November has been the slowest in terms of empties progress. My job role at work has changed and I am transitioning into the new role. This transition has come with a busy schedule that requires me to learn and experiment, practice and deliver. The routine at home also doesn't leave me with much time. November and December both have been challenging in terms of staying on track, Other than that, my sister in law is getting married in the first week of January and we have been busy shopping for the wedding. Shopping trips after work have left me quite exhausted. With my limited self care this month, below are some empties for the month of November. 

Empties November 2022

Over the years I have mellowed and don't really share much about my bad shopping experiences. However it seems there is an even more need to be wary and cautious while shopping online as there are even bigger fraudsters and scammers with every passing day. I attribute most bad experiences to the lack of professionalism and business ethics in most cases. My today's post is an experience I have recently had with a clothing store where I ordered some winter clothing for my toddler. 

I ordered below 3 sweatshirts for 12 - 18 months kid for Winters. When the order arrived, to my surprise, all shirts were of different sizes. Only 1 of the shirts fit him best. Rest 2 were so small that one seemed like for a kid of 3 - 6 months old and the other one for 6-9 months old. My baby is slim and not a chubby kid, even the 1-2 years or 12 - 18 months sized shirt seemed like one for 9 - 12 months old size. That was the only one that fit him well. 

Boys spongebob lfties sweatshirt

Boxycharm Premium is a bigger monthly subscription valued at a minimum of $250 a box. This elevated box features 6-7 beauty products for only $39.99 a month plus applicable taxes and shipping. Subscribing to Boxycharm premium allows you to maintain base box subscription separately and upgrade to Luxe as well. Currently upgrade to Luxe for premium is not available.

Boxycharm Premium - February 2022 box

Boxycharm Premium February 2022 items

Its just sad at times to witness and experience good products not getting due hype. I got a chance to try my hands on BioNike products last year. I'll say it was my go to brand during my pregnancy. Its noteworthy mentioning here that BioNike is not a cosmetology brand rather dermatology brand. All their products cater to derma conditions and recommended by dermatologists. Since my regular readers know I suffer from seborrheic dermatitis, which is a from of eczema, I used BioNike's proxera psomed range. Below is my detailed experience about the product. 

BioNike proxera psomed 40 intensive exfoliating gel

Boxycharm Premium is a bigger monthly subscription valued at a minimum of $250 a box. This elevated box features 6-7 beauty products for only $39.99 a month plus applicable taxes and shipping. Subscribing to Boxycharm premium allows you to maintain base box subscription separately and upgrade to Luxe as well. Currently upgrade to Luxe for premium is not available.

Here is what I received in my April box.

Boxycharm Premium - April 2022

I am happy to report my progress for the month of August. I feel I did a good job with emptying quite a few products. So here is what I finished off. 

August 2022 empties

I don't notice stark differences in sheet masks. For me, they are a source of hydration and moisturizing my face. However, this Tony Moly sheet mask was exceptionally good. I could literally feel the collagen plumping my skin and the after glow was noticeable. 

2. Go-To skincare exfoliating swipeys

These are exfoliating pads cum chemical peel swabs which came in my boxycharm premium box. I have already reviewed them. You can read my detailed review here. 

 3. Art Deco mineral powder 

I have been meaning to do a full fledge review on this product when I started using this product. Then I got distracted and busy and kept putting it off that I shall take pictures one day and then review the powder. Then the brand shut down in Pakistan and I felt what's the point? Anyhow, there was a time when I considered this powder to be an amazing for setting makeup but as I progressed in my makeup exposure, I realized, no, its quite an average product. Despite being average, it was for Rs. 1800 years back. It fails to keep the makeup matte. I can do without this powder and my face will end up looking dewy and oily just like it does when this powder is applied to my face. I will not suggest anyone opting for this powder. Glad I am done with it. 

4. Pigeon Breast Pads 

Man, this product needs a separate review post, which I am going to do in this month Inshallah. Finding the right breast pads for myself has been a journey. There is so little awareness around maternity products and breastfeeding, its a literal struggle. These are the best breast pads right now in the market that come in the most affordable price tag. I am on my box 2 now and I swear by these. Never have I had a visible leak with these on. 

