My January 2026 Beauty and Health Empties and Reviews

In 2025, I set out on a mission to love my morning and night routine. When I took a look at my bathroom drawers, my piles of makeup, and my vanity, I knew there were products I loved in there, but all I could see was junk. I wanted to enjoy my time while putting on my makeup and while taking it off. Between all the items that were given to me and all of the ones I bought mindlessly, I was in a haze where I didn’t know what I loved and what I put up with. 

To put a stop to haphazard buying and begin purposeful purchases, I began reviewing every “empty” I had. It is now 2026, and I can confidently say that taking the time to do this every month has completely changed the way I approach beauty products. I am much more mindful and have started really looking into every product I buy, as well as my environmental impact. It is my goal this year to clear out my vanity and drawers by using all my extra products, and from there on, only buying vegan and cruelty-free products. Currently, I am still using up some items that are not those two things, but after that, they are never coming back!

Palmer’s Skin Therapy Cleansing Oil 

To my understanding, Palmer’s is not cruelty-free, so that is the reason I will not be repurchasing this product. If they were, I would definitely repurchase. I loved this cleansing oil, and it loved me. It made my skin so smooth and helped so much with my texture. It was on the thicker side, but I liked that and believe that helped moisturize my face. During my routine, I would use this and then another cleanser after, but this worked wonders on removing sweat, makeup, and smaller imperfections stuck in my pores. I’m sad to see her go, but even sadder to know that Palmer’s doesn’t care about animal safety.

Repurchase: No. 

Vanicream Moisturizing Cream 

Vanicream truly, truly saved my skin, so it hurt so much when I looked the company up and found out they are not cruelty-free. I think this works better for sensitive skin than CeraVe or Cetaphil, and it is so thick that I didn’t have to use any extra facial moisturizers in the winter as I had in years prior. When I took my acne journey into my own hands instead of going to the dermatologist, I found this moisturizer and truly fell in love. I have very acne-prone skin and was recommending this product to everyone, but now I don’t recommend this product at all. I hope they morally do better in the future, and then I will think about returning.

Repurchase: No. 

Heritage Store Rosewater and Glycerin Hydrating Facial Mist

This was the first time I used this rosewater with the added glycerin, and I really enjoyed it. I have the rosewater on my empties list very frequently since I use it throughout the day. I’ve heard from many people older than me that rosewater has helped their skin stay supple over time, and for such a good price, I’m willing to add it to my routine. I also work a desk job in a smaller office, and spraying this on my face gives me a nice refresh while breathing in the stuffy air, and also, it is very moisturizing, which I am very much for.

Repurchase: Yes. 

Schick Hydro Silk Razors 

I have another pack of these ready to use, but after I go through those, I won’t be buying these again. I find that the top part of them breaks off so easily anymore, and I don’t know if they switched manufacturers or purposefully downgraded their quality, but I’m really disappointed. I’ve been using these for a very long time to shape my eyebrows or shave my face every two weeks, and I’ve always liked them or found them up to par. Now, I find them to be breaking all the time, and I’m over it. I will be switching razors and do not recommend these.

Repurchase: No.

Kitsch Solid Shampoo - Rice Water Protein 

This is the second shampoo bar that I have gone through, and I really like it so far. I went to the hairdresser, and she said that my hair is looking really healthy and there is a lot of new growth. I can’t contribute that to this product alone, but I certainly think it is helping. I appreciate the lack of plastic packaging, and I get a good amount of washes out of one bar. I think this is on the pricier side compared to a large bottle of shampoo, but for environmental reasons, I am willing to pay more for something like this. I think it has a very neutral smell and lathers very well, so I will continue to use it. 

Repurchase: Yes. 

KISS So Wispy Fake Lashes 

I’ve been using KISS lashes for about ten years, maybe even a little more. I was trying to be a little adventurous and try different styles, but that just isn’t for me. I love KISS lashes and think they look so natural in a dramatic way if you style them correctly. I’ve always gotten so many compliments on them, and they really are my go-to. So while I will not be repurchasing this style, I will purchase KISS lashes in the future, specifically style 11. They are my favorite of all time.

Repurchase: No. 

Wild Deodorant - Orange Marmalade 

This is unfortunately my last orange marmalade deodorant from the Paddington collection, but I will continue to buy Wild deodorant in the future. I am switching to their coconut vanilla scent and will see if I like that, but overall, I have been liking Wild deodorant. It does leave white marks on my clothes in the armpit area, but that can be wiped off, from what I’ve experienced so far. I do work out a lot, and I was afraid it wouldn’t be able to hide the scent from that, but I think it does a good enough job. I definitely wouldn’t be going out and about after a workout and I do have to get a shower right away, but it masks the scent enough in the moment. 

Repurchase: Yes.

The Honey Pot Company Cooling Herbal Infusion Pads 

I had heard so much about these pads, so I had to try them for myself. The first time I tried one, oh my god, I thought I was going to pass out. After that, it was more of a refreshing feeling rather than a painful one. I actually ended up liking them and will buy the lavender ones in the future. I am not sure if that whole experience is a good thing or a bad thing, but I went through the whole pack and have come out on the other side fine. I want to take them to my doctor to see if she recommends me using them in the future, but for now, I plan on buying them again. 

Repurchase: Yes. 

Plackers Floss Picks 

I love flossing and floss twice a day, but I hate plain floss. I have been using floss picks for so long, and they are the only thing I like to use, but I feel very bad about using them because of the environmental impact. While I want to repurchase these because they work so well and I can’t stress the importance of flossing enough, I will be trying something else. I’ve found floss picks that you can recycle, so I want to try those. If this product were eco-friendly, I would definitely repurchase, as I’ve been using it for so long. It’s like saying goodbye to a childhood best friend. 

Repurchase: No.  

up&up Soft Bristle Toothbrushes 

I did like these toothbrushes since they were cheap, the bristles were soft enough for my gums, and they held up very well, but I will be switching back to bamboo toothbrushes so I can compost them after I use them. If I were buying a regular toothbrush at the store again, I would be okay with buying these, but bamboo toothbrushes are very accessible and are just as cheap for packs of 10. I think everyone should switch, so I don’t recommend this product. 

Repurchase: No. 

Nair Men Hair Remover Body Cream 

I did not buy this product; I took it from someone else, but I really hate shaving my legs, so I used this. This did not work at all. When I would take the cream off, there was still hair everywhere, and I would have to shave anyway. It was also so uncomfortable putting clothes on after using. If this product can’t even fully take the hair off my legs, I don’t think it would work well enough on a man’s arms and legs either. I don’t recommend it at all and will stick to shaving, unfortunately. 

Repurchase: No. 

Banter Piercing Aftercare and Cleanser 

I got this product for free when getting my ears pierced, which was forever ago, and I didn’t use up this product, but I will be throwing it away and recycling the bottle. I wanted to mention it on here to let readers know that if you get your ears pierced, just use saline or salt water to clean your piercings. Then, you don’t have to waste this product and the bottle, and you can just have a nice and safe at-home piercing cleaner.

Repurchase: No. 

Interested in more empties reviews? Check out My December 2025 Beauty and Health Empties and Reviews here!

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