I collected quite a bit of empty bottles, and while I was pondering the possibility of starting a YouTube channel I hoarded them, playing with the idea of a “products I’ve used up.” Eventually I just took a picture, in case I changed my mind, and tossed the bottles because for reals, y’all, they were taking up a lot of space.

But now, for your viewing enjoyment, here’s a varied and sundry assortment of things that I used up over the course of last year!

Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes
These are supposed to be gentle and safe for sensitive skin, but my skin said NOPE. The wipes are soft and the scent is strong but pleasant, but MAN did my skin sting and turn red! The Yes to… and the Simple lines don’t agree with my skin, which I don’t understand. So these aren’t a repurchase.

Up and Up Exfoliating Cucumber Cleansing Towelettes
This is the budget edition of the Yes to Cucumbers towelettes, but I think I preferred these. The towelettes were rough enough to feel like I was properly scrubbed but not enough to scratch, and the liquid didn’t sting my skin. I won’t say I’m going to run out immediately to repurchase these exact ones again, but I also won’t turn them down.

Bath and Body Works Amber Blush Shower Gel
I got the small preview tester of this scent and fell in LOVE, so when it came out for real I waited for a buy three, get free sale and scooted over to BBW. It worked out perfectly- P got two shower gels and a lotion, and I got the Amber Blush shower gel, lotion, and body splash. Yeah, I went all out. The website says that “this ultra feminine scent is a sensual blend of champagne, gardenia petals, and magnolia in a seductive kiss of crystallized amber and creamy vanilla suede.” To me it’s warm and sweet without being too sweet- it’s going to be my go-to winter scent. (After Christmas and before spring, that part of winter.) I don’t know if I’llget the shower gel again, and I still have plenty of lotion, but the body splash (wait, do they call it a “fine fragrance mist” now?”) will be a must-buy.

Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge Shampoo and Conditioner
Meh. That’s all I have to say. Meh. My fine, severely dry hair didn’t seem to change at all with this, even with constant use. It got my hair clean, but there was no hydra recharging of any kind. Or any Hydra, for that matter.

(source)

I also tried the Hydra Recharge Moisture Whip mask (not pictured) and tossed it after maybe two uses because OH MY GOD it made my hair feel like plastic. I love Garnier, but the Hydra Recharge line is not for me.

Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
I remember reading in an issue of Brio magazine (anyone else grow up in an uber-conservative household where Brio was your most worldly thing ever? Just me? Okay.) that you were supposed to start using eye cream in your early twenties, to prevent wrinkles. Well, I got all the way up to age twenty-five before I tried it out. Eye creams are just so expensive, especially when you’ve always been a beauty cheapskate. I didn’t want to pay too many of my dollars and end up with a product I hated. I started watching MissGlamorazzi’s beauty videos, and Ingrid used the Kiehl’s eye cream in a bunch of routines. I had enough Birchbox points to get it for free, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt. And it was perfect! It’s smooth and creamy, completely scentless, and lasts for forever. I didn’t think it was going to actually do much, but in a matter of weeks the skin under my eyes was smoother and softer. And at the time I was having a bad experience with my contact- the outer corners of my eyes were dry and super painful. The Kiehl’s eye cream fixed that easily. It lasted from February to November, and I ordered a new jar immediately.

Garnier The Expert Exfoliater Daily Exfoliating Gel
What a title that is. Anyways, I loved it. The scent is pleasant, perfect for perking up in the mornings, and my skin was soft and smooth and blemish free. Actually, now that I think about it, I’ve had some marks on my cheekbones lately- maybe I should get my hands on another tube of this.

Dove Intense Moisture Daily Shampoo and Conditioner
Back in 2006, I borrowed my roommate’s Dove damage repair shampoo and conditioner and OH MY GOD lifechanger. My frail dry hair perked up and got super soft, and I’ve been searching for a replacement ever since. Unfortunately, I don’t think they make that same formula anymore, and this particular Dove batch didn’t work out. It was nice, but it’s not a go-to.

Crest 3D White Mouthwash
I noticed a bit of a change in my teeth when I started using this, but I don’t think I used it reliably enough to see a marked change. But my mouth sure did feel clean!

