Showing posts with label Green Beaver. Show all posts

Spring Empties / Products I've Used Up

I seem to be incapable of putting together an empties post these days until I've accumulated a ridiculous number of products, but there you have it!  My last empties post was only about three months ago, but I've been making a dedicated effort to finish off older products and anything close to empty, so things have piled up quickly!

Keep reading for mini reviews of all the products I've used up over the last few months...


Winter Favourites ft. Osea, Batty's Bath, Consonant, Luk Beautifood + More

My biggest issue with blogging these days is that there's just never enough time to write about everything I want to share.  I've been more active over on Instagram the last couple months, but I know not everyone follows me on there, so I always want to keep current here on the blog too.

With that in mind, today seemed like the perfect time to talk about some recent favourites.  These 6 standouts are products that I've been loving and consistently reaching for over the last few months.  We've had some crazy cold temperatures here in Toronto, so, not surprisingly, these all ended up being products that excel in the moisture department.




A Year of Empties {Part #3: Body Care}

Body care is a big one -- apparently I use a lot of soap! Keep reading for the nitty gritty -- pun intended -- on all the body products I finished up over the course of the last year...


BODY WASH
The Lavera Refreshing Lime & Verbena Body Wash was a good, basic shower gel -- it smelled good and did the job.  I adore the Nourish Organic Moisturizing Cream Body Washes, especially the now discontinued Wild Berries scent.  I have one more hoarded bottle in my shower and then I'll have to reconsider the other scents. I also enjoyed the Honest Co. Sweet Orange Vanilla Shampoo + Body Wash, although I probably won't buy anymore Honest due to all the hoopla surrounding the brand. The Apricot Kiss version also smelled terrible -- like gross, fake honey.  I used it up as laundry detergent -- since there was no way it was getting near my person -- and thankfully the scent did not linger.  I also used a bottle of the BR Naturals Lavender Body Wash, and while the lavender wasn't my favorite, the wash itself was nice, as was the DivaWash Cleanser, a multi-use product that I finished off as a body wash when my Diva Cup ended up sitting mostly unused in a drawer.  

HAND WASH
The Nourish Organic Moisturizing Hand Wash has also been discontinued, but I'm fairly certain it was identical to the body washes, packaging aside.  Both make a great non-drying drying hand soap and the fig scent is a good fruity go-to.  The Everyday Shea Hand Soaps have become my absolute favorite -- dare I say holy grail?  My hands dry out easily, especially in kitchen situations where I'm washing them countless times in a short period of time, and these are the best.  I haven't strayed to another hand wash since discovering them mid-2017.  The Mandarin Mango is my top pick of all the scents I've tried, and while the Lemon Verbena wasn't bad, it mostly smelled like lemongrass to me and isn't one I'm rushing to buy again.


BAR SOAP
I use bar soap in the shower, as a hand soap, and also as an ingredient in my homemade laundry detergent, which explains how I went through so very much of it!!  I’ll continue to purchase longtime favorites like the Green Beaver Castile Sunflower Soap, Rocky Mountain Soap, and Mamma Oceania, all three of which are lovely and palm oil free, but I likely would not buy the BR Naturals Exfoliating Peppermint Leaf or Dr. Jacobs Luscious Lavender Loofah Exfoliating Castile Soap, both because of their palm oil content and the exfoliating bits -- I generally prefer a smooth bar of soap.

CASTILE SOAP
A Dr. Jacobs product that I do love is the Liquid Castile Soap, used here in the Peppermint and Citrus scents.  Dr. Jacobs uses a mix of saponified plant oils -- like traditional castile soap -- and coco-glucoside, a mild surfactant, to create a hybrid soap that's the best of both worlds.  It's ultra-gentle, thick, and foamy. These are great for sorts of uses -- body wash, deep cleaning makeup brushes, laundry, and household cleaning.  

DEODORANT
As a green blogger and, more specifically, after judging the CertClean awards last year, I literally have a shelf of deodorants that I rotate amongst, so it's a wonder I finished up any at all! These are two of my very favorites: the Ursa Major Hoppin’ Fresh Deodorant, which is the only natural deodorant I’ve used that actually mimics the feel and consistency of mainstream deodorants, and the Mabrook & Co. Clean Deodorant, a more ubiquitous coconut oil/baking soda formula, but one that's executed extremely well.  Both are ones I’ll happily continue to use!



