Naturalla Beauty

For my actual birthday today, I've teamed up with one of my favorite online stores, iHerb, for my final giveaway of the month.  iHerb is an online retailer selling all kinds of healthy products: supplements, food, cosmetics, household supplies, and more!   Basically they sell the same kinds of things you'd find in a health food store, but at a substantially lower cost.

I've been ordering from iHerb since 2011 (I even documented very first order here) and I've always had a great experience.  From a Canadian viewpoint, I get access to brands that we don't have here, as well as lower prices on the ones we do.  Even with the exchange and the Canadian dollar doing so poorly, most things still work out to lower, or at least comparable, prices to what I'd pay locally.  iHerb lets you check out in Canadian dollars (or other currencies) and they've also recently added a new DHL shipping option that collects tax on Canadian orders, so you don't have to worry about being charged tax or fees at the door.  I also received this most recent order in 1 day with the new DHL shipping, which is crazy impressive!

Customer service is also great.  I haven't had any major issues in the more than 30 orders (!!) I've placed, but any problems have always been taken care of easily and appropriately. iHerb also has a simple rewards program if you want to refer friends, as well as new loyalty credits that reward everyone with 10% of all purchases back in store credit.

Clearly I've done my share of shopping with iHerb on my own dime , so when they offered to sponsor this post, I was excited to work with a company I already think highly of AND to have the chance to give two of you a chance to try iHerb for yourselves (more on that later!)  All opinions are, as always, fully my own.

Keep reading for a peek at my latest iHerb order and first impressions on the things I picked up.  

Stick around until the end to enter the giveaway, or if you don't want to wait, use my referral code ITI429 for $5 off your first order now!


Andalou Naturals Chia + Omega Radiant Skin Polish + Blemish Vanishing Gel
The Chia + Omega Skin Polish was featured as one of my Top 15 of 2015 and is a firm favorite of mine.  This will be my third tube of the scrub, which offers a perfect balance between gentleness and thorough exfoliation.

The Blemish Vanishing Gel is a salicylic acid spot treatment.  I didn't actually pick this up for pimples, but instead for use on a single millia-like blemish that I've had on my cheek for a few months now.  Nothing else has worked on it, and after seeing multiple recommendations for salicylic acid, I thought I'd give it a try.  Usually a higher content than the 2% in this spot treatment is recommended, but I haven't seen any higher ones with clean ingredients, so I thought, since salicylic acid hasn't touched my skin in more than 10 years, the lower percentage MIGHT still do the trick.  And it has, sort of.  The bump got noticeably smaller within the first couple days using the Vanishing Gel, but it hasn't gone away completely yet.  The Blemish Gel also works great on regular breakouts/pimples.  

Both products also came with free minis of other Andalou products.  I received the Purple Carrot + C Luminous Night Cream, which I've actually been using for the past few months, and the new to me Kombucha Enzyme Exfoliating Peel, which I'm excited to try.  I love when Andalou includes freebies like this!

DeVita Revitalizing Eye Lift Creme
I was debating between DeVita's Eye Creme and Eye Serum, but this review on kimberlyloc.com pushed me over the edge on the creme.  In addition to the affordable price point, what intrigued me about both eye products was the inclusion of Vitamin K, a circulation booster that can be very effective on dark circles.  The Eye Creme is a rich cream that also includes hyaluronic acid, shea butter, oat beta glucan, and Tetrapeptide-3.  I've been using it for almost two weeks now and I can't say I've noticed much difference beyond moisturization, but I'm hopeful for more visible results with longer use.

Pacifica Camellia Blushious Coconut & Rose Infused Cheek Color
I've had my eye on these Pacifica blushes ever since they launched a few months ago, and I finally picked up Camellia, a light pink/peach with slight gold sparkle.  I really like it!  The Blushious blushes are described as sheer mineral cheek colors, and as the description suggests, Camellia isn't highly pigmented.  It's a pretty color, but I do find I need to layer quite a bit on even my fair skin, so I doubt this color would show up very well on deeper skin tones.

Mineral Fusion Ruby Lipstick
After falling in love with Mineral Fusion's Sheer Moisture Lip Tints last year, I thought I'd try one of their regular lipsticks.  Happily, it's been an all around hit as well!  The copper tube is beautiful, the formula is great, and I love the color I chose as well.  Ruby is basically my perfect red: a bit deeper than a classic red, with very slight berry tones.  It's a gorgeous shade that reminds me a lot of the much spendier Aux Rouge Lip Boost from Gressa, only a hair darker and housed in a traditional lipstick bullet.

Emani Plush Hydrating Lip Color
My love for sheer lip colors is no secret, so when I spotted Emani's Hydrating Lip Colors, I thought they'd be right up my alley.  After looking at swatches, I chose Plush, a medium/bright pink.  The formula is sheer but buildable and although it's not extremely hydrating, it feels comfortable on the lips.  My only issue is that the lipstick has a sweet, almost vanilla-like scent and there's nothing in the ingredients list to account for that smell.  I've contacted Emani for more information, but I haven't heard back so far.

