Starting the year off a little rough here. I acquired 30 items almost one a day and used up 17 so just about 1 every two days so not good at all already failing at that that 10% reduction.
Skincare (3)
Kiehls Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum 5% Niacinamide I didn’t have enough time with this to see if it really worked but I think I liked the Ordinary one more.
Repurchase: No
Strivectin Advanced Retinol Nightly Renewal Moisturizer I really liked this I felt like a saw a difference in my skin. It is expensive though.
Repurchase: Yes
Kopari Moisture Whipped Ceramide Cream this was a nice basic cream a little thick but blended in pretty nice and wasn’t sticky.
Repurchase: Maybe
Home Scents (7)
Unplugged Book Box Candle in Coraline this had no scent throw but the jar is cute.
Repurchase: No
Trader Joe’s Super Lemon Room Spritz this is my favorite spray it smells so good and really dispels bad scents I will always buy this I wish they sold bigger bottles.
Repurchase: Yes
Bath and Body Works Wallflower in Raspberry Thumbprint this was not that strong or as long lasting as the Hannukah one. It smelled good but ran out of scent very quick.
Repurchase: No
Cowboy and Cricket Wax Melt in Renfield this had a very fall scent I thought I wouldn’t like I don’t usually like those more heavy masculine type scents but this was nice enough.
Repurchase: No
Target Scented Candle in Deadly Nightshade this had a really strong scent throw it filled the room and lasted for awhile it also had a super long burn time and burned clean all the way to the bottom.
Repurchase: Yes
VS Candle in Warm & Cozy I like the Victoria Secret Candle they have a decent scent throw and they are pretty cute.
Repurchase: Yes
FCS Black Flame Candle this was obviously just a little sample tea like it was cute but it burned out in a few hours the scent throw was good just not a scent I was really a fan of a little musky leavey for me.
Repurchase: No
Lip (2)
Trader Joe’s Moisturizing Lip Balm in Island Coconut this was very balmy but not that moisturizing the flavor/scent was super nice I enjoyed it.
Repurchase: Maybe
Jeffree Star Velour Lip Scrub in Rainbow Sherbert this was a really good lip scrub it was the right amount of scrubby not to hard not to balmy it tasted good. There was a lot in there. I really liked this.
Repurchase: Yes
Bodycare (2)
Basic Skin Shower Scrub this was not really enough to use as a body scrub so I just kept it at my skin and used it on my hands and I really liked that. I will have to get more sink scrubs it is nice makes my hands feel good. This is as the name says was super basic.
Repurchase: No
Bath and Body Works Bath Salt Soak In Bright Lemon Snowdrop this was not good. They didn’t dissolve easily they didn’t have much scent this was not good.
Repurchase: No
Haircare (2)
Devacurl Deep Sea Repair Seaweed Strengthening Mask this was fine made my hair feel soft but also kinda puffy which I don’t like.
Repurchase: No
Marc Anthony Grow Long Restoring Anti-Breakage Mask I use these masks all the time they make my hair feel soft I don’t think they are doing anything for breakage though.
Repurchase: Yes
Declutter (1)
Colourpop Palette in Ticket to Dreamland I just never used this I have these colors I’m never inspired by it so I rather pass it along at this point I need to make space.
Well my goal was 333 items and $4000 of product and to reduce all my category totals and that didn’t quite happen missed two of the three. Used up 371 items for a totally $3769.46 and only reduced two categories.
Final Results
Compared to 2021
Final Totals By Month and Category
Nothing in particular really stands out to me this year in what I used up.
Pie Charts
Switching it up a bit this year I don’t think Bodycare has ever made it into the top three of used items.
No dramatic changes in the value either not that I expect there ever to be candle and skincare and perfume are always going to be the most pricey items I own.
And everything here is much the same as well. I just feel this experiment tells me nothing but that I am consistent.
Now for the Results of the Big Category Project
In total I only ended up with 66 more items then I started with which averages to 5.5 a month really not that bad very not that bad when I take into account that about 24 items were Christmas gifts so 42 items ends up at 3.5 items a month. I actually lowered the Skincare category and Lip which I had really wanted to focus on.
I really don’t know what I want my goals for next year to be I will have to think on it alot over this month.
So new year new empties project I am switching somethings up this year. I am tracking the item value and my overall collection totals more closely and less so how many items I am using each month. I just have so much stuff and it always seems like more is coming in then is leaving and I don’t want it to be that way.
Also a change is that if I used up a decent chunk of a product and figure out it isn’t working for me I am counting it as an empty rather then a declutter. Since I was pushing myself to use things I didn’t enjoy or weren’t working just so I could count them in my total.
Skincare (12)
Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream meh? I have no opinions I used it for like almost two weeks it was just a face cream.
