December Empties: The Beauty Products We Tried and Finished This Month

[Photo by Olena Sergienko]

As longtime beauty editors and writers, we’ve tried countless products throughout the years. And while we each have our tried-and-true staples that we’re loyal to, we’re always on the lookout for new faves to add to our beauty routines as well.

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Finishing an entire product can feel like a big accomplishment because it’s hard to stick with something if you’re not seeing results. With so many options to choose from nowadays, we’re spoiled for choice and our beauty shelves at home tend to be a reflection of that. How many open products do you have at the moment that you haven’t finished because you keep switching it up? It’s always exciting when you find a great product that works for you, that you actually finish, and that you plan to purchase again after it’s gone.

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From skin and haircare products to makeup and beauty tools, our writers share their latest round of empties and the results. Read on to discover the beauty products we tried and finished this month!

Do you have any empties? If so, what are your faves? Let us know in the comments below!

As a wellness-industry veteran, you'd think I would take lavish baths with every oil, scrub and mask under the sun. As lovely as that would be, the pace of my life balancing children, relationships and work responsibilities mean that showers are the staple. I've discovered the little daily joy of the shower steamer and have been reaching for Radiant Rhino's USA-made selections ($24.99) for the last couple of months. Even if I am taking a quick rinse-off, the power of aromatherapy brings a moment of self-case and pause to my day. The no-mess steamer packet can be diffused on the shower floor for a spa-like experience. I've just finished up my bag of “Breathe,” the peppermint + eucalyptus scent, a morning favorite for its invigorating feel and sinus-clearing abilities. Lavender has been another favorite for both me and my kids to use during nighttime showers, setting a relaxing tone for bedtime for the entire family. I'll be restocking soon for gifts and stocking stuffers! 

—Alisha Racker

During the colder months my skin craves hydration, which is why I love May Lindstrom’s The Honey Mud ($90). It’s a thick, creamy and ultra-luxurious facial cleanser that can also double as a face mask and feels like pudding on my skin. Great for all skin types (including sensitive), it enhances the skin’s natural shedding process and smells amazing with ingredients like raw organic honey and aromatic plant oils. My skin always glows and feels extra soft after I use this!

Although this product is hard to find, Kevin.Murphy Day Break Room Spray is one of my favorites. I was gifted this with the matching candle several years ago and love the scent—it’s a combo of freesia, rose, Lily of the Valley, magnolia and jasmine. It’s great when you need a refresh in any space and it’s also sulfate free, paraben free, and cruelty free.

If your skin is feeling dull and it could use a boost, Sakara Beauty Water Drops ($39/2 bottles) are an easy way to incorporate more collagen and essential minerals into your daily routine. Just mix one full dropper of the beauty water drops into your drink up to three times a day! It contains naturally-occurring ionic trace minerals that give your body the support it needs to maintain a healthy pH balance, flush out toxins and keep skin, hair and nails more resilient. As an added bonus it also helps get rid of bloating!

I’m a big fan of Bath & Body Works’ Gentle Foaming Hand Soap and love their endless assortment of scents. I recently finished their Smoked Caramel & Bourbon Hand Soap ($7.50) and loved the rich fragrance which combines notes of smoked caramel, aged bourbon and worn leather. Super fun and decadent!

—Kamala Kirk

I’m a huge fan of body scrubs, but I especially love the Tree Hut Sugar Scrubs ($7.99). They have a variety of different scents and this is one of my favorites. The scrubs are exfoliating without being too harsh or gritty. It is a staple in my shower.

Tatcha Water Cream ($69) is one of my all-time favorite moisturizers. I have oily/combo skin that’s prone to breakouts. It’s lightweight, hydrating, and in constant rotation in my daily skin care routine.

I was introduced to Milbon by my hairstylist when they started using their products in the salon. Milbon is the number one professional haircare company in Japan. Milbon Restorative Shampoo ($35) smells amazing and makes my hair really shiny and soft. It’s more affordable than my beloved Oribe so I like to alternate when I can.

I’m never without it a bottle of Bioderma H2O Micellar Water ($16.99). I use it to remove my makeup every day. It never irritates my skin or sensitive eyes. I can use all over my face with no issues. Definite holy grail status.

I’ve struggled for years with finding the right deodorant/antiperspirant. I can’t use the traditional brands as they make break out in a rash under my arms. The ones that don’t give me a rash, don’t work. Years ago I read a blog about using men’s deodorant, specifically Old Spice Antiperspirant in Wolfthorn ($6.49). I gave it a shot and haven’t looked back. It keeps me sweat and odor free with no allergic reaction. This specific scent is fresh and clean smelling.

—Tara Palty Troszak

Can we talk about Rihanna? Here’s a mini update: she’s headlining Super Bowl Sunday. She’s an inclusive fashion designer. She’s a new mom and banked a BILLION dollars for putting out one of the most impressive skin and makeup lines on the market. I never thought I’d fall in love with a “celebrity” skin care line, but I did—and let me just tell you, it lives up to RiRi’s standards. Her Fenty Skin line is certified clean, so there are no harsh ingredients. Plus it’s vegan, gluten free, and follows Europe’s 1,400+ banned ingredient list from cosmetics. The Fat Water ($30) is a great 2-in-1 toner and serum that tightens the look of pores, brightens and smooths. It’s not watery or thin, and a little goes a long way. This bottle literally lasted me a whole year. Now let’s talk about her SPF moisturizer. Wow! She calls it the Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer ($38) and it carries an SPF 30 and niacinamide (to reduce the look of dark spots). First off, it’s not thick and doesn’t smell like sunscreen. It has a really light cherry scent, spreads evenly, and doesn’t feel heavy under makeup. Plus, it’s refillable! You’ll pay a lower cost for the refill ($34) after the initial purchase which comes with cylinder purple case. So smart!

For the past 3 months, I also was using Maelys B-FLAT Belly Firming Cream ($49) to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and tighten the skin on my abdomen. Believe the hype, it does work. The body cream is light, so you’ll have pump a few extra times for larger regions. And you’ll feel it working right away because it gives off a tingly, fiery sensation due to the pink pepper slim ingredient (aka a fat burner). It doesn’t last long, maybe like 10 minutes at the most. If you’re overly sensitive, I’d maybe reduce the amount of applications, but you get used to the feeling after a while. Results won’t be instant, but after three months I noticed some of my deep lines have faded, but it only tightened my skin a teeny tiny bit. I’m curious if I continue using it for another three months if I’ll see more improvement.

Finally, after visiting the new Biologique Recherche Spa in West Hollywood, I was given a sample of the Amniotique Hydration Serum ($76) to try. I used it consistently for about a week and it didn’t give me that instant gratification of adding a goopy, good-smelling serum to the skin. The consistency of this serum was very watery and hard to spread because it absorbed so quickly. I can only hope it worked to give what it promised (long-lasting hydration) , but I’m good to skip using this one in my daily skin routine.

—Patty Serrato Castellon