Everyday Minerals Sugared Mauve Tinted Lip Butter
The Tinted Lip Butter in Nearly Nude is one of my favorite everyday lip products, so I decided to pick up another color.  The formula on these is wonderful and Sugared Mauve is a pretty, sheer mauvey-nude - very wearable and also great for everyday!



Hurraw! Sun Balm
Sun Balm is my favorite SPF lip balm and it's a product I'm happy to have it back in my life.  SPF 15 from non-nano uncoated zinc oxide and no real whitecast make this a fantastic product to keep in your sun protection arsenal.  It also smells yummy - like a vanilla-orange creamsicle.  The Sun Balm has a thicker/creamier formula than the regular Hurraw! balms and I prefer both the feel and how it lasts considerably longer on the lips.

Blum Naturals Oil Absorbing Facial Tissues
I feel like you should be able to just pick up blotting tissues at the drugstore, but it's amazing how many additional ingredients sneak into those things!  The Blum Oil Absorbing Tissues are basic powderless blotting papers and they work well at removing oil/shine without disturbing makeup.  They're a staple in my purse.

Mineral Fusion Northern Lights Mini Nail Polish Kit
Mineral Fusion nail polishes are 5-free and one of my favorite formulas.  If I could buy all my nail polishes as minis, I totally would, which is also why I love these kits so much.  The Northern Lights Kit, specifically, was a 2015 holiday release and includes Coal Mine (black with silver shimmer), Cascade (shimmery silver), and Blue Nile (metallic dark teal).  I can't wait to use these!

I'm excited to give away two $50 shopping sprees to iHerb!  Follow the Rafflecopter widget, below, to enter.  

The giveaway is open to anywhere iHerb ships.  Winner must have an iHerb account (or register with iHerb) to claim the prize.  Shipping will be taken care of by iHerb, but the winners, if outside the US, are responsible for any additional taxes/duties/brokerage fees levied to them by their Customs Agency and/or Postal Service.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

As many of you know, iHerb is one of my favorite places to shop online.  Whether it's brands and products we don't have easy access to in Canada, or things we do have that I can get much better prices on, I typically find myself placing an order every month or so.  The customer service is great and you can even shop in Canadian dollars now! 

I like to keep orders small to minimize the risk of being hit with tax or brokerage fees at the door, so this is technically a combination of my last two orders.  That means some things I've had for a couple weeks and others just for a couple days.    

Here's a look at what I bought:



Kiss My Face Antioxidant Toner
I've never seen anyone talk about this toner, but since I've heard plenty of good things about the cleanser and mask in Kiss My Face's Potent & Pure range, I decided to chance it.  I haven't used the toner yet, but the ingredients, which include aloe, witch hazel, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, and a good number of botanicals and plant extracts are promising.  I will say, first impressions-wise, I'm not crazy about how it smells.  Something about the scent reminds me a lot of hairspray.

Pacifica Natural Eye Liner Pencil in Fringe
I needed a new brown eyeliner and since I love my Pacifica black and nude ones so much, this was the obvious choice.  The Pacifica liners are great because they're creamy enough to glide on easily, but not so creamy that they smear or move around on the eye throughout the day.  I haven't tried this particular color yet, but I'm pretty confident it'll be as great as the rest!

Mineral Fusion Sheer Moisture Lip Tint in Glow
The Sheer Moisture Lip Tints are basically tinted lip balms in a chubby stick form.  They smell slightly of vanilla and mint, feel great on the lips, and give a lovely wash of color.  Glow is the bright pink in the line, but because of how sheer it is, it gives just the slightest pop of pink in a very natural way.  I've only had it a few days, but I already bought a second color when I spotted the tints in person yesterday!

Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz
Nothing new here, this is a frequent repurchase for me.  The Spiral Spritz offers a midway between a serum and a gel and is a great light hold hair product.

Boiron Unscented Arnicare Gel
I added this to my cart on a whim when I spotted a mini 0.5 ounce size in the trial section for $0.25 right before checking out.  The ingredients aren't perfect, but there's nothing super problematic and it never hurts to have Arnica gel on hand.  Some of the different sizes of this product list dimethicone in the ingredients, but both the sample I received and the large size I've linked above look to be free of silicones.  

Crazy Rumors Lip Balms in Lemonade, Raspberry Sherbet + Ginger Ale
I don't have any problem getting through lip balms, so I decided to stock up on some new flavors of one of my favorites.  I've only cracked open the Lemonade one so far, and I'm surprised by just how much I dislike it!  Citrus scents are generally a safe bet, but this one just smells super gross to me.  I've had a few Crazy Rumors flavors that I haven't loved in the past, but this is definitely my least favorite to date.  I'm actually leaning towards just tossing it outright, as I doubt I will even use it smelling the way it does.  The Crazy Rumors formula is fantastic, but the flavors can be very hit or miss.

