It’s always a mad race at the end of the month to have all my trash presented nicely and the give their final photograph before they’re tossed out! XD
I’m a bit nervous about whether I hit my target of one per day quota… 
Skincare
Saje Konjac Kare Green Tea Enriched Cleansing Sponge – $9.95
I was mostly attracted to this because of the cute container – I didn’t actually use the container to keep the sponge while in use though. There’s a string attached to the sponge to hang it to dry. I wasn’t a big fan of this particular konjac sponge, it was rather thin and very stiff – not that sponge-y. The green tea enrichment made absolutely no difference. I still prefer the Face Shop one which is only $5.
Stash worthiness: 6/10 Repurchase: No
Consonant Skincare Organic Hand Cream in Dry Finish – $20 for 125ml
I had heard a rumour that the dry finish version of this hand cream was slated to be discontinued but it was rescued by a campaign by some of the Consonant staffers. 😛 Thank goodness because I personally prefer the dry finish as well – I kept this tube at my desk since I didn’t have to worry about greasy / sticky hands and then touching my keyboard or papers. It’s a bit pricey but this tube lasted me well over 6 months with multiple uses every day. (This item really should have been listed under the “Body Care” grouping but I took the photo of it with the Saje Kongjac sponge so here it is)
Stash worthiness: 9/10 Repurchase: Yes
Dr Hauschka Lip Care Stick – $16 for 4.9g
My longtime HG lipbalm for the purse. It’s all natural with key ingredients of castor oil, rose hip fruit extract, jojoba oil and beeswax. I find it both hydrating (penetrating) and protective (occlusive). It’s a bit spendy but a tube lasts me around 6 months. I’m not going to repurchase this right away as I’m trying to use up some other lip balms in my stash.
Stash worthiness: 10/10 Repurchase: Yes
Rebels Refinery Capital Vices Skull lip balm in Luxuria (passion fruit) – $8
So odd how things all finish at the same time. I’ve had this sitting at my desk for the past couple of years. I picked this up around Halloween of 2014 for the novelty factor but the lip balm inside is fantastic! (see it here in its full state in my favourites post) It contains natural ingredients and is made locally in Toronto. It’s a dome shaped balm similar to EOS but it’s WAY better than EOS. But similar to EOS, it’s really bulky and doesn’t travel well. I also own the black version of this in the plain flavour. I’m definitely getting a replacement of this one of these days.
Stash worthiness: 9/10 Repurchase: Yes
MAC Lightful C Marine-Bright Formula Softening Lotion – $35 for 100ml
This is a great alcohol-free toner that smells citrusy and doesn’t strip my skin. I do think it’s helped my skin stay brighter looking through the winter months – I listed this in my quarterly favourites last year. This bottle lasted me a good 3 months with nightly use so I’d say it is worth the money. I noticed that MAC has repackaged this so that it’s in a spray bottle now which I prefer. I’ll be saving this bottle for Back to MAC!
Stash worthiness: 9/10 Repurchase: Yes
Lise Watier Magnifix Make-Up Fixative with White Tea – $24 for 115ml
I stocked up on a bunch of these during a sale. I really like this mostly to eliminate powdery finish to the skin and provide radiance. It smells really good – I really like tea scents in skincare. It claims to help fix makeup but I don’t think it’s as good as the Avon Makeup Setting Spray, so for that reason, I’m downgrading my rating of this. In a previous Trash Stash (all the way back to June 2015!), I gave this a rating of 9 but now I think it’s more of an 8. See, ratings can change over time, especially when I try new products. 🙂
Stash worthiness: 8/10 Repurchase: Yes
Life Brand Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask – $2 each or 3 for $5
These are exclusive to Shoppers Drug Mart and I find them to be really good for the price. This one has hyaluronic acid and konjac as the feature ingredients which helps to provide hydration to the skin. The paper is a bit on the thick side but the openings fit my face well. Also, there’s a good amount of serum. This is made in Korea.
Stash worthiness: 9/10 Repurchase: Yes
Beyond Nature Garden Brightening by Mangosteen Sheet Mask – $2
I found the fit of this mask better than the previous Beyond Nature Garden mask that I tried – the length (especially the forehead) was perfect. Also, the paper seemed softer. I had never heard of mangosteen but it’s supposed to be full of antixoxidents like blueberries or acai berries.
Stash worthiness: 7/10 Repurchase: Maybe
Tony Moly I’m Real Aloe Mask Sheet Moisturizing – $6
This is my 2nd Tony Moly sheet mask and I prefer this one better than the Makgeolli version. This did provide a lot of hydration and helped calm my skin from the chapping cold winds. The length of the mask is still too short for my face mainly at my forehead but the openings are aligned. I’m curious to try the tomato mask from Tony Moly one of these days when I finish more of my sheet mask stash.
