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August 2015 Empties / Products I've Used Up

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!

*Press sample
Contains affiliate links

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May Empties / Products I've Used Up

This was going to be up on time, and then life happened.  I started working at a second job last week and I'm still getting into the routine of balancing both jobs, blogging, and other commitments.  Plus, I actually filmed an empties video this month, but technology got the better of me.  Basically, my camera saves videos as .mov files and I don't seem to have any editing software that will work with .mov files.  I've been struggling to convert them online, but without paying for more software, I have to do it in 30 second clips and they literally take close to half an hour to convert each one!  I didn't want to delay the post any longer, so I'm giving up on the video for now and just writing a regular post.  Maybe I'll try again next month, if I can figure it all out. (And if you know how to fix this issue, please let me know!)

Anyways, in other news, I actually finished up a good number of things this month...


Acure Moroccan Argan + Argan Stem Cell Shampoo   [Review]
This, and the matching conditioner, are my favorites right now.  I've already cracked open a new bottle of the shampoo and the conditioner is still going strong.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Nourish Organic Fresh Fig Body Wash   [Review]
I got tired of the fig scent about halfway through the bottle, but the actual body wash is lovely.  It's creamy and very moisturizing.  I want to try the almond vanilla one next, but that's the one scent I can't seem to track down recently!
Repurchase?  Yes, but probably not in this scent.

Young Living Lavender Hand & Body Lotion
I like this lotion, but I don't love it.  Most of you probably know some scents bother me, but I never have an issue with Young Living essential oils or their scented products.  If you're a lavender fan, this lotion smells amazing.  What I'm less crazy about is that it takes a little while to sink in and can leave your skin feeling a little tacky.
Repurchase? Probably not.

Earthpaste Wintergreen Toothpaste   [Review]
I've tried all three of Earthpaste's original toothpaste flavors and the wintergreen is definitely my favorite.  I still have peppermint and cinnamon tubes I'm working through, but when I need to buy more, this is the one I'll go for.
Repurchase? Yes.

Intelligent Nutrients PureLuxe Shampoo & Conditioner (samples)
These are fairly old samples that I'd forgotten about until I stumbled across them again this past month.  I like them, but they aren't something I can use on an everyday basis.  The Pureluxe line is designed for dry and damaged hair and when I use them too many times in a row, I end up getting greasy very quickly.  Used occasionally, as more of a treatment, they do make my hair look and feel a bit healthier.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Young Living Juniper Satin Scrub
This was a good basic scrub, but since I bought it, it's been discontinued.  Young Living still make a similar one in mint, but unfortunately, I don't like that one as much.
Repurchase? Not possible.

Bodhi Mint Thé Bath & Shower Therapy (sample)
I follow a number of UK bloggers and often see them raving about various Bodhi products, so I was excited to get this sample in a Naturisimo order.  It smelled lovely - a little herbal and a lot more complex than most mint scents - but I prefer using castile-based body washes, which this is not.  
Repurchase? No.

The Jojoba Company 100% Pure Jojoba Oil
I haven't been convinced that I've been getting all my makeup off, so I've added an oil cleansing step to my nighttime skincare routine.  I've tried a few different oils now, but I think jojoba has been my favorite.  
Repurchase? Yes.

Sassy Minerals Witty Banter Eye Shadow (sample)
Witty Banter was a pretty pale gold shade, which unfortunately is not available anymore, since Sassy Minerals is closed.  If you follow me on twitter, you may know that I've been on an eye shadow no buy since the beginning of the year.  It's still going strong, except I'm starting to run out of these kinds of shades - lighter, sparkly neutrals - which are what I wear on an everyday basis.  I may have to end the no-buy soon, if only to pick up a couple more colors like this!
Repurchase? Not possible.

Zuzu Luxe Onyx Mascara   [Review]
I've talked about this mascara so many times, but it really is the best natural one I've found.  It doesn't flake or smudge and it's completely non-irritating.  I've worn it for years and I expect I'll continue to buy it for a good while still. 
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Physician's Formula Organic Wear Black Jumbo Lash Mascara
I really like the plastic brush on this, which is a rare find on a natural mascara, but the actual formula is just so-so.  I found it flaked throughout the day, and while some days I was fine wearing it, others it made my eyes itch all day long.  I even had to wash my makeup completely off a couple times!  Pricing in Canada is also quite bizarre on Physician's Formula products.  They're at the drugstore, but this mascara sells for around $20, which is almost the same as Zuzu or other "higher end" mascaras.  I love that there's a healthy option so widely available, but beyond that, I'm really not impressed.
Repurchase? Doubtful.  Maybe in a pinch.

Yes to Carrots Rosey Bloom Colorbalm   [Review]
I'm a big fan of these tinted lipbalms and Rosey Bloom is my favorite of the three shades.  It's a great "my lips but better" color that makes your lips look a bit more polished without venturing into  lipstick territory.  These also last a good while on your lips - I can apply them before work and they'll still be noticeable at the end of a shift.
Repurchase? Yes.

 Have you used any of these products?


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April Empties / Products I've Used Up

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?  


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Review & Swatches: Sassy Minerals

I placed a sample order with Sassy Minerals a few months ago and have been playing with their eye shadows ever since.  Eye shadow samples are $1 and are 1/16 tsp. in a 3 gram jar.  Full sizes are 1 gram in a 5 gram jar for $4.25.  Sassy also makes foundation, primer, finisher, blush, bronzer, and lip balm.

Sassy has 2 eye shadow finishes - shimmer and silk luster, which are mattes.  I only ordered shimmers but I did receive a free sample of Sultry, which is a silk luster, and I'm super impressed - it's silky and very blendable and not at all chalky or hard to work with.  They also make Deja Vu eye shadows, which are dupes of BE colors.

These aren't the brightest, most vibrant eye shadow colors out there, but I'm SO pleased with them.  They're very wearable for everyday, but full of depth and sparkle - never boring!  The website pictures really do not do justice to how gorgeous the colors are in real life, but they do link to a number of blogs with swatches - I definitely recommend checking those out before ordering.

In terms of wear, I was also impressed.  Even without a primer, I was able to go 6-7 hours before they started creasing.  With a primer, they last even longer and the colors, of course, show up more vividly as well.


All swatches are dry on bare skin.
(More swatches below the cut.)
Read more »
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A Quick Update

Just wanted to post an update for anyone keeping up with my blog.  Things are down to the wire at school, one week left and then I'll be officially done!  Very exciting, but this also explains why posts have been a little irregular lately (and might continue to be until April 4, when my last essay is due.)  Expect more regular posts after that :)

A few things to come...
- Revolution Organics Review
- Sobe Botanicals Swatches
- Sassy Minerals Swatches
- Homemade Hair Mask Recipe

Plus, I've done a smidge of shopping lately.  Waiting on hauls from Shiro, Detrivore, Concrete Minerals, and Silk Naturals, so you can look forward posts about those once they get here too.


         

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