Long Time No Post

Hi, stranger! Yes, it's me - Monika, that blogger chick you used to read. I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth, no mysterious NYC subway monster has snatched me off the platform without a trace... I just struggle with prioritizing my hobbies. That's really all there is to it.

But I haven't come out here to make excuses or apologize; I'm sure we've all been busy in the meantime and things are running their course regardless of whether I blog or not. I decided to post again because I want to make time for writing again, because I love taking photos and I feel happier for having this little corner to express myself. Thank you for sticking with me for this long and I'd love to have you along for the ride again!

Realistically though, with the time constraints that I face as a stay-at-home mom of a toddler, I'll need to make some adjustments to my blogging style. I know that I can't reasonably expect myself to stick to a regular posting schedule, or write these thorough and extensive reviews that I used to love to type up. Instead, I'm going to stick to what I can do: shorter reviews & comparisons, little snippets of favorites here and there, anything really that feels exciting enough to write about.

In fact, what really spurned me on to break the silence is explaining my blog situation to my best friend, and while doing so - actually expressing to myself that there is no reason why I shouldn't be doing it - and more prosaically, finding this bowl of make-up empties that I'd like to finally be able to pitch in the trash. It's as good a starting point as any, am I right?

While I may have abstained from blogging, I have still been loving beauty products and trying to wear make-up somewhat regularly. I also still try to make an effort to use up make-up but I'm not committed enough to do Project Pans or stick to a 'use-up plan' of any kind. Instead, I'm enjoying most of my collection and when stuff gets finished in due time, it's an added bonus and I'm happy to move something out - because I am still buying new products and would like to keep the stash somewhat contained if I can.

But anyway; there's not that much I want to say about the contents of this particular round of beauty trash. Firstly, I am disappointed that Fresh discontinued these Sugar Shine glosses: I really quite enjoyed this formula, but have since gone back to my other favorite, the Buxom Full-On Lip Polishes & Lip Creams. Secondly, I've been pleasantly surprised by NYX Worth The Hype Mascara* (provided by Influenster for testing purposes) and I would repurchase, and while I also enjoyed Chantecaille Faux Cils, there's no way in hell I'm spending $72 on a tube. I did like the finish of It Cosmetics CC Cream, but it lacked longevity on my combination/ oily skin.

How have you guys been? I missed talking to you, and I really do hope I can share with you again. Let's see how long my resolve lasts - well, taking that first step into writing again is always the hardest, and that's done, so... fingers crossed :)

Recent Skincare Empties and Mini Reviews

Alright, here it goes: I'm tired of typing up long empties posts. Sigh. At the same time, I do think they're helpful and yes, it does often happen that my opinion on a product changes by the time I reach the bottom of the packaging - so it'd be nice to give you a little update on my past reviews. Therefore I've decided to continue posting facial skincare empties and to skip the rest, meaning bodycare and haircare. I generally spend the most on products for my face, so I have a feeling that skincare empties will be the most interesting to you as well.

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil. I don't have a separate review for this on the blog, but I've been using it since October/ November of last year and have just now used it up completely. The pros: it removes most of my make-up, it's affordable (obviously when scored on a 40% off sale) and it doesn't contain mineral oil. The cons: it doesn't rinse clean (but doesn't leave a residue when removed with a warm wash cloth) and the packaging leaks, leaving oil rings everywhere. All in all: I may repurchase at some point, but I've recently tried a sample of the Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm, and even though the Clinique one is pricier, I thought its effectiveness would be worth the extra expense.

TATCHA Luminous Deep Hydration Eye Serum* (previously mentioned here). I did like this eye serum from Tatcha for daytime, but I wouldn't purchase another one myself. The main reason is that I don't have nearly $100 to drop on a daytime eye cream - I'm saying daytime because I don't think it's moisturizing enough for me for overnight. The other reason is the packaging: unfortunately, the lovely gold accent on the tube starts flaking off pretty quickly, leaving random specks of glitter on my face, and the soft squishy tube actually cracked on me from squeezing. Also... do I really need a separate eye cream for the day? I'd prefer to use just one really good product day and night, you know?

Nuxe Reve de Miel Nourishing Lip Balm. This was my second jar (that I bought myself) and I have another one I received from PR waiting in the wings. Still the best overnight lip balm I have found so far and the closest I've come to a Holy Grail.

Paula's Choice Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA* (originally reviewed here). My thoughts still stand - this was my second bottle of this product and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. I'm using a different chemical exfoliant from Paula at the moment, and I honestly miss the 5% AHA. I think I really noticed a difference in the overall brightness, tone and clarity of my skin.

Paula's Choice CLEAR Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution 2% BHA (separate review here). It's a decent product, but to be honest, by the end of the bottle I was definitely ready to move onto something else. I don't know - maybe the longer I used it, the less of a result I could see? All in all, I preferred the Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA.

One Love Organics Brand New Day Microderma Scrub and Masque (deluxe sample). I moved onto this enzyme powder exfoliant after finally using up my jar of TATCHA Classic Rice Enzyme Powder*.  While the One Love Organics scrub did the job, I do like the TATCHA one more, but I think I've found the fairest of them all - the Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel, which I purchased a deluxe sample of in the last Sephora Beauty Insider sale (the mini was part of a set).

