Products I've Used Up!

 

On and off for the last several months I have been saving products that I used up and finally decided to put up this post so that I can throw them all out! I like reading these kind of posts because so often we only see the new things people buy and their first impressions but never know if that impression was correct or if they end up hating it.

 

Now you can see everything I actually finished!

 

 

 

I use a makeup wipe every single day. There are a total of 6 full size Simple cleansing facial wipes plus 1 travel size. They are my absolute favorite makeup wipes. They are gentle but effectively get all of my makeup off and they stay wet from the first to the last in the package. At one point I tried a package of the Pacifica Coconut Water cleansing wipes. They smelled amazing and the towel was very soft but they dried out SO quickly and hardly took any of my face makeup off. They'd be nice for a day when I didn't wear makeup and just wanted to refresh my skin but otherwise I would not purchase them again. I returned to my Simple wipes for a while and then heard about the 30 pack Epielle Green Tea cleansing tissues for $1.00 from Big Lots. I really loved them at first but then they started drying out and I had to use two just to get my makeup off. The tissues were very thin and ripped easily. Returning to my Simple wipes made me notice what nice quality they are and I don't see myself switching to a new brand any time soon.

 

 

I have never bought name brand eye makeup remover before but I've tried a lot of knock offs of the L'Oreal and Neutrogena kinds. I've learned that I don't like the kinds that say "Compare to Neutrogena" I don't like that oily formula but I will say that the Equate (from WalMart) bottle above with the tan lid (Neutrogena knock off) was the only thing that would take off some waterproof mascara I was using a while back. So I finished the bottle but hated every time I had to use it. The other three bottles are L'Oreal knock offs. I don't see any difference between the Equate brand and Studio35 (which is from Walgreens). I'm using the CVS L'Oreal knock off right now and of the three stores I have no favorite. They all take off my eye makeup quickly and at an affordable price.

 

 

 

I've been trying different toners over the last few months. First was the Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Triple-Action toner and this is the second or third bottle I've used. This has a horribly strong astringent smell but it doesn't linger on the skin. I used this all over my face but tried to concentrate it on my breakouts. I wouldn't use this in the winter though because it can be drying on the skin. Next I used a HUGE bottle of the Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing lotion (which is a toner). This was $15.00 I think but I'd used a sample a few years back and fell in love with it. I loved having a huge bottle. This stuff is amazing. It smells good, it removes the last traces of makeup on your skin, and it is not drying at all in fact it is probably the most gentle toner I've ever used and absolutely recommend this to everyone. Last toner I finished was from Sephora and is the Korres Pomegranate toner for oily to combination skin. This wins hands down for the cutest packaging, right!? But that doesn't help my skin. This was a $20.00 impulse purchase. It smelled nice and did remove the last bits of foundation from my skin but it was mildly drying and paled in comparison to my Mario Badescu toner.

 

 

 

I have been struggling to find a moisturizer I love that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I have some crazy red skin from time to time so I fell for the "visibly reduce redness, soothe irritated or sensitive skin" claims. I didn't see either of those effects on my crazyface but it was moisturizing, didn't stink, and lasted me a real long time. I might buy it again but I'd like to try the Aveeno Positively Radiant daily moisturizer someday. I'm using something new now that I might talk about after I use it for a little while longer.

 

 

 

Secret is my favorite brand of deodorant. I tried the natural mineral line and though it smelled nice I didn't love it as much as my all time favorite Secret Clinical Strength in the "light and fresh scent". It keeps my stinky ol' sweat arm pits under control and they smell so nice all day long. So there's that... haha what else does one say about their deodorant?

 

 

 

I have a roundup of lotions here. Bath&Body Works Pink Grapefruit body lotion smells amazing. My all time favorite scent from B&BW and it breaks my heart that they don't make it anymore. Aquaphor Healing Ointment is great for dry feet and elbows. But my favorite way to use this was on my lips! They get really dry and chapped in this winter and this "ointment" saved my life. Next up, Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Crème. This comes in the cutest little jar. This is a very thick and moisturizing cream that I liked to use on my hands and elbows. I don't know if I'd buy it again though, just because I have so many lotions and body butters already. I finished a small lotion from a brand called EcoLogique that I bought in a boutique in my area. The lotion was unscented but then I got to choose and mix in any of their scented oils and this lotion in particular was a honeydew scent that smelled exactly like a slice of honeydew melon. The last thing I have to show you is kind of silly because it was only a small sample from Sephora but it is the Tokyomilk/Dark La Vie La Mort hand crème. I loved it so much I bought a full size (for $20, what's wrong with me!?!). It has such a nice scent and is the smoothest lotion I've ever used. It is moisturizing but doesn't leave any oily residue on my hands.