BODY MOISTURIZERS
I finished up one body oil, the Sukin Wellbeing Body Oil, which smelled incredible -- Sukin’s signature citrus-vanilla - and moisturizes like a dream, as well as several body butters.  The Duckish Natural Skin Care Unscented Shea Lotion Stick is my favorite for dry, scaly legs in the winter, and I also loved the Nourish Organic Pure Unscented Body Butter, also a victim of Nourish’s mass discontinuations.  The Rocky Mountain Soap Lemongrass Body Butter was nice too, although I definitely prefer the consistency of the Duckish.  Rocky Mountain’s body butters are equally moisturizing, but they're a little heavier on the beeswax and don’t melt into the skin quite as elegantly.  

I stayed loyal to my two favorite hand creams: the Trilogy Ultra Hydrating Hand Cream and the Rocky Mountain Soap Vanilla Mint Hand Cream.  I have another tube of the Trilogy on the go now and although you can’t buy this exact version of the Rocky Mountain anymore, I am curious to try the reformulation that just launched.  I also used up samples of the Gabriel Organics White Seaweed Hand & Body Lotion and the John Masters Organics Lemon & Ginger Hand Cream, both of which were fine, if not standouts.  

OTHER/MISCELLANEOUS
A shaving cream I always come back to is the Kiss My Face Key Lime Moisture Shave.  It’s inexpensive, works great, and a bottle lasts ages.  If I’m not shaving with an otherwise unloved conditioner or other re-purposed product, the Moisture Shave is likely what’s in my shower.  I also really loved the Perk Citrus Mistress Body Scrub.  I'm not sure if Perk is around anymore, but Citrus Mistress was top notch.  Lastly, while I'm not a big user of hand sanitizer, I always keep a bottle of Young Living Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier in my purse for times when I can’t get to a sink.  It does the trick and, although it’s, of course, full of alcohol, it doesn’t seem as drying as many other hand sanitizers.  

That was a long one!  Makeup is still to come over the weekend and more regular content will resume next week.

Contains affiliate links.

Cheap Products Worth Splurging On (Products That Seem More Expensive Than They Are)

I went back and forth on how I wanted to title this post since 'cheap' can have such negative connotations, but I think it's pretty clear that I’m, of course, only talking price tag here, not quality.  One of my pet peeves is the way that people often qualify inexpensive product recommendations by saying they're “good for the price,” but what about the bargain wonders that are just flat out good?  The ones that would be just as good at twice or three times the cost?  Those are the products I want to highlight today.

Assuming it goes over well, I, may end up turning this into a series, since I think there are a lot of great inexpensive green beauty gems that don't get talked about nearly enough.  For this first round up, many of my picks are items I've talked about before -- these are things that I've bought repeatedly and that I continue to purchase, not because they’re inexpensive, but because they work so very well.


Kiss My Face Moisture Shave
At under $8 CAD for 11 ounces, the Kiss My Face Moisture Shave is not only ridiculously affordable, it’s also one of the best shaving products I’ve ever used.  It doesn’t foam or lather; instead it moisturizes and protects with a creamy lotion consistency that helps a razor glide easily over the skin without razor burn, nicking or cutting. The Key Lime is my favorite scent, but there are plenty of other choices if citrus isn’t your thing.

Silk Naturals Sheer Blushes
These days I’m a pretty avid blush wearer, but it wasn’t always that way.  I used to be terrified of overdone clown cheeks and the Silk Naturals Sheer Blushes were my gateway product.  As the name suggests, the formula is not ultra-pigmented.  It packs just the right amount of color for the pale or blush-shy, but it can also easily be built up for greater color payoff.  The blushes blend beautifully and even the more shimmery shades somehow work without emphasizing pores or skin texture.  My two longtime favourites are Lovelace (shimmery peach that Silk Naturals compares to NARS Deepthroat) and Abstract (light plum/pink with golden irridescence).  

Green Beaver Castile Sunflower Bar Soap
I love artisan bar soap as much as the next soap-loving girl, but when I don’t feel like spending upwards of $10-12 a bar, Green Beaver’s Castile bar soaps always come through for me.  They’re palm oil free and made with a blend of locally harvested Canadian sunflower oil, coconut oil, castor oil, and shea butter.  The soaps are moisturizing, lather beautifully, and never dry out my skin.  The Frosty Mint and Zesty Orange are my two favorites, but there’s also an unscented bar and two other scents.  For an extra bargain, scope out your local Winners/Marshall’s -- I've regularly found these bars for under $5.  

I first discovered Griffin Remedy thanks to The Choosy Chick and it's quickly become a favorite for hair care. The shampoos clean well without overstripping and the conditioners moisturize my curly-but-oily-prone hair just right. Griffin Remedy's price point is comparable to "health food store brands", but, for me, their products perform considerably better than most of those options and they're also loaded with great plant botanicals that support both the hair and scalp. The citrusy Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner have been my favorite duo so far, but Griffin Remedies makes multiple other formulas too.

