Well, friends, it’s time for a major beauty empties roundup. I never meant to let this pile grow so huge, but here we are—basically an entire year’s worth of empties from 2024 ! I’ve got everything from products I loved, to ones I regretted, and of course, the expired stuff I’m finally saying goodbye to. Spoiler alert: some of this definitely won’t be making a comeback. Ready to see what’s worth repurchasing and what’s staying in the trash? Let’s dive in!
Everything will be linked for your convenience, but please note that some links may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, you’re supporting my blog—thank you so much! 🙂
Here’s what I’m buying again (or already have):
1. Sun Bum Original Glow SPF 30
A holy grail skincare product for me and a forever repurchase ! The slippery, ultra liquidy texture with the beaming dewy finish is the reason this has been emptied countless times. I reach for it the most as I usually do no makeup ‘makeup’ often. This will be my glory base, followed by simple brows, pop of blush, spot conceal and a curled lash. I do wish the SPF value was tiny bit higher in this one, like 50, but not if it compromises the integrity of the slippery formula. The texture is chef’s kiss. Linked here
2. Kopari Glow Body Shield SPF 50
*expired declutter* This unique sunscreen gel offers a true transparent finish with a subtle glow from sustainably sourced mica. It’s also water and sweat-resistant for up to 40 minutes. While some might find it a little sticky, I love how it absorbs into my dry ass skin, and it’s super easy to reapply. If you’re dry and like the feel of oils on your skin, you’ll probably enjoy this one too. Full review here
3. Sun Bum Daily SPF 30 Moisturizer
The banana scent of this is absolutely my favorite ! Plus, I love the lightweight, moisturizing texture.. it’s perfect for those lazy days when all I want to do is cleanse and go. The ingredients are another win; it’s not just about the antioxidant rich banana, but also the blend of wild rosella and niacinamide. Together, they work to restore hydration and protect against daily skin stressors. I use this one all over the body sometimes too. Linked here
4. Biossance Sqaulane + Marine Algae Eye Cream
Okay, I’ll admit it.. this creamy eye cream completely surprised me. At first, I wasn’t sold on the texture since I’m usually all about gel formulas, but wow, this stuff actually works. It keeps my under-eyes plumped, hydrated, and ready for makeup too. It’s like it’s the caffeine my eyes didn’t know they needed. Fun fact: The marine algae in this eye cream is basically helps to improve elasticity and smoothness. Who knew seaweed could be this fancy? Linked here
5. Geek & Gorgeous Retinal
My first retinal (with an “A,” not an “O”—aka the higher-strength version) product, and I loved it! No irritation whatsoever, just smooth, effective results.The affordable price makes it even better ! I’m repurchasing the stronger version next restock from the brand. Full review here
6. NYX Bare With Me Concealer
*expired declutter* A must have in my makeup bag for that natural, skin-like, no-makeup “makeup” finish. One of my most repurchased concealers. Sadly, because this one expires at 6 months, and you can tell because the scent changes and eyes water 🙃 Please check the dates/opening dates on your makeup ! Already have another open. Linked here
7. Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum
It looks like this one may be discontinued, but I really enjoyed the light serum-y consistency. I’ll be exploring more from Acure in the future because it seems like they have really lovely products and they’re 100% vegan !! Fun Fact: Alpa Arbutin is skin-brightening agent known for helping with hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and uneven skin tone.
8. Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum
My first skincare introduction to Naturium. I decided to give them a chance at the beginning of 2024 and it’s been wins ever since. I love how accessible they are. The texture of this serum is perfecto—fast-absorbing, jelly-like and I love using vitamin c in my routines. I recently picked up a mini size with Target’s mini sale. Linked here
9. Shani Darden Retinol Reform
This encapsulated formula gave me zero irritation, and the results were amazing. Over time, my skin looked smoother, clearer, and more even—without any redness or peeling. I also highly recommend the mini size, which I’ve emptied countless times. You only need a tiny amount, so the mini lasts forever ! Linked here
10. Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel SPF 50
One of the first Korean sunscreens I fell in love with. The watery texture absorbs like a dream, and there’s no SPF scent. Zero. It just feels like putting on a very lightweight milky serum. If you hate the idea of applying SPF, this could be the one for you. Linked here
11. Saturday Skin Avocado Date Eye Cream
Loving this refreshing lightweight eye cream with avocado protein, antioxidants and peptides. It’s great for prepping the under eye area for concealer giving an illuminated look without glitter. You really only need the mini size of this too. This large size took a long time to finish 😝 Linked here
12. Bonajour Green Tea Water Toner
Unexpected all time favorite serum-like toner. It DEEPLY hydrates my skin and preps it for my next skincare products. This bottle lasted the entire year, and I already have another open now. I always have green tea in my skincare routines, in some way. Linked here
13. Cocokind Revitalizing Eye Cream