 

 

I actually had a third bottle of nail polish remover that I finished but I must have thrown it away because it wasn't in my "empties" bin. I liked the Sally Hansen Extra Strength remover but there was nothing remarkable about it. I would buy it again. I am so glad I have finally finished this monster bottle of ONYX Professionals 100% Pure Acetone. I bought it to remove acrylic nails I was wearing and finished the bottle by using it to remove glitter polish quickly but I hated how this made my fingers feel. I won't be buying pure acetone again if I can avoid because it is so drying!

 

 

I saved a couple hair products to show you that I am absolutely in love with. I want to mention the Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk anti-breakage serum. I bought this on a really good sale with a coupon a few years ago. I had really long hair at the time (and up until very recently still did) so I used this on the ends of my hair every time I got out of the show and it saved the old dried ends of my hair. The few times I forgot to use this the ends of my hair felt like straw but with this my hair was smooth and soft. I have shorter and healthier hair now so I don't I'll repurchase this for a while but if I grow out my hair again this will be the first thing I buy! In its place I have started using the healthysexyhair Soy Tri-Wheat leave in conditioner. It is a really nice lightly scented spray that helps keep my hair smooth and healthy.

 

 

I've used a lot of these little PocketBacs but apparently only save three. I loved all of the scents. It was no surprise that I loved Fresh Picked apricots and Fresh Picked pomegranates because they are just typical sweet fruity scents but the Fresh Picked garden herbs blew me away. I didn't know what to expect when I ordered this online but am so glad I gave it a chance. It smelled so fresh and clean. It wasn't herbly at all. If they ever bring that scent back I will absolutely pick it up!

 

 

I somehow managed to run out of a lot of bottles of perfume right around the same time. I have here the Bath & Body Works pink grapefruit body splash, Bath & Body works sweet pea perfume, Aqualina Pink Sugar, Paris Hilton by Paris Hilton, Dare Me by Baby Phat, Fancy by Jessica Simpson, and Curious by Britney Spears.

I don't have a whole lot to say about each of these but I did love all of the scents. Pink Sugar is my favorite scent of all time. My best friend gave me that bottle because she didn't want it and I've been trying to convince myself to buy another bottle ever since I finished this one. It's so expensive and haven't come up with a good enough excuse yet. The Paris Hilton and Baby Phat perfumes were also great. Very girly. I bought Curious by Britney Spears because it was the first perfume I ever had (my sophomore year of high school) and I was feeling nostalgic I guess.

 

 

I have a few perfume samples I finished and wanted to mention. Not because I think it is some great feat to have finished a tiny little perfume sample but because they smelled so amazing (or terrible as you will see in a minute) that I have to share them.

First up is the Especially Escada Delicate Notes. This is a nice fresh scented perfume. I don't know if I'd spend the money on a full size but I really enjoyed the sample. Second, I finished a small sample of Prada Candy. This is a really nice perfume. It is sweet like the name suggests but it isn't an overwhelming surgary sweet like the Aqualina Pink Sugar I mentioned earlier (and love!). And finally, my new very favorite perfume sample I've EVER tried Escada Cherry in the air perfume. Ahhhh this stuff smells so wonderful. I've never been that attracted to anything cherry scented but this stuff was a game changer for me. If I saw a full size bottle in stores somewhere I'm not sure I could keep myself from buying it.

 

 

Here are two perfume samples I hated but finished anyways. Taylor Swift Wonderstruck and Ralph Lauren Romance. These were both stinky old lady perfumes that I kept in my purse without fear of losing them and to be used when I was desperate for a perfume spritz ('cuz lets be honest... old lady is better than stinky lady).

 

 

I went through a few travel/sample sized products. Nivea Touch of Happiness body wash, John Frieda Full Repair conditioner, Dove Intensive Repair shampoo, Head & Shoulders classic clean dandruff shampoo, and Clinique Acne Solutions emergency gel.

