Empties 2025

So what items did I use up during the year of 2025? Here comes the breakdown as well as the items I decluttered over the course of the year.

The big empties of 2025

Mostly skincare empties of 2025

Finished makeup items of 2025

Finished samples and a hand cream in 2025

Empties:

Lumene - Nordic bloom anti-wrinkle & firm v-shape serum (30 ml): I really do not remember how this performed, it had been in my stash for some time, so it was time for it to get used up.

Kérastase Paris - K genesis anti hair-fall fortifying shampoo (250 ml): This was a very nice shampoo, if it is worth the price tag, well that is another story, but when I bought it I was dealing with severe hair loss, so this shampoo, the Kérastase treatment and vitamins seems to have done the trick.

BioEffect - Osa water mist (60 ml): this is an amazing rehydrating mist, I usually used over makeup, sadly BioEffect is not carrying it anymore in it's lineup, something to do with the packaging I heard. The last remaining product turned out to be difficult to use, so I ended up cutting the corner off and putting the remaining product into a Muji spray bottle I purchased in in New York specially for that purpose. 

One Direction - Our moment eau de parfum (100 ml): This bottle was in my beauty goals for 2020 and my project pan 2023. Obviously I did not use it up in either of those missions, but none the less it has remained as my main fragrance since then, and I did finally manage to use it up. And finally I made room for a new fragrance purchase in the year 2025, after being on a fragrance no buy for years. 

Matas Natur - 2 in 1 rensemælk e-vitamin & aloe vera (200 ml): This cleansing milk was quite nice, but I still prefer micellar water for cleansing, but it was nice to switch it up. And I do believe I have a cleansing milk in my stash waiting to be used. 

Bioderma - Sensibio H2O micellar water makeup remover (250 ml): This apparently is the Rolls Royce when it comes to micellar waters. Yes it is really nice, and good for sensitive skin, significantly better than other micellar waters? I am not entirely sure, but I still like it.

Herbal Essences - Rose hips Shampoo (100 ml): This is an amazing shampoo and comes in the perfect travel size. Would 100% repurchase 

Guinot - Hydra fraicheur toning lotion (30 ml): This I was gifted with the Guinot advent calendar in 2022 - so it is about time I finish it. I liked it and did use it up.

Manufactura - Dead sea soft day face cream (50 ml): This cream I purchased in Prague a few years ago, and I did just manage to finish it as it was labelled to expire during the summer of 2025 - it was not the best cream for my perioral dermatitis, but ok to use a few times a month and I did manage to finish it exactly in that way, to take it with me on work trip overseas.

Vichy - Aqua thermal serum (30 ml): This was probably purchased in 2019 in Toronto, and in fact expired in 2020 - it did not have the same texture as the previous bottle I had of this, probably due to the fact it was expired. Further emphasizing the fact I really need to stop hoarding skincare products - and use the stuff I already have. 

The body shop - Aloe soothing toner (250 ml): Forever my favorite toner for sensitive skin. I rarely stray from this one, unless it is a sample or a gift. 

Ecooking - Primer (30 ml): This is a fantastic primer, and I will for sure repurchase, when I have used some of my backups up. 

Dr. Organic - Bioactive skincare - Organic Manuka honey skin lotion (200 ml): I have a good feeling about this brand, being clean and containing nice ingredients and it feels nice on the skin. Now it is onward to finish other lotions in my stash. 

La Roche-Posay - Kerium DS creme (40 ml): I did purchase this a few years ago, when I had peeling skin. I have not dealt with that for quite some time, still I decided to use this creme up as it has lived in my bathroom cabinet for some time.  

Beauty blender - Blender cleanser (90 ml): I got this a few years ago, and it is an amazing cleanser, quite liquidly and is excellent to clean sponges and brushes. 

Neutrogena - Norvegian formula hand cream fragrance free (50 ml): This is a great hand cream, thick and feels a bit like Vaseline, and keeps the moisture in your hands. 

Biossance - Squalane + omega repair cream (15 ml): A deluxe sample that definitely originates from Sephora. It is nice, not sure I would buy full size though. 

Zenology - Vitalising conditioner - sycamore fig (30 ml): This for sure comes from one of the hotels I visit every month, nothing to write home about, interesting spa like scent though. 

Clarins - Joli rouge satin lipstick in 711 papaya (3.5 g): It felt amazing to finish this one (although there remains a little bit of it left, as I mixed the remaining product that was below the plastic base at the bottom of the tube with my Sensai total lip gloss). But this bullet is completely finished. I do love the color, and have had several people complementing me on the fact it is a nice color that suits me well. I would consider repurchasing it later when I have fewer lipsticks in my stash, but it is really a nice summer color. But glad to have it done, as it is shamefully old.

Ilia - Limitless lash mascara - midnight (3 g): I love using these small mascaras, as if I get an eye infection (which has happened a few times in these last few years) as then I do not have to throw out a new full size one. The wand on this one is plastic, and has a comb on one side and bristles on the other. It was quite nice. 

Saie - Mascara 101 - black/noir (5 g): The wand on this one was plastic also, but quite short - and I prefered the Ilia wand over this one. 

Rare beuty - Mascara - black (8 ml): I tend to prefer plastic wands over bristly hairy wands. But this one was amazing for a bristly hairy wand. Plus the mascara itself was also very nice. 

