How do you feel about less-than-stellar reviews? It seems like there's an ongoing debate amongst bloggers as to whether or not one should share less favorable opinions of products or just stick to talking about the things we love. Negative reviews aren't nearly as fun to write, it's true, but I've always felt it was important to share less glowing opinions as well, which is why I do these Disappointing Products posts every so often.
As always, this isn't intended to bash any of these brands - most of whom actually make other products I love - only to share why these particular items haven't worked for me.
Nubian Heritage EVOO & Moringa Repair & Extend Shine Gel
I actually included this in my last disappointing products post (oops!) but I forgot I'd ever written about it when I gathered up this latest batch to photograph. Clearly I've held onto it for way too long at this point! To reiterate that first post, the gel itself actually performed really well the few times I used it, but I struggle with the scent. It's strong and perfumey, and lasts all day in my hair. The ingredients list only a "proprietary essential oil blend," and while it may only be essential oils, the scent is quite reminiscent of synthetic fragrance and isn't something I can tolerate. I haven't tried anything else from Nubian Heritage, so I don't know if it's just this one product or the entire line, but I'd advise caution if you're someone sensitive to scents. I can't find this exact product on the Nubian Heritage website anymore and it's out of stock from a lot of other retailers, so it may have been discontinued.
Benecos Natural Creamy Makeup
This foundation baffles me, as I just can't imagine how anyone could make it work. It's a liquid foundation with a thick creamy consistency, but it sets almost as soon as it touches the skin, making it nearly impossible to work with. Because of how quickly it dries, it's a struggle to spread or sheer out, and tends to look heavy and cakey. It also has a sickly sweet honey-like scent and - something I didn't initially realize - contains talc.
Balanced Guru Antioxidant Masque
Balanced Guru's Calming Masque is one of my all-time favorite skincare items, but the Antioxidant Masque did not leave my skin happy. The mask contains a blend of antioxidant-rich berries and spices, and it smells delicious: like cinnamon and cloves. I've noticed a pattern recently whereby my skin doesn't do well with these warm spices in products that stay on the skin, and this mask - much like May Lindstrom's Problem Solver - left my skin red, hot, and burning. I really do love Balanced Guru as a brand, so if you're usually okay with these spices, it might still be worth a try.
Everyday Minerals Soft Peach Color Corrector Stick
The color of this corrector/concealer is a fantastic pale peach, but unfortunately, it blends away to nothing. There's virtually no coverage, even with multiple layers, and any brightening or color correcting properties are very minimal as well. The ingredients are great and it's a hydrating formula, so I may give it one more try as a sheer foundation.
Juice Beauty Nutrient Moisturizer
This moisturizer is advertised as a nutrient-rich cream suitable for all skin types, but I found it way too heavy on my normal-to-dry skin, so I question if it would suit anyone other than the ultra-dry. It never seemed to absorb and instead just sat on top of my skin. As a result, it didn't work well under makeup, and even when used at night, I'd wake up with a film from the cream still on my face. I also found my face got shiny/oily throughout the day while using it, which isn't something I normally deal with.
Have you used any of these products? I'd love to know if you were similarly underwhelmed or if they worked differently for you!
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I'm a couple days behind schedule, but here it is: my final empties post of 2015. If you aren't familiar with these, this is where I show you the products I've finished up in the last month and give you my final impressions after using the entire thing to completion. I was also curious to see how many products I actually use over a year, so I've been tracking total counts in various categories over the course of 2015. The final results will be at the bottom of this post.
Beautiful Curls Curl Reviving Tonic
I've gone through four or five bottles of this spray over the last couple years. It's fantastic on second day hair and really does revive and refresh curls, just as the name says. Unfortunately the ingredients/formula changed a few months ago and it now includes phenoxyethanol, an ingredient I prefer not to use.
Repurchase? No. I have one more bottle of the old formula, but after that I won't be buying any more.
Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic Shampoo [Review]
I included this shampoo in my Top 15 Products of 2015, which pretty much says it all! It's a great shampoo that gets the scalp very clean without making hair dry or brittle. I still have 1/2 or 1/3 of a bottle of the matching conditioner, but I'll finish that off with other shampoos.
Repurchase? Yes, but not immediately.
