Empties: Summer 2013

Not being the biggest fan of summer (heat, humidity, bugs, general discomfort), I am absolutely stoked that it's fall right now, but I will say that the past few months flew by insanely fast — even I could've done with a slightly longer summer. We had a late start to the season, and then we had a heat wave, and then we got some intense rainfall, and then before we knew it, CNE was here which brought around Labour Day and now it's all over. And tomorrow's October. October! On that note, the end of September means that it's time for my third empties post of the year. In January, when I did my first empties post of 2013, I decided to do these 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, as per usual, dedicated to the original Beauty Reductionista, who inspired me to start the empties project to begin with. Without further ado, here is my empties tally, collected from July 1 to September 30:


Skincare:

Lancôme Crème Radiance Clarifying Cream-to-Foam Cleanser (200 ml) — Probably my ultimate holy grail make-up removing cleanser (yes, even over Philosophy's Purity Made Simple Foaming Gel). I stopped buying it regularly because it was way too expensive, but I was at Sears one day with my mom and saw that Lancôme came out with deluxe-sized versions (200 ml) of this cleanser for the price of the regular-sized ones (125 ml). Amazing for removing make-up (including eye make-up and mascara), and it also cleans my skin effectively without leaving it feeling dry.

Re-purchase? Yes, but only when there's a special deal or promotion.

MAC Cleanse Off Oil (150 ml) — I don't use cleansing oils often because I prefer creamy foaming cleansers, so I've actually had this bottle for over a year now. But as far as cleansing oils go, this one is really effective in removing all make-up, including waterproof. It's also extremely good for removing wax off of skin (say, if you're using a wax strip on your upper lip) and for getting stains out of make-up brushes. Just sayin'.

Re-purchase? Yes, but not at regular retail price.

MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Softening Lotion (150 ml) — 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.

MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Cleanser (100 ml) — MAC says this cleanser "actively cleanses, rebalances, refreshes, hydrates and brightens the skin." I don't believe this has any long-term benefits since you rinse it off almost right away, but it has the most perfect texture: creamy, whipped, foaming, like a really thick mousse. It smells good, makes my skin feel soft and not stripped or dry at all. It doesn't take off make-up very well, but I use it in the morning and after removing make-up. I just love the feel of this stuff.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.

MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Essence (30 ml) — The Lightful line of skincare is probably MAC's most underrated products. I've been using the serum for ages, and it's amazing for evening out skintone and adding brightness to the skin. It doesn't necessarily fade dark spots, but it does help a lot with discolouration. It's lightweight and absorbs instantly and smells good, too. Love.
Re-purchase? Yes.

AmorePacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Serum (50 ml) — This serum is described as "a highly concentrated, lightweight treatment to reduce visible signs of aging, restore density, and boost radiance." Now, I technically don't need any anti-aging skincare so I can't say how effective it is with the appearance of wrinkles and firmness, but it does make my skin feel really hydrated and soft, and look smoother and more radiant. I love the texture of it, too, and the scent is amazing — like a really nice, super luxe spa. And, for the amount you get, it's actually less expensive than many similar serums out there.
Re-purchase? Yes.

Origins Have a Nice Day Super-Charged Moisture Lotion (50 ml) — This was discontinued earlier this year and it was on sale for $10 so I couldn't say no. I had originally said I wouldn't buy this again because of the packaging; it doesn't have a pump and it's in a screw bottle which makes it annoying to dispense. But I love everything else about it — the lightweight texture, the fast absorption, how it feels on my face, how it makes my skin look, how it sits under make-up. Amazing for my combination-oily skin.
Re-purchase? No, it's no longer available.

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash (150 ml) — I bought this last year at the Origins store in New York and it took me nearly a year to finish it because you only need a dime-size amount to create a most glorious creamy foam. It's meant to be "a face cleanser that cleverly balances dry and oily places" and I would say it's pretty effective in this aspect. But I didn't find that it takes off make-up effectively, so I used this more so as a post-make-up-removing cleanser. Like the MAC Lightful Cleanser, I'd buy this again for the texture alone.
Re-purchase? Yes.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex (50 ml) — As much skincare as I buy and use, I credit this serum as single-handedly fixing all my skin problems. I thought it was just for old people with wrinkles and dry skin (the opposite of what I have), so I was totally wary of using it... but within a week, my skin was clearer, smoother, more radiant, more hydrated. It makes pimples heal and scars fade faster. My skin's texture has never been better. Seriously a skin saver, if there ever was one. This formula was discontinued, but I managed to get another one of these at the warehouse sale last month for $55.
Re-purchase? Yes, but in the new formulation as this one was discontinued.