Andalou Naturals Age Defying Thinning Hair Treatment
I always find myself shedding more hair in the fall than any other time, so I picked this up to try and circumvent that this year.  The Hair Treatment has an aloe vera base infused with fruit and argan stem cells, a vitamin B complex, and an assortment of herbs and essential oils and is supposed to nourish hair follicles, stimulate hair growth, and strengthen hair.  All the research I've seen points to plant stem cells being a marketing ploy with little actual effect, but the rest of the ingredients look good, so I'm equal parts curious and hopeful to see how the product does as a whole.    

Goddess Garden Everyday Natural Sunscreen SPF 30
I don't wear SPF on my face everyday and I only use body sunscreen very occasionally, when I know I'm going to be outside for a prolonged period, which has left me with more than one full sized tube of sunscreen expiring on my shelf over the years.  Goddess Garden is a new brand for me, but I love the smaller 1-ounce size for those of us who are a little less diligent about wearing SPF on a regular basis.  It would also be great for travel.

Everyday Minerals Semi-Matte Base in Ivory (N1)
After working through the ridiculous number of mineral foundation samples I had hanging around (it literally took months!), this is what I ended up buying for now.  What I like about Everyday Mineral's Semi-Matte Base is just how natural it looks on the skin.  It's not outright glowy, but it looks skin-like and not overly flat or matte.  Coverage is about a medium and decently buildable, and Ivory (1N) is a good light neutral shade that matches me pretty well.  

Blûm Naturals Dry & Sensitive Skin Daily Cleansing and Makeup Remover Towelettes
Wipes aren't an everyday product for me, but I like to carry one or two in my purse for those "just in case" situations, which is where these individually wrapped ones come in handy.  I haven't tried this particular variety before, but the Blûm wipes are all pretty comparable, so I'm sure they'll be fine.   

Acure Organics Fragrance Free Ultra-Hydrating Body Lotion
I don't even want to hazard a guess as to how many tubes of Acure's Ultra-Hydrating Body Lotion I've gone through in the last couple years, but needless to say, it's more than a few.  Unfortunately, as I mentioned in my September Empties, I've been wondering since getting this order - my first time trying the lotion in its new packaging - if the formula has changed along with the packaging, as it doesn't seem nearly as moisturizing anymore.  A couple people have agreed with me since then and I also just spotted a review on iHerb saying the same thing, so I'm thinking the change is real.  Total bummer!

Do you shop on iHerb?  Have you used any of these?  

New customers can also save an extra $5 off your first order under $40 or $10 off your first order of $40+ with my code ITI429

Every so often it hits me just how strange of a habit saving empties is.  I mean, really,  how did it start?  Did someone just wake up one morning and decide that saving beauty trash was a sensible idea?  Nonetheless, it's pretty ingrained in me now and I can't even imagine throwing these things in the garbage right away!  

This month's batch of empties is oddly free of any body care, but I've got a good bit of skincare, some makeup, and one hair product.  Keep reading for mini reviews and my thoughts on whether these items are worth buying again or not.



Kinky-Curly Spiral Spritz
The Spiral Spritz is a basically a cross between a gel and a serum.  With lavender water and aloe vera as the main ingredients, it gives the hair oil-free moisture and also serves as a lightweight soft-hold gel, courtesy of the remaining ingredients.  It's a repeat empty for me, so you know I love it!
Repurchase? Definitely.  I'm currently using the Intelligent Nutrients Styling Gel, but I'm sure I'll buy this again in the future.

Blûm Naturals Pro Age Daily Cleansing and Makeup Remover Towelettes
I don't use wipes for daily cleansing or makeup removal, but I like keeping a couple individually wrapped ones in my purse for spur of the moment makeup fails or other unexpected situations.  The Blûm ones aren't my favorite wipes, but there aren't a lot of companies that offer individually wrapped ones with clean ingredients and Blûm's are cheap and do the trick.  I only use them occasionally - a box of ten lasts me six months or so - so I'm not overly fussy about which ones I buy.  
Repurchase? Yes.  I bought Blûm's Sensitive wipes to try next, but I'm sure I'll buy these Pro Age ones again too.

Andalou Naturals Citrus Kombucha Cleansing Gel
I've tried a lot of Andalou Naturals products this year and I really think they're one of the best affordable skincare lines out there.  I've dabbled in all four different ranges now and to me, most products seem quite mild and not super "active," which is kind of a double-edged sword.  I'm not convinced they're potent enough to achieve great, transformative skin results, but the upside is that the majority of products are gentle and generally work for virtually any skin type.  The Citrus Kombucha Cleansing Gel, for instance, is part of the Clarifying Line, intended for active, oily, and acne-prone skin, but it worked great on my sensitive normal-to-dry skin too.  The cleanser has great ingredients, smells awesome - like a fresh-cut grapefruit - and lathers without overly drying the skin.  
Repurchase? Yes.



