Empties January - December 2021

 So here is the whole lot I used up of beauty products in 2021...

Products I finished in 2021

The rest of the products I used up in 2021

Essence - stay all day concealer - 10 natural beige (7 ml): this was a product was a part of my beauty goals for 2021, and I managed to finish it in the first half of 2021

Essence - Lash Princess mascara (12 ml): This remains a hyped up mascara on YT, I did not like the brush though, found the wand a bit too big, and I do prefer a plastic bristle brush. So it tended to smudge a bit when I was applying it on my hooded eyes - might buy again in a pinch.

Lumene - Vitamin C+ anti-puffiness roll-on eye serum (10 ml): This was a part of my beauty goals for 2021, I managed to use the little product that remained in it. Glad it is finished as I am sure the C vitamin has probably lost it's potency since I bought it. 

Lancome - Bi-Facil double action eye makeup remover (200 ml): This is absolutely my favorite eye-makeup remover and I will for sure continue to repurchase it.

The body shop - Aloe Calming toner (250 ml): This is absolutely my favorite toner, and I always continue to purchase it as long as the Body shop makes it. 

Lumene - Intense hydration 24 hour moisturizer (50 ml): One of my favorite day creams, soft and I love the scent soft and mild. 

Cover Girl - Ready set gorgeous - 115 (30 ml): This foundation was unsuccessfully a part of my beauty goals for 2019, and surprisingly the tube seemed to be never ending, as more and more product came out of it's nozzle. 

Skyn Iceland - Pure Cloud Cream (10 ml): Continuing on the theme from last year to use up my testers, this is a very light cream and probably most suitable for oily skin, as my skin is combo, and this was a product I used in the autumn, it was not the best for me, as even though having a combo skin, I sometimes have a dry skin surface, and this cream really did not play along well with that. Never the same I managed to finish it. 

Dr. Organic - Organic Manuka Honey hand and nail cream (125 ml): this hand cream is by far the best hand cream I have ever tried.

Hurraw - Grapefruit lip balm (4.3 gr): This lip balm is average, not the greatest and not the worst.

Artdeco - Soft eyeliner waterproof, 16 (1.2 g): this eyeliner is super close to Mac Teddy eye-kohl, but this is not an empties as such. But a declutter, I have Mac teddy in my stash - and this one is getting a bit old, and I rarely use it, so it's time to declutter it.

Sephora - Macadamia hand masks (1 pair): After a season of excessive hand washing and hand sanitizing, this was exactly what the dr. ordered, and my god did each glove come with a lot of product!! After my first use, I stored it in the fridge, and used the day after, and right after using it on my hands for the 2nd time, I threw the "gloves" on my feet and used them as a partial foot mask! 

Blue Lagoon - Algae mask ice cube (7 ml): this is a fairly strong mask, so I did not have this on for very long. But my skin felt squeaky clean afterwards. 

Dr. Hauschka - Hand creme (10 ml): Another tester used up - yey!! Actually I expected this hand cream to be better than it was, considering it was from Dr. Hauschka. Would choose Dr. Organic any day!

L'oréal Paris Elvital - Steam mask - for long damaged hair (20 ml): This hair-mask even came with it's own shower cap, and a whole lot of product!! And the dry ends of my hair felt super soft afterwards.

John Frieda - Frizz Ease hair serum (3 ml): Another tester done, this product is always nice from time to time. But I am not much of a hair-person so usually I do not fuss too much with my hair.

The labs organics - Hyalurornic serum 200 (1 ml): Another tester used up in 2021, this tester was way too small to be able to say anything about the product though.

Inglot lab - Hydrating day serum (1 ml): The same goes for this tester, as the last one, too small to be able to say anything about the product. 

Did you use up a lot this year?

Empties January - December 2020

So this year has really been the year of  testers, as the majority of the products I used up this year are as a matter of a fact testers. 

