Happy almost 2021! I can’t think of a better way to round out this blogging year than by moving some trash out with my latest batch of empties. Here's a look at everything I've used up over the last several months...
Showing posts with label Acure. Show all posts
Curly Girl Reviews: (Mostly) Protein-Free Conditioners + Styling Products
25 August 2020
It's been pretty well established that healthy hair needs the right balance of moisture and protein, and that messing with the equilibrium by overdoing either one can cause problems. That's why, after years of what seemed like excessive hair breakage, I decided to try a protein detox this spring/summer to determine once and for all if protein overload was the cause of my sometimes brittle hair. Essentially, I eliminated any hair products with protein -- it's harder than you might think with all the hydrolyzed grains and other protein sources that can hide in an ingredient list! -- to see if that would resolve my issue.
As it turns out, I wasn’t fully protein-free for as long as I originally thought, as one of these products does contain a small amount of protein, but I did still do a proper detox for close to four months. My hair routine was already silicone-free, and that’s also true of these five items.
Spring Empties / Products I've Used Up
25 May 2020
I seem to be incapable of putting together an empties post these days until I've accumulated a ridiculous number of products, but there you have it! My last empties post was only about three months ago, but I've been making a dedicated effort to finish off older products and anything close to empty, so things have piled up quickly!
Keep reading for mini reviews of all the products I've used up over the last few months...
Mega Empties! Skincare, Makeup, Body + Hair
28 February 2020
It’s hard to believe that my last empties post was almost two years ago! Don't worry, I haven’t held on to my trash from that entire time, but I’ve got my empties from the last six months to a year. I’m going to speed through these with very mini reviews, but feel free to ask questions if you're curious or want more details on anything.
Fair warning: it's going to be a long one!
Mega Empties / Products I've Used Up {Part 3: Body Care}
10 February 2017
I like tracking empties for a number of reasons, not the least of which that I find it really interesting to notice how much of various kinds of products we actually get through. It's not always what you think. Case in point: today I learned that I use a lot of soap. Keep reading for the details + the lowdown on all the body products I've used up in the last 5+ months.
Bar Soaps
I'm a fan of gentle bar soaps, especially through the winter months when my skin is more prone to drying out. The Mamma Oceania Antioxidant Soap, SBT Seabuckthorn Berry Bar, and Rocky Mountain Soap Pumpkin Soap were my favorites of the bunch -- all three are very gentle, palm oil free, great for sensitive skin, and made by fantastic Canadian companies. On a Branch's Apple Cider Soap -- also Canadian and palm oil free -- had the most amazing spicey cinnamon scent, but the bar got a little gloopy and melted away quicker than I would have liked, even left to dry in a draining soap dish. I did have this particular bar hanging around for a good while before I used it, which could maybe have impacted it. The Graham Gardens Lemongrass Milk Soap, sent to me by the lovely people at The Choosy Chick, smelled wonderful too and produced a great luxurious, rich lather, but it's one that I likely would not repurchase since it does contain palm oil.
Body Wash
I'm not sure why I've never used Acure's body washes before, but they're really lovely! They have the feel and lather of a traditional shower gel, but leave skin feeling a lot softer and more hydrated than most gels. I didn't notice any significant formula difference between the two, just the scents -- the Clarifying Body Wash is minty and fresh, while the Cell Stimulating Body Wash (now the Energizing Body Wash) smells like almonds. If you're familiar with Acure's hair care, the body washes smell exactly the same as the Volume and Ultra-Hydrating hair products.
Nourish Organics' Moisturizing Cream Body Washes are a longtime favorite of mine. They have a creamy/milky consistency and are extra gentle on the skin. Wild Berries was discontinued last year, but I still have a couple bottles stashed away. I also like The Honest Co.'s Honest Shampoo + Body Wash, mostly for its yummy orange-vanilla scent. This mini came in one of the company's trial kits, but I've also bought the full size before.
Moisturizers
The Savannah Bee Company's Unscented Honey Body Lotion is a fantastic unscented lotion. It's rich and nourishing but doesn't leave you feeling greasy or slippery, or take forever to sink into the skin. No odd 'unscented scent' either, if you know what I mean. I also really loved the Duckish Lavender Lotion Stick. It's solid in the tube, but melts into the skin immediately on contact. Rocky Mountain Soap's Dry Skin Butter is a similar concept, but the actual product is much more solid and slightly waxy. It does a good job treating dry skin, but doesn't feel nearly as luxurious as the Duckish.
I held onto this bottle of Rachel's Plan Bee Body Oil for far longer than I probably should have, but I really did love it. It's pretty much the perfect body oil in terms of feel and consistency, but I couldn't always tolerate the scent, which is why it lasted me so long. It's an undeniably beautiful orange-vanilla fragrance and completely essential oil-based, but it was a little too strong for me a lot of days. As I've told Rachel before, if she ever creates an unscented version, I'd be all over it! The Honest Co. Organic Healing Balm, from the same trial kit as the body wash, didn't make a strong impression. It's a fine product, but I think there are better balms out there, so it's probably not something I'd purchase again.
Teeth
I'm pretty set on keeping my mouth care completely free of glycerin and the Miessence Mint Toothpaste is a new favorite. It tastes a little salty, but is very minty and leaves your mouth feeling super fresh. I wish Miessence was a little more accessible -- the only reason I haven't replaced this already -- but I'm sure I'll place an order eventually. Tierra Mia Organics Healthy Dent Tooth Regime, on the other hand, didn't work for me at all, at least not as toothpaste. Teeth felt clean after using it, but the mint was so subtle as to be undetectable, so all I got was a strong soap taste that would not go away, even after multiple rinses. No exaggeration, it lingered in my mouth for hours! Since they're basically just shreds of bar soap, I ended up adding the tooth chips into loads of laundry, just for the sake of using them up. They actually worked great in that capacity and I'm totally sold me on DIY/bar soap laundry detergents now!
Essential Oils
Clearly essential oils don't sit unused around here! Thieves is great for boosting the immune system and overall health through cold and flu season. I like it as a preventative and also used it to help kick a flu bug I caught early in the fall. Peace & Calming is one of my favorite blends to use before bed, particularly if I have trouble winding down or falling asleep. Lastly, Orange and Cinnamon Bark (along with Clove) were frequently enjoyed in my oil diffuser through the fall months.
Stay tuned for makeup empties over the weekend -- the last of this ginormous batch of empties!
Bar Soaps
I'm a fan of gentle bar soaps, especially through the winter months when my skin is more prone to drying out. The Mamma Oceania Antioxidant Soap, SBT Seabuckthorn Berry Bar, and Rocky Mountain Soap Pumpkin Soap were my favorites of the bunch -- all three are very gentle, palm oil free, great for sensitive skin, and made by fantastic Canadian companies. On a Branch's Apple Cider Soap -- also Canadian and palm oil free -- had the most amazing spicey cinnamon scent, but the bar got a little gloopy and melted away quicker than I would have liked, even left to dry in a draining soap dish. I did have this particular bar hanging around for a good while before I used it, which could maybe have impacted it. The Graham Gardens Lemongrass Milk Soap, sent to me by the lovely people at The Choosy Chick, smelled wonderful too and produced a great luxurious, rich lather, but it's one that I likely would not repurchase since it does contain palm oil.
Body Wash
I'm not sure why I've never used Acure's body washes before, but they're really lovely! They have the feel and lather of a traditional shower gel, but leave skin feeling a lot softer and more hydrated than most gels. I didn't notice any significant formula difference between the two, just the scents -- the Clarifying Body Wash is minty and fresh, while the Cell Stimulating Body Wash (now the Energizing Body Wash) smells like almonds. If you're familiar with Acure's hair care, the body washes smell exactly the same as the Volume and Ultra-Hydrating hair products.