Repurchase: No
Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks these have been some of my favorite eye masks I have ever used I really can see and feel a difference in the texture and hydration and look of my under eyes. I almost exclusively use them as a oh shit I suddenly have to go out and see people after a really long rough day or bad night sleep and I’m just going thru it and it shows. They also aren’t cold which I like because I don’t find really cold things pleasant.
Repurchase: Yes
The Better Skin Co Better Skin Mirakle Cream I don’t know this was fine I kept it by my bed for when I was having the sads or the very drunk and just couldn’t get myself to do skincare but wanted to still do something. So this took a long time to use up it was fine it was a thick cream that didn’t feel terribly heavy which was cool.
Repurchase: No
Elf Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm this is awful it does not work to break down makeup well at all it does not emulsify well it doesn’t sting my eyes but it does get all grow in my contacts not the worst I’ve ever tried but not the best
Repurchase: No
The Crème Shop Caffeine Eye Sheet Masks this is nice an moisturizing and feels good on it stays on well but it is also huge like I have to fold it over or it is all up in my hair. I like it but I kinda prefer patches rather then this half sheet mask style.
Repurchase: No
Sol De Janeiro My Sol Stick SPF 50 I really liked this is smelled so so freaking good. It didn’t break me out and it rubbed in to my skin well but there are two things that prevent me from buying this in the future. I hated the packaging the top is heavier and much wider then the base so it would always fall over and it just annoyed me. Also it is pretty heavy feeling on the skin for the first like 5/10 minutes of wearing it I mean it is a spf 50 it is going to be heavy aver that it kinda warms up enough and absorbs. So while I really like it I think I rather put money to buying a fragrance from them and try other spfs.
Repurchase: No but not because I didn’t like it
It Cosmetics No. 50 Serum so I used up half of this off and on because it took me that long to figure out it was breaking me out. So for that reason I can’t use it but it was nice I feel like makeup sits well over it so if you are looking for a day anti-aging serum and it doesn’t break you out then this is fine.
Repurchase: No
Roc Daily Resurfacing Disks I didn’t like these but that was totally my fault I didn’t read the package well enough when I bought them I thought these were like swipey pads like Oxy pad style but these are not they are soapy and you wet them to wash your face and that is not a format I enjoy but the product itself was really nice it cleaned my face well if you like that format of product these are good just not for me.
Repurchase: No
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Microdermabrasion Scrub in You’re the One That I Want This I really didn’t like I didn’t like the scent and it was strong and I didn’t love the consistency it was both too scrubby and not scrubby enough.
Repurchase: No
Makeup Revolution Skincare Pick-Me-Not Blemish Patches these are ok for like sucking the goo out of a pimple that has been bopped but don’t do a whole lot else. They are also pretty cheap though so I would consider repurchasing them for that purpose. But not for like treating pimples.
Repurchase: Maybe
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer this is not as good as the eye cream or the sleeping mask. Its just a a light moisturizer it wasn’t anything special.
Repurchase: No
Youth Haus 24k Gold Glow Eye Patches I really liked these they were comfortable they were hydrating and smoothing they stayed on well I liked them. They are kinda expensive though.
Repurchase: I don’t know
Random (2)
Sweet & Shimmer Face and Body Mini Wipes in Merry Mint I love these for swatches and I always stock up when they get released. The scents are fun and the mini size is perfect for my needs.
Repurchase: Yes
Frank Body Booty Drops these were supposed to “firm” and tone the appearance of your thighs and butt or something like that. I knew it wouldn’t do that but it also smelled gross.
Repurchase: No
Home Scents (10)
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Room Spray in Hellraisin Bran this was fine not the most impressive is scent from them but I enjoyed it. It was a nice sweet scent.
Repurchase: No
5 Below Candle in Cup of Cocoa this had no scent throw what so ever.
Repurchase: No
FCS Wax Tart in Heart of The Ocean this was super pretty the blue looked great in my wax warmer but the scent through was so light that it wasn’t worth it.
Repurchase: No
Trader Joe’s Room Spritz in Pomander the Room Spritzs from Trader Joe’s are so good they really do refresh the room and smell strong and good for more then just like 2 minutes. This smells like what I think Christmas in a Christmas Carol smells like in my brain all warm and holiday spicy. I wouldn’t want this scent around for a super long time just because it isn’t my favorite scent category but it was fun for the season and the bottles are little that you can buy a seasonal scent and know you will actually finish it in a month.
Repurchase: Yes
Bath and Body Works Wallflower in Crisp Apple this had no scent throw. I also feel like the wallflower units stop working after a few months is that just me?
Repurchase: No
Lichen & Limestone Candle in House of Wrath I loved this the crackle from the wood wick was so good and loud. The scent was great so sweet and complex. The scent throw could have been stronger but I would be very curious to try one of their bigger candles.
