Trash Talk: Spring Cleaning Edition 2016

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Hi, friends! It's spring cleaning time again! This post was inspired by my propensity for finding old or forgotten products in the back of my makeup drawer. As I explained in last year's spring cleaning post, this is kind of like a glorified Empties post. Only instead of getting rid of products when they're empty, I take a look in my collection and determine what I need to trash from there. Beauty bloggers and makeup enthusiasts tend to be Goop Hoarders (because makeup is essentially colorful goop), so today I'm sharing my tips on how to separate the good stuff from what needs to go. 

Products That Are Too Old (And I Mean OLD!)

I'm not the type of person that's going to throw out a product when it's been exactly three months or six months or a year, based on guidelines (also because those guidelines tend to vary depending on where you're looking). Instead, I watch for changes as I use them. Does the product smell different? Has the consistency changed? Is it no longer giving me the same desired effect it once did? If the answer to any of these questions is "Yes," it gets a one-way ticket to the trash can. For example, this Sally Hansen Super Shine Top Coat ($3.20 | .45oz) has gotten really thick and goopy, so it doesn't do a good job of sealing in my nail polish like it used to. In its prime, I mentioned it in my October Favorites, but now it's time to get hooked on a new top coat. Lately, I've been loving the Formula X one, so expect to see that in an up and coming Favorites post!

Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in Pink

This Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in Pink ($15 | .14oz) was my JAM! I originally received it an Ipsy bag (as much as I complained about them). The fruity scent, the comfortable feel on the lips, the pretty pink color--all of it was A+. Being that Juice Beauty is a natural brand, I'm surprised this lip gloss lasted as long as it did. When I went to use it and noticed it had gained a strange smell, it immediately went in my Empties bag. It's unfortunate, but I got a lot of use out of it, so it doesn't seem like a total waste. I can repurchase this lip gloss if I want, but being that I have so many other ones to play with right now, I can't see myself getting as much use out of it as I once did. But you never forget your first love. *dreamy sigh*

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Bold Gold

The MAYBELLINE Eye Studio Color Tattoo Eyeshadows ($7) are great, but they're known for notoriously drying out quicker than other cream shadows. This color, Bold Gold, was there for me when I was too lazy to pick up a makeup brush. We've been through a lot, but it's all dried out now. I could easily pick up another one of these at the drugstore, maybe even in a different color, but I think I'm going to try another brand to see if the longevity is any better. Maybe Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadow. What's your favorite?

Products That Are Empty (Seriously?)

MAC Slimshine Lipstick in Intimidate (LE)

I'm a hoarder. I'll be the first one to admit it. This Slimshine Lipstick in Intimidate from MAC has certainly seen better days. It's a little melty, and the tube is officially twisted up as far as it'll go. Rather than struggling to apply it without scraping my lips on the top edge of the tube, I think I'll put this to better use and try to make a tinted lip balm out of it. That way, I can scrape out whatever's left and depot it (and you guys know I'm a sucker for tinted lip balm). Plus, thanks to MAC's "Back to MAC" program, when I collect enough empty containers I can hang them in and get a new lipstick for free!

Revlon Colorstay Smoky Shadow Stick in Torch

The brown side of my Revlon Colorstay Smoky Shadow Stick in Torch ($8 | .07oz) fell out months ago and I was just letting this sit in my makeup drawer! The two of us have been through a lot together (I used to mention it all the time, like in my Spring Product Picks), but it's time to say goodbye. Granted, I always preferred the pink side, but that's gotten drier and harder to use over time. They don't make these anymore, sadly, but that just means I have the opportunity to find a cream eyeshadow stick that's even better!

Products You Never Really Liked Begin With (Again, Seriously?)

Maybelline Cover Stick Corrector Conealer in Ivory, Physicians Formula Gentle Cover Concealer Sticks in Yellow and Light

As a beauty blogger, I try a lot of products. I don't like everything I try, but even if I'm not a fan, I like to keep it around to see if I can make it work. Sometimes I can--whether it's worth the effort is irrelevant when determination sets in--but sometimes it's just not gonna work out. Now is the time where I toss those hopeless products to clear up some space for ones that do what I want them to do!