Nourish Organics' Moisturizing Cream Body Washes are a longtime favorite of mine. They have a creamy/milky consistency and are extra gentle on the skin. Wild Berries was discontinued last year, but I still have a couple bottles stashed away. I also like The Honest Co.'s Honest Shampoo + Body Wash, mostly for its yummy orange-vanilla scent. This mini came in one of the company's trial kits, but I've also bought the full size before.
Moisturizers
The Savannah Bee Company's Unscented Honey Body Lotion is a fantastic unscented lotion. It's rich and nourishing but doesn't leave you feeling greasy or slippery, or take forever to sink into the skin. No odd 'unscented scent' either, if you know what I mean. I also really loved the Duckish Lavender Lotion Stick. It's solid in the tube, but melts into the skin immediately on contact. Rocky Mountain Soap's Dry Skin Butter is a similar concept, but the actual product is much more solid and slightly waxy. It does a good job treating dry skin, but doesn't feel nearly as luxurious as the Duckish.
I held onto this bottle of Rachel's Plan Bee Body Oil for far longer than I probably should have, but I really did love it. It's pretty much the perfect body oil in terms of feel and consistency, but I couldn't always tolerate the scent, which is why it lasted me so long. It's an undeniably beautiful orange-vanilla fragrance and completely essential oil-based, but it was a little too strong for me a lot of days. As I've told Rachel before, if she ever creates an unscented version, I'd be all over it! The Honest Co. Organic Healing Balm, from the same trial kit as the body wash, didn't make a strong impression. It's a fine product, but I think there are better balms out there, so it's probably not something I'd purchase again.
Teeth
I'm pretty set on keeping my mouth care completely free of glycerin and the Miessence Mint Toothpaste is a new favorite. It tastes a little salty, but is very minty and leaves your mouth feeling super fresh. I wish Miessence was a little more accessible -- the only reason I haven't replaced this already -- but I'm sure I'll place an order eventually. Tierra Mia Organics Healthy Dent Tooth Regime, on the other hand, didn't work for me at all, at least not as toothpaste. Teeth felt clean after using it, but the mint was so subtle as to be undetectable, so all I got was a strong soap taste that would not go away, even after multiple rinses. No exaggeration, it lingered in my mouth for hours! Since they're basically just shreds of bar soap, I ended up adding the tooth chips into loads of laundry, just for the sake of using them up. They actually worked great in that capacity and I'm totally sold me on DIY/bar soap laundry detergents now!
Essential Oils
Clearly essential oils don't sit unused around here! Thieves is great for boosting the immune system and overall health through cold and flu season. I like it as a preventative and also used it to help kick a flu bug I caught early in the fall. Peace & Calming is one of my favorite blends to use before bed, particularly if I have trouble winding down or falling asleep. Lastly, Orange and Cinnamon Bark (along with Clove) were frequently enjoyed in my oil diffuser through the fall months.
Stay tuned for makeup empties over the weekend -- the last of this ginormous batch of empties!
Contains affiliate links.
Mega Empties // Products I've Used Up {Part 1: Skincare}
8 February 2017
I'm officially declaring the rest of this week empties week here on the blog! My last empties post was way back in September, so there's a fair bunch of stuff to talk about -- thus, the decision to sort and split everything up into multiple posts. Today's post is all about skincare and hair, body, and makeup will follow.
Before I get into the specifics, here's a peek at the chaos that was my floor while sorting through 5+ months of empty products:
Face Wipes
I've said it before, but as ridiculous as it sounds, I'm a reluctant face wipes user, only regularly using them due to plumbing in an older house. I much prefer oil cleansing to remove my makeup, but my bathroom sink is less of a fan, so I use a face wipe to remove the oil, and then follow up with a regular cleanser at the sink.
Since I use them in combination with an oil cleanser, I'm not overly picky, beyond looking for something with clean ingredients that's biodegradable, mildly scented and non-irritating. Both the Boo Bamboo Makeup Remover Wipes and the Honest Co. Honest Baby Wipes fit the bill for me and are ones I'll continue to buy. The Boo Bamboo Baby Wipes, on the other hand, are just okay. The ingredients include Polysorbate 20, which I don't love, plus I'm not crazy about how they smell -- like an odd mix of baby powder and lavender. They do the trick and don't bother my skin, but just aren't a favorite. Lastly, I used up a pack of the Acure Unscented Argan Oil Cleansing Towelettes, which were a complete fail for me. They irritated my face and quickly got relegated to cleaning up swatches and dusting duty.
Cleansers
I seriously love all three of these cleansers! Holiskin's Sensitive Skin Facial Cleanser made it into my 2016 favorites and is a phenomenal oil cleanser and makeup remover. It's incredibly gentle and I love its delicate chamomile-lavender scent too. Ursa Major's Fantastic Face Wash is another favorite and something I've bought more than once. It's a great gel formula that produces a light lather and rinses away cleanly without leaving skin feeling dry or stripped. The Batty's Bath Soothing Cleanser is a beautiful creamy cleanser laced with gentle jojoba beads. I think I'd like it even more without the beads, as I don't feel like they do much, but the citrus/mint scent was a big hit with me and I also was impressed with how incredibly effective the cleanser is at calming the skin and reducing redness.
Moisturizers
The Mad Hippie Face Cream was a last minute iHerb grab, but one that I ended up really liking. Mad Hippie's products are inexpensive and loaded with active ingredients -- in this case, peptides, niacinamide, sodium PCA, and antioxidants. To me, it was a good basic lightweight moisturizer. No crazy anti-aging results -- at least from the one tube -- but it moisturized well and I enjoyed using it.
I also used up a bunch of Andalou Naturals minis, although I won't dwell on them too much, as Andalou has recently overhauled their entire line and almost everything has been reformulated. The Probiotic + C Renewal Cream was super lightweight and quick to absorb into the skin, but did a great job hydrating nonetheless. It almost felt like a cross between a gel moisturizer and a more traditional cream. The Purple Carrot + C Luminous Night Cream and Super Goji Peptide Perfecting Cream are both a little heavier, but also nice moisturizers. All of these were the old formulas, I can't speak to any of them in their current formulations.
Masks
Blissoma's Lavish Loving Recovery Beta-Glucan Mask is a wonderful multi-purpose hydrating and soothing product. I like using it both as a wash-off moisturizing mask and as a hydrating leave-on overnight treatment. (And, if you saw Blissoma's latest newsletter, it apparently has even more applications as a hand cream, hair mask + more!) I've used up a couple samples now and I'll definitely consider the full size as soon as my mask stash is a little more manageable.
Andalou Naturals's 1000 Roses Rosewater Face Mask, which somehow missed the photo, was a decent moisturizing mask too. The scent was a very sweet rose and not too overpowering, even for me, who often doesn't get on with rose or heavy florals. The mask moisturized well enough in the moment, but I didn't notice any long term hydrating benefits. In a choice between this and Blissoma Lavish, I'd definitely pick the Blissoma.
Likewise, the Kombucha Enzyme Exfoliating Peel did very little for my skin. The BioActive 8 Berry Fruit Enzyme Mask offered gentle exfoliation from fruit acids and enzymes and was nice, although again, nothing spectacular. When spaced out, it seemed to do a good job cleaning out pores and left skin feeling very soft to the touch, but if I used it twice in close succession, it did nothing the second time. Again, the three Andalou masks were all the company's old formulas. I don't know how the new versions compare, in either performance or ingredients, and to be honest, all the reformulations have left me a little disillusioned with Andalou overall.