5. Tresemme sulphate free shampoo 

I am not a Tresemme fan. Infact I blame the brand for my early greys. I reviewed one of their shampoos almost a decade back which I doubted was greying my hair. When I googled, turned out, I wasn't wrong. Still I purchased this shampoo as it was sulphate free and I had gotten keratin done so this was an affordable sulphate free shampoo. Other than that, its a pretty average off the shelf daily shampoo. 

6. Gilette Pro sensitive skin shaving foam 

My go to product for shaving in the shower. 

Empties - August 2022

Empties - August 2022

About the brand

Serumkind if one of the sub brands of Completone. Serumkind is their serum, simple but complete, clean & vegan skin care brand. They have managed to exclude over 2800 harmful and suspicious ingredients. The brand is cruelty free, vegan, paraben free, and comes in eco friendly packaging. 

Serumkind black blossom hand serum

Progress in the month of July stalled. I could only get done with 6 products. I shall blame the busy office routine in this month. I was so exhausted by the end of work day that I'd only want to curl up in bed and get some sleep. If only, life was this easy and simple. I am bearing the consequences of negligence this month. My skin is itching and I have some under skin itchy spots to fare. Anyhow below is the run down of products I emptied in the month of July. 

Empties - July 2022

I am actually quite content with the progress I am making with finishing off the products in my stash. This has helped me a lot this year to curb my need of buying cosmetics even when I don't really need to buy them. The thought that I shall end up finishing a particular number of products and then a yearly total to boast, is what's keeping me going. Below are the products I finished in the month of June 2022.  

Empties June 2022

1. Body Luxuries Signature sensation body wash in A Day Inspiring 

Its quite rare that I use body washes. I prefer using soaps with loofah to exfoliate my skin and just soap for a regular wash. Rarely I indulge myself in the luxury of using body wash. My main dissatisfaction with body wash is that it leaves a lathery residue on the skin no matter how much water you pour on the body and also I dont find it to be a good body cleaner. With soap I have the satisfaction that its cleaning off my body. This body wash by Body Luxuries was purchased from Alfatah store. It had a mild floral scent which was tantalizing to the nose. 

2. OAD Bear Hair Gummies 

I have lost count of the bottles I have consumed of these hair gummies. A lot of people take these to be replicas or copies of Sugar Bear Hair. Coming from me, working in pharmaceuticals, this product is neither a replica nor fake. Pharmaceutical industry is regulated by DRAP - Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan; whose job is to ensure that actual and quality medicines and nutraceuticals hit pharmacies and counters. OAD Bear Hair is manufactured by a Chinese company and distributed in Pakistan by a local pharma company. But to sell off any medicinal and nutraceutical product, the product has to be registered with DRAP and it has to have authentic formulations mentioned on the packaging. I assure you that this product is genuine and an affordable option against Sugar Bear Hair. 

3. Mind - EDP by Flormar 

I recall purchasing this perfume almost a decade back. Its offensive to realize that I have had a long standing collection of perfumes which pushed back this product and I did not end up using it. Finally when I got married and cleared off my shelves to decide what to take along, this perfume made an appearance. I am sure over all this time, the perfume lost its fragrance. Whatever was left of it, I kept using and finally managed to finish it off in June. I don't think this product is available or even manufactured anymore by the brand. The perfume had fruity notes for main fragrance followed by sweet caramel, vanilla fragrance. 

4. Garnier skin active micellar cleansing water in oil 

Almost every other month, at least one bottle of Garnier's micellar water makes an appearance in my empties list. Its safe to assume that I am super lazy when it comes to removing makeup and actually cleansing the face. Micellar water is my safe haven. This water in oil combination serves beautifully to remove makeup from the eyes without much pressure and back and forth rubbing. 