Empties of 2020

More empties

Empty testers

More empty testers

Gosh - Boombastic macara volume XXL (13 ml): This mascara I got for free, for returning in a used mascara which happened to be an expired Gosh mascara. I love this one, it has a plastic brush and the formula is totally perfect. When I manage to finish the mascara backups I have I would repurchase.

Origins - Drink up 10 minute mask to quench skin's thirst (100 ml): This was a part of my beauty goals for 2019 and 2020. Finally finished.

Bourjois Paris - Happy light luminous serum primer (15 ml): this was also a part of my beauty goals for 2020. A nice primer indeed, but I always struggle to remember to use a primer so not sure I would repurchase.

L'occtane en provence - Overnight reset oil-in-serum (5 ml): This I got as free promotion from L'occitane. The texture was nice, but with only 5 ml, it is hard to say what benefits it has. But it does smell amazing.

Kneipp - Almond face cream (50 ml): I loved this face cream which I bought in a wholesale discount sale. I then saw this brand on the pharmacy shelves in Amsterdam. So I scouted the different pharmacies in town, without success, and after I looked the brand up online, it turned out they now only carry body products. So no wonder why I could not find this face cream.

Harklinikken - Daily conditioner (10 ml): This tester I got as a gift from the company, and did I like the conditioner enough to buy it in full size. 

Bio effect - EGF serum (2 x 3ml): I had accumulated a few of these EGF serums, but as I have a few different serums stashed away, I never manage to stick to one brand. But these I do really like, I just do not like the price point. 

Origins - Ginzing ultra-hydrating energy-boosting cream (5 ml): This is one of the things I got for my birthday. Loved this cream, light and moisturizing. 

Clinique - Blush in fig (1,8 g): This particular blush was a part of my beauty goals for 2018. I depotted it from a small pan which contained both this blush and eyeshadows. And considering the fact it is only 1,8 grams it took me forever to finish it. 

GlamGlow -Bubblesheet oxygenating deep cleanse mask (1 mask): I am not sure my sensitive skin can handle a mask like this one, my skin came out intact but it did indeed irritate my lips, and the edge of my top lip was boarderline swollen after using it. 

Super Goop - CC screen 100% mineral CC cream spf 50 (tester): I originally got this tester in a different bottle, but as that bottle cracked, I dumped it into a Sephora tester jar. Loved this product.

Lancome - Fix it forget it, makeup setting mist (1,5 ml): this I managed to use up the few times I went to work. Good or bad? With 1,5 ml I have no idea. 

Skyn Iceland - Oxygen infusion night cream with glacial flower extract (1,7 g): average cream, nothing miracle, but didn't annoy my skin either.

Skyn Iceland - The antidode cooling day lotion with Icelandic kelp and white willow bark (1,7 g): this was surprisingly cooling. I am not sure I would like to have a whole bottle of this though. 

Belief - The true cream aqua bomb, light gel cream for the face (3 ml): This I received as a gift with purchase at some Sephora visit in 2019. Liked the product, still I prefer cream over gel.

Belief - The true cream moisturizing bomb, rich cream for the face (3 ml): This I did indeed love, and if I would have easy access to the brand I would purchase a full size.

Bio select Dictamelia - 24 hour cream anti aging/moisturizing (2 ml): This I got as a gift with purchase in Greece. The scent was very organic and herbal. I loved the texture, and how it felt on my skin, would love to purchase. 

Sóley - Birta lift and glow, anti aging moisture with Icelandic herbs (5 ml): Really did like this cream on my skin, but not sure I would purchase an anti aging cream, as it might be to strong for my skin. 

Dr. Hauschka - Regenerating body cream (5 ml): I find it a bit funny to get such a small of a tester of a body product. It probably was enough to put on one leg, or two at the most. Not a memorable product. 

Rimmel London - Fresher skin, breathable natural finish foundation - 100 ivory (1,5 ml): I really did like this foundation, and I do believe I have another tester sachet somewhere in my stash. 

