July - September haul 2026

So what have I purchased during the last three months - so much for trying to stick to a low buy. Small little temptations in Target, Sephora or online sales. Also a mini holiday haul - I think actually the least purchases I have made whilst on a holiday in years. 

Shampoo, lip, eye products and pimple patches

Makeup brushes, eye masks and makeup remover wipes

Sunscreens and Nivea cream

Kitsch air dry cream

Herbal Essences - Rose hips Shampoo (100 ml): This is the perfect size for travel, and with my summer vacation around the corner this was the perfect little pick me up at Target.

Elf - Liquid velvet eyeshadow in extra toasted (4.4 g): This came highly recommended on social media. It is a bit too warm for my liking though and still have not mastered how to how to use it. 

The Inkey list - Hydrocolloid invisible pimple patches (22 patches): This I saw recommended on social media for bug bites, so I decided to pick one of these up - I got a bite of some sort after being barefoot in my garden in Iceland, and put one on before bed, and I think it worked. 

Nyx - Fluff and snatch brow powder pen in brunette (1 g): I came across this in one of my trips to Target. It works ok, but not great, I do prefer other eyebrow products over this. 

Versed - Lip frame defining lip liner  in debut (0.5 g): This is supposed to be a dupe for The Rhode lip liners, so I did get tempted to purchase this in Target. The color is perfect. 

BK Beauty x Nikki La Rose N17: This I grabbed during a BK beauty sale over the summer. The black side is supposed to be for powder and the white side is for creams and liquids. 

BK Beauty x Nikki La Rose N16: This I purchased to use with cram and or liquid eyeshadows. Too bad BK launched cream stick blushes just days after I ordered. Otherwise I might have been tempted to order one blush as well. 

Maskiss - Collagen Eye mask smoothing and cooling (2 x 6 g): A passenger gifted us these masks during one of the recent flights. 

Neutrogena - Makeup remover ultra soft cleansing towelette (8 towels): Another passenger gift.

24K gold eye mask (7.5 g): This eye mask was also gifted to me while at work. 

Korff - 365 protection sun repair SPF 50+ (40 ml): After I managed to leave all my sunscreens in a cosmetics bag at a beach in Montenegro I had to grab some sunscreen. This was the first I grabbed. Ironically about 30 minutes after I had purchased these my bag was found!! So I ended up only using this for one day, but I felt it slipping and sliding on my face during that day and has a very distinctive smell (somewhere between herbal and chemical - can not put my finger on the smell), and I have a funny susception that it will not pair well with my skin and my perioral dermatitis, but I will have to give it a try one day soon.

Garnier Ambre Solaire - Hydra 24h protect hydrating protection lotion 30 (200 ml): This I grabbed in the supermarket Voli in Montenegro, it was the one available in store that appealed the most to me. And this might be a good sunscreen. But again I just used it for one day. 

Golden Rose - Mega volume & length City style mascara (9 ml): I came across this in a Cosmetics Market store whilst on a holiday in Montenegro, it was on sale, it was supposed to cost 2 Euro and some cents, but was on sale for 1 Euro and some cents. I had just finished my last tube of this mascara which I purchased in Turkey a few years back. So this ended up coming home with me. 

Nivea Cream (30 ml): I have not used this in years, but one of the passengers gave the entire crew one bottle each. So now I can try it again.

Kitsch - Air dry cream (148 ml): I picked this up in a Nordstrom Rack but I have been struggling with my hair, as the ends are very dry and frizzy. So far I have only tried this one time, but now I realized I have two creams, this being one of them and an hair oil that I can try to restore my hair. But I suspect that the fact I frequently wear my hair in a bun, wrapped up in a doughnut is causing the ends to be so dry and brittle. So maybe it is time for me to come up with a new hairstyle for work.  

Let's see how the low buy will go from here!

Empties 2024

So how did I do in 2024 on using up stuff? Let's take a look..

Skincare, cleansers, spf and facial sprays

Skin care, concealer, gloss and more

Items used up on holiday

Facial soap, powder and lip balm

Sheet masks and skincare samples

Items I used up:

Kiehl's - Creamy eye treatment with avocado (14 ml): I did like this eye cream, the only annoying thing about it, is the fact that the formula always separates from time to time, oil away from cream, so you have to shake it back together. 

