When I decided on sharing three months of beauty empties, I didn’t realize how long the blog posts would become. Writing these reviews helps me be more concise because I can get pretty passionate about makeup and skincare.
Here are my beauty empties from April to June 2020.
Related: Products I Finished – January to March 2020
Skincare
Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray (Product Review)
My favourite thermal water spray.
Re-Purchase? YES. (c$21.95 – 300ml Value-Size)
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Make-Up Removing Micelle Solution
I’ve started wearing makeup every day again. However, removing it with a cleansing balm over-sensitized my skin, but my facial cleanser alone wasn’t removing it all. I decided to re-introduce micellar water, and it’s been the perfect solution. It removes most of my makeup before using a facial cleanser, and it doesn’t trigger a rosacea flare-up. There are so many micellar waters on the market. But I like the Bioderma one because it’s the originator and has a small fragrance-free ingredient list.
Re-Purchase? YES. (c$13.90 – 250ml Mini-Size)
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch (First Review)
The feeling of placing a hydrocolloid sticker on a blemish that is bothering you gives a placebo effect. I feel like these stickers didn’t do anything drastic to warrant a re-purchase, and they’re wasteful for the environment.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$7.19 – 24 Patches)
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum (First Review)
My favourite hydrating gel serum.
Re-Purchase? YES. (c$63 – 50ml)
The OGX Coconut Coffee Body Cream is a luxurious drugstore product and makes your skin smell like dessert. The only thing I dislike about it is that it has coconut oil in it, which can be comedogenic.
Re-Purchase? MAYBE. (c$10.99 – 577ml)
St. Ives Coconut & Orchid Shower Foam
This coconut and floral scented body wash is not moisturizing and felt like I was using a hand-soap in the shower.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$5.97 – 400ml)
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Product Review)
My favourite hyaluronic acid serum.
Re-Purchase? YES. (c$12.20 – 60ml Value-Size)
Makeup
Benefit Cosmetics Rollerlash Mascara
When I finished the Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara, I wanted to go back to using Benefit Cosmetics Rollerlash because it was my favourite mascara in university. I’ve been successfully dealing with my dry eyes for a couple of years, but after only one week of wearing Benefit Cosmetics Rollerlash – I developed two styes. I believe that with my eye condition and the difficulty of removing this mascara, even with a great skincare routine led to irritation. I felt disappointed, but I was happy that I could return it.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$33 – 8.5g)
After re-purchasing too many BeautyBlender BlenderCleanser Solids, I discovered that Dove soap bars are the same product, and I’ll never spend over $20 on a makeup brush cleaner again. The only reason I’m not re-purchasing the Dove White Beauty Bar is that it’s not fragrance-free like the sensitive skin version.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$5.97 – 90g Pack of 6)
I’ve made improvements with my dry eye condition, so I feel more comfortable experimenting with new mascaras. Lancôme Monsieur Big gave my lashes volume, and it’s easy to remove. But it also smudged on my under-eyes, and the product did clump.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$33 – 10ml)
L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Shine Lipstick in Sparkling Rose
When I heard through the grape-vine last summer that these L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Shine lipsticks were dupes for Yves Saint Laurent lipsticks – I ran to my drugstore. The packaging is neat and they have the same moisturizing feeling as a YSL lipstick. But the high-quality pigmentation is not there and the L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Shine lipsticks are patchy. I’m glad I didn’t buy more than one.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$12.99 – 3.6g)
Maybelline New York Master Chrome by Face Studio Metallic Highlighter in Molten Rose Gold
This highlighter is another makeup regret. I was finishing my expensive BECCA Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed and wanted to find a drugstore alternative. This Maybelline New York highlighter has rave reviews and I’m upset it didn’t work for me. The product is too shimmery for my taste and it settles on pores in an unflattering way.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$10.96 – 6.7g)
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla
When I wanted to re-introduce an under-eye concealer in my routine, I wanted a product that wasn’t drying or would irritate my eye area. I’m a fan of another NARS concealer and I’m thankful Sephora offers mini sizes of best-sellers. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is one the most hydrating and pigmented liquid concealers, I’ve ever used. I will be re-purchasing it once I finish my NYX drugstore alternative because it does not compare.