Scentuals Bodycare Moisturizing Grapefruit Body Wash* [Review]
This was a nice body wash. I liked the grapefruit scent and it was actually quite moisturizing. The texture is interesting too - kind of a creamy midway point between a typical body wash and aloe vera gel. I used a good portion of the bottle to wash my makeup brushes and it worked really well for that purpose as well.
Repurchase? Probably not. I liked it, but there are other body washes I like more.
Nourish Organic Coconut & Argan Body Wash
Nourish's Body Wash is another product that made it onto my Top 15 of 2015 and is something I've gone through numerous bottles of. Funny story about this one: I'm a big fan of the Coconut & Argan scent and had tucked this bottle away for most of the year after finding out it had been discontinued. So, imagine my surprise to finally open it and discover the contents were actually the Almond Vanilla Body Wash! Not a bad scent by any means, just pretty funny under the circumstances.
Repurchase? Yes! Obviously not in this scent, but I'll definitely be buying others.
Young Living Grapefruit Lip Balm
I like the Young Living lip balms, but the grapefruit one isn't my favorite. It smells lovely, but I don't find it as hydrating as the Lavender, which is my favorite.
Repurchase? Yes, but probably not this scent.
Balanced Guru Calming Masque [Review]
Yet another Top 15 of 2015 product! I've gone through a few of these small jars now and it's still one of my all-time favorite masks.
Repurchase? Yes! I already have.
Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Purifying Mask
I'm not as crazy obsessed with this mask as with the Balanced Guru, but I do like it. It's pretty gentle and the fact that it's pre-mixed in a tube makes it super quick and easy - perfect for in the shower or other instances when I was short on time.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Weleda Pomegranate Firming Serum + Day Cream (samples)
I like a lot of Weleda products, but the serums just don't work for my skin. They're glycerin-based and my face tends to break out from a lot of glycerin. Since I didn't want the samples to go to waste, I used them on my chest and they worked nicely there. The serum is hydrating but ultra-lightweight. It sinks in almost instantly, leaving skin basically dry to the touch. The Firming Day Cream was nice enough too, but after only one packet, it didn't make a huge impression.
Repurchase? No.
Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Hydrating Serum
Another glycerin-based serum that I didn't have very high expectations for, but I ended up really liking it. I also used it on my chest rather than my face, and it seemed to make the skin in that area look smoother and more even, even just in the five or six days the sample packet lasted.
Repurchase? Possibly.
Darling Girl Cosmetics Dr. Pepper Cake Eye Shadow (sample)
Darling Girl makes some of my favorite shadows, both in color and formula. Dr. Pepper Cake - now discontinued - was a beautiful complex neutral: a shimmery mid-toned brown with some pink/mauve reflects.
Repurchase? Not possible.
Odacité Intensive Hand & Heel Therapy* (sample) [Review]
I loved this cream and used it very sparingly to make the sample last. It's a rich cream, but absorbs quickly to deeply nourish hands, feet, and other dry areas. The ingredients are also wonderful.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Total Products Used Up in December
Skincare: 3 (Lip Balms: 1)
Bodycare: 2
Haircare: 2
Makeup: 0
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 7
Makeup Samples: 1
Total Products Used Up in 2015
Skincare: 40 (Lip Balms: 11)
Bodycare: 40
Haircare: 12
Makeup: 15
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 75
Makeup Samples: 33
Total Full Size Products: 107 (!!!!)
Total Samples: 108
And that's a wrap! I had fun tracking numbers this year and it really is interesting to see the rate at which you go through different kinds of products. Having a better idea of how long things actually last has also made me more conscious when making purchases the last several months.
What surprised me the most?
i) That I go through about a lip balm a month
ii) How few hair products I actually use. Definitely something to keep in mind before stockpiling shampoos!
Thanks for sticking with me through this series! I'm thinking of changing up how I do empties for 2016 - either by not doing them every single month, or maybe just showing noteworthy products, since some things seem repetitive after a certain point. Let me know if you like these posts as they are, or if you have any ideas for mixing it up!
*Press sample
Contains affiliate links
As 2015 draws to a close, I've been thinking back on the evolution of Naturalla Beauty. What first started as the occasional and pretty random product musings of a bored uni student has grown into much more and I'm so grateful to everyone that's been along for the ride! Thank YOU for reading, commenting and supporting my blog over the years. I love sharing this crazy thing called green beauty and I can't wait to see what 2016 brings.
