Lots and Lots of Cruelty-Free Empties (Almost 1 Year’s Worth)

Rounding up my beauty trash in one massive blog post for the world to see !
This is almost a year’s worth of empties. Yep…I said it, a year. I kept this little paper bag under my desk and whenever I finished a product I just tossed it in there. Before I knew it, I had an over-flowing bag of empties. Now it’s time to share all of these used up products with you guys in an aesthetically-pleasing colorful way ! Can you tell I had a lot of fun organizing this and taking pictures, haha. 


Products in:
Blue – I love & have repurchased.
Green – I loved it, but haven’t repurchased yet.
Red – I won’t be repurchasing.
Orange – Unsure about repurchasing and/or not high enough on the wish list at this time.

Sweet Tarte Fragrance: This fragrance has a very warm, yet fruity scent to it. I think it’s a great scent for summer or fall. If you get a chance to step into Ulta Beauty, find this and smell it. I highly recommend it! I haven’t purchased the full size yet, but I’m very tempted. 
Giovanni Hot Oil Hair Treatment: I felt like my hair was so shiny and healthy looking after using this ! This was also my first time using a hot oil treatment for my hair. Not really much else to say besides that.
Mini Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist: I’m so glad I finally got to try out this popular skin mist to see what the hype was all about. TBH, I didn’t see a crazy difference in my skin when I used this, but right now my skin is pretty combo. I’m curious to try this again in the winter when my skin can get super dry. I do think this mist would be great on vacation on a hot beach, or on long flights when your skin gets very dry on the airplane.
Konjac Sponge Co. 100% Pure Konjac Angel Cloth: This soft face cloth was a game changer for me! I used it for awhile, maybe a few months, before I decided it’s probably time to get a new one. This cloth comes pretty stiff in the packaging, but as soon as you run it under some water, it starts to soften and become a spongey, fluffy texture. I like to add my face cleanser directly into the cloth, lather it in so it gets all foamy and then clean my skin. Loved this thing !
Ole Henriksen Nurture Me Moisturizer: This is the old packaging, and I’m not sure if the new packaging has the same ingredients or texture, but either way I did enjoy this moisturizer. During the dry winter months when my skin is at it’s worst, this did help.. a lot. It’s a richer, thicker cream than one would expect, but it melts into the skin leaving behind a very soft, smooth, not sticky feel !
Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation: I’ve repurchased this lightweight vegan foundation a couple of times now because I love the consistency and wear of the foundation. It’s a water-based foundation so I think it would be perfect for anyone who has drier skin and wants a foundation with a little bit of hydration. It claims to be full coverage…. but I think it’s more of a medium coverage foundation. It’s also a very lightweight and build-able foundation. I dont tend to reach for this as much in the summer, but this was my go-to all winter long.
Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Cleansing Gel: Gel cleansers are my thing, so this vegan gel cleanser from Tarte was a total win for me! A little went a long way so I never needed a lot to cleanse my whole face. Afterword my skin felt very soft and clean ! If you have sensitive skin, you might love this.

Colourpop Matte Liquid Lipsticks: None of these lipsticks are empty, but they just ended up expiring before I could use them all (if you forget when you purchased and/or opened a liquid lipstick… the way you can tell if it’s expired is by just smelling them. if they smell funky or sour, throw ’em out!) I’m not even sure if they make these shades that I have anymore TBH. I think one of them was called Pacific and I don’t see it on the website. But there are similar shades on there.
Honest Company Shampoo & Body Wash (Sweet Orange Vanilla): This smells sooo good. I never used it as shampoo, just a body wash, but I like that it’s a 2 n 1 product. Makes it ideal for traveling. I felt it worked great as a body wash though and smelled amazing. I love citrus scents.
Ole Henriken Truth Serum (0.5oz): I only had a little sample size of the highly recommended vitamin c & collagen serum. It’s supposed to brighten the skin and hydrate the skin all day. I have noticed my skin looking a little brighter but I’m not sure if this is from other products or just this alone. I’d be willing to try this again, but I don’t think I’d go out of my way to purchase it. I do use some other vitamin c products in my skincare routine now that I like just as much, if not more.
Amika Dry Shampoo: I have to point out that I like how this dry shampoo doesn’t have talc or aluminum in it. I think it works great at removing those extra oils on day 3 hair so that I don’t look like a greasy mess. I also love the scent ! I only had a little travel size that did last me a bit, but I’d love to get the full size asap.
Kani Botanicals Moon Milk: Shimmering jasmine body oil? If those 4 worlds do not sound amazing to you then I don’t know what would ! The second you start rubbing this into the skin it begins to absorbs like a dream leaving behind a very shimmery glow. This oil also smells beyond amazing with notes of tuberose, jasmine, bergamot, & ylang ylang. I need more !
Dr. Hauschka Lip Care Stick: Probably not the most amazing lip balm in the world, but it got the job done. I personally didn’t care that much for the scent. I felt that it moisturized decently, but just sat on the lips and didn’t fully sink into the lips like other balms do. I don’t think I’d go out of my way to repurchase it again. I have so many other lip balms that I ended up reaching for more than this one.
Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Face Oil: This is such a luxurious facial oil that feels so hydrating and non-sticky or greasy on the skin. It absorbs into the skin like a serum, leaves a moisturized feel afterword like a moisturizer and smells very earthy & floral. It contains many oils like rose, jojoba and peach, which I love. My skin looks very radiant & glowy after application. The only reason I won’t be repurchasing this is because of the price point. It’s $76 for 0.5oz and I have many other facial oils that I’m using now and love.

