January Empties

The month of January starts a new year full of new ideas and possibilities. So, what better way to start the new year than trying out new products. This year I have made it my goal to use up all my samples.  I tried to go through as many as I could in order to make a dent in my stash and also to maybe find some new products worth investing in full sizes.  This will be another quick review post.

Facial Cleansers

• Chantecaille Flower Infused Cleansing Milk (deluxe sample) - gentle and smells amazing
• Garnier Nourishing Cleansing Oil (2 samples) - thin & runny, but effective and smells good
• Masqueology Masque Cleanse (2 samples) - bubbly/foams up after applied (fun!)
• Nude Perfect Cleansing Oil Face & Eyes (sample) - thicker and drier than the Garnier oil, so you use less (savings!)
• Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm (sample) - feels like grease but gets the job done
• Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel (2 samples) - good
• Shiseido Benefiance Extra-Creamy Cleansing Foam (sample) - drying
• Soap & Glory Face Soap & Clarity 3-in-1 Daily-Detox Vitamin C Facial Wash (3 samples) - has exfoliating beads and stings eyes
• Wei to Go Beauty Real Clean Gelled Oil Cleanser and Ideal Skin Perfect Finish [Light] (sample) - typical oil cleanser that leaves skin smooth and moisturized; the makeup is like a BB cream/tinted moisturizer which was very nice.

Facial Serums

• Algenist Multi-Perfecting Pore Corrector Concentrate (sample) - meh, didn't seem like it did anything
• Do Not Age with Dr. Brandt Transforming Pearl Serum (sample) - a bit too oily
• Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Skin Tone Correcting (sample) - rich; not for oily skin
• Dr. Brandt Dark Spots No More Serum Concentrate (sample) - okay for oily skin
• Kate Somerville Quench Oil Free Hydrating Face Serum (sample) - hydrating but not too heavy
• Lancome Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector (4 samples) - a bit oily and heavily perfumed
• Murad Time Release Retinol Concentrate for Deep Wrinkles (sample) - a bit rich so I would recommend for mature skin
• No.7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum (sample) - rich; not for oily skin
• Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster (deluxe sample) - rich; a bit iffy for oily/acneic skin
• Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firmx Temporary Face Tightener (sample) - works
• Philosophy Full of Promise Treatment Serum for Uplifting Days (sample) - Amazing! Visible results after one try!
• Philosophy Full of Promise Treatment Serum for Volumizing Nights (sample) - meh, didn't seem like it did anything
• SK-II Wrinkle Specialist Moisturizing Serum (deluxe sample) - nice texture and moisturizing

Facial Moisturizers

• Algenist Multi-Perfecting Pore Corrector Gel Moisturizer (sample) - nice
• Boscia Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel (sample) - okay
• Boscia Self-Defense Vital Antioxidant Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 (sample) - nice
• Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Lotion SPF20 (sample) - nice
• Dermadoctor Photo Dynamic Therapy Liquid Red Light Anti-Aging Lotion with SPF30 (sample) - meh
• Glow by Dr. Brandt Ruby Crystal Retinol Hydracreme (deluxe sample) - okay
• Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer (deluxe sample) - not for acneic skin
• Kate Somerville Oil Free Moisturizer (sample) - okay
• L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Cream (3 samples) - nice
• Masqueology 7D Moisture Day and Night Cream (sample) - okay
• Murad Pore & Line Minimizing Hydrator (sample) - okay
• Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Moisturizer (sample) - okay
• Ole Hendriksen Sheer Transformation oil-free, brightening moisturizer (sample) - kind of stings at first; I think it has lemon in the ingredients
• Philosophy Take a Deep Breath Oil-Free Energizing Oxygen Gel Cream Moisturizer (deluxe sample) - okay
• SK-II Cellumination Cream (deluxe sample) - nice
• Wei Royal Ming Firming and Hydrating Cream (sample) - not for oily skin

Eye Creams

• AmorePacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Eye Treatment Gel (sample) - okay
• Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Dark Circle Minimizer (sample) - okay
• Glow by Dr. Brandt Revitalizing Retinol Eye Cream (2 samples) - okay
• L'Occitane Precious Eye Balm (sample) - okay
• Masqueology Revitalizing Eye Gel [patches] (sample) - nice, cooling/refreshing, and you can reposition easily
• Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel (sample) - cooling
• StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles (deluxe sample) - okay

Treaments

• Algenist Triple-Action Micropolish & Peel (sample) - okay; works
• Balea Brightening Mud Face Mask [Pink Clay Shea Butter] (sample) - moisturizing and pink
• Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil organic moisturizing oil (sample) - nice
• Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light ultra lightweight moisturizing oil (sample) - okay, heavier than the regular (odd)
• MD Solar Sciences Mineral Creme Broad Spectrum SPF50 UVA-UVB Sunscreen (sample) - okay, but lots of silicon
• Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Youth Activating Oil (sample) - okay
• Origins Modern Friction Nature's Gentle Dermabrasion (sample) - okay; works

Makeup

• Benefit "Hello Flawless" SPF15 ["I love me Ivory"] (sample)  - sheer coverage
• Benefit The Porefessional (sample) - good
• Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm SPF25 (deluxe sample) - light coverage
• Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon [Brown (Out)] (deluxe sample) - a bit hard, needs warming to apply
• Peter Thomas Roth CC Cream SPF30 [Light to Medium] (sample) - light/medium coverage
• Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF35 [Light] (sample) - light coverage

Body and Hair Products

• Balea Refreshing Body Scrub [Coconut] (sample) - nice
• The Body Shop Body Butter mini [Vanilla Brulee] - nice
• Dr. Teal's Epsom Salt Soaking Solution (Sleep [lavender]) - nice, but run's out way too quickly
• Julep Pink Exfoliating Cloth - too rough on my skin
• Macadamia Beauty Natural Oil Deep Repair [Hair] Masque (sample) - nice, it left my hair soft, shiny and smelling good, but it's full of silicons
• Mox Botanicals Body Soak [Matcha & Clementine] (sample) - okay; smells like herbal citrus and turns the bath water a greenish brown color
• Nivea Smooth Sensation Body Lotion (3 samples) - smells good and is moisturizing
• Sephora Super Supreme Body Butter (sample) - moisturizing with a typical lotion scent
• Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Buttercream (sample) - smells citrusy and is moisturizing

Various

• Crest Fluoride Anticavity Toothpaste (travel size) - fine, been using it for years
• Malin + Goetz mini candle [cannabis] - smells like herbs mixed with pine, but not like cannabis (thank goodness)
• Supersmile Quickee Whitening Breath Freshening on the Go (sample) - freshens breath, but it tastes bad and the paste lingers

Mascaras (I forgot to put these under makeup)

• L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Excess (blackest black) - okay; not my favorite
• Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes Volume Express - made upper and lower lashes stick together and flaked badly throughout the day

What products did you empty in January?

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