I use a lot of lip balm and Crazy Rumors is one of my favourites.  The balms are smooth, creamy, rich, and buttery and do a great job protecting and healing the lips without feeling heavy or gunky.  The formula is also vegan (no beeswax!) and comes in about a million and one flavours.  Admittedly I’ve had a couple flavour duds over the years, but most are fantastic and the fruity Raspberry Sherbet and Leaping Bunny Plum Apricot are regular repurchases for me.  

My hands can be a mess in the winter -- even when it’s not -33°C like today! -- so I have to be pretty particular about the hand soaps I use this time of year.  I discovered the Everyday Shea Hand Soaps at the beginning of last winter and they’re the only liquid hand soaps I’ve purchased in the more than a year since.  The soaps have a pretty standard gel consistency, lather well, and are able to take on the dirtiest, greasiest hands without stripping or drying the skin.  (If you've used the Everyday Shea Body Washes, the hand soaps are very similar, if maybe slightly more moisturizing.) I constantly keep one of these pumps in my kitchen, where repeated hand washing while cooking is generally the worst for my hands, and they keep everything clean and happy.  Mandarin Mango is my top choice, but the Peppermint Tingle and Lemon Verbena are also nice.  I haven’t tried all the scents, but the ones I’ve used have been universally light and lovely.  

The Bottom Line
I've said it before (and I'm sure I'll say it again!): great green products don't have to break the bank. There are plenty of amazing bargain finds out there and these six are some of my favorites.

What are your best bargain green beauty finds?

Contains affiliate links

June 2015 Empties / Products I've Used Up

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

Sample Stash #15: Sensitive Skin Moisturizers

I've used face oils almost exclusively since discovering them, but when the cold weather hit this year, oils alone just weren't doing the trick.  My skin didn't feel dry, so it took me a while to clue in to the fact that my fine lines suddenly seeming more pronounced and a worse overall skin texture could both be signs of dehydrated skin.  It amazes me how much of a difference adding in a water-based moisturizer has made!  I'll have more on my full skincare routine soon, but for today's sample stash post, I want to focus on a few of the moisturizers I tested during this dry spell.  All are very gentle and formulated specifically for sensitive skin, but there are some notable differences between them as well.



Blissoma Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex
I actually had two samples of this - one from a Petit Vour box and one that I received in a Foxy Mango order - so I was able to test this out for close to a month and get a good feel for it.  Blissoma products are always packed full of herbal goodness and this is no exception.  With shea butter, marshmallow root, plantain, self heal, heather, and lots more, Pure is an excellent product for soothing redness and irritated or inflamed skin and it's been a pleasure to use.  It's a thick, substantial moisturizer, but it melts into the skin beautifully and actually ends up feeling quite weightless.  The formula is unscented, but it does have a very herbal scent from the ingredients.  Definitely a product I could see buying in the future.  

Trilogy Very Gentle Moisturizing Cream
Trilogy's Very Gentle line is fragrance and essential oil free and the moisturizer is intended to soothe and protect the skin barrier while deeply hydrating and comforting the skin.  The cream instantly eliminated any redness on my face and I also noticed less redness over the course of the day.  It felt pretty rich - though not overly heavy - and did take a couple minutes to fully sink in.  I'm using one of Trilogy's other moisturizers now, but I might come back to this one in the future.

Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Beautiful Day Cream and Heavenly Night Cream
I'm not usually one for rose scents, but these ones - which were something of a sweet, candy-like rose - were surprisingly okay.  And, I liked the creams themselves too.  Both were soothing and quite hydrating, while also absorbing quickly.  I preferred the Day Cream over the Night, as I noticed a bit of a slimy coating when I wet my face in the mornings after using the Night Cream the night before.  I didn't have any adverse skin reaction in the few days the sample lasted, but I worry that whatever the coating element is might cause one with longer use.  The Day Cream was a little lighter in texture and didn't leave any kind of coating on the skin.

Pai Avocado & Jojoba Hydrating Day Cream
I always want to love Pai, but their products sometimes just don't do it for me.  I think this is one of the richer moisturizers in the line and it felt too heavy for my skin.  The jasmine scent - although light - wasn't my favorite either and didn't help to endear this product to me.  I'd be curious to try a different moisturizer from the line, but this one wasn't a hit.

Green Beaver Green Tea Facial Cream
Green Beaver is good for affordable, basic skincare and the Green Tea Facial Cream was no different.  There's nothing wrong with it - it's a decent unscented, lightweight moisturizer - but there are other moisturizers I like a lot more.  

