Press Samples Noted Below
Greetings, dear readers! It's been quite some time since I shared any details on my Purge and Pan Project. In fact, my last one was from
July! Yikes! I had started compiling the next post through September, but since October started the craziness in my life, it just never ended up being published. I had asked this past weekend on my Instagram stories whether or not there was an interest in this post, and I have to admit I was a little surprised to see all the votes were for "Yes!" I guess you all like to see some empties!
Before I get into this last round of emptied and purged products from 2019, here is the previous numbers recap:
2019 Stats through July:
Empties: 72
Purged: 64
Total: 135
My goal was to rid my shelves of 150 products in 2019; here is the last batch of products to leave my house this year!
Use It: The Empties
Skincare
Cleanser | AB Skincare
I am very picky when it comes to my cleansers, and I have found so many to just be too harsh for my skin. That being said, I was still happy to test out this small sampler to see how it would perform for me. I actually really enjoyed this cleanser! My face felt clean after use but not stripped dry, nor did it turn me into a lobster. It's a little spendy to be literally washed down the drain (this travel bottle alone is $12), but it is a good cleanser and one I would use again if I can get it on a good deal.
Refining Sugar Cleanser | MyChelle Dermaceuticals
This is not the first, second, or even third time this product has appeared on my blog. This small sample was part of my BOUTIQUE box pick from Cosmoprof North America this summer; I just couldn't resist the option of getting a product I enjoy! I've since purchased a full size bottle and slowly working my way through it. To read my full thoughts on it, check out my post
here.
Hydro Boost Water Gel Hyaluronic Acid | Neutrogena x 2
I have to rely on good skin care to keep my skin from turning into the desert like my environment.
I'm a fan of hyaluronic acid, and this product spent some time as a staple in my routine. I'm currently working through a different product at the moment, but I just picked up another one of these for when the other runs on empty. This one just feels so good on my skin and leaves it feeling so smooth even before moving onto moisturizer!
MultiVitamin Serum | MultiV6
Press Sample
I
reviewed this serum awhile back, but I had not quite finished it at that time. I definitely enjoyed it although I'm still working through other skincare items at the moment and haven't returned to it. It's still a great serum, but the $50 price tag isn't making me push others aside in favor of it. I really don't know how I end up with so much skincare to test out, but it does add a large delay from when I can use it again.
Vitamin Sadness Mask | MustaeV
I seriously love these masks, and this particular type has made a frequent appearance here on the blog as well. I'm still working my way though my mask stash, albeit crazy slowly, but I know I have another one or two at least of this one. I'm glad to have banned new masks from my life since the waste is ridiculous, but I admit this one is going to be hard when it comes to a final goodbye.
Herb Therapy Velvet Mask | Dr. Althea
Press Sample
I'm a firm believer that one time use of a mask isn't really enough to access how good it works, but I have to admit this one left my skin feeling really nice! I definitely felt very hydrated with this one, and I'm a little sad I don't have more in my stash. If you're suffering with dry skin and using one-time-use masks, this is a great option to consider!
Escargot + Propolis Revitalizing Mask | Elensilia-IntraCELL
I love Korean products with snail mucin, so I was happy when I was given this sample at a shop in New York this summer. My skin felt great after using it although the downside is it did not play well with my makeup application about half an hour later.
Cherry Gel Lip Mask | Oh K!
Press Sample
I was pretty excited to try this, but this lip mask was a big disappointment. The mask is so heavy that it does not stay in place at all unless you lay down and don't move. I din't find it to leave my lips feeling moisturized, and the skin around my lips was actually inflamed and irritated. I've found my skin to be getting less sensitive over the years, so I'm a little surprised to see how my skin reacted to it. Even without the irritation, this is a hard pass for me.
Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks | Wander Beauty x 5
I generally don't gravitate towards eye masks like these, but I was gifted several and really wanted to try them out. I actually enjoyed these! My under eye area looked brighter, my under eye circles were less noticeable, and my eyes just looked healthier in general. I have another one or two of these left and will be sad when they are all gone.
Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea | Mario Badescu
I love this spray as a pick-me-up when my skin is feeling a little dull and/or dry! I'm reasonably sure this isn't the first time I've shared this product here, and I have another one in use now. I also just introduced my mother-in-law to it and she loves it too! I've also started using it by giving my skin a spritz post-cleansing to slightly dampen the skin before adding in my skincare products. Mario Badescu offers two other varieties, but this one is my go-to.
Superfood Peptide Eye Cream | Youth to the People
This eye cream is proof that you don't have to spend a fortune on an eye product to have good results! This small jar packs a powerful punch to keep wrinkles at bay and just makes your eyes look brilliant! I've gone through a couple jars and have been testing others since emptying this one. Needless to say, I'm picking up another one of these this week!
Protini Polypeptide Cream | Drunk Elephant
This small sample was part of Sephora's birthday gift for insiders this past year, so I'm sure many of you have already tried this for yourself. I enjoyed the formula for a day cream, and I liked how quickly it absorbed into my skin. I also greatly appreciated how well it played under my makeup routine! As much as I enjoyed it, the $68 price tag has made me shy away from buying the full size container. Should I ever find it on a great deal, I'm likely to buy it, but it would have to be one heck of a deal! There are other great moisturizers available for a more affordable price so we'll see if I ever use this again.
Vitamin C Caviar Balm | Pixi Beauty
I know Pixi Beauty has other cult products, but they just don't quite do it for me (looking at you, Glow Tonic). Instead, this Vitamin C Caviar Balm is one of my top Pixi Beauty products. Since it got even drier with fall and winter, I started using it almost every day, and I'm seeing some of my stubborn dark spots finally fading away. I'm working my way through another tube now!
Multivitamin Day Cream | Multi V6
Press Sample
I wasn't crazy about this day moisturizer and found it left my skin on the drier side. Once I added other products into my routine, I was able to successfully use it to completion, but at the end of the day, this is a pass for me. More details can be found on
my initial review here.
Multivitamin Night Cream | Multi V6
Press Sample
While the Day Cream left me wanting more, the night cream was much nicer! It isn't quite as rich as I like for night time use, but I did enjoy using this during the day. I'm not overly fond of the screw cap jar, but since I use scoops for this type of product, it isn't a total deal breaker for me. I've not bought a replacement yet, but I'd possibly pick it up to use again. My
full review is here.
I've been a fan of the Innisfree brand since I stumbled across it a couple years ago, so I really was eager to test out this particular cream. It is a little on the heavier side, so it was ideal for me as my night cream. I've since moved on to other items as I am always testing products, but whenever I'm in the market to purchase another night time moisturizer, I wouldn't hesitate to get another jar of this one.
Collagen & Retinol Serum | Pixi Beauty
I picked this up because I wanted to try out the retinol aspect of this product. It contains collagen, which it too large to effectively cross over into the skin, so I don't think this would work effectively. I don't think it's a bad product, but I was underwhelmed with it; I have no intentions of picking up another for future use. I wouldn't say I dislike it, it just left me wanting more.
Lip Sleeping Mask (Vanilla) | Laneige
The jar may be small, but WOW does this product last a long time! It took me almost a full year of daily pre-bed use (with every few exceptions) to get through this container: a little really goes a long way! I take care of my lips to make sure they aren't dry and flaky, and this is a major part of my routine! I've since picked up another in a difference flavor, although the vanilla is nice if you're a big vanilla fan.
Cosmetics
Now known as Face Prime & Protect
I LOVE this sunscreen, and while it is a sunscreen, I decided to put it in with my cosmetics section as it works well as a makeup primer. I had a small trial size open, but with no travel plans the second half of the year, I opted to use it up alongside my full sided tube. Boasting SPF 40, I know my skin is getting protection from harmful rays and I adore how smooth it makes my skin for makeup application! I've since picked up another tube (currently in use) and another for when that one runs out.
Orange Beauty Blender
I've used other blenders, but I figured it was time to break down and pick up the original Beauty Blender. I've used this one many times, but I prefer other sponges over this one. I've read that sometimes the different colours of blenders perform better than others so I suppose it is possible that is the case, but given the price tag, I'd rather get the cheaper ones that I know work well for me.