Sóley - Eygló, pure organic moisture with evening primerose and wild Icelandic herbs (5 ml): Loved this product, and my skin did really get along with it. 

L'oreal Professional - Force vector, glycocell, reinforcing anti-breakage shampoo for fragile, brittle hair (10 ml): This tester was indeed a big one, and did last for two or three hairwashes. I find shampoo in general to be all the same. Unless they do a terrible  job of cleaning my hair. This shampoo was good, it did the job.

Mythos - Shampoo olive extract + sandalwood (2x 7 ml): This was an average shampoo, did the job. 

John Frieda - Frizz Ease, hair serum, original formula (3,5 ml): Love this product, it does wonders when I put it through my hair, gives a much smoother result. Maybe I should use the spray bottle I have somewhere with this more. The application of a gel through the hair is though still somehow more satisfactory. 

What did you finish this year, any testers?

Empties May - December 2019

So there has been some time since I did an empties tally..

Empties May - December

 More empties

Sóley - Græðir hand cream (50 ml): An excellent moisturizing hand cream, rich enough to make your hands feel soft, but not so thick and rich your hands feel greasy.

Garnier - Micellar cleansing water (125 ml): One of my absolute favorite micellar water in a perfect travel size.

Sephora - Triple action cleansing water face & eyes (400 ml): An average cleansing water, still I prefer the Garnier one, but I love the packaging on this one.

La Roche-Posay - Anthelios lotion SPF 30 (250 ml): I picked this one up in Greece 2017, and managed to finish it this summer on the sundeck at my Boston hotel.

L'occitane - Verveine - cooling hand cream (30 ml): A super light hand cream, not very moisturizing at all.

Bio Effect - EGF serum (5 ml): A small sample size I was gifted. Not my favorite, as it is super sticky after you apply it to your face, but will still use up samples I am given.

Bio Effect - Micellar cleansing water (30 ml): A perfect size to take travelling, a good micellar water, not sure it is worth the regular price tag, which does not apply to me as this was gifted to me.

Avon - Moroccan argan oil (30 ml): An excellent hair oil I used in the ends of my hair, which was a part of my "beauty goals for 2019".

Dr. Hauschka - Facial toner (10 ml): This tester has totally changed my ideas about toners, it is amazing to have it in a sprey bottle, so you can forget messing around with cotton pads. You simply sprey it on and you are done. Good on the environment as well.

Lumene - Arctic spring water enriched - facial mist (100 ml): The product itself is amazing, but I do not like the mister on the bottle, as it spreys such a super fine mist, it kind of sits on top of your peach fuzz above your skin. I just put it in another sprey bottle and it worked perfectly.

Vichy - Aqualia thermal serum (30 ml): LOVE this serum, perfect for sensitive skin. The only grievance is the fact the pump straw, does not reach to the bottom of the bottle. So you have to tip the bottle over to get all the product out.

Lumene - Bright now vitamin C eye cream (15 ml): The time stamp on this product states it is good for 12 months after opening. But how on earth can anyone finish a 15 ml bottle of eye cream in one year? Certainly not me! This I have had for two or three years. Finally I manage to finish it, the only thing though is the fact the eye cream I am using now is 30 ml. Please cosmetics companies can you just make eye creams that come in 10 ml bottles?

Supergoop - Daily correct CC cream - Broad spectrum sunscreen SPF 35 (tester): I got a tester of this product, as it is a 100% mineral sunscreen. And I do in deed love it. It is a bit stiff, as mineral sunscreens tend to be, but perfect under makeup!

Sensai - Concealer brush type - SPF 15 - CB02 Medium (2,6 ml): This concealer lasted for ages, even though it only contains 2,6 ml of product, same again is supposed to be used 12 months after opening. I am pretty sure I had it for two years though. It now has been discontinued, and now comes in a different packaging, with different shade names.

