It is time for my final empties post of the year! As promised, I am doing my best to end the year strong. There are 37 products in my December 2020 empties review. Christmas has completely filled my stash to the brim with new items to empty in the year 2021, so the more that I can push out right now, the better. I have loads of skincare to discuss, and hand fulls of body care, haircare, and beauty. Besides my usual reviews, I have a lot to say about a particular product, and I have an unusual bunch of mini items from an advent calendar.
Skincare
As I usually do, I have a bunch of skincare trash in my December 2020 empties review.
- Pond’s Pure Detox Facial Foam: I wish this face wash was sold in a larger tube. The charcoal properties are great for my acne prone skin. It dispenses as a thick, mousse-like product that is so luxurious to massage over the skin. It then turns into a rich foam. I would consider repurchasing, but I have another tube to use up.
- wet n wild Pump Partner Up Cooling Moisture Stick in Cool Coach: This stick does not cool the skin or provide any particular effects. I will not repurchase.
- Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer: I only got two uses out of the foil packet, which is not enough for me to form an opinion or feel the need to buy the full-size.
- Olay Sensitive Hungarian Water Essence Calming Cleansing Water: This is a perfectly good micellar water that does its job. I am always impressed when micellar waters do not burn my sensitive eyes. As long as I am careful around the eye area, I really do not need to worry about burning. I only dock it one star because my all-time favorite micellar water actually hydrates my skin like a moisturizer does, but this one does not. I will not repurchase, as I have other micellar waters to use.
- Sunday Riley U.F.O. Ultra Clarifying Acne Treatment Facial Oil: This is a bit of a cheat, but not really. I have been using the full-size product since September, so I dumped this sample into my bottle. While it did not even fill it up all the way, it evidences how much of the oil I have used to date. Plus, the dropper is defective, making it a pain to use. I will do a dedicated post where I talk about this oil, but it does help with my acne. I use it every night before bed. You can even use this as a spot treatment, and it has helped with breakouts that were forming. I have already repurchased two bottles.
- elf Cosmetics Illuminating Eye Cream: This is the best drugstore eye cream that I have tried thus far. It does hydrate the under eye, and a little goes a long way. You also get slight illumination to help disguise dark circles. It is not on the level of Sunday Riley Auto Correct, but it is darn good for drugstore. I just may repurchase. This jar took me 4 months to empty.
- Found Clarifying Red Clay Sheet Mask: I really cannot prove that this mask clarifies the skin, but it fits pretty good, and leaves your skin hydrated like most sheet masks do. I will not repurchase.
- Soap & Glory What a Peeling Purifying De-clog Mask: You get two capsules good for two uses, plus a scooper with this set. The mask is easy to peel off with minor discomfort. I do not see anything different with my pores. I will not buy again.
- Nuface Prep-n-Glow Dual-sided Cloth: This is a quality makeup remover wipe because it has the right amount of thickness and wetness. One side is smooth, and the other has exfoliating bumps. The bumps kind of push makeup around, but overall it gets the job done. I have no reason to repurchase.
- MegRhythm Gentle Steam Eye Mask: This eye mask does not steam, but it does heat up once exposed to the air, much like those hand and feet warmers do. It provides the right amount of heat, and I appreciate the ear loops. This product did not change anything about my eyes, but it was relaxing to wear. I will not repurchase.
- Kitao Matcha & Chia Enzyme Powder (4): I am counting these four packets as one unit towards my month’s totals, but I used them for four consecutive days in the shower as a face wash. How I use these is by wetting my face, and then cupping my left hand with some water in it. I dump the powder into my left hand, and then massage my hands together. The texture starts out gritty, but, keep working at it and you will get a nice face wash that will even mildly foam up on the skin. It effectively cleanses the skin, otherwise I do not see anything happen. I have no reason to buy the full-size.
- Dead Sea Minerals Anti-Stress Clay Face Mask: This no-brand mask sounds exactly like a Freeman mask. It even has the same blue color, but the scent is completely different, as is the runny consistency. I have not compared the ingredients, but they have to be different. Sure, this mask is relaxing to use, but I do not see any benefits to report that warrant a repurchase.
