Saturday, February 16, 2013

Products I Want to Use Up! Volume 1

I've had a container of products I want to use up sitting on top of my makeup table. After seeing carlyjeanx's video about products she wants to use up in 2013, I realized that would make a good blog post series.

Let me be clear that I'm not attempting a project pan here. I'm not going on a spending ban. I know I would fail miserably if I tried. I am trying to cut back on my beauty spending, but that's not the purpose of this.

My purpose here is to use up products that I would like to see go away or products that I have multiples of in my collection (like foundation, black eye liners, etc). I tried to pick things that I use daily or smaller sized items that I'm more likely to finish. I don't want to get frustrated with myself or get completely bored with the colorful products.

Let's take a look at what I'm currently working on:


Lumene Double Stay Long-Lasting Makeup in Vanilla Meringue

Confession: I finished this prior to getting this post written. I've already switched to a new foundation product: a Holika Holika BB Cream.

Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer

There's no particular reason why I threw this into the mix except that I've got several primers, so I picked this one to try and finish up first.

Tarte Clean Slate Flawless 12 Hour Brightening Primer

I threw in this sample primer too because it's formulated for drier skin, so it makes my face look greasy before the end of the day. I try and use this on short work days or days when I'm just running errands.

Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark-Circle Roller

This product just won't die!!! I've been using this consistently for over a year now. I don't love it and don't plan on repurchasing, so I just want it gone. 

Darling Girl Cosmetics Sweet Lips on the Go Sugar'd Lip Scrub in Creme Brulee

I love this stuff. The best part is that you get to choose the flavor. I'm trying to use it up because I've had it around for a while and I don't want it to go bad.

Yankee Candle Lip Balm in Pomegranate Fruit

I like this lip balm well enough, but the size makes it a little awkward to put in my pocket. It's getting close to being gone, so I'm trying to finish it off.

Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Naked - Mini Size

As you can see, this is almost gone. I have too many lip glosses in my collection, so I chose a mini size to try and use up first. After this one is gone, I'll probably work on another mini Lip Junkie.

Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion with Royal Jelly

I dislike lotion with shimmer in it, and this one has shimmer. It's small enough that it won't take me too long to get it out of my collection.

EcoTools Sustainable Softness Body Lotion

If you've followed me for a while, you probably know that I have a big stash of lotion since I end up mentioning it when I have a lotion in a finished it post. This is a small bottle, so I grabbed it to try and use up. I'm also not a big fan of the smell.

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream 

I'm not in love with this cuticle balm, I've had it for a really long time, and I've hit pan on it. It's time for it to go. I've got a mini size of this to work on after this one is gone.


Silk Naturals Colt Eye Shadow Sample

This was a sample made for me by a friend. Colt is a dupe for Urban Decay's Darkhorse (By the way, Silk Naturals now has dupes for the Naked 1, Naked 2, and Naked Basics palettes). A friend sent this to me a long time ago. I have too many baggie samples in my collection. This will be a start in the right direction.

Physicians Formula Black Eye Liner (From the original Nude Eyes set) 

I have a lot of black eye liners in my collection because so many brands throw them into value sets. After I finished off a mini of Urban Decay's Zero (it'll be in my next finished products post), I pulled this one out as the next eye liner to finish off.

Hard Candy Pencil Concealer

This came with the Glam-o-flage concealer. I'm using it to brighten up my lower waterline. Even though the pencil is quite small, it's going to take me a long time to finish. I've used it a handful of times already, but I haven't had to sharpen it yet.

Urban Decay Primer Potion

I use this every day. I have a full size and a jumbo of this in the old-style packaging. This mini tube is almost gone.

Silk Naturals Naked Eye Shadow Sample

This is a dupe of MAC's Naked Lunch. At first look, you might this this little baggie would be easy to finish, but you would be mistaken. If you've had baggie samples like this, you'll know that they last through quite a few uses.

Silk Naturals Bone Eye Shadow

I pressed this a while ago. It's a nice browbone highlight, but it doesn't match my Wet n Wild Brulee, so I want to finish it off. My goal is to work my way through my matte highlight shades that aren't Brulee and then not purchase any more. For the quality and the price, I don't think anything else can beat it.



Silk Naturals Panache Cream Blush Sample 

This has been collecting dust, and it shouldn't be too hard to finish if I just grabbed for it regularly.

Silk Naturals Lovelace Blush Sample

This is a much brighter peach than it is appearing in the picture above. I'm not a big peach blush person, but I really like this one. The second picture was included to show how much product is in the jar. Again, it doesn't seem like a lot, but this will last through quite a few uses.

Meow Ballerina Blush Sample

Again, this baggie holds a deceptive amount of product. I'm hoping since the color is pretty light I can go through it faster than a brighter color because I'll be able to apply more of it.

Those are the products I'm working on right now. Do you try and focus on finishing specific products? What products are you working on finishing right now?

16 comments:

  1. These seems like a whole lot of product to finish up! Good luck!
    I have been working on my perfume lately, and focusing on finishing off a primer & bb cream

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    1. Thanks!

      Good luck to you on your perfumes, primer, and bb cream. Perfumes would be hard for me. I regularly use up samples, but I haven't worked up the motivation to use up anything larger (I have a bunch of roller balls).

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  2. How do you like the Revlon primer? I'm thinking of purchasing it, but I heard a few mixed reviews so I'm not sure if I want to :)

    http://sparklewithlaughter.blogspot.com/

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    1. It's an okay primer. I don't love it, but I do think it helps minimize my pores some and helps my makeup last a little longer. I have a review of it that I did last year. I don't plan on repurchasing it. I want to try the Too Faced primer when I've worked through my current stash.

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  3. I've been working on perfumes and essentials like lotions and shampoos! Good luck!

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    1. I have to work harder on lotions. One of these days I'll get around to taking a picture of my lotion stash so everyone can see what I'm talking about when I say I have a lot to work my way through.

      Good luck to you too!

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  4. Getting thru mineral products is virtually impossible. I wish I'd known that before I bought so much!

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    1. Me too! I also wish I realized sooner that I really dislike using sample baggies. I have an insane number of them. *sigh* I also have a ton of EDM stuff that I want to unload, but I've been too lazy to type it all up because I don't think anyone is going to want it.

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  5. Great choices! Good luck! I have so many primers too, I shall join you in your adventures!

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    1. Thanks! Let me know how you do with your primers. The Revlon primer is going to be one of the products that takes me the longest to get through.

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  6. This is a great post, I really need to set out some products as well to set a goal to finish off! I have way too many lip glosses, because i'm a sucker for pretty nudes and pick up way too many!

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    1. I have too many glosses as well. I swear they multiply when I'm not looking. :-) My best piece of advice (not that you asked for any) is to choose some things that are almost gone. That way, you'll start finishing things quickly, and you won't feel discouraged and give up.

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  7. This sounds like a much better idea than setting a spending challenge! I wish I'd thought of it haha.

    Good luck and make sure you keep us updated as you use them up :D

    Louise x

    Confessions of a Secret Shopper

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    1. hahaha...yeah...me and spending bans just don't mix. I'm too much of a sucker for things that are limited edition or good deals. I am doing better about doing fewer impulse buys though.

      I will definitely keep you updated, and I enjoy reading your updates as well!

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  8. This is a really awesome idea! At the beginning of the year I went through all my samples and made a mental commitment to use up as many as I can. I should do what you're doing with my full size lotions and potions!

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    1. I'm trying to get through a bunch of my samples too. It's crazy how fast those add up. Let me know if you decide to do this too. I'd love to have company!

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