Flavor: Minty Mojito
I've shared my love of the brand a few times, and it's actually shocking that I completed a lip balm! I love a mojito so this flavor profile is totally my jam. I've not picked up any lip balms recently, from this or any other company, but I do keep an eye on Epically Epic's social media in case there is a new flavor I just HAVE to pick up.
Hydra Color Lip Gloss (Juicy Peach) | Note Cosmetics
As I'm sure you can imagine, I have a lot of makeup. For me to finish a product like this is pretty impressive, and this is actually the second tube in this shade I have finished. Say what?? This is/was such a pretty peach hue that I enjoyed on its own for a very natural look or layered over other lipsticks. I'm so sad to see this go, especially since I don't think I can replace this. I spoke with someone this summer at Cosmoprof NA and she said the colour, if not the entire Hydra gloss line, is now discontinued. Boo! At least it was great while it lasted!
Matte Finish Setting Spray | NYX Cosmetics
I use a few different setting sprays, but this one by NYX is my most often used. It works well for me to set my makeup for the day, and the price point is fantastic! If I apply makeup early in the day, the initial application isn't quite going to get me through a late night, but for a workday or the days I don't get my makeup on until noon, it serves its purpose well.
Nails
Kur Gel Genius Top Coat | Londontown
I've not been changing up my nails as frequently for the last half of the year, and my manicures have been lasting me about two weeks. I've tried a range of top coats that I truly do enjoy, but when I want longevity, this baby is where it's at! I tried this product a couple years ago when I went on vacation and was blown away by it. It's a little more expensive than some of my other top coats, so I tend to use this when I want my nail lacquer to stay in place a week or more. I've still managed to go through a few bottles and need to get another one pronto!
Body
Hydrating Soothing Body Wash (Citrus Vanilla) | The Seaweed Bath Co.
I picked this up on a whim one day when I spotted it at Target; I'm so glad I did! I was intrigued by the scent profile and found it to be so uplifting without the BAM intensity you get from a lot of other citrus scented products. I'm not an expert in these types of products by any means, but it did leave my skin clean and feeling soft even before adding in lotion. I'm trying to go through a few other body washes I already have on hand although I do miss this body wash already.
Juice Cleanse Exfoliating Sugar Cubes | Harper + Ari
The scent combination of pineapple, kiwi and green apple is fabulous and one of the highlights about these exfoliating cubes! They are also conveniently packaged so you just grab one out, smoosh it up a little in water, and rub it on your body wherever you need a little smoothening out. My only real issue with these is the cubes are so firmly packed that you have you work to crush them up so you aren't ending up with larger pieces that are too abrasive for the skin. This alone would make me want to stay away from them now that this jar is empty, but that smell is giving me second thoughts. I think I'm just going to hunt for another scrub with a similar scent profile.
After The Rain Sugar Scrub | KBShimmer
Press Sample
Speaking of sugar scrubs, KBShimmer makes some of my favorites, including this yummy scented one! This particular scent was unfortunately exclusive to the Polish Pickup and can no longer be purchased, but you can bet I enjoyed it to the last sugar crystal in the jar! I've been hoarding the exclusive scents as long as possible since they cannot be replaced, but I finally accepted that more good scents would be coming and I should enjoy these. After The Rain was one of my favorites so here's hoping it makes a special comeback in the future!
Premium Coffee Body Scrub (Cinnamon) | Fivesso
Press Sample
Do small sample sizes count? It's in a container, even if it is a small one, so this coffee scrub is making it to my empties list. If you're a fan of coffee scents, you may love this brand lineup. This particular scrub was a combination of coffee, due to the beans, but with the added spicy warmth of cinnamon. The added cocoa butter, olive oil, and jojoba oil made this scrub leave my skin feeling incredibly soft. The scent is nice although it's not my favorite and one I want sticking to my skin all day long. My hubby claimed he didn't notice it after awhile, but my nose is sensitive and could pick it up long after he could. I'm not writing off coffee scrubs altogether, but I've not come across any that
I have enjoyed as much as the one by Purlisse.