Extras
Young Living Frankincense and Roman Chamomile Essential Oils are both great. I regularly add Frankincense to DIY toners and masks, and also use it on pimples and blemishes. The Roman Chamomile has been sitting lost and unloved in my essential oils for several years, but I finished it off in the DIY Oil Cleanser I've been making the last several months (recipe here). Both oils are pricey, no doubt, but a little goes a long way.
Stay tuned for more empties over the next few days. I've also got some fun new products to share next week!
Before I get into the specifics, here's a peek at the chaos that was my floor while sorting through 5+ months of empty products:
Face Wipes
I've said it before, but as ridiculous as it sounds, I'm a reluctant face wipes user, only regularly using them due to plumbing in an older house. I much prefer oil cleansing to remove my makeup, but my bathroom sink is less of a fan, so I use a face wipe to remove the oil, and then follow up with a regular cleanser at the sink.
Since I use them in combination with an oil cleanser, I'm not overly picky, beyond looking for something with clean ingredients that's biodegradable, mildly scented and non-irritating. Both the Boo Bamboo Makeup Remover Wipes and the Honest Co. Honest Baby Wipes fit the bill for me and are ones I'll continue to buy. The Boo Bamboo Baby Wipes, on the other hand, are just okay. The ingredients include Polysorbate 20, which I don't love, plus I'm not crazy about how they smell -- like an odd mix of baby powder and lavender. They do the trick and don't bother my skin, but just aren't a favorite. Lastly, I used up a pack of the Acure Unscented Argan Oil Cleansing Towelettes, which were a complete fail for me. They irritated my face and quickly got relegated to cleaning up swatches and dusting duty.
Cleansers
I seriously love all three of these cleansers! Holiskin's Sensitive Skin Facial Cleanser made it into my 2016 favorites and is a phenomenal oil cleanser and makeup remover. It's incredibly gentle and I love its delicate chamomile-lavender scent too. Ursa Major's Fantastic Face Wash is another favorite and something I've bought more than once. It's a great gel formula that produces a light lather and rinses away cleanly without leaving skin feeling dry or stripped. The Batty's Bath Soothing Cleanser is a beautiful creamy cleanser laced with gentle jojoba beads. I think I'd like it even more without the beads, as I don't feel like they do much, but the citrus/mint scent was a big hit with me and I also was impressed with how incredibly effective the cleanser is at calming the skin and reducing redness.
Moisturizers
The Mad Hippie Face Cream was a last minute iHerb grab, but one that I ended up really liking. Mad Hippie's products are inexpensive and loaded with active ingredients -- in this case, peptides, niacinamide, sodium PCA, and antioxidants. To me, it was a good basic lightweight moisturizer. No crazy anti-aging results -- at least from the one tube -- but it moisturized well and I enjoyed using it.
I also used up a bunch of Andalou Naturals minis, although I won't dwell on them too much, as Andalou has recently overhauled their entire line and almost everything has been reformulated. The Probiotic + C Renewal Cream was super lightweight and quick to absorb into the skin, but did a great job hydrating nonetheless. It almost felt like a cross between a gel moisturizer and a more traditional cream. The Purple Carrot + C Luminous Night Cream and Super Goji Peptide Perfecting Cream are both a little heavier, but also nice moisturizers. All of these were the old formulas, I can't speak to any of them in their current formulations.
Masks
Blissoma's Lavish Loving Recovery Beta-Glucan Mask is a wonderful multi-purpose hydrating and soothing product. I like using it both as a wash-off moisturizing mask and as a hydrating leave-on overnight treatment. (And, if you saw Blissoma's latest newsletter, it apparently has even more applications as a hand cream, hair mask + more!) I've used up a couple samples now and I'll definitely consider the full size as soon as my mask stash is a little more manageable.
Andalou Naturals's 1000 Roses Rosewater Face Mask, which somehow missed the photo, was a decent moisturizing mask too. The scent was a very sweet rose and not too overpowering, even for me, who often doesn't get on with rose or heavy florals. The mask moisturized well enough in the moment, but I didn't notice any long term hydrating benefits. In a choice between this and Blissoma Lavish, I'd definitely pick the Blissoma.
Likewise, the Kombucha Enzyme Exfoliating Peel did very little for my skin. The BioActive 8 Berry Fruit Enzyme Mask offered gentle exfoliation from fruit acids and enzymes and was nice, although again, nothing spectacular. When spaced out, it seemed to do a good job cleaning out pores and left skin feeling very soft to the touch, but if I used it twice in close succession, it did nothing the second time. Again, the three Andalou masks were all the company's old formulas. I don't know how the new versions compare, in either performance or ingredients, and to be honest, all the reformulations have left me a little disillusioned with Andalou overall.
Extras
Young Living Frankincense and Roman Chamomile Essential Oils are both great. I regularly add Frankincense to DIY toners and masks, and also use it on pimples and blemishes. The Roman Chamomile has been sitting lost and unloved in my essential oils for several years, but I finished it off in the DIY Oil Cleanser I've been making the last several months (recipe here). Both oils are pricey, no doubt, but a little goes a long way.
Stay tuned for more empties over the next few days. I've also got some fun new products to share next week!
Contains affiliate links
Repeat Purchases: Top 10 Under $10
18 August 2016
I love a good luxury product, but I dislike the assumption that green beauty has to cost a lot. Fact is, with a constantly expanding market, today there are great healthy options available at any price point. With that in mind, today's post features some of my very favorite inexpensive picks. These are all items I've bought more than once and are products I'll continue to purchase in the future. Prices might run slightly over $10 depending where you shop, but all items should be very affordable anywhere.
Kiss My Face Moisture Shave
I've tried a lot of natural shaving products over the last few years and I always go back to Kiss My Face's Moisture Shave. It's not a foaming product, but with a light lotiony consistency, it spreads easily, provides good slip for a razor, and leaves skin feeling soft and supple. My favorite is the Key Lime for its zesty citrus scent that's fresh and not at all overpowering.
Mineral Fusion Sheer Moisture Lip Tint
I've raved about these crayons several times before and they're still one of my very favorite lip products. For me, they're the perfect combination of color and comfort -- sheer tints in a moisturizing, balmy base. My absolute favorite is Glisten (warm caramelly nude), but I also love Glow (bright pink) and Shimmer (coral with a subtle sparkle).
Nourish Organic Body Wash
Nourish has a horrible habit of discontinuing my favorite scents, but I still constantly rebuy the body wash in whatever scents I can find. As with all Nourish products, the body wash is made with top notch ingredients and is USDA certified organic. It has a creamy, pearly consistency and a castile soap base and is really unlike any other body wash I've used. Particularly if you have dry skin or are in search of something a little gentler and more moisturizing than your average shower gel, I highly recommend checking these out!
Humphrey's Organic Witch Hazel
If you're looking for an affordable toner, I highly recommend making your own with witch hazel. Witch hazel, if you aren't already familiar with it, is excellent for balancing oil production and cleaning and refining pores, and can easily be infused with herbs and blended with essential oils and other ingredients. This one, from Humphrey's, is a witch hazel astringent with 14% organic alcohol, but I prefer that to a lot of the preservatives found in alcohol-free witch hazels.
Silk Naturals Sheer Blushes
I love a lot of Silk Naturals products, but the blushes just might be my very favorite. The Sheer formula offers buildable color that's easy to work with and blend, so you never end up with accidental clown cheeks. My longtime favorites are Lovelace (a dupe for Nars Deepthroat), Abstract, and Tchotchke, but with a huge color selection, there are so many great options! Some shades do contain dyes, so if, like me, that's something you avoid, make sure you read the individual ingredient listings.