Essence - All about matt fixing compact powder (8 g): I purchased this years ago on the recommendation from Miss budget beauty. Prior to using this powder I did use a loose one, and I do not really need a super mattifying setting powder, but it was nice to use it in a light way to set my foundation, and glad I was able to use it up. 

Diorshow - Maximizer 3D - triple action lash primer serum volume, curl & definition (10 ml): This mascara primer I do really like, I would have continued to use this tube, if I had not developed an eye infection - hence I did quit using this tube. 

Sigma - Sigmagic brushampoo - 100% natural liquid brush cleanser (7.5 ml): This product is much thicker than the Beauty blender cleanser. I did manage to get a few uses out of this, which came in handy after I finished the Beauty blender cleanser. 

Skinfix - Triple lipid-peptide cream (2 ml): I am very curious about this brand, so I was very happy to get it in Sephora, and I am likely to buy something from this brand in the future. 

Dr. Hauschka - Regenerating eye cream (1.5 ml): This eye cream is very consistent with the Dr. Hauschka brand - white and smells like all other items I have tried from the brand.

Abercrombie & Fitch - Authentic woman Eau de parfum (2 ml): I tend to travel with these mini fragrances for work, I just put on one spray and I am good for the flight back home to Iceland. And these small bottles last surprisingly long, until I finish one, and put another small sample into my travel makeup bag. I really like the smell of this one, and might purchase in the future. 

Biotherm - Aqua pure super concentrate (1 ml): I just used this for the sake of using it and get rid of it. The product itself, after testing 1 ml there is not a lot to say. 

Nature Republic - Avocado hand cream (30 ml): I do love the hand balms from this brand, and as can be seen on the picture, I cut it open to get to every drop. 

Milk Makeup - Hydro grip primer: This tester lasted perhaps for two applications, or three, I was not sold on it, but then again, I like more creamy primers vs. gel types like this one. 

Decluttered items and samples in 2025

Declutters:

Inglot - Beautifier tinted cream in shade 102 (1.5 ml): This was in my project pan 2025 - the color was way too dark and I ended up throwing it away. 

Inglot - YSM cream foundation in shade 45 (1.5 ml): This was also in my project pan 2025, also too dark, I mixed it in with another foundation a few times, but ended up not reaching for it, and in the end threw it away. 

Sunday Riley - Good genes lactic acid treatment (5 ml): Since I got this I used it perhaps two times, and as I have sensitive skin I am a bit hesitant to use acids, so this I am decluttering. 

Lancome - Galatée confort - Cleansing milk (50 ml): This I had in all honesty forgotten I owned and came across in my bathroom cabinet, it had turned from white color, to a yellowish brown and smelled strongly, so now this is being decluttered. 

The body shop - Brow and lash gel (10ml): This was in my project pan 2025, but I had to stop using it, as it left white colored clumps in my eyebrows when I used it. 

Becca - Backlight priming filter (15 ml): I think I have perhaps used half of this tube. I was planning to use it in my project pan for 2026 after I finished my Ecooking one, but after giving it a few goes, I am sure it breaks me out, as after each time of using it my skin gets red and bumpy so it is time to declutter it. 

Becca - Under eye brightening corrector (2.3 g): I had a full size backup of this one, which I decided to open, and it turns out that jar is much creamier compared to this one. So this one either had a different formula to the full size one or it has dried severely out since I purchased it. Also it had started to develop quite the waxy smell, almost like a box of Crayola wax colors, and I could not smell the same scent on the new one, so it was due for a declutter.

Maybelline - Eye studio gel eyeliner in brown (3 g): This I probably purchased in Florida in 2015 and I have not used it for years so it was about time to let go of it. It was surprisingly soft though when depotting it to recycle the glass. 

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In the year 2025 I did manage to finish seven color cosmetics, and I have at least managed to finish color cosmetics for the amount of 16.200 ISK, or about 130 USD. And that is only the amounts for the items I have information about and then I do not have the price of any of the skincare. That would be an interesting thought though - how much do the cosmetics + skincare cost we use throughout the year?

September haul from France

As I chose to go to the French riviera for summer holidays this year, of course I visited a few stores on the trip. I visited a fragrance manufacturer in the town of Grasse in the south of France; Fragonard, there we got a guided tour in English about the production that takes place in the factory, short introduction about the origin of plants used in the fragrance industry, the noses who "design" the scents and the difference between eau de toilette and parfums. There were all kinds of interesting things the guide went over on the tour, for example if you spray a parfum on your wrist you are not supposed to rub your wrists together, only tap, other vise you ruin the molecules in the parfum! The tour then of course ended in the store, and omg I have seldom seen as many people in a buying frenzy!! People were buying A LOT. Everyone came out of the store with their husbands carrying big bags loaded with soaps, perfumes, and home fragrances. I got a bit inspired, and did buy a few things. But I am sure my body chemistry is different in the south of France in 28 degrees Celsius vs. Iceland 8 degrees! I just hope the fragrances I did buy end up working for me as I have become quite sensitive to scents and some tend to give me a headache in the last few years.  