Schmidt’s Bergamot & Lime Deodorant: The first ingredient of this deodorant is arrowroot powder and not glycerin. Glycerin based natural deodorants tend to never work on me, and I always stink within hours. But arrowroot based deodorants always seem to block the stink. Some of the scents of these are a little off putting, but some are my favorites, like the bergamot & lime and the magnesium & charcoal. If you’re thinking about switching to natural deodorants I would give this one a try. (Make sure you detox your armpits first if you’re making the switch from harsh chemical based antiperspirants or deodorants!) Check out Target or even Marshall’s for this brand rather than the website, they’re so a lot cheaper in those locations.
Pacifica Kale Detox Deep Cleansing Wash: At first I hated this cleanser, and that’s because it’s actually made for oily skin and I didn’t realize that at first, haha. But as my skin got oilier in the summer months, I remembered that I still had this cleanser, and decided to try it again. Wa-la! My skin felt amazing and I felt that the cleanser didn’t dry out my skin or make it feel tight this time. Not going to repurchase because I love my Alba and Drunk Elephant cleansers too much, but I would recommend this to you oily people out there.
Juice Beauty Green Apple Cleanser: I just want to say that this cleanser smells like fruit loops, and that’s not a bad thing ! It’s a gel based cleanser, so of course I love it. It lathers very well, my skin feels pleasantly clean and soft after. Would for sure repurchase in the future !
Biossance Squalane & Peptide Eye Gel: This eye gel was one of the first higher end/luxury eye creams/gels that I’ve ever tried retailing at $54 for the full size. I used it during the winter months to keep my eye area hydrated and nourished. I love the way it felt on the eye area and it absorbed leaving behind a plumped up eye area. It really helped diminish the look of these tiny lines around my eye area that I’m starting to see.
Derma E Detox Scrub: I got a sample of this scrub in one of my Petit Vour boxes and loved it instantly. I love the minty feel it leaves after I rinse my face. My skin feels so soft, smooth, clean and fresh after. Who wouldn’t love that ? I recommend this for anyone looking for a daily scrub. I just purchased the full size from Ulta because I love it so much.
Pacifica Deodorant Wipes: I wouldn’t use this in place of my regular every day deodorant, but they’re great for freshening up either from travel or after the gym, etc. Don’t think I need ’em so I wont be repurchasing.
Alba Botanica Hawaiian Body Cream: A hypoallergenic, very nourishing and hydrating body cream that smells so heavenly! Currently using up a Pacifica Beauty body cream, but would totally repurchase this one again in the future. Especially for winter.
Pixi by Petra Glow Tonic: I heard so much about this from Instagram and knew I had to try it. I found a travel size at Target for under $4 dollars and as you can see in the picture, I bought several over the course of this past year. The glcolyic acid exfoliates the skin, and although it doesn’t say the percentage of glcolyic acid – it is 3rd on the ingredient list. Some toners/tonics leave a sticky feel after on my skin after application that I don’t like, but not this one. My face feels very soft afterwords and x10 cleaner then just cleansing alone. I like that this has added aloe into to help calm & soothe and that it also contains ginseng to help with circulation. Truly a favorite and will continue to repurchase !
Tatcha Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm: A favorite lip balm forever and ever, read my blog post here.
The Seaweed Company Hydrating Seaweed Bath: If you’re a bath lover then I recommend trying this out ! It will make your bathtub green after but it’s totally worth it.