I was fortunate to try MANY wonderful products throughout the past year, so narrowing it down to just these 15 took some serious pondering! These are the things that really stood out to me - products I used for a significant portion of the year and things I see myself continuing to use for the foreseeable future. In cases where I've previously talked about a product in more detail or done a full review, I'll link that as well, in case you're looking for more info.
SKINCARE
Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash [Review]
I didn't realize how much I missed foaming cleansers until I tried Ursa Major's Fantastic Face Wash early this year. It offers the lather and clean feeling of a traditional gel/foaming cleanser, but it won't leave your face feeling dry or tight. A great option for both men and women, and it smells awesome too!
Andalou Naturals Chia + Omega Radiant Skin Polish
I've felt a little like Golidlocks trying scrub after scrub over the years, but this one checks all my boxes. With a creamy base and just the right amount of grit, it does a great job exfoliating without irritating my sometimes fussy skin. My second tube is on its last legs and I already know I'll be picking up a third very soon.
Balanced Guru Calming Masque [Review]
Not an unknown product to longtime readers, the Calming Masque remains a firm favorite on my skincare shelf. Contrary to what the name suggests, it isn't actually a product I'd recommend for ultra-sensitive skin, but I think it's fantastic for just about everyone else. This mask offers a wonderful intermediate between a detoxifying clay mask and a nourishing treatment and is packed with soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients like calendula, marshmallow root, and aloe vera.
Crazy Rumors Lip Balms
I have mixed feelings about some of the individual Crazy Rumors flavors - which I've talked about many times before - but what I am fully decided on is that I love their actual lip balm formula. Vegan and ultra-buttery, it does a wonderful job keeping lips healthy, plump, and protected all year round. My two favorite flavors (so far!) are the Plum & Peppermint and the Leaping Bunny Plum Apricot.
Young Living Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense is my go-to essential oil for any skin woes. It has strong regenerative properties, which explains why it's included in so many anti-aging skincare formulas, but it's also astringent, making it great for acne or clogged pores. Most often, I mix a drop or two into a face mask or use it as a spot treatment on blemishes and breakouts, but I've also used it in homemade toners and body oils. It's also, of course, wonderful for a whole host of non-skin related things too! As always, I'd stress the importance of using high quality, unadulterated oils.
BODY/HAIR
The Honest Co. Conditioning Detangler [Review]
With a good conditioner, my hair isn't overly tangly, but with a subpar one, it's knot city! I tried a number of new hair products this past year and the Conditioning Detangler became a hero product when other stuff just didn't cut it. A few spritzes lets hair be combed through easily, plus it tames flyaways and doesn't leave hair greasy or weighed down.
Blissoma Scentless Stick Deodorant [Review]
I've been using another deodorant the last few weeks that's quickly added itself to my top deodorant shelf alongside this one (more on that in the new year!) but Blissoma's deodorant stick was my favorite for much of 2015. This unassuming stick has no scent of its own but still does a phenomenal job disguising odor. It does contain baking soda, but less than most formulas, and tempered with lots of skin soothing ingredients to minimize the likelihood of irritation. I haven't had any problems with it and I've heard the same from several other people who also struggle with other baking soda deodorants.
Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic Shampoo + Conditioner [Review]
I used this duo briefly a few years ago, but I fell back in love with it this year. The shampoo has a creamy consistency and lathers up into plenty of bubbles and the conditioner does a great job hydrating hair without weighing it down. Both smell minty and lovely and are also packed with tons of good-for-your-hair botanicals.
Nourish Organic Body Washes
With several great scents and a luxurious creamy formula, Nourish's body washes have been one of my favorites for years. They produce a light lather - more if you use a loofah - and won't dry out or irritate your skin.
MAKEUP
Studio 78 Off We Go Concealer [Review]
I've said time and time again that under eye concealer has been the product I've struggled most with in the green beauty realm, so finding Off We Go, a concealer specifically designed for covering up dark circles, was a joy. This highly pigmented product has a unique cream-to-powder finish that stays put and wears really well throughout the day. The color range is somewhat lacking, but if you have light to medium skin, I recommend giving it a try.
Mineral Fusion Sheer Moisture Lip Tints [Review]
The Sheer Moisture Lip Tints are pretty much my perfect everyday lip product. Under $10, sheer but buildable color + a great formula that keeps lips comfortable and hydrated. The only downside is that the lids have a tendency to pop off, so be careful when toting them around with you!