Perfumes, eye cream, face cream and a deodorant

French pharmacy haul

Fragonard - Fleur de citronnier eau de toilette (50 ml): This scent reminds me a lot of Dolce & Gabbana light blue - it is the year edition from Fragonard, and this year they went with the citrus flower. I had been smelling the Light blue from D&G but this one actually smells nicer so I decided to grab a bottle after spraying it on me, and it being very light, fresh and airy. It is a bit of a summer scent though, so I will proably save it for next summer. Now I just regret of not have taken 2 bottles as this is a limited edition and I will probably never get my hands on another bottle! 

Embryolisse - Radiant eye express cooling and refreshing eye care stick (4.5 g): I came across this by total accident in one of the pharmacies I visited on my holiday. It costed less than 20 Euro so I just decided to grab it. Later I found out it costs about two times as much in Iceland!! It is very cooling, and a genius product as a matter of a fact.

Olivéa - Deodorant pierre d'alun (60 g): This I just randomly saw in the supermarket, I already have a crystal deodorant, but for one reason or another I thought it would be a genius idea to buy one in France.

Fragonard - Face cream - Royal jelly skin care (50 ml): My mom loves royal jelly, and as this was available for purchase at the perfume factory I decided to grab one for me and one for my mom.

Fragonard - Juste un baiser parfum (15 ml): Originally I spayed this perfume on me in the store, I also tried the eau de toilette. And walking around Grasse one hour later I could hardly smell it on myself anymore, which is always a good sign in regards to fragrances, so I decided to go back and buy the smallest version which is this 15 ml. Right away in the evening I regretted not to have purchased a bigger bottle, as the scent just kept on getting better as the day passed. 

Fragonard - Juste un baiser eau de toilette (100 ml): So full of buyers remorse of not having gotten a bigger bottle of the parfum in Grass, I grabbed this one in a store in Cannes. And can you imagine that this 100 ml eau de toilette costs the same as the 15 ml parfum? I feel there is a small difference between the parfum and the eau de toilette - maybe the alcohol in the eau de toilette is making that version a little bit stingy and the parfum version to be a little bit more grounded and earthy. I just hope these scents will work for me as well as they did in 28 degrees in France, in Iceland in winter - but this is definitely more of a all year round scent vs. the Fleur de citronnier, the Juste un baiser might be more of a winter one. 

Bioderma - Créaline H2O L'eau micellaire originale (2 x 500 ml): I do recommend that you visit a few pharmacies to do a small price comparison on the things that you are considering to buy. For example this duo was 8 Euros more expensive in another pharmacy compared to the pharmacy I bought this in. Did I need two 500 ml micellar water bottles, definitely not, but they will for sure be used up in the end.

Klorane - Anti-hair loss strenghtening & stimulating shampoo (400 ml): I have been struggling with a lot of hair loss for the last 12 months or so, so I did not need a push when I saw this on the shelf, and I am willing to try anything 

A Derma - Exomega control emolient shower oil anti-scratching (500 ml): I bought small bottle of this a few years ago. And it is amazing, I had actually seen this refill on a discount in a pharmacy in Oslo, there the discount was only for members of the "club" so I did not buy it there - then when I saw this on an offer for just over 10 Euro in France, I jumped on it. No membership needed! I love France!

Marvis - Whitening mint fuoride toothpaste (85 ml): Then this has become a classic purchase for a lot of people traveling to France or Italy - I just finished a small tube of this type so I just grabbed a big one this time. 

What did you buy on holiday this year?

January - May haul 2025

So much for sticking to my no buy 2025 - where I gave myself the exception to purchase two items until Black Friday sales in 2025! I caved in three times, as I purchased three items, and that in effect when only just over three months have passed of the year! 

The first purchase was made on my birthday whilst on a work-trip abroad. In came the "birthday" blues - so a trip to Target was just the medicine where I ended up buying myself a elf blush. The other purchases were two different lip balms - one from Refy and the other from Violette Fr. Then some other stuff came into my possession in the form of gifts and purchases, mainly hair-products, a category which I have so far not been wild about. 

Hair towel, mini Guinot products and a hair serum

Sephora gift, samples, and a gifted facemask

Kerastase conditioner and shampoo

Cosrx - The 6 peptide skin booster (30 ml): This was the Utla birthday gift in 2025 - and I was fortunate enough to be close to a Ulta store in my birthday month to pick one up.

Aquis flip - hair drying tool - wove with copper sure: This hair towel I ran into at a Marshalls store in Baltimore. This one is woven with copper which is supposed to be good for the hair. It was on a really nice discount, well turns out the elastic was not very well sown into the base. So I had to sow it up again. But as I have been dealing with hair-loss it is worth giving a go.

Elf - Camo liquid blush - Peach perfect (4 ml): This I got tempted to buy on my birthday in February, wandering around the isles in Target being hit with a wave of the birthday blues. Since I have perhaps used it two or three times, it is a very soft color.

Guinot - Micellaire cleansing water (30 ml): My sister had already gifted me a x-mas calendar containing these Guinot products. But my mom was also gifted this calendar, and she figured she would not use any of them, so she ended up giving me a few of them. 

Kerastase Genesis - Fortifying serum (90 ml): I have been dealing with considerable hair-loss in the last six months or so, and after seeing this being recommended all over social media I decided to grab a bottle during the Sephora sale. It turned out to be hard to find it in store, as I had to visit three different stores in Washington DC to find it in stock. You are supposed to use it every day, in combo with the shampoo and conditioner from the same line. I have not used it like that, but when it is getting closer to a hair-wash day, I put it in the day in before a wash. The smell of this product is nice, but it tends to linger for at least 24 hours. I have also started taking hair-vitamin on a regular basis, and hope I will able to turn this hair-loss around. 