Andalou Naturals Argan & Sweet Orange Shampoo + Conditioner
I discovered these earlier this year and I'm already working on my second bottles of both! Of all the natural shampoos and conditioners I've used, this duo has probably the closest feel to conventional products. The shampoo lathers easily and rinses clean, and the conditioner moisturizes without leaving any kind of residue behind. Together, they leave my hair soft and bouncy with great curl definition, and while I wasn't sure about the sweet, candy orange scent in my hair at first, I've actually grown to really love it.
Crazy Rumors Lip Balm
I have a few favorite lip balm brands, but I think Crazy Rumors is the one I've repurchased the most. Not every flavor has been a complete success for me, but I love the actual balm formula, and I enjoy having so many different flavors to choose from. My top picks? Raspberry Sherbet and Plum Apricot.
Acure Argan Oil
Argan oil is a great multitasking oil packed with vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. I buy it specifically to use in the ends of my hair, but without fail, it always also ends up on my face and body. There's significant quality variation amongst different argan oils on the market, and I think Acure's oil is one of the best at an inexpensive price point.
Deep Steep Foaming Hand Wash
With an ever-growing assortment of scents, Deep Steep makes a great healthy Bath & Bodyworks alternative. Personally, I can't always deal with strongly scented lotions and creams, but I can (and do!) get behind the foaming hand washes. They have great ingredients, clean well, don't dry out your hands, and smell fantastic. They're also super affordable (even the double size refills bottles are under $10!), and because they foam, a bottle of soap goes a lot further than you might expect. Keep an eye out for seasonal scents at Winners and TJ Maxx.
What are your favorite inexpensive green beauty finds?
Kiss My Face Moisture Shave
I've tried a lot of natural shaving products over the last few years and I always go back to Kiss My Face's Moisture Shave. It's not a foaming product, but with a light lotiony consistency, it spreads easily, provides good slip for a razor, and leaves skin feeling soft and supple. My favorite is the Key Lime for its zesty citrus scent that's fresh and not at all overpowering.
Mineral Fusion Sheer Moisture Lip Tint
I've raved about these crayons several times before and they're still one of my very favorite lip products. For me, they're the perfect combination of color and comfort -- sheer tints in a moisturizing, balmy base. My absolute favorite is Glisten (warm caramelly nude), but I also love Glow (bright pink) and Shimmer (coral with a subtle sparkle).
Nourish Organic Body Wash
Nourish has a horrible habit of discontinuing my favorite scents, but I still constantly rebuy the body wash in whatever scents I can find. As with all Nourish products, the body wash is made with top notch ingredients and is USDA certified organic. It has a creamy, pearly consistency and a castile soap base and is really unlike any other body wash I've used. Particularly if you have dry skin or are in search of something a little gentler and more moisturizing than your average shower gel, I highly recommend checking these out!
Humphrey's Organic Witch Hazel
If you're looking for an affordable toner, I highly recommend making your own with witch hazel. Witch hazel, if you aren't already familiar with it, is excellent for balancing oil production and cleaning and refining pores, and can easily be infused with herbs and blended with essential oils and other ingredients. This one, from Humphrey's, is a witch hazel astringent with 14% organic alcohol, but I prefer that to a lot of the preservatives found in alcohol-free witch hazels.
Silk Naturals Sheer Blushes
I love a lot of Silk Naturals products, but the blushes just might be my very favorite. The Sheer formula offers buildable color that's easy to work with and blend, so you never end up with accidental clown cheeks. My longtime favorites are Lovelace (a dupe for Nars Deepthroat), Abstract, and Tchotchke, but with a huge color selection, there are so many great options! Some shades do contain dyes, so if, like me, that's something you avoid, make sure you read the individual ingredient listings.
Andalou Naturals Argan & Sweet Orange Shampoo + Conditioner
I discovered these earlier this year and I'm already working on my second bottles of both! Of all the natural shampoos and conditioners I've used, this duo has probably the closest feel to conventional products. The shampoo lathers easily and rinses clean, and the conditioner moisturizes without leaving any kind of residue behind. Together, they leave my hair soft and bouncy with great curl definition, and while I wasn't sure about the sweet, candy orange scent in my hair at first, I've actually grown to really love it.
Crazy Rumors Lip Balm
I have a few favorite lip balm brands, but I think Crazy Rumors is the one I've repurchased the most. Not every flavor has been a complete success for me, but I love the actual balm formula, and I enjoy having so many different flavors to choose from. My top picks? Raspberry Sherbet and Plum Apricot.
Acure Argan Oil
Argan oil is a great multitasking oil packed with vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. I buy it specifically to use in the ends of my hair, but without fail, it always also ends up on my face and body. There's significant quality variation amongst different argan oils on the market, and I think Acure's oil is one of the best at an inexpensive price point.
Deep Steep Foaming Hand Wash
With an ever-growing assortment of scents, Deep Steep makes a great healthy Bath & Bodyworks alternative. Personally, I can't always deal with strongly scented lotions and creams, but I can (and do!) get behind the foaming hand washes. They have great ingredients, clean well, don't dry out your hands, and smell fantastic. They're also super affordable (even the double size refills bottles are under $10!), and because they foam, a bottle of soap goes a lot further than you might expect. Keep an eye out for seasonal scents at Winners and TJ Maxx.
What are your favorite inexpensive green beauty finds?
Contains affiliate links.
Three Months of Empties -- Part #1: Hair // Body
19 April 2016
I've been diligent about writing monthly empties posts for the last couple years, but I've recently fallen out of the habit and have yet to post a single one in 2016! Needless to say, that's left me with a whole bunch of products to talk about, so I'm going to split this into two posts. Today, I'll cover the hair and body products, and the second part will include all the skincare and makeup empties. I've also opted not to include samples -- with a couple makeup exceptions in Part 2 -- as I already posted mini-reviews of most of them while doing a sample challenge on Instagram.
Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby-Mild Castile Soap
Dr. Bronner's is one of the most talked about products in the green community and for good reason. This soap has a million and one uses and is basically just a great item to keep on hand. I mostly use it for cleaning purposes -- makeup brushes, laundry, and more -- but it's also great as a body wash or hand soap. I like the Unscented best, since it can be used as is or easily scented yourself with essential oils. Repurchase? Definitely!
Aura Cacia Sweet Almond + Blueberry Seed Oil
This is a great oil! Judging by the price, I'm sure it's somewhere around 90% almond oil, but the blueberry seed oil, however minimal, still manages to lend a delicate blueberry scent, and also offers additional antioxidant benefits. It's a great multipurpose blend that I used for a variety of things: as a makeup remover, oil cleanser, body oil, and even hair oil. My one gripe is that I can't stand Aura Cacia's bottles -- the squeeze mechanism always dispenses either too little or too much -- but it's simple enough to decant into another bottle, which is what I ended up doing here. Repurchase? Yes.
Intelligent Nutrients Organic Styling Gel
Intelligent Nutrients is one of my favorite hair care brands and the Styling Gel is a nice product. I like the minty scent and it has great hold, though it can leave hair feeling crunchy if you use a lot of product. For that reason alone, I prefer my old standby, Kinky-Curly's Spiral Spritz, for day-to-day light-hold styling, but the Styling Gel is great for when you need a bit more hold. Repurchase? Maybe.
