Share your empties!

[Scorpihoe]

Some empties from me:

• Amika mirrorball shampoo - made my scalp dry and didn’t really make my hair any shiner. I’ve replaced it with Elvive hydra hyaluronic shampoo which so far, I prefer more

• Ordinary hyaluronic acid - it’s okay, I prefer the drunk elephant b hydra instead, which is my holy grail. So I won’t repurchase the ordinary one

• bath and body works - warm vanilla sugar spray. Smells nice, barely lasts, I put it in the bathroom and it was used up quickly

 

[Jellycat369]

Another month's worth of used up products!

JVN Complete Conditioning Mist - This was a massive disappointment, much like everything else I have tried from this line. It was a thin creamy spray that had the texture of something that should have been moisturising but did absolutely nothing to my hair. By the time I got to the end of the bottle I think it had separated because it had gotten weirdly watery even though it was well within the use by window.

Only Curls All Curl Cleanser - This did absolutely nothing for my hair and made my scalp feel both dry and tight as well as oily.

Only Curls All Curl Conditioner - This was absolutely not nourishing enough for my hair. Left it feeling lank but frizzy.

Kaine Green Calm Aqua Cream - This was a GWP using a code from Topcashback for a Stylevana order. The cream has a lovely lightweight gel texture and sank into my skin quickly leaving it moisturised. It played well with my SPF and other products I put on top. Only downside was that it came in a square jar with a lip round the top which made it difficult to get the product out.

Kosas Revealer Concealer - Got this with a voucher because of all the hype and it didn't work for me. Found it left my undereyes dry and creased and went weirdly patchy on the areas I used it around my face. Also the lightest shade was too yellow and too dark for me.

Axis-y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum - Lovely Gel like niacinamide serum. Affordable K Beauty product, even more so if you buy from sites like Stylevana rather than UK based K and J Beauty website.

ELF Suntouchables Whoa Glow in Sunbeam (sample) - Had a nice lightweight texture but I found the chemically sunscreen smell made my eyes water. Think this was the lightest shade, made me look slightly orange. Nice glow to it without being sparkly.

Metrosa Metronidazole 0.75% Gel - Prescription gel for my rosacea, need to contact my GP to get more as I think it really helped my redness. Not so much the blemishes though. Might see if I can get azelaic acid too.

Revolution Ceramides Hydrating Cleanser - Second bottle of this cleanser I have finished, currently using the third bottle I had bought when I found it on sale. I really liked this cleanser initially because it was very creamy but I think it has been reformulated because both this bottle and the one I'm currently using are noticeably thinner. Much preferred the old texture, also not entirely sure this rinses clean any more. Shame.

Revolution x Sali Hughes Clean Sheet Morning Cleanser - I absolutely hated this. The gel was too thick and didn't rinse off my face. Tried to use it to clean my makeup brushes and it did absolutely nothing for them. Relegated it to a hand wash. Pleased it's done.

Decluttered products for the month:

Heimish Black Tea Mask Pack (sample) - A sample I received in an advent calendar. Had one previously but I can't remember if I liked it or not. Sadly this expired before I got to try it again.

Only Curls Hydrating Curl Cream - Hated this. Very thin, did absolutely nothing for my hair. Used a quarter of it and had to let it go.

Only Curls Enhancing Curl Gel - Hated this. Left my hair feeling crispy and dry whilst looking frizzy and greasy. Definitely not a gel scrunching curly girl

Garnier Ultimate Blends Plumping Hair Food Watermelon and Pomegranate - Had to get rid of this because the smell of it gave me the worst migraine. Much like the Papaya mask I used up in August, this did bugger all for my hair other than envelop me in a scent I couldn't stand.

Spectrum Sunbounce Bronzer in Rise and Spectrum Sunbounce Bronzer in Shine - GWP when I bought a brush set from Spectrum Cosmetics. These were straight up orange on my skin. I prefer bronzers to have a more red undertone for a sunburnt look, anything too warm and it's straight Oompa Loompa on me.

 

[50sGirl]

SBC Propolis and Safflower Hand & Foot Cream
This was my Dad’s. Tbh I prefer Flexitol for removing hard skin. I feel the SBC is more for maintenance. My Dad loved it and used it daily so the fragrance was very comforting for me. I still have another unopened one that was his which I will use once I’ve got rid of all the hard skin properly.

