May 15, 2012

Musings of the Day: Running on Empty….!

I get terribly excited when I finish something. Being a beauty junkie you probably realize how challenging it is to hit pan on an eyeshadow or complete a shower gel or just generally use something up.

When it does happen I feel like throwing a party or at the least having someone pat me on the back and congratulate me for my hard work.

Here’s some products I’ve completely used up recently.

What have you used up recently?

What products do you find difficult to get through?

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • HapaGirl84

    Muse, can I please tell you that I am always morbidly curious about what people finish? I am horrible at finishing beauty products, so I get fascinated at seeing other people’s use-ups. I am weird like that. Most recently, I finished up the Salon Grafix fake Wen conditioning cleanser — I ended up liking it, especially on days when I had JUST washed my hair because of the gym or something. It takes me forever to finish makeup, though, especially blush and bronzer, and I feel like I have a zillion in the stash waiting to be used!

    • the Muse

      lol hapa same here, I rarely finish anything, I get tired of things too quickly and they end up sitting around unused, particularly the case with shower gel!

  • K.B.

    Great post, Muse! I always love hearing about products that makeup junkies have used up/hit pan on. I vary rarely finish anything up (except for maybe mascara) because I have way too much makeup (for me, anyway. I usually only wear makeup to work and/or going out) and I have a short attention span. I finished up a bottle of Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel about a month ago, and I’ve hit pan on NARS Sex Appeal blush (but I still have plenty left). I only use up face cleansers/masks, body wash, toothpaste, and hairspray because I stick to one brand for each of those, so it’s easier to use them up.

    • the Muse

      thanks kb! glad you enjoyed it. I def have a hard time finishing thigns as well! but as far as masks, toothpaste, etc..that def goes fast…wish my makeup/other beauty products went equally as quickly lol!

  • Littlecreek

    I’ve recently just went through a few products. I finished my Skin79 pink label BB cream (using up some other stuff before repurchasing), Murad Anti Acne Anti Aging lotion (repurchase), Murad Skin Perfecting moisturizer (not repurchasing), Fairy Drops mascara (meh). I can get through eyeshadows OK, especially my upper brow bone color since I use it with every look (Blanc Type, it matches my skin tone) but I don’t think I’ve ever used up a blush or even hit pan on one. Just too many options to stick with one long enough. 🙂

  • jenna

    I love this post! I think it satisfies some weird voyeuristic aspect to my makeup obsession haha!
    I’m good at using up hairspray, dry shampoo, cleanser, primers and my MAC sheer pressed powder. I get extra excited when I use up MAC products because of the back 2 MAC program (hello free lippies!!!) Speaking of lippies, I find those and body lotions impossibly hard to use up possibly because my collection grows so much faster than I can use it and I always want to be onto the next brand/scent/colour! Blush and eyeshadow also seem to last me forever and ever although I’ve recently hit pan on Pink Swoon *gets giddy again for free lippy*

  • JoElla

    I have a love/hate relationship with empties posts and videos.

    I love to see what others are using up and what they liked/didn’t like, but then I walk into that mess I call a bathroom, (aka beauty central) and do the heavy sigh because it seems like I only use up shampoos and conditoners and toothpaste and body washes.

    Then I wonder what in the world am I doing wrong?! LOL and as I throw another product to my stash… I am puzzled why things don’t get used up.

    I also like to keep a list on my computer of what I used up for the month. Doing this, I can actually see progress better than if I do it weekly.

  • Cj

    Let’s see the last things I remember I had to replace were…

    Boscia black moisturizer
    Mac prep prime vibrancy eye
    Mac mineralize cream foundation
    Guerlain mattifying/illuminating powder

    I’m sure that’s not all but I can’t think of anything else lol.
    I still got about a third of the Allie SPF 😛

  • Tammie

    Wow! I seriously need to work on finishing what I have, it’s not even funny!

    BTW, the Aube Brightening Powder…would it work w/o concealer to brighten under eyes too or do I need to use it with concealer to get any effects? Even the best concealer tends to look cakey and creasy under my eyes and it’s really tough to find a color that looks natural on my NC10-15 self…

    • the Muse

      best effect would be used with concealer tammie…! think it would look unnatural and possibly drying without concealer.

