30 Days, 30-ish Empties
For the month of September, I put myself on a no-buy. But from previous experience, I know that I can get a bit...restless without picking up a thing here or there so I decided to do a project pan as well! If you're unfamiliar with project pan, it's basically when you purposefully try to use up X products. So for the month of September, I aimed to use up 30 products-- samples, minis, full sizes. And I'm happy to say I succeeded!
As per usual with my empties posts, I've split up everything into three categories-- items I will definitely repurchase, items I may repurchase, and items I may not repurchase. As I write more of these, I find myself getting pickier and pickier with what goes in the definitely repurchase category. There are so many skincare and beauty products out there, I need to really, really, really love a product to 100% know I'll be repurchasing it.
Because there's a shitton of products I panned, this is gonna be a flash empties. Every review I write in this post cannot be longer than a sentence. Ready, set, go! Warning: run-on sentences coming right 'atcha.
P.S If you don't know I'm running a giveaway fundraiser to raise money for Hurricane Maria relief! For every $5 you donate, you will be entered to win a prize featuring a beautyblender and full-sized products from brands like Algenist, First Aid Beauty, Saturday Skin, and more! Donate and find all the details here 💙
1. Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm
The OG cleansing balm that removes all my makeup, emulsifies well, and most importantly DOESN'T STING THE FUDGE OUT OF MY EYES.
2. Pyunkang Yul Mist Toner
So fresh, so good, relatively affordable.
3. Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water Mini
Bioderma is bae and I will never be without a bottle because it removes all my makeup without drying me out or leaving behind any residue.
4. Dr. Jart Ceramidin Skin-Friendly Nanoskin Sheet Mask
I absolutely love Dr. Jart's ceramidin cream so it wasn't shocking that I love the mask as well which was soft, well-fitting, and moisturizing.
5. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum
This features 15% L-ascorbic acid (IMO the most effective form of Vitamin C) and has helped smooth out the texture of my skin and helped plump up my skin (well, as plumped as a chubby 24 years old's face can get.)
6. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in 'Dark Brown' (although I have since repurchased it in Ebony)
I do really like the Colourpop eyebrow pencil but the spoolie always freakin' falls off so I don't mind paying a bit more for this ABH one, also it's more easily accessible than the Colourpop.
7. Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner in 'Blacquer 42'
Best fuckin' eyeliner ever that barely smudges in the waterline.
8. Boscia White Charcoal Mattifying MakeUp Setting Spray
A mattifying mist that doesn't completely dry out my skin and doesn't include denatured alcohol is a mist I must mist with.
9. Amore Pacific MOISTURE BOUND Skin Energy Hydration Delivery System
This mist is so so so fine and I've been on the lookout for the newer alcohol-free version but Sephora never freakin has it but if I do find it, I would probably purchase it!
10. Farmacy Skin Dew Hydrating Essence Mist & Setting Spray
A nice, minty fresh mist that's also a bit pricey.
11. Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
If you asked me 2 months ago if I would repurchase this I would say "hell yes" as it's gentle yet effective at removing dead skin build-up buuuut I've recently started using the cream version and I miiiiight just like it even more.
12. Sephora Collection Cleansing & Exfoliating Wipes in 'Rose'
I don't have any strong opinions on wipes but I do like that these have pink packaging, a snap closure, and aren't terribly expensive.
13. Pixi Beauty Makeup Cleansing Wipes
I bought these on sale and they were just okay, a bit too thin for my liking if I'm being honest although I think they've since been reformulated or at least repackaged.
14. Drunk Elephant Lippie
Loooove how the surface area of this lip balm is so wide (I'm sure there's a that's what she said joke in there) but it's a bit pricey for the size.
15. Kerastase Hair Mask
A lovely mask that hydrates and detangles my hair but again, issa bit pricey and I have a shitton of other pricey masks already on my wishlist that I would probably try before repurchasing this.
16. Whalmyung Skin Elixir
A fancy-ass mist in fancy-ass packaging with fancy-ass ingredients (PS Nordstrom has a reaaaally good gwp at the moment on k-beauty featuring a mini of this mist, a TCFS mist, huxley samples, and more!)
17. Leaders Mediu Amino Sheet Mask- Clearing
Many anti-acne masks are not very hydrating so I love that this one hydrates and tackles nasty stupid pimples.
18. Heimish All Clean Balm
A nice cleanser that emulsifies well but I can't rub it into my eyes without causing stinging and I'm not crazy about the smell-- on the plus side it's the cheapest balm cleanser I've liked.
19. Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
This cleanser grew on my a lot and I enjoyed the thicker jelly texture in the mornings in summer but it's a bit too drying for me to use every day in the winter.