Lancome - Hydra zen anti-stress moisturising cream (30 ml): This facial cream is super light, and worked well over the summer. It was not moisturizing enough for me in the winter. 

Clinique - Take the day off cleansing balm (125 ml): This was a part of my project pan for 2024 and I do really like it, even though I promised myself not to repurchase I already fell to temptation at TJ Maxx. 

Lumene - Pure arctic miracle micellar cleansing water (500 ml): This item I purchased years ago whilst in Finland visiting a friend, it had started to get a bit yellow in the bottle, and I could see like floating oil on top of the liquid inside the bottle, so it was about time for it to be used up. 

The body shop - Aloe calming toner (250 ml): This toner has remained my tried and true toner for a few years. 

Nivea - Care & orange shower cream (250 ml): This I purchased while on holiday in Greece years ago. It was an average shower cream.

Supergoop - Zinc screen 100% mineral lotion SPF 40 (50 ml): This bottle is labelled at the bottom to expire in April 2021 - finally it is finished. I now already have two sunscreens going. 

Evian - Brumisateur facial spray, moisturizes, refreshes, tones (50 ml): This was gifted to me from one of my airlines passenger, and as it comes in a small bottle, I kind of swapped the toner I intended to pan in 2024 out for this one, and moved it into my work purse and aimed to spray it once per flight. There is a tiny bit left in the bottle, but I can not spray it out. So it is pretty much done, seriously doubt I would buy it though. 

Rudolph care - Acai facial mist toner (30 ml): If I remember correctly I purchased this one in the duty free at CPH airport a while back. I ended up putting it in my travel bag, and that way it was used up quickly and I am sure I will use the bottle for something else in the near future. 

Dr. Organic - Organic snail gel (50 ml):

Biossance - Squalane + omega repair cream (15 ml):

Five vits - Daily shampoo (40 ml): This and the conditioner is in one of our hotels we stay at in the US for work. It is the perfect size for travel and was used up either on a trip or when I go to the gym. It is a decent shampoo.

Five vits - Daily conditioner (40 ml): Decent conditioner, I have dark colored hair, and am not in particular fuzzy about shampoos or conditioners. And usually find them to be of an ok quality, the same goes for this one - the scent I love in particular, it does not smell like any conditioner I have smelled before.

Vichy - Aqualia thermal rehydrating cream light (50 ml): This I purchased in Canada summer of 2019 - so it was way past it expiration date (8/21). And the fact that the serum remains in my stash seriously has made me rethink about buying so many items that they keep on expiring in my closets before I get around to using them.

Abercrombie & Fitch - First instinct eau de parfum (2 ml): I really like the scent of this perfume. I do not smell after I apply it, so I guess it suits me well. I might even consider purchasing it as I seem to have developed a sensitivity to fragrances in the last few years, and many of the scents I try spraying on in store, and wear throughout the day tend to give me a headache or I can smell them through the remainder of the day (and I mean not in a good way).

Clarins - Mascara supra volume in 01 intense black (3.5 ml): I really loved this mascara, and that even for a natural bristle brush wand (I used to love plastic wands). This I believe came in a gift set I purchased for myself. Would consider repurchasing if I did not have a backup stash of 4 or 5 mascaras or more. 

Rimmel - Wonder'full brow 24hr waterproof brow mascara with fibres (4.5 ml): This I won in some online game, and got it for free. It is actually amazing! I am not sure what the color is, I assume it is 002 and I love it in my brows! Will repurchase for sure when I get through the clear gels in my stash. 

Crabtree & Evelyn - Pear and pink magnolia hand therapy (25 ml): A nice hand cream, not amazing though. 

Drunk Elephant - Beste no. 9 jelly cleanser (30 ml): This I got as a part of a Sephora birthday gift a few years back. Since it has lived in my gym bag, and now just got finished.

Ecooking - Night cream (50 ml): I loved this night cream, and as a matter of a fact, I think it is the first night cream I ever purchased or tried. It smells a bit herbal, but I believe it is a clean brand and has good ingredients. 

