Today, I wanted to share with y'all my summer product empties. This is where I give mini reviews of the products that I have used up during the summer months and tell you if I would purchase again or not.
Body Care Empties
- Bath & Body Works Signature Collection Shea Enriched Shower Gel in Venice Dolce Berry- I am obsessed with these body washes! The scents are amazing, stays on your skin after the shower and lathers pretty well. I love that they have started making some of their body washes Shea enriched by including Shea, Aloe Vera, and Vitamin E, making your skin feel great after a nice shower. The top notes include: pink plum-berry, apple blossom, and white iris. The mid notes include: Venetian raspberry, red apricot, and frosted magnolia. The dry notes include: blackberry musk, sandalwood sugar, and vanilla biscotti. Overall, I smell the raspberry and blackberry scents the strongest. For me, this was the type of body wash that you enjoy when you first use it, but as you continue to use it the smell started to overwhelm me and I wanted to just finish this product. Therefore, I would not repurchase this particular scent from their shower gel collection.
- Bath & Body Works Signature Collection Shea Enriched Shower Gel in Capri Seaside Citrus- Like the Venice Dolce Berry shower gel, I enjoyed this formula and will continue to purchase their shower gels. The top notes include: Mediterranean grape fruit, sparkling bergamot, and juicy nectar. Mid notes include: muguet, orange flower, and coconut. Dry notes include: amber driftwood, creamy musks, and whipped vanilla. Overall, this product smelled like a citrus orange scent. I would definitely repurchase this product in the future and hope that they bring this scent back next year!
- Secret Clear Gel Deodorant in Ooh-la-la Lavender- This has been my go-to deodorant for the past couple of years. This product does not leave that white residue on your shirt and the scent is very subtle. Over the summer I learned about deodorants that contain the active ingredient aluminum can lead to cancer such as breast cancer. Although I do love this product, I am going to find other deodorants that do not include this ingredient for preventative measures.
Face Empties
- Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer UV Skin Shield SPF 15 in Normal- I have normal to dry skin however I found this face lotion to make my skin very shiny and almost greasy looking. I would not repurchase this product unless you have very dry skin.
- Simple Sensitive Skin Experts Moisturizing Facial Wash- This product states that it is non-drying, has 2 vital vitamins, 1 skin loving nutrient and no perfume or dyes in this product. I have had a hard time trying to find a face wash that doesn't break me out worse or cause my skin to have an allergic reaction to it. I found that this face wash has done a great job cleansing and nourishing my skin and would repurchase this product.
Candle Empties
- Bath & Body Works Scented Candle in Seaside Escape- This was my all-time favorite summer candle that I had this year! I was given this candle from my family for my birthday in July and was obsessed with it ever since! I will confess that I am addicted to all Bath and Body Works candles and love to stock up on them at the turn of each new season on their 2 for $22 candle sales. This particular scent includes: luscious guava and passion fruit blend deliciously with pineapple, juicy strawberry and rick tonka bean. The smell of this candle makes me think I am on an exotic island resort drinking frozen fruity drinks. I would repurchase this candle next year!
- Yankee Candle in Bahama Breeze- This candle was a huge disappointment for my husband and I. Without burning the candle and smelling it up close the candle smells like a fruity summer drink like it states. However when burning this candle we did not smell anything. No matter how close we were standing over the flame or away from it, this candle didn't produce a smell and could have just been an unscented candle for all we cared. For how expensive Yankee Candles are I was extremely unhappy with this candle and it killed me how long it took to burn this candle. Don't get me wrong, I love when candles last a long time but when you can't smell anything and it's just a flame it just irritated me. I do have some Christmas scented candles that I bought at the same time as this candle last winter and pray that they release a scent when I burn them. However, I will not repurchase any Yankee Candles and will stick with my beloved Bath and Body Works candles which are more cost effective and produce a scent when burning!
Makeup Empties
- Benefit High Beam- This product is a great pink highlight color. I love using this product on my cheek bones to give my face a luminous subtle glow. I have already purchased a full size of this product and recommend it to everyone in need of a liquid highlight!
- Elf Eyelid Primer- I have repurchased and repurchased this product. I would say this is a dupe for Urban Decay's Primer Potion without the $19 mark-up of a "high-end" primer. This product holds my eye shadow in place throughout the day, holds the color all day and helps your eye shadow from creasing! If you are using eye shadow primer and have not tried this product you are crazy. I stand by this product and will continue to repurchase it for as long as I can.
- Elf Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara- This summer I have started getting into doing my brows. I was using this product to hold my eyebrows in place after filling them in. I found that this product flaked and hardened my eyebrows making them look unnatural. I would not repurchase this product. Since using this product I have used Maybelline's Great Lash mascara in Clear which works much better for this purpose and didn't flake off on my eyebrows.
- L'oreal Waterproof Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara in Carbon Black- This mascara is my all-time favorite mascara. It is not a rubber brush and makes my eyelashes thick and voluminous without making them look clumpy. I loved this mascara so much that I used it as my mascara of choice on my wedding day. The waterproof statement is true, I can wear this mascara in the shower, at the pool/beach and it does not smudge. Love this mascara and will definitely repurchase.
- L'oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara in Blackest Black- This is a small rubber brush mascara that was perfect for doing my lower lashes. Although it is not waterproof, I found that it did well with not smudging on my eyes until the end of the day. I don't know if I would repurchase this product however because it didn't really seem like it was anything special when I used it.
- CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Waterproof Mascara in Very Black- This was my alternative to L'oreal Carbon Black Mascara. I used this on the days that I wanted a rubber brush applicator. I found that this mascara wasn't as voluminous as the L'oreal mascara but did give my eyelashes an overall nice appearance including some added length as well as volume. I would recommend this mascara and would repurchase it!
Makeup Remover Empties
- Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towlettes (Blue Label)- This is a makeup remover staple for me. These wipes are unscented and are great for taking off one's makeup at the end of the day or even touching up any makeup mistakes while applying your makeup. Over the summer season, I used 3 of these babies and will continue to repurchase.
- Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towlettes (Grey Label)- When I ran out of my Neutrogena remover wipes I went to Target and found a double pack of what stated were the same remover wipes but in a different packaging with a grey label instead of a blue label. This product has a strong scent that I did not find pleasant when removing my makeup. I don't know why Neutrogena would make 2 different products with the same exact writing on the packaging but a different label. If you like a strong fragrance on your makeup remover wipes then purchase the grey label ones. Personally, I would like to stick with the blue label unscented wipes if they still make them.
Random Empties
- Up & Up Nail Polish Remover- This is a staple product for me. I have used some name brand nail polish removers but find that this cheap target brand nail polish remover does the job just as well. Nothing special about this product but would repurchase it when I run out.
- Bausch + Lomb Bio True Multi-Purpose Solution for Eyes- I have previously used the Opti-Free Contact solution but when in a pinch this Target brand alternative I have found has the same effect. Target also gives out a lot of additional coupons with this product and has sales on it throughout the year. Would repurchase.
- Crest Complete Multi-Benefit Extra Whitening with Tartar Protection Clean Mint Toothpaste- This has been a repeat product that my husband and I have used since we were in high school. Although we love the flavor and it may have prevented cavities we have not noticed any significant whitening effect with using this toothpaste. I think I may try the Colgate optic white toothpaste next and see if it has any added benefits to use.
