Naturalla Beauty

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!

I regularly receive emails from readers looking for unscented product recommendations, so I figured it was past time I did a dedicated post.  As many of you know, I'm sensitive to scents, so while there are many scented products I enjoy, I like to keep unscented options around as well.

An important thing to keep in mind is that unscented does not automatically mean there are no scent components added.  Many ingredients have a scent, so some companies add fragrance components or essential oils to mask that and help the product to smell less.  On the flip side, unscented products that don't have added scent will often have a smell, just by nature of the other ingredients.  Neither is inherently a bad thing, but I do recommend - as always - reading ingredients so that you know exactly what you're getting.  

Now, without further ado, I bring you my favorite unscented products:



Acure Cocoa Butter + CoQ10 Ultra-Hydrating Unscented Body Lotion
This lotion strikes the perfect balance between moisture and easy application and absorption.  With great ingredients and an affordable price tag, it's pretty much an automatic re-buy as soon as I start running low.  

Lina Hanson Global Baby Serum
Lina Hanson is a master of scents, but she also knocked it out of the park last year with the unscented Global Baby Serum.  Kalahari watermelon seed oil lends a light - or even dry - feel to the oil, which nonetheless hydrates the skin very well.  Originally intended for babies, maybe, but it's equally awesome for grown ups too.  

Graydon Face Food Mineral Mist
Face Food is a mineral mist made only of water and ionic copper, zinc, and silver.  The minerals, which help stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, kill bacteria, and reduce redness and irritation, are scent-free and the mist offers light, soothing hydration.   I especially enjoy this product when my skin is more acne-prone or reactive.

Weleda Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion
I'm a big fan of Weleda's entire almond line, but if I had to pick one standout product, it would be the Cleansing Lotion.  With only seven ingredients, it's a super basic cream cleanser that very gently cleanses the skin without anything harsh or stripping.  This isn't part of my day-to-day routine anymore, but when my skin is more sensitive or reactive, it's one of the first things I turn to.

Nourish Organic Pure Unscented Body Butter
If you're looking for something richer than a body lotion, Nourish's body butters are a great choice.  They're USDA certified organic, super hydrating and just melt into the skin beautifully.  I don't use this all over my body very often, but it is the best for those extra dry spots like elbows or the bottoms of your feet.  Nourish's Pure Unscented line also includes their body wash, hand soap and deodorant - all three of which I love, although I've only tried their scented counterparts thus far.  (I'd recommend steering clear of the body lotion though, which I didn't find moisturized enough and which has a strong alcohol scent.)

Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby-Mild Castile Liquid Soap
I'm pretty sure everyone knows Dr. Bronner's soaps by now, but if for some reason you haven't tried them yet, you really should.  Truly a multi-purpose product, I've used Dr. B as body wash, hand soap, makeup brush cleaner, dog shampoo, dish soap, laundry detergent, and even in a few DIY's.  I always buy the unscented one, which gives you the option to use it as is or to add your own scents.

Epic Blend Unflavoured More Moisture Lip Balm
It's hard to find good unscented/unflavoured lip balms, because without a scent or flavour, I often notice the natural oils and butters leaving an icky taste in my mouth.  Not the case with Epic Blend.  If I stick my nose right up to the tube, it has a very slight sweet smell, but it's very neutral and with regular application, I hardly notice it.  Epic Blend's More Moisture lip balms are one of my favorites and they do a great job keeping your lips soft and well moisturized.

Blissoma Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex
Packed with amazing ingredients like marshmallow root, plantain and self heal, Pure is an exceptional moisturizer for sensitive skin and for soothing any skin irritation or redness.  The formula contains no added scent, but it's the one product on this list that does have a fairly noticeable herbal smell from the other ingredients.  

Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz Natural Styling Serum
The place where I notice smells lingering on me the most is in my hair, so leave-in products with strong scents are often a no-go.  I featured the Spiral Spritz in my Best Curly Girl Hair Products of 2014 for how well it works as a light-hold, curl defining gel, but the scent (or lack thereof) is also noteworthy.  It smells lightly of aloe vera on application, but that dissipates almost immediately and I - refreshingly - don't smell anything on my hair throughout the day.  

Do you look for unscented products?  What are your favorites?