There was nothing remarkable or special about any of these. I used to love the Nivea body and have had a full size in the past but I got tired of the scent. I almost always have a full size head & shoulders in my shower so I bought the mini size for when I'm away from home. The Clinique gel made an effective spot treatment but considering the full size price I don't anticipate ever using this again unless I get another sample.

 

 

Colgate Optic White in Luminous Mint is mine and my husband's favorite tooth paste. It seems to do the job, has a nice flavor, and I think it helps keep my teeth looking good!

 

 

I have gone through two bottles of makeup setting spray. First was the NYX Matte Finish spray which I found to be really helpful in keeping my makeup on all day long. The other spray I tried was the e.l.f. Makeup Mist & Set. I like this for times when my skin is feeling dry and needs something to revive it. I also find this really refreshing if I'm hot and sweaty.

 

 

I finished a few makeup items I wanted to talk about. I feel like I've gone through a million of the Rimmel Stay Matte pressed power in translucent but there was only one in my bin. I am already using another one and will continue to buy this powder in the future because it is great at setting my foundation. This was my first tube of the Rimmel Match Perfection 2 in 1 concealer & highlighter and I'm already using another. This is great for concealing and brightening my under eye area. I also finished a tube of the Revlon Colorstay concealer and I won't buy this again. It looked great at first and got worse and worse throughout the day. The color would change and become patchy and I could really see each place I had put it on my face. I've loved the e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner pens for a long time and this is just the most recent one I've finished. It is only $2.00 and makes applying liquid eyeliner a breeze! I finished a tube of Covergirl Lashblast Volume mascara and L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black. These are both really nice mascaras and I totally recommend them. The last is the Fresh Sugar Rose lip treatment. This was the most amazing balm I ever tried. It smelled fresh and lemony,  gave the nicest pink tint to my lips, and was so incredibly moisturizing. I have almost bought another tube several times but the price always stops me. Someday I hope to have another though...

 

 

I have a favorite concealer... can you tell? The first four bottles (that actually look empty) are in the combination/oily skin formula and are my favorite. My WalMart was out of my shade for combo/oily so I had to get the Normal/Dry skin formula and I don't know what's wrong with it but I couldn't get the rest of the product out of the bottle. It looks completely full in this picture but I promise I got out everything I could and after storing it for days upside down I couldn't get a single drop out and gave up.

 

 

{just wanted to show you that I'm telling the truth. They are different formulas and the one for dry skin won't come out any more}

 

 

I only have one last thing to show you and it is kind of silly and not at all related to anything else I have shown you but I have an amazing chocolate bar to share that blew me away...

 

 

Lindt White Coconut chocolate bar.

Ahhh. So good. The white chocolate melts in your mouth. The tiny flakes of coconut are miraculously delicious. I just love this. I love it. If you like coconut you must try it. You won't be disappointed.

 

I hope you enjoyed seeing the products I've used up and reading a little bit about my opinions on them.

 

xoxo

Products I've Used Up!

For the last several months I have been saving the products I used up so I could share them on here as a sort of mini-review extravaganza!

 

1. Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes

You can probably guess that I'm a fan of these {see four empty packages above}. They are only $4.00 from Walmart, they don't make my skin feel dry, and they don't have a strong fragrance. I haven't strayed from these makeup remover wipes since I first started using them and have no desire of trying any other kind.

 

2. YesToCucumbers Daily Calming Moisturizer

3. Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner

 

I had repurchased this moisturizer several times. It didn't leave my skin feeling greasy. It had a nice smell. It didn't break me out. The only thing I didn't like about it and what made me stop buying it was the $15.00 price tag. If it didn't cost so much I would still be using it today.

 

I had also purchased this toner more than once but am not using it anymore. I switched to a more gentle Mario Badescu toner because this Neutrogena toner was too harsh and was drying out my skin without healing the breakouts. This toner was okay for usage once or twice a week but more than that and it dries out my skin.

 

4. Studio35 Eye Makeup Remover (generic brand from Walgreens)

5. Equate Eye Makeup Remover (generic brand from Walmart)

 

I absolutely love the studio35 eye makeup remover and have used it since high school. I loved it so much because it took off all of my eye makeup quickly and without irritating my eyes or leaving any residue behind. However, I recently started using my first waterproof mascara and had to stop using the studio35 remover because no matter how long I left the cotton pad on my lashes it would not take off the mascara. Once a week or so I still wear a regular mascara and then I get to use my studio35 makeup remover {and totally love it}. So if you don't wear waterproof mascara then I recommend this remover but if you do then I would steer clear.

