December Empties and Chuckers

It probably makes me sound like a complete saddo, but one of my favourite things of 2011 was really getting into the whole "Empties" vibe - actually using things instead of just buying them, playing a couple of times and then shoving them into a drawer or on a shelf. I've become much more aware of how wasteful I've been in the past (not just with beauty products, but consumables generally - I plan to talk about food waste at some point in the next week or so as well), and I'm mindful not to get trapped into the MUST BUY MUST BUY cycle in 2012. God help me, I think I'm turning into a hippie! You will never see me walk around barefoot though. NEVER.

Not too many full size products this month - though a few are teetering on the edge so January should be a bit more of an empties haul in that regard.

Face of Australia Gentle Makeup Remover
I reviewed this here so I won't say much more about it. I liked it enough to buy another bottle after receiving a freebie. Repurchase? Yes and no. In theory I would buy it again because it's a good makeup remover and it's pretty cheap, but I am loving the Silk Naturals cleansers for the moment. Maybe in the future.

Silk Naturals Pore Refining Toner
Love it! This is the third bottle I have bought because Noodles and I both use it morning and night and annoyingly it only comes in a 60ml size. Repurchase? Definitely.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes
A staple in my house, but more used by Noodles than by me. I'm not a fan of removing makeup with cleansing wipes other than as a last resort - I use them occasionally when I am being super lazy or am super tired. Noodles uses them to remove mascara before she washes her face. Repurchase? Yes.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lash Extending Treatment Mascara
This was given to me by Harriet Archer, who received it in a showbag at the races or something. She is a sensitive flower who can't use certain brands, and Elizabeth Arden is one of them. I was unimpressed - the formula was quite dry and flaked like a mofo, and it smudged on my eyelids EVERY TIME I applied it, no matter how careful I was. I used it for about 6 weeks but it kept getting drier and flakier so I think it's done. Repurchase? Definitely not.

Shu Uemura Skin Purifier
This is a cleansing oil that was given to me - it came in one of those monthly boxes. It was nice enough but nothing spectacular. There are oils out there equally as good if not better that don't cost as much as this one. Repurchase? Doubtful.

Silk Naturals Oatmeal Serum 2 x 5ml (one not pictured)
Oh my, how I loved this stuff - it's gorgeously hydrating. I use it in the mornings under makeup. Repurchase? Already have - I bought a full bottle in my last Silk Naturals haul.

Silk Naturals Green Tea and Aloe serum 5ml
Similar to the Oatmeal serum in that it's a hydrating serum. It's lovely, but I didn't love it quite as much as the Oatmeal. I'm still using up the second sample - these Silk Naturals samples go a long way! Repurchase? Maybe down the track when I'm over the Oatmeal serum, but not for now.

Silk Naturals Argan and Goji Berry Moisturiser 2 x 5ml
A rich moisturiser that's nice to use at night. Repurchase? Undecided. Pretty much the only skincare product of Silk Naturals I'm not entirely sold on is their moisturisers, and I haven't worked out yet whether that's just because they don't contain all the silicones and slippy ingredients that make commercial moisturisers 'feel nice'. Kind of like how your hair looks like crap for a couple of weeks after you go from something like Pantene to a silicone-free shampoo and conditioner, it might just be a matter of getting used to them. I have full sizes of two other moisturisers of theirs so I'm pretty set for the moment anyway.

Silk Naturals Hemp Moisturiser 5ml
Noodles used this - apparently it's good for acne-prone skin. She didn't like it at first - again, seemingly because it didn't have the 'feel good' things in them, but she seems to have come around to it. Repurchase? I did already as Noodles said she wanted a full bottle.

Silk Naturals AHA Toner 5 ml
I used this every second night in place of the Pore Refining Toner. I like AHAs because I'm not keen on exfoliating with scrubs anymore. Repurchase? Yes, I've already bought a full size.

ASAP Sheer Tint Moisturiser SPF15
Another freebie, this was okay but nothing special. You may notice I chopped the top off it to scrap all the last bits out but don't get the idea that's because I loved it. I was just scrabbling around desperately one day for something with SPF in it to put on my face before I went outside. Repurchase? No.