Latest empties post ever?  Pretty much.  I had this almost completely drafted and ready to go Monday and then got hit with what I thought was food poisoning, but later realized - when the rest of my house came down with it a couple days later - was some kind of nasty stomach virus.  Either way, it meant I wasn't able to get this up until now.  So, somewhat belated, here's what I finished up during October:



The Honest Co. Honest Wipes*
Technically these are diaper wipes, but not having anyone in diapers, I used them to remove makeup instead.  I can't speak to how well they work for diapering, but they were only so-so on my face.
Repurchase? No.

KYI Unscented Argan Oil Serum with Vitamin C*   [Review]
I really like how minimal the ingredients in KYI's products are, and this serum is no exception.  Made of just argan oil and vitamin C, it's a great oil for hydrating and brightening the skin.  The serum uses tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, an oil soluble form of vitamin C that's much more stable than the more frequently used ascorbic acid, so you don't have to worry about the vitamin C breaking down or degrading the formula.  Initially I used this as a face serum, but after setting it aside for a few months, I ended up using the second half of the bottle as a body oil.  
Repurchase? Not right away.

Kahina Giving Beauty Facial Cleanser   [Review]
I've raved about Kahina's cleanser many times, but it really is one of my all time favorite cleansers.  It's gentle, creamy without being overly heavy, and the 200 ml bottle lasts ages!  It also removes makeup - even toughies like mascara and eyeliner - and thanks to blue tansy and neroli essential oils, smells pretty darn amazing.  I would (and frequently do!) recommend this cleanser for almost anyone.  
Repurchase? Yes!

Acure Argan + Argan Stem Cell Shampoo   [Review]
Another favorite of mine, this shampoo is one of the best I've found for my curly hair.  I've gone through multiple bottles before and just recommitted to a giant 24 oz. bottle of the stuff.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Earthpaste Lemon Twist Toothpaste   [Review]
This fall marks two years of using Earthpaste, but this was my first tube of the Lemon Twist flavor.  I enjoyed it while I was using it, but since switching back to one of the mint ones, I realize the lemon doesn't leave your mouth as fresh as the other flavors.
Repurchase? Yes, but probably not this flavor.

Scentuals Goat Milk Mint Soap*   [Review]
I've really enjoyed using this soap.  It lathers well, smells great, and doesn't dry out my hands.  It's also lasted me longer than any other bar soap I can recall!  Seriously, I've been using this same bar of soap since the summer and I've still got a small sliver hanging on in my soap dish.  Yes, I generally only use bar soaps on my hands, but that's still significantly longer than other soaps last me.  
Repurchase? Probably not.  I prefer to buy palm oil free options.

Frangipani Regenerating Flower Cream*   [Review]
A nice cream made from a nourishing base of rosewater, almond oil, rosehip seed oil, and beeswax.  I didn't love the floral scent and I found it a little too rich for my face, but I did enjoy using it on my hands and legs, especially before bed.  
Repurchase? Probably not.  

Pollen & Wax Lapiz Facial Toner   [Review]
It's really hard for me to find a toner that blows me away and sadly, this one just didn't do it.  I ended up repurposing it as a spray deodorant for days when I'd shaved.  My Weleda deodorant, which contains alcohol, can sting quite a bit after shaving, but Lapiz's gentle blend of aloe, calendula, lavender, and chamomile was soothing and did a pretty decent job keeping odors away as well.
Repurchase? No.

Zuzu Luxe Onyx Mascara   [Review]
I can't even count how many tubes of this mascara I've gone through over the years.  It may not be the most dramatic mascara out there, but it doesn't irritate my eyes and once it's on, it doesn't go anywhere, which makes it the one I always come back to.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Hurraw! Mint Lip Balm   [Review]
If you like tingly peppermint lip balms, Hurraw!'s mint balm is for you.  It's not my favorite for winter - both because of the cooling peppermint tingle and Hurraw!'s thinner formula - but I can see myself possibly buying it again in the spring/summer.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Epic Blend Hemp Mint Lip Balm   [Review]
In case you couldn't tell that I like mint lip balms, I managed to finish two in the same month!  Epic Blend's balm packs a seriously minty punch, but, unlike the Hurraw!, it doesn't make your mouth feel cold or tingly.  Epic Blend balms give a lot of moisture and also have that perfect balance where they protect your lips, but don't feel waxy or heavy.   I'm a big fan!
Repurchase? Yes, definitely.



