Empties: Spring 2013

First of all, hope all you fellow Canadians had a lovely Canada Day yesterday! Secondly, it's July, which means it's empties time again! At the beginning of the year, when I did my first empties post of 2013, I decided to do empties posts once every season rather than once a month, to kind of keep track of how many products I use up, and also to provide mini reviews of products. This post is, of course, dedicated to the original Beauty Reductionista, Liz. Without further ado, here is my empties tally, collected from April 1 to June 30:


Skincare:

MAC Wipes (100 sheets) — Expensive, but still the best make-up removing wipes I've used.

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

MAC Fix+ (100 ml) — The original make-up setting spray. Makes make-up look smoother, less powdery, less "make-uppy." You don't know the difference it makes until you use it.

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

MAC Mineralize Charged Water Moisture Gel (50 ml) — A surprisingly nice moisturizer, and by far my favourite one from MAC. Lightweight, oil-free, incredibly hydrating, quickly absorbing, fragrance-free, and doesn't make me break out. I'm always trying out different moisturizers, but I would use this one again.
Re-purchase? Yes.

MAC Cremewash (100 ml) — One of my favourite make-up removing cleansers. Creamy, lush, foaming, smells nice, takes off all make-up. I usually go back to this one when I'm in between trying out different cleansers.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.

MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Softening Lotion (150 ml) — The purpose of MAC's Lightful line is to brighten the skin and help even out skintone. 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.

Philosophy Take a Deep Breath Oil-Free Energizing Oxygen Gel Cream Moisturizer (60 ml) — Bought this on a whim while shopping online at Sephora over the winter. My skin gets really dehydrated and dull-looking over the winter, and this one kept my skin feeling hydrated and looking radiant without adding extra oil. Bonus: Didn't make me break out. Great for tired skin, for sure, and works for most skin types. Plus, it's a pretty affordable moisturizer from a luxury brand.
Re-purchase? Yes, during colder months, and only when I'm in the US (it's $10 more in Canada!).

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser (150 ml) — I was using this as my morning cleanser because it doesn't remove make-up. It has everything I love in a cleanser: creamy, lush, foaming. It made my skin feel clean, but not tight or dry, and it's fragrance-free. A tiny bit goes a long way, so this cleanser actually lasted me about half a year used everyday.
Re-purchase? Yes. 

Malin + Goetz Grapefruit Face Cleanser (236 ml) — Bought this last year in New York and was using it on and off for about nine months. It's a gel cleanser, and as such, does not foam up very well. And also, it didn't take off make-up that well, even though the demo I bought it from said it would. My face just didn't feel as clean as I wanted it to.
Re-purchase? No.

Origins Modern Friction Nature's Gentle Dermabrasion (125 ml) — Officially my favourite face scrub of all time.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up!

Bodycare:

Dove Go Fresh Cool Moisture Body Wash — Cucumber & Green Tea (354 ml) — This is probably my favourite body wash formula from the drugstore, and the one I go back to when I want a good, inexpensive body wash. I love this especially for colder months since my skin suffers from dryness and eczema, and this is mild and moisturizing. Love the cucumber and green tea scent, too.

Re-purchase? Yes, when it's on sale.

Origins A Perfect World Highly Hydrating Body Lotion with White Tea (200 ml x 2) — I stockpile this stuff when I see it at the Estée Lauder warehouse sale. Besides the fantastic scent, which is reminiscent of mangosteen fruit (or peach gummy candy), it has a thinner consistency so it absorbs really fast and doesn't feel sticky, but leaves skin feeling perfectly hydrated. It is very pricey, however, considering how much is in each tube (and how fast I use it up!).

Re-purchase? Yes, but only at a discounted price.

Origins Gloomaway Grapefruit Body Wash and Bubble Bath (200 ml) — Bought this at the Estée Lauder warehouse sale a few months ago. A regular body wash; I didn't find that it gave me any skin benefits aside from the scent. I mean, it's relatively mild and doesn't make my skin feel dry, but it doesn't feel particularly hydrating, either. The Gloomaway line of products has a kind of spicy grapefruit scent, which is nice especially if you're feeling tired, but I found that I got kind of bored/sick of the scent after like, half the bottle. 

Re-purchase? No, plus it's discontinued now.