Stash worthiness: 7/10 Repurchase: Maybe
Lovemore My Melody Oil-free Moisturizing 3D Fitting Mask – $3
I love this mask! It has a seam down the center so it fits the face better – the size is perfect for my face. A while back, I bought a few of these off Sasa to stock up only to learn that they’re now discontinued. According to the stamp on the back, this mask is expired since 2016 but I don’t care. I have one more in my stash.
Stash worthiness: 9/10 Repurchase: No (can’t!)
Arezia Q10 Eye Mask – $3
I was excited to try this mask which was a freebie I received. I was expecting it to be a paper mask but it’s made of a gold coloured hydrogel / polymer material. As soon as I applied it to my under eye area, my eyeballs started to sting and water. I almost gave up then and there but I persevered by closing my eyes to avoid whatever fumes were emitting from the masks. I was able to tolerate the masks on my under eye area for another minute before they started to sting my skin, so I peeled them off right away. No real harm done to my skin – and no results either since I think it’s supposed to stay on the skin for 20 minutes. I almost gave this product my first rating of 0 but I had to give it 1 point for not costing me anything. 😛
Stash worthiness: 1/10 Repurchase: No!
MUJI Blotting Paper – $3 for 60 sheets
These are good, but not great. I found the sheet sizes to be on the small size and they don’t de-shine my face completely. I sometimes have to use more than 1 sheet to do my whole face. I do like that these are the papery type of blotting paper, not the plastic film type – I find the film type to lift off too much and leaves my skin looking dry and patchy.
Stash worthiness: 7/10 Repurchase: Maybe
Nice n’ Clean All Purpose Wipes – $3 for 88 sheets
I only use this to wipe off swatches from my arm. It’s cheap and cheerful – on its own I don’t find it to be effect to remove 100% of the makeup, but I usually pair it with micellar water which does the trick.
Stash worthiness: 7/10 Repurchase: Maybe
Body Care
Consonant Organic Olive Oil Body Soap – $12 for 115g bar
I’m so impressed with this soap! It’s extremely creamy and leaves my skin feeling so soft. Not all soaps are created equal, that’s for sure. This bar lasted me about 3 months with daily use. This is quite pricey though – a decent alternative is the Kiss My Face Olive Oil soap which is about half the price.
Stash worthiness: 9/10 Repurchase: Yes
LUSH Turkish Delight Shower Smoothie – $37.95 for 200g
I did a review of this awhile back. I set it aside and took it back out in late January to finish it up before it expired at the end of February. It’s a disappointingly useless product that smells bad. I also noted that the price has gone up $2 since I purchased it last March.
Stash worthiness: 2/10 Repurchase: No
LUSH Dream Cream – Self-preserving – $29.95 for 240ml
I purchased this ages ago and only rediscovered this in my stash in January – this also had a February expiry so it was a race to finish it. I decided to take a photo of the tub half way through (above). One of the challenges for me with these empties posts is that often I don’t get a chance to show the product before I finish it.
And here it is finished. The cream smells nice – very soothing with a rose and lavender scent. It feels silky and spreads easily on the skin. My main gripe with this cream is that it leaves a stickiness on the skin. Even after allowing it to dry / absorb for 15 minutes, it is still sticking to my clothes. And even after a whole morning passed, when my SO touched my legs, he asked why it was “damp and sticky”. 😐 This tube lasted me exactly a month with daily use. I now have accumulated 5 empty containers to return to LUSH for my free fresh face mask! Decisions, decisions…
Stash worthiness: 6/10 Repurchase: No
The Body Shop Moringa Body Butter – $6 for 50ml
I picked this smaller size up on a clearance sale probably for $1. At the time I found the smell to be refreshing but using it now, I don’t love it. My SO described it as a sour smell. It’s kind of like a cross of honeysuckle mixed with apply cider vinegar.
Stash worthiness: 5/10 Repurchase: No
Avon Foot Works Beautiful Aloe Dual-Action Pedi-Peel – $10 for 22 pads
These are pre-soaked exfoliating pads that I use in the evenings. I’ve been trying to finish this up for months but keep forgetting to use them. They’re ok to provide mild exfoliation – I maintain my feet fairly religiously with both Korean foot peels and pumice stones so they’re not ever in terrible shape. I got this on sale for half price so I’m not too upset.
Stash worthiness: 6/10 Repurchase: No
Hair Care
Kiehl’s Amino Acid Shampoo – $28 for 250ml
One of my favourite Kiehl’s items and a long time addiction… mainly to the scent! To me, it’s a mixture of coconut and baby powder. It also cleans my hair very well without stripping it. I’m still working away at my 1L bottle which I think will be finished in the next decant. I’m going to repurchase the 1L bottle next time there’s a Frends & Family sale at Kiehl’s.