Kaia Juicy Bamboo Cleansing Cloth 
I like how convenient the individually wrapped cloths are for carrying in your purse, but there are other wipes I like more.    
Repurchase? Probably not.

Dr. Bronner's Spearmint Peppermint Shikakai Soap (sample)
From other reviews I'd read, I didn't have very high expectations for this soap, but I ended up really liking it.  It didn't dry out my skin and the Spearmint Peppermint scent was nice and fresh.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Suki Creamy Foaming Cleanser (samples)   [Review]
I have a tendency to hoard samples, so even though I knew I liked this cleanser, I'd been resisting using these samples.  I think calling this a foaming cleanser is a bit of an exaggeration, but it does lather slightly.  I like it, but I'm not sure I like it enough to commit to a full sized bottle.  
Repurchase? Probably not.

Suki Pure Facial Moisture - Balancing (samples)   [Review]
Another victim of sample hoarding.  I'd previously found the Balancing Oil very helpful for "time of the month" skin, so I'd tucked these away in case of a skin emergency.  When I finally pulled them out, my skin was not at its best, but not at its worst either.  These samples gave me about a week's worth of oil, but sadly, I just didn't find the results anywhere near as spectacular this time around.  
Repurchase? Not sure.

Weleda Calendula Shampoo & Body Wash (samples)
I liked this, but I'd probably be more likely to buy one of Weleda's creamy body washes over this, since I like a few of those scents a lot more than the Calendula.  
Repurchase? No.

I think I've finally figured out this empties thing.  Focus on one product at a time.  Sounds pretty common sense, right?  If you're rotating between five cleansers, it's going to take you a good, long while to finish any.  On the other hand, if you're using just one, you'll get to the bottom a heck of a lot quicker.  Sure, I've known it for a while, but I've never seen it in action quite as blatantly as this past month.  Let's talk about what I finished up in June...


Repurchase? Probably not.  There are other shampoos and conditioners I like more.

Boo Bamboo Exfoliating Body Wash*   [Review]
This is a nice body wash with a light berry scent and the perfect amount of grittiness for an exfoliating product of this type.  Not enough grit to class it as a full-on scrub, but enough that I knew it was there and could tell it was doing something.
Repurchase? Maybe.  The ingredients aren't quite as natural as I'd like, but I'd consider it.

Acure Mint + Echinacea Stem Cell Shampoo and Conditioner 
My mom ran out of her regular shampoo and conditioner and ended up finishing these off while I was using all that Weleda, but I'm including them anyways, since I'd say I used at least 7/8 of both before starting on Weleda's challenge.  My mom was a fan, and I liked them too, just not as much as Acure's Argan + Argan Stem Cell variety.  The shampoos seem pretty comparable - other than scent - but the mint conditioner is lighter and not as hydrating as the argan.
Repurchase? Doubtful.  I've re-ordered the Argan set to replace these.

Beautiful Curls Curl Reviving Tonic   [Review]
This is a great product.  I use it on days when I don't wash my hair and it does just what the name suggests: revives my second day, slept on curls.  I've already started on a new bottle.
Repurchase? Yes.

Skin Essence Organics Facial in a Jar   [Review]
Facial in a Jar is one of those powder products that does double duty as either a scrub or a mask.  Initially, I just used it as a mask, but this past month, I really enjoyed mixing it with my Shea Terra Argan Oil & Acacia Honey Cleanser to make a scrub.  Some of the powder + a pump of the Shea Terra cleanser = honey scrubby goodness.
Repurchase? Probably not.  I might try to DIY my own version at some point in the future though.

Blissoma Bright Eye Vitalizing Nutrient Serum
The ingredients in this eye serum are pretty amazing, but unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be and I ended up with sore, puffy, swollen eyes within a couple days of starting to use it.  Extra sad, because before the reaction, my under eye area was looking pretty phenomenal.  Bright is packed with antioxidants and nutrients and I remember reading somewhere that you could use it on any areas that had experienced sun damage, so for the sake of using it up, I started applying it on my shoulders, decollete, and the backs of my hands.  I wouldn't buy it just for that, but I did notice an improvement in the health and appearance of those areas while I was using it.
Repurchase? No.

