Cruelty-Free Beauty Empties.
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Welcome to the second installment in my Cruelty-Free Beauty Empties series on the blog! I have a few empties videos over on YouTube – check out this playlist. In the videos, I talk about all the empty products, but here I’m highlighting my favorites!
What’s an Empties??
If you’re like “what the heck is an empties,” basically I’m showing you my garbage for the month.
No seriously, in the world of makeup and beauty blogging, enthusiasts, whatever you want to call us… it’s rare that we actually finish using an entire product since we have so many to choose from. It’s a weird concept to the general public because you’re like “well duh, of course I’d use all of my shampoo before I buy another one.”
I think empties videos and blog posts are a good way to see what someone really thinks of a product. Most of the time you see a “review” video, they’ve likely only used the product a handful of times.
Skincare empties.
Derma-E Purifying 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask.
I’m surprised that I’ve gone through a whole face mask, I don’t use them very often.
This was a thick charcoal mask with exfoliating particles. I really enjoyed it when my skin was feeling very oily and just plain yucky. The activated charcoal helped to draw out oils and any gunk from my pores, and the scrubby bits(?) exfoliated and made my skin feel somewhat normal again.
I would recommend this for those with oily skin types, but not for dry or sensitive skin. My skin is combo and goes back and forth between dry and oily, and I used it only one time when my skin was dry. It was too drying and harsh, so I removed it right away. The next time I used it, on an “oily day,” it worked great.
Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes Dark Circle Radiance Concentrate.
Last month I emptied an eye cream that seemed to go on for eternity. I had this little sample from a Petit Vour subscription box a while back, and decided to give it a try before purchasing a new eye cream.
I only got a few weeks of use out of this one, but I enjoyed it. The formula was thicker than the last one I had from Derma-E and felt more hydrating – like it sat on the skin for a bit longer instead of immediately sinking in.
I’m trying a new one now that I like a bit better, but I would consider getting a full size of this one if it was in my budget!
Meow Meow Tweet Geranium Palmarosa Face Toner.
I’ve tried quite a few things from Meow Meow Tweet and they do not disappoint! (Check out this video for a brand overview.)
This is another good option for those with oily skin. It has witch hazel and apple cider vinegar, which are helpful for oily, acne-prone skin. They also suggest to use it as an aftershave!
Honestly, I wasn’t a fan of the scent (because witch hazel), but it goes away after you apply moisturizer. I’d repurchase next time I place an order with them.
Meow Meow Tweet has a great closed-loop system for reducing your waste. You purchase a bottle (like the one in the pic) and then they have bulk refill sizes, so you refill your little bottle over and over. Or, you can purchase the glass bottles without a pump – recycle the glass and keep reusing the pump. They will take back the bulk refills and Terracycle the pumps!
Pixi Glow Tonic.
I really couldn’t tell you how many of these I’ve gone through. Using a glycolic acid toner has helped tremendously with dry patches and rough texture.
The Glow Tonic is a cult favorite for good reason, and I’d suggest to try it if you think you could benefit from glycolic acid.
Some estheticians are leery of the added fragrance, but from what I’ve read, it doesn’t seem to be a problem unless you are sensitive to fragrance.
I’m trying out a different brand of this type of toner at the moment, but I would repurchase it if I don’t end up liking the other one better. I’ll keep you posted.
Pacifica Coconut Water Micellar Cleansing Tonic.
I also couldn’t tell you how many of these I’ve used up. The coconut one is my favorite, but I’ve used all of them but the newest few they’ve came out with. Pacifica does tend to discontinue a lot.
Most of the time I try to use an oil cleanser to remove makeup, as I think it takes less product and is more effective with waterproof mascara. This micellar water does the trick, though!
I use micellar water with my own brand of reusable cotton rounds (they *may* still be available, depending when you’re reading). It takes 1 or 2 of them to completely remove everything, especially if I’m using a full coverage foundation.
I’ll also use the micellar water on a reusable cotton round only on my eyes if I’m wearing glitter – so I don’t rub the glitter all over my face! It’s easy to rinse off the reusable round.
Body care empties.
Everyone 3-in-1 Soap Unscented.
I always choose something unscented if it’s an option. I’m not a fan of scents in general, though something like soap or body wash usually doesn’t linger too long.
This soap was a great value, since it comes in such a large packaging with a pump.
There’s not much really to say about it, it was an unscented soap…
It does say you can use it as shampoo but I found it a bit too drying for that, so I just used it as a body wash. I also used it a lot for washing fresh tattoos since you for sure need an unscented soap.
Makeup Empties.
e.l.f. Cosmetics Sheer Tint Finishing Powder.
This was the second one I’ve finished up this year, and maybe the third total.
A lot of tinted pressed powders are a bit too dark and make my foundation too dark or orange, but this one didn’t change it.
I would buy it again in a pinch, but there is not much product at all, I was able to hit pan after a little over a week of solid use. It also does not have a wide shade range.
Some day I will not use as much powder as I do, but today is not that day haha.
e.l.f. Cosmetics Shine Eraser.
Shine eraser sheets are always handy to have around. You can blot excess oil after you’ve applied makeup, or if you’re lazy like me – you can blot excess oil before you’ve applied makeup.
These are the cheapest ones I’ve found, but you need a few to get the job done. They’re not as absorbent as others I’ve used, but I usually just add in a few when I order from e.l.f. or Ulta.
Those were all of my empties that I’d actually recommend. Check out the video below to see the products I didn’t like! You can also view my whole cruelty-free beauty empties playlist here.
And here is the last empties post.