20. Oribe Après Beach Wave & Shine Spray
I really liked this spray for adding texture to my hair without making it too dry and crunchy but it's also crazy expensive and I have other less pricey wave sprays on my wish list to try.
21. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial
75% of the time this mask didn't do anything for my skin but the last two times I slathered on thick, thick layers and I did notice my skin to be a lot smoother in the morning but ultimately the variable results and the fact that the ordinary has a much more affordable dupe is what will stop me from repurchasing the full size but that doesn't mean I'll say no to the mini 😜
22. Diptyque Candle in 'Roses'
This smells soooo good but it's also quite a basic rose scent and bath and body works have similar candles with a solid throw.
23. Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer
A nice lightweight leav-in in conditioner that's very easy to apply thanks to the spray top.
24. Alterna Haircare CAVIAR CC Cream for Hair 10-in-1 Complete Correction
Thicker than my usual leave-in conditioner, this could be difficult to distribute and could make my hair crunchy-- but if I didn't apply enough my hair was left feeling a bit dry.
25. Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream
There wasn't anything horrifically terrible about this moisturizer, in fact, it has a pretty nice ingredient list, but nothing about the results I got warrants me spending $64 to purchase the full size and oh, it also smells like rotting cucumbers.
26. Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo
This shit did not even come out of the can-- at this point, I've accepted that Drybar is not the brand for me as every product I've ever tried has been a fail 😒
27. Saturday Skin Spotlight Brightening Sheet Mask
You can find my thoughts on this mask in my Saturday Skin one brand review post.
28. Saturday Skin Quench Intense Hydration Sheet Mask
Same as above-- review on my Saturday Skin one brand review post.
30. Perricone MD Cold Plasma
Why yes I would like to splurge on a not-very moisturizing cream that smells like dead fish-- not.
31. Hask Argan Oil Repairing Shine Oil
Tossing this cause it's spoiled and I don't remember ever really using it so it must not have been very exciting.
32. Etude House Real-Art No Wash Cleansing Water
For something with cleansing in its name, it didn't cleanse very well.
33. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner
This constantly skipped during application and it smudged easily.
34. Glossier Soothing Face Mist
This is alright minus the fact it instantaneously sets my eyes on fire-- kinda cancels the whole "soothing" thing, in my humble opinion.
35. Caudalie Beauty Elixir
It's not so refreshing spraying a bottle of denatured alcohol on my face.
36. Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1
As someone who already suffers from dandruff, any product that adds white flakes to my hair is an instant pass for me, also I'm not into the helmet head look.
As per usual with my empties posts, I've split up everything into three categories-- items I will definitely repurchase, items I may repurchase, and items I may not repurchase. As I write more of these, I find myself getting pickier and pickier with what goes in the definitely repurchase category. There are so many skincare and beauty products out there, I need to really, really, really love a product to 100% know I'll be repurchasing it.
Because there's a shitton of products I panned, this is gonna be a flash empties. Every review I write in this post cannot be longer than a sentence. Ready, set, go! Warning: run-on sentences coming right 'atcha.
P.S If you don't know I'm running a giveaway fundraiser to raise money for Hurricane Maria relief! For every $5 you donate, you will be entered to win a prize featuring a beautyblender and full-sized products from brands like Algenist, First Aid Beauty, Saturday Skin, and more! Donate and find all the details here 💙
Definitely Repurchase
1. Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm
The OG cleansing balm that removes all my makeup, emulsifies well, and most importantly DOESN'T STING THE FUDGE OUT OF MY EYES.
2. Pyunkang Yul Mist Toner
So fresh, so good, relatively affordable.
3. Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water Mini
Bioderma is bae and I will never be without a bottle because it removes all my makeup without drying me out or leaving behind any residue.
4. Dr. Jart Ceramidin Skin-Friendly Nanoskin Sheet Mask
I absolutely love Dr. Jart's ceramidin cream so it wasn't shocking that I love the mask as well which was soft, well-fitting, and moisturizing.
5. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum
This features 15% L-ascorbic acid (IMO the most effective form of Vitamin C) and has helped smooth out the texture of my skin and helped plump up my skin (well, as plumped as a chubby 24 years old's face can get.)
6. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in 'Dark Brown' (although I have since repurchased it in Ebony)
I do really like the Colourpop eyebrow pencil but the spoolie always freakin' falls off so I don't mind paying a bit more for this ABH one, also it's more easily accessible than the Colourpop.
7. Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner in 'Blacquer 42'
Best fuckin' eyeliner ever that barely smudges in the waterline.
8. Boscia White Charcoal Mattifying MakeUp Setting Spray
A mattifying mist that doesn't completely dry out my skin and doesn't include denatured alcohol is a mist I must mist with.
