2013 Empties #6: October

This past month, even though I was trying to get through samples, I also wanted to try and finish up those almost empty products before I returned home to Chicago. 

Including the samples, (check this post) I'd say I did an OK job. Read on to see what I thought, and what made it onto the repurchase list! 

Lush It's Raining Men Shower Gel* 
I enjoyed this honey-floral shower gel, and you can check out the full review here. It is definitely more moisturizing than some other shower gels, but I have too many shower things right now to run out and buy this one. 

Noble Isle Willow Song Shower Gel (GWP)
Love this. The scent is so delicate and pretty. I want to buy it but this is a bit pricier than I'd like, and as previously mentioned, I have too many shower things right now!

Skinfood Avocado Rich Essence Mask
I enjoyed this sheet mask, which felt light and hydrating at the same time. I would definitely purchase this again in the future, and I'm curious to try some of their other sheet masks.

Skinfood Honey Jasmine Bath Salts
These smelled SO good, and I managed to get two baths out of it. Maybe I'm stingy and they should be a one time use thing. I'm not sure they added any benefit besides smelling good, but they're inexpensive enough that I'll definitely pick these up again.

Bath & Body Works Autumn Day Candle
This mini candle was a fall scent with a bit of apple sweetness. The scent was a bit too artificial for my liking, and this mini candle didn't really disperse scent anyway. I think I'll stick to the selection at Anthropologie for my not so horrifyingly expensive candle choices. 

Origins Ginzing Moisturizer
I liked this moisturizer initially, but in the end it just isn't right for my dehydrated skin type. I imagine it would be great for oily/combination skin types or those in humid climates. Read the full review here. 

Lush Veganese Conditioner
I don't know why it took me... a YEAR (!!) to use this conditioner, but I quite liked it. It has a nice scent and worked well too. I don't condition much though, and I still have a handful of conditioners to use up. I would definitely consider purchasing this in the future. Read the original review here.

Aritzia Rose Candle  (GWP)
I really enjoyed this rose scented candle that a received as a gift with purchase at Aritzia in May. I assumed this isn't something that's for sale, but the Aritzia site says call customer service or visit a store. Hmm, very interesting! I didn't consider the idea of repurchasing this, but now I think I might! (Also, I had thought that Royal Apothic English Rose would be similar.)

 Lush Lord of Misrule Bath Bomb*  (not shown)
This was such a fun bath bomb, and I definitely enjoyed using it. Not sure where it falls on the to purchase list though. Check out the review here.

Lush Pumkin Bubble Bar* (not shown)
I can't handle how cute this bubble bar is, and I have to say that the bubble bar and the bubbles it produced lasted FOREVER. I would totally purchase this again! Check out the review here.

Lush Enchanter Bath Bomb* (not shown)
This pink and orange citrus bath bomb is one of my absolute favorites. I would buy this over and over again. Check out my original review here.

Ole Henriksen On the Go Cleanser 
I have to say, this bottle of cleanser lasted forever. They've been repackaged (smaller!) and this creamy gel cleanser was a favorite of mine last year. In the last few months when my skin was super dehydrated and a bit wacky, it wasn't quite right for me, but all in all, I'd say this is a great cleanser. Read the review here.

Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve 
I love this moisturizing hand cream and will definitely repurchase this in the future. Sadly, I have some other hand creams to use up first! 

Finishing things makes me happy. :) Have you tried any of these products? What did you use up in October? 

Products marked with a * were provided for review.  

2013 Empties: #5 August & September

Can you believe it is October already? I sure can't! I had hoped to have more empties to show you today, but I suppose some empties are better than no empties. :) It sure feels good to toss out all that empty packaging! 

I will definitely be repurchasing the Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo and Lush bath bombs. They are staples that I'll be sure to use for ages! The other highlights that I'm likely to purchase are Elemental Herbology Detox Bath Oil, Living Proof Thickening Cream, and a serum or oil from Jack Black's skincare range. 

Do take a peek at the video below to hear more about this round empties. I'd love to know what you think about these products, so please leave a comment below! 

BLOG - bronzerbunny.com TWITTER - twitter.com/bronzerbunny INSTAGRAM - instagram.com/bronzerbunny DISCLAIMER: Some products in this video were provided for review. All other products mentioned were purchased by me or given as gifts by friends and family. All opinions are my own, and I am not being paid to make this video.

