February '25 Empties
A little late with sharing my beauty empties from February, but nonetheless, I still wanted to provide an update on the products I finished using during the month. For the first time in what feels like a long time, I can proudly say that I actually finished quite a few makeup products! It's always satisfying to see empty containers, as it means I have been using my products consistently and enjoying them to their fullest potential.
As with many my blog posts, I try to make it a point to include an exciting giveaway and I’m so happy to include one with this post!
Face Care Empties
Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator
Price: $68 for 2.6oz
The Milkfoliant Exfoliator is a powder cleanser that’s formulated with AHAs, BHAs, and hyaluronic acid to gently cleanse and exfoliate the skin. The cleanser is activated with water to create a foaming lather. Based on how much powder and water that’s used can determine the level of grit that can be formulated with the mixture. Even with that said, the level of grit is pretty minimal, making the exfoliant feel gentle to use daily. I really like the foamy consistency. I think the cleanser did a good job to cleanse and exfoliate my skin without making it feel dry or stripped. I do think the cleanser is gentle enough to be used daily, but I only used it a few times a week. The full-size bottle lasted me such a long time, which says a lot since I used a very generous amount with each application. With that being said, I would recommend getting the mini size, which retails for $19!
Herbivore Aquarius BHA + Blue Tansy Clarifying Cleanser
Price: 26 for 3.38oz
The Aquarius Cleanser is a BHA gel-based cleanser that aims to cleanse and gently exfoliate. It seems that it marketed more to those that have oily acne prone skin types. Being that the cleanser is formulated with blue tansy that’s exactly what it smells like. I think the cleanser worked well for my combo oily skin. It cleansed my skin well and never made my skin feel dry or stripped. For me this was a cleanser that I reached for a few times a week. I originally started using the cleanser in the late summer into the winter months and I think the cleanser worked throughout the different seasons.
Allies of Skin 35% Vitamin C Perfecting Serum
Price: $148 for 1oz
As a Vitamin C enthusiast. I really love trying out different brands and formulas. Allies of Skin is not new to me, in fact I finished one of their other vitamin C serums, 20% Vitamin C Brighten + Firm Serum, both can be found reviewed in detailed in my Vitamin C Guidepost. I really appreciate the formulation of the Allies of Skin products – especially their vitamin c serums. This particular serum is formulated with a pure vitamin c aka L-Ascorbic Acid along with a really effective vitamin c derivative, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate.
Previously Reviewed: Vitamin C Guide + Reviews
Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum
Price: $82 for 1oz
The Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum has been a favorite of mine for years! Prior to blogging I would always redeem points at Sephora to get mini sizes. The Vinoperfect serum is a brightening serum that is said to help with the appearance of dark spots and be a good alternative to vitamin c. I believe the brightening is stemmed from the Vine Sap Viniferine, which is a compound derived from grapevine sap and stalks. The serum has a slight milky consistency and absorbs well into the skin. Being that the serum doesn’t have any actives, it can be used morning and evening and even in the same day. I really can’t say that I’ve noticed a huge difference in terms of brightness, perhaps that's because I don’t use the serum every day. I more so use it every other day or so. I really prefer to use the Vinfoperfect serum as a hydrating serum in my night routine. I think the serum does a great job in term of moisturizing my skin. I am interested to see if I use the serum daily in the mornings or even twice a day would I notice a difference. I’ll test this theory out in a few months, so stayed tuned for that.
Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer with Ceramides and Peptides
Price: $36 for 5.7oz
The Laneige Cream Skin toner was a such a favorite of mine –especially in my tretinoin routine. The Cream Skin Toner is a hybrid cream-toner that’s formulated with ceramides and peptides. This combination helps to strengthen and moisturize the skin all in one step. I know this toner is well loved by those who have dry skin types, but I found it so helpful even with my skin being normal to oily. I found the toner to be more on the versatile side. With my skin leaning more towards the oily side I opted to use it only during my night routines. During the winter months, I used it as a toner and during the summer months I would sometimes use it as a moisturizer. Since finishing this bottle this original formula has been reformulated. I’m not sure what prompted the brand to reformulate the toner. I haven’t had a chance to try the new updated formula yet, so I really can’t speak on how it compared to the original formula.
Innisfree Daily UV Defense Invisible Broad-Spectrum SPF 36 Sunscreen
Price: $18 for 1.69oz
The Innisfree sunscreen is one of my favorite affordable sunscreens! It’s an everyday sunscreen that’s formulated with green tea and sunflower seed oil that gives a fresh and slightly dewy finish without a white cast. I have normal to combination skin that leans more on the oily side, and I found this sunscreen very easy to use. On my skin the finish wasn’t overly dewy/glowy, which is one of the reasons I had reached for it so often. While using this sunscreen I never had any issues with pilling or eye watering. If you’re on the hunt for a lightweight and affordable sunscreen, I would highly recommend giving this one a try.