- Cucumber Cooling Peel-off Face Mask: This mask also sounds just like one from Freeman. It is easy to peel off without pain, and it does cool the skin. There is nothing special about it to make me buy it again.
- Freeman Exfoliating Diamond Mineral Clay Mask + Scrub: This mask applies white, but dries transparent in areas, and you can see spots shining like diamonds! It does exfoliate the skin nicely as you wash it off. Otherwise, I do not see anything else happening, but it serves its purpose. It appears to be discontinued.
- Freeman Detoxifying Charcoal Sheet Mask: I cannot prove that a sheet mask is detoxifying the skin. However, all of these sheet masks fit the face super well because they have several slits. I have another mask just like this with different ingredients, but, I would not repurchase.
- Freeman Brightening Blueberry Sheet Mask: This mask does smell like blueberries! It hydrates the skin in such a way that you get a nice glow, but I am not sure that I would call it brightening. I have no plans to buy again.
- Freeman Pore Clearing Pomegranate Sheet Mask: There is no product out there that really does anything for my pores, and I do not see anything happening with this mask. It has a slight pomegranate scent. I will not repurchase.
- Freeman Hydrating Coconut Oil Sheet Mask: I do find that this mask hydrates the skin. I am not able to find it to repurchase it.
- Freeman Calming Lotus + Lavender Oil Sheet Mask: This is a mask that is intentioned to be relaxing and calming to wear, more so than receiving any benefits, which I find to be true. Sheet masks are always relaxing to me anyway. This one does not fit as well as the others above. It has less slits with plenty of excess paper around the jawline and chin. I will not repurchase.
elf Cosmetics Supertone Toner
I do not usually pull a product aside, but I have a lot to say about the Supertone toner. This is a chemical exfoliant toner that is to be used at night only, and it is not for sensitive skin. The directions state to apply a dime-size amount onto a cotton round and then swipe it onto the skin. I absolutely follow these directions, but I need to make some tweaks.
I started by using this product every night, and over the course of a few weeks, I noticed that my skin would burn when using it. The burning got more severe, but I did not link two and two together. I finally realized this product was causing the burning, as one night it was really bad and I ended up with red chemical burns and swollen skin. At that point, I stopped using this product until my skin returned to normal. I was able to start using it again five days later.
This product 100% eliminates ALL of my acne AND my scarring, and keeps it from coming back. Additionally, it makes my skin glow in a healthy way. When you use this product, it leaves your skin feeling smooth and really clean, which is the best way that I can describe it. Toners are supposed to help your skin absorb your other skincare, and this makes your skin feel like it is ready. It goes without saying, but of course, I want to make this product work for me.
Once I started back in, I tried using this product twice a week, but my acne came back with a vengeance. Then I went to three times a week, and then every other day. Now I am currently doing two days on, one day off, and I am starting to see the acne and scarring go away again. This is an ongoing experimental process as I get this just right. But, yes, I would repurchase this, and I already had the full-size waiting to go.
Body Care
I have two body items in my December 2020 empties review.
- Global Beauty Care Moisturizing Foot Mask: I have heard people say these foot masks actually makes their dead skin peel off, and the package said that would happen in four to seven days. Well, nothing happened to my feet at all. The only good thing I can say is about the masks themselves. The wet part is contained in a plastic sock that you put your feet into. I then put my actual socks on over the masks, to help keep the plastic closed. These are completely mess free, and my socks never got wet. I would not repurchase, but I have another one to use.
- Brush Buddies Ultimate White Charcoal Powder: This is a Dollar Tree find that you may be curious about. You wet your toothbrush and dip it into the powder, then brush. This product becomes 100% black, and I would not spit it into a white sink. I actually brush in the kitchen due to the sink being stainless steel, and I can hose the product away. This product leaves black residue in my teeth that I have not been able to fully remove, as it eventually wears off by morning. By experimenting, I get the best results by brushing with a wet, clean toothbrush and spitting several times, and then seriously swishing with mouthwash. I believe that my teeth look whiter right away, but since I drink coffee daily, no charcoal products yield good results for me. I will not repurchase.