 

Because of the aforementioned waterproof mascara I started using this Equate eye makeup remover and I hate it. Absolutely hate it. But it is a necessary evil because I need to wear waterproof mascara to keep it from flaking and smudging all over my face. If you can avoid this stuff then do because most nights it irritates my eyes and leaves behind a horrible oily residue. The only redeeming quality is that after much soaking of the lashes and gentle scrubbing it will take off the waterproof mascara.

 

6. Dove gofresh anti-perspirant deodorant in Cucumber Green Tea

7. Aveeno Clear Complexion Cream Cleanser

8. Proactive Refining Mask

 

I have used this deodorant in this scent for a long time and even when I switch to a different kind I tend to always go back to this one. I really love the smell and does a decent job at keeping my armpits from sweating. Otherwise, nothing else really stands out. I don't agree with its claim that it last 48 hours. I mean come on... two days? Pssh.

 

I first decided to try this facial cleanser because it is a cream and I was looking for something that wouldn't dry out my skin while still treating my acne. I won't be re-purchasing this face wash because although it didn't dry out my skin it didn't treat the acne either. The exfoliating beads didn't do much for actual exfoliation. Even when I switched to a different daily cleanser I still kept this in the shower and it was good for removing my face makeup. So if you're not concerned with treating breakouts then this makes a nice gentle cream cleanser.

 

This Proactive mask was a free sample but had enough product to last me several uses. It is meant to be used on damp skin so I would put it on in the shower and by the time I got out my skin felt so soft. It never left me with that tight/dry feeling which is common after a mask. I don't know how much a full size costs but if it was reasonable I would definitely get another bottle!

 

9. Head and Shoulders Itchy Scalp Care

10. Herbal Essences Color Me Happy Conditioner

 

I have an oily scalp that is also prone to itchiness and dandruff. I use this shampoo to help combat that unfortunate combination. I find it does treat my hair woes and I have repurchased this several times and plan to continue using it.

 

This conditioner was nothing special. The smell was nice. My hair felt fine but there wasn't anything noteworthy about it. I'm not against using this product in the future but I'd rather find something that I love.

 

11. Nair Face Wax Strips

 

I did a post on these about a year ago and I am still repurchasing and using these today. I wax my own eyebrows and also occasionally use them to wax my upper lip. They are affordable, quick, and mess free. If you're interested in some facial hair removal then I recommend trying these strips.

 

12. Colgate Optic White toothpaste

 

My husband and I love this toothpaste. Our teeth feel very clean after using and we like the taste and whitening effects.

 

13. Nailtiques Non-Acetone nail polish remover

14.Garnier Nutriste Skin Renew Anti-puff eye roller

 

I ordered this nail polish remover online. It took off everything but glitter polish. I bought it because it was acetone free. I am currently using up a bottle of pure acetone and can't wait to be able to order this kind again. The only downside was that it costs $6.00 a bottle which seems like a lot for nail polish remover. I justified the purchase because of how hard it is to find a good non-acetone remover from the drugstore.

 

This roller ball was a big fat fail on my part. I bought this a few years ago when the product first came out. I thought it was for treating under-eye circles. I was wrong. It is for puffy eyes. I don't have puffy eyes. I used it up to use it up and saw no results, for obvious reasons.

 

15. Covergirl Lashblast Volume

16. Maybelline The Falsies Volume Express (one in black drama the other in water resistant) 

 

Covergirl Lashblast Volume is my favorite mascara. I am currently using this same kind but in the waterproof formula. Normally I don't like the plastic bristle wands but I find this one makes my lashes look thicker and helps keep them curled and voluminous.

 

I tried the falsies mascara because of all the hype it gets on YouTube. I won't be buying it anymore. It flaked every time I wore it. I would have flakes all over the under eye area and sometimes even in my eyes. I know some people love it but it just does not work for me.

 

17. Revlon Colorstay 24 Hrs foundation for Combination/Oily Skin

 

Yes, you guessed it, I love this foundation as well. I switched to this kind because my last foundation was a slipping, sliding, oily mess all over my face. I heard a lot about this on YouTube from others with oily skin so I decided to give it a shot. I apply it with a damp makeup sponge (like a knock off beauty blender) and have loved it from the first application. It applies smoothly to the skin and is very long lasting. One of the things that really sealed the deal is that it doesn't feel like I have makeup on. Previously, my face makeup always felt too heavy and cakey.