Stash worthiness: 9/10 Repurchase: Yes
Herbal Essences Smooth Collection Conditioner – $8 for 400ml
This was one of my favourite hair care discoveries of 2016 thanks to Mrs Strawberry Blonde! I’m super slow in using up conditioners though – I probably only apply conditioner on my hair about twice a week. And even then, I only apply it at the ends. And some weeks I opt for a conditioning mask instead. So this bottle lasted me a good 5 months! What’s great about this conditioner is that it smooths and hydrates my hair without weighing it down or building up residue.
Stash worthiness: 10/10 Repurchase: Yes
Curl Keeper – $17 for 250ml
I went through another bottle of this really quickly – I had an empty one last month and usually a bottle lasts me around 6 weeks. Could be that right after I got my hair cut, I was trying to tame it (you know, that 2 week period where your hair rebels because it was cut?) and I probably overcompensated with the usage. 😳
Stash worthiness: 10/10 Repurchase: Yes
L’Oreal Professionnel Tecni.Art Curl Memory Up Spray – $20 for 125ml
I scored 2 bottles of this from the clearance bin at my favourite beauty supply place, Toronto Barber & Beauty Supply (TBBS). I love checking their clearance area – they often have some gems like this spray which I got for only $7. This helps my waves stay piece-y and not frizzy. It also smells really good. I don’t think I would pay full price for this – the bottle lasted me about a month.
Stash worthiness: 9/10 Repurchase: Maybe
Makeup
Vincent Longo Velour Pressed Powder in Light – free
I received this as a gwp when I bought the Water Canvas foundation. It’s a good setting powder that I carry in my purse. I touch up with this powder once daily, right after lunch time. This powder lasted me at least 6 months which was impressive. It finally shattered once the pan was showing about 90%. Luckily, I received another gwp of this powder when I hauled from Hudson’s Bay in January.
Stash worthiness: 8/10 Repurchase: Maybe
Cargo HD Pressed Powder in #20 – $32 for 8g
This was like the powder that wouldn’t quit! I kept thinking it’ll be done soon, and it kept going. You may recall this from my Project Pan last Fall. So I’ve been continuously using this since September! This powder lasted me SIX months – that’s insane. 😮 I’m more so thinking all of the unopened face powders I have in my stash. Quick mental calculation: I own enough face powders for the next 5 years.
Stash worthiness: 9/10 Repurchase: Yes
Guerlain Lingerie de Peau BB Cream SPF30 in 01 Light – $67 for 40ml
I did a review of this in my Project Focus last year and I finally dug this back out to finish the tube. I mixed 2 parts of this with 1 part with a darker foundation (Yves Rocher Second Skin Effect Foundation in Beige 300) to get a good match.
I was able to pump out the very last drop of this BB cream – the packaging is great.
Stash worthiness: 7/10 Repurchase: Maybe
CoverGirl Katy Kat Eye Mascara – $12
I had high hopes for this! I do like the wand – it’s a twisted helix shape that’s quite small in size and gets into every lash. But the formula is so wet that it sticks my lashes together. I was hoping the formula would improve once it dried out over time but it just got clumpier the older it got. I was able to remedy the clumping by using my trusty metal lash comb but it required extra effort. I did like that the formula of this was very long wearing and did not smudge or flake.
Stash worthiness: 6/10 Repurchase: No
Sephora Airbrush Sponge – $10
I got this in a duo during Black Friday one year. I quite like the texture of this. It’s not as airy or bouncy as the Beauty Blender but I do find it blends makeup well (see this compared to the Beauty Blender here). I really like the shape too, especially flatter base – it makes blending larger areas a breeze. This lasted me about a year with weekly use (I rotate my sponges and I don’t use a sponge every day) before it started to split.
Stash worthiness: 8/10 Repurchase: Yes
PUPA Smoothing and Fixing Eye Primer
Another product that I use solely for the blog – I use this to prime my skin prior to swatching. I did originally buy this to use for its intended purpose: to prime my eye lids. But I found the formula of this to be rather dry. It’s worked really well for swatching purposes – I show it in my post “How I swatch products“. This product is now discontinued.
Stash worthiness: 6/10 Repurchase: No
Sample / Travel Size
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum – I’ve used this before and really enjoyed it. This reminded me again how effective this serum is – my skin looked more radiant and clear while using this. This deluxe 15ml sample is half the amount of the full size bottle. It lasted me nearly 2 months. I would definitely purchase the full size.