Previously Reviewed – Top 10 Beauty Products of 2024
First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA – Fresh Strawberry
Price: $30 for 8oz
I’ve raved about the First Aid Beauty KP Eraser Scrub for years! Hands down it’s one of my favorites and most effective body care products that helps with KP (Keratosis Pilaris). The original version of the scrub does not have an added fragrance to it. But I’m happy to see that that FAB made this with a strawberry scent. It’s a nice way to add more of an experience to the body scrub. The fresh strawberry scent is very faint and is just barely there. I do like the scent incorporation, so from now on I’ll be purchasing this strawberry scent instead of the regular version. Performance wise, it works exactly like the unscented version.
Previously Reviewed – My KP Body Care Routine
Price: $19 for 16oz
notes of bergamot, muguet & cedarwood
The Public Spirit Body Wash is a lather rich moisturizing daily body wash that’s formulated with Niacinamide, Coconut Oil and Shea Butter. This was a body wash that I really enjoyed using. I would categorize it as a no fuss everyday type of body wash. The formula had a nice level of lather, and I really enjoyed the scent. As for the packaging, I really appreciated that fact that the body wash has a pump applicator, making it easy to dispense while in the shower.
Josie Maran Sweet Citrus Body Butter
Price: $36 for 6oz
The Josie Maran body butters are some of my faves! Since finishing this jar, JM has updated their package to a more sustainable refillable option. Nonetheless, the formula hasn’t changed, which I’m so happy about it. The Whipped Argan Oil Body Butters are super moisturizing without leaving my skin feel greasy. I really can’t recommend these enough.
Previously Reviewed: Nov & Dec Empties ’23
Makeup Empties
Maybelline Build-A-Brow 2-In-1 Brow Pen and Sealing Gel
Price: $14.99
The Maybelline Build A Brow Pen is a 2-in-1 brow pen with one side being the brow pen and the other being the sealing gel. The brow pen side has almost a felt tip applicator than feels like a light paint brush. This type of applicator makes it quick and easy to do precise hairlike strokes. Using this instead of a brow pencil has really helped to speed up my routine! The other side of the pen has a sealant that helps to make the formula waterproof and smudge resistant. In all honesty, I really didn’t use the sealant as I didn’t feel like it was really needed for me. Just using the brow pen on its own lasted a decent amount of time without any issues with fading. If you’re someone who sweats a lot or leads a very active lifestyle, I feel like the sealant would really help. Being that I love this brow pen so much, I’ve already ordered another one!
Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara
Price: $33
The YSL Lash Clash Mascara is said to provide 24-hour smudge proof wear that adds up to 200% more volume. The wand itself is oversized and actually a lot bigger than mascaras that I’ve used in the past. I do think the larger wand really helped to provide a more voluminous look to lashes. But I do think it can be quite a bit of a learning curve to use. I also think that the bigger wand, at least for me, it meant more product being applied to my lashes with excess getting on my eye lids and the surrounding areas. As much as I loved the brown pigment shade of this mascara and the volume it provided, I do think the applications were on the messy side. I was able to get several months of usage out of the tube and I did notice the formula began to dry out towards the end of my use. I really like how this mascara made my lashes look even though the product also transferred to my eyelids.
Try on + Review - Click Here
YSL Beauty Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick #02
Price: $42
The YSL Candy Glaze are one of my favorite lip product formulas! They have the pigment of lipstick and the finish of a high gloss. I love that over the years they’ve expanded the line to include a wide range of shades. The Candy Glaze in shade #02 is a very pale shade of pink. Being that this was a barely there shade, I wore this more as a regular throw on gloss. I really love the glossy finish of these and how they feel on my lips.
Previously Reviewed: Top 10 Products of 2023
Dior Beauty Lip Oil in Rosewood
Price: $40
The Dior Lip Oils are formulated with hyaluronic acid and cherry oil, which helps to hydrate and plump the lips. I had this lip oil opened for way too long, so I was really happy to finish this one up. I like how this lip oil feels on and how it wears overtime. I didn’t find the formula to be sticky, but it still had a nice consistency to it. The only issue I can see with the Dior Lip Oils are the lack of color pigment. Each shade is extremely sheer. I frequently used it on it own and sometime with a brown-nude tone lip liner. Being that the lip oil lasted me such a long time and I really like how it feels on, I would most definitely repurchase it again.
February Empties Value: $498.99
Blog Giveaway
The Prize:
Versed Antioxidant Gel Cleanser
Versed Cleansing Balm
Smood Gel Cream Moisturizer
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Moisturizer with Sunscreen
Byroe Oat Yogurt Moisture Barrier Cream
Byroe Celery AHA+LHA Resurfacing Serum
Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Charlotte Tillbury Magic Eye Rescue
HOW TO ENTER:
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Leave a Comment Under this post telling me your favorite product of the year.
Head Over to my Instagram and follow me @beautyetcblog I try to pick winners for my giveaways from the group of people that organically engage with my blogposts and Instagram posts.
Rules:
The Giveaway is open from now until Wednesday 3/19/2025
The Giveaway is open to residents of the US
The winner will be announced via my IG stories
The Giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram or any of the brands featured.