Aug 6, 2025 5 min read Empties

7 Beauty & Skincare Products I Finished - August 2025 Empties

John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Shampoo & Conditioner, Christophe Robin Regenerating Hair Mask, Dove deodorant, Biotin supplements from Aavalabs, Drunk Elephant Slaai Butter Cleanser and Benefit Sugarbomb Blush

I am fluent in several languages and one of them is beauty talk. As a self-confessed beauty junkie (and hoarder!), I’ve made it a personal mission to finish every product I own in my beauty apothecary before cracking open a new one.

It’s a small but meaningful shift toward more sustainable habits, as Project Pan is more alive than ever before among fellow beauty junkies! It also gives me the chance to properly test what truly delivers over time.

Do not forget to tell me about you in the comments: what have you finished up lately? Which product was completely worth your investment? What won't you buy ever again? I always love to read your reviews!

Check all past empties reviews:

Here are my most recent 7 empties:

WELLNESS

AAVALABS Biotin

Last year, I started taking Biotin because of my skin hyperpigmentation. This one by Aavalabs is complemented with Folic Acid (so I stopped taking Folic Acid supplements independently in the meantime) and Selenium & Copper, great to prevent Oxidative Stress. Again, we are getting older literally every day, let's help our cells! I use sunscreen every day and try to protect myself from the sun by staying in the shade yet not a minute under the scorching Angola sun and there I have a dark spot forming. Thus wanting to have all tools on my side to prevent more pigmentation.

Verdict: I did not feel a difference from taking biotin to be extremely honest, so I won't rebuy.

HAIR

CHRISTOPHE ROBIN Regenerating Hair Mask with Prickly Pear

I love anything from Christophe Robin, a French Hair institution and I adore their hair care for curly or dry hair. This regenerating mask focused on dry or damaged hair, providing nutrition and hydration. A small portion goes a long way yet don't feel fooled by the weight of the packaging, it's heavy by itself.

Verdict: this is one to repurchase, for sure.

JOHN FRIEDA Frizz Ease Dream Curls Shampoo & Conditioner

I have been purchasing John Frieda's iconic Frizz Ease serum repetedly for the past two decades and this was my first time venturing into other products from the brand. I bought this shampoo+conditioner combo for curly hair at the V&A Waterfront Clicks store in Cape Town last year and tried it for the first time this year. Moreover, I also bought the leave-in spray I am still using and helps rebooth my hair before styling. As for the shampoo, it left my scalp feeling clean yet I did not feel the conditioner did what my hair needed: to feel hydrated and easier to manage.

Verdict: these are competent product, but I will not rebuy.

BODY

DOVE Original Deodorant

If my former empties reviews can prove you one thing, it would be that I love anything from Dove in regards to shower gels and deodorants. I usually use the Cucumber and Aloe Vera formulas, but also love the original, either in roll-on or spray.

Verdict: will always rebuy.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Shampoo & Conditioner, Christophe Robin Regenerating Hair Mask, Dove deodorant, Biotin supplements from Aavalabs, Drunk Elephant Slaai Butter Cleanser and Benefit Sugarbomb Blush

SKIN CARE

Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser

This was just a sample I got from a past purchase at Cult Beauty but it was mighty: this make up remover is absolutely stunning and a little amount goes a really long way to remove makeup, especially around the eye area where I have most trouble being thorough with other products such as micellar water on a cotton pad. I have to confess I was using it so sparingly as I was afraid to finish it alas it had to.

Verdict: would love to buy a full size yet Drunk Elephant is soooo expensive when compared to Clinique's Take the Day off which is also very competent

MAKEUP

Benefit Cosmetics Sugarbomb Powder Blush

Confession: I could not wait to finish this very bright pink boxed powder blush, as I am not in the mood for powder blushes ever since trying this double function product from Lancôme. I don't think it works with my olive complexion or with my now dry skin (it used to be oily before a major acne treatment I did, and now it takes powder products differently). In the meantime, even if this blush had an iconic status within Benefit Cosmetics, it was discontinued. Yet finishing this product gave me major "Pan Project" vibes, as soon as I started seeing the bottom of my blush box.