Anna Sui Creamy Foundation Primer – I love this stuff. It hydrates the skin without adding any shine, and keeps my skin flake-free and smooth all day. This little tube lasted me an impressively long time. Is it bad if I admit that I’m not certain if I’ve purchased a full size bottle of this or not? I thought I did and I went in search of it but I can’t find it? Hrm. 😕
Consonant Skincare HydrExtreme – my second (and last) sample vial of this. I’m definitely going to redeem my points for a full size of this! I love using this under my eye cream.
Shiseido The Makeup Eye and Lips Makeup Remover – I’ve never bought a full size of this since I keep receiving is as gwp. It’s a good eye makeup remover but not the most effective. It also leaves a film on my skin which I don’t like. (Not sure why I took the photo of this with the eye mask, but my comments on the mask is above under the Skincare section)
Yardley Scrub Me Tender Shower Scrub – Really surprised at how much I enjoyed this! I picked this up last August on a whim because I saw an assorted Yardley masks and scrubs for 10 for $1. This is a sugar based scrub that also foams – the granules are small and gentle – it also smells fruity. I wish I’d picked up more than 2 packs of this type. I’m either going to get more of these packettes or try to find the full size of this.
COLAB Extreme Volume Dry Shampoo in Rio – I’ve discovered that the Rio (tropical) scent is my favourite of all the COLAB dry shampoos. It really helps to mask the dreaded second day hair smell (that smell makes me gag when I smell it on other people, and I never want to subject others to that) and it makes my otherwise limp hair look somewhat presentable. I only skip hair washing on Sundays.
Neutrogena Rainbath – I use these to soak my feet when I do my pedis. I quite enjoy the smell of Rainbath. It’s a classic.
Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in 100 Ivory – I used another pack of this recently and quite liked it. If I was to purchase the full size, I’d go a shade darker.
Clinique High Impact Mascara – I’ve probably got 3 more of these in my stash. They’re just ok, nothing amazing but I’ll use them up. I find that nearly all Clinique mascaras weigh my lashes down or uncurl them.
Tarte Opening Act Lash Primer – this sample was slightly dried out but from what I could try, it’s a white mascara base that didn’t help my lashes too much.
Korres Sunscreen Face Cream Yoghurt SPF 50 – this is a thick creamy sunscreen that doesn’t feel heavy but does leave a slight shine to the skin. I quite liked it, surprisingly. This packette probably held enough product for 3 uses but I didn’t feel comfortable using the exposed sunscreen so I just used it for the first day when I opened the packette.
Dr Jart+ Ctrl-A Spot Out – a clear gel to help combat blemishes. It absorbed quickly, didn’t sting my skin, and doesn’t leave a sticky film on the skin. I liked this well enough but I’m not sure I’d shell out $35 for the full size (10ml) version of this. For you computer nerds, what does “Ctrl-A” do? 😉
Charmzone Ginkgo Natural Cleansing Tissue (10 sheets) – I received a couple of sample packs of this when I purchased my Charmzone BB Cream. I don’t normally use cleansing wipes to remove my makeup but these were surprisingly good – smelled great and removed my makeup well (except for eye makeup). I might save my other pack for when I travel, although I’d not purchase the full size since I still don’t see myself using cleansing wipes regularly (too much rubbing on the skin).
TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Colour Smoothing 3 Part system – I was a bit hesitant to try these since they’re meant for smoothing hair which I often find weighs down my hair. These didn’t do that – my favourite product turned out to be the treatment. I just might get the full size of that.
Phew… and here’s the tally: February yielded 28 full sized and 14 sample / travel sized for a total of 42 items! 😮 I was not expecting this at all. *pats self on the back* I am actually close to finishing a few items already for March. 😀 Have you used any of these items? What have you finished up last month?
stash matters 
Gosh, what a long post. I really love your sharing. Mangosteen is a tropical fruit. Really really good! 😋
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Yeah it’s really long! I don’t expect anyone to read it all! XD
I’m curious about Mangosteen – what does it taste like? I’m going to look for it in Asian supermarkets.
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It is sweet, sometimes a little sour. The skin is in purple and the fruit is white in colour. You need to wait for the seasons. Normally Mangosteen and Durian have the same season. I bet most of the people (I am included) do not like Durian but you will love Mangosteen if you love sweet fruit. Try Rambutan too. My ultimate flavourite.
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Oh I’ve tasted Durian and I do NOT like it! It’s such a controversial fruit…
Glad to know Mangosteen does NOT take like Durian!
I just searched Rambutan and it reminds me a bit of Lychee? Similar taste?
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Lychee has stronger scent but Rambutan does not. Compare to Lychee, I prefer Rambutan more. Both of them are sweet. The most delicious way to eat Rambutan is to peel off the skin and store in a container. Chill overnight and eat it as a snack. 😍😍😍
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42 is pretty good! I may challenge myself this for March, I’ve already got three in my empties and we’re 3 days in so I’m off to a good start!