Nourish Organic Fresh Fig Hand Wash
I love Nourish products and the hand wash is no exception. Fresh Fig is a great sweet and fruity scent and the hand washes are creamy and moisturizing. Unfortunately, Nourish recently discontinued them, but I really think the body washes are, if not exactly the same, very comparable. I'll probably hang onto this bottle and refill it with those in the future. Repurchase? Not possible.
Young Living Thieves Foaming Hand Soap
I like this hand soap for the kitchen. It smells fresh and YL's Thieves blend contains a lot of purifying essential oils, so it's great to use while you're cooking. The one negative is that I do find it can dry out your hands when used repeatedly within a shorter time frame. Repurchase? Maybe.
Earthpaste Peppermint Toothpaste
I've gone through many a tube of Earthpaste and I keep going back to it for the simple fact that it's the most accessible glycerin-free toothpaste I've found. I prefer the Wintergreen, but the Peppermint is fine too. Repurchase? Yes, I already have.
Acure Moroccan Argan + Argan Oil Shampoo
I've used this shampoo for years and have repurchased numerous bottles, but I think this may well be my last. I'm not sure whether my scalp has changed, or if it's just gotten too used to this product after such a long time, but I started having issues with buildup a couple months ago and eventually traced them back to this. I used to love it, but it just doesn't get my scalp clean anymore. The last quarter or so of the bottle was finished off as a laundry soap. Repurchase? It's unlikely.
Rocky Mountain Soap Apricot Hand Cream
Rocky Mountain's hand creams are loaded with nourishing oils and rich butters, but they still manage to absorb really nicely, without any kind of greasy residue. Sadly, the apricot scent was less of a hit than the actual hand cream formula. It smelled great in the tube, but quickly turned both sickly sweet and slightly sour as soon as it touched my skin. Repurchase? Yes, but not in this scent.
Andalou Naturals Lime Blossom Shea Butter + Coconut Water Hand Cream
Again, a great hand cream formula, but not my favorite scent. I don't find Andalou's hand creams ultra-nourishing, but they're great to reach for throughout the day, when you might not have time to wait for a richer cream to sink in. I think this particular one would be a big hit for fans of coconutty and tropical scents, but, personally, I prefer the Clementine. Repurchase? Yes, but probably not in this scent.
The Parkdale Butter Co. Peppermint Lip Butter
I received this lip butter in an event goody bag in the fall and although it had a beautiful chocolate mint scent, I wasn't a fan of it for its intended purpose. Made with just four organic ingredients -- shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and peppermint extract -- and no waxes, the texture was closer to a whipped shea butter than a traditional lip balm. On the lips, it melted away very quickly and didn't seem to really do much, but I did like it as a body butter. There are other Parkdale Butter products I like more, but I wouldn't recommend this particular one unless you're looking for a purse-friendly body butter. Repurchase? No.
Acure Ultra-Hydrating Body Lotion
I've made it pretty clear that I'm not a fan of this lotion in its current iteration. I'd love Acure to return to the old formula, but as it stands now, the lotion is a lot thinner and waterier than I like and does a truly sub par job of keeping my skin moisturized. Repurchase? No.
Stay tuned for Part 2 later this week for all my skincare and makeup empties!
Dr. Bronner's is one of the most talked about products in the green community and for good reason. This soap has a million and one uses and is basically just a great item to keep on hand. I mostly use it for cleaning purposes -- makeup brushes, laundry, and more -- but it's also great as a body wash or hand soap. I like the Unscented best, since it can be used as is or easily scented yourself with essential oils. Repurchase? Definitely!
Aura Cacia Sweet Almond + Blueberry Seed Oil
This is a great oil! Judging by the price, I'm sure it's somewhere around 90% almond oil, but the blueberry seed oil, however minimal, still manages to lend a delicate blueberry scent, and also offers additional antioxidant benefits. It's a great multipurpose blend that I used for a variety of things: as a makeup remover, oil cleanser, body oil, and even hair oil. My one gripe is that I can't stand Aura Cacia's bottles -- the squeeze mechanism always dispenses either too little or too much -- but it's simple enough to decant into another bottle, which is what I ended up doing here. Repurchase? Yes.
Intelligent Nutrients Organic Styling Gel
Intelligent Nutrients is one of my favorite hair care brands and the Styling Gel is a nice product. I like the minty scent and it has great hold, though it can leave hair feeling crunchy if you use a lot of product. For that reason alone, I prefer my old standby, Kinky-Curly's Spiral Spritz, for day-to-day light-hold styling, but the Styling Gel is great for when you need a bit more hold. Repurchase? Maybe.
Nourish Organic Fresh Fig Hand Wash
I love Nourish products and the hand wash is no exception. Fresh Fig is a great sweet and fruity scent and the hand washes are creamy and moisturizing. Unfortunately, Nourish recently discontinued them, but I really think the body washes are, if not exactly the same, very comparable. I'll probably hang onto this bottle and refill it with those in the future. Repurchase? Not possible.
Young Living Thieves Foaming Hand Soap
I like this hand soap for the kitchen. It smells fresh and YL's Thieves blend contains a lot of purifying essential oils, so it's great to use while you're cooking. The one negative is that I do find it can dry out your hands when used repeatedly within a shorter time frame. Repurchase? Maybe.
Earthpaste Peppermint Toothpaste
I've gone through many a tube of Earthpaste and I keep going back to it for the simple fact that it's the most accessible glycerin-free toothpaste I've found. I prefer the Wintergreen, but the Peppermint is fine too. Repurchase? Yes, I already have.
Acure Moroccan Argan + Argan Oil Shampoo
I've used this shampoo for years and have repurchased numerous bottles, but I think this may well be my last. I'm not sure whether my scalp has changed, or if it's just gotten too used to this product after such a long time, but I started having issues with buildup a couple months ago and eventually traced them back to this. I used to love it, but it just doesn't get my scalp clean anymore. The last quarter or so of the bottle was finished off as a laundry soap. Repurchase? It's unlikely.
Rocky Mountain Soap Apricot Hand Cream
Rocky Mountain's hand creams are loaded with nourishing oils and rich butters, but they still manage to absorb really nicely, without any kind of greasy residue. Sadly, the apricot scent was less of a hit than the actual hand cream formula. It smelled great in the tube, but quickly turned both sickly sweet and slightly sour as soon as it touched my skin. Repurchase? Yes, but not in this scent.
Andalou Naturals Lime Blossom Shea Butter + Coconut Water Hand Cream
Again, a great hand cream formula, but not my favorite scent. I don't find Andalou's hand creams ultra-nourishing, but they're great to reach for throughout the day, when you might not have time to wait for a richer cream to sink in. I think this particular one would be a big hit for fans of coconutty and tropical scents, but, personally, I prefer the Clementine. Repurchase? Yes, but probably not in this scent.
The Parkdale Butter Co. Peppermint Lip Butter
I received this lip butter in an event goody bag in the fall and although it had a beautiful chocolate mint scent, I wasn't a fan of it for its intended purpose. Made with just four organic ingredients -- shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and peppermint extract -- and no waxes, the texture was closer to a whipped shea butter than a traditional lip balm. On the lips, it melted away very quickly and didn't seem to really do much, but I did like it as a body butter. There are other Parkdale Butter products I like more, but I wouldn't recommend this particular one unless you're looking for a purse-friendly body butter. Repurchase? No.
Acure Ultra-Hydrating Body Lotion
I've made it pretty clear that I'm not a fan of this lotion in its current iteration. I'd love Acure to return to the old formula, but as it stands now, the lotion is a lot thinner and waterier than I like and does a truly sub par job of keeping my skin moisturized. Repurchase? No.
