Empties | August 2015

Empties - July 2015

July empties are here! This is a quick one --  a mere eight products!

Alba Botanica Very Emollient Sunblock Lip Care 25 SPF

Bayberry Naturals Lavender Bar Soap

Jordan Samuel Skin HydrOasis Face and Eye Serum

Living Libations Everybody Loves the Sunshine with Zinc

Naisture Lovely Strawberry mask

??? Bright Up Nano Eye Mask

Osmia Organics Soap, ylang spring

R.L. Linden & Co. The Bee Charmer

Empties | June 2105

Where did the month go? Below are all of my empties (bath & beauty) for the month. I purchased everything, or I received them as samples with a purchase. For reference, I have normal, mature skin, and I use products and brands that are natural and cruelty-free.

Gemstone Organic Gold Créme

Gemstone Organic Moonstone Créme

Goddess Gardens Organics Sunny Face Natural Sunscreen SPF 30

JBS Farms Soaps Shower Steamers, Black Amber & Lavender

JBS Farms Soaps Toilet Bombs

Jordan Samuel Skin Dream Oil Face and Body Oil

Jordan Samuel Skin HydrOasis Face and Eye Serum

Jordan Samuel Skin Water You Waiting For?

Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes

LaVanilla The Healthy Sunscreen SPF 40 Face Cream

Life-Flo Organic Pure Rosehip Seed Oil

Naisture 15-minute mask pack, Brightening Arbutin

SKIN anti-aging grape seed facial mask

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm (sample)

Pratima Love Oil

Una Biologicals Pink Grapefruit Body Butter

YŰLI Skincare Metamorphic Elixir (deluxe sample)

Empties - May 2015

I used a few full-sized products, and I used a few samples. Most of the products were cruelty-free, natural, and/or non-toxic. Not all, sadly. 

Irked by the amount of bottles and tubes around the house, I did some consolidation and mixology. 

Empties

Alaffia Authentic African Black Soap, Unscented (16 oz)

Clarins UV Plus HP Broad Spectrum Protection SPF40 (deluxe sample)

Eminence Organic Skin Care Blueberry Soy Exfoliating Cleanser

Good Soap by Alaffia, Fresh Mint

innisfree it's real manuka honey mask

Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil (deluxe sample)

Josie Maran Argan Black Oil Mascara

Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Vitamin C Youth Activating Oil (sample)

Tarte Maracuja Oil (sample)

The All Natural Face Body Butter, Peppermint

Repurposed

Celtic Complexion Vida de Fleur Liquid Moisturizer

February 2015 Empties: http://tinyurl.com/o8pyfh4

Mongo Kiss Lip Balm, Unflavored

Pumpkin & Poppy Lipstick, Rita

Pumpkin & Poppy Lipstick, Wilding

I purchased all items mentioned here, or I received them as samples with a purchase. No items were provided to me for consideration.

Empties | April 2015

I can't contain my excitement! There aren't many, but it's time for April empties!  

April 2015 empties:

bareMinerals Frame & Define Brow Styler, Universal Light - I'd buy this again, but I'm on the hunt for an eye shadow palette that includes a brown that I can use for lining and for brows.

DeVita Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30 - This natural sunscreen is a potential repurchase. Unless you have normal or oilier skin, this isn't a good stand-alone moisturizer. This blends well, and it doesn't leave me with kabuki face.

Gold Bond Ultimate Skin Therapy Cream Healing with Aloe - This isn't a clean product, but it was a good handbag sized product that I stole from my mother. I can't say that I won't steal another; I'll do what's necessary to protect my lobster claws.

Jordan Samuel Skin Water You Waiting For? Face and Body Mist - Don't be fooled by the punny name. This is a great skin soother, and it's a skin care staple. I use it as a toner to prep my skin for my serum step. I've also used this to add some glow to powder foundation.

Tatcha INDIGO soothing silk body butter (sample) - Lovely stuff, but as it's preserved with phenoxyethanol, I will not purchase the full size.

Tatcha INDIGO soothing silk hand cream (sample) - Lovely stuff, but as it's preserved with phenoxyethanol, I will not purchase the full size.

Expired products:

Eminence Organic Hibiscus Calendula Recovery Masque (Sun Care Starter Set) - I ordered the set on Amazon.com in June 2014, and while Eminence claims a one year shelf life, this was the second product that seemed a bit off. This was hard, and there were stringy things throughout. As I don't sun myself, I don't see myself purchasing a full size of this product.

Josie Maran Argan Balm - The expiry date was 12/02/2014, so I misspoke in the video. I will repurchase this product once I use the various body butters and oils in my stash. This is a winter staple!

Empties | March 2015

It is time for this month's empties! Most of my items are natural and/or non-toxic, but there are always those few random items that are not. As I streamline my beauty routine, I expect to see less "toxic" products in the mix.