Guinot - Express eye makeup remover (30 ml): This was also re-homed to me from my mom. 

Guinot - Hydra toning lotion (30 ml): The last item I got from my mom. I better start using some of these items, as I have duplicates by now. But they are the perfect size to take to work or on holiday. 

L'occitane - Hand cream - dry skin (30 ml): One of my co-worker who was flying with us on standby, gifted all of the crew small hand-creams. A perfect size for the handbag.

Refy - Tinted lip gloss - Taupe (13 ml): This was a 100% weakness purchase. I had seen this color featured on some social media. And during a layover in Washington I forgot my lip-balm at my hotel room, and instead of me going back to fetch it - I popped into the next Sephora store and bought this one. The color is super soft though - and does hardly show up on my lips at all, I might as well have purchased the clear gloss. But then my lips are quite rosy pigmented. 

Summer Fridays - Lip butter balm - Pink sugar (7 g): This was a part of the Sephora birthday gift for 2025 - so of course I decided to grab the free gift this year.

Summer Fridays - Jet lag mask (15 g): Also a part of the Sephora birthday gift, and have I heard nice things about this mask.

Violette Fr - Bisou Jelly - Bonbon Caramel (2.5 g): This is a brand I have had my eye on for some time, and now it just launched in Sephora. So I got tempted to buy one item in New York. Not sure the color suits me very well, it is described as a warm caramel color, maybe I will just put it aside for a few months as it might be more suitable in the autumn. 

Summer Fridays - Rich cushion cream ultra plumping moisturizer (2 ml): The third and last item in the Sephora birthday gift.

Elemis - Pro-collagen marine cream (2 x 2 ml): This most likely came into my possession at Sephora, as some free samples they give you with purchase. 

Sephora - Green tea eyes mask (6 g): A friend gifted this to me for my birthday.

PS - Two blender sponges: I came across these at the register at Primark, and I decided to give them a try.

Kerastase Genesis - Fortifying anti hair-fall conditioner (200 ml): After I bought the hair serum from the same line, I saw a summer giftbox on a 20% discount in one of the hair salons of Reykjavik, so I decided to splurge and buy the shampoo and conditioner.

Kerastase Genesis - Anti hair-fall fortifying shampoo (200 ml): This was a part of previously mentioned gift set. I have only used it once, so it's too soon to say if it works. I am also taking hair vitamins on the regular, so any improvement will probably be two sided.  

So all in all - quite the fail from a no-buy until Black Friday 2025. I did give myself the exception to purchase two items until that time, well in the period of January - May I have indeed purchased three items, two of them being a lip product. The third; a liquid blush. Ironically when this spring powder blushes are making a serious comeback. And what on earth do I have to do with more lip glosses when I had 14 lip-glosses before and 7 lip balms? Totaling now in 15 lip glosses and 8 lip balms! It usually takes me years to finish one lip-balm or gloss.... 

Something really needs to change! And the only person who has the power to do it, well it's me!

July - September haul 2024

As per usual some items keep rolling into my possession, let's not even talk about the stuff you see and grab whilst you are on holiday, or the items you purchase for your upcoming trip. 

Mix of Sephora, Target, Amazon and Denmark purchases

Wrinkles schminkles giftbag

Haul mostly from Helsinki and Greece

Biossance - Squalane + marine algae eye cream (3 ml) and Squalane + omega repair cream (15 ml): This I decided to use some of my Sephora points on, moistly as I forgot my moisturizer on a work trip to the US, and also as I was going on holiday and this was a perfect travel size moisturizer for the trip, and I had previously gotten a sample of the cream, and I really did like it.

Miild - Skin glow tinted beauty balm in 02 Soft coral (7.9 ml): This was a recent launch from Miild, and I simply could not resist. The hardest thing was actually to choose the color as all of their options were super cute.

Numbuzin - 2 Cica repair cream (60 ml): This I ordered on Amazon, as it is supposed to be similar to Dr. Jart ceramidin skin barrier cream.  

Miild - Cleansing cream, mild and light for dry and sensitive skin (100 ml): I decided to pick this up on a short holiday in Copenhagen. As this is a brand I am very interested in.

Derma - 30 Sun lotion high spf (150 ml): I picked this up in Fotex in Copenhagen, I was running low on my spf 30 and this grabbed my attention with the "bedst i test" label and being fragrance free.

Herbal Essences - Rose hips shampoo (100 ml): This I picked up in Target specially for holiday 

Herbal Essences - Rose hips conditioner (100 ml): The same for this as the shampoo, perfect size for travelling 

GIVE Beauty - Eye see in sparkle multidimensional eye pigment in the color Dazzle (5.5 g): So much for not falling for a discount! I had been keeping an eye on this product ever since I saw it featured in one of Erin Nicole's videos and had been wondering if I should pull the trigger on it or not. Then when I saw it was on offer, I did indeed pull the trigger.  

CeraVe - Hydrating facial cleanser for normal to dry skin (87 ml): This I also picked up in Target, as I managed to forget my mini Drunk Elephant deluxe sample size at the pool. So I needed a new facial cleanser to take with me to the gym or to the pool. 