Neal's Yard Remedies Deliciously Ella Rose, Lime & Cucumber Moisturizer* (reviewed here). I felt a little ambivalent about this moisturizer when I first started using it, but it actually really grew on me. Yes, it's pretty basic - but for whatever reason, it was just right for my skin: moisturizing without feeling heavy. I used it every night until the last drop, and now that I've replaced it with a face oil, I miss it.

Laneige Brightening Sparkling Water Foam Cleanser*. Oooh, a foaming cleanser, quelle horreur. In all honesty, my husband mainly used it up, with just a little bit of help from me. In short, it wasn't our favorite. Mr thought the foam texture was a gimmick to get one to finish the product faster and have to repurchase more frequently, while for me it just felt like washing my face with a shaving foam. It also felt a little too drying - no surprises there. It's probably my least favorite product I've tried from Laneige.

My skincare routine does look a bit different these days as a result of finishing so many products and replacing them with other bits I've already had squirrelled away in my back-up stash, so I'm probably due for an update (last routine can be found here). Have you already revamped your skincare for spring and summer? So far, I've mostly just added sunscreen... 

Disclaimer: Products marked with an asterix (*) were press samples I received from the brand's PR for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the product featured was purchased with my own money or provided free of charge. Thank you for reading!

Beauty Empties: 3rd Quarter of 2016

I was really dreading spilling out my bag of beauty trash this time around, but actually, it turned out I had quite a few bulkier items and not that many products in total. If you'd like to see what I used up in the past three months and some items I kept repurchasing, keep reading!

Let's start with skincare empties. It seems like I finished nearly all of these months ago because I already have a few more products on their last legs - but I guess those will be featured in the next quarter.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: None really; all of these did the job.
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner (reviewed here), Paula's Choice Hydralight One Step Face Cleanser* & Hydralight Daily Mineral Complex SPF30* (both reviewed here), NUDE Omega Cleansing Jelly (reviewed here)
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Laneige Water Bank Serum* (reviewed here, would purchase again for the winter), Avebio Rock Rose Hydrosol (Cistus Flower Water).

I finished a lot of make-up this time around as well, thanks to my recent Project 13 Pan. I've included nail care bits in here for lack of a better place to put them.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: In the end, I wasn't a fan of the Laneige Cushion Concealer, reviewed here, and the China Glaze No Chip Top Coat always took ages to dry.
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: BITE Beauty High Pigment Lip Pencil in Sable (LE), Badger Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm, Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer (reviewed here), Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Black Noir (here)
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Buxom Lip Cream in Cherry Flip (reviewed here), NYX Micro Brow Pencil (here), OPI Nail Lacquer in Red Lights Ahead... Where?

As for bodycare, it looks like all I did was constantly shower and slather myself in body moisturizers - which isn't far from the truth, to be honest, but Mr helped with finishing all the shower gels.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: The Body Shop Moringa Body Milk (out of the three different body moisturizer formulas I've tried from The Body Shop - milk, lotion and body butter - I like the body butters the best and I'm currently using the Coconut one).
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things:  Nuxe Reve de Miel Shower Gel, The Body Shop Chocomania Body Lotion
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse (already using another bottle), Suave Body Washes (in an assortment of scents), Secret Gel Antiperspirant.

Not too many products in the haircare department - just the Batiste Dry Shampoo in the Tropical scent (my favorite) and the Maple Holistics Degrease Shampoo, out of which I may repurchase the Batiste, although my current favorite is the Aveda Dry Shampure.

A handful of sheet masks - my absolute favorite out of this bunch is the Soo Ae Donkey Milk Aqua Skin Gel Mask, the least favorite and one I would strongly discourage you from ever picking up is the Freeman Feeling Beautiful Purifying Paper Mask with Starfish - possibly the worst sheet mask I've ever put on my face.

Miscellaneous samples, mostly perfume; out of these, I liked Rouge Bunny Rouge Tenera the best, but I think it's not too far off from my beloved Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan, which lasts longer on my skin. I also quite enjoyed Atelier Silver Iris, but wouldn't pay full price for a bottle.

Now for half-used make-up tosses; The Body Shop Honey Bronzing Powder and the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Just Beige were part of my Project Pan as well and are now quite old and battered to be used. The rest - two very old NYX lip liners in Cherry Red and Purple, Beaute Fluoron Lip Stain and two nail polishes - are also too old to keep around. I wouldn't repurchase any of these products in the near future although I used to love The Body Shop bronzer when it was newer.

And finally, miscellanous skincare and haircare tosses. All of these products are half used-up and most are expired, although I have to say that I disliked the Noxidoxi Detox Cleanser* so much that I couldn't force myself to use up the remaining half even though the product is still good. I wasn't a huge fan of the Paula's Choice Resist BHA 9 and wouldn't recommend it, but I liked the Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray and the Avene Cicalfate Repair Cream (reviewed here), although I have to say I don't reach for either very often and could probably eliminate them from my beauty stash.

I hope you enjoyed this round of my beauty empties and let me know if you have further questions about any of these products. I'm still steadily working through my stash of back-up skincare but I did have to repurchase some bodycare essentials recently, which made me really happy - it's nice not having this huge backlog of products lingering in the cupboards anymore and just being able to pick something up when it's needed. What was your favorite product you've finished recently?