Evolve Gentle Cleansing Melt   [Review]
The Gentle Cleansing Melt is a unique emulsifying balm cleanser.  It starts out as a thick gel, but quickly melts into a thinner balm consistency with the heat of your skin.  Once you add water, it transforms into a milky cleanser that easily rinses away.  Evolve has reformulated this product since I bought it, so I can't speak to the current version, but the one I used was great.  I haven't used anything quite like it before, but I'm curious what else is out there.  If there are similar emulsifying balm-type cleansers that you'd recommend, please leave a comment and let me know!
Repurchase? This version is no longer sold.  I'm not sure if I'll try the new one or not.

Andalou Naturals Super Goji Perfecting Cream
My skin has been preferring cream moisturizers over oils recently and the Super Goji Perfecting Cream is a nice one.  It's sold as part of the Age Defy line and is intended for dry and very dry skin, but I'm not sure I'd agree with that recommendation.  The cream is hydrating but also pretty lightweight, so I don't know if it would be sufficient for super dry skin.  Either way, I really enjoyed it.  It sinks in quickly and never leaves skin feeling tacky or greasy.  Noteworthy ingredients include hyaluronic acid, goji glycopeptides and antioxidants that claim to "deliver collagen and elastin building actives deep into dermal layers, boosting cellular renewal and dramatically transforming tone and texture for younger-looking skin with fewer fine lines and wrinkles."  At 27, I'm no prune face just yet, but I also haven't noticed any difference in the fine lines I do have while using the cream.  It's a great basic moisturizer, but I don't suggest buying it with the highest hopes for wrinkle or fine line reduction.
Repurchase? It's very likely.

Badger Seabuckthorn Face Oil*   [Review]
Like I said, I've temporarily moved away from using most face oils recently, but I did really enjoy the Badger Seabuckthorn Oil while I was using it.  Badger is a great company and the face oils are packed full of great nourishing plant oils and extracts.  The Seabuckthorn, specifically, contains sea buckthorn oil and fruit extract, as well as jojoba, baobab, apricot, and pomegranate oils, rosehip fruit extract, and lavender, geranium, and sweet orange essential oils.  Badger currently sells four different oils to suit various skin types, and for the price - under $20! - I really don't think you can do any better than these USDA certified organic blends!
Repurchase? Not right away, but possibly in the future.

Madara Deep Moisture Fluid (sample)
The Deep Moisture Fluid is an interesting product.  As the name suggests, it has a very fluid, liquidy consistency, but it also does provide a lot of moisture.  I actually found it to sit a little heavy on the skin this time of year.  The scent was pretty grassy - like every other Madara product I've tried - but not offensive.
Repurchase? Probably not.

Trilogy Very Gentle Calming Serum (sample)
This is the first Trilogy product I haven't liked at all.  Both the Cleanser and Moisturizer from the same Calming range are great, but the Serum doesn't absorb well and stays very sticky and tacky on the skin.  It did initially tone down redness on application, but I think it also made me break out.  Not a fan!
Repurchase? No.

Ilike Carotene Essentials Moisturizer* (sample)
Ilike's Carotene Essentials range is specifically targeted at summer skin and I really enjoyed using the moisturizer over the last couple weeks.  It has the same scent as the Carotene Essentials Gel Mask (reviewed here), but while I sometimes find the smell of the mask a little too sweet and even sickly, it didn't bother me in the moisturizer at all, perhaps because it's absorbed more quickly into the skin and doesn't just sit on top for a prolonged period.  The cream itself was really lovely too: hydrating, lightweight and perfect for summer.
Repurchase? Maybe.  I'm not sure it gives enough moisture for my skin in the winter, but I'd consider buying it next summer.



Honeybee Gardens Belgian Chocolate JobaColor Eye Liner
Honeybee Gardens liners are some of my favorites - both for their affordable price point and great performance - but it looks like the company has made some major ingredient changes since I last purchased them.  The biggest difference is that the old formula contained lanolin, while the new one looks to be vegan.  Nothing wrong with that, but I don't like some of the other ingredients that have been added - butylene glycol, for one! - so I won't be buying these any more.
Repurchase? No.  I'll probably replace this with Pacifica's brown liner instead.

Sassy Minerals Rumor Mill and Pixie Sprinkles Eye Shadows (samples)
Sassy Minerals used to be one of the best companies for shimmery and sparkly eye shadows, but they were bought out by LaurEss Mineral Cosmetics a few years ago.  LaurEss carried the same colors, but it looks like they're shutting down as of this summer too.  I initially pulled these samples out just to use them up, but I actually ended up loving both colors and even though I don't need eye shadow, I'm considering ordering one or both from LaurEss before they fully shut down. 
Repurchase? Maybe.