Farmacy - Green clean makeup meltaway cleansing balm (20 ml): This I got as a gift with purchase with the Give eye sparkle. I have wanted to try this makeup cleanser, so now is the perfect time to try a mini one. 

Dior - Diorshow maximizer 4D (10 ml): I had an older version of this product (then called 3D) but I had to change it out as I got an eye infection and had to take out the mascara and the Dior 3D maximizer I was using at the time. I have yet not tried this one out, but if it is any good as the 3D I am sure it will be amazing.

Wrinkles Scminkles giftbag - Wrinkles schminkles morning after glow serum (60 ml), Forehead wrinkle patches (2 patches), Neck wrinkle patch, Chest wrinkle patch, mouth & lip wrinkle patches (2 patches), Eye wrinkle patches (6 patches), Self dissolving microneedle patches (4 patches), Silicone patch cleanser (6 x 1.5 ml), 2 scrunchies and a spa headband: This I won in a online Facebook giveaway, I have been curious about this brand for some time, now I can try these multi use patches.

Lumene - Nordic berry length & volume - mascara with cranberry and lash lengthening complex in brown (8 ml): I easily broke my "no buy" on mascaras as I came across the Lumene brand at Helsinki airport. I used to love their blueberry mascara, but as that type did not come in a brown color, so I decided to pick this one up. And I found out the price difference between this product in the supermarket in Helsinki vs. the HEL airport is 2 Euro cheaper at the airport.

Biafin - Skin emulsion (100 ml): Finally I ran into the OG Biafin cream, it is supposed to be good for sensitive skin, minor burns and rashes. 

Olivolio - Deep hydration foot care cream (150 ml): I have bought this before for my mom, and she absolutely loves it, so as I was recommended to use a foot cream, it made perfect sense to pick this up whilst on holiday in Greece.

Donkey milk treasures - Lip balm organic olive oil & beeswax natural spf 15+ (3.2 g): I seem to have managed to loose my spf lip balm, so I grabbed this one in the supermarket in Greece. The packaging is a little bit rinky dink, but the product inside is ok. 

Pharmacy skincare - L300 Normal to combination skin face cream light sensitive (60 ml): The skincare aisle in the supermarket in Helsinki was amazing, so it became the ultimate temptation to buy some skincare there, I was originally going to buy a cream from a Finnish brand that my friend uses, but that turned out to contain parabens, so I opted for this Norwegian brand instead.

Lumene - CC all over concealer in 0.5 light (8.5 ml): This concealer had a massive stand in the supermarket in Helskinki. Did I need a concealer? Definitely not, but somehow it ended in my basket anyway! 

Skinfix - Triple lipid-peptide cream (2 ml): This I got as a sample from Sephora by the entrance when I went in there one day. 

Pff.. now it is seriously time to pull the breaks on this shopping addiction.

August - October Haul 2023

 There is really a general theme for my purchases in 2023 - and the theme is called makeup brushes!! 

The main haul of Augsut - October 2023

Sephora makeup brushes

Testers from Sephora

Elf - Halo glow liquid filter - 1 fair (31.5 ml): This is supposed to be a dupe for the famous Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood flawless filter. I have never tried the CT one, but this one looks promising. I will for sure have to work on a primer in 2024 for my project pan as I seem to have accumulated quite a few throughout the last few years. 

Glow recipe x Barbie - Watermelon glow pink juice moisturizer (25 ml) and Watermelon glow niacinamide dew drops serum (15 ml): My friend asked me to grab one of these sets when I was in the US - and when I saw the packaging, a pink metal box I knew I had to grab one for myself as well. 

Generic Value Products - Color protecting shampoo, compare to Matrix biolage color last shampoo (473 ml): My friend recommended this brand in Sally's Beauty, so I decided to grab a bottle, as I knew Matrix was a good brand, as my mom used to use that brand in her hair salon. 

First aid beauty - KP smoothing body lotion with 10% AHA (170 g): I have the suspicion I suffer from keratosis pilaris (KP) on my legs, as they tend to be red and spotty. It could also just be eczema as in later years I have skin inflammation issues on my face, so it would be no surprise I have developed KP - so when at Ulta in Target I grabbed a tube with me to give a try. 

Neutrogena -  Rapid wrinkle repair regenerating cream, accelerated retinol SA (48 g): I seriously had a shock after one of my flights to the US in October - the lighting in the restroom in my hotel room was too good, so I was able to spot some fine lines I had never spotted before, I went straight to Youtube to find a good retinol for sensitive skin, and this one was one of the ones that came highly recommended. 

Glossier - Monochrome essential eyeshadow trio in almond (3.9 g): I am always drawn into small eyeshadow palettes (over bigger ones), and this came recommended by a few of the youtubers I tend to watch. I usually draw in a dark brown to complete the look, but I have one dark brown single laying around that pairs perfectly with this one, so I am not very disappointed by the fact that this is just a trio instead of a quad. Though quad for the packaging would have been nice. 

Goden Rose - Mega volume city style mascara (9 ml): this purchase broke one my rules for 2023 - not to buy any mascara, but as I was traveling around in Turkey, I just had to grab one of my favorite mascara on that trip. 

Sephora - Pro foundation 47: I got tempted to buy this brush and the following during the latest Sephora sale, on 30% discount.

Sephora - Pro shadow 14: I also got this one on a Sephora 30% sale - in retrospect maybe I should have gotten the smaller eyeshadow brush number 15.