Have you used any of these?  What do you look for in a moisturizer?


Contains affiliate links

December Empties / Products I've Used Up

Happy New Year!  2014 was a challenging year for me.  The first half was spent feeling trapped in a job I wasn't happy at, only to be laid off - for unrelated reasons - from said job during the summer.  Since then, things have been pretty scattered.  I've done a few temp positions, but I'm not really sure what I want to be doing career-wise, which makes it difficult to know what jobs to even apply for.  So, for 2015, I'm hoping for less stress and more clarity (and security) on the work front.  I hope the new year brings you what you're looking for as well.   

Now, how about some empties?



Desert Essence Jojoba Oil
Jojoba is a very handy oil to have on hand.  I use it on both my face and body, to remove makeup, and in face masks and other DIYs.  I don't think I used this particular bottle up quickly enough though, as the very bottom started to smell a little funky.  It didn't seem off or rancid, but it developed a noticeable scent, where the first 7/8 of the bottle was basically unscented.  
Repurchase? Yes, but not right away.

Skin Essence Organics Nourish Moisturizer   [Review]
Nourish was my first face oil love, and I'm still a fan.  It's hydrating but not heavy, and includes my beloved hazelnut oil, along with a bunch of other great oils like rosehip and jojoba.  I really liked this smaller 10 ml bottle too, as the larger 30 ml size has gone off on me before I could use the entire thing up.    
Repurchase? Yes, after I've used up a few other face oils.

Acure Argan + Argan Stem Cell Conditioner   [Review]
I don't even know how many tubes of this conditioner I've gone through, but it's still one of my favorites.  I like the almond scent, plus it moisturizes my curls really well without leaving them feeling heavy, coated, or weighed down.  
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Hush & Dotti Original Cleansing Balm (sample)  [Review]
As cleansing balms go, I quite enjoyed this one.  It removed makeup easily and wasn't waxy, so it wiped away very cleanly.  I also liked the spicy eucalyptus/clove scent and even used it as a moisturizing balm on extra dry patches a couple times.  I generally prefer oils or cream cleansers over balm cleansers though.
Repurchase? Probably not.

Green Beaver Boreal Body Lotion (sample)
I really like these samples for toting around in my bag.  The tiny tube is about the size of a lip gloss, so they fit in even the smallest of purses.  The lotion itself is nice too - hydrating, very lightly scented, and great as a hand cream - although I've yet to be inspired to pick up the full size tube.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Epic Blend More Moisture Unflavored Lip Balm*   [Review]
I discovered Epic Blend's lip balms this past year, and they quickly became some of my favorites.  All their formulas are great, but if I had to pick, the More Moisture line is probably my favorite.  And I especially like the Unflavored one - it smells slightly sweet but very neutral, and it has none of that yucky oil taste that some unflavored lip balms have.
Repurchase? Yes, I definitely will.

Nürish Organics Best Scrub Ever*   [Review]
Loved this!  The scrub has a soft cream base, but it exfoliates very thoroughly with microdermabrasion crystals.  It's a pretty intense exfoliation, so I wouldn't recommend using it over active breakouts or more than once or twice a week.  
Repurchase? Yes, but not immediately.

And that's a wrap!  Not too many empties in December, but that's just how some months go.  

I'm also doing Tamara of Rainbow Feet's Green Survivor Challenge this month, so if you enjoy seeing empties, you should follow me on Instagram.  The idea of the challenge is similar to a no-buy, only rather than a set amount of time, we aren't allowing ourselves to buy any beauty products until we use up 2 makeup, 3 skincare, and 5 body items.  I've got a couple things nearing the bottom already, so I'm pretty confident I can manage it! 

*Press sample
Contains affiliate links

November Empties / Products I've Used Up

It's interesting to notice how much empties posts vary by season.  Temperatures dropped quite a bit in November here, so it's pretty fitting that this month's empties are heavy on really moisturizing products.  Here's what I finished up this month:


This is a great body wash.  It leaves my skin feeling very soft and hydrated and the Sweet Orange Vanilla scent is lovely.  I wouldn't go out of my way to use it as a shampoo, but it'll do the trick in a pinch.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Frangipani Toning Serum*   (Review)
With a simple base of apricot kernel and jojoba oils, this was the lighter of the two Frangipani serums I tried.  I liked it, but I have a lot of face oils hanging around and it's not one I found myself reaching for very often, so in the interest of both clearing some space and not having products expire on me, I ended up using it up as a body oil.
Repurchase? No.