Priti NYC Nail Polish Remover Wipe   [Review]
I wasn't going to include these wipes anymore until I finished up the whole set, but after last month's disappointment with them, I wanted to include one more to make sure you guys knew that they're still fabulous.  Glitter polishes are a struggle, but for everything else, these are a great option.
Repurchase? Maybe.  I still think I want to try the liquid remover next.

Young Living Lavender and Frankincense Essential Oils
Both of these are staples for me.  Lavender is basically good for everything, and frankincense has a whole host of uses too.  I use both of them on blemishes, and I like mixing a couple drops of frankincense into my clay masks as well.  I always stress the importance of research when it comes to essential oils, since purity, method of extraction, and processing are all very important when it comes to the final product you're buying.  I'm confident in the quality of Young Living's oils and will continue to buy them.
Repurchase? Yes, I've already cracked open new bottles of both.

Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap in Peppermint and Citrus Orange (samples)
I've got a big, open bottle of the unscented Dr. Bronner's, but I didn't see the point of hanging on to samples anymore, so I used these this month instead.  Dr. Bronner's has a million uses, but what I use it for most often is washing my makeup brushes.
Repurchase? Yes, but I'll probably stick with the unscented one.

Nuka Candy Cane Soap
I had a different Nuka soap in my last empties post, but in case you missed it, Nuka is a local, Ontario soap company that's sold in bulk at my Whole Foods.  Candy Cane was a seasonal scent I picked up around the holidays, but I didn't end up using it until this month, since I found these soaps too drying on my hands in the winter.  Now that it's warmer, I like them and the Candy Cane scent was nice enough, if nothing especially spectacular.
Repurchase? Sure.  I have a lot of soap at the moment, but I'd at least give these soaps a browse the next time I'm at Whole Foods.

Silk Naturals Vegan Kisser Slicker in Shine
I think the Vegan Kisser Slickers, are my favorite formula of Silk Naturals lip products.  Shine doesn't seem to be available anymore, but it was their untinted one.  It gives a slight glossy look to the lips, but I bought it specifically to use as a lip balm, since the formula is very hydrating.  It worked great, but the Vegan Kisser Slickers are pretty soft to begin with, and Shine, without any pigments, is even more so - almost a jelly-like consistency - so the tube got used up really quickly.
Repurchase? Not sure.

Hurraw! Coffee Bean Lip Balm   [Review]
I like Hurraw!'s lip balms.  They sink into your lips and feel like they're really nourishing them.  Coffee Bean is a sweet coffee scent that's not so much straight up coffee beans as it is something like a Frappuccino.  I liked it, but Hurraw! has so many choices that I tend to pick a new flavour every time I buy one.
Repurchase? Yes, but probably in a different flavour.

It's that time again: empties!  I couldn't fit everything into one photo, so I guess this was a good month for finishing things up.  Sometimes I feel like these posts are just rehashing reviews or other blog posts, but this time around, there are several things that never quite made it to other posts, so it should be interesting...



Nürish Organic Rejuven-EIGHT Day Cream*  [Review]
This day cream's impressive ingredient list features manuka honey,  raspberry seed oil, blueberry seed oil, cranberry seed oil, pomegranate extract, and broccoli seed oil - to name just a few.  It's a soothing, lightweight moisturizer that's great for reducing redness.  I did find it left my skin a little shinier than usual when used in the morning, but I had no problem using it at night, so I enjoyed it that way.  
Repurchase? Probably not.  I'm really much more into face oils these days.

Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz  
There's a full review forthcoming on this product, so I won't go into too many details here.  I've been searching for a less expensive replacement for my much loved Intelligent Nutrients Styling Gel, and the Spiral Spritz is my favorite so far.  It's a light, aloe-based hair gel that works really well for scrunching curls.  It gives a light hold and doesn't leave hair feeling crunchy or sticky.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

South of France Lemon Mint Liquid Soap   [Review]
This is my second bottle of this castile soap, which I mainly used as a body wash.  When I bought it, Lemon Mint was the only scent that was made with only essential oils, but it's since been discontinued.  I'm not sure if the newly overhauled South of France line has any products without fragrance.  
Repurchase? No longer available.