Gabriel Color Black Mascara
The Zuzu Luxe mascara is in my top two mascaras, so I'm always baffled by why the Gabriel Color one, which has the same ingredients and a very similar wand, just doesn't do it for me.  It's an okay mascara, but nothing amazing.
Repurchase? I don't think so.

Pollen Cosmetics Ready Set Go Finishing Powder (sample)
Pollen Cosmetics is another indie makeup company that's no longer in business.  The finishing powder was okay, but nothing spectacular.
Repurchase? Not possible.

Everyday Minerals Ivory (1N) Semi Matte and Matte Base (samples)
Everyday Minerals is the latest company I've been testing in my attempts to pick a new mineral foundation.  Ivory (1N) seems like a good color match for my skin and both the Semi Matte and Matte formulas are nice, depending how you like your skin to look.  The Semi Matte has a slightly more natural finish, which I prefer, but the coverage on both is great.
Repurchase? Probably the Semi Matte.  I still have a sample of the Jojoba Base to try before I decide.

Crazy Rumors Pear & Peppermint Lip Balm
Crazy Rumors has become one of my favorite lip balm companies, but I didn't love this particular one.  It smelled more like a semi-artificial honey scent than either pear or peppermint to me.
Repurchase? Yes, but not this particular flavor.


Total Products Used Up in August
Skincare: 6  (Lip Balms: 1)
Bodycare: 0
Haircare:  1
Makeup: 2
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 3
Makeup Samples: 5

Total Products Used Up in 2015
Skincare: 29 (Lip Balms: 8)
Bodycare: 28
Haircare:  10
Makeup: 11
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 59 
Makeup Samples: 24

I can't believe I'm edging towards 100 samples used up this year!  Crazy!

Way back when I first started wearing makeup, I always used liquidy, water-based makeup removers, but as I became more concerned about ingredients, I made the switch to oils.  Sadly, sometime in the last two or three months, my eyes started rejecting any oils used in this capacity.  I was waking up every morning to puffy eyes that were sore to the touch and I finally traced it back to this step in my routine.  Since it didn't seem to matter what oil I used - believe me, I tried several - I knew a change was in order.

For the short term, I double cleansed with my beloved Kahina Facial Cleanser - which does a great job getting everything off without any stinging - but for fear of burning through my not inexpensive bottle, I decided to pick up Blûm Naturals' Daily Eye Makeup Remover in my latest iherb order.  I've used Blûm's wipes before and while they work in a pinch, they're never quite wet enough and always involve more scrubbing than I'd like.  I hoped being able to control the amount of liquid would solve this problem, while also eliminating the excess waste of wipes...and happily, it does.

Blum's remover is essentially a gentle blend of water, aloe, and decyl glucoside - a mild, sugar-based surfactant.  It doesn't compare to the way oil just melts away makeup (can anything compare to that?!), but it still removes my eye makeup without a struggle.  I get the best results from really saturating two cotton balls with the remover and resting them over my eyes for a minute or two before gently wiping everything away.  The remover doesn't sting and it doesn't leave my eyes feeling at all dry or irritated either.  It's also fantastic for cleaning up any mid-application mistakes.  A little of this on a Q-tip fixes any smears or smudges and, unlike an oil, it doesn't leave behind any film or residue, so it's no problem to continue applying makeup on top of.

It wouldn't be one of my reviews if I didn't add a scent breakdown somewhere, so here goes.  The ingredients list chamomile extract, cucumber extract, vanilla oil, lavender oil, and patchouli oil, and somehow they all combine together into a sweet scent that's very reminiscent of baby powder.  It's not terrible, but nothing to write home about either.

The Bottom Line
I think there's a part of me that will always prefer oils and creamy cleansers for makeup removal, but if you're looking for a good water-based remover, Blum's is a great one to check out. It's gentle, inexpensive, and it does a good job removing eye makeup - even toughies like mascara and eyeliner (although keep in mind that none of mine are waterproof, so I can't speak to how it would work on those.)  Regardless of whether I find something I like better for everyday, I can definitely see keeping this in my kit for any mid-application cleanups, as it really does excel in that regard.  

What's your favorite kind of makeup remover?

Ingredients: Aqua (water), aloe barbadensis leaf juice, decyl glucoside, chamomile extract, cucumber extract, vanilla oil, lavender oil, patchouli oil, gluconolactone, sodium benzoate, glycerin.  

