February Empties | 2017

Hey everyone! I'm back with another Empties post today and wanted to share with you all of the products that I have used up for the month of February! Let's dive in!

Hair

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Bodybuilding Volume Shampoo & Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Bodybuilding Volume Conditioner (40 ml each) - I got this on Black Friday on the Sephora web site and I really do like the smell. I thoroughly enjoyed trying this out but my hair is getting longer and therefore I need to use more product. I noticed that the duo did make my hair more soft! One bottle has quite a steep price tag of $40 CAD for 8.5 oz or 250 ml. I don't think that I would commit to the full size but I did like the travel friendly tubes!

Face

LaNeige Good Night Kit - Water Sleeping Mask (15 ml) & Multiberry Yogurt Repairing Mask (20 ml) - This was purchased on the Sephora web site for $8 CAD and it is a great way to try-out two products! I loved the smell of the Yogurt mask and it made my skin feel very fresh as well as soft after using it. The Sleeping Mask was honestly really great to use and it absorbed into the skin quickly. It left my face very soft the next morning and I actually featured it in my Most Reached for Face Masks & Sleeping Masks post.

ARZ Rose Water (300 ml) - I love using Rose Water to tone my face at night and this is the second bottle that I have gone through. I managed to use the entire bottle up before the expiration date which was next month and needless to say, that was very successful! I have an entire blog post dedicated to The Benefits of Rose Water and the best part is that you can purchase it at your local grocery store for around $3!

Murad Ultimate Hydration Duo - 2 Target, Hydro-Dynamic Quenching Essence (5 ml) & 3 Hydrate, Hydro Dynamic Ultimate Moisture (7.5 ml) - This was featured in my Sephora Black Friday Haul and it was selling for $20 CAD online with a $28 value. This was nice to use and try-out however, I would not buy the full size. I no longer had acne-prone skin and my skin is not problematic. Murad is a great brand and I have nothing negative to say about them. There are just different moisturizers on the market that I prefer and sometimes I just want to put on a moisturizer in the morning without having to worry about applying the essence as well. The moisturizer was thicker than I originally thought but it worked well for me in the winter time when I applied it in the morning. The duo did make my face noticeably smoother and softer though. I did also appreciate that they included a lot of information inside the box about the products as well as the ingredient list.

Also, I know the Murad Step 3 Face Cream is full in the photo, but I took the photo before I finished it this month.

Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser (0.22 oz) - This is honestly a great way to exfoliate your face and it does come in a stick form which makes it super convenient as well as not nearly as messy as other products! I like the purple packaging and to be honest with you, I thought that this was going to be a gimmick but I can honestly say that it is not! This is a gel stick and it is fragrance-free in-case you were wondering. If you want to leave it on for a little while longer, there is the option to use this as a mask! This product is amazing and I am so glad that I tried it out! It was part of the Ready, Set, Glow! Skincare Kit from Tarte on the Sephora web site that retails for $21 CAD. I did feature it in my blog post talking about my 3 Favourite Exfoliators for the Face.

Estee Lauder New Dimension Shape + Fill Expert Serum (7 ml) - I purchased this at the Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale and I also wrote a blog post sharing with you, which items I purchased. I really did like using this serum at night and it absorbed into my skin very quickly. This is marketed to all skin types and the scent isn’t overpowering at all! I really did look forward to using this product as part of my PM skin routine and the bottle is gorgeous!

Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream (7 ml or 0.24 fl oz) - This claims to both moisturize and nourish the skin. I would definitely agree and I absolutely love the scent as it smells like fresh roses! It is a cream-gel that has both rosewater as well as rose flower oil inside. It is marketed to have a lightweight texture but I would disagree and say that it is more on the thicker side. I would only use this cream in the morning during the fall or winter months because it is quite dense. I have more oily skin and this cream is definitely not targeted towards us oily skin ladies! This travel sized cream came in the Skincare Power Players Set from Fresh that was purchased on the Sephora web site for $30 CAD during Black Friday even though this was not a Black Friday special. The full sized version retails for $50 CAD on the Sephora web site and you are receiving 50 ml or 1.6 fl oz of product inside the beautiful jar. 

GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD TINGLEXFOLIATE Treatment (15 ml or .5 oz) - I purchased this for $15 at the Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale. I had tried a sample of it and I really enjoyed using it! This little jar will give you between 3-6 uses which is great for being able to try-out the product without committing to the full size product which retails for $79 CAD on the Sephora site for 50 ml of product. I personally prefer the GRAVITYMUD Firming Treatment mask which is a peel off mask that changes colour once it is on your face. This mask can get rather messy because it contains pieces of Green Tea Leaves that fall into the sink when your wash it off. It did make my skin feel very soft after use but I wouldn’t commit to the full size version. It contains other great ingredients like French Sea Clay and Volcanic Pumice Rock. This mask does also help exfoliate your skin as you are supposed to rub it in circular motions when removing it.

Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask (20 ml) - This was also part of the same aforementioned Fresh Skincare Set. I liked the scent and there is a tingling sensation when the mask is applied and you only need to wear it for 5-10 minutes on your face. I have taken this directly from the Sephora site, “Black tea ferment, also known as Kombucha, is an advanced antioxidant that helps to defend against wrinkle-causing free radicals while softening, smoothing, and enhancing luster. The formula is further enriched with lychee seed extract, known to support natural collagen, firming polysaccharides that help to smooth the skin, and jicima root juice, notable for its hydrating and nourishing properties.” However, when I seen their price tag online on the Sephora web site, I almost choked. For 100 ml of product, this mask retails for $112 CAD! Honestly, I liked the mask but not enough to spend that much money on it. Over a year ago, I did use a sample of their Black Tea Age Delay Cream that I featured in my September Empties and did like it, but once again, it is more on the expensive side as it retails for $115 CAD for 50 ml of product.

Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths: Brightening (10 cloths) - This came as part of the On-the-Glow Essentials set that was purchased during Black Friday. You are getting 10 quilted cloths that have both Vitamin C and Coq10. They feel great on the skin and do a wonderful job at removing my makeup but the larger pack contains 30 cloths for $19 CAD. There is no way that I am going to be spending that kind of money to use a cloth for only a few seconds to help remove my makeup and then throw it in the trash. These are great and my only complaint is the hefty price tag. 

Body

Peter Thomas Roth Strawberry Scrub - Fruit Enzyme Polisher (250 ml) - This was nice to use in the shower and who doesn’t love the smell of strawberries? I felt that I used this up fairly quickly and one bottle retails for $38 USD on the Sephora web site but for whatever reason, they do not sell the individual bottle on the Canadian web site, just the American Sephora. I got this in the Hall of Fame Kit that retails for $44 CAD which is such a great deal because the kit has a value of $120 CAD!

Dove Go Fresh Cool Essentials Antiperspirant Stick (14 g - travel size) - If you have been following my blog for a few months now, you will remember that I featured the aerosol version of this same exact scent in my September Empties. I loved the smell but wasn’t the biggest fan of the aerosol feature and that’s why I only bought the travel sized version in stick form. I also do not have to reapply the product nearly as much as I did with the aerosol can. I only apply it once in the morning and then I reapply if I am extremely sweaty or if I have been super active that day - that’s it. I really do like both the scent as well as the scent and I will be going to the store to purchase the larger version very soon!

Bath & Body Works

Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Fresh Balsam (259 ml) - This is a great scent as it reminds me of a Christmas Tree and green is my favourite colour therefore, I was a little biased when I selected this hand soap in-store. The Gentle Foaming Hand Soap is my favourite formula that Bath & Body Works has in terms of their soaps.

Bath & Body Works Scentportable in Lavender Vanilla (6 ml) - This scent is perfect for fall and smells very clean! It isn’t one of my all-time favourite scents but it does the job and I have nothing negative to say about it.

Teeth

Exact Dental Floss Picks (36 count) - These are mint flavoured and they were extremely cheap at Real Canadian Superstore (RCSS.) They are great quality and can last you over a month if you use one floss pick every day. They work for my teeth and they are quite durable as they do not break or snap when using them. 

