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August Empties / Products I've Used Up

It's that time again: empties!  I used up a decent number of samples this month, but only four full sized products.  Keep reading for my thoughts on everything...

FULL SIZED PRODUCTS

George's Always Active Aloe Spray Mister   [Review]
I was in love with this spray initially, but I'm no longer convinced it does anything more than water.  It does work well for setting your makeup, hydrating or cooling your face, and helping oils/serums rub into your skin better, but since this ran out, I've been using plain water in a spray bottle, and I haven't noticed any difference.  
Repurchase? Maybe.  

Acure Argan + Argan Stem Cell Conditioner   [Review]
Love this conditioner!  This is the first summer that I haven't struggled with frizzy hair in the humidity and I credit a lot of that to Acure's shampoo and conditioner.  
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

South of France Lemon Mint Liquid Soap   [Review]
Really great as either a hand soap or body wash.  Lathers up well, smells fresh and lovely - lemony with a touch of mint - and does not leave your skin feeling tight or dry.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

(Seed) Grape Seed Enriched Body Lotion   [Review]
(Seed)'s lotion is on the lighter side, which was great for the summer.  It rubs in super easily and still moisturizes well.  The pump is a nice added convenience too! 
Repurchase? Maybe.

SAMPLES

Consonant Ultra Firming Eye Cream
Consonant was kind enough to send me a few samples after a conversation on Twitter, and this was the first one I reached for.  They recommended it for both under eye circles and puffiness, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to do much for my dark circles.  It does, however, take down puffiness like no other eye cream I've used.  This plus my Pure + Simple eye cream - which is great for darkness but falls short with puffiness - makes the perfect combination, but I'm not sure it's feasible to layer two eye creams in the long run.  I have a sample of Consonant's Ultra Moisturizing Eye Cream to try next, so I'm hoping that one will end up being a better fit.
Repurchase? Probably not. 

Cheeky Cosmetics Honeycomb Eye Shadow   [Review]
I really like Cheeky Cosmetics' eye shadows, but Honeycomb wasn't a standout colour for me.  It's a pretty golden brown, don't get me wrong, but I have an abundance of eye shadow and it wasn't unique enough that I need to replace it immediately.
Repurchase? Probably not.

Face Naturals Peppermint & Tea Tree Deodorant
The mini deodorant is super cute and the perfect size for toting around, which I guess is good, since it's something that needs to be reapplied throughout the day!  Even on days when I do nothing, this deodorant doesn't get me through the day stink-free unless I use it more than once.  It's also the worst for getting deodorant marks on clothing.  It doesn't seem to matter how I put my shirt on, I always end up with an awkward white smear on it somewhere!  I've loved plenty of other Face Naturals products, but I really had to force myself to use this one up!  
Repurchase? No.

Dr. Bronner's Citrus Orange Pure Castile Soap
I'm pretty sure everyone knows Dr. Bronner's.  This castile soap is insanely multi-purpose and is a great product to have on hand.  Since it's so gentle, I used the sample to hand wash some delicates.  The citrus scent isn't my favorite, but it worked just as well as any of the other ones.
Repurchase? Yes, but not in this scent.

Himalaya Neem & Turmeric Face Wash
Himalaya is a new-to-me brand, but I was excited to try out this sample whilst hunting for a new cleanser.  I'm still curious to try more from the line, but this face wash just didn't work for me.  It's a gel cleanser that's difficult to wash off and it left my skin feeling tight and a little dry.  It's recommended for normal to oily skin, so it may work better for oilier skin types.
Repurchase? No.

Green Beaver Boreal Body Lotion
I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this, since I usually choose unscented lotions.  It has a subtle scent that dissipates pretty quickly and I was completely fine with it. It's a little richer than my usual Acure lotion, which I imagine will be fantastic come winter.  And, I love that, unlike the Acure, it's a lotion I can actually buy in stores here.  
Repurchase? It's very likely.  

Black Rose Minerals Skink Eye Shadow   [Review]
Skink is another shimmery tan/light brown/gold and really lovely.  These kinds of shades are my favorite for an everyday eye and I'm starting to running low!  Definitely considering ordering a full size.
Repurchase? Maybe.

That's all for August!  Have you tried any of these products?



(Seed) Grape Seed Enriched Nourishing Body Lotion

I still love my Acure Cocoa Butter + CoQ10 lotion, but in classic beauty blogger logic, with my tube coming to an end, I decided it was time to branch out and try something new.  I've been bouncing back and forth between body oils and lotion recently, as thicker creams can be more than I want to deal with in the hotter months, so it was perfect timing when I stumbled across (Seed)'s lighter-textured body lotion.  (Seed)'s affordable bodycare products are enriched with grape seed oil, which is both an excellent source of antioxidants and high in essential fatty acids and Vitamin E.  The company is also committed to making a positive environmental impact with minimal, recyclable and biodegradable packaging and sustainable business practices.  

(Seed)'s body lotion is truly a perfect summer lotion.  It's light and silky and it sinks in almost immediately.  The pump top is also super convenient for lotioning in a hurry, and considering it's a runnier lotion, it's also perfect for controlling the amount of product dispensed.  The lighter texture does mean that sometimes I need to reach for something extra for those drier spots like elbows and feet, but in general, (Seed)'s lotion does an excellent job keeping my skin soft and hydrated.  The lotion does also have a moderately strong "unscented scent," by which I mean you can definitely smell the natural oils and other ingredients, but the smell doesn't linger once the lotion is absorbed.  If you prefer a scented product, (Seed) also makes citrus and lavender varieties.

My only complaint, and the reason that I am hesitating over repurchasing this product, is that it contains non-organic soybean oil.  I haven't seen much research on the effects of soy in topical cosmetics, but it's something I try not to eat a lot of - particularly non-organic soy due to GMO concerns - so I'm not sure it's something I want to be slathering all over my body on a regular basis.  That said, the (Seed) website shows a new label and the ingredients don't list soybean oil, so it's possible they've reformulated since I purchased my bottle and this is now a moot point.  I'll update this once I find out for sure!


Where to Buy: $7.19 from Vitacost, $9.00 from (Seed)


Ingredients: Water (aqua), aloe barbadensis leaf juice, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, emulsifying wax NF, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, glycine soja (soy) oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), stearic acid, glycerin, camellia sinensis leaf extract, cetyl alcohol, gluconolactone (and) sodium benzoate, tocopherol, tapioca starch, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract.




Disclosure: Post contains affiliate link to Vitacost.  Signing up through my link will save you $10 off a purchase of $30 or more.