May Repurchase
9. Amore Pacific MOISTURE BOUND Skin Energy Hydration Delivery System
This mist is so so so fine and I've been on the lookout for the newer alcohol-free version but Sephora never freakin has it but if I do find it, I would probably purchase it!
10. Farmacy Skin Dew Hydrating Essence Mist & Setting Spray
A nice, minty fresh mist that's also a bit pricey.
11. Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
If you asked me 2 months ago if I would repurchase this I would say "hell yes" as it's gentle yet effective at removing dead skin build-up buuuut I've recently started using the cream version and I miiiiight just like it even more.
12. Sephora Collection Cleansing & Exfoliating Wipes in 'Rose'
I don't have any strong opinions on wipes but I do like that these have pink packaging, a snap closure, and aren't terribly expensive.
13. Pixi Beauty Makeup Cleansing Wipes
I bought these on sale and they were just okay, a bit too thin for my liking if I'm being honest although I think they've since been reformulated or at least repackaged.
14. Drunk Elephant Lippie
Loooove how the surface area of this lip balm is so wide (I'm sure there's a that's what she said joke in there) but it's a bit pricey for the size.
15. Kerastase Hair Mask
A lovely mask that hydrates and detangles my hair but again, issa bit pricey and I have a shitton of other pricey masks already on my wishlist that I would probably try before repurchasing this.
16. Whalmyung Skin Elixir
A fancy-ass mist in fancy-ass packaging with fancy-ass ingredients (PS Nordstrom has a reaaaally good gwp at the moment on k-beauty featuring a mini of this mist, a TCFS mist, huxley samples, and more!)
17. Leaders Mediu Amino Sheet Mask- Clearing
Many anti-acne masks are not very hydrating so I love that this one hydrates and tackles nasty stupid pimples.
18. Heimish All Clean Balm
A nice cleanser that emulsifies well but I can't rub it into my eyes without causing stinging and I'm not crazy about the smell-- on the plus side it's the cheapest balm cleanser I've liked.
19. Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
This cleanser grew on my a lot and I enjoyed the thicker jelly texture in the mornings in summer but it's a bit too drying for me to use every day in the winter.
20. Oribe Après Beach Wave & Shine Spray
I really liked this spray for adding texture to my hair without making it too dry and crunchy but it's also crazy expensive and I have other less pricey wave sprays on my wish list to try.
21. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial
75% of the time this mask didn't do anything for my skin but the last two times I slathered on thick, thick layers and I did notice my skin to be a lot smoother in the morning but ultimately the variable results and the fact that the ordinary has a much more affordable dupe is what will stop me from repurchasing the full size but that doesn't mean I'll say no to the mini 😜
22. Diptyque Candle in 'Roses'
This smells soooo good but it's also quite a basic rose scent and bath and body works have similar candles with a solid throw.
23. Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer
A nice lightweight leav-in in conditioner that's very easy to apply thanks to the spray top.
24. Alterna Haircare CAVIAR CC Cream for Hair 10-in-1 Complete Correction
Thicker than my usual leave-in conditioner, this could be difficult to distribute and could make my hair crunchy-- but if I didn't apply enough my hair was left feeling a bit dry.
Will Not Repurchase
25. Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream
There wasn't anything horrifically terrible about this moisturizer, in fact, it has a pretty nice ingredient list, but nothing about the results I got warrants me spending $64 to purchase the full size and oh, it also smells like rotting cucumbers.
26. Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo
This shit did not even come out of the can-- at this point, I've accepted that Drybar is not the brand for me as every product I've ever tried has been a fail 😒
27. Saturday Skin Spotlight Brightening Sheet Mask
You can find my thoughts on this mask in my Saturday Skin one brand review post.
28. Saturday Skin Quench Intense Hydration Sheet Mask
Same as above-- review on my Saturday Skin one brand review post.
30. Perricone MD Cold Plasma
Why yes I would like to splurge on a not-very moisturizing cream that smells like dead fish-- not.
31. Hask Argan Oil Repairing Shine Oil
Tossing this cause it's spoiled and I don't remember ever really using it so it must not have been very exciting.
32. Etude House Real-Art No Wash Cleansing Water
For something with cleansing in its name, it didn't cleanse very well.
33. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner
This constantly skipped during application and it smudged easily.
34. Glossier Soothing Face Mist
This is alright minus the fact it instantaneously sets my eyes on fire-- kinda cancels the whole "soothing" thing, in my humble opinion.
35. Caudalie Beauty Elixir
It's not so refreshing spraying a bottle of denatured alcohol on my face.
36. Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1
As someone who already suffers from dandruff, any product that adds white flakes to my hair is an instant pass for me, also I'm not into the helmet head look.