Stay tuned for Part 2 later this week for all my skincare and makeup empties!
Contains affiliate links.
Unscented Body Lotions: Dueling Mini Reviews
20 February 2016
Unscented lotions aren't something you see raved about very often, but they're a staple product for me. Whether it's because I don't want to deal with anything scented, or because I want a moisturizer that won't interfere with other scents I may be wearing, they're something I reach for on a regular basis.
I've been pretty dedicated to Acure's Ultra-Hydrating Body Lotion for several years, but last fall I discovered that, due to reformulations, it just doesn't cut it anymore. Around the same time, I conveniently had some iHerb credit saved up and burning a hole in my pocket, so I figured it was a good time to set about finding a replacement.
With that in mind, I ordered three new lotions to try. The goal? Something without any added scent (or a strong unscented smell). It would need to be rich and hydrating but not greasy, and something that wouldn't need to be reapplied multiple times a day -- because, really, who has time for that?!
The Contenders:
Acure Fragrance Free Ultra-Hydrating Body Lotion
Clearly I've already spoiled that this was not what I wanted it to be. The current formula feels very watery and rubs away to nothing. If you like your lotions incredibly light, it might suit your purposes. It certainly won't leave you greasy, and it legitimately has no discernible scent.
Acure Fragrance Free Bare Baby Lotion
Sorry Acure, it's just not your day! The Bare Baby Lotion is much better in terms of richness and hydration, but it smells awful - like a combination of feet and stinky cheese. Yuck! My tube was sealed and is well within the best before date, so there's no reason why it shouldn't be okay, but I'm wondering if maybe I got a bad bottle, as I can't imagine anyone actually trying to sell a product that smells like this. We don't have access to Acure in stores here, so I have no way of checking, but if you've used this lotion before, I'd love to know if yours smelled gross like this too!
DeVita Shea Butter Bruleé
I like this one, but I don't love it. Described as an "ultra rich hand and body bruleé," the Shea Butter Bruleé is surprisingly very lightweight. It sinks in quickly and moisturizes well in the moment, but it doesn't keep my skin feeling hydrated for as long as I'd like. It also smells a little like sunscreen, although the scent doesn't linger past application.
The great thing about this cream, however, is the way it gives the skin a slightly perfected, tauter appearance. There's no mica or other colorants like in most "perfecting" lotions, but it somehow makes skin look just a little bit better. I expect it'll be great in the summer! The Bruleé is made with vitamin K, hyaluronic acid, plant collagen, and peptides to increase circulation and target spider veins and stretch marks. I haven't used it consistently enough to notice a difference in any of those areas, but I'm guessing these same ingredients are responsible for the instant tightening effect I noticed.
Savannah Bee Company Unscented Honey Body Lotion
Saving the best for last! The Honey Body Lotion has a thick, rich consistency without feeling overly heavy or greasy as you work it into the skin. It has a very slight nutty scent - nothing super noticeable - and leaves my skin moisturized enough that I can go a couple days between uses without any ill effects. It's obviously not vegan (honey + beeswax), unlike the other three, but it's a great lotion. Probably the only one of the lot that I'd purchase again.
The Bottom Line
I wouldn't recommend either of the Acure lotions - one for its scent and one for its performance - but I like both the DeVita and Savannah Bee lotions to varying degrees. The Savannah Bee Honey Lotion has a great balance between richness and easy absorption and is what I'd opt for on an everyday basis, and the DeVita Shea Butter Bruleé has an interesting tightening effect that leaves skin looking slightly perfected without bronzing or color change and would probably be great in the summer. It's something I'd reach for before wearing shorts or showing more skin, but it doesn't do the trick through these colder winter months.
What are your favorite body lotions?
I've been pretty dedicated to Acure's Ultra-Hydrating Body Lotion for several years, but last fall I discovered that, due to reformulations, it just doesn't cut it anymore. Around the same time, I conveniently had some iHerb credit saved up and burning a hole in my pocket, so I figured it was a good time to set about finding a replacement.
With that in mind, I ordered three new lotions to try. The goal? Something without any added scent (or a strong unscented smell). It would need to be rich and hydrating but not greasy, and something that wouldn't need to be reapplied multiple times a day -- because, really, who has time for that?!
The Contenders:
Clearly I've already spoiled that this was not what I wanted it to be. The current formula feels very watery and rubs away to nothing. If you like your lotions incredibly light, it might suit your purposes. It certainly won't leave you greasy, and it legitimately has no discernible scent.
Acure Fragrance Free Bare Baby Lotion
Sorry Acure, it's just not your day! The Bare Baby Lotion is much better in terms of richness and hydration, but it smells awful - like a combination of feet and stinky cheese. Yuck! My tube was sealed and is well within the best before date, so there's no reason why it shouldn't be okay, but I'm wondering if maybe I got a bad bottle, as I can't imagine anyone actually trying to sell a product that smells like this. We don't have access to Acure in stores here, so I have no way of checking, but if you've used this lotion before, I'd love to know if yours smelled gross like this too!
DeVita Shea Butter Bruleé
I like this one, but I don't love it. Described as an "ultra rich hand and body bruleé," the Shea Butter Bruleé is surprisingly very lightweight. It sinks in quickly and moisturizes well in the moment, but it doesn't keep my skin feeling hydrated for as long as I'd like. It also smells a little like sunscreen, although the scent doesn't linger past application.
The great thing about this cream, however, is the way it gives the skin a slightly perfected, tauter appearance. There's no mica or other colorants like in most "perfecting" lotions, but it somehow makes skin look just a little bit better. I expect it'll be great in the summer! The Bruleé is made with vitamin K, hyaluronic acid, plant collagen, and peptides to increase circulation and target spider veins and stretch marks. I haven't used it consistently enough to notice a difference in any of those areas, but I'm guessing these same ingredients are responsible for the instant tightening effect I noticed.
Savannah Bee Company Unscented Honey Body Lotion
Saving the best for last! The Honey Body Lotion has a thick, rich consistency without feeling overly heavy or greasy as you work it into the skin. It has a very slight nutty scent - nothing super noticeable - and leaves my skin moisturized enough that I can go a couple days between uses without any ill effects. It's obviously not vegan (honey + beeswax), unlike the other three, but it's a great lotion. Probably the only one of the lot that I'd purchase again.
The Bottom Line
I wouldn't recommend either of the Acure lotions - one for its scent and one for its performance - but I like both the DeVita and Savannah Bee lotions to varying degrees. The Savannah Bee Honey Lotion has a great balance between richness and easy absorption and is what I'd opt for on an everyday basis, and the DeVita Shea Butter Bruleé has an interesting tightening effect that leaves skin looking slightly perfected without bronzing or color change and would probably be great in the summer. It's something I'd reach for before wearing shorts or showing more skin, but it doesn't do the trick through these colder winter months.
What are your favorite body lotions?
Contains affiliate links.
October + November Empties / Products I've Used Up
4 December 2015
I hardly used anything up in October, so I skipped an empties post, but I think I more than made up for things in November! I've got a lot of things to talk about, so I'll try to keep things brief. If you have any questions or want more details on anything, let me know in the comments.
BODY
Acure Fragrance Free Ultra-Hydrating Body Lotion
I've gone through many tubes of this lotion in the last few years, raved about it multiple times on the blog, and even got my sister hooked on it, but I'm pretty sure the formula changed along with the packaging. I mentioned it in my most recent iHerb haul and a few people have agreed with me since. The ingredients are only slightly different, but it feels like a completely different product - not nearly as hydrating and with a very watery feel as you rub it in.