The formula’s great, but that metal applicator? Way too big for the delicate under eye area. Honestly, it feels more like something you’d use for lip balm application, than eye cream. To actually use it, and get the gliding effect without tugging the life out of your under eye area, you’ll need to load it up with way more product than you actually need. But hey, despite that, I’d still repurchase because of the formula itself. Instead of the whole tug and pull, I just dab it on, hold it for a few seconds to enjoy the cooling, and call it a day. The formula itself is lovely—fragrance-free, super refreshing, dries quickly, and gives you that nice temporary “tightening” feel, thanks to the peptides. Linked here
14. Rovectin Forever Young Biome Ampoule
This jelly-like serum became a fast favorite. It revitalized my skin and helped strengthen my moisture barrier with prebiotics. It was one of those serums I used quickly since it can be used basically with everything including my retinoids. Before I knew it.. It was empty ! Linked here
15. Face Theory Green Tea Mask
Now called the ClariClay Green Tea Face Mask, this mask has a lovely refreshing feel during and after rinsing. It’s great for combo and oily skin types to help calm and refine the skin. Review here
16. Naturium Bio Lipid Body Lotion
A simple, scent-free daily lotion that’s effective and hydrating. It lasted about 9 months for me, and I’d definitely repurchase for a simple basic yet affordable body lotion with a pump. Linked here
17. Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser
I’ve shared many reviews over the years on this long time staple. I’ve gone through many bottles before they even started supplying the refills. It’s the ideal gel cleanser for me with a soft froth, removes spf and makeup effectively. The glass packaging is refillable and the sustainable approach makes it a winner for me. Linked here
18. Goodlight Microbiome Serum
I haven’t talked about this much before I emptied it. This hydrating serum protects your skin’s microbiome and feels very soothing. I love the light serum texture and the calming ingredients—definitely a keeper. The bakuchiol helps with skin cell turnover, prevents pigmentation, and plumps the skin, while Lactococcus Ferment Lysate promotes a healthy skin barrier and regulates the microbiome. Carrot Seed Oil works as an anti-inflammatory to fight bacteria, and Blue Tansy soothes any inflammation. Linked here
19. Cay Skin SPF 30 Lip Balm
A nice lip balm with SPF, but the packaging could use some work. It does have an spf scent/taste but I love the texture and the formula of it. It reminds me of the summer Fridays lip butter balm texture. The applicator on this one often clogs or inverts.. hard to explain because I’ve never experienced this before with a lip balm and it looks like (according to the reviews) I’m not alone. It does make it difficult to get out, but I’d still repurchase IF they fix the packaging. I realized it has gone up in price so hopefully they fixed it. Linked here
20. Summer Fridays Vanilla Lip Balm
My absolute holy grail lip balm. I’ve repurchased this one countless times, and I always keep a backup. It’s the perfect nourishing, lip hugging, long lasting, lip balm with the perfect vanilla scent. It’s a must-have in my routine year after year. Linked here
21. Elf Brow Wow
One of my all-time favorite drugstore brow products. It’s been emptied multiple times, and I’ll keep coming back to it. It’s a fiber brow product so it will leave little fibers to give you a fuller brow. Buildable and I enjoy the brush too. Linked here
22. Dr. Loretta Tightening Detox Mask
This clear gel mask was interesting, but I didn’t see much tightening right away. The travel size was a bit too small to fully evaluate this mask, as I only had about two uses. But I did enjoy the unique clear whipped gel texture as a mask. Linked here
23. Dr. Loretta Resurfacing Enzyme Polish
I really liked this enzyme polish. I don’t use these often and it was a nice switch up throughout the week. It has your typical fine grit texture and feel. It was a refreshing way to exfoliate before jumping in the shower. Linked here
24. Dr. Loretta Hydrating Cleanser
This is one of my recent favorite gel cleaner discoveries.. It’s gentle, removes makeup well, and doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped. Love it for either AM cleanse, or second PM cleanse after cleansing oil/balm. I’m excited to crack open the full size bottle I’ve got waiting for me in my skincare stash. Linked here
25. Peach & Lily Matcha Pudding Antioxidant Cream
*expired declutter* I didn’t finish this one before it expired unfortunately, but it’s a great option for combo skin with a demi matte finish. Perfect for summer if you’re combo/oily. If you’re dry, I think there are better moisturizers out there for you although the term ‘matcha’ in any skincare product, especially with it’s bright green hued texture could make anyone wanna buy it. Linked here
26. Goodlight Hyaluronic Cream
I absolutely love this cream. It’s rich-er in texture, but not suffocating—thanks to ingredients like squalane and ceramides, it’s incredibly hydrating without feeling heavy. It lasts all day, making it a great daily option for keeping my skin soft and balanced without stickiness. Would gladly repurchase when I need a new moisturizer, especially for winter although this works for me for all seasons. Linked here
27. Flower Beauty Spotlight Highlighter – Gleam
This gleaming highlighter is a drugstore go-to. It gives the most subtle, “natural” glow that’s buildable but not glittery. Plus, it’s packed with vitamin E o nourish the skin while giving that beautiful shine. Linked here
28. Josie Maran Argan Oil
