Monthly Empties: March 2025

Used up:

1. Belif – Sleeping Mask (10 ml): This was a sample that I had in my travel bag so I focused on using it up. It says "Sleeping Mask" but because of the gel consistency and the fact it dried quickly, I used it as a morning lotion under my sunscreen/makeup. It was weird. I don't think I'm a fan. Definitely wouldn't purchase. I used to like Belif products but they're just not hitting like the used to these days.
2. Laniege – Water Bank Hydration Cream (20 ml): this was very thick, so good for winter, but would be too much when my skin doesn't need quite as much moisture. It was fine. I would use it again, but wouldn't buy it.
3. Living Proof – Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo (5.5 oz): I've used samples of the original dry shampoo and was not impressed, so I was sucking it up to use the Advanced Clean version, but I ended up really loving it. It's maybe one of my new favorite dry shampoos. I love that I could use it on consecutive days without my hair looking like a gross mess. I'm well-stocked on another favorite dry shampoo but I'd definitely consider picking up a bottle if it goes on a good sale.
4. Joico – Weekend Hair Dry Shampoo (travel size): this was okay, I think. Very forgettable. I feel like I used half of it a year ago and only just finished it now. Wouldn't repurchase because it was on the lower okay-ness of okay and there are better "just okay" options I'd prefer.
5. Ulta - Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in Medium Brown (full size): this is a little too dark for me but it's not outrageous. I prefer the Soft Brown. I overall really like this pencil and buy it when it was on a good sale but I feel like because the pencil is soft (which I like!) it doesn't last as long (in the pencil, not the eyebrows) and more expensive name-brand. It supposedly has .01 grams more than the Benefit, and the Benefit could last me over a month of regular use, whereas this pencil lasted three weeks. Would I repurchase? Maybe, in the color I prefer, and only if on sale. But it might be worth it to spend a little more money on a name brand (also ideally on sale!).
6. Fresh – Sugar Hydrating Lip Balm in Watermelon (0.2 oz): I normally treat myself to the Coconut flavor every year, using my birthday coupon, but last year the Orange Cosmetic Store had a sale on all three flavors they stock and I bought them. I then forgot how long it takes me to go through a pot (around a year!) since I only use them at home and I'm only just finishing this one now. While I know that most people don't care of this, I really love how it feels on the lips, and it sticks around long enough that I don't have to worry about it for a couple of hours. The Watermelon flavor was fine. I'd use it again, but it wouldn't be the first one I'd buy. I'm trying the Mango one next, but I'm looking forward to returning to my beloved Coconut flavor.

Mini Mascara Madness:

1. Grande Cosmetics – GrandeMASCARA Conditioning Peptide Mascara: maybe this is something you'd need to use long-term to see benefits, but I could barely tell I was wearing anything. It looked just like my regular lashes, which are pretty decent on their own.
2. Stila – Huge Extreme Lash Volumizing Mascara: this was fine. I didn't have any major issues with it. I could tell it was on my lashes. It didn't seem to smear or excessively flake. I would use a sample but it didn't wow me enough to purchase.

Decluttered:

1. Macqueen New York – Waterproof Pencil Gel Liner in #02 (full size): this was old so I put it next in my line of things to use up. It was fine for a week until I needed to sharpen it, and then it crumbled. I guess it was just too old and I have plenty of other options right now, so out it goes.
2. Macqueen New York – Waterproof Pencil Gel Liner in #03 (full size): this is a lighter color than #02 and barely showed up on my lids, plus knowing what happened when I tried to sharpen the other one, I decided it wasn't worth it.
3. Jonteblu – Eye Liner Pencil in Dark Brown (full size): I got this in a beauty box. Considering I haven't done beauty boxes in over six years, that's... pretty old. Since it was a wooden pencil, I figured it would still be okay, but when I sharpened it to give it a fresher tip, it smelled kinda funky, and I decided it wasn't worth the risk putting it near my eyes.
4. Drybar – Detox Dry Shampoo (deluxe sample): whoo-boy, this thing is stanky! The perfume scent is just too overwhelming. Even though it was a small size, there were easily a couple of more uses in there, but I just can't get past the scent. It made me want to immediately wash my hair to get it out, which goes against the point of using dry shampoo! Also it worked just okay. Not great. Made my hair frizzy. I have plenty of dry shampoo, I don't need to waste my time with this one.
5. Bed Head – Dirty Secret Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo (travel size): I was excited about the size of this sample because it was quite generous, but after giving it a few tries, it basically does nothing for me. It feels more like light hair spray or a texturizing spray. Does not work as a dry shampoo. It's not worth it to keep trying, so out it goes.
6. Oribe – Dry Texturizing Spray (deluxe sample): this didn't do anything for me. It didn't add volume. It didn't act as a dry shampoo. It didn't add any texture except to make my hair look flat and greasy and feel gross. Not worth the trouble trying to figure out what it's supposed to do.