iHerb Haul + First Impressions

As you may already know, iHerb is one of my favorite places to shop.  Comparable to Vitacost and other discount sites, iHerb offers an impressive selection of health products - cosmetics, personal care products, supplements, and food - at very affordable prices.  My fellow Canadians can attest that we pay more for nearly everything here, compared to our American friends south of the border, so prices are almost always cheaper than what I would pay locally, even factoring in the cost of shipping.  Plus, iHerb stocks a lot of brands I wouldn't otherwise have access to.  I generally place a small order (<$45 to avoid customs fees) every month or two, but I haven't posted an iHerb haul since my first year of blogging (2011!), so I thought I'd show you what I bought this time.  It's been about two weeks since I received my package, so I can give my first impressions on most things too.  

Keep reading to see what I bought!

 

Kinky-Curly Spiral Spritz
Between Curly Girl Edits and empties posts, I think this has ended up being one of my most frequently featured products, so I won't go on too much!  The Spiral Spritz is a great light-hold gel for curls or waves and is one of my favorite products to use on wet hair.  My current bottle is running low, so I needed to pick up a new one. 

Kiss My Face Pomegranate Grapefruit Moisture Shave

I discovered Kiss My Face's Moisture Shaves last year and they're without a doubt one of the best shaving products I've ever used.  They have the consistency of a creamy, pearly lotion and help your razor glide effortless across the skin.  I also love the pump top and that the substantial 11 ounce bottle lasts a good, long while.  I haven't used this scent yet, but I like how it smells in the bottle.  The grapefruit really cuts the pomegranate's sweetness, creating a balanced scent that's both fresh and fruity. 

Desert Essences Italian Lemon Hand and Body Lotion
Though I've always enjoyed certain aspects of Desert Essences lotions, I've never found a scent I was happy with.  A lot of them are far too sweet and strong for me, and many are preserved with Japanese honeysuckle extract too, which I'm not comfortable using.  The company  released a couple new scents recently, including this Italian Lemon, which replaces the Japanese honeysuckle with potassium sorbate AND is fragranced only with essential oils.  I usually enjoy citrus scents, so it seemed like a safe bet.  (Plus, for less than $6, the risk really wasn't THAT big.)  Some of the reviews complain that the scent is milder than Desert Essence's other lotions, but for me that's a plus.  It's not overpowering, which is great if you like lighter scents, or if you're looking for a product that won't interfere with perfume or other scented products.  In the tube, it's a sweet, dessert-like lemon, but on the skin I find it loses some of the sweetness and ends up more zesty.  I wish it stayed a little sweeter ( I love how it smells in the tube!), but I'm enjoying it nonetheless.




Crazy Rumors Pear & Peppermint and Leaping Bunny Plum Apricot Lip Balms
I rediscovered Crazy Rumors last month and enjoyed the Plum & Peppermint flavor so much that I immediately wanted to repurchase it when it ran out.  Unfortunately, iHerb didn't have that one, so I went for the next best thing: Pear & Peppermint and Plum Apricot.  I haven't cracked either of them open yet, but I'm hoping they'll be just as good! 

Tierra Mia Organics Healthy Dent Tooth Regime
I love my Earthpaste, but after 2.5 years, I've been looking to branch out and try something new.  Glycerin-free toothpastes are slim pickings though, let me tell you!  These are tiny soap chips that you use in place of toothpaste.  Unfortunately, they were an immediate fail, mainly because of the flavor - or lack thereof.  The ingredients list both peppermint and spearmint extracts, but they're virtually undetectable. And, with no noticeable flavor, the chips just taste like soap.  The lather was great and they left my teeth feeling clean and smooth, but I don't think it's something I can do on a regular basis.  

In hindsight, I wonder if this method would even count as glycerin-free, since glycerin is a byproduct of traditional soap making and is often left in the soap for increased moisture and slip.  I'll have to look into it more, but if you're eager to brush with soap, I think you'd do better with the peppermint Dr. Bronner's bar than this product.

I bought this intending to use it with setting powder, but I ended up loving it for blush instead.  Usually I prefer smaller blush brushes, but the larger shape and fluffiness really does a great job blending.  I've yet to actually try it with setting powder.

Sea salt and chocolate is one of my favorite combos and this lime creme filled bar didn't disappoint.  The filling wasn't super creamy and there wasn't a lot of it - just enough to give a subtle lime flavor - but it was still quite tasty.

I like chia seeds and I like berries, but I just didn't like this bar. I tried it the day my order arrived and I've still got half of it sitting on my counter, which I guess says a lot!
 
Like I said, I order from iHerb pretty regularly, so let me know if posts like this are something you enjoy reading, or if I should just stick to Instagram photos like this one instead.  I'm always looking for new things to try, so I'd love to know your iHerb favorites too! 

Plus, order this weekend for an extra 20% off ALL bath and body!  If you're new to iHerb, you can also save $5 or $10 off your first order with my referral code: ITI429.  

 
 *Contains affiliate links

15 comments

  1. I love these posts! Have you heard about Acure Organic's new foamin shave gel?

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    1. I saw it on their Instagram earlier this week! It sounds great and I was totally sold until I saw that it has phenoxyethanol. As much as I love Acure, unless they switch to a different preservative, I doubt I'll be trying it :(

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    2. Yea I was sad to see that too :(

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  2. Great haul! I'm tempted by Desert Essence body lotion, and that citrus chocolate :) xx

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    1. Thanks Liz! I think you'd enjoy both :)

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  3. I need to try the Kiss My Face shave! I actually use lotion to shave all the time, but this sounds better.

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    1. I've never even thought of using regular lotion, but it makes sense that would work too! The Kiss My Face is great though :)

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  4. I was debating buying Kiss My Face's shave lotion in the store today, so I'm glad to know it's good!

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  5. Ooh, lovely haul! I really want to try more Crazy Rumors lip balms. I've just purchased some Desert Essence hair products to try out; have you tried any? These are from the coconut range. xxx
    www.justemma.co.uk - a fashion, beauty & lifestyle blog

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    1. Thanks! I used one of the Desert Essence conditioners quite some time ago, but I've never tried any other hair products from them. I find their coconut line is too heavily scented for me, but I know it's super popular. Enjoy!

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  6. Have you ever tried Nelson Naturals toothpaste? I'd like to try but shipping would be high to me in the US, as I believe they are Canadian:
    http://nelsonnaturals.com/products/remineralizing-toothpaste/

    I like Earthpaste, but I also love Tooth Chips Spritz from Rose of Sharon Acres:
    http://www.roseofsharonacres.com/inc/sdetail/368/13961

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    1. I haven't tried either of those, but I'll definitely look into them now :) Thanks for the suggestions!

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  7. Oh I looove the Endangered Species chocolates! They're more pricey than other brands but it's so worth it. :D

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    1. I don't think I've ever tried their chocolate before. I always go for one of the organic brands instead, but I've never seen the creme filled ones in stores here and it was too tempting to resist! :)

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