Repurchase? I've got one more tube to use and then I doubt it, unless Acure goes back to the previous formula.
Andalou Naturals Shea Butter + Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream
I like this hand cream, but I don't love it. The clementine scent is nice and it's a good one for your desk, in that it sinks in quickly and doesn't leave you with greasy hands, but I feel like there are better products out there in terms of long term moisturization.
Repurchase? I'm not sure. I still have a tube of Andalou's Shea Butter + Coconut Water Hand Cream to use before I decide.
Mamma Oceania Skin Nourishing Soap* [Review]
Mamma Oceania soaps are beautiful hefty bars of soap, handmade here in Toronto. The soaps are free of palm and canola oils, have no added scent ingredients, lather up nicely, and each bar lasts a good long while. The Skin Nourishing bar is made with rosehip, banana, and kelp and - as is common to all the soaps in the line - feels lovely and gentle on the skin.
Repurchase? Yes, once I've used up some other soaps.
Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Juicy Orange Facial Bar
Rocky Mountain also makes soaps without palm oil, though theirs do contain canola and cottonseed oils, which I don't love. That said, they're another Canadian company, their scents are nice without being overpowering, and the soaps feel good on the skin. I can't speak to how the Juicy Orange works as a facial bar as I used it strictly on my hands and body, but I did enjoy it.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Ellovi Mint Chocolate Butter (sample)
I have mixed feelings about this product. I loved how it smelled and am tempted to buy the larger size for that reason alone, but in terms of its performance as a body butter, it had a very similar feel to moisturizing with straight coconut oil, which I don't find heavy or hydrating enough to use on a consistent basis.
Repurchase? I'm not sure.
SKINCARE
Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash* [Review]
I remember liking this when I first reviewed it, but when I started using it again in October, I really started to love it. Now, I'd go so far as to say that it's one of my favorite cleansers. It's a traditional foaming gel wash but not stripping or drying, and it also offers gentle exfoliation from sugar cane and fruit extracts. It smells gorgeous too - a mix of woodsy trees and spearmint.
Repurchase? Yes! I just ordered a larger bottle in the Black Friday sales.
Shea Terra Argan & Green Coffee Around Eye Serum* [Review]
This is a great serum in terms of hydration, but it didn't do a lot for my dark circles. I ended up using probably 1/2 to 2/3 of the bottle as a makeup remover/oil cleanser and hair oil. It worked great for both, but I wouldn't buy it specifically for those purposes.
Repurchase? No.
La Mav Anti Dark-Circle and Ultra-Firm Eye Gel* [Review]
This eye gel has quite an impressive ingredients list, but unfortunately it didn't live up to its name for me. If your under eyes are less problematic than mine - aka minimal darkness and puffiness - I do think it's a nice product and the gel consistency is mind-bogglingly good. It feels incredibly light going on and sits super well under makeup, but it actually leaves my under eyes feeling more plump and hydrated than many richer, heavier creams and oils.
Repurchase? Not right away.
Dr. Alkaitis Organic Soothing Gel (sample)
I find the Soothing Gel a bit too drying to use all over my face, but I like it as a spot treatment for any breakouts or blemishes. Now that I've been using it for several months, I feel like it's become less effective in that regard, so I may take a break from using it for a bit.
Repurchase? Not right away. I've still got a couple more samples.
Kaia Naturals Pure Moringa Oil
This small vial of Kaia's moringa oil comes with their Bamboo Tapioca Beads. The oil didn't make a huge impression, so it isn't something I'd go out of my way to get more of - and I don't think Kaia sells the oil by itself anyways - but I do really like the actual Bamboo Tapioca Beads.
Repurchase? The Bamboo Tapioca Beads, yes.
Bare English & Co. Sweet Peppermint Lip Balm
Another local Toronto product! I like the Bare English lip balms a lot, but this scent was just so-so for me. It had a prominent coconut oil smell alongside the mint, and I didn't love the combination of the two.
Repurchase? Probably not this particular flavour, but the Bare English lip balms, yes.
Shiro Cosmetics Longcat Intertube
Shiro stopped making the Intertubes a while ago, which is a shame because they were a great formula! Longcat was a clear balm with white/silvery sparkles and it made a fantastic rich lip treatment.
Repurchase? Not possible.
Triumph & Disaster Gameface Moisturizer (samples)
This was an okay moisturizer. I started out using the samples on my face, but I ended up finishing them up as a body cream.
Repurchase? No.
Suki Eye Life Renewal Cream - Day (sample)
I actually threw out most of this sample. All the reviews and photos I've seen show this eye cream as a pale yellow color, while my sample came out of the packet an orangey-brown. I figured it was very likely the vitamin C having oxidized, so I didn't want to use it.
Repurchase? No.
MAKEUP
Silk Naturals Brightening Concealer #2 (sample)
I really like this concealer, which is supposed to be a dupe for Anastasia's Banana Powder. It's a yellow powder that does a good job brightening up under the eyes and has a bit more coverage than Silk Naturals' Sleep in a Jar, which I've used and loved for years.
Repurchase? Yes, I plan to buy both this and the lighter, #1 shade in the future
Benecos Brown Kajal Liner
Benecos' liners are so frustrating! They're inexpensive and I love the creamy formula, but the colors are never what I want them to be. This one was a very warm-toned, almost orangey brown and I just didn't love it.
Repurchase? No.
Pollen Cosmetics Saddle Up Eye Shadow (sample)
Pollen Cosmetics isn't around anymore, unfortunately, but Saddle Up was a great matte mid-toned brown, perfect for the crease.
Repurchase? Not possible.
Brija Cosmetics Perk Blush (sample)
Perk is a subtle pink blush with some shimmer. It's pretty, but I often felt like I had to pack on a lot of product to get the color I wanted, making it a little too sparkly for me. Other days I loved it and felt like it was perfect as is, so I'm a little conflicted.
Repurchase? I don't think so.
Bare Minerals Universal Light Frame & Define Brow Styler
I love this pencil for my brows, mainly because Universal Light is a perfect color match for me. The twist up style is also convenient (no sharpening!), but I'd strongly advise against screwing the pencil up all the way to check how much product is left, as, in doing so, I somehow managed to break the mechanism in mine, wasting probably 1/3 of the product.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.
Physician's Formula Organic Wear CC Curl + Care Mascara
Physician's Formula mascaras are very hit or miss for me and I didn't like this one at all! It wasn't very noticeable on the lashes, plus it smeared and actually seemed to crumble off in chunks by the end of the night. My lashes have a natural curl also, so I'm not sure how it does in that regard.
Repurchase? There are other Organic Wear mascaras I'd buy again, but the CC one, definitely not!
Jane Iredale Black Ice Longest Lash Mascara
This mascara, on the other hand, I really liked. It's a fiber mascara, which is something I haven't seen anywhere else in the green beauty world, and it does a fantastic job adding volume as well as length. I also didn't have any issues with smudging or flaking. I don't love how pricey it is ($33 USD/$42 CAD), but it's a great mascara.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Total Products Used Up in October + November
Skincare: 5 (Lip Balms: 2 )
Bodycare: 4
Haircare: 0
Makeup: 4
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 6
Makeup Samples: 3
Total Products Used Up in 2015
Skincare: 37 (Lip Balms: 10)
Bodycare: 38
Haircare: 10
Makeup: 15
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 68
Makeup Samples: 32
BODY
Acure Fragrance Free Ultra-Hydrating Body Lotion
I've gone through many tubes of this lotion in the last few years, raved about it multiple times on the blog, and even got my sister hooked on it, but I'm pretty sure the formula changed along with the packaging. I mentioned it in my most recent iHerb haul and a few people have agreed with me since. The ingredients are only slightly different, but it feels like a completely different product - not nearly as hydrating and with a very watery feel as you rub it in.