Bare Minerals Frame & Define Brow Styler [Review]
I like full brows, but I want them to look natural and not overly filled in. The lighter shade of the Frame & Define Styler is a perfect color match for my brows, so it does just that. I also like that it wears all day without budging and that it's a twist up pencil that doesn't need sharpening.
Silk Naturals Lovelace Sheer Blush
Lovelace, which is sold as a dupe for Nars Deep Throat, was probably my most worn blush of 2015. It looks a little orange in the pot, but on the cheeks, it just gives a beautiful peachy flush that goes with everything. Silk Naturals' sheer blush formula is hard to overdo and great for blush-shy beauties, but it's also very buildable if you like a little more punch to your cheek color.
Pacifica Natural Eye Pencils [Review]
These pencils are seriously awesome. They're pigmented and glide on easily, and while they can be smudged initially, they don't move around once set. My two favorites are Jet, a super dark and rich black, and Bare, a nude that's great for lining the waterline. There are only four shades currently, but I'm hoping for more colors in the new year.
What products did you love this year? Wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy 2016.
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Tomorrow marks the official start of fall, so it seems appropriate to wrap up summer today with a favorites post. These are the standout products I've especially enjoyed using over the last few months. As many of you know, I've been focused on using the products I already have this year, rather than mindlessly buy-buy-buying, so while there are a couple new things here, most are products I've written about before, although not super recently.
Gabriel Cosmetics Vibrant Pink Blush*
I used to be terrified of wearing too much blush and looking like a clown, but I've gradually worked up to being comfortable with brighter and more pigmented blushes. Vibrant Pink is a matte cool hot pink and I loved it this summer. It gives the prettiest pop of pink without looking overdone. The Gabriel blushes are quite pigmented - so a light hand is key - but they're blendable and easy to work with, even if you're fair skinned like me.
Balanced Guru Calming Masque
I've raved about this mask several times before and it really is a consistent favorite of mine. Made with a blend of detoxifying bentonite clay and sea kelp, soothing calendula, marshmallow root, echinacea, and aloe vera, and nutrient dense rosehip, sea buckthorn fruit, and gingko, it strikes a perfect balance between drawing out impurities and nourishing the skin with healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The mask is actually quite detoxifying, but it comes as a powder, which allows you to easily tailor the liquid(s) you mix in to best suit your skin. I like to use water, in combination with a few drops of a face oil to prevent the mask from drying as firmly as it does with water alone. I also often mix in a drop or two of carrot seed or frankincense essential oil as an extra anti-aging boost. My skin is always left looking visibly clearer and brighter after using the Calming Masque and I feel like it's something I'll always keep stocked on my skincare shelf.
Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash*
I really enjoy a lathering cleanser, but my skin can't tolerate how drying some of them are. Happily there are products like the Fantastic Face Wash, which foams up nicely, rinses easily, and doesn't leave my skin feeling at all dry. I first used it about six months ago but gradually drifted onto new things, as we do, only to rediscover it mid-August and fall head over heels all over again. The scent is an invigorating unisex blend of spearmint and evergreen trees that's lovely and refreshing without being over the top. The cleanser offers gentle exfoliation from sugar cane and fruit extracts, and a slight tingly sensation from the mint leaves skin feeling extra clean, though never dry or stripped.
Pacifica Red Red Wine
I first saw this nail polish color in a Youtube video last fall and immediately set my sights on it. It's taken me until the summer to actually get my hands on it, as even though a nearby health food store stocks the Pacifica polishes, they've been sold out of Red Red Wine every time I've been in. The color is pretty much just what the name suggests: a classic dark red/wine color with a creme finish. I wore it in the summer, but it's really a more traditionally fall/winter shade, so I don't foresee putting it away anytime soon. The Pacifica polishes are 7-free and vegan, with a great, long-wearing formula.
Brija Cosmetics You Know Who Highlighter
I used to prefer a matte complexion, but these days I really think glowing, luminous skin is the way to go. To me, it just looks fresher, healthier, and more natural. That said, I have some larger pores on my nose and cheeks and I've struggled to find a highlighter that provides the radiance I'm looking for without emphasizing or drawing extra attention to them. But, I think I've finally found it in You Know Who, which gives a beautiful ethereal glow without any piecey shimmer or glitter. It's a light, white/cream shade, but it doesn't look chalky or frosty on the skin. It's also versatile in that it can be worn lightly for a subtle everyday look or built up to a more serious gleam for a dramatic highlight.