5./6. Spa Ceylon ayurveda intensive hand cream in lemongrass mandarin/ sandalwood spice 

I have mostly been familiar and used to soft fragrances like those found in Victoria's secret, The Body Shop and Bath & Body works. However when I discovered Spa Ceylon, their fragrances are a league in their own; very different from the ones I am used to. These ayurvedic fragrances are very strong and overwhelming. You have neroli, lemon grass, mandarin and the likes but very intense. The hand cream was nice and I suggest giving spa ceylon a try as well if you are into bath & body works and Body Shop products. 

7. Makari firming body lotion - sample size

The firming lotion came as a free gift with my order from vegas.pk. It was a nice body lotion which lasted me 2 uses for full body. I don't think I'll ever buy it in full size as it comes with a high price tag. 

8. Spa Ceylon body cream 

Another product by cpa ceylon. This is their deluxe sized body cream, again with beautiful and over powering fragrance. 

Thats a wrap for the products I used in June. In case you have used any of these products or are using them, share your experience with me. I'd love hearing from you. Stay healthy and beautiful. xoxo!!! 

I received these pads in my Boxycharm premium box a while back. This is the beauty of Boxycharm. One gets to try products from brands unheard of. It is the first time I heard of this brand and product. Here is how my experience went.  

Go-To exfoliating swipeys

 Here is what I emptied in the month of May. 

Empties: May 2022

Here is what I finished in the month of April 2022. 

April 2022 empties

I like how my progress with Empties is going. Despite being super lazy this time around regarding skin care, I am still managing to declutter my stash. Here is what I finished in the month of March. 

Empties - March 2022

This year started off with me being in post natal recovery phase. I was at home, transitioning into a mother and barely managing myself, let alone any beauty routines or skin care regimens. January 2022 had very few empties. Below are to name a few: 

Empties - January 2022

Year 2021 turned out to be quite lazy in terms of reading. Like any other year, it started off at a high note with finishing 3 books in 2 months. After I got Covid, it was a downhill ride. I became pregnant and was easily tired and couldn't bring myself to read. Husband watching television before sleeping is another distraction that stops me from concentrating. Anyhow below is a list of books I finished in year 2021. 

Reading List 2021

Apart from scrubs, my go to body exfoliation method is using loofahs, exfoliating materials like this After spa slip on, Body Shop's exfoliator bath sponge etc. I don't use them on daily basis but use them often enough to keep my body smooth and clean. This after spa slip on exfoliator came in my Boxycharm box back in 2020 and I have used it for over a year regularly. Below is my detailed review of the product. 

After Spa slip on exfoliator

If you are a beauty enthusiast then you must be familiar with Mana Beauty. Its a Pakistani brand manufacturing organic skin care and hair care products and, one of my favorites. Today I am reviewing their Rose Face gel which I have already finished. So this review comes with extensive usage and experience. 

Mana Beauty Rose Face Gel

 Here is what I received in my August 2021 Boxycharm Premium box: 

Boxycharm Premium - August 2021

 Here is what I received in my March's Premium Boxycharm. 

Boxycharm Premium - March 2021

Here is what I received in my October box: 

Here is what I received in my September box. 

Boxycharm Premium September 2021 box

This post is more about me than boasting the extensive list of products I finished in year 2021. I am so glad to have taken on this mini project as part of self reflection to curb my buying habits and be more mindful of saving and using products that are already lying in my stash. I am proud to share the products I managed to finish in a year and my efforts towards less purchasing. 

January

After miserably failing in my goals for 2021, I am back with new goals for this year. You got to appreciate me for my persistence in establishing goals. Here are a few ideas for this year's goals. 

Before setting up goals for the new year or making any resolutions, lets look back at the year 2021 and see what I achieved of my previous goals. Last year, I had set up some goals for myself for the first time. Was I successful in achieving them? Read more to find out... 

 Happy New Year everyone! 

I have been away a long time and its probably the longest break I have taken from my blog. If you follow me on Instagram, you will be knowing that I gave birth a few months back which is what made me take break from blogging and adjust in the new phase of life. I am back finally and would like to get back on track with a summary of my past year. Here is how my 2021 went.