Deep Steep Tangerine Melon Body Lotion
Tangerine Melon is my favorite Deep Steep scent, but even so, I found this lotion a little too heavily scented for me.  Compared to the body butter, the lotion is lighter and rubs into the skin a lot easier, but it also has retinyl palmitate (retinyl palmitate + sun exposure has been linked to cancer.)
Repurchase? The body lotion?  No.  This scent in other products?  Very likely.

Deep Steep Lavender Chamomile Hand Cream
This was a extra tester I was given at work (points to you if you noticed the 'try me' sticker in the photo.)  I liked the hand cream, but it feels very similar to Deep Steep's body butters, so I'm not convinced it's worth spending roughly the same amount for a tube 1/3 of the size.  If you want something small to carry with you, go for it, but otherwise, I'd recommend just buying the body butter.  
Repurchase? Probably not.

Now Foods Vanilla Lip Balm   [Review]
I was pretty unimpressed with this balm initially, but I pulled it out again recently in my quest to finish up all my started lip balms and it was decent.  It's on the waxier side - the first ingredient is beeswax - but once you warm it up a little, it's pretty nice.  It's definitely not a one-swipe balm, but if you don't mind taking an extra minute or two, it does a pretty good job.   
Repurchase? Probably not.  There are other lip balms I like more.

Kynk Shea Moi
Shea Moi is a raw, whipped shea butter, enriched with rice bran oil and scented with lemongrass and geranium.  I think I got a funny batch, as this smelled burnt and I know from selling Kynk at work that they don't all smell that way.  The burnt + lemongrass combo reminded me of a barbecue, so it got delegated to my feet, where I wouldn't smell it as much.  The actual product worked well, but the smell totally turned me off.  
Repurchase? No.

Kynk In the Raw
In the Raw is pure, raw shea butter that's been whipped to a lighter consistency.  This had a little of that burnt smell too, although much less than the Shea Moi.  Looking at Kynk's website just now, they do say that "shea butter has a slightly smokey and nutty aroma acquired from traditional extraction methods," so I guess that's what I'm smelling in these, although I've not experienced that with any other shea butter products.  
Repurchase? Probably not. I think I'll try whipping shea butter myself though, as the lighter texture was really nice.



Boo Bamboo Makeup Remover Wipes*   [Review]
As face wipes go, I think Boo Bamboo's are the cream of the crop.  They remove every speck of makeup - even mascara and eyeliner - without a struggle and have never bothered my skin in the slightest.  I prefer not to use wipes on an everyday basis, but if I was buying them for a special occasion or travel, these would be the ones I'd buy.   
Repurchase? Very likely.

Kaia Juicy Bamboo Bamboo Cleansing Cloths
After the Boo Bamboo, I was on a bit of a wipes kick and dug these out of my sample box to try.  They do an okay job removing makeup, but they also left my face feeling a little dry and irritated. 
Repurchase? No.

Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap (samples)
An old favorite and something I always keep on hand.  I used these two samples to clean my makeup brushes, but there really are a million and one uses for Dr. Bronner's.  
Repurchase? Maybe.  The unscented is still my favorite.

Priti NYC Soy Nail Polish Remover Wipes   [Review]
I've been consistently impressed with these wipes, so it was a sad day when I found a polish that this wipe could not beat.  We all know glitter polishes are terrible for removing, and Priti's wipe could not budge Color Club's Apollo Star.  I'm not sure if it was just a question of needing more actual product than the wipe holds or just a horrible polish to remove, but I ended up doing a two step process with Suncoat's Gel Remover, followed by Sante's remover on top of the Priti wipe, and it still was a struggle to get off!  
Repurchase? Possibly.  I still have several wipes left, but I think I want to try the liquid remover next time.

Silk Naturals Sleep in a Jar in Light Peach   [Review]  
I'm not sure if this is my second or third jar of Sleep in a Jar, but needless to say, I'm a fan.  I used to use it on its own, but these days I prefer using it to set another, cream concealer.  It doesn't give a ton of coverage, but it's excellent at brightening up the under eye area.  
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Silk Naturals Perfecting Powder (sample)
I generally use powder foundations, but I like using a finishing powder on top of certain parts of my face.  The Perfecting Powder was fine - did the job - but it didn't stand out much either.
Repurchase? Not sure.  I have a few samples of other finishing powders I want to try first.

