Beauty Empties

Oct 23

Well… Better late than never, folks!
A few weeks ago I asked if y’all were interested in an “empties” post and the overwhelming majority of you said, “yes.”

So here we go.

When we moved down here two months ago, I did a savage purge of pretty much everything- furniture, clothes, kitchen supplies, beauty products; you name it. I let go of things we no longer used; inspiration clothes I no longer found inspiring; knick knacks that had become more clutter over collectible.

When it came to beauty products, I kept essentials- I brought with me just a few new-to-me samples from Indie Lee, my tried and true body products, my can’t-live-without facial balm and the half empty bottle of Hermès perfume that I bought to wear on our wedding day that I’m still chipping away at.

And now, after a few months, I can happily say I have a pretty solid routine consisting only of products I really love and that really work for me.

Here are my beauty empties from the last few months- all of which I’ve repurchased at least once. Some multiple times already. I highly recommend them all; if you try them for yourself, be sure to let me know your thoughts! Happy Friday!

beauty empties

Image via Julia Dags — Image via **Julia Dags**

Exfoliator: I’ve gone the through two entire tubes of this exfoliator now- one eucalyptus and one sandalwood. I absolutely love both and it’s hard to choose a favorite, so I’ll leave that part up to you.

Lotion: I’ve been using this lotion for several months now and only recently had to replenish it. It goes on super smooth and easily massages into skin. And it’s clean, which is a bonus.

Body Wash: Much like the exfoliator, I can’t say enough great things. I love both the eucalyptus and sandalwood and highly recommend both.

Cleansing Balm: After seeing this cleansing balm all over my Instagram feed, I finally threw my hands up and gave it a go. I’m always a little skeptical when I see products pushed on social media, but this balm is as good as they say. This is now my second tub of this cleanser, and I don’t see myself ever going back. This balm is amazing at removing makeup, and leaves my skin feeling soft and supple. And it smells like clove, which reminds me of fall, which makes me happy all year round.

Face Balm: I’ve waxed poetic about this balm time and time again, because, yes, it’s just that good. I think I’m on about my seventh little tub of this Siam balm and I can’t say enough great things about it. It just emollient enough to make the perfect balm for gua sha- I talk about that here and here- but not too thick or oily that I can use it daily. It’s super calming and soothing and it’s been an absolute miracle worker for my redness-prone skin. I haven’t been able to find it online, but my acu-queen Mary Heaven can ship pretty much anywhere. DM her here for info.

At the beginning of quarantine I was gifted a travel set of Indie Lee products specifically targeted to meet the needs of my skin- the sensitive, redness prone type. Oh, the joys. She generously sent me some travel sized versions of her recommendations in March, and I’ve already emptied those and repurchased my favorites in all their full-sized glory.
Cleanser: Love this cleanser. It has a fresh scent; I use it in the shower, and sometimes after my cleansing balm if I’m feeling the need for extra cleaning.

Lotion: Typically I just use my Siam balm and a serum, but I loved this lotion so much this summer that I purchased a full size. I use over my serum in the morning. Its light and hydrating at the same time and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. Highly recommend.

Facial Spray: This is just a spa in a bottle and I’m here for it. I quickly emptied the travel size and went on to purchase a full size version. I use this in the morning and before bed, and sometimes throughout the day when I need pick-me-up. A great treat for yourself or a secret santa/stocking stuffer for the holidays.

Deodorant: I’ve tried a few different all clean deodorants over the years and this is my current go-to. I love, love the scent and the pretty little packaging. This has more of a creamy consistency, so if that isn’t your thing I would skip it. But in terms of clean deodorants, it definitely does its job in the odor department, which is a plus.