I’ve yet to try the Aloe face mask from Tony Moly yet, I might give that one a go this month, with the tomato one do you mean the Tomato sheet mask, or the Tomatox face mask that they do separately? I had a sample of the Tomatox from Chris when we swapped and really liked it!
I love that truth serum from OH, it’s one I really want to repurchase!
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See, 1 per day! 😀 If all else fails, just do a sheet mask every single night! 😆
I did like that Aloe mask because my skin was so tight and bothered from a cold snap we had. The Tomato one I want o try is the sheet mask one in the same series, not the one in the pot. I heard good things about it and it’s always sold out.
Id’ forgotten how nice that Truth Serum is…. no wonder it’s their best seller. And really not too pricey for how well it works.
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No I think I had a smaller sample than what you had and I know that lasted me about two months so I think a full size would give you decent money’s worth back!
Ahh I have that sheet mask now you have me curious as I’ve not heard anything about it. That’s next for me to try!
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Wow, you did amazing this month! I was just photographing my empties this morning. Didn’t finish up as many as I had hoped, but have several skincare products that are so close to finishing. I also went through my older lipsticks, and had to cull a few due to failing in texture, scent or colour changes.
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I’m going a quarterly makeup purging for things that I don’t wear anymore so that will be separated from my Trash Stash – not sure if I should add those totals to my year end count? Hmm.
Looking forward to seeing your GARBAGE! XD
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I’m including just because they are not usable, and will be getting trashed!
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Makes sense… I mean this just says “Trash Stash”, not “Empties” 😉
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42?? Wow! I really liked the Life Brand mask you sent me and I tried the Sephora Rose Mask which deserves a 10/10 ☺ I agree on the Lush Turkish Delight Smoothie. I went to smell it in store and it did not smell like I imagined it would! Xx
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Oh I’m so glad you liked both masks! I hope you’ll be able to get more of the Sephora ones… 😛
I was so excited about the Turkish Delight Smoothie (I bought it without smelling it) because I love the sweets, but it does NOT smell anything like that! 😦 Ah well. At least the container will be used to contribute to a free mask.
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I did! I need to go on a holiday to a place that has a Sephora😋 I know, I was going to get it too as I like the sweets. Such a shame some of their products smell totally different. Haha that’s true. I have 4 pots saved at the moment z
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Are you familiar with the LUSH fresh masks? I’m unsure which one to try. I’ve only tried one but want to branch out. Any recommendations would be welcomed! 🙂
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My favourite is Catastrophe Cosmetic☺ x
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Ooh that one looks great! I might just go for that one. I’ve been reading the other ingredients and some of them look a bit harsh. Thank you!
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A lot of the others never worked for me. I found this one gentle enough to use a few times a week. Takes down blemishes abd brightens skin☺ x
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X
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Well done! More space for new stuff😉
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Now you’re talking my language! XD
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You just wrote a gorgeous BOOK
i can’t wait to see the collage
and the skull lipbalm …
YASSSSS i just used it today
xoxoxxoxxoxxoxxoxxox
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I know, this is like a novel, so long…
I love that skull lip balm and I’m glad you are enjoying it too. ❤
Oh yes, I'll be posting the collage… thanks for the reminder lol.
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lol … I GIVE YOU MORE REMINDERS ….. email lol xo Love …. Lol xx
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That is very well done! Loads of stuff used up. I must look into that Consonant hand cream for DH, he hates the greasy hand creams.
I have that MAC Lightful Lotion – should probably open it up, huh? 🙂
I do want to try Ole Henriksen someday. They seem to get many raves.
Is it weird that I’ve tried quite a lot of the newer CG mascaras, but still love the original Professional mascara the best?
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I think you’ll like that MAC Lightful Lotion – it’s alcohol-free and feels refreshing on the skin. Open it up already!
No, it’s not weird that you like the CG Professional best. It has a classic wand and the formula is excellent. I feel that the LashBlast is just the Professional formula with a different wand. All of the new-fangled wands of the new CG releases are annoying – I mean, that So Lashy one looks ridiculous!
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I can remember using that herbal essences shampoo and conditioner back when I was about 6! I love that they’ve brought back the old packaging! Good job with the empties!
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Yes, Herbal Essences is really old school – a throwback for sure! Thanks!
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How the hell did you finish so many products? And you still plan to make 1 empty per day? I have to visit that cupboard as part of my CA tourism.
Alright, back to more normal stuff. I am so glad that I’m not alone in rating Lush quite poorly. From all my purchases from them, I have only got 1 item that I loved and its not because it performs fabulously. I love it because of convenience. None of the Lush products that I’ve bought performed for me. Their Yuzu shower cream gave me serious allergies for starters (What sort of ‘natural’ loving brand that uses SLS?!?!?!? and various other allergic prone ingredient!)
