Post may contain some affiliate links, some products received for review.

Another month, another update! It's been eleven months now since I started the No Buy Challenge AND it's a double-empties month, so I have a LOT to talk about. I'm not going to waste any more words here, read on for my progress and products!

No Buy Challenge Update

November and December are absolutely without a doubt the two hardest months in a beauty lover's calendar. Black Friday deals start earlier each year and it felt like Sephora had more sales and VIB offers out than ever before. But I can HAPPILY say that I managed to avoid ALL sale temptations during these two difficult months! The only products I purchased were replacement products: shampoo and conditioner for my hair, a new bottle of nail polish top coat (my old Seche Vite ran out) and then a DIFFERENT shampoo and conditioner for my hair because the first one caused significant breakage with my bleached hair.

All in all I spent about $43 in November, and $45 in December. More than my budget technically, but I didn't want to use products that would damage my colour treated hair. Whats the point otherwise?

So leading into 2019, I'm getting excited and a bit nervous because I only have ONE MORE MONTH of this limited budgeting left and I'm aiming to spend NO money in January! What am I going to do come February? Part of me thinks I'm going to go on a bit of a splurge once I'm "allowed", while another part of me thinks that this challenge has significantly changed the way I consume makeup. It's clear that I'll need some time to figure it all out.

Empties

Bleu Lavande Cleansing Milk in Sea Lavender - When I received this for review, it was the first cleansing milk that actually made me realize why people love cleansing milk! It's so soothing and the lavender scent is so wonderful I was really sad when I finished this bottle. I'm currently working on another different cleansing milk now, but I'm seriously considering grabbing another one of these. You can find my full review here.

IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream - I've been thoroughly impressed with IT Cosmetics over the last few years, they've really come to replace a lot of products in my arsenal with their high quality offerings and this cream was no exception. I found that it significantly improved the consistency of my skin and left it hydrated and supple all day. You can read my full review here or just buy this miracle moisturizer at Sephora. Received for review.

Jergens Shea Butter Deep Conditioning Moisturizer - This is one of my all-time favourite body moisturizers and I've gone through SO many bottles of it over the last few years. It's the perfect formula for winter, it goes on smooth with a very subtle but tasty scent, and I can't recommend it enough. It's often on sale at the drug store so you could even leave with a giant bottle and be set for a year!

Lancome Grandiose Eyeliner in Brun - This was one of my favourite makeup products of 2017, so much so that the item pictured in this photo was actually a brand new replacement product since I finished up the entire tube by basically using it every day. I was more adventurous with my eyeliner this year and used more pencils than I have in ages, but this is still my go-to and when Shoppers Drug Mart has another points redemption weekend, I'm grabbing another one of these babies! Received for review.

L'Oreal Voluminous Feline Mascara - I really liked the plastic wand when I first got this mascara and found the formula definitely helped add some volume to my lashes, but I eventually realized it was a very unpredictable formula and sometimes I would be fine all night, and others I would smudge and look raccoon-like in a few hours. It was too unpredictable for me to use with confidence.

Ole Henriksen Counter Balance Oil Control Hydrator - This was only a teensy tiny tube but I've had really good experiences with this brand and I felt like this moisturizer was very hydrating and perked my skin up when I used it. It worked really well under foundation and while it's meant for oilier skin than mine, I didn't really see any greasiness when I wore it. Definitely worth a try.

Riversol Daily Moisturizing Cream & Cream Cleanser - I received a 2 week sample of Riversol skincare a few weeks ago and I've been slowly going through the small packages of their products. So far, so good, it's definitely a gentle formula which will be helpful for people with sensitive skin, but I didn't feel particularly hydrated from using their moisturizer. It just seems ok, which isn't bad, just something I'm not going to continue pursuing.

Rocky Mountain Soap Company Organic Sugar Scrub - This stuff is so perfect at this time of year, when your skin gets dry and scaly and you're constantly trying to keep from turning into an alligator. I loved this French Lavender scent as it made a simple shower smell like a spa experience, and this scrub moisturizes nicely, while also having enough scrub to work into my skin. The company is also Canadian, and you can get a nice big jar for $25.

Urban Decay Eyshadow Primer Potion - Guys, it's happening. Other bloggers have warned me about this, BUT MY EYES DON'T LIKE THIS PRIMER ANY MORE. Eyeshadow just slips off it now, I find it's not as long lasting and I think my lids are greasier? ALAS, I do still recommend this primer, but keep in mind your body may just change on you one day.

Tosses

Bare Minerals & Clinique Duo-Eyeshadow Compacts - Nothing is particularly wrong with these formulas or colours, I just never reach for them because why would I grab a travel compact? Also, my Smashbox Covershot palette is perfect travel sized, so I don't need anything this size with only 2 shades.

Julep Freedom Polymer Top Coat - I'm not sure if this product is expired, but it caused MAJOR shrinkage of my polish, I couldn't believe it! I ran out of my Seche Vite and tried using this and it ruined an entire new mani. NO THANKS.

My entire OCC Lip Tar Collection- Back in the day before a lot of brands were making highly pigmented liquid lipsticks OCC was not only a trendsetter for colour, but it was the BEST product you could get. I had a small handful of mini and regular tubes over the years, and while I LOVE OCC and have reviewed some in the past, my remaining products are about 4-5 years old at this point, the pigment has separated and they smell. It's time to go. This was particularly sad since it appears that OCC is defunct now, having basically been bankrupted by Sephora. But, for how influential it was at the time, I will bin these lippies but keep my memories in my heart.

Physicians Formula Glow & Mood Boosting 2-in-1 Bronzer Blush - I've literally had this compact for over four years I think! I rarely reach for it anymore, it's hit hardpan and the lid has broken and snaps open randomly now. Time to go.

Pür Minerals Double Ego Eyeliner in Queensland - I really, really, really wanted to like this liner because the colour is gorgeous but it never really worked for me. The liquid side smudged too easily and wasn't long lasting, and the pencil side was SUPER hard and not creamy at all. Applying it hurt, I shouldn't have to warm up an eyeliner with a hairdryer just for it to apply nicely. Not worth the hassle.

And that's it! I actually started purging some of my nail polish collection but hadn't finished in time for this post, so look forward to a way larger toss pile next month!