April 2020 Empties Reviews – Trash Time

beauty, haircare

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When it comes to empties reviews, I usually feel so-so about the majority of products. Here in my April 2020 empties review, many of these products are clear-cut hits or misses. I have strong opinions that I am sharing here that are influencing whether or not I will repurchase, or at least recommend them to you. A few of these products have shocking results, which in turn leave me with much to say! I have 28 empties out of a 30 day month, and that is great. Time to dive into my trash.

Skincare

I am starting off my April 2020 empties with a whole list of skincare.

The Crème Shop Santa’s List Peppermint & Charcoal Infused Sheet Masks: It is rare that I think a sheet mask is doing anything for my skin. I cannot say that I see results with these. The mask fits the face fairly well, but I end up with a significant amount of extra mask near the bottom of my face. These are not available for repurchase.
Freeman Soothing Watermelon + Aloe Cooling Gel Mask: This mask is more so intended for self-care or relax time and not so much for skincare benefits. By nature, the gel is cooling and calming to the skin. I have no plans to repurchase, but it appears to be sold out everywhere.
Freeman Polishing Charcoal + Black Sugar Gel Mask + Scrub: I have used this mask plenty of times, so I am highly familiar. The black gel is tricky to evenly distribute over the face due to the sugar crystals, but I try my best. As you wash it off you get a gentle, yet effective scrub. I am more of a clay mask girl by preference, but this is not bad if you like a scrub. I do have the full-size on hand, but it is not really my cup of tea, and I cannot say that it changes my skin.
elf Mattifying Mask: This is a great clay mask from the drugstore! It dries fairly quickly in five to 10 minutes. I also believe that it helps reduce my skin’s oil production when used regularly. As of right now I have no plans to repurchase because I have an overwhelming amount of masks to use up, but I may buy it again one day.
elf Supermask: My thoughts are not changing from the mini sample that I tested. This mask does not provide skin benefits, rather, it is more of a relaxing and calming type mask. If you are into that kind of thing, then I recommend it. Otherwise, I have no reason to repurchase.
elf Superhydrate: Being a blogger I really do not get to test drugstore moisturizers a lot, but so far this is my favorite one! The formula is gel-like, and gel moisturizers always seem to work best with my skin. This product can be called a jelly because it jiggles and it fills itself back in when you scoop product out. I believe that it does help to control most of my oil production, which is exactly what I look for in a moisturizer. It is lightweight and feels great all day. I am ready to move on to the full-size tub that I have!
Yes to Charcoal Detoxifying Charcoal Acne Fighting T-zone Mask: I typically find that the Yes to Charcoal line helps with my acne, and I believe that is true with this mask. It is a paper mask designed to cover your t-zone only. Believe it or not, it covers my forehead great! About two days after using this mask I can see my forehead clearing up a bit, which has really been a major breakout area for me this year. I will probably repurchase if I find it again, but it was a Dollar Tree find.
Soap & Glory Puffy Eye Attack Under-eye Brightening Hydrogel Patches: I am blessed to say that under eye puffiness is not an issue for me, so I cannot test the patches for that. They do stay on the skin perfectly, and I find them to be hydrating and slightly brightening. They are not terrible, but I have no plans to repurchase. If I get them in a gift set again, I will use them.
Sunday Riley Auto Correct: I have used the full-size before, so I know what I am in for. This product does effectively, yet temporarily, eliminate under eye darkness by providing an illuminated look. It does this because the product, when dispensed on your finger, looks just like a pearl. You can see that pearly glow right in the formula. The effects of this cream should last three to four hours. I find if I apply other products over top, like a moisturizer, but it sort of dilutes the effects. If these findings sound like something you are looking for, then I can recommend it. I am not really into eye creams yet, so I will pass.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream: I do not feel this packet contains enough product for me to give a good review. From what I can tell, it does moisturize the skin. I need a deluxe sample to really say more, but for now I have no plans to buy it.
Sunday Riley Luna Retinol Sleeping Night Oil: I am sad to say that I do not think I see results from this oil. I was hoping to see a reduction in acne, but on that same note, I do not feel as though it breaks me out. While it is not a bad oil formula-wise, I will not repurchase.
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream Facial Moisturizer: My opinion of this moisturizer has changed from the last time I sampled it. I still love the light-as-air whipped texture and how it feels on the skin. But, it causes my t-zone to produce oil. For that reason, I will pass.
Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion: For my entire life I have dealt with redness on and around my nose, as well as some on my chin, and from breakouts. I find that this treatment lotion does calm the skin and reduce some of my redness, but it does not eliminate all redness. I have to wonder if you have mild redness then you may like this product more than me. The water-like texture is hard to work with when you pour it right into your hands like I do. I tend to have product running everywhere. I have another bottle to use up, but otherwise I will not repurchase.
No 7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Eye Cream: In all honesty, I do not see any results from this eye cream and I will not repurchase.
Aveeno Positively Radiant Maxglow Infusion Drops: You can mix these drops into whatever product you wish and it will not tamper with the product in any way. I prefer to mix these into moisturizer or treatment lotions. They do aid in combating dull skin. But, I do not think the full-size price is worth it unless dull skin is a serious concern for you.
Spalogix Strawberry Tea Tree Deep Cleansing Sheet Masks: Again, I do not see any results from these masks. They do feel slightly tingly, which suggests that they do something. They fit the face well and are really easy to adjust. My face feels cool and refreshed after using these masks. I have no plans to repurchase.
wet n wild Makeup Remover: This is not my first rodeo with this micellar water. It does its job just fine and does not burn my eyes. I am not a fan of the formula that separates and needs to be shaken at each use because it leaves an oily residue on the skin. Sometimes I repurchase it just to hit free shipping online, but I do not have any exclusive plans to buy it at the moment.

