October Empties + Favorites '21
- Paris
- Nov 4, 2021
- 8 min read
The holidays are just around the corner which means that shopping season is upon us! Here are all my favorite products of October that would be great stocking stuffers! Want to gift a tried and true favorite of mine? Check out the 'empties' of this month. Would I rebuy them for myself? For a friend? It's all here, so let's jump right in!
Empties:
Empties are products that I saw through to the end and feel confident reviewing after long term use. Below are all the products I used up in October along with the scoop on if they are worth the purchase or not.
Lashaholic Strip Lashes:
Price: $15.99
Style: Instaglam
These luxury lashes are made of 100% silk and come in the cutest gold packaging! So definitely an upgrade from drugstore lashes. The lashes hold up super well over multiple uses - I think I used mine 4 times - and can be trimmed to fit your eye shape. The Instaglam style lash is medium thickness and the lashes get longer towards the middle for a doe eye effect. I loved the medium thickness, I think they looked voluminous yet natural, but I prefer cat eye style lashes that get longer at the outer edge. They were super comfortable to wear too!
Would I Rebuy? - No...The style is not my favorite but I would buy from Lashaholic again.
Worth It? - Yes! Even though the lashes are pricier than the drugstore variety, they are high-quality, comfortable, and durable enough to worn multiple times.
Duo Striplash Adhesive:
Price: $4.72
Style: Clear
If you are going to have lashes you obviously need lash glue, and Duo is my trusty glue brand. I've been using this lash glue for years and I have no complaints. The glue drys down clear, it is easy to pick stray pieces of glue off of eyeshadow (can you tell I'm bad at applying lashes?), and the glue holds the lashes down tight while still allowing a painless peel-off removal.
Would I Rebuy? - Of Course! It's inexpensive and does the job.
Worth It? - Yes!
Maybelline Tattoo Studio Eyeliner:
Price: $7.99
Style: Deep Onyx, Bold Brown, or Smooth Walnut
This is my favorite eyeliner for the waterline! It has a super smooth and pigmented gel formula that lasts all day! All eyeliner is prone to smudging in the waterline, but the longwear formula puts up a tough fight. I recently discovered that the pencil is sharpen-able, but because of the plastic casing it is a bit tough to do and the edges become jagged which is especially annoying when used on the waterline. The Bold Brown shade is pictured which is a cool dark brown that I love to use daily in winter. Smooth Walnut is a warmer and lighter brown I use for light eye looks, mainly in summer. Deep Onyx is just a classic black shade that I like to use on my upper waterline to give the illusion of more voluminous lashes.
Would I Rebuy? - Yes! I already have!
Worth It? - YES! This eyeliner feels like it cost way more than $7.99! It stays put in my waterline and is deeply pigmented.
L'Oréal Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara:
Price: $10.99
Style: Blackest Black
This mascara is the best dupe I have found for the famous Two Faced 'Better than Sex' mascara and my favorite drugstore mascara! I have no clue how the Blackest Black color is different from the regular Black shade, but the product never flakes, runs, or clumps. I love waterproof mascara because it prevents the my face oils from transferring mascara onto my skin and I trust this formula so much that I go swimming in it. It is a pain to take off but that comes with the territory of waterproof mascara.
Would I Rebuy? - Yes! I have many times.
Worth It? - Yes! I've been recommending this mascara for years.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Moisturizer:
Price: $23.99
Style: For Extra-Dry Skin
As a person with oily skin, I used to think that I didn't need to focus on moisture, but I could not have been more wrong. Turns out, my skin was over producing oil because I wasn't giving it any moisture. Especially as the weather gets colder and the the air gets drier in fall and winter, my skin gets very dry. This gel-cream moisturizer is lightweight and leaves no oily residue but locks in tons of moisture. It is fragrance free, includes hyaluronic acid, and works perfectly under makeup. It was even in the People Beauty Awards 2020 and was the 2019 Allure Readers' Choice Award Winner!
Would I Rebuy? - Obviously :)
Worth It? - I think so! This is the most expensive product from my October Empties but I believe that the benefits justify the price.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser:
Price: $11.49
This month my skin became so dry - partly from the weather and partly from fighting my acne with benzoyl peroxide- that I had some flakey skin. Flakey skin is one of the most difficult things to hide under makeup and I had family photos coming up, so I used yet another tool from the the Hydro Boost line... the Exfoliating Cleanser! It is gentle, free of micro-plastic cleansing beads, and hydrating. It has many fine, dissolvable, abrasive pieces that exfoliated away my flakey skin and left it feeling baby smooth.
Would I Rebuy? - Yes... If I was really in need of moisture again. However, the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash is my typical facial exfoliator as it helps keep any pesky blemishes away.
Worth It? - Maybe. It is a great exfoliator especially for sensitive skin, but the hydrating aspect was less noticeable than the name suggests.
Versed Just Breathe Clarifying Serum:
Price: $19.99
Like most teens I struggle with acne - mine is mild, but I am always trying to get rid of some annoying spot. Since trying the clarifying serum, it has replaced my old acne routine and is generally the only product I use for it. The serum has helped my acne appear less frequently and it seems to prevent a lot of stress acne. The serum is not irritating and comes in a cute little dropper bottle. Sometimes I like to use it with a facial roller if I'm in the self-care mood.
Would I Rebuy? - Yes! I have purchased it 3 times and I recommend it to people!