Bio effect - EGF day serum (2 x 5 ml): I have no recollection on where I got these from, gift with purchase or what, but they were nice, but happy I got to use up a few samples/testers this year.

The body shop - Aloe soothing toner (250 ml): Another empties of my favorite toner, it has since last empties bottle been reformulated and now is in a different packaging. Thank god the formula has not changed too much and is gentle enough on my sensitive skin. 

Taramar - Night treatment (10 ml): Me and my crew were gifted this from one of our passengers who worked for the brand and was going abroad for a meeting. It has a BBF date: June 2022 - so glad I got to use it up, even a bit after it's BBF date. 

Lily Lolo - BB cream in light (40 ml): This is a nice and clean formula, and did not irritate my skin at all. It also is a light weight formula, which is perfect to apply with my fingers, and blends out nice - which I usually prefer vs. a fussy formula. 

Bio effect - EGF body serum (7 ml): I have a full size of this product, it is really nice. But a tester of 7 ml - I can not remember how much skin that covers...

Dior - Diorshow Maximizer 3D triple action lash primer-serum (10 ml): This I stopped using after I got an eye infection, but omg it's AMAZING - I love it. Have already repurchased an updated new formula.

Guinot - Nouvelle Vie cream first signs of aging (15 ml): Another Guinot item from the Guinot calendar I got for Christmas 2022 - I ended up putting it in my work bag for when I stay in the US or Canada for work - perfect size for travel.  

Yves Saint Laurent - Gloss volupte probably in shade 30 (6 ml?): This gloss I have had for years, and as you probably can see on the picture, it is completely empty, removed stopper and all! The sticker underneath it has lost all it's writing, so I am guessing it is the shade 30.

Collection - Lasting perfection concealer in Fair 1 (4 ml?): Almost all the writing on the packaging has rubbed off, so I am not sure how much product was in this concealer, but the packaging sold now from the brand contains 4 ml, so I am guessing it is the same amount. This has lived in the last years in my travel makeup bag I used for work abroad. I did remove the stopper and used it up - or at least to the point I am not getting any usable product on the wand. 

The body shop - Cool cucumber softening body butter (200 ml): This was a part of my project pan 2024, and was used up whilst on holiday in Greece, where I made it my mission to finish a few items up to be able to keep my checked in luggage under 14 kg on my flight leg from Rhodes to Athens. This body butter I had not used a lot before starting my project pan, and to my surprise it was in fact cooling, and gave a cool sensation after using it - which made it perfect for holiday in Greece. As I did not prefer to use it just before bed at home in Iceland. 

Five vits - Body lotion (40 ml): This had lived in my travel cosmetics bag for work, and ended up with me on holiday to Greece, where it was used up. 

Peter Thomas Roth - Mega rich body wash (27 ml): This I got in a hotel years back, and took with me on holiday to Greece. And used it up

Proganix - Cherry blossom + (Vitamin B5) Anti-fade weightless argan oil + uv protection (100 ml): This I am sure I bought about 9 or 10 years ago whilst on holiday in the US. A hair sunscreen, I only tend to use this on holiday, so of course it was thrown into my suitcase for a holiday in Greece, where it was finished. Ideal to use for a day at the beach or for sight-seeing. 

Hawaiian Tropic - Sunscreen lotion sheer touch spf 30 (236 ml): This is an excellent sunscreen, this I bought in the US and I am sure it differs a bit from the Hawaiian tropic sunscreen they sell in Europe in regards to ingredients. I tend to use zink based sunscreens for my face, and chemical sunscreens for my body - and this one did not irritate my skin. 

Shea Moisture - African black soap with shea butter (99 g): This still remains my go to facial cleanser or facial soap. I discovered it a few years back as it was recommended for perioral dermatitis. It does not aggravate my skin, does not strip it too much. As it is a piece of soap bar it is difficult to keep track of when I finish it, plus I keep one bar at home and one in my travel bag. But I know for a fact that I did finish the bar I had in my travel kit for work. So I am sure this is under-represented in the last few years empties.  

Milani - Prep + set + glow illuminating transparent powder in shade 02 (8.5 g): This item was a part of my project pan 2022, I did not finish it that year, and ended up using it at the end of 2024. I used it as a setting powder and it worked very well as such, did not dry my skin out, and not too glowing. 