Repurchase? I've got one more tube to use and then I doubt it, unless Acure goes back to the previous formula.
Andalou Naturals Shea Butter + Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream
I like this hand cream, but I don't love it. The clementine scent is nice and it's a good one for your desk, in that it sinks in quickly and doesn't leave you with greasy hands, but I feel like there are better products out there in terms of long term moisturization.
Repurchase? I'm not sure. I still have a tube of Andalou's Shea Butter + Coconut Water Hand Cream to use before I decide.
Mamma Oceania Skin Nourishing Soap* [Review]
Mamma Oceania soaps are beautiful hefty bars of soap, handmade here in Toronto. The soaps are free of palm and canola oils, have no added scent ingredients, lather up nicely, and each bar lasts a good long while. The Skin Nourishing bar is made with rosehip, banana, and kelp and - as is common to all the soaps in the line - feels lovely and gentle on the skin.
Repurchase? Yes, once I've used up some other soaps.
Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Juicy Orange Facial Bar
Rocky Mountain also makes soaps without palm oil, though theirs do contain canola and cottonseed oils, which I don't love. That said, they're another Canadian company, their scents are nice without being overpowering, and the soaps feel good on the skin. I can't speak to how the Juicy Orange works as a facial bar as I used it strictly on my hands and body, but I did enjoy it.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Ellovi Mint Chocolate Butter (sample)
I have mixed feelings about this product. I loved how it smelled and am tempted to buy the larger size for that reason alone, but in terms of its performance as a body butter, it had a very similar feel to moisturizing with straight coconut oil, which I don't find heavy or hydrating enough to use on a consistent basis.
Repurchase? I'm not sure.
SKINCARE
Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash* [Review]
I remember liking this when I first reviewed it, but when I started using it again in October, I really started to love it. Now, I'd go so far as to say that it's one of my favorite cleansers. It's a traditional foaming gel wash but not stripping or drying, and it also offers gentle exfoliation from sugar cane and fruit extracts. It smells gorgeous too - a mix of woodsy trees and spearmint.
Repurchase? Yes! I just ordered a larger bottle in the Black Friday sales.
Shea Terra Argan & Green Coffee Around Eye Serum* [Review]
This is a great serum in terms of hydration, but it didn't do a lot for my dark circles. I ended up using probably 1/2 to 2/3 of the bottle as a makeup remover/oil cleanser and hair oil. It worked great for both, but I wouldn't buy it specifically for those purposes.
Repurchase? No.
La Mav Anti Dark-Circle and Ultra-Firm Eye Gel* [Review]
This eye gel has quite an impressive ingredients list, but unfortunately it didn't live up to its name for me. If your under eyes are less problematic than mine - aka minimal darkness and puffiness - I do think it's a nice product and the gel consistency is mind-bogglingly good. It feels incredibly light going on and sits super well under makeup, but it actually leaves my under eyes feeling more plump and hydrated than many richer, heavier creams and oils.
Repurchase? Not right away.
Dr. Alkaitis Organic Soothing Gel (sample)
I find the Soothing Gel a bit too drying to use all over my face, but I like it as a spot treatment for any breakouts or blemishes. Now that I've been using it for several months, I feel like it's become less effective in that regard, so I may take a break from using it for a bit.
Repurchase? Not right away. I've still got a couple more samples.
Kaia Naturals Pure Moringa Oil
This small vial of Kaia's moringa oil comes with their Bamboo Tapioca Beads. The oil didn't make a huge impression, so it isn't something I'd go out of my way to get more of - and I don't think Kaia sells the oil by itself anyways - but I do really like the actual Bamboo Tapioca Beads.
Repurchase? The Bamboo Tapioca Beads, yes.
Bare English & Co. Sweet Peppermint Lip Balm
Another local Toronto product! I like the Bare English lip balms a lot, but this scent was just so-so for me. It had a prominent coconut oil smell alongside the mint, and I didn't love the combination of the two.
Repurchase? Probably not this particular flavour, but the Bare English lip balms, yes.
Shiro Cosmetics Longcat Intertube
Shiro stopped making the Intertubes a while ago, which is a shame because they were a great formula! Longcat was a clear balm with white/silvery sparkles and it made a fantastic rich lip treatment.
Repurchase? Not possible.
Triumph & Disaster Gameface Moisturizer (samples)
This was an okay moisturizer. I started out using the samples on my face, but I ended up finishing them up as a body cream.
Repurchase? No.
Suki Eye Life Renewal Cream - Day (sample)
I actually threw out most of this sample. All the reviews and photos I've seen show this eye cream as a pale yellow color, while my sample came out of the packet an orangey-brown. I figured it was very likely the vitamin C having oxidized, so I didn't want to use it.
Repurchase? No.
MAKEUP
Silk Naturals Brightening Concealer #2 (sample)
I really like this concealer, which is supposed to be a dupe for Anastasia's Banana Powder. It's a yellow powder that does a good job brightening up under the eyes and has a bit more coverage than Silk Naturals' Sleep in a Jar, which I've used and loved for years.
Repurchase? Yes, I plan to buy both this and the lighter, #1 shade in the future
Benecos Brown Kajal Liner
Benecos' liners are so frustrating! They're inexpensive and I love the creamy formula, but the colors are never what I want them to be. This one was a very warm-toned, almost orangey brown and I just didn't love it.
Repurchase? No.
Pollen Cosmetics Saddle Up Eye Shadow (sample)
Pollen Cosmetics isn't around anymore, unfortunately, but Saddle Up was a great matte mid-toned brown, perfect for the crease.
Repurchase? Not possible.
Brija Cosmetics Perk Blush (sample)
Perk is a subtle pink blush with some shimmer. It's pretty, but I often felt like I had to pack on a lot of product to get the color I wanted, making it a little too sparkly for me. Other days I loved it and felt like it was perfect as is, so I'm a little conflicted.
Repurchase? I don't think so.
Bare Minerals Universal Light Frame & Define Brow Styler
I love this pencil for my brows, mainly because Universal Light is a perfect color match for me. The twist up style is also convenient (no sharpening!), but I'd strongly advise against screwing the pencil up all the way to check how much product is left, as, in doing so, I somehow managed to break the mechanism in mine, wasting probably 1/3 of the product.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.
Physician's Formula Organic Wear CC Curl + Care Mascara
Physician's Formula mascaras are very hit or miss for me and I didn't like this one at all! It wasn't very noticeable on the lashes, plus it smeared and actually seemed to crumble off in chunks by the end of the night. My lashes have a natural curl also, so I'm not sure how it does in that regard.
Repurchase? There are other Organic Wear mascaras I'd buy again, but the CC one, definitely not!
Jane Iredale Black Ice Longest Lash Mascara
This mascara, on the other hand, I really liked. It's a fiber mascara, which is something I haven't seen anywhere else in the green beauty world, and it does a fantastic job adding volume as well as length. I also didn't have any issues with smudging or flaking. I don't love how pricey it is ($33 USD/$42 CAD), but it's a great mascara.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Total Products Used Up in October + November
Skincare: 5 (Lip Balms: 2 )
Bodycare: 4
Haircare: 0
Makeup: 4
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 6
Makeup Samples: 3
Total Products Used Up in 2015
Skincare: 37 (Lip Balms: 10)
Bodycare: 38
Haircare: 10
Makeup: 15
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 68
Makeup Samples: 32
*Press sample
Contains affiliate links
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
