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Winter Empties

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!)


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Summer Empties

I always like reading these kinds of posts, but I just don't go through enough products to justify one every month.  Instead, I've decided I'm going to start doing one every few months or one per season, since I think that'll give me enough time to accumulate a few things to write about. Here's what I used up over the summer:


Face Naturals Acai Berry & Lime and Liquid Sunshine Body Cleansers (trial sizes): I reviewed these here.  To summarize, these are probably the best shower gel I've found to date.  The acai berry and lime is especially delightful - I am planning to buy the full size, but I want to get through a couple other products first.

Lucy Minerals Lucy Light Finishing Powder (trial size): On days when I wear makeup, I always finish by lightly dusting my face with this powder.  It makes a big difference in how long my makeup lasts on my face and helps prevents shine throughout the day.  The trial size alone lasted me months, but I've since purchased the full size.  Complete review can be found here.

Chequered Lily Apothecary Neverwhere Eyeshadow (sample): I really don't use up many eye shadows, even samples, so the fact that this made it in here at all says a lot.  This is one of my favorite eye shadows ever and I've since bought the full size.  It's a gorgeous brown full of pink and gold sparkles.  Not obnoxious glitter by any means, just a beautiful complex neutral shade.  (Check here for a swatch.)

Pollen Cosmetics Future Sunrise Eyeshadow (sample): I adored this color over the summer and it was on my eyes almost every day.  It's a soft pinky/gold that works beautifully for a more subtle eye look.  (You can get an idea of the colour here.)  Another one I've repurchased in full size. 

Shiro Cosmetics Longcat & Plain Intertubes: Shiro Cosmetics' intertubes are very moisturizing tinted lip balms.  Longcat is colorless with silver sparkles.  It's gorgeous either on it's own or layered over other products.  I love the formula so much that I asked Caitlin, Shiro's lovely owner, to make me a plain, untinted version, which I also managed to use up over the summer.  I have a backup of Longcat, and it turns out I wasn't the only one who requested a colorless one - Shiro has recently released one, and even better, it's on sale for $3.50 until the end of the month.  I'll definitely be ordering one!

Young Living Lavender Lip Balm: I always have at least one of these lip balms puttering around on my desk or in my purse.  I've gone through a ton of these over the last few years and this make two more over the summer!  A fantastic, basic lip balm. 

Nature's Gate Organics Neroli, Orange & Chocolate Mint Lipbalm: I'm not sure if Nature's Gate even makes this anymore.  (Confession: I've had it for years.)  Another decent lip balm - pretty moisturizing and smelled yummy, like chocolate and mint.

Zuzu Luxe Onyx Mascara: This has been my top mascara pick for the last few years.  It's fairly natural looking, but it can be built up with multiple coats.  My favorite part: it doesn't budge, so no need to worry about checking for raccoon eyes mid-day.  Usually I switch this out every 3-4 months, but somehow I managed to finish up two of them over the summer.

Young Living Deep Relief™: This is an essential oil blend of peppermint, balsam fir, clove, vetiver, wintergreen, lemon, helichrysum, and copaiba that works great for any aches or pains.  I got shin splints a few years ago and I still sometimes get pain in that area after exercising or wearing the wrong shoes.  This works really well when that flares up - it feels nice and tingly from the peppermint and eases any discomfort right away.   It also comes in a roll-on bottle, which makes for even easier application.

Organic Excellence Wild Mint Shampoo and Conditioner:  These didn't manage to make it into the photo, but I did finish them up over the summer.  They're awesome and I ordered backups as soon as these started getting low.  Also super affordable - at only $12.85, the shampoo literally lasted me 8 months!  I go through the conditioner a bit faster, both since I use more and because it's also my shaving cream of choice, but it's still a great value!  I have a full review here.

So, I know I'm a fan of empties post since they really show what products are liked enough to use to the very end, but what do you think of them?  Are they something you enjoy reading?


        

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Another Use for Organic Excellence Conditioner

ETA: Unfortunately, after recent debate over whether Organic Excellence is disclosing full ingredients on their labels, I'm no longer comfortable recommending the company or this product. (Feb. 11, 2013)

If you read my review, you'll already know that I'm a big fan of Organic Excellence's Wild Mint Shampoo and Conditioner.  They work great on my hair, and I've recently found another use for the conditioner...

SHAVING CREAM!

