Share your empties!

Final empties of the year

Finished products -
Marks and Spencer Discover Sweet Pistachio Eau de Toilette - This was okay, I think it's a dupe of the Kayali perfume. I don't think I'm a gourmand fragrance person so I won't repurchase

Marks and Spencer Discover White Jasmine Eau de Toilette - This had a weird metallic smell to it, probably a me issue than the fragrance itself. I won't be repurchasing

So...? Unique Vanilla Latte Body Mist - This definitely had a milky vanilla note to it but I couldn't get any coffee from it. I won't be repurchasing it

Boots Ingredients Multi-biotic Moisturiser - I bought this on offer and was surprised how quickly I used it up. I really struggled to get all the product out too once it got beyond a certain point. I won't be repurchasing as there are other moisturisers I prefer

Unleasha Eyebrow Pomade - I received this in my advent calendar last year. After two uses the stopper fell out so the wand didn't get properly wiped. I persevered despite spending more time wiping off the wand than applying the product. I didn't like it, my brows felt like they were slicked down on my face so I won't be repurchasing

Rimmel Wonder'Bond Lash Filler & Hyaluronic Mascara - This was fine for the first month of use but the more it dried, the more it smudged. After three months it was too dry to use any more. I won't be repurchasing

Milani Fruit Fetish Lip Oil in Strawberry Melon - This was in a gift with purchase. The lip oil had a nice texture and colour but I hated the scent, it was so sickly. I wouldn't repurchase

Ameliorate Intensive Foot Therapy - I liked what this did for my feet but I hated the smell. Even on my feet it wasn't far enough away. I won't be repurchasing.

Decluttered -
ELF Putty Blush in Maldives - I found this looked like a patchy bruise on my face so decluttered it

ELF Putty Blush in Tahiti - I liked the colour of this but found I either picked up too much or not enough. Wasn't worth the hassle so I decluttered it

Aromatica Rosemary Root Enhancer - Used once and my scalp was like no thank you


Total Empties - 59
Total Decluttered - 33
New Pans Hit - 1
New Products Purchased (Replacements only) - 20 (£102.96)

I've almost used up my skincare and bodycare stash so it's just my makeup to work through. I'm going to rotate through my remaining products and see if I like them on as I tended to focus on the same products all year this year.

St tropes tanning water for face - good stuff, lasted a long time

LouSV said:

St tropes tanning water for face - good stuff, lasted a long time

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Funny how people differ - that totally broke me out!

I want to track my usage a bit more detailed this year and also write down how many new things I've gotten. In a bit of an experimental phase with some things.... I'll write down what I've gotten new in 2026. Some things I've now replaced my empties with I already bought in 2025 so it won't be perfect, but I can't be bothered trying to track down when I bought what in 2025

Empties:

• Geek and gorgeous happier barrier creme: Absolutely amazing, this really helps my skin visibly and doesn’t break me out despite being a bit richer. I’ve already got the replacement in use, bought last year.
• Dove Beauty Creme Bar. As usual.
• Glassdoor Deodorant Creme classic. Amazing stuff, have been buying it for year but is now replaced with the stick version. Also already bought in 2025
• Dermature 10% Urea foot balm sample sachet 5ml. Used it up one night as a foot treatment. nothing special, but might feet felt nice.
• Geek and Gorgeous Liquid Hydration 50ml travel size spray. Very nice, i got this in full size (also in 2025).
• Schwarzkopf Brilliance Hair Glossing in Light Brown (Hellbraun). I’m not 100% with this, but it works and gives me otherwise dye-free hair a nice light hint of colour that fades away after a few days. I usually use this before events and the price point is very good at ~5€ per bottle and it lasts me a while. I got another one of this now that I already used today in copper that is a bit more noticeable on my hair.

Decluttered:
3 perfume samples (Zadig and Voltaire This is us, YSL Libre and Bvlgari Jasmine Noire). Had them for forever, did not like any of them.

New in:

• Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted sunscreen
• 2x Beauty of Joseon Aqua Relief sunscreen
• Garnier Whole Blends oat shampoo
• Mighty Pimply Patches
• Schwarzkopf Brilliance Hair Glossing in Copper
• Geel and Gorgeous Jelly Joker cleanser

This year I'm trying to track when I purchased products together with when I finished them so I can get an idea of how long it takes to use up different things. That being said here are my January empties.