Worth It? - Absolutely. The money I spend on this serum is far less than what I would have spent on a fancy multi-step acne regimen.
Favorites:
My monthly favorites are just that! They are my favorite products that I bought or started using the month. Even though I have not seen these products through to the end like I have with my 'Empties,' I love them so much that I feel confident recommending them.
Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand:
Price: $38
Style: Spotlight
This highlighter has become apart of every makeup look I do. From full glam to barely-there, I always have this highlighter on. The product comes out easily through a sponge applicator that allows for precise application and blends out super easily (I use my finger to blend). I typically wear it over my tinted sunscreen and under foundation or powder and it still shines through, but it also sits well when applied over foundation. The highlighter gives such a natural glow, especially perfect for no-makeup makeup looks. At $38 dollars the highlighter is not cheap, but it comes with tons of product and little is needed to achieve a glorious glow.
Supergoop! Matte Sunscreen SPF 40:
Price: $38
THIS SUNSCREEN CHANGED MY LIFE! I am not over exaggerating when I say this. Before I found this sunscreen, I would NEVER wear it, especially on my face. I hated the greasy feeling of most sunscreens and they always oxidized my foundation. However, as a summer camp counselor I am outside all day, so I had to find the perfect sunscreen that would not make my already oily skin look more greasy or make my face feel gross. Then after some research, I found Supergoop!. The matte formula takes shine away from my oily skin and is so lightweight that I don't even notice I'm wearing it. The sunscreen is lightly tinted, giving me a little coverage on days when I don't want to wear makeup, and has turned out to be the perfect primer! I just throw it on after my moisturizer and if I decide to put foundation on top, I can be confident that it won't oxidize. Yes, it is $38 dollars but it is worth every penny. If I could only choose 1product to keep out of every product in this post, without a doubt I am keeping the matte sunscreen. This sunscreen turned me from a sunscreen hater to a daily user, making dermatologists and my future-self very happy.
Burt's Bees Lip Butter:
Price: $4.39
Style: Lavender & Honey
Like I've mentioned, I got extremely dry skin as winter weather set in and my lips were no exception. Lip balm wasn't cutting it anymore, so I picked up this lip butter in hopes that it would heal my cracked lips fast and the butter did not disappoint! My lips went back to being perfectly smooth and hydrated in just 3 days! The balm is a steal at $4.39 and feels so so good on the lips! It is lightweight and leaves my lips super shiny without any stickiness. Not to mention, it has a little indent on the side of the tin for easy opening and the packaging is completely plastic free!
Burt's Bees Hydrating Lip Oil:
Price: $5.99
Style: Sweet Almond Oil
This lip oil was another step in my fight against super dry lips. I applied it overtop or in place of the Burt's Bees Lip Butter and it left my lips with an incredible shine! The oil was very hydrating and I even used some on my cuticles (it is a great nail oil too). The oil was packaged in a tube with an applicator for mess-free application and now I carry it with me wherever I go!
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser:
Price: $15
Continuing with October's theme of 'Paris has super dry skin all of a sudden,' I switched from the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash to this Soy Face Cleanser for a gentler wash. Unlike many cleansers I have previously used, this one never leaves my skin feeling stripped of moisture. It is incredibly gentle and overall a really great cleanser, particularly for people with sensitive skin. I purchased the travel size but it comes with so much product I thought it was the regular size at first!
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Night Pressed Face Serum:
Price: $22.99
If I had to accredit 1 product with curing my October skin dryness it would be this night mask. I picked it up in desperation and by morning, my skin was visibly less dry. I was shocked when I opened the product to find that the cream is quite stiff, it bounced like a thick jello when I touched it, but if you scoop out a piece and rub it in your hands it becomes like a typical gel product. I slathered a thick layer on my face and let it soak into my skin overnight to awake to glowing and moisturized skin!
UNITE 7Seconds Detangler:
Price: $11
It was not only my hair that was dry as the Sahara this month, but also my hair! The shorter hairs around my face were extra dry because I touch and style them the most and they touch my face oils a lot. Due to the dryness, my hair became very tangly so i needed a new detangler and my stylist recommended this one. Let me just say, my hair is now so easy to brush out, it is more hydrated and it smells amazing!
Oribé Gold Lust Hair Oil:
Price: $56
Yet again on the hydrating quest, I employed the help of this hair oil. I put it on my ends when it is dry or nearly dry and I even used it to create a sleek hairstyle for Halloween. The oil does a fantastic job at helping my crispy ends regain strength and rehydrate. The oil is quite thick so if you have fine hair be sure to rub it into your hands 1st or use half a pump. At $56 the oil is expensive but it is a fan favorite as it won the 2019 Allure Best of Beauty Award.
Recap:
Most Expensive: Oribé Gold Lust Hair Oil $56
Least Expensive: Burt's Bees Lip Butter $4.39
Best of the Best: Supergoop! Matte Sunscreen SPF 40
Best of Skincare: Burt's Bees Lip Butter
Best of Makeup: Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand
Best of Haircare: UNITE 7Seconds Detangler
That's all of my empties and favorites for October! Many of them would be great stocking stuffers, holiday gifts, or gifts for yourself - especially if you are in the midst of college application season like me. As always, you can connect with me directly through this blog or through my instagram linked at the bottom of the page. Thanks for reading!
Always,
Paris
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