March '25 Empties
March flew by, but not without giving a few beauty products their final send-off. This month’s empties are a mix of skincare staples, makeup MVPs, and a couple of “won’t be repurchasing” moments. Some of these were love-’til-the-last-drop, and others… not so much. As always, I’ll share whether they’re worth restocking, or if they’re making room for something better. Let’s get into what I used up — and what I really thought once the bottles were empty.
Here’s how I’m breaking down my empties today:
Holy Grail: OyinHand Made Hair Pomade
The Underwhelmed: The Rootist Densifying & Thickening Serum
The Luxe Treat: L’Occitane Shower Oil
Surprise Hero: Ouai Detox Shampoo
Hair Care Empties
Price: $14 for 3oz
The Ouai Detox Shampoo is a clarifying shampoo that’s formulated with apple cider vinegar and keratin. The combination helps to deeply cleanse the hair and scalp whilst helping to strength the hair. I really love that almost of all of their products are available in a travel size too. The 3oz bottle is obviously perfect to travel with, but for me it was the perfect size to full test out the shampoo for a few months to see how my hair responds to it.
Being that I use a lot of heavy butters and gels in my hair, a clarifying shampoo is a must in my hair care routine. The Detox shampoo foams up well and does a great job to cleanse my hair without leaving it feel stripped. The detox shampoo has the signature Melrose scent from the Ouai, which smells like rose with hints of bergamot, lychee, cedarwood, and white musk. The Melrose fragrance is one of my favorites and another reason why I look forward to using this shampoo! Being that I cycle through quite a few shampoos and conditioners at times, I will likely repurchase this detox shampoo again in this travel size.
The Rootist Densifying & Thickening Serum
Price: $25 for 1oz
The Rootist Thickening Serum is said to help with shedding, hair fallout, and thinning at the scalp in as little as 90 days. The serum has a watery consistency, which made it pretty easy to distribute the product over my scalp. I’m happy to say that the serum didn’t feel sticky or have a noticeable scent to it. I tried to use the serum every morning and with this usage I would say that it lasted me about 2 months. While using the serum I would say I had less hair shedding. Based on the description it’s recommended to use the products for a minimum of 3 months to see results. Being that the serum is so pricey, and I didn’t see much of a difference when finishing this one bottle, I don’t think it’s worth it for me to repurchase it.
Oyin Handmade Shine and Seal Hair Pomade
Price: $14.99 for 4oz
One of my favorite hair products that has been in my routine for at least a decade at this point. The shine and seal pomade does such a great job at keeping my hair moisturized for days on ends. I prefer to apply it to damp hair for better absorption, being that it is an oil based product. If you have natural curly hair that’s in the 4 range and in need of some extra moisture, I would highly recommend giving them a try. I really love that the brand sells both full size and travel size products.
Previous Reviewed: RIDE OR DIE: HAIR CARE FAVORITES
Body Care Empties
Price: $22 for 4oz
The Golden Hour scent from Saltair is one of my favorites. It has notes of sunflower, pineapple, and coconut. The body oil is housed in a glass bottle with a pump applicator giving it a more elevated look and making it more convenient to use. The oil itself is formulated with a variety of different oils such as Kukui, Cacay, Moringa, Squalane & Karanja Oils, and Fermented Saururus Oil. The combination creates a highly moisturizing and nourishing body oil. I really loved using this body oil during the fall and winter months on a damp skin. The oil absorbed beautifully without feeling heavy or sticky on the skin. I would recommend giving this one a try and I can definitely see myself repurchasing it in the future.
Price: $20 for 1.7oz
As someone who has KP (Keratosis Pilaris), I’m always on the lookout for new products to try out that may help. The KP Treatment Stick is formulated with 10% AHA , niacinamide, and zinc pca to help gently exfoliate, soothe the skin, and reduce the look of discoloration. The stick applicator helped for an easier application. The formula of the stick is very solid, so it did take a little effort in terms of applying it to the skin. I was on the fence when I initially started using it since I did see much of a difference at first. The directions recommends for the smoothing stick to be applied to the skin 2-3 times a week. Being that my skin is accustomed to using actives, I decided to be more consistent with the stick using it more frequently (every other day). I found that with this frequency of usage I was able to see more of a noticeable difference. With consistent usage I notice that the areas of KP that I had became softer to the touch, the dark areas that began to lighten up, and the KP bumps started to slowly diminish. Based on the results and ease of use, I would definitely repurchase!