Acure Cocoa Butter + CoQ10 Body Lotion   [Review]
I love this lotion!  It's a great moisturizer that rubs in easily and doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy or tacky.  I like that it's unscented (and without any icky unscented scent), but there are also other options if you prefer your lotions to be scented.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Green Beaver Grapefruit Facial Cleanser (sample)
Green Beaver is an affordable, Canadian line, and I was happy to get my hands on a sample of their gel cleanser.  It worked well, but sometimes left my face feeling a little tight and dry.  It also contains grapefruit seed extract, which isn't my favorite ingredient to be using all the time.
Repurchase? Probably not.

Honeybee Gardens Pressed Mineral Foundation in Geisha   [Review]
This is one of my top foundation picks and something I've written about multiple times before.  I love that it can be used lightly as a setting powder or built up to a nice, flawless finish on it's own.  I should probably mention that while I love the powder itself, I do not recommend spending the extra money on the compact, which is not airtight and will leak powder everywhere.  I've been keeping my refill in the plastic packaging this time around, and while it's not especially pretty, it's an improvement - at least I don't have powder flying everywhere!
Repurchase? The foundation, yes, I already have.  The compact, no.

Blum Oil Absorbing Facial Tissues
These are pretty standard blotting papers, not a whole lot to say.  My only complaint is that even though the papers are standard sized, the packaging is quite bulky and cumbersome.
Repurchase? Maybe.

KYI Sweet Almond Softening Oil (samples)   [Review]
I've recently become something of a body oil convert, which I credit to a combination of these oils and Lina Hanson's Body Serum.  I'm still slowly working my way through a full size of the unscented softening oil, but these samples of the litsea cubeba and chamomile lavender scents got used up pretty quickly.  
Repurchase? Yes.

Young Living Sandalwood Moisture Cream
I've alternated between this cream and Young Living's Boswellia Wrinkle Cream for years and gotten great results from both, particularly when my skin used to be more acne-prone.  I've been trying out some new skin care recently, but I could see myself going back to this moisturizer in the future.  
Repurchase? Probably.

Peppermint Earthpaste Toothpaste   [Review]
Love this toothpaste!  It's glycerin-free and leaves my teeth feeling smooth and clean and my mouth feeling fresh.  The wintergreen flavor is my favorite, but the peppermint is good too.  
Repurchase? Yes.

Young Living Lavender Lip Balm   [Review]
One of my favorite lip balms, this is moisturizing but not greasy, and it lasts on your lips really well.  I even used the end of the tube to keep my eyebrows in place. (Eyebrow gel - who needs it?!) 
Repurchase? Yes, definitely.

Evan Healy French Rose Clay (sample)
I regularly do green clay masks, but the pink, which is a combination of rose kaolin and Moroccan rhassoul clays, made a nice change.  It was a little gentler than the clay I usually use, but it definitely still did the trick.  I could also clearly see all the gunk it sucked out of my pores, which was fun, if a little gross.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Weleda Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion (sample)
Super gentle cleanser.  I love how simple the ingredients are and it left my skin feeling cleansed but not dry in the least.  It's probably the closest thing I've found to a cold cream, so if you're looking for a natural replacement, definitely check this out!  I used it like a standard cleanser, on damp skin and rinsed off, but I could also see it working when applied to dry skin and just wiped off.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap (sample)
Pretty standard stuff if you're into natural products, Dr. Bronner's has a hundred and one uses.  I used the sample to clean my makeup brushes.  I don't mind the peppermint, but I generally go for the unscented one.
Repurchase? Yes.

Ella's Botanicals Bar Soap in Chai Latte, Lavender Bliss, and Lemon Zing (samples)
Ella's is a lovely Toronto company, but I'm a little mixed on these soaps.  Ingredient-wise, I love that the soaps are made without palm oil, but I wish the company used something other than canola oil, since that brings with it a whole host of GMO concerns.  I also didn't like the lavender scent, but I enjoyed the chai and lemon ones.
Repurchase? Maybe.

What did you use up this month?

Doing regular empties posts has made me a lot more aware of consistently using products until they're finished and I've actually managed to use up a good number of things this month.  I even somehow managed to finish four (!) different lip balms!




Face Naturals Vanilla Mint Body Lotion (sample)   [Review]
This is one of the best lotions I've used.  It doesn't contain any water, just lots of nourishing oils and butters, so it's intensely hydrating.  It also absorbs quickly and doesn't leave you feeling greasy like a lot of other water-less lotions.  It's a little pricey at $25, but you need less product, so I figure it basically evens out.  This sample of the Vanilla Mint was included in one of my orders and I'm a little mixed on the scent.  I loved it in the jar and I think it'd work really well for something that gets washed off, like shower gel, but it became overly sweet and cloying on the skin. 
Repurchase? Yes, but not in this scent.

Sassy Minerals Eye Shadow in Panache (sample)   [Review]
Sassy Minerals isn't around anymore, but they used to be connected with Lauress Cosmetics and last I heard, some of the Sassy colours were now available through them.  Panache is a pretty peach that used to be a favorite, but when I pulled it out again this month, I found it leaned a little too orange for my liking.
Repurchase? No.