      • Tammie

        Thanks! I do put powder under my eyes with no drying effect, but if the color is unnatural there is no point…too bad, since I have pretty bad dark circles but I feel like there is nothing I can do :/ Do you have any thoughts on it? I’m really at a loss.

        • the Muse

          this is a translucent white but it might look ghastly on bare skin imho. why are you not using concealer on darker circles? it’s the ideal solution for covering them 🙂

          • Tammie

            The powder I use is Majolica Majorca Pressed Pore Cover, so if it’s not any more pale than that it’s fine…I am NC10-15 at most haha :). But anyway if it’s not got coverage it doesn’t matter, even if it doesn’t look dumb on me.

            I know, it’s just that everything I try ends up creasing like heck….when I squint etc. the skin kind of pulls up in the corner of my eyes and that seems to mess with it…then it seems like under my eyes can’t decide if it’s dry or greasy…it’s very frustrating.

            I think I need something that is thin, but has high coverage which is impossible to find…maybe it will help when I find a foundation that offers some coverage at least…. I just ordered an Innisfree BB cream to try and when I get paid I want to try some Etude House BB powder and another powder (maybe in tandem as one has SPF and the other doesn’t).

            Better than nothing I guess.

          • the Muse

            mmm are you applying it correctly? Do you have fine lines? have you tried a little spot of primer under your eyes to smooth skin first? perhaps try going to a few different counters and having them try it on you directly. Sounds like a click pen would prove great for you, it’s soft, creamy, and will blend easily…maybe dior’s booster pen? quite good stuff.

            I really suggest concealer rather than piling powder under your eyes.

    • Littlecreek

      Hello fellow pale person! I have oily skin so primer is a must for me to ease creasing. MUFE HD Concealer #310 ( I think it’s actually a brightener) is very pale and provides good coverage without being thick. Urban decays concealer in CIA and Bobbi Brown’s corrector in Porcelin Bisque are also good “pale people” options.

      • Tammie

        What primer do you use?

        Thanks for the recommendations for concealers, usually even the “light” colors offered are too dark for me haha.

        • Littlecreek

          LOL I know what you mean, I recently threw out a Clinque foundation (lightest color available) because it gave me an orange mask. 🙁 I use smashbox photo finish light as a primer. It work well on my skin.

  • Jiniya

    I love how this is a phenomenon among us product junkies – we really can’t get around to finishing our products! It is very satisfying to do so, I will agree! I recently finished a body butter, facial cleanser and a bar of soap. I’m in the middle of a Project 10 Pan just so I can just get it done!

    But like you, I get tired of my products quickly so I rarely buy full size. I have a bunch of trial and travel sized products in a big shoebox sized basket I have yet to conquer. Someday! 🙂

    Now I’m inspired to write a blog post on this.. ha!

    • the Muse

      smart choice jiniya! trial sizes def keep things full of variety as you never have to commit to a fuller size that you’ll never use all of ;-D

  • Charlotte

    I have recently “re-entered” the beauty scene after a long hiatus… and I have to admit the “empties” thing going on at YT and blogs had me stumped. Everywhere you look it’s 10-pan this and 20-pan that.

    I love it when an item I’ve purchased seems to last forever. It means not only did I get a good value, I won’t have to shell out $$$ for a new one anytime soon. I do like knowing what people use on a regular basis, but I have to wonder if the entire concept wasn’t developed by cosmetics manufacturers as a way to drum up more business. I just can’t understand people forcing themselves to use a product as much as humanly possible just to get that container empty, not because they love it. What I find especially weird are those who have a pile of products they hate- they did not perform as expected, or even those that react badly to their hair or skin- and they are forcing themselves to use them on a daily basis…. then complaining about how horrible it was. Every time I hear a beauty “guru” bragging about how she finally finished that shampoo that dried her hair out I have to wonder if there is a “beauty martyr” award being handed out that I have not heard about… or if she has lost her mind. Why?!? I have to tell you in no uncertain terms… if I buy a moisturizer, and it breaks me out, it’s going back… or going in the trash. If I buy a lipstick, don’t love the color and hardly ever wear it…. after a while it gets tossed out. There are too many products in the sea, I would rather pay the purchase price again than force myself to use something I hate. What are beauty products for… except to make us happy? They really have no other purpose, no matter what amazing claims are on the labels. If they do not fulfill that basic requirement, get them out of your life and find another that does.