Crest Pro Health Mouthwash
It was mouthwash.

Dove Hair Nourishing Oil Care Detangler
I don’t think I understood the concept of having a “holy grail” product until I used this. Now I do. I tried it out when my sister got a bottle, and when she figured out it worked better for my hair than hers (and also that I was using it more often than she did…) she gave it to me. I’ve now gone through four bottles, and it is a JOY. I spritz it on after a shower to detangle and soften my hair, and I use it on second and third day hair to make it easier to brush through, and make it soft and shiny. I adore it.

Tresseme Split End Repair Shampoo and Conditioner
First things first- split ends can’t actually be repaired. But this stuff smooths everything over, at least for the time being, and it does make a difference! My hair was distinctly smoother. But by the time I got to the bottom of the bottle, my hair had gotten used to it, and it lost its efficacy. Boo. I’ll get it again later, most likely.

Aveeno Active Naturals Continuous Protection Sunblock
I have a confession. I know you’re supposed to wear sunscreen all the time, but when I was living in Tennessee I relied on just the SPF in my moisturizer. Now that I live in the Sunshine State, sunscreen is a MUST. I really like the Aveeno- it was thick but not sticky and it made a good base for makeup. And also I never got burned. Which is the most important part.

Tone Sugar Glow Limited Edition Body Wash
I picked this up at Walmart because when I moved to Florida I somehow misplaced my body wash. It was inexpensive and smelled good, and it was perfect for when I took an afternoon shower after a long hot day in polyester. I hope they bring it back this summer; it’s a win for me!

Lush Breath of Fresh Air Toner
I had read about Lush, but I was terrified when I found my first store. There wasn’t one in Nashville (of course they built one after I moved away) so the first time I went was in the Florida Mall back in March. My mom and I wandered around, slightly overwhelmed, and the super nice Lush ladies showed us around and told us about everything. I was still really overwhelmed, because that’s just how I am, but I ended up walking away with a bottle of the Breath of Fresh Air toner. It’s delightful- cool and bright-smelling, if that’s a thing. My one quibble is that the mist isn’t very fine. For a while I spritzed it on a cotton pad, but that felt wasteful. It still lasted for quite a while, and I repurchased it when I ran out. But this time, online.

Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle
I got the sample from Birchbox and thought it was amazing for my hair- it just didn’t last long enough. The smell was strong and took a little getting used to, but it was worth it. I loved it, but then my Dove detangler came on the scene, so…I didn’t repurchase. But still. Very nice.

Bath and Body Works Hand Sanitizers
I used to carry these on my key lanyards when I was teaching. Trust me, when you’re around kindergarteners, you really rely on it. And I found that I still need them at Disney. Do you know how many times I have to pick up guest garbage? Plus I spend all day touching buttons and gearshifts and microphones that everyone else has spent all day touching, so I always carry a bottle in my pocket. In this round I used up Creamy Pumpkin, Daisy Dreamgirl, Stress Relief, and Honey Sweetheart. (The latter is the backwards bottle because I’m a genius.)

Clean and Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Gel Moisturizer (not pictured)
Clean and Clear is a very hit or miss brand for me. Typically I like the product at first, but after a while I find the washes to be drying and the moisturizers flaky. Not actually flaky, it’s this weird…peeling thing. Anyways. I wanted a cheaper version of the Garnier gel moisturizer, and this was the best bang for my buck. It wasn’t as good (the Garnier is marvelous) but it was still fantastic for hot summer days when I need something light on my face. Plus, it smells like watermelon.

Olay Fresh Effects Bead Me Up! Exfoliating Cleanser (not pictured)
First: this smells like old ladies.
Second: does Olay’s prime demographic realize that the super long name is a Star Trek reference? Somehow I doubt it.
Third: OLD LADY SMELL
This is a pleasant creamy cleanser that smells heavily of fragrance. Like…not a specific scent, but just that sort of smell that you remember from hugging your grandma. You know what I’m talking about. The scrub beads didn’t seem to do much, so overall this isn’t a repurchase for me.

So that’s a number of products I used up in 2013! Have you tried any of these? And do you have any recommendations for things you’d like to see me try?