Empties 2014

After a long hiatus I am back to blogging. I thought I would start off by showing all of the things I used last year. I want to get the empties posts out of the way so we can move on to other things.  This is going to be a quick review style post with a sentence or less about each product.

I tried to be more diligent about skin and body care last year which is why there are a lot of products that focus on those areas.  I actually did not wear makeup much last year; I just did not feel like it and because my skin was looking good, I really did not need to wear a full face of makeup (of course I still wore mascara and lip products.)

Facial Cleansers

• Simple Foaming Cleanser - gentle, but it doesn't feel like it cleanses very well
• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser - gentle and non-drying; does not cause breakouts
• The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool & Creamy Wash - leaves skin squeaky clean but not dry; good for breakouts
• Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser - good; use 2-3 times a week for smooth skin

Facial Wipes

• e.l.f studio Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths - works for all makeup, but don't get it in your eyes because it burns
• Epielle Citrus Cleansing Tissues - works for all makeup
• Ology Gently Soothing Facial Towelettes - not good for waterproof eye makeup

Facial Toners

• Simple Soothing Facial Toner - a moisturizing toner; best used after an acid toner
• Caudalie Beauty Elixir (2 travel sizes) - smells lovely, but it's not that moisturizing.  Better for a quick pick me, because of the scent, rather than adding moisture to dry skin.
• Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist - great for adding moisture and smells good too; great for using after an acid toner

Facial Treatments

• Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment (deluxe sample) - good
• La Roche-Posay Effaclar Pore-Refining Anti-Wrinkle Serum - my favorite serum so far; keeps skin clear of acne
• Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum - a bit oily but makes skin radiant; best used at night
• SK-II Facial Treament Masks - great for adding moisture back to the skin, especially post shower
• Boscia Pore Purifying Black Strips - did not work for me; would not adhere to my skin enough to grip the blackheads and pull them out

Facial Moisturizers

• Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer SPF 15 - nice, but smells strongly of spf
• Kate Somerville Oil Free Moisturizer (deluxe sample) - okay, but not moisturizing enough; maybe better for warm weather
• Eclos Anti-Aging Regenerative Cream (deluxe sample) - okay
• Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief - my holy grail moisturizer
• Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On - okay
• Simple Soothing Eye Balm - didn't care for it; a bit too heavy and I would wake up with it in my eyes (like a greasy feeling in my eyes)

Sunscreens

• Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion SPF 60 - good
• L'Oreal Paris Sublime Sun Sheer Protect Sunscreen Oil SPF 50 - okay
• Coola Sport Mineral Sunscreen Citrus Mimosa Moisturizer SPF 35 - good

Hair Products

• Fekkai Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo - my holy grail clarifying shampoo; been using for years
• No.4 High Performance Hair Care Clarifying Shampoo (deluxe sample) - good
• Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave in Conditioner (deluxe sample) - love it! smells really good too
• Klorane Extra-gentle dry shampoo (travel size) - great

Body Products

• Burt's Bees Fabulously Fresh Peppermint & Rosemary Body Wash - okay
• Stridex Daily Care Alcohol Free Maximum Strength Acne Pads (3) - great for preventing razor burn, ingrown hairs, and body acne
• Nylon Body Exfoliating Cloth (Target brand) - good, a little awkward to use on arms

Body Moisturizers (not for the whole body if you have acneic skin, just legs)

• Julep Pomegranate Body Scrub - okay
• Julep Pomegranate Body Creme - good
• Julep Pink Grapefruit Body Scrub - okay
• Julep Pink Grapefruit Body Frosting - good
• e.l.f Peony Petal Lotion Wipes - good and great for travel
• The Body Shop Body Butter Mini in Frosted Cranberry - good
• The Body Shop Body Butter Mini in Glazed Apple - good

Shaving Products

• Skintimate Skin Therapy Moisturizing Shave Gel in Sensitive Skin - good
• Shaveworks The Cool Fix Targeted Gel Lotion (travel size) - good, stings a little
• Gilette Venus Original Razor refills (many packs) - great; been using for years

Deodorants

• Dove Go Sleeveless Anti-Perspirant Deodorant in Fragrance Free - for when I need more odor protection (soft lotiony scent)
• Burt's Bees Outdoor Deodorant with oil of sage - strong scent that lasts all day (smells like citronella)
• L'Occitane Refreshing Aromatic Deodorant - subtle scent that lasts all day (smells like an herbal citrus)

Oral Health Products

• Crest Pro-Health Clinical Gum Protection Toothpaste (not pictured) - great; been using for years
• Vita Care Multicare Toothpaste Cool Mint Freshness + Acai - the flavor takes some getting used to but it works
• Rembrandt Deeply White + Peroxide in Fresh Mint - great; I like the whitening factor
• Auromere Ayurvedic Herbal Toothpaste in Licorice - again, the flavor takes some getting used to but it works
• ACT Total Care Anticavity Fluoride  Mouth Wash Sensitive Formula - great; been using for years
• Johnson & Johnson Reach Gum Care with fluoride  Soft Woven Floss (many) - the only floss that is comfortable for me to use; been using for years
• GUM brand Soft-Picks with storage case - easy to use but sometimes they bend and/or break in between my teeth; my dentist said my gums looked really good after using these
• Oral-B Toothbrush (2 not shown) - good; I get them from my dentist
• Preserve Toothbrush (not shown) - good; they are recyclable
• Unknown charity toothbrush for Target (not shown) - I wish I knew what brand this was because I liked this toothbrush and would buy another one.  It has a tongue scraper on the back which is handy.

