3 days and it was really hydrating on the skin. I like it, so next time I’m in need of a new moisturizer I’ll take a look at the ingredients and see if a full size is worth picking up!

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation. Although I have a little packet emptied here for this post, I also have a little tub sample of this moisturizer that I’m currently testing out. I do hope to do a post solely devoted to Ole Henriksen on the blog but so far I’m really liking this moisturizer. It has a light formula that is slightly sticky when you first apply it but that goes away. It’s perfect for application before I put on makeup.

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. This little sample was good for 4 nights to use. I didn’t notice it do anything dramatic to my skin. I’m not sure I would repurchase this but I guess right now I’m in a serum testing phase while I decide whether I repurchase my Peter Thomas Roth serum that I emptied last month. Check out my review of the PTR serum here.

At last, these are all the products I was able to use up in September. I am actually pretty happy with the number of items I was able to use up.

What items are in your empties collection for September?

Lot’s of Love,
Dal

Bye Bye Empties, August 2018

August 31, 2018August 29, 2018 littlebeautyloves7 Comments

August was so much fun! I enjoyed a few trips to the beaches, spent a day at the Toronto Islands and went on a bachelorette trip with my girlfriends to Le Spa Nordik located in Chelsea, Quebec! I took about a week and a half break from blogging to enjoy the weather! I’m so excited that September is around the corner because it’s the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and I always try to see some movies during that time.

Anyways! Below are the items I was able to finish up for August!

Skincare

Ole Henriksen Truth on the Glow Cleansing Cloths. A few weeks ago, I started testing some items from Ole Henriksen. One of those items included their Truth on the Glow cleansing cloths. I got a small 10 cloth pack to see how I would like them. Unfortunately, I didn’t. Firstly, the wipes were pretty small. They were rectangular and unlike other wipes that I could spread out across my palms, these felt really short and awkward to hold. Secondly, this wasn’t the best at removing mascara. I found I would have to really rub around my eyes to get anything out and then just decided to only use this on my face and stick to micellar waters around my eyes. I did like that this added some moisturizer to my skin since it does have vitamin C and jojoba seed oil. Overall, it’s not what I’m looking for in a face wipe so I won’t be repurchasing this.

Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash. I completely enjoyed this face wash! It was so gentle on the skin but highly effective at removing my makeup and leaving my skin feel super clean. I found that a small pea amoung was all I really needed for my face if I used too much it actually wasn’t as effective and would feel pretty slippery. It has a mild lather and no scent. I do have a few facial washes that I’m getting through currently but I would definitely pick this up again!

Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Night Serum. This was featured in my Summer Night Time Routine in 2017 and it lasted me sooooo long! I use this at least 3-4 nights a week (about 4-5 drops on the face) so for the cost ($83.00 CAD for 30mL) I feel it wasn’t so bad! Plus, I did drop this once and a bit of the product did drip out so I feel like if that didn’t happen it would have lasted me at least another few weeks. When I noticed this was getting empty I did go on a hunt for more affordable anti-ageing serums that I’m going to be using up next but I would be ready to splurge on another bottle of this!

Body Care

Elancyl Slim Design Night. I received this in my June 2018 Topbox and I honestly wasn’t expecting to see a difference because this looked to be a small sample and usually items designed to target cellulite don’t always work. Well, I’m not sure if it was this packet or me being more active in the summer or both but I feel like I see a reduced appearance of cellulite on my thighs. The sample did last me about 5 days and it says that it takes 7 to start seeing results so maybe it did start working! It’s expensive so I am on the fence about actually purchasing it. They sell these online at Shoppers Drug Mart’s Beauty Boutique so maybe I’ll wait for a Spend Your Points Event to get it.

Samples

I spent a lot of this month using up samples which is why there aren’t as many full-size items here. Instead of sharing all my samples I’ll share the ones I enjoyed the most.

Rita Hazan Triple Threat Split End Remedy. First off, this smells amazing! I love putting this in my hair and whenever I get a little whiff of it during the day it just makes me feel so good. It’s a great oil because it helps to seal off split ends. I picked up a few samples of this in my recent Sephora orders so I have a few to hold me over for the next little while.

The Face Shop White Seed Blanclouding White Moisture Cream. Sometimes I forget how awesome the Face Shop products are, especially since most things are very well priced. This face cream really left my skin feeling moisturized without it being too heavy. It also absorbed into my skin pretty quickly which I like. I have so many moisturizers so I may not be repurchasing this in the near future but I am keeping it on my radar for when I do need new creams!

Roundup

Those are all my empties for August! Since I rarely wear much in terms of makeup I didn’t use up as much as I would hope but I am happy to be putting some full-size items into my empties bin.

What have you used up for August?

Lots of love,
Dal

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