2013 Empties: #4 The Sample Edition

These last 2 weeks, I've been on a desperate attempt to finish up some samples. Even though my fiance helped, I think I did well!  

Kate Somerville Quench Oil-Free Hydrating Serum (not pictured)
This was actually quite nice - light, and cooling on the skin. (Though I'm not sure that it is meant to be cooling, it may just be from cold AC, lol!) It absorbed quickly, and felt properly moisturizing. Yay!
Purchase?: Maybe. I'd love to finish up some stuff first before I purchase more skincare. At $65 for 1oz, it is a bit more than I'd want to spend!

Darphin Aromatic Renewing Balm
I was drawn to this stuff because it is lemon scented, and you know how much I love lemon and other citrus scents!  This neat balm was quite soothing on my skin, and really helped to keep my skin calm, hydrated, and dare I say radiant? I only had a small chunk of product in this container, and it lasted forever. Months, really, and I used it every few days. 
Purchase?: Maybe. I've been considering putting my $10 of Space NK points towards this, but it is also pricy at a whopping $70!

Sisley Emulsion Ecologique
I had this sample packet laying around and I smushed it on when I was having a particularly dry day. It was nice and did the job, but I don't even want to to think about how much it is. Plus it wasn't miraculous, so I'm going to pretend it doesn't exist. 
Purchase?: No! Ignoring the fact that this even exists, lol. 

ReVive Intensite Moisture Serum
This serum was SO nice. It was light, and absorbed nicely, and helped keep my skin really hydrated.
Purchase?: Maybe. I would love to, but sadly it is $395. Groan

Jack Black EpicMoisture MP10 Nourishing Oil
I really liked this oil. It absorbed quickly, and felt super hydrated. I'm glad to have tried it!
Purchase?: Yes! I was surprised to find that it is not too pricey! It is totally on my list. 

Pangea Organics Nigerian Ginger with Lavender & Thyme Facial Cream
This cream was decently hydrating, but left a strange not quite tacky feeling on my face. I also don't like lavender scents on my face at all, so this just isn't for me. I do like the idea behind the brand, and would like to look at more of their line. 
Purchase?: No. 

Origins GinZing Moisturizer
I think I received this sample when I bought this moisturizer - how funny! Anyway, I liked the orange scent and light texture of this cream, and it seemed to provide an appropriate amount of moisture. I'll be sure to review it soon!

Aesop Moroccan Neroli Post-Shave Lotion  
My fiance used this one after shaving one day, and was alarmed to find that it didn't absorb in right away. After a few minutes though, it totally absorbed in and did the job. I don't know if it is a miraculous product, but I have another sample packet that maybe I will try on part of my leg or something! Also, I vaguely hoped it would smell like Tom Ford Neroli Portofino, and it was more herbal/spicy. 
Purchase?: Not sure. Needs more investigation!

Boscia White Mask
This white mask reminded me a bit of glue, which was a bit alarming at first as I didn't expect it. It also didn't peel off like I expected, but it left my complexion looking even, clear, and even a bit glowy! 
Purchase?: Maybe. I'd like to look at all of Boscia's available masks!

Lancome Milky Cream Face Cleanser
I'm a bit of a cheat on this one, as I didn't completely use it up, but it was an average non-drying cleanser that I didn't love or hate. Maybe I should've given it more of a chance, but I didn't love the slightly chemical scent. 
Purchase?: No. I have cleansers I love, so I'll pass on this. 

Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque  
I used a sample of this a few weeks ago, and I was on the fence. The more I use this, the more I think that this mask really does keep your skin clear. I definitely want to try it now! 
Purchase?: Yes. It is on my list now, along with the Parsley Seed Serum!

Glam Glow Super-Mud Clearing Treatment
I was a bit frightened to try this, as it seemed so intense, but it was a decent mud mask. I think we made a bit of a mess, but the mask was fun to try and not horribly drying or anything. 
Purchase?: Probably not. I don't need more clay type masks at the moment!

Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Masque
My fiance tried this one, and I have no memory of how he liked it. I know he had no objections, and liked the cooling texture, but I don't know what else!
Purchase?: Probably not. I have too many masks now, haha!

Korres White Tea Cleanser
This smelled nice - light and fruity. It wasn't too drying for a gel cleanser, and it was just fine on my skin. 
Purchase?: No. It wasn't bad, but I prefer the cleansers I have. 

Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloth
This cleansing cloth was quite nice - fresh scent, no residue, and not drying! All the things I look for in a pinch. I'm bummed that Sephora no longer carries the brand and it totally fell off my radar. 
Purchase?: Yes. It is on my list! 

Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Arancia di Capri
When I sniffed this at the store, it was a delightful concoction of orange and floral. Once I worked through this sample, I knew the scent wasn't one for me, but I still found it to be a neat scent. 
Purchase?: No. Not in love with them, so I gotta save my dollars!

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino
This is gorgeous, and I gladly used up the sample. Light and fresh, this is such a perfect summer scent for those who don't want too much floral or fruit but still like a hint of it in their fragrances.
Purchase?: No. I have Diptyque L'Eau de Neroli, which is also in the same family, and I'm loving my new perfume purchase!

THE TOSS PILE
As I was cleaning up my collection, I found these things that were quite ready to be tossed. Mysterious perfume samples that aren't too thrilling and also probably at least 5 years old, a sad broken Chanel Aqua Crayon in Velveteen that had its fair share of fun back in the day, and a sample of 3Lab The Cream that my fiance managed to use and then leave in a drawer that he found to be quite mediocre.  

So there you have it! What do you think of all the samples I got through?? Have you tried and loved any of these products? 

2013 Empties: #3 May-July

Most of you know that I was away in California from May-July, and I wanted to see how many products I could get through in that amount of time.  

While I managed to get through some smaller sized products and a good amount of samples, I've realized that my fiance is really the one who is accomplished at empties. He managed to finish a bottle of John Varvatos Artisan, a fresh lightly citrus scent that I even wear every once in a while. He also finished a jar of Ole Henriksen Nurture Me (review) that we had been working on for a while. 

So here are the goodies that I finished! Read on to find out what I thought! 

Lush Avobath
This bath bomb has always been one of my favorites. It has a light citrus scent and some moisturizing properties. 
Repurchase?: Yes, and I have before!

Lush Secret Garden*
Released for Mother's Day, this fun pink and green floral bath bomb was fun. Check out my review here.
Purchase?: Maybe, when I'm not overflowing with so many bath goodies! 

Lush Mumkin*
Another Lush Mother's Day release, this floral bubble bar was a fun treat. Check out my review here. 
Purchase?: Probably not, as I much prefer the citrusy Brightside bubble bar! 

Lush Back for Breakfast*
I quite enjoyed this citrusy shower gel from Lush, though I would say that their Happy Hippy one smells even better! Check out my original review here. 
Purchase?: Probably not, as I would rather buy Happy Hippy when I run out of shower gels!

Dior Diorshow Maximizer (mini) 
I love getting my hands on these mini diorshow maximizers, as it doesn't feel as wasteful to toss them after a few months. This is one of my staple items that I can't live without, and it just does wonders to define and volumize lashes. It works great with any mascara too! 
Repurchase?: Yes, and I have many times before and will keep buying it forever! 

Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl (mini) 
I liked this mascara for how natural it looked and felt. It gave my lashes some nice curl too! Check out my review here. 
Purchase?: If it becomes more difficult to buy Fairydrops Scandal Queen mascara, then I would definitely get this one or Extase from Dior. 

Bliss "that's incredi-peel" (sample) 
I wasn't sure what to expect from this sample, but my skin was definitely tingly when I wiped this on. Afterwards, my skin was nicely glowing and perfectly happy, which was a relief! 
Purchase?: Not sure. I think if I ever made it through the masks I own and then piles of samples, then I would consider this, but at this point I'm not crazy about it to just run out and buy it. 

Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water Cloth (sample) 
I love the Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water, so I was excited to try this. I quite like makeup wipes for those lazy days, and the spa water always makes my skin look and feel good. This removed my makeup well, and made my skin look as if I had cleansed it properly. 
Purchase?: Maybe, as it does seem to be a pricey product. I'll have to consider it more! 

Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight Kit Candle (mini)
I burned this little candle from my hotel room, and it burned well and lasted quite a while. It did have a light musky scent that I can't really describe, but the scent didn't really disperse during burning like I would have expected. 
Purchase?: No. There's so many other candles to have, and I'm not even sure that this one is for sale outside of the Candlelight Kit? 

