GET FREE SAMPLES

sign up for our newsletter to get free sample alerts

The #ProductEmpties We Loved to the Last Drop

From new finds to longtime favorites, these are beauty products that our editors use until the bitter end (of the tube)
Photo 212/255
The Cleanser That Removes My Makeup and Brightens My Skin
I didn't know how much I loved my Restorsea Reviving Cleanser, $65, until it was almost gone. I started thinking about which cleanser I was going to try next, and I realized I didn't want to switch. (And as a beauty editor, that sentiment isn't just unusual -- it's unnatural.)

Of course I've loved cleansers before, but this one has a special purpose: It's the cleanser I turn to when my skin feels really dirty (think NYC pollution or excessive waterproof makeup) because it removes every trace of everything. I especially love doing "the toner test" where you wash your face and then swipe it with a toner-soaked cotton pad to see how much grime and makeup is left behind. With this cleanser, the cotton pad comes back clean.

In addition to gentle, sulfate-free cleansing ingredients, it contains a natural enzyme derived from salmon that gently exfoliates and brightens skin. As a self-proclaimed freckle hater, I'm a fan of anything that helps lighten them, and I definitely notice a difference when I'm using this cleanser.

And if you're balking at the price, know this: A bottle lasts for months and months. Now, I think it's time for me to restock.

Photo 213/255
 The Dry Shampoo That Saves My Post-Workout Hair
There are two things you need to know about me: I love to work out, and I abhor washing my hair every day. Needless to say, dry shampoo is my desert island beauty product. I thought I had my routine on lock until Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo, $22, came into my life, and swept me off my feet.

What makes this dry shampoo different is that it contains a patented molecule that makes the superabsorbent powders easy to brush out, and these powders not only soak up oil, they also soak up sweat. (Cue sweeping romantic music.) I could go on and on about the technological advances (and believe me, they are cool) -- but I know what you're really curious about: Does it work, work, work, work, work?

Yes, it works harder than Rihanna wants you to. And here's how: You spray it on your hair, wait 30 seconds for the powders to do their thing, then use your fingers and a brush to get it out of your hair (yes, the powders don't sit on your scalp like others do). The result: Shiny, clean, just-got-a-blowout hair that miraculously doesn't smell like the sweat I worked up doing burpees that morning. In a word: Lifesaver. --Allie Flinn

Photo 214/255
The $12 Lifting Powder That Lets Me Retire My Blow-Dryer
When it comes to hair, it's pretty much a given that we strive for the opposite of whatever we're born with. Curly-haired gals tend to be all 'bout those Brazilian blowouts, while those with pin-straight manes have probably considered reaching for a Bump-It at least once in a desperate attempt to add life to limp strands.

I fall into the latter camp, having slippery-straight hair that falls flat when left to air dry. Getting highlights definitely added some much-needed texture, but I still have to reach for a blow-dryer on the daily to gain volume. Or at least, I had to until I discovered Umberto Beverly Hills Lifting Powder, $11.99.

A tiny sprinkling of this root-boosting powder adds instant height to my dry hair. And the best part is that I get to swap damaging heat tools for my hands, since the application process requires only fingertips. Another bonus? The product also absorbs oil, so my day-two, normally greasy and weighed-down hair is still pleasantly plump.

All in all, this time-saving multi-tasker lets me fake the glamorous, full hair I failed to inherit, making it as much a booster to my mood as it is to my roots. --Rose Curiel

Photo 215/255
The Body Lotion That Does Wonders for My Bum
While I know that taking a few minutes to lather my entire body in lotion is just as important as the insane amount of time I spend covering my face in serums and creams, I am simply too lazy to do it. I mean, I already scrubbed down in the shower and that was exhausting enough.

While I was happy to go on living lotion-less, my world completely changed when the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, $45, found it's way to my desk. I was not only smitten with the alluring tropical smell, but its extremely creamy and lightweight consistency, which made lather time feel like a mini trip to the spa.

Apart from making me feel exotic with it's naturally moisturizing Brazilian extracts -- think guaraná, cupuacu butter, brazil nuts and coconut oil -- it does wonders for my booty. The caffeine-heavy guaraná helps boost circulation, which means the product tightens my skin while also nourishing it --and I'm left with an overall smooth-and-glowing look.

It's safe to say that I've probably never a loved a body lotion more than this one. Now I just need the Brazilian booty to go with it. --Jessica Amaris

Photo 216/255
The Perfume That Makes Me Feel Like I Have My Sh*t Together
When I picture the ideal woman, I imagine someone effortlessly charming -- straight out of Old Hollywood. She's confident and alluring, but approachable. She's quick with a witty retort and is never at a loss for words. Her perfectly coiffed hair is perpetually in place, and her red lipstick never transfers to her teeth. She has certainly never left a bathroom with toilet paper stuck to the bottom of her shoe.

Let's be clear: I am not that woman. But a few spritzes of Maison Martin Margiela Replica Lipstick On Eau de Toilette, $125, make me feel like this vision of glamour is within the grasp of my not-so-glamorous hands.

Featuring a blend of floral and powdery notes, Lipstick On is elegant and sophisticated without coming off fussy or old. It's delicate and feminine, yet not cloyingly sweet. At first whiff it smells, yes, almost exactly like a waxy tube of lipstick, but in a way that's satisfying and nostalgic. The scent lingers all day, but never overpowers.

Even when paired with sneakers, jeans and unwashed hair, this intoxicating aroma makes me feel chic. I may be a far cry from my ideal, but you'd never know from my signature scent. --Mary Squillace

Ever had a beauty product you love so much that you shook, hacked, scraped or squeezed its container until you were absolutely positive you had expended all of its precious contents? Rare indeed is the product that elicits that deliciously desperate feeling, especially in beauty editors. So when our team of beauty mavens encounters a rave-worthy product, you know it's the real deal. Herewith, our editors rattle off their "beauty empties," aka the best beauty products that they can't help but use until the last drop. Read on for their best nail polishes, hair products, skin care products and makeup now.
MAR 13, 2020 | SHARES
VIEW COMMENTS
Full Site | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
TotalBeauty is a property of Evolve Media Holdings, LLC. © 2025 All Rights Reserved. | Affiliate Disclosure: Evolve Media Holdings, LLC, and its owned and operated subsidiaries may receive a small commission from the proceeds of any product(s) sold through affiliate and direct partner links.