Villimey - Varagaldur (15 ml): This remains my favorite lip balm, and will be repurchased for sure some time in the future. 

The Face shop - Real nature Olive face mask with olive extract (20 g): This I purchased in Toronto a few years back, in my stash it as a matter of fact expired in 2021 - I still decided to use it, once as a sheet mask, and then a lot remained in the packaging and I was able to slather it all over my face probably three times after I used the sheet mask. It is a nice face mask, but I did not notice any miracles. but sure it boosted moisture in the skin. 

Nature republic - Real nature mask sheet olive (23 ml): This is the same face mask as the previous one, just in a new and seemingly rebranded packaging. This my friend gifted it to me who went to Korea. And happy to report that this one had not expired yet. 

Caudalie - Vinoperfect radiance serum complexion correcting (10 ml): This bottle I did use up on my project pan 2024 - but it is missing in the photos, as I seem to have misplaced the bottle. I really loved this serum and would consider repurchasing. 

Caudalie - Vinoperfect radiance serum complexion correcting (3 x 1.5 ml): These are small samples I got at Sephora, of the same product as mentioned above.  

Tatcha - The indigo cleansing balm (1.5 ml): Another sample I got from Sephora. It was nice, would I consider buying it after trying it in a single use packaging? In one word; no.

Decluttered items of 2024

Decluttered items:

Sunday Riley - A+ high dose retinoid serum, 6.5% retinoid blend, CoQ10 + honey (5 ml): I have had this sample since 2019 and was about to give this a whirl early this year, but when the product came out, it was all separated and runny - so down the drain it went. Not sure my skin would tolerate a high dose retinoid anyway. 

Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24 hr gel cream eyeshaddow in 35 On and on bronze (3.9 gr): This I have owned for years, and it was a part of my project pan for 2019. I have made some small progress on this since 2019, but it is very thick, stiff and difficult to use. As I have plenty of newer creamy eyeshadows in my stash, it makes more sense to use them rather than this one. 

W7 - Brow grip (13.5 gr): My friend was decluttering a few items from her stash, and gifted this to me, it turned out to work out the same for me as for my friend - it leaving whitish clumps in my eyebrows so it was only used about 2 times, and now ends where it belongs in the trash. 

Unknown brand - Double liner (? gr): My mom gave this to me a few years back, it was a gift with some magazine she bought. Light champagne pink on one side and vine red on the other. I have perhaps used it 4 times, and now it needs to move out. 

So this in all amounts to the fact I used up 25 full items, 11 small sized items and 8 samples (44 in total). Compared to last year I used up 49 items in total, but fewer fuller items and more samples. So for sure using more samples, takes a toll of your full sized items. Of the decluttered items in 2024 I decluttered 3 full size products and one sample. Compared to 2023 I decluttered 3 full size items and no samples.

Discontinued products due to perioral dermatitis

So after some contemplating about this skin condition I have and reading online about chemicals in products I decided to stop using these products due to my perioral dermatitis:

I have stopped using these products

So the products are:

Nivea daily essentials purifying washing gel: it contains SLS in it so I have stopped using this. I tried to turn it into a hand soap, and omg how dry my hands became after only one wash so I can not imagine I ever put this on my face. I threw it away.

Lumene Vitamine C+ age defying arctic cloudberry balancing day cream: I stopped using this mainly because the cream states to be anti-aging, and that can aggravate perioral dermatitis, and when I got my first outbreak of perioral dermatitis, I had just started to use this cream. Third and final reason I am not using it anymore is the texture, it is very liquity, so I even wonder if it is old and the formula has been damaged in some way. In the trash it went.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB: this I was using last summer, the tube is over 2 years old, and as the outbreak of perioral dermatitis started after the summer it made me wonder if this was one of the causes. So this went to the trash.

Korres white tea cleansing foam: this contains SLS, and as many say that is bad for perioral dermatitis so I gave it to a friend.

Guerlain Terracotta lip gloss in Terre d'or: I stopped using this (even though I had put in a project pan) as it had started to smell like plastic, and the product had seperated, and was one of the product I used a lot during the summer, just before my flare up. So I threw it in the trash.