Re-Purchase? YES. (c$18 – 1.4ml Mini-Size)
Revlon Candid Natural Finish Anti-Pollution Foundation in 130 Ivory
Sometimes I take on the challenge of trying to replace luxury products with drugstore alternatives. Only to be disappointed with the results and the drugstore return policy. Retrospectively, this Revlon Candid Natural Finish Anti-Pollution Foundation is a great drugstore buy. It has good oil-free ingredients, hygienic packaging, and a natural finish. However, it’s not as pigmented as my favourite Too Faced Born This Way Foundation and that’s why I won’t be re-purchasing it.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$13.97 – 22ml)
Hair
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Strength + Moisture Leave-in Spray Hair Mask
I’m sad that this is the last product in my Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair – Repair + Strengthen Travel Kit. But I’m thankful it let me discover leave-in conditioner and strengthened my long hair with that delicious orange popsicle scent. I may re-purchase it once I finish my drugstore alternative.
Re-Purchase? MAYBE. (c$35 – 118ml Standard-Size)
Cake Beauty The Wave Maker Texturizing Beach Spray
This product may be listed as a texturizing spray, but it’s a hair perfume. The sticky sensation to hold your hair’s waves does not feel comfortable and the sugary scent is the only beneficial thing about the product.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$11.97 – 120ml)
Garnier Whole Blends Oat Delicacy Gentle Conditioner
A non-memorable drugstore conditioner with an oat scent.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$4.96 – 370ml)
Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (First Review)
My favourite anti-dandruff shampoo treatment.
Re-Purchase? YES. (c$10.79 – 60ml Standard-Size)
Nails
Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish in Sheer Fantasy
I went to a L’Oréal Paris Warehouse Sale and was surprised by all the Essie Gel Couture nail polishes. The Essie Gel Couture line is expensive nail polishes available at the drugstore that require a special topcoat. I feel like they were expired when I bought them and the polishes peeled easily. Sheer Fantasy is light pale pink.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$11.96 – 13.5ml)
Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish in Take Me to Thread
A dark taupe purple nail polish.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$11.96 – 13.5ml)
Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish in Touch Up
A light taupe purple nail polish.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$11.96 – 13.5ml)
A clear base coat that I would’ve re-purchased it but it wasn’t available at my drugstore.
Re-Purchase? MAYBE. (c$10.29 – 13.5ml)
Quo Strengthening Nail Polish Remover
An acetone nail polish remover. I like the strengthening version because I wear nail polish often.
Re-Purchase? MAYBE. (c$4.29 – 354ml)
Samples
A moisturizer with the ingredients glycerin, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and urea. Recommended by my dermatologist but hard to find in-stores.
Purchase? NO. (c$16.95 – 110ml Standard-Size)
Dormer 211 Spécialité Hyper Emollient
A rich cream the ingredient with urea. Recommended by my dermatologist but hard to find in-stores.
Purchase? NO. (c$16.50 – 75g Standard-Size)
Huda Beauty Demi Matte Cream Lipstick Samples
This is the coolest packaging on a sample. I’m not a big fan of liquid lipsticks but I appreciate being able to try all the shades.
Purchase? NO. (c$26.50 – ?ml Standard-Size Per Lipstick)
Other
Degree Dry Spray UltraClear Black + White Antiperspirant
A fragrance-free and long-lasting spray antiperspirant that advertises as clear but does have a white finish before drying. Once I finish the Dove antiperspirant, I tried to replace this with; I’ll go back to this Degree one.
Re-Purchase? YES. (c$4.97 – 107g)
Secret Aluminum Free Deodorant Rosewater
Discussing aluminum-free deodorants is a tricky situation for me because they give me a lot of unwanted skin reactions. The scent on this Secret one is pleasant but I didn’t find it effective.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$5.97 – 68g)
Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste (First Review)
My favourite SLS-free toothpaste.
Re-Purchase? YES. (c$5.76 – 110ml Value-Size)
TheraBreath Fresh Breath Oral Rinse in Mild Mint
This mouthwash is heavily recommended on TikTok, which intrigued me. It’s a clear alcohol-free mouthwash that does live up to its claims and makes your breath very fresh. However, it’s expensive in Canadian drugstores.
Re-Purchase? NO. (c$11.99 – 473ml)
What beauty products have you finished?
Let me know.
Toronto Music Teacher, Social Media Specialist, and Public Speaker. Founder of Laurel Musical.