Bath & Body Works Body Lotion — Orange Sapphire (236 ml) — I actually quite like the Bath & Body Works body lotions; they're not too thick or too thin and are quite hydrating. I usually buy them more for the fragrance than the formula itself, though. The Orange Sapphire scent is citrusy, refreshing, and a bit sweet but not cloying.
Re-purchase? Yes, but it was discontinued.

Bath & Body Works Body Lotion — Cucumber Melon (236 ml) —  Read above. Cucumber Melon is a classic scent from Bath & Body Works, and they only offer it during their Semi-Annual Sales now. This is light and fresh.
Re-purchase? Yes, when it's available.

Haircare:

L'Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hairspray (250 ml) — L'Oréal's Elnett is by far the best line of hairsprays I've ever used. This is the second bottle I've used up. Gives seriously amazing hold for all hairstyles, and no matter how much you use, you can always brush it out easily.
Re-purchase? Yes.

Shiseido Super Mild Conditioner — Green (600 ml) — All the writing on it is in Japanese, so I can't really tell you what it's supposed to do or what it's supposed to smell like, but I love the scent of this. This conditioner comes in three fragrances, but I am partial to the green one, which is a light, fresh, clean floral scent. I love that this conditioner isn't heavy, but leaves my hair feeling super soft and silky and completely detangled without leaving a residue. (For the record, I have non-dyed, long, medium-thick, coarse, dry hair.) Plus, it comes with a pump (which I personally like), and a 600 ml bottle is around $16 here (but it does go on sale for around $12, which is when I buy it).
Re-purchase? Yes.

Lush Big Sea Salt Shampoo (325 g) — You can read my review of this here. I use this twice a week to clarify and deep-cleanse, but it can be drying if used often (I wash my hair everyday, so I switch between a few different shampoos and conditioners). It makes my hair feel lighter and cleaner, and look shinier and more voluminous.
Re-purchase? Yes.

Make-up:

Lancôme Artliner Precision Point Eyeliner — Noir (1.4 ml) — Best liquid eyeliner, ever. Ridiculously expensive at $38 a pop, but one usually lasts me just under six months and I use it everyday. I don't buy it for the actual formula (it's nice, but not as opaque or matte as I like it, so I layer MAC's Boot Black on top), but more so for the felt tip applicator. Gives the perfect, winged-out line every time. You'd think in a market with so many liquid eyeliners, that there'd be one that's exactly like it, but there isn't. But, the Artliner applicator fits perfectly into L'Oréal's Lineur Intense, so I've been buying L'Oréal's version in between finishing an Artliner to save some money.
Re-purchase? Yes.

NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (8 g) — Best eyeshadow primer, bar none. In my opinion, it's better than both Too Faced Shadow Insurance or Urban Decay Primer Potion, which are two top contenders in the eyeshadow primer category. NARS' is by far the best I've used. Keeps my eye make-up looking perfect and pristine and completely crease-free for over 24 hours (yes, I have tested this... but I don't condone it!). One usually lasts me about half a year, so while it's on the expensive end, the cost per use ends up being pretty reasonable.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up. 

MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 (30 ml) — My go-to foundation primer. I've been using this for a couple years now. I like this primer because it protects my face without leaving a residue (I'm not a fan of gel primers because I can actually feel it on my face). In the winter, I only use it on my T-zone because it's mattifying, but I use it all over my face in warmer months. This also replaces facial sunscreen for me.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.  

MAC Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara — Black (9 g x 3) — My holy grail mascara. I go through one every month-and-a-half.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have two back-ups.

MAC Eyebrows — Brunette (0.09 g x 2) — I have been using this eyebrow pencil for years. I love that it's self-sharpening and that it has the finest point I have ever seen on an eyebrow pencil. I have thin, patchy, asymmetrical eyebrows, and this really helps fill them and shape them with precision. Brunette is a medium cool-toned taupe-brown shade; perfect for my Asian hair. Another staple product.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have two back-ups. 

MAC Cremesheen Glass — Double Happiness (2.7 g) — This officially marks the first lip gloss I have ever finished (!). MAC's Cremesheen Glass formula is my favourite because it's non-sticky, ultra-creamy, super-glossy, and excellent for layering. Double Happiness is a light-medium peachy beige, and I usually layer it on top of any lighter lipsticks (a fave combo of mine is Double Happiness on top of MAC's Faux or Viva Glam II lipsticks).
Re-purchase? Yes.

