August Empties

I was worried I wouldn’t have any empties to show you this month, but it turns out I do!

1. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, 6oz tub ($28)- I’m pretty sure this is my holy grail moisturizer. It was recommended by a friend who works at Sephora last fall when I started using Retin-A and my skin was seriously dehydrated and flaky. It has lots of goodies for your skin like colloaidal oatmeal,  squalane and ceramides, and it absorbs quickly without feeling greasy. It doesn’t have SPF, which means I don’t need to worry about the ingredients interfering with my regular sunscreen. I’ve never had any problems with it stinging, other than a tiny bit around my nose when the skin in that area was really raw from allergies and a sinus infection. It does have some botanical extracts, including olive and coconut derivatives, so patch testing is a good idea as always if you decide to try it. I already had another 2oz tube on standby when I ran out, and now I’m trying to decide if I should get the 6oz tub again, or go straight for the 12oz version (which is a better deal at $39). Available at sephora.com and spacenk.com

2. Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ebony ($21) – This is another product that I keep a backup of for when I run out. So far, Anastasia products in Ebony (I also have the powder duo) are the best color match I’ve found for my hair. The Brow Wiz also has the added benefit of being really long wearing and oil-resistant. Obviously it will come off if I touch my eyebrows, but it doesn’t fade throughout the day otherwise. If I use a little bit of NARS eye primer under it, I’ve even had it last through an hour-long Tabata training class (which involves ridiculous amounts of sweat). It’s really easy to get precise lines with this pencil, which is nice since my eyebrows are almost totally fake. I’ve already repurchased (currently on my third one). Available at sephora.com

3. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray,  1oz ($14) – I don’t use this all the time, but I do use it both under and over my makeup if I know I need it to last a ridiculous amount of time – for example, if I’m going out for dinner & drinks after work. I don’t know if it’s exactly a miracle worker, but it does make my makeup last for several extra hours. It sets quickly and doesn’t make my skin feel sticky/dry/tight/etc – it actually doesn’t feel like anything at all, so I guess that’s a win. I did end up getting the full size, which it’ll probably take me a good while to make my way through. Available at sephora.com

What products did you empty out this month? Leave a comment below!