Haircare
There are six haircare products in my December 2020 empties review.
- Pantene BB Creme: I use this BB cream as a leave-in conditioner on damp hair. My hair does not feel like I have used a leave-in conditioner on it. Really, I do not think this product does anything special. I will not buy it again.
- Batiste Original Dry Shampoo: Basiste makes great dry shampoos, which is why they are a cult favorite. It successfully controls my oils all day with little to no white residue.
- Clairol Shimmer Lights Violet Toning Mask: I typically stay away from purple conditioners, because they are usually pastel purple, which is too light in tone to do anything. Furthermore, blue is better than purple, as I am a natural brunette. This conditioner mask is actually a super dark purple, and it totally works, even on my hair. My hair does not feel like I used a deep conditioner. I paired this with my blue shampoo and it was too much, actually tinting my hair blue/purple/gray, which commonly happens. I would consider repurchasing this for use after highlighting my hair.
- John Frieda Wonder Drops Hair Mask Blonde Brightening: I know I tried some Wonder Drops in years past and did not think they did anything, but this one does! I expected this deep conditioner to be purple, but it was actually a pale golden yellow. My hair was left feeling very conditioned and even got a natural wave to it. I paired it with my blue shampoo and it helped to not leave my locks with a blue cast, so I can see the brightening effects. I would repurchase this.
- John Frieda Wonder Drops Hair Mask Frizz Smoothing: This mask did nothing for my natural frizz, nor did my hair feel deeply conditioned. I would not repurchase.
- John Frieda Wonder Drops Hair Mask Damage Repairing: Sadly, this mask did nothing for me either. I would not buy again.
Related Post: The Best Shampoo for Brunette Colored Hair
Beauty
I have three beauty products in my December 2020 empties review.
- Profusion Dewy Spray: This setting spray came in a set and cannot be purchased on its own. While it does set makeup, it does not leave a dewy finish, or any particular finish, for that matter. It also does not extend the wear of makeup.
- Cherimoya Easy Correct + Perfect Conceal for Dark Circles: This pink concealer came in a Christmas gift set many years ago, and cannot be repurchased. I have had the stopper removed for a while, and it is getting to the point where I am barely getting product from it. I wish the formula was thicker and less oily, but it serves its purpose. Pink does a good job of concealing dark circles and redness on my skin.
- Hard Candy Sheer Envy Mattifying Primer: I have tried some bad primers from Hard Candy, but this one is impressive. It does mattify your makeup and it controls oils for up to eight hours. The package claims 12 hour wear, but it just will not work that long. Otherwise, it is pretty good, and I can recommend it, while I do not plan to repurchase.
Related Post: November 2020 Empties Review
My Beauty Spot
I am ending my December 2020 empties review with something a little different. I had a 12 day advent calendar filled with body care items that I unboxed on my Instagram Stories. While I did use up a bunch of items, and they deserve to be counted in my empties total, I will not be providing individual reviews. These items cannot be purchased outside of the advent calendar, and they are honestly cheap products that I would not recommend or buy again. Here is what I used up so far:
- Warm Vanilla Scented Body Lotion
- Warm Vanilla Scented Body Wash
- Warm Vanilla Scented Body Butter
- Warm Vanilla Scented Bubble Bath
- Warm Vanilla Exfoliating Body Scrub
- Warm Vanilla Exfoliating Face Scrub
Conclusion
We have reached the end of a strong December 2020 empties review to end the year on the right foot. In 2020 I did not set a goal as far as an amount of products to empty. But I did start with harder to empty products, and worked my way up to easier hits. Putting a focus on using up every last drop and getting my monies worth makes me more subjective when I am out shopping, and has also gotten me really into skincare, and self-care. I hope this year of empties has helped you in your own personal product explorations. As we ring in the new year I will continue this same pattern of reviews. Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.
Did you use up a lot of products in 2020?