Hair
The 'Do Gooder | Cake Beauty
I found myself wandering Walgreens one day waiting for a prescription when I stumbled across this and decided to pick up a bottle to try. Something about the vibrant pink packaging called my name, but the dry shampoo itself left a lot to be desired. This is scented like lemon cookies with vanilla frosting, so the smell was pretty nice although not exactly my cup of tea. I didn't have issues with white residue; any hint I had easily blended out in my hair with a quick brushing. What I didn't like is that it didn't leave my hair feeling very clean. I use dry shampoo often, so I am under no illusions my hair will feel as clean as a shampoo and water cleanse, but yikes. It helped with some oil that would start to build up, but it left my hair looking dull and flat, a far cry from the promised "volumizing". Further, the slight cleaning effect wouldn't even last me for the full day after use in the morning. Perhaps it's because I'm a liberal user, but I can easily get through two days with one application with a variety of other brands I have used. This product is a pass for me, and unfortunately, as the intro to the brand for me, I'm not likely to try anything else from them. Honestly, I'm not sure why I even bothered emptying this bottle, it was that bad for me.
Beach Babe Texturizing Dry Shampoo | Not Your Mother's
Not this dry shampoo, on the other hand, works really well for me. I love the smell of coconut, and while this one isn't quite right, I still enjoy it a lot. My hubby, on the other hand, does not care for NYM's version of coconut and refuses to be in the same room as me when I use it. I tend to apply dry shampoo before my scalp gets oily (so usually before I go to bed after washing my hair early in the day) and then another light spritzing in the morning or mid-day of day two. This keeps any initial white residue under control, and any I do get is brushed out easily. I especially love that this shampoo delivers me texture and volume as promised. The low price point is an added bonus! I do like dry shampoo from Klorane the most, but at a quarter of the price, I'm happy to stick with this one 99% of the time!
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Lose It: Purged Products
Skincare
Even if a product doesn't work well for me, I often feel a little guilt when it comes to destashing. That was NOT the case when it came to this eye cream. I actually has a small sample that I used and loved, so when I stumbled across it at Whole Foods, I picked it up immediately. I still was finishing up a different brand's cream, and about three weeks later, I got to pop this open and use it. Oh. My God. The burning! While the sample was great, this turned my undereye area into a red, puffy mess. I had no idea what was causing it at first, as I wasn't using anything new-to-me. I had no thoughts about this eye cream being the culprit, and it took me stopping using all of my other products completely to narrow down this as the problem. I notified the company, especially since my sample wasn't problematic at all, and they just shrugged their shoulders at me and said "sorry, we can't do anything to help you." I can only speculate why my sample was good but the product I purchased was total sh!t. I actually have to write my official review on the samples I received and have been delaying it as I have no clue how to handle it. How do I review a product when the sample is great but consumers buy something else entirely? I'm still trying to figure out how I want to handle this one as I don't feel comfortable with product consistency.
Press Sample
I reviewed this product this past fall, and I recommend
checking out my review on the ins and outs of this particular product as I had a lot of feelings about it. In (very) brief, there were some benefits like the moisturizing properties, but some of the ingredients were a turn off for me (menthol, peppermint and lavender oils). It seemed to work well for my skin with very minor tingling that was short lived, but at the end of the day, I just didn't see myself grabbing for this over other skin care items. It was surprisingly easy to decide to just let it go altogether, although some people may love this one.
Night Shift Sleeping Mask | Julep
I'm not even going to link a website on this one because I'm still salty over how this company treated their Mavens, yours truly included. I'm still unpacking boxes a year after our move and found this baby in one of them. I don't recall disliking it when I used it, but it's old, and given the brand, I don't want it in my life.
I don't know if I want to laugh or cry at the number of people that jumped on these masks to remove impurities from your skin. I own this, or I do until it does into the garbage once this post goes up, so I obviously jumped on the trend at the time myself. These masks actually are a little of both: you crying as your skin is partially torn off trying to remove it while so-called friends laugh at your pain. Seriously, what is up with that?
Cosmetics
Press Sample
Y'all, this one hurts to put on this list, but it sadly needs to be done. I
reviewed Osmosis lip glazes this summer and actually really liked this one a lot. The problem is it leaks like crazy, and I haven't been able to figure out how to make it stop. After cleaning up a mess in my handbag one time too many, I finally decided I was just done with it. I reviewed four of these that were sent to me at the same time, but this is the only one that had any leaking issues. I'm reasonably sure it's just this specific tube has some flaw so it won't keep me away from getting another.