    • the Muse

      hi charlotte no one said I didn’t like any of the products I finished up? These are all products I enjoy using particularly the SPF I listed which is HG (holy grail). So not sure what you mean about using up products that I don’t like???

    • Tammie

      I don’t know about other people, but the people who do project 10-pan that I know of, and what I similarly want to do, is to save money since we buy something, use it only a bit then cast it off.

      I want to complete things to justify the purchase, really. If you only use it a few times the price just doesn’t add up. Sure, some LE things I don’t want to use but staples and things that are perm are good to get your moneys worth out of.

  • Tammie

    I do have fine lines, even though I’m 26 (sob) but I have no idea if I am applying it correctly. For one thing I only do my makeup in the AM and I don’t touch up during the day, so I am not really open to experimenting other than maybe on the weekends, since if I screw up I have to go through the day looking like that. This is why I also very rarely wear eyeliner, although I did learn a technique for that that got me to at least try again on weekends.

    I don’t use a primer at all, the only one I have is the L’oreal one but it gets cakey very easily if you rub something over it too much. The only thing I wear around my eyes in particular is Etude House Eye’s Cream in Vanilla Moist.

    I will definitely try the Dior, I do think click pens seem more “watery” so that may indeed be the solution to my problem. I really do need/want to cover my dark circles, since people often think I am tired or not feeling well because of them (well not often, but it’s happened in the past. My eyes are also fairly deep set and hooded so anything that makes my eyes brighter helps!

    Thanks a lot for your help :). I happen to be going to the mall tonight so I will try the Dior.

  • Pooja

    Bllushes & bronzers I never finish them maybe there are so many new ones coming out that I end up buying before the first ones are done,but fragrances I empty the bottles pretty soon

  • Phyrra

    I go through shower gel easily. I find skincare products hard to finish unless I absolutely love them. I’ve had NO TROUBLE finishing LaVanila SPF 40 moisturizer with SFP. On my 5th or so of that.

  • Rachel

    I recently finished Dior BlackOut mascara, Grisi Sulfur soap (my 3rd bar), and Revlon Lip Butter in Sugar Plum. I love to see what people finish too!

  • jamie

    oh god i’m the same! when ppl say a serum usually last 2-3 mo, i look at them and go like, uh no its gonna last me 6 mo at least! for some reason things last forever on me and i only wish my bank account accumulates this fast lol

  • Lulubelle

    I did recently finish a Tarte Clean Slate primer. Umm, that would be it.

  • dina

    i think possibly the first skincare item i’ve ever finished, origins a perfect world mositurizer w/ spf. and if i can fight the urge to try something else def worth a re-purchase! also recently finished pink frosted angel wings philosophy 3-in-1 and snow mittens philosophy hand care. miracle i tell you!!!!! 😀 also finally starting to move through the hundreds of samples i have piled up….

  • meghan

    Hey Muse, quick question about the Dr. Peppermint bar: does it make your skin feel cool/minty? I ask because shampoos like that are ideal for me after I bleach my hair and my poor scalp is all burny.

    • the Muse

      it is cool and refreshing meghan 🙂 but be careful it strips color!

  • Nat

    On the last of my Soap & Glory Body Butter (soooo gewd), and scrapping out the bottom of my tube of Fresh Sugar lip therapy. People complain about it costing a lot, but man – I bought this in January, I only need to use it a few times a day (usually after brushing my teeth/eating), and it’s lasted into 5 months? I call that good value. 🙂

  • Kay

    I recently hit the pan on my Nars Deep Throat blush – ecstatic! Because it means I can go buy another blush because this one is basically finished 😉

  • Kay

    I hit the pan on my Nars Deep Throat the other day – ecstatic! Because it means I can go buy another blusher since this one is basically used up 😉

    • Kay

      Oh, sorry for double post! It didn’t post the first time round! Silly me, too impatient