Mixsoon Bean Essence [Purchased May 2024, opened August 2025] - I bought this because I had FOMO for the snail mucin serums. I have dry dehydrated skin so had hoped this would help with moisture but it didn't really do a whole lot. I wouldn't repurchase.

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam [Purchased July 2024, opened Dec 2024] - This cleanser lasted approximately 300 years! If I used more than a pea sized blob I found it impossible to rinse away the foam. I found it quite drying and I'm pretty sure centella irritates my skin. I wouldn't repurchase.

VT Reedle Shot Lifting Eye Cream [Purchased October 2024, opened July 2025] - I got this in my advent calendar in 2024. The eye cream was fine, it didn't irritate my eyes or cause milia but it also didn't do anything. The vibrating tip was novel but made it difficult to get product out and to recycle the finished product. I wouldn't repurchase.

Tocca Lucia [1.5ml sample] [Christmas 2025, opened Jan 2026] - This was in a gift set I received for Christmas. It was meant to be a citrus wood scent but it smelt like digestives to me. A shame as I'd hoped it would have been summery and fresh. I wouldn't repurchase.

Peaches and Cream Memphis Pencil Eyeliner [Purchased Jan 2023, opened Feb 2023] - A rich chocolate brown pencil that was soft and easy to apply but not too smudgey once set down. As I neared the end of the pencil I found the lead (?) had broken and right at the end it had a hole through the middle. Fine for an inexpensive pencil but I probably won't repurchase.

Habi Hydra Boost Cream Moisturiser [Purchased Sept 2025, opened Sept 2025] - At times this felt too heavy whilst other times it didn't feel hydrating enough! I wouldn't repurchase.

Monday Moisture Shampoo with Rice Protein [Purchased Aug 2025, opened Sept 2025] - I found this really difficult to get out of the bottle. It wasn't overly thick so I just think the pump was a bit naff. Nothing spectacular, wouldn't repurchase.

Monday Moisture Conditioner with Hyaluronic Acid [Purchased Aug 2025, opened Sept 2025] - Like the shampoo I didn't find this particularly special, I wouldn't repurchase.

New purchases for January (£35.42):

Phil Smith Deep Moisture Shampoo (£14)
Phil Smith Deep Moisture Conditioner (£14) - These were expensive given I bought them in Tesco

Boots Ingredients Azelaic Acid (£5.94) - Bought to test out in place of the Paula's Choice

Boots Sensitive Skin Fragrance Free Moisturising Cream (£1.48) - Bought to test out in place of Illiyoon and Naturium

YTD Totals:
Decluttered - 0
Used - 8
New - 4

Scorpihoe said:

Maybe I’m really far behind, but why are people removing their cuticles? what does it do? Should I be doing it too?!

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Apologies if people already know this but I’m fed up of seeing “influencers” online cutting and removing their proximal nail folds but calling them cuticles.

Surprise 2-for-the-price-of-1 on fragrance empties today

1. Ted Baker Harmony Blooms “Opulent Crush” body spray 50ml (acquired May 2021)
2. Narciso Rodriguez “All of Me” sample 0.6ml (acquired May 2025)

idk21 said:

1. Narciso Rodriguez “All of Me” sample 0.6ml (acquired May 2025)

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This reminds me I decluttered the contents of a small tester vial of Elemis oil that had gone rancid. The point is though, I thought I’d keep the little tube for travel, a small amount of highlighter or liquid contour, it’s probably 2.5ml and I only use a dab.
Tell me if that’s a good idea or just hoarding behaviour?

littlepup said:

This reminds me I decluttered the contents of a small tester vial of Elemis oil that had gone rancid. The point is though, I thought I’d keep the little tube for travel, a small amount of highlighter or liquid contour, it’s probably 2.5ml and I only use a dab.
Tell me if that’s a good idea or just hoarding behaviour?