Disclaimer: Products marked with an asterix (*) were press samples I received from the brands' PR for review consideration. I purchased all the other products myself or they were gifted to me by friends and family. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided free of charge. Thank you for reading! 

Beauty Empties: 2nd Quarter of 2016

The bag of beauty trash is overflowing again, so here we go! To be honest, when I do my empties posts quarterly, I get quite overwhelmed with the number of products and dread having to type them all up - but then again, I still personally love empties posts and videos from others, so I continue doing them as well. Let's start with my skincare - I made a lot of progress!

Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Peter Thomas Roth Rose Stem Cell Mask (reviewed here), First Aid Beauty Facial Cleanser, Paula's Choice Hydralight Toner* (reviewed here but when used over a longer period of time, it started irritating my skin)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Shu Uemura Anti Oxi Cleansing Oil (reviewed here - I said I was on the fence about this product and now I still think it's overpriced, but I've tried some other oil-based make-up removers from my back-up stash recently and they don't even come close in efficacy to the Shu), Insta Naturals Vitamin C Serum* (reviewed here), Eau Thermale Avene, Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster, Paula's Choice Hydralight Moisture-Infusing Lotion* (reviewed here), Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil (would rather buy a cheaper argan oil)
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too):  Pixi Glow Tonic (reviewed here), Paula's Choice RESIST 5% AHA Smoothing Treatment* (reviewed here - I have a back-up already)

I've also finished quite a lot of make-up products in the past three months, mostly thanks to my Project 10 Pan. If you like seeing make-up empties from me more regularly, make sure to follow me on Instagram where I'm counting up all of them to see how many I can go through within a year.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara (reviewed here)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara (reviewed here), Guerlain Maxi Lash Mascara (here), Stila Waterproof Eyeliner in Bluefin, Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie (discontinued), Jane Iredale Lip Plumper in Tokyo (deluxe sample), NailTek Hydration III base coat (reviewed here)
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara* (reviewed here), NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (so far, my HG eyeshadow primer), Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatment (reviewed here - I have another deluxe sample in the shade Rose waiting to be used)

I've also made considerable progress on my fragrance collection, and I'm getting very close to hitting my inventory goal for perfumes - yay! Mind you, I've been working for over two years on the two full-size bottles in the photo.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Givenchy Dahlia Divin perfume sample
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Victoria's Secret Dream Angels Heavenly Fragrance Mist, Prada Candy EDP, Annick Goutal Petite Cherie perfume sample
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Thierry Mugler Angel deluxe mini.

Bodycare empties are somewhat modest this month; but aside from that one soap box in the photo, I used up three more bar soaps but as they came unwrapped/ packaged in just a bit of paper, I didn't want to clutter the picture.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Derma E Vitamin E Intensive Therapy Hand Creme (for the price and ambitious claims, it did very little to moisturize my dry, eczema-ridden hands)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Bulgarian rose soap (gift from my mom), Purell Hand Sanitizer, L'Occitane mini hand creams in the Almond and Peony scents (my favorite is the original Shea and I would purchase a small size of that one to keep in my purse)
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Suave Essentials Almond Verbena Body Wash (the cheapest shower gel I could find in a local RiteAid, but I ended up really liking it - it may have some harsh ingredients but surprisingly I didn't find it to be particularly drying).

Haircare - look at all these deluxe samples/ travel sizes exiting my stash! Pretty much all of these were really good.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: None.
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Redken Diamond Oil, 12 Benefits Leave-in Hair Treatment*, Pacifica Super Kale Juiced-up Shampoo* and Conditioner* (good but I wasn't a fan of the minty herbal scent)
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Aveda Air Control Hairspray* (reviewed here), Pacifica Hairvana Leave-On Detangling Conditioner* (reviewed here), Batiste Dry Shampoo Travel Size in the Cherry fragrance

Sheet and one-time (more like 5 times) use masks.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: DHC under eye patches (did absolutely nothing to hydrate my eye area)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Murad Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask (discontinued - and the full size actually came in maybe 5 of these foil packets), Freeman Pumpkin Peeling Mask (reviewed here - when I had the genius idea to use the remainder up on my chest and shoulders, it left my skin red and burning... So that's a no, I guess. Discontinued anyway), Freeman Brightening Facial Paper Mask (not much essence, didn't notice any results from one use).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Leaders Insolution Moisturizing Recovery Mask (the second Leaders mask I've tried and I liked both very much - would purchase another from the brand especially that it's now available at Ulta).

Lastly, half-used and barely used tosses; all of these products either ostensibly went bad or are now too old for me to use comfortably.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Gloss in Bellini deluxe sample (pretty shade but I dislike glitter in lip products)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: NYX Powder Blush in Taupe (from my Project 10 Pan), Revlon Superlustrous Lipstick in Cherries in the Snow (fantastic drugstore lipstick but I have a similar shade in my stash, and currently would also rather use a red shade with a matte finish), Mountain Rose Herbs Hazelnut Oil (gone rancid - I shouldn't be purchasing any plant/ carrier oils in such large bottles), Paula's Choice C15 Booster sample, Maybelline LE Color Sensational Lipstick in First Class Fuschia (smells off, haven't been in a mood for a bright pinky coral in months).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): None.