 

18. Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

 

I am currently using my third bottle of this top coat. I bought it while searching for a cheaper alternative to the cult favorite SecheVite top coat. I had tried one bottle of the SV top coat and while I found it to be the best top coat I've ever used it was way too expensive and the bottle dried out way before it was empty {curse you quick dry}. This SH top coat is a very close dupe in my opinion even down to the bottle drying up before it was empty {see second picture above}. Luckily this one is only half the cost of the SV so I'm only losing half as much money, right!?!? I think the bottle drying out and getting goopy is a necessary evil of a quick dry product. I can't really expect it to dry quickly on my nails but not when the lid is off. Anyways, it dries very fast, leaves a very shiny finish to my nails, and keeps me from smudging my nails when I'm too impatient to let them dry before using my hands.

 

19. Sally Hansen Hard as Nails base coat

20. NYC In a Minute Quick Dry nail polish in Radio City Rose

 

I have flimsy nails that are prone to flaking and breaking so I always use this base coat. I have used it several times and already repurchased a new bottle.

 

You probably don't believe me that the polish above is used up. However, as has been established earlier, quick dry nail polishes dries quickly, even in the bottle. I love this color and I've already repurchased a new one but this was too used up and goopy to be finished.

 

21. Nivea A Kiss of Milk and Honey lip balm

22. L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Rose Elixir

 

I honestly don't love the Nivea lip balms very much. They are okay if your lips aren't actually dry or chapped and you just want to add some shine but when I was looking for actual relief from or treatment of dry chapped lips this stuff did not deliver.

 

I really like this L'Oreal Balm but had the same problem as the one before. It is more of an "add shine" lip balm than an actual "treat your lip problems" kind of product. It added a nice sheer rose color to my lips and the product smelled pleasant. One thing that annoyed me was that it still had a lot of product left when I reached the point where it stopped twisting up any further so I had to use something to dig out the rest of the balm.

 

23. L'oreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense liquid eyeliner

24. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner

 

I love this L'Oreal liner. I find the felt tip pen very easy to use and don't find the product to smudge or transfer on my lid throughout the day. I have repurchased this several times.

 

This Kat Von D liner was amazing! I only had a sample size but I wish it didn't cost so much or I would buy a full size in a heartbeat. The color was such an opaque black and the formula was very long lasting. It is also a felt tip liner {which I find to be the easiest kind of liquid eye liner to apply}.

 

25. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

26. The Porefessional PRO balm

 

These are both sample size foundation primers that I had purchased from Sephora in their Value Sets. I like those because they allow me to try many high-end products without the high price tag. I loved both of these primers. I think the Smashbox is the better of the two at keeping my foundation on longer. But both were excellent for minimizing the appearance of large pores and creating a smooth surface on the skin. The Benefit primer also smelled magnificent. But if I was able to buy one full size I would go with the Smashbox primer.

 

27. NYC Smooch Proof 16Hr Lip Stain in Champagne Pink

 

I really enjoy using lip stains. This gave a nice bright pink color. I didn't feel like it dried out my lips nor did it fade and leave a funny ring around the edge of my lips (like some stains). I believe it was almost $5.00 which seems like a bit much from NYC but if I felt like buying another stain from the drugstore I wouldn't be against trying another from this same line.

 

28. DKNY Women Perfume by Donna Karan

 

Now I realize finishing a little baby perfume sample is no great feat however, I fell so in love with this scent that if ever I could buy a high end perfume this would be it. It smells so fresh and I could smell it for hours after applying it. I'm just so obsessed. It is my dream perfume. If you're ever at a perfume counter I recommend giving it a little spritz! 

 

Whew! *wipes sweat off brow*

 

We made it through my tote of empty bottles that I've had sitting around for months! I'm so happy to throw it all away. I love reading these posts and watching these videos on YouTube. It is a great way to get a real opinion on a product instead of sometimes first impression when they first buy a product. Plus it is a good motivation to make sure I'm not wasting products!

 

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. 

I am already starting to collect empty products in my brown bin again for the next time!

 

xoxo