MAC Mineralize Concealer — NW25 (5 ml) — I use this mostly for evening out any redness on my cheeks, but occasionally under my eyes if I'm looking particularly tired. It has medium buildable coverage and a natural luminous finish, so it's ideal for people who want to even out skintone but not full or heavy coverage. It's hydrating and super-blendable, and doesn't cake or build-up in fine lines so it's ideal for layering. Love this stuff.
Re-purchase? Yes. 

MAC Eyeshadow — All That Glitters (1.5 g) — This is the second eyeshadow I have ever finished, and both of them are the same shade. MAC's All That Glitters is definitely one of my favourite and most-used eyeshadows. It's a light-medium pinked champagne-beige that looks beautiful on its own and with any other colour (seriously, everything from gold to green to blue). Plus, it's universally flattering and in a Veluxe Pearl finish so it's smooth, buttery, and pigmented.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.

MAC Studio Fix Powder+ Foundation — NC35 (15 g) — My go-to foundation. This is a staple product for me. I usually use it on its own with a flat-top buffing brush, but I sometimes layer it on top of MAC's Mineralize Concealer if I want a bit more coverage.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.

Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens (100 sheets) — Best blotting sheets, ever.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up. 

Miscellaneous:

Bath & Body Works 3-Wick Candle — Eucalyptus Mint (411 g) — As we all know, I have a problem with buying copious amounts of candles from Bath & Body Works. Eucalyptus Mint is one of my favourite scents from Bath & Body Works. I usually buy two or three of these at a time, 'cause they're perfect for any time of year. It's just a nice, clean, fresh, unisex scent.
Re-purchase? Yes.

Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Foaming Hand Soap — Eucalyptus Mint (259 ml x 2) —  I go through Bath & Body Works hand soaps like they're going out of style. I wash my hands like crazy because I am a germaphobe. These ones are more drying than the Method ones and don't last as long for me as the regular gel soaps, but I love the foam. I buy these when they're on sale, so they're usually $3 a bottle. This is the same scent as the candle.
Re-purchase? Yes.  

Method Orla Kiely Naturally Derived Foaming Hand Soap — White Nectarine (300 ml) — While I was at Target a few months ago, I stockpiled on Method + Orla Kiely hand soaps. I bought this more so for the packaging (love Orla Kiely's designs), but I actually really love the scent. It's exactly as you would imagine a nectarine to smell like.
Re-purchase? Yes!  

Method Orla Kiely Naturally Derived Hand Wash — Cloudburst (354 ml) — Part of my Method + Orla Kiely stockpiling at Target. Cloudburst kind of reminds me of their Sweet Water scent, kind of just fresh and clean, like laundry.
Re-purchase? Yes.  

Method Orla Kiely Naturally Derived Hand Wash — Pear Ginger (354 ml) —  This was from Method + Orla Kiely's fall/winter collection. It's like a zestier version of Method's Juicy Pear scent, but between the two, I prefer Juicy Pear.
Re-purchase? No, this scent was discontinued.

Zoya 3-in-1 Formula Remove+ Polish Remover (960 ml) — Best nail polish remover I've ever used. This is the second professional salon size bottle I've finished. This bottle lasted me about six months, which I thought was pretty good. It removes all of my nail polish quickly and efficiently while being really gentle and completely non-drying, and is even effective in taking off glitter nail polish. It's phenomenal, especially if you change your polish often!
Re-purchase? Yes!

Shiseido Facial Cotton (80 g x 2) — Best cotton pads, ever. Ridiculously soft and fluff-free, and holds product better than any other cotton pad out there, so you end up needing less product. And before you think $9 is too steep for a package of cotton pads, think again. In terms of cost per pad, it's about the same as your typical drugstore brand. Also amazing to use to remove nail polish, because it holds remover like no other so it's always soaked.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always buy two packs at a time.

Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum (100 ml) — My favourite perfume. I go through about four full-size bottles a year.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.

Glysomed Hand Cream (50 ml) — A staple for my eczema-prone hands. It's thick and kind of greasy so I only apply it before I go to sleep, but it repairs dry skin like nothing else I've tried.
Re-purchase? Yes, I buy bulk packs of this.

Total: 41 products (39 full size, 2 jumbo size)

Kind of justifies my hauls, right?