I think that was quite a lot of products, especially in the make-up, skincare and fragrance categories. Using up my products and not repurchasing much is definitely helping to bring me closer to my goal of a smaller, manageable beauty stash. Have you finished any difficult products recently?

Disclaimer: Products marked with an asterix (*) were press samples I received from the brands' PR for review consideration. I purchased all the other products myself or they were gifted to me by friends and family. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided free of charge. Thank you for reading!

Beauty Empties: 1st Quarter of 2016

The first quarter of the year is almost behind us, so prime time to share my beauty trash with you. Like I've mentioned in my no buy/ low buy update here, even though I was able to completely finish plenty of products from my stash, I still feel I have a whole lot to go through, especially in the skincare department.
I have noticed though that one reason I'm not going through things quite as quickly as most people is that I tend to use a very small amount - in fact, I've started to think it's too little for the product to be really effective. For example, I often use so little balm/ oil cleanser that it's not enough to effectively clean my whole face, or I skimp on moisturizer on my neck/ chest area. I'm now working on changing those habits, and hopefully that will also translate to products being used up faster (like, before their expiration date).

Speaking of expiration dates, let's talk about some products that were definitely past their prime and needed to be tossed. Most of these were only half full (the Moroccan clay mask, Coral Actives Acne Treatment, Essie Van d'Go & Barry M Hot Pink polishes, the YSL Glossy Stain no. 15), so I did manage to get quite some use out of them, but they're definitely off now and need to go. The pencil eyeliners from Urban Decay, NYX and Benefit were all old and too dried out to use, and while the powder blushes still seemed fine, I know I've had them for a very long time, and since I have very similar shades in my collection from other brands I would rather use, I just decided to go ahead and toss these. The Enjoy Volumizing Hair Mousse was just awful for my hair, and an older product too.

Alright, now onto the products that I have actually finished! Let's start with skincare:
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Boscia White Bright Mask (absolutely no results, I dislike peel-off type masks)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Insta Naturals Age-Defying Skin Clearing Toner*, Radical Skincare Advanced Peptide Antioxidant Serum* (reviewed here), Haba Whitening Squalane, Heroine Make Mascara Remover (review), Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser (review), Clarins Pure and Radiant Mask (review), SK-II Essential Power Cream* (review), Andalou Naturals Lemon Sugar Scrub (review)
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk (review), First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads (my third container, review here), CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, Paula's Choice C15 Booster* (review), Skinny Co. Coconut Oil* (I'll talk about this more in a future post), LiLash Lash Growing Serum (review, my second tube).

I don't have as many empties for body and haircare, but I used up two lip balms! That's quite an achievement, I think ;)
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Nivea Intense Repair Hair Conditioner (smells like hair dye!)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Caudalie Hand Cream, Tatcha Gold Camellia Lip Balm* (review - I went back to my HG Nuxe Reve de Miel), Clarins Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm, Mitchum Anti-Perspirant (good deodorant but dislike the Powder scent), Cutex Nail Polish Remover, L'Occitane Bonne Mere Honey Bar Soap (that's the yellow sliver in the bottom of the photo)
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Batiste Dry Shampoo (already repurchased, my HG dry shampoo), Haus of Gloi Bubbling Scrub in Twice is Nice (great sugar scrub formula, love the coconut cookie scent), The Body Shop Brazil Nut Shower Cream, Lush Bubble Bar (I believe this was Amandopondo, I bought the Pop In the Bath this time).

Make-up! Oh, the excitement... of using up only four products, two of which were deluxe samples :) By the way, you can follow my make-up empties count on Instagram now - I was inspired by Vita to see how many make-up products I'll be able to finish this year.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/ Medium (review)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Bobbi Brown Corrector in Porcelain Bisque, Chanel Le Blanc de Chanel primer, bareMinerals Stroke of Light Undereye Brightener.
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): None right now.

Lastly, foil samples and sheet masks. Even though I'm not doing a dedicated samples project right now (like I did for two months last year with my Use Up Those Freaking Samples challenge, here), I am still quite focused on finishing some up. I'm going on a short city break tomorrow and I'm hoping to make even more of a dent then in my sample stash.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Hanaka Vitamin A Marigold Sheet Mask (absolutely dripping with essence, almost no results), Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturizing Foundation in Porcelain (good shade match but too emollient for my combo skin).
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Etude House Sheet Masks in Bulgarian Rose and Fig, Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, Benefit Porefessional primer, Burberry Fresh Glow (just meh)
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Clark Botanicals Anti-Puff Eye Cream (used up three sachets of this now and I'm still quite enjoying it!), Leaders Insolution Illuminating Sheet Mask (very hydrating and soothing, enough essence for two applications - Leaders is now available at Ulta, although I think they revamped their masks and I don't see this one).

Ufff, typing up these empties posts is always a bit of a struggle for me - but I hope you enjoyed nonetheless. Let me know if you have any questions about any of these products, and please share how you're doing on the stash-downsizing front! Hugs :)

Project Make A Dent 2015 and Project 10 Pan Finale

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! It may just be too much excitement, but on top of one more sleep til' Christmas, today I'm sharing the finale of my Project Make A Dent 2015, started twelve months ago, and Project 10 Pan 2015, which I started in July (click for intro). Are you ready to see some make-up empties?