Shiro Cosmetics Intertube in Longcat   [Review]
Longcat is a white/silver shimmer in a clear base, but I used it more around the house as a lip balm than as a lip color.  I've gone through several tubes before and never had this issue, but in this one, the shimmer wasn't incorporated evenly.  It was very light at the top and then full of shimmer and gritty towards the bottom.
Repurchase?  Maybe.  If Shiro releases more dye-free colors, absolutely.  Otherwise, probably not, since I've found other, cheaper lip balms I like just as much.  I also still have one more backup of Longcat to get through.

Silk Naturals Vegan Kisser Slicker in Shine
This is another lip gloss-type product that I used in place of a lip balm.  The Vegan Kisser Slickers are very moisturizing and amazing for winter chapped lips, though they have a really soft consistency that makes the tube disappear quickly.
Repurchase? Probably not.  I like it, but again, I've found other, cheaper lip balms I like just as much.  I also still have one more of these to use too.

Badger Creamy Cocoa Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
I only discovered Badger's Cocoa Butter line this past winter, but they've quickly become my favorite lip balms.  (It even made its way onto my list of 15 products I'd repurchase.)  These are almost twice the size of an average tube of lip balm and I managed to whip through this one in under three months, which I think says a lot!  I love cocoa butter, both for its moisturizing properties and because of the smell.  The Creamy Cocoa is unscented, so that delicious chocolate smell comes through unimpeded.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Balm Balm Fragrance Free Multi Purpose Lip Balm   [Review]
This was another new discovery this winter.  It can be used as a lip balm, but it also works great for lots of other things.  I used it on my rough elbows and even slathered it all over my face a couple times.   You can see I cut open the tube to get to every last bit!
Repurchase? Yes.  

Young Living Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier
I'm not really big on hand sanitizer, but it does have its moments.  I mostly use it at work, since I can't always get to the bathroom to wash my hands normally.  Young Living uses alcohol and essential oils instead of antibacterial nasties like triclosan.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Blûm Naturals Fragrance Free All-Purpose Cleansing Wipes   [Review]
I don't use wipes much on my face and I'm not sure it's worth having these around just for cleaning up blog swatches, but that's what they end up being used for most.  The canisters do tend to dry out if you have them open for too long, so next time I think the individually wrapped ones will be a better choice for my infrequent use.
Repurchase? Maybe, but not right away.

Egyptian Magic (sample)
Egyptian magic is a popular product, but it's one that I really don't understand the hype about.  I used it on my feet, and while it did leave them soft, it wasn't anything spectacular.  Plus, the smell was horrible!  I'm not sure if my sample had gone off or something, but it just smelled bad and sort of fermented.  It also didn't soak in well and made my feet feel uncomfortable and tingly.  I have another sample hanging around here and I don't even want to touch it.
Repurchase? No.

Weleda Weather Protection Cream (sample)
The Weather Protection Cream is from Weleda's baby line and just as the name implies, it's intended to protect your baby's skin from harsh weather.  I used it on my feet instead, and it worked really well for that too.  It took a while to sink in, but I just threw on socks before bed and woke up to incredibly soft feet.  I think it'd be perfect for protecting my hands in the winter too, as they usually end up getting dry and chapped.
Repurchase? Yes, but probably not until next winter.

Weleda Skin Food (two samples)
Skin Food is another very hyped product in the natural beauty world and this time I completely understand why!  It's a heavier lotion, so not something I'd use all over, but it's perfect for those extra dry spots like your feet and elbows.  I find a lot of Weleda products are too heavily scented for me, but happily, I don't have any problems with the Skin Food. 
Repurchase? Yes, I already bought a big tube.

I also gave my makeup a bit of a spring cleaning this month and a few things are headed for the bin.  I figured I might as well include them too!



SweetPea and Fay Ultra Pigmented Lip Glosses   [Review]
I don't think SweetPea and Fay makes these anymore, but I really liked them!  I hadn't reached for them in a while and when I pulled them out this month they were completely dry.  I've never had lip gloss dry up like that, even after more time, so it's a little odd.  

Darling Girl Cosmetics Lip Balm (sample)
I got this in a blogger sample pack and I guess it didn't impress me, since I just never reached for it.  It's started to smell funny now, so it's got to go!

Burt's Bees Cream Eye Shadow in Trust
This is from Burt's Bees' old makeup line, which I think is from way back before the company was bought by Clorox, and it's just dried up now.  I don't use them much anymore, but I'm still hanging onto a couple of the old lip shimmers from the same time period (they seem fine, honest!), but the metal tins aren't very airtight, so they're definitely drying out too.  


It feels great to use all these things up and get rid of some products that just aren't good anymore too!  Have you tried any of these?  Does anyone else remember Burts Bees' old makeup line?  And am I the only one who did not like Egyptian Magic?  