Neutrogena visably clear pink grapefruit daily scrub: I am so sad that this product contains SLS, so I have stopped using it.

Sadly the perioral dermatitis has not  100% gone away after I stopped using these products, but I for sure now have a super sensitive skin, and might even think it started because of sun screen (which can also aggetate perioral dermatitis). So I have to be super selective when I choose products which I intend to use on my face, so I believe these products were not good for me anyway.

Thank you for reading.

Empties September - December 2015

I did not finish a lot of products during this time, one of the reasons might be that I have developed a skin condition called perioral dermatitis, which describes itself with a rash around the mouth (and can appear around eyes also). Thus I have been very hesitant to use new facial products, as it started in the beginning of September, when I started using a new facial wash, a new moisturizer and a toner I had not used in over 2 months. It is really hard to cover up, as makeup can make it worse. I have now been on a 2 month antibiotic tablet course, which has made it disappear. But it might come again, so I need to be super careful of what I use on my skin, and have become very skeptical regarding different products, I have not dared to use the moisturizer or the facial wash I had just started when the PD (perioral dermatitis) appeared. So I might do a another post soon on products that I am afraid to use, as they might have been the PD trigger, either due to ingredients or the fact the products I have are turning old.

But here are my empties for Septemer - December 2015:

Empties September-December 2015

John Freida full repair full body conditioner - a good and softening conditioner, but nothing spectacular. Over priced, might buy again when on discount

Lumene bright touch refreshing cleansing foam - super nice facial foam wash

Golden Rose mega volume and length city style mascara - I think this mascara has tiny black fibers in it, it did not bother my eyes, and was super nice and the price in Turkey was great (wish I had bought this type again)

Nivea pure and natural regenerating night care - very nice night cream, my first night cream in fact. Now the bottle comes in plastic which makes me not want to buy it, as it is cheap looking.

Empties July - August 2015

So here are my empties for July and August 2015 - a lot of them are holiday related as I was on a long holiday this summer,

Lavera sunscreen sensitive kids

Sunscreens, mosquito repellent, creams, nail polish and facial wash

Duru perfume shower gel in exotic bamboo

Verdicts:
Lavera sunscreen: will never buy again, it was awful, had to scrubb it off my skin as it made a white layer on top of my skin
Nivea sunscreen spf 30 pocket size: perfect to carry around in your purse when you need to reapply sunscreen on the go - and not too heavy to carry around either.
Off aqua anti mosquito spray: awful, I sprayed it all over my legs and arms and still was bitten many times over by mosquitos - will never buy again
Wet and Wild base coat: a very old one, managed to use a lot of it even though it was thick - perfect as a base coat for toes.
Proderm sunscreen spf 30: a very good moose sunscree (and paraben free)
Body farm pommengranate 24 hour cream: very good - bought a different cream from same company now in Greece.
Summertime anti mosquito spray: not a good one - sprayed all over, still got bitten.
Lumene BB serum
Korres yougurt face mask: an ok facial mask - love the size that it's so small.
Yes to cucumbers after sun shimmering serum; beautiful after sun watery after sun treatment, not too shimmery either.
Clinique facial wash: love it, very gentle and perfect travel size.
Sin Kov anti mosquito spray: the BEST anti mosquito spray I have ever tried, just a few sprits and you get no bites at all - will 100% buy again, when in Turkey (where I bought it)
Duru perfume exotic bamboo shower gel: this was so cheap in the supermarket in Turkey, came in very handy as a hand soap and a shower gel during my travels, and not too strong of a scent either.

Untill next time,
Elin

Turkey Haul - what made it home

Bioderma; I picked up the legendary Bioderma micellar water - and I'm testing it out as we speak - but truth be told I can not spot the difference between this and the Garnier micellar water.
Nivea sun bronze and protect sunscreen spf 30: picked this up in Turkey as I imagined it would be a lot cheaper in Turkey compared to Greece - which turned out to be the case as i paid about 1200 ISK for it in Migros supermarket in Marmaris, compared to INKA supermarket in Greece where it was about 2100 ISK. Like it a lot, only downside: it contains parabens.
Golden rose maxim eyes mascara
Favorite sun - after sun aloe vera gel: the cheapest I could find in Side and was 15 turkish liras. It works fine
Golden rose miracle lash mascara
Elidor shampoo and conditiones (this bottle represents both) - pretty good for the price
Sephora glass file
Sephora pink tweezers

Empties May - September 2014

So this is what I managed to finish now these last few months:

Empties May - September

The body shop Nutriganics foaming facial wash - a very nice and gentle facial wash, it might not have the best smell in to world, but not too bad either and 98% organic - which I love.