I'll admit somewhat guiltily that I still have fond memories of my brief stint using a chemical aerosol shaving cream.  The truth is, I've tried a number of products, but I've yet to find anything natural that I really like shaving with.  For that reason, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner - and anything else that's in my shower - all eventually ends up as fair game.  

I feel a bit like I've been on an eternal hunt for a natural shaving product, so I'm super glad I tried using this conditioner this way...it works like a dream!  Really, the only thing I'm wondering now is why it took me so long!  Not surprisingly, it isn't foamy, but it does make my razor glide easily and it leaves me with a fabulously smooth shave. 

I especially appreciate multi-use products since they don't clog up my small shower area.  And while this does make my conditioner go down faster, it's a sacrifice I'm totally willing to make.  Also, since most dedicated shaving creams come in such small tubes, it actually works out to be a good bit cheaper in the long run.

I know a lot of you already use this for your hair, so especially if it's already sitting in your shower, next time you reach for your razor, give it a try...you might just be surprised how well it works!

Also, my giveaway ends in two days (Wednesday at midnight EST), so if you haven't already, make sure you head on over and enter!


         

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Review: Organic Excellence Wild Mint Shampoo and Conditioner

ETA: Unfortunately, after recent debate over whether Organic Excellence is disclosing full ingredients on their labels, I'm no longer comfortable recommending the company or these products. (Feb. 11, 2013)

As far as I'm concerned, one of the worst things companies can do is reformulate products.  Obviously if a product sucks, reformulating is a good idea, but as the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Almost a year ago now my regular shampoo and conditioner got pegged for reformulating and inevitably the new formula did not work for me.  Luckily I had enough of the old stockpiled to last me a while, but as the bottles started to get low, panic set in and I was left madly hunting for a replacement haircare line. 

To make a long story short, I decided on Organic Excellence and have been using it since mid-November.  As it turns out, I think I prefer it to my old shampoo/conditioner, and to sweeten the deal, it also costs less than what I was previously using!  It's unlikely I would have tried a new shampoo/conditioner otherwise, so, I guess the moral of the story is.......reformulations aren't always a bad thing after all.


"A luxurious hair therapy, free of the harsh chemicals Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate found in most shampoos. Our Wild Mint Shampoo is specially formulated to moisturize, maintain a healthy pH balance, prevent hair loss, stimulate growth, and protect against ultra-violet rays and air pollution. Restores moisture, shine, and body for beautiful hair. Ideal for all hair types."  

A couple weeks ago, Bronwen from Tested on Human wrote about her troubles getting her non-bald spot clean, which reminded me of my struggles with the same thing before switching to this shampoo.  While I was waiting for my Organic Excellence to arrive, I ran out of shampoo and in desperation started using my body wash as shampoo.  Even though I've never before (or since) noticed my hair get greasy in this particular spot, I ended up with the same problem and couldn't manage to get the back of my hair clean!  Imagine my immense relief when the Wild Mint Shampoo finally arrived and succeeded in getting this spot (and the rest of my head) squeaky clean in just one wash! 

In addition to it's great cleaning ability, it smells great - pepperminty and slightly sweet, just like a candy cane.  If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you'll know that sometimes even naturally scented products bother me, but neither this nor the conditioner have given me any troubles on that front.  AND, it lathers to a pretty decent frothy lather.  Maybe not quite on par with the lather you'd get from a conventional SLS shampoo, but a lot more than many other natural shampoos and definitely enough to satisfy my desire for bubbles.

"Wild Mint Conditioner moisturizes without coating your hair, building up or creating a heavy feeling. It prevents split ends and hair loss, promotes growth, and calms frizz and static electricity. For manageability, deep conditioning, luxurious body, and a beautiful shine, nothing compares to Wild Mint Conditioner. Ideal for all hair types"
I have curly and quite often frizzy and tangled hair, but this conditioner does a great job in all respects.  In the shower, it rinses out easily and leaves my hair feeling soft and silky, without weighing it down or leaving any kind of residue or oiliness.  The conditioner scent is somewhat fainter than the shampoo - it still smells pleasant though and just a bit minty.

The Final Verdict
I'm really happy with both the shampoo and conditioner.  The combination of the two leaves my hair clean, soft, and shiny - and really, what more can you ask for?  The mint scent is pleasant, but not overpowering -  I notice the scent when I'm using the products, but it isn't something that I can smell on my hair once it's dry.  Actually, I do kind of wish the scent would linger a little more, but that's not a deal breaker for me.  Also, for anyone concerned about such things, neither of these products give you that cold, tingly feeling that some peppermint products do.  

