ALL USED UP . JANUAR¥ EDITION

Since the beginning of December I've looked forward to 2015, hoping it would provide me with a fresh outlook on life – from this point on, I would not only live within my means, but I would also live without excess. Judging by the growing amount of empties piling up in my room I'd say that I've been doing well thus far. Most months I hop from product to product, never really making a dent in my collection, but for 2015 that's all changed. For January I strategically chose specific products to reach for daily to ensure that I was truly dwindling down my collection before purchasing another item. This month I've made it through a total of nine products, and I'm somewhat shocked to admit that I've actually enjoyed each and every one of them.

For skin care I've been reaching for the Caudalie Beauty Elixir and Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum so frequently, and so desperately that I even began leaving the serum inverted in hopes of collecting every last drop. I luckily have a back up of the Beauty Elixir for this month, but will definitely have to re-purchase the Vinoperfect Radiance Serum in the future. It left my skin feeling soothed, revealed a more even skin tone, and diminished the discolouration seen around my mouth. I've also been 'on' when it comes to treating my lips and nails, as they often suffer when the temperature drops and the winds are strong. To condition my lips I've been using the Caudalie Lip Conditioner, which provides a matte layer of protection and a gentle scent, yet I probably won't be repurchasing it given my other options. On the other hand, my nails have been loving the OPI Nail Envy treatment, a product I alway repurchase. I'm obsessed with this stuff, and to my knowledge nothing else works quite like it.  

Makeup wise, these empties have been on their 'last days' for a while now – that's the weird thing about me, the second I'm ALMOST finished a product I must stop using it to prolong our time together. One of those products is the Chanel VitaLumiere Aqua Cream Compact – not only is the packaging gorgeous, but the foundation itself makes my skin look and feel like a dream. It's so difficult to say goodbye, but I must get through the other 7 foundations in my vanity before I repurchase this one again.  I also finished MAC's Strobe Cream and the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit this month. The Creamy Concealer Kit is a product my love runs deep for, so I of course had a back up for it, but MAC's Strobe Cream was in my opinion simply an overrated primer. It created a dewy glow under my foundation, but it didn't do enough to hide pores and pro-long the wear time of my makeup to justify repurchasing it. The final two empties are the Lancome Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base and Hypnose Doll Lashes Mascara. I absolutely love the mascara base, and find myself using it with EVERY mascara I own. The same cannot be said about the Hypnose Doll Lashes Mascara – while I love the lash effect it delivers, there is an underlying rose scent that I find irritating. Plus the L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara has been providing me with a similar effect at half the price. 

What empties will you be repurchasing this month?

AM¥     XO