January 2021 Empties Review

beauty, cosmetics, Makeup

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If you need an example of starting the new year strong, this January 2021 empties review delivers. I have 45 empties for the month. That sounds spectacular, I know. I started out by using up some sheet masks that I still had left over from 2020 before I move into all of my new masks. Otherwise, I am starting to work on products from Christmas, and chugging along with more difficult products. Sometimes the stuff you have been working on for a while all goes empty at once! As I always do, I will provide a full review and let you know if I feel compelled to buy again, or if I can at least recommend something to you.

Skincare

I have 21 skincare empties in my January 2021 empties review.

My Beauty Spot Warm Vanilla Scented Faced Wash: This face wash was part of an advent calendar and cannot be repurchased. It does cleanse the face. Overall, it is a cheap product.
Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment: This is just a quick sample, but I already know that I love this product, and I am fully stocked. I believe that it assists with my acne.
Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream: 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.
Sunday Riley C.E.O Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream: This moisturizer does brighten the skin due to the vitamin C ingredient, and it lasts all day. It is not the type of formula that controls oils on my combo skin. You can wear it under makeup or alone. I will not repurchase.
Freeman Beauty Infusion Hydrating Sheet Mask: All of these Beauty Infusion masks are from Dollar Tree. They fit on the face the poorest out of all Freeman sheet masks. I do find that this one hydrates the skin. I have no plans to repurchase.
Freeman Beauty Infusion Cleansing Sheet Mask: I really cannot prove that this face mask cleanses the face. I have no plans to repurchase.
Freeman Beauty Infusion Revitalizing Sheet Mask: I really cannot prove that this face mask revitalizes the face. I have no plans to repurchase.
Freeman Beauty Infusion Brightening Sheet Mask: This mask does provide a subtle brightening effect. I have no plans to repurchase.
Freeman Canadian Hemp Seed Oil Absorbing 2-Step Peel + Mask: These two step masks contain a peel pad and a sheet mask, which really gives you that at-home relaxing spa experience. I use facial oil both in the morning and night so I really have trouble assessing if an oil absorbing product is doing anything. These fit well. I will not buy again.
Freeman Indian Turmeric Hydrating 2-Step Peel + Mask: It is much easier to see if a mask is hydrating the skin, and this mask works. I have no plans to buy again.
Freeman Detoxifying Charcoal + Sea Salt Sheet Mask: This mask fits moderately well. While it is hard to know if a mask is detoxifying the skin, I really do not see anything happening, even with acne. I have no reason to repurchase.
Biore Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strip: This pore strip did remove plenty from my nose, and I am pleased. I would buy again if I feel that I need pore strips in my routine.
Soap and Glory Puffy Eye Attack Under-Eye Brightening Hydrogel Patches: These hydrogel under eye patches do a great job of brightening and hydrating! Luckily, I really do not suffer from puffiness, so I cannot speak to that. I have three more left, but no actual plans to repurchase.
Soap and Glory Pout About It Hydrogel Lip Mask (2): I used both sets of hydrogel lip masks this month. I find that they do hydrate the lips, and I enjoy the coconut scent. Do these magically smooth out lip lines? Not really. I have no plans to buy again.
No 7 Instant Results Revitalizing Hydrogel Eye Masks: I believe these hydrogel under eye patches do a good job of hydrating, but that is it. I have no reason to buy again.
No 7 Line Correcting Booster Serum: I am not a believer that you can make lines go away. I applied this product to my biggest problem areas, which is my smile and under eye lines, plus my forehead. Nothing happened at all, so no way will I buy the full-size.
No 7 Protect and Perfect Intense Advanced Serum: I have reviewed this serum so many times. I always appreciate how easy it is to work it into the skin, but I never see anything happening. There is no reason to buy it again. No 7 products usually pop up in gift sets, so it could come back again.
Cala Medi-Bio Advanced Hydration Capsule Mask: These sheet masks include a serum capsule that you can get about five to seven uses out of when you apply it in the morning and night. I find that they do hydrate the skin, but I do not feel an overwhelming need to repurchase. These masks fit ok.
Cala Medi-Bio Advanced Firming Capsule Mask: My review for this mask is really the same as the above mask. However, I do not think my skin is being changed in any way.
Embrace Your Face Vitamin C Gltiter Peel Off Face Mask: This mask is from a Christmas set and cannot be purchased separately. It is painful to remove, and my skin does not glow like it does with other Vitamin C products. The glitter orange look is fun.

Related Post: December 2020 Empties Review

Beauty

There are five beauty items in my January 2021 empties review.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper: This is one of my favorite eyeliner pens because it contains a brush tip. I have reviewed it several times and it is worth the repurchase. The matte black line lasts all day, and the product is easy to use. I am sad this dried out very quickly so I barely got to use it. This is due to it being open nearly all of 2020 because I photographed it.
Revlon Kiss Balm in Crisp Apple: This lip balm tints the lips red and leaves behind a high-shine finish. It does taste like apple. I notice that I struggle frequently with dry lips while using this product, so it is not entirely effective. I will not repurchase.
wet n wild x Bretman Rock Bad Bitch Lift Mascara: I do not think anyone really empties a mascara. This has been open since March 2020, and I wore it for all my wet n wild posts. The formula is starting to dry out, and it is getting incredibly difficult to open the tube. For this reason, I am letting it go. wet n wild mascara is anti-climatic, and this one is so-so. It does lift the lashes, and it provides some length and volume, but not a lot. It is stubborn to remove. Since it is limited edition, it cannot be repurchased.
Buxom Plumpline Lip Liner in Hush Hush: I honestly enjoyed this lip liner, and it is at the point where I cannot sharpen it anymore. The shade Hush Hush is described as cinnamon, but it is the perfect neutral pink that goes with so many lip colors. It is a standard wooden lip liner pencil, with a brush on one end. It does easily line the lips with no dragging or tugging. However, I will not repurchase because I have plenty of drugstore lip liner that I like.
Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation: I really wanted to like this foundation, but it does not look good on my skin. It appears to sit on top, even when trying different complexion products. This foundation is lightweight and hydrating with a medium finish. I will not repurchase.
Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Hydrating Primer: You just read the foundation review above, but, I must say, this primer when paired with the foundation is night and day. It works great with the Sea Water Foundation and makes it look better on my skin. I only used the primer with that foundation, and I find it effectively hydrates without being too much. For now, I have no plans to repurchase.