Ora's Amazing Herbal All Purpose Salve*
This salve is great for lots of things, but my favorite use is on bug bites. It works like nothing else on both swelling and itching. We've got a good number of spruce trees in the backyard and plenty of mosquitos as a result, so whenever I'm out there with the dog, there's a decent chance of bites. Just last week, I managed to get a bite right in the middle of my forehead, which, being in such an obvious spot, of course swelled up huge and looked like a goose egg. I used the salve twice that night and it worked like a charm. The formula has a grapeseed and coconut oil base and is packed with anti-inflammatory herbs like calendula, comfrey, chickweed, plantain, burdock, thyme, and St. John's wort. It visibly starts to take down swollen bug bites within minutes of application, and within a couple hours, even the biggest bites are nearly gone. With summer winding down, bug bites aren't as big of an issue, but I know I'll still keep this guy handy for its multitude of other uses. It works well on other skin irritations and soothes everything from cuts and scrapes to pimples, chapped lips, dry cuticles, and rashes.
Hope you had a fabulous summer and are looking forward to fall!
*Press sample
Contains affiliate links
I feel like I just posted my May empties, but it's that time again! This month I finished up a good mix of skincare and body care, as well as a couple hair and makeup items.
Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk
I've tried a number of Andalou Naturals products over the last few months and the Apricot Cleansing Milk is one of my favorite discoveries from the brand. With a rich cream consistency, it feels very gentle and hydrating and glides over the skin effortlessly. It's not the best for removing makeup, but I like it a lot as a morning cleanse or following another makeup remover.
Repurchase? I haven't so far, but I can certainly see myself coming back to this cleanser in the future.
Holiskin Citrus Passion Body Oil* [Review]
A great body oil that absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling super silky and soft. Very moisturizing, but still lightweight - enough so that I even used it on dry skin some of the time. The Citrus Passion scent mostly smelled like lime to me and I loved it for the spring/summertime.
Repurchase? I'm seriously considering it.
Green Beaver Frosty Mint Extra Gentle Castile Sunflower Soap
I've gone through a number of these bars and I like them. The blend of coconut, sunflower, and castor seed oils is non-drying and makes a great creamy lather. This particular bar did suffer from a mild case of Dreaded Orange Spots, which while usually just an aesthetic problem, is something I'm not sure how I feel about in a commercial soap.
Repurchase? I don't know.
Carina Daily Moisturizing Shampoo
Not my favorite shampoo, although it did smell great. I used maybe a third of the bottle on my hair and delegated the rest to makeup brush washing duty. It did well in that capacity, but with palm oil as the second ingredient - after water - it isn't something I'd buy again.
Repurchase? No.
Balanced Guru Tone It Deeply, Smoothly and Lightly [Review]
I'm really happy I tried these trial size toners from Balanced Guru. My favorite of the three was Tone It Lightly, a purifying toner that did a fantastic job refreshing the skin and keeping pores clean. I also enjoyed using Tone It Smoothly, mainly in combination with different face masks. Tone It Deeply was less of a hit for me, but still an okay product.
Repurchase? Possibly. I've especially missed using Tone It Lightly since finishing these.
Black Rose Minerals Zealous Eye Shadow (sample) [Review]
Black Rose Minerals eye shadows are great quality: smooth, pigmented, and easy to blend. Zealous was a pearly cream/pale gold color that made an excellent inner corner highlight.
Repurchase? Maybe. I wouldn't place an order just for this color, but if I was ordering already...
Silk Naturals Cucumber Peptide Eye Cream (sample)
I've never really ventured into Silk Naturals skincare, but I was curious about this eye cream for the peptides, which usually only appear in much more costly lines. The sample lasted about a week and a half with twice daily use and I didn't notice much difference during that time. Perhaps using it for longer would yield better results, but I wasn't impressed enough to buy more right away.
Repurchase? Probably not.
Weleda Citrus Deodorant [Review]
I like the Weleda deodorants, particularly for combining with other deodorants that might need a little extra boost. They're a little expensive for what they are - water, alcohol and essential oils - but they work well and a bottle lasts ages, so I do think they're worth the price.
Repurchase? I haven't so far, but I'm sure I will at some point.
Karooch Hazelnut Oil
Hazelnut oil is one of my skin's favorite oils. It's an ingredient in a number of my favorite face oil blends and I loved using the single oil as well. I used it on its own and also enjoyed mixing a few drops into different oils and creams.