An old staple that I haven’t repurchased since Josie did a full repackaging with refillable containers. Now that more affordable options like The Ordinary exist, I haven’t needed this one in particular, but I still love & recommend it. Linked here
29. Youth to the People Eye Vit C & Caffeine Concentrate
This concentrated illuminating eye serum combines vitamin C, peptides, caffeine, and antioxidants to brighten, reduce puffiness, and tackle fine lines. Its slippery gel formula quickly became a staple in my daytime routine for its depuffing and illuminating effects. Upon application, it leaves the under eye area feeling refreshed and instantly looking more awake, thanks to synthetic mica. Unlike some eye serums I’ve tried, this one isn’t sticky and works well with makeup & other skincare without any piling or flaking. This was another product I emptied and was like oh.. I’m out. I need this in my AM routine again. Linked here
30. Geek & Gorgeous Jelly Joker
I really like this one ! It has a balmy texture that’s super soothing. Plus, it’s affordable, effective, and gently cleanses without stripping. I love reaching for it on sensitive skin days when I just want something basic and kind to my skin. Linked here
31. Bonajour Peptide Water Cream
This watery, ultra deeply hydrating cream is HANDS UP one of my favorites from the year (and before 2024 too). It’s perfect for combo skin— deeply hydrating, and basically melts in when it touches the skin. It’s scent free and the bottle is HUGE. This lasted me just over a year. The texture is a lovely balance of creamy and watery, it’s perfection. Linked here
32. Dr. Loretta Replenishing Serum
A uniquely textured serum that creates a barrier to replenish the skin, it has a glycerin-like texture that’s deeply hydrating and smooth. Packed with glycolipids, it helps lock in moisture and strengthens the skin’s barrier. Perfect for anyone needing extra hydration or a boost in skin resilience. When I had some crazy dry skin spells last winter, I’d top off my evening skincare routine with this serum and in the AM my skin was softened and flake free. Linked here
33. Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask
A multi-purpose mask or daily moisturizer that’s ideal for drier or combo skin, this mask is enriched with niacinamide and glycerin, which help to hydrate and soothe the skin. I’ve gone through several minis over the years, basically since SF first launched, and it’s one I’ll always keep around. Its nourishing formula provides deep hydration while improving skin texture and tone. Another one where I think you only need the mini size. Linked here
Here’s What Didn’t Make the Cut:
- Youth to the People Cleansing Balm
While it feels luxurious, and I love the glass packaging, and the scent.. .this balm doesn’t do the best job removing mascara or eye makeup. The rinsing process is also a bit tedious, leaving a film behind that I’m not a fan of.. and I dont always want to use a wash cloth or something to get this cleanser off. Pass. - Glossier Future Dew
*expired declutter* The texture was just odd… it clung to my skin in a way that felt unnatural. The “dewy” finish was more weirdly greasy than glowing.. I didn’t see any wow factor to justify the hype. - Glow Recipe Firming Serum
The fake fruit scent of this serum was disgustingly overwhelming. Despite consistent use, I didn’t see any noticeable firming effects or changes to my skin texture, so it didn’t earn its place in my routine. - Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow
I’m glad this is only a mini because I had the full size before but this just confirmed to me that I don’t like this. While it gave my skin a slight dewy sheen, it didn’t do much else but sit on the skin. The finish was a bit tacky and sticky, and I found myself reaching for other hydrating products that worked better without the uncomfortable finish. Double pass. - 100% Pure Coffee Bean Eye Cream
The scent of this eye cream was so insanely overpowering it almost made me gag—it was a synthetic, fake coffee smell. Plus, the formula didn’t dry down well, just slipped around and left my under-eye area feeling sticky. The amount of product you get in here vs shelf life and how little you need, feels overall like a waste. - Youth to the People Retinol
While the formula itself was fine, the packaging was a pain. The pump kept clogging and then squirting the product out, and I didn’t love the noticeable yellowish tint it left on my skin, especially in the morning, which made me stop using it. - Paula’s Choice Triple Active Repair Serum
This made me break out. The combination of ingredients caused irritation, and the texture felt a bit too thick for my liking. - e.l.f. Whoa Glow SPF
The texture of this sunscreen was thick and difficult to work with. It pilled like crazy. The glow was subtle but nothing extraordinary, and the formula just didn’t sit well with my skin. No thanks. - Kinship Brightwave Serum
The creamy texture of this serum wasn’t my favorite—it felt a bit too heavy. I prefer something lighter and more fluid during my serum steps in my skincare routine. The results didn’t wow me either, so it didn’t make the cut. Bye. - Paula’s Choice C15 Booster
This product has an incredibly short shelf life, just three months, so it felt like too much product going to waste. Can you tell this is a pet peeve of mine ? It doesn’t make sense for me to buy it knowing I’d only have a small window to use it up which is impossible even with two times a day .. which I don’t even want anyway. - Cocokind Silk SPF 30
Unfortunately, this sunscreen didn’t work well for me. It pilled with other products, which was super frustrating, and I couldn’t get it to sit right on my skin. It just didn’t deliver the smooth, breathable protection I was hoping for.