Complete List of Products (alpha order)

Aēsop Avail Lip Balm with Sunscreen SPF 30

Aura Cacia Natural Skin Care Oil Grapeseed

Celtic Complexion Calming Serum

Celtic Complexion Tinted Moisturizer SPF 31, Light 1

Dr. Dennis Gross alpha beta peel extra strength formula (sample)

Eminence Organic Skin Care Bright Skin Cleanser

Gemstone Organic Gold Créme   

JBS Farms Soaps shower steamer, Shalimar

Jordan Samuel Skin HydrOasis Face and Eye Serum

Life-Flo Organic Pure Rosehip Seed Oil

Prana Natural Defense SPF 25

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil (sample)

Empties | February 2015

It is that time of the month -- empties!

February 2015 Empties (alpha order)

Acure Organics Pure Mint + Echinacea Stem Cell Conditioner

Acure Organics Pure Mint + Echinacea Stem Cell Shampoo

All Natural Face Vegan Oil Makeup Remover

Burt’s Bees Lemon & Vitamin E Bath and Body Oil

Dr. Teal's Sleep Epsom Salt Lavender Soaking Solution

Earth Therapeutics, Natural Silk Complexion Mitt

Eminence Organic Skin Care Bright Skin Licorice Root Booster-Serum

Fresh Soy Conditioning Eye Makeup Remover

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

Gold Bond Ultimate Skin Therapy Cream Healing with Aloe

Hurraw! Balm, Chai Spice

Josie Maran Argan Black Oil Mascara

LATHER modern apothecary moisturizer, lavender lime

Pratima Skincare Neem Rose Face Sunscreen SPF 30

R.L. Linden & Co. The Bee Charmer

Tatcha INDIGO soothing silk hand cream

Wet 'n' Wild MegaEyes Defining Marker, Dark Brown 870

Tidying Thoughts

The Sunday before Thanksgiving, I dedicated roughly four hours to the pursuit of a more tidy home. This was not a series of timed 15-minute bouts of cleaning and decluttering. Rather, I collected every stitch of clothing I own, and I piled it on the guest bed.

A frightening amount of crap.

And then I wanted to vomit! My guess is that I own less than my peers, but I still own a ton of crap!

I am following the principles of Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The author gives the reader pre-work, which I did not do. Although, I do think it is worth your time to think about the life you want and what feeds your appetite for reduction. Once that is concrete, it is time to get serious -- gathering the like-kind, purging  the unwanted, and properly storing what remains.

The author states to tidy (aka declutter) in this order:

1. clothing
2. books
3. papers
4. komono (miscellany)
5. mementos

As I just tossed empty bath and beauty products from October and November, I am anxious to tidy my bath and beauty products. However those will have to wait until I tidy up my books.

Empties | April & May 2014

As I move towards a more streamlined and minimal life, I find myself purging skincare and cosmetics. This creates a more streamlined collection of items that I love -- or at least like.

Two of my main issues with having a slew of product was spoilage and boredom. I would often not finish a product because I did not care for it, and I became bored. Also, with too many products floating around, I often forgot about good products, discovering them after their expiration date.

With less product around the house, I am able to use use a few products regularly. This allows me to:

1. finish a product before its expiration date (or before I get bored with it).
2. make an informed decision about repurchasing. I will know if a product is delivering results because I am using it regularly. 

Enough yammering! Here are my empties for April and May of 2014.

You can see the video here.

April 2014
Clarisea Sea Salt Body Scrub - A nice enough product. I don't like scrubs. I prefer to exfoliate by dry skin brushing or using those netted cloths.
Celtic Complexion Creme - A lovely product, but it is too rich for my skin for summer.
Celtic Complexion Youth Serum - The sample is small, but I think it made my skin glow. The scent rose and sandalwood essential oils are a bit much for me, so if I purchase the full size, I will need dilute it.
Nature's Gate Sport Sunscreen SFP50 - This claims to be a dry touch product, but I think it is a bit greasy. That does not bother me because it blends so well for the high SPF.
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster- I cannot say that I saw any tangible results from this product. I do want to incorporate Vitamin C into my daytime skincare routine, but I am on the hunt for a more clean and green product than this.
Suntegrity Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen and Primer SPF 30 - I liked this, but I had another face sunscreen (Prana) that I need to try and use.

May 2014
Una Biologicals Body Butter - This product is divine, and I am thrilled to support a local (Pittsburgh), green beauty brand. I will repurchase her body butters when I finish the other body products lurking around the house.
random sheet masks - These are not clean/green products, but I am committed to using up my stash.
Prana Natural Defense SPF 25 - I love this product! My only complaint is that SPF 25 is not high enough for the Summer.
Mychelle Dermaceuticals SunShield SPF 18 Coconut - Goth Gina of past would have loved the deathly pallor white cast of this product. This smells fantastic, but that is not enough of an incentive to forgive the white cast that this product leaves on my skin.