For example, I was never going to use these cream concealer sticks. The Maybelline Cover Stick Corrector Concealer in Ivory ($6 |  .16oz) (left) was closest to my skin tone, but I wasn't a fan of how tacky it seemed. The Physicians Formula Gentle Cover Concealer Sticks in Yellow and Light ($7.49 | ea.) (middle and right) just didn't work for me. I liked that these were more creamy feeling, but the Yellow shade did nothing to conceal my dark circles (looking at the color wheel, a peach color would suit my skin tone better for that purpose), and the Light shade was wayyy too pink to match me. It's a well-known fact that Physicians Formula shade selection for different skin tones is abysmal, so I can't really try these in another shade and see if I have better luck. But that's okay--I've gained better concealers in my stash since then, which is why these collected dust in my drawer for so long.

Pacifica Color Quench Lip Tints in Vanilla Hibiscus (left) and Coconut Nectar (right)

These Pacifica Color Quench Lip Tints in Vanilla Hibiscus and Coconut Nectar ($7 | .15oz) have caused me so much grief, you have no idea! After hearing so many people rave about these tinted lip balms, I gave in and picked two of them up like a sheep. And I'm not sure if mine were duds when I purchased them or what, but these are nothing like I hear about in reviews! I've heard they are so comfortable to wear, but they were so dry. Let alone the awful appearance on the lips--the shimmery, opaque layer they gave my lips made me look dead, especially the Coconut Nectar shade on the right. I am so stumped at all of the raving reviews of these. I'm usually a big fan of Pacifica, too! They make such lovely perfumes and body lotions. Either everyone was drunk when they wrote their reviews of these lip balms, or I got the runts of the shipment. Bummer, man. 

And Lastly: Clean and Sanitize (We're Done!)

Left: Beauty So Clean Sanitizing Mist | Right: Johnson's Baby Shampoo

What good is all this makeup if it's all full of germs? I like to take a hint from the pros and sanitize my products with Beauty So Clean Cosmetic Sanitizer Mist ($16 | 4oz). What's great about this is that you can use it on powders (ex. blushes, eyeshadows, anything) and it won't change the texture! Unlike the old trick of using rubbing alcohol to press a shattered eyeshadow back together, this mist leaves the product exactly the same as it was before. After all, it's just a mist, so you're not flooding it with anything. Whenever I had to apply makeup while sick, or if I'm using a product I haven't picked up in a long time, I like to spritz a little bit of this on there to fight off any bacteria that could be sitting on the surface. It only takes seconds to dry, so you can use it right after without any issues. It's kind of the best thing ever. 

As far as cleaning brushes go, it's so important to wash them regularly! I have friends tell me they never wash their brushes! Ahhh! You really should real your brushes every week or two to prevent the spread of bacteria on your face. This is especially important for my fellow acne-prone people! Do yourself a favor and pick up a bottle of Johnson's Baby Shampoo ($5 | 20oz) and you'll be set for a very long time. Just a little bit of this with some water in your hand and that's all you really need to swirl a brush and get it clean. There are fancier brush shampoos (like Cinema Secrets, which is cool because it dries incredibly fast so you can use your clean brush right away), but you can't beat this for the price. 

Large Lavender Z-Palette

This is also a good time to depot and organize your eyeshadow singles. If you're doing an eye look with a bunch of little pots scattered around, it can get a little cumbersome. I've found that if I take the eyeshadow pans out of their packaging, whether it be samplers from a Birchbox or an individual eyeshadow, I've more likely to use them when I can see them. I totally forgot about the gorgeous green eyeshadow on top by Urban Decay until I placed it in my Large Lavender Z-Palette ($18). Before, it was shoved to the back of my makeup drawer (because apparently I don't wear shimmery green eyeshadow enough), but now that I can see it, I'll use it more. Plus, the organization freak in me loves seeing everything all neat and organized. De-potting eyeshadows is a process (I may or may not have accidentally dug my nail into said green eyeshadow trying to pull it out), but I think it's rewarding in the end. But maybe I just need more fulfilling hobbies.

Well, that's everything! I hope this overview of my spring cleaning experience was helpful to you!

Sometimes you just need to remind yourself that makeup is GOOP. It can be replaced! @sammipenni https://t.co/vHBYgIlgl1 #bbloggers

— Samantha Penninipede (@sammipenni) March 30, 2016

How's your spring cleaning going? What do you usually hoard the most of?



Want to see more Trash Talks? Here's last year's Spring Cleaning!  

 



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