January '23 Empties
Another month and another round of empties. During the month of January I feel like I did a pretty good job at making a dent with my haircare and body care products. The standout product for me from this batch of empties has to be the Briogeo Don't Despair Repair Rice Water Protein + Moisture Strengthening Treatment. I go into detail further in the post to explain why I enjoyed it so much!
Moving forward with all of my empties posts, I will also be hosting a giveaway! If you’re interested in more details scroll to the end of this post!
Facecare Empties
Bioderma Sébium H2O Micellar Water
Price: $20.49 for 16.7 oz
The Sébium H2O Micellar Water is formulated for those that have combination to oily skin types. In my opinion when I’ve used products specifically geared to oily and combination skin types, they end to be drying on the skin. But I’m happy to say this was far from that. It cleansed my skin so well and always left it feeling hydrated and fresh! I typically used this with a disposable cotton rounds in the morning to cleanse my skin. I love that it leaves my skin feeling so soft and clean. As with most micellar waters, this does not need to be rinsed or washed off the skin.
Price: $88 for 0.5 oz
I’ve been using this serum in my routine for the past few months. I have a dedicated try on and review of it on my instagram. But to sum it up, this a post procedure care serum that can be used from head to toe on all skin types. I’ve used it post chemical peel facials, in my retinol night routine and times when I’ve over exfoliated my skin. This serum has saved my skin quite a few times in the past few months and at this point I need to have a bottle or two on back-up at all times!
Essence Volume Booster Lash Primer
Price: $4.99
Previous Blogpost Review: SUMMER [JUNE & JULY] EMPTIES '22
The Essence Lash Primer has been in my routine for the past 2 years or so and I love it. I’ve reviewed it several times in the past. Essentially it works as a primer for your lashes to protect and nourish them. It’s used prior to mascara and then mascara is applied over it. For me I do feel that it helps to protect my lashes. I would say I go through a new tube about every 3-4 months. This is a product I’ll continue to purchase as I think it’s more than worth the price!
Allies of Skin RETINAL & PEPTIDES REPAIR NIGHT CREAM
Mini/Sample Size (price unknown)
Prior to starting Tretinoin, the Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream was such a great retinal option. Retinal is known to work 11x faster than retinol. Even with this potency I was able to use this 3-4x a week without any irritation. I really think the formula of this Retinal cream is made so well that it provides great results, but it’s not too harsh on the skin. I loved using this mini for when I traveled to warmer and sunnier climates. Although retinal is one of the more potent retinoids, its still not as potent as Tretinoin. My only con is the price, but Allies of Skin tends to do buy one get one free sales and they are worth checking out!
Price: $180 for 5 oz
Previous Blogpost Review - TOP 10 PRODUCTS OF 2022
The La Mer Treatment Lotion was definitely one of my top products of 2022! It’s like a toner and essence all in one. I love how well it deeply hydrated my skin and the 5 oz sized lasted me a pretty decent amount of time. This is definitely one of the pricier products that was in my everyday routine, but I really enjoyed using it! If I’m able to locate it on a pretty good sale, I will definitely repurchase it!
Haircare Empties
Briogeo Don’t Despair Rice Water Protein Treatment
Price: $44 for 5oz
The Briogeo Don’t Despair Rice Water Protein Treatment is described as a weekly treatment that is formulated with rice water. The rice water provides protein and the original don’t despair treatment provides moisture. This treatment is housed in a double valve container. With each pump an equal amount of the Don’t Despair Conditioner and Rice Protein Treatment is dispensed at the same time. In the past I’ve made my own rice water treatment and the process is tedious waiting for the rice water to ferment over the course of days and once it does it smells pretty bad.
This Briogeo treatment makes it so much easier. I find that this form of rice water is more on the milder side, which I like. Too much rice water aka protein can actually be bad for your hair and cause it to be drying! I typically used the Don’t Despair Rice Water Protein Treatment 1-2x a month max! I know the directions states that this could be used be weekly, but for my hair I found 1-2x a month plenty. I typically used 4-5 pumps - sometimes a little more to coat of all my hair. After washing this out of my hair, my hair feels noticeably softer. The treatment also helps me a little with frizz and overall I feel like it really helps to strengthen my hair. This is definitely a product I plan on repurchasing – especially since this 5 oz size lasted several months for me.
Curls Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Paste
Price: $9.59 for 4oz
The Curls Paste is formulated with blueberry extract and argan oil to slick the hair down but also accelerate hair growth. Over the past year or so, I’ve been using this instead of gel. This control paste provide a decent soft hold to my hair- especially when applied to my hair while its damp-almost dry. Unlike a lot holding products, this one doesn’t flake and my hair actually feels softer after using it. At this point I’ve lost count on the amount of times I’ve repurchased it. As I finish one jar, I immediately purchase another. If you have natural curly coily hair that’s in the family of 3c-4c, this is worth giving a try!