Hand Soaps - All great hand soaps with great scents (I did not go through these alone; my family helped)

• Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial deep cleansing hand soap in Japanese Cherry Blossom
• Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap in Orchid Petals & Mint Water
• Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap in Wild Basil & Lime
• Method Naturally Derived Foaming Hand Wash Summer Collection in Vanilla Creme
• Method Naturally Derived Foaming Hand Wash Summer Collection in Orange Ginger Sorbet
• Method Naturally Derived Foaming Hand Wash Summer Collection in Brambleberry Gelato
• Method Naturally Derived Hand Wash Fall Collection in Rice Milk & Mallow
• Method Naturally Derived Hand Wash Fall Collection in Kelly Moss
• Method Naturally Derived Hand Wash Fall Collection in White Cranberry

Hand & Nail Products

• Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream - great hand cream that is moisturizing, nourishing, and absorbes quickly without a greasy residue
• Burt's Bees Ultimate Care Hand Cream - good; it takes a while to absorb
• Julep Age Defying Hand Brightener - good; it takes a while to absorb.  I haven't noticed a difference in brightness but it's a decent hand cream.
• Julep Glycolic Hand Scrub - good; leaves hands smooth and it has oils in it to moisturize
• L'Occitane 20% Shea Dry Skin Hand Cream (deluxe sample) - great;  my hands and nails stayed moisturized longer with this hand cream than any other I have used.  My nails looked great after using this hand cream.
• Julep Reveal Nail Growth Revitalizing Serum - great for weak nails
• Beauty Secrets Acetone Nail Polish Remover - good; generic polish remover
• GUD from Burt's Bees Natural Cleansing Wipes in Orange Petalooza - Good for travel; smells good and do not leave your hands soaking wet

Lip Balms

• Marc Jacobs Lip Lock Moisture Balm SPF 18 - Great!  Moisturizing, luxurious packaging, plus high SPF
• Julep Strawberry-Mint Lip Balm - okay; the scent/flavor is nice but it is so soft that it squishes all over the tube when applied
• Nivea A Kiss of Olive Oil & Lemon - good; not the best for moisture but it's great for layering under lipstick

Full-Size Mascaras

• Cover Girl Exact Eyelights Eye Brightening Mascara (Blue Eyes) - meh
• Cover Girl Clump Crusher Water Resistant Mascara - the best
• Cover Girl Flamed Out Mascara - okay
• Julep Volumizing Mascara - okay
• Revlon Lash Potion Volume & Length Mascara - I like the super black pigment, but it's clumpy
• Maybelline Great Lash Limited Edition "I See Blue" - I don't like the brush, but the color is nice
• L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Limited Edition "Purple Obsession" - loved it!
• Benefit They're Real! Mascara - good
• Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes Mascara - good
• Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara - good

Sample Mascaras

• Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes Mascara (sample) - okay
• Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara (sample) - great
• Lancome Cils Booster XL Super Enhancing Mascara Base (2 samples) - meh
• The Balm What's Your Type? Black Mascara "the body builder" (sample) - clumpy
• Benefit They're Real! Mascara (sample) - good
• Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant (2 samples) - I don't like the brush
• Yves Saint Laurent/YSL Beaute Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Baby Doll (sample) - the best
• Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara (sample) - okay
• Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (sample) - I don't like the brush
• Korres Volcanic Minerals Volumizing Mascara (sample) - okay
• Prestige Brow Perfection Revitalizing Clear Brow Gel (full-size) - okay; a little goes a long way

Various

• Lancome Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover (deluxe sample) - great
• Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Dual-Action Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover (deluxe sample) - good
• e.l.f Makeup Remover Pen - good, but leave a slight oily residue
• Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (deluxe sample) - good
• Urban Decay De Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray (deluxe sample) - good

Candles - all of them smelled lovely

• Bath & Body Works White Barn Candle in Chestnut & Clove No.2 (3-wick)
• Bath & Body Works White Barn Candle in Flannel (3-wick) - my favorite!
• Bath & Body Works Sweater Weather (3-wick)
• Bath & Body Works White Barn Autumn (mini)
• Bath & Body Works White Barn Autumn Night (mini)
• Bath & Body Works White Barn Marshmellow Fireside (mini)
• Bath & Body Works Trick or Treat (mini)

Disclaimer: All items shown were purchased, free samples with purchase, or a gift with purchase.