Our Empties: The Products We Immediately Add to Cart

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None of us would call ourselves “product people.” We are not the sisters with a twelve-step routine or a bathroom drawer packed full of numerous products. Most of what we own gets used all the way to the bottom, and that is exactly why this post exists.

An empty bottle tells you more than any review ever could. So we asked each other one simple question: what is the product that, the second it runs out, goes straight into your cart without a second thought? Here are the products we always rebuy, one pick per sister.

Want to shop them all in one spot? We put every empty in our Empties collection on ShopMy.

Grace: Sun Bum Daily Glow SPF 30

Grace is the sister who will not leave the house without sunscreen, and this is the one that she recommends! The Sun Bum Daily Glow SPF 30 is a moisturizer and sunscreen in one, with just enough tint and dewiness that it also makes you feel put together. It is fragrance free which is an added bonus!

Why she rebuys it: one step, no white cast, and giver her skin the perfect glowl The little bottle lives in her bag, and when it gets light she orders the next one before it is even gone.

Emma: L’Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion

Emma has been buying the L’Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion for years, and has influenced many a sister to add this to their routine. Use it as a full coverage moment, a pea-sized amount mixed into moisturizer or a little dab on the cheekbones that works as a highlighter.

Why she rebuys it: it does the job of two or three fancier products for around fifteen dollars, and one bottle lasts for months.

Eliza: Lissy Skincare Hydrating Serum

Eliza’s really not one for fancy skin essentials but the Lissy Skincare Hydrating Serum is the first thing that gave her real hydration and she noticed a difference without it. It is built around hyaluronic acid, beta glucan, and aloe, it is fragrance free, and it is safe for acne-prone skin. She layers it under moisturizer morning and night.

Why she rebuys it: her skin can tell the difference when she runs out. That is the whole review. Lissy is a small skincare brand we love, and our code THREADSBETWEEN gets you 10% off anything in their shop.

Faith: e.l.f. Suntouchable Whoa Glow SPF 30

Faith was gifted the e.l.f. Suntouchable Whoa Glow SPF 30 by our mom for Christmas and for once the hype was right. It is a sunscreen, a primer, and a soft peachy glow all in one tube, with hyaluronic acid and squalane so it feels like skincare instead of sunscreen.

Why she rebuys it: it is under ten dollars and makes her look awake and put together!

Lucy: Lissy Skincare Mandelic Serum 5%

Lucy is our resident skincare researcher, and the Lissy Skincare Mandelic Serum 5% is her one non-negotiable. Mandelic acid is a serum that helps with breakouts and the dark spots they leave behind, and this formula pairs it with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid so it never feels harsh. She uses it a few nights a week and her skin has never been clearer.

Why she rebuys it: it is the only acne product that has worked for her without irritation. Same deal as Eliza’s pick, use code THREADSBETWEEN for 10% off at Lissy Skincare.

Hope: Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream

Hope’s pick is the least glamorous thing on this list and probably the one we all have somewhere in the house. The Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream is the big 16 ounce tub, fragrance free, thick enough for winter hands and gentle enough for a baby. She uses it on everything: dry elbows, post-shower legs, the kids’ cheeks after a windy day. It is boring in the best way.

Why she rebuys it: a tub lasts forever, it has never irritated anyone in her house, and it is on the shelf at every Target. Grab it at Target or on Amazon, whichever gets to you faster.

Why We Love an Empties List

There is a lot of noise out there about what you “need,” and most of it is somebody’s first impression. An empty is the opposite of a first impression. It means the product earned its spot on the counter, survived the busy weeks, and got used up on purpose. That is the kind of recommendation we actually want from each other, so we figured you might want it too.

A Few Notes Before You Shop

• Our Amazon and Target picks are linked through our ShopMy shop, and our Lissy Skincare picks use our code THREADSBETWEEN for 10% off. Shopping through them helps support the blog at no extra cost to you.
• Everyone’s skin is different. Patch test anything new, especially the serum, and start with a few nights a week.
• Both of the tinted sunscreens are on the sheer side. They are a glow, not a foundation.
• We will keep this list updated as our empties change, so check back or save it for later.

Now we want to hear yours. What is the one product you rebuy the second it runs out? Tell us in the comments, because we are always up for a good recommendation from someone who has actually finished the bottle.

Looking for more of our favorites? Try our Stitching Together Our Favorites: Summer Edition next.