While I'm ripping off the painful destash bandaid, I might as well follow up with this one. Like the name, this one does hurt to let go. I had picked it up at a trade show and it somehow got stuffed into a random, never-used suitcase pocket for the return home. After misplacing it, I forgot all about it until I broke the suitcase zipper and had to get rid of it. I don't know how or why I missed checking this pocket a year and a half ago, but low and behold, there it was. I was excited with my discovery until I realized the gel formula was as dry and hard as a brick. It's not expensive so I may pick up a replacement for it, but this particular one is sadly unusable at this point.
This is another one I am a little sad to see go, but it just became necessary. The matte formula feels a little on the dry side, something I expect from the finish, but if you're a fan of layering with glosses like I am, it really doesn't matter. I adore the packaging on this and the colour is nice, but the packaging does not stay securely closed. If you like having cute items that stay on your vanity, this isn't an issue, but I need my lipsticks to be able to go in my purse for reapplication during the day. I can't tell you how many times I reached into a pocket to pull it out and grabbed an exposed lipstick bullet. Thankfully the drier formula kept it from making a mess all inside my bag, but having to wipe lipstick off my fingers all the time just started to annoy the bejeezus out of me. I have two more in other shades that I need to pay closer attention to to see if they also have this same issue.
Press Sample
I was sent this to review this past fall, so you can check out all my thoughts about this mascara on
my original post. Most mascaras and I are not friends; even those that claim to be smudge-proof leave me with less-than-sexy raccoon eyes. I had issues with this mascara long before I go to that state: the formula is thick, and combined with the brush style, let me with horrible spider lashes. It's great for a Halloween look, but not for days I want to look nice. I've found that people either love or hate this mascara, and unfortunately, it's the latter for me.
I remember picking up this eyeshadow palette several years ago! At the time, I couldn't quite find this colourway at the drugstore, and I didn't want to spend a lot of money on something I wasn't sure would work on me. It's not a bad palette- the colours are still nice and the payout was ok for the price, but now I have more and better options.
Now here's another blast from the past! I've owned this palette for a long time but don't recall when or where I go it. I wasn't crazy about the powdery formula, and the colours just weren't quite my jam. They're not shades I gravitate towards often now, and I have since acquired others like I prefer more. Rather than sitting unloved and taking up space, I'm letting it go.
After living somewhere with Targets that didn't stock this brand, I was so excited to be able to pick up several Profusion Cosmetics products when we came out to visit to prep for a move out here. I'm not sure if I purchased this during on of those visits or after my move, but it's time to let it go. The quality is not great but ok, but I'm ok with that given how affordable to brand is. Some of the shades don't have colour payout I hoped for, but again, taking the price into consideration, it's a good option for those on tight budgets. Some of the mattes are patchy when it comes to application, and since I have better quality eyeshadows in my stash, in the destash pile it goes! I have a couple other Profusion palettes I'm planning to use exclusively for a length of time that may or may not end up being culled as well.
August though December Stats
Empties: 36
Purged: 11
Total: 47
2019 Final Count
Empties: 108
Purged: 75
Total: 183
I did it! Not only did I hit my goal, I surpassed it by 33 products! I was reasonably sure I would hit my goal, especially since I included purging unloved and expired items from my stash, but it is still so satisfying to see the numbers creep up throughout the year. I had no plans to repeat this project this year, but after writing up this post, I decided I really should do it. I know it's just things going in the trash (or recycled or handed over to a friend if it's a good product just not for me), but I feel so accomplished and want to enjoy this again! I decided to set my goal for 175 products this year. Some of my skincare items I'm using right now are much more concentrated than my previous year's products, so it's obviously slowing down how quickly I can go through products. I'm hoping to do more purging this year as the latter half of 2019 had me on a more hectic schedule and I didn't test all the potential purge items as planned. Wish me luck!
For those of you that participated in a Purge and Pan type project last year, did you meet your goals? Are you planning to do one this year? I'd love to hear the details of your own goals: panning or purging? how many items? etc.
Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!
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