You might be thinking that I got beyond bored with all my products after working on them for such a long time and was more than ready to move on to something else. And on one hand, that's true; I have definitely been neglecting most of my make-up stash, and I'm happy to go back to some things I haven't played with in a while. But on the other hand, I got weirdly attached to the products I've been panning, and as I was setting them aside to be recycled, I almost felt a little sad. As you'll see in a moment, not all of my products are completely used up - but since all of them are quite old by now, I promised myself I'll be tossing them by the end of the year. Having them all lined up to go in the trash almost made me go back on that promise, although it really is time to say goodbye!

Progress of Project MAD at the third update, 9 months in.

Let's start with my Project Make A Dent. As you may remember, the goal of this challenge is not necessarily to use everything up to the last smithereen, but rather to put a good dent in your products. Well, I certainly did that! If you'd like to see what my chosen items looked like in January, click here. In this post, I wanted to show you how much progress I made in the past three months, so I'm comparing with the photo from the end of September.

Project MAD Finale, 12 months in.

A little reminder: the products I have finished at the second update in June (click!) were Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Rockstar, Make Up For Ever HD Powder mini, Michael Todd Creme Glace lipgloss in Natural, Revlon Superlustrous Lipgloss in Coral Reef and Face Atelier Ultra Foundation in Porcelain. By the end of September, I have not used up any new items. As of now, I have one more product that's completely gone: the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Monte Carlo. The four remaining items that are not used up all the way are the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, Stila Convertible Color in Lillium, Sephora Nano Eyeliner in Nuage, and Inglot Gel Lipstick no. 58. All of them show quite a bit of progress and I've been using them nearly every time I wore make-up, with the exception of that Nano eyeliner, which was so bad I kinda gave up on it shortly after the third update.

Products at the halfway update, 3 months into the Project.

As for my Project 10 Pan I started 6 months ago, I have some nice progress to report as well. At my halfway update in September (click!), I have finished two items: Buxom Full-On Lip Shine in Dolly and the Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait. Since then, I have used up four more products: Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation in Intensity 1, both of my Orly mini polishes in Gumdrop and Rage (the bottles are not completely empty, but the polishes are too thick to use now), and Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Copper Glow (I can't sharpen it anymore). I have also hit major pan on the MAC Pressed Blot Powder, and used up quite a bit of Covergirl Jumbo Gloss Balm in Watermelon Twist and Revlon Colorstay Foundation for Combination/ Oily Skin; my marks were a bit off on that one when I started so there's been more progress than what you see from my sharpie lines. The one product that I didn't get to use a whole lot was the Elf Mineral Lipstick in Rosy Raisin, which broke off at the base of the bullet and couldn't be salvaged - so while it's not gone, it needs to be thrown out anyway.

Project Finale, 6 months in.

Overall, I'm really happy with my results. 6 finished products out of 10 in Project MAD, and 6 out of 10 in P10P. Like I mentioned above, all of the products I've been working on this year are exiting my stash, no matter if they're entirely used up or have a bit left, because I feel that they're too old now to stay - with the exception of my MAC Blot Powder, which is quite old but I can't detect any changes in color, texture or scent from when I first purchased it. To sum up, that's 19 majorly used products on their way out; that's a lot!

Final progress on my liquid products marked with a sharpie.

I've really enjoyed panning this year and I'm very satisified with my small achievement. Looking at my progress, some of you may think I wasn't really committed to my products, and maybe if I really stuck to using them day in and day out, more would be finished by now. That's not really true though; I've used these products about 98% of the time I wore make-up (which is not daily, by the way). Take that Stila cream blush, for example - it's a mini that had a tiny bit of pan showing to begin with, and at the end of twelve months of use, it's still a far way from being used up. But I have been using it ALL THE TIME - I think that just goes to show that I use very small amounts of products when I apply my make-up. So I do know that I gave my items as much attention as I possibly could, and I can't expect more from myself than that. How are your projects going, dear readers? Are they drawing to a close too, or continuing into the New Year? I already have a new Project planned for 2016, so stay tuned for my intro in just a few days...

Final Beauty Empties of 2015

Since we're flying home for the holidays, I'm writing my final empties round-up for 2015 a couple weeks early - but I also don't think I would have completely used up any more products before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, so it doesn't change things much. I think my usage was quite consistent for the last quarter of this year, and similarly to the previous update, I decided to toss some half-used and/or expired items as well.

Let's start with make-up this time, just to keep you on your toes ;) In the comments to my previous empties post, Neo suggested that she would like to see the tosses separated from the products that are completely used up. I took that suggestion to heart, but I have to say that when it comes to make-up, it can be a bit difficult to establish the line between empty/ no longer usable and somewhat used/ decided to throw out. I tried though - let's start with the tosses:

Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF30 (expired; scratchy brush, orange-tinted powder that looked heavy on the skin), Maybelline Baby Lips SPF15 (expired, dried out my lips), Fyrinnae Pyxie Epoxy (started to make shadows adhere unevenly to the skin; overall good for making pigments pop, but too much hassle to use)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Concealer (half-used but had it for too long now; mini review here), Fyrinnae Lip Lustre in Visual Kei (I've had it for too long; review and swatches here), NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Garnet (color changed; nice product but I'm not into pigmented glosses any more).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too):  Inglot Cream Blush no. 88 (scent changed; great cream to powder formula at a good price point).