The price point is also very reasonable, although it does fluctuate a bit depending on where you purchase them.  They are available for $15.95 each direct from Organic Excellence or $12.85 from iherb (Plus you can get $5 off your first iherb purchase with the code ITI429.)  I believe they're also sold at some Whole Foods.   All in all I'm really happy with these and would recommend giving them a try if you're looking for a new natural and non-toxic shampoo or conditioner.


         

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Another iherb Haul

I needed to pick up some conditioner, so I placed another small order with iherb.  Here's what I got:


Organic Excellence Wild Mint Conditioner - I've been using Organic Excellence's shampoo for a few weeks now, but it took me a little longer to run out of conditioner.  I've only used the conditioner a couple times, but so far I like it a lot.

Humphrey's Witch Hazel Astringent - I keep reading about using witch hazel as a toner to minimize the appearance of large pores and I wanted to give it a try, since I've got some larger pores around my nose.  I actually had a ridiculous time trying to find straight witch hazel in stores around here.  All I kept finding was witch hazel toners, which of course contained plenty of other ingredients, so I was really glad to find plain witch hazel on iherb.  That said, I really was not expecting the strong smell this has.  It's apparently perfectly normal for witch hazel and there are tons of tips out there for masking it.  I think I'm going to try mixing some with a couple drops of an essential oil and see how that works.  I'll report back once I've tried it :)

Hurraw! Cinnamon Tinted Lip Balm - I've always heard good things about Hurraw!'s lip balms, so I figured I'd finally give them a try.  The cinnamon is very slightly tinted and smells just like Valentines Day cinnamon hearts. 

Grab Green Fragrance Free Bleach Alternative - I chose this as my freebie this time around.  I've tried natural bleach alternatives before, but they've always needed to be dissolved in warm water before you add them to your wash.  This looks extra simple - first, it's already in pre-measured tablets and second, they don't even need to be unwrapped.  You just throw them into your wash and the pods they are packaged in will supposedly dissolve in either hot or cold water.

I also got these lemon wafer cookies, but they didn't quite make it to the picture taking phase.  They were good while they lasted though! 

Don't forget, if you're new to iherb, you can use ITI429 to get $5 off your first order (affiliate code.)


         

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iHerb Haul (+ a discount code!)

iHerb is a great site that brings together products from hundreds of brands and sells them all at discounted prices.  They sell tons of vitamins and also lots of natural bath and beauty and grocery items.  I placed my first order with them recently and was really excited when it came this week.

Shipping was inexpensive and also very quick.  I think I got a shipping notice within 2 hours of placing my order.  I forgot to take photos before I tore into it, so I don't have pictures of the packaging, but my order came in a box with everything individually sealed in plastic bags.  I especially appreciated this when the shampoo I ordered managed to leak in transit -  because of the way everything was wrapped, the mess was mostly contained and it didn't get on anything else.  Also, when I emailed iHerb about the leaking, they immediately credited me the whole cost of the shampoo - great customer service in my book!

I'm sure I'll do reviews of a lot of these products once I've had the chance to test them out, but in the mean time, I'll leave you with my first impressions of what I got.

 

Organic Excellence Wild Mint Shampoo - the shampoo I've been using got reformulated recently and the new version just isn't working for me.  I've heard really good things about this one!

Clif Honey Oat Crunch Granola Bars - Canada can be funny sometimes about what it manages to import.  We can get Clif products here, but only from certain product lines.  I've never seen these here before.

Honeybee Gardens Lipstick in Karma and Soft Kiss - I've been meaning to try Honeybee Gardens for a long time now.  These both look like really pretty colours.

Crazy Rumors Lipbalm in Cola - Another company I've heard a lot about.  I'm not crazy about the scent though - it really doesn't smell very much like cola to me. 

Now Foods Vanilla Lipbalm - iHerb lets you pick one free product/sample in every order, and this is what I chose.  I also received a couple other samples as well.

Bottom Line
I'm really happy with my iHerb order.  The combination of great prices, customer service and fast shipping has me already planning my next order :)
 
If you're new to iHerb, you can use the code ITI429 to get $5/$10 off your first order.


         

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