It's that time again!  My last empties post was back in the beginning of December, so this is what I've finished up since then.  There are even a few makeup empties ahead!  (Yup, I'm far too excited about that.)



Face Naturals Pomegranate Scrub (sample)
Face Naturals is one of my favorite companies for body care products, but I'd never tried their scrubs before, so I was excited to see this sample in one of my orders.  I wasn't crazy about the pomegranate scent, which is very sweet and candy-like, but the scrub itself was lovely.  Perfect amount of scrubbiness and a great texture - neither too oily or too dry.   

Madara Moon Flower Tinting Fluid (sample)
I'm glad I was able to try a sample of this first, because it was far too dark for my skin.  I ended up looking orange and oompa loompa-like.  Also smelled kind of funky to me.  

Pai Kukui & Jojoba Bead Skin Brightening Exfoliator (sample)
This is a lovely scrub.  Looking at it in the jar, it looked pretty smooth and I wasn't sure it was going to exfoliate as much as I wanted, but it really does a fantastic job!  It starts out as more of a gel, but it turns kind of milky on your face and it left my skin feeling incredibly soft.  I'm not going to be purchasing this right away as I just got another scrub, but I would definitely consider it in the future.

Darling Girl Cosmetics Snuggle Eye Shadow
I actually used up an eye shadow!  Darling Girl makes fantastic shadows and Snuggle is a great low maintenance colour that you can basically just sweep on and go.  It was on my eyes pretty much every day a couple summers ago, which is how I went through most of the jar.  I still have a ton of other eye shadows, so it isn't something I'll be repurchasing right away. 

Silk Naturals Sleep in a Jar in Light Peach
This is on my face almost every single day and I've already picked up another jar.  I still haven't found an under eye concealer that I'm 100% happy with, but Sleep in a Jar comes pretty darn close.  It's a powder concealer and I wouldn't say it gives full coverage, but it really does a great job brightening up any darkness in the under eye area.  I've also used it on the occasional blemish and it works fairly well for that as well. 

Zosimos Botanicals Fuschia Lip Gloss (sample)
Zosimos' mini lip glosses are an adorable way of sampling colors if you don't want to risk not liking the full size.  Fuschia is a cool pink with a slight blue reflect and I really did enjoy it, but full sizes are $16 and the minis have recently gone up to $5, so I doubt I'll be repurchasing.  It's a nice gloss, but I can get an equally nice, full size gloss from Silk Naturals or My Beauty Addiction for under $5, so I just can't justify the price right now.

Zuzu Luxe Onyx Mascara
As most of you probably know, this is my favourite mascara.  Not a whole lot new to say about it, but I will mention that it survived a trip through blizzard-like weather a couple weeks ago without smudging or running at all.  I try to switch out my tube about every 4 months, so here's another one biting the dust.

Blum Naturals Fragrance Free All Purpose Wipes
I don't use wipes on my face very often, but I did enjoy using these on occasion.  Really, I think I used most of them cleaning blog swatches off my hands and arm.  The last couple wipes did end up drying out before I used them, but for the most part, they stayed pretty moist.

Organic Essentials Organic Cotton Balls
Whenever possible, I prefer to use organic cotton balls on my face.  They really don't cost much more than regular cotton balls and I like to avoid any chlorine or other chemicals found in the regular ones.  These are also quite large, so I end up breaking them in half and only using half at a time, which helps them last longer.


Humphrey's Witch Hazel Astringent
I talked about this in my winter skincare routine, but basically, I've been mixing witch hazel with essential oils (to mask the witch hazel smell) and using it as a toner.  The pores on my nose have a tendency to get clogged and dirty and I've noticed a huge difference since I've been using the witch hazel.  I've already bought a new (jumbo size) bottle.

Bubble & Bee Squeezed Lime Shower Gel
This is a great shower gel that really does smell just like cutting into a fresh lime.  It also lasted an incredibly long time - I started out using it straight on a loofah, but it's super concentrated, so I ended up diluting it in a foamer bottle too, which worked equally well.

Organic Excellence Wild Mint Conditioner
I debated whether or not I should include this one.  Organic Excellence used to be my shampoo and conditioner of choice, but they aren't a company I feel comfortable using or supporting anymore.  In case you missed it, there's been some question of whether or not the brand is disclosing full ingredients, and after emailing back and forth with them a few times, I'm not confident to say either way.  (If you're interested, you can read more about the issue here.)  Unfortunately, I did purchase a new bottle of the conditioner right before all this came out, so while I'll probably use that up, I won't be buying it again.


And that's all for this time!  I love doing these posts, since I get genuinely excited finishing products up.  It's also intensely satisfying watching the empties pile up until I have enough for a post.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way.  (Or am I?  Let me know in the comments!)