Urban Minerals Foundation in Missus Multicultural (sample)*   [Review]
Urban Minerals is a local-to-me mineral makeup line with a focus on accommodating all skin tones.  What's unique about the foundation - beyond the extensive color range - is that it includes a whole host of skin-friendly ingredients like nettle, aloe, chamomile, calendula, marshmallow, sea buckthorn, and white willow bark.  When I first wrote my review, I thought Missus Multicultural was my best match, but I may need to revisit that, as coming out of this long winter, I think it was a little too dark for me.
Repurchase? Not right away.  I have several other mineral foundations I want to work through.

Cee Cee & Bee Café Mocha Soap
I was lucky enough to win four travel size Cee Cee & Bee soaps in a giveaway from Natural Kath and of the lot, Café Mocha is the one I gravitated to first.  It's palm oil free, and produces a rich, creamy lather that smells like a yummy mix of coffee and chocolate.  Coffee grounds also provide a light exfoliation.  Just a personal preference, but as someone who generally only uses bar soap on my hands, I've realized I much prefer smooth soaps, without any exfoliating particles, so I found myself wishing it didn't have the coffee grounds.  
Repurchase? Probably not this specific one, but there are a couple others Cee Cee & Bee soaps I've got my eye on.

Nuka Lime Spearmint Green Tea Soap
Nuka is an Ontario company whose palm oil free soaps are sold in bulk at my Whole Foods.  I bought this way back in December and used half the bar then, before deciding it was too drying on my hands.  Now that the weather's warmed up, it's been quite lovely and I haven't found it drying at all.  The blend of lime, spearmint, and green tea also smells fantastic.  
Repurchase? Very likely, but only in the warmer months.

I spend a lot of time talking about beauty products, but greening your household products is something I consider equally important.  Nothing made it more clear to me than the year and a half I spent working in a retail position that sometimes included hours of dusting with Windex.  [Confession: After the first little bit, I totally faked the Windex part and dusted with dry paper towels instead.]  

You probably already know that incomplete ingredient disclosure is a big pet peeve of mine and cleaning products are notoriously misleading in this regard (even those found in natural stores!)  Labelling laws are different for food, cosmetics, and household products, so I'm not even sure one can expect full disclosure in this area.  Take this 'natural, hypoallergenic' dish soap, for instance:

"Ingredients: Natural based surfactants (derived from coconut and vegetable oils), citrus oil, natural softeners made from plant fiber, water, preservative."

Maybe it's natural, maybe it's not, but we'll never know since the only ingredient they've actually identified is water.  The rest are vague and fairly meaningless.

But, the point of this post isn't to call out any specific brands or products.  Instead, I want to share some basic staples that I wouldn't want to be without.  


Starting off with a couple hard-hitting, inexpensive multi-taskers: baking soda and vinegar.  Baking soda sucks up odors, can be added to laundry, and is a gentle abrasive that can be used to scrub just about anything.  Vinegar kills germs and is great for shining things, and when diluted with water, makes a great all-purpose cleaning spray.   My most common use for these two is actually together, as a drain cleaner.  


Dr. Bronner's Soaps have minimal ingredients, but SO MANY uses.  I use them to clean my makeup brushes and to hand wash any delicates.  But that's just the tip of the iceberg here - you can also use this goody for a whole host of other purposes, including dog washing and cleaning the floor.


The Laundry Tarts are a cute Canadian company making, as the name suggest, laundry products.  The only thing I've tried from the line, thus far, is The Sweet Spot, an unscented stain remover bar that works like a charm.  I've used it to get out oil and sweat stains, as well as blood out of the dog's (white) bed, and I haven't been disappointed yet.  It's basically a bar of soap (palm oil free!) but it works better on stains than any other soap I've used.


Lastly, essential oils are great, both for boosting the scent of other other products - vinegar sprays, for instance, become much more palatable with a few drops of something yummy mixed in - and for their own properties.  Just a few drops of lemon or tea tree in water will disinfect your counters, and Young Living's Thieves blend has even been shown to kill mold spores!

How do you feel about household products?  Is using healthier options in this area as important to you as eating well and using non-toxic personal care products?