That curl keeper stuff is totally intriguing! I have given up on my curls and resorted to tying my hair up everyday *LOL* perhaps this product will change that haha I am too lazy to attempt taming my hair at this stage.
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I seem to go through cycles especially with skincare. For instance, this month I finished a toner, you won’t see another toner in my empties for probably another 3 months now. The items seem to be staggered out…
Yes I still plan to aim for 1 empty per day for the year. It’s not like I’m emptying one item each day literally – some weeks I have 10 items, some week only 3. 😛
I’d say from my limited LUSH experience, my favourite item that I think is worth the splurge are the fresh face masks. You’re right, their branding that they’re natural is a lot of marketing spin…
Sorry to inform you that the Curl Keeper is a Canadian brand! Perhaps a small bottle will make its way to Paris one of these days… 😉
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Heee~~ I am still compiled that list of brands. There are just sooo many pharmacy skincare brands in Paris
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We still have ~4 months…
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I am already stressed out *LOL* wahahah Your email was so organised / well researched and I’m still trying to figure out what brands are going on over here.
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I have never tried the Dr Hauschka Lip Care Stick! i am always searching for good quality lip balms that do hydrate in an effective way. i gotta check this out !
clairetalksbeauty.com
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I was recommended that ages on MakeAlley and I haven’t looked back since! It’s really the best I’ve tried.
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I love the truth serum
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It’s no wonder it’s a best seller! Such a simple concept: make something that works and don’t charge an arm and a leg for it. 😛
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I LOVE reading your empties posts! I nearly whooped when I saw you posted a new one, I can’t believe it’s already March!
Your sponge reminded me – I IMPLORE you to try out the $1 makeup sponge from ShopMissA.com, it’s absolutely amazing. I’ll send you one, heck! I’ve got 5 of them since I heard the recommendations on YouTube and it’s way better than the RealTechniques sponge – some say that it’s better than the original Beauty Blender itself. It’s called the AOA sponge, I believe, let me know if you’re interested! I’ve been using mine almost daily for a flawless finish!
Also, what is “Back to Mac”? Is that just returning the bottles/packages back to the Mac stores? Do you get a freebie? Never heard of it!
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WHUT, you don’t know about Back to MAC? Girl! It’s a recycling program where you return empty plastic containers / packaging to MAC – when you accumulate 6 empties, they give you either a free lipstick / lip gloss or eye shadow! Check out my Back to MAC posts:
• Back to MAC Suggestions
• Back to MAC Pick
• Back to Mac Again
• Back to MAC Double Trouble Edition
And oh my gosh, what is this $1 amazing sponge you speak of?! I need pronto! Is it one of these?
https://www.shopmissa.com/products/aoa-wonder-blender-pink-teardrop
https://www.shopmissa.com/products/aoa-wonder-blender-purple-sculpted
https://www.shopmissa.com/products/aoa-wonder-blender-pink-beveled
That ShopMissA.com site is DANGEROUS, I tell you! I’m on a no-buy right now but I’m definitely hauling from there. No need to send the sponge to me – I know I’ll find $35 worth of stuff to buy LOL. Maybe I’ll get 35 of those sponges! XD
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Wow I might have to start using MAC products… that would really motivate me to use them up haha!
The teardrop shape is the one I got and the one people were raving about! I heard the brushes are decent too but I haven’t tried them yet. I just love the material it’s made out of, it doesn’t start to tear and fall apart in places like my Real Techniques after a few washes! That sponge is the reason I get up in the mornings haha! Love it!! (Sorry brushes)
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When I order those sponges I’ll probably try one of every shape! 😛 I too, found the RT sponge to fall apart so quickly – mine was splitting after a few washes. They said it was a bad batch – I bought another one to test out so I’ll see how this one goes. You’re really hyping this AOA sponge… I can’t wait!
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Hahah!! Well I’ll send you one Monday if you want, I’m dying to see how you like it already 😂 it won’t cost much to send, it’s so light.
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Oh no no, don’t send me a sponge. I live in Canada and it is NOT worth it! 😛 Thank you so much for the offer though, how sweet of you! ❤
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I am planning my third empties post which should be up in the next couple of weeks! Go you for using up your quota and more! It’s nice to see so many of these products score highly and are likely to get a repurchase, shows they are worth it 🙂
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Definitely, these empties posts are great to show a pattern of what products are tried and true for me. I do often deviate (simply because I’m curious to see what’s out there) but I end up back to what I love. Looking forward to seeing your empties!