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream with Super 7 Complex (50 ml) — Got this on a whim for use in the winter at the beginning of the year, but it lasted way longer than I expected it to. I was using this as my night cream and it lasted me over six months. Again, I didn't see any anti-aging benefits, but it did keep my skin feeling really hydrated and smooth and soft through the coldest of winter months. My skin actually felt more protected from harsh winds and bitter temperatures while using this, and it didn't break me out at all.
Re-purchase? Yes, in the winter.

Bodycare + Haircare:

Herbal Essences Smooth Collection Conditioner (400 ml) — I bought this along with the matching shampoo, but I always finish conditioners first. This was my favourite drugstore shampoo/conditioner from elementary school days and it was discontinued a long time ago, but they brought it back this year and you know I had to go back to it. I love everything about this and the shampoo, too. You know those commercials where the woman is just basking in the delight of washing her hair? That's basically me when I use this. I would buy it for the scent alone, but it actually leaves my hair feeling soft and smooth without any film, residue, or build-up, and yes, the scent lingers, too. Extreme love.

Re-purchase? Yes, already bought one!

Garnier Fructis Fruit Sensation Grapefruit Tonic Fortifying Conditioner (750 ml) — I bought this because it was on sale and I really like the grapefruit scent. And it's good at detangling and leaving my hair fairly shiny. But, between this and the Herbal Essences? I'm gonna go with HE.

Re-purchase? Yes, but only on sale.

The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Shower Gel (250 ml) — Bought this on sale for $4, and have no regrets at all — it has a fresh lemon scent that isn't too sweet or bathroom cleaner-esque. It was perfect for summer when you just want something light, fresh, and clean.

Re-purchase? Yes, if it's on sale.

Fruits & Passion Bamboo Body Soufflé (200 ml) — Bought this for $6 during Fruits & Passion's summer sale. I love, love, love this. The texture is like a thick mousse but still feels lightweight (actually a lot like the face cleansers I love), but offers substantial hydration and absorbs relatively fast. But it's the smell that gets me. It's somehow fresh and green but musky at the same time. Actually reminds me of the AmorePacific serum that I just finished.
Re-purchase? Yes, if it's on sale.

Fruits & Passion Pomelo Granité Moisturizing Body Gel (200 ml) — The perfect formulation for a hot weather body moisturizer. I've never really come across anything else like this; it's a gel-lotion that sinks in super-fast and leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated. And it leaves skin quite scented, too, so it's ideal for summer when you don't want to wear too much fragrance and you don't need a super-heavy body cream. This scent is also really nice for summer, sweet and citrusy and fresh.
Re-purchase? Yes, but only on sale and only during the summer.

Make-up + Nails:

MAC Blot Powder Pressed — Medium Dark (12 g) — This has been my go-to finishing powder for years. Goes on nearly colourless and keeps me matte enough so I only have to blot once or twice a day. I also sweep some under my eyes; it keeps all eye make-up from smudging so I don't look like a raccoon by day's end.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up. 

MAC Studio Fix Powder+ Foundation — NC35 (15 g x 2) — My go-to foundation. It's been a staple product for me for years. I'll try other foundations and always come back to this one because it feels weightless, is super buildable (to full coverage), has a matte finish, is super fast to put on, and is really low maintenance. And I've since learned that I prefer powder foundations over liquids or creams. I usually use this 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.

MAC Eyebrows — Brunette (0.09 g) — I have been using this eyebrow pencil for years (I used to use the shade Lingering, but like this one slightly more). I love that it's self-sharpening and has a super-fine point. 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 and is universally flattering. The only thing I don't like about it is that it comes with such little product; I go through one every two months. But I haven't found anything I like better.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have two back-ups.  

MAC Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara (9 g) — My holy grail mascara.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have two back-ups.

MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara — Black (9 g) — The original version of the above mascara, which doesn't use carbon pigments so it's "less black." I find it's slightly less "wet" than Too Black Lash. I found this extra one in one of my overstock drawers, so I thought I'd use it up first before getting into my Too Black Lash stash.
Re-purchase? No, I prefer the Too Black Lash version.

Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils  — High Density Black (6 g) — A lot of people love this mascara and I bought it because there was so much hype over it, but I actually hated it. I have very long, very thin, very straight lashes and I want a mascara that offers intense volume, is easily buildable, and doesn't smudge. This one is a really dry mascara so it didn't go on very smoothly and while it didn't clump a lot, I also found it hard to build up volume. I thought I had had a defective one because it's like the product didn't want to coat my lashes; it looked like I had barely anything on after one coat. I think this might be a good mascara for people with shorter lashes or perhaps those who are looking for more natural-looking lashes. It was really disappointing for me, though.
Re-purchase? No.

MAC Mineralize Concealer — NC30 (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 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 Fix+ (100 ml + 30 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. I spray it on mid-day to freshen up my make-up, too. I always keep a full-size one in my bathroom and a travel-size one in my purse.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up.

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish (17 g) — A really nice lip scrub made with brown sugar (it looks and tastes and feels like brown sugar, so there's no surprises here). Made my lips feel super-smooth and super-soft. Except I've since learned that I am really bad with using lip scrubs. Like, I bought this over two years ago and I think I've used maybe a quarter of it. And then I totally forgot about using it. So this pot isn't actually empty; it's just old and probably expired.
Re-purchase? No; as it turns out, I cannot be bothered using lip scrubs.

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (14 ml) — I've gone through a few of these, and it's definitely one of my favourite top coats — dries polish in seconds, leaves a shiny finish, and keeps my nails from chipping — but I find that it starts thickening quite a lot after using about half of the bottle, to the point where you need to use a polish thinner to fix it. It's definitely the fastest drying top coat I've ever used, but I've been preferring Essie's Good to Go over this one recently.
Re-purchase? Yes, but maybe only on occasion. 

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 — Lemon & Chamomile (7 g) — Best emollient lip balm I have ever used. It really hydrates lips and repairs cracked, chapped, generally dry lips, instead of just protecting them (like Vaseline). The lemon and chamomile scent is my favourite; it smells like lemon cupcakes!
Re-purchase? Yes, I always buy a back-up. 

Principessa Bacio Me Lip Balm (14 g) — I got this with one of my beauty subscription boxes a couple years ago, and it's actually a really good lip balm — very smooth and moisturizing, and leaves lips really soft and glossy, and smells like raspberries — but it doesn't repair my lips nearly as well as Jack Black. I didn't finish this one completely; I had to toss it because it's really old now and the formulation has started to separate.
Re-purchase? No.

Miscellaneous:

Shiseido Facial Cotton (80 g) — 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.

Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap — Rain Kissed (259 ml) —  I go through hand soap like they're going out of style; I wash my hands like crazy because I am a germaphobe. I bought this along with a few others during the Semi-Annual Sale and it was a limited edition scent, but I actually really liked this one; it's clean, fresh, and slightly floral. However, the deep cleansing formulation of Bath & Body Works' Anti-Bacterial soaps are insanely drying, and I've found that they've contributed to my eczema, so I go for the moisturizing formulation instead now.
Re-purchase? No.

Method Orla Kiely Naturally Derived Foaming Hand Soap — Honeysuckle (300 ml) — While I was at Target many 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. In fact, it might be my favourite of all the Orla Kiely range. It's fresh and sweet and floral, much like you'd expect from a Honeysuckle scent, but not cloying at all. The Orla Kiely collections are all discontinued now, though, 'cause they were limited edition.
Re-purchase? No, it's no longer available.

Method Orla Kiely Naturally Derived Hand Wash — Tomato Vine (354 ml) — Part of my Method + Orla Kiely stockpiling at Target. This scent was actually really nice; I originally thought it was going to be like... salad-y. While it does have a very slight herbal scent, it was more fresh and clean than anything else. I didn't really get "tomato" from it, but maybe what a tomato plant smells like... if it was wearing perfume.
Re-purchase? No, it's no longer available.

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 a couple at a time.

Quo Nail Polish Remover — Strengthening (354 ml) — I originally bought this because I had ran out of my Zoya remover and needed a back-up. This takes three times the amount of work to take off nail polish. But it doesn't dry out my nails or skin, and it doesn't have that strong alcohol smell like most removers do. Still, there's way better removers out there for the same price.
Re-purchase? No.

Up & Up Nail Polish Remover — Acetone (473 ml) — 100% acetone nail polish remover is the only thing that will take off glitter polish (with relative ease). Any brand will do, but I bought a few bottles of this last time I was at Target.
Re-purchase? Yes, I always have a back-up bottle.

Total: 38 products (35 full size, 2 jumbo size, 1 travel size)