Being a beauty lover is fun – until your collection of beauty empties and half-used products starts to pile up, and you suddenly realize your vanity is full of expired items or things you barely used more than three times.
Since moving in with my partner, I’ve become more mindful of how I consume and where I spend my money – especially since rent takes up a large portion of our paychecks and prices for everything are rising. Given the current state of the economy, I find myself thinking more carefully about my decisions. I have financial goals to reach, and it all starts with being intentional about my spending habits.
Lately, I’ve been enjoying the idea of under-consuming. There’s something satisfying about hitting pan on a makeup product or finishing a bottle of lotion – it feels like a way of showing gratitude and truly appreciating the value of what I have. We work hard for our money and to buy the things we enjoy, so using products to the very end feels like honoring the effort it took to afford them.
There really isn’t a reason to have more than two of the same product at once, so I’ve been making a point to use up what I have before buying more. Here are my empties for the month of May – and whether I think they’re worth restocking.
May beauty empties worth repurchasing:
Skincare
- Exfoliating and clearing serum: My skin was breaking out badly, so I tried this mandelic acid serum, and it really helped smooth and brighten my complexion. I don’t get as many breakouts anymore, and I love how gentle it is for everyday use. I still experience occasional hormonal breakouts, but I keep this in my routine because it’s been such a helpful addition.
- Luxe body lotions: I’ve finished three tubes of the Cyklar body creams – Sacred Santal, Bergamot Bond, and Crescent – and they all smell amazing while keeping my skin nicely moisturized. I wake up with the softest skin. I’m usually lazy when it comes to hydrating, but having these body creams has genuinely made me look forward to applying them before bed or whenever I need a moisture boost.
- Ultra repair cream: Gentle, hydrating, and great for sensitive skin. I love this as an everyday moisturizer. I’ve used it on both my face and body, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for a versatile, multi-use option.
- Restorative barrier repair cream: I was honestly so impressed by Alpyn’s Super Peptide & Ghostberry Moisturizer from the very first use. The formula feels like creamy butter that melts into my skin, and I wake up feeling baby-soft and deeply hydrated. Totally worth the price. I also love how they combine clinical ingredients with natural ones – the whole process behind their formulas is actually pretty cool.
- Affordable, hydrating serum: I always keep hyaluronic acid or some type of hydrating serum in my skincare rotation. This was my second bottle of The Inkey List’s Hyaluronic Acid. It’s affordable, hydrating, and the formula isn’t sticky like some other hyaluronic acid serums can be.
Hair
- For longer, thicker-looking hair: I don’t usually take hair supplements, but this month I finished a bottle of Gummy Stars, and I honestly think I’m seeing a difference. My cousin even commented that it looks like my hair has grown a lot! I also think it’s been looking thicker lately. Since I regularly use heat styling, I think these are worth restocking to help keep my hair healthy.
Makeup
- Everyday lip liner: I’ve had the Milano Easy Liner in Most Natural for a while, so it was super satisfying to finish. A super creamy formula and pretty, pink mauve color.
May beauty empties I’m on the fence about:
- L’Occitane milk concentrate: Super lightweight, very hydrating, and subtly scented – but I’ll need to try a bigger jar to decide if it’s worth keeping in my routine.
May beauty empties not making a comeback:
- Topicals Moisturizer: Unfortunately, my skin didn’t react well to this formula. Although it can be used on both the face and body, I primarily used it on my face. Something in the ingredients didn’t mix well with my other skincare products, and it caused a stinging sensation each time I applied it. Because of that, I won’t be restocking.
- Volumizing shampoo and conditioner: I love the Unite brand, but this shampoo and conditioner didn’t wow me. I didn’t notice a significant difference in volume. I’m a big fan of their 7SECONDS line, so I’ll be sticking with that instead.
- Setting spray: I had high hopes for this one since I love their power grip primer, but the mist was too fine for me and I felt like it didn’t keep my makeup on. I love their other setting sprays, so will restock on those instead.
What products did you finish up this May, and what are you working on finishing next?