Now for the make-up that I did use all up or at least used to the point where it was no longer serviceable (too dry/ thick to apply).
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: LORAC Front of the Line PRO liquid eyeliner in Black (reviewed here)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Genius (waterproof mascara topcoat - liked the option of making any mascara waterproof, but truth be told forgot the extra step most of the time), Benefit Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer (a good but not outstanding face primer)
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara in Black (review), Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 (review), NYC In a New York Minute Nail Polish in Manhattan (discontinued, swatched here; used up 2/3 of the bottle before it got too thick)

As for skincare, I did pretty good on my minis/ deluxe samples, and finally finished some products I've been working on for a really long time. The Paula's Choice RESIST sunscreen and Jurlique serum are about 2/3 used up, but I had to toss them as they're now expired.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Pearl Exfoliator (reviewed here; did absolutely nothing apart from leaving my face covered in large glitter particles - WTF?), SK-II Facial Treatment Essence* (review), Andalou Naturals Blue Geranium Creamy Clay Mask (the product itself was fine, but the packaging sucked - couldn't get any mask out of the tube no matter how hard I squeezed, which is why it's cut open).
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Jurlique Herbal Recovery Serum* (reviewed here), Paula's Choice RESIST Superlight Sunscreen SPF 30 (review), Reviva Labs Microdermabrasion Pomegranate Scrub* (review; very effective but prefer dissolving scrubs), NUDE Omega Treatment Oil, Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye Cream
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Rosewater Mask (review), Andalou Naturals Probiotic + C Renewal Cream (review); funny how Andalou made it both to my least and most favorite products' lists :)

Bath and body products: you can clearly see the colder season has started from the number of hand creams I've finished. Mr helped me on the shower gel and shower oil front, and Soap & Glory body washes (both this one and Clean On Me) are his favorites. I know.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Reviva Labs Seaweed Soap* (unfortunately, too drying, and didn't enjoy the scent)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve (not all that super duper ultimately moisturizing, actually), Boots Botanics Bath Soak in Rebalance, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream* (again, not moisturizing enough for my hands), Neosalus prescription barrier cream (effective, but not OTC and VERY expensive)
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Soap and Glory Rich and Foamous Body Wash, Nivea Natural Shower Oil (good drugstore alternative to L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil but unavailable in the US), Lush Massage Bar in Soft Coeur

Haircare - finally finished some lingering bottles from my shower and bathroom cabinet! It takes me an inordinately long time to finish my hair products.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Nivea Intense Repair Shampoo (passed on to me by my mother in law; the shampoo contains SLS, which I may be sensitive to, makes my hair quite greasy by second day, and I disliked the scent - smells almost like hair dye), Kenra Platinum Finishing Spray (too wet, the nozzle didn't work well, too strong of a hold for me)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Goldwell Rich Repair Hair Mask (great mask, but I don't really need hair masks on my smooth fine hair), MoroccanOil Clarifying Shampoo (again, great product but I'm questioning the need for it - further explanation in this post)
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): OGX Coconut Water Conditioner, Batiste Dry Shampoo in the Blush scent (already repurchased in the Classic scent - to be honest, I get whatever scent is the cheapest online)

And just a few foil samples/ one use sachets this time.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Koh Gen Do Makeup Base SPF 15 (sad to say, but this makes my skin look ashy and contains fine glitter particles)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: The Face Shop Hand Sheet Mask (great concept, but didn't really make much of a difference to my hands), Japanese Vitamin C Mask (sorry, don't remember the brand - it was a gwp), Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask (I'm glad I had this sample as I was really interested in purchasing the full size; however, after trying it, I concluded it's a nice product, but not worth the price tag for me).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Aura Cacia Meditating Cedarwood Mineral Bath (this was probably my third packet; possibly my favorite scent out of all Aura Cacia's bath salts)

And that's it! Well, okay, I forgot to include a mini of Pureology's volumizing hair mist (wouldn't purchase the full size), and one of my serums run out literally the day after I took shots of all my trash, so I guess it will have to be included in the next post. I'm glad to have all of these products done & dusted and to move on to some other back-up stuff in my stash. As you may remember, I'm attempting not to purchase ANY new skincare products for all of 2016, both for the face and body, so I'm just really focusing on clearing out what I've accumulated so far. What was your favorite product that you've recently finished? I think out of all of my beauty trash, I'm sad to see my NYC Nail Polish in Manhattan go, but I have so many other similar shades that it's a bit silly to feel that way, to be honest.

Disclaimer: Products marked with an asterix (*) were received complimentary for testing purposes from the brands or won in an official giveaway. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as free press samples. Thank you for reading!

Beauty Empties: 3rd Quarter of 2015

Happy October! I haven't actually used up a whole lot of products in the past three months; I feel that this is a lot less than I usually have in my empties bag. But, we all know beauty products tend to get finished in phases, so I'm just guessing there's going to be a lot more in the next quarter.

