Today's empties post is a little over due. I promised myself I would only keep empties for 30 days and then let them go as last time I held onto them for almost 9 months. I feel shame. In my defense, I was trying to keep a whole year's worth of empties in an attempt to get a visual understand of how much I go through in a year. But then I had to move, and moving bags of empties across town and up 3 flights of stairs to my new apartment...I'm not about that life. I have limits. 

However, I then started to find myself collecting empties again in my new apartment. So I decided today was going to be the day. A glorious new day in which I will cease hoarding empty packaging because frankly, I don't have the physical nor the mental space to hang on to these things. I'm trying to be a minimalist here! It doesn't help me if I'm trying to declutter and then just keep the exact stuff I was trying to get rid of. What is my life. 

I have noticed that if I write down my "goals" for empties in my bullet journal, i.e. the products I want finished by the end of the month, I am very likely to achieve those goals, though they have to be realistic goals (writing down a full bottle of shampoo isn't going to make that shampoo go away by the 30th, but a small tube of face cream will). By keeping these products in the front of my mind and in my planner, I am more likely to be diligent in using them. Case in point, October was a great month for empties and I kept adding product goals throughout the month and finishing them. In November I didn't use my journal very much, so didn't make a list of empty goals...and not very much was accomplished. Just a thought for those of you trying to get through your pile of junk. A snapshot of December's empties goals are below:

So far this year I have not repurchased any skincare, beauty, body or hair item except for mascara. I can see progress in my bathroom cabinet, where all the skincare and body care items are, but I really haven't made much of a dent in my makeup collection. I'm going through foundation and powders slowly, but have yet to go through any other products. I may need to do a no buy for 2016 as well, sigh. Is there an end in sight?

First off, while we are on the topic of makeup:

Mistine Compact powder - I repressed it but its crumbling and not really worth the mess it's making everytime I use it. It was nothing special, will probably not buy it again.

CoverGirl Lash Blast mascara (Very Black) - This is probably "The One" for me, and I bought a replacement for it yesterday. 

Kat Von D Lockit Tattoo Foundation - I had the shade 54 medium. It was slightly too dark for me but I made it work. Great coverage, blends really well with beauty blender but a little cakey with a brush. This stuff was bomb, I'd get it again for sure. But not anytime soon though...I'm looking at you, foundations left in my collection....I'm looking at you.

Chapstick Lip Balm in Cake Batter - picked this up last Christmas, its nice :) I love Chapstick.

Revlon Base and Top Coat - meh...this is my second one and I decided I'm going to try something else. It worked alright as a base coat but does not dry quickly enough for a top coat. 

Next up, skincare:

SkinEffects by Dr Jeffry Dover 2 step 8% Glycolic Acid pads - I think it helped brighten my skin and fade acne scars...but I can't be sure. I'd be interested in other glycolic acid products in the future.

Borghese Fango body polish sample - I got this in a subscription box, it's got a good grit, I used it for my feet. Actually belongs in the body section of the empties but I'm not redoing the photo. Smelled weird. Would not buy. 

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser - This was not memorable and although I didn't have any problem with it, I won't be buying it again. 

DDF Amplifying Elixir - This one also came in a sample box. It made my skin feel very soft, I used it twice a day before moisturizer and really liked it. Not sure if it really did anything else for my skin though. Would not buy.

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum - same deal as the DDF, it felt nice but I'm not sure what all it did. Would not buy but am very interested in trying Jurlique products in the future.

SkinInc Brightening Serum - Not sure if it brightened. Would not buy this specific product but may consider buying SkinInc serums in the future. 

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel - not a fan of the smell or the texture. Did not see any positive effects after use. Would not buy.

Oxy Spot Treatment - has 10% Benzoyl Peroxide which is my acne ingredient of choice. It was good, but I prefer Clean and Clear's Persagel 10. Would not buy again. 

GlamGlow Youth Mud - I prefer the SuperMud treatment (in the white tub). This didn't really do much for me, I would not buy this one. 

Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream samples - figured I try to get these knocked out. I really don't see any effect on my undereyes unfortunately, so will not buy this product.

Hair:

Batiste Dry Shampoo - I love this stuff, but not the Tropical scent. Will buy again in a different scent. I'm trying to use up a bottle of baby powder as dry shampoo before I buy any more. 

KMS Hair Play - WTF was this? It was terrible. It took half a can to get my hair to look somewhat decent and had a very strong scent. Will not buy this EVER.

Last up, Body:

The Body Shop Honeymania Shower Gel - I really love these shower gels, scent was great. Will repurchase this in any scent (especially mango and strawberry).

Victoria's Secret Moonlight Dream - Praise Jesus this is the last one. I bought seven of these in one go and have been working at them for almost 2 years. I don't like the foam they produce, they are not moisturizing, and I didn't like many of the scents I picked out. Will not be buying these ever again and I am so glad I'm done with that part of my life. 

Dry Idea Advanced Dry Antiperspirant/Deodorant - yep...it does the job. Not much else to say. Somehow I've accumulated 4 deoderants so I won't be buying any for a while.

The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Foot Spray - Let me preface by saying I love the Body Shop. I would rather shop there than at Bath and Body Works as I feel the Body Shop products are higher quality. But this is $16 mouthwash in a spray bottle. I appreciate the concept, my feet were tingled, but no. Just no. 

Revive Detoxifying Foot Pads - I must say, I got sucked into buying these in TJMaxx in that checkout line of doom. I knew they wouldn't work but I was compelled to buy the pretty pink packet. They are "toxin absorbing" sticky pads that you wear on the bottom of your feet while you sleep and in the morning you take them off and they get all dark with "toxins". They smelled nasty and smeared on my sheets. Bruh. Naw.

Onward to minimalism!