Bioderma Pigmentbio Foaming Cream
Price: $43.99 for 2.5oz
Described as the first skincare product that’s formulated to reduce the appearance of dark spots in sensitive and intimate areas. For some reason I initially thought this was a face cleanser and when checking the expiration date I noticed that this was set to expire soon, so I thought it would be a good idea to use it on my body – especially my underarms and the back of my arms. The unscented formula starts as a creamy consistency and when introduced to water transforms into a foam. It’s recommended to be used help brighten areas of friction like the knees, elbows, underarms, thighs, and groin. I really appreciate that this is unscented and how hydrating the formula is. I expected the formula to be more drying, knowing it likely contained an active like azelaic acid for its brightening effect. I feel like the foaming cream did a good job in terms of brightening a few areas of my body, which helped to even my skin tone. I always thought of Bioderma as more on the affordable side, but I feel like this is pretty pricey for the size. Overall, I liked it, but not enough to repurchase it for the full retail price.
L’Occitane Nourishing and Protective Shea Butter Hand Cream
Price: $32 for 5.2oz
Hands down this is one of the best hand creams ever! This hand cream has been a favorite of mine for years- especially during the winter months. Over the years I’ve made it a point to have the L’Occitane hand cream in my arsenal for the winter season. I feel like it’s the only hand cream that really works for me to help with extremely dry hands that are almost at the point of cracking. I love how well the cream nourishes my hands and how soft it makes them feel without feeling greasy. There’s also something about the shea butter scent that I find so nostalgic. I can’t recommend this one enough and I think it makes a great gift year-round.
L’Occitane Cleansing and Softening Shower Oil with Almond Oil
Price: $29 for 8.4oz
The L’Occitane Shower Oil is one of my favorite products and one of the reasons why I ranked it as one of my top products back in 2023. Since then, the shower oil has become a staple in my shower routine. I really love how well the formula lathers, so a little bit of product tends to go a long way. After each and every use with the L’Occitane shower oil my skin always feels so soft and smooth. If you’re looking for a luxe addition to your shower routine that really helps to nourish your skin in the long run, I would highly recommend trying this one out.
Previously Reviewed – Top 10 Beauty of 2023
Face Care Empties
Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Nourishing Daily Serum
Price: $21.99
The Ceramide Barrier Serum is one of my favorites from Cocokind. I typically used the serum in my nighttime routine – preferably for my tretinoin night routines. I love the milky consistency and how hydrating the serum is. Since using the serum in my routines, I do feel like it helped with supporting the barrier of my skin. I honestly cannot recommend this serum enough!
Previously Reviewed: Nov & Dec’23 Empties
Grown Alchemist Gentle Facial Cleanser
Price: $38 for 6.76 oz
The Gentle Cleanser from the Alchemist is formulated to help brighten, balance, and decongest the skin. I particularly enjoyed how gentle the formula of the cleanser was. This was my go-to cleanser for my morning routines and sometimes for my evening routines. I do feel like the cleanser is a nice option as an all-around cleanser. The only thing I could see that may be problematic about this cleanser is the fragrance. I believe that the Grown Alchemist only uses natural fragrances, but I do think the notes of Germanium, Bergamot, and Rose Bud can be quite strong to many. I actually like the scent and found it to be more on the earthy side.
Youth to the People Adaptogen Mist (now discontinued)
Price: $42 for 4oz (discounted price - $25.20)
The YTTP facial mist has been a favorite of mine, which is why I was so sad to hear that it’s been discontinued. I typically kept this mist in my bathroom and often reached for it immediately after washing my face for both my morning and evening routines. The adaptogen mist did a great job to hydrate and moisturize my skin. I feel like this step aided as a crucial step to help the subsequent skincare products penetrate better into my skin. I was able to locate a stock of some of the mists discounted at Sephora Kohl’s! I may or may not pick up a bottle!
Previously Reviewed: Summer Empties ’22
Price: $28 for 60 patches
I believe this is my 3rd empty jar of the CosRx Snail Hydrogel eye patches and I can tell you won’t be my last! I’ve been able to locate several jars at marshall’s at a discounted price even though I think they are well worth the full price.
I really love how well these eye patches hydrate and depuff my under eyes. I also appreciate that the jar contains 2 different sizes of the eye patches, which can be used all over the face. Sometimes I would use the conventional size under my eyes and the smaller size on different areas of my face like my laugh lines and in between my brows. I can’t recommend this eye patches enough!
Previously Reviewed – January’25 Empties
Loreal Infallible 3 Second Setting Mist Spray
Price: $13.99 for 1.76oz
The L’oreal Infallible Setting Mist is micro-fine mist that helps to set makeup to make it transfer resistant, water resistant, and smudge resistant. I used the setting mist for the past several months and I really enjoyed the results! I know this mist claims to have very strong promises and for the most part I can say that it works. However, I don’t think there’s much that be done to make makeup transfer proof or resistant thus leading to 36 hours. I do think that this setting spray did an excellent job at helping to prolong my makeup. Unlike other setting sprays that I’ve tried, I do think that this one has the finest mist that I ever tried! I loved that this setting spray was so fine that it didn’t leave my face feeling wet, it’s almost like it dries automatically. As for the finish, I would rate it as being slightly satin as it doesn’t have a matte or dewy finish.