Aesop Parsley Seed Mask (sample) 
i had heard so many good things about this mask, so I asked for samples at Barney's one day. This clay mask was quite pleasant, and hardened after a while. (Fun!) I wasn't breaking out much, fortunately, but I also couldn't test how well it treated breakouts. 
Purchase?: Maybe. I have another packet around to try, and maybe I'll give that a go when I'm actually breaking out! 

Aesop Sage & Cedar Scalp Treatment (sample) 
I got a tiny tiny bit of this treatment in a gigantic sample jar, but from what I could tell, it was nice to massage it into my scalp. It did seem to soothe my itchy scalp and make it generally less itchy, but I'm curious how effective this could be in a haircare routine. 
Purchase?: Maybe. I would like to try it out more, and I would consider it if it isn't terribly expensive. 

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Serum (mini)
I had wanted to buy this forever, as my fiancé always piled it on whenever we were shopping at Sephora together. I was happy to get a small deluxe sample as a 100-point perk at Sephora, and it lasted quite a while. Something about this formula seems to dry up around the rim of the packaging, and I've seen that clogs up the pump on the testers too. The product itself is decently moisturizing, but seems to have a bit of a tacky feel if you put on too much at once. 
Purchase?: No. I like their Pure Youth Activating Oil better! 

Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial (sample) 
I was on the hunt for a hydrating overnight mask, ad this somewhat new release from Korres really caught my eye. The scent is a bit tart like yogurt, but this creamy product really hydrates. There is apparently a rose version as well, so I'm curious to try that out!
Purchase?: Yes! (And I did buy it for my birthday haha!)

Diptyque Satin Oil (sample)
This nicely scented body oil was a nice treat to try. I liked putting it on arms and legs, and I think it is such a great luxurious product for summer. I don't know how moisturizing it is compared to other oils out there - though I did find it more moisturizing than Caudalie Divine Oil - but I still would like even more hydration as my legs are dry! On my hair, it was ok, but I don't have much experience with hair oil either to really judge the product. 
Purchase?: Maybe. It does seem pricey, and I would like to explore more oils first to compare.

Diptyque Precious Oil (sample) 
This is scented like the Satin Oil and other body items from Diptyque. I didn't find this to be moisturizing on the skin at all, and while it scented the bath quite nicely, I would have really liked it to provide some moisture like many other products do. 
Purchase?: No. I didn't' find it very moisturizing, so I don't think it would be worth the money.

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6 (sample) 
I picked up a sample pot from Nordstrom because I kept hearing good things. It has light to medium coverage, which I love, and the finish is pretty natural. I plan to do a proper review eventually!
Purchase?: Yes! (It was another birthday present for myself!) 

Darphin 8 Flower Nectar (sample) 
This oil is meant to boost the skin and tackle aging. It has a nice herbal and slightly floral scent, and was quite luxurious to use. The SA at Space NK that made me a sample said that it helped her a lot with hormonal breakouts, and I can't say for sure that it worked for me, but I sure didn't have breakouts of any kind when I used this. 
Purchase?: No. It is too expensive, and while it did seem effective, it wasn't miraculous. I would love to try it more though!

Nude Perfect Cleansing Oil (sample) 
I've been curious about cleansing oils and haven't had much experience with them. This did feel nice, but I wouldn't use it by itself to remove makeup. As a cleanser, while it did feel soothing, non-irritating, and non-drying, it didn't give me that nicely clean feel. There wasn't any residue, so that was good - I just never felt clean! Maybe I was doing something wrong? 
Purchase?: No. It didn't do much for me. 

REN No1 Purity Cleansing Balm (5ml sample, not pictured) 
I used up a whole deluxe sample of this, and while it had a nice balmy texture and was not irritating to my skin, I wasn't super excited by it. It wasn't drying, so I suppose that was good. I don't know, maybe I didn't use it right? 
Purchase?: No. It was ok, but I suspect there are better ones out there to try! 

All in all, I feel good to be finishing things up, even if it is mostly small sizes and samples.. I feel like I'll never get through all of the products I own! What have you finished lately? Have you tried any of these products? I'd love to know! 

P.S. You can look forward to a sample-centric empties post at the end of the month, featuring the things I've been using since I got home this past Saturday!  

Products marked with a * were provided for review. All opinions are my own, and 100% honest! :)