Repurchase: Yes
Bath and Body Works Merry Cookie Single Wick Candle I love a cookie scented candle. This was good.
Repurchase: Maybe
Bath and Body Works Fine Fragrance Mist in Aquamarine this lasted forever as a spray I used it as a bathroom spray and it smells like something you would spray in a bathroom I could never imagine wearing this it was very non-descript nice fancy bathroom at a hotel kinda scent.
Repurchase: No
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Birthday Cake Candle this didn’t smell like anything but it was cute.
Repurchase: No
Bath and Body Works Creamy Luxe Hand Soap in Marshmallow Flurries this was a fine hand soap but it started to turn a weird grey green color and I could not pump the last bit out and could not be fucked trying to get it out. It smelled nice and it was really moisturizing which is great for now in the winter.
Repurchase: Maybe
Makeup (1)
Cover Fx Blurring Primer this was very blurring and pore filling on the skin I enjoyed it for a long time but the older it got the more dry it got and the less I liked it so this does not age well and for the price you would need to use it up pretty quickly to enjoy it at it’s peak. I used it alone mostly sometimes with foundation, but it did not play well with all foundations; alot of foundations would pill on top of it.
Repurchase: No
Lotion (2)
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream I like this lotion it is really thick and feels nice but it is not the most hydrating. It smells amazing though.
Repurchase: Maybe
Petrichor Ink Vitamin A, C, & E Hand & Body Lotion in The Empress this didn’t have much of a scent but it was a nice hydrating lotion.
Repurchase: No
Bodycare (2)
Bath and Body Works Shower Gel in Chocolate Covered Cherry I enjoyed this it was much more cherry than chocolate but I love cherry and I really enjoy the bath and body works shower gels they are really foamy come in really fun scents. It’s a guilty pleasure.
Repurchase: Maybe
Fresh Sugar Lemon Bath & Shower Gel this is just not worth the price. I wanted the sweet lemon experience for this price tag and it was just fine it was just a normal lightly lemon scented body wash.
Repurchase: No
Haircare (1)
Avalon Organics Finishing Rinse Smooth Shine Apple Cider Vinegar this did nothing and smelled very much of vinegar, I like the way vinegar smells but not in my hair.
Repurchase: No
Declutter (8)
I want to preface this with I actually deluttered over 70 things this month but that was just too much to go through and write and photograph all of it. Alot of it was older then my spreadsheet I use to track all my products so it didn’t even count on my spreadsheet so I only pulled out a few things that I had something I felt like saying about. But it was a super massive pile.
Too Faced Cocoa Contour Palette I have had this palette forever. I really used and abused it but I really only use one shade from it now (Which I had massive pan in!). I have since decided to just buy the full size of the shade I like and get rid of this bulky palette.
Hourglass Vanish Stick Foundation in Shell this shade is too light for me but also the vanish stick is just so heavy and I don’t feel looks and wears well on my skin it looks very mask like as well as sinking in to lines and pores.
KVD Vegan Beauty (Formerly Kat Von D Beauty) Metal Crush Liquid Highlighter in Helix I have so many liquid highlighters that just perform better than this.
Pinky Rose Cosmetics Multi-Use Makeup Stick in Hip-Hop this is so sticky and does not blend well or sit well on my eyelids.
Eleman Beauty Eyeshadow Duo in Aerial & Luna too glittery.
Nyx Wonder Stick in Universal the contour sticks from Nyx just aren’t good and the shade range is far to small and way to light to be of any use.
Pacifica Bronzed Rose Rose & Coconut Infused Blush & Bronzer this palette has gotten some great reviews and I just don’t get it there is no pigmentation to either of these shades and it is like literally applying nothing. You have to dip in so many times that they very quickly also formed hard pan.
Physician’s Formula The Healthy Foundation in LN4 this I wanted to like it is supposed to be a breatheable foundation and the packaging feels super high end for drugstore and it just it’s a no. It makes my skin look really dry and emphasizes texture which from a light coverage foundation that itsn’t what you want. Like I know a full coverage foundation is going to emphasize things but there’s so many steps you can do to make it look perfected but that isn’t what I want to do when I am looking to use a product like this.
I feel like I have started off well I missed my monthly value goal by $10 which is super annoying but I feel really good about all the stuff I decluttered out of my collection and just freed up alot of space.
Total This Month: 38
Total: 38
Approx Value This Month: $323.37
Approx Paid This Month: $60.60
Approx Total Value: $323.37
Approx Total Paid: $60.60
Most of my categories decreased this month and my overall totall decreased alot to which is great. My random category went up a decent amount but it was my couponing stock up on deodorant time so its fine. I always wait until I can use coupons plus extrabucks and sales and what have you to get a bunch deodorants for cheap like I got four for like less then $10. Obviously the total decrease in the hoard is not going to equal each category because new things come in as well as things being used up.