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I'd keep it if you are traveling regularly. I've done the same with a few of the The Inkey List serum bottles, they are really practical to refull with shampoo or cleanser.
____

My February empties - very slow month

• Geek and gorgeous Jelly Joker 50 ml,travel size: lovely cleanser, especially for double-cleansing. I’ve had multiple of this and already a backup.
• Garnier Whole Blends Oat Shampoo 250 ml refill pouch: as usual - this is my default shampoo.
• Geek and Gorgeous A-game Retinal 20: Strongest of their retinals, it was good but I’ve now a The Ordinary retinal lined up to compare them. I'm surprised though how long it took me to empty this 30ml bottle, I opened it on October 22nd (I wrote it on the bottle as I wanted to see how long it lasts me). This is a rather strong retinol and I used it almost every day and it still took a solid four months to use up. It says it expires 6 months after opening and there are some claims that retinal is unstable. Not every skin can take a strongish retinoid daily. The Ordinary's bottle is 15ml, which seems a little bit more practical, but per ml it's quite pricey in comparison. I'll see how I like it.
• Beauty of Joseon 1ml Dynasty Creme sample sachet: lovely stuff, i might consider getting the full size

New in:

• Pomelo molecular repair conditioner
• Mixa panthenol repair cream

Given the number of products I have teetering on empty, I'm disappointed with the number I actually managed to finish.

Tocca Florence [1.5ml sample] [Christmas 2025, opened Jan 2026] - This had notes of apple and pear with floral mid notes which made it a nice light spring fragrance. I probably wouldn't purchase the full size as the longevity was naff on me.

Lacura Cotton 48hr Anti-perspirant Deodorant [Purchased 2025, opened November] - Inexpensive and did the trick although it is still shivery season instead of sweaty season for me. If pennies are tight it's a fine replacement for my Dove but given the choice I'd rather have the Dove.

Dove Nourishing Silk Body Wash [Christmas 2024, opened November 2025] - Nice clean scented body wash that cleaned without drying out my skin.

Tocca Stella [1.5ml sample] [Christmas 2025, opened Feb 2026] - Interesting citrus scent with spicy lily. This was nice but like several others I have tried ended up with a biscuity dry down. Think it's a me problem to be honest.

I also decluttered a couple of things too:

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Honeysuckle - I got this as a GWP a few years ago and had never tried it. Gave myself a mani and it gave my jaundice sausage fingers. In the bin it went!

Whites Premium Teeth Whitening Strips - These expired. Not a huge loss as I found they did absolutely nothing.

New purchases for February (£16.94) -

Dove Raspberry Rendezvous Body Wash (£2.99)
Dove Raspberry Rendezvous Body Scrub (£4.00)
Ciroa Raspberry & Vanilla Body Butter (£9.95)

My body care products are nearly done so purchased myself a new routine ready for spring. Also kept seeing people talking about the products and I had FOMO and wanted them

YTD Totals:
Decluttered - 2
Used - 12
New - 7 (£52.36)

Once again I find myself at the end of the month with a disappointing number of empties and a bunch of nearly empty products. As before the dates in the brackets are the purchase date followed by the opened date.

Tocca Giulietta [1.5ml sample] [Christmas 2025, opened Feb 2026] - I am racing through these little samples. This was a green apple, rose and sandalwood scent. It was pleasant enough, nice and fresh but warm, but I wouldn't purchase a full size.

I'm From Rice Toner [July 2024, opened July 2025] - This was supposed to hydrate and help inflammation but the mild exfoliation it gave just dried my skin out. I really wanted to like it but it just didn't work for me.

Dove Classic Fresh Anti-perspirant Aerosol [Chrismas 2025, opened Christmas 2025] - I bought this as a body deodorant because since having my second child I've struggled with getting sweaty in places that never existed before. Unfortunately this didn't really do anything but just smell nice.

Tocca Cleopatra [1.5ml sample] [Christmas 2025, opened Mar 2026] - This is a grapefruit and jasmine fragrance with a punch of spicy patchouli. It was fine but there were times in the month it did not smell good on me. Wouldn't purchase the full size.

Dove Crushed Macadamia & Rice Milk Body Scrub [Christmas 2024, opened November 2025] - I loved the scent of this and found the exfoliation great but I think I got a dud one because mine was super liquidy. I complained to Dove and got a voucher, would repurchase this in the future.

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Lotion [Christmas 2025, opened Christmas 2025] - I remember this smelling a lot different when I was younger. Not that it's unpleasant now, it's just not the same. The lotion itself was a nice texture and not greasy and the scent lingered.

