I’m officially renaming my Empties posts to Trash Stash. 😀  Once again, I’ve accumulated enough empty beauty products to post – I reckon this will be a monthly feature going forward.  I can no longer deny it – being on a No-Buy has definitely forced me to use up some of my stash!

Cargo blu_ray HD Pressed Powder in 20 – $32 for 8g (select Rexall and online)
This was perhaps the most satisfying product to finally finish up.  You know when you’ve hit pan on a powder, and then the hole in the center slowly gets larger and larger?  Well, this one, I hit pan months ago (even before I started my No-Buy) and it seemed like the powder just would NOT get used up.  The pivotal point was when the edges got so thin the powder crumbled.  That was a fist-pump “Yessss!” moment.  Oh and I really like this powder, it’s very finely milled and looks nearly undetectable on the skin.  It’s one of my all time HG and I have a back up in my stash.
Stash worthiness: 10/10

Lush Lovely Jubblies – $26 for 100g (lush stores and online)
I blame YouTube for this.  At one point every 20-something year old beauty guru was talking about this cream and how it helped to perk up the ladies. HELLO, you’re young and nubile, you do NOT need this cream!  I did not buy this for my jubblies but rather as a curiosity, and the sales girl told me I could put in on my derriere if I so desired, like a buttock lift.  Verdict: It’s utterly useless except it smells nice – rose mixed with almond – and provides some hydration to the skin.  I felt no tightening, no lifting, no transcendence.  I had about half of the tub left at the beginning of March and noticed that the expiration was Sept 2014 (it still smelled fine) so I slapped it all over my body just to use it up (and my body was SO TOIGHT… no, no it wasn’t).
Stash worthiness: 2/10

eos hand lotion in cucumber – $4 for 44ml (drugstores)
I really liked this hand cream – the smell, the texture, the sleek packaging – however, it seemed the scent was quite overpowering and I garnered some comments from people around me when I applied this (“What’s that smell?“). Once, someone had a coughing fit and said it was due to this smell.  So I stopped carrying it in my purse and just used it up at home. Too bad, I really liked how compact the tube is, plus it didn’t make my hands overly greasy, but I don’t want to be responsible for someone coughing to death because of this.
Stash worthiness: 8/10

Lise Watier Hydrasmart 3D Hydration Metamorphosis Cleansing Gelée – $25 for 150ml (Shoppers Drug Mart, LiseWatier.com, select Bay and Sears stores)
I did a review of this in my Winter night time skincare overview. I won’t repurchase this because it’s rather ineffective in removing my eye makeup.
Stash worthiness: 6/10

L’Oreal Natures Therapy Scalp Relief Leave-In Treatment $11.19 for 118ml (Sally Beauty Supply)
I posted about this in my Winter scalp care – it’s a great product that I’ll always keep in my stash.
Stash worthiness: 10/10

Clarins Instant Light Brush-On Perfector in 00 light beige – $36 for 2ml (department stores)
This is a highlighting pen similar to YSL Touche Eclat.  The best way I found to apply this was to brush it on, let it set for a few minutes, and then blend in a patting motion with a flat foundation brush. Technically, there’s still a bit of product inside but I’ve been using this pen on and off for 2 years so I think it’s time to retire it.  I have another one of these unopened, but in the 01 pink beige shade.  I actually prefer the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer to this.
Stash worthiness: 7/10

Cargo LashActivator Night – $29 for 11ml (select Rexall and online)
I’ll be doing a detailed review of this eyelash “elixir” soon. One thing I wanted to mention about this tube is something I started doing about 5 years ago – notice the sticker at the end of the tube with a date written on it? I do that so I can keep track of when I opened the tube. Many products now have the little symbols indicating the recommended lifespan of the product once it is opened. For me, this is especially important for liquid eye makeup like mascaras and eyeliners. Since this tube was opened in Sept 2014 and the product has a 6 month lifespan, it was time to toss.

Various hotel toiletries and skincare samples.  10 down, another 200 to go.

I do have to highlight one sample I was really smitten with – the Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase.  This little 3ml blue vial lasted me about 10 uses, I applied it after my toner and before my moisturizer in the evenings and it left my skin super soft and smooth.  I’m noting this one down for future purchase.  Yes, the crack that is cosmetics samples: first one’s free, but the next one’s going to cost me! (at $59 for 30ml, it’s a bit painful)

Lastly, an honourable mention:

This Essence All About Matt! Fixing Compact Powder ($4 for 8g, Shoppers Drug Mart) shattered when I dropped the case. Thankfully, the compact was closed and all of the product remained inside. I’m going to crush the powder and snort it put it into a container to use it as a loose powder.

That wraps up another month of Trash Stash!  Have you finished up any beauty items lately?