 

[Lynno77]

I just finished John Frieda Go Blonder shampoo. Wouldn't buy again, it was ok as a shampoo but I can get the same cleanse from a budget shampoo. Didn't deliver on its promise to Go Blonder, as it used to when it was first launched.

Primark Gentle Micellar Water for £2.50 was an absolute bargain. Will deffo buy again as it's every bit as good as the Garnier one.

Billion Dollar Smile purple toothpaste. Absolute waste of money, did nowt.

Note to self, buy basic products that work for me!

 

[prozacprincess]

Kind of used up a collagen face wash I purchased in Korea. Didn’t like it at all so mainly got used as a body wash until today when I hurt my hand trying to squeeze the tube, so I threw it out in temper. Stupid bloody arthritis

Last of my Beauty Pie ceramide capsules finished up. I use them as soon as I finish my swim each day so will definitely repurchase, but plan to finish up a few random face oils first.

Another sachet of coconut-tea body scrub too. Going to move on to my beauty pie scrub for a bit to use that up for good as I much prefer the Delhilicious tea ones.

I too finished a candle. Beauty Pie Bahia de Miel. Quite a nice scent, maybe a tad sweet for my taste, but I’m moving away from candles eventually so won’t be repurchasing.

The rabbits also kindly used up two bags of dried rose petals and chamomile flowers for me. They thought they were delicious I think they’d repurchase if I upped their pocket money

 

[AlwaysSummer]

Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser and LRP Effaclar Duo serum- both staples in my skincare routine for the last few years. Gentle, effective, good price point.

 

[Jellycat369]

Empties for the month of January!

Haruharu Wonder Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream - I used this as a night cream as it's on the thicker side. Despite being thick it was creamy and seemed to absorb well but it left a weird film on my skin which I didn't like. I wouldn't repurchase it.

Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening Serum - This was a thin serum that I used during the day before moisturiser. I'd hoped the niacinamide in it would help with the unevenness from my rosecea but sadly it didn't. I wouldn't repurchase it.

Nature Spell Rose Water Facial Toner - I know Rose Water has anti-inflammatory properties so I had hoped this would help with my rosecea. It didn't really do a whole lot, it even made my skin feel dry after application. I wouldn't repurchase it.

Numbuzin No.4 Collagen 73% Pudding Serum - Similar to the no. 3 serum this one is thin and I used it under my night cream. It was nice enough, I don't think it particularly did anything so I won't be repurchasing.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara in Very Black - This was part of a GWP. I've never had any luck with Maybelline mascaras and this one was no exception. I found it too wet to start with so it built up too much bulk on the wand. The wand itself was a good size and plastic which I liked but it was too flexible. It moved with the slightest pressure which made it hard to comb through my lashes. Safe to say I wouldn't repurchase.


In addition to using up my products I'm using days I'm at home to road test all of my makeup products to weed out products I don't like or that have expired. I have decluttered the following products this month:

Spectrum Collections Feline Fatale Eyeshadow Palette - This remove 9 eyeshadow pans from my collection total, now 146 pans. This eyeshadow palette is nice but it's too warm for me and most of the colours look similar on my eyes. The shimmers are pretty but I couldn't get them to stick to my eyes. This was a GWP, I don't think I would have actually purchased this. I've not had this long so I'm going to pass it on.

Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer in Sunkissed Bronzer - This was within a GWP. I found it kicked up a lot of powder when I put my brush in it and I also found it to be heavily fragranced. That being said I'm going to pass this on as the colour is totally wrong for me, it looks straight up orange.

Hur Moist Ampoule Blusher in Rose Brown - This was a product in my Stylevana advent calendar in December 2024. I was excited to try this as the colour looked like something I would like. The formula is like a serum and whilst it's a relatively deep colour, I struggled to build up pigment on my skin even though I'm whiter than Casper. I also noticed that the product disappeared throughout the day so I'm going to pass it on.

 

[Codiaeum]

Do people really stick to the little use by X months on products? I keep going to chuck away but unless the smell or consistency has changed I’m reluctant.

No, I frankly don’t care, if it hasn’t changed smell or a weird consistency I’ll just use it. Apart from stuff like shampoo most things last me longer than the few months on the bottle and I don’t remember anything getting bad apart from a perfume of all things. That was a shame, Estée Lauder White Linen suddenly smelled like curry. Was my favorite but I never got it again after that

probably slightly controversial but fresh mascara doesn’t work as well for we as one that is a few weeks old. I wouldn’t use one that has been open for years but if I have an event and want to make sure that my makeup looks extra nice, I try to not have a new one then.