I hit pan on an eyeshadow this month, Urban Decay Venus in my Naked Basics Palette.

New purchase for March (£2.75) - Baby Dove Fragrance Free Head to Toe Wash

YTD Totals:
Decluttered - 2
Used - 18
New - 8 (£55.11)

I think I've had the peak of emptying things already in March - not in terms of numbers, but I managed to empty three pieces of make-up and am not sad about any of them. The rest are boring things that I mostly just repurchase as they are my go-to products.

• Garnier Whole Blends Argan Oil and Camelia conditioner: one of my standard ones, have been buying this for a couple of years now. Next up is a different one for dry hair from the same range
• TirTir Mask Cushion Foundation: Ok, technically I cheated, I didn’t entirely empty this. I tried to like it. I tried different methods of application but this is quite honestly the worst foundation I’ve ever come across. I’m not sure what is wrong with it, but it is impossible to wash off unless using minimally an oil cleanser and then another foam one. The problem is, you can only apply it thickly with the cushion pad that came with it, which looks terrible and cakey. Applying it with a foundation brush is a lot of effort and looks a bit better, but the foundation has ruined two foundation brushes because you can’t wash it out even with a specialty cleaner. This stuff made me buy two other cleansers to try and clean it off my face and my brushes and it didn’t even work. I got so fed up with the remains I had decanted from the cushion into a small container, as I had hoped that would allow me better control over the amount of product. Did not work. After again trying and failing to clean the worst-affected brush I threw out about two weeks worth of foundation that was left.
• Dove Beauty Bar: as usual
• Caprice Air Blush Matt in Peach Heaven: I had bought this in 2024 and at first I found it way too pigmented or rather, too bright, for my complexion, so I only applied a small amount of it. Over time though I noticed it started to look chalky on me. I did use it up though and it took about 1.5 years of almost daily application for a small blush to use up. Just shows that large collections of such products are unlikely to ever be used up.
• Essence Loose fixing powder: Also bought in 2024. This was okay, it did the job. I was annoyed that the packaging fell apart only a few weeks after buying it and the „nice“ lid fell off to reveal as sad black plastic screw on lid that felt like it might break. I’ve used it up and replaced it with a Catrice loose blur powder.

New in:

• Catrice Blur powder
• Essence Lash Queen mascara in burgundy
• Pomelo Leave in mask

Quarter round-up:
Used up: 15
Decluttered: 3
New: 11

By using up those three make-up pieces, I've already successfully crossed of three out of the eight things I must use up this year. The progress on the other ones is slow to nonexistent (bronzer that despite being used daily does not seem to get any smaller).

Another month and another load of trash to share with you guys!

I found two Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream 5ml samples that I was given by a random Boots lady when I had just had my youngest. She said I looked like I needed them Suffice to say I forgot I had them and one went all liquidy and the other smelt gross. The best part is I can recycle the packaging at Boots for points

Empties for the month are:

Tocca Colette [1.5ml sample] [Christmas 2025, opened Mar 2026] - I didn't like this one, I think maybe bergamot smells weird to me. But who knows

Mixsoon Bifida Ferment Essence [May 2024, opened Nov 2025] - I bought this in the hope it would help my skin barrier but it didn't really do anything much for me.

APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Sheet Mask [October 2024] - I had two of these in my advent calendar and I finally remembered to use one. Was a nice enough mask, good and juicy, but didn't do anything noticeable to my skin.

Dove Classic Fresh Anti-perspirant Roll-on [Chrismas 2025, opened Feb 2026] - I like this deodorant because it just smells clean. I will continue to repurchase.

Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturising Sunscreen SPF50+ [October 2024, opened May 2025] - This was in my advent calendar too. I found it made my eyes sting like an absolute bitch so I wouldn't repurchase.

Refan Rose Herbal Soap [November 2025, opened Nov 2025] - This was a lovely rose soap with scrubby bits in it. Nice floral scent rather than too grannyfied. Did find it a little drying. I can't repurchase it any way so it's no big deal.

Dove Pampering Shea Butter and Vanilla Body Wash [Christmas 2024, February 2026] - All the shower tiktok girlies say this smells warm and cosy but to me it smelt quite plasticy. A nice wash but I wouldn't repurchase.