Repurchase? Definitely will buy again, although Karooch doesn't seem to sell it anymore.
Earthpaste Wintergreen Toothpaste [Review]
This was probably my tenth tube of Earthpaste. Obviously I like it, but I wish there were more flavors as I'm getting a little tired of the current options. Nonetheless, I'll continue to buy it until I find another affordable glycerin-free toothpaste that I like just as much.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.
Rocky Mountain Soap Vanilla Candy Cane Lip Butter [Review]
This lip butter came as part of a limited edition holiday set and I really enjoyed it. I liked it in the winter, but I've enjoyed it even more since the weather has warmed up. With warmer temperatures, the texture became just a bit softer and butterier which resulted in a slightly thicker application onto the lips that I preferred.
Repurchase? Yes! I'd buy this again come winter, or maybe sooner in a different scent.
One Love Organics Vitamin E Eye Balm and Morning Glory Serum (samples)
There's been a lot of blogger love for the Vitamin E Eye Balm, but it didn't do it for me. It's a pretty solid balm that needs to be softened between your fingers before applying onto the face. Not a dealbreaker in and of itself, but I didn't notice any great results, so it doesn't seem worth the extra effort. I did enjoy Morning Glory, though it's been significantly reformulated since this sample. I haven't tried the current version to compare.
Repurchase? No.
Dr. Alkaitis Eye Creme (sample)
With great reviews and wonderful ingredients, I really wanted to like this eye cream, but it stung the heck out of my eyes! I ended up using most of the sample on my body.
Repurchase? No.
Total Products Used Up in June
Skincare: 3 (Lip Balms: 1 )
Bodycare: 4
Haircare: 1
Makeup: 0
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 7
Makeup Samples: 1
Total Products Used Up in 2015
Skincare: 21 (Lip Balms: 7)
Bodycare: 24
Haircare: 6
Makeup: 9
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 49
Makeup Samples: 12
*Press sample
Contains affiliate links
Balanced Guru is a brand I'm becoming increasingly fond of. The Calming Masque has become one of my favorite skincare items and a staple in my routine, and when I last needed to replenish my supply, I decided to give the company's toners a try as well. Like all Balanced Guru products, the toners are cruelty free, USDA certified organic, and are made with natural, raw, and sustainably harvested ingredients.
My favorite of the three is Tone It Lightly, a purifying toner intended for oily and congested skin. With ingredients like witch hazel, thyme, tea tree, lemon verbena, nettle and arnica, the toner is lightly astringent and is intended to balance excess oil production without drying out the skin. My skin isn't overly oily, but I am prone to clogged pores and congestion on my cheeks and Tone It Lightly did a great job keeping that at bay. I also liked its herbally-citrus scent and that, as promised, it didn't dry out my skin in the slightest.
I've also enjoyed using Tone It Smoothly, which is intended to calm and maintain sensitive or mature skin. With a gentle formula and plenty of soothing ingredients like rose, chamomile, lavender and geranium, I found myself reaching for this one less on a daily basis and more often as a gentle mist to re-hydrate face masks or keep them from drying too quickly on my skin. Tone It Smoothly contains a lot of floral ingredients, but the scent is actually very mild and not overpowering in the least.
Last in the range is Tone It Deeply, the weightiest of the three. Made with aloe vera, green tea, kelp and spirulina, this toner is made for dry and combination skin and is intended keep pores clean while simultaneously hydrating and encouraging skin renewal. It's possible I would enjoy this one more in the colder months, but at least right now, I find it sits a little heavy on the skin. It's not sticky, but it feels more substantial than the other two. I'm not totally enamored with the scent either, a blend of sweet orange, patchouli, rosemary, benzoin, cedarwood, and carrot seed essential oils. I'm not a big patchouli fan and to my nose, that's by far the dominant scent.
The Bottom Line
I've most enjoyed using Tone It Lightly and Tone It Smoothly, but I think all three are great, depending on preference and individual skin needs. The toners are all gentle and are made with fantastic, natural and organic ingredients. It's also worth mentioning that these toners - even in the trial size - give a wonderful, light, easily-controlled, even mist: the best of any spray toner I've tried.
Have you used anything from Balanced Guru?