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Hurray! 42 items in 28 days. I was thinking about getting the Sephora sponges that you mentioned above because I have the flat round ones and think they are fantastic. Seeing that you gave it a 8/10 I’ll be picking it up at the Sephora VIB sale!
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I was surprised how much I liked the Sephora brand sponges – and they lasted me a while too. Good idea to stock up during the VIB sale!
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So much work goes into these empties posts! I really appreciate your breakdowns and reviews!
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I break down the workload by updating this post throughout the month – as soon as I have an empty item, I’ll add it to the list and write up my thoughts, rather than leaving it all to the end of the month. That’s why sometimes my writing / thoughts are disjointed! 😛 But it really does help to alleviate the daunting task at the end of the month!
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Great work flow! I don’t think it seems disjointed! I do the same thing with my how bout them samples posts. If I saved it all for one sitting I’d never want to do it.
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I love your sample series. Makes me focus more on using mine up!
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This is the way to do it!
My approach is similar. As soon as I have a few emptied items of roughly the same size (or height), I take a pic and write up my thoughts. I just add text and photos to my empties posts several times a month. I would’t be able to do my monthly empties posts in one go…
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Great minds think alike! 😉
I like to categorize items by type so it’s not possible to take the photos in advance – I wish I could!
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that’s an impressive list of empties! Now I think I want that Lightful C toner… XD
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It’s a lot – most than I thought I’d have.
The toner is quite nice – it’s pricey but I haven’t tried other vitamin C toners. Might have to try others to see how they compare. The plus is that I’ll save the bottle for Back to MAC.
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Wow – you’ve finished quite a lot this month!! I’m in awe!
Glad to hear your love affair with the original Herbal Essences products continues. May it last forever!
I found two tubs of the very same TBS Moringa body butter in my stash – unfortunately they’re big tubs. And they’re still the old design… Mine are going to be foot butters. They just don’t smell nice enough (anymore).
Sorry, this isn’t appropriate dinner conversation but… have you noiced the mangosteen image on the mask sachet looks like a naked butt? It may just be me (sorry, but it’s almost spring…), but the mangosteen flesh looks a little naughty! 😀
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You know, i keep an eye on the drugstore aisle now to see if the original Herbal Essences are still stocked. Only certain stores carry it and I live in fear they will disappear! 😮
Yeah the Moringa body butter did get relegated to the feet toward the end to finish up… poor feet, what did they ever do to us?
Hahaha I did not notice about the mangosteen flesh / naked butt association. They say people associate things depending on subconsciousness… 😇
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Stashy, I too live in fear that the original Herbal Essence products may disappear. All we can do is continue to spread the word and convince people to try these products. I know too many people who don’t know that the originals were relaunched FIVE YEARS AGO. I think this is shocking because, over here, the big two drugstore chains and the big four supermarkets sell them (and I hope they’ll continue to sell them forever)…
And indeed, what did our poor feet ever to do us to deserve being slathered in all sorts of dodgy creams, butters and lotions…
About the mangosteen butt… like I said, it’s almost spring. 🙂
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It was fun reading your trash stash! Do you get those Clinique mascaras from the gift sets? My mom loves Clinique but doesn’t wear makeup so she keeps giving me Clinique stuff from the free gifts haha. (So I have a bunch of Clinique and Lancome things in my stash from Mom…) Also, I’ll hopefully be able to post my first Empties soon. 🙂 Saved my empties from January and February. I’ll shout you out on my post as my inspiration for it!
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Yes the Clinique mascaras are from the gift with purchases but they’re mostly given to me from a friend. She is a devoted Clinique user and only purchase during their gwp offers – she gives me most of the makeup items in those sets. 😛
Aww, thank you! I look forward to seeing your first empties! 🙂 I think it’s so satisfying to do empties – not only can you speak with experience on how the product worked for you, the act of clearing out STUFF feels so liberating! 😀
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Haha, my mom loves Clinique too and only buys when they give free gifts as well. She also does that for Lancome xD they have generous gift offers. I started working on the post! Will hopefully publish it this week
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Even though I haven’t been following you for long, reading this made me so happy! Blogging is such an incredible expierence ❤ Can't wait to see more.. xo
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Wow this is a great empties post! That´s a lot of used up product and many I have never tried- heard of.
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Thanks! You post about so many items I’ve not heard of… makes me want to order online for those items! 😉
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It’s what you get for living in different parts of the world I guess. 😉
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Great postand don’t feel nervous you’ve done a great job! xx
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Thank you! I’m always nervous at the end of the month to see if I’ve hit my goal… 😛
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I’m always impressed at how many empties you have each month!
I think you are easily going to reach the 365 empties goal!
Great job!
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If I keep this pace every month, I will definitely be able to do it. I’m not sure if i can keep up this pace though… 😛 I probably won’t finish as much in March just because a lot of my skincare were recently opened. We’ll see! 🙂
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Wow, you get through body lotions/butters a lot quicker than I do!