 

[Geranium]

I used to have a really elaborate skin care routine but for some reason I got out of the habit of doing it. So for a while now I’ve been cleansing with Liz Earle and then a bit of moisturiser and spf and my skin has never looked better! I’m 63 by the way.

 

[peppyb]

skinChemists - Green Caviar Eye Serum
- Feels nice when applied, doesn’t cause any irritation to the eyes but haven’t noticed any difference overall.

The Inky List - Succinic Acid Treatment
- This treatment is supposed to help clear blemish etc but that’s a lie. Didn’t do anything. It has a very off putting smell that you can smell on you for hours after.

 

[OatMatchaLatte]

The Ordinary GF 15 solution - loved it. Emptied the bottle in four weeks (twice/day application). I feel like it's really made a difference to my eye area already, tightened it up. I've started a second bottle.

 

[cherrymoon]

Only one empty and it’s a dove shower gel

 

[Crybaby Tania]

Sis, whaaaaat?! Where do I get a flip flop lip balm holder?

It's a tea-light holder really. You could say I found another use for it

 

[LifeOfMog]

My empties from this weekend:
- An incense stick for the bathroom (replaced with a cheaper and much better smelling one from Lidl lol)
- Multiple diet cokes as it's my current fixation
- A whole pack of chocolate digestives because mr mog went out at 2pm to "see it his dad and have a pint" and didn't get home until 11pm

 

[OatMatchaLatte]

Garnier Vitamin C face wash - bought a replacement yesterday and it’s only £2.50 in B&M. I like it, my face feels clean and not dry after using.

L’Oreal miracle water for hair, the orange one. I’ve been using it for two years and love it. I find conditioners weigh my hair down, but this leaves it nice and soft without being too heavy. I get this on my Amazon subscribe and save, so it works out much cheaper at around 4.50 instead of (without offers) 10 in Boots etc.

 

[Grizzlybear]

The ordinary argireline serum, “Botox in a bottle,” already purchased a replacement, I do notice a smoother forehead and less dryness with this. On my 3rd bottle - tattle recommendation
Boots hyaluronic sleep mask - another rattle recc, have my 4/5th replacement lined up
Medik8 crystal retinal - my skin loves this!
Verden bath oil - loved this, would repurchase, but have others to use up
First aid beauty barrier repair - skin loves this

 

[prozacprincess]

Finished up my oloplex shampoo today, so now on to using the millions of mini shampoos my husband always brings home from living in hotels part of the year. Let’s hope my hair survives

 

[littlepup]

Can I ask does the AKT deodorant stop the dampness or just the smell? I have always been sweaty. Recently based on advice here and from tik tok I have started doing the following: wiping couple of times a week with glycolic acid (had some already), started using dettol soap, and switched to wild deodorant. I notice minimal smell now which is great (although not sure which product has helped most) HOWEVER i am still regularly damp underarms. It is great not worrying so much about the smell but the dampness is still uncomfortable. If anyone has any tips that would be delighted!

I found Wild next to useless. Mitchum stick in powder fresh is the only thing that’s not medical strength I find works.

 

[IdeletedbutI'mbackagain]

New empty!
The Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Sleep Mask.

This is the best Hyaluronic Acid I have used to date. Not sticky or tacky. I have used the Pestil & Mortar and Ella & Jo ones before and hated both of them.

I have the L'Oreal Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Acid serum waiting in the wings (bought it months and months ago) so will start using that. Will see what it is like but I can't imagine it being better.

All this said, I am not sure I will repurchase the boots one simply because I don't think my skin is in desperate need of a Hyaluronic serum.

 

[50sGirl]

Are there any products you wish were empty?

My current two that are like the endgame:

• 11ml bottle of nail oil. I'm simply not a nail oil person. Can't stand having it on my nails, can't stand the smell, etc. I knew I wasn't a nail oil person when I bought it and here I am. Peer-pressured by a nasty look a coworker gave my nails.
• The last remains of a 30gr pouch of silk poweder I bought ages ago. I use it on my face to mattify. It does work, but it's a little bit too matte for me, and I don't like the powders granularity, it's not as fine as true cosmetic powder. I hope I get through it this year.

Yes, 2 big tubs of Prai neck cream (1 day, 1 for night) which seem endless. I can’t even slap loads on because if you put too much on it pils. Perhaps I need to give myself permission to just get rid.