Related Post: wet n wild Bretman Rock Jungle Rock Collection

Fragrance

Body Fantasies Twilight Mist Fragrance Body Spray: This is a classic scent from Body Fantasies. I have no reason to repurchase, but it is not bad, and I might have another bottle somewhere. Here are the notes:
- Top Notes: Coconut, Mandarin Orange, Plum
- Middle Notes: Magnolia, Tuberose, Violet, Orchid
- Base Notes: Sandalwood, Musk, Tonka Bean, Vanilla
Body Fantasies Cucumber Melon Fragrance Body Spray: I am unable to find the notes for this body spray, but the name says it call- cucumber melon. This is another classic scent, but it has been discontinued. Again, it is not bad.

Bodycare

Next, I have four bodycare items.

Tone Brazilian Glam Body Scrub: This body scrub smells just like the summer with Brazil nut oil. It effectively exfoliates the skin gently, and it is great to use in the winter. I have no reason to repurchase.
elf Cosmetics Say Bye to Dry Hand Cream: This hand cream does effectively moisturize the hands and absorbs quickly without greasy residue. It is great to store in your purse, gym bag, or desk drawer. However, it is already discontinued. elf released it into their new arrivals, I was able to get it on sale, and then it disappeared, all in the matter of a few months.
Secret Freshies Deodorant in Rose: I finally finished that deodorant 3-pack that I picked up after Christmas 2019. These deodorants work just fine, but they will leave white marks on your clothing. I will not repurchase.
Olay Nighttime Rinse-Off Body Conditioner with Retinol: Body conditioner is a new concept for me. This easy squeeze bottle dispenses right into your hand and has no cap, but does not leak. Once you rub the product all over your body, you rinse it off. It does leave your skin feeling that much more softer, and it is noticeable and lasting. I like it a lot, but I am sad that it only lasted me about a month. For a $5.99 price tag I will have to think about adding it to my routine, which is not bad. I may repurchase in the future.

Haircare

There is two hair items in my January 2021 empties review.

Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo: This may just be the cheapest dry shampoo at the drugstore, which is why I wanted to try it out. I do want to repurchase it and have it be my everyday dry shampoo once I use all of them up. It does exactly what it is supposed to do, which is to make hair look less greasy and fresh, which lasts all day long. There is little to no white residue with this product, which is hard to come by. If I get careless with how close I hold the can, I might get some white. Otherwise, you cannot beat the quality and value!
Pantene Micellar Conditioner: The shampoo for this conditioner is literally going to be my first empty of February! I tried so hard to make them go together. Anyway, this conditioner does its job. When paired with the shampoo, the duo does not weigh my hair down or make it look greasy. In fact, they do not even leave build-up on the hair. They appear to be discontinued, but I would not repurchase as I anticipate finally getting back to my normal shampoo and conditioner soon.

Nails

There are two nail products in my January 2021 empties review.

Nail Aid Spray Away Acetone Spray Nail Polish Remover: Let’s be honest, this is a stupid product. You would figure if a company is trying to pass something off as being innovative and calling it a spray, that you could spray it right on your nails to remove polish. That is why this product flopped and got discontinued. You still have to spay it on a cotton ball. But, I got this full-size can for $1 at Dollar Tree and it works just as well and as fast as regular acetone, so it is a good deal for me. I did buy another can.
Formula X Top Coat: This is one of my favorite top coats, despite the fact that Formula X is discontinued. The product does get very thick when you get about halfway through the bottle, so using nail laquer thinner is required. You can see a fair amount left in this “empty” but it has completely gone to sludge, past the point of no return. Despite these bad qualities, it still meets my top coat requirements of providing high shine while drying quickly.

Related Post: Formula X Nail Polish Collection

K Skin Wonder Gifted

To end this January 2021 empties review, I have five empty products from K Skin Wonder. Kelly, the owner, was so kind to gift me these products in exchange for a review on Instagram. I will not repeat the reviews here, as you can check out that post. Please check out her company at kskinwonder.com!

Spice Body Whip
Pump Up the Jam Pumpkin Enzyme Mask
Pink Cotton Whip
Rose Essence Facial Wash
My ZFF Zest Friend For Life Facial Scrub

Conclusion

In summary of my January 2021 empties review, I am very pleased with the amount of empties to start the year. As 2021 rolls on, I have plenty of masks to use, as usual. I am also inundated with facial oils, moisturizers, and face washes. My stash was seriously knocked down right before Christmas, and now I am fighting hard to make sure that happens again by the end of the year. Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.

What are you working to empty this year?