Sephora beauty insider - Glow recipe - Watermelon glow niacinamide dew drops (15 ml) and Watermelon glow PHA + BHA pore tight toner (25 ml): I was gifted these products and the following while browsing in Sephora, Georgetown Washington.

JVN - Complete air dry cream (20 ml): I was also gifted this item in Sephora. I am not entirely sure what is the purpose of this product, do we need a cream in the hair to let it air dry now?

Did you buy something of late?

According to my calculations I have purchased 9 colored items of the 12 I set my self out as a maximum purchase of 2023 of colored cosmetics products - then to that number I can add 3 sample sizes:

Ilia - The necessary eyeshadow palette in cool nude

Maybelline - eyeshadow in nude glow

Inglot - matte eyeshadow in 356

RMS Beauty - Buriti bronzer

Kjær Weis - brown eyeliner

Nars - gloss in Turkish delight

Elf - Halo glow liquid filter

Golden Rose - City style mascara

Glossier - eyeshadow trio in Almond

Ilia - Multi stick in at last (mini)

Ilia - Limitless mascara (mini)

Rose inc - tinted serum (tester)

Total of 12 colored cosmetics, three of the items are testers/gift with purchase sizes, so I wonder if they should could towards the total 12 count? Still there is quite some product in those samples.

What of the items I purchased I could have skipped? Or which of these I did not like so much in retrospect? Number one that comes to mind, and most likely the only item on this list; the Inglot eyeshadow, it is superdry and almost no pigment comes off from it.

Best purchase? The eyeliner from Kjær Weis and the Turkish delight gloss from Nars - those two are amazing. 

Nota bene I have not started to use the following: Ilia multi stick, Ilia mascara, Rose inc tinted serum, Elf halo glow and the Golden rose mascara..

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 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?

USA + CAN Haul

So in the last few stops I have had in N-America I picked a few things up

USA + CAN Haul

John Frieda - Brilliant brunette multi tone revealing moisturizing shampoo (750 ml): This shampoo I have used from time to time, I really like the brand, but it tends to be way too expensive in Iceland. So when I saw this at 9.99 CAD in Marshalls, it jumped into my hand and to the register.

Vichy - Aqualia thermal hydrating serum (30 ml): this I picked up in a Shoppers Drugmart in Toronto, in spite of me planning to go "stock free" as my friends motto is. Not to have a big stock of backups waiting to be used, rather buy when you are out, or couple of days/a week of running out. I wish to go more towards that direction, but given the price difference of French pharmacy skincare products between Canada and the States, I decided to pick this serum up as a backup for the one I am using now from Lumene.

La Roche-Posay - Micellar water: the lovely shop assistant at Shoppers Drugmart, who suggested the Vichy serum for my skintype, kindly gave this to me as a bonus with that purchase. An absolute perfect travel size.

Shea Moisture - African Black soap, acne prone face and body bar: I am not acne prone, but love this soap for my skin, and it seems to keep my perioral dermatitis at bay. And as long as it works, I am reluctant to try anything else, and when I saw this small bar, I thought it would be a perfect replacement, when I run out of the last pieces of the rest of my original bar - which now live in a small soapbox in my suitcase.

Sonia Kashuk - precision concealer makeup brush: This I picked up in Target (see here) intended for use with my Soap and glory - kick ass concealer, which has two concealer colors, one more of a yellow tone which works perfectly on the face, blended in with your finger. But the pinky/salmon tone of the concealer I have never been able to get to work under my eyes to color correct dark circles. It always ended up to thick, dry and impossible to blend in under my eye. I really hoped that this brush would work with that concealer, long story short; it did not help it at all, still too dry and difficult to blend out under the eye. Maybe I should even return the brush, as I do not really have any other use for it?

Empties May - August 2018

So here come the empties for the summer of 2018

Empties summer 2018

Bath and body works - Farmstand apple hand cream (59 ml): An above average hand cream, I might repurchase.

Wet and wild - nailpolish in the color 442A (14 ml): As I loved this color, and it was hard to replace, I am still glad this is finished and one bottle less in my pile of nail polish - maybe I will pan another one in 2019.

Dove - Repair therapy, Color radiance hair mask (200 ml): talked about this one in my last beauty goals update (see here). 

Herbal essences - hydralicious reconditioning shampoo (300 ml): One of my favorite shampoo's and it has been ever since my hair was super dehydrated from bleaching it a few years ago. Have been trying to find it in Target in the USA without success.

La Roche-Posay - Toleriane ultra face cream (40 ml): Loved this face cream for the summer, ultra light and did not irritate my skin at all. The only downside is how difficult it is to get the last drop of product out of the packaging, as I attacked it with a knife to break into it.

Victoria's secret - Unwrap me, beauty rush, whipped cream and winter pear, body dial-a-shimmer lotion (200 ml): finally this bottle is finished, and omg what an effort it took, had to depot it into other jars to use it up while on holiday, and at home. Even though I am ecstatic that it is finished, I will miss the shimmer in it a bit though.

BIO Effect - EGF serum (3 ml): it is a super moisturizing serum which I use underneath my day cream, a bit on the sticky side though.

