Welcome back to Beauty Empties! As we’ve said before, Beauty Empties might be a fun little way to review products together since I am apparently inept at being *particular* with what I finish, and instead have a near-compulsive need to finish anything I start (unless it’s blatantly harming me in some way). Maybe it’s my people-pleasing tendencies coming to the surface or my innate need to make people feel comfortable in a room, as if a tube of lackluster drugstore mascara will be mortally offended if I decide it’s not good enough.
Either way, here we are. With a bag full of empty beauty products whose fates will now be known. For better or worse. 😉
LIVING PROOF PERFECT HAIR DAY DRY SHAMPOO
Hands down, the best dry shampoo I’ve ever tried. Which is speaking more volume than any hair volumizing product beloved by southern belles could ever express, to paint a sortof picture here. Mind you, your girl loveloveloves her some dry shampoo. Really, dry shampoo is a bit more relevant than oxygen on any given Thursday, when it’s another three days until “wash day.”
Living Proof’s dry shampoo is unique in that its formula is designed to actually CLEAN hair in a waterless way. Now, you may be thinking, doesn’t ALL dry shampoo work to clean your hair in a waterless way. I thought the same, dear reader. But alas, no. This is not the case. (As an aside, I just realized I typed “alas.” Like, who I am? I am listening to Bridgerton the Musical while typing so please excuse any references that feel fitting for 18th century England. Mentally, I am there and the Duke of Hastings is with me. 😉 ).
As I was saying, apparently, many dry shampoos actually just serve to soak up oil, but then you’re left with a sortof cakey, dusty residue on your scalp and a dullness to your hair until your next actual shampoo. NOT THIS ONE! It’s THE dry shampoo that gets me through a full week between washes. I now buy the Jumbo size and ALWAYS have at least one bottle in my product drawer!
ESTEE LAUDER ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR
This serum is the brand’s #1 option and works for all skintypes. Now, I was definitely impressed when using. But I think I was even MORE impressed in Googling the product afterwards to learn more for this post! The Advanced Night Repair serum’s formula is actually patented until 2033. 2033!!! I couldn’t even tell you what I’ll be doing for dinner this weekend, let alone in 2033. But I guess I can count on this still being in my skincare routine? HA.
The gist: it’s a deeply-penetrating serum to reduce the look of multiple signs of aging, largely caused by environmental factors from everyday life, to leave skin looking smoother, younger, less lined, more radiant, and even toned. I mean, sign a sister up amiright? It claims to provide 72-hour hydration and 8-hour anti-oxidant power protections from just one dropper, and also strengthening the skin barrier in four hours.
Apparently, 89% of women who finished one bottle said their skin felt firmer. I’d say I’m in that boat, too. It works with your skin’s natural nightly repair process, and coupled with the hydration, it’s a great setup for really maximizing your skin’s natural repair!
DOVE CREAM OIL SHEA BUTTER BODY LOTION
Really liked this drugstore body lotion! Not greasy at all, definitely hydrating, and I’m a big fan of anything that smells like shea butter/vanilla. A nice one that absorbs quickly.
HASK CHIA SEED VOLUMIZING DRY SHAMPOO
This drugstore dry shampoo gets points for being sulfate, paraben, and aluminum-free. And it’s a GREAT option if you need dry shampoo for brunettes since it brushes out very well! The “oil absorption” it claims to do sounds a bit reminiscent of Living Proof’s, but it’s not AS good as the ol’ LP – but I wouldn’t expect it to be since the Living Proof is $20+ and this one is under $10!
NEURO STYLE PROTECT HEATCTRL IRON HAIRSPRAY
I RARELY use regular hairspray at this point – typically, my product of choice is one with the duality of both a heat protectant AND light hold. This one is in the Paul Mitchell family and I’d definitely repurchase, although I have a few Living Proof ones that work similarly in my drawer right now. But, would recommend! I just spray a section of hair lightly right before taking the curling wand to it – gives nice thermal protection while providing light hold that isn’t sticky or stiff.
MURAD PREBIOTIC 4-in-1 MULTICLEANSER
So APPARENTLY, prebiotics work alongside probiotics in skincare to really help solidify + strengthen the surface of your skin, which is good for everything from protecting against free radicals to preventing signs of aging. Lots of functionality here, people. I kept this cleanser in my shower and using on my little Konjac sponge every morning – no complaints, except that for the price point, I’d just get my Tula cleanser instead since it’s less money for more product and does the same job better. (+ get 15% off Tula with code COMINGUPROSES).
IT BYE BYE PORES PRIMER
OK SO you know how I said I always finish things unless they’re actually REALLY DISLIKED?? This one didn’t make the cut. While I lovelovelove SO many It Cosmetics products, I couldn’t with this primer. It says it’s oil-free but it just felt so greasy on my skin and not at all what I look for in a primer. Pass!
IT CONFIDENCE IN YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP PILLOW CREAM
If you’re someone big on smell, you’ll lovelovelove this stuff. It actually became a subconscious necessity in my nighttime routine since it smells like lavender! So I did not know this before, but in May 2020, it actually was awarded the #1 night facial moisturizer in America!!! How wild, right?! I’m always a big fan of multi-purposed products like this that aren’t just one dimensional; this one is formulated to visibly improve the top 5 signs of aging (fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, dullness, and loss of firmness). AND it’s tested and proven to not transfer onto your pillow, so that you actually absorb what you put on your face!
PIXI NOURISHING CLEANSING BALM
This cleansing balm is a balm-to-oil cleanser with sweet almond oil and cocoa butter inside. While I think it did the job, I didn’t love that you do feel a bit of residue unless you reaaaaally wipe it up repeatedly with a wet washcloth, which feels counterproductive since cleansing balms are supposed to be a deep cleanse minus added stress from manually scrubbing your face. So, it felt a bit greasy. I’d recommend splurging on my fave Colleen Rothschild cleansing balms instead (and you can get an extra 20% off of them with code ERICA20).
WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR LATEST BEAUTY EMPTIES FROM YOUR VANITY/SHOWER/ETC?
Have you tried any of mine yet? Here are more Beauty Empties to check out!