I was initially a bit put off by the length the ingredients list on the back of this product, but there really isn't anything specifically worrisome there.  If you're used to more traditional foaming shaving creams, the lotiony consistency of the Moisture Shave might take some getting used to, but I really like it.  It nicely cushions the skin and allows your razor to glide easily.  You also can't beat the price - I paid roughly $6 on iherb for a generous 11 oz. bottle that lasted me months.
Repurchase? Yes!  I think I want to try the Pomegranate Grapefruit scent next though.  

Moor Spa Facial Mask*   (Review)
I enjoyed using this mask when I was short on time or when my skin was acting more sensitive.  It's gentler than a lot of other clay-based masks, so I think it would be especially suitable for drier and more sensitive skin.  It was also refreshing to have a mask all ready to go in a tube, versus the rest of my masks that are in powder form.  
Repurchase? Maybe.

This is a nice lotion with a thinner consistency that rubs in very easily, but it still manages to hydrate well.  The White Mallow products have no added fragrance, but the body lotion has a light, natural coconut scent from the coconut oil in it.
Repurchase? Not sure.  There are other body lotions I like more.

Raw Gaia MSM Beauty Spray*   (Review)
I mentioned in my review that I didn't find this spray hydrating enough to be considered a moisturizer - as the company markets it - and now that I've used it up completely, I have a better idea why that was.  The first 95% of the bottle was a light, watery spray, but once I got down to the bottom, I found all the rich oils.  I've used other products that required shaking before each use to emulsify them, but I guess shaking didn't do the trick with this one.  I really liked the watery, toner-like part, but I wasn't as impressed with the oils.  
Repurchase? If I knew some way to better incorporate the oil component, yes.  Otherwise, I'm not sure.

When I first tried this lotion over the summer, I found it very hydrating - even a little heavy - but when I came back to it in the colder months, it didn't quite do the trick.  Rubbing it on more recently, it felt pretty watery and seemed like it disappeared into my skin without giving much moisture.
Repurchase? I don't think so.

KYI's products are a great example of simplicity at its best.  The Unscented Shea Butter Mask has only two ingredients: shea butter and jojoba oil.  It's not significantly different from any other whipped shea butter, but it worked well as a regular moisturizer, a moisturizing face mask - as the name suggests - and also on any dry spots (elbows, feet, etc.)
Repurchase? Maybe.


EvanHealy's French Rose Clay is a favorite of mine, so I was curious to see how the Green Tea Clay would compare.  It has the same lovely, finely milled consistency as the Rose Clay, but I didn't feel like it was anything special beyond that. 
Repurchase? No.

I think the best part of this product is the smell.  It's like icing: a sweet and buttery vanilla scent.  It's also whipped - for 4-6 continuous hours, according to the EvanHealy website - to a beautiful fluffy consistency that really elevates it to a luxurious level above any other shea product I've used.  Much like the KYI mask, it's something you can use as a daily moisturizer or as a more intensive mask treatment, although I ended up using most of the sample on my body.
Repurchase? Probably not.  It's a pricey product to use as a body moisturizer.

RoseMira Organics Sweet Coconut Body Butter (sample)
I received this in a Petit Vour box a few months back, and while I enjoyed using it, it didn't blow me away.  It smelled good, but it felt very similar to moisturizing with plain coconut oil.
Repurchase? No.

Skincando's Balm is a multi-tasking skin salve that's recommended for everything from severe dryness and eczema to minor abrasions, razor burn, chafing, scars, jock itch, bug bites, and sun and wind burn.  I used the sample on my hands, which started to suffer when the temperatures dropped, and while it worked fine, I have other balms that I like more.
Repurchase? I don't think so.

As a whole, I like Silk Naturals blushes, but this wasn't my favorite shade.  Stellar is a pretty, shimmery pale pink, and while I like the color, I have some larger pores on parts of my cheeks, and Stellar's large amount of shimmer just made them more noticeable.
Repurchase? No.

I'm not a big fan of Green Beaver's shampoos and conditioners, so I ended up using this sample in place of shaving cream.  It worked okay, but I wouldn't buy it strictly for that purpose.
Repurchase? No.

Ella's Botanicals Skin Soother & Go Nuts Bar Soap (samples)
I know I've written about Ella's soaps a few times before.  I like the feel of both of these, but I'm not crazy about the canola oil in the Go Nuts bar.  The Skin Soother has an olive oil base instead, so I would (and have) bought the full size bar.  
Repurchase? Skin Soother, yes.  Go Nuts, probably not.

Have you tried any of these?  What products have you used up recently?

*Press sample
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