Proderm sunscreen mousse SPF 30 - paraben free and my favorite sun-screen, only downside it is quite expensive and can not be bought everywhere.

Oleosome eye gel for dry skin - this is my first eye cream, my skin is not dry, but it has not irritated my eye area. But don't know if I see a difference, but it has not made my eye area worse.

Nivea Sun protect and bronze SPF 30 - contains parabens, sadly - but it is a great sunscreen - did not burn once - and got a really nice bronze tan :)

Lumene Arctic Aqua 2in1 skin perfecting moisture booster - a very nice gel like serum, gives my skin some extra moisture, though even it might be oily, it's sometimes lacking moisture.

Peter Thomas Roth mega rich body lotion - got this when I was staying in a hotel somewhere - do not like the smell, and the cream is too thin also - but handy while travelling.

Nivea Sun pocket size SPF 30 - this is genius, only 50 ml - so it's not to heavy to carry in your purse while strolling through cities, and you can take care of your skin and re-apply sunscreen without dragging a huge bottle around.

Nivea sun protect and bronze SPF 30 - spray bottle, I like this one better than the cream - as it is more lightweight, and doesn't leave you with white streaks all over your body after you come out of the water. Only downside; it has parabens in it.

Vaseline essential moisture pure oat extract. This has been my favorite brand for many years... they have so good moisturizers - downside: it has parabens, magnesium aluminum sterate (is that bad for you?) and petrolatum - I swore I was not going to use any products with petrolatum and parabens - but sometimes you can not find anything else so you have to compromize.

Aerie Whoa eau de toilette samplers - love the smell of this one, if I had an Aerie store within my reach and not too many toilettes already I would definetly buy this one.

Steam cream in happyness - I absoloutly hate the smell of this - it smells to me like a foot cream. My sister gave it to me with good intentions a few years ago, and now when I went to Turkey I thought I would finish it up as it was lightweight and not to heavy for my skin during summer. What happened when I opnened it after the flight, it had all separated, the cream and oil were now floating around in the jar, and it was super liquidy. If it was the heat change from home to Turkey, the shake during the flight, airpressure or what, I don't know. But I used it for my face in the beginning and then ended up using it on my feet and legs, as suddenly it got more rich than before. Really strange - will not buy again!

Sample slaying

I've been on a bit of a rampage, going through my closets, and finding a lot of sample sizes of the various products. Went on a bit of a mission to finish those samples up, and here is the result:

So what I slayed:

YSL Manifesto eau de parfum - a very sophisticated scent, in some way it reminds me of She by Armani

Lumene Arctic touch purifying peat-facial mask - I really liked this, it cleaned my skin without stripping it completely dry

Anna Sui, Sui dreams - a smell that i find a bit young, probably nice for those who are just starting to wear scents.

Elizabeth Arden, After five - this tester had deffinetly gone bad, but I remember that it smelled nice when I got it..

The body shop, White musk eau de toilette - this just reminds me of high-school, as everyone was wearing a white musk scented oil by The body shop, and I did to, I'm just over this scent and not even sure I can finish it.

Nivea, Cellular anti-age Day cream + Skin-refining serum -  these are really good, usually I don't have big expectations for Nivea products, as the seem so mainstreem to me. But these are excelent, the scent reminds me of the blue original Nivea cream in the metal jar. This I would deffinetly purchase, but I'm trying to post-pone using products titled anti-aging, as my skin is still fairly young-looking.. but a few years down the line deffinetly.

So now all this (except the white musk toilette from The body shop) is going to the bin and out of my bathroom. De-clutter is a good thing.

Thank you for reading,
Ella