For body and haircare, I've made a bit of a dent in my stash, and I've tried to make sure I was still using up some of those deluxe samples.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Murad Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF30, Aura Cacia Vanilla Essential Oil blend in Jojoba Oil (the scent was too faint), Dolce & Gabbana The One EDP mini (not my kind of fragrance)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Pacifica Malibu Lemon Blossom Shower Gel (mentioned here; I liked the formula more than the scent but it's a bit pricey to repurchase regularly), Peter Thomas Roth Mega Rich Body Lotion (not that rich, but lovely bergamot scent)
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Kneipp Pomegranate & Black Currant In-Shower Body Lotion (really a cream cleanser for the body - awesome post-gym), Batiste Dry Shampoo in the Clean and Classic Scent (a repurchase, already repurchased another can but in a different scent to shake things up), Secret Oulast Gel in Completely Clear (favorite antiperspirant I've tried so far!), OGX Biotin & Collagen Shampoo (fantastic and inexpensive sulfate-free shampoo for fine hair).

Skincare; again, I focused on a lot of my deluxe samples. Some tosses too: the Clarins eye cream with SPF30 was too thick and dry, especially to use on the delicate eye area, and I had no interest in trying this super old sample of the REN Micro Polish cleanser.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Caudalie Beauty Elixir (full review here), MyChelle Apple Brightening Cleanser (reviewed here; I'm moving away from foaming face washes), Mario Badescu Drying Cream
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Dermalogica Intensive Eye Repair, Clark's Botanical Smoothing Marine Cream (too pricey for a moisturizer with glycolic acid, but worked very well for me), Dr Wu 18% Mandelic Acid Serum (full review here; replaced with Derma e Overnight Peel and some new exfoliants from Paula's Choice), The Organic Pharmacy Enzyme Peel Mask (reviewed here - again, lovely but very expensive).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk (full review here), Rock Rose hydrosol I used as a spray toner, Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Heavenly Night Cream (reviewed here), Hada White Lady brightening serum.

As an extra, here's a mix of body, hair and skincare from my travel empties I tossed before leaving Tuscany (see how committed I am? Even remembered to take a photo for you). Actually, the product I liked the most out of this line-up was the St. Ives Shea Butter shower gel - in the photo refilled with some vile manly body wash from someone in the family, because we run out. I wasn't a fan of the popular Acure Argan hair line either; I found the shampoo both drying and not cleansing enough.

Make-up! A lot of tossed products that went bad here too. Obviously, a lot of these were my own fault for not using them more while they were still good, but that bareMinerals Buttercream gloss - man, I still can't get over it. Anyway.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Urban Decay B6 Vitamin Infused Prep Spray (meh - did nothing for me), Wet n'Wild Mega Liner in Black (pigmented and easy to apply, but tended to run terribly in humid weather), bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Buttercream Lipgloss in Must Have Pink.
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: eos Vanilla Lip Balm (tasted sweet too, but not nourishing enough for me), Fyrinnae Lip Luster in Shangri-La (full review), Miss Sporty concealer pencil, bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara (lengthening and non clumpy), fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Balm (reviewed here).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Plum Perfect (featured here; mine started to smell funky. I really like this drugstore lipstick formula and would repurchase but maybe in a different shade).

Lastly, various samples or one (more like two or three) use sachets of sheet masks and bath salts. The one stand-out for perfume was Hermes Voyage d'Hermes, but while I liked it, I didn't love it enough to consider purchasing a full size bottle. I also really enjoyed the SK-II Facial Treatment Mask, reviewed here, and the Kneipp Mineral Bath Salts in the Pure Bliss scent; I'm considering purchasing the full size.

To be honest, I'm starting to feel a bit over my empties post format; it's a lot to take in, even if I just list all the products used, and I think it's quite boring for you guys to read. I also think that rushing through my products in an attempt to fill my empties bag to the brim is not really something I'd like to do anymore. It the past, when I had a lot more products stockpiled in every category, it's worked fine, but now I don't have all those back-ups I'm worried will expire before I use them. I'm simply feeling this need to slow down a little and actually enjoy what I have. I'll probably post one last post in this format for the last quarter of this year, but next year, I may switch to the 'One In, One Out' type of post championed by bloggers such as ttsandra and Reductionista. What do you guys think? Is there any specific format you prefer for the empties posts?

Beauty Empties: 2nd Quarter of 2015

I guess when even I start dreading my empties bag, it's a sure sign that I've kept it full for far too long. I've decided to post this empties round-up a bit later than the actual end of the second quarter due to my other stash-reducing projects' updates, so I feel like I've finished some of these products eons ago and no longer remember much about them...

 Let's start with make-up this time - I think it's the most interesting, so if you don't care about my other beauty trash, you can just scan through this part and be done reading (see how I like to make it easy for you? ;).
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Peony (review here; it's not empty, I just hate it and decided to get rid of it), Ulta Make-up Sponge, Dr Brandt Pores No More primer (thick and silicone-laded), Heroine Make Volume and Curl Mascara (review here)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Graftobian HD Glamour Creme Foundation in Buff and Aurora (here's my review - obviously not completely used up, but old and I don't really enjoy wearing it anymore), Skindinavia Make-up Finishing Spray (it was alright, but I'm not sure I absolutely need a setting spray in my make-up routine), Rouge Bunny Rouge Sea of Clouds Highlighting Liquid sample (fantastic for fair skin as it's basically a white pearl shade), Make Up Forever Smokey Extravagant Mascara, Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Whiskey, Real Techniques Miracle Complexion sponge (reviewed here - mine didn't last as long as I expected, and I think I prefer the original Beautyblender).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too):  Laura Geller GlamLASH mascara, OPI Original Nail Envy, INM Out The Door Topcoat

