EMPTIES: February 2015
I'm on a mission in 2015 to really start using up more of the products in my collection. I'm have a bit of product ADD, always wanting to try something new no matter how much I love what I already have. It works well for this blog, because it keeps me trying new and different products for review and feature here, but it doesn't work well for my space, since I have a constantly growing goo hoard with no place to go. Anyway, I think I've been doing fairly well on working my way through products and I'm happy with the results. I used up a good number of products this month, with a definite focus on hand cream, and I'm well on my way to having more products to add to the bag for next months' empties post. Not bad, right?
Keep reading for a closer look and mini-reviews of these products!
1. Phytorelax Mandorla Sapone Liquid Soap with sweet Almond Oil
Unsurprisingly, my obsession with Sweet Almond Oil extended into hand soap and I picked up this particular one at Winners. If you've seen my review of the body lotion and body oil from Phytorelax, you know that I absolutely love the scent of these products and I loved the way those two performed. I liked this soap, but I found the scent more subtle that I might have liked. It did the job of cleansing my hands well enough while it lived in my bathroom, but I don't think I'll purchase it again just because for me these products are as much about the scent as the performance and this was lacking in that amazing scent.
2. EVA NYC Freshen Up Dry Shampoo
I reviewed this product last year and I have to say I'm probably even more in love with it now than I was then. It's just so damn good, I can't even say enough good things about it. I would actually probably go so far as to say that this is my holy grail dry shampoo. It performs exactly how I want it to, smells absolutely incredible, and the white cast brushes out without having to work too hard. I say again, I love this stuff and will always repurchase. I already have another bottle on the go and I'll have to pick up a backup next time I'm at Winners.
3. NSPA by Nirvana Spa Shea Butter & Caramel Shower and Bath Wash
I picked this up in a set during Boxing Week because the scratch and sniff on the box left me dying to put that smell all over my body. As a body wash, this didn't really do it for me. It was fine, but I didn't go crazy for it. HOWEVER, as a bubble bath? Yes. I loved it. It smelled amazing and made my whole bathroom smell like deliciousness. If they released this scent again, I'd probably pick this up as a bubble bath to keep in my bathroom, but I would skip it as a body wash.
4. Mitchell and Peach Luxury Hand Cream
I believe I got this last summer/fall in an Ipsy bag. At the time, I was kind of bummed about it, if I remember correctly, and I threw it on the sofa table for use during Netflix marathons. It was fine, but I definitely wouldn't go out and buy it. I didn't love the smell, though some people might be into it, and I didn't feel like it did enough for my hands to make it worth my while. This is a pass.
5. NIVEA Q10 Plus Anti-Age Hand Cream
This has been my ride or die hand cream for a few years now and I've been through several of them. This one happened to live on my desk at work and, I have to say, it really lasted a long time even though I did use it very frequently. This hand cream is great for work because it soaks it quickly, but really does give your skin a lot of moisture - and those are the two things that I need during long days at the office. I have actually replaced this with the NIVEA Smooth Replenishing Hand Cream recently and I think I'll probably end up using that one for the foreseeable future, but this would definitely be worth a repurchase.
6. Avéne Cicalifate Repairing Hand Cream
I got this sample from Shoppers and just tossed it in my sample bag, but I pulled it out this month to toss in my purse. It's teeeeny and I only got a few uses out of it before it ran out. From my short time using it, though, I don't think that I would invest in a full size. It was just fine for me, nothing to write home about. Not really something to blog about either.
7. JULEP Rock Star Hand Créme
This deluxe sample came in a Julep Mystery box sometime a while ago and I never actually pulled it out. No good reason, it just got tucked away I never really used it until recently. Like pretty much every other skin care product I've used from Julep, this stuff is really good. It's moisturizing and silky as hell on the skin. It just feels really, really luxurious when you use it. I would probably pick this up if I was making a Julep order and I saw it on sale, but I don't think I'm going to be running out to replace it just because it's a little spendy for a hand cream when I love my NIVEA so much.
8. SOY BIO+ Fermented Lumpoule x 2
I received these two little vials in a my Super Luckybox from Memebox and I remember being a little bummed that they didn't include the (VERY EXPENSIVE) full size. I'm even more bummed now because this stuff is amazing. I was so sad to see it go, because it just did amazing things for my skin while I was using it. I also can't seem to actually find it to purchase anywhere, so I'm going to have to say goodbye forever. It was so good while it lasted, though. Like... amazing.
9. Embryolisse Lait-Créme Concentré
I had been wanting to try Embryolisse for ages after seeing it on various blogs and Youtube videos, but I never got around to ordering it until it came in January's Birchbox. This sample was tiny, certainly, but it was enough to convince me to order a full size of it while it was on Free Shipping last month and I've moved on to using that tube. This stuff is hardcore. It's thick and emollient and really moisturizes the hell out of your skin. When using it under makeup, I have to be careful that I don't apply too much, but with the right application it serves as a great prime for the skin and keeps me hydrated absolutely all day long.
10. Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat
Another bottle of Seche Vite has turned to goop. Sigh. I mentioned this top coat in a Friday Forever Favorites post a couple of months ago where I talked about how it's a controversial favorite, even in my own head. I do love it, don't get me wrong, but read the review for more info on that. I may have found a new favorite, however, and if it continues to work out I might find myself ending my long term relationship with Seche Vite. We'll wait and see! However, I would repurchase if the CND Air Dry Fast Set Top Coat doesn't work out or is difficult to get my hands on again. It is what it is.
11. MAC Pro-Longwear Concealer in NW20
This concealer wins life, I swear. I thought I loved concealers before, but there is nothing that works for me like MAC Pro-Longwear Concealer works for me. It covers amazingly, sets perfectly, doesn't crease, and lasts absolutely all day. I've been testing out another concealer for the purpose of review... but it absolutely fails in the face of the comparison to this one. I had a backup waiting that I've started using since this one ran out and I'm sure I'll get another backup and another after that, because me and this concealer are ride or die for life, I swear. I swear.
There you have it! Another month, another batch of empties. Keep an eye out next month to see if I can keep up with my resolution to keep using up products!
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