Empties: May 2012

How fast did May go by? Seriously, it feels like it's been maybe a week since my last empties post. I decided to add candles to my empties because I keep buying them and this is motivating me to use up my old ones. And they count as beauty items, right? It's aromatherapy. It's good for the soul or something. This post is, of course, dedicated to the original Beauty Reductionista, Liz. Without further ado, here is my empties tally, collected from April 30 to May 31:

• Lush Dirty Springwash Shower Gel (250 ml)
• Bath & Body Works Body Lotion — Wild Apple Daffodil (236 ml)
• Herbal Essences Hydralicious Featherweight Conditioner (300 ml)
• Kiehl's Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Shampoo (250 ml)
• Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate (50 ml)
• MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Softening Lotion (150 ml)
• Lancôme Crème Radiance Clarifying Cream-To-Foam Cleanser (125 ml)
• MAC Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara — Black (9 g)
• MAC Pro Palette Refill Pan Eyeshadow — All That Glitters (1.5 g)
• MAC Blot Powder Pressed — Medium Dark (12 g)
• Studio 35 Beauty 100% Acetone Polish Remover (473 ml)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (14 ml)
• Julep Nail Therapy (8 ml)
• Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum (30 ml)
• Lollia Poetic License Candle — No. 56 Score from the End Credits
• Slatkin & Co. 3-Wick Candle — Green Grass (411 g)

Total: 16 products (15 full size, 1 travel size)

Bodycare/Haircare:

Lush Dirty Springwash Shower Gel (250 ml) — The Dirty collection was originally created for guys, but the spearmint-scented shower gel can easily be used by both sexes. I liked it a lot when I smelled it in the store, and I can see the minty freshness being really nice to help wake people up in the morning and the cooling sensation is good for showers on hot summer days, but the more I used it, the more I thought it smelled like toothpaste. That aside, I didn't feel like it had any benefits to my skin, though there is supposedly glycerin and sea salt in it to help soften skin. At $17.95, it's too pricey for a mediocre shower gel.

Re-purchase? No.

Bath & Body Works Body Lotion — Wild Apple Daffodil (236 ml) — I got this for free with a coupon (spend $10, get one free signature item). This is a new and limited edition scent for Spring. This scent blends the scents of red apples, daffodils, and pomegranate. It's a little on the sweet side, but the daffodil scent helps to balance it out and give it a freshness. It's not my favourite scent from them, but I liked it enough to use it almost everyday. The scent is quite strong, however, and will linger on the skin. I don't think this particular formula is better than many of the other body lotions out there, but it's lightweight and non-greasy and good for warmer months when your skin needs hydration but not repairing.

Re-purchase? Yes, but in a different scent.

Herbal Essences Hydralicious Featherweight Conditioner (300 ml) — Really not bad for a drugstore conditioner. I originally bought this for a trip because it was on sale for $2. I wouldn't recommend this for really long hair, but for short to medium hair, it really does help detangle. Though I didn't see a difference in hydration or softness in my hair. I'm not a huge fan of the strong, fruity scent, either.

Re-purchase? Maybe, if it's on sale and I need a conditioner for travel.

Kiehl's Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Shampoo (250 ml) — Pleasantly surprised with this. It left my hair feeling really soft and actually conditioned, even though it's a shampoo. It's really good for super-dry, damaged hair (e.g. lots of heat-styling). It's quite pricey at $25.50, though, so I imagine this would be better for someone who doesn't wash their hair everyday. I interchanged this with my Lush Big Shampoo.

Re-purchase? Yes, when my hair is longer.

Skincare:

Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate (50 ml) — I've been using this product since it came out (I was actually working for Lancôme when it launched). It's sort of a "pre-serum" so you use it before you use other serums and moisturizer. The whole premise behind this product is that it triggers your skin cells to produce more youth proteins so your skin mimics younger skin (like how babies have the smoothest, clearest skin). I noticed a massive difference in my skin when I first started using it; my skin was super-smooth and really soft and literally glowing. Then I thought my skin had plateaued. I stopped using this for about three weeks and I noticed my skin texture changed — more dry patches on my cheeks, more random breakouts and bumps. So I started using it again, and within a week, my skin was back to the way it was. It's expensive, but it's worth it.

Re-purchase? Definitely.

MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Softening Lotion (150 ml) — This is MAC's latest Lightful toner (they re-formulate the line every three years). The purpose of the Lightful line is to brighten the skin and help fade pigmentation. This toner is meant to "condition the skin for a smoother, more radiant look and feel." I'm not sure if my face has gotten smoother or more radiant because of this toner, but it feels great on the skin — it makes it feel softer and more hydrated without leaving a film. And it smells good.

Re-purchase? Yes.

Lancôme Crème Radiance Clarifying Cream-To-Foam Cleanser (125 ml) — You know, this has been my "holy grail" cleanser for years, but I think I like MAC's Cremewash a little more now! But this is amazing for removing make-up (including eye make-up and mascara), and it also cleans my skin effectively without leaving it feeling dry. But now that it's $35 a tube, I just can't justify getting a new tube every two months. I had left this tube at Shawn's and brought it home to finish it up.

Re-purchase? Yes, but only occasionally now; it's just too expensive.

Make-up:

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara — Black (9 g) — This is my go-to mascara. I have really long, but really thin and straight lashes, and this amps up the volume like no other. And it doesn't smudge, even though it's not waterproof. The formula is really wet, though, so it can be prone to clumping and it can get a little messy around the tube opening... but the effect is totally worth it, 'cause I love huge, dramatic lashes. I seriously go through one tube every month.

Re-purchase? Yep, always have two back-ups.

MAC Pro Palette Refill Pan Eyeshadow — All That Glitters (1.5 g) — This is my go-to eyeshadow shade. It's a light-medium pinked beige with gold pearl. I seriously use this every day. It's just the most universally flattering colour, ever, and in a Veluxe Pearl finish (my favourite — smooth, buttery, pigmented). I use this on its own all over the lid and pair it with pretty much any colour (seriously, it'll look good with anything) for a more dramatic eye. It looks good on all skintones with all undertones.

Re-purchase? Always.

MAC Blot Powder Pressed — Medium Dark (12 g) — I've been using this for years. It's a weightless, translucent, oil-absorbing powder. I have combination/oily skin, and this works wonders to help keep my face matte. And it doesn't cake, either.

Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.

Nailcare:

Studio 35 Beauty 100% Acetone Polish Remover (473 ml) — Not great for your nails, but it's the fastest and most effective product to take off glitter polish. This brand is from Walgreen's (I picked it up in NYC a couple years ago), but any brand will do.

Re-purchase? Yep, just bought two bottles from Target!

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (14 ml) — I've gone through a couple of these over the past year. So far, it's my favourite top coat — dries polish in seconds, leaves a shiny finish, and keeps my nails from chipping.

Re-purchase? Yes, I just bought one.

Julep Nail Therapy (8 ml) — I got this in one of my Julep Maven boxes. I use this as my base coat, and I swear, it's really helped in strengthening my nails and keeping them from peeling after I remove my polish. It's definitely my favourite base coat at the moment.

Re-purchase? Yes.

Fragrance:

Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum (30 ml) — This is my all-time favourite perfume. I've been using this since it was launched in 2007. I have gone through at least three full-sized bottles a year since then. It's a really clean, fresh citrus perfume (grapefruit, lemon, lime blossom) with a fruity sweetness (lychee, mango flower) that isn't cloying at all and a floral note (freesia) that adds more depth and doesn't give me headaches. There is a soft warmth (tonka bean, amber, sandalwood) underlying the citrusy sweetness that gives it a more complex base and lingers beautifully on skin. I always keep a 30ml bottle in my purse.

Re-purchase? Yes.

Miscellaneous:

Lollia Poetic License Candle — No. 56 Score from the End Credits — I got six Lollia candles on sale for $10 each from Indigo some time last fall. No. 56 includes notes of persimmon, pomegranate, cut greens, black orchid, lotus blossom, amber, black violet, and mahogany wood. It's a sweet, woodsy scent that is really nice on cooler nights.

Re-purchase? Yes, but only on sale.

Slatkin & Co. 3-Wick Candle — Green Grass (411 g) — Slatkin & Co. makes the candles at Bath & Body Works, and Green Grass is a scent that came out for Spring. This is by far one of my favourite scents from them. It includes notes of dewy greens, Meyer lemon, Lily of the Valley, and jasmine. It's super-fresh and clean and isn't overbearing. Love it.

Re-purchase? Yes! I'm going to buy like, four of them when they have their 2 for $25 sale.

Not my best month, but still commendable, I think.