Helena Rubinstein - All mascaras complete eye makeup remover (125 ml): I did not find this makeup remover to work as well as my Estee Lauder bi-facil eye makeup reomover. Maybe it works good on regular mascaras, but on water proof and stubborn ones it does not work as well as bi-facil.
Erborian - BB cream au ginseng (sample): Love this bb cream, would love to repurchase, but am not sure on the SPF ingredients in it. A lovely light but a bit orangy formula, but it works fine now as I have worked up a bit of a tan over the summer. Reminds me a bit of my favorite Garnier miracle cream.
It Cosmetics - Your skin but better CC+ cream with SPF 50+ (fair) (sample): I am on the fence with this product after using the sample up, it is very pigmented, but still light on the skin. But it might be a little bit too pigmented for my liking, as I like a very sheer foundation on my skin most of the time. Might repurchase in the future though.
Inglot - Beautyfier tinted cream, shade 101 (sample): I loved the texture of this light "foundation" or bb-cream. But not sure it was working with my perioral dermatitis. I found some irritation in my skin on occasion. So not a winner, sadly, as I really wanted it to be. Full info here.
The body shop - Pink grapefruit hand cream (30 ml): a light and pleasant smelling hand cream, but after I started working as cabin crew, my hands have become severely dehydrated, and this was not moisturizing enough for my dehydrated hands. Before that job, I could though not see any fault with it.
Tatcha - The water cream (1 ml) (sample): See description in this post.
Mádara - City CC -hyluronic anti-pollution cc cream SPF 15: I am not sure if this was aggravating my perioral dermatitis breakout, as I was using this in conjunction with my Ready set gorgeous foundation from Cover Girl. Will report back when I try to find out which one is the culprit.
Neutrogena - Light sesame formula body lotion: This has been living in my gym bag for years, along with a few other hotel body lotions, so now this summer I decided it was about time to use some of these samples up and get rid of them. So this is the first of them, was it good, no, I would say below average body lotion.

So now three more items of my Beauty goals for 2018 are used up, leaving me five items which I have yet to reach my goal on; Dove - intense repair overnight cream (120 ml), Bourjois Paris - Happy light luminous serum primer (15 ml), Estée Lauder - Double wear, stay in place powder makeup SPF10 (16 g) - color 2N2 Fresco 01, Lancome le crayon kohl noir (0,7 g) and my Clinique - Blush in Fig (1,8 g). So five items left when there are 4 months remaining of this year. Not an optimum situation, as I had hoped I would have finished more items by this point of the year. But realistically I am sure I can finish the Dove hair cream, the Lancome eye kohl pencil and perhaps the Bourjois primer. But as the year has progressed I am not sure I will be able to finish the Estée Lauder powder foundation or the Clinique blush as there is so much remaining of those products, as could be seen in my six month update for the Beauty goals for 2018.

Empties February - April 2018

So here are the empties for the monts of February, March and April. Also there is included a one declutter.

Shampoo, body cream and face creams

Mascara, concealer and lip products

So for the three months from February and until the end of April I have finished up seven products, and decluttered one.

Nip+Fab - Tummy fix (100 ml): this gel cream is an anti cellulite cream, which I used on my thighs by a recomendation by an icelandic beauty guru, I never used it consistently enough though to see any difference, but glad it is finished. Will not repurchase.
Maria Nila - Pure volume shampoo (350 ml):  a sulphate and paraben free shampoo from the super popular Swedish brand Maria Nila, It was good, but maybe not as good as the hype about it suggest, and the price tag? Super expensive in Iceland.
The Body Shop - Vitamin C skin boost (30 ml): a kind of a serum cream, which had a bit of a slippy feeling - for sure not a favorite.
Lumene - Lahde (spring water) Intense hydration 24h moisturizer (50 ml): my absolutely favorite moisturizer - already have a backup, but I also want to try the Lumene vitamin c cream.
Lumene - Blueberry wild volume mascara (7 ml): this used to be my absolutely favorite mascara, that was before they changed the wand on it -
Nip+Fab - Eye fix (2 ml): this is the item I decluttered, and oh my gosh, it was never good. It is a super pinky concealer for under eyes, but when I pulled it out of my stash it had separated, and the forumula was all lumpy, so to the bin it goes.
Dior - Dior addict gloss in 643 Diablotine (6,5 ml): a warm coral shimmery gloss, which was bought years ago. Really liked the dior formula, would like to buy this formula again in a different tone, when I have managed to finish some of my glosses and lipsticks I already own.
Labello - olive and lemon lip balm (4,8 g/5,5 ml): a great lip balm that does not aggravate my perioral dermatitis rash to burst out.

What have you used up lately?

Empties January - October 2017

This year I have been a bit out of the blog scene as I have been busy writing my master thesis, but now when that has been handed in, defended and I have formally graduated there is about time to get back to blogging. And it's about time for me to do an empties, and this time, a whopping empties from January to the end of October 2017.

Empties Jan-Oct

Empties Jan-Oct

So I have accumulated quite an amount of products I have finished up this year.

Favourite sun - After sun aloe vera gel: I bought this in Turkey a few years back, and these type of product; Aloe vera gels I use in particular when I go abroad. And is a complete must for me to have on a beach holiday as it can really help when you get sunburned, or if the skin is red after a day in the sun. This brand was quite the average Aloe vera gel, neither better or worse than any other.