And now I’m curious about the MAC lotion – I was going to try the eye cream in this line, but went in another direction, and now I have the neverending eye cream that I just want to be done!
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You think I go through body stuff fast? I actually think I’m really slow. I only apply once a day but I know a lot of people apply twice. I was thinking of doubling my efforts! XD
Eye creams DO last forever! I try to only have 2 open – one for day and the other for night. I used to have an eye cream graveyard. And they’re expensive too! Which eye cream do you use, if I may ask?
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I haven’t finish a body lotion/cream in about 10 months – mostly because I forget to use them in the summer. Though I am close on one that’s left over from last winter.
I currently use Aveda botanical kinetics eye cream at night (this is the never ending one – 4 months and counting) and first Aid Beauty triple remedy AM Gel in the morning. Aveda does nothing for me, and FAB is a little Hydrating, but that’s about it.
What about you? I’m always looking for new ones to try.
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I haven’t used any of Aveda’s face skincare, only their body stuff. Good to know I’m not missing anything. I haven’t found FAB skincare to be amazing – very basic stuff. Which I suppose is good if you just need something simple.
The 2 eye creams I’m using and are basically my HG are:
• Day time: Midnight Recovery Eye. I know it says MIDNIGHT in the name but it’s a great day time option for me. I don’t think my under eye area is SUPER dry but this one keeps the area looking smooth and concealers apply really well on top of it
• Night time: Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream – I’ve tried to stop using this and always come running back to it. It’s very emollient but doesn’t give me the dread milia about my eye area. And I think it’s good for anti-aging – I notice my fine lines are reduced when I’m using this.
Have you tried either of these?
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Haven’t used either, though I think I have a sample of the shiseido one kicking around somewhere.
The only time I’ve seen a result, was when I tried out samples from the stupid expensive ones – Algenist and Kate Somerville. Both over $100, which I refuse to pay.
I picked up neostrata’s retinal eye cream when it was on sale at Shoppers, and I’ve tested it out a few times to actual, visible results, so I really want the Aveda one to be done already so I can move on.
The FAB line is good basics with good ingredients, that don’t cost your entire paycheck. And they’re all fragrance free, which is a huge selling point for me. I find they’re a good starting point until you find something better. I’ve only really found 2 things that I would repurchase from their line (and they can both be replaced by products I can find in the drugstore).
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It’s so funny, because I’ve never judged a mask based on how well it fits my face. Maybe because they’re all way too big for me?! lol.
I had the same experience with the Moringa scent from TBS. Smells nice for a short period of time (like at the store), but once you get to using it for an extended period of time, it is way too much.
Boo, so many people have said amazing things about the Dream Cream. The stickiness sounds kind of gross!
You finish so much makeup in a month! Other than my foundation, I haven’t even DECIDED what 5 makeup items I’m going to work on finishing this year…eeeek.
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The fit is a concern for me because of my BIG OL’ face! 😛
Hmm interesting it’s the 3rd similar opinion on TBS Moringa – I guess they fooled all of us! Got our money though…
I was really disappointed about the Dream Cream. My friend swears by it and I did see lots of raves online. But so STICKY.
What about skincare? You do go through skincare pretty regularly, don’t you?
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I love this post! Yo can clearly tell, that you put a lot of work into it! It’s all so detailed information and very useful, I learned a lot!
love, elena
outnaboutweb.wordpress.com
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Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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You have empties 42 products and that is a healthy number for a beauty blogger
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You think so? 😎 I’m not sure if I could keep this up every single month though!
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Well, let’s see
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Your volume of empties is always so impressive! I think we are conditioner opposites, I swear my hair EATS conditioner, I go through it sooooooooo fast. But if I don’t use enough my hair rebels. I wish I didn’t go through it so quick though!
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I’m trying to be more diligent with using a conditioner more regularly. My hairdresser said my ends were DRY when I went for a trim. 😳 But I definitely use more shampoo than conditioner though since I only use conditioner at the ends or else the hair at my roots go limp!
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I finally got a Beauty Blender! I can’t wait to do my ultimate RT MCS vs BB post!!! The Sephora one looks promising though. May try it out in the future!
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I hope you’re enjoying your Beauty Blender! 🙂 I like the Sephora a lot but I highly recommend the H&M one! It’s my current favourite.
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Hmmmm mangosteen ❤ wiLL have to check that one out!
I once used an expired sheet mask (I just can't throw away an SK-II mask unused) and it feLt great during use and post-use.. The day after, I had a coLossaL break out 😦
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Oh no! That’s unfortunate. I will have to remember this… I have to use my masks more frequently and not stock up too many!
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