The Perfumed Court 5ml decants in Jean Paul Gaultier Classique, Chanel Gardenia EDT, Miller Harris Coeur de Fleur and Fleurs de Bois
I'm fickle, especially with perfumes. No matter how much I love them I get bored and want something different, so because of that, and because I don't care about the pretty bottles, I buy a lot of them in small amounts from The Perfumed Court. Repurchase? No to the Miller Harris scents - neither of those were anything special. I've bought Chanel Gardenia a few times because it's a good Spring/Summer fragrance, but I'm getting sick of it. I might give that one a rest for a while. I'm considering buying a full bottle of JPG Classique as I'd forgotten how much I loved it - this was a favourite of mine when it first came out in the 90s, and every time I wear it, it takes me right back there to the days when I had a life. *sigh*

Schwarzkopf Deep Nutrition Instant Repair Treatment
Noodles used this - she loves anything hair-related. Repurchase? Unlikely, she has a ton of similar products already, though she did say it was nice.


Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Ultra-Softening Lotion
Another one used by Noodles. She loved it, and I've already bought her a full bottle.


Kerastase Ciment Thermique Heat-Activated Reconstructor Milk
This came in one of those monthly boxes - there were 2 samples of this and two each of the shampoo and conditioner to match. All of these made my hair feel so gorgeous, to the point where I couldn't stop touching it. Repurchase? Normally I would be YES PLEASE NOW, but since I've resolved to go as natural as possible with hair products from now on (or at least when I use up what I have) for both Noodles and myself, and Kerastase is chock full of those things that hair hippies consider nasties, it's a sad-face no from me for now. :-(

Clarins Skin Illusion Natural Radiance Foundation
I intend to do a review of this as I took before and after pics while I was testing it, so I won't say much about it now.

NYX Tinted Lip Spas in Jewel, Vintage, Sake, Juicy and Copacobana
I've talked about these in the past and I do like them, but mine are all at least a couple of years old and generally kind of ugh, so they have to go. Repurchase? I don't think so - I have so many other lip products and although they're nice for hot weather there's nothing particularly awesome about them.

Clarins Lipstick #705
This was in a GWP and would have to be at least 3 years old, so it's going. Repurchase? No, the reason I still have it is because I never much liked it and it just sat in my box of lipsticks in the fridge.

Buzzplanet Chocolate Bacon Lip Balm
I hate to bag out an Etsy seller but this is pretty much the worst lip balm I have ever used. It does nothing - it's not the least bit moisturising. It's like rubbing a cheap Reject Shop candle all over your lips. And it doesn't smell or taste anything like either chocolate or bacon. Noodles has a chocolate macadamia one that is just as craptacular. Repurchase? Definitely not.

ELF Luscious Liquid Lipsticks in Pink Lemonade, Bark, Cherry Tart and Baby Lips
Again, these are just getting old. I was rummaging through a drawer the other day looking for something and I noticed that one of these was looking particularly crusty so I figured it was time they went. They had a good run though, and for about $1US each, I think I got my money's worth out of them. Repurchase? I think so, except for Baby Lips, because the name creeps me out.

Palladio Herbal Brow Gel
I can only put up with those clear brow gels going all brown and scuzzy for so long before I can't stand looking at them anymore. I got a couple of months out of this one and it was pretty cheap, so again I think I got my money's worth out of it. Repurchase? Not sure, it's not a bad product but it really doesn't do anything that a bit of hairspray on a spoolie couldn't.

Dermalogica Total Eye Care SPF15 and Multi Vitamin Power Firm
Both of these eye products are past their use-by date. See, this is what I mean about being mindful about using stuff. Repurchase? No, I didn't much like either of them and I'm not a fan of Dermalogica.


Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
I have had this FOREVER and used it frequently but there's only a bit of a dip in it.

This damn stuff lasts forever. I am throwing it out because I'm just a bit grossed out by how long it's been around. Repurchase? Doubtful. I really wish companies would make smaller sizes of products that are likely to last a really long time. It would be so much cheaper and less wasteful for the consumers, and chances are they'd make extra sales too because who doesn't end up buying something else when they go to restock on a product?

Phew! That was a lot of stuff. I'm worn out from typing now. If you've done an empties post, link me up so I can check out what you're using. And if you've used any of these things and love or hate them, tell me all about it!