Related Post: March 2020 Empties

Body

Next, I only have one body product in my April 2020 empties.

Soap & Glory The Daily Smooth Indulgent Body Butter: Packaging this lotion in a squeeze tube is a horrible choice by Soap & Glory. This body lotion is extremely thick and luxurious. From the first use I was having trouble squeezing it out, and as time goes on, that only gets worse. I prematurely cut the top off to access the lotion better. A tub or jar is a better packaging option. The “Mist You Madly” scent is light and does not bother me at all. While I do not struggle with dry skin, I have no issues with this lotion. I have no plans to repurchase, but if it comes my way again, I will use it.

Haircare

Continuing on with my April 2020 empties are some haircare finds.

Yes to Charcoal Clarifying & Refreshing Dry Shampoo Wipe: I have these dry shampoo wipes that are Dollar Tree finds, but they appear to be discontinued, and rightfully so. These sheets are rather big, in fact, they are a hair smaller than a sheet of standard printer paper. It takes a lot more time to pat the paper onto sections of your hair than it would to simply spray normal dry shampoo all over. Also, these wipes leave SO much powder on my shirt, which I have never experienced with spray dry shampoo! I recommend using this while wearing a robe. I can see a powdery cast on my hair line, which is not terrible, and the oil absorbing effects last all day. Powdery white spots still happen as with spray dry shampoo, but they are minimal. Stick with the spray stuff!
Yes to Grapefruit Vitamin C Brightening & Refreshing Dry Shampoo Wipe: My thoughts are the same as those on the above wipe.
Garnier Fructis Wonder Mask + Coconut Oil: This set is one unit that I have cut in half because it is easier to use that way. I consider this system to be a deep conditioner. After you use shampoo, you apply product one all over your hair, but you do not wash it out. You immediately apply product two over top of product one and then let everything sit for a few minutes. Each product is thick, and the effects claim to last for four hair washings. My air dried hair ended up looking kind of weighed down, giving me that ‘I did not rinse out all of my conditioner look’ so I skipped using hair oil that day. I am not a fan of that look, but that also means that ALL of my frizz was eliminated. That is HUGE for me! I can only name one single product that effectively eliminates my frizz. As of writing this post, I have washed my hair three times using regular shampoo and conditioners that I know and trust, but the effects are staying, holding to the four hair wash claim! Each time I was my hair the effects lessen a bit, but I am still not using hair oil. I am on the fence with this Dollar Tree find. The results are intriguing, yet I do not like the look 100%.
Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo Blonde & Silver: While blue shampoo is the best for my natural brunette base, this rich dark purple shampoo does actually give results with eliminating brassiness. I imagine if you are a natural blonde that it will do wonders for you. This is not bad by any means, but I will not repurchase simply because blue is the correct choice for me.
Drybar Detox Clear Invisible Dry Shampoo: This is the only dry shampoo that I have ever used that leaves zero white residue in my hair, and I test a lot of dry shampoos! If I am ever in the market for a high-end dry shampoo, I will buy this one. It does have that typical Drybar scent, and it lingers all day. A scentless version would be great.
Loreal Ever Pure Blonde Shampoo: Last month I emptied the conditioner, and here is the shampoo in my April 2020 empties! As discussed in my blue-shampoo blog post, purple is not the best for my hair color, so the effects from this shampoo are minimal. I recommend natural blondes to try this product. But, it always makes my hair feel silky smooth! I will not repurchase because I am using blue shampoo now.
Batiste Dry Shampoo Tropical: What I can I say here- this is dry shampoo that does its job just like any other. I can get white spots if I am not careful with it. The results last all day, and the tropical scent is present. I have no plans to repurchase.

Related Post: Best Shampoo for Brunette-Colored Hair

Fragrance

The last items in my April 2020 empties are fragrances.

Chanel Gabrielle Chanel: This perfume smells like something my grandma might wear, but updated for 2020 so that even I can wear it, and I love that idea. Chanel states the scent is the essence of a woman, and I stand by that. I do not feel compelled to drop the cash on it, but it is not bad.
Body Fantasies Pink Sweet Pea Fantasy: This is my all-time favorite body spray, and I am stocked up on many bottles. I love the deeply delicious, feminine scent and I will never get enough of it.
Sexiest Fantasies Love Struck: I am terrible at describing fragrances, but this is, of course, meant to smell sexy. In doing my research, it is scented with musks, cherry blossom, and peach. Will I repurchase? No, it is nothing to write home about.

Conclusion

In summary of my April 2020 empties review, April was a really good month for me! There are some great discoveries here worth recommending, and also some that I am running far far away from. I am really pumped about the drugstore moisturizer find, and I am still not sure if I want to buy the Garnier hair mask again! In May I might have less empties because I am stepping away from products I am working on to test a skincare line for a blog post. Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.

Are any of these products also in your April 2020 empties?