Tocca Simone [1.5ml sample] [Christmas 2025, opened Apr 2026] - I wasn't sure about this scent. It smelt kind of biscuity on me. I wouldn't repurchase.

Aussie SOS 100 Hours Hydration Super Serum All-In-One Leave-In Treatment [March 2025, opened March 2025] - This gets raved about a lot on here but I didn't find it really did anything for my hair. I wouldn't repurchase.

Went a bit nuts with new purchases in April but everything is nearly run out (yes I know I keep saying this, some products are really hanging in there!)

Layering Labs Body Mist in Blossom (£2.49)
Layering Labs Body Mist in Sorbet (£2.49)
Geek and Gorgeous A-Game (£13.25)
Geek and Gorgeous Power Peptides (£15.25)
Geek and Gorgeous HA 5 Rich (£8.95)
Geek and Gorgeous Jelly Joker (£8.95)
Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence (£15.12)
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun : Rice + Probiotics (£11.16)
Naturium Plant Ceramide Rich Moisture Cream (£27.00)
Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream (£15.99)
BYOMA Hydrating Serum 30ml (£10.28)
Paula's Choice 7% Ectoin + Hyaluronic Acid Milky Hydrating Serum (£29.03)
BYOMA De-Puff and Brighten Eye Gel (£10.28)
Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Firming Eye Serum (£27.67)
BYOMA Hydrating Milky Toner (£9.49)
BYOMA Milky Moisture Cleanser (£11.07)
BYOMA Melting Balm Cleanser (£11.90)
BYOMA Moisturizing Gel Cream (£10.28)
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster (£28.35)

YTD Totals:
Decluttered - 4
Used - 27
Pans - 1
New - 27 (£324.11)

Verrry slow month for me, but I did hit the pan on my gigantic bronzer that is on my use-up list and made good progress on some items I'm also looking to finish, so May hopefully will look better.

Used up:
Balea Volume Hair foam travel size: Glad this was gone. I hadn’ realized it had only two uses left in it or I would have used it up much earlier. Now looking for a good replacement as I’ve recently gotten a haircut that brought out some waves I like to emphasize a bit and since this is a new hair world for me I see myself ending up with some rather experimental products that I then also need to use up…

Decluttered:
Langhaarmädchen dry shampoo travel size: maybe two uses left, if even, but threw it out as it triggers my scalp eczema. It did okay though as a dry shampoo.

New in:
Wella Waves and curl foam
Balea med sensitive dandruff shampoo (free gift and very nice!)

Another terribly slow month for me. Like in April I thought I'd finally see some things being empty, but they haven't yet had the good grace of doing me the favour. But I'm sooo close for some things that I bet I'll have more products already the first week of June than in entire May. I'll also be traveling for a work event and for vacation in June though, so won't always have access to "everything".

Used up:

• Alverde Soft-Öl Bodybalsam Macadamia: This was a free gift and I liked it, however I won’t purchase it. It’s one of those bodylotions that somehow always leaves white streaks on you.
• Dove Beauty Bar: as usual
• The ordinary volufiline serum: This works - the claim is that it gives a subtle illusion of filler, but I didn’t like how it looked (just looked puffy on me). It also “burns” on the skin and has the most annoying dropper packaging ever, meaning you have to shake out the product increasingly violently the emptier the bottle gets ,as the little funnel inside was too high when there’s little liquid left. Will not repurchase this, it’s expensive and not worth it for me.
• Casting Creme Gloss semi-permanent dye in chocolate: Wanted to try and cover the creeping greys for the first time and was surprised to find that the market for semi-permanent dyes is inexistant by now (the stuff that lasts about 4-6 weeks). Very little choice left, mostly dark browns and black dyes. When I was younger (~15, which is shockingly 20 years ago) these were everywhere. Never used Casting creme Gloss before - predictably I made a mess, which isn’t down to the brand just me being clumsy. The colour is nice, a bit too bright and red for me. Might check out a different colour if they have one that is less red but same depth and not ashy.
  

New in:

• Schwarzkopf Styling Balm for Curls
• Swiss o Par Lash dye
• Fructis Aloe Hydra Bomb Conditioner
• Casting Creme Gloss semi-permanent dye in chocolate