Would you say skincare is the next most interesting category of empties after make-up?
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: The Face Shop Hydra Gel Mask in Vita B (not really a gel sheet mask like the Tatcha, more like a sheet of rubber if that makes sense?), Orientana Moisturizer for Combination Skin (a more natural Polish skincare brand, but this cream was incredibly fragranced and the texture quite greasy on the skin)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: The Saem sheet mask and Freeman Coffee & Chai Eye Mask* (reviewed here), Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum (featured here; worked really well for the first couple of months then no more improvement), Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel (will be featured shortly - stay tuned), Osmia Organics Facial Calibration Serum* (a facial oil, really), Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado (weird texture that wouldn't always absorb but decent moisturizer), Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads (featured here, prefer the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads), Avebio Immortelle Flower Water (scent a bit too strong, prefer other hydrosols), Canmake Easy and Fast Make Gel (moisturizer with spf), Badger Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Nothing, really :(

In terms of fragrance empties, I have a bit of a sad story to share. As you can see, the full size bottle of discontinued Givenchy Fleur d'Interdit is definitely not empty. I was given this fragrance by a family friend when I was maybe 12 or 13, making this fragrance at least 16 years old. Yes, the scent has gone sour - probably a while back, actually. I remember I loved this thing to death when I first got it (my first adult perfume! SO SOPHISTICATED), but my mum told me I was too young to wear it, and that I should save it for later on. Yeah, boy, did I save it for later on - except now it's unusable. The rest are samples, among which I enjoyed Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Teazzura and Tocca Simone the most - both summery fragrances and it's been hot hot hot over here. I also realized I really dislike apple notes in perfume *gives Tocca Giulietta and Marc Jacobs Daisy a stink eye*.

I seem to have been the most prolific (or greedy...?) in the bodycare department.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Crystal Body Deodorant Stick (this made me MORE smelly, if that's even possible), Secret Invisible Solid Antiperspirant (I've come to the conclusion that I dislike invisible solids and prefer clear gels - I'm actually using one by Secret right now and it's really good!), Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish (not completely gone, but I realized it contains polluting plastic microbeads)
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream (I think it's too expensive and not sufficiently moisturizing for my severely dry hands), Ulta Vanilla Sugar Body Wash (used as a bubble bath), Philosophy Fresh Cream Hand Wash (also used as a bubble bath - lovely scent, but $$$), Green Pharmacy Bath Oil in the Clove & Mandarin Orange scent (another Polish brand aspiring to be natural - this was more like a foaming gel oil for the bath, and at about $3.50, I really enjoyed it), Kneipp Lavender Bath Oil*, Rose hand cream from Bulgaria (gift from my mom).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): The Body Shop Body Butter in the Vanilla Brulee scent (I think these can't be beat for a nourishing body moisturizer, and the price isn't too bad when you catch them on sale), Camille Beckman Lemongrass & Grapefruit Hand Cream* (came in a Glossybox and turned out to be fabulous, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to order from their website just for this hand cream), Aura Cacia Meditating Cedarwood Mineral Bath and Orange & Patchouli Foaming Bath (not the cheapest bath products, but less expensive and more natural than Lush, that's for sure! I have a couple more sachets on hand already).

Do you guys get excited over haircare products? Because I don't really - I'm okay with most shampoos and conditioners, and I guess my only must-have now that I have longer hair is a good spray detangler. Any recommendations?
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo (despite being touted as the best drugstore dry shampoo by many beauty gurus, I found it to be less effective than Batiste and the smell so strong my husband could smell it in another room).
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Nioxin Scalp Treatment (well, Mr was the primary user, but he stopped with one application left in the bottle and I finished it - it was alright?), TIGI Catwalk Sea Salt Spray (worked well but the scent was a bit too strong).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): Batiste Dry Shampoo in the Tropical scent (already repurchased; I've decided not to experiment with dry shampoos anymore and just stick to Batiste as my favorite), Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream (lovely, but I'd like to try their Full Thickening Cream for my fine hair).

Woohoo, we made it! I mentioned last time that I would also like to discuss my 'Use it Up' goals in these posts, so here goes. As far as my previous goal to use up more foil samples and various minis, I did really well in my Use Up Those Freakin' Samples challenge, and I'm trying to stay on top of things by using up at least five samples a month. I also haven't purchased any beauty product back-ups, and I'm still working on further reducing my stash of skincare, haircare, bodycare, fragrance, you name it. The slowest area to move out of my collection is obviously make-up, and while I did buy some new things to play with, I've also parted with some and started a new Project Pan to use up as many products as I can - I guess that's my focus for the next couple of months.

How are you guys doing on the empties front? I feel that next quarter I may have a lot to share as a lot of things seem to be running out at the same time - I still have replacements at the ready so no need to repurchase, but I'm trying to make room for some Sephora sale shopping in November :)

Disclaimer: Products marked with an asterix (*) are press samples I received from the brand's PR for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as free press samples. Thank you for reading!