Price: $10.99 for 2 oz
Previously Reviewed in my December 2021 Empties
I’ve gone through quite a few bottles of this oil in the past few years. As I finish them, I repurchase a new bottle. I don’t think it’s a miracle in a bottle, but I really do like the oil blend of rosemary and mint. I feel like this combination does a good job of nourishing my hair and providing key nutrients to my scalp.
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Ultra Rich Hyaluronic Treatment Lotion
Price: $45 for 3.4 oz
This a treatment that is for dry hair types to provide up to 72 hours of hydration, work against high humidity and provide frizz reduction. I have curly coily hair that easily frizzes, but I can’t really say this hair treatment did much for my hair. Perhaps it was the way I used or it just didn’t fit what I needed in my haircare routine.
I typically applied this damp hair before my other hair styling products and other times I used it as a refresher for my hair. I was thinking it was going to be more like a styling product. I feel like it served it’s function, but I can’t justify the price tag of it based on how I used it and not really seeing much of an effect except the hydration.
Bodycare Empties
First Aid Beauty KP Eraser Scrub
Price: $30 for 8oz
Last reviewed in my September ’22 Empties Post
I’ve gone through so many tubes of this over the year. With consistency this really helps with Keratosis Pilaris (KP). As I finished this tube, I just got in the new 10oz size! It’s such a great value for the price!
Price: $38 for 7.5 oz
Melrose Place: top notes of champagne, pink peppercorn, berry, and lychee;
middle notes of peony, rose, freesia, jasmine, and bergamot;
base notes of amber, sandalwood, white musk, and cedarwood.
The Ouai Melrose Place is one of my favorite Rose scents. The body cream has a nice whipped thick texture. A little product goes a long way. The body cream has a nice level of moisture and doesn’t feel too heavy on the skin. The scent has a nice projection and lightly lingers on the skin for several hours after its been applied. I really enjoyed using this body cream as a fragrance layer and would often layer other fragrances over the top of it. But being that I do like the Melrose Place, I loved layering the Melrose Place body cleanser and Melrose Place perfume all together to get a more longer lasting scent.
Ouai Melrose Place Body Cleanser
Price: $28 for 10 oz
Melrose Place: top notes of champagne, pink peppercorn, berry, and lychee;
middle notes of peony, rose, freesia, jasmine, and bergamot;
base notes of amber, sandalwood, white musk, and cedarwood.
The Melrose Place cleanser is formulated with nourishing ingredients like Rosehip Oil, Vitamin A and C and Jojoba Oil. I always looked forward to each and every use of this body cleanser! The consistency of the cleanser is on the thicker side and lathered really well. It smells great and left my skin feeling hydrated afterwards. I’ve already repurchased another bottle and my only complaint is I do wish the scent from the body cleanser was a little stronger and lingered on the skin longer.
Voluspa Blackberry Rose Oud Candle
Price: $34 for 18oz
Key Notes: Blackberry, Rose, Oud
The Voluspa candles are housed in such beautiful jars and vessels. Every time I purchase a candle from the brand my intention is to always recycle the jars and use them to store things in.
I’ve purchased this Blackberry Rose Oud Scent and I really enjoyed the scent. Even though Oud is the name and listed the key notes it almost undetectable when the candle is being burned. The Blackberry note is a nice opening and lingers into a soft beautiful scent. The candles themselves burn pretty well. This 18 oz sized lasted me for several months with burning it for many hours at a time and days in a row. I tend to pick up the Voluspa candles when there’s a sale at Sephora and other larger retail stores.
Bath and Body Works- Merry Cookie Candle
Price: $26.95 3 wick 14.5 oz candle
Scent Notes: Fresh baked sugar cookies, sparking sugar cookies and rich vanilla
Possible similar option: Warm Vanilla Sugar
I purchased this candle with the full intention to burn it around the holidays and it was such a perfect scent for the season. Being that this is a seasonal candle it’s not one that can be purchased all year. I believe it’s only available from October- December. To me this smells like a very sweet sugar cookie but in the best way possible. I really enjoyed this scent and will definitely repurchase when available during the winter holidays.
HUM Here Comes The Sun™ Vitamin D Immune System Support Supplement
Price: $12 for 30 day supply
I’ve been on and off of Vitamin D supplements for as long as I could remember. The pills are usually on the bigger side and not the easiest to swallow- especially when you need to take multiple supplements at once. What I like about the HUM Here Comes the Sun pills are these are really small and almost feels like a gel cap. They’re 2000 IU per serving and considered a high potency. For the convenience of them being smaller, easier to take and no side effects, I’ll likely repurchase them!
Total Empties Value: 572.01
Alpha H Giveaway
Prize: Alpha H Liquid Gold Exfoliating Treatment with Glycolic acid 5% and Alpha H Midnight Reboot Serum 14%
HOW TO ENTER:
Subscribe to my Newsletter listed below (don’t forget to add in your Instagram name so I can contact you).
Leave a Comment Under this post telling me your favorite product of the year.
Head Over to my Instagram and follow me @beautyetcblog
Rules:
The Giveaway is open from now until Thursday 2/16/2023
The winner will be announced via my IG stories
The Giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram or any of the brands featured.