Pantene Pro-V - Repair & Protect, miracle protecting conditioner: when I go to the States, I tend to stock up on shampoo and conditioners, as they are so much cheaper in America compared to Iceland. And this was no exception, and would I say that this is an average Pantene Pro-V contitioner.

Garnier - Micellar cleansing water: my absolute favorite micellar water brand. It get's rid of all eye-makeup without any rubbing or scrubbing. Have tried a few other brands, but Garnier remains my favorite of all time.

Lumene - Radiant touch refreshing toner for normal/combination skin: I loved this toner, it left my skin clean and clear. Would buy again, if I would not have a thing for trying new toners on a regular basis.

John Frieda - Brilliant Brunette multi-tone revealing daily moisture shampoo for natural or highlighted brunettes: this is one of the shampoo's I bought in the States as well. I generally like the John Frieda shampoo and conditioners and love the smell of them. In the States I tend to buy them, but I think they are a bit over priced in Iceland for what they are.

Kiss my face - Natural Active Life deodorant, fragrance free: a few years ago after seeing a documentary about aluminum in deodorants I took on an extensive research about aluminum free deodorants and watch video after video on Youtube about them. And did I end up ordering this brand through Amazon. As a matter of a fact I love it, it has no scent, which sometimes I miss a little bit. But it does not irritate my skin (which some more "organic" deodorants do). But I love that it is a stick, which is my preferred type of deodorant, I hate the sprays and the wet roller-ball feels too cold and wet in the morning.

Burt's Bees - Tinted lip balm, honeysuckle: loved this lip balm, and even scraped the product out of the container, so I was able to use every single bit of it up.

Biotherm Eau Soleil, fragrance tester: I love this scent, and would 100% buy if I did not own way to many fragrances at the moment. But will for sure keep this in mind when my "stock" goes down.

Hollister - SoCal, fragrance: one of my favorite fragrances, but unfortunately it has been discontinued. But very happy I was able to use it up before it went bad, plus it was a part of my "beauty goals for 2017" to use up.

Forever - Aloe Jojoba shampoo: a small tester I got when I was buying a aloe vera juice from Forever. This packet though was way to small for me to have some opinion about it.

Dr. Organic - Organic Manuka Honey cream - rescue: I bought this cream on a whim when I was in Copenhagen last autumn, after my perioral dermatitis flared up. It was a good facial cream, but not sure it worked any miracles, and not sure if I would repurchase.

Lumene Cloudberry length serum mascara: a plastic wand mascara, which I usually prefer over the natural bristle wand. But this is a very casual mascara for me, not a lot of umpf, but good to wear day to day, and did not irritate my eyes.

The body shop - grape fruit body butter: a very nice body butter from the body shop, a smaller jar which was perfect to take with me to Greece. I might actually buy this scent again as it not overly sweet.

Burt's Bees - lip gloss in Autumn Haze: this is an average lip gloss, a bit on the sticky side. But 100% natural, and that is a rare find. This item was a part of my "beauty goals for 2017" to use up, which I did, as I removed the stopper and used the product as much up as humanly possible without cutting/slicing the tube in half.

UK + GR+ DK + FI Haul

So far this year I have been on two holidays, one to Corfu, Greece, with connecting flights in London, and then to Copenhagen and Finland. And these are the things I grabbed on those trips.

UK + GR + DK + FI haul

Finlayson Coronna cosmetics bag

On my trip to Greece, I bought two items, one in the airport at Gatwick where I grabbed a Mac paint-pot in Groundwork. This is the perfect no effort, minimal eyeshadow product for everyday. Do not regret it for one minute.

In Sephora in Corfu I bought a Sephora Lotus face mask - which claims to be moisturizing and soothing. Obviously I have not used it yet, but come winter I am sure it will come in handy.

In Copenhagen I picked up the Essence Lash princess mascara. And this type was the one that I had heard the most positive reviews about. In fact I have been trying to get my hands onto one for a couple of years, but the Essence stands where I have bumped into them abroad tend to be very picked over, and sold out. So I was pleasantly surprised they had a full stand in Føtex in Fredriksberg Center in Copenhagen.

The rest of the shopping was done in Finland, where I bought several items from Lumene, the Finnish skincare brand and shampoo and conditioner from the Swedish brand Maria Nila.

Lumene Lahde [Source] Arctic spring water enriched facial mist. I bought this with the intention to replace my Body shop vitamin E facial spray which is almost finished.

Maria Nila Luminous colour shampoo and conditioner. They are vegan and cruelty free, and do not contain sulphates and parabens. I have tried a shampoo from their volume line and so far I like it. And as per bottle is about 10 EUR cheaper in Finland compared to Iceland I decided to pick them up.

Lumene soft touch hydrating toner for dry and normal skin. I still am using the toner I bought in DK last year, but it always good to have a backup ready to go. And as things in Iceland tend to be quite expensive, it always pays off to stock up while abroad.

Lumene Lahde [Source] Pure arctic miracle 3 in 1 micellar cleansing water. This was on offer, and also bought as a back up, when I finish the micellar water I am using currently. But now days I only use micellar water to remove my eye makeup.

Lumene Invisible Illumination - Instant glow beauty serum. This is a colored serum, and I did I choose the color: universal light. And claims to subtly enhance ones complexion, so it is probably a very sheer coverage.

Then I totally fell in love with this little cosmetics bag from Finlayson Coronna, so that also fell into my shopping cart. 

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.