Supplements/Drink

Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies with Biotin (80 count) - This has been a long time favourite of mine and I swear by them! I take two a day and I have another post 'All About My Nails' where I talk about them more in-depth that you can check out! I also urge you to take the 30-Day Hair, Skin & Nail Challenge!

David’s Tea Hot Tropic Cowabunga! Fruit Fusion (65 grams) - This honestly wasn’t my favourite tea and it had a weird taste that sugar couldn’t even help. The ingredients inside include: Apple, Mango, Raisins, Cinnamon, Coconut Chips, Star Anise, Vanilla and some others. The packaging is cute but I wouldn’t recommend this tea due to the taste.

Other/Miscellaneous

Equate Quilted Pads (100 count) - This was actually purchased from Wal-Mart in a 3-pack. These are excellent cotton rounds that do not break when you are using them. I also like the Up & Up brand’s cotton rounds from Target but since we no longer have any Target stores in Canada, these are my go-to!

Samples/Promo

Teeth

Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening Gel (1) & Desensitizing Gel (2) (3 ml) - I do have an entire blog post dedicated to my experience whitening my teeth to achieving a whiter smile in just 5 days using Smile Brilliant. This system really does work and I recently discovered it again after I was decluttering my space. I forgot how much that I really loved using it! The only thing I do not like is that the label on several of my syringes started peeling off which was annoying when using it because it just got in the way.

Oral B Complete Toothbrush - This was given to me by my Dental Hygienist and it gives my teeth a nice deep clean! Oral B is a great brand and I love the soft, gentle bristles on their brushes! I usually replace my toothbrush every 2-3 months as recommended because I like using a fresh, new toothbrush whenever I can! 

Fragrance

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau De Parfum (1.2 ml) - This perfume actually reminds me of a German perfume that my Grandma loves and buys every now and again. This is the first perfume by the duo and it comes in 6 different sizes which is amazing because not all perfumes offer that many options. The notes include: Sambac Jasmine, Centifolia Rose, Cattleya Orchid, Ballerina Freesia and Patchouli. It isn’t overly floral and it has a bit of spice to it which I like. It lingers throughout the day which is something that I look for in every perfume that I potentially plan on purchasing! I remember when Wale came out with the song Lotus Flower Bomb and I immediately thought of the fragrance!

Gucci Guilty Eau de Toilette (1.5 ml) - Even though this is a sample, I hate that this doesn’t have a spray feature and that you have to carefully put some perfume onto yourself. Anyway, the notes are: “Geranium, Pink Pepper, Lilac, Peach, Amber, Patchouli.” The scent is described as, “Modern. Electric. Romantic.” I have heard so many different people rave about this perfume as it seems to be a favourite and I wanted to understand what the hype was all about. This would be a great scent to add to any perfume collection and it would be great to display on your vanity as the bottle is gold with the iconic G logo. It is a great sultry, sexy scent that is perfect for a night out on the town!

Alien by Thierry Mugler Eau de Parfum (1.2 ml) - I had never heard of this perfume before, but I had heard of Angel by Mugler in the past. This has a warm floral scent to it and the notes include: “Jasmine Sambac, Cashmeran Wood, Amber Gris.” The full sized version of this bottle is absolutely stunning and the purple with the gold accents really caught my eye! This is rather strong when you first apply it and 2 sprays is more than enough. It does fade down pretty quickly and it lingers throughout the day which I love! This is a warm, sultry and rather bold fragrance in my honest opinion.

Other/Miscellaneous

Royale Signature 3 Ply Kleenex (10 count) - These are great for having in your purse for all kinds of situations, especially for those unexpected emergencies! I always try to have a pack in my purse at all times. I love the 3 ply tissues and I already have a new pack in my purse!

Excel Naturally Sweetened Gum in Spearmint & Peppermint - I really disliked the texture of this gum. It was thick and it got tasteless as well as hard rather quickly. I couldn’t chew it for more than a few minutes. The taste is always consistent with Excel but I would recommend the ones in the packs where you pop out a piece of gum. I was glad to finish these up and wouldn’t even think of purchasing them in the future. My friends also did not like this gum at all. 

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. Items listed under the Samples/Promo category were items that I did not purchase on my own because they fall in either category. Some links are affiliate. 

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