It's time for more empties! These are the products I finished up during the month of May:
Badger Seabuckthorn Face Cleansing Oil* [Review]
This is a great cleansing oil, although because it contains menthol, I didn't find it comfortable to use around the eyes. The oil easily removed every speck of makeup, and I liked the fresh feeling the menthol left on the rest of my face. I've read reviews from people who has no issues, so depending how sensitive you are, it might be fine around the eyes.
Repurchase? Maybe. I'd probably opt for one of the menthol-free varieties before buying this particular one again.
Nonie of Beverly Hills AHA! Skin Tonic* [Review]
The Skin Tonic ended up being my favorite product from Nonie of Beverly Hills. Contrary to the name, it's not an exfoliating toner with AHA's, but rather a gentle witch hazel-based tonic. My skin does well with witch hazel and I noticed my pores looked smaller and more refined while I was using this. Even the scent - which I described in my original review as lemon/celery - grew on me by the end of the bottle.
Repurchase? I'm definitely considering it.
Honest Co. Shampoo & Body Wash [Review]
The Honest Co.'s Sweet Orange Vanilla scent is common across several products in the line, but it smells slightly different in each one and the Shampoo & Body Wash is by far my favorite. It's a perfect, fruity, juicy creamsicle scent. The product itself is great too, but what keeps me coming back is the scent. I don't generally use it as a shampoo, but it works in a pinch.
Repurchase? Yes! I still have one more bottle, but I could see myself buying more after I finish that one.
Nourish Organic Lemon Thyme Moisturizing Cream Body Wash
Nourish's Body Washes are some of my favorites, but I didn't much care for this particular scent. It smelled very herbal and almost medicinal. I ended up going a little heavy handed in the shower in order to get through it quicker.
Repurchase? Yes, but not this particular scent.
Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream
I think this would be a good eye cream for someone without a lot of problems in the eye area, but I need something that targets both dark circles and puffiness and it didn't cut it. It moisturizes well and makes a good, lightweight base for makeup, but I didn't notice any real difference beyond that.
Repurchase? Very unlikely.
Andalou Naturals Chia + Omega Radiant Skin Polish
I love scrubs, but usually as soon as I finish one up, I'm ready to move on to something new. Not at all the case with this one! It has the perfect amount of grit to effectively slough off dead skin, housed in a gentle, creamy base. It's part of Andalou's Brightening line, and I really did notice my skin looked extra bright and healthy on days when I used this product. It also never left my skin red or irritated and it smelled like peach pie! I can see myself coming back to this scrub again and again.
Repurchase? Definitely! I have a couple other scrubs I'd like to use up first, but I'm already missing this one!
Curelle Build-Up Remover
Customers used to rave about this product when I worked at the health food store, but it made zero difference on my hair. The directions say to work it into wet hair, add your regular shampoo, and then rinse both out together. Maybe it works better on chlorine or mineral build up - which is what it was originally designed for - but it does nothing for product build up or even regular scalp oils. It did, however, still manage to dry out the lengths of my hair.
Repurchase? No.
Balanced Guru Scrub Me (sample)
I pretty much love everything I've tried from Balanced Guru and this scrub was no exception. Made with a mix of coffee and raw sugar, it gives a thorough exfoliation, but doesn't feel harsh on the skin. The texture was a lot drier than most other scrubs I've used, so it washes away cleaner and doesn't leave much of a moisturizing film behind on the skin. I always moisturize post-shower anyways, so that was fine, and I loved that it didn't muck up the bathtub like a lot of oilier scrubs. The scent is also lovely: a mix of fresh coffee and spearmint.
Repurchase? I make my own scrubs most of the time, but maybe one day.
Meow Meow Tweet Lavender Deodorant Cream
As long as you aren't overly sensitive to baking soda, this is a great deodorant. With a softer consistency than many other cream deodorants, it's easy to apply and I found the odor protection lasted all day long. The baking soda did cause some irritation if I used it too many days in a row, but nowhere near as bad as I've experienced from other deodorants.
Repurchase? Probably not. Since finishing this, I've found another baking soda deodorant I like more (more on that soon!) and I'm still curious to try Meow Meow Tweet's Baking Soda Free version too.
Sante Nail Polish Remover [Review]
This was a never-ending bottle of nail polish remover! I bought it over two years ago and aside from a brief dalliance with Priti NYC's remover wipes, this is all I've used in that time. It works well on cream formulas, but any amount of glitter - or sometimes even a metallic finish - will have you scrubbing your nails for ages to get the polish off. Aside from its efficacy, my main issue was with how the remover smelled. Sante advertises an orange scent, but all I smelled was a mix of chemicals and sour milk. Which wouldn't be so terrible if it didn't linger. I had to store the bottle triple-bagged just so I wouldn't smell it in the room and any cotton balls I used had to immediately be taken out to the trash.
