The Empties Conundrum

As the year has gone on, there’s one post that I’ve enjoyed doing less and less. That’s empties, I really enjoy reading empties posts – but in terms of me putting them together, I use up so much product it’s becoming quite a cumbersome task. And I wanted some ideas of what I could do in 2018.

My empties posts have me feeling in a bit of a pickle.

I’m sure everyone wants to read about items which are so good they’ll be repurchased.

I’m sure if I’ve reviewed something initially positively, negatively – or even so-so, if my opinion has changed from good to bad or vice-versa from an initial reviews it’s a place to update why my opinion changed.

Even the so-so product that aren’t bad, and aren’t good I love to read about in other people’s empties. I want to know what to not bother spending my money on.

I had three months worth of empties in a basket, in October I finished just four products, in November I used a hell of a lot more and didn’t have time to do them till midway through December so it seemed pointless doing it and waiting for another month’s worth. I then at the end of the month had an overflowing basket of 75+ items to deal with. (It’s been a busy two months of trying to use up product). But that kind of product turnover for me isn’t abnormal – I probably use up 300 things a year across the board.

My thought is to do empties more regularly – for example when I get to 10 empties doing a bonus weekly post on a Sunday or something to stop me having a huge basket of empties that always feels overwhelming to tackle and keeping it in the same format as now, mini reviews – links to past posts on it and whether ultimately I’d repurchase in future or not.  I was thinking Ten Empties #1, Ten Empties #2 & so on – as a ‘bonus post’ over the weekend.

The other thing I was thinking of was doing them in a video format, but I think the likelihood of me getting to them any quicker and it feeling like less of a mission to tackle is also unlikely. I also need to sometimes refer back to blog posts to remind myself if it’s a sheet mask for example, did I like it or not?

I was also thinking about discluding some ‘categories’ from my empties – personally I like reading about everything because if there’s the world’s best or worst shampoo I want to hear about it, but if the vast majority of people would rather not see it haircare included – then I’d happily skip it. I also thought about having a similar ’10 Makeup Empties’ for example – but some products it would take me ages to save up to 10 for a post for example and in reality I don’t think that would work and could well end up forgetting my final thoughts on a product.


I feel like throwing them away is wasted content, wasted place to update on products  – especially those I might not have got round to reviewing in full, but i need to find a way to make them more enjoyable for me to do again…

So I wanted some input from people reading regularly – if I did one last massive empties of everything I’ve used in the past few months and then going forward threw them as smaller more frequent chunks – Does that work? Any input or ideas of ways you think you’d most like to read them – or not at all, is appreciated!

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Helpless Whilst Drying

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27 Comments

  1. Sophie in Wonderland xo
    January 6, 2018 / 10:03 am

    I personally wouldn’t do it as a bonus post because you already post so much you’re just making extra work for yourself, I’d incorporate it into your usual posts, Maybe every 10 items like you said? 10 items is a nice amount to read too. I agree with you- one last huge post then thereafter in chunks of 10 but as your normal weekday content, Not extra! Thanks my opinion anyway! Xxxxx

  2. January 6, 2018 / 10:22 am

    I like this idea! You could do it as What I used up this week (and the week date)? I like reading empties when it’s well known brands/products or when it’s something unheard of but great. If it’s unheard of and bad I can’t say I’m majorly interested 🙊😘

  3. January 6, 2018 / 10:32 am

    If you feel like a bonus post will fit in with your schedule and it’s something you want to stick to I wouldn’t complain. I also like the idea of a post for every 10 empties you amass 🙂 As for the 70+ chunk you’ve amassed, how about one week dedicated entirely to empties posts (each post could have a category makeup, skincare etc.) and one post for every 10 after that?

    • January 6, 2018 / 10:44 am

      That’s what I was thinking, I’ve already photographed them all in categories now and I’m hoping I can get them out the way mostly next week – because I nearly have another 10 🙈

  4. January 6, 2018 / 10:46 am

    Yeah maybe, depends on length I guess – I might trial a couple and see how they go down and maybe try your idea to and see what works better!

  5. January 6, 2018 / 10:53 am

    I made one empties post for the whole of 2017 which I personally found easy and doable. 😊

  6. January 6, 2018 / 12:36 pm

    I start my empties at the beginning of each month, gradually adding (almost at the end of each day) just as I finish the product (except for the sheet masks and other obe use items as I need to know how my skin’s afterwards), otherwise I would feel overwhelmed and not very willing to do it. I personally like reading about all kinds of empties as because there might be something I didn’t even know exist and when the person use somthing up, it gives a better impression how they feel about it.