Weleda - Everon lip balm (4,8 g): I completely used this lip balm up to the bone, as I scraped all of the product out from the base. An excellent lip product.

Yves Saint Laurent - Mascara volume Babydoll (2 ml): I have had a tester of this mascara before, and omg even in the tester form it is AMAZING.

Drunk Elephant - Umbra Tinte - Physical daily defense broad spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 (tester): This I also decided to try as it is a purely mineral sunscreen. I prefer this type over the one from Supergoop. Still the one from Supergoop is better if you want to use it without makeup as it is more sheer in color.

Dr. Hauschka - Rose daycream (1,5 ml): A super thick moisturizer, so thick you start to pull and tug on your skin. The cream felt good once on, but too much of a hassle to spread out.

Nature Republic - Real nature hydrogel mask - Aloe vera (22 g): This sheetmask came with whopping 22 g of product. I used the sheetmask itself, once, and poured the rest of the liquid that was remaining in the packaging into a little jar, and was able to use the remains of the product several times, just spreading it out on my skin as a liquid mask and leaving it on for a few minutes.

Skyn Iceland - Hydro cool firming face gels for smile lines (3,1 g): When I was going through my stash of testers in the afternoon on new years eve, I came across this product. And as it felt really hard in the packaging, I decided to open it up, to see if it had dried out. Not at all, what I felt was the plastic tray the mask-pads come in. So there was nothing else to do than to put the mask on for the 10 minutes before doing my makeup for new years eve dinner at my sisters house.

Shea Moissture - African black soap (230 g): This soap has totally saved my perioral dermatitis. I bought it on a recommendation from a perioral dermatitis group on Facebook. Have repurchased already. 

Did you finish anything up recently?

Empties January - April 2019

So here is a small summary of the items I have used up in the first four months of the year + one declutter.

Empties + declutter Jan-April 2019

The body shop - Aloe calming toner (250 ml): an amazing toner, that did not irritate my skin, or my perioral dermatitis in the slightest. Love love love.

Pantene Pro-V - Radiant color shine shampoo (375 ml): an average shampoo, at a good price for the size of the bottle, have nothing to complain about it. But I am no shampoo snob, so I have no idea what is a good or a bad shampoo.

Jean Paul Gaultier - Scandal eau de parfum (tester): A nice sample of the Scandal perfume, not in love enough though to purchase. To strong for every day use in my opinion, plus I have too many perfumes

Herbal essences - Hydralicious reconditioning conditioner for dry/damaged hair (300 ml): my favorite conditioner, makes my hair so soft and nice, too bad it has been discontinued, but I do hope I find another shampoo and conditioner in their range I will love as much as this one.

The body shop - Vitamin E overnight serum-in-oil (28 ml): Another love from The body shop, really love this serum-in-oil, as it seems to calm my perioral dermatitis, will 100% buy again.

L'Occitane en provence - Verveine body lotion (250 ml): A light average body lotion, that was a part of my beauty goals for 2019. I will not go out of my way to repurchase.

Rimmel - Scandaleyes waterproof kohl kajal in 005 nude (1,2 g): This item is the one I decided to declutter from my collection as it basically fell apart on me, as the kohl itself fell out of the pencil, and as it was very dried out and loose in the pencil, I decided to declutter it. In theory I would like to get a nude eye-pencil, but I tend not to use one on a daily basis, plus I have found out that the pencils that come in a wood pencil, tend to last longer, over the ones that are packed in plastic. Or they tend to keep their moisture for a longer time.

Inglot - Bright amber - solid perfume (2,3 g): Another item I used up that was a part of  my beauty goals for this year. I did like the smell, but am not so into solid perfumes.

Dr. Hauschka - regenerating day cream - sample (1,5 ml): A tester I got of this very nice day cream, a light and easily absorbed texture. And would I in deed consider buying it in full size, well when I have made some dent in my stash of day-creams.

Have you finished anything up recently?