Repurchase? No! I bought Priti's remover way back in November - when I first thought this was going to run out - and I'm happy to finally move on to that.
Urban Minerals Light Mode & Real Vitality Mineral Foundation* (samples) [Review]
I really like the Urban Minerals foundation, which is made locally here in Toronto. It has great coverage, wears well throughout the day, and comes in a good range of shades. The price point is a little higher than some other mineral foundations, but with ingredients like nettle, aloe, chamomile, calendula, marshmallow, sea buckthorn, and white willow bark, it also offers some potential skincare benefits. Missus Multicultural - which I used up a long time ago - was the best color for my skin, but Light Mode and Real Vitality were both okay matches as well.
Repurchase? Maybe. I'm trying to work through all my foundation samples before buying anything new.
Crazy Rumors Leaping Bunny Plum Apricot Lip Balm
Crazy Rumors are one of my favorite lip balm formulas, but I do find the tubes don't last as long as other lip balms. All Crazy Rumors balms are vegan, cruelty-free, and Leaping Bunny approved and proceeds from this particular flavor go to the Leaping Bunny Program. It bugs me a little that Crazy Rumors charges $0.50 more to account for the charity donation rather than just donating their own, regular profits, but the Plum Apricot is nice and fruity and I enjoyed using it.
Repurchase? Yes!
The All Natural Face Wedding Day Glow (sample)
I used this as a setting powder but I wasn't crazy about it. I didn't notice much of a glow and it didn't do much to blur fine lines or imperfections, which is what I mainly look for in a product like this.
Repurchase? No.
Young Living Sacred Frankincense Essential Oil
So expensive, but so good! Frankincense has a multitude of uses and can be helpful for skin issues, pain, endocrine and hormone balancing, and mood boosting.
Repurchase? Yes! I'm currently using regular frankincense, but I would buy this one again in the future.
Physician's Formula 100% Natural Origin Lash Boosting Mascara
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with this mascara. When I first opened it, I hated it. It smeared all over my glasses and never seemed to set, but once the tube dried out a little, it worked much better. Then, when it got even drier towards the end of the tube, it started smearing again. It never irritated my eyes and I really liked how it performed in the middle period, but I only got about a month of decent wear.
Repurchase? Maybe. I only paid $3 at Winners and if I found it again at that price point, I would give it another try. I probably wouldn't pay much more.
Logona Natural Look Mascara
I won this in an Instagram giveaway, otherwise it's not a product I think I ever would have been drawn to. One of the biggest failings of natural mascaras is that they look too natural, so I'm kind of baffled that anyone would purposely set out to design a product like this, which is the most subtle mascara I've ever used. It tints the lashes, but doesn't add anything in terms of length or volume. It also has a strong floral/rose scent that I'd notice on application and removal, as well as periodically throughout the day.
Repurchase? No.
Moisturizer Samples
Kind of a mixed bag. My favorite of the bunch was the Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair Moisturizer, although I wasn't crazy about how grassy it smelled. The Lavera Calendula and Ginger Mattifying Balancing Cream, on the other end of the spectrum, had a sweet and delicious marshmallow scent, but the cream itself was unimpressive. I've used samples of the Suki Balancing Day Lotion before and while I imagine it would be a nice product for oilier skin, it's just too light for my needs. I didn't like the Melvita Nectar Bright Brightening Cream, which just never seemed to absorb fully - to the point that I could see white cream coming off when I washed my face the next morning. The AromaCrystal Morning Dew Moisturizer and Lavera Mint and Burdock Pore Refining Moisturizing Fluid were both okay, but not anything I would go out of my way to use again.
Repurchase? The Juice Beauty, maybe. Probably not any of the others.
Total Products Used Up in May
Skincare: 5 (Lip Balms: 1 )
Bodycare: 5
Haircare: 1
Makeup: 2
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 7
Makeup Samples: 3
Total Products Used Up in 2015
Skincare: 18 (Lip Balms: 6)
Bodycare: 20
Haircare: 5
Makeup: 9
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 36
Makeup Samples: 11
*Press sample
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