  7. Gabrielle
    January 6, 2018 / 5:00 pm

    Creating categories for your empties discussions definitely sounds like a good direction to go in – like you, I’d love to hear about the absolute ‘best’ and ‘worst’ of product types! Also, GIRL, 300 products a year?! I’m in awe right now, haha….

    Happy 2018, by the way!!

    aglassofice.com
    x

  8. jazminheavenblog
    January 6, 2018 / 8:53 pm

    Hi Rachel! Empties posts are actually what made me hooked on your blog in the first place, now I enjoy all your content!!
    I think the idea of ten empties is a really good one. That way you know every time you won’t be over facing yourself with a tonne of products. I hope you don’t stop empties posts all together. Xx

    • January 6, 2018 / 9:04 pm

      Aww thanks Jazmin, that’s so nice to hear! I’m currently about to start my last mega-sized three month empties and then I’ll be trialling doing the new ten version which I expect will be every two weeks or so (I’m already at 8 since I photographed all the other products last weekend!). I really like reading empties and I just wanted to check other people did too and putting them out smaller and more frequently wasn’t going to e a no-no, but most people seem like they like the idea, so we’ll see how it goes!
      xx

      • jazminheavenblog
        January 6, 2018 / 9:05 pm

        I look forward to reading the posts! xxx

  9. January 6, 2018 / 11:20 pm

    Aah I love reading empties post but I’m the same. You get a huge bag of empties and don’t know where to start! I’d do every ten empties including hair products😊 x

    • January 6, 2018 / 11:24 pm

      Yeah I do too, I just wondered whether they were still worth the effort if people weren’t interested in reading them anymore. I think if I do every ten full size items (then throw in any samples/sachets etc) it will work well for me to stop the task feeling like a huge job for me tackle and will also stop my spare room looking like it has a huge basket of rubbish in it! xx

  10. January 7, 2018 / 2:05 pm

    I hear you – empties can be tedious! I waver back and forth on doing them or not. My reason for doing empties might be different than most people since my ultimate goal is to get rid of stuff, not simply to review products. I do find they’re super useful to track what products I’ve tried and what my thoughts are on them. Even without the blog, I used to track these things on my spreadsheets so I see my empties posts as an extension of that practise. I like your idea of doing them in intervals by quantity used up rather than monthly / quarterly – it would make the task more routine and prevent so much build-up. I think removing some categories might be less work but you’d be surprised how people find your blog – common makeup items are in abundance online but not as many people talk about shampoos or random sample satchel. Just something to think about!

    • January 7, 2018 / 3:43 pm

      Yeah I completely agree with you, they really help me get through stuff as I’m motivated to get it into my empties!
      I’m thinking of skipping some products I talk about regularly so I include them less often – Garnier micellar water, Aussie three minute miracle etc

  11. January 7, 2018 / 5:40 pm

    Goodness I never get around to empties! I seriously never use anything but foundation, hairspray and concealer to its end! Great post.

  12. January 7, 2018 / 11:03 pm

    I’ve never done an empties post because I just can’t seem to get excited or inspired by product containers I’m binning. I would say that empties posts are one of my least favourites to read, but I’m not entirely sure why. That’s just my two cents 🙂

    • January 7, 2018 / 11:05 pm

      Thank you! I put the post out there to see if people were or Weren’t interested by empties, I think part of the reason sometimes I don’t enjoy reading them is because there’s a wave of them at once – start of the month it’s empties empties empties and it gets a bit repetitive!

  13. January 8, 2018 / 11:59 am

    I love Empties posts. Whatever frequency works for you is fine with me. I do a monthly post because I don’t go always finish up a lot of stuff quickly.

  14. January 10, 2018 / 8:31 pm

    Empties are my favourite posts to read (or videos to watch) and I love collecting them myself. I like the idea of doing one every 10 products, or maybe you could do 10 empties I’m repurchasing/10 empties i regret buying/10 samples that would (or wouldn’t) make me buy the full size etc…

    • January 10, 2018 / 8:33 pm

      That’s a good idea! I’ve just posted so many empties posts today, I think I’m going to try just general 10 to start with but I might do some special editions of you will because I like that idea!

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