Glossier Boy Brow: At first I hated this. I thought it was too clumpy, and made my brows look way too bold. But after I used it a couple of times I really started to enjoy it. I like to wipe off the brush on the sides of the tube before applying and this helps make it not so clumpy looking. I’ll also run a spoolie through it after if I still feel that it’s too much. I think as the formula aged over the past year, it got better and better. Weird. 
Urban Decay Naked Skin One & Done: I barely remember using it to be honest and I think I just forgot that I had it. When I went to try and use it again it was a little dried up. Soooo… this mini review isnt that helpful, but I do remember it being easy to apply and it did have decent coverage.
Lily Lolo Makeup Mist: I didn’t really like the sprayer on this mist, but I’m glad it came in my Petit Vour box so I could at least try it out. I really like the ingredients in this one compared to my other favorite, Urban Decay All Nighter. So with that said, I might repurchase… I think if you’re looking for more of a cleaner ingredient beauty spray, then I would recommend trying this one out.
Wet & Wild Photo Focus Concealer: A super creamy concealer that’s very comparable to the Tarte Shape Tape in my opinion (I have both and use both!). I’ve repurchased several of these concealers and since they’re very inexpensive it makes them ideal for any MUA kit.
Wet & Wild Photo Focus Foundation: My current favorite and go-to foundation. I’m wearing it right now while I’m typing this actually ! It feels amazing on the skin, wears great throughout the day, works with almost every primer and concealer. Blends in seamlessly and the color options are decent.
Poetic Blend Ghost Oil: This is a weightless, scentless nourishing oil that’s great for many uses including makeup removing ! When I was in a pinch and needing something to remove my makeup, I ended up using this oil. It worked very well and left my skin feeling soft afterwords.
Biossance Squalane & Vitamin C Rose Oil: A super nourishing vitamin c enriched facial oil. I love the glow that it gives me and I love that my skin feels supple and hydrated for hours.
KVD Tattoo Liner: One of my favorite liquid liners of all time. It’s so easy to create the perfect line that locks into place and lasts all day. I’ve repurchased this liquid liner a couple of times now and I think I’ll continue to repurchase ! I’ve tried out some other liquid liners, both drug store and high end, and none compare to Kat Von D Tattoo Liner.
Wet & Wild Photo Focus Pressed Powder: An easy go-to when I want something lighter. Like on those concealer and powder only kind of days. Or I’ll lightly apply it all over to set my foundation.
Lush Love Lettuce Fresh Face Mask: Love Lettuce is a exfoliating ground almond mask and it is a refrigerated freshly made mask. This mask is supposed to help balance the skin out, especially if you have an oily t-zone. It feels so refreshing to put a chilled mask on my face, especially on a hot summer night.

Pacifica Essential Makeup Removing Wipes: All Pacifica wipes are my favorite ! And I love that they don’t irritate my skin or eye area like some other wipes do.
Josie Maran Argan Oil: A popular oil from Josie that can be used all over the body including nails, cuticles, ends of hair, and of course, the face ! My skin doesn’t feel greasy after using this, and I also loved using it as an all over body moisturizer during the dry winters.
Colourpop Satin Liquid Lipstick: Such a beautiful shade. I really love this formula and might even prefer it over the matte liquid lipsticks from Colourpop. They feel so velvety on the lips and glide on like a dream. They don’t have the longest staying power compared to the mattes, but the color pay off is beyond amazing. I didn’t want to part with one of the shades called Dohee because it was from a limited edition collection collab with Jenn Im ! Oh well.
Nourish Organic Cleanser: Didn’t care for this cleanser to be honest. It’s not gel based, which are cleansers I normally go for, but I wanted to try something different. My skin felt very dry and tight after cleansing, and I didn’t care for the smell. I also felt like it didn’t remove my makeup that well although it claims to do so.
Pacifica Rice Bright Smoothing Paste: Such an amazing exfoliater ! I love that they added rice extract and lemongrass powder to this so not only am I exfoliating my skin, I am also toning it.  My skin feels so smooth after using this and prepped for makeup.

Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Conditioner + 50:50 Balance Conditioner: Probably one of my favorite inexpensive cruelty-free hair care brands. I really enjoy the scent of the Tea Tree line and I’ve repurchased the shampoo and conditioner countless times. No residue or buildup is left behind in my hair and my hair feels cleansed after every use. I love that I can find this brand almost anywhere, including Walmart or my local grocery store.
Pacifica Kale Water Micellar Cleansing Tonic & Makeup Remover: Honestly, I don’t think this did the best job removing all kinds of makeup. It removed my face makeup in a pinch, but really struggled when it came to eye makeup, including eyeliner and mascara. I don’t think I’d be repurchasing this.
Alba Botanica Good and Clean Gentle Acne Wash: I feel like I’ve talked about this cleanser many, many times and I’ve repurchased it many, many times. I love how this removes almost all my makeup in one cleanse. I also love that my skin doesn’t feel dry afterword.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: This is such an amazing moisturizer. Perfect for those dry winter months. I like to use this on my face, of course, and my very very dry eczema hands. It doesn’t feel greasy and absorbs into the skin very well. Great for sensitive skin !
Pacifica Beauty Dream Big Mascara: One of my favorite vegan mascaras of all time. My lashes always look big, clump-free and crunch-free when I wear this mascara. It contains a lash serum to condition the lashes. It also has plant based fibers to really build up and amplify the lashes. This mascara also has a super unique wand expands for length or shrinks for volume!
Pacifica Beauty Purify Face Coconut Wipes: I love all Pacifica wipes. They don’t irritate my eyes when I remove my eye makeup like other wipes do.

If you guys have any questions about any of the products feel free to let me know in the comments below.
See ya in the next post!
-Alicia !
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