Empties - February 2016
The last empties post I did was back in November, but with the holidays and other various posts I’ve done I haven’t really had the chance to get around to doing another one until now and as you can see from the picture below, I’ve accumulated a lot...of trash! While yes, all of this stuff belongs in the garbage, it’s not technically all “garbage” products. As I mention each item, I’ll give a brief review of it and how they all worked for me. I think these can be some of the most informative and useful types of posts because you’ll never have a better review of a product than when you use it up completely.
These are all in categories, but I’m not necessarily mentioning them in any particular order. So starting with face products, I used up my fourth bottle of T.N. Dickenson’s Witch hazel. I use this as a toner when I remove my makeup in the afternoon or as an alternative to my Clinique toner when I don’t have any breakouts to control. I like it because it’s more natural than other products with mysterious chemicals and it takes all the dirt and oil off of the face without completely stripping it dry.
The two smaller items in the picture are samples of a CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and a Philosophy Time in a Bottle for eyes (foil packet). The Philosophy one is an age-defying eye serum, but I didn’t notice any difference from using it which was disappointing considering its actual retail price ($65 at Ulta for .5 oz). I also didn’t like its liquidy texture, so I won’t be purchasing the full-size and don’t recommend it. The CeraVe lotion was nice and very moisturizing, but it was a little too thick for what my skin needs. It’s pretty affordable for skincare and I do recommend it for those of you with dry skin.
I also ran out of all of my Clinique 3-step Acne System products, which is rare that it ever happens around the same time. I love all three of these products and did a specific review on the system that you can read all about here. These are on the more pricey side, but I highly recommend them to anyone who has acne issues. It’s the only system that ever worked for me and you better believe I already repurchased the whole set.
Okay, first let me apologize for the appearance of these two items. It sounds weird, but I really do think there was something in the water that reacted with the plastic giving them this ugly cloudy look. But regardless of that, this is absolutely 100% my most favorite body scrub of all time. It’s the Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub and both of these are in the Tropical Mango scent. I don’t even know where to begin! This scrub leaves your body feeling so incredibly smooth, you can feel it the second you rinse it off. I scrub it in with my hands to give them a nice exfoliation as well and only need to use it once a week.
I’m really picky about my scrubs. I want them to be super gritty and intense, and this one definitely delivers! All of the scents I’ve tried smell so amazing (my favorite is the Italian Mocha) and they seriously smells up the entire bathroom. I’ve used this scrub for years and can’t even begin to count how many I’ve gone through. I really don’t think there’s a better scrub out there, especially for the price. This is something you needdd in your life!
This one’s much more boring, but still very important. I’ve used this Opti-Free Replenish Contact Solution since I started wearing contacts seven years ago. I’ve never tried anything else and have never needed to because I’m so satisfied with the way this feels on my eyes and how moisturized it keeps my contacts. I usually buy the twin pack and it comes with two 10 oz. bottles. I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a good, nourishing contact solution.
As far as mouth/teeth products go, I have quite a few of those to mention also. The two mouthwash bottles are both the Walmart brand. The green one is compared to Scope and the white one is compared to the Crest 3D White Glamorous White Alcohol Free mouthwash. My boyfriend uses the green one and thinks it’s fine. I used to use the actual Crest brand mouthwash and was very satisfied with it, but a lot of times the Walmart brand comes pretty close in comparison so I figured I’d give it a try. It does have a more mild taste than the Crest one does, but the actual effect it has on my teeth is the same. You do get a little more product with the Crest bottle (48 vs. 32 oz.), but for the price difference ($8.97 vs. $3.98) I’d recommend the Equate.
We finished another Crest Pro-Health Whitening toothpaste and an Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Comfort Plus Floss. The prices may be a little different in store since I’m just listing these off of their website as a reference. And you may notice a trend here with the twin packs. I prefer buying those just because sometimes you get a better deal and also because these are things we’re gonna use anyway, so why not? Then we won’t have to worry about repurchasing it for a while or running out and not having a backup (that’s the worst).
The toothpaste is nice, although I prefer the Crest 3D White toothpaste because I really do think it helps keep the teeth white. But it can cause some sensitivity if you’re already prone to that. The floss, though, is the best! You’ll just have to trust me when I say not all floss is created equal. I’ve had some pretty bad floss in the past and this one is so comfortable, doesn’t irritate the gums, doesn’t have pieces of wax flaking off. It’s really good and enjoyable to use. However, I will also mention that I tried the Walmart brand of this too and it didn’t even come close!
I’ve mentioned so many times already how much I absolutely love this Glade Carpet Refresher in Hawaiian Breeze that there’s nothing else I can say about it. If you haven’t tried it yet, what are you waiting on? It’s only $1.98 at Walmart for 32 oz and will make your home smell delicious! Because my beautiful German Shepherd is completely spoiled rotten, I also use this on our recliners and sofa about once a month and just vacuum it up with a small vacuum attachment.
This is a different container of the same Elf HD powder that I hauled a couple of months ago. I obviously really love this powder since I purchased a backup months in advance. I use it every time I do my makeup because it leaves such a beautiful finish on the skin. It controls my oils really well and makes my pores almost invisible. It’s easy to find in stores and with a price tag of only $6, I can’t be without it!
I also finished probably my fifteenth tube of the Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in Cherry Me. I use this on a daily basis every time I leave the house. It’s not heavy on the lips at all and keeps them very moisturized while providing beautiful color. It’s not something that I have to mess with when I’m trying to apply which is the main reason I love it so much. It’s just so easy and goes with everything.
I really have been paying more attention to taking my vitamins lately and have finally run out of my One A Day Women’s Petites vitamins. I’m not the healthiest eater and even when I try to be, I still like to take a multivitamin just for general health. I get the petites version not only because the tablets are smaller (yes, I’m a wimp) but also because they have smaller amounts of supplements in them. While I want to take vitamins, I also don’t want to overpower and stop my body’s natural production of them. These seem to work really well for me.
Finally we have made it to the last category--hair products. I went through two of the Pantene Repair and Protect Shampoos. It’s my favorite shampoo and I’ve used it for years. Even after trying most all drugstore brands and a few high-end options, I always go back to this one. I really like the way it smells and it leaves my hair incredibly silky smooth.
The Pantene Heat Protection Spray is also my favorite. I’ve used heat protectants from many other brands and I’ve noticed the biggest difference on my hair when I’m using this one. My only complaint is the sprayer. It basically only sprays in a direct line rather than misting over a large portion of the hair. I transferred it to a $1 spray bottle that I bought at Target and everything’s fine, but it is something to be aware of.
I know this one was long, so thank you, thank you, thank you if you stuck it out all the way to the end! ;) I really hope you found this informative and interesting to see other products that I use in my daily routine other than just makeup. If you have any experiences with some of the products I mentioned, I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments!
~Mani Monday~
I thought I wanted a bright red this week, but when I went to paint my nails these other two colors really stood out to me more. I’m wearing Sinful Colors Easy Going (white with pink hues) and Nicole by OPI On a Gilt Trip (gold) as an accent. I’ve never worn these two colors together, but I’m really liking the soft, feminine look they give. I’ve featured the gold before and said how I really like that you can’t feel any glitter in it. You can get away with one coat if you wanted, but definitely need two coats with Easy Going because it can be a little streaky otherwise.
What’s on your nails this week?