So, you’re probably waiting for a con, right? The only negative thing I can say is the scent, but I didn’t find the scent offensive enough to not use it! I do think those that are sensitive to scents may be on the fence with this one. Being that I really enjoyed this setting mist and how it helps to prolong my makeup, I will definitely repurchase it in the future.
Candle Empties
Price: $15 for 15.1oz
I originally purchased this candle from Target back during the Christmas holiday season. The candle features a scent profile that captures the festive spirit of Puerto Rican holidays. If you know me, then you know I love coquito. It’s a scent that I rarely see in fragrances, so I was happy to find this in a candle form. Being that this is a seasonal scent, the candle is not available.
Mala the Brand Candle – Crunch
Price:$20 for 4oz
Mala the Brand makes candles that 100% vegan and formulated with coconut soy wax, which are known to burn cleaner. Their cereal candle is one of my favorites and actually smells like Fruit Loops cereal. Being that I loved that one so much, I purchased a variety of their candles almost 2 years ago and I’ve been slowly burning them. I believe the Crunch scent is apart of the Cereal Limited edition collection. The scent contains notes of cinnamon, vanilla, and maple. I think it strongly smells like cinnamon toast crunch cereal. I enjoyed this scent more than I thought I would! The scent throw on it was decent and this candle size worked very well for a smaller space. I’ve gone through several of their candles, and I have to say they burn kind of iffy. My first candle from the brand burned well and I didn’t experience any issues whatsoever. But the subsequent candles tend to burn unevenly, which often leads to a significant amount of wax left behind. Being that their candles have wood wicks, it can be kind of tricky to get a very good burn.
Bath and Body Works Croissant Candle
Price: $26.95 for 14.5oz
Fragrances notes: toasted almonds, vanilla glaze and flakey croissant.
Almond croissant are one of my favorite pastries, so I was happy to see the Bath and Body Works made a candle in this scent. I find the majority of the Bath and Body Works candle decently scented. But I found this particular scent to be extremely potent. Scent wise I really loved it. in my opinion the candle smells very much like a sweet bakery. The candle is described as being more of nutty, buttery scent. I get those notes, but I also get more of the vanilla notes. Overall, I really enjoyed the scent and being that this particular is stronger than other BBW candles that I’ve tried in the past, I would recommend burning this in a bigger space. Being that I really enjoyed this candle, I already repurchased it in the 1 wick size.
Misc. Empties
Sephora Collection Cotton Pads
Price: $4.50 for 50 pads
I’ve been hooked on these Sephora Collection pads and for good reason! They’re really durable and I really like the size of them! I think these are well worth the full price, but I typically pick these up during Sephora sales when they’re 30% off. I really love using these cotton pads with micellar water, toners and sometimes to remove face masks. I can’t recommend these enough!
Previously Reviewed – Nov & Dec’24 Empties
Price: $49.99 for a 30 day supply
I was offered the opportunity to try out the Seed daily Probiotic and Prebiotic formula. The formula is said to help regulate gut health and overall body function. I’m happy to say I didn’t experience any negative side effects while taking the supplements. While taking the supplement it did an okay job in terms of making my bowl movements a bit more regulated, but not enough that would justify a $50 a month cost. I don’t think I felt less bloated while taking the supplements either.
Being that I'm pretty new to trying out supplements like this I wasn’t sure what to expect. I also feel that my thoughts may vary later down the line as I try out other probiotics. Overall, I can’t say I noticed an effect that was noticeable or drastic enough to continue. Perhaps, it’s a supplement that takes longer to work or maybe it just doesn’t work with my body chemistry.
Touchland Glow Mist Revitalizing Hand Sanitizer
Price: $16 for 1oz
I’ve gone through quite a few Touchland hand sanitizers over the years but often forget to include them in an empties post. The Glow Mist Revitalizing version costs more than the regular version as it includes key ingredients of Detoskin and, which are said to visibly restore a youthful glow to the hands. The scent of the Glow Mist smells really pleasant as it incorporates notes of rose petals, fresh lychee, and blackcurrant buds. The floral composition is light and has more of an almost there feel to it. What I have noticed about the Glow Mist version is that it makes my hands feel noticeably softer and a bit more hydrated. I can see why it’s a bit more, but I think $16 for a hand sanitizer is just too much, so I’ll be sticking to their regular version, the power mist.
Previously Reviewed: October ‘2021 Empties -
Price: $10
Just above I discussed my thoughts on the glow version, which I enjoyed using, but I feel like this regular version works just as well. The beach coco scent is a warm coconut scent that’s not overwhelming. I would definitely consider purchasing the beach coco scent again.
March Empties Total Value: $487.40
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Alpha H Balancing Cleanser
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Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum
Skinfix Triple Lipid Barrier Peptide Cream
Kinship Dreamwave